Manila Standard - 2021 November 8 - Monday

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‘No vax, no ayuda’ bucked

Mandatory shots for 4Ps recipients ‘anti-poor,’ CHR raises reservations

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

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PROPOSAL to make inoculation against COVID-19 a requirement for poor families on the dole met with strong opposition from senators, a lawmaker and the vice president, even as the Commission on Human Rights said mandatory vaccination would be allowable under certain circumstances.

EDIBLE PINOY ICON. A jeepney made of gingerbread is on display inside a hotel in Pasay City.

Marriott Hotel Manila Executive Pastry Chef Felinio Afable said he used a sack of flour combined with 20 kilos of refined powder, 12 gallons of honey and 40 liters of milk to prepare the gingerbread jeepney that took three weeks to complete. Danny Pata

Senators on Sunday rejected the proposal of the Department of the Next page

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DILG adopts Kids, seniors allowed on public transport carrot & stick tack on LGU jab disposal

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENIOR citizens and children below 18 years old are now allowed to ride public transport under the more relaxed Alert Level 2 in Metro Manila.

Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Benhur Abalos clarified this Sunday in a radio interview Transportation Assistant Secretary Manuel Gonzales said minors were still barred from riding public transport even with an adult due to the absence of guidelines permitting them to

do so.

“The children and elderly are now allowed to go out according to the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases).

They are also allowed to ride public transport,” Abalos said.

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(As of 4 PM, NOV. 7)

Congress back to work, vows to ratify budget

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta CONGRESS is resuming its sessions today to give priority to the ratification of the P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022.

“Our commitment is to ensure that the budget bill, which is focused on getting the Philippines back on the road towards full recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, reaches President (Rodrigo) Duterte’s desk before the year end,” Speaker Allan Lord Velasco said.

He said the Senate also committed not to have a reenacted budget for 2022.

“We are glad that the Senate is on the same page as the House insofar as the national budget is concerned,” he said.

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OUT AND ABOUT. Minors are now allowed to go out of their homes as Metro Manila eased to the more relaxed Alert Level 2.

But for these homeless children along T.M Kalaw in Manila, it is the same hand-to-mouth existence on the streets every day, regardless of community quarantine restrictions. Danny Pata

Yolanda 8 years ago: Honoring the first responders

By Rio N. Araja

File photo shows survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) who decorated a giant Christmas lantern among destroyed houses in Tacloban in December 2013, a month after the then strongest typhoon to ever hit land took place, leaving more than 7,000 people dead or missing across the central Philippines. AFP

HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, with his wife Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, honored the brave first responders for showing “malasakit” by putting others above self during the onslaught of super typhoon “Yolanda” that flattened Eastern Visayas in November 2013.

As the nation marks today the devastation brought about by Yolanda eight years ago, the Romualdez couple also offered prayers for the victims and emphasized that they should not be forgotten since their deaths had been an eyeopener for disaster management and prevention not only in the country, but in the entire world.

The Romualdezes are among the principal authors of House Bill 5989, a Next page

VARIOUS local government units (LGUs) will either get a reward or be sanctioned based on the pace of their vaccination program, National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez said Sunday.

"We will incentivize LGUs with high accomplishments and give sanctionsto those underperforming, especially in the distribution and administration of these life-saving doses," Galvez, who is also the country's vaccine czar, said in a news release.

Galvez reiterated the government's call for LGUs to further scale up their vaccination drives, noting that full protection of most vulnerable sectors must be their top priority.

He said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has previously issued an order directing LGUs to utilize vaccines in the “most expeditious manner” upon receipt of jab deliveries.

LGUs are also ordered to regularly monitor their vaccine inventories to avoid possible vaccine wastage, he added.

To address the vaccine hesitancy issues, Galvez said the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) is set to issue a memorandum discussing rewards and sanctions that LGUs could get based on their vaccine handling and administration efforts.

Galvez said the NTF is encouraging LGUs to craft their own localordinances that will support the nationwide call for Next page

UST law dean views delisting Marcos as prexy bet ‘no merit’

By Rey E. Requejo DEAN Nilo Divina of the Faculty of Law of the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday said the attempt by certain antiMarcos forces to delist former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. from the roster of candidates for the 2022 presidential race would most likely fail for lack of merits.

“As I see it, the petition to cancel BBM’s Certificate of Candidacy is bound to collapse once evaluated by the Comelec because it appears to be defective in form and offers insufficient legal basis to obtain its desired judgement,” Divina said in a statement.

The law expert of Pontifical Catholic university and head of the Divina Law Office noted that instead of presenting factual statements and legal basis to support its claim of Marcos' ineligibility to run for the presidency, the narratives in the 57-page petition laid down invectives in almost all pages against the family of the respondent.

“It’s ad hominem, or an attack against the character of the respondent, that may weaken the petitioners' position. It is the law, always, that matters. However, it is the intent that invokes the law that often justifies or bungles it.

But at the end of Next page

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Interior and Local Government (DILG) that the 4.4 million beneficiaries of 4Ps or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program would not be given their monthly subsidy if they refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Commission on Human Rights spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia, in an interview over radio dzBB, said mandatory vaccination is possible only under certain circumstances to ensure that no human rights should be violated.

She said a mandatory vaccination is a complicated issue, maintaining inoculation must be voluntary until the government has ensured that vaccines are available, accessible and sufficient in quantity, or it would lead to discrimination.

While the government may temporarily suspend certain rights in times of public emergency and within a limited period of time, making vaccination mandatory would require a law, De Guia said.

Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Michael Defensor rejected as “oppressive and anti-poor” the proposal to exclude 4Ps beneficiaries from receiving their

conditional cash grants if they do not get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“The proposal is downright oppressive and anti-poor, and simply unacceptable.

Indigent families and their dependent children will suffer more if they get deprived of their cash subsidies,” Defensor, House committee on welfare of children vice chairperson, said in a statement on Sunday.

“Instead of penalizing povertystricken families, the government should find better ways to further improve public access to COVID-19 vaccination services,” Defensor said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said the "no vax, no subsidy” plan was “absolutely unacceptable, inhuman and callous.”

“It pains me to see a government that has shown nothing but a total callous disregard for the vulnerable sector of our society. It is yet another display of the government’s callousness,” Drilon said.

“It only shows that the DILG is detached from reality and unaware of the real plight of the poor,” he added.

Partido Reporma presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson said it is a personal decision for one to get vaccinated or not. Instead of punishing people, the government should give them

incentives to encourage them to get their jabs, he said.

Senator Francis Pangilinan agreed.

“Incentivize, [do] not penalize [them]. We shouldn't be cutting their subsidies. Taking away the money that will feed them is not the solution,” he said in Filipino.

He said the 4Ps should be implemented without conditions because that is the help needed by a poor family.

Pangilinan also urged the government to use the barangay structure to identify unvaccinated residents and to schedule vaccination days.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the policy does not help the poor, and said there are no conditions in the 4Ps law that recipients must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said the purpose of the 4Ps is to help the poor survive difficult times by giving them some funds while requiring them to do certain acts like having their children checked regularly at health centers.

These conditions were discussed at the start of the program's funding.

"It will not be proper to add a condition (which can be argued as unreasonable) to the PPP program without prior approval by the representatives of the people," he added.

Meanwhile, Drilon said the DILG should recall its proposal and called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the lead agency for the program, to protect the welfare of 4Ps beneficiaries.

“Let DSWD handle 4Ps. I call on the DSWD to defend the 4Ps beneficiaries against the ‘iron fist’ of DILG,” Drilon said.

Drilon, who is among the authors of Republic Act No. 11310 that institutionalized 4Ps, said that vaccination is not part of the conditions that beneficiaries must fulfill before receiving assistance.

The government’s flagship anti-poverty alleviation program has about 4.4 million Filipino families as beneficiaries since the time of the late President Benigno Aquino, who prioritized the program and increased its beneficiaries from about 700,000 in 210 to 4.4. million towards the end of his term, Drilon said.

“It is contrary to the 4Ps law to withhold benefits or expel members who are not vaccinated. The DILG cannot just do that. That will be inhuman and totally insensitive,” Drilon said.

The DSWD had earlier maintained that COVID-19 vaccination is not among the conditions of 4Ps and vowed to oppose the proposal all out.

The spokesman for Vice President

Leni Robredo also spoke out against the DILG proposal, saying she believed it was not right to force or threaten anyone.

“There are many solutions that need not be forced,” said her spokesman, Ibarra Gutierrez, during her weekly radio program over dzXL. Instead of threatening people who refuse to be vaccinated, he said, they should be provided with incentives.

DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya earlier said the government was exploring the possibility of stripping 4Ps beneficiaries of their subsidies if they refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

On the other hand, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said he supported the vaccination of children under the 4Ps. "The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) already includes up-todate vaccinations of children as a conditionality. I see no reason why COVID-19 is to be considered an exception for this requirement. That said, while it would certainly address vaccine coverage, vaccine hesitancy is a matter of trust,” he said.

He said people appear to discriminate among brands, and there's nothing much that “we can do to dissuade them about these preferences.”

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He noted that public utility vehicles (PUVs) have already increased their passenger capacity to 70 percent.

Abalos said weekday operating hours of malls in the National Capital Region would also be extended starting November 15.

The new operating hours for Metro Manila malls from Monday to Friday would be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Philippines logged on Sunday 2,605 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 2,803,213 as two laboratories were not able to submit their data on time, the Department of Health reported.

The DOH also reported 191 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 44,430.

The country recorded 3,901 new recoveries, which brought the total recoveries to 2,725,257.

Active cases stood at 33,526, the lowest since March 1.

Of the active cases, 66 percent were mild, 5.7 percent were asymptomatic, 3.8 percent were critical, 9 percent were severe, and 15.41 percent were moderate.

In Metro Manila, 38 percent of ICU beds, 28 percent of isolation beds, 26 percent of ward beds, and 24 percent of ventilators, were in use.

The independent OCTA Research Group meanwhile said the NCR and most provinces were seeing a decline in COVID-19 cases, but the virus reproduction number was still critical in Pudtol, Apayao and Santa Ana, Cagayan.

"The delta surge is slowing down in the NCR and most provinces in the Philippines. However, there are smaller municipalities where outbreaks have occurred," said the research group.

Davao City and Antipolo are at low risk.

Reproduction number refers to the number of people that may be infected by one case.

OCTA said the Reproduction Number was at 3.80 in Pudtol, and 2.17 in Santa Ana as of November 5.

It also said the healthcare utilization rate in Santa Ana as of Nov. 4 was also at 100 percent, also considered critical.

Furthermore, the research group said the average daily attack rate (ADAR) or the number of new daily cases per 100,000 was at 128.05 in Pudtol, and 51.01 in Santa Ana as of November 5, likewise in the critical level.

Lubang in Occidental Mindoro also had an ADAR of 80 as of that date.

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the day, the law remains, the law,” Divina said.

Divina was the second legal luminary from law universities who have expressed opinions against a petition which sought

Yolanda...

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measure seeking to create the Department of Disaster Resilience, which the House of Representatives on Sept. 22, 2020 voted 241 against seven with one abstention to pass on third and final reading.

The proposal remains pending in the Senate.

“Eight years ago, we, in Tacloban City and other parts of the Visayas, experienced up close the horrors brought by super typhoon ‘Yolanda.’

It is not that easy to erase those

TOP-PERFORMING LGU FOR PEDIATRIC VAX.

Bacolod City booked the highest number of teenagers with co-morbidities inoculated in a single venue during the nationwide maiden run last Oct. 29 of the government's Pediatric A3 vaccination campaign. Mayor Evelio Leonardia led local officials during the initial rollout at the Riverside College annex for minors aged 12 to 17 years old.

A total of 266 minors were given the Pfizer jab, the Department of Health said. ‘Our campaign against COVID-19 can be likened to a race against time.

We need to move fast to protect our citizens and their families and keep our communities safe.

That's how we achieve herd immunity,’ Leonardia said.

those who are highly vulnerable and residents who live in high-density populations,” he said.

Galvez cited the LGUs' vital roles in boosting the public uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of the brand. He reiterated his support for mandatory vaccination.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will help transport

COVID-19 vaccines in remote areas outside Metro Manila.

In an interview on radio dzBB, PNP spokesman Col. Roderick Augustus Alba said that they will be dispersing buses, trucks, coasters, and choppers as part of the effort to deliver the vaccines in various provinces that lack supply.

The PNP also committed to deploy

117 high-speed tactical watercraft, police gunboats, fast boats, and rubber boats to help in the distribution process.

Alba said the PNP held a series of meetings with other agencies following instructions from President Rodrigo Duterte on Nov. 3 for the security forces to provide resources and support in the delivery of the vaccines.

The House of Representatives on Sept.

30 passed on third and final reading the proposed P5.024-trillion budget for 2022, and transmitted the bill to the Senate on Oct. 25.

“As soon as the Senate is done with its own version of the budget, the House will be selecting the contingent to the bicameral conference committee to help reconcile the two versions,” the House speaker said.

Velasco said Congress would also take up the proposals on suspending or cutting excise taxes on petroleum products.

Congress would want to know why the prices of fuel products continued to go up in just a matter of weeks, he said.

“As we prepare for the wider reopening of businesses, we must ensure that our

economic recovery will not be hampered by unwelcome disruptions, such as the unimpeded sharp rise in the cost of fuel,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the online House Pass System would be implemented as part of health and security protocols starting today.

All House personnel must present the QR code generated by the system before they are allowed entry to House premises.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Sunday said he might call a caucus today or Tuesday with the 2021 national budget as the agenda as Congress resumes its sessions today.

"Perhaps, we will call a caucus either Monday or Tuesday because there are only a few weeks so we can thoroughly clarify the scheduling of the budget," said Sotto in an interview over radio dwIZ. He said budget hearings will be con-

ducted from Monday to Thursday.

They can also have them on Fridays if needed.

Senate Finance committee chairperson Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said they are working on including the Special Risk Allowance (SRA) and other important health interventions to ensure the country's preparedness next year in the event of a new strain like the Delta variant.

Also on Sunday, some lawmakers called on government agencies to improve spending, and the execution of services and projects.

“Time is up for the 'for later release funds' and for all thoseprograms and projects that should have been spent in the months past and for the coming remaining seven weeks of 2021 because the Filipino people are now looking for the funds and requiring results,” Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette

Herrera said.

Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao said with “the gradual reopening of the economy now in November and December -- barring any COVID resurgence -- government agencies now have the chance to do much better than they have in the past 10 months” when they were under stricter quarantine conditions.

“If they must work in three shifts to cover a 24/7 cycle, they should so that the jobs get done well, on time, with no delays,” he added.

Siao said instead of declaring any yet-unspent funds as savings or returning them to the National Treasury, those should be spent on the originally intended projects, programs and services.

“They should not be for later release at this point because there is no more later after the next nine weeks ahead of us,” he said.

to cancel or deny Marcos' CoC because he failed to file his income tax returns.

Divina shared the view of Ateneo University law expert and former Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, saying the petition filed with the Comelec to cancel the CoC of Marcos had no basis and is unlikely to move forward.

In an interview with dzRH, Agra said

it was clearly stated in the Omnibus Election Code that Marcos was qualified to run for the presidency in next year’s election because he has no shortcomings in his CoC submission.

“What happened when I read the case -- it does not apply to presidentiable BBM. He was not sentenced to imprisonment.

He is guilty to pay a fine,” Agra said.

The Ateneo law professor clarified that he was not a Marcos’ lawyer or supporter, but based on his analysis of the petition, it appeared that the case was not tax evasion but simply a failure to file his ITR. Agra said the law stated that to cancel the CoC of any candidate, he or she must be found guilty and punished with

more than 18 months of imprisonment or be convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.

“Moral turpitude, if you are a bit rude, immoral, you really want to cheat or commit fraud. The question now is: is not filing an income tax return a crime involving moral turpitude? Of course not,” Agra said.

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a "no vaccine preference policy" so that all stockpiled jabs will be used up prior to expiration.

“This will be a preview, as we push for mandatory vaccination, especially of

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memories in our hearts and minds as well as the pain. We still grieve as we remember our fallen brothers and sisters,” Rep. Martin said.

