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BBM: Set March 15 ‘Frontliners Day’; Guiguinto comes out big for UniTeam

By Maricel V. Cruz FULLY acknowledging the huge contributions and sacrifices by the country’s frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic, presidential candidate Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. is calling on the national government to declare March 15 as Frontliners Day. The UniTeam standard-bearer said March 15 was the most appropriate day to honor and recognize the frontline workers since it was on that date in 2020 when the government first placed the entire country under the most stringent enhanced community quarantine.

As a result, chaos and confusion ensued but all the essential workers and frontline workers held the fort and per-

BBM IN BULACAN. Presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos

Jr. delivers his message to more than 20,000 supporters during a campaign rally at the Guiguinto Municipal Arena in Bulacan. Earlier, the former senator was with his ticket at a grand rally in Meycauayan, also in Bulacan (inset). Ver Noveno

formed their tasks despite the dangers posed by the coronavirus, Marcos said in a statement.

He added that in recognition of their heroism and sacrifices the government must initiate moves to declare March 15 as Frontliners Day. The entire country and the government were caught off-guard during the first months of the pandemic, and it took some time before the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act was enacted.

The law somehow brought some stability which also paved the way for the government to provide all forms of financial and economic assistance to the people, especially the millions who were displaced from their jobs.

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LTFRB chief asked to make good on promise to open all bus routes

By Maricel V. Cruz A CONGRESSIONAL leader asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Tuesday to issue an official announcement and guidelines for its pronouncement that public utility

buses would now be allowed to ply their routes without COVID-19 restrictions.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chair of the House committee on ways and means, wrote to LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra following the latter’s Next page

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 27 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gov’t scrambles amid oil crisis Duterte may ask Congress to study a state of economic emergency

By Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Alena Mae Flores, and Rey E. Requejo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is considering calling a special session of Congress to discuss a possible state of economic emergency and other recommendations of his Cabinet to mitigate the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the Philippine economy.

Senators on Tuesday supported calls for a special session to declare such an emergency, although Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi – a member of Duterte’s economic team -- said there is no need to do so yet, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine that has pushed oil prices to unprecedented levels.

“The government is doing everything. We are working together,” Cusi said, while acknowledging that gasoline could reach P100 per liter if the increase in world oil prices does not abate.

On Tuesday at the Palace briefing, acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said a “full-blown war” or “world war” may trigger the declaration of an economic emergency, which Next page

WOMEN’S PROTEST. A woman activist stands next to placards with slogans decrying the rising oil prices during a march to Malacanang Palace to celebrate International Women’s Day in Manila on March 8 (see related story below). Ted Aljibe/AFP

SC stops ‘Oplan Baklas’ inside private properties

By Rey E. Requejo

George Garcia

Aimee Neri

Saidamen Pangarungan

THE Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from destroying or confiscating election materials in privately owned proper-

NEW COMELEC OFFICIALS (pictured at left, full story on A4) ties under its “Oplan Baklas” campaign.

The Court also gave the Comelec and its director and spokesman, James Jimenez, 10 days to comment on the peti-

Russia on ‘recruiting mission,’ calls on Syrians to be fighters WASHINGTON—Russia is recruiting Syrians and other foreign fighters as it ramps up its assault on Ukraine, the Pentagon said Monday.

Moscow entered the Syrian civil war in 2015 on the side of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and the country has been mired in a conflict marked by urban combat for more than a decade.

Now, US Department of Defense officials said, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin was “on a recruiting mission” seeking to bring some of those fighters into the fray in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, more than two million people have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion less than two weeks ago, the United Nations said Tuesday.

“Today the outflow of refugees from Ukraine reaches two million people,” UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said in a tweet.

Foreign combatants have already entered the Ukrainian conflict on both sides.

Chechnya strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a former rebelturned-Kremlin-ally, has shared videos of Chechen fighters joining the attack on Ukraine and said some had been killed in the fighting.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has claimed around Next page

tion filed by several supporters of presidential candidate Leni Robredo.

The petitioners have asked the Court to declare the Comelec’s Oplan Baklas as unconstitutional on the grounds of wrongful interpretation and implementation of Sections 21 (o), 24 and 26 of Comelec Resolution No. 10730.

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Rody hails PH as a beacon of gender equality

By Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja

EMPOWERED WOMEN EMPOWER WOMEN. SM Supermalls celebrates International Women’s Day with ‘Women Now and The Future: A Summit on Women Empowerment for a Sustainable Tomorrow,’ in partnership with UN Women, Spark PH, Connected Women, and Girl Scouts of The Philippines. Mallgoers get to make #WomenFeelAweSM #WomenNowandTheFuture.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said he is truly proud of the Philippines’ distinction as a “shining beacon of gender equality and women empowerment in the world.”

Duterte made the remark as he joined the nation in celebrating International Women’s Day. “Be it in politics, business, the academe, and local communities, most especially in our homes, women have Next page

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Rody men don’t agree on Alert Level 1

By Willie Casas

P

LACING all regions under the most lenient Alert Level 1 status will push the country toward full economic recovery, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Tuesday.

He said inoculation remained the key to achieve the goal as he urged participation in the fourth “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” national vaccination drive this weekend.

“We have to expand the Alert Level 1 nationwide so that we could achieve full recovery and all of our establishments will operate 100 percent with their workforce at full capacity alignment,” said Galvez, also the vaccine czar, during a vaccination activity at a business

process outsourcing company in Makati City.

Meanwhile, Duque said Tuesday it was not yet time to de-escalate the whole Philippines to Alert Level 1 as there were several areas that have yet to reach the metrics set by the Inter-Agency Task Force.

Duque’s comment was made following the proposal of the National Economic Development Authority on Monday to shift the entire country to Alert

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statements to the House Ad Hoc Committee on the Fuel Crisis during its first hearing yesterday.

Meanwhile, an official of a transport group said they received reports that some jeepney drivers were already charging a P15 minimum fare even though the petition for fare increases was still pending.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) president Orlando Marquez said drivers charged P15 to make a profit amid the continuous fuel price hikes.

LTOP is asking for a provisional increase in the minimum fare of P3 and P1 increase per succeeding kilometer, apart from asking to make the minimum fare P15.

LTFRB executive director Tina Cassion told reporters in a Viber group message the minimum fare for public utility jeepneys remained at P9.

Cassion said while the LTFRB has not yet released a final decision, “P9 is still the minimum fare.”

In a separate statement, the bureau said that as a result of the hearing, the Board, through its chairman Delgra, “manifested that the request for the grant of provisional adjustment to increase the minimum fare for PUJ service from P9.00 to P10.00 is now submitted for resolution by the Board.”

Sought for clarification, Cassion said the minimum fare remains at P9 since the provisional adjustment to P10 is only submitted for resolution.

The LTFRB conducted a hearing earlier in the day to hear the petitions of several transport groups to increase the minimum fare for PUJ services in the National Capital Region, Region 3, and Region 4.

Earlier, Salceda told Delgra in a letter: “I thank the LTFRB, under your leadership, for announcing during our hearing with the Ad Hoc Committee on the Fuel Crisis, that there are no longer any restrictions on public utility bus routes.”

“To follow up on this announcement, may I urge the LTFRB to issue an official announcement and guidelines on the matter,” he wrote.

The solon’s letter reiterates an appeal made to the country’s transport officials last week to reopen public transport routes to reduce the country’s private fuel consumption and soften transport cost hikes for workers.

“The public transport sector has also supported this call during our committee hearings,” Salceda said in subsequent comments.

would be studied through the Office of the Executive Secretary.

Duterte’s economic team on Monday proposed government interventions to ease the effect of fuel price hikes and the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the country, Andanar added.

“It will require the full Cabinet and it will require the security cluster, the economic cluster to convene on this.

And of course, the President will be the one who would chair this meeting…

Well, it’s not yet happening,” he said.

In his public address “Talk to the People,” Duterte said the special session aims to pass intervening measures to cushion the effect of the war in Ukraine, which includes price spikes for fuel and basic commodities.

Duterte admitted that there may not be enough time to tackle all the measures as he has less than three months in his term.

“Let’s be frank with Congress. This is intended really for the welfare of the people. If you have the time, sit with us and we can discuss it. Otherwise, you’re on your own,” Duterte said.

“It is much better to... let us study the situation.... you know, so there’s gonna be an election, and after, there will be euphoria. Then nobody’s really focusing on anything except the changing of the guard …. So that would eat a lot of time,” the President said.

“The recommendations of NEDA [are] really vital... to keep the economy humming for a few months,” he said, referring to the National Economic and Development Authority.

During the Cabinet meeting, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua proposed to the President the lowering of tariff rates for pork and increasing the fuel subsidy and discount vouchers for transport drivers and farmers, and the nationwide shift to the loosest COV-

SC...

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whose apparent benefit the prohibited election propaganda materials have been produced, displayed and disseminated.”

The petitioners asserted that Comelec Resolution 10730 applies only to candidates and political parties, and not to private individuals.

The petitioners noted that its position is consistent with the Court’s ruling Diocese in Bacolod vs. Comelec where it held that the regulation of the posting of campaign materials and the definition of lawful election propaganda under Section 9 and E, respectively of R.A. 9006, only apply to candidates, political parties and party list groups.

In the same ruling issued in 2015, the Court declared that the poll body “has no power to regulate the free expression of private citizens, who are neither candidates nor members of political parties” and that its action “violated the rights of free speech and expression of the petitioner.”

Among the petitioners are Dr. Pilita de Jesus Liceralde, one of the convenors of Isabela for Leni; Dr. Anton Mari Hao Lim, one of the convenors of Zamboangueños for Leni; and St. Anthony College of Roxas City.

They said dismantling of election materials such as tarpaulins and posters violates their constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression.

The Comelec’s actions, they added, violated their right not to be deprived of property without due process of law.

Section 21 (o) bars the installation of election propaganda material outside the common poster areas except on private property with the consent of the owner and must comply with the allowable 2ft x 3 ft requirements for posters.

Section 24 of the Comelec Resolution provides that only one signboard, not exceeding three feet by eight feet in size, identifying the place as the headquarters of the party of candidates is allowed to be displayed.

On the other hand, Section 26 states that “any prohibited form of election propaganda shall be stopped, confiscated, removed, destroyed or torn down by Comelec representatives at the expense of the candidate or political party for

BBM:...

From A1 Throughout those trying times and until the present, frontliners like health and medical workers, law enforcers, barangay officials, employees of groceries, markets, banks, and delivery riders carried on their tasks, some of whom got sick and many also lost their lives.

Meanwhile, the Marcos-Sara tandem got lifted up from a lively crowd of political supporters during a rally at the town

Level 1 and to open schools for faceto-face classes “to increase domestic economy and offset global risk.”

Galvez said fully vaccinated individuals must avail themselves of booster shots, too, to maximize protection against severe effects of COVID-19.

“Considering now that we are under Alert Level 1, we have to protect our economic front-liners and their families,” Galvez said, referring to the National Capital Region and 38 other areas.

Aside from ramping up administration of booster doses, the government aims to hit 70 million fully vaccinated Filipinos by the end of March and 90 million by June 30.

“Vaccination sites are now saturated so we have to bring the vaccines to the

people by all means, in their houses or in workplaces,” Galvez said.

Citing the earlier report of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Galvez said the country is currently at “minimum health risk”.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will meet again Thursday to discuss the shift to Alert Level 1 in more areas.

“We will look into the recommendation of the economic sector,” he added.

“Hopefully, we can go back to the new normal.”

ID Alert Level 1, to keep prices steady.

“In terms of the tariff reduction, since Congress is not in session, we will submit a request for the issuance of an executive order. Only two laws are needed, [so] we will prepare it immediately so that Congress can consider it immediately when they return in May for a session,” he added.

Congress is adjourned until May 22 to accommodate the election period that started on February 9.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III also said Monday night that while conflict between Russia and Ukraine does not involve Filipinos directly, the Philippine economy will still “likely be a collateral damage.”

“It is as if we are hit by a ricocheting bullet,” Dominguez said in his report to the President. “These indirect shocks are likely to be felt through four major channels—the commodity market, the financial market, investments, and the impact on our fiscal health.”

Dominguez said oil and food prices are expected to go up as Russia is the largest exporter of natural gas and wheat, while Ukraine is the fourth largest exporter of corn.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said if the President calls a special session, he will have to convene the chamber. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto also backed calls for a special session to address rising prices, especially fuel and power, and to assist those who need it.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is running for president, said if Duterte calls a special session, they must comply.

“Whether or not I will support the declaration of a state of economic emergency will depend on the proposal to be submitted by Malacanang,” he said.

Another presidential candidate, Senator Manny Pacquiao, underscored the urgency of holding a special session to specifically pass measures that would either suspend value-added taxes or excise taxes on fuel products. He said

he was willing to take time off from his campaign to attend the session.

Also in the Senate: * Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said he does not see any legal impediment that would prevent the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue from suspending the collection of fuel excise taxes to cushion the impact of astronomical increases in the prices of petroleum products. He said the TRAIN Law should be interpreted liberally in view of the current situation. * Senator Grace Poe urged the government to move quickly to distribute aid to public utility drivers and farmers, who are suffering from the rising cost of fuel. * Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also batted for the suspension of the excise tax on fuel products amid skyrocketing fuel prices. He also called for a stronger implementation of the Biofuels Act, to bolster the use of alternative fuels.

Meanwhile, former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario urged the government “to take concrete actions” to contain the spillover effects from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including the immediate repatriation of 5,000 Filipinos working in Russia and countries neighboring Ukraine.

“The downfall of the Russian ruble is now making the remittances of these OFWs worthless,” Del Rosario said of the Filipinos working in Russia. “Worse, the deteriorating economic condition of Russia, as a result of the West’s sanctions, is putting the lives of these OFWs in harm’s way.”

The former ambassador also suggested that the government should now take even more seriously the development and extraction of energy from Reed Bank and other Philippine energy sources.

“The looming energy crisis in our country has been exacerbated not only because of the depleting reserves of the Malampaya gas field, but also because of the inevitable global energy shortage resulting from the West’s sanctions on Russia,” Del Rosario said.

arena in Guiguinto, Bulacan Tuesday.

“It is obvious from the number of people who came here today what the pulse of the Bulacan electorate is,” said Vice Governor Willy Sy-Alvarado, a gubernatorial candidate, referring to the massive rally attended by Marcos and Duterte.

In his speech at the Guiguinto campaign rally, Sy-Alvarado introduced the former senator as “the next president of the Philippines” and “the captain of the ship.”

Marcos is the standard-bearer of Par-

tido Federal ng Pilipinas, while Duterte is the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats’ bet for the vice presidency.

Another local official who was stunned by the large and lively crowd was Guiguinto Mayor Ambrocio Cruz Jr. Cruz, who is running for a seat in the House of Representatives, said the rally organizers informed him of the event just two days ago.

It is for this reason that he only expected a modest crowd for the rally. But when he finally saw the turnout of people, he “had goosebumps.”

occupied and continue to occupy positions of power and influence in our society,” Duterte said in a statement.

“This emphasizes not only our values as a people, but also the importance we put on women as vital partners in nation-building,” he continued.

“While a growing consciousness on equality is already an impressive feat, and women are breaking the glass ceiling, I believe that we can do more,” said the President, who has been criticized in the past for misogynistic remarks.

In 2018, he suggested that government troops should shoot female rebels in the vagina, and last year, he said the presidency was not a job for women.

But on Tuesday, Duterte said as education becomes more accessible, more women will have the chance to meaningfully participate in many aspects of human development and change the mindsets that continue to put women and other gender expressions at a disadvantage.

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European neighbor on February 24, has in recent days recruited fighters from Syria, hoping they can help take the capital Kyiv and other cities.

