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(Story on A4)
ODETTE UNLEASHED MORE RAINS THAN YOLANDA—PAGASA
NEWS / A2
RODY: SORRY FOR RELIEF DELAY PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte apologized on Thursday for the delay in the delivery of government aid to areas badly-hit by super typhoon Odette. “I ask for your apology as to the delayed government response,” Duterte told typhoon survivors in Puerto Princesa in Palawan as
he assured them that funds are forthcoming. “The reality is we're having a hard time at the national level because of the logistics and the money as well,” he added. “In one or two days, hopefully in time for Christmas—the money is being Next page
VOL. XXXV • NO. 312 • 5 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 FRDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Gov’t to release P5b in aid
Draws P4b from WB standby loan, taps P1b from OP contingency fund By Julito G. Rada, Othel V. Campos, Alena Mae Flores, Maricel V. Cruz and Darwin Amojelar
OME P5 billion in aid will be released this week to help victims of Typhoon “Odette,” the government said Thursday.
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Of these, about P4 billion ($80 million) will come from a World Bank standby credit line to support Next page
RACE AGAINST TIME TO DELIVER AID. President Rodrigo Duterte tends to victims of super typhoon Odette as he visits affected areas on Dinagat Islands on Dec. 22, 2021. (Inset) Photo shows a bird's eye view of people queueing up to board ferry boats to Mindanao, days after Odette devastated the island. At the Army headquarters in Taguig, members of the Philippine Army unload relief goods and other essentials for distribution to typhoon-displaced residents on Dec. 23, 2021. AFP and Danny Pata
More vaccines Official death toll jumps to 258, with 47 reported missing gone to waste due to Odette Lower dose Pfizer jab for kids ages 5-11 okayed
SOME 258 people have been reported the Visayas, the National Disaster Risk of the Philippine National Police which NDRRMC said. dead, 47 missing, and 568 injured when Reduction and Management Council said placed the death toll at 375. A total of 2,196,432 people or 585,029 typhoon Odette, the 15th to hit the Thursday. Most of the victims died due to families were affected by the typhoon in country this year, lashed Mindanao and The number is lower than the tally drowning and getting hit by falling trees, 4,566 barangays. Next page
By Willie Casas
THE National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said on Thursday it recorded more vaccine wastage brought about by the onslaught of Typhoon “Odette” but did not say how much was lost. In a briefing, Dr. Kezia Rosario of the NVOC said they have recorded more wastage than the 100 vials of Pfizer vaccine that were initially reported wasted due to power outages in Iloilo. “We are providing guidance on several ends because our priority remains to be the vaccine’s safety if they were affected by the temperature fluctuation and such,” she said in Filipino. Next page
Booster use no pandemic escape—WHO THE WHO warned rich countries cannot use boosters to escape the coronavirus as nations scrambled to contain Omicron surges, with France becoming one of the first nations to vaccinate children over five. China, meanwhile, cracked down on the latest outbreak of the virus, shutting down the whole city of Xi’an. And Britain, which reported a record 106,000 new cases in 24 hours, approved Pfizer's jab for children aged five and up, as US health regulators authorized the company's COVID pill for high-risk patients over 12. "No country can boost its way out Next page
(FDA) has approved the emergency FDA director general Dr. Eric use authorization (EUA) for Pfizer- Domingo, however, the specific dose— BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for ages at 10 microgram—will still have to be Next page procured. THE Food and Drug Administration 5 to 11 years old.
By Willie Casas, Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja
2,837,903 288
9,251
50,981
65
2,777,671
270
(As of 4 PM, DECEMBER 23)
VIA LAND, SEA AND AIR. (Clockwise from left) Passengers bound for various provinces flock to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, to make it home in time for Christmas. At the Northport main gate in Tondo, Manila, passengers going home to spend Christmas holidays in their provinces form a long line to board their respective ships. A family beneficiary of the ‘Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa’ (BP2) program happily bids Metro Manila goodbye onboard a shuttle bus bound for their province Thursday dawn. Danny Pata, Norman Cruz and Robert Oswald Alfiler
PH improves in Bloomberg COVID resilience ranking THE Philippines, which has logged 2.8 resilience ranking. and lower positivity rates suggest million infections and 50,981 deaths as For December, the country now ranked “undetected infection is finally coming of Thursday, is no longer a cellar-dweller 50th from the bottom 53rd a month ago as under control,” according to Bloomberg. in the latest Bloomberg COVID-19 eased restrictions, improved vaccination Next page
FEU hospital cuts PhilHealth ties to be viable By Willie Casas THE Far Eastern University-Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEUNRMF) has cut its ties with state insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) after its receivables from the agency rose to P200 million by the end of November. In a statement, Chief Operating Officer Juan Enrique Reyes said the hospital would no longer deduct PhilHealth Next page
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
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’Odette rain volume surpassed Yolanda’
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The government is currently administering Pfizer’s 30-microgram dose for individuals 12 years old and above. “The dosage is not the same. It will be a lower dose than the one we administer for adults,” Domingo added. He said the lower-dose Pfizer vaccine has a 90 percent efficacy rate for children aged 5 to 11 years. The FDA also granted an EUA to the anti-COVID-19 drug molnupiravir. An EUA allows legal administration of the drug in the country but does not allow for commercial selling. "This can only be given to adults aged 18 and above, who tested positive for COVID-19 and are at risk of developing severe illness," Domingo said. "Molnupiravir is given twice a day for five days, but should be given as soon as possible after diagnosis. And it should be given within the first five days after the onset of symptoms," he added. In related developments, a leader of the House of Representatives urged the inter-agency task force (IATF) on the COVID-19 pandemic to allow private subdivisions or villages to do their own booster vaccination for their residents. Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo made the appeal after several of her constituents in the city’s second district, which she represents, inquired if they could receive their booster shots in the same areas in their villages where the IATF earlier permitted them to get their first and second doses. With the government’s decision to shorten the time for giving the booster dose from six months to three months, Castelo said the authorities should expect crowding in many vaccination facilities. “We should welcome the desire of many people to receive additional protection from Covid-19 and its new variant Omicron. Allowing homeowners’ associations that administered the basic shots to give the booster dose will ease crowding in inoculation centers,” she said. She said many village residents were afraid to go to crowded centers to get vaccinated for fear of catching the virus. She added she was sure village associations were willing to do booster vaccination for their constituents. “They will not lack volunteer medical doctors, nurses and other health professionals from their residents,” Castelo stressed. She pointed out that expanding the rollout of boosters would speed up the attainment of herd immunity against the virus. The country logged on Thursday 288 new cases COVID-19, bringing the total to 2,837,903 as two laboratories were not operational and other 11 laboratories were not able to submit their data on time.
PAGASA forecaster Raymond Ordinario told the agency's 143rd Climate Forum that its synoptic station in Virac, Catanduanes recorded 272.1 millimeters of accumulated rainfall between December 14 and 18, 2021, when Odette was within the Philippine area of responsibility.
It was higher than the 223.8 mm of rainfall recorded in Calapan, Mindoro when Yolanda hit the country eight years ago, leaving an ugly swathe of destruction in life and infrastructure. Ordinario said the high amount of rain over Virac was due to the convergence of
Odette with the Northeast Monsoon when it reached the West Philippine Sea before leaving the PAR noon of Saturday. As for areas in Odette's direct path, Surigao City recorded 234 mm of rainfall, while the town of Dauis, Bohol saw 232.7 mm of rain. Malaybalay, Bukidnon recorded 218.4 mm, while Butuan City experienced 207.6 mm of rainfall. Odette was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 195 kph, on top of gustiness of up to 270 kph, at its peak. In 2013, Yolanda had 235 kilometers per hour maximum winds and gusts of up to 275 kph at its peak.
Gov’t...
nearly 12 percent at P99.129 million. By size of farms affected, rice topped the list with 28,809 hectares of damaged crops; HVC with 19,156 hectares; and corn, 15,730 hectares. Among the regions, Central Visayas suffered the most with damage estimated at P464.565 million, or 56.1 percent of the total estimate; followed by Western Visayas with P173.119 million; and Eastern Visayas with P90.159 million. Caraga sustained estimated losses at P75.299 million, over 9 percent of total estimated damage; MIMAROPA, P18.173 million; and Northern Mindanao, P6.757 million. PCIC has a standing order to the regional and head office staffs to ensure quick payment for all damage claims, especially in times of widespread calamity. PCIC indemnifies its insured farmers and fishermen within 20 working days from the date of filing of notice of loss, provided these are properly supported by documents. This time frame is much shorter than the 60 days allowed by law. Typhoon Odette plowed through the six regions from Dec. 16, when it made landfall in Siargao Island, bringing strong winds with speed from 195 kph to 260 kph and torrential rain. It was the 15th and the strongest typhoon in the country this year. Also on Thursday, Dominguez ordered the quick and round-the-clock processing of applications for tax and duty exemptions of donations to communities devastated by Typhoon Odette, in response to President Duterte’s directive on expediting relief and rehabilitation efforts in the disaster-hit areas. Dominguez informed the President that the Department of Finance was ready to quickly process applications for tax and duty exemptions for imported goods to be donated to Odette victims. On Wednesday, the President and government officials visited Dinagat Island to find out what communities need to recover from the impact of Typhoon Odette. In a Palace press statement, acting presidential spokesman and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Duterte met with the evacuees and local officials of the area, vowing to “provide the necessary means to speed up clearing operations and help residents reconstruct their homes.” He said Duterte directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide financial assistance to the families affected by the typhoon. Duterte also asked the DSWD to
continuously provide family food packs to the typhoon victims. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was directed to monitor and supervise the distribution of the financial assistance, he added. The National Housing Authority will provide housing assistance worth P100 million to typhoon victims in Dinagat Islands whose houses were damaged in the storm. He also urged the Department of Energy to ensure the delivery of gasoline and other petroleum products to the Dinagat Islands. The National Electrification Administration (NEA) on Thursday announced an initial damage of P1.12 billion from 16 electric cooperatives (ECs) affected by typhoon Odette. The estimated damages significantly went up from P372.121 million assessed by NEA from 10 ECs on Wednesday. NEA department manager Ernesto Silvano said restoration activities are ongoing with seven ECs still without power, affecting some 3.65 million households. These are Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative I, Bohol Electric Cooperative I and II, Cebu Electric Cooperative III, Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative, Camiguin Electric Cooperative and Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative. "As far as municipalities are concerned we still have 206 from the 936 to be restored or covered for restoration under the electric cooperatives' franchises and partially 75 more to be restored," Silvano said during yesterday's briefing. "So as far as ECs are concerned of the 74 ECs that were affected, we are looking at 13 partial power interruptions and seven total power interruptions," he said. He said NEA has already received reports from Dinagat Island Electric Cooperative and Siargao Electric Cooperative, bringing the numbers of ECs with no update to five. Among the ECs, Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative suffered the biggest damage costing P433.8 million, Bohol Electric Cooperative I at P344.078 million and Leyte Electric Cooperative IV at P143 million. Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said around 1,200 people are working together to restore power in the affected areas. "It's challenging for Bohol because we have two special (transmission) towers
that were affected," Fuentebella said. He said National Grid Corp. of the Philippines has covered around 80 percent of transmission facilities while the ECs have covered about 30 percent for restoration. "Since we have a lot of personnel on the ground, we are anticipating that by Dec. 25 we will have more areas that have been energized, especially since private distribution utilities are also helping each other," Fuentebella said. The National Power Corp. said there are 27 diesel power plants that are not operational. These are located in Palawan, Bohol, Guimaras, Dinagat and Surigao Del Norte. In terms of fuel supply, Fuentebella said DOE, in coordination with Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine National Police, is inspecting various liquid fuel retail outlets in affected areas in Cebu and Mindanao to enforce compliance on the Consumer Act of Philippines (RA 7394) and would penalize those selling overpriced gasoline and diesel. In other developments: * Rep. Isidro Ungab of Davao City on Thursday urged the government to make use of the remaining and available Quick Response Funds (QRFs) from various departments and agencies to help raise the P10 billion in aid promised by the President. “The money that can be tapped from these QRFs may be utilized for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the areas ravaged by Odette, including the pre-positioning of goods and equipment needed to give relief and assistance to the calamity victims," Ungab said. * Converge ICT Solutions Inc. said it installed very small aperture terminals (VSAT) in typhoon-hit Siargao island to provide emergency internet connectivity using satellite broadband technology. The VSAT terminals will power the command center and help support the disaster response and recovery capability of the local government unit as well as the better coordination in the deployment of relief goods. * The European Union and its member states have allocated and delivered rapidly more than € 2.83 million (P160.69 million) worth of humanitarian assistance to the Philippines. This funding (as of Dec, 23) will cover mainly immediate needs through the provision of food, drinking water, shelter and other urgently needed household items, the EU said in a statement.
wrought by Odette. Provincial health officer Dr. Jillian Lee said a surge in COVID-19 cases in the province is a definite possibility within the coming weeks. “There's a possibility we'll experience a surge in like after two weeks to a month,” Lee said in an interview with ABS-CBN News. This is mainly because of the damage caused by the typhoon to both hospitals and containment centers for cases, Lee said. The Dinagat District Hospital suffered 90 percent damage and is now cramming people sick from water-borne ailments and other diseases.
This and other provincial infirmaries lost equipment such as mechanical ventilators to the storm. The provincial care and containment center where cases were housed near the capitol was destroyed. Home-based isolation could also prove difficult with many homes lost. Before the typhoon, the province listed 22 active cases. Vaccinations are being held at the province’s emergency operations center and are open to anyone. Lee added some residents who feared getting jabs were convinced to get vaccinated. The pace of vaccinations is slow
this time—around 20 people per day compared to 100 daily before the typhoon. Lee said vaccination could be their only chance to check the spread of COVID-19 or at least prevent severe cases. “Our hope is to continue the vaccination efforts so that in the event the virus will spread, at least the majority of our cases will be asymptomatic or mild,” she said. Meanwhile, across the sea in Surigao City health care efforts are focused for now on immediate concerns following the typhoon. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)
governments to roll out new restrictions and urge citizens to get vaccinated. The latest data suggest Omicron does not cause more severe illness than previous variants, including Delta, but as soaring infection numbers threaten to overwhelm health systems, scientists warn it could still cause more deaths. France on Wednesday opened vaccinations to children aged between five and 11, warning that daily infection rates could hit 100,000 by the end of the year, up from a weekly average of 54,000 daily cases. "There is one certainty," said Health Minister Olivier Veran. "Omicron is very contagious, it will spread, and no country will be spared." But vaccines did have an effect on the variant, he stressed. Britain approved Pfizer's Covid jab for children aged five to 11, announced it would buy millions of Covid pills, and cut the isolation period for infected people from 10 to seven days with negative tests. AFP
Official... Some 486,361 people or 122,575 families were staying inside 2,535 evacuation centers, while 123,341 individuals or 29,906 families were staying in the houses of their relatives and friends. Meanwhile, the PNP clarified Thursday that all reported incidents relating to casualties from the onslaught of Odette were properly documented and investigated by various police units and were still subject to validation. “The reported casualties are submitted to the Office of Civil Defense and these are subject to validation by OCD (Office of Civil Defense), DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) and DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development,” PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos said. He also added that PNP units handling
these data exercise due diligence to preclude possibilities of redundant or omitted entry that may compromise the accuracy of information. "Ultimately, it’s the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council that takes the role as the overall in-charge of pre-disaster and post-disaster response in our country. All reported incidents to the police units are further evaluated by the NDRRMC," Carlos said. Carlos also said the PNP is asking for understanding if fatality figures between the organization and other government agencies may not match since there is a protocol for the validation undertaken by the NDRRMC. "Search, rescue, and retrieval operations are still underway in some areas, so it’s premature to conclude the numbers, not to mention the limitation in the communication system due to interrupted signal connection that may delay the reporting scheme," Carlos said.
The monthly report captures how effectively the "world's biggest 53 economies" are responding to the COVID-19 crisis, which began in March 2020. Vietnam replaced the Philippines as “the worst place” to live in during the pandemic, falling by two ranks after its “export-dependent economy was slammed by outbreaks causing factory shutdowns during the peak holiday production season.” South Africa, tagged as the epicenter of the Omicron variant, dropped by seven notches to become the second worst in the list. Also landing at the bottom five were Indonesia at 51st , and Poland remaining at 49th. According to Bloomberg, it uses a number of indicators in its assessment, including virus containment, quality of healthcare, vaccination coverage, overall mortality, and progress toward restarting travel. But Malacañang had criticized the ranking as having “little consideration for country-specific COVID-19 context,” noting the 53 nations being evaluated had different experiences and strategies.
January 2020 to date. This, as hospitals in the National Capital Region, Quezon province, northern Luzon and General Santos City said they would follow the lead of seven hospitals in Iloilo and are also planning to cut ties with state health insurer PhilHealth over unpaid claims.
Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, Private Hospital Association of the Philippines Inc. national president, said the private hospitals that cut ties with PhilHealth would still serve the firm's members -- but the patients or their families would be the ones who would directly transact with the state insurer. At present, PhilHealth has released
two waves of payments amounting to P11.04 billion under the DCPM. It will release more funds for the third wave through its Circular 20210023 which took effect immediately upon publication on December 8, 2021, officials said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)
HE amount of rain unleashed by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) last week surpassed the level brought by killer and destructive typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
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disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts in provinces devastated by Odette, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said. "This week, the DOF will draw $80 million from the World Bank disaster financing loan to fund the amount with cover in the 2021 budget," Dominguez said. It would draw another $120 million – or about P6 billion—from the same loan facility in the first week of January when the loan cover will be available in the 2022 national budget. Dominguez issued the statement in response to calls from the Senate for a “cash sweep” of undisbursed funds and savings in state coffers to provide for the relief and reconstruction efforts in Odettehit areas. Meanwhile, P1 billion of the P5 billion aid to be released this week will come from the Office of the President’s contingent fund, Budget Undersecretary Tina Canda said. She said the P1 billion would be distributed to Regions IV-B, VI,VII,VIII, X, and XIII “today or tomorrow at the latest.” Duterte has promised to raise P10 billion for the rehabilitation and recovery of typhoon-devastated areas. The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) announced Thursday it will be releasing indemnification amounting an initial P828 million to farmers and fishermen whose insured crops, farming implements and equipment were wrecked by Odette. The amount represents the initial estimate of damage largely to standing rice, corn and high-value crops (HVC) in over 63,695 hectares of farms in 28 provinces and six regions. Other losses include livestock and non-crop agricultural and fisheries assets, mostly small boats or bancas. The damage is subject to further validation by the field personnel of PCIC. The number of insured farmers and fishermen affected stands at 79,217, about 89 percent of whom come from the Visayas. Among the affected crops, high value crops (HVC) sustained the greatest damage, at 47 percent of the total estimate or about P389.2 million. Rice accounted for nearly 17 percent at P140.691 million; and corn,
More... From A1
Rosario said vaccines that floated on floodwater, vaccines in refrigerators that floated on floodwater, vaccines that went more than four hours without power, and vaccines whose labels had peeled off must be considered wasted. She said their teams had just returned from visiting local government units to assess the vaccine wastage and the status of the cold chain storage. The Dinagat Islands provincial health office has continued with vaccination efforts despite the damage
Booster... From A1
of the pandemic," said the World Health Organization's Secretary General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Wednesday. "Blanket booster programs are likely to prolong the COVID-19 pandemic, rather than ending it, by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage, giving the virus more opportunity to spread and mutate," he said. Nor should a third dose of vaccine be seen as carte blanche, he added. "Boosters cannot be seen as a ticket to go ahead with planned celebrations,” the WHO official added. Unrestrained end-of-year celebrations could still prove to be a major source of new infections, the WHO warned. The threat of the highly mutated Omicron variant is looming large over the end-of-year holidays, pushing many
give way to pragmatism. We simply cannot treat our patients or help our From A1 students if we are not financially viable,” Reyes said in an advisory to members. benefits from the hospital bills of Earlier on, PhilHealth said it would members. expedite hospital payments through “It was a very difficult decision, but the Debit-Credit Payment Method as it given the circumstances, altruism must released P165.8 billion in claims from
FEU...
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"Comparing Odette with Yolanda, we can see that Yolanda brought less rain. But Yolanda had stronger winds and its track was much higher compared to Odette, so it triggered bigger storm surges. With Odette, we saw that strong winds also caused severe damage over areas of Visayas and Mindanao,” Ordinario said. So far, Odette has left at least 258 people dead – lower than the previously reported 375 people from other official sources – along with 47 missing, according to the National Risk Reduction and Management Council or NDRRMC.
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downloaded. But if it is not released in time, give me a little elbow room. It will come, within three days it will be here,” the President said. Duterte reiterated his earlier commitment to allot P10 billion for the relief efforts in Odette-hit areas. The Department of Agriculture said it will allocate P101 million for Palawan farmers, as well as 5,000 boats for the local fisherfolk. Trade secretary Ramon Lopez said P10 million will be allocated for Palawan, with 1,000 beneficiaries receiving P10,000 each.
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DOJ: Nothing wrong with GCTA law on jail terms By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said that there is nothing wrong with the 2019 amendment in implementing rules and regulations to exclude persons convicted of heinous crimes from the coverage of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law. Under Republic Act 10592, or the GCTA law, GCTA credits shorten the jail term of a convicted person. “The DOJ (Department of Justice) crafted the revised implementing rules and regulations of the GCTA law in accordance not only with the letter but more so with the spirit of the law,” Guevarra said, in a text message to reporters. The issue on GCTA surfaced anew after Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Judge Gener M. Gito ordered the release of Juanito T. Itaas, who was convicted in 1991 for the 1989 murder of the United States Army Col. James Rowe and frustrated murder of Rowe’s driver Joaquin Binuya. In 2000, the Supreme Court sustained Itaas’ conviction. The IRR was revised in 2019 as a result of public outrage on the announced release under GCTA credits of the late former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio L. Sanchez who was then serving his jail term for murder and rape.
IN BRIEF Solon seeks regulation of popular ‘e-sabong’ TAGUIG Rep. Lani Cayetano on Thursday urged her colleagues in Congress to regulate e-sabong operations more carefully amid recent debates on the granting of legislative franchises to its operators. “We should carefully approve these kinds of legislative franchises because the effects of e-sabong, even though the franchises are not yet officially granted, are already severe,” Cayetano said. “It is clear that we firmly believe that the effects of e-sabong would be adverse once Congress approves its 25-year franchise,” she added. In September, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill that would grant the e-sabong outlet Lucky 8 Star Quest, Inc. a 25-year legislative franchise. Shortly after, the House Ways and Means panel, chaired by Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay, approved a bill seeking to grant the Visayas Cockers Club Inc. a similar legislative franchise. Maricel V. Cruz
CHARGING STATION.
Residents charge their cellphones and electronic devices outside a government building in Calape town, Bohol province on December 22, days after super typhoon “Odette” devastated the province.
COA flags delayed govt projects worth P1.44t
By Rio N. Araja
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HE Commission on Audit (COA) has called the attention of 17 government agencies for delayed or non-completed infrastructure projects worth P1.44 trillion.
The projects were “not executed in accordance with the plan, with noted deficiencies, not completed on time, [or were] not completed at all,” which may result in waste of government funds or delayed enjoyment of project benefits, it cited. Such lapses could be attributed to the abandonment by the contractor, inefficiency in the monitoring of project implementation, poor planning or workmanship, and lack of coordination with local governments and other agencies.