Rep. Yedda, for her part, said there is no forgetting the pain and grief caused by the tragedy.

"We will always remember the courage and selflessness of those who come to our side,” she said.

“That is why every 8th of November is a date we will hold sacred, whenwe recall how one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, struck our home region, leaving tens of thousands of people dead and missing, millions homeless and livelihoods destroyed. It

was the worst of times, the adversities we will always keep in our hearts,” she added.

The Romualdezes gave their hefty salute to all first responders, including local and international donors who selflessly and bravely answered the call to protect people and properties despite risking their own safety.

They said the people of Region VIII have remained undeterred in looking to the future with greater confidence and in rebuilding once more their homes and lives.

“What eases the pain partly is the collective effort exerted by our fellow Filipinos to help us get back on

our feet. We will never forget your kindness shown to us,” the Majority Floor Leader said.

“For a moment, Filipinos have shown to the world what ’malasakit’ means to us as a people. May this trait of empathy continue to burn in our hearts as we all strive to build a better future for our people.

Muli, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat,” he added.

The party-list lawmaker thanked the volunteers, including President Rodrigo Duterte who was then Davao City mayor, for extending their help to the Yolanda victims.

She thanked the Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line of Ja-

pan) forbeing a member of the first responders in Tacloban City.

NYK Line, Japan’s biggest and oldest shipping company, donated 1,700 reams of A4 bond papers and 10 units of Fuji printers to three most densely populated schools in Leyte –- the Leyte National High School, San Jose National High School and Greendale Residences National High School.

The majority floor leader lauded the Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines for its “cash-for-work” program that employed thousands of people of Tacloban City and conducted free eye cataract operations for more than 100 patients.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

GIANT CHRISTMAS TREE.

San Jose Del Monte (SJDM) Rep. Florida P. Robes and SJDM Mayor Arturo Robes led the unveiling and lighting of a giant Christmas Tree on Friday night to express gratitude to frontliners and signal the start of recovery efforts amid the improving COVID-19 situation.

Also present during the ceremony was Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello and SJDM officials.

Manny Palmero

South Korea lifts restrictions on foreign workers LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III has directed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to commence processing of the deployment of workers to South Korea following the announced lifting of restrictions on the entry of foreign workers there.

“This is very good news not only to our entry permit system (EPS) workers and their families but also to the Korean employers who have been waiting for our workers to return,” Bello said.

On Friday, Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) announced that it will allow the entry of workers under its EPS from all sending countries, including the Philippines before the end of this month.

Bello said that the lifting of restrictions for EPS workers is a muchawaited development for thousands of EPS workers who have been waiting for their deployment since last year.

According to MOEL, the entry of EPS workers will be subject to preentry measures such as full vaccination and negative PCR test results, and post-entry measures such as mandatory quarantine and PCR testing.

PCS webinar tackles political PR, advertising THE Philippine Communication Society (PCS) will be hosting a webinar to tackle political PR and advertising.

The PCS said the forum is titled: “Truth Well Told: Political PR and Advertising,” and will tackled issues on the truth in PR and advertising, particularly in the area of politics.

Manuel Quezon III, Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist and a historian of the presidency, will give a historical overview of modern presidential campaigns in this fourth webinar organized by the PCS in partnership with the University of the Philippines System and TVUP, the Internet Television Network of the University of the Philippines, under the National Forum on Communication and Democracy: Philippine Elections 2022.

Also slated to speak during the roundtable discussion is political strategist Alan German, president of Agents International Public Relations.

German, who describes himself as a “persuasion specialist,” has worked on a number of campaigns.

Other resource persons are Prof.

Earl Jaynus Guzman, who teaches political communication at Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Atty.

Rejie Jularbal, legal counsel of the Advertising Standards Council. The forum will be moderated by journalist Christian Esguerra, host of the nightly political talk show “After the Fact” on the ABS-CBN News Channel, and who teaches political reporting at the University of Santo Tomas.

‘Don’t use Malampaya for political grandstanding’

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URIGAO del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel is urging senators seeking reelection not to engage in “political grandstanding” on the Malampaya gas field issue.

Shell Petroleum N.V earlier agreed to sell its 100-percent stake in Shell Philippines Exploration, which in turn has a 45-percent operating interest in a petroleum service contract which includes the Malampaya gas field.

In statement, Pimentel said “we would urge our senators – especially those seeking to extend their terms in office in 2022, and who are eager to draw attention to themselves – to spare Shell from their publicity stunts.”

The administration lawmaker, in the

statement, further said “if we make it difficult for foreign investors like Shell to get in and get out of existing petroleum service contracts, then nobody will help us develop our vast deep-water gas deposits that we need badly to meet our growing demand for electricity.”

Pimentel also took a swipe at reelectionist senators, saying that “assuming the reelectionist senators really want to make themselves look good, they should address more pressing issues, such as mounting joblessness.”

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“We cannot afford to send the wrong signal to would-be foreign gas developers because we will surely need their help in the months ahead,” Pimentel added.

The lawmaker emphasized that the country needs “the likes of British Petroleum plc, Exxon Mobil Corp., Saudi Arabian Oil Co. and Total Energies SE if we want to harness our other gas supplies beneath the West Philippine Sea.” The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier said Senator Win Gatchalian’s statements regarding the sale of Shell Philippines Exploration shares of stocks to the Udenna Group are “misguided,” “The senator’s statements are misguided, lacking in factual and legal basis,” the DOE said.

Ongpin asks DOJ chief to dismiss illegal drug raps

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has been asked to reverse the finding of probable cause to indict Julian Ongpin, son of former Trade secretary and businessman Roberto Ongpin, for illegal drug charges before a regional trial court in La Union for lack of evidence to hold him liable for the alleged crime.

In a 32-page petition for review, Ongpin appealed to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to dismiss the criminal case against him on the ground that the panel of prosecutors had no evidence to support its findings that he was in possession of cocaine, which was the basis used for his indictment for violation of Section 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“The evidence relied upon by the panel does not establish probable cause that respondent-appellant was in possession of the subject drugs,” the petition stated.

The petitioner-appellant stressed that the DOJ prosecutors had committed lapses in appreciating the evidence presented by Ongpin which would prove his innocence to the alleged crime.

Ongpin pleaded for the withdrawal of the information filed against him by the DOJ panel of prosecutors before the San Fernando City, La Union Regional Trial Court Branch 27, as well as the lifting of the Precautionary Hold Department Order (PHDO) issued against him by the said court.

Villar launches latest book on farm tourism

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SEN. Cynthia A. Villar launched the 6th Edition of her Farm Tourism Book for 2021 to promote farm tourism and farm schools in the country.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, said the book consists of 2,805 listings and “is a directory of farm schools, tourism farms, learning sites, and TESDA Agri Centers in the Philippines. It contains in full color, photographs and contact details of these sites from all the country’s 17 regions.”

The directory also includes the classification of farm whether it’s under rice, corn, coconut, organic crops, non-organic crops, high-value organic crops, bamboo, livestock, poultry, dairy, aquaculture, wild catch, and diversified. It also features a list of TESDAaccredited courses on agriculture, which farm schools can teach for free students and farmers.

CONSULTATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT. Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman attended a consultation meeting and field investigation with experts from the Alliance for Safe, Sustainable & Resilient Environments (ASSURE). The team from ASSURE shared their expertise on exploring naturebased solutions against coastal climatic impacts.

Norman Cruz

Developer opens Xevera ‘Christmas Village’ in Mabalacat

By Jess Malabanan MABALACAT CITY – Property developer Westchester Realty Corporation (WRC), rebuilder of Xevera Mabalacat and Bacolor township projects formally opened on Saturday its “Christmas Village” to residents and homeowners.

The firm said it is aiming to bring joy

and cheers during the holiday season for people to forget momentarily the difficulties brought about by the COVID 19 pandemic.

“Westchester is not just developing community but we also bring joy to our homeowners through the Christmas Village,” said Rodolfo Valencia, chairman of WRC.

Valencia said led the switching of giant Christmas Tree situated at the clubhouse building.

He vowed to continue the year-end event in the next succeeding years.

“This will be made as a traditional activity here,” he said.

Businessman Delfin Lee, who attended the event expressed his gratitude

to Valencia and the WRC for fulfilling their promise in redeveloping and bringing back the old glory of Xevera township communities.

“Westchester continuously develops the township community after more than 10 years of being stagnant. So far so good,” said Lee who was among VIPs invited to grace the occasion.

Cop faces abduction, robbery probe

CLEAN-UP. Members of the Quezon City Task Force on Solid Waste Management

together with volunteers conduct another clean-up drive on the different creeks, rivers, and canals in the city as part of efforts to improve garbage disposal and waste management.

Manny Palmero

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday ordered the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to expedite dismissal proceedings against a policeman involved in what appears as abduction and robbery incident in Manila.

Citing reports from National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Eleazar said Patrolman Wilfredo Mindanao, 42, of the Police Security Protection Group (PSPG), and his alleged cohort, Romeo Aday, 47, were arrested on Nov. 5 at Trece De Agosto Bridge in Paco, Manila after allegedly “arresting” a man whom they claimed to be in possession of illegal drugs.

Aday, a driver, allegedly introduced himself as a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent to the victim.

He claimed that the victim was under arrest for possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

The suspects, according to the report, detained the victim in Mindanao’s residence in Paco, Manila and demanded P50,000 from him in exchange for his liberty.

After receiving a complaint from a vendor who witnessed the alleged kidnapping, policemen from the Manila Police District’ Paz Police Community Precinct PS 5 located the suspects and found them illegally detaining the victim.

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PLAY TIME. Children enjoy a weekend respite at Luneta Park in Manila from the 20-month lockdown since the pandemic began in March last year. The National Capital Region was placed under a more relaxed Alert Level 2 as cases of COVID-19 have gone down. Norman Cruz

Political dynasties impossible to end, not inherently bad—Rody

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HE existence of political dynasties is “not inherently bad,” President Rodrigo Duterte said over the weekend as he stressed that it would not be eradicated unless the 1987 Constitution is amended and the country’s culture is changed.

proposed revisions to the 1987 Constitution, calling it “anti-democratic.”

A number of anti-political dynasty bills filed before the 18th Congress also remain pending at the committee level.

Duterte, whose three children are also holding government posts, said the antidynasty proposal “will never be passed.”

“If you convert it into a constituent assembly and allow Congress to initiate changes in a constitution, [an anti-political dynasty law] will still never be passed, not because we do not want it or we want

it, but the people, from my experience, no matter where you may be, there are so many who will oppose that,” he said.

Duterte said there would be no total prohibition of political dynasties, “unless you change the whole picture, unless you change the Constitution, unless you change the culture.”

“But if we stay like this, we will have dynasties. And dynasties are not bad,” he said.

Duterte’s children — Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, Davao City

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte – all followed his political footsteps.

Duterte said the only problem with political dynasties is that some families are involved in unlawful acts, such as the illegal drug trade.

“The problem with dynasties is if the family that rules the city monopolizes the businesses, kills their enemies, and then later on in some areas, it is the mayors themselves who would lead the drug trade,” he said.

Duterte said a proposal to prohibit political dynasties in the country will never be accepted, citing the existence of families currently holding elective positions.

“The provision in the constitution about political dynasties will never push through no matter how hard they try,” Duterte said during the inauguration of infrastructure projects in Dapa, Siargao Island.

The 17th Congress has rejected the proposal of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Federalism and Constitutional Reforms on the 1987 Constitution to include the ban on political dynasties in the

‘Listening tour’ of Isko takes Cebu by storm

By Rey E. Requejo AKSYON Demokratiko presidential candidate Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso took Cebu province by storm during his two-day “Listening Tour” that started on Friday and effectively won the hearts and minds of Cebuanos who were elated to see him in person.

“Moreno’s crusade to listen to the people from different sectors was greatly appreciated and his message of ‘Buhay at Kabuhayan’ was loudly acknowledged wherever he went in this Central Visayas province considered to be the No. 1 voterich province in the country,” Domagoso’s camp said in a statement.

His first stop was the town of Barili, the hometown of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and her brother 3rd District Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia who personally accompanied the presidential candidate during his two-day Cebu sojourn.

Domagoso met with entrepreneurs of micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of Barili town where he explained two of his priority agendas to revive the sector that has lost thousands of small businesses and laid off millions of workers nationwide due to the pandemic.

If elected, the Manila City mayor vowed to cut taxes of petroleum products and electricity by half to provide the people with immediate savings.

After the dialogue, Domagoso’s entourage proceeded to Dumanjug Heritage Park for a brief meeting with local officials from Cebu’s 7th District.

Among the officials present were Dumanjug Mayor Efren Gica, Ronda Mayor Terence Blanco, Alcantara Mayor Fritz Lastimoso, Badian Mayor Carmencita Lumain, Alegria Mayor Verna Magallon and Ginatilan Dean Michael Cinco who all expressed their deep appreciation for Moreno’s visit.

Lacson-Sotto tandem holds major in-person rally in Laguna PARTIDO Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson showed up with running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III in-person for the first time at a major political gathering held in Cabuyao City, Laguna over the weekend to meet thousands of their supporters in the province.

The pair took the fifth iteration of their “Online Kumustahan” series to Laguna on Saturday to personally communicate their platforms of government for 2022 and beyond that are anchored in their Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) agenda.

Both Lacson and Sotto remembered Laguna as one of the provinces where they always emerged successful during their previous senatorial runs, with the latter often placing at the top while the former ranked at either close second or third.

“If the elections are held here in Laguna, we will win,” Sotto told hundreds of their supporters present in the socially distanced political rally held at the Nevalga Farm assembly hall in Barangay Sala, Cabuyao City.

Thousands more residents of Laguna expressed their support for the LacsonSotto tandem virtually as the entire activity was connected to 23 satellite venues, including some barangays under the cities and municipalities of Biñan, Calamba, San Pablo, San Pedro and Santa Rosa.

Sotto said they are foregoing retirement for the next six years to help solve the enormous sets of problems facing our nation today with respect to public health, economy, national security, peace and order, among others.

The incumbent Senate President explained that by offering themselves to the public this election season, he and Lacson would finally be granted a chance to implement the many laws they have authored more thoroughly and with higher success rates.

Sotto said their BRAVE program is “the silver bullet” that could address the Filipinos’ most common and immediate concerns—from unemployment, poverty, to widespread corruption—all at once.

‘Alert Level 2 in NCR to bring back more jobs’

DISCIPLINED. Thousands of residents from Carmona, Cavite attend a socially-distanced political gathering over the weekend for the

presidential bid of Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson. The senator appeared in-person at the assembly hall of Carmona Town Plaza to present his platforms of government for 2022 and beyond, anchored on his Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) policy agenda.

Clear and relevant: Leni’s Kalayaan sa COVID Plan hailed REPRESENTATIVES from the urban poor and small business sectors said that presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo’s Kalaayan sa COVID Plan was “clear and relevant” as the pandemic continues to be the country’s top problem.

“Her platform is clear and timely because the pandemic is the number one problem in our country now. It is clear that she will prioritize this,” said former kagawad Josefina

de la Serna of Barangay 599 in Sta. Mesa Manila, Manila at a small gathering with fellow Kakampinks after Robredo’s Kalayaan sa COVID Plan was released in various social media platforms on November 3.

Other supporters of the Vice President also joined a Facebook Live discussion hosted by Team Leni Robredo.

These included the Nanays for Leni and

Pacquiao eyes ‘clearinghouse’ for officials

By Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao vowed to adopt a strict performance audit on all government officials and create a panel that will scrutinize all would-be members of his Cabinet should he win the presidency.

“If I put you in a department, you have to give me your accomplishment report every six months. You have to report to me every six months and I will evaluate you,” he said.

“I am strict when it comes to requirements (for Cabinet officials). For example, I placed

you there and gave you six months or one year to accomplish something and if you failed to show me any improvement or development in the agency, I will replace you,” Pacquiao added.

The boxing champ added he did not hesitate to cut ties with friends and close associates who used his name to make money, but did not go into details.

Pacquiao went to the Legazpi Sunday Market in Barangay San Lorenzo in Makati City to boost the morale of small business owners reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alliance of Labor Leaders For Leni (ALL4Leni) led by their spokesperson and senatorial candidate, Atty. Sonny Matula.