One official told the daily that some fighters are already in Russia readying to join the fight in Ukraine, though it was not immediately clear how many combatants have been recruited.

Details were slight: officials would not speculate on how many mercenaries have joined the fight, or on the quality of the fighters, but the Pentagon said there was no reason to doubt the accuracy of the reports.

“We do believe that the accounts of them -- the Russians -- seeking Syrian fighters to augment their forces in Ukraine, we believe there’s truth to that,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

But with enormous firepower and more than 150,000 deployed troops at Putin’s disposal, the Pentagon said it was noteworthy that he would find it necessary to recruit mercenaries.

“It’s interesting that Mr. Putin would have to find himself relying on foreign fighters here,” Kirby said, though he ac-

knowledged the Pentagon does not have “perfect visibility” on exactly who was joining the cause.

Earlier Monday, a senior defense official told reporters more directly: “We know that they’re trying to recruit Syrians for the fight.”

Calling for restraint on all sides in the conflict during a UN Security Council session on Monday, China’s ambassador said an already dire situation could only be made worse by shipments of arms to Ukraine, as well as the deployment of “mercenaries,” without directly mentioning Russia, a Beijing ally.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in his daily briefing he “had no way of confirming or not confirming” reports of Russia recruiting mercenaries.

But he said the “conflict doesn’t need more people coming to the outside,” adding that the UN’s “focus is on the humanitarian end.”

The capital and the second-largest city Kharkiv are still held by Ukraine’s government, while Russia has seized the port city of Kherson and stepped up its shelling of urban centers across the country. AFP

20,000 foreign volunteers have traveled to the country to join Kyiv’s forces.

Since February 24, 2,011,312 people have fled the war-ravaged country into neighbouring countries, said the UN refugee agency UNHCR. Poland alone has received nearly half of all those fleeing Ukraine, with Tuesday’s figures showing that 1.2 million had crossed into the country in the past 13 days.

Hungary meanwhile has taken in nearly 191,350 people, Slovakia 140,745 and Russia itself has seen 99,300 people cross over from Ukraine, the data showed.

Moldova and Romania had each received over 82,000 refugees each, according to data gathered on Sunday, while over 210,000 people who have fled into neighbouring countries have already moved on to other European nations, UNHCR found.

According to the Wall Street Journal, US officials said that Russia, which launched an invasion into its Eastern

The Philippines has so far administered 136,163,623 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with 63,789,508 already fully vaccinated with either two

Private, public clinics tapped for jabbing too

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE government plans to expand vaccination sites in the Philippines to also include public and private clinics hoping to get more Filipinos vaccinated against COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday.

Duque, during an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, said health authorities were currently coordinating with the Philippine Medical Association regarding this initiative as part of the previously-launched “Resbakuna sa mga Botika” in January.

“We are already talking to the Philippine Medical Association. One of the strategies we will implement is that these clinics, both public and private clinics, will be opened as vaccination sites,” he said.

“If you remember, two weeks or three weeks ago, we launched Resbakuna sa Botika. Now, we are expanding its access even to clinics in communities so that it will be easier for anyone who wants to get vaccinated to get the jab and this will also help increase our vaccination coverage,” Duque said.

There were seven pharmacies and private clinics in Metro Manila that participated in the initiative’s pilot run on January 20.

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Rody: Next admin should honor WPS commitments P RESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday urged the next administration to honor the Philippines’ commitment to the proposed joint oil e ploration with China in the resourcerich West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s claims in Taiwan, Duterte said there are already “so many flashpoints” around the world that he did not want the Philippines to be involved in any conflict. “‘Yan ang iniiwasan ko noon pa e. Tapos magkagiyera tuloy tayo dito, nandoon sa Ukraine, nandiyan yung Taiwan gusto agawin ulit ng China tapos dito (That is what I am avoiding since before. If we have a war here…there’s one in Ukraine, there’s Taiwan that China wants to get back). So many flashpoints…maraming lugar na may putok (so many places with wars). We do not need it. Di natin kailangan makipag-away diyan (We don’t need to fight with anyone),” he said in a prerecorded Talk to the People.

Duterte said failing to abide by commitments to jointly explore energy resources in the disputed sea would spell trouble for the country.

“Sundin lang ninyo kung ano yung pinag-usapan noon (Just follow what was discussed before). It’s a matter of honor…Consensual talks tapos may (and a) written agreement. Pag iniba ‘yan delikado (If you change it, it’s dangerous),” he added.

He said although the Philippines and China may not be able to have a peaceful resolution to the sea row during his administration, what mattered now is to remain calm amid the crisis.

There are presently no agreements reached between the Philippines and

China when it comes to joint exploration activities for oil and gas at the diplomatically strained sea.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on joint oil and gas development in the WPS in November 2018.

Philippine and Chinese officials are still in the process of fleshing out possible details of any joint exploration venture.

The French Navy meanwhile expressed willingness to work with its Philippine counterparts at sea.

“We are ready to work with your forces at sea. We need to protect, we need to defend the freedom of navigation including (on) the West Philippine Sea,” said Rear Adm. Jean-Mathieu Rey, Joint Commander of the French Armed Forces in the Asia-Pacific (ALPACI), during his courtesy call on Philippine Navy (PN) chief, Vice Admiral Adeluis Bordado, on Monday.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Romualdez lauds signing of PH law on sexual consent

MALACAÑANG has appointed seven more associate justices of the Court of Appeals (CA), along with 39 new judges of the regional trial courts (RTCs) and metropolitan trial courts.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea transmitted the appointment papers of the new CA magistrates and judges to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Monday.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed the following as new CA associate justices, namely: Mercedita G. Dadole Ignacio, Jaime Fortunato A. Caringal, Eduardo S. Ramos Jr., Jill Rose S. Jaugan Lo, Jose Lorenzo R. Dela Rosa, Rex Bernardo L. Pascual, and Emily L. San Gaspar Gito.

Except for Pascual who was an assistant solicitor general and Ramos who was undersecretary of the Department of

Public Works and Highways, all the new CA justices were former RTC judges.

Ignacio took over the post vacated by the late Justice Priscilla J. Baltazar Padilla who was promoted to the Supreme Court (SC) in 2020; Caringal, post of now SC Justice Ricardo R. Rosario; Ramos, post of retired Justice Celia C. Librea Leagogo; Lo, post of now SC Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez; Dela Rosa, post of retired Justice Edgardo T. Lloren; Pascual, post of retired Justice Elihu A. Ybanez; and Gito, post of the late Justice Franchito N. Diamante.

The new RTC judges include Bernard De Rivera Rosario, Branch 120, Caloocan City; Manuel Isidro Rosauro Antonio V. Barrios, Branch 126, Caloocan City; Nerina Casandra N. Anastacio Mendinueto, Branch 199, Las Pinas City; Vladimir B. Bumatay, Branch 56, Makati City; Ruth S. Pasion Ramos, Branch 59, Makati City.

of age or is demented, even though none of the circumstances mentioned above be present.”

She stressed that the establishment of a minimum age of sexual consent is the most important and critical criteria in protecting minors from sexual violence since the present Anti-Rape Law establishes the age of sexual consent at twelve years.

RA 116481 also mandates the Department of Education (DepEd) to include in the basic education curriculum and teach age-appropriate subjects tackling the rights and protection of the children in relation to the law.

The previous 12-year-old minimum age of sexual consent in the Philippines was the lowest in Asia and one of the lowest in the world.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said the new law raising the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 is a major development in the campaign against abuse of minors who are among vulnerable sectors of society.

By Maricel V. Cruz TINGOG party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, chairperson of the House Committee on the Welfare of Children, on Tuesday extended to President Roa Duterte the heartfelt gratitude of the House of Representatives for the enactment into law of a measure raising the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16.

Republic Act (RA) 116481, signed by President Duterte on March 4, amends RA 3815 or the Revised Penal Code and RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act. Romualdez said the law increased the age for determining statutory rape to 16 years old to provide more protection for young people against sexual exploitation and abuse.

Under the new law, rape is committed by a person who shall have carnal knowledge of another person “when the offended party is under 16 years

Manila

Palace names 7 new CA justices

By Rey E. Requejo

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Standard

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS TODAY ANNOUNCEMENT

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA), for confirmation of the following Officials, General and Senior Officers of the AFP: Civil Service Commission (CSC): Mr. KARLO ALEXEI BENDIGO NOGRALES

CHAIRMAN, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, for a term expiring on 02 February 2029, vice Alicia Dela Rosa-Bala

Department of Migrant Workers: Mr. ABDULLAH DERUPONG MAMA-O

SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

FERMIN M. CARANGAN JASON M. SALDUA NOEL A. ABELLO EMMANUEL J. HERMOSILLA WILFREDO C. MARTIN JR. RALPH C. DE MESA RENATO N. NARAG RICHARD R. ESMERALDA FRANCIS RAYMUND MARTIN B. YULO STEVE C. SOLON

to the rank of BRIGADIER GENERAL to the rank of COLONEL, PA to the rank of COLONEL, PA to the rank of COLONEL, PA to the rank of COLONEL, PA to the rank of COLONEL, PA to the rank of COLONEL, PA to the rank of COLONEL, PA (Res.) to the rank of COLONEL, PN(M) (Res.) to the rank of COLONEL, PN(M) (Res.)

The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions to the above ad interim appointments in seven (7) copies to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila.

SUBWAY WORKS. Construction of the Metro Manila subway system con-

tinues, as Department of Transportation officials visited the site on Tuesday. The country’s first underground railway, funded by development assistance from Japan, will stretch across 36 kilometers, connecting the Valenzuela Depot to NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City and FTI. Manny Palmero

For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 8832-9830, 8834-2706 and 8551-1989.

7 March 2022.

HECTOR A. VILLACORTA Secretary (MS-MAR. 9, 2022)

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

Lakas VP bet Sara Duterte urges women to become entrepreneurs

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey Requejo of Biak na Bato.”

TAKING A BOW. Vice presidential bet Sara Duterte-Carpio takes a bow before thousands of her supporters during a campaign rally at the Guiguinto Municipal Arena in Bulacan. Ver Noveno

LAKAS-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday urged Filipino women to become entrepreneurs by going into micro-businesses to help their communities and the economy in general.

Duterte made the appeal during a rally at the Guiguinto Municipal Arena in Bulacan.

Local officials led by Vice Gov. Whilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, who is running for governor, and Guiguinto Mayor Ambrocio Cruz, who is running for Congress, organized the event in support of the UniTeam Alliance.

Duterte-Carpio also cited the heroism of Trinidad Tecson, one of the heroes of the Philippine-American war whom Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo called “Mother

“UniTeam’s celebration of International Women’s Day here in Bulacan is significant because one of the Filipinas who has helped a lot in our independence is from the province of Bulacan, Trinidad Tecson,” she said.

In urging women to go into business, Duterte-Carpio cited Davao City’s business development project “Magnegosio Ta Dai” under her leadership.

“I always tell the women in Davao City that they play an important role in our communities, not only as women leaders, but also as entrepreneurs. In fact, we have a very successful project there, called ‘Magnegosyo Ta Dai.’ We are encouraging them to get involved in micro-enterprises, which help a lot in bringing progress to women in every community,” she said.

AS PALACE DEFENDS APPOINTMENT OF EX-MARCOS LAWYER TO POLL BODY

Rody names new Comelec head

By Vito Barcelo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former National Commission on Muslim Filipinos head Saidamen Balt Pangarungan as ad interim chairman of the Commission on Elections.

He also named two other officials – George Garcia and Aimee Neri – as ad interim Comelec commissioners.

“The directive of the President is to ensure an honest, peaceful, credible and free elections,” newly-appointed acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar

said in a Palace briefing Tuesday.

Pangarungan, an ex-governor of Lanao del Sur, finished his law degree in 1976 at the San Beda College.

Garcia is a veteran election lawyer who previously represented Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos in his 2016 vice

presidential electoral protest, while Neri was an undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

They will fill out the positions vacated by former chairperson Sheriff Abas and ex-commissioners Antonio Kho and Rowena Guanzon who retired from the Comelec in February.

Andanar, for his part, defended Garcia’s appointment amid concerns over the pending disqualification cases against his former client, Marcos Jr., before the poll body.

“Garcia’s appointment went through a process,” Andanar said. “It’s a presi-

dential prerogative.”

Meanwhile, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the newly appointed commissioners may vote in the pending case filed against Marcos Jr. “That will be up to them because remember the ponente will take into consideration in writing the decision the discussion of the commissioners,” Jimenez said. The ponente is the commissioner responsible for writing the decision on the case.

“Now, if they want to have a decision on that or not, it is allowed.

There is no hard-and-fast rule for that,” Jimenez added.

By Nash B. Maulana COTABATO CITY—The UN, through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), will continue working with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on expanding networks of regional and local e-governance platforms.

Scheduled to start after the May elec-

Kiko: ‘Serious concern’ over new Comelec commissioner

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Lacson supports nationwide shift to Alert Level 1 PARTIDO Reporma presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday aired his support to the recommendation of the economic managers of the Cabinet to shift the entire country to Alert Level 1.

Lacson said he also rallies behind suggestions to prepare for the transition from pandemic to endemic.

“Our economy has taken a bad beating from the lockdowns and imposed alert levels over the past two years and needs to recover, especially at this time,” he said.

He said government authorities must also be prepared for the next pandemic or any variant that might again endanger the health situation in the country.

“As I always say, there is no tradeoff between health and economy,” Lacson said.

“We must always be prepared to confront the problems affecting both. We cannot afford a repeat of 2020 when the government was caught unprepared,” he added.

Lacson said he also believes that public funds should be spent on the domestic development of agricultural products to ensure food security for Filipinos and help farmers cope with rising oil prices.

He said the national government should directly connect local farmers and fishermen to the programs of the University of the PhilippinesNational Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPBIOTECH), which are developing cheaper fertilizer alternatives.

“Some fertilizers are oil-based.

Once the prices of oil peak in the international market, it will directly affect the prices of fertilizers,” the veteran lawmaker said during a Farmers Forum in Daet, Camarines Norte last week.

Lacson said he and his running mate, Senate President Tito Sotto III, allocated funds for the UP-BIOTECH based in Los Baños, Laguna for its research and development sector to come up with new sciencebased products that would be beneficial to local agricultural workers.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Senator Pangilinan

SUPPORT FROM THE GRASSROOTS. Vice presidential aspirant Tito Sotto is endorsed by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto along with members of the QC Liga Ng Mga Barangays. Manny Palmero

Isko still hopeful of getting Duterte’s endorsement AKSYON Demokratiko standard bearer Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said he remains hopeful of getting the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte despite the latter’s remarks that voters may select an “Ilocano” they want to install in Malacañang.

“As long as there is no election yet, there is hope. It’s not May yet,” Domagoso said in an interview with reporters in Tarlac where Team Isko was being hosted to a lunch by Governor Susan Yap, Vice Governor Carlito David and provincial

board members.

The 47-year-old presidential aspirant said that whatever happens between now and the May 9 elections, he could always take courage from the genuine and unbridled heartwarming support he and his fellow Aksyon Demokratiko candidates get from the ordinary people, or the so-called silent majority, wherever they go.

“The way I see it, and you also see it, maybe it can’t be denied, that the crowd, the welcome and the warmth of the reception of the people, you feel it,” he said.

Panelo: Protect children with special needs PDP-Laban senatorial bet Salvador Panelo has batted for legislation that will uphold the rights and welfare of children with special needs.

Panelo, a lawyer and former chief legal counsel and spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte, bared that his advocacy for children with special needs is motivated by his own personal experience.