Out of the P1.44 trillion, P1.3 trillion were 15 foreign-assisted projects of the Department of Transportation, state auditors said. It cited different issues that caused the extension of the projects as well as possible changes in total project costs and slippages or low to no actual physical accomplishments. “The overall causes of delays in the project implementation also resulted in the incurrence and payment of additional commitment fees for the seven FAPs
Probe launched on QC eviction case THE Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor has stepped into the supposed harassment by armed guards and some civilians in the eviction of residents of Don Antonio Street in Villa Beatriz, Old Balara, Quezon City last Dec. 14 at around 3 a.m. The agency immediately sent Dennis Protacio and Kreeger Bonagua of the Field Operations Division for the National Capital Region and went to the area to conduct monitoring and validation activity and to stop the commotion between residents and several security guards. It maintained that the landowner of the disputed property must first file a case before the implementation of any eviction activities. It invoked that there were also legal and proper processes to comply with. Rio N. Araja
PAGCOR PITCHES IN.
Workers from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) pack relief goods for victims of typhoon “Odette” inside the PAGCOR warehouse along Bayang Luma 6 in Imus Cavite. Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai), the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, slammed into the southern and central regions of the country, knocking out communications and electricity in many areas. Siargao Island, Dinagat Island, Cebu, and Bohol islands were among the hard-hit areas. Norman Cruz.
amounting to P158.224 million in the calendar year 2020,” the report said. It reported that projects of 12 state universities and colleges worth P1.1 billion were also not executed according to plan, were delayed, or were not completed at all. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon meanwhile branded as “criminal neglect” the non-completed government projects flagged by COA He said government officials responsible should be charged for causing injury to the public because of their reckless imprudence. “We borrow funds to cover the deficits in the budget. We borrow funds for vaccines. We have no funds for the typhoon victims,” said Drilon.
COMMUNITY DOG WALK.
Almost 20 Belgian dogs and their owners participated in a community walk and training in Brgy. San Francisco, General Trias, Cavite. A group of Belgian dog owners with about 500 members organizes these walks to familiarize their pets with other dogs and to people. Jr Josue
New guidelines for informal workers issued THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday issued guidelines that aim to protect informal sector workers, including kasambahays (house helpers), under Republic Act (RA) 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued Department Order 230 series of 2021, which provides mechanisms and interventions, including redress mechanisms, in cases of gender-based sexual harassment in the workplace, for those involved in the informal economy, and those employed in establishments with 10 or fewer employees. The order defines Gender-Based Sexual Harassment (GBSH) as specific acts penalized by RA 11313, which may be committed either on the street or public spaces; online; workplace; and educational and training institutions. Under the law, the GBSH refers to unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any person, regardless of the motive for committing such actions or remarks. At the same time, the DOLE mandates employers of informal sector workers to orient all workers in the establishments and households on the Safe Spaces Act, to ensure full compliance with the law. Employers or other persons of authority, influence, or moral ascendancy in the establishment are also mandated to prevent, deter, or punish the commission of acts of GBSH in the workplace. As part of their occupational safety and health program, establishments are required to formulate their GBSH code of conduct or workplace policy.
Agents arrest Korean wanted for operating illegal gambling website By Vito Barcelo BUREAU of Immigration (BI) agents arrested a South Korean fugitive wanted by authorities in Seoul for operating an illegal gambling site on the Internet. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the “alien” as 45-year-old Lee Jaehun, who was ar-
rested inside a commercial complex in Brgy. Holy Spirit, Quezon City. Lee was arrested on the strength of a warrant that Morente issued pursuant to a summary deportation order signed in March 2017, tagging Lee an undesirable and overstaying alien. It was gathered that Lee had been in the country for almost a decade as
records show that he last arrived here in 2012. According to BI-FSU acting chief Rendel Ryan Sy, Lee is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Changwon district court in Korea nearly five years ago after he was charged for violating his country’s law against illegal gambling. Sy said Lee was accused of conspir-
ing with other suspects in operating an online server wherein customers would gamble by betting on the results of sports competitions. South Korean authorities placed the amount of money that gamblers had betted on the site from January 2015 to October 2016 at more than 1.4 trillion won or roughly $1.17 million.
‘Coding’ suspended during holidays THE number coding scheme by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be suspended during the Christmas and New Year holidays. The MMDA said there will be no number coding on December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 1 (New Year’s Day). Provincial buses, private, and public utility vehicles are all exempted, the MMDA in an advisory said. The MMDA said for December 24, Friday (Christmas Eve) December 30, Thursday (Rizal Day), and December 31, Friday (New Year’s Eve) the number coding will also be suspended from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Metro Manila buses, private vehicles, and PUVs are included in this exemption. The MMDA said this means vehicles, public or private, with license plate numbers ending in 7 and 8 and covered by the number coding scheme every Thursday; and license plates ending in 9 and 0 covered by the number coding every Friday are allowed to use man roads in Metro Manila all day.
Mayor Isko’s wife visits evacuation center in Bohol By Rey E. Requejo THE wife of presidential candidate Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Wednesday visited Barangay Valladolid in Loboc, Bohol to personally hand over mattresses and relief goods to scores of families who were left homeless following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette. Diana Lynn Ditan-Domagoso, who was accompanied by Loboc Mayor Leon Calipusan, said she and her team went to the municipality not only to hand over the initial batch of relief goods, but also to personally assess what further assistance would be sent later on to Boholanos taking shelter in evacuation centers as part of “Operation Tabang” of Team Isko Moreno. “Don’t worry. That’s why I came here and I also want to come to you because we also have a lot of friends, and this is not about politics, we also have a lot of friends who want to send help but they don’t know who to let go of and they ask what else we can give,” Domagoso said. “Like that, we still need mattresses, what else do they lack? But little by little, many people want to help not only politicians, but also ordinary people,” she added. Domagoso also urged the victims not to lose hope despite the tragedy that befell them because the “bayanihan spirit” is very much alive among well-meaning Filipinos, especially Manileňos, who are ready to help and provide them with assistance. “While you were devastated here, everybody was mobilized. In any case, even though what happened was not good, the Filipinos revived the bayanihan (spirit). So, I want you to know, you are not alone. Your countrymen can hear you,” Domagoso said. Calipusan thanked Domagoso and the rest of Team Isko Moreno for visiting the municipality and provide immediate help to his constituents, particularly Barangay Villadolid which is one of the areas severely damaged by Odette. According to him, almost all residents of Barangay Valladolid are in the evacuation area. “That is why we are grateful to Mayor Isko’s group. You brought here what can be given to them to help make their lives a little better here at the evacuation center,” he said. “Even though there is a lot of damage, Merry Christmas to everyone especially to Team Isko who visited us here,” Calipusan added.
Puno: Lacson to be my 4th President
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LENI IN PALAWAN. Vice President Leni Robredo (inset) visits Roxas, Palawan on Wednesday to bring relief assistance to the families affected by super typhoon Odette, which left nearly nothing in the coastal village after it battered the province and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao last week. OVP Photo
Leni camp open to unity talks with other ’22 bets T By Rio N. Araja
HE camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday said it is open a chance of unification among opposition bets to be able to form a formidable team to defeat the administration bets.
Ibarra Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesperson, said they cannot speak for and tell the moves of the other candidates, but they welcome the withdrawal of other candidates to give Robredo a bigger chance to win. “Since time immemorial, the position of the Vice President and our campaign is that we are open to such dialogue. It is
hard to tell what is there to happen. At the end of the day, the decision has to come from individual candidates,” he said. “We all know that each campaign has its own dynamics. Each campaign has its own perspective. Isn’t it they have their own consideration,” Gutierrez added. He said a lot of things have yet to happen. “There is still a long way to go. It is just December, and we are not yet in 2022. There are still so many possible things to happen,” the spokesman said. He cited the cooperation between Robredo and Senator Manny Pacquiao in relief operations for the victims of typhoon Odette. The super typhoon left nearly nothing in the coastal village of Roxas in Palawan after it battered the province and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao last week. Robredo visited Roxas on Wednesday to bring relief assistance to the families af-
fected by the typhoon. The Vice President has been going around the areas hit by Odette to assure survivors that they will not be alone in their ordeal and work with the local government units for their rebuilding efforts. The Office of the Vice President (OVP) donated 500 sacks of rice to the families affected by Odette in the towns of San Vicente and Roxas in Palawan on Wednesday. Personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy delivered them to San Vicente and Roxas, which were among the hardest hit areas in the province from the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Puerto Princesa. Robredo visited Palawan and other provinces that bore the brunt of Odette’s onslaught to coordinate relief operations and find out from the local government officials how the OVP can help in their recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
By Macon Ramos-Araneta FORMER Interior Secretary Ronaldo “Ronnie” Puno, Partido Reporma’s campaign manager, on Thursday described his relationship with Senator Panfilo Lacson as “from fierce foe to a staunch supporter.” “When Ping Lacson and I served together in the government, we butted heads. We were like classmates vying for top honors. When that happens, wouldn’t they clash?” said Puno, who now manages Lacson’s presidential campaign. “They say I helped ‘make’ three Presidents. They should have added a fourth: Ping Lacson,” he added. During the Estrada administration, Lacson served as Philippine National Police chief, while Puno served as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government. The DILG supervises the PNP. He said one of the causes of their clashes stemmed from Estrada’s order to go after illegal gambling but exempting some gambling lords. Lacson had continued to go all-out against all illegal gambling due to his no-take policy and leadership by example. Meanwhile, tough problems require tough solutions from tough leaders—leaders with ability, honesty, and bravery, Partido Reporma chairman and standard bearer Lacson said, as he called on Pangasinenses to be critical of the officials they vote for in the 2022 national election. In the recent “Online Kumustahan” attended by over 3,000 residents and supporters in Lingayen, Pangasinan, Lacson said the country’s broad range of problems need solutions that meet these challenges headon, which only tough leaders understand and can accomplish.
HELP FOR LEYTE.
Team Pacquiao Campaign Manager Buddy Zamora, communication head Bernard Peralta and Tzu Chi Foundation’s Mrs. Elsie Chua (inset photo) turn over to Leyte Governor Leopoldo “Mic” Petilla relief goods consisting of 500 boxes of solar lights, 1,000 boxes of blankets, and assorted canned goods at Tacloban Airport for the victims of super typhoon Odette on Wednesday. The donation under the United Relief Operation (URO), a nonpartisan umbrella organization of aid groups created by Pacquiao also includes the Wings of Hope group, Veloce Group, Team Pacquiao GG, and other celebrity volunteers.
Lawyer: BIR payment doesn’t mean BBM can run for office A CERTIFICATE from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) showing that presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. already paid his taxes for the years 1982 to 1985 with interest does not mean he can still seek public office, a lawyer said Thursday. 1Sambayan convenor Howard Calleja, who represents a group that filed a petition against Marcos, said that under the tax code, the former senator must pay his taxes with BIR as well as the penalty, which must be settled with the regional trial court. In the TeleRadyo interview, the lawyer
was referring to the fine imposed by the Court of Appeals on Marcos Jr. in 1997, which affirmed his prior conviction for tax evasion. The only son and namesake of the former dictator was convicted in 1995 for failure to file mandatory income tax returns from 1982 to 1985. His conviction became final in 2001 when he withdrew his appeal to the Supreme Court. The lawyer stressed that even if Marcos Jr. has paid the fine as mandated by the regional trial court, he is still perpetually disbarred from holding public office.
“‘Yung pagbayad po ng tax, natural po, sa BIR po binabayaran ‘yan. Dahil sila po ang tagakolekta ng tax. Tama po ‘yan. At kung ako po ang, I would give them the benefit of the doubt na nagbayad po sila, ‘yung pinakita po nila ay simple lang pong pagbabayad po ng taxation po ‘yun,” Calleja said. “Hindi po yun, sa second liability, na kanyang pagbabayad ng penalty. Na hindi ho binabayaran sa BIR. Ito po ay binabayaran sa (Regional Trial Court). Bakit po sa RTC? Because po ‘yun ang original court na nagpataw ng kaparusahan dahil sa paglabag ni Bongbong Marcos Jr.,” he explained.
PNP: MisOcc party shooting election-related
NOON PROTEST. Health workers of Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center stage a noon break protest to express their resentment for their unpaid and long-overdue meal, accommodation and transportation allowances under Bayanihan Law 2 on Thursday. They also demanded the full provision of their Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentive worth P25,000 for the year 2021.
A SHOOTING incident during the Christmas party of two political parties in Misamis Occidental on Wednesday could be related to the coming 2022 elections, the Philippine National Police said Thursday. PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Roderick Alba noted the three victims in the incident were political figures and candidates in the coming May polls. “The possibility of this being an election-related violence is apparent since the victims are public officials and political candidates,” he said in a video message, However, Alba added the police will still determine the motive behind the shooting. The PNP will also check if there is already a presence of private armed groups in the area, according to Alba. On Wednesday, PDP Laban and Asenso Ozamiz Local Party members were having a Christmas party when a “sniper fire” was heard at 8:45 p.m.
Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental Mayor Michael Gutierrez and congressional aspirant Jason Almonte were wounded, according to the report from the Police Region Office 10. The bullet hit the frame of the glass door and a splinter hit the nape of Almonte, who is running as 1st district representative of Misamis Occidental. The slug hit the left temple and exited the nape of Gutierrez, who is running for vice governor of the province. Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal suffered minor bruises in the arm and back of the head, the PNP said. The PNP said it has imposed a lockdown of Tangub City while dragnet operations are underway against the perpetrators. Checkpoints have also been set up. PRO 10 director Police Brigadier General Benjamin Acorda said the Special Investigation Task Group OaminalGutierrez-Almonte has been created to focus on the case.
IN BRIEF Poll resos on guns, liquor, jobs issued THE Commission on Election (Comelec) has released six new resolutions containing the rules on the prohibitions on liquor, guns, and other issues. Released by the Comelec en banc last week is Resolution 10741 containing the guidelines on the establishments and operation of checkpoints, and the ban for carrying firearms and other deadly weapons as well as engagement of security personnel. It also issued Resolution No. 10747 containing the rules and regulations on prohibition against release, disbursement or expenditure of public funds and construction of public workers, and issuance of treasury warrants and similar devices. Comelec also issued the guidelines on the liquor ban (Resolution No. 10746) and the deputization of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) and other law enforcement agencies to help in the conduct of the 2022 polls (Resolution No. 10743). It also released the rules on the prohibition against appointment or hiring of new employees, giving salary increases, transfer of civil service employees, suspension of elective officials and filing of leave of absences of local treasurers (Resolution No. 10742). It includes the compliance of the Omnibus Election Code by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (Resolution No. 10745). All six resolutions were promulgated by the Comelec en banc on Dec. 16 as part of its preparations for the 2022 National and Local polls.
DILG lauds Munti on Bay Clean-Up THE Department of the Interior and Local Government has recognized Muntinlupa’s efforts on river clean-up drives and other local initiatives as part of the Manila Bay Clean-Up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program (MBCRPP). Muntinlupa Environmental Sanitation Center head Lorna Misa presented the city’s awards to Mayor Jaime Fresnedi during a courtesy call of the local environmental council last December 21. The local government was recognized as one of the highly compliant LGUs in the implementation of the MCBRPP garnering a total score of 91.50% and ranking 4th place in the National Capital Region (NCR). The results were released after the LGU Compliance Assessment held last December 6. Muntinlupa City was also recognized as Top Performer in the Informal Settler Families (ISF) Category and Information Education and Communication and Institutional Arrangements (IEC-AC) Category in the program. The Manila Bay Task Force was awarded on December 17 at the Manila Hotel. In 2018, the city was also adjudged the Top Performing LGU for the MBCRPP Annual Exit Conference and Rank 2 for the Regional Assessment of LGU Compliance to the MBCRPP (Q3 2017 - Q2 2018). While in 2016, Muntinlupa received a citation for the program from the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources.
Opinion Why literature is relevant THIS is a question I’ve been wanting to answer for a long time but has caught me with much hesitation. I was afraid that I may impose my views on younger generations. Hence, I requested my son, Fort, to attempt to answer the question. Here is what he has to say. Literature was that minor subject you had to pass in university – unless of course you were a lit major. It entailed leafing through pages of established canon, and scraping by, while listening to your professor, usually with a scarf and/or glasses, endlessly discussing his or her interpretation of so-and-so’s work. It wouldn’t be shocking to hear snoring mark the first hour, nor would you be hard-pressed to hear moans of impatience signal the minutes as they pass. It would then take a few minutes for your professor to arrive at a point, inciting participation from the class, and punctuating tangential, incorrect, or not-quite-right answers with: “You’re getting there… but how about (insert another student’s name)?” or “You’re so close! You’re ninety-nine percent there.”; never satisfied until someone arrives at the state-sanctioned illumination. Academic methods of literary analysis, where a single interpretation of a work is favored, did not sit well with me; I felt that it detaches the reader from having a personal connection with the work, something very important in sustaining attention and interest in reading. Eschewing a myriad of other interpretations for the sake of uniformity blunts a more holistic, fully-realized analysis of an author’s work. Besides, things have different meanings to different people; and encouraging these thoughts encourages participation, a tall hurdle whose conquest every professor hankers for. Digesting literature is also often a question of skill as much as it is a question of aptitude. It is difficult for most people to get into the right headspace or rhythm to read, say, Shakespeare; an even more serendipitous one for Flaubert, the author of Madame Bovary, or Dostoevsky, the author of the Brothers Karamazov. Not only is the language itself a barrier, with ancient authors often using esoteric, archaic, and rarely-used words, translations vary considerably in length, syntax, and cadence. Reading anything worthwhile – that is, those works in our established canon of “masterpieces”— is an arduous task whose yoke people frequently relinquish. Despite all these, I have come to
realize that there are two things that could help people like me enjoy these literary triumphs. Context. Every book was written against the backdrop of a specific slice of time, historically, culturally, and socially. These works are frequently dotted with references that should be used as grappling hooks to pique interest and as lens to scrutinize the work with. For example, reading about the Napoleonic Wars while simultaneously dissecting Tolstoy’s War and Peace elevates the trivial meanderings of the Russian aristocracy about power and marriage to conversations about pivotal moments in World History. And isn’t it infinitely more interesting to get a history lesson from counts and princesses, than from that damp, moldy book you borrowed from the library?
Here’s what my son says. Open-mindedness. It’s important for teachers, students, and consumers of literature to foster an environment of free thinking. This is not to say that blatantly false or offensive interpretations remain uncorrected. This is to make sure that a multi-faceted book, poem, or novella, acquires an equally multi-faceted perusal deserving of its greatness. Some teachers often fall into the trap of thinking that a disagreeable explanation from a student precludes hours of intense study and equates to haphazard skimming of the material. I suggest offering a bit of leeway to account for the inherent differences in context that readers have among themselves. Not everyone has experienced the abject poverty of Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment or has ever met someone as snarky as Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice or Emma Woodhouse in Emma. It is as much the job of the professor as it is the student’s, to enliven and contextualize literature to someone foreign to it. Literature is a way of preserving numerous lives past, and codifying a plethora of scenarios to come. Literature speaks to us in ways that people around us can’t, and lets us participate in the difficult conversations we can’t have with others. It increases our knowledge and helps us see everything in its proper context, preventing rash judgments and blind obedience. It is therefore important, especially for young, impressionable minds, to indulge in this privilege as much as they can, talk about it, and encourage its dissection; as ignorance, no matter how blissfully you bask in it, isn’t as condonable as it used to be.
Climate change: targets beyond 2030 are late
COP26 (the 26th Conference of the Parties), held in Glasgow last month, was intended to accomplish three things, viz., (1) conduct a review of the global warming experience since the 2015 COP in Paris, (2) validate compliance with the 2015 pledges of financial assistance to the small, at-high-risk countries and (3) obtain confirmation of the deadlines offered in Paris by the industrial countries for their economies’ attainment of emissions-free status. The years immediately preceding the Paris COP had witnessed the occurrence of extreme weather events across the globe. In the US there have been a number of such events; the most destructive of these included hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the southern states of the US, and storm Sandy, which caused enormous damage to the U.S.’s northeastern states. The most destructive typhoon to hit the western Pacific seaboard, typhoon
Yolanda—known internationally as “Haiyan”—smashed its way through the Tacloban City area, killing nearly 7,000 Filipinos and creating a swath of devastation. Elsewhere on the planet, on every continent, droughts, severe flooding, forest fires, tornadoes, melting glaciers and landslides have been assaulting regions and countries, leaving enormous loss and damage - both to lives and to resources - in their wake. In most of these globalwarming events the word used to describe their occurrence has been ‘unprecedented’: never before had regions and countries experienced climatic happenings of such scope and severity. And precedent-settings are now following more closely upon one another. Since the end of COP26, two climate-change events of unprecedented character have taken place. In the US, a December tornado spanning no less than six states and over 200 kilometers in width wiped out towns and left a broad trail of destruction and loss; the tornado has been described as unprecedented. This country has just experienced the wrath of super-typhoon Odette, which smashed its way across the
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The brunt of climate change
T
HE climate change crisis may be too alien yet for many Filipinos to comprehend. Unfortunately, climate change or essentially global warming is producing the most impact on the Philippines through more destructive typhoons, such as Yolanda in 2013 and Odette just last week.
The Philippines accounts for just 0.3 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. of global warming. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III correctly noted that the world’s biggest polluters, especially the industrialized countries, should provide the funding for green projects that mitigate global warming. In the case of green energy projects or nonfossil based fuels, the funding should not be shouldered through tax breaks by Filipinos, who have reeled from the worsening consequences of climate change triggered by carbon emissions. Those who polluted and continue to pollute the Earth’s environment through unthinking industrialization starting
The Philippines can prepare for these disasters but mitigating measures to fend off climate change will cost a lot of money and divert funds for education and poverty alleviation. Thus, the world’s biggest polluters or greenhouse gas emitters—the United States, China, Russia, India and Japan—should be held accountable for global warming and the disasters it spawns. Or at least they should pay for and finance mitigation and adaptation measures needed to weather the impact
200 years ago, in the words of Mr. Dominguez, must pay for the grants, investments and subsidies needed for the most vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change. The finance chief made the same urgent call during the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland in the United Kingdom. Dominguez has observed the Philippines accounts for just 0.3 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, but it bears the brunt of the consequences of the climate crisis. The Philippines is on the list of countries with highest risk for worsening natural calamities caused by rising global temperatures. Global warming, it seems, will worsen in the coming years. As oceans heat up, we can expect more energyintensive storms to strike the most vulnerable nations. The Philippines will once again bear the consequences of the pollution and heat being trapped in the atmosphere.
Anti-Duterte RTC judges seek appointment to CA AS I write this essay, there are still five vacancies in the Court of Appeals. The vacancies were created by the retirement or promotion of five associate justices of the appellate court. Last Tuesday, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the constitutional body that screens nominees to all judicial posts, released to the public its short list of 20 names, mostly judges of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), for any of those five vacancies. The short list is addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte, who has the sole power to appoint justices. I have seen the shortlist and I must warn President Duterte and his most trusted ally, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, that there are some names in the JBC’s shortlist they should watch out for. The JBC has become a highly politicized agency. Many lawyers suspect that some members of the JBC use their power to screen judges and justices to extract a debt of gratitude from whosoever they manage to get appointed to the judiciary. If a past or incumbent member of the JBC appears in court in person or through a surrogate law firm, and the judge or justice hearing the case owes his appointment to that JBC member, it is very likely that the judge or justice will favor his patron. These persons of influence don’t even need to personally appear in court. Many lawyers say that a telephone call suffices. That is bad news for the justice system in the country. The JBC is also notorious for the vested interests of some of its members. Last February 2021, the JBC had the temerity to include the name of Milagros Fernan-Cayosa in the short list of nominees to the Court of Appeals which it sent to President Duterte.