Matula said the current administration missed opportunities to regularize employees and failed to support small businesses as they reeled from the outbreak of the pandemic last year by choosing to import PPEs instead of sourcing them locally.

Nanays for Leni representative Bernadette Cariaga described Robredo’s COVID plan as a “first step” after she read the blueprint for the “Kalayaan sa Kakulangan sa Edukasyon” (Freedom from Inadequate Education).

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., lauded the government for placing Metro Manila in a more relaxed Alert Level 2, saying it is a move toward restoring economic vitality and creating more jobs.

Marcos said this was his earlier call to the government – to open businesses to recover and revive the country’s economy.

“We are thankful to the government for the more relaxed alert level status.

I am sure this will create more jobs and help spur economic recovery,” he said.

It will be recalled that the country’s unemployment rate rose to 8.9 percent in September 2021, which is considered the highest this year.

“We are hoping that more businesses will reopen as more consumers are out and about to patronize their businesses,” Marcos said.

At the same time, Marcos called on the public to continue to follow health protocols despite the eased community quarantine protocols.

“Let us go on with our lives, but let us still wear our face masks, let us always wash our hands and follow the health standard of our government. Let’s fight COVID-19 together,” Marcos said.

Ka Leody to prioritize women, LGBT in Cabinet LABAN ng Masa presidential and vice presidential bets Leody “Ka Leody” de Guzman and Walden Bello will appoint women and lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans, queers, intersex and others (LGBTQIA+) to fill more than half of all positions in cabinet.

“The Cabinet is the closest advisers of the President,” De Guzman said.

“We never had a lack of competent leaders from the women and LGBTQIA+ sectors.

But why is it that for the longest time, they are underrepresented or even not represented?”

Among those De Guzman and Bello are considering inviting to their cabinet are for-

mer chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and former social welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

The list also includes progressive civil society leaders such as public health advocate Eleanor Jara, women’s health activist Princess Nemenzo, anti-debt campaigner Lidy Nacpil, informal workers leader Flor Santos, indigenous people’s rights activist Beverly Longid, environmentalist Ipat Luna, journalists Inday Espina-Varona and Marites Vitug, feminist thinker Aida Santos, academic activists Marivic Raquiza and Melay Abao, and prominent civil society organizer Zena Bernardo Bernardo.

BIKE FOR JOBS. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte leads the distribution of bikes and

helmets under the ‘Tulong Pangkabuhayan Program’ for QCitizens who lost their jobs during pandemic in Brgy. Balingasa. Manny Palmero

Opinion First person

I SELDOM write in the first person. In a way, it is my amateurish attempt to ensure objectivity in my perspective of things - in a way ensure that the personalities don’t get mixed up with the issues.

But I am making an exception now.

I am disheartened by the wanton name-calling, the anger and hatred that I see all over Facebook right now about the events in our country.

That is why I decided to write about those who have been very vocal about their opposition to the candidacy of Bongbong Marcos – or to their family’s legacy I hope this will not begin another angry thread on my wall, or on yours. I do not want to fuel further the wanton debates here and there on social media.

I write because I want to understand, and of course to be understood.

How can we move forward?

Many of you know I work for Martin Ro Romualdez. I voted for Bongbong Marcos for vice-president. I campaigned last election alongside the two of them on stage, at times together with Mrs. Imelda Marcos.

But, whether you believe me or not, I believe in EDSA. I believe it was a brave act to end a 20-year old regime, sweet justice to those who died, tortured and disappeared because of the innumerable abuses committed by the military, by those in power. I believe that Ninoy Aquino lived and died for this country, and rightly so, a martyr for freedom and democracy. I am thankful to Cory Aquino who readily responded to the call of rebuilding a fragile democracy. I miss Jaime Cardinal Sin for the role he played as a courageous prophet of our times. They are all heroes to me.

But I will not deprive Ferdinand Marcos, and of the legacy of his life’s work as a soldier and a former president of this nation. He is, after all, a survivor of the Death March. I believe he loved his country dearly, inasmuch as each one of us does. We may not agree with his politics and policies. He may have his sins and missteps. But let us let God and history be the judge of that. I will not dare to speak for everyone. After all, history favors those who succeed. Would our country have remembered him differently if EDSA turned violent and failed? Remember EDSA was first an attempted coup before it became the

HANDING over a piping hot meal at exactly the time promised, Chinese food delivery driver Zhuang Zhenhua triumphantly tapped his job as complete through the Meituan app — and was immediately fined half of his earnings.

A glitch meant it inaccurately registered him as being late and he incurred an automatic penalty -- one of many ways, he said, delivery firms exploit millions of workers even as the sector booms.

Authorities have launched a crackdown demanding firms including Meituan and Alibaba’s Ele.me ensure basic labor protections such as proper compensation, insurance, as well as tackling algorithms that effectively encourage dangerous driving.

Delivery firms exploit millions of workers even as the sector booms.

But more than a dozen drivers told AFP there has been little change on the ground.

Often the only way to complete orders on time is to “go really fast... speed past red lights, drive on the wrong side of the road,” Zhuang said.

“At the beginning, (the app allocated) 40 to 50 minutes to complete an order — now for an order within a distance of two kilometres, with the same distance and time as before, we are given 30 minutes,” he explained.

The coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdowns sent demand for meal delivery services soaring: the sector is now worth 664 billion yuan ($100 billion), according to a report from the China Hospitality Association.

The nation’s competitive app-based services have expanded into nearly every aspect of modern life, with digital-savvy consumers used to instantaneous service and fast delivery due to a ready flow of cheap labor.

But after years of unrestricted growth, China’s Big Tech is coming under fire from Beijing

peaceful revolution that we now celebrate it.

I do not intend to be an apologist for the Marcoses. I respect you as a friend and as a Filipino.

But, I hope you let me ask an honest question, “What justice do we really want?”

The Marcoses were deposed in 1986 and were exiled from our country for almost seven years. But more than 30 years have gone by since the revolution. We have changed the Constitution, instituting the Presidential Commission on Good Government to demand accountability from Marcos and his heirs. We have silenced the accomplishments of his 20-year regime, replacing it with tales of abuse, corruption and torture, as if it were the only truth about his years in power.

Since then, we have elected two Aquinos and another hero of EDSA to the highest office of the land. We had every chance to exact accountability and thus to affirm history as it should be. We had the opportunity to rebuild a new nation that would have lived up to the promise of EDSA. But how could have we missed that?

Poverty remains the greatest challenge of our nation. The gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow. The menace of rebellion continues to threaten communities that have long lived in the midst of war. We brought back the oligarchy to power, created monopolies after monopolies, expanding by leaps, inequalities and social injustice. In the meanwhile, all throughout the last thirty years, we blamed a twenty-year old dictatorship for all these adversities, Marcos for his supposed abuses and his alleged corruption.

This does not mean however, turning a blind eye against the abuses, the killings, the corruption, and the crimes of the Marcos years. And yet we forget that the people who died, in the name of freedom, achieved their victory already when we finally restored democracy in 1986. They won when we finally brought a new political order under the 1986 Constitution and when we restored free elections.

But what did we do with the victory that we achieved? We betrayed them. Every administration that succeeded Marcos. Every Filipino who forgot the price for which our freedom was paid.

We allowed the old oligarchy and a politics of patronage to exploit us once again. We allowed the courts to sleep over the Marcos cases, and now we argue about how the financial compensation for the HR victims would be distributed, as if they were loot that we took away from battle. We allowed apathy to infect our youth, mass media to corrupt their minds and hearts and consumerism to distort our values. We put a price on every institution we once held as sacrosanct – the votes we sold and paid for, the media that was once the bulwark of truth, and the moral values that we now consider relative depending on what one’s personal perspective was.

with Tencent, Didi and Meituan all targeted over anti-monopoly rules.

Earlier this year, Alibaba was fined a record $2.8 billion after an investigation found it had abused its dominant market position.

Lives at risk There is mounting public concern over the amount of data handled by popular apps, including food delivery platforms, and Chinese authorities have directed the cyberspace watchdog to look at how algorithms are used by tech conglomerates.

Shortened delivery times have also caused more accidents in recent years, amid promises of swift service.

Globally, the sector is facing scrutiny over its treatment of predominantly freelance workers, who endure low pay, few employee rights, and are often hired through agencies to avoid providing benefits.

China’s gig economy now accounts for almost one quarter of its workforce — 200 million people are in “flexible employment,” according to government figures.

The plight of food delivery and truck drivers caught public attention after little compensation was offered to the family of one courier who died delivering meals for Ele.me in Beijing, and a second set himself on fire in a dispute with the firm over pay.

Despite being hailed as an essential service, particularly at the height of the pandemic, drivers earn just 7,700 yuan a month on average.

Zhuang said many feel they are putting their lives at risk because of algorithms used by apps to determine the route and travel time allowed before drivers incur a “late delivery” penalty.

Another rider, who gave his surname as Liu, told AFP that the allocated delivery time included the period it took for the food to be prepared, something beyond his control but that could impact his pay.

“If there are delays, riders take the blame,” the 40-year-old said, adding that the system made it hard to reject orders from slow merchants.

“It’s useless to complain,” said rider Chen Mingqiang, 50.

‘Nobody wants to pay’ Meituan, which has more than 628 million users, said it calculates the time needed for a

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A great danger to young minds

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OMMISSION on Higher Education chairman Prospero de Vera III said University of the Philippines officials should be “more prudent, circumspect, respectful and discerning” in issuing statements about its ban on “subversive” books and other documents from university libraries.

On Oct. 21, the Cordillera office of the commission released a memorandum urging private and public universities and colleges in the region to remove “subversive” materials from their libraries and online information services.

Regional Memorandum 113, series of 2021, said the office supported President Rodrigo Duterte’s institutionalization of the whole-of-nation approach to combating the communist rebellion.

According to the memo, subversive materials were “literatures (sic), references, publications, resources and items that contain pervasive ideologies of the Communist-Terrorist Groups.”

The CHED-CAR added that exposure to such information affects individuals’ consciousness. If left unprocessed, they may radicalize the mind.

“It is our moral consciousness not to allow our youth to be engrained with peace-detrimental ideologies that could turn them as subversive (sic) and become communist-terrorist (sic). It is a public knowledge that these materials are also used in the infiltration and recruitment of students in our respective institutions,” the memorandum said.

Earlier, Kalinga State University, Isabela State University and Aklan State University removed publications

related to the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines from their libraries. This was done at the behest of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Only a certain kind of government tells its citizens what they can and cannot read.

De Vera said these schools were merely exercising their academic freedom.

As a result, UP issued a statement on the matter: “UP Diliman categorically protests and condemns the military purge of what they call subversive books, documents, and materials from state universities. This is a violation of academic freedom to teach, research and expand knowledge freely and without prior restraint,” said Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo.

In a forum, Nemenzo also said that such efforts on the part of the government constitute a clear stifling of academic freedom, and that molding stu-

dents to have a free, open and intrepid mind is only possible when they are exposed to the widest range of cultures and perspectives.

“We have faith in critical thinking,” he said, expressing confidence that our young people can make good decisions to discern between right and wrong.

Another response to the government’s action was the launch of Aswang sa Aklatan, a “free and easily accessible resource of endangered books and material” that the government has deemed subversive and mentally unhealthy.

Censorship or any attempt to control what people can or cannot read, watch, or listen to has no place in a civilized and enlightened society.

Only the most insecure leaders will order a ban on books and other documents that provide readers information to help them make sense of their world.

Instead of trying to dictate on our young people what they can and cannot read, officials should instead work harder at helping the population with the “how” of reading, enabling them to separate facts from propaganda and fabrication, and allowing them to take principled positions based on the merit of what they observe — not based on what they are told to believe or mouth.

Keeping people in the dark by forbidding access to information is a move of the desperate. It is the greatest threat and danger to the development of a thinking people — unless our officials precisely do not want us to be such, so that we can be malleable and acquiescent to their every whim.

A power and energy agenda devoid of corrupt interests

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Battle the algorithms: China’s delivery riders on the edge

By Beiyi Seow and Yuanhao Zhang

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

LIKE many of us pandemic-weary Filipinos, I have been cautiously venturing out of the confines of my little home. Of course I do this for very limited and well planned hours, just so I can wean myself out of the protracted lockdown mode. These days, mobility restrictions have eased owing to what I hope are relatively accurate reports of decreasing rates of infections and increasing COVID-19 vaccination numbers.

Each time I go out, I go through what feels like a pre-battle checklist to make sure I am well equipped and mentally alert to behave safely.

When I pulled up to the gas station to fill up, I was a bit shocked to see that diesel was P50.30 per liter! Then I remembered the recent news reports of rising global fuel prices, and transport groups calling for relief either by raising fare rates, temporarily suspending fuel excise taxes, providing direct cash aid or fuel price discounts, while government leaders mull over and debate on what to do.

Fuel price spikes trigger a chain reaction of economic dominoes with inflationary effects that as always, will hit the ordinary consumer the hardest. We think of fuel as the expensive liquid pumped to run transportation and all sorts of internal combustion engines. Actually, our ecosystems are dependent not just on oil derived petroleum products like gasoline, diesel, and kerosene but also by coal and natural gas which are the primary fuels for the country’s base load electricity power plants.

Fuel costs account for approximately 50 percent of generation price. The generation charge is 55 percent of the electricity bill we receive every month.

Electricity consumers feel every movement journey in four ways and allocates the longest from those options and includes a buffer.

In a written statement, the firm insisted such decisions were made “considering rider safety as the first priority, and also to satisfy consumers’ needs” and that drivers could contest unfair fines.

Last month, after China’s cyberspace regulator outlined plans for tighter controls on tech companies, Meituan said it would optimise its “algorithm strategy” and roll out greater allowances to help couriers avoid dangerous work conditions.

Kendra Schaefer, at Beijing-based consultancy Trivium, said a lack of transparency on how platforms were coded to determine driver requirements and compensation was a serious issue.

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

in fuel prices because of the pass-through provision on imported fuel costs in power price agreements with distribution utilities. This is a policy that the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) Energy Transition Advisor Alberto R. Dalusung III is calling on the Energy Regulation Commission (ERC) to rectify -- by letting the generation companies absorb fuel pass-through costs instead of passing them on to consumers. To translate in simple language, the risk of price fluctuation, especially the increases, are passed on to us consumers. We take the hit.

Ordinary consumers are always hit the hardest.

We haven’t even fully opened the economy yet and already power industry projections are seeing peak power demand to exceed pre-pandemic levels. Red alerts and rotating brown-outs hit Luzon residents this year, blaming forced shutdowns of ageing and high maintenance power plants.

The depleting output of the Malampaya gas field where some of the biggest baseload power plants and 25 percent of Luzon’s electricity are dependent is expected to run out in about six years. With no new sources of liquefied natural gas, these power plants will be forced to shift to more expensive liquid fuel. This won’t really matter for these companies because they just pass on the burden to consumers.

The Malampaya cronyism issue involving the President’s close friend and campaign funder Dennis Uy’s $100 company buy-in deal, which respected columnist Jarius Bondoc revealed as having daily earnings of $1.15 million a day and combined with another Uy company that also got into Malampaya, making another $1.15 million a day, is reminiscent of the cronies of deposed dictator President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. This was a dark and plunderous era in our history that the dictator’s son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., “An algorithm is intended to maximize efficiency, unfortunately as we’re finding as society modernizes, algorithms maximize efficiency at the expense of humans,” she said.

“Everybody wants drivers to get treated better but nobody wants to pay for it.”

The sector relies heavily on migrant workers — who are often low-skilled and have come to cities from rural provinces in the hope of making money.

For many, there are few employment alternatives.

Zhuang conceded: “If I had the choice, I definitely wouldn’t work as a delivery driver. It’s a dangerous job, with high risk.” AFP

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

and family will attempt to re-write and reprise if they return to power. But that’s another story.