“I had a son with Down syndrome, and my wife and I experienced firsthand the difficulties and challenges in caring for a special child. Education and therapy are very expensive” Panelo said.

Panelo’s son, Carlo, passed away in 2017.

According to the former chief presidential legal counsel and Malacanang spokesperson, there are 5.1 million kids that are

born with deficiencies in the country.

“They are little angels, sent to us by God to show our humanity to them. How we treat special children is a reflection of us as a society and as individuals,” Panelo added.

The PDP-Laban senatorial candidate laments that even though Republic Act 7277 or the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons” was passed in 1992, its provisions have yet to be fully implemented.

“Thirty years have passed and we have yet to see the fruits of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. It’s high time our lawmakers look into the government’s shortcomings with regards to this law, and introduce amendments, allocate proper funding for it, or introduce new laws,” Panelo said.

Maricel V. Cruz

Even in provinces that are supposedly part of the so-called Solid North – from Pangasinan and La Union in Region 1 and Qurino, Isabela, Cagayan and Kalinga in Region 2, Ilocanos and members of indigenous tribes welcomed Domagoso warmly.

Duterte, for his part, made his latest remarks in front of Ilocanos during the inauguration of a farmers’ market last Friday in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. In November, Duterte called Marcos a “spoiled child” who is articulate in English but is a “weak leader” and “has baggage.”

AYUDA.

The city government of Navotas has started releasing local funds to complete the P8,000 Bayanihan 1 Social Amelioration Program 2nd tranche due to some 4,986 Navoteño families who will receive P3,000 each. Andrew Rabulan

BARMM Interior Ministry, UNDP expand e-governance agreement

tions, an expanded regional connectivity through a BARMM-UNDP collaboration agreement will digitize government services across all BARMM ministries, while simplifying processes at local level, officials said.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, head of BAR-

MM’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, said a memorandum of agreement providing an expanded cooperation on digitalizing governance in BARMM has been signed between MILG and the UNDP. Digitalization forms part of the moral governance that the BARMM leadership is

SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan raised a “serious concern” over the appointment of George Garcia to the Commission on Elections.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Garcia, a high-profile lawyer, as the poll body’s new commissioner.

Garcia was the lawyer of then vice presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. when the latter filed an election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo in 2016.

Marcos is facing Robredo anew, this time in the fight for the presidency in the upcoming May 9 elections.

Pangilinan said Garcia has no choice but to be professional about his new role.

“I believe he can do it. Actually, he should do it for the sake of his name, his reputation as well as that of his family,” said Pangilinan, who is seeking the vice presidency under the Liberal Party.

“The proof of the pudding is in the eating. If there is a will, there is a way. If he wants to be remembered well as one of the best election law practitioners, then he should perform to the best of his ability and be true to his oath to decide objectively based on facts and the truth.”

He reminded Garcia that if one is no longer a lawyer and is now a “judge,” he should be objective in making a decision and be willing to inhibit in cases where he cannot decide objectively.

pushing, and is a continuing project that took off in 2020 from a P300 million UNDP funding program for BARMM development.

Sinarimbo thanked BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ibrahim for allowing the partnership agreement to push through an expanded coverage to include other regional

agencies of BARMM, from the initial target of completing the loops at LGUs level of e-connectivity.

The MILG chief signed the new MOA with Dr. Selva Ramachandran, the UNDP country representative who was here on Friday.

For his part, Dr. Ramachandran commended the regional government for adopting innovations.

Opinion Will we have a Marcos regime, Part 2?

IF WE are to believe the latest survey results, with two months to go before the May 9 general elections, it’s all over but the shouting for the Marcos-Duterte tandem.

But how reliable are these surveys?

Polling firms themselves concede that popularity surveys are snapshots of public sentiment at given periods. They do not necessarily mean a favorable result for the socalled UniTeam on Election Day. But we probably cannot blame their camp for gloating over the survey statistics and hoping for a bandwagon effect on the part of the electorate, particularly the undecided.

Marcos Jr. claims he has the Solid North behind him and Sara Duterte believes she can count on the majority of votes from Mindanao.

Both expect the total votes from the two main islands to be enough to bring them to victory over their four other main rivals, namely Vice President Leni Robredo, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Senators Manny Pacquiao and Ping Lacson.

Even as the Marcos-Duterte tandem has adopted “Unity” as their rallying cry during the campaign, we have yet to hear them give a clear explanation of what their concept of unity is all about.

Marcos Jr. wants to unite Filipinos behind the narrative that the martial law regime imposed by his father for 14 long years led to the country’s “golden age”, and that human rights violations nor massive corruption did not take place during those years.

If unity is what he wants, what is his comprehensive economic development plan that will unite Filipinos in the next six years?

Sara Duterte has been uttering motherhood statements such as “In unity there is strength.” But what we’d like to know is her stand on the issue of extrajudicial killings that human rights groups have raised against her father’s bloody war on drugs. As a lawyer, what is her position on the planned probe by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of alleged crimes against humanity by her father?

The tandem’s campaign focusing on a nebulous concept of “unity” appears to be a reaction to critics who insist that the authoritarian regimes of their respective fathers are totally incompatible with the principles of justice, freedom and democracy that Filipinos are willing to uphold and defend at all costs.

Those who survived the martial law regime under Marcos Sr. and want no more of Rodrigo Duterte’s brand of authoritarian rule have ample reason to fear the emergence of an unholy unity that could well end up ruling the country with an iron fist for the next six years.

Putin reaps the whirlwind Russian President Vladimir Putin obviously isn’t one who tolerates criticism of his order to

launch a full-scale war against Ukraine.

Russian police have already detained more than 3,500 people protesting against his invasion of Ukraine: 1,700 people in Moscow, 750 in St Petersburg, and 1,061 in other cities. A protest monitoring group said it had documented the detention of at least 2,578 people in 49 different cities. The latest arrests have brought the total number of demonstrators held to more than 10,000 since the invasion began.

It is clear that “the screws are being fully tightened” by Putin, according to a protest participant, but they have remained undeterred, shouting slogans such as “No to war!” and hurling obscenities at Putin while waving Ukrainian flags.

We are being offered a nebulous concept of unity.

The last Russian protests with a similar number of arrests were held in January 2021, when thousands demanded the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny after he was arrested on returning from Germany where he had been recovering from a nerve agent poisoning.

Across Europe, thousands of demonstrators have also taken to the streets to protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In Brussels, police said around 5,000 people took part in a rally marked by a sea of Ukrainian flags and chants of “Russians, go home!”, “No to war” and “Europe, be brave, act now!”

Protesters in the French city of Toulouse assembled behind a large yellow and blue banner, holding portraits showing a bloodstained Putin and labelling him an assassin.

Cries of “close the airspace” and “Let’s protect Ukraine’s sky” resounded through the city, a reference to Kyiv’s demand that NATO establish a no-fly zone to prevent Russian aircraft contributing to Moscow’s onslaught.

Around 5,000 people also gathered in the northern city of Caen, hoisting the Ukrainian flag and participants sporting the yellow and blue colors of the Ukrainian flag. “People of Ukraine, we won’t desert you! Democracy, freedom, peace,” read one placard.

In Spain, protests unfolded in the capital Madrid, Barcelona and other cities across the country. Authorities said about 800 people congregated in Barcelona’s central square with banners saying “Close the sky, not your eyes”, “NATO, protect Ukraine’s sky” and “Stop Putin, stop the war”.

Thousands of protesters have also descended on the streets of cities across the world, including Paris, New York, Rome and Zurich, to demand an end to the conflict.

But wait, is Putin listening? There’s scant evidence that he’s willing to do just that, and determined to let his tanks, missiles and fighter jets do much of the talking.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

A high-stakes relationship OVER lunch one day, my grown children and I got into a conversation about exes. We tried to remember the names and the basic features of their erstwhile better halves, and the factors they thought contributed to the demise of that relationship. None of the four are married yet, but three are in long-term, and apparently satisfactory, partnerships.

In case it is not obvious, our family is quite close, and knowledgeable (not nosy!) about each other’s affairs. Nobody gets official – the same way there is a Facebook official – until that fellow has met the entire bunch.

It was during this lunch-hour dissection of a particular failed relationship and its telltale signs that somebody declared: “Walang red flag red flag sa taong bulag!” (Rough translation – there is no such thing as a red flag for a person who is blind or refuses to see.)

I don’t remember now who it was among them who uttered this, but I remember thinking, “Boy, this is one smart kid.”

It’s true, too. It is only after the relationship has ended and the parties have moved on that one can see, in perfect, crystal-clear hindsight, how the small things you refused to pay attention to were really screaming danger signs that somebody was actually a bad person, or that he was not fit to be in your life, or that you were just not a good fit to begin with.

••• This is the same bunch of grown kids that I will share, for the first time, a voting experience with. We are all looking forward to May 9 where we would troop to the election precinct and cast our votes. We have, individually and as a family, been following developments in the political scene. We have been watching the debates and reading about developments, pondering what the next six years would be under such and such a leader.

Choosing a president, after all, is somewhat akin to choosing a partner. The stakes are high. You invest too much. You are talking about your future, your well-being, your

happiness, the quality of the rest of your life.

The red flags to watch out for are similar. I can think of a few.

Baggage. Of course, a person is not defined by his family members and the conditions in which he was born into and grew up in. But as a parent, it is always in our best interest to know the factors that shaped our child’s potential partner. Does he come from humble means? Does he hail from a family of professionals? Are they kind and decent to everyone, not just to the people they believe are important? Or does he come from a family of convicted criminals? Even the latter does not disqualify the guy as a potential partner, of course, but the question is, what is he doing to correct the wrongs that have been done? Does he even acknowledge them at all?

Let’s not be blind.

Please.

A pattern of brazen, barefaced lying.

Dishonesty is the biggest red flag there is.

Different people have different attitudes toward lying. Some believe, and arguably, that a white lie could be acceptable if it meant minimizing the harm that could be done to others. Others casually mouth off lies at their convenience and feel no remorse at doing so.

Some make other people lie for them so they could maintain a veneer of respectability. In all cases, twisting the truth, denying what has been factually established, or churning out fiction to manipulate the gullible are never acceptable.

Sloth. Most Filipinos have to break their backs to earn something to feed their families 18 hours or more a day, day after day. A mature person should at least have the compulsion to do something productive, find purpose in his life, and spend his own money. I would not want my child, for instance, to be dating somebody who has no occupation altogether, having been used to an easy life.

A sense of entitlement. Birth is a random accident. We did not have to do anything to be born to our set of parents, for instance, and not to our neighbors. Or to be Filipinos, not Ukrainaians. It was not a matter of choice that we were born into our particular

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EDITORIAL

E

Another waste of time

VEN in the last remaining months of the Duterte administration, Solicitor General Jose Calida has demonstrated that he is, indeed, the President’s man.

In 2018, Calida helped oust a sitting Supreme Court justice that had been critical of the President by filing a successful quo warranto case against her.

In 2019, he unsuccessfully tried to use the same means to remove an associate justice of the High Court, and a year later a motion for inhibition against the same magistrate presiding over an electoral protest filed by a candidate for whom Calida had campaigned. Here, too, he failed.

In 2019, Calida sought to suppress the release of tens of thousands of documents related to the killings in the President’s bloody war on drugs. The Supreme Court labeled as “ridiculous” Calida’s suggestion that releasing the documents would endanger national security.

Now Calida has filed another pleading

before the Supreme Court, seeking to void the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) fact-checking agreement with Rappler, an online news service that the President has described as a purveyor of fake news—simply because it has been critical of his war on drugs.

Here’s a real President’s man.

“It is beyond belief that the Comelec has allowed a foreign non-registered entity to interfere in the conduct of the country’s elections!” Calida said in a statement.

“Rappler cannot act as king, priest, and noble—all at the same time—forcibly feeding the Filipinos what information it thinks is fact!” he added.

He said he filed his petition with the Supreme Court after the Comelec ignored his call to rescind the agreement.

He acknowledged that his petition was “unprecedented” because his office is suing one of its “statutory clients,” but justified this action “in the interest of

preserving the integrity of the country’s elections.”

Calida then trotted out all the old, unsubstantiated charges that the Duterte administration has used to harass and persecute the news organization. Such is his rancor against the news service that Calida had unsuccessfully tried to block its chief executive, Maria Ressa, from traveling to Oslo, Norway, last year to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for her “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”

Calida’s move against the Comelec takes on an ironic twist after a Palace spokesman said the administration respects the independence of the poll body, following its dismissal of a disqualification case against a candidate who is running with the President’s daughter.

It may be a curious notion under this administration, but we do wonder if the solicitor general can find better use of his time and government resources than to try, once again, to suppress information and to hide the truth from the public.

A call for Philippine action on the Russian invasion of Ukraine

By Amb. Albert Del Rosario

energy from Reed Bank and other Philippine energy sources. The looming energy crisis in our country has been exacerbated not only because of the depleting reserves of the Malampaya gas field, but also because of the inevitable global energy shortage resulting from the West’s sanctions on Russia.

Third, the Philippine economic managers should prepare actions to alleviate the impact of the sanctions on Russia and look for opportunities especially relating to the mass migration of businesses out of Ukraine and Russia. Moreover, given the China-Russia alliance in addition to Chinese encroachments in the West Philippine Sea, we should further reassess our political and economic exposure to China.

Fourth, as we learn lessons from the unfolding of this Russo-Ukrainian tragedy, the Philippines should also be ready with the possible tragedy closer to home: China’s

Chair, Stratbase ADR Institute

AS THE world is confronting the consequences of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Philippines must also be ready to take concrete actions in containing the spillover effects from this disastrous conflict.

In this regard, we respectfully proffer the following actions: First, the Philippines should begin to call around 5,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Russia and its surrounding areas to come home. The downfall of the Russian ruble is now making the remittances of these OFWs worthless. Worse, the deteriorating economic condition of Russia, as a result of the West’s sanctions, are putting the lives of these OFWs in harm’s way.

Second, we should now take even more seriously the development and extraction of

invasion of Taiwan. Like the current conflict, in the event that China invades Taiwan, there will be Western sanctions, armed response, migration of refugees, and economic fallouts.

Finally, the Philippines must take concrete actions in joining the international community in condemning Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and making Russian President Vladimir Putin and his supporters understand the real consequences in committing such an illegal and despicable act.

A successful Russian invasion of Ukraine will further embolden China to likewise use force to seize the West Philippine Sea from the Philippines.

The international community must unequivocally show Russia and China that such illegal and despicable actions will warrant the most severe punishment the world is able to impose.

Oil shock, food shock THE impact of the Russian-Ukraine war has finally come closer to home—in terms of higher fuel prices. And higher food prices.

Indeed, higher prices of nearly everything.

Of the 100 points of the consumer price index (CPI), which is used to measure inflation or the rate of movement in prices, 38.98 is eaten up by food, 22.47 by utilities (housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels), 7.81 by transportation, and 2.26 by communication.

That’s 71.52 out of 100, or P71.52 out of P100.

Russia produces 12 percent of the world’s oil supply. It is the second largest oil producer.

Russia is also the world’s second largest producer of natural gas, with 16.6 percent share of global natural gas supply, according to J.P. Morgan. In 2020, Russia exported 37 percent of its natural gas production and supplied 45 percent of Europe’s NG imports.

According to J.P. Morgan, about 70 percent of Russia’s gas exports to Europe pass through Ukraine using three major pipelines.

At the same time, Russia accounts for 17 percent of global exports of wheat. Ukraine accounts for another 12 percent of global wheat exports. Ukraine is also the fourth largest exporter of corn.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has disrupted supplies of oil, gas, corn, and wheat.

The West does not want to buy Russian oil, gas, and wheat.