‘Unprecedented’ is a word commonly used. central part of the nation, leaving prostate cities and towns in six regions; the typhoon’s reaching, and causing great damage to, Palawan was without precedent in modern times. After years of discussion of the most effective approach to global-warming reduction - in Rio, Copenhagen and other previous COPs - all the world’s countries agreed in Paris in 2015, to lay down timetables for their economies’ attainment of zero carbon emission. The biggest polluters - the US, China, India and the European
Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida
Fernan-Cayosa’s husband, then Integrated Bar President Egon Cayosa, was a member of the very same JBC that nominated her. Joozkoo! There are times when the JBC did a sloppy job. In 2011, the JBC included an RTC judge in its short list for appointments to the Court of Appeals. Nine years after the judge had already been appointed to the Court of Appeals, it was discovered that the judge failed to submit all the required documents for her appointment.
The President must be careful. President Duterte should be advised that some of the RTC judges in the JBC’s short list for the Court of Appeals are in that list only because of their close connections to some of the members of the JBC, and not because they are truly qualified and deserving. That’s not all. President Duterte is probably unaware that some of the RTC judges included by the JBC shortlist for the Court of Appeals are rabid anti-Duterte partisans. In all likelihood, these judges probably managed to conceal their dislike for President Duterte when they were interviewed by the JBC earlier this year. The common denominator of these anti-Duterte judges is that they are currently stationed in the National Capital Judicial Region; they were appointed to the RTC by President Noynoy Aquino; they are known to strongly dislike President Duterte and Senator Bong Go; and they are staunch supporters of Vice President Leni Union - joined the small economies in pledging to completely eliminate carbon emission by a specified year. The end-years for the attainment of zero carbon emission have differed from continent to continent and from country to country. Most of those who made pledges have offered 2030 as the end-year of their zero-emissions timetable; that’s eight entire years away. But other countries, including India and China, have pledged endyears that are much farther away, e.g., 20150, even 2075. Ideally, the universal goal for the attainment of zero greenhousegasses emission should be 2030. At the rate that the disaster scenario is unfolding, with extreme climatic events following one another with increasing frequency and ferocity, the planet will probably be in a far worse state by the time 2050 and other far-off target years get here.
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Robredo, who is running for president in the coming elections, and the Liberal Party (LP) which is Robredo’s de facto political party. Now that these anti-Duterte judges are courting the good graces of President Duterte, they conveniently pretend to be either pro-Duterte, or disinterested in partisan politics. The truth is, they hate President Duterte and Senator Bong Go, and that they indirectly and clandestinely campaigned for the LP’s Otso Diretso senatorial ticket in the May 2019 elections. Once these politicized judges become justices of the Court of Appeals, they are bound to continue their stealthy, underhanded attacks against President Duterte and Senator Go, and other enemies of the LP. One of the judges in the JBC short list for the Court of Appeals is known in legal circles for his side remarks against President Duterte whenever he holds trials. Another judge in the list also makes side remarks while in court, but in praise of Robredo and the latter’s imaginary achievements. Still another judge in the short list is quietly but rabidly anti-Duterte, and remains a secret die-hard supporter of Noynoy Aquino, Robredo and the LP. Before he joined the judiciary, this relatively young judge was appointed to a high post in the administration of Noynoy Aquino. He got that appointment through endorsements from ex-Senator Mar Roxas and a Roxas cousin. Roxas was Noynoy’s unsuccessful vice presidential running mate in the 2016 elections. President Duterte should be careful about whom to appoint as justices of the Court of Appeals because all justices stay in office until they turn 70 years old. For many appointees, that’s going to be a long, long time.
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expected effect on the operation of the other’s facilities and operations, the contingency’s expected duration and the corrective action to be taken. Said notification shall be followed by written notification not later than the following day after the occurrence of such contingency or event.
Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE SALE FOR RESALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LANAO DEL NORTE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (LANECO) AND ILIGAN LIGHT & POWER, INC. (ILPI), WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY
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Meters for Billing Purposes 2.4.1 ILPI shall install and maintain the necessary billing meter or meters, instrument transformers, and other devices at the Delivery Point with accuracy class conforming to power industry standards set by ERC or appropriate government agency.
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TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 02 November 2021, Lanao Del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LANECO) and Iligan Light & Power, Inc. (ILPI) filed their Joint Application dated 10 May 2021, for the approval of their Sale for Resale Agreement (SRA), with prayer for provisional authority. THE PARTIES Applicant LANECO is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at Sagadan, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. It holds and exclusive franchise from the National Electrification Commission to operate an electric light and power distribution service in all the municipalities of the province of Lanao del Norte, namely: Linamon, Matungao, Poona Piagapo, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Munai, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tangkal, Magsaysay, Tubod, Baroy, Lala, Salvador, Kapatagan, Sapad, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, and Baloi; Applicant ILPI is a private distribution utility duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at Bro. Jeffrey Road, Pala-o, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte. It holds an exclusive franchise from the Congress of the Phils. to construct, maintain and operate an electric light, heat and power system for the purpose of generating and distributing electric light, heat and power in Iligan City.
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Joint applicants are filing the instant Application with the Honorable Commission for the approval of their Sale for Resale Agreement dated 26 July 2019 pursuant to ERC Resolution 02, Series of 2009 dated January 26, 2009 otherwise known as the “Rules for Recovery of Costs Associated with the “Sale for Resale Agreements” By, Between or Among Distribution Utilities” and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations applicable hereto. The Municipality of Tagoloan is within the service area of LANECO. However, two (2) of its barangays namely, Bgry. Dimayon and Bgry. Inagongan, are isolated from the cooperative’s main distribution system. In case LANECO will extend its existing distribution lines to said barangays, it would be financially costly and technical problems involving power reliability and efficiency in the area are anticipated to occur; Brgys. Dimayon and Inagongan are geographically closer to ILPI’s existing electric power distribution network at Sitio Fatima, Brgy. Abuno, Iligan City. Thus, for purposes of maintaining a reliable and efficient power supply to these two barangays, it is deemed reasonable and more practical for LANECO to source out the supply of electricity from ILPI; LANECO offered to connect the two barangays to ILPI’s nearest distribution system and for ILPI to supply the power requirements of these barangays on the basis of Sale for Resale arrangement governed by ERC Resolution No. 02, Series of 2009. ILPI agreed with the said proposal of LANECO;
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ILPI shall provide, and LANECO hereby agrees to take and pay, the power supply and distribution services rendered, in accordance with this Sale for Resale Agreement (SRA).
1.2
Subject to the approval of ERC, either provisional in nature or with finality, this Agreement shall take effect upon execution and shall remain binding and effective for a period of three (3) years (counted from its execution) and shall, upon expiration, be automatically renewed for another three (3) years, unless the following occurs:
Notice of disconnection to LANECO shall specify the grounds and the basis for disconnection, as supported by relevant information.
2.5.1.2.
In cases of emergency, however, ILPI may proceed with the disconnection of LANECO’s line after failure of LANECO to remedy the cause/s within reasonable time.
2.5.2.1.
Hazardous condition exists (including peace and order) in going to, or within the area of, subject installation.
2.5.2.2.
LANECO is operating any installation or equipment in such manner as to create objectionable operating conditions for ILPI or would adversely affect ILPI’s equipment or service to other consumers;
2.5.2.4.
2.5.2.5.
2.6.
2.6.1.2.
1.2.3. ILPI cannot provide the capacity and energy to LANECO due to unavailability of power supply; or 2.6.1.3.
1.2.4. ILPI cannot provide the capacity and energy to LANECO due to security issues at the delivery point.
1.4
2.7.
2.8.
2.
System Loss
It is understood that Parties shall jointly file and seek approval with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to undertake this Agreement.
Distribution
2.8.2.5.
Supply Charge
2.8.2.6.
Metering Charge
1.5.1. Actual costs incurred associated to this endeavor shall be equally shared by the Parties.
2.8.2.7.
Senior Citizen Subsidy
2.8.2.8.
Feed-In Tariff Allowance, subject to ERC Resolution and Approval
2.8.2.9.
Local Franchise Tax
The following Terms and Conditions of this Agreement shall be governed under the provisions provided for in the ERC Resolution No. 02, Series of 2009; Amended Distribution Service and Open Access Rules (DSOAR); Philippine Distribution Code (PDC); the Philippine Electrical Code (PEC), Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), if applicable; Republic Act No. 7832 otherwise known as the Anti-Pilferage Law; and other applicable laws relative to the operation of ILPI in the performance to this Agreement:
2.2
Safety, Power Quality and Reliability ILPI and LANECO shall ensure that all equipment installed at the connection point shall comply with the technical standards as prescribed in the above-mentioned regulations.
2.3
2.16.1. The Bill Deposit shall be equivalent to 100% of the estimated monthly power bill of LANECO and shall be updated annually in the event that the actual average monthly bill for the immediately preceding year is less than ten percent (10%) of the prevailing Bill Deposit. The updated Bill Deposit shall be calculated based on the average monthly billings of the immediately preceding year. 2.16.2. The Bill Deposit shall be paid upon effectivity of this Agreement and shall be in the form of cash, manager’s check or cashier’s check. 2.16.2.1.
2.16.3. ILPI shall pay interest equivalent to Peso Savings Account Interest Rate of the Land Bank of the Philippines or other government banks on the first working day of the year, as approved by the ERC. The interests shall be credited yearly (on the anniversary date) to the bills of LANECO. 2.16.4. The Bill Deposit shall be refunded within one month from the termination of service provided all bills have been paid and documentary requirements have been complied with. 2.16.5. In the event that LANECO has paid its power bills on or before its due date for three (3) consecutive years, LANECO may, at any time during the effectivity of this Agreement, demand for the full refund of the Bill Deposit prior to the termination of service. 2.16.6. In the event that LANECO fails to post or replace in full amount the Bill Deposit as herein required, LANECO fully recognize and confirms that ILPI may, at its sole option, disconnect and discontinue the service until LANECO’s posting of the required bill deposit and full compliance other requirements. 3.
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 3.1
The Parties shall exert reasonable efforts to amicably settle all disputes arising in connection with this Agreement, within thirty (30) days from notice of the dispute by either Party.
3.2
Should the Parties fail to agree within the said period of time, the matter in dispute, unless under the exclusive jurisdiction of the ERC, shall be finally settled by arbitration in accordance with the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc.’s arbitration rules as presently in force, and the details in respect of the conduct of such arbitration shall be as follows: 3.2.1 The number of arbitrators shall be three (3); 3.2.2 The Parties shall each appoint one (1) arbitrator and the two (2) appointed arbitrators shall appoint the third (3rd) arbitrator, who shall be the Chairperson; 3.2.3 The place of arbitration shall be in Iligan City; and 3.2.4 The language to be used in the arbitration proceedings shall be English.
2.8.3. In compliance to ERC Resolution No.2, Series of 2009, ILPI shall not include in its billing to LANECO the Universal Charges and the applicable Lifeline Rates (these are charges imposable only on electricity end-users). 2.9.
3.3.
Any award of the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding and not subject to appeal.
3.4.
An amount of twenty percent (20%) of the value of the award by the arbitrator or the ERC shall be paid by the losing party to cover legal fees and other expenses of litigation, but in no case shall such amount be less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00).
Contract Demand and Energy 2.9.1. The Contract Demand and Energy shall be as enumerated in “ANNEX A” hereof. 2.9.2. For consumption in excess of one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the contracted levels as indicated in “ANNEX A”, the generation charge shall be 10% higher than the blended generation rate, applicable to the billing period, as computed by ILPI based on prevailing ERC-approved guidelines.
Prompt Notification of Contingency
2.9.3. In the event that LANECO fails to consume the Contracted Demand and Energy, LANECO shall be billed based on the Contracted Demand and Energy, as indicated in “ANNEX A” hereof.
The Party shall provide the other Party with prompt verbal notification by phone or other means of any contingency or event involving their respective equipment that may reasonably be expected to affect the other Party’s operation of its equipment or facilities. This notification shall indicate the reasons for the contingency, the contingency’s
2.9.4. In addition, LANECO shall be billed of any applicable penalties imposed on ILPI by PSALM, Mindanao Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (Mindanao WESM) and other generators supplying power to ILPI, due to non-consumption or underconsumption by LANECO of the Contracted Demand and Energy.
Once the Bill Deposit is drawn partially or fully by ILPI, LANECO shall replace the Bill Deposit within fifteen (15) days following notice of such drawing by ILPI.
2.16.2.2. LANECO undertakes and fully confirms that it shall, at all times, maintain the Bill Deposit equivalent to 100% of the estimated monthly power bill.
2.8.2.10. Other Charges and Adjustments which shall include, but not be limited to, Over/Under Recoveries and other passthrough charges as approved by the ERC.
Service Specifications
2.1.5 Delivery Point: Brgy. Dimayon, Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte
2.16. Bill Deposit
Billing and Applicable Charges
2.8.2.4.
: 13.8 kV, 3 phase, 60 Hz
In the event that a billing is found to be erroneous due to wrong reading, arithmetical mistakes or omissions, ILPI shall send LANECO a debit/credit memo, as soon as reasonably practicable, following the discovery of the error.
Failure of Billing Meters
Transmission
2.1.4 Metering Installation Specification: Primary Metering
2.15. Adjustment due to inaccurate Meters
Reconnection shall be subject to payment of a reconnection fee equivalent to PhP 10,000.00, subject to ERC approval.
2.8.2.3.
2.1.3 Delivery Voltage
2.14.2. In the event that a power bill remains unpaid within five (5) days after its due date, ILPI has the option to call on or draw against the Bill Deposit as provided for in this Agreement.
Recover from LANECO the cost of repair and replacement of ILPI’s equipment and facilities.
2.8.2.2.
: Schedule 41
2.14.1. Any power bill or account of LANECO not paid on its due date shall be imposed an interest of 1.16% per month, or a fraction thereof, on all unpaid accounts.
Disconnect and discontinue supply service and demand for the cost of the unmetered demand and energy consumption as determined by ILPI in accordance with the methods prescribed by law, rules and regulations, without prejudice to the imposition of surcharges and filing of criminal charges under the Anti-Pilferage Law.
1.4.2. Book value (of the subject assets) is computed by deducting the accumulated depreciation from the total costs of the assets installed.
2.1.2 Rate Schedule
2.14. Overdue Accounts
Failure to pay on time any outstanding obligation to ILPI in relation to this Agreement.
Generation
2.1.1 Customer Classification: GENERAL POWER
2.13.4. In the event that the billing dispute is found in favor of LANECO, LANECO shall be entitled to a refund of any overpayment plus interest equivalent to the Peso Savings Account Interest Rate of the Land Bank of the Philippines from the date the overpayment was made until the same is fully settled by ILPI.
Failure to permit ILPI, without justifiable reasons, reasonable access to its premises or equipment where metering facilities are installed for purposes of meter reading, testing, inspection or any other related purpose; or,
2.8.2.1.
ILPI shall, and LANECO confirms, deliver electric power and energy to LANECO with the following service specifications:
2.13.3. Disputed bills shall be paid by LANECO without deductions or offsets and ILPI shall evaluate the claim and adjust the billings in accordance with its findings. Disputed billing shall not be an excuse or ground for LANECO to delay payment of succeeding billings or unilaterally deduct any amount therefrom.
Any of ILPI’s equipment relating to the provision of distribution service to LANECO has been tampered or interfered with by LANECO;
2.8.2. The charges that ILPI shall bill LANECO every billing period shall be as follows:
TERMS and CONDITIONS
2.1
2.13.2. Unless the ground for the dispute could not have reasonably been determined by LANECO within the period prescribed in Section 2.13.1, failure to question such bills on the specified period shall constitute a waiver by LANECO of any claim on such bills. Failure of ILPI to act on the claim of LANECO within the thirty (30) days from receipt of the claim shall be deemed decided by ILPI in favor of LANECO.
2.8.1. ILPI shall bill LANECO based on its applicable rate schedule (Rate Schedule 41 - General Power), as indicated hereof.
In the event that LANECO will terminate this Agreement before the expiration (either the original period or the extended period), it undertakes and fully agree to pay ILPI the book value of the assets subject of this agreement. 1.4.1. Upon full payment, ownership of such assets shall be transferred to LANECO.
1.5
2.13.1. Bills may be disputed in writing by LANECO within thirty (30) days from the date of its receipt and shall be resolved within thirty (30) days from the date of filing of the claim.
2.7.1. Should the billing meter/s fail to operate normally or in case of loss of data of the billing meter during the billing period, the power consumption shall be estimated in accordance with the methods prescribed by law, rules and regulations. ILPI will, on the basis of its records, available technical evidence, LANECO’s consumption history and other relevant circumstances, make retrospective adjustment to LANECO’s account with respect to the consumption and demand, to such extent and for such period as may be determined by ILPI, subject to the concurrence of LANECO.
In case LANECO will avail the automatic renewal clause provided in Section 1.2, it shall submit to ILPI its Annual Contract Demand and Energy requirement for succeeding twelve (12) months, amending “Annex A” of this Agreement, not later than sixty (60) days prior to expiry, subject to confirmation by ILPI based on supply availability, otherwise, ILPI shall have the right to determine the supply allocation to LANECO. 1.3.1. In the event that LANECO failed to submit its Annual Contract Demand and Energy, as indicated in “Annex A” hereof, ILPI shall use the immediately preceding year’s Annual Contract Demand and Energy.
2.13. Disputed Bills
Interference and Tampering with Metering Facilities
2.6.1.1.
1.2.2. After expiry, ILPI or LANECO will not renew the Agreement; or
1.3
2.12.2. Payments shall be made at ILPI’s principal business office, through its authorized collecting agents or its depository banks.
2.6.1. LANECO shall comply with the provisions set forth in Republic Act No. 7832 or the Anti-Pilferage Law and violation thereof shall give ILPI, in addition to item 2.5, the right to:
1.2.1. Before the expiry, ILPI or LANECO will terminate the Agreement; or
The party terminating shall submit (to the other party) a Notice of Termination to the other Party not later than sixty (60) days prior to the expiry of the Agreement.
2.12.1. Power bills for the services rendered by ILPI to LANECO during a billing period shall be served by ILPI to LANECO through email or courier not later than five (5) days from the conduct of meter reading and shall be paid by LANECO within nine (9) days from receipt of the said billing without necessity of demand.
In addition to the test mentioned in 2.4.4, LANECO may request ILPI to conduct additional testing; activity that is free of charge unless no defect or inaccuracy being determined, in which case, LANECO will pay ILPI the actual cost incurred in the requested additional testing.
2.5.1.1.
The salient provisions of the SRA are quoted hereunder, as follows: EFFECTIVITY, TERM and COVERAGE
2.12. Time and Place of Payment
LANECO confirms that three (3) day notice may be dispensed (by ILPI) if upon its judgment, inspection, testing, or adjustment/s is immediately necessary.
Disconnection of Power Service
2.5.2.3.
Hence, on 26 July 2019, LANECO and ILPI executed the Sale for Resale Agreement (SRA) subject matter of the instant Application. Under the SRA, LANECO will connect Brgys. Dimayon and Inagongan to the distribution system of ILPI and will source power from ILPI for resale to all end-users in the two barangays to ensure a continuous, stable, reliable and efficient supply of electricity.
“1.
Payments may be in the form of cash, demand drafts, checks or other cash equivalents.
2.5.2. The following shall be grounds for disconnection:
SALIENT PROVISIONS OF THE SALE FOR RESALE AGREEMENT (SRA) 8.
2.11. Form of Payment
2.5.1. Subject to 2.5.2., and written notice to LANECO at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled date of disconnection, LANECO recognizes that ILPI has the full authority to disconnect power service provided to LANECO.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
5.
For purposes of inspection, testing, or adjustment/s, LANECO confirms that ILPI have the full authority to break the meter seal/s with ILPI having the obligation sending written notice three (3) days from the date intended.
2.4.5. If any of the test/s would disclose that the error of any billing meter exceeds +/- 2%, ILPI shall, at no cost to LANECO, immediately replace the said billing meter with a new billing meter having accuracy level allowed by the Rules.
LEGAL BASIS FOR THE APPLICATION
4.
2.10.2. Billing energy for generation, distribution and other ERC-approved energy-related charges of ILPI shall be the Actual Registered Energy or the Contract Energy, whichever is higher, subject to other provisions hereof.
2.4.4. At least once every two (2) years, ILPI shall conduct an accuracy and reliability test on the installed kWh meters (for billing purposes). The test shall be at no cost to LANECO and the presence of authorized LANECO personnel is necessary.
The pertinent portions in the said Joint Application are hereunder quoted, as follows:
3.
2.10.1. Billing demand for transmission, distribution and other ERC-approved demand-related charges of ILPI shall be the Actual Registered Demand or the Contract Demand, whichever is higher, subject to other provisions hereof.
2.4.3 The meters and other metering devices shall be sealed with ILPI’s ERC-authorized meter seals.
NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING
2.
2.10. Billing Demand and Energy
2.4.2 Meter reading shall be conducted every 26th day of the billing month. LANECO’s representatives, if they so desire, may witness each meter reading.
ERC Case No. 2021-087 RC LANAO DEL NORTE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (LANECO) AND ILIGAN LIGHT & POWER, INC. (ILPI), Applicants. x-------------------------------------------------x
1.
2.9.5. Without prejudice to the right of ILPI to implement the buy-out provision and subject to submission of a written request and approval of ILPI, LANECO may be allowed to reduce its Contract Energy and Capacity. Provided, further, that the written notice is received by the ILPI not later than thirty (30) days prior to the effectivity of the reduction.
4.
FORCE MAJEURE EVENTS 3.3
ILPI and LANECO shall be relieved of their respective obligations to supply electricity and receive electricity under circumstances constituting to Force Majeure.
3.4
Neither party shall be considered in default in the performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement when failure in performance is due to Force Majeure Event.
3.5
The Force Majeure event must render it impossible for a Party to fulfil its obligation in a normal manner despite the exercise of due care.
3.6
Force Majeure shall not excuse either Party from exercising due care to prevent it or minimize its effects.
3.7
The affected Party shall in writing notify the other party of the occurrence of force majeure, which shall not be later than forty eight (48) hours from the occurrence of the event.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
World China locks down 13m people to stem tiny outbreak CHINA shut down a city of 13 million people on Thursday in a bid to extinguish a tiny COVID-19 outbreak and chase its zero-case goal, as other nations around the globe battled huge infection surges driven by Omicron. China locked down the northern city of Xi’an – home to the worldfamous Terracotta Warriors –- recalling the sequestering of the central city of Wuhan in January 2020 when the virus first emerged. Omicron has not been reported in Xi’an and only dozens of the less infectious Delta cases have been detected in the city of 13 million people in recent days. But the Chinese government, scrambling to maintain its zeroCOVID strategy ahead of the Winter Olympics, reacted with typical forcefulness and ordered all resi-
dents to stay indoors. Only one person per household can leave home every two days to buy necessities, while non-essential businesses are closed. “I think it is necessary to have the lockdown,” a Xi’an resident, who wanted to be identified only as Yuan, told AFP. “It is a countermeasure which we should do as early as possible, it’s really an effective way.” In China, even a single COVID case can prompt stay-at-home orders and strict travel bans. Xi’an resident Wei told AFP the lockdown had left her feeling “miserable,” as a series of outbreaks had prevented her from seeing her husband, who lives in Beijing, for months. “Beijing had an outbreak a while ago, and now Xi’an has an outbreak
– it just alternated,” Wei said. February’s Olympics are set to be the most restrictive mass sporting event since the pandemic began, with international spectators banned and all participants required to stay inside a closed-loop system. In addition to mandatory vaccinations before landing in China, all athletes and personnel inside the bubble must undergo daily virus testing and health monitoring. Symptomatic athletes will be sent to designated hospitals, while any who test positive for the virus will not be able to participate in the Games, officials said. China has recorded fewer than 5,000 Covid deaths throughout the pandemic, compared with more than 800,000 in the United States. AFP
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
B3
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
WHERE A STATUE USED TO BE.