Going back to our power and energy problem, we’ve seen how the breakdown of power plants while other plants were doing planned maintenance work has bumped up generation costs. This is because distribution utilities are forced to buy power from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) to meet their customers’ power demand. This always happens around summer, when water levels of hydro power plants are not at full capacity because of low water levels and when all air conditioning units are working overtime and full blast because of the hot weather. This recurring problem reflects how thin our power reserves are.

This is worrisome because next summer is the May 2022 national elections.

Energy resilience is a matter of national security that must have the purest approach and should benefit our national interest, our people’s interest. We need a power and energy agenda devoid of corrupt interests. We need a clear roadmap that ensures stable and affordable electricity for the country’s economic recovery.

To get a deeper understanding of these issues, and viable solutions, I invite you to listen to the expert insights of esteemed panelists and representatives of stakeholders in the next virtual town hall discussion of Stratbase ADR Institute. The discussion is called “Ensuring Power Supply Security for a Sustainable Economic Recovery” and will be held on November 11, Thursday at 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM (Manila time).

Here’s the link to register: https://www.facebook. com/stratbaseadri/photos /a.1526521254325668/2987921884852257/

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Nearly 100 killed, dozens injured in Sierra Leone tanker explosion A MASSIVE fireball sparked by a fuel tanker explosion killed 98 people in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown, the West African country’s disaster management agency said on Saturday.

The blast happened when a fuel tanker collided with another truck at a petrol station on Friday night, according to witnesses.

The flames then spread, burning people in cars and on roads nearby.

The majority of the victims were street vendors and motorcyclists, many of whom were caught in the blaze while trying to retrieve fuel leaking from the tanker before it ignited, according to volunteer worker Jusu Jacka Yorma who was at the scene.

The National Disaster Management Agency said in a statement that 98 deaths had been recorded so far and “92 survivors are currently admitted to various hospitals in Freetown.”

This photograph shows burnt vehicles in Freetown on November 6, 2021, following a massive explosion that has killed close to a hundred people.

AFP

Vice-President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh had earlier given a death toll of 98 after arriving at the scene, adding that all those injured would receive free treatment.

A nurse at a hospital where victims were sent told AFP that many women, men and children had sustained “serious injuries.”

Rescue operations continued under police supervision on Saturday.

Hundreds of people gathered at the scene of the tragedy, many searching for missing relatives under the eye of security forces, an AFP correspondent said.

Contrary to some initial reports, a fuel depot near the accident did not explode, the correspondent added.

Video footage showed a burnt-out tanker and a truck, and the surrounding area littered with husks of vehicles, some still smoldering. AFP

Airlines prep for travel surge as US reopens Climate crisis may A give nuclear energy its second wind

FOR more than two decades, promoters and purveyors of nuclear energy felt shunned at UN climate change conferences.

At the COP26 summit underway in Glasgow, however, they have been welcomed with open arms, the UN’s top nuclear regulator told AFP. The specter of Chernobyl and Fukushima, along with the enduring problem of nuclear waste, kept energy generated by splitting atoms on the sidelines, even if that energy was virtually carbon free.

But as the climate crisis deepens and the need to transition away from fossil fuels becomes urgent, attitudes may be shifting.

“Nuclear energy is part of the solution to global warming, there’s no way around it,” said Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in an interview.

It already accounts for a quarter of “clean” – that is, carbon-free – energy worldwide, and Grossi said this COP is the first where it has “had a seat at the table.”

“The winds are changing.”

To have even a 50/50 chance of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels – the threshold for dangerous tipping points that could trigger runaway warming – global greenhouse emissions must be slashed by almost half within a decade, scientists say.

But things are still moving in the wrong O on T Thursday I C E said emisdirection: a N report sions in 2021 are approaching record levNotice is hereby given that LIMA PARK HOTEL, INC. els. with office address at Lima Commercial Estate, Malvar, Batangas is applying for registration with the TheofInternational Energy (IEA)of Board Investments (BOI) for theAgency Modernization Tourist Accommodation Facility hit (Lima Parkheights Hotel) under has warned they could new by R.A. 11534 (CREATE LAW) and the Special Law – 2023. of the 2020 IPP with a capacity of 136 rooms, Tourism withThat projectissite located at Lima Commercial helping refocus attentionEstate, on Malvar, Batangas. nuclear energy.

Any the person with COP valid objection/s on the above“At 2015 in Paris, nuclear mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, wasn’t saidthree Callum under oath,welcome,” with the BOI within (3) daysThomfrom the date of this publication. as, head of a recruitment firm for the nuclear industry, who was spotted (SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA at COP26 sporting Director a T-shirt saying Infrastructure and Services “Let’s Talk Nuclear.”

AFP Industries Service (MS-NOV. 5, 2021)

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REGISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL PAPERS

CITYLAND, INC.

: : x-------------------------------------------x NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on 25 October 2021, a sworn Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of CITYLAND, INC. for the registration of Five Hundred Million Pesos (₱ 500,000,000.00) worth of Commercial Papers.

According to the papers presented, the following persons are the directors/ officers of the Corporation: NAME Stephen C. Roxas Dr. Andrew I. Liuson Grace C. Liuson Josef C. Gohoc Peter S. Dee Anastasia Y. Dy Helen C. Roxas Benjamin I. Liuson Emma A. Choa Rudy Go Melita M. Revuelta Melita L. Tan Romeo E. Ng Rosario D. Perez Winefreda R. Go Dorothy U. So Jocelyn C. De Asis

POSITION Director/Chairman of the Board Director/Vice Chairman of the Board Director/Deputy Vice Chairman of the Board Director/President Independent Director Independent Director Director Director Executive Vice President/Treasurer Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer/Compliance & Corporate Information Officer/Data Protection Officer/Investor Relations Officer Vice President/Assistant Corporate Secretary/Alternate Compliance & Alternate Corporate Information Officer Vice President Vice President Vice President - Executive Affairs Vice President - Purchasing Department Assistant Vice President - Head of Internal Audit Department Corporate Secretary

In order to implement necessary health protocols consistent with the directives and guidelines of the relevant government agencies, the Commission hereby suspends, until further notice, the physical inspection of the RS and other papers/documents attached thereto (collectively referred to as “Documents”) as well as the provision of physical copies thereof to interested parties. In lieu thereof, the Commission has adopted an alternative mode of viewing and/or downloading the said Documents and any subsequent amendments thereto by enabling interested parties to access the same through the MSRD corner of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (www. sec.gov.ph) and the Company’s website (www.cityland.net.)

(MS-NOV. 5 & 8, 2021)

signed VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director

IRLINE reservations to the United States took off immediately after the White House announced the country would reopen to all vaccinated international voyagers starting next week, compelling a welcome – if challenging – industry pivot.

sudden surge in demand, adding flights, swapping in bigger planes for smaller ones and redoubling efforts to hire and retain staff.

Just after the White House announcement, British Airways saw a 900 percent jump in searches for flights and holiday packages to key US destinations compared with the week before.

The day after the announcement, American Airlines garnered a 66 percent jump in flight reservations to Britain, 40 percent to Europe and 74 percent to Brazil.

Competition for seats on November 8 itself was especially intense, as Evelyne and Jean-Michel Desobeau discovered when they booked a trip using frequent flyer miles.

The couple, anxious to see their daughter and sonin-law, had reserved a flight from France to New York for November 2, based on a guess of when the travel ban would be lifted.

The long-awaited US move to welcome back international travelers – which takes effect Monday – follows 18 months of restrictions for 33 countries during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic that separated families, impeded business travel and frustrated tourists.

Big carriers including Air France, United Airlines and Singapore Airlines are scrambling to meet the

Indigenous people participate in a protest rally during a global day of action on climate change in Glasgow on November 6, 2021, during the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference.

Tens of thousands of protesters braved rain and wind in Glasgow to take part in worldwide demonstrations against what campaigners say is a failure of crunch UN climate talks to act fast enough to tame global warming. AFP

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HEAD OFFICE: PBCOM Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, 1226 Makati City Customer Care: (02) 8777-2266 or 1-800-10-777-2266 (Domestic Toll Free) *Email: customercare@pbcom.com.ph*Website: www.pbcom.com.ph

BALANCE SHEET (Head Office and Branches) As of September 30, 2021

As of June 30, 2021

ASSETS Cash and Cash Items Due from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets - Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets - Net Loans and Receivables - Net Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables - Others Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Equity Investment in Subsidiaries, Associates and Joint Ventures - Net Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixture & Equipment - Net Real and Other Properties Acquired - Net Other Assets - Net

P

1,741,078,929.59 13,118,616,932.28 3,973,778,852.87 6,679,846,149.47 10,356,591,919.93 65,876,299,273.31 1,530,000,000.00 62,502,587,167.02 2,331,105,383.00 487,393,276.71 378,038,699.82 20,329,839.94 1,479,979,513.35 788,410,861.41 4,925,367,408.89

P

TOTAL ASSETS

P

109,338,338,380.86

P 104,363,497,067.47

1,557,087,305.90 12,901,820,999.49 1,019,646,295.91 1,697,506,862.79 8,361,384,139.12 10,234,993,655.95 60,880,052,149.16 57,596,029,360.92 3,749,386,283.00 465,363,494.76 506,772,127.45 20,267,343.11 1,498,432,474.60 571,510,331.24 5,114,023,382.75

LIABILITIES Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Bills Payable: Interbank Loans Payable Other Deposit Substitutes Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities

P

20,734,064.55 82,727,124,400.84 8,150,781,405.67 8,150,781,405.67 895,724,887.23 2,534,039,248.91

P

5,551,809.95 80,105,571,834.55 6,239,072,643.10 195,200,000.00 6,043,872,643.10 936,003,953.89 2,343,742,166.57

TOTAL LIABILITIES

P

94,328,404,007.20

P

89,629,942,408.06

But when the date was officially set at November 8, the couple discovered that flying that day would have meant using three times as many miles as the original trip. In the end, they will arrive on November 9, using a more moderate amount of miles.

At Air France, traffic has been gradually returning and “won’t change overnight on November 8,” said a spokesperson for the carrier.

The French airline has for months flown jets with empty seats. But with demand rising, it recently increased the number of daily flights between New York and Paris from three to five.

For its Houston-Paris trip, Air France is shifting out the Airbus 330 in favor of the Boeing 777, which has more seats. The carrier expects its capacity in terms of US travel to reach 90 percent of its pre-COVID-19 level in March 2022, up from 65 percent in October. AFP

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Iraq PM calls for calm after drone attack

IRAQ’S Prime Minister Mustafa alKadhemi said he was unhurt and appealed for “calm and restraint” after a drone attack on his residence early Sunday as political tensions mounted in the country.

The attack in Baghdad’s Green Zone was the first to target the residence of Kadhemi, who has been in power since May 2020, and came as Iraq’s political parties wrangle over who will run the next government after elections last month.

That vote saw the Conquest (Fatah) Alliance, the political arm of the proIran Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network, suffer a substantial decline in its parliamentary seats, leading the group to denounce the outcome as “fraud.”

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack, which left two bodyguards injured, according to a security source.

In a tweet, Kadhemi called “for calm and restraint on the part of evurday’s festival. eryone for the good of Iraq.”

Some Hindus believe cows and every“My residence has been the target thing they produce is sacred and purifying. of cowardly assault. Praise God, I am Hindu nationalist Prime Minister fine and so are those who work with Narendra Modi has pushed for greater me,” he then said in a short video BLACK protection of the animals, and CYAN many MAGENTA shared onYELLOW social media.

Indian states have long banned their “Cowardly missiles and drones slaughter for meat. don’t build nations.”

Members of Modi’s party have toutKadhemi’s office described the ed the use of cow urine to prevent and attack as a “failed assassination atcure COVID-19 and other ailments. tempt.”

His government is also looking to The United States swiftly conencourage the production of toothdemned the attack and said it was “repaste, shampoos and mosquito repellieved to learn the Prime Minister was lents from bovine waste. AFP unharmed.” AFP

India’s Cattle Royale dung fight marks end of Diwali Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings

P

14,278,374,781.56 2,556,188,089.70 -1,824,628,497.60

P

14,278,374,781.56 2,279,808,375.45 -1,824,628,497.60

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

P

15,009,934,373.66

P

14,733,554,659.41

JOYFUL crowds pelted each other P Tamil Nadu. P 104,363,497,067.47 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 109,338,338,380.86 with fistfuls of cow manure this weekThe manure is brought to the local ACCOUNTS end as part of one village’sCONTINGENT local ritual temple on tractor trolleys, before a Financial Standby Letters of Credit 894,271,866.28 P a blessing 753,919,185.65 ritual. toCommercial markLetters theof Credit end of Diwali, India’s P priest performs 556,709,269.30 2,320,068,369.74 Trade Related Guarantees Hindu festival.

858,058,505.27 594,655,126.56 most important After that, the dung is dumped in an Commitments 2,206,500.00 2,000,000.00 Similar to Spain’s open area—with3,273,948,253.99 men and boys wadSpot Foreign Exchange Contracts “La Tomatina”— 3,229,057,720.91 Trust eccentric Department Accounts 8,567,820,081.22 the tomato-hurling celebra- ing in to prepare 8,773,833,054.89 their weapons for the Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts 1,772,029,382.85 1,733,183,322.22 tionAgency of the local fruit – residents of Gu- battle ahead.

6,795,790,698.37 7,040,649,732.67 Accounts Others 93,993,586.37 matapura instead fling snowball-sized People flock to147,990,205.51 Gumatapura from TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS P 14,202,117,529.35 P 15,866,414,196.34 wads of a more earthy variety. far-flung cities each year, and for The Gorehabba festival ADDITIONAL begins INFORMATION with those in attendance, the messy battle Grossafternoon total loan portfolio collection (TLP) the of “ammuni- is68,347,561,983.79 as much about63,331,575,344.80 fun as it is about the Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP 1,983,869,433.77 1,986,159,700.88 tion” fromLoans cow-owning homes in the perceived health benefits.

Non-Performing (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs 3,404,015,826.64 village, which lies on the border of “If they have 3,615,396,082.37 a disease, it will get b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) 4.98% 5.71% Net NPLs 1,694,380,194.46 1,785,863,869.65 thec. southern states of Karnataka and cured,” said Mahesh, a farmer at Satd. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) 2.48% e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPLs (%) 72.60% f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losses on the gross TLP to gross NPLs (%) 58.28% Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross of allowance for credit losses 16,160,685,714.91 DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance of credit losses 2,041,834.72 Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) 0.00% Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables to TLP (%) 0.00% Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Micro and Small Enterprises 5.47% 5.91% b. 2% for Medium Enterprises Return on Equity (ROE) (%) 9.92% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR (%) 17.49% b. Tier 1 Ratio (%) 14.88% c. Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (%) 1/ 14.88%

2.82% 67.81%

Changing of the guard at Buckingham: Camilla steps up, Elizabeth steps back

1/

54.94% 14,067,706,838.25 1,932,084.16

Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio (%) is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

0.00% 0.00%

5.27% 6.47% 9.39% 18.48% 15.70% 15.70%

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) City of Makati ) S.S. We, Arlene M. Datu and Patricia May T. Siy, of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of our knowledge and belief.

(SGD.) ARLENE M. DATU Comptroller, SVP

(SGD.) PATRICIA MAY T. SIY President & CEO

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 27th day of October 2021 at City of Makati, affiants exhibiting their SSS nos. 0356633451 and 0373099955, respectively.

Doc. No. 46 Page No. 11 Book No. XXVII Series of 2021.

(SGD.) ATTY. GERVACIO B. ORTIZ JR. NOTARY PUBLIC City of Makati until December 31, 2022 IBP no. 09729 - Lifetime Member MCLE Compliance No. VI - 0024312 Appointment no. M-82 -(2021-2022) PTR No. 8531011 Jan 4, 2021.

Makati City Roll no. 40091 101 Urban Ave., Campos Rueda Bldg. Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati City

Philippine Corporation File photo taken onMember: June 19, 2019Deposit showsInsurance Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Deposit Insurance for each Deposit P500,000.00 Britain’s Camilla,Maximum Duchess of Cornwall. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A GRADUAL changing of the guard is happening at the head of Britain’s royal family, as Queen Elizabeth II steps back from public engagements due to her advanced age and health.

The 95-year-old monarch’s eldest son and heir, Charles, Prince of Wales, has been shouldering more of the burden of official duties for several years, including overseas.