For other countries who want to buy Russian oil, gas, and wheat, there is a problem: how to transport them to the buyer and how the buyer can pay for them. The West has cut off Russia from the global banking system.

Its money, rubles and its holdings of foreign currencies, are not recognized by the rest of the world. Think of you giving away hardearned US dollars at Rizal Park and nobody pays attention to you because everybody thinks you are a nut and your money is fake.

Ukraine, for its part, cannot produce its corn and wheat because the Russians are coming and it is too busy warding off the conquering Russians. Besides, the Russians would have destroyed Ukraine’s infrastructure for delivering gas and its other products.

Per an ING study, the price of wheat has socio-economic bracket. Thus, acting as though we are better or bigger than others is unacceptable. I certainly would think more highly of a daughter’s suitor who has no qualms taking public transportation – even hail an Angkas ride – just to honor an appointment, than I would someone who would feel aggrieved and disgusted if he had

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

gone up 70 percent this year, with prices hitting their highest since 2008. Corn is up 30 percent, with prices the highest since 2013.

Soybean prices are up 25 percent; prices are the highest since 2012.

Benchmark Brent crude is now at $126.54 per barrel, up $3.33 or 2.59 percent yesterday. Brent crude broke above the $100 per barrel mark March 3 last week for the first time since 2014.

Such a state of economic emergency would also enable local governments to use their calamity funds to provide relief to tricycle drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk.

Even before the Russian invasion, crude prices were already on the upswing because of higher demand as the world was staggering out of its worst pandemic.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was $121.98 per barrel, up $2.58 or 2.60 percent yesterday. At $120-126 per barrel, crude is at its highest since hitting the record $142 per barrel in 2008.

J.P. Morgan predicts oil at $185 per barrel, if the Russia-Ukraine war lasts until the end of the year.

The US itself imports Russian oil, of between 600,000 and 800,000 barrels per day, about 10 percent of US oil imports. Before the war, Russia was exporting 6.5 million barrels of oil and oil products per day, with Europe and the US buying 66 percent. With the invasion, suddenly, Russia has no buyers, for up to 70 percent of its oil exports, even with a $20 per barrel discount for its Urals oil.

If the world is to stop buying Russian oil, crude prices must rise to $120 per barrel.

That price has been breached. “So large is the immediate supply shock that we believe prices need to increase to $120/bbl and stay there for months,” said Natasha Kaneva, head of Global Commodities Strategy at J.P. Morgan, on to fly economy class or feel he has to order people around to do his bidding.

Cowardice. Let us teach our children to show up, period. Life is hard and there are days you simply want to bury your head in the sand. But if you are serious about applying as presid— err, a partner, you should have enough guts to face everyone and answer the questions

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

March 4, 2022.

“An extended period of geopolitical tension and elevated risk premiums across all underlying commodities is now expected, with far reaching implications across global commodity markets,” says J. P. Morgan. Price increases of 10-20 percent are expected for all commodities.

So far, analysts seem to have a consensus of oil stabilizing at $150 per barrel. That would be the highest in history.

A $150 oil price per barrel would have a devastating impact on the Philippines and its people.

On Tuesday (March 8), oil companies imposed the biggest increase ever in pump prices of petroleum products so far this year: P5.85 for a liter of diesel, P4.10 for kerosene and P3.60 for gasoline. At my favorite gas station, diesel max is now P61.49 per liter, turbo diesel P63.49, xtra advance P68.30, and xcs P69.05.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda talks of a P117 per liter price of gasoline, which means a near doubling in gasoline and diesel prices.

Salceda has called on President Duterte to act.

“It is Duterte’s moral obligation to the people to provide relief because that means almost 70 days of suffering already without relief, any form of relief from government,” Salceda told reporters after the hearing of the House ad hoc committee on fuel crisis.

He suggested Duterte declare a state of economic emergency to allow him to use the government’s calamity fund.

Such a state of economic emergency would also enable local governments to use their calamity funds to provide relief to tricycle drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk.

Duterte estimates the country will pay $4.5 billion or P244 billion more for its oil bill which will amount to $14.5 billion this year.

The impact of a higher oil bill will, per Salceda, be additional 20 centavos per kwh or P40 per month for those consuming 200 kwh per month; P1.62 in jeepney fare, and P2.21 in tricycle fare. The increase in overall inflation is .6 to one percent. So if inflation is currently 3 percent, it will be 3.6 percent or 4 percent, year on year. biznewsasia@gmail.com Full version on www.manilastandard.net that would help them get to know you better.

If you consistently refuse to show up, then that says a lot about your intentions, your state of mind, and your real regard for the people you claim to want to serve. adellechua@gmail.com Full version on www.manilastandard.net

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Jimbo Owen Gulle

Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

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FRENCH LEADER RIPS ‘CORRIDORS’TO RUSSIA, BELARUS

Macron: Putin a hypocrite, cynic

P

ARIS—French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday accused his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of hypocrisy and cynicism after Moscow announced humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from several Ukrainian cities, but only to Russia or Belarus.

“All this is not serious, it is moral and political cynicism, which I find intolerable,” Macron told LCI television.

Promises to protect civilians only so they could flee towards Russia were

US fails to draw support for UN text vs. Nokor UNITED NATIONS—The United States and European allies on the United Nations Security Council failed Monday to convince China and Russia to back a text noting North Korea’s “violations” of resolutions on missile technology.

North Korean state media said Pyongyang carried out a test Saturday for what it said was a reconnaissance satellite, but which analysts said was a thinly veiled ballistic missile launch, just days before a presidential election in South Korea.

“We would love to have China and Russia join us in this room” to adopt the text, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told AFP after a closed-door Security Council meeting.

Backed by 10 other ambassadors —including from countries not on the Security Council, such as Australia and Japan—Thomas-Greenfield read out a text affirming that the group is “united today in condemning the DPRK’s March 5 (local time) launch of a ballistic missile,” referring to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“Like the 10 other ballistic missile launches since the beginning of the year, this act by the DPRK violated multiple Security Council resolutions,” she said.

“While the DPRK escalates its destabilizing actions, the Security Council continues to remain silent.

“Each ballistic missile launch that results in inaction by the Council erodes the credibility of the UN Security Council itself,” ThomasGreenfield added, without mentioning China or Russia.

The two countries were the only states opposed to the short, “basic” text at Monday’s meeting, diplomats said.

The text said the Security Council had met, that there were “violations” of the Council’s resolutions and called for dialogue, a diplomat told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

The meeting marks the 17th time China has opposed the adoption of a US- and European-proposed text against North Korea since 2017, when the Security Council unanimously adopted sanctions in an effort to force Pyongyang to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. AFP

“hypocritical”.

“I do not know many Ukrainians who want to go to Russia,” he added, saying full ceasefires to protect civilians were needed rather than corridors.

Moscow announced the proposed escape routes from Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mariupol and Sumy after Putin and Macron spoke by telephone on Sunday, saying the move was taken after a “personal request” by Macron.

But the Elysee Palace said no such request had been made and Macron described Moscow’s announcement as a “PR stunt”.

The situation was worsening by the day, he warned.

A top priority was to avoid “catastrophes” with Ukraine’s nuclear power plants

after Europe’s largest atomic power plant Zaporizhzhia was attacked and seized by invading Russian forces last week.

There are four active nuclear plants in the country as well as the Chernobyl facility that was the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster.

But Macron also insisted that “France is not at war with Russia”, adding that “what we want is to stop this war without becoming belligerents ourselves”.

Macron spoke to Putin on Sunday for one hour and 45 minutes, the fourth time they had spoken since the Russian

SPLIT BY WAR. A father cries as he says goodbye to his family in front of an evacuation train at the central train station in Odessa on March 7. Odessa, which Ukraine fears could be the next target of Russia’s offensive in the south, is the country’s main port and is vital for its economy. AFP

French climbers scale Paris tower to back Ukraine

100 firefighters battle blaze in London tower block LONDON—More than 100 firefighters on Monday took over three hours to bring under control a blaze that broke out in a 21-storey residential and commercial building in east London.

Twenty fire engines and 125 crew were deployed to Whitechapel High Street, near the British capital’s financial district, shortly after 4:00 pm (1600 GMT).

Some 60 people were forced to evacuate the building after the blaze broke out on the 17th floor and affected balconies on the 17th, 18th, and 19th floors.

Station commander Chris Jenner,

from the London Fire Brigade, called it a “dynamic and visible fire”, and said emergency line operators fielded more than 50 calls in the early stages.

“A woman was trapped by the nature of the fire on the 17th floor. She was given fire survival advice by control officers until firefighters located her,” he added.

“Fire crews used a fire escape hood to help lead the woman to safety via the internal staircase.”

Fire escape hoods provide up to 15 minutes of protection from four of the main fire gases—carbon monoxide, hy-

invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Russia would reach its objectives in Ukraine “either through negotiation or through war”, Putin told Macron according to a French presidential official, adding the Russian president also pledged “it was not his intention” to attack Ukrainian nuclear sites.

Later Monday, Russia announced a ceasefire in several Ukrainian cities including Kyiv, Mariupol, and Sumy from 0700 GMT Tuesday, so civilians could be evacuated to Russia or other parts of Ukraine via humanitarian corridors. AFP

drogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride and acrolein.

They temporarily filter toxic smoke to assist breathing.

Jenner said crews deployed a 64-metre (210-feet) turntable ladder—the tallest in Europe—to get water onto the fire from outside the building.

The blaze was eventually brought under control shortly after 7:00 pm.

“The professionalism, hard work and quick actions of control officers and firefighters limited the damage to the block and prevented serious injuries,” he added. AFP

PARIS—Two young French urban climbers on Monday scaled the tallest building in Paris with no ropes or specialist equipment in an act of solidarity with Ukraine and the courage of its people in the face of the Russian invasion.

The pair, scaling the building with their bare hands, reached the top of the 210-metre (689-foot) tour Montparnasse in 52 minutes and placed the Ukrainian flag on the facade.

The feat “represents perhaps one percent of the courage which the Ukrainians are displaying right now,” said Leo Urban, before embarking on the vertical ascent of the glass and concrete tower in biting winds.

“The message is very simply ‘No to War’,” added the 28-year-old whose urban climbing exploits are wellknown in France, not least thanks to YouTube videos.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since February 24 was also on the mind of Urban’s fellow daredevil Alexis Landot.

“As a Frenchman... we are a bit afraid of what is happening and we want to pay tribute to the courage of the Ukrainians,” the 21-year-old student said.

The pair had to leave their emotions behind in order to successfully complete their vertiginous climb.

“It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon, a lot of concentration, you have to go in with a cold mind and a warm body”, Landot explained.

Neither of the two men is a newcomer to their dangerous pursuit. AFP

US: Mentally ill Guantanamo detainee, victim of abuse, sent home to S. Arabia WASHINGTON—A mentally ill inmate from Guantanamo Bay has been repatriated to Saudi Arabia, the US Department of Defense announced Monday.

Suspected of being Al Qaeda’s intended 20th hijacker for the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States, Mohammed al-Qahtani was tortured by interrogators at the US military base in Cuba where he has been detained for nearly two decades.

The government dropped its case against him in 2008 due to the abuse he experienced at the prison. In February, US authorities recommended he be released and repatriated.

“On Feb. 4, 2022, Secretary of Defense Austin notified Congress of his intent to repatriate al-Qahtani to Saudi Arabia. In consultation with our Saudi partners, we completed the requirements for responsible transfers,” the Defense Department said in a statement.

“The United States appreciates the willingness of Saudi Arabia and other partners to support ongoing U.S. efforts toward a deliberate and thorough process focused on responsibly reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing of the Guantanamo Bay facility.”

Al-Qahtani was one of the first prisoners sent to Guantanamo in January 2002.

He had flown to Orlando, Florida on August 4, 2001, but was denied entry to the country and sent back to Dubai.

He was eventually captured in Afghanistan in December 2001. AFP

QUEEN’S AUDIENCE. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as they meet for an audience at the Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on March 7. AFP

Australia flood death toll rises to 20 as thousands evacuate Sydney SYDNEY—The death toll from week-long floods battering Austra- shopping centre and a supermarket.

In the riverside suburb of Georges Hall vehicles were semi-sublia’s east coast rose to 20 on Tuesday, after the bodies of a man and a woman were discovered in floodwaters in Sydney. merged and police had to rescue people stranded in their cars by Police said the pair were rising floodwaters. believed to be a missing State emergency services have been stretched thin as mother and son whose car was abandoned in a stormwathe torrential rain and intense ter canal. storms continued into a secTens of thousands of Sydond week—with flood warnney residents have been told ings in place Tuesday for the to evacuate their homes as seentire 2,000-kilometre (1,250mile) coastline of New South vere storms and flash flooding Wales. inundated swathes of Australia’s largest city Tuesday.

“It’s very much the watery The national weather buequivalent of the ‘Black Sumreau warned of “a tough 48 mer’ bushfires,” emergency hours ahead” for Sydney, services spokesperson Phil with 60,000 people subject to Campbell told AFP. evacuation orders and warnIn the past week the scale ings, and the city’s Manly of the damage to property and Dam beginning to spill. wildlife has been similar to Intense rainfall across those devastating bushfires, he Sydney flooded bridges and said, which ravaged Australia’s SUNK IN SYDNEY. Cars are stranded in floodwaters in the southwestern homes, swept away cars and suburb of Sydney on March 8, as thousands of Sydneysiders have been asked to east for months in late 2019 and even collapsed the roofs of a evacuate from the low lying areas due to heavy rain and flash floodings. AFP early 2020. AFP

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

IN BRIEF

February forex reserves increased to $107.98b

THE country’s gross international reserves rose to $107.98 billion at the end of February 2022 from $107.69 billion in January, driven by the higher value of gold holdings of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and its income from investments overseas.

BSP said in a statement Tuesday the latest reserves level represents a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 10.2 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

They are also about 8.4 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 5.8 times based on residual maturity.

“The month-on-month increase in the GIR level reflected mainly the upward adjustment in the value of the BSP’s gold holdings due to the increase in the price of gold in the international market and the BSP’s net income from its investments abroad,” it said.

The net international reserves, which refers to the difference between the BSP’s reserve assets and reserve liabilities (shortterm foreign debt and credit and loans from the International Monetary Fund) rose $0.29 billion to $107.97 billion. Julito G. Rada

Manila Water buys out partner in Davao Water

MANILA Water Philippine Ventures Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manila Water Company Inc., has taken over Davao Del Norte Water Infrastructure Company Inc. (Davao Water).

Manila Water took over Davao Water after acquiring the shares of iWater Inc. Prior to the purchase, Manila Water held a 51-percent stake of Davao Water while iWater owned 49 percent.

Manila Water said the acquisition was in line with the company’s strategic direction to maximize the business potential of existing ventures and take on opportunities for growth and expansion in Visayas and Mindanao.

Davao Water in 2015 formalized a joint venture agreement with the Tagum City Water District and formed Tagum Water Company Inc. to build a bulk water supply system for Tagum City, including an intake structure through riverbank filtration, a water treatment plant with a capacity of 38 million liters per day, transmission pipeline and a 5,000-cubic meter water reservoir.

Othel V. Campos

Business Stocks and peso tumble as Ukraine war escalates T

By Jenniffer B. Austria and Julito G. Rada

HE Philippine peso and the stock market sank Tuesday while oil prices rallied again and nickel surged to above $100,000 as investors try to assess the impact of the Ukraine war on the world economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index plummeted 310.34 points, or 4.3 percent, to a three-month low of 6,977.73 on a value turnover P12.2 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 178 to 57, with 21 issues unchanged. The PSEi’s close of 6,977.73 is the lowest since Dec. 1, 2021 when the index ended at 6,947.06.