This combination of files pictures created on December 23, 2021 shows the ‘Pillar of Shame,’ a statue that commemorates the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing at the University of Hong Kong (HKU); and workers moving a section of the ‘Pillar of Shame’ toward a container. AFP
HK university removes statue on Tiananmen, sparks outcry
H
ONG Kong’s oldest university removed a statue commemorating the deadly 1989 crackdown on Tiananmen Square democracy protesters on Thursday, the latest step in China’s campaign to silence dissent in its southern city.
The night-time operation was condemned by Hong Kong democracy activists and labelled a “despicable act” by one former student leader who survived Tiananmen. The eight-meter (26-feet) high “Pillar of Shame” by Jens Galschiot has sat on the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) campus since 1997, the year the former British colony was handed back to China. The sculpture features 50 anguished faces and tortured bodies piled on one another and commemorates democracy protesters killed by Chinese troops around Tiananmen Square in 1989. Its presence was a vivid illustration of Hong Kong’s freedoms
compared to the Chinese mainland where the events at Tiananmen are heavily censored. But Beijing is currently remolding the city in its own authoritarian image after democracy protests two years ago and commemorating Tiananmen has become effectively illegal. In October, HKU officials ordered the removal of the sculpture citing new but unspecified legal risks. They made good on that promise in the early hours of Thursday morning. University staff used floorto-ceiling sheets and barriers to shield the statue as sounds of drilling and metal clanging could be heard throughout the night. AFP
Rescuers recover two more bodies from jade mine disaster RESCUERS in northern Myanmar retrieved two more bodies on Thursday after a landslide at an illegally run jade mine and warned that dozens of people feared missing are likely dead. Scores die each year working in the country’s lucrative but poorly regulated jade trade, which sees low-paid migrant workers scrape out gems highly coveted in neighboring China. Rescuers pulled two more bodies from the nearby lake on Thursday taking the confirmed death toll to three after one casualty was found the previous day before the operation was cut short due to fog and overnight rain. Authorities had initially said at least 70 more were feared missing after the landslide struck early Wednesday, but later added they were still trying to confirm the number of those unaccounted for. One of the men, a 23-year-old, came from Yinmar Pin, hundreds of kilometers away in central Myanmar, they said. The miners at Hpakant come from across Myanmar to scratch a living picking through the piles of waste left by industrial mining firms in hopes of finding an overlooked hunk of jade. The weather had cleared, said Ko Jack of the Myanmar Rescue Organization, adding that six rescue teams were searching for any survivors. “The search is going fine and no difficulty as it’s sunny now.” But the outlook was grim, said Ko Nyi, another rescuer. “If the dead bodies don’t float today, they will appear in the following days.” AFP
Chinese celebrities given 10-day deadline to settle unpaid taxes CHINA’S tax authorities have set a 10-day deadline for entertainers and social media influencers to pay overdue taxes, part of a government campaign to tighten the noose on tax evasion and celebrity excesses. Beijing has launched a sweeping state crackdown on tax evasion and perceived immoral behavior in the entertainment industry, a tightening that has already targeted some of the country’s biggest stars. Tax bureaus in several entertainment hubs across the country – including Beijing, Shanghai, and the provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu – warned
celebrities who have under-reported earnings could face severe penalties if they don’t refile by year end, according to government notices issued Wednesday. “If the self-inspection and selfcorrection are still refused or... not thorough, the taxation department will seriously deal with it,” a statement from the Guangdong tax office said. The order comes after China’s “livestreaming queen” Huang Wei was ordered to pay a record $200 million fine for tax evasion on Monday, with her social media accounts with over 110 million followers shut down a day later. AFP
Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com
B4
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
Figaro Coffee pegs IPO price at P0.75/share By Jenniffer B. Austria RESTAURANT chain Figaro Coffee Group Inc. has set the final price for its initial public offering (IPO) at P0.75 per share to raise P767.4 million. The final price is 41.4 percent lower than the initial maximum level of P1.28. Figaro has also reduced the offered shares to 930.166 million in primary shares plus an over allotment of 92.016 million common shares. Figaro, according to an earlier filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, had planned to sell 1.26 billion in primary shares and up to 126 million over-allotment shares. It set the offering period from January 10 to 14, 2022 scheduled the listing date on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange on January 24, 2022. Figaro will use the net proceeds from the offering to fund store openings and renovations, commissary expansion, debt repayment, IT infrastructure developments and potential acquisitions. Figaro as of November 2021 operates 99 stores, namely 55 Figaro coffee shops, 35 Angel’s Pizza outlets and five Tien Ma’s Taiwanese cuisine restaurants. It also runs three TFG Express outlet and one Café Portofino store. It plans to increase the network to 150 stores by the end of 2022 and to 300 outlets by the end of 2029. Figaro registered a net income of P114.4 million in the first six months of 2021, up 271 percent from P30.85 million year-on-year. First-half net revenues jumped 139 percent to P847.3 million from P354.6 million a year ago. Figaro attributed the higher sales largely due to the rollout of additional outlets and higher same-store-sales growth. The company has engaged Abacus Capital & Investment Corp., China Bank Capital Corp. and PNB Capital and Investment Corp. as joint issue managers, lead underwriters and book-runners of the fund raising activity.
5,000 customers avail of MNP service to switch telecom service By Darwin G. Amojelar TELECOMMUNICATIONS Connectivity Inc. said Thursday 5,000 customers availed of the mobile number portability service nationwide since Sept. 30 this year. “MNP is here for customers who want to experience better services while keeping their numbers. It is TCI’s mandate to make the porting process safe, secure and convenient for those who need this service,” TCI general manager Melanie Manuel said. “Being able to implement the interoperability of all mobile players in the Philippines is a feat in itself. What’s important is that customers now have the choice which network they want to be in without changing their number. MNP gives them the power to choose the network that suits their needs,” Manuel said. Manuel assured that systems are in place in case TCI gets a huge number of porting requests in the future. Meanwhile, TCI said it supports the measure mandating the registration of SIM cards as it will strengthen the joint venture’s resolve to ensure a safe, secure and more convenient MNP experience for Filipinos. “It will complement the objective of TCI. Subscribers will also now have a more compelling reason to keep their numbers, which would be registered under their name,” Manuel said. Manuel said their goal is to educate the public about MNP. TCI has an active Facebook page where it regularly posts how-to campaigns to guide mobile customers in their porting journey, if they wish to do so. “Right now, we’re conducting customer surveys, asking for the feedback of the first adopters of MNP so that we can use this information to improve our processes and services. We recognize that in the first couple of weeks, there were bottlenecks, but we have addressed those issues already,” Manuel said.
Business UnionBank buys Citi’s PH consumer banking for P55b
U
NIONBANK of the Philippines said Thursday it signed a share and business transfer agreement with several subsidiaries of Citigroup Inc. to acquire Citi’s consumer banking business in the Philippines for P55 billion. The transaction includes Citi’s credit card, personal loans, wealth management and retail deposit businesses. The acquisition also includes Citi’s real estate interests such as Citibank Square in Eastwood, three full service bank branches, five wealth centers and two bank branch lites. “This acquisition further cements our position as a leading bank in the Philippines, as well as fast-tracks our growth aspirations in the retail banking segment,” said UnionBank chairman Erramon Isidro Aboitiz.
Under the agreement, UnionBank will pay cash for the net assets of the Citi Philippines consumer business, subject to customary closing adjustments, plus a premium of P45.3 billion. Based on the anticipated increase in risk-weighted assets, the required equity is about P9.7 billion as of June 30, 2021. The acquisition is expected to be financed via a combination of internal resources and a stock rights offering. The bank’s key shareholders—Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Insular Life Assurance and Social Security System agreed to the SRO. It is expected to close in the second half of 2022, which the completion subject to regulatory approvals from the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippine Competition Commission, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., Securities and Exchange Commission and Insurance Commission. UnionBank president and chief executive Edwin Bautista said Citibank Philippines has a great, profitable and well-run retail portfolio. “It has the 3rd
largest credit card franchise and is a preeminent wealth management provider in the Philippines. We look forward to this game-changing opportunity to leapfrog our credit card business and significantly expand our banking business in the higher end segment of the consumer market,” he said. “There are clear synergistic opportunities in this engagement. We intend to learn from Citi’s expertise to enable UnionBank to effectively build on its success and take the business to the next level. As we embark on this journey, we are committed to retain all of Citi’s key talents and uphold the superior customer experience that Citi has delivered to its customers over the years,” Bautista said. About 1,750 Citi employees, including senior management, are expected to join UnionBank. “We are looking forward to welcoming all employees to the UnionBank family. With the strong cultural similarities between the organizations, we believe Citi’s employees will feel at home at UnionBank,” Aboitiz said.
PSE INDEX CLOSING Thursday, December 23, 2021 128.86 PTS. 7,248.05
TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE
851,101,233 63,171 4,613,984,055.45
ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED
115 58 49
F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021
Currency
Unit
US Dollar
Peso
United States
Dollar
1.000000
50.0380
Japan
Yen
0.008763
0.4385
UK
Pound
1.335400
66.8207
Hong Kong
Dollar
0.128213
6.4155
Switzerland
Franc
1.087193
54.4010
Canada
Dollar
0.779241
38.9917
Singapore
Dollar
0.734646
36.7602
Australia
Dollar
0.721300
36.0924
Bahrain
Dinar
2.653224
132.7620
Saudi Arabia
Rial
0.266383
13.3293
Brunei
Dollar
0.731957
36.6257
Indonesia
Rupiah
0.000070
0.0035
Thailand
Baht
0.029630
1.4826
UAE
Dirham
0.272287
13.6247
Euro
Euro
1.132700
56.6780
Korea
Won
0.000840
0.0420
China
Yuan
0.156986
7.8553
India
Rupee
0.013256
0.6633
Malaysia
Ringgit
0.237417
11.8799
New Zealand
Dollar
0.680600
34.0559
Taiwan
Dollar
0.036020
1.8024 Source: BSP
IN BRIEF
DOE okays terms of Meralco contract
THE Department of Energy approved the terms of reference on the supply of 170 megawatts of peaking capacity to Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) under the competitive selection process (CSP). “We thank the DOE for the timely approval of the TOR that will allow us to proceed with the emergency procurement for the supply needed to meet the anticipated increase in demand in the coming months,” said Meralco head of regulatory management office Jose Ronald Valles. “This will help Meralco ensure availability of reliable and cost-competitive supply, which is especially critical during the 2022 dry months and the upcoming national elections,” added Valles. The TOR published on December 23 and the Third Party Bids and Awards Committee called on interested generation companies to participate in the CSP covering the period February 26 to July 25, 2022. Meralco is seeking bids for its peaking supply requirements with a maximum plant capacity factor per month of 45 percent from a single or portfolio of plants. The plants should provide 100 percent guaranteed availability of the contract capacity for 12 hours daily covering the peak hours of Meralco, which is from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Alena Mae S. Flores
Kersia Group eyeing majority of Kalinisan
ABOITIZ RESPONSE. Davao Light and Power Co., a unit of Aboitiz Power Corp., deploys five teams of linemen and equipment to Cebu City to help in the restoration of power lines toppled by Typhoon Odette. The teams and equipment are from LLM Unified Builders and Trading Corp., Power Systems Electric Coop and MINGDO, the accredited contractors of the company. The Aboitiz Group responded to calls for aid to areas in the Visayas that were badly hit by the typhoon, mobilizing food and water donations and reenergization efforts initially in Cebu. Aboitiz Foundation, the social development arm of the group, also opened an online donation campaign through its crowdfunding platform Kinder.
BSP caps interest charged by lending companies By Julito G. Rada THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, said Thursday it approved the imposition of ceilings on interest rates, penalties and other fees and charges on small-value, short-term, general purpose and unsecured loans extended by lending companies, financing firms and their online lending platforms. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in an online briefing the imposition of the interest rate ceilings was in accordance with Republic Act No. 9474, or the Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007, and RA 8556, or the Financing Company Act of 1998. The two laws empower the Monetary
Board to prescribe maximum interest rates that could be charged by lending companies, financing companies and their online lending platforms, in consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the industry. The interest rate ceilings apply to unsecured, general-purpose loans offered by lending companies, financing companies and their online lending platforms that do not exceed P10,000 and are payable within a period not exceeding four months. These small value, short-term consumer loans are the ones primarily taken out by low-income borrowers. “In determining the interest rate caps, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sought to maintain a balance between protecting consumers and allowing
lending and financing companies to price in credit risks and remain viable,” Diokno said. The Monetary Board set a nominal interest rate ceiling of 6 percent per month (about 0.2 percent per day) for covered loans. Expressed as a percentage of the amount borrowed, this is the interest paid on the loan without considering other fees and charges. The board also set a limit on the “effective interest rate” to a maximum of 15 percent per month (about 0.5 percent per day). This includes the nominal interest rate and applicable charges like processing fees, service fees, notarial fees, handling fees, and verification fees, among others, but excludes fees and penalties for late payment or non-payment.
KERSIA Group (Kersia) , a global leader in food safety, has expressed interest to buy a major stake in homegrown hygiene and sanitation company Kalinisan Chemicals Corp. (Kalinisan). Kersia is grooming Kalinisan to be a key pillar in its Southeast Asia strategy for complementary global best practice in “Farm to Fork” food hygiene. The new partnership plans to harness each firm’s great potential for positive synergies. Both have geographical, business, industrial and innovation complementarities. Kalinisan is a manufacturer of cleaning and sanitation solutions, such as disinfectants and sanitizers, kitchen hygiene products, industrial detergent and consumer products. It supplies to the food service and food and beverage market. PwC Philippines’ Deals and Corporate Finance Team acted as Kalinisan’s financial advisor. The transaction is expected to close by early 2022. Othel V. Campos
MPCALA expects 10% rise in CALAX traffic
MPCALA Holdings Inc. (MHI) expects vehicle traffic in Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) to increase by 10 percent this holiday season. Given the anticipated increase in vehicle traffic, the toll road operator placed CALAX’s operation on heightened alert status to guarantee safe, secure, reliable and convenient toll passages for travelers during the holiday rush. CALAX is a 45-kilometer high-speed road network connecting the two provinces of Cavite and Laguna, targeting to serve around 45,000 motorists upon its completion. CALAX operates from Biñan, Laguna up to the east of Silang, Cavite. It serves about 18,000 vehicles on weekdays and a high of 32,000 on the weekends at the start of December. “The holiday season has been anticipated to increase mobility of our motoring public, more so with government loosening travel restrictions.,” said Roberto Bontia, president and general manager of MPCALA, said. Darwin G. Amojelar
Local banks ready to withstand major disruptions By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Thursday domestic banks can withstand any impact of major disruptions on their operations, including natural hazards like typhoons. Diokno said in an online briefing the issuance of the Environmental and Social Risk Management Framework in October 2021 provided expectations on the management of environmental and social risks. Subsequent phases of regulations will cover the areas of investment activities of banks, climate stress testing, disclosure requirements, prudential reporting and potential regulatory incentives. Under the framework, banks are expected to assess the vulnerability of their operations, systems and offices and branches to physical risks and other natural disasters. The results of the as-
sessment should feed into the potential enhancement of banks’ business continuity plans. “The banking system is prepared to weather the impact of major disruptions. Regulations are already in place to ensure continuity in their operations... Banks have business continuity plans to activate,” he said. This was Diokno’s response when asked on the impact of Typhoon Odette on the banking system, following reports that some banks’ operations were affected. “We are in close coordination with the affected areas... but BSP branches are fully in service in Visayas and Mindanao,” he said. Latest government data showed that the estimated damage of Typhoon Odette reached P388 million as of Dec. 21. Of this amount, the cost to infrastructure amounted to P225 million, including government facilities. The cost to agriculture hit P163 million.
URC SCHOLARSHIP. Universal Robina Corp. and the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation provide scholarships to children living in URC’s partner communities in recognition of education as a means towards a better life. The program, launched in the fourth quarter of 2020, benefits 11 college students from Central Philippine State University and five senior high school students from Tara National High School. Among the recipients of the GBF-STEM Agri Scholarship Program are Joan Remitar, Lyn Marie Patoc, Rhea Gene Labrador, Frances Claire Navarro and Rhea Gomez.
Sports
EASL co-founder and CEO Matt Beyer: I think June Mar would be fine, pretty much against any high level Euro League, and quite a lot of NBA big man as well.
Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
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Fajardo a potential hit in EASL
PH surfing team members in Odette-hit Siargao safe By Peter Atencio
M
EMBERS of the Philippine national surfing team have been accounted for and are safe after Typhoon Odette hit the island of Siargao last week. United Philippine Surfing Association president, Dr. Raul Canlas said this after receiving a status report on their situation. “UPSA is coordinating with the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee for monetary support and such with the members of the national team in Siargao. Communication for now is difficult, but we are able to buy satellite phone on occasion. All members are safe,” said Canlas. Canlas, who is an adviser of the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases on health protocols, is currently monitoring the conditions concerning the professional and amateur surfing community in the island.
Last Dec. 12, Super Typhoon Odette (known internationally as Rai) destroyed the popular tourist island, which has been welcoming visitors again after COVID-19 restrictions have eased throughout the country. Siargao, located in the province of Surigao del Norte and is popular with surfers and tourists, was expected to have a great Christmas season, only to be devastated by Super Typhoon Odette. Odette was the strongest storm to have hit the archipelago this year, next only to Typhoon Yolanda many years ago. UPSA officials said members of the surfing community have been affected. Canlas said assistance being sought through the PSC and the POC is expected to reach proper hands in the
coming days. National Training Director Marc Velasco of the PSC is currently coordinating efforts to assist their community, according UPSA officials. UPSA spokesman Raph Tecson said there are now efforts to evacuate members of the national squad out of the island. Among them is Edito “Piso”Alcala Jr., who recently took part in the 2021 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games. “On my phone convo with Piso yesterday, he said John (Carby), Marama (Mark Tokong) and Wilmar (Melindo) are trying to get their families out of the island due to scarcity of food and clean water. John and Wilmar both have two daughters, and Marama has a two-yearold daughter,” said Tecson. The national squad is coached by Carby and Melindo. The UPSA also reported that they are also seeking assistance for local surfing standouts Philmar Alipayo and Ikit Agudo. Agudo and Alipayo, the husband of actress Andi Eigenmann, were report-
edly in Manila when Odette struck. Unfortunately, the national team has not heard from both of them, after the two made efforts to organize relief operations for affected members of the surfing community in the island. “They were supposed to fly from Manila to Siargao the day typhoon Odette hit the island. Na-cancel ang flight nila. Last Sunday, they hopped in the first special flight for relief ops from Manila to Siargao. Currently, the team hasn’t got a word from them,” added Tecson. Meanwhile, the PSC said it will release P2 million for relief efforts in the Odette-devastated Visayas and Mindanao areas. PSC chairman William Ramirez has tapped former Executive Director and Fr. Vicente Uy for this undertaking. Fr. Uy is now Private Schools Athletic Association Region VII President, to spearhead distribution of care packages in typhoon-hit areas in Visayas and Mindanao. Relief operations will be supervised by Fr. Uy in coordination with concerned local government units, universities and parishes.
PBA celebrates 2-day ‘Season of Joy’ THE two-day PBA Christmas special on Christmas Day and Dec. 26 is aptly billed “Season of Joy” with the league celebrating Yuletide with a live audience at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It’s a special extravaganza highlighted by another edition of the Manila Clasico rivalry between Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia on Christmas Day and supported by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. The Quezon City Mayor’s Office partners with the PBA in this special presentation, with Mayor Belmonte throwing support in the event that serves as part of her “Pamaskong Handog” to their constituents. “Wala akong maibabalik sa dire-diretsong suporta ni Mayor Joy Belmonte
kung hindi malalim na pasasalamat,” said PBA commissioner Willie Marcial. “She gave consent to the opening of the Smart Araneta Coliseum to our dear fans. And now, she’s with us with her support for our Christmas special. Our deep gratitude to her,” Marcial also said. The league treats the fans with backto-back PBA Governors’ Cup doubleheaders to be kicked off by the NLEXPhoenix Super LPG tussle at 4 p.m. on Christmas Day. Then the Gin Kings (3-0) and the Magnolia Hotshots (2-0) both stake their clean slates as they clash in the Christmas Day 6:45 p.m. mainer. On Sunday, it’s San Miguel Beer versus Terrafirma at 4 p.m. then TNT Tropang Giga opposite Rain or Shine at 6:45 p.m.
Complimentary tickets will be distributed to Quezon City residents by the Office of the Mayor. All four matches are expected to be humdingers, with the Road Warriors, the Gin Kings and the Hotshots among the early frontrunners in the fight for the Top Four that reward twice-to-beat incentive in the quarters. The Beermen, the Elasto Painters and the Fuel Masters are in the middle of the 2 -2 pack with their identical slates, with the Tropang Giga right behind them at 1-2, followed by the Dyip at 1-3. PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial
Why is basketball star Pingris running around wearing a bra? By Randy Caluag
Marc Pingris in his video post
BASKETBALL star Marc Pingris ran around their neighborhood wearing just a black bra and a pair of shorts, attracting curious onlookers as shown in his so social media video post. For Pingris, a long-time en enthusiast of online gaming, it was a promise fulfilled for any Philippine team that would win in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M3 World Championship, which is so far one of the premier and richest esports tournaments in the world. “Kapag nanalo Pilipinas sa M3, tatakbo ako ng naka-bra sa village namin. Rooting po para sa Pilipinas sa. ‘Pag nanalo po ang Pilipinas, gagawin ko po ‘yan para sa entry natin, Pilipinas lang ang malakas,” said the former Magnolia stalwart in his video post
on his Facebook page two weeks ago. A day after a team from the Philippines, Blacklist International, captured the M3 crown, Pingris did so as promised. Wearing a black bra, which he claimed belongs to their household helper, and shorts, Pingris ran around his village while holding a camera to document his act. “Blacklist International, congrats sa inyo, katulad ng promise ko, tumakbo ako ng naka-bra sa village namin kahit nakakahiya, shoutout sa misis ko. Sorry baby pero kailangan kong gawin ito,” said the wife of former actress Danica Sotto, daughter of Vic Sotto and Dina Bonavie. In his video caption, Pingris congratulated Blacklist International and assured a promise was being fulfilled. “Dahil nanalo kayo at nag-promise ako, ito na tinupad ko na. Tumakbo ako sa village namin kanina na kakaiba ang suot. Katuwaan lang ‘to guys. Proud lang talaga tayo sa naabot ng team nila,” he said. Pingris even joked that he wanted to wear his wife’s bra but she wouldn’t allow him.