But his wife, Camilla, is increasingly stepping into the fray, both online during coronavirus pandemic restrictions in the past year and now in person, after curbs were lifted.

Joining the couple at the royal vanguard are Charles’ eldest son from his first marriage to Princess Diana, William, and his wife, Kate.

As a result, they have earned a greater share of the media coverage that would previously have gone to the monarch, who has been advised to rest by doctors.

Their presence at events—from the world premiere of the latest James Bond film to meeting world leaders at the G7 and UN climate

summits—is a clear sign of change to come.

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine, told AFP their visibility “will accelerate within the fullness of time.”

“But a lot of people are now familiar with Camilla and are getting to know her,” he added.

Camilla, 74, also known as the Duchess of Cornwall, will become consort when Charles, 72, takes the throne. William, 39, will move up the line of succession to heir apparent.

Only a few years ago, a different “Fab Four” were seen as the future of Britain’s most famous family: William and Kate along with his younger brother Harry and his wife Meghan.

But plans changed dramatically last year when Harry and Meghan moved to the United States, from where they have criticized the family and even accused it of racism.

The rise of Camilla—once a hated figure for being “the other woman” in Charles and Diana’s marriage – has been remarkable. AFP

CYAN

Business

B3

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market poised to advance this week S Should the market sustain the rally, online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said the bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange Index will test its 52-week high of 7,432 points.

The market will continue to monitor the inflation data, which is expected to remain elevated for the remainder of the year due to increases in food and oil prices.

The positive third-quarter earnings results and upcoming equity raising activities are also expected to boost investor sentiment.

The PSEi surged 4.1 percent to 7.340.77 last week after the government further lowered the quarantine restrictions in the National Capital Region on falling COVID-19 cases.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to sustain their upward momentum this week as easing restrictions and positive third-quarter results will bolster investor confidence in the market.

Analysts said the relaxed Alert level 2 quarantine classification and the decreasing daily COVID-19 cases in the country were providing confidence the country would continue to recover from the impact of the pandemic.

to P7.50.

Weekly top price losers were newlylisted firm AllDay Marts Inc., which fell 14.4 percent to P0.77; Semirara Mining and Power Corp., which slipped 6.7 percent; to P24.25 and DITO CME Holdings Corp., which dropped 5.9 percent to P6.62.

Meanwhile, blockbuster job creation helped push US stocks to new records on Friday, with an added boost from news of Pfizer’s new COVID-19 treatment.

The US economy added a better-thanexpected 531,000 jobs last month as a wide range of industries took on workers, and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.6 percent, Labor Department data showed.

Four of the sectoral indices posted week-on-week increases, led by property (+7.39 percent), financials (+4.40 percent), services (+3.32 percent) and holding firms (+3.06 percent).

The mining and oil index fell 1.4 percent while industrials dipped 0.01 percent.

Foreign investors were net buyers of the week by P865 million while the average daily value traded rose to P8 billion from the previous week’s average of P6.9 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., which climbed 11.2 percent to P21.50; Robinsons Land Corp., which advanced 10.6 percent to P18.80; and Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which surged 10.3 percent

The better-than-expected result indicated hiring is resurging as COVID-19 infections decline, and job gains in August and September were 235,000 stronger than originally reported.

“When you add in the big upward revisions to August and September’s job numbers, this is a blockbuster,” said Jay Mawji, managing director of the global liquidity provider IX Prime.

“With America’s resurgent economy piling on well over half a million new jobs in October alone, we’re firmly in boom territory.”

The jobs report sent all three main indices on Wall Street to new record highs, with the broad-based S&P 500 advancing 0.4 percent for a two percent gain for the week. With AFP

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF

: : :

SPLENDIDO TAAL COUNTRY CLUB, INC. -Registrantx---------------------------------------------------------------------x

REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that on 04 August 2020, a revised Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of Splendido Taal Country Club, Inc. for the registration of its Three Thousand (3,000) Common Shares broken down as follows: Title of each class of securities to be registered Common Shares

No. of shares to be Registered 3,000

Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit Php195,444

Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price Php586,332,000

According to the papers presented, the following persons are the officers/ directors of the corporation:

1st URBAN RAILWAY. This aerial photograph shows the city’s first urban metro train running along the Cat LinhHa Dong line on the first day of operation in Hanoi on November 6, 2021. It’s a city of more than five million motorbikes but Hanoi on Saturday opened its first-ever urban railway line as authorities try to cut traffic and pollution that have long dogged the Vietnamese capital. AFP

Brazil raises $8.4-b in investments after 5G tender BRASILIA, Brazil—Brazil raised $8.4 billion in investments and license fees in an international tender to build and operate one of the world’s biggest 5G data networks, Communications Minister Fabio Faria said Friday, hailing a “great success.”

The final result—46.8 billion reais ($8.4 billion)— came in just shy of the $9 billion the government had forecast.

But Faria was upbeat at the close of the two-day auction, telling a news conference the result “beat all expectations.”

Winning bids went to companies including Telecom Italia’s local subsidiary, Tim; Spanish group Telefonica’s Brazilian unit; and Claro, owned by Mexican telecoms magnate Carlos Slim’s America Movil.

Six newcomers to the Brazilian market also made winning bids and will now become mobile providers, which should increase competition and benefit consumers.

Brazil, Latin America’s biggest economy, is looking to leverage so-called fifth-generation mobile technology to accelerate the development of its industrial and agribusiness sectors—as well as bring super-fast internet to the

ROVIN JHON CINCOLLAGAS

Sustainable remote work

Green LiGht

RECENTLY, Vyas and Butakhieo conducted an exploratory study on the impact of working from home (WFH) during COVID-19 on work and life domains in Hong Kong. As early as January 2020, the disease has wreaked havoc on public health and the lives of its residents.

The private sectors and government offices resorted to implementing remote work arrangements to ensure service continuity and employee safety. The research explored how two factors affected the employees to work from home– organizational and individual family factors. “Examples include but are not limited to employers supporting employees’ demands while working from home, cost of facilities related to WFH, training in the use of technology, as well as organizational communication.” (Vyas and Butakhieo, 2021).

On the other hand, previous studies show that individual and family factors influenced work from home. (Baker, Avery, and Crawford, 2007) These include factors like “self-discipline, self-motivation, ability to work independently, tenacity, self-organization, selfconfidence, time management skills, computer literacy knowledge.” (Baruch, 2000) A separate analysis revealed that the length of time a person spent in teleworking impacts work-family conflict (Solis, 2016).

The researchers conducted a SWOT analysis which compared the strong and weak points of working in the office and working from home. They mentioned that the pandemic allowed Hong Kong

cell phones of its 213 million people.

The tender, which drew 15 bidders in all, was for the right to build and operate different “blocks” of the frequency spectrum for 20 years.

Brazil also tendered the development of a separate network that will be reserved for government communications.

Bidding for the latter excluded all equipment from Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, the target of US espionage accusations that had put Brazil in a bind, forcing it to navigate a tumultuous tech standoff between Beijing and Washington.

The two major world powers are also Brazil’s largest trading partners and the country came under pressure from both sides over the ground rules for its 5G network.

That led it to postpone the tender from early 2021 as initially scheduled.

Despite the postponement, analysts agreed with Faria that the tender came off well for Brazil.

“It was an absolute success,” said Marcos Ferrari of Conexis Brasil Digital, a group representing five of the bidding firms. AFP

to experience working from home as an available option for workers. Moreover, allowing work from home arrangement in private institutions is applauded.

“Hand in hand with the effectiveness of the WFH practices, the opinion of the people WFH is essential to consider. Looking at the opinions received in the early days of the practice, an overwhelming majority of opinions were positive.” (Vyas and Butakhieo, 2021) The researchers concluded that work from home is discouraged as the sole work arrangement, pandemic or not. Employers must ensure the availability of different options to uphold employees’ organizational, personal and family well-being.

I am in favor of the findings and conclusion of the researchers. As a human resources professional, I experienced varied opinions and preferences in working arrangements across employees. Certain factors like age, marital status, job functions, office proximity, and internet connectivity come into play in their work arrangement preferences.

I realized that human resources would play a vital role in navigating those factors when crafting and implementing a remote work policy. We should not be rigid in developing these policies because every employee faces different situations at home and work. We must complement their work arrangement with their home situation so that work and personal life will achieve harmony.

Furthermore, organizations must focus on health, safety and continuous employee engagement rather than effectiveness, efficiency and

productivity. The organization’s goal now is not only to keep the company running financially but also ensure that the needs of all stakeholders, including employees, are addressed. Now more than ever, we can prove that the strongest organizations are those that take care of their employees.

Our new flexible working arrangement policy was approved by our management. It states that it is the policy of the organization to provide the best value of the workplace to the employees regardless of the space it occupies.

We can amalgamate a culture of trust that we believe that they can be as productive as possible regardless of where they are. Also, we provide different sets of tools for employees working purely onsite, purely from home, and in hybrid arrangements.

In conclusion, COVID-19 became a catalyst for our organization to institute a more people-centric working arrangement policy for our employees. It helped the management understand that regardless of where an employee works, ensuring their safety and being flexible in providing their preferred arrangement leads to better engagement and productivity.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. He can be reached at rovin_cincollagas@ dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

Director/Officer Katrina C. Ponce Enrile Exequiel D. Robles Kara Ponce Enrile Rhounimi Mariza S. Tan Orestes R. Santos Aurora D. Robles Persiverando M. Lukban Leo Gerald Rios De Castro Manuel Encarnado

Position Chairman and Director President and Director Treasurer and Director Director - Corporate Secretary Director Director Director / Managing Director Independent Director Independent Director

Said registra tion statement and other papers / documents attached thereto are open to inspection by interested parties during business hours and copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furni shed to every party at such reasonable fees as the Commission may prescribe. The Registration Statement and Preliminary Prospectus dated 31 July 2020 may also be downloaded from www.splendidotaal.ph.

Very truly yours, RACHEL ESTHER J. GUMTANG-REMALANTE Director

(MS-NOV. 8 & 15, 2021)

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TODAY BALANCE SHEET As of SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 ASSETS

Cash and Cash Items Due from Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas Due from Other Banks Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit of Loss Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net Loans and Receivable - Net Loans to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables- Others Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB General Loan Loss Provision Other Financial Assets Equity Investment in Subsidiaries,Associates and Joint Ventures-Net Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment-Net Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net Non-Current Assets Held for Sale Other Assets-Net Net Due from Head Office/Branches/Agencies, if any (Philippine branch of a foreign bank)

CURRENT QUARTER 13,346,662.95 71,017,319.13 548,711,046.70 0.00 0.00 10,000,000.00 0.00 0.00 2,437,037,790.64 2,470,808,695.64 0.00 33,770,905.00 99,357,214.92 0.00 27,780,541.74 2,658,857.75 218,579,536.10 22,236,569.72

AMOUNT PREVIOUS QUARTER 1,226,029.81 63,625,366.08 627,996,153.73 0.00 0.00 10,000,000.00 0.00 0.00 2,391,428,752.97 2,423,199,657.97 31,770,905.00 109,137,188.95 0.00 27,738,143.68 2,667,855.50 218,579,536.10 24,108,255.53

0.00

0.00

3,450,725,539.65

3,476,507,282.35

Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss Deposit Liabilities Due to Other Banks Bills Payable a) BSP (Rediscounting and Other Advances) b) Interbank Loans Payable c) Other Deposit Substitutes d) Others Bonds Payable-Net Unsecured Soubordinated Debt-Net Redeemable Preferred Share s Special Time Deposit Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Other Financial Liabilities Other Liabilities Net Due to Head Office/Branches/Agencies/(Philippine branch of a foreign bank)

0.00 2,165,986,951.88 0.00 389,000,000.00

0.00 2,075,601,115.56 0.00 560,000,000.00

389,000,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 25,763,154.30 67,810,660.83

560,000,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 28,360,572.69 17,151,286.74

TOTAL LIABILITIES

2,648,560,767.01

2,681,112,974.99

705,507,172.69 40,614.61 96,616,985.34 0.00

704,500,936.85 (6,462,012.27) 97,355,382.78 0.00

TOTAL ASSETS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS FR. ANTONIO CECILIO T. PASCUAL Chairman ATTY. MICKEL M. BORIGAS Vice-Chairman PATRIA T. CHIONG ROMEO A. DE JESUS DORIS R. DORIGO JOVITO P. GAMMAD SEGUNDO R. LANUZA, JR. EDITA S. LAURON GARIBALDI O. LEONARDO ROBERTO C. MASCARINA WILFREDO F. MERCADO DIVINA C. QUEMI NICOLAS H. VERONILLA SATURNINO J. GALANG JR. PONCIANO D. PAYUYO

LIABILITIES

BOARD SECRETARY ATTY. Simeon T. Asia, Jr. EXECUTIVE OFFICER IGNACIO A. MANIPULA President & Chief Executive Officer

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Capital Stock Other Capital Accounts Retained Earnings Assigned Capital TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

802,164,772.64

795,394,307.36

3,450,725,539.65

3,476,507,282.35

-

-

Guarantees Issued Financial Standby Letters of Credit Performance Standby Letters of Credit Commercial Letters of Credit Trade Related Guarantees Commitments Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts Securiites Held Under Custodianship by Bank Proper Trust Department Accounts a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts b) Agency Accounts c) Advisory/Consultancy Derivatives Others

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7,358,558.34

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7,974,530.56

TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS

7,358,558.34

7,974,530.56

Gross Total Loan Portfolio (TLP) 2,597,491,168.49 Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP 126,682,472.85 Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs 696,113,914.85 b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) 26.80% c. Net NPLs 569,431,442.00 d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) 21 .92% e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPLs (%) 23.05% f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losseson the gross TLP to gross NPLs (%) 18.20% Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross allowance for credit losses 45.00 DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance for credit losses 376,793,932.74 Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) 14.51% Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables 0.00 Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables TLP (%) 0.00% Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Small Enterprises 14.89% b. 2% for Medium Enterprises 31 .50% Return on Equity (ROE) (%) 0.00% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR 20.72 b. Tier I CAR 19.78 c. Common Tier 1 Ratio (%) 0.00 Deferred Charges not yet Written Down 0.00 Unbooked Allowance for Credit Losses on Financial Instrument Received 0.00

2,547,224,671 .81 124,025,013.84

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

700,145,333.75 27.49% 576,120,319.91 22.62% 22.25% 17.71% 45.00 387,481,639.72 15.21% 0.00 0.00% 13.52% 36.66% (2.00%) 20.07 19.12 0.00 0.00 0.00

Republic of the Philippines ) Makati City ) s.s.

I/We, RODA L. CRUZ and IGNACIO A. MANIPULA of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief.

RODA L. CRUZ Finance Head

IGNACIO A. MANIPULA President & CEO

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 19 day of October 2021 at Makati City, affiant affiant exhibiting his/her/their Passport No. P1057056A , issued at DFA NCR EAST on December 01, 2016 and Passport No. P6986875A, issued at DFA NCR South on April 30, 2018. th

Doc. No. 305 Page No. 62 Book No. 179 Series of 2021

NOTARY PUBLIC

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, November 5, 2021

137.05 PTS. 7,340.77

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

1,403,764,398 105,597 9,419,653,238.39

ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

137 67 44

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.5670

Japan

Yen

0.008791

0.4445

UK

Pound

1.350000

68.2655

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128488

6.4973

Switzerland

Franc

1.096011

55.4220

Canada

Dollar

0.802826

40.5965

Singapore

Dollar

0.740247

37.4321

Australia

Dollar

0.740000

37.4196

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653224

134.1656

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266624

13.4824

Brunei

Dollar

0.737518

37.2941

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.029940

1.5140

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.7687

Euro

Euro

1.155500

58.4302

Korea

Won

0.000843

0.0426

China

Yuan

0.156299

7.9036

India

Rupee

0.013429

0.6791

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240848

12.1790

New Zealand

Dollar

0.710500

35.9279

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035876

1.8141 Source: BSP

Aboitiz expects NEDA to approve 3 airfield projects ABOITIZ InfraCapital Inc. said over the weekend it expects the National Economic and Development Authority to approve soon its unsolicited proposals to develop, operate and modernize three regional airports.