“Philippine stocks plunged yet again on worries that the rising energy prices caused by Russia-Ukraine war would slow the economy and drive inflation hotter,” said Luis Limlingan, head of sales of Regina Capital Development

Corp.

The peso weakened to a new 30-month low against the US dollar on Tuesday, pulled down by the RussiaUkraine war that impacted the price of oil in the world market.

The peso lost P0.14 to close at 52.32 from 52.18 on Monday, the lowest level since the 52.321 on Aug. 28, 2019. Total volume traded stood at $1.334 billion, down from $1.58 billion previously.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., however, said the country’s near-record high gross international reserves level

“would continue to provide structural support/buffer/cushion for the peso exchange rate, especially greater protection vs. any speculative attacks, going forward.”

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Tuesday the country’s gross international reserves rose to $107.98 billion at the end of February 2022 from the end-January level of $107.69 billion, driven by the higher value of its gold holdings and income from investments overseas.

Bank of the Philippine Island, the third-largest lender in terms of assets, slumped 7.6 percent to P91, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the secondbiggest bank, dropped 5.1 percent to P52.50.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the Sy Group fell 5.3 percent to P37.40, while International Container Terminal Services Inc., the largest port operator and owned by tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., declined 4.4 percent to P219. With AFP

AIA Philippines wants to reach out to clients

AIA Philippines said it is seeking thousands of policy holders and beneficiaries who have yet to claim their benefits ranging from policy maturities, reinstatements, claims, redemptions, and even refunds. Despite fervent efforts to contact its customers through registered mail, email, callouts, and their agents, there are still a huge number who have yet to be reached.

In its commitment to fulfill its promise, AIA Philippines will further buttress its efforts through a campaign encouraging the public to check if they themselves have unclaimed benefits.

“We are making this campaign public in the hopes of reaching customers from many years ago–those who we have lost touch with amid changes in communications technology and who have bought their policies under our former brand, Philam Life,” saidAIA Philippines chief operating officer Geegee Lopez.

“We are doing this because we have a promise to fulfill–a promise that goes beyond passively responding when our customers make a claim. The promise of helping our customers live healthier, longer, better lives includes making sure these hard-earned benefits get to the intended recipients,” he said.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno (top left) says the economy is on the mend during the Philippine Economic Forecast 2022 organized by the Young Presidents’ Organization Philippines Inc. Diokno shared the positive macroeconomic indicators that strengthen his confidence in the ongoing recovery. With the Governor in the photo are officers and members of the YPO.

Gov’t denies extension of work-from-home setup for BPOs

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

-310.34 PTS. 6,977.73

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

2,353,750,429 152,085

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

12,159,835,006.45 57 178

UNCHANGED

21

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.0610

Japan

Yen

0.008674

0.4516

UK

Pound

1.310600

68.2311

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127887

6.6579

Switzerland

Franc

1.080731

56.2639

Canada

Dollar

0.780153

40.6155

Singapore

Dollar

0.734484

38.2380

Australia

Dollar

0.731600

38.0878

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652731

138.1038

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266532

13.8759

Brunei

Dollar

0.731797

38.0981

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.030321

1.5785

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.1755

Euro

Euro

1.085600

56.5174

Korea

Won

0.000812

0.0423

China

Yuan

0.158203

8.2362

India

Rupee

0.012994

0.6765

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239521

12.4697

New Zealand

Dollar

0.683000

35.5577

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035356

1.8407 Source: BSP

Petron swung to P6.1-b profit as revenues hit P286b in 2021

By Alena Mae S. Flores LONE refiner Petron Corp. on Tuesday reported a net income of P6.14 billion in 2021, a reversal from the P11.4-billion loss in 2020.

“To say that we’ve come a long way since the start of this pandemic would be an understatement. We have recovered significant volumes in key market segments, and more importantly, we have returned profitability to our business,” said Petron president and chief executive officer Ramon S. Ang in a statement.

“This allowed us to follow through on our expansion programs, bring our products and services to more consumers, and contribute to our country’s progress. We hope to carry on with this momentum and thrive further in 2022,” he said.

Petron’s consolidated revenues reached P438.06 billion, up 53 percent from P286 billion in 2020, driven by the increase in international prices and higher local demand, Dubai crude prices breached US$80 per barrel level in the fourth quarter due to recovering oil demand and tighter supply. Dubai averaged nearly $70 per barrel in 2021, 64 percent higher than 2020’s $42 per barrel. This is Dubai crude’s highest annual average in the past three years.

Petron sold 82.24 million barrels during the year, a five percent growth made possible by the easing of restrictions and re-start of economic activities that improved overall demand during the period.

Retail volumes rose 6.4 percent due to the company’s volume-generating programs.

Performance on industrial sales increased two percent as travel restrictions eased and more industries reopened.

Petron’s lubricant sales recorded the highest growth at 11 percent last year, highlighting the strong performance and presence of its locally produced engine oils and other lubricant products in the market.

3 brief 3000

economic zone locators.

The FIRB said even government agencies were required to have most of THE Fiscal Incentives Review Board their employees to physically report for denied the petition of the Philippine work to their respective offices under Economic Zone Authority to extend the the President’s Memorandum Circular work-from-home arrangement for the No. 93, by 40 percent, 60 percent and information technology and business 80 percent, under Alert Level 4, 3 and 2, process management sector. respectively.

“Considering all surrounding circumThe board said all policies and prostances as well as relevant issues and grams such as allowing the pilot openpoints raised during the recently coning of face-to-face classes, adopting cluded FIRB meeting held on Feb. 21, granular lockdown measures and ex2022, the FIRB members were unanipanding vaccination to include 5 to 17 mous that the approval of PEZA’s reyears old were geared towards improvquest with great regard to WFH arrangeing mobility and enhancing greater ecoment is not considered consistent with nomic activity. the economic strategy of the governCYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CONGLOMERATE DMCI Holdings Manila Standard Inc. said Tuesday net income reached INTERNATIONAL TODAY a record P18.4 billion in 2021, up 214 WOMEN’S DAY. Quezon percent from P5.9 billion in 2020 on City Mayor Joy Belmonte (fifth the back of surging commodity prices from right) leads the official and recovering electricity rates. opening of Better World DMCI said in a disclosure to the Cubao—a health, empowerment stock exchange core net income also and recovery center for MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT climbed 164 percent last year to P17.4 women from underprivileged billion from P6.6 billion in 2020. backgrounds and victims of IN THE MATTER OF THE : : “Nearly all of our subsidiaries grew violence. The facility, opened on PHILIPPINE BANK OF COMMUNICATIONS : MSRD Order No. 10 March 8, International Women’s triple digits in 2021 because of higher : Series of 2022 Day, is San Miguel Corp.’s fourth productivity and what we believe is x-----------------------------------------------------------x Better World community center the start of a commodities supercyWith Belmonte are Rep. Malou ORDER cle,” said DMCI Holdings chairman Acosta-Alba (fourth from and president Isidro Consunji. right), representatives from the The company said net income in WHEREAS, on February 18, 2022, Philippine Bank of Communications San Miguel Foundation and (“PBCom") submitted its Definitive Information Statement ("DIS") relative to the fourth quarter jumped 152 perBetter World Cubao’s partners the scheduled special stockholders' meeting on March 15, 2022. cent to P4.9 billion from P1.9 billion organizations, including AHA Learning Center, Likhaan Center for Women’s Health and Miriam College. a year earlier.

WHEREAS, the company distributed its DIS on February 21, 2022, Semirara Mining and Power Corp. however, in order to comply with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) contributed P9.2 billion to the group’s directives in connection with the Bank's proposal to amend the primary purpose and term of corporate existence of the Articles of Incorporation, net income, a 360-percent increase thereby necessitating the amendment of PBCom's DIS. from P2 billion. This was led by the Filipinos and a recovering economy,” acting

By Darwin G. Amojelar 16-percent hike in coal sales, 71-perWHEREAS, on March 4, 2022 PBCom filed before the Commission a PAL president and chief operating officer cent jump in average coal selling request to approve the amendments in its DIS. PHILIPPINE Airlines said Tuesday it is add- Captain Stanley Ng said. prices and 49-percent rise in average “We are reasonably optimistic that air travel ing more than 1,500 additional flights in WHEREFORE, the company's request to approve the amendments in electricity selling prices.

March as international borders reopen and do- will rebound in the months ahead, signaling its DIS is hereby GRANTED subject to its full compliance of SRC Rule Net income contributions from 20.3.3.4. a resurgence for Philippine tourism,” he said. mestic travel restrictions ease.

DMCI Homes in 2021 more than PAL’s flights to the US and Canada will inPAL said the 1,500-plus flights represent SO ORDERED doubled to P4.4 billion from P1.9 a 52-percent expansion in regular scheduled crease by over 24 percent this month, with Los billion on the back of higher revenue flights, demonstrating its confidence that tour- Angeles moving up to 11 flights weekly. San Pasay City, Philippines recognition from accelerated conist and business travel will rebound strongly Francisco will receive daily flights. New York, struction accomplishments.

March 7, 2022 in the coming months as artificial barriers are Vancouver, Honolulu, Toronto and Guam will DMCI Mining also recorded a falling and the pandemic is receding signifi- see additional weekly services by April.

150-percent jump in contributions PAL’s Southeast Asia flight will increase cantly.

VICENTE GRACIANO FELIZMENIO, JR. to P1.2 billion from P483 million on “We are seizing the opportunity to intensify to 98 percent. PAL’s Manila-Singapore route Director record-high shipments of nearly 2 our efforts to promote international tourist will rise to 14 weekly flights in March, and million wet metric tons and a 40-pertravel to the Philippines, as well as to respond ultimately to 28 weekly flights in succeeding cent increase in average nickel selling to rising demand for flights to serve overseas months. prices. Jenniffer B. Austria

By Othel V. Campos

ment of reopening the economy gradually and safely,” Finance Secretary and FIRB chairperson Carlos Dominguez said in a letter dated March 7 to PEZA director-general Charito Plaza.

PEZA was told to advise and remind all ITBPM enterprises to comply with the provisions of FIRB Resolution No. 19-21, which effectively extended WFH from Sept. 2021 to March 31, 2022.

Non-compliance to the resolution would subject violators to penalties.

PEZA earlier proposed a policy that would allow registered ITBPM enterprises to operate on WFH arrangement until Sept. 12, 2022 without the diminution of fiscal incentives they enjoy as

PSE INDEX CLOSING

PAL to deploy over 1,500 additional flights in March

(MS-MAR. 10, 2022)

DMCI Holdings’ profit soars 214% to record P18.4b

Duplantis clears 6.19m, rips world pole vault record BELGRADE—Armand Duplantis warned ‘this is just the start’ as he broke his own world record in the pole vault on Monday, clearing 6.19m at his third attempt at the indoor meeting in Belgrade.

“I feel like I can jump a lot higher than I’ve jumped. I feel like this is just a start.

I think there are a lot more barriers to push, getting into the 6.20s,” Duplantis told reporters trackside.

The record came in the arena where the Indoor World Championships will start on March 18 with the men’s pole vault final on March 20.

The 22-year-old Swedish Olympic champion broke the world record in an almost empty hall, and in a competition where he was the only top-ranked pole vaulter.

After easily clearing 5.61m, 5.85m and then 6m, he passed 6.19m at his third attempt before rushing into the arms of his girlfriend at the edge of the track for a kiss.”I don’t usually practice with heights like this, but I felt really confident going to it today.

“The only thing that was on my mind from the beginning was the world record,” explained Duplantis.

“That was the only thing I cared about today. If I didn’t break the world record, I was going to be upset.”

Duplantis added: “I think I’ve tried 6.19m 50 times.

“It’s been a long time coming. I’ve never had a height that has given me that much trouble, so it’s a very good feeling.

It was really hard fought over these past two years. I’m really happy.”

He had already attempted 6.19m this winter in Karlsruhe in Germany, Berlin, Uppsala in Sweden, and in Birmingham, without success.

“From now on I will attack 6.20 m, even in two weeks,” he said, sure of his strength compared to the solid competition of the American Chris Nilsen, who cleared 6.05 m on Friday in Rouen.

The Swede had held the record since February 2020, when he cleared 6.17m in Torun in Poland and then 6.18m in Glasgow a week apart.

At times he seems able to raise the record one centimetre at a time, like the Soviet and Ukrainian great Sergey Bubka, who, in the days when outdoors and indoors were considered separate, broke the outdoor world record 17 times and set indoor bests 18 times between 1984 and 1994.

World Athletics has done away with the distinction between indoors or outdoors in pole vault records. AFP

No cheering squads, fans at UAAP’s Season 84 NO fans, bands and cheering squads will be allowed to enter the venues when the University Athletic Association of the Philippines initially returns with the men’s basketball tournament.

That’s because restrictions under a full bubble setup will be imposed when the 84th season reels off on March 26.

Season 84 president Emmanuel “Nonong” Calanog said this after they sought guidance from the Philippine Basketball Association and clearance from the Commission on Higher Education on how to go about the planned start for the year.

But since the National Capital Region is now under Alert Level 1 restrictions, this will go on until the end of the first round.

“We ask patience from the fans. We are hoping that after the first round, we can start bringing in people into the arena,” said Calanog.

But Calanog explained that as far as the men’s basketball games are concerned, they will maintain their bubble setup until the end of the tournament.

For now, only coaches, athletes, officiating officials and the personnel from broadcast partner Cignal TV are the only ones allowed to enter the bubble until the end of the first round.

Calanog said the plans will hopefully keep the games played under safe conditions.

Member schools have also come up with bubble setups in their respective campuses.

This means that participating athletes, coaches and team officials will be transported to the game venues by designated vehicles and back to their respective school premises and to places where they train at the end of every game day.

These are among the safety and health protocols used by the PBA over the last two years, to be implemented all throughout Season 84.

Peter Atencio

Sports

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

B1

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

Sweden’s Armand Duplantis jumps to clear a pole and break his own pole vaulting world record at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting in Belgrade. Duplantis cleared 6.19m at his third attempt. AFP

Yulo to get own support team following Hidilyn Diaz formula Championships in Liverpool.

To prepare for the world meet, Yulo will also compete in the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam and Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

And he will have seven months to get his acts together.

“It’s very important for his mental strength. And this is what failed him in the Olympics,” added Carrion Yulo, who finished fourth in the vault of the men’s artistics event in Tokyo last year, was in Manila to visit his family and inaugurate a new gymnastics’ facility in Intramuros on Saturday.

Last November, Yulo finished with a gold and a silver medal at the end of his routines at the Japanet Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.

Yulo grabbed a gold in the vault exercises and a silver in the parallel bars.

But he did not finish in the podium of his favorite event, the men’s floor exercise, where he was expected to bag a medal.

Now back in Tokyo, Yulo, is getting ready for the SEA Games with his coach Munehiro Kugimiya.

He will be part of a six-men’s squad, which is also composed of John Gwyn Timbang, Justine Ace de Leon, Juancho Miguel Besana, Johan Ivan Cruz and John Romeo Santillan.

By Peter Atencio

A

SUPPORT group which will help Olympian Carlos Yulo improve on his performances in international meets is now being assembled.

For a start, a sports psychologist will soon take note of Yulo’s progress while in training and during competitions.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines Cynthia Carrion said she finally got the approval of the Philippine Sports Commission to get a support team to help in Yulo’s further development.

“Now, he will be mentally prepared. You will soon see the difference,” said Carrion.

The gymnastics’ chief is following the formula used

by Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who had a support group called Team HD, composed of a foreign coach, strength and conditioning coach, masseuse, sports psychologist and a sports nutritionist.