“Bagong bra ‘yan ni manang! ‘Di pa nasuot. Ayaw ako pahiramin ni Danica SottoPingris, kung ano-ano raw trip ko hehehe,” Pingris said in a reply to a fan’s comment. His video post has so far elicited 3.1 million views, 281K reactions and 6.2K comments. Blacklist recently topped the M3 World Championship with a sweep against a fellow team from the Philippines, ONIC PH. It was a deep struggle from Blacklist which had to dig deep from the lower bracket to set a final duel with ONIC that was coming from a spectacular nine-game win streak in the upper bracket. The win made Blacklist International $800,000 richer, while ONIC took home US$120,000. Blacklist rode on the heroics of Kiel “OHEB” Soriano, who was named the tournament’s MVP and was given a $10,000 prize. Blacklist International is co-owned by famous vlogger and cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao.
JUNE Mar Fajardo will definitely make a difference once he brings his game in the East Asia Super League. Matt Beyer sees the 6’10” San Miguel star making an impression in the upcoming league that features tough competition from some of the best players and teams around Asia. Beyer, the co-founder and CEO of EASL, has been to the Philippines numerous times and saw Fajardo play in person with the Beermen and with Gilas Pilipinas, and believes the six-time PBA MVP can hold his own once he’s taken his act to the league. “The players in the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association), the American players are extremely high level, but I think June Mar would be fine, pretty much against any high level Euro League, and quite a lot of NBA big man as well,” said Beyer, who was once the top representative of imports in the CBA and the former interpreter of Chinese player Yi Jianlian in the NBA. “I have a lot of respect for him (Fajardo) and I can see why he’s sort of a crown jewel of the PBA,” added the American and long-time Hong Kongbased league official. The EASL is looking to launch its home-and-away tournament in October of next year, where the top ballclubs of the PBA, the Japan B League, Korean Basketball League, P.LEAGUE+, and the Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes of Hong Kong will vie for the $1 million champion prize money. Fajardo and San Miguel once competed in the EASL back in 2019 as one of three PBA representatives in the week-long meet. But the Cebuano big man didn’t suit up for the Beermen as he was nursing an injury back then, with Terrence Romeo, Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross and imports Dez Wells and Lester Prosper bannering the team’s campaign. The Beermen reached the semifinals, but fell against Lance Stephenson and the Liaoning Flying Leopards, who eventually emerged as champions.
PSC’s Rise Up! Shape Up! names winners of Zumbarangay IN ITS final episode for 2021, Philippine Sports Commission web series Rise Up! Shape Up! is set to name the winners of its Zumbarangay Pilipinas: Solo On Cam Dance Challenge, airing on December 25. From over 400 entries submitted since the call for entries in April, the PSC shortlisted 25 entries from the four categories: Women Frontliner category; Women Open category, LGBTQ category, and Kids and Young category. “A strong body and mind are vital to every Filipino. We hope that this program encourages the public to incorporate physical movement in their day-today lives,” said PSC Women in Sports oversight Commissioner Celia Kiram, who also thanked everyone who joined the program. The lady commissioner added that the Zumbarangay official dance exercise ‘Igalaw-galaw Ating Katawan’ is a call for everyone to take up dancing, exercise, and movement to rise up, shape up and move our bodies for better health and improved quality of life. The web series will also air the special performances from the Zumbarangay Pilipinas judges world-class dancesport athletes Stephanie Sabalo and Michael Angelo Marquez, and international dance choreographer Chips Beltranand, as well as the dance challenge finalists from the Awards and Gala Dinner held at Subic Travelers Hotel last December 9. “We hope that the awareness opened by Zumbarangay Pilipinas that dancing is healthy, fun and therapeutic, will live on as everyone celebrates the end of the year and continues to cope with the pandemic,” concluded Kiram.
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Sports
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
SLRealtors settle for 3rd in MPBL Invitationals
Frayna hangs on to lead in PH women’s chess tourney TOP se e d Ja nel le Ma e Fr ay n a spl it t he p oi nt w it h t h i rd pick Ja n Jo d i ly n Frond a i n 40 move s of a Q ue e n’s Paw n op e n i ng t o cl i ng t o t he le a d af t e r t he 10 t h a nd p e nu lt i m at e rou nd of t he 2021 Nat ion al Wome n’s C he ss C ha mpion sh ip at t he PACE bu i ld i ng i n Q uez on Cit y ye st e rd ay. Fr ay n a , 24, h a s ke pt he r g r ip of No. 1 w it h 7.5 p oi nt s, or ju st h al f a p oi nt a he a d of Sha n ia Ma e Me ndoz a a nd Kyle n Joy Mord ido, who dow ne d t hei r re sp e ct ive op p one nt s t o st ay i n t he t itle r a ce. Mendoza dest royed 13-year-old Ruelle Canino’s Pirc Defense in 44 moves while Mordido, who is close to becoming a Woman Grandmaster like Fray na, use the Sicilian Defense to an nihilate Francois Mar ie Mag pily in 36 moves in keeping their share of No. 2. T he t itle is not yet i n t he bag for Fr ay n a a s she wa s cla sh i ng w it h Me ndoz a at pre ss t i me wh i le Mord ido wa s t a ck l i ng a n u npre d ict able Ma r iel Cal i mbo, who lost t o L ex ie He r n a ndez i n t he 10 t h rou nd but caug ht a big f ish i n No. 4 Ma r ie A nt oi net t e Sa n Diego t he rou nd b efore, also i n t he la st rou nd . Fr ay n a is se ek i ng he r 3rd n at ion al wome n’s c row n wh i le Me ndoz a he r se cond i n t h is eve nt st a k i ng P50,0 0 0 t o t he cha mpion a nd a b e r t h t o t he Ha noi Sout he a st A sia n G a me s i n May next ye a r. For Mord ido, she is more fo cu se d i n gai n i ng r at i ng p oi nt s he re a nd se cu r i ng t he la st of t he t h re e nor m s ne e de d t o e me rge t he cou nt r y’s se cond WGM. Frond a sl ip p e d t o solo fou r t h w it h 6.5 p oi nt s, or hal f a p oi nt a he a d of Sa n D iego, who su r v ive d R i no Ma r iel Sa dey’s upset t r y. T h e e ve n t i s b a c k e d b y P S C chair Butch Ramirez, Chess M ove m e n t , I n c . c h a i r D r. A r i e l Po t o t , P C S O g e n e r a l m a n a g e r R oy i n a G a r m a , E n d g a m e S p o r t s fo u n d e r A t t y. C r i s A s p i r a s , P O C president B a m b ol Tol e n t i n o , NCFP chief Butch Pichay and A t t y. R o e l C a n o b a s .
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 221, QUEZON CITY IN THE MATTER OF THE CHANGE OF NAME OF RYAN CARLO HORATIUS TIMOLA AQUINO TO CARLO AQUINO PIÑERO, CARLO AQUINO PIÑERO a.k.a. RYAN CARLO HORATIUS TIMOLA AQUINO Petitioner, -versus-
SP. PROC. CASE NO. R-QZN-21-04311-SP For Change of Name
THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, CARLOS D. PIÑERO, GLORIETTA A. PIÑERO AND ALL PERSONS/ENTITIES WHO MAY BE AFFECTED THEREBY, Respondents. x------------------------------------------------------------x
ORDER A verified Petition was filed before this Court on June 3, 2021 by petitioner, CARLO AQUINO PIÑERO, a.k.a. RYAN CARLO HORATIUS TIMOLA AQUINO, praying that after due notice, publication and hearing, an order be issued directing the Philippine Statistics Authority to effect the necessary corrections in his Certificate of Live Birth, from RYAN CARLO HORATIUS TIMOLA AQUINO to CARLO AQUINO PIÑERO. Finding the verified Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the Court gives due course thereto. WHEREFORE, let a copy of this Order be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at petitioner’s expense, upon coordination with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Quezon City. Hearing on the verified Petition is hereby set on January 17, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. before this Court at Room 608, 6/F, Hall of Justice Annex, City Hall Complex, Quezon City, at which date, time and place all interested persons are required to appear and show cause why the petition should not be granted.
By Peter Atencio
Coe says no to Chinese boycott Sebastian Coe: We came out of Tokyo (Olympics) as clearly the No. 1 sport.
P
ARIS (AFP) — World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said on Tuesday he wants the body to become a “campaigning organization” but stressed that he sees no point in boycotting China over human rights.
Speaking in his annual year-end conference call, Coe said his sport had “come out of 2021 in a strong position” and he was bullish about its immediate prospects for growth with the World Championships in the United States for the first time in 2022. “We came out of Tokyo as clearly the No. 1 sport,” he said, quoting statistics from the International Olympic Committee showing that athletics scored the biggest numbers of any sports on television, traditional print newspapers and social media. Although he added that World Athletics was anticipating that the media model would look completely different by the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. “A lot will change by 2028, broadcast will change with streaming. We need a broadcast strategy that will
Malabon City opens 1st track and field oval in new sports complex A DREAM come true. This was the general reaction of Malabonians when the Malabonian Sports Complex was recently opened in Barangay Hulong Duhat. The new sports complex houses the first and only track-and-field oval in the city, plus a futsal pitch, basketball court, lawn tennis court, and children’s playground. Leading the blessing and inauguration was Malabon Mayor Lenlen Oreta together with Vice Mayor Ninong dela Cruz, Congresswomen Jaye Lacson-Noel, Councilor Enzo Oreta, together with other Councilors, Barangay Officials, and Department Heads from the Malabon LGU. “I’m very delighted to open this sports complex because this is a place where each and every Malabonian can exercise, enjoy the open space, and at the same time, bond with their families in a safe and secured environment,” said Mayor Oreta. “This
1. At the main entrance of the City Hall Building, Quezon City; 2. On the bulletin board of the Court, Hall of Justice Bldg., Quezon City; and 3. At the Barangay Hall of the barangay where the petitioner resides. Likewise, let a copy of this Order be furnished the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, the Office of the Solicitor General, Makati City; the Office of the City Prosecutor, Quezon City; the Civil Registrar General, and the Philippine Statistics Authority.
SO ORDERED. Quezon City, June 28, 2021. Copy furnished:
(Sgd.) JOCELYN A. SOLIS-REYES Presiding Judge
Carlo Aquino Piñero No., Windsor St., Victorian Heights, Brgy. Sauyo, Q.C. MARTINEZ LAW OFFICE 23 Saint Theresa St., San Jose Village, Alabang, Muntinlupa City Carlos D. Piñero Purok 4 Brgy. San Miguel, Bacong, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Glorietta A. Piñero No. 4, Windsor St., Victorian Heights, Brgy. Sauyo, Q.C. Office of the Local Civil Registrar, Quezon City Office of the Solicitor General, Makati City Office of the City Prosecutor, Quezon City Civil Registrar General Philippine Statistics Authority (MST-Dec. 17, 24 & 31, 2021)
is more special as Malabon, for so many thing that everyone can look forward to in years, has been dreaming of having its the coming year. own track and field oval. This is especially useful for the training of our city and student athletes, and at the same time, will be a venue for sports competitions and other related events.” As the world is still in a pandemic, the open space of the Malabonian Sports Complex will allow each individual to exercise in an open-air environment. The presence of a children’s playground will also invite the kids who can bond together with their parents. “I commend the stakeholders who worked hard to ensure the success of the construction and launch of this facility. It showed that if we work together for a common purpose, we can achieve all our goals,” added the Mayor. The opening of the sports complex is a bright spot at the end of a year and some- Malabonian Sports Complex track and field oval — the first and only one in the city
That mighty bark and bite
Let copies of this Order be posted by the Branch Sheriff thirty (30) days before hearing date at the following places at the expense of the petitioner:
Further, petitioner through counsel is ordered to furnish respondents Carlos D. Piñero and Glorietta A. Piñero, a copy of this Order with the Petition and its annexes thereto at their given address, and to show proof of compliance hereof before the hearing date.
chime with what’s happening,” he said. Coe said the sport was also benefiting at grassroots level because governments were “belatedly” focusing on public health and fitness. World Athletics was focused on “connecting athletes and athletics to big issues that matter to them such as climate change and human rights,” he said. It is striving “to become a campaigning organization,” he said. But with Shenzhen scheduled to join Shanghai on the 2022 Diamond League calendar, Coe said he did not see any reason why the events in China should be an issue despite the recent furor over tennis player Peng Shuai. “We’re pleased to be competing globally, China has a strong and current history in track and field,” he said.
- ‘Drawbridge’ “We have a clear and strong set of principles whether it’s human rights or sustainability,” he said before adding: “I’m philosophically opposed to sporting boycotts. “I experienced them and they tend not to achieve what they set out to achieve. “We are concerned with all athletes. But better to have dialogue than pull up the drawbridge. No other sector does that.” Coe meanwhile took a tough line on allowing Russians to compete again under their national flag, saying they needed to satisfy a World Athletics task force that they had fully followed the body’s “reintroduction plan” on controlling doping. “Russian athletes will be back in an international framework as and when the reintroduction plan is fully met,” he said. That might not happen before the World Championships in Eugene in July. “What guise Russian athletes will be in Oregon is still to be decided,” he said. On another thorny issue, the ban on athletes with differences of sex-
IT was definitely a better season this year for Pasig-Sta. Lucia Realtors after they claimed third place in the Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Invitationals. The Realtors were not expected to go this far as they settled for a bronze-medal finish with their 10080 demolition of Imus-Buracai de Laiya, on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena. “We had small expectations from last year. But I think we exceeded them this year,” said team skipper Jeric Teng after the squad took the P200,000 cash for the third-placed squad. Their performance this year was better than expected, since the Realtors lost twice to Manila in their best-of-three first round encounter in the 2020 MPBL Lakan Cup. The Realtors quickly took control of the game, as they were fired up after taking a 72-77 setback to the Basilan-Jumbo Plastic Medical Depot cagers on Wednesday evening. “Kailangan mag-bounce back kami. Nag-follow naman ang mga players,” said Realtors’ coach Bong de la Cruz. Small forward Jeckster Apinan showed the way for the Realtors, firing 16 points, with his three-point play in the last 1:32 of the first period pushing them slightly ahead, 21-19. Pasig slowly gained some distance early in the second canto with his driving layup in the last 9:20 putting them ahead by six, 25-19. Teng shot 16 points for the Realtors, shooting six points in the final two seconds of the second period, with his two charities putting them up by 12, 53-41. Apinan’s inside presence in the remaining 4:53 allowed the Realtor to move up by 19, 64-45. Genmar Bragais powered ImusBuracai de Laiya with 23 points to go with six rebounds and two assists. Kurt Reyson shot 14 points including four triples while Jhaymo Eguilos had 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists for Imus, which failed to advance to the finals after it took a 76-82 loss to Nueva Ecija in the semis.
BY now, much has been said on the Philippine Azkals’ failure to go beyond the group stage of the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup in Singapore. Had a talk with team manager Dan Palami on his take why the team failed to go deep in the tournament, where the Azkals were able to enter the final four several times in the past. While he praised the gallant efforts of the team to compete against Singapore, Timor-Leste, Thailand and Myanmar, he said several reasons added to the result. Since the tournament fell on non-FIFA dates, he said several players were not released by their mother clubs to play for the country. Not to take away anything
from the players, who answered the call to play for the flag, Palami said it affected the team’s preparations. He also said that local-based players have only played nine games in the last two years due to the pandemic, while the other teams are coming fresh from their domestic leagues. So fitness and match readiness have been plus factors for the opposition. Palami, however, admitted that at the end of the day, the Azkals need to make major changes. “It is like a report card that reads needs improvement,” he said. The biggest lesson, he added, is that the team should have prepared better. Hopefully, the team will not commit the same mistakes as it sets its eyes on the third round of the 2023 Asian Cup in June next year. Palami says the team will have a camp in January featuring new players with Scott Cooper in charge. Incidentally, Cooper will also be evaluated on what he will do with the team in the upcom-
ing camp. Cooper’s contract will expire next year. He expects more players to be available in the January camp that will basically form the core of the team that will compete come June. On February 24, 2022, the draw for the third round will be made. At least eight groups, composed of four teams, will be featured in the next phase of the competition. The top two teams in each group will advance in the next round. Palami said a strong domestic league by February next year will address the fitness of players based in the country that will eventually be called to form the national pool. There’s a need to restart or reboot the team going to the next competition,” he explained. The Azkals will definitely need a lot of things to do and with the pandemic still a major threat to everyone, makes the challenges harder to accomplish. Six months may not be enough but work needs to start somewhere and soon.
The need to assemble and prepare the best possible team is a must for the country to return to the continent’s biggest football event after making its debut in Dubai and Abu Dhabi two years ago. Assembling the team is just the beginning -- the coaching staff must also do its share and with many lessons learned in the pandemic and health restrictions easing up, I’m sure Coach Scott has something definite for the team. To see the next generation of Azkals also give me hope that we will be in China in June to July 2023. My gratitude also to those who have answered the call to play for the county before them, and to the Philippine Football Federation for giving the team all the support and love it deserves. But this should not stop here and dwell on the wish list. Let’s bring back the Azkals’ mighty bark and even greater bite! ••• Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! Stay safe. Stay happy, peeps!
Entertainment
Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
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Beyonce, Jay-Z, Ariana Grande shortlisted for Oscars’ Best Song nominations
Ariana Grande performs ‘Just Look Up’ with rapper Kid Cudi (Photo screengrab from YouTube).
five before March’s Oscars. She will compete against her husband Jay-Z, who produced Netflix Western The Harder They Fall, and teamed up with Kid Cudi for the movie’s track “Guns Go Bang.” Grande appears in satire Don’t Look Up, in which her pop star character sings “Just Look Up” to implore the public to take seriously the impending threat of a comet plummeting towards Earth.
Billie Eilish’s ’s 007 theme song No Time To Die also made the list. So did “Dos Oruguitas” from Disney’s animated film Encanto, a song composed by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who only needs an Oscar to complete the coveted EGOT collection of awards -- Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony. The final list of Oscar nominations will be revealed on Feb. 8, and the awards will be handed out on March 27. AFP
W
Max Collins portrays strong female lead in ‘Wish Ko Lang’ December special
ITH the recent news about the devastation brought by typhoon Odette hitting the headlines, the subject of the Metro Manila Film Festival entry film Kun Maupay Man It Panahon (which opens in theaters nationwide on Dec. 25) is as timely as ever.
By Patricia Taculao THE last episode of Wish Ko Lang’s monthlong Christmas special trains the spotlight on actress Max Collins who will prove that her will is stronger against the effects of any love potion. Max plays the role of Regina, a beautiful girl in a small town with whom many are attracted to. Her childhood friend Adan, played by Dave Bornea, who has a facial deformity becomes obsessed with her and decides to cast a spell of a love potion on Max’s character. She later finds herself fighting the effects of the potion to save herself from an unhealthy relationship. “It’s a beautiful episode because it’s like an indie film. We shot it by a river and it has some very intense scenes,” Max shared. “Gayuma” is Max’s next acting project after starring in the TV series To Have And To Hold. Freeing herself from the spell Although some people are skeptical about the effects of gayuma (love potion), Max believes in its existence. She even did some research about it so she can best adapt to her role and surroundings while filming. When it comes to their intense scenes, Max shared that she trusted her co-stars, who remained professional and dedicated to their characters throughout the production. Max, however, also believes that gayuma only works to a certain extent and is countered with faith. Through “Gayuma,” directed by Jojo Nadela, Max hopes to prove that true love isn’t something that can be forced. “We all know that if we force something or a feeling, the outcome isn’t as pleasant,” Max said in Filipino. The actress added that the role she plays in
POP’S biggest names Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Ariana Grande are all in the running for the best original song Oscar as the Academy unveiled its annual shortlists Tuesday ahead of the formal nominations. Pop superstar Beyonce’s ballad “Be Alive” -- penned for the tennis biopic King Richard, about the father of Serena and Venus Williams (played by Will Smith) -- was on a list of 15 tracks, which will be whittled down to a final
Kapuso actress Max Collins (Photo from Max Collins’ Instagram account)
Wish Ko Lang is more substantial compared to her previous guesting in 2017. Aside from being excited to portray the role of a strong female lead who’s battling her way against the mystic forces of gayuma, Max is also proud that Wish Ko Lang has been featuring women for their Christmas special. “This month is about women empowerment for Wish Ko Lang and all the female characters for this month are very strong. I’m proud to be one of them,” said Max who is married to another Kapuso star, Pancho Magno. Just last year, she gave birth to their son Skye Anakin, who turned one last July 6. For Max, being a mother has helped her embrace her womanhood fully. By 2022, she hopes to create films, do another television series, and immerse herself in her work, which she finds enjoyable, especially now that she’s in a good place in her career to receive various opportunities. She added that she’s also open to portraying sexy roles, provided that it has a deeper meaning instead of merely focusing on the physical. Wish Ko Lang’s “Gayuma” episode, which premieres on Christmas Day, also stars Jak Roberto, Bench Hipolito, Bernacular, and Taya Gomez.
Two Filipino films to compete in Sundance fest Philippines and THE largest CreatePHFilms independent f u n d i n g film festival program,” in the United said FDCP States selects a Chairperson and Filipino feature CEO Liza Diño. film and a short A Film film to take Development part in its 38th Council of the edition of the Philippines Sundance Film Festival in Park ( F D C P ) City, Utah to be CreatePHFilm held from Jan. ‘The Headhunter’s Daughter’ by Don fund grantee and a Full Circle 20 to 30. Josephus Raphael Eblahan Lab alumni, Ang Competing in Pagbabalik ng the prestigious Kwago (Leonor World Cinema Will Never Die) Dramatic is about retired section is screenwriter M a r t i k a Leonor, who Escobar’s becomes the feature film Ang action hero Pagbabalik ng in her own Kwago (Leonor screenplay after Will Never falling into a Die), while coma. short film The T h e Headhunter ’s Headhunter ’s Daughter by A still from ‘Ang Pagbabalik ng Kwago’ Daughter, Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan is part of the Shorts meanwhile, tells the story of Lynn, an aspiring country singer, and her trusty Program 4 section. Both films will have their world brown horse July, who endure an premiere and onsite delegates at the arduous descent along the Cordilleran highlands to make it on time for the festival. “The selection of two Filipino audition of her dreams in the city. Her films chosen to participate in the journey leads her to a path where her Sundance Film Festival, one of the indigenous identity is confronted by world’s largest and most influential the unseen forces of the landscape’s independent film festivals, is already a colonial American past. Since 1978, the annual Sundance has huge win for Philippine Cinema. We are proud that our country’s delegation to brought artists and audiences together Sundance will be led by two promising from all over the world, championing independent filmmakers, especially stories that inspire new ideas and Martika and her film which were amplify original voices in support of part of the Agency’s Full Circle Lab independent storytelling.
‘Kun Maupay Man It Panahon’ starring Daniel Padilla and Charo Santos (inset) is a timely movie that took seven years and 11 production companies to become a reality.