“Our unsolicited proposals for the regional airports are with NEDA for their evaluation and hopefully approval. If the approval comes out soon, I think the Swiss Challenge can still happen,” Aboitiz InfraCapital president and chief executive Cosette Canilao said.

“As you know PPP projects are exempted from election ban, so [they are] still doable. The timelines are shorter and well within the rest of this admin’s term,” she said.

The company earlier secured an original proponent status for its unsolicited proposals for the new BoholPanglao International Airport and the Laguindingan Airport.

Aboitiz Infra also submitted an unsolicited proposal for the Bicol International Airport, but has yet to secure an OPS. The infrastructure am of the Aboitiz Group said it would spend more than P13 billion this year for the rollout of various projects, including telecommunication towers.

The company’s 2021 capital expenditures represent a 250-percent increase from P3.7 billion it spent in 2020.

It said to support the government’s thrust to improve digital connectivity, the company would spend about P2.5 billion for passive digital infrastructure this year.

This involves ramping up the deployment of mobile network operators’ small cells into its pole network and the construction of macro towers.

An Aboitiz InfraCapital subsidiary secured a certificate of registration as an independent tower company from the Department of Information Communications and Technology in February. The subsidiary is now working on the rollout of pilot towers with MNOs. Meanwhile, the company said P6.5 billion or majority of the capex would go to water projects, particularly for the construction of Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc.’s bulk water supply project with Davao City Water District.

Once operational, Apo Agua can provide at least 300 million liters of treated water daily to more than 1 million Davao residents, making it one of the largest bulk water supply projects in the country.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PH, Japan dialogue on agri hits impasse NEGOTIATIONS for better market access for Philippine agricultural products to Japan reached an impasse as the two nations resumed talks under the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

Department of Trade and Investments assistant secretary Allan Gepty said in a virtual briefing the Philippines insisted to discuss a transposition on its request to improve tariff rates on specific agriculture products exported to Japan.

“One of the big issues that need to be addressed is the market access of agri products to Japan. We have been demanding from Japan to allow some movement on tariffs on certain Philippine agricultural exports that is why we have been pressing for market negotiations,” he said.

He said high on the list is Philippine bananas which have two different duties –18 percent during out-season and at 8 percent during in-season.

Japan for its part pushed for lower tariff rates on steel and petrochemical products bound for the Philippines.

Othel V. Campos

DOE readies circular on Mindanao WESM CLARK UPGRADES. Clark International Airport Corp. president Aaron Aquino (second from right) leads the inspection of the airport’s horizontal projects that are almost finished in anticipation of business recovery in the coming months. Aquino says the airport ramp and taxiway at the new passenger terminal building, including asphalt overlay of the old runway, pavement markings, ground service road marking, aircraft nose wheel stop line signages and other access road construction, are 99.4-percent completed.

New consortium submits Sangley airport proposal

By Darwin G. Amojelar

A

NEW consortium of local and foreign companies submitted an unsolicited proposal for the development of the Sangley Point International Airport, after the Cavite provincial government declared a second failed bidding.

Cavite Governor Juanito Victor Remulla received an unsolicited proposal from the SPIA Development Consortium to form a joint venture with the provincial

government to develop the SPIA project.

The proposed partnership with Cavite province will encompass the development, design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the Sangley airport that is seen to provide an alternative to, and ease the congestion at, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, boost economic growth and enhance the local tourism and aviation industries.

Sangley airport is envisioned to become a fully-modernized, world-class and green airport that is designed to expand as demand for air transport services increases in the next 30 to 40 years, and as operations at NAIA are eventually phased out to allow for a redevelopment of the site and its surrounding areas.

The consortium members are Cavitex Holdings Inc. of the Virata Group,

Yuchengco Group of Companies and MacroAsia Corp.

MacroAsia will provide management and technical services for the aviation support and logistics component of the project. MacroAsia will be a non-equity member of the consortium.

Joining the local team are renowned global companies including Samsung C&T Corp. of South Korea that built the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Terminal 1 of the Incheon International Airport and the extension of the Changi International Airport.

Samsung C&T also built the Incheon Bridge and the Yeongjong Bridge, which are the main access and support infrastructure to Incheon International Airport.

SUSTAINABLE SERVICE.

ESakay Inc., a subsidiary of Manila Electric Co., teams up with tech-logistics firm Mober to provide sustainable, on-demand delivery services in the Philippines. Mober, which provides same-day delivery services to clients, will start utilizing a fleet of electric cargo vans provided by eSakay, an end-to-end green mobility solutions provider and enabler.

The cargo vans are zeroemission commercial vehicles that combine the benefits of electric vehicles with the design and functionality of reliable goods delivery units, able to transport parcels weighing up to 3,000 kilograms.

PPA announces reduction of processing fees for transport providers THE Philippine Ports Authority said over the weekend it reduced the processing fees on all permits to operate for transport service providers at all ports nationwide to ease their burden as the economy transitions to the “new normal”.

It said the reduced processing rates, embodied under Administrative Order No. 06-2021, are applicable in PPAcontrolled ports nationwide. The PPA offers a discount of up to 66 percent for a one-year PTO application; 52-percent cut for a two-year PTO application; and a 33-percent reduction for a three-year PTO application.

The processing fee for the issuance of an accreditation certificate would remain at P3,000, the AO showed.

“This is our gesture of cooperation and assistance to the transport service

providers at our ports during these trying times,” said PPA general-manager Jay Daniel Santiago.

“With this, we also expect to incentivize more transport service providers to comply with existing PPA rules and regulations in order to continue transacting with the ports to maximize the opportunity brought about by the run-up to Christmas,” Santiago said.

The PPA issued advisories to truckers in July that the PTO requirement would be strictly enforced and a “no permit, no service” policy would be implemented effective Oct. 15. The agency, however, extended the deadline to Oct. 31 to allow truckers to complete the requirements.

It said that as of end-October, 75 percent of truckers operating in the Port of Manila already complied with the CA

and PTO requirements.

A PTO needs to be in valid and in order as it authorizes the service provider to perform or provide services inside PPA ports including harbors, fairways and extensions.

This is to ensure that port service providers in ports under PPA’s jurisdiction comply with the health, safety, environmental and operational requirements of the port or ports where the services will be rendered.

This also enables the PPA to monitor, supervise and direct the activities of the port service providers while inside the port as well as maintain a pool of qualified service providers to ensure continuous provision of adequate, safe and reliable port services to port users.

Darwin G. Amojelar

British Chamber asks PH to adopt a science-based approach in addressing smoking THE British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, citing the United Kingdom’s Parliamentary report, urged the government to consider UK’s science-based approach in dealing with the smoking problem as the World Health Organization holds a global conference on tobacco control this week.

The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for Vaping Inquiry report said the WHO should be guided by evidence in recommending policies to its members states and urged it to adhere to the fundamental objectives set forth by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control given its original

IN BRIEF

commitment to harm reduction as an effective tool to reduce smoking incidence.

The UK is at the forefront of advocating non-combustible alternatives to cigarettes and has successfully integrated vaping into its public health policies on tobacco harm reduction. The APPG report said, “the UK has a clearly stated position that vaping is 95-percent safer than combustible tobacco.”

BCCP executive director Chris Nelson said kn a letter to the Department of Trade and Industry the chamber agrees with the APPG report and emphasized the report’s

recommendation to advocate for “risk proportionate, evidence-based regulation in COP 9.”

“We humbly agree with said report that the FCTC should thoroughly be updated to reflect the positive public health opportunity from low-risk nicotine products and any decision by the FCTC that would unduly restrict adult use of vaping and reduced risk nicotine delivery systems must be rejected,” Nelson said.

In order to realize all these objectives, the discussions in and recommendations of COP 9 must be comprehensive, in-depth

and based on first-hand experience. Nelson urged the Philippine delegation to move all substantive discussion in COP 9 to the next conference when delegates can meet face to face.

The FCTC is a global treaty under the auspices of the WHO. Governed by the Conference of the Parties, the WHO FCTC is composed of representatives from all signatories to the treaty and meets every two years to discuss policy recommendations for its member states. The ninth conference or COP 9 will be held online from Nov. 8 to 13, 2021.

THE Department of Energy is preparing a circular that will declare the commercial operation of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market in the Mindanao grid by December.

A draft circular from the DOE which is subject to public consultations showed that the pending registration concerns would no longer impede the WESM Mindanao commercial operation.

The latest WESM Mindanao registration update from the market operator dated Oct. 24 showed that 39 of the expected 96 participants in Mindanao completed registration in the WESM. Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative has yet to commence its registration in the WESM while Maguindanao Electric Cooperative has yet to provide a counter-party confirmation.

The DOE directed the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (and the National Electrification Administration to provide necessary assistance in ensuring the registration of the ailing electric coops, specifically Lasureco and Magelco.

Alena Mae S. Flores

The Keepers eyes acquisitions abroad THE Keepers Holdings Inc. of tycoon Lucio Co is exploring acquisitions overseas to expand its portfolio across the alcoholic beverage industry.

Paulino Santamariam, president of The Keepers, said in an online investors briefing the strategic investments of acquisitions would give the company a “better hold and control of the supply and costs of its biggest category”.

“The value added of these strategic investments or acquisitions will be accretive and improve our bottom line,” Santamaria said.

The company, formerly Da Vinci Holdings Inc., is raising P4.5 billion from a follow-on offering slated this month.

It said up to 80 percent or P3.5 billion of the targeted proceeds would be used for strategic acquisition opportunities. The proceeds are expected to be disbursed over the next two years. Jenniffer B. Austria

Permitting issue holds up 390-MW Ifugao hydroplant

By Alena Mae S. Flores RENEWABLE energy developer SN Aboitiz Power Corp. put on hold the development of the proposed $550-million, 390-megawatt Alimit hydropower complex in Ifugao province over permitting and transmission line constraints, a top executive said over the weekend.

“We’ve actually put the project on hold when we saw some permitting issues especially with the NCIP [National Commission on Indigenous Peoples] and mainly also because of the identified constraint poised by the MagatSantiago line not being N-1 compliant (system resilience),” Aboitiz Power Corp. president Emmanuel Rubio said.

SN Aboitiz is the joint venture of Aboitiz Power and SN Power of Norway (now owned by Scatec ASA) for hydropower projects.

SNAP already received an approval to develop the hydro project from the affected communities.

The first phase of the project involves the construction of the 120-megawatt Alimit plant and the 20-MW Olilicon station. The second phase of the complex includes the 250-MW Alimit pumped storage facility.

“But we’ve recently been assured

by NGCP [National Grid Corp. of the Philippines] that there will be reconductoring of the Magat- Santiago line and that will just open up projects within the area of SNAP to include the battery, the floating solar,” Rubio said.

He said the battery energy storage project and floating solar projects “are the lower hanging fruits” than the Alimit hydro project.

“We see a lot of concerns with regard to the Alimit project. We are even trying to repurpose Alimit as flood control and that has caught the attention of the DOE [Department of Energy], given the flooding Cagayan had last year or two years ago,” Rubio said.

Sports

Alvarez KOs Plant to make super middle boxing history LAS VEGAS—Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez made history Saturday, knocking out Caleb Plant in the 11th round to become the first undisputed world super middleweight champion, unifying all four major belts in less than 12 months.

The 31-year-old added the IBF belt to his WBC, WBA and WBO straps in a winner-takes-all showdown at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas to join an exclusive club.

Mexico’s Alvarez knocked Plant down twice in the 11th; the first time with a stinging left hook, followed up by a thundering right uppercut.

Plant got up but the American was still wobbly and in a fog as Alvarez chased him around the ring.

Alvarez pummelled Plant with rights and lefts to drop him for good at 1:05 of the round.

The Mexican had seized the WBA and WBC titles by defeating Callum Smith in December 2020.

He defended them successfully by overpowering Avni Yildirim in February and then clobbered Billy Joe Saunders six months ago to grab the WBO belt.

Alvarez came into the bout as a heavy favorite to become the first Mexican four-belt champion.

With a complete collection of 168-pound titles, he becomes just the sixth fighter since the WBO began sanctioning world title fights in 1988 to hold all four belts from the separate governing bodies at the same time.

Only five other boxers—Oleksandr Usyk (cruiserweight), Bernard Hopkins (middleweight), Jermain Taylor (middleweight), Terence Crawford (super-lightweight) and Josh Taylor (superlightweight)—have held all four belts.

“It hasn’t been easy to get to this point,” Alvarez said. “With my team I have gone really far.

“This is for everybody, especially for Mexico. We did it tonight. We are only six. It keeps me happy and motivated to be one of the six undisputed fighters in the world.”

Alvarez improved to 57-1-2 with 39 knockouts in handing Plant the first defeat of his career. Plant is now 21-1 with 12 KOs. Even though Plant was fighting in his home country, he was booed during the introductions as the majority of the Las Vegas crowd was cheering for Alvarez throughout the fight.

Alvarez won just about every round leading up to the 11th but still Plant proved to be an awkward opponent. Alvarez needed a spectacular KO to put a stamp on what up until then had been a mediocre performance. AFP Both fighters used the first round to feel each other out. They stuck to their game plans in the second round with

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

Canelo Alvarez (left) punches Caleb Plant against the ropes during their championship bout for Alvarez’s WBC, WBO and WBA super middleweight titles and Plant’s IBF super middleweight title at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Saso’s decision to impact PH’s Olympic participation

By Peter Atencio

T

HE decision of Yuka Saso to become a Japanese citizen at the age of 22 will have an impact on the country’s representation and participation in the Olympic Games, but not in other international tournaments.

National Golf Association of the Philippines secretary general Bones Floro said this on the weekly program “Power and Play” in the aftermath of Saso surprising the local golfing community and her Filipino fans when she announced that she will go for Japanese citizenship when she turns 22 on June 20, 2023.

Floro hopes there will be other young golfers, who will someday step up and follow in the footsteps of Saso.

“The impact is solely in the Olym-

pics. Yuka is a professional. And as you know, the events that we participate (with amateurs) are in the Asian Games and in the Southeast Asian Games,” said Floro.

Most of the country’s amateur golfers join the Asian Games and the SEA Games and Floro is confident that there will be other golfers, who will emerge to be worldclass golf achievers that can be called upon in two years’ time.

“What’s important for us is that Yuka is a golfing hero. So we have a younger generation to look after,” added Floro.

The pool of athletes in golf is still full of talent and they can count on the likes of other golfing pros like Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina in the Olympic Games.

Saso’s bid to embrace Japanese citizenship was influenced by Japanese law, which encourages dual citizens of Japanese descent to choose their nationality at the age of 22 years old.

Saso is currently seeing action in the 2021 JLPGA TOTO Japan Classic, which is in its fourth round at the Seta Golf Course North Course in Shiga, Sunday afternoon.

Lady Aces sweep WNBL elims THE Paranaque Lady Aces swept the elimination round, beating the Glutagence Glow Boosters, 68-52, last Sunday in the Pia Cayetano WNBL Season 2021 at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Allana Lim had 13 points and eight rebounds as the Lady Aces enter the best-of-three semifinal round with an 8-0 win-loss record.

The Lady Aces will face the Quezon Lady SparTAN in the semif inal round, while the Glutagence Glow Boosters placed third after the end of the elimination and will face the Taguig Lady Generals in

C1

the next phase.

Jamie Alcoy had 12 points and Mar ydyn Tingcang added 11 points in the win by the Lady Aces after they led by as many as 21 in the contest.

The Lady Aces trailed by three, 1417, at the end of the first but picked it up in the second with a 19-9 second period for a 33-26 lead.

Paranaque started the fourth with Alcoy and Tingcang scoring eight in a 13-0 run for the largest lead of the game, 64-43.

Raiza Palmera-Dy had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Glow Boosters in the loss.

Manila, Davao keep hold on FilBasket lead

Scores: Paranaque 68—Lim 13, Alcoy 12, Tingcang 11, Castro 9, Siat 8, Tolentino 5, Angeles 3, Gloriani 3, Solis 2, Ven- tura 2, Bahuyan 0, Reyes 0, Galicia 0, Dela Merced 0.