The 22-year-old Yulo, who has returned to Japan following a weeklong visit in Manila, seeks to redeem himself in his pet event in the coming FIG World

Carlos Yulo

Obiena excluded from SEA Games team ERNEST John Obiena was not on list of athletes the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association intends to send to the 31st Southeast Asian Games that Vietnam is hosting in May. It’s one gold medal lost for Team Philippines, but the most damning, according to Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

“I can only shake my head, this is horrible,” said Tolentino on Obiena’s name missing from the entry by numbers form which the Patafa and 38 other national sports associations taking part in Viet-

Eumir Marcial

nam submitted to the POC. “Barring serious injury, EJ will win the gold medal, even blind folded in Hanoi,” Tolentino said. “He’s not only the best in the SEA Games, but in the whole of Asia—not to forget that he’s No. 5 in the world.”

The POC tasked NSAs to submit their entries by numbers for the SEA Games on Monday as Vietnam set the deadline for submission of team compositions for the May 12 to 23 Games is on Saturday.

“An NSA relentlessly sanctioning its No. 1 athlete—a guaranteed win and

who knows a future world and Olympic champion—I just couldn’t find a logic,” Tolentino said.

Rommel Sytin, one of the country’s business leaders, signed the entry by numbers form as Patafa’s secretary general.

Patafa has the second biggest number of entries with 53 athletes and 17 officials, second only to esports which has 54 entries.

Obiena being out on the list meant he will also miss the World Indoor Championships scheduled March 18 to 20 in

Belgrade because the World Athletics’s deadline of registration for qualified athletes was last Monday.

Had Obiena been endorsed by Patafa, he could have been the first full-blooded Filipino to compete in the world indoors, according to Patafa training director Renato Unso.

Obiena won the men’s pole vault gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games at the New Clark City Stadium with a leap of 6.45 meters. Less than two years after on September 12, 2021, he broke the Asian record with 5.93 meters at the Golden Roof-

Marcial to receive Fan Favorite award OLYMPIAN Eumir Felix Marcial is going to be the recipient of a special award in next week’s San Miguel CorporationPhilippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel.

The 26-year-old pride of Lunzuran, Zamboanga City will be honored with the Fan Favorite ‘Manok ng Bayan’ Award during the March 14 affair presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Cignal TV. Marcial is the latest personality to be given the recognition courtesy of Chooks To Go, which in the past also cited Terrence Romeo, Kai Sotto, PH 3x3 basketball team, and legendary boxing champion Manny Pacquiao with the same special award.

The middleweight fighter became the heaviest Filipino to win a medal in the Olympics, bagging a bronze in the 75 kg class of the Tokyo Olympics.

In between his preparations for the Summer Games, Marcial also decided to turn pro and won

his debut in December 2020 with a unanimous decision against Andrew Whitfield in Los Angeles.

He’s currently preparing for his next pro fight tentatively set in April.

“It’s an honor to name Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial as the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Fan Favorite ‘Manok ng Bayan awardee. We’re aware his Olympic journey is just the beginning of what would be a colorful and successful professional career,” said Chooks-to-Go in a statement.

Other than the ‘Manok ng Bayan’ award, Marcial will be part of the list to be given major awards by the country’s oldest media organization during the special rite also backed by MILO (official choco milk), 1Pacman, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Philracom, Rain or Shine, ICTSI, Chooks To Go, MVP Sports Foundation, and Smart.

Along with Marcial, others receiving Major Awards are fellow Olympic medal winners Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, pool champion Carlo Biado, tennis star and grand slam winner Alex Eala, and world boxing champions Nonito Donaire Jr., Jerwin Ancajas, and John Riel Casimero.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY

Republic of the Philippines Department of Finance Securities and Exchange Commission

SEC MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 5 Series of 2022.

TO

:

ALL CONCERNED

SUBJECT

:

Guidelines on Corporate Dissolution under Sections 134, 136 and 138 of the Revised Corporation Code

WHEREAS, Sections 133 to 138 of Republic Act No. 11232 otherwise known as the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines (RCC) provide for the classification, requirements and procedure for corporate dissolution:

c.

Section 8. Verification of Withdrawal. - The verified withdrawal of request for dissolution shall contain an affidavit duly signed by any incorporator, director, trustee, shareholder, or member, which shall allege the following attestations: a. The allegations in the Verified Withdrawal of Request for Dissolution are true and correct based on his or her personal knowledge, or based on authentic documents;

WHEREAS, voluntary dissolution where creditors are affected under Section 135 of the RCC shall be under the authority of the Office of the General Counsel (OGC).

WHEREAS, under Section 6(h) of the RCC, hoiders of non-voting shares shall nevertheless be entitled to vote on the issue of dissolution of the corporation; and

b.

The Verified Withdrawal of Request for Dissolution is not filed to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of regulation and/or litigation;

c.

The factual allegations therein have evidentiary support or, if specifically identified, will likewise have evidentiary support after reasonable opportunity for discovery;

Section 9. Approval and Issuance of Certificate. - After fifteen (15) days from receipt of the Verified Request for Dissolution, and in the absence of any withdrawal of request for dissolution within said period, the Commission shall approve the request and issue the Certificate of Dissolution. The dissolution shall take effect only upon the issuance by the Commission of a Certificate of Dissolution.

B. Dissolution by Shortening Corporate Term under Section 136 of the RCC- A voluntary dissolution may be effected by amending the articles of incorporation to shorten the corporate term pursuant to the provisions of the RCC. Section 1. Documentary Requirements.- The following must be submitted to the CRMD or SEC Extension Office: A.

WHEREAS, under Section 50 of the RCC, notice of stockholders’ or members’ meetings shail be sent through the means of communication provided in the by-laws, which notice shall state the time, place and purpose of the meetings.

Each notice of meeting shall further be accompanied by the following: a.) The agenda for the meeting; b.) A proxy form which shali be submitted to the corporate secretary within a reasonable time prior to the meeting: c.) When attendance, participation, and voting are allowed by remote communication or in absentia, the requirements and procedures to be followed when a stockholder or m$1ber elects either option; and d.) XXX NOW THEREFORE, in order to standardize the procedure on corporate dissolution under the authority of the CRMD and SEC Extension Offices, the Commission hereby promulgates the following requirements and guidelines for corporate dissolution under Sections 134, 136 and 138 of the RCC: A. Voluntary dissolution where no creditors are affected under Section 134 of the RCC.

B.

Section 1. Verified Request for Dissolution. - If dissolution of a corporation does not prejudice the rights of any creditor having a claim against it, the dissolution shall be initiated by filing, with the CRMD or SEC Extension Office, a verified request for dissolution signed by the corporation’s duly authorized representative, stating: a.

The corporate name, SEC registration number, principal office of the corporation and email address of the corporation as required pursuant to SEC Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 28, Series of 2020;

b.

The complete name, position in the corporate structure of the corporation, and mailing address of the authorized representative of the corporation;

c.

That the corporation requests for the dissolution of the corporation, and that the dissolution does not prejudice the rights of any creditor having a claim against it;

d.

The reason for the dissolution;

e.

The form, manner, and time when the notices were given; Provided that: 1.) at least twenty (20) days prior to the meeting, notice shall be given to each shareholder or member of record personally, by registered mail, or by any means authorized under its by-laws, regardless of whether or not they are entitled to vote at the meeting, in the manner provided in Section 50 of the RCC; 2.) the notice shall state the time, place and object of the meeting; 3.) the notice of the time, place and object of the meeting shall be published once prior to the date of the meeting in a newspaper published in the place where the principal office of said corporation is located, or if no newspaper is published in such place, in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines; and 4.) the notice shall state that the purpose of the meeting is to vote on the dissolution of the corporation, and shall be accompanied by the following: i.

The agenda for the meeting; ii. A proxy form; and iii. The requirements and procedures to be followed for attendance, participation, and voting by remote communication or in absentia, if applicable.

f.

g.

Names of the stockholders and directors, or members and trustees, who approved the dissolution; Provided, that the majority of the directors or trustees, and the stockholders owning or controlling at least a majority of the outstanding capital stock including the holders of non-voting shares or majority of the members voted for the dissolution of the corporation; That the above-mentioned stockholders and directors, or members and trustees, are the duly elected directors or trustees, and the stockholders or members of record as of the date of the meeting;

h.

The date, place, and time of the meeting in which the vote was made;

i.

Details of publication, such as: 1.) name of the newspaper; 2.) complete name of the publisher; 3.) principal office of the publisher; 4.) area of circulation of the newspaper; 5.) date when the notice was published; and 6.) contents of the notice as published; and

j.

That the corporation has no pending case involving intra-corporate dispute;

Section 2. Verification and Certification Against Forum Shopping. - The Verified Request for Dissolution shall contain an affidavit and certification duly signed by the authorized representative of the corporation, which shall allege the following attestations: a.) The allegations in the Verified Request for Dissolution are true and correct based on his or her personal knowledge, or based on authentic documents; b.) That he/she has not theretofore commenced any action or filed any claim involving the same issues in any court, tribunal or quasi-judicial agency and, to the best of his/her knowledge, no such other action or claim is pending therein;

9.

Section 3. Effectivity of Dissolution.- Upon the expiration of the shortened term, as stated in the approved amended articles of incorporation, the corporation shall be deemed dissolved without any further proceedings, subject to the provisions of this Code on liquidation. Dissolution shall automatically take effect on the day following the last day of the corporate term stated in the amended articles of incorporation, without the need for the issuance by the Commission of a certificate of dissolution.

C.

Involuntary Dissolution under Section 138 of the Revised Corporation Code and Section 6(i) of Presidential Decree 902-A.

Section 1. Grounds under Section 138 of the RCC and How Initiated. - Under Section 138 of the RCC, the Commission may motu proprio, or upon filing of a verified complaint by any interested party, dissolve a corporation based on the following: a. b. c. d. e.

2.

3.

Where the applicant has ceased operations of at least one (1) year, submit: a.) AFS as of the last year of operation; and b.) Affidavit of Non-Operation certified under oath by the President and Treasurer.

Where the applicant has no operation since incorporation, submit: a.) Balance Sheet certified under oath by the Treasurer and President; b.) Affidavit of Non-Operation certified under oath by the President and Treasurer; c.) Certificate of Non-Registration issued by the BIR; Where the applicant corporation is (stock or nonstock) is with total assets or liabilities of less than Six Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php600,OOO. OO), it shall submit its Balance Sheet as of last preceding fiscal year certified under oath by the President and Treasurer.

e.)

Affidavit executed under oath by the President and Treasurer that: 1. That the dissolution is not prejudicial to the interest of the creditors; and 2. There is no opposition from any creditors from the time of publication of the notice of dissolution up to the filing of the dissolution with the Commission;

f.)

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Tax Clearance Certificate;

g.)

Notarized Secretary’s Certificate of no pending case involving intracorporate dispute;

h.) Clearance/Favorable recommendation from other Departments of the Commission or from the appropriate regulatory agency, when necessary under Section 4 hereof.

Section 4. Favorable Recommendation. - No application for dissolution of banks, banking and quasi-banking institutions, preneed, insurance and trust companies, NSSLAs, pawnshops, and other financial intermediaries shall be approved by the Commission unless accompanied by a favorable recommendation of the appropriate government agency.

Section 5. Withdrawal of Request for Dissolution. - Within fifteen (15) days from receipt by the Commission of the Verified Request for Dissolution, a withdrawal of the said request may be made in writing, duly verified by any incorporator, director, trustee, shareholder, or member, and signed by the majority of the directors or trustees, and stockholders owning or controlling at least majority of the outstanding capital stock or majority of the members who voted for the dissolution of the corporation.

Section 6. Investigation on Withdrawal of Request for Dissolution. - Upon receipt of a Verified Withdrawal of Request for Dissolution, the Commission shall withhold action on the request for dissolution and shall, after investigation: a.

Make a pronouncement that the request for dissolution is deemed withdrawn; or

b.

Direct a joint meeting of the board of directors or trustees and the stockholders or members for the purpose of ascertaining whether to proceed with

Non-use of corporate charter as provided under Section 21 of the RCC; Continuous inoperation of a corporation as provided under Section 21 of the RCC; Upon receipt of a lawful court order dissolving the corporation; Upon finding by final judgment that the corporation procured its incorporation through fraud; and Upon finding by final judgment that the corporation: i.

Was created for the purpose of committing, concealing or aiding the commission of securities violations, smuggling, tax evasion, money laundering or graft and corrupt practices; ii. Committed or aided in the commission of securities violations, smuggling, tax evasion, money laundering, or graft and corrupt practices, and its stockholders knew; and iii. Repeatedly and knowingly tolerated the commission of graft and corrupt practices or other fraudulent or illegal acts by its directors, trustees, officers, or employees.

However, when another agency or tribunal has been identified by law as the primary regulator, investigative or administrative body for specific cases such as smuggling, tax evasion, money laundering or graft and corrupt practices, all complaints or petitions for revocation based on the commission of acts enumerated under Section 1 (e) of item C of this Guidelines shall be endorsed to said primary regulator, investigative or administrative body, for their appropriate action.

a.) A notarized copy of the board resolution or directors’/trustees’ certificate authorizing the dissolution and designating an authorized representative to file the verified request for dissolution, signed by a majority of the board of directors or trustees and countersigned by the secretary of the corporation;

1.

Affidavit executed under oath by the President and Treasurer that: a. The dissolution is not prejudicial to the interest of the creditors; and b. There is no opposition from any creditors from the time of publication of the notice of dissolution up to the filing of the dissolution with the Commission; Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Tax Clearance Certificate; Publisher’s Affidavit of Publication of the Notice of Meeting (once) Notarized Secretary’s Certificate of no pending case involving intracorporate dispute; .

Clearance/Favorable recommendation from other Departments of the Commission or from the appropriate regulatory agency, when necessary.

Section 2. The proposed expiration of corporate term for all applications for amendment filed under Section 136 of the RCC must contemplate a future date. No application for amendment under Section 136 of the RCC shall be accepted if the proposed expiration of corporate term had already lapsed at the time of filing of the application.

Section 3. Supporting Documents. -The following shall be filed with the Verified Request for Dissolution:

d.) Audited Financial Statements (AFS) as of last fiscal year, except:

For amendment to shorten corporate term where the proposed expiration of the corporate term is less than one year, from approval of the application for amendment under Financial Analysis and Audit Division (FAAD) of CRMD or SEC Extension Office.1. Cover Sheet; 2. Notarized Directors’ Certificate Signed by majority of the directors or trustees and the corporate secretary, attesting that: 1.) the dissolution by shortening of corporate term was approved by majority of the board of directors/trustees and ratified by at least 2/3 vote of the stockholders representing the outstanding capital stock stock including the holders of non-voting shares/members of the corporation; 2.) date and place of the stockholders’ or members’ meeting; and 3.) the tax identification number of the signatories which shall be place below their names; 3. Amended Articles of Incorporation; 4. Audited Financial Statements (AFS) as of last fiscal year, except: a. Where the applicant has ceased operations of at least one (1) year, submit: 1.) AFS as of the last year of operation; and 2.) Affidavit of non-operation certified under oath by the President b. Where the applicant has no operation since incorporation, submit: 1.) Balance Sheet certified under oath by the Treasurer and President; 2.) Affidavit of Non-Operation certified under oath by the President and Treasurer; 3.) Certificate of Non-Registration issued by the BIR; c. Where the applicant corporation is (stock or non stock) is with total assets or liabilities of less than Six Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php600, 000. 00), it shall submit its Balance Sheet as of last preceding fiscal year certified under oath by the President and Treasurer;

6.

7.