MMFF’s timely and relevant film
The globally recognized drama film starring Charo Santos, Daniel Padilla, and newcomer Rans Rifol, tells of the aftermath of 2013 supertyphoon Yolanda. Kun Maupay Man It Panahon (English title: Whether the Weather is Fine) is inspired by director Carlo Francisco Manatad’s own experience of looking for his family in Tacloban because he could not reach them for days. “I tried to contact them but all reception and communication lines were damaged, and seeing the news then, one would think no one would survive the storm. Luckily, I was able to hitch in a plane carrying relief goods. I was the only passenger. When I arrived, my hometown was beyond recognition. All roads, structures, and any form of landmarks were gone. Mountains of dead bodies were scattered everywhere,” Manatad recalls vividly. After what seemed to be the longest day of his life, Manatad managed to find his loved ones—all 16 of them plus their family dog—alive and well. When the young filmmaker returned to Manila to resume work (he was doing film editing at that time), he could not shake off what he went through. Those days in Tacloban have now led to an outstanding full-length feature (Carlo’s first) starring an acclaimed actress-producer, today’s most celebrated matinee idol, and a rising actress. All thanks to the persistence of Carlo and his collaborators, and the backing of 11 companies from five different countries. Kun Maupay Man It Panahon is
Showbiz newcomer Rans Rifol in a scene from the movie, which is an official entry to this year’s MMFF.
truly an international movie as it is produced by Cinematografica (Philippines), planc (Philippines), House on Fire (France)| iWantTFC (Philippines), Globe Studios (Philippines), Black Sheep (Philippines), Quantum Films (Philippines), AAND Company (Singapore), KawanKawan Media (Indonesia), Weydemann Bros. (Germany), and CMB Films (Philippines). The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland where it took home the Youth Jury Prize, and got raves at the Toronto International Film Festival. Canadian film critic Henry Tan of Universal Cinema hailed it for its two major feats: using the dialect of Waray as the dialogue, and bringing attention to how the Philippines responded to the aftermath of Yolanda. Kun Maupay Man It Panahon has traveled to 25 international film fests in a span of five months. During that time, it also won Special Mention by the Jury at
the Guanajuato International Film Festival in Mexico and Best Director at the London East Asia Film Festival in the UK. “Our team is thankful for the chance to bring our movie home as it tackles something we must live with. I feel it is important to discuss the reality of natural calamities in this generation we are in. A lot has been said about Filipino resilience especially in the wake of disasters--- both natural and otherwise---to the point that it has become cliché,” Manatad says. “Major typhoons have been happening more often so Odette’s occurrence comes as no surprise... I think I speak on behalf of my co-filmmakers when I say that climate change and disaster preparedness are the more urgent issues. These should be addressed by everyone and not be ‘masked’ or neglected by the sentimentality of resilience,” the director concluded.
MTRCB awarded for championing Freedom of Information THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) was awarded by the Presidential Communications Operations Office- Freedom of Information- Project Management Office (PCOO FOI-PMO) as its 2021 FOI Champion, placing 2nd runner-up in the Agencies/Bureaus/ Commissions/Councils category. This marked the back-to-back win streak for the MTRCB as it was also recognized by the award-giving body as an FOI Champion 1st runner-up in 2020. Anchored on upholding the Filipino people’s constitutional right to information, the MTRCB used as inspiration the challenges posed by the COVID-19 in improving its transparency initiatives. Among the Agency’s proudest accomplishments is its FOI proactive disclosure page in its official website: https://mtrcb.gov.ph/freedom-of-information the institutionalization of the said web page allows all MTRCB web visitors to view Frequently Asked Questions about the FOI Program, MTRCB FOI One-page Manual, Top requested FOI data requests from the MTRCB and the responses provided by the Agency to previous information requestors and a link to the electronic FOI (eFOI Portal). Above all, MTRCB website visitors may also search
through the same webpage, Film and TV ratings that had undergone review and classification of the Board. The FOI Awards, which was held at Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City on Nov. 25, is an annual event organized by the PCOO which recognizes the efforts of government agencies, individuals, and organizations who have made significant contributions to the development and progress of the FOI Program. MTRCB placed 2nd runner-up in the Agencies/ Bureaus/ Commissions/ Councils category.
Life
Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
Anta’s new KT7 follows the design concept ‘above the waters.’
PEOPLE AND EVENTS
How hoop star Andre Paras
fell in love with a pair of shoes By Nickie Wang
I
T WAS love at first sight for cager and occasional actor and TV host Andre Paras when he first experienced a pair of Anta shoes, a KT5 Rocco Colorway (KT stands for Klay Thompson, and yes, it’s his signature shoe). “I fell in love with that but sadly the store only had size 12, I’m size 14. Even online, my size was sold out. Well, for me, if even online it’s not available, it means it’s a good shoe, it’s a good shoe to play with. So, I never gave up hope that maybe one day I’d find a size for me,” Paras said of the NBA superstar’s signature shoe. “Next thing I know, Anta reached out to me and asked me if I wanted to be part of the friends of the brand. I immediately said yes,” the Blackwater Bossing player carried on. Paras, with his father, former PBA star and comedian Benjie Paras, and Rain
or Shine rookie Anton Asistio, graced the opening of Anta’s newest store in Robinsons Place Manila. The trio also joined other sports and basketball enthusiasts in witnessing the unveiling of the star of the event, the KT7. “Our latest store is not only a surprise for Dub Nation but also to Filipino sports fanatics in general. From the new KT7 to the latest sports apparel, accessories, and footwear, Anta Culture has always been about spreading the soul and the spirit of modern sports to the world,” said JP Paglinawan, AvidSports Philippines General Manager. The new gym-lounge-inspired Anta
store is located on the second floor of Robinsons Place Manila’s Padre Faura Wing. Offering a relaxed and cozy atmosphere, it is also the first G10 Anta Concept Store in the Philippines. Going back to the “star” of the store opening, KT7 is anchored with the design concept “above the waters.” It reflects Thompson’s on-and-off-thecourt power of penetrating through the hardest barriers and toughest battles. It can be recalled that Thompson suffered from an ACL injury during the 2019 NBA finals, and also tore his Achilles tendon just before the 2020-21 season started. But it seems we’re going to see him back in action soon. According to the report of ESPN’s Nick Friedell, the Golden State Warriors has assigned the basketball superstar to its G-league affiliate to receive practice time while he continues with his rehabilitation program. Now, the latest edition of his signa-
Anta executives and ‘friends’ of the global brand at the opening of its newest store in Robinson’s Place Ermita, Manila.
(From left) Benjie Paras, Anton Asistio, MJ Sazon of Anta PH, and Andre Paras
ture shoe is expected to delight his fans who are patiently waiting for his return. For the look of its signature Blank Space colorway, KT7’s whole body is white, with a brush of green on cuff. The side is made of nylon, resembling a stroke of calligraphy on Chinese art paper. The shoe’s all snow-white parts highlight salient features of science and technology. Aside from the signature color Blank Space, KT7 also comes in two other color variants: The KT7-Rocco and KT7 Night Storm. KT7-Rocco takes full-printing patterns with the whole body covered with portraits and food images of Rocco—Thompson’s dog—with faint effects appearing indistinctly. For KT7 Night Storm, its color scheme reminds one of violent storm at night. It is similar to Thompson’s attack on the court, which is as fierce as strong wind and heavy shower.
To make it more elastic, KT7 features NitroSpeed for better energy return and Smart S.A.M for better cushioning. Part of the ANTA 3D Flow System, Smart S.A.M refers to shock absorption molecule, and fluid, bulletproof materials that can absorb 99.4 percent of impact to reduce the burden on ankles and knees to a great extent. It also uses lower heights, and thin and breathable material for comfort. For stability, KT7 uses parametric for better traction and liquid rubber for better grip. Filipino pride Anta is also putting a spotlight on Filipino pride and the country’s love for basketball. The shoe brand will unveil its new ‘Friends of ANTA’ brand ambassadors featuring professional and collegiate basketball players in the country. Joining Paras and Asistio is UP Fighting Maroons player Joe Gomez De Liaño.
Brighter holidays at Shangri-La Plaza
The top BIGO Live personalities who hosted the first BIGO Live Philippines Annual Awards Gala 2021.
BIGO Live holds first annual awards gala for local streamers GLOBAL livestreaming social network app BIGO Live held its first Philippines Annual Awards Gala last night celebrating the culmination of hard work and commitment of BIGO Live’s hosts, agencies, and partners that keep the streaming community strong. The awards comprised three major categories, “The Host Awards”, a category recognizing BIGO Live hosts who have made significant achievements during the year; “The Agency Awards”, a category that recognizes BIGO Live partners who have successfully scouted for talent and brought them onboard BIGO Live; and finally, “The Family Awards”, which commend groups created within the BIGO Live community that support and aid each other during player knock-out challenges. The event also featured live performances by top hosts who competed for in-event awards: “The Top Performer of the Night”, “The Best Team of the Night” and “The Best MC of the Night”. The winners were determined through online votes that are cast during the event. In addition, BIGO Live also had the official launching of its latest interactive feature in the Philippines, the Virtual Live 3D avatars. This function aims to further integrate the digital world with the physical one, by letting users create
a digital reflection of themselves through a blend of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology. The 3D Avatars allow users to extend creativity by allowing them to create a representation of themselves, combining the best of both their digital and physical selves. Virtual Live is a part of Bigo Live’s ongoing commitment to building a holistic Metaverse experience for its 400 million users across 150 countries. “We are excited to host the first BIGO Live Philippines Annual Awards Gala in recognition of Filipino talent and creativity. The country’s top BIGO Live hosts are gathered to showcase their talent through a series of curated performances during the event. Through this platform, we believe we are helping these talented content creators shape a community or a universe that’s inclusive, relevant, and empowering. This is also our way of acknowledging Filipino resilience and providing hope and happiness during these trying times,” said Mike Ong, Vice President, BIGO Live. BIGO LIVE hopes to empower people through technological innovations in the area of live virtual content creation and in connecting users through shared interests across the country or the globe, creating communities that transcend, despite cultural differences.
SHANGRI-LA Plaza fills the holiday season with celebrations and happenings that make this month more joyful and brighter. Experience live performances at the Grand Atrium just like before. Shang is putting talented local musicians front and center of its holiday celebrations. Missing the big screen? Shang’s Red Carpet has finally reopened, and it’s showing the latest Marvel film, Eternals, starring Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, and Richard Madden. To ensure a safe viewing experience, the mall has implemented protocols, such as requiring moviegoers to present a vaccination card, seat distancing, wearing of face masks, and prohibiting food and drinks inside the cinema. Meanwhile, let the young ones safely enjoy new experiences and active playtime this Christmas break by bringing them to Q Power Station and Kidzoona. Both require Shangri-La Plaza’s Grand Atrium offers live performances for guests to enjoy. minors to be accompanied by fully vacciwith preserved egg yolk paste, and braised sensitive skin, while Patton offers practical nated parents or guardians. Find Parisian-inspired holiday ‘fits with fish in black beans sauce. Savory snack and timeless bodysuits, athleisure pieces, and agnès b. The urban lifestyle, most known cravings can easily be satisfied by delicious everyday essentials that have been consciously made with quality and utility in mind. for its iconic snap cardigans, is finally in Korean style hotdogs. Gorae Hotdog, now open at the mall’s Tick off remaining items on that wish list the Philippines, showcasing its 2021 Fall/ Winter collection exclusively at the Shang. Level 1, Main Wing offers hotdogs dipped during Shang’s Boxing Day Sale. Shang is The collection is inspired by wood, gold in batter, rolled in noodles or potatoes, and bringing back its Boxing Day tradition, and ending the year with a mall-wide sale. sun, and the beautiful colors of autumn and deep-fried for that perfect crunch. Finalize Christmas lists by dropping by With over 50 participating retail partners, winter. Dine al fresco and try out tradiShang’s newest retail stores Tili Dahli and Shang’s Boxing Day Sale is a chance to tional and new Asian flavors. Soon to open at the Shang is Modern Patton, a sustainable babywear shop with treat oneself and shop for the remaining Shanghai, which offers authentic Chinese onesies, rompers, and other elevated basics items on the wish list for as much as 70 dishes such Kung Pao Chicken, shrimp using materials that won’t harm children’s percent off.
SNAPSHOT (From left) Mutya Pilipinas 2019/2020 Miss Tourism International Cyrille Payuno and Mutya Pilipinas 2021 Miss Tourism International Keith Jensen Petrasanta
Beauties and the tree MUTYA Pilipinas 2019/2020 Miss Tourism International Cyrille Payuno, and Mutya Pilipinas 2021 Miss Tourism International Keith Jensen Petrasanta strike a pose at the lobby of the historic Manila Hotel during its tree lighting ceremony. The towering Christmas symbol is adorned with this year’s star element, the “ibon-ibon” made of palm leaves to highlight our culture’s art of weaving. Adorably displayed beside the tree is the giant Willy The Bear, representing The Manila Hotel’s mascot and symbol of strength and hope. Willy The Bear is the central figure in the iconic hotel’s “Heart of Gold” fundraising for the children of House of Refuge, a DWSD-accredited orphanage in Quezon City. Until Dec. 30, with every purchase of the Willy The Bear stuffed toy, the hotel will donate the proceeds to the beneficiary. The tree lighting ceremony held last month was also attended by DOT Regional Director Joseph Francisco Ortega, Regional Director-Region 10 Marie Elaine Unchuan, DOT NCR Regional Director/concurrent OIC-Asec for Tourism Development Woordow ‘RR’ C. Maquiling Jr., DOT Undersecretary Myra Abubakar, and The Manila Hotel President Atty. Joey Lina.
Year-end Report: PH Moving Forward
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
D1
PH economy shows resilience in 2021 By July Rada
E
CONOMIC managers said the economy has recovered this year from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that triggered a record 9.6-percent contraction in 2020, the worst GDP performance since World War 2.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the head of the Duterte administration’s economic cluster, said in a forum in middle of this month that the country has hurdled the obstacles presented by the pandemic. He said the country’s strengths remained intact all throughout the existence of the global health crisis. Dominguez specifically cited the country’s investment-grade ratings that never experienced a downgrade since the start of the pandemic. “I believe that we are over the hump on this COVID-19 contagion. I said earlier that this is not a short battle. This is not a sprint. This is a marathon,” Dominguez said. Judging from past contagions, he said this does not come and go quickly. All throughout this difficult time, he said the government tried to preserve the financial strength of the Philippines. “... And to use the financial strength that President Duterte has built up since 2016, which I must admit was building on the successes of the administration of Noynoy Aquino,” he said. He said the current administration built on it and tried to improve it a little bit which “put us in a very good position.” “We have been able to last this contagion without a downgrade. Of course, Fitch [Ratings] put our outlook to negative earlier this year but that is not a downgrade,” he said. Dominguez expects gross domestic product growth in the last quarter to hit near 7 percent, driven mainly by the impact of a faster pace of vaccination program that results in more business activity and increased mobility during the period. The Finance chief said the economic performance in 2021 “exceeded expectations,” citing the surprise 7.1-percent GDP expansion in the third quarter that brought the economic growth in the first three quarters to 4.9 percent. Dominguez said “backed by massive vaccination rollout,” the economy could perform well in the coming months. As of Dec. 17, 2021, about 100,600,809 total vaccine doses have been administered throughout the country, with 43,351,844 being fully vaccinated, and 1,081,200 booster doses administered. “Next year, we are confident that we can grow by 7-9 percent as [the latest] numbers are in our favor,” Dominguez said. Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran, the DoF’s chief economist, said based on his estimates, the fourth-quarter GDP would be “very close to 7 percent.” HIGHER GROWTH FORECASTS The inter-agency Development Budget Coordinating Committee in the middle of this month revised upward its gross domestic product growth target this year to 5 to 5.5 percent from 4 to 5 percent previously, taking into account the 7.1-percent expansion in the third quarter. The DBCC is composed of the heads of the Department of Finance, the National Economic and Development Authority, and the Department of Budget and Management. “Despite the imposition of stringent quarantines to contain the spread of the threat of the Delta variant, the Philippine economy grew by 7.1 percent in the third quarter of 2021. As we continuously relax restrictions and increase mobility, economic performance is expected to accelerate further in the last quarter of the year,” economic managers said in a joint statement. “Hence, the growth assumption for 2021 was adjusted upwards to 5 to 5.5 percent, while growth targets for the medium term were retained at 7 to 9 percent for 2022 and 6 to 7 percent by 2023 and 2024,” they said. They said with the strong economic performance in 2021, they are optimistic that the country’s GDP would return to its prepandemic level by 2022. Likewise, the Asian Development Bank revised upward its growth forecast for the Philippine economy this year to 5.1 percent from 4.5 percent made in September, taking into account the acceleration in the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program and a sharp drop in new infections. The supplement to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021 report also showed that the Philippine economy will grow by 6.0 percent in 2022, up from the previous forecast of 5.5 percent. “The Philippine economy has shown im-
pressive resilience,” ADB Philippines country directors Kelly Bird said. Bird said growth momentum has clearly picked up on the back of the government’s vigorous drive to vaccinate Filipinos against the COVID-19 virus. He said public spending on infrastructure and continued vaccination of the population will also help the country further accelerate its recovery in 2022. The bank said vaccination has allowed the economy to slowly reopen, boosting consumer and business confidence. Also this month, the World Bank raised its growth forecast for the Philippines this year to 5.3 percent from its previous estimate of 4.3 percent. In the bank’s online briefing on the Philippines Economic Update titled Regaining Lost Ground, Revitalizing the Filipino Workforce, World Bank senior economist Kevin Chua said the economic rebound gained momentum in the third quarter of 2021 despite another COVID-19 wave. “The Philippines has, so far, faced its worst infection wave in September when the seven-day daily average reached about 21,000 cases due to the Delta variant. In response, the authorities reimposed stringent mobility restrictions in Metro Manila and other key metropolitan areas,” Chua said. “Nonetheless, compared with previous waves, domestic activity has been less sensitive to infections. Public containment measures constrained overall mobility less, while households and firms have learned to cope with infections and diminished mobility,” he said. “As a result, the growth momentum was not severely hampered, and the third-quarter growth surprised on the upside, exceeding market expectations,” Chua said. By 2022, Chua expects GDP growth to expand further by 5.9 percent and 5.7 percent in 2023, for a two-year average of 5.8 percent. Chua said the global economic recovery strengthened the country’s exports, although services trade remained weak. He said the fiscal stance remained supportive of economic recovery, but the policy space was narrowing. The bank expects government spending on infrastructure to buoy growth, aided by the steady progress in vaccination leading to greater people mobility and the revival of businesses. Barring a new uptick in COVID-19 cases, household consumption is projected to recover, anchored on rising remittances and improving incomes as more people regain or find new jobs. Ndiame Diop, World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, said in the same briefing that the
new Omicron variant of COVID-19 “has added a layer of uncertainty, but economic reopening, along with progress in vaccination, is clearly strengthening domestic dynamism and market confidence.” “As the recovery gains traction, it will be important to enhance private sector participation in the recovery by deepening current efforts to make the country’s business environment favorable to job creation, while upskilling the workers so that they can benefit from new or emerging job opportunities.” But Diop said that the reported waning vaccine efficacy might complicate business decisions in the future. The Philippines underwent two surges of COVID-19 infections this year, first in March-April and in August-September due to the more infectious Delta variant. In both instances, authorities reinstated strict mobility restrictions in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, and key metropolitan areas. World Bank officials, however, warned that despite encouraging trends, the COVID-19 pandemic remained a major risk to the country’s growth prospects. They noted that even in countries with high vaccination rates, infections have continued to spread, albeit with greatly reduced severity of illness, hospitalization, and mortality. Variants of concern, breakthrough cases, and waning vaccine efficacy have highlighted the complexity of economic reopening. “Speeding up vaccination especially in areas outside the National Capital Region and sustaining the observance of health protocols including masking and maintaining social distancing are measures that remain important as the country navigates the challenges of reviving the economy,” Chua said. Chua said social protection measures, including the country’s cash transfer programs, remained important measures to mitigate the adverse impact of the pandemic on livelihoods, health, and education, especially among poor families. SUSTAINED POLICY SUPPORT The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has maintained the record-low policy interest rate of 2 percent for the entire 2021, fulfilling its promise of supporting the economy until it fully recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In its meeting this month, the Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral, kept the interest rate on the overnight reverse repurchase facility remained at 2.0 percent. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were likewise kept at 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively. Next page
D2 || FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
Year-end Report: PH Moving Forward
PH telco cautiously optimistic in 2022 By Darwin G. Amojelar
P
HILIPPINE telecommunication companies expressed cautious optimism about their outlook next year as the economy slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
PLDT Inc., Globe Telecom, and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. sustained their growth momentum in the third quarter of the year despite the impact of the global pandemic. “We are cautiously optimistic that as the economy reopens, we are best positioned to serve our customers through the new normal, as evidenced by our strong results for the first nine months of 2021,” Al Panlilio, president and chief executive of PLDT and Smart said. “While all business units continue to show solid performance, this is more apparent in the Home business, where we pushed record installations in recognition of the connectivity needs of our customers,” he added. PLDT’s telco core income climbed 10 percent year-on-year to P23.1 billion in the first nine months of 2021, helped by lower tax rates. It remains on track to reach full-year telco core income guidance of P30 billion this year. The company’s consolidated service revenues amounted to P135.9 billion, up 7 percent compared to last year. Ernest L. Cu, Globe president, and chief executive said his company reported a “resurgent business performance in the third quarter, with the topline now back to pre-pandemic levels, despite the continued economic and public mobility challenges, and competitive industry environment.” Globe’s core net income stood at P18.3 billion in the first nine months of the year, 17 percent from P15.6 billion in the same period in 2020. The company’s consolidated service revenues amounted to P113.6 billion, beating last year’s revenues by 4 percent and 3 percent higher than the same period of 2019, which was pre-pandemic. “Globe will continue to create new and exciting propositions to reach more customers, as we pro-
PH economy... From D1 In 2020, the BSP cut the policy rate by a cumulative 200 basis points to 2 percent, and also reduced the reserve requirement of banks by 200 basis points to 12 percent, in a bid to unleash additional liquidity into the financial system so that banks could lend more to individuals and firms for productive purposes. In maintaining the policy rate for the entire year, BSP also took into consideration the manageable inflation environment, although at some point it breached the target range of 2-4 percent set for the year. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the projected inflation path remained within the inflation target band of 2-4 percent over the policy horizon. Inflation in November 2021 eased further to a four-month low of 4.2 percent from 4.6 percent a month ago, pulled down mainly by lower prices of food and nonalcoholic beverages. The November print was still higher than the 3.3 percent a year ago. This brought the average inflation in the first 11 months to 4.5 percent, more than the target range of 2 to 4 percent earlier set by the government. Diokno said the emergence of new COVID-19 variants continued to pose downside risks to the outlook for growth and inflation. Nonetheless, he said the Monetary Board observed that economic growth now appeared to be on firmer ground, supported by the government’s accelerated vaccination program and calibrated relaxation of quarantine protocols. “In particular, credit activity has gradually recovered in recent months, reflecting improved business activity and market sentiment,” he said. He said the Monetary Board was seeing enough scope to keep a patient hand on the BSP’s policy levers owing to a manageable inflation environment. At the same time, downside risks to the economic recovery emanate from the emergence of new COVID-19 variants as well as the potential tightening of global financial conditions. “Hence, preserving ongoing monetary policy support at this juncture shall help sustain the economy’s momentum over the next few quarters,” he said. ENCOURAGING NUMBERS The Bangko Sentral has revised upward the target for net inflow of foreign direct investments this year to $8 billion
vide connectivity and solutions to power and enable a robust digital ecosystem for the Filipino,” he added. Converge ICT also reported higher revenues in the first nine months of the year due to continued subscriber take-up. Its consolidated revenues grew by 76.4 percent year-on-year to P18.8 billion in the first nine months of 2021. “We have completed our nationwide backbone, allowing us to expand into new areas in the Visayas and Mindanao while continuing to go deep into underserved areas in Luzon,” Dennis Anthony Uy, Converge chief executive said. “We have also augmented our sales force so that we can serve a broader number of our people with world-class fiber broadband connectivity,” he added. As of end-September 2021, the nationwide network of Converge reached more than 9.6 million homes, allowing it to accelerate its target to cover approximately 55% of Filipino households to 2023, two years ahead of the original 2025 Businesses need to be agile Panlilio also said that businesses need to be agile across their operations and participate in digital ecosystems to succeed in the post-pandemic world. Panlilio stressed that Filipinos need to embrace
from $7 billion previously, taking into account the improving global economic outlook despite the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. BSP’s revision came after the latest data showed that net FDI in the first nine months alone already topped the $7 billion target, hitting $7.3 billion, up 43.8 percent from the $5.1 billion net inflow a year ago. BSP said the remarkable performance of FDI in the period was mainly due to the 78.6-percent increase in non-residents’ net investments in debt instruments to $5.3 billion from $3 billion last year. Further, it said reinvestment of earnings reached $865 million, up by 12.3 percent from the $770 million a year ago. Meanwhile, non-residents’ net investments in equity capital (other than reinvestment of earnings) dropped by 15.7 percent to $1.1 billion from $1.3 billion in January-September 2020. As a sign of improving global trade amid the pandemic, the country’s exports in the first 10 months jumped 16.1 percent year on year to $62.10 billion, with electronic products contributing the highest sales. By commodity group, electronic products continued to be the country’s top export in October 2021 with total earnings of $3.65 billion. This amount accounted for 57.0 percent of the total exports during the period. This was followed by other manufactured goods with an export value of $350.18 million (5.5 percent); and other mineral products which amounted to $298.48 million (4.7 percent). For the month of October, total export sales amounted to $6.41 billion, up at an annual rate of 2.0 percent, from an increase of 6.4 percent in the previous month. In October 2020, total export sales decreased at an annual rate of -0.9 percent. Imports in the first 10 months hit $95.31 billion, an increase of 29.7 percent from the import value of $73.48 billion in the same period of 2020. Similarly, electronic products accounted for the highest import value among commodity groups. Total imported goods in October 2021, which amounted to $10.43 billion, increased at an annual rate of 25.1 percent. In September 2021, the annual increase was recorded at 24.9 percent, while in October 2020, imports value decreased by -15.9 percent annually. The country’s total external trade in goods in October 2021, which amounted to $16.84 billion, grew at an annual rate of 15.2 percent. In the previous month,
resilience and adaptability to overcome the difficulties brought by the pandemic. “It has become imperative to adapt and act fast— pivoting processes and operations to survive, and build resilience for a sustainable future ahead,” said Panlilio. The PLDT executive said that the past year had presented the significance of digital transformation in every industry, which now redefines how businesses operate. Panlilio said companies strived to digitize their core processes by putting digital transformation on the top of their priority list as a long-term investment. “It is the incubation of technology, purpose, and balance that drives people growth, business strategies, and sustainability. At the center of it all is still the customer. Hence, it is imperative to go beyond the hype of new technologies and discover how they can shape our future,” he added. Given this scenario, PLDT and Smart have been leveraging digital technology and a robust network to deliver a world-class customer experience at the forefront of breakthrough innovations in the telco industry. “PLDT and Smart are establishing programs that can effectively identify, evaluate, and incubate digitization to transform ourselves. By doing so, we are also creating new opportunities and harnessing
the annual increase was recorded at 17.1 percent, while a decline of -10.0 percent was recorded in October 2020. Meanwhile, the country’s unemployment rate decreased to 7.4 percent in October 2021 from 8.9 percent a month ago, the third-lowest rate this year, as more people were employed for the month compared to the same period last year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show. In the Highlights of the October 2021 Labor Force Survey, PSA said the lowest reported unemployment rate was in July 2021 estimated at 6.9 percent, followed by 7.1 percent in March 2021. The unemployment rate was highest this year in September 2021 at 8.9 percent. National statistician and civil registrar general Dennis Mapa said the employment situation in the country improved with a reported 43.83 million employed persons in October 2021 from 39.84 million in the same period last year. In terms of magnitude, the total number of unemployed persons 15 years old and over in October 2021 was registered at 3.50 million. It was lower by 309,000 from the total unemployed persons reported in October 2020 (3.81million). The Duterte administration’s economic managers--composed of Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, and Budget Department officer-in-charge Tina Rose Marie Canda--said in a joint statement the October 2021 labor force survey results affirmed the soundness of the government’s push to safely reopen the economy, restore employment, and manage the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The massive vaccination rollout globally enabled major economies to reopen, boosting the deployment of overseas Filipino workers that resulted in sustained foreign exchange inflows into the country. Latest data from the BSP show that cash remittances in the first 10 months jumped 5.3 percent to $25.929 billion from $24.633 billion a year ago, nearing the 6 percent growth target for 2021 set by the government. The growth in cash remittances from the United States, Taiwan, and Malaysia contributed largely to the increase in remittances in January-October 2021, BSP said in a statement. For the month of October alone, cash remittances increased by 2.4 percent to
advanced technologies to chart a path to the next horizon, mindful of our civic duty to help with economic recovery and overall nation-building,” Panlilio said. JOURNEY TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY Cu, meanwhile, said the company remains focused on its role as an enabler of digital transformation for all Filipinos, including businesses, by providing them with technology and agile and affordable solutions. “As businesses begin their journey to economic recovery, we will continue to extend our hand to entrepreneurs to give them meaningful and lifeenabling innovations and access to opportunities and growth,” Cu said. Globe Business offers an array of digital business solutions to equip MSMEs in their digital journey including products, platforms, learning programs, and technical assistance. BPI SME Loans, on the other hand, has developed Biz Tech, a loan program specifically for Globe Business MSMEs who need a financial boost for their business, while AEC extends exclusive perks and benefits from other Ayala companies to help Globe Business customers save on expenses. “The commitment and the resilience we have witnessed among MSMEs as they navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic inspires us to continue developing innovative ways to support our local entrepreneurs and carve pathways for them to succeed as the backbone of our economy,” Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president, and chief executive of Ayala Corp. said. Globe Business is also launching a search for MSMEs that have tapped into the power of digital technology to pivot their operations and survive the pandemic. Five businesses will be chosen by the telco giant from among the stories shared to an SME showcase worth P50,000 to help boost their business and expedite their digital transformation. Lastly, new and existing Globe Business customers will also benefit from Globe Business Upstart —a loyalty program designed to empower micro, small and medium business owners through three core pillars: digital leadership, business enablement, and exclusive partnerships. Members will have access to this starting July 5 when they register for the program.