Glutagence 52—Palmera-Dy 12, Lualhati 10, Castillo 7, Claro 6, Sangalang 6, Salapong 4, Hufanda 3, Cainglet 2, Figuracion 2, Tan 0, Cancio 0, Gula 0, Garcia 0, Ramos 0.

Quarterscores: 14-17, 33-26, 5143, 68-52.

Marydyn Tingcang

Constantino aims higher at ICTSI Highlands HARMIE Constantino expects to dish out more of the same of what she flaunted in winning the ICTSI Aoki Classic at Eagle Ridge last week although she and the rest face a different kind of challenge in the ICTSI Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Challenge unfolding Tuesday (Nov. 9) at the Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club.

“I’m expecting well from myself,” said Constantino, eager to get going again after holding off amateur Mafy Singson by one to score a repeat at Aoki, where she launched her pro career with a two-shot victory over Princess Superal last March.

“I hope that the way I played (at Aoki) will be the same way I would be playing at Highlands,” she added.

But it will take a lot of adjustments, not just from her but from the rest of the 21-player cast since the Highlands layout is a far more different test than Aoki with the wind factor as well as its up-and-down layout that will also put into focus the field’s stamina and condition.

Superal dominated the last time Highlands hosted the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour in 2018 but the multi-titled shotmaker is now in Japan to pursue her bid for an LPGA of Japan Tour card, leaving Constantino and the likes of Chihiro Ikeda, Chanelle Avaricio, Marvi Monsalve, Sunshine Baraquiel and Daniella Uy to dispute the crown

Yuka Saso

in the second of four LPGT events the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. has lined up for the third restart of the country’s premier ladies circuit put up by ICTSI. Ikeda edged Pauline del Rosario in sudden death to win at the adjacent Tagaytay Midlands in 2019 but the former SEA Games gold medalist’s game somewhat took a downswing after sustaining a hand injury although her strong finish at Aoki where she rallied to snatch third place should augur well for her Highlands campaign.

Avaricio, runner-up to Superal at Sherwood Hills and Eagle Ridge-Norman before the circuit took a break due to the surge of Covid-19 cases in NCR Plus last July, is also tipped to contend again this week after fighting back from out of nowhere to fourth place last week.

Beefing up the Highlands cast is Arnie Taguines, who skipped last week’s event but is expected to figure in the title race in the 54-hole tournament while resuming her drive for a second low amateur honors after besting her rivals at Eagle Ridge-Norman.

Others in the fold are Lovelyn Guiogio, Sheryl Villesencio, Sarah Ababa, Apple Fudolin, Pamela Mariano, Eva Miñoza and Florence Bisera with Gretchen Villacencio also joining the chase after missing the action at Aoki.

AICC Manila and Davao Occidental Tigers-Cocolife extended their winning ways to keep their hold on the lead in the FilBasket Subic Championship at the Subic gym Saturday.

AICC Manila outclassed the Nueva Ecija Besprens, 94-82, while the Davao Occidental Tigers escaped past 7A Primus, 86-83.

The victories improved AICC Manila and Davao Occidental to 5-1 win-loss marks.

Michael Juico and Ronjay Buenafe scored 19 points each, while Michael Mabulac added 11 points, nine boards and four assists as AICC Manila controlled the tempo for most parts of the game.

They also distributed the ball well by dishing off 26 assists.

Renz Palma, Jerick Nacpil and James Martinez combined for 59 points for Nueva Ecija, who fell to 3-3.

Meanwhile, Billy Ray Robles fired a turnaround jump shot in the last 6:15 of the game to untangle Davao Occidental from a 69-all count that set the tone throughout.

Diego Dario attempted a buzzer-beating triple to send the game into overtime but missed.

Robby Celiz finished with 21 points and six boards, Emmanuel Calo chipped in 12 points, and Gab Dagangon contributed 11 points for Davao Occidental, who outshone the 27-point output of Dario for 7A Primus.

7A Primus absorbed its fourth defeat against two wins.

Later in the day, Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors scuttled Burlington EOG Sports, 72-58, for their second win in five matches.

Cedrick Ablaza scored 18 points and seven rebounds while Jeckster Apinan had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Realtors.

Burlington slipped to 3-3 with Byron Villarias becoming the lone double-digit scorer with 10 points.

C2

Sports

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

Close to 600 athletes aided by ‘Ayuda Sa Atleta’ project AYUDA Sa Atleta, a campaign to assist national athletes during the pandemic, concludes this November with close to 600 recipients so far.

Para athletes were the first to benefit with a total of 171 coming from PHILSPADA and 10 National Sports Associations, including athletics, badminton, sailing, para triathlon, chess, goalball, dance sport, table tennis, tenpin bowling and wheelchair basketball.

For the regular athletes, 358 from 14 NSAs received gift packs, including national athletes based and training in Baguio.

Sports represented were softball, baseball, judo, kurash, women’s basketball, triathlon, duathlon, sepak takraw, pencak silat, kick boxing, karate-do, boxing, muay thai, athletics and chess.

“We are extending our heartfelt thanks to all the companies and kindhearted individuals, who donated both cash and in kind, totalling around P550,000, which we spent for the goods in the eco bags and other logistical expenses. Thanks, too, to Annette Nelmida, mother of blind para triathletes Joshua and Jerome, and Tom Carrasco in coordinating the release of the goods to the different NSAs,” said sportswriter Lito Cinco, who initiated the project and teamed up with triathlon head Carrasco, sports patron Alex Wang, Nino Sinco, and Karen Tanchanco Caballero in the implementation of the the project.

The companies that donated were led by Cebuana Lhuillier, whose president Jean Henri Lhuillier jumpstarted the drive with a P250,000 seed fund, Foton Philippines, Asian Centre for Insulation, F2 Logistics, the Philippine Racing Commission, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Inc., through its president ex-PBA player Mike Advani, Philippine Couriers, Alaska, Gatorade and Nestle Philippines.

Government agencies that supported in coordinating the release of the goods were the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and the PHILSPADA. “We still have ‘ayuda’ bags for distribution, so those who have not received yet can get in touch with me or Tom to coordinate the release,” said Cinco.

Anytime Fitness PH launches yearend sale

Djokovic breaks idol Sampras’ no. 1 record Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz at the end of their their men’s singles semifinal tennis match on day five of the ATP Paris Masters at The AccorHotels Arena. AFP

P

ARIS—Novak Djokovic gained some consolation for missing out on a Grand Slam sweep this year when he was crowned season-ending world number one for a record seventh time on Saturday.

The 34-year-old Serbian had jointly held the record of six with Pete Sampras but took sole possession when he beat Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) to reach the Paris Masters final.

Djokovic had taken a seven-week break after his dreams of a Grand Slam were dashed by Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final in September.

However, the 20-time Grand Slam champion said on Friday the main reason for his return this week was to seal the number one spot and break the record.

“It is a dream for me as Pete was my idol when I was a young boy,” said Djokovic.

“To arrive at this moment is not just my achievement but my team’s. It is wonderful to be in this position.

“I am very proud to finish number one and what a match to do it in. It was so tight right to the last point but I am a very happy man now obviously.

“I am overwhelmed with all the beautiful positive emotions.”

Djokovic—who broke Roger Federer’s record of weeks at number one earlier this year—said it was hard to rank his records.

“Being historically No. 1 ranked

player in the world is probably the paramount achievement of our sport,” said Djokovic.

“It’s difficult for me to understand the magnitude of these achievements, you know, not just for myself but for the sport while I’m still an active player.

“Probably when I retire, I’ll be able to reflect on that a little bit more and appreciate it a little bit more.”

‘Very, very intense’ Djokovic can take some satisfaction that he denied Medvedev the world number one spot, though the Russian admitted his chances of toppling the Serbian were slim.

The two will meet in Sunday’s final after title holder Medvedev crushed the man he beat in last year’s final Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-2 in the second semi-final.

It was a rude awakening for Zverev who had come to Paris seeking his sixth title of the year after winning in Vienna last Sunday.

Djokovic and Medvedev—who calls the Serbian ‘his friend’—said he hoped he would be able to put up a better perfor-

Nuggets escape with win over Rockets LOS ANGELES—Nikola Jokic tallied 28 points and 14 rebounds and made a clutch game-saving block at the buzzer as the Denver Nuggets survived a late scare to edge the slumping Houston Rockets 95-94 on Saturday.

Will Barton posted 15 points and six assists, and Aaron Gordon nailed consecutive three-pointers in the final two minutes for the Nuggets, who won their second straight NBA contest.

Gordon scored six unanswered points before Jokic iced the win with a block of a Jae’Sean Tate layup as the buzzer sounded. Earlier, Daniel Theis hit a three-pointer with 2:46 remaining to make it 94-89 for Houston.

After the block, the Nuggets celebrated with Jokic on the court.

“I didn’t jump, I went up, I didn’t even block it,” he said. “I think I actu-

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Houston Rockets at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. AFP

mance than in the US Open final.

“Last time we played, he outplayed me,” said Djokovic.

“I outplayed him in the finals of the Australian Open. It was quite straightforward matches, both of them.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to turn the tables around this time, learning from that experience in New York.

“But he is back to his best and seems to be in the groove.”

Medvedev said he was sure Djokovic would have learned from the US Open defeat.

“Of course winning the US Open would give me maybe some tactical things I want to try to repeat or use against Novak,” said Medvedev, who described as ‘magical’ the first time he played Djokovic in a Davis Cup tie.

“At the same time, we all know who Novak is. If he would not adapt to circumstances, he would not be where he is now. AFP

ally hit it when I was jumping. Like a poke -- I poked the ball.”

Tate’s initial reaction was that the officials should have called a foul on Jokic.

“I thought I got fouled, honestly,” he said. “I could have stayed corner; I should have stayed corner.”

Denver won despite shooting a dismal 22.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Theis returned after missing two games with a sore right toe for the Rockets, which has lost seven in a row. Christian Wood and Eric Gordon scored 12 points each.

The Rockets shot 52.6 percent in the first quarter to lead 27-26, and then expanded its lead to 41-33 with just under five minutes left in the half.

In Miami, Tyler Herro had 29 points and Jimmy Butler 27 as the host Heat used a balanced offense to win for the sixth time in their last seven by beating the Utah Jazz 118-115.

Kyle Lowry had a triple-double, including 20 points, for the Heat, who shot 60 percent from the floor overall.

Donovan Mitchell led all scorers

ANYTIME Fitness Philippines concludes 2021 with a nationwide Year-End Sale.

The largest, biggest, grandest sale of the fitness giant is set to offer the lowest, humblest, most pocket-sized rate for the first time in the country.

The sale will be launched on 11.11 and will run for two weeks, ending on November 25.

The campaign offers the lowest rates for both NCR and provincial clubs, tailor-fit for individuals who are keen on getting back on track with their fitness goals.

The sale also activates the online sign-up option for all clubs nationwide, a first for Anytime Fitness PH. New joiners can avail of the sale rates by visiting any Anytime Fitness club or via the online sign-up links in the clubs’ social media pages.

with 37 points for the Jazz, who had a three-game winning streak stopped.

Miami took the lead for good late in the third quarter after Mitchell had tied it 74-74 with a basket with 2:40 to go.

Elsewhere, Luka Doncic made the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Dallas Mavericks to a 107-104 win over the Boston Celtics.

Doncic, who scored a game-high 33 points, ran the length of the court before putting up a fadeaway shot in triple coverage to seal the victory.

Damian Lillard scored 25 points and the Trail Blazers smothered the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers 105-90 in Portland.

The Lakers were missing LeBron James, who was out with an abdominal strain, and lost Anthony Davis in the first quarter with a stomach illness.

That meant they had to rely on their ageing reserves such as Carmelo Anthony, who scored 12 points off the bench. AFP

Billie Jean King Cup a work in progress PRAGUE—The Billie Jean King Cup, whose maiden edition ended in Prague on Saturday, has reaped praise for actually taking place amid the Covid pandemic but also left a few questions.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) revamped the original Fed Cup into a tournament, world-cup-like format, following a similar decision on the Davis Cup. It had to wait for two years because of the Covid pandemic to see the maiden edition kick off.

But while ITF head David Haggerty hailed the event as an “outstanding week of tennis”, many players and fans were left with mixed feelings.

Only five top 20 players took part in the event scheduled for the week just before the WTA Finals in Mexico -even though the ITF raised the prize money to the Davis Cup level.

Ties often ended late at night and some teams bemoaned a lack of time for recovery in the packed schedule.

“I have found this format rather demanding, tiring, the days are long.

Hyper-demanding,” said France’s Alize Cornet.

Czech veteran Lucie Hradecka, who finished her doubles rubber after midnight on the first day of the tournament, said she was “drained” after getting to the hotel at 2am.

“I took the entire day to recover. And thinking I would have to play the next day, that would not be ideal,” she said.

Sloane Stephens put on a more conciliatory tone, describing the tournament as a “work in progress”.

“There can be some things that we can change and adjust to better suit the players, not be here till 1am or 2am or whatever, but that’s just a learning curve for everyone,” she said.

‘Raise your voices’ Prague earned praise for organising the event on a very tight schedule after it took over from Budapest in the summer with the hope that local fans will provide the atmosphere the event deserves.

But fans were scarce for most of the tournament played from Monday to Saturday, partly because of the Covid restrictions in place.

Some 8,700 fans watched the Czechs lose to Switzerland in their last group game on Thursday in the O2 Arena, whose capacity has been reduced to 12,000 over Covid.

A day later, only 3,500 turned up for the semi-finals.

“I thought we had amazing crowds especially when the Czechs played,” said Billie Jean King.

“I was amazed we had any people, if you look at most tournaments.” AFP

Team Russia (from left) Liudmila Samsonova, Ekaterina Alexandrova, captain Igor Andreev, Veronika Kudermetova, Anastasia Pavluchenkova, Daria Kasatkina pose for media with their trophy after winning the Billie Jean King Cup tennis match finals at the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic. AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

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Save the date: Cinemas re-open Nov. 10 FOLLOWING the downtrend in COVID-19 cases, some movie theaters within and outside Metro Manila will resume operations on Nov. 10, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) said Friday, Nov. 5.

In a statement sent to Manila Standard Entertainment, MTRCB released a listing of Cinemas that will be operational.

Sourced from the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines, the list was updated as of Nov. 1 and

from the Nood Tayo ng Sine Facebook page of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, updated as of Oct. 29.

Among the Metro Manila cinemas that will start operations are Bonifacio High Street, Venice, and Uptown in Taguig, Century City Mall, Glorietta 4, Powerplant, and Ayala Circuit in Makati, TriNoma, Gateway, Eastwood Mall, and Fairview Terraces in Quezon City, Newport in Pasay, and Ayala Mall Manila Bay in Parañaque.

The Inter-Agency Task

Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) approved of the recommendation to deescalate the National Capital Region to Alert level 2 from Alert level 3, in its resolution dated Nov. 4, taking effect today Nov. 5 until Nov. 21 “As more Cinemas and Movie theaters move to open their doors to the public, we encourage all moviegoers to strictly observe minimum public health standards while keeping in mind the MTRCB film ratings as guide when choosing age-appropriate film

content,” the statement said.

“The MTRCB affirms its policy of respect and deterrence to government instrumentalities operating within the framework of their mandates as dictated by law. In the case of the resumption of Cinema operations, it shall be the IATF-MEID and the Local Government Units who shall determine implementing guidelines to uphold health and safety controls for the viewing public,” the statement ended.

Nickie Wang

DESIGNED FOR THE BIG SCREEN. Warner Bros. Philippines

announces that the epic adventure ‘Dune’ opens exclusively in Philippine theaters on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

Smart brings Filipino fans closer to Park Seo Jun in ‘Hallyu Hangouts’

‘CITSALP’ is a student short film that tackles the negative effects of plastics in the world.

Park Seo Jun takes the Smart Hallyu Hangouts centerstage

Kim Atienza describes ‘Mars Pa More’ hosted by Camille Prats and Iya Villania as an already

From your Kuya to your Pars

Student short film wins in Italy; vies at Animahenasyon

well-oiled machine.