8.

d.) If he/she should thereafter learn that the same or similar action or claim has been filed or is pending, he/she shall report that fact within five (5) calendar days therefrom to the Company Registration and Monitoring Department, or the appropriate SEC Extension Office;

c.) Latest due General Information Sheet (GIS);

For amendment to shorten corporate term where the proposed expiration of the corporate term is one year or more than one year from approval of the application for amendment under Corporate and Partnership Registration Division (CPRD) of CRMD or SEC Extension Office1. Cover Sheet; 2. Notarized Directors’ Certificate signed by majority of the directors or trustees and the corporate secretary, attesting that: 1.) the dissolution by shortening of corporate term was approved by majority of the board of directors/trustees and ratified by at least 2/3 vote of the stockholders representing the outstanding capital stock stock including the holders of non-voting shares/members of the corporation; 2.) date and place of the stockholders’ or members’ meeting; and 3.) the tax identification number of the signatories which shall be place below their names; 3. Amended Articles of Incorporation; 4. Compliance Monitoring Division (CMD) Monitoring Clearance; 5. Notarized Secretary’s Certificate of no pending case involving intra corporate dispute; 6. Clearance/Favorable recommendation from other Departments of the Commission or from the appropriate regulatory agency, when necessary.

5.

c.) If there is such other pending action or claim, a complete statement of the present status thereof; and

b.) Publisher’s Affidavit of Publication of the Notice of Meeting;

Issue such other orders as it may deem appropriate.

Section 7. Change in the Ownership, Membership, and/or Composition of the Board. - If there has been a change in the ownership, membership, and/or composition of the board of directors or trustees prior to the filing of the withdrawal of request for dissolution, sufficient documentary evidence of such change must be filed together with, and attached to the withdrawal of request for dissolution.

WHEREAS, voluntary dissolution where no creditors are affected under Section 134 of the RCC, dissolution by shortening of corporate term under Section 136 of the RCC and involuntary dissolution under Section 138 of the RCC shall be under the authority of the Company Registration and Monitoring Department (CRMD) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Extension Offices.

WHEREAS, Section 15 of the RCC provides that uniess otherwise prescribed by the RCC or by special law, and for legitimate purposes, any provision or matter stated in the articles of incorporation may be amended by a majority vote of the board of directors or trustees and the vote or written assent of the stockholders representing at least two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding capital stock, without prejudice to the appraisal right of the dissenting stockhoiders in accordance with the provisions of the RCC. The articles of incorporation of a nonstock corporation may be amended by the vote or written assent of majority of the trustees and at least twothirds (2/3) of the members.

XXX

Sports

dissolution; or

Section 2. Grounds under Section 6(i) of Presidential Decree (PO) 902-A- In addition to the grounds provided in Section 1 hereof, revocation of certificate of registration on the grounds provided in Section 6(i) of PO 902-A likewise fall within the jurisdiction of the CRMO and SEC Extension Office: a. b.

Fraud in the procurement of certificate of registration; Failure to file or register any of the following for a period of at least five (5) years: 1.) Financial Statements; 2.) General Information Sheet; and 3.) Stock and Transfer Book or Membership Book.

Section 3. Documentary Requirements.- For verified complaints filed by interested parties based on the grounds provided in Section 138 of the RCC and Section 6(i) of PO 902-A as provided in Section 1 and Section 2 hereof, the following documents must be submitted to the CRMO and SEC Extension Office: a. b. c. d.

Verified Complaint/Petition; Certificate against Forum Shopping; Secretary’s Certificate authorizing the filing of the complaint, if filed by a corporation; and Affidavits and other documentary evidence to support the claim.

Section 4. Applicable Rules- - The provisions on investigation proceedings and administrative actions under Part II of The 2016 Rules of Procedure of the Securities and Exchange Commission and amendments thereto, shall be applied to involuntary dissolution of corporations commenced by the Commission motu proprio.

On the other hand, the provisions on adjudicative actions under Part III of The 2016 Rules of Procedure of the Securities and Exchange Commission and amendments thereto, shall be applied for the involuntary dissolution of corporations filed by any interested party through verified complaint/petition.

Section 5. Forfeiture of Assets. - If a corporation is ordered dissolved by final judgment pursuant to the grounds set forth in subparagraph (e) of Section 1 hereof, its assets, after payment of liabilities, shall, upon petition of the Commission with the appropriate court, be forfeited in favor of the national government. Such forfeiture shall be without prejudice to the rights of innocent stockholders and employees for services rendered, and to the application of other penalty or sanction under the RCC of other laws.

Section 6. Notice to and Coordination with Other Regulatory Agencies. - The Commission shall give reasonable notice to, and coordinate with, the appropriate regulatory agency prior to the involuntary dissolution of companies under their special regulatory jurisdiction.

D. Other Provisions.

Section 1. Number of Copies. - The applicant corporation shall submit the documentary requirements provided in this Guidelines in three (3) original copies and additional one (1) copy as the applicant’s receiving copy.

Section 2. The SEC Rules of Procedure and other relevant rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission shall be complied with as far as practicable.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately after its publication.

15 February 2022, Pasay City.

(MS-MAR. 9, 2022)

EMILIO B. AQUINO Chairperson

B2

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

Bubka calls on world to aid refugees

P

ARIS—Ukraine’s former Olympic pole vault champion and world record holder Sergey Bubka called on the sports world to help provide essential goods for Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes as a result of Russia’s invasion.

The 58-year-old—who was crowned world outdoor champion on six successive occasions and broke the world record 35 times -had said on Friday Ukraine would win the war.

Bubka said he was going to use all his international connections to “defend his country” and he backed up his words through an open letter.

“Please, allow me to turn to you at this difficult times of the war in my country,” he wrote.

“It is a very hard time for me—the time of hard working and the time of decisions on how to help my country, my compatriots, athletes and coaches, my colleagues and friends, who need help as never.

Bubka, president of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee, said: “Over a million people, mostly women and children have been forcibly displaced from their homes.

“Millions of people lose their livelihoods and stay without medical care, food and clothes on the

Ukrainian territories.

“From the sports community side, we are trying as much as we can to channel and reinforce the soft power of our global unity to support people in Ukraine as much as we can in these unprecedented times.”

Bubka, who is also senior vicepresident of World Athletics, said there was an urgent need for basic products as well as sportswear for children, who could find playing sports in refugee camps a welcome distraction for them.

“We are inviting everybody to help thousands of women and children that left their homes without the opportunity to take anything with them,” he wrote.

“The key priorities at this stage will be first aid medical materials, hygiene products, clothes for kids, long-lasting food and financial support.

“Secondly, I think about the possibility to organize sportswear, sport shoes, equipment of any sport for children who are now living in refugee camps. AFP

NFL bans Falcons’ Ridley over gambling LOS ANGELES—Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been banned for the entire 2022 NFL season after being found to have gambled on matches last season, the league said Monday.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement Ridley was found to have placed bets on NFL games during a five-day period in 2021.

The league said an investigation found there was no evidence Ridley had used inside information, or that any game was compromised in any way.

In a letter to the 27-year-old receiver notifying him of his suspension, Goodell said Ridley had risked damaging the integrity of the sport.

“There is nothing more fundamental to the NFL’s success - and to the reputation of everyone associated with our league - than upholding the integrity of the game,” Goodell said.

“Your actions put the integrity of the game at risk, threatened to damage public confidence in professional football, and potentially undermined the reputations of your fellow players throughout the NFL. “For decades, gambling on NFL games has been considered among the most significant violations of league policy warranting the most substantial sanction.”

Goodell said Ridley had co-operated with NFL investigators and admitted wrongdoing.

He will be eligible to petition the league for reinstatement on February 15, 2023. AFP

Medvedev stays ATP No.1 but no longer flies a flag PARIS—While the ATP rankings barely moved on Monday following a weekend when the Davis Cup replaced tournaments, there was one visible change, as the Russian flag vanished from the list.

Daniil Medvedev stayed on top, but the country column next to his name contained a white rectangle, after the ATP responded to the invasion of Ukraine, by deciding last week to allow Russian and Belarusian players to continue to compete, but not under their national flags.

Andrey Rublev, who dropped a place to seventh, Aslan Karatsev in 22 and Karen Khachanov, who fell one spot to 26, also had their nationality hidden by the ATP. Belarusian Ilya Ivashka, who rose two spots to 41, was also flagless.

There no Ukrainians in the men’s top 100.

One player who jumped without playing was Dominic Thiem the former number three, out with a wrist injury since June, rose one spot to 50 just as he postponed his return to the ATP tour circuit.

T h e 28-year-old Austrian said on Monday he had decided to skip Indian Wells, which starts on Thursday and the Miami Open from March 23 Daniil Medvedev AFP to April 3 and has pushed back his return until the start of the clay court season in April.

“I had really good practice weeks. The wrist is perfectly fine, the hand is getting betN OTICE ter and better, but still Notice is hereby given that ROBINSONS LAND I decided to pull out CORPORATION, with office address at 43rd Flr. Robinsons-Equitable Tower, ADB Avenue corner of Indian Wells and of Poveda Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, is applying for Miami to start on the registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a new clay courts,” Thiem Operator of Tourist Accomodation Facility (Go Hotel Plus Tuguegarao) under R.A. 11534 (CREATE Act) and the said on Instagram.

Special Laws- Tourism Act (R.A. 9593) - Tourism Related He won the Indian Facilities of the 2020 IPP with a capacity of 136 rooms and project site located at Pan-Philippine Highway, Brgy.

Wells tournament in Tanza, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Province.

2019 and reached number three in the world Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, rankings between under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the March 2020 and Febdate of this publication. ruary 2021, winning his one major, the US (SGD.) MARY ANN E. RAGANIT Acting Director Open in 2020. That Infrastructure and Services Industries Service was his last title.

(MS-MAR. 9, 2022)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment

Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

B3

Kokoy De Santos shares experience in playing a blind marathon runner

By Patricia Taculao

F

OR his first guesting in GMA’s Magpakailanman, actor Kokoy De Santos plays the role of Mark Joseph ‘Aga’ Casidsid, a.k.a. the blind marathon runner.

Kokoy De Santos

Although his initial reaction was that of surprise and gratitude towards the network for trusting him with such a role, upon reading the script, Kokoy admitted that it wasn’t an easy assignment, especially since it’s his first time playing a blind person. He had to wear prosthetics throughout the entire production and experience the life of a visually-impaired individual.

Kokoy draws inspiration from the visuals in his environment. But due to the contact lenses, the rising actor found the scenes hard to shoot and kept tripping. However, he isn’t one to back down from challenges and took this experience as an opportunity to expand his craft.

He also had to change his acting style from frequently using adlibs to relying on sound cues from his costars to make sure they played the scene aptly. And to properly imbibe the personality of Casidsid, Kokoy (From left) William Lorenzo, Kristoffer Martin, Kokoy De Santos, watched interviews of the blind marathon runner to get and Snooky Serna a better understanding of his struggles and experiences due to his condition.

Casidsid awed the public with determination to do him to make the most out of life. Among them is the something he loves—running. Although he lost his thought that there’s no reason for him to give up on his eyesight due to retrolental fibroplasia, a condition dreams. caused by premature birth, which results in gradual Apart from his first time starring in Magpakailanman, blindness, he never stopped chasing his dream until it Kokoy is now also a part of the star-studded line-up of finally became a reality.

Sparkle GMA Artist Center.

Other actors who joined Kokoy He shared that he has been in the inspirational episode of trying to be a part of Sparkle for Magpakailanman are Snooky some time now, and the process Serna, William Lorenzo, Marx of getting there wasn’t easy. But Topacio, and Kristoffer Martin. because he’s eager to learn and Because of Kokoy’s temporary expand his horizons, Kokoy takes impairment, they offered help and on different genres and adapts guidance throughout their shared to the situation to the best of his scenes. abilities.

Kokoy even shared that Kokoy has also secured himself working with Snooky is a a spot in GMA’s comedy shows memorable experience. Even Bubble Gang and Pepito Manaloto, though they only played a showing that he has the talent and mother and son relationship ondetermination to succeed in any screen, the actor couldn’t help role given to him. but feel at ease because he felt Yet despite his busy schedule, how the veteran actress looked Kokoy still finds time to unwind out for him and guided him in his and spend with his family. After challenging role. all, they’re part of the reason, and Throughout the production inspiration pursues a successful of the episode for the drama Kokoy had to wear contact lenses that career in showbiz, no matter how anthology, Kokoy learned several obstructed his eyesight for the role demanding or strenuous it might valuable life lessons that inspired in‘Magpakailanman’ be.

Online personalities ‘unpack’ their journey to fame INTERNET sensations and popular TikTok an everyday internet user’s need for content creators Phillip Hernandez, a.k.a. plans with the right mix of affordability, Davao Conyo who is known for his funny ample speed, and seamless connectivity. skits, and Yumi, one of TikTok’s biggest Subscribers will no longer have to choose bird moms, unpacked their journey to between expensive high-speed plans fame and factors that affect their success and unreliable low-cost plans as SKY during SKY Fiber’s “Swak Na Swak” Fiber Super Speed Plans can satisfy their Media Launch event. internet needs.

For online sensations Yumi and Phillip, James Dumlao, SKY’s head of Consumer who have been creating content for about Product, Programming, and Airtime Group, four years already, the internet definitely has said during the event, “The internet has a major impact in their life as they earn from weaved itself into our daily lives. Hence, a the branded videos they post on social media good quality internet connection has become platforms, Facebook and TikTok. a necessity. ‘Internet is life’ as many would Phillip, who currently has 3.8 million say. Because of this, we at SKY Fiber have collective followers on Facebook and committed to continuously deliver better TikTok for his ‘smooth promotion’ products and services for the markets that comedy skits as Davao Conyo, has a knack we serve.” for performing ever since he was young.

“The ‘swak’ internet for me is one Around late 2017, he posted a funny where I can get fast connection anywhere ‘conyo’ Bisaya dub of the popular Filipino in my house. That’s important for my movie, “Four Sisters And A Wedding,” daily life as a content creator and business on a whim. After gaining thousands of owner that regularly works from home,” views, he started to understand what Yumi shared. people wanted to watch and continued Phillip agreed and recalled when he experimenting with his videos. was frustrated with their family’s old “I started with dubs because I was too internet connection at home because it shy to show my face. But as I received didn’t reach his room on the second floor, overwhelming support from people where he works. This prompted him to watching my videos, I continued creating switch to SKY Fiber because it ticked more and eventually began making skits all his requirements of speed, seamless as well,” Phillip shared. connectivity, and, most especially, Yumi, on the other hand, was simply affordable price. exploring TikTok in 2018 and decided to “I switched to SKY Fiber a few months post videos of her daily life and experiences ago and I haven’t had regrets ever since. for fun. The first video that gained a lot of Kasi swak na internet, swak sa budget. attention from netizens was a relatable rant After all, I’m a very budget-conscious about her love life. Now, she is regularly person and I pay for my own internet pushing out vlog-style content about her life subscription plan,” he added. updates, interests, and adorable pet birds to 4 To know more about SKY Fiber’s million TikTok followers. affordable fiber-fast offerings, visit www.

“I was just bored back then. While mysky.com.ph/skyfiber. scrolling on my phone, I discovered the app TikTok where you can share videos as short as 15 seconds. I immediately thought this had potential to grow and was excited to try it out,” she said.

Both Phillip and Yumi also emphasized that an internet plan that suits their lifestyle is vital to their career and daily life.

SKY Fiber recently Phillip Hernandez, a.k.a. Davao Conyo, (rightmost) and launched Super Speed Yumi (second from right)during the SKY Fiber’s ‘Swak Na Swak’ Plans that cater to Media Launch event

Bea flaunts her fit figure to inspire her fellow Filipinos

Alden remains fit and healthy through proper diet and exercise

Bea Alonzo, Alden Richards team up to ‘stay strong to love strong’ SCREEN stars Bea Alonzo and Alden Richards have teamed up anew as the endorsers for Century Tuna Superbods 2022 to embody its powerful and timely message, “Stay strong to love strong.”