US$2.812 billion in October 2021 from US$2.747 billion registered in the same month in 2020. Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, reached $3.117 billion in October 2021, higher by 2.4 percent than the $3.044 billion registered in the same month last year. This resulted in the increase in cumulative remittances by 5.4 percent to $28.816 billion in the first ten months of 2021 from $27.346 billion recorded in the comparable period in 2020. Michael Ricafort, the chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said remittances remained a bright spot for the Philippine economy, as they near the highest since the pandemic started. This is despite the fact that more than 800,000 OFWs were repatriated since the pandemic last year, but some of whom already recovered or restored the jobs that they have lost as the global economy re-opened and recovered further from the adverse effects of the pandemic. “OFW remittances and conversion to pesos are expected to seasonally increase in the fourth quarter especially towards the Christmas season, as consistently seen for many years and decades,” Ricafort said. He said these could support faster growth in consumer spending, which accounts for at least 70 percent of the economy, and would also support economic recovery prospects, going forward, as a bright spot and a major pillar for the country’s economic recovery program. Remittances account for around 10 percent of GDP annually. Last year, remittances slightly declined by 0.8 percent to $29.903 billion from the record $30.133 billion in 2019 as the pandemic impacted the deployment of overseas Filipino workers and many countries implemented stricter quarantine restrictions. However, the 0.8-percent decline was better than the earlier forecast of a 20-percent contraction by some analysts at the height of the onslaught of the pandemic. This year, BSP projects cash remittances to grow by 6 percent on the back of improving the global economic outlook. RENEWED BUSINESS AND CONSUMER SENTIMENTS The business sentiment in the country is increasingly becoming optimistic amid the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the faster pace of the government’s vaccination rollout, latest results of the Business Expectations Survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas show. The survey revealed that in the fourth quarter this year, the outlook of business owners on the economy turned optimistic as the overall confidence index reverted to the positive territory at 39.7 percent---the highest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country in the first quarter of 2020--from -5.6 percent in the third quarter of 2021. The positive index resulted from the combined effects of an increase in the percentage of optimists and a decrease in the percentage of pessimists. “The respondents’ optimism was attributed to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and opening of borders, increase in demand and sales, continuous vaccine rollout leading to herd immunity, seasonal factors such as the uptick in demand during the holiday season and start of mining and milling seasons, as well as the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases,” BSP said. It also said the release of positive economic news, such as the real GDP growth of 7.1 percent in the third quarter of 2021, might have also influenced the more sanguine business expectations. For the next quarter, the business sentiment further improved as the overall confidence index increased to 52.8 percent from 31.9 percent a quarter ago. For the next 12 months, business sentiment was more optimistic as the overall confidence index increased to 67.6 percent from the previous quarter’s survey result of 56 percent. And although the consumer sentiment weakened in the fourth quarter of 2021, it is more optimistic for the first quarter of 2022 and the next 12 months. Based on the latest Consumer Expectations Survey, the consumer overall confidence index declined in the fourth quarter to -24 percent from –19.3 percent a quarter ago. The lower negative index recorded in the fourth quarter of 2021 showed that the number of households with pessimistic views increased relative to the number in the third quarter of 2021 and continued to surpass those with optimistic views. “According to respondents, their weaker outlook during Q4 2021 was brought about by their expectations of the higher unemployment rate, low income, ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, higher cases, and restrictions/lockdown/travel ban, faster increase in the prices of goods, and less working family member,” BSP said.
Year-end Report: PH Moving Forward
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
D3
D4 || FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
Year-end Report: PH Moving Forward
Smartphones that caught our fancy in 2021 By P. Y. Deligero
Xiaomi opens exclusive service center to provide users with quality solutions
By P. Y. Deligero TECHNOLOGY continues to be a key innovation in the modern world. Its presence has made life more convenient for everyone today. Some of the most common types of technology are handheld gadgets and other items in their surroundings that augment their way of life. However, like most things, pieces of technology also need proper maintenance to remain effective for longer. But try as they might, some individuals just aren’t consistent in the upkeep of their gadgets. Users sought out reputable individuals or centers who can provide the services they need to get their items back in top shape. Large tech brands saw the demand to provide users with a quick fix to the public’s dilemma by establishing service centers they can visit to have their technical problems solved. Xiaomi, a global technology leader, also wanted to provide their customers in the Philippines with a better customer service experience. One way for them to make this happen is by establishing the first Xiaomi Philippines Exclusive Service Center. This decision is in line with the company’s vision of “Make friends with users and be the coolest company in the users’ hearts.” Xiaomi Corporation was founded in April 2010 and has since pursued innovations, high-quality user experience, and operational efficiency. Its products are present in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. In August 2021, the company made the Fortune Global 500 list for the third time, ranking 338th, up 84 places compared to 2020. GIVING THEIR CUSTOMERS THE BEST SERVICE Opening an exclusive service center is the result of Xiaomi Philippines’ commitment to providing the best experience for all of its customers. The exclusive service center hopes for a seamless experience starting from their purchase of products and until they need aftersales support. Ultimately, Xiaomi wants to guarantee that their customers have access to any support they need with their Xiaomi gadgets anytime. Customers can also expect more VIP services, especially for the company’s upcoming devices. These include free screen replacements for accidental damage, extended warranty, and even device replacement. The first Xiaomi exclusive service center, located at Market, Market, BGC, was launched last December 18, 2021. Special promos and freebies, are also available to Xiaomi customers present during the official opening. Aside from their exclusive service center in BGC, Xiaomi also plans to open more exclusive service centers in key central locations across different regions like Cebu, Davao, North Luzon, and South Luzon. EXCLUSIVE TO XIAOMI CUSTOMERS AND PRODUCTS Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the exclusive service center can only accommodate an
average of 30 to 50 customers per day, depending on foot traffic. The service center will also operate from 11:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m. only. Customers, upon arriving at the exclusive service center, can present their Xiaomi smartphones or Xiaomi Pad 5 to the Service Receiving desk where the concerned unit will be assessed by their customer service representative and collect information about the warranty and the device. The representative will then issue a service order claim that summarizes the details of the gadget as well as its specific concern. For quick fix cases, customers can expect their gadget to be ready within the day but for more complex cases may take around three to five days. Another main concern among customers is receiving updates about their products. But customers who engage in the services of Xiaomi’s exclusive service center can rest easy because they can check the status of their repairs in-person at the service centers. They can also get in touch with their contact centers. Since the world is also inching towards a digital platform, Xiaomi is ready to adapt to modern demands by planning to launch a website where customers can check the status of their gadget repairs online. DEVELOPING CUSTOMER SERVICE The global health pandemic sparked an immense demand for gadgets and their service centers among the public has encouraged the company to increase their numbers to provide their customers with the solutions they need for the upkeep and repair of their Xiaomi gadgets. Just this year, the company added two more service partners apart from the opening of its first Exclusive Service Center at Market Market, BGC. Just last year, Xiaomi only had 10 service centers. Today, the company has 20 more service centers, with 10 more that are
authorized to support TV products. However, their initiatives don’t stop at the launch of the exclusive service center. The company also established its call center that provides customer support for Xiaomi users in the Philippines and the USA. They also expanded their coverage for Xiaomi products that are covered by their premium service offers including an extended warranty of another year and free screen replacement for accidental damage. Customers can get a warranty service by presenting a valid proof of purchase, and in case this is not available, the service center will ask for the IMEI no. of the device, which can be verified in the system if the device has an active warranty in the Philippines. For other Xiaomi ecosystem products, warranty claims can be made through official dealers and retail shops where the ecosystem product was bought. Yet because of Xiaomi’s vision of creating a good relationship with their customers, the company has laid out several other plans in the future to maintain a similar status. Xiaomi Philippines is looking into expanding its customer service facilities next year by adding one more Exclusive Center to support our mobile, Artificial Intelligence of Things (AiOT), and ecosystem products. Other projects in the pipeline include improving online services for our customer support such as creating chat support with our customer service representatives and adding a site where customers can check the status of their ongoing service repair. As the world continues to progress towards a digital age, Xiaomi users need not worry about the upkeep of their items. The company’s dedication to establishing a good rapport with their customers have taken them down a path that boasts of innovation, accessibility, and quality service.
NOWADAYS, it’s pretty much common to see people paying close attention to their phone screens. As the world continues to progress, so too does technology. Phones receive more upgrades every year. They started with the mere intention of letting people make instant messages and quick calls, but as consumer demand flourished, so did their innovations. Today, cellular phones have evolved into smartphones that have new purposes that users enjoy. Aside from anticipating the needs of their user and being a clock, notebook, and more, smartphones also have platforms that allow users to play highend games, browse social media platforms, take high-quality photos, and more. Since the world is inching towards a digital orientation, more cellphone companies are creating updates and developing new units to provide users with a new experience or meet their expectations. In the Philippines, several smartphones have made a name for themselves. These are Vivo, Xiaomi, Tecno, Infinix, and Nokia. VIVO One of the key players in the smartphone industry is vivo. The company was founded in 1995 and entered the telecommunication and consumer electronics business with landline phones and wireless phones. But in 2009, it tried its hand in the smartphone industry. By 2011, Vivo has become one of the leading smartphone brands around the world. As a technology company, vivo creates products based on a design-driven value, with smart devices and intelligent services at its core. They now have over 400 million users and cover more than 50 countries and regions. vivo prides itself in continuously pursuing extreme experiences that users will enjoy. They also boast of being the first to create several developments in smartphones. Some of their notable innovations include the world’s first smartphone with an elevating front camera and bezel-less display, the world’s thinnest smartphone, and the world’s first Hi-Fi embedded smartphone. XIAOMI Another smartphone brand that has taken the world by storm is Xiaomi. Its company, Xiaomi Corporation, was founded in April 2010 and has since assumed the role of a consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company with smartphones and smart hardware. The company’s vision is to “Make friends with users and be the coolest company in the users’ hearts.” And to do that, Xiaomi continuously pursued innovations to create a high-quality user experience and operational efficiency. They relentlessly build amazing products with honest prices to let everyone enjoy a better life through innovative technology. Due to their innovative products, Xiaomi ranked second in terms of smartphone shipments in the second quarter of 2021. TECNO Since consumer demand is showing no signs of slowing down or stopping altogether, smartphone companies are continuously putting out new developments in pursuit of a better experience and adapting to the progressing world. This is the same goal for TECNO, a premium smartphone and AloT devices brand from TRANSSION Holdings. It follows a “Stop At Nothing” approach because TECNO is committed to unlocking the best contemporary technologies meant for progressive individuals across global emerging markets to provide them with elegantly designed and intelligent products that inspire consumers to uncover a world of possibilities. The company also understands the needs of consumers from different markets and supplies them with localized innovations and design breakthroughs that demonstrate their mastery of serving consumers who are “young at heart” and never stop pursuing excellence. Aside from developing smartphones, TECNO is also involved in the business of developing tablets, smart wearables, and AIoT devices for consumers in over 70 emerging markets worldwide. INFINIX Founded in 2013, Infinix is dedicated to building stylishly designed, cutting-edge technology. They focus on smart devices that are built to deliver great experiences in the smartphone industry. Infinix makes their products from the group up using next-level technology and exceptional design. These products are created to empower the lives of today’s youth so they feel confident enough to challenge the norm and stand out from the crowd. One of their notable products is the NOTE series, which was launched in 2015, that’s developed to enhance both business and daily productivity. And just recently, launched the Concept Phone with the world’s first dual color-changing back cover and 160W fast charging technology. The company’s brand and products are present all around the world, with a key focus on emerging markets including Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. NOKIA Many consumers have known the Nokia brand for years. Before the emergence of smartphones, the brand has established an image as one of the sturdiest and most efficient brands in the market. Slowly but surely, Nokia transitioned into the world of smartphones but kept the characteristics in their phones that users love. Nokia started as a single paper mill operation that nurtured success over the years in a range of industrial sectors including cable, paper products, rubber boots, tires, televisions, and mobile phones. In 2003, the brand introduced the first camera phone and has since been in the pursuit of innovation. The brand prides itself in creating phones that provide the necessary innovations without the added clutter. THE FUTURE OF THE SMARTPHONE INDUSTRY For years, smartphones have become a crucial part of everyday life. By next year, the demand will continue to flourish and pave the way for new advancements that will make life easier and more accessible. By 2022 to 2023, the number of adults from developed countries who are reliant on smartphones is predicted to surpass 90 percent. Meanwhile, smartphone sales are poised to reach 1.85 billion per year. Many smartphone companies will use this opportunity to devise new strategies that will disrupt both the industry and the market. Mobile-based consumer industries will also be tapping into this growth to entice more users to their platforms.
Year-end Report: PH Moving Forward
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
E1
YEAR IN REVIEW: Top news in 2021 Ex-President Noynoy Aquino passes away
After 97 years, an Olympic gold at last
FOR the first time in 97 years, the Philippine national anthem was sung in the Summer Olympic Games. A five-foot dynamo with a heart as big as the iron plates she lifts, Hidilyn Diaz set a new Olympic record in the clean and jerk at 127 kgs, and then won the country’s first Olympic gold with a total lift of 224 kilograms in the women’s 55kg weightlifting competitions of the quadrennial games at Tokyo International Forum. “Pinatunayan ko lang na kaya ng mga Pilipino, walang imposible sa Pilipino,” said the 30-year-old Diaz, dedicating her gold to a grateful Filipino nation. A silver medalist in the Rio Olympics in Brazil four years ago, she entered the competition as the underdog to world record holder Liao Qiuyun of China. But Diaz, a Philippine Air Force sergeant, was a woman on a mission, sending Liao to the silver and Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Chinshanlo to the bronze medal.
Omicron reaches PH: First 3 cases detected
THE Philippines has detected three COVID-19 Omicron variant cases – a returning overseas Filipino worker from Qatar with a history of travel in Egypt, another OFW who arrived from Japan, and a Nigerian national from Nigeria. Worried over a possible surge in infections, President Rodrigo Duterte urged the public to continue using face shields even if these were no longer mandatory in areas under Alert Level 2. “I’m just fearful. I’m nervous because [our] funds are depleted,” the President said. “While it might not really be a well-studied proposition, I would dare say that that shield will add another layer of protection in addition to the [masks],” he added. Early data suggests Omicron could be more infectious and possibly have higher resistance to vaccines, despite indications that it is not more severe than the Delta variant. Since it was first reported in South Africa in November, Omicron has been identified in dozens of countries, dashing hopes that the worst of the pandemic is over.
Election fever is on: Comelec sees 15 prexy bets, 12 for VP
SOME 94 aspirants have filed their certificates of candidacy for the presidency in next year’s elections, but the Commission on Elections said the list will likely be trimmed to 15. The poll body filed motu propio cases to declare as nuisance 82 of the candidates. The administration has no official candidate after Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go withdrew his COC. The main tandems are as follows: former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Doc Willie Ong, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Senate President Vicente “Tito Sen” Sotto III, Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Lito Atienza, and labor leader Ka Leody de Guzman and Walden Bello.
FORMER President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III died on June 24, 2021 of renal disease secondary to diabetes. He was 61. According to his sister, Pinky Abellada, her brother “had been going in and out of the hospital” even before the pandemic started last year. As president from 2010 to 2016, Aquino made fighting corruption his mantra, capitalizing on his family’s clean reputation, and vowed to reduce the poverty afflicting a third of the population. He was best known for his “walang wang-wang” promise – literally no more sirens that exemplified VIP entitlement, and his commitment to serve the people: “Kayo ang boss ko.” His administration delivered average annual economic growth of over 6 percent, the highest since the 1970s, handing the country investment-grade status even as poverty remained endemic. The self-deprecating commander-in-chief who often joked about his love life or the lack of it along with his thinning hair once described the presidency as the “loneliest job.” “The Presidency is a job that requires faith—faith that you can make a difference; faith in the people who work for you, and in the people you work for; and faith in yourself, and in God, especially during the lonely hours of decision making, when it is your decisions that will decide the future of millions of Filipinos,” he said in a speech in 2012.
Homeless Xmas for thousands of Odette survivors
IT WILL literally be an empty Christmas for thousands who will be homeless in Mindanao and in the Visayas, with all of them praying for hope and help following the onslaught of Odette, the strongest typhoon to hit the country in 2021 with nearly 200 people now counted dead. In Eastern Visayas, around 85 percent of houses in Southern Leyte were damaged, according to Danilo Atienza of the province’s disaster council. In the far south, Tubajon, Dinagat Islands Mayor Fely Pedrablanca said almost all homes in the entire town had been damaged. “Only nine were really not damaged. The rest of the over 2,000 households were really damaged. Around onefourth of the homes are totally damaged,” Pedrablanca said. Charlito Manlupig, chair of the Balay Mindanaw Foundation, added: “Everywhere you will see houses flattened to the ground or their rooftops blown away.”