LEADING mobile services provider

By Seymour Barros Sanchez Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) will once again bring Filipino fans closer to A SHORT animation written and directed by their favorite Korean superstars through a De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde film the Smart Hallyu Hangouts, a series of student will next compete at Animahenasyon virtual events that enable fans to live their 15: The 2021 Philippine Animation Festival best K-life by watching and interacting from Nov. 12 to 14. with their favorite Korean celebrities.

This after the animated film CITSALP by Following the successful event with Jean A. Evangelista won the Porto Cesareo Smart endorsers Hyun Bin and Son Ye Film Festival Marine Protected Area Award Jin last July, Smart, alongside leading panor “the best audiovisual work dedicated to regional OTT video streaming service Viu, the sea” in Italy. brings Park Seo Jun’s Hallyu Hangouts CITSALP, which tells about the episode live and exclusively on GigaPlay negative effects of plastics in the world App on Nov. 13, starting at 4:00 p.m. and the responsible consumption and Launched last year as an endorser for production of plastics, is a collaboration Smart’s Giga K-Video data promo in among Evangelista and animators Ria collaboration with Viu, the talented actor Caluya, Shane Sitchon, Adrienne Jade, who has starred in some of the most kilig Aljean Respecia Uyan, Jlo Casa, and and top-rated Korean dramas and movies, on board. For a time the show only prestige to the country are given the OR Mars Pa More Ria Morales, editor Ayen Alvarez, sound a style icon, and an epitome of manly grace catered to the mothers who are just spotlight; in ‘Mars/Pars of the World,’ hosts Iya Villania designers John Patrick Perez and Dan and charisma is set to grace this virtual home, and it’s really hard for kids to viewers are given a virtual tour of scenic Verzosa, production manager Arkin session exclusive to Smart subscribers. relate.

Surprisingly, we also have male and exotic locations abroad by fellow and Camille Prats, Tracy Tendilla, assistant directors Verzosa Smart Prepaid and TNT users need only to viewers, they would tune in because Filipinos living there; and in ‘Benta having Kim Atienza in the and Lawrence Soriano, and musical subscribe to any Giga K-Video mobile data apparently, they are interested to know Box,’ the hosts personally converse scorer Hannah Felix. promo to watch the live event. The promo our opinion,” Villania told Manila with online followers who are handed show is “definitely a breath Evangelista, who received a cash prize must be active on the day of the event and Standard Entertainment in an interview. a surprise, hidden in mystery boxes. of 700 euros from Porto Cesareo, is “very of fresh air,” viewers will used to access the GigaPlay App. As the show’s official “Pars,” expect An entertaining spin on intrigahan with thankful for the award” to the organizers and Meanwhile, Smart Postpaid subscribers see Atienza share his male perspective celebrity guests also awaits viewers in see the program burst with a to to her team, Project CITSALP, which has simply need to use their plan’s generous on the “chikahan and paandaran” of ‘Lightning Laglagan’ and ‘Pasabog Na been “the heart and soul of the film.” data allocation, which they can different level of energy, and resident hosts. His banter and opinions Chika.’

“I never thought that this film would push conveniently track on the GigaLife App, will surely be full of amazing trivia Meanwhile, watch out as Kuya Kim men and children who watch about things that interest every viewer. hits the road to bring viewers to exciting through because I didn’t have any illustrators to be able to watch Park Seo Jun. and animators before. In addition, I was “More than just a trend that has seeped the show will have someone “This show will cater now to the dining destinations, outdoor activities, highly depressed when this film was in into our new digital lifestyle, Hallyu of the whole family. Kuya Kim makes other and celebrity encounters in his special whom they can relate to on a family members who are also interested segment. production,” Evangelista revealed.

‘Korean wave’ has allowed us to find bits Porto Cesareo Film Festival artistic and pieces of happiness and of ourselves in chikahan, officially part of the show.

“My equity as Kuya Kim will not different personal level. director Anna Seviroli shared that the no matter the kind of K-life we’re in.

Kuya Kim shares meaningful opinions change here in Mars Pa More. I will still selection committee viewed and evaluated Along with our partners at Viu, we’re very Beginning today, GMA Network’s and I think he’s the official face of the bring in a lot of trivia. A lot of wisdom “about 3,000 works from all over the world excited to launch a new session of Smart will be put on the table but this time in well-loved family-oriented talk show Pars,” Prats added. including shorts, mini shorts, documentaries Hallyu Hangouts to give our subscribers The trio is set to lead a more interactive a lot more fun, casual, and playful way,” introduces Atienza as its newest host and from Italy, Mexico, India, Philippines, another reason to smile, feel inspired, and welcomes viewers in their new studio and engaging bonding moment through Atienza shared.

Spain, United Kingdom, Egypt, United feel kilig as they watch and interact with the show’s fresh segments.

Mars Pa More with Pars Kim Atienza with all-new and exciting episodes.

States, Iran, and Spain.” Read full story on Park Seo Jun,” says Jane J. Basas, SVP In ‘Mars/Man of the Hour,’ Filipinos airs from Monday to Friday, at 8:45 a.m.

“We’ll be able to broaden manilastadard.net and Head of Consumer Wireless Business our market with Kuya Kim whose accomplishments have brought on GMA-7. at Smart.

“At Viu, we make sure to always keep our ear to the ground and listen to what our Viu-ers would like to experience.

By working with Smart for this episode of the Hallyu Hangouts, we’re glad to PRODUCTION of Marvel’s Black Panther billion and being nominated for a best picture September from injuries sustained on the set be able to bring our Viu-ers closer to of ‘Black Panther 2’ and is looking forward to sequel is being halted to allow star Letitia Oscar. the actors they see on screen,” says Wright was injured while filming a stunt returning to work early 2022,” representatives Wright to recover from an on-set injury Vinchi Sy-Quia,, Head of Growth sustained in August, entertainment publications sequence in Boston in late August. At the time, for the Guyanese-British actor said in a Marketing at Viu Philippines. she was expected to recover soon enough for the statement. reported on Friday.

For more information on how to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is scheduled for Wright played Shuri in 2018’s acclaimed shooting schedule to remain uninterrupted, Variety watch Smart Hallyu Hangouts – Park release on Nov. 11. The filming stoppage is reportedly not Panther, set in the scientifically and Hollywood Insider reported.

Black Panther Seo Jun, you may go to https://smart. Letitia Wright's character advanced but reclusive fictional African More details about the injury have not expected to affect the release date of the movie, which com.ph/Pages/hallyu-hangouts and is expected to take on a nation Wakanda. been released but it was initially described as is directed by download the GigaPlay App via http:// larger role in the 'Black Ryan Coogler.

The movie, which has a predominantly Black minor. smrt.ph/gigaplay.

Panther' sequel.

“Letitia has been recovering in London since AFP cast, became a cultural milestone, grossing $1.3

Kim Atienza joins hosts of family-oriented talk show

F

'Black Panther' sequel shoot on halt after Letitia Wright’s injury

Top man Andrew Gan NO, THIS has nothing to do with the clothing brand that carries the name.

Nor it is about that “aggressor”, “powerful” or “superior” position in an act of sexual congress between two consenting adults, that happens to be men.

Yes, man of the moment, Andrew Gan, lead star of the independently produced by BRAGIAS TV (no network or telecommunications affiliation) boys love drama Limited Editions, guns himself to the top as Jethro, the cosmopolitan man of the

world who hails and has a career in New York. He is the object of affection and desire of Mario, the character that Jomari Angeles portrays with boyish charms and refreshing innocence.

Adding more rainbow to the online production is Ron Angeles, as Arnold, Jethro’s rival to Mario and Donna Cariaga, the fag hag for all seasons.

The love-triangle-centric pink offering is now in its mid-season with the past four episodes earning more than one million cumulative views.

To the pleasantly surprising love and viewers that the BL receives, Andrew reacts: “It is something that all of us did not expect. It was amazing to see that after

the first episode, the views are impressive.

And they are organic. And the reactions to it are positive. The kilig from Jethro and Mario, ang daming nakaka-experience. It feels great.”

As the newest leading man on the BL block, Andrew says: “I am grateful that the characters that Jomari and I are portraying get the love and support. I think the story that we have, since it is wholesome and fun, appeals to the viewers. Brush with first love and that magical moment of true love’s kiss is what we offer.”

“There is a certain magic that Jethro and Mario possess,” Gan adds. “I think the chemistry I share with Jomari is palpable because we are committed to the characters

we portray. We are honest, especially on how they feel and what do they mean to each other.”

He comes clean: “Acting is always reacting and when you have a generous partner to work with, the scene work becomes easier. Initially, Jomari and I had our awkward moments since it is the first time that both of us are in the shoes of two men who falls in love with one another. We had awful long silences and we cannot look at each other eye to eye and then we burst into nervous laughter. But as we shoot, we did arrive at that level of comfort na second skin na namin sina Jethro and Mario.” Read full story on manilastandard.net

Up-and-coming leading man Andrew Gan

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

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FOOD

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

LAVISH FEAST. Kenny Rogers gives its signature roast chicken a luxurious twist using a rich and flavorful marinade made with truffle and buttermilk extracts. The new Truffle Roast comes with buttermilk sauce and Spinach Mashed Potato side dish; it is available in group and solo meals.

Truffle roast on the table

T

RUFFLE has long been associated with luxury. The rarity and the difficulty in growing and storing this edible fungus have driven its price up. The unique umami and earthy flavor it adds to every meal makes it a truly delectable treat.

To achieve the taste and smell, each chicken is soaked in a flavorful marinade of truffle and buttermilk extracts before it’s roasted. Drops of truffle oil are added on the chicken just before serving to further enhance the aroma of the roast.

Kenny Rogers brings this lavish deli- holiday celebrations.

A gold foil wrapping encloses each cacy to its signature roasted chicken, Kenny’s Truffle Roast is infused with Truffle Roast to keep the truffle scent offering a sophisticated treat perfect for the distinct flavor and aroma of truffles. and, not to mention, add a touch of ex-

BITES

travagance to the dining experience. It is served with the new buttermilk sauce.

Kenny Rogers also launches the new Spinach Mashed Potato, a leveled up variant of its signature mashed potato, which, it says, is the perfect side dish to the Truffle Roast.

The luxurious flavor of truffles Kenny offers comes at reasonable prices.

The food-for-four group meal comes

with one whole roast, four side dishes, four cups of rice, muffins, and a 1.5L Coke for P1,105. It’s also available in a solo plate, consisting of a quarter chicken, buttermilk sauce, two side dishes, rice, and muffin for P315.

Try this new luscious offering for dine-in, takeout, or delivery via kennyrogersdelivery.com.ph, 8555-9000, GrabFood, or foodpanda.

COFFEE CONVERSATIONS

No-fuss, ready-to-heat ulam within reach GOOD news for folks who often find themselves with no time to cook and want something fast as 7-Eleven’s ready-to-heat meals are now available in over 2,000 stores in Luzon.

Officially launched late last year, HottaUlam! selections are available in a variety of viands at affordable prices. Single-serve variants include Rico’s Lechon Binagoongan, Rico’s Lechon Sisig, Pork Laing, two sticks of Pork BBQ, Chicken BBQ, Fried Bangus, Pinakbet, and Ginataang Langka at P55 to P79 per pack.

Ready-to-heat lutong bahay viands 7-Eleven’s ready-to-heat HottaUlam variants start at P55 (solo). good for two to three include Pork Steak, Payment methods include Chicken Curry, and Beef Caldereta at Manok are also available at P115.

Get HottaUlam at 7-Eleven stores. CLiQQ, and GCash.

P159 each. Baliwag’s Liempo and Lechon

cash,

To-Go set meals and platters CHILI’S makes Zoom meetings and lar day at home) tastier with its to-go The good-for-one Combo To-Go virtual holiday parties (or even a regu- menu. set meals come in four variants: Set A consists of Chicken Crispers, Country-Style Pork Belly, shredded corn, and white rice for 275; Set B comes with Bacon Ranch and Chicken Quesadillas, Fish Crispers, Homestyle Fries, and white rice for 275; Set C includes Monterey Chicken, Calamari, mashed potatoes, and white rice for 295; and Set D consists of Chicken Alfredo Pasta, Burger Bite, and Fries for 345.

A minimum order of five sets of Combo To-Go will get a free can of Pepsi for each set.

For holiday gatherings or family lunch or dinner, Chili’s has platters good for 8-10 pax, 12-15 pax, and 1820 pax. Go to chilisphilippines.com to order for in-store or curbside pickup or delivery through preferred courier.

Chili’s Beef and Chicken Fajitas in a Party To-Go platter.

Strawberry cheese pie, choco hazelnut sundae Fast food giant Jollibee’s newly launched desserts bring two beloved f lavor combinations in its pie and sundae.

Now served in Luzon stores, Strawberry Cheese Pie is a sweet strawberry and cheesy delight in a crispy golden pie crust, while Choco Hazelnut Sundae is made with chocolate syrup, chocolate coating, choco malt flakes, and hazelnut spread on a creamy vanilla soft serve.

“We’re continuously looking for new ways to entice and delight Filipinos looking for sweet fixes. We’re excited for them to try the new delightful flavor combinations of the sweet Strawberry Cheese Pie and the indulgent Choco Hazelnut Sundae,” said Bea Bediones, Jollibee marketing’s

Jollibee serves Choco Hazelnut Sundae and Strawberry Cheese Pie.

brand manager for desserts.

Strawberry Cheese Pie is available The new pie and sundae flavors will for P30 (solo), P100 (3 Pies To-Go), and be available in Visayas and Mindanao P199 (6 Pies To-Go). Choco Hazelnut starting Nov. 18.

Sundae is priced at P45.

Breville Bambino espresso machine features ThermoJet heating system, adjustable milk temperature setting, and a hands-free automatic steam wand.

Breville’s new machine delivers artisanal brews AUSTRALIAN home appliance brand Breville brings to the Philippines its new espresso machine that promises to deliver high-quality cups “without all the bells and whistles of its advanced counterparts”.

The Bambino Plus uses what the brand calls the 4 Keys formula to provide the best balance, consistency, flavor, and texture in every cup of coffee. The combination of ideal dose, proper temperature, optimal pressure, and sufficient steam promises a serving that, it says, can challenge brews from coffee shops.

It uses an innovative ThermoJet heating system, adjustable milk temperature setting, and a hands-free automatic steam wand. The new model

is made for people who love to explore and enjoy third wave coffee, which focuses on understanding the origins and artisanal methods of preparing each cup, in a simple but quality way.

“We want everyone to know that anyone can make their favorite drink at home without being too specific or technical about it,” says Elijah Marie Cortez-Flores, F&B unit manager of Breville Philippines. “The Bambino Plus is meant to help coffee lovers experience third wave specialty coffee without making things complicated. Its simplicity is meant to retain the magic that we all love every time we sit down to enjoy our brews.”

Starbucks continues traditions with 2022 planner IT’S that time of the year again to collect ditions Mug and Tumbler with pouch.

Starbucks stickers for a planner. Stickers A set includes a sleek stainless steel can now be redeemed for every purchase matte black 12oz. tumbler or a classic of a Tall, Grande, or Venti handcrafted pristine white 12oz. ceramic mug, both comes with a pouch. beverage until Jan. 3, 2022.

Customers can redeem a Starbucks For 2022, the coffeehouse chain ofTraditions merfers the Starbucks chandise for every Traditions Planner 18 stickers colwith a matching lected. The chain organizer in black offers two ways or white with subto collect stickers tle embossed Siren digitally: customand scale design. ers may get the new The organizer QR promo card in consists of builtstores and collect in pockets to keep a digital sticker for a pen and other every handcrafted essentials in one beverage bought place. Inside the planner are 12 ex- Starbucks Traditions 2022 Planner with in store, or use the organizer and Mug and Tumbler with Starbucks app to clusive monthly pouch in monochromatic design. collect e-stickers artworks featuring for every handStarbucks’ commitment to coffee heritage, partners (em- crafted beverage purchased using a ployees), communities and customers it registered Starbucks Card. Customers ordering four eligible handcrafted bevserves, and our planet.

In addition to the annual planner, the erages through GrabFood or foodpanda chain rolls out, in the same monochro- will be issued a QR promo card loaded matic design, the 2022 Starbucks Tra- with its corresponding digital stickers.