Bea, who has been continuously gracing the headlines and creating online buzz with her high-profile projects, flaunts her fit figure to provide inspiration for all Filipinos, this time, as a Superbod.

“This is a dream brand endorsement. I was both very excited and nervous while doing the shoot since this is my first time representing the brand. I appreciate the fact that the campaign message is not just about being sexy but really being healthy in all aspects which I personally believe in and live by,” exclaims the actress.

Like Bea, Alden, who is continuing his health and fitness advocacy as a Superbod, is equally excited to work with Bea and Century Tuna. “This year’s message really resonates with me,” he said.

“My supporters know that I care very much for my family and the scholars under the AR Foundation, and I know I can only continue to take care of them if I am strong and healthy. It’s a message that we can all relate to, especially now that we are all trying to recover from the pandemic,” he added.

Both Bea and Alden know the value of staying strong and healthy to achieve their dreams for their loved ones. At a young age, Bea has been the breadwinner of her family while Alden took the chance to be an actor to fulfill his late mom’s wish and

now provides hope for young scholars.

Both of them have shown that staying strong and healthy is necessary to love and support the people they care about most.

“We are proud to have Alden Richards and Bea Alonzo as the newest addition to the Century Tuna family. Our message is to encourage everyone to stay physically and mentally strong, not just for themselves but also for the people they value. For this year, we have chosen Alden and Bea because their dedication to staying healthy and strong for their families perfectly complements our message,” said Century Pacific Food Inc. (CPFI) VP and GM for Tuna Division Carlo Endaya.

From its previous message of staying healthy to look sexy, this year’s theme is in response to the current situation, as we deal with the challenges of COVID-19.

“The pandemic served as our catalyst to further our objective of inspiring Filipinos moreso now to live a healthy lifestyle. It provided an opportunity for us to emphasize that we need to take care of ourselves so we can support others,” said Greg Banzon, CPFI COO and EVP. Registration to the Superbods competition i s easier and more accessible with its digital application process. To join, simply upload

Michael Bay’s ‘Ambulance’ unspools in PH cinemas ahead of US release AMBULANCE takes Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal (Zodiac, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Brokeback Mountain), Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Candyman, The Matrix Resurrections), and Eiza Gonzales (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Baby Driver) across the streets of LA under scorching heat in

Jake Gyllenhaal in ‘Ambulance’

an intense high-speed, breakneck chase with the authorities after a bank heist turned awfully wrong.

Director-producer Michael Bay helms Ambulance, who is also known for bringing unprecedented cinematic experience with blockbuster films such as Transformers, A Quiet Place, and 6 Underground.

In his latest movie Ambulance, the filmmaker pits the characters under a series of extreme situations when Gyllenhaal’s character Danny, a career criminal plans the biggest bank heist in Los Angeles’ history. At the same time, Danny’s brother Will, played by Abdul- Mateen II is trying to raise money for his wife’s medical bills and desperately asks Danny as his last resort.

Confident of his plan, Danny takes Will to be his designated driver and most trusted ally in what could be the last and most dangerous heist he will

take on. Soon enough, with all crew, vehicles, and weapons in place, Danny’s team sets out in stealth for the 32-million-dollar bank theft in broad daylight. But unforeseen incidents derail their plan that resulted in an all-out battle of brawn and wits against the police force, the desperate brothers soon encounter an ambulance driven by Cam Thompson (Gonzalez) with a wounded cop. Escaping a massive and merciless hunt from the authorities, Danny and Will execute the craziest of escapes while trying to keep the injured hostage cop safe and alive.

Ambulance’s screenplay is by Chris Fedak (Prodigal Son, Chuck), based on the original story and screenplay for the 2005 Danish thriller Ambulance by Laurits Munch-Petersen and Lars Andreas Pedersen.

A Universal Pictures International release,

a Superbods Audition video to one’s social media account publicly. Then, register via https://www.centurytuna.ph/ superbods2022 with your name, contact details, and the link to your video. The full mechanics can be viewed via centurytuna. ph/superbodsfullmechanics.

Two grand winners of this year’s Century Tuna Superbods will take home P500,000.00, tax-free. The two runners up, on the other hand, will get P200,000.00 each, tax-free as well. All four winners will also get a year’s worth of Century Tuna products and other exciting prizes.

Bea Alonzo (left) and Alden Richards are the faces of Century Tuna Superbods 2022

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (left) and Jake Gyllenhaal

Ambulance runs in Philippine cinemas (nationwide) starting March 16, ahead of US release.

Life

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

B4

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2022

The everevolving art of Tanya Gaisano Lee

Art and music classes at Sunshine Place online

Tanya Gaisano Lee (right) with daughter Jana

IT IS said that creativity, once awakened, cannot be contained. And looking at the works of Davao-based artist Tanya Gaisano Lee, one can see how this statement rings true.

The evolution of Lee’s art is certainly as colorful as the path that took her to the scene. With both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Child Development Education, it seems her background is as far removed from any creative field as one can get. And yet in everything she does, her love of her art never seems that far behind.

“I’ve always been expressing myself through art even as a young child,” shared Tanya, whose school notebooks were always filled with her pen and ink drawings.

Tanya finally decided to pursue her creative dreams full-time after she got married, buoyed by the support of her husband, and confident in her vision and talent as an artist.

In 2014, Tanya entered the local art scene and presented black and white patterns which, while still beautiful in their simplicity, still evoked a sense of promise as to the artistry that is to come.

Four years later, it was Tanya’s breakthrough year. She held her first solo exhibit at the Crucible Gallery in Manila.

Entitled Beyond Nude, the exhibit showcased Tanya’s strong artistic voice – not only in her choice of subject, which many may have considered taboo, but also in her vivid interpretation.

Tanya’s take on erotic art displayed dynamism with its use of vibrant colors and patterns – elements that will become the signature of Tanya’s artistic vision.

“I believe our craft is largely influenced by our own experiences – mine certainly are,” mused Tanya, who added that her frequent travels in the past had also enabled her to be exposed to foreign arts and cultures. The beautiful places and characters she’s seen and met have served as inspiration, though what makes her artwork distinct is her decidedly nonconventional approach to depicting any subject.

“The themes that I use in my art vary – I will focus on people on some works, animals on another. I also present landscapes differently; my abstract is my interpretation of an aerial view of the land or the horizon,” shared Tanya.

“But whatever theme I decide to use, I try to imbue it with a unique or intricate element, something that would elevate it from the traditional.”

To say that Tanya has mastered pen art is an understatement; the progression from her earlier works to her more recent pieces shows a deftness of hand that elevates such a simple tool. Tanya has also branched out

Etched with prints ANYBODY can be a painter, but not everyone can be a printmaker.

It is a statement that printmakervisual artist Fil Delacruz shared with us in our short conversation during the opening of the Of Art and Wine: 20/30 A Limited Edition Print Exhibit at the Conrad Manila’s Gallery C. He enthused that printmaking is a highly technical medium. One can’t just practice printmaking because it requires certain equipment. Apart from that, a printmaker needs to have

‘Untitled’ by Renan Ortiz

in terms of her materials.

“I use acrylic paint and ink — ink is for my patterns, and then a technical pen of varying nib widths. For textures, I have my own experimental add-ins such as glass beads and others,” said Tanya.

Tanya’s artistic evolution is also evident in her last exhibit – one that was truly personal to her as she came home to her hometown Davao to showcase her art.

Beyond the Womb, which was Tanya’s first solo exhibit in Davao, told her journey in conceiving her daughter – and the different pieces of the collection evoked all the challenges and triumphs that she went through.

“Authenticity is important to me,” stated Tanya, who recognizes how blessed she is to be able to pursue her passion for creating beautiful works of art. “Because I have this opportunity to share my talents and my creative vision, I want to make sure that I share my genuine self and reflect it in every art piece that I create.”

This 2022, with such a deeply personal approach towards art, Tanya embarks on a new journey as an artist and shares her vision by making her vibrant pieces available via decorative art trays. “I felt inspired to have art trays because I wanted not only to be part of the aesthetic on the walls of some homes but to also have a utilitarian piece that could be available to more people.

Those who would like to punctuate their home decor with Tanya’s artworks can order a two-piece set and select from three size dimensions: small (12in x8in), medium (14in x 9in), and large (15in x 10in).

“This is an exciting new direction for me as I start this home line and bring my art closer to people. The artworks I chose for the decorative trays are my rendition of the Madonna and Child, vivid rooster, and the colorful peacock.”

“I also plan to create more and expand available designs for the line in the coming months,” she added.

To know more about Tanya and her creative work, or to purchase her art trays, visit her Instagram page at www. instagram.com/tanyagaisanolee_art.

Decorative art trays featuring three of Tanya’s vibrant works

technical know-how.

“Before I have started working on other media, I was known as a printmaker. What makes me excited about printmaking? You work in reverse. You do mirror image. If you want to draw a figure with your right hand, you need to draw on the left hand,” said Delacruz who shared that printmaking was his first love.

Aside from the technical process, not knowing what the final print will look like is one of its attractions.

“With painting, you get simultaneous gratification because you see the figure as you paint. In printmaking, you can’t see the final product until you go to the press and print it. Sometimes, it is very rewarding. But other times, it can be frustrating because it doesn’t come out the way you want it,” he related.

As Delacruz puts it, they don’t enjoy the final print. Printmakers enjoy the tedious process that requires patience and determination for artistic excellence.

It doesn’t have to be a big work to call it monumental. To appreciate a good print, one has to look not at the scale but the execution, the quality of the work, and the technical know-how of the artists. Once you know the process, you will appreciate printmaking.

Delacruz shared that he does double

’Sun Rooters’ by Rod Paras-Perez

Dr. Edgardo “Ed” Manguiat conducts voice lesson workshops at Sunshine Place

Art Association of the Philippines President and acrylic instructor Fidel Sarmiento

A

THERAPY on its own, art classes are beneficial for the development of cognitive functions such as imagination, creativity, motor, and analyzing skills. Art lessens depression, anxiety, and boredom.

Art classes are one of the best ways to relax or relieve stress, too.

Explore your creative side as Sunshine Place offers art and music online classes designed to help you enhance your skills and learn new things from the comfort of your home.

Create watercolor wonders and learn the art of calligraphy with Beth Robles of Playcrafts PH. She started scrapbooking and card making as a personal hobby and started a page to initially de-stash some items. Since then she has conducted watercolor, floral painting, and calligraphy workshops using different media such as watercolor, gouache, soft pastels, and acrylic at the Sunshine Place.

Sunshine Place also offers acrylic painting in beginner and intermediate levels. Art Association of the Philippines President and acrylic instructor Fidel Sarmiento will mentor you all

throughout the sessions with handson techniques, application of different brushes and basic strokes, and color rendering. You’ll get to explore different styles in creating still life, landscapes, cityscapes, as well as underwater, animals, and portrait paintings.

Find your own voice under the guidance and instruction of the esteemed conductor/founder of the renowned UP Singing Ambassadors Dr. Edgardo “Ed” Manguiat, who is conducting music and voice lessons for all ages at Sunshine Place online.

Dr. Manguiat has led the UP Singing Ambassadors in garnering eight Grand Prizes and 36 First Prizes in 20 international choral competitions in Italy, France, Hungary, Germany, Spain,

Belgium, Poland, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, The Netherlands, Wales, and Switzerland.

Dr. Manguiat is a member of the international Federation of Choral Music (IFCM) and the Philippine Choral Directors Association (PCDA).

He has collaborated with four National Artists– Lucio San Pedro, Bienvenido Lumbera, Virgilio Almario, and Ryan Cayabyab – either as composer or as lyricist. He was the head of the New Era University Conducting Department.

In 2015, he was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Music.

The Sunshine Place, a senior recreation center under the Felicidad Tan Sy Foundation, is a venue for adults to live actively, through engaging in recreational classes and age-appropriate physical training programs. It is the venue to be entertained, to socialize, and to reflect; a place of happiness and wellness for one’s mind, body, and soul.

For online classes, contact mobile number (0917) 515-5656 to enroll or email at online. sunshineplace@gmail.com.

For more updates, like and subscribe to our Facebook Page @SunshinePlace56Jupiter and YouTube channel, Sunshine Place: Senior Recreation Center. Or follow our Instagram account @sunshineplaceph. You may also want to check our website at http:// www.sunshineplaceph.com/

Learn how to make stunning artworks with Sunshine Place’s online workshops

reverse, where he usually starts with engraving the dark areas then burnishing them to put the highlight.

He also incorporates linear tonal values.

For Sulyap, his artwork on display at Gallery C, Delacruz makes use of mezzotint and engraving, with portions made using a special etching technique that combines both acid and non-acid intaglio processes in one print.

His work features a diwata, a recurring image in his body of work.

He admitted that finding a theme or image to work on has been a challenge to him until he found inspiration from diwata.

“I was inspired by beautiful native while living in the South. It became my muse. Before, whenever I was in front of the plate, I always asked myself what would I do. But now, I just think about diwata – how I will present her today, how will I interact with her,” said the printmaker.

Sulyap is one of the featured prints in the 20/30 A Limited Edition Print Exhibit. The title of the exhibit refers to the conventions for numbering prints reproduced from a single plate.

The exhibit is presented in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, through its Visual Arts and Museum Division, and the Association of Pinoy Printmakers. This

is the second time that the CCP, AP, and Conrad collaborated with Masters of Print exhibit back in 2017 being the first.

A valuable tip from Nestor Jardin, former CCP president: This exhibit has good print collection. So, if you are looking to invest in artworks but have limited budget, this is a good start.

“Commercially, prints are more affordable than oil and acrylic paintings.

So, the younger collectors who are just beginning to afford and appreciate artworks can start with acquiring prints.

Subsequently, they eventually graduate to other media,” said Jardin.

If you collect these folios, you have a Bencab, a Sanso, a Borlongan, Elmer Borlongan, Raul Isidro, Ofelia Gelvenzon-Tequi, Imelda CajipeEndaya, Jonathan Olazo, among others. One of the featured works is

by Neil Doloricon, who passed away during the pandemic; one of his last works.

For the exhibit, the print portfolio comes in two special sets. The first set features works by masters. The second set highlights works by young printmakers such as Joey Cobcobo, Lenores RS Lim, Wesley Valenzuela, Sunchin Teoh, Renan Ortiz, Noell El Farol, Salvador Ching, Yas Doctor, and more.

The folios are exquisite artworks in relief printing, intaglio, and serigraph printing. There are also woodcut and rubber cut prints. There are also created highly detailed drypoint prints. There are also restrike by Juvenal Sanso and the late Rod Paras-Perez dated 1963.

According to Delacruz, that’s one of the good things about printmaking.

If you have the plates, you can do a restrike. And that makes printmaking a lasting art form.

“Printmaking is here to last. There are different styles and media that are coming out, mostly digital. But they still have to pass the test of time. Traditional printmaking is lasting. When you see a Rembrandt, made in 17th century, it still has high artistic value,” shared Delacruz.

As our conversation comes to an end, someone from the group asked about making beautiful mistakes in printmaking. For the uninitiated, correcting plates in printmaking is a tedious process. Because when you engrave, you can’t put the metal back.

You have to scrape it all over again using sharp tools to remove errors and put corrections.

But as Delacruz good-naturedly said: “Artists never commit mistakes. If ever, it leads to new discovery. It is part of the artistic process.”

‘Pathless Path’ by Benjamin Torrado Cabrera

Nestor Jardin (left) and Fil Delacruz at the 20/30 A Limited Edition Print Exhibit