Clark: a preferred business and leisure destination CLARK Freeport Zone remains to be one of the most preferred investment and tourism destinations across Asia Pacific Region today. Located at the heart of Central Luzon Region in the Philippines, Clark is strategically located in a higher land area that is sustainable, resilient, and less susceptible to earthquakes and floods. As a prime location of development, it is a home to numerous top-notch and multinational companies involved in manufacturing, logistics, tourism, information communication technology, and aviation- related industries among others. Industry leaders that are currently in Clark include Global Gateway Development Corporation, Yokohama, SFA Semicon Philippines, Donggwang Clark, Widus Philippines Inc., and Texas Instruments among others. The favorable climate for business in Clark makes a total of 1, 231 locator firms in the Freeport enjoy competitive investment incentives. Some of these are exemption from tax and customs duties, duty free importation, free flow of goods and capital equipment, special visas and work permits for foreign nationals, and up to 100% foreign ownership. Apart from this, thriving business operations are complemented by utilities that are at par with global standards. The Freeport takes pride in providing reliable energy source, high quality water supply, and advance telecommunications system for the comfort of all its stakeholders. Continuous growth in the number of companies has also allowed the creation of more jobs and opportunities for 118, 192 highly-skilled and proficient workers. Aside from being an ideal investment hub, the Freeport is also a favorite tourism destination by travelers and guests from around the world. Its own aviation gateway—Clark International Airport —provides global linkage and offers convenience to both business and leisure travelers. The newly constructed second airport terminal which can accommodate an additional 8 million passengers annually will also usher in a better passengers’ experience. And because of the expected influx of tourists in the coming years, major companies on tourism-related industries have turned to Clark to provide services for both local and international guests. Clark is envisioned to be a premier Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibits (MICE) destination with its growing number of hotel rooms,
conference sites, and exhibit centers. Globally – acknowledged brands like Marriott and Hilton are only few of the numerous state-of-the-art hotels and accommodation facilities present in the Freeport. Its vast green spaces, and sports-friendly roads and environment make it a suitable venue for various athletic activities. Recognized by the Philippines Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA) as the ultimate Sports Destination for year 2015 and 2019, Clark has already conquered the international stage as it served as the official venue of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines in 2019. These and all the other upcoming developments in Clark will definitely make it a by-word in the investment scene and an area of choice by people from across the globe on their next business and leisure adventure. Want to shape your future in Clark? Let’s make your dream work! Know more about this premier investment and tourism destination by visiting www.clark.com.ph or email info@clark.com.ph
E2 || FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
Year-end Report: PH Moving Forward
New Year’s Resolutions: Champions’ edition By Milo Rivera
W
HEN asked during a post-race interview to describe his emotions behind one of the most dramatic, title-defining season endings in motorsport history, newlycrowned Formula 1 Champion Max Verstappen answered, “...for sure, next year we will come back and try it all over again.”
That is some radical forward-thinking for someone, who, just moments prior, crossed the finish line as the new “best race car driver in the world”. After all is said and done, the kid hungrily wants to win more. But then again, as any competitive person would possess, the jubilation behind every victory becomes only a fleeting moment once the focus is set on gunning for more glory. All of them at some point would bring their heads back down, go back to the drawing board, work their butts off, and as Max said, “do it all over again.” Now the process behind it? Well, the secret formula varies from person to person. Just like Max, the sweet taste of victory was also shared among our homegrown race drivers and riders as the local and national racing scene drew their seasons to a close. It was seen as a very successful revival year for Philippine Motorsports after competitions were momentarily halted last year due to the pandemic. The year 2021 saw the ever-growing prowess of the powerhouse figures in the industry, as well as new names making waves and stories for everyone to witness. From thrilling races won to moments recorded and long remembered, to even records shattered—the high-speed community not only saw triumph in its truest form, it also saw optimism and eagerness for “what’s next”. And as for those, who emerged as the best of the best in each racing discipline this year, “what’s next” is already a story they’re starting to write as early as now. We highlight five racers from various championships held nationally as they share their highlights that led them to be crowned as the overall champions of 2021, as well as where their eyes are set with the new year just a few days away. Here’s what they had to say. SCOOTER RACING: VREI-AR SUBA For 2021 Philippine Scooter King Vreiar “RR” Suba, racing on two wheels did not come as “love at first sight.”
Although making his motorcycle racing debut at the age of 14 with team DSF (Daquigan Sports Factory), RR started off racing go-karts at a much younger age with his dad, Sonny, being his chief mechanic. After a few years of racing karts, he felt that shifting to a different platform would give him much greater success, which proved to be such as he clinched the 115cc category overall championship on his very first year of twowheel competition. A few years of race experience had passed and along came more success for RR as he gradually moved up categories along the process. “I continue to race here in the Philippines as we saw great potential for us to garner more victories. And finally, with the help of my current team Phoenix-Yamaha SEC Racing Team, we brought home the 2021 Philippine Scooter Overall Crown. I couldn’t have done it without everyone involved. All glory to God for continuously giving me strength and guidance throughout every race,” he said. When asked about what his plans are for 2022, he gave a very short and straightforward answer -- to move up and become the 2022 Philippine Underbone King.
SUPERBIKES: T.J. ALBERTO Now a big name in the two-wheel racing community, 2021 Rider of the Year T.J. Alberto entered the sport with humble yet fruitful beginnings at the age of five.
“I never really had the most illustrious career as a young rider and honestly never thought I would achieve what I have achieved now. My family has always been with me from the beginning, with my father, Toti, being a Superbike Champion himself. With him to look up to, it was natural for me to follow in his footsteps when I turned 14 as I entered my first road race in the 400cc category back in 2013,” he said. After several motocross stints as well, T.J. made the big move to race superbikes full time in 2015 and ended the year by bagging the overall championships in both the novice and intermediate categories. Yet after deciding to finally make an allout chase for the national crown the year after, he eventually had to put it to a pause -- to make way for even bigger things! “Opportunities arose in the European and Asian circuits where in 2017, I was blessed to take part in the Italian Superbike Championship (CIV), 2018 in the WorldSBK Superstock 1000 category, and 2019 in the Asia Roadracing Championship with my own ‘family’ team, Access Plus Racing. Although these stints hampered me from making a go for the Philippine Superbike crown, I believe that those years racing away from my home country provided me with so much learning and an avenue to improve my craft. This made me enter the 2021 season, back in the National Championship, with a lot more experience and readiness to give it a good fight,” added the newly-crowned 2021 Pirelli Philippine Superbike Champion. With 2016 and 2017 eluding him, T.J. found out that 2021 served to be the perfect time to come home and gun for national glory after the pandemic left them with no available race spots abroad. Now equipped with more learning experiences and enhanced crafts for both he and his team, T.J. was more than ready to make his third shot at the title count the most. And even though he was already considered as the “man to beat” mid-season, T.J. and his team never fell to complacency. “Despite holding the championship lead, we at Access Plus Racing team never became complacent as we continued to develop and test our bike and skills to prepare for the coming races. Postponed rounds due to the circumstances of the pandemic made it even more difficult for me, as a rider, to keep focused on our goals but we knew we had to keep working every day despite setbacks in order to keep the chase for the title alive,” he said. Constant hard work and dedication ultimately rewarded T.J. and his team as they finally bagged the Philippine Superbike Championship -- beating defending champion Marvin Mangulabnan and multi-titled rider Dashi Watanabe -- with one race to spare. To add more luster to his championship run, he also bagged 10 out of the 12 races held and broke the lap record at the Clark International Speedway multiple times -- with his scintillating feat coming on the very last round of the series after breaking the 1:50 barrier with a record lap time of 1:49.538. Of course, after all, is said and done, T.J. never forgets to give credit where credit is due. “Racing is a combined effort between the rider, team, and the bike. We may not have had the best of each this season but we certainly had the best balance of all! I believe this season has taught me so much and has made me a more rounded racer. I’m always looking to learn more and more, and can not wait for what’s next!” When asked about what’s next, T.J. sees his subsequent steps as an opportunity to be a responsible role model in and out of the track. “I think carrying the number 1 plate is not easy as it comes with an added pressure and expectation to perform like a champion. It also comes with the expectation to become a great ambassador for the sport. I want to fulfill those roles and look to defend the title again next year with my Access Plus Racing team and family. I also am looking forward to doing more events again out of the country as the pandemic now dies down. I think my goal for
next year is to be a podium contender in the Asia championship -- using the skills that I have learned here at home,” T.J. said. Rest assured that “home” will always be there to support you, T.J.! DRAG RACING: MICHAEL DAULOG Passion for anything to do with wheels started at an early age for 2021 PH Drag Racing “Driver of the Year’’ Michael Daulog. “Way back in the 1990s, I would bring my cars to Greenhills every weekend with friends to attend car meet-ups. In addition, I would frequently watch drag races in Lagro, then would make my way to Subic and Batangas to witness some circuit-racing action. My passion for motorsports, I would say, is an understatement,” Michael said. Although translating his love for the sport into actually competing came a few years later, he emphasizes meeting the right people at the right time paved the way for him to finally get behind the wheel competitively.
“I had the opportunity to meet my idol Ricky De Leon, who eventually became my mentor all these years. He truly helped and motivated me to become the best I can be, and gave me the mindset that being part of the best drivers in the country is definitely possible,” he said. With the help of his team composed of Speed Precision Tuning, Sambo Autosports, Gertooning, Ryan Constantino, Boss Jao, and Derek Dy, Michael clinched the overall crown this year and also claimed victories in five out of the seven races held throughout the season. “Moving forward, this coming 2022 will be my next chapter in racing, as well as for my team, with new challenges definitely coming our way. We shall strive to win more races as we aim to make it back-to-back by this time next year. As simple as it sounds, we know it will be a difficult process, but with the right people by your side, we can surely achieve more,” he said. CIRCUIT (VIOS CUP): ESTEFANO RIVERA For someone, who was into basketball, football, and billiards growing up, it had to take the influence of his older brother, Milo, to consider motorsports as a discipline to dip his toes in. “I started racing in 2009 with go-karts. I was only 13-years old at that time and it was a decision that was strongly based on following the footsteps of my brother Milo, as he started racing a year before. Fortunately, for both of us, we did very well in our first respective race seasons which gave us both the confidence to take racing more seriously and to excel at it even more,” Estefano said. From that moment on, the newly crowned 2021 Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup overall champion never looked back—garnering victories left and right in both national and international competitions. However, things never came easy for the driver, who is also the reigning National
Slalom King and 2019 Formula V1 Overall Champion -- recounting the years of setbacks that came his way throughout his Vios Cup journey. “I was very blessed to have won pretty much all the championships that I got myself into. However, winning the Vios Cup was always that missing piece to the puzzle. It took us four shots at it yet prior to this year, we always fell short either to mishaps or just unlucky situations -- there was always that void,” said the 25-year-old ace driver, who also added that 2021 was no exception to those season full of tough trials. “I would say the Vios Cup is a championship that’s very close to my heart and that we’ve always had this love-hate relationship with it, especially with how we finally won the crown this year. We had a ton of setbacks as well during the middle parts of the year and for a while, I even thought that we were going to end up with the same fate once again. Yet awa ng Diyos, we finally bagged it after one of the fiercest title-deciding races I’ve ever been involved in. And I couldn’t have done all of this if it weren’t for all the people in Obengers Racing, who went out of their way and even had sleepless nights just to get our car ready to gun for the win all the time,” he said. After finally completing his Motorsports “puzzle”, Estefano believes that 2022 is a time to give back to those who supported and helped him out through it all. “Although I can never rule out a racing seat for next year as being behind the wheel has always been my ‘second home’, my priority is to help my team (Obengers Racing) and teammates excel in their respective classes/competitions by serving as a coach for them. Yet as a driver, once an opportunity arises, be assured that I will always be more than ready to duke it out for the victory,” Estefano said. CIRCUIT (OPEN WHEEL): JOAQUIN GARRIDO As early as the age of six, Christopher “Joaquin” Garrido instantly figured out the sport that got him hooked. “The very moment I first hopped into a gokart at a local track in Park Square, Makati, it got me interested right away. Yet it took another two years when my dad enrolled me in a karting clinic when I realized—racing wasn’t just something I was interested in, it is something I love! The speed, the G-forces involved, and the adrenaline… such a high!” said Joaquin. From that moment, Joaquin would go on to take the sport seriously and eventually garner victories and memorable stories, while competing in karting championships locally and internationally -- making him an up-and-coming name to look out for.
Yet his up-and-coming status would go even a notch higher as 2021 would end up being an even bigger breakthrough year for Joaquin. Not only did he clinch several overall karting plums once again, he proved to the motorsports community that he was more than ready for the bigger stage. The 2020 Karter of the Year and 2021 ROK Senior Class Champion also competed in the recently concluded 2021 GITI Formula V1 Challenge under Phoenix Pulse Racing and showed everyone what he was capable of—bagging the 2021 AM Class Overall Crown and even duking it out with the PRO Class drivers in the process, to the amazement and surprise of everyone in attendance. “2021 was a year to remember! It was my first time to move up and race actual openwheel race cars, and I even got to dice it out with racing idols such as Milo Rivera, Eduardo Coseteng, and Daniel Miranda during my Formula V1 stint. Truly grateful for the opportunity and I can’t wait for what’s coming our way next,” he said. Joaquin is keeping his options wide open for 2022, yet has very big ambitions in sight. “If it permits, Europe here we come! Yet if not so fortunate, racing in Formula V1 once again with the pros would be just as great. Plus I’m very much looking forward to our Formula V1 race in Suzuka Circuit, Japan come July of next year,” Joaquin said. Such straightforward and confident words from a champion who is only 15-years-old!
E4 || FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021
Year-end Report: PH Moving Forward
Journalists Ressa, Muratov bag Nobel Peace Prize
JOURNALISTS Dmitry Muratov and Maria Ressa won the Nobel Peace Prize. Ressa, in her acceptance speech, launched a vitriolic attack against US tech giants, accusing them of fueling a flood of “toxic sludge” on social media. “Our greatest need today is to transform that hate and violence, the toxic sludge that’s coursing through our information ecosystem, prioritized by American internet companies that make more money by spreading that hate and triggering the worst in us,” she said. Muratov is the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, one of the rare independent newspapers in a Russian media landscape largely under state control. He called for a minute of silence during the Nobel ceremony to honor all journalists killed in the line of duty. “I want journalists to die old,” he said. According to a report compiled by Reporters Without Borders up to December 1, at least 1,636 journalists have been killed around the world in the past 20 years, including 46 since the beginning of the year. In addition, the number of journalists imprisoned around the world has never been higher, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, with 293 currently behind bars.
Chinese vessels block, fire water cannons on PH boats
ON NOV. 16, two Philippine supply boats transporting food supplies to Philippine military personnel in Ayungin Shoal were blocked and water cannoned by three Chinese Coast Guard vessels. No one was hurt from the incident but the supply mission was aborted. China also insisted the Philippines must remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. protested the act, which he deemed illegal, and conveyed to the Ambassador of China and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, his outrage and condemnation over the harassment, saying “we do not ask permission to do what we need to do in our territory.” Senate President Vicente Sotto III proposed to create a map that would identify the country’s maritime zones. During the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting held virtually, President Rodrigo Duterte said there can be no real peace if strong nations bully the weak as he reminded fellow leaders that the rule of law should prevail in areas where there are maritime disputes. “There can be no real peace if the strong trample on the weak—just because it can,” Duterte said without naming China. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the 2016 arbitral decision ruled that the territorial claim of China has no historic nor legal basis.
LWUA administrator: Water is life issue, bares sweeping plans for water By Peter Paul Duran WHEN this writer stepped into the office of new Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Administrator Guiling “Gene” A. Mamondiong for a quick chat recently, nothing really popped out. Given that he’s only assumed office a few months back, it’s understandable that his office is as simple as it gets. Then again, it’s not surprising at all, knowing that he uses a good chunk of his time out of the office—in the countryside where he says a LWUA administrator ought to be. “Personal decision ko na talagang alamin ang mga problema ng mga water districts para malaman natin ano ang maitutulong natin, hindi ba?” said Mamondiong. But the parallelisms don’t end there just because he opts to roam the provinces and not be a homebody. In his jeans and plain white T-shirt, the amiable administrator shared with Manila Standard his plans for LWUA, which seems to mirror his personality— no-nonsense, unpretentious, far-reaching. Within the decade, LWUA eyes the establishment of water districts Local Water Utilities Administration in all municipalities and cities outside of the National Capital Region. This means helping set up at least 1,600 water districts in the next Administrator Guiling “Gene” A. Mamondiong nine years. “Ang sabi sa akin ng Presidente, dapat lahat ng munisipyo, lahat ng local government units ay magkaroon ng water districts on or before 2030,” the administrator said. “And lahat din daw ng barangay dapat mayroong water system. Hindi kailangan na mayroong water district in every barangay pero atleast may water system,” he added. President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Mamondiong a month after the untimely passing of his predecessor at LWUA, Jeci Lapus. Mamondiong became the first Muslim administrator of the agency after also having served as the first Muslim chief of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). A lawyer from Lanao del Sur, Mamondiong also served as transportation undersecretary during the term of President Fidel V. Ramos and President Gloria M. Arroyo. Although newly appointed, Mamondiong says he is not new to the issues surrounding water, especially in his native Lanao del Sur. “Alam ko na ang problema sa tubig, kasi nga doon sa Mindanao problema ang water eh kaya nga pumunta ako sa LWUA noong panahon ni President Cory para magtanong about sa state ng water districts sa amin.” Now as LWUA head, he strives to know every concern faced by the water districts. Our interview with him in his office was in fact, sandwiched between official visits to the different water districts in Luzon. This comes off the heels of trips to Mindanao in his first few weeks as LWUA administrator. This he feels, is the best way to know the situation on-ground. The biggest problems? The agency is undermanned and does not have enough funds to
provide services in the whole country. “Dito sa LWUA kasi, we’ve been trying to make sure that LWUA is efficient in serving people. Ang problema dito, undermanned po ang LWUA. Pangalawang problema, napagalaman ko, na ang sinisweldo pala, ang operational expenses ng LWUA ay galing sa interests,” he said. He bared that the bulk of LWUA’s revenues come from loan amortizations of local water districts. Mamondiong went on to say that he has recommended to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to help the agency push for a P15-billion revolving fund approval before Congress. Apart from having more elbow room to work with, Mamondiong also said that tapping the private sector isn’t a bad idea in the wake of water woes in the countryside. “We are advocating for the private sectors to help us in providing water districts or water systems in unserved and underserved areas. Sa ngayon hindi natin kakayanin bigyan lahat ng munisipyo na wala pang water districts, kung walang tulong ang private sector.” Asked about former LWUA administrator Lapus’ push for a department of water, Mamondiong says that the proposal shows plenty of promise. “Napakagandang panukala yan, dapat magkaroon ng Department of Water, napakaganda kasi mas mapapadali ang proseso sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa sa ahensya,” he said. “We need it as soon as possible, dahil kagaya ng sinabi ko, mas malala ang magiging problema ng ating bansa kung wala tayong tubig, lalala yan, this is a life issue, not just a health issue.”
ICC suspends probe on bloody war on drugs
THE International Criminal Court in September launched its investigation into suspected rights abuses committed under President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs.” The Hague-based court, however, suspended the probe in November following a request from Manila. “The prosecution has temporarily suspended its investigative activities while it assesses the scope and effect of the deferral request,” ICC prosecutor Karim Khan wrote in a court notification dated November 18. At least 6,181 people have died in more than 200,000 anti-drug operations conducted since July 2016, according to the latest official data released by the government. ICC prosecutors in court papers estimate the figure to be between 12,000 and 30,000 dead. Duterte has consistently insisted that the ICC has no jurisdiction over him. “I am a Filipino. If there is somebody who will prosecute me, it should be the Philippine Prosecution Service where I was a member. I was a prosecutor for nine years before becoming vice mayor and mayor. If I will face a tribunal, it should be before a Philippine court,” Duterte said.
Year-end Report: PH Moving Forward ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher
ANITA F. GREFAL Operations Head
RIERA MALLARI JOYCE PANGCO PANARES Editors
BALDWIN FELIPE Head, Advertising Sales
DARWIN G. AMOJELAR JULITO G. RADA MILO RIVERA PETER PAUL DURAN P.Y. DELIGERO Writers VICKIE R. AYENG Layout Artist
Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) continues to celebrate the season of giving with its Holiday Dream Deals promo from December 1 to 31, 2021, and display at the SM Mall of Asia from December 9 to 15, 2021. HCPI is inviting everyone to enjoy this holiday season through its exciting deals and exclusive promos. Learn more at www.hondaphil. com Virtual Showroom or visit the nearest Honda Cars Dealership, and check out the best Honda cars deals in “Holiday Dream Deals.” Big Cash Discounts Display at SM Mall of Asia from December 9 to 15, 2021
PAULA REYNOSO Head-Supplements MERCEDITA PASCUAL SHIRLEY UMALI Ad Solutions Managers SHEILA SUAREZ JOAN VELASCO ERIC JUTIC Advertising Support Group
HCPI is inviting everyone to catch its 7-day display event at SM Mall of Asia from December 9 to 15, 2021. Customers may avail exclusive deals and surprise special offers, and see the
exciting Honda models up close and personal. Awesome Buy Now, Pay Next Year for 21YM City Customers who will purchase a 21YM City 1.5 S CVT and 1.5 V CVT are entitled to five (5) months and (2) months free monthly amortization all-in financing scheme respectively fixed at 20% downpayment with 60 months payment term, with select bank partners, subject to approval. Low All-in Downpayment and Low Monthly Amortization *Special Low All-in DP – based on 10% downpayment **Regular Low All-in DP – based on 15% downpayment ***Low Monthly Amortization – based on 20% downpayment at 60 months payment term Honda Upgrade Program All current Honda owners who will purchase any variant of the City (sedan), BR-V, Brio, Civic (20YM), CR-V, HR-V, and the newly added model to the program this month, the All-New City Hatchback will receive an additional increased cash discount of PHP 10,000 on top of other cash promotions offered for December. Customers must present two (2) valid government-issued IDs, latest vehicle official receipt, and certificate of registration together with a notarized deed of sale (for secondhand units) to avail this exclusive offer. Special Discount for Honda Accessories Customers may avail up to 50% off on select car accessories for BR-V, Civic, CR-V, HR-V, and other Honda models at any Honda Cars dealership nationwide. Financing Options A special, all-in financing program is applicable for 10% downpayment with 36-60 months payment terms for select models are available with the following details: Moreover, customers are entitled to different financing promo offers such as low cash-out, low monthly amortization, free one (1) month amortization at 15% and 20% all-in downpayment offers, available with the following bank partners: All these offers include a three (3) year LTO Registration and Chattel Mortgage and a free one (1) year Comprehensive Insurance with Acts of Nature through select bank partners. Customers may submit their bank loan applications online at www.hondaphil.com through the auto loan link page for select bank partners, subject to the preferred bank’s approval. “This December, as we celebrate the season of thanksgiving, we want to show our appreciation and give back to our dear customers for their unending support to Honda. Through our special offers, we hope to give more joy to more families this Christmas.” said Mr. Masahiko Nakamura, President of Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. Head on now to www.hondaphil.com VIRTUAL SHOWROOM or visit the nearest Honda Cars dealership to know more about the promo and the latest offers from Honda.