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Ship liners eye 25% rate hike Ship operators at Batangas port jump the gun with 20% markup

By Darwin G. Amojelar

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HIPPING companies, particularly those operating out of Manila, warned that passenger and freight rates could go up 25 percent due to skyrocketing fuel prices.

This was after several passenger ship operators based in Batangas raised their rates for rolling cargo

and fares by 20 percent last Tuesday.

"A lot of shipping lines are losing money. They are trying to survive and now [that] the pandemic is... ending and

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 36 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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High transport costs push food prices up

By Othel V. Campos PRICES of basic food items have already risen by as much as P60 in some markets in Metro Manila following 11 straight weeks of increases in the pump prices of petroleum products in the country.

This as the Department of Agriculture (DA) said prices of agricultural commodities are likely to increase in the next few days, as costs of fuel and transportation have been weighing heavily on recent agricultural production.

In a GMA “24 Oras Weekend” report, market sellers said the increases are due to the higher costs of transporting products from their suppliers in the provinces

OIL OPPORTUNITY. Copra farmers walk barefoot with full loads as they try to take advantage of high prices for their products due to the continuous increase in the prices of crude oil at Sitio Hubsan Bayan in Javier, Leyte on Sunday. Robert Gines

to the National Capital Region.

At the Trabajo Market in Manila, price hikes were recorded in the per-kilogram rates of chicken to P180 from P170; pork kasim/pigue to P370 from P350; liempo to P420 from P340 to P360; tomatoes to P140 from P80; ampalaya to P140 from P100; and carrots to P140 from P100.

The same trend was recorded at the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City.

Chicken was at P140 to P165 from P120 to P140; bangus to P240 from P200; kasim/pigue at P330; liempo at P350; tomatoes to P100 from P60; broccoli and carrots to P120 from P100; pechay baguio to P70 from P60; eggplant to P60 from P50; and ampalaya to P150 from P100.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said the increasing price of agricultural inputs may contribute to an impending increase in the prices of agricultural produce.

“If there are movements in transportation costs and the price of agricultural inputs, the price of agricultural commodities will be affected,” she said over the weekend.

This comes after an umbrella group of agricultural organizations warned consumers last week to brace for an increase in the price of rice.

According to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), fuel accounts Next page

Common ground: VP post not a ‘spare tire’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Vice President should not be a “spare tire” to the President, but while the candidates for the country’s second-highest elective position all agreed on this, they differed on how they should wield their power and influence following the May 9 polls.

In the first VP debate organized by the Commission on Elect i o n s (Comelec) on Sunday, Senate

President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said it was up to the winning candidate how to use their position to help the public.

Should he be given the opportunity to amend the Constitution, Sotto III said he would make the Vice President as Senate President, as it is in the United States and other countries.

Pangilinan, for his part, cited incumbent Vice President Leni Next page

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VP BETS’ TURN. The seven candidates for Vice President in the May 9 national elections – minus survey frontrunner Sara DuterteCarpio and Rep. Lito Atienza, who is still recovering from surgery – take the stage for the first VP debate organized by the Commission on Elections on Sunday.

Imee: Avoid ‘Smartmagic,’ probe breach fully Marcos to attend ‘Kandidatalks,’ live interview of prexy hopefuls TO AVOID the May 9 elections being “Smartmagicked,” Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday said government agencies led by the National Bureau of Investigation will first conduct a thorough probe of alleged security breaches of the poll

technology provider’s system.

Other Smartmatic employees who might possibly be involved in the supposed security breach of the firm’s election software system will be investigated, Marcos also said in a radio

interview.

“We are afraid of the elections being manipulated. As you can see in the Senate, no candidate really wants to be a Smartmagicked. Even my brother (former Next page

‘Last mile’ vax strategy targets smaller LGUs people who have yet to receive their people are fully immunized against COCOVID-19 jabs, an official of the Na- VID-19, some 5 million short of the target THE government will shift its inocu- tional Vaccination Operations Center 70 million for the month, data showed. lation strategy to target smaller local (NVOC) said Saturday.

“We're in the last mile of vaccination," government units in a bid to identify Next page As of March 15, nearly 65 million

By Willie Casas

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will attend Go Negosyo's “Kandidatalks,” a series of broadcast interviews starting today with the bets in the May 9 national elections, his spokesman Vic Rodriguez confirmed Sunday.

The show, hosted by the presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, said former senator Marcos would be paired with doctor-lawyer Jose Montemayor Jr. to kick off the five-day series.

Concepcion, founder of Go Negosyo, will join journalist and news anchor Cheryl Cosim to ask the candidates about their plans should they become the country's next president.

This developed as Senator Imee Marcos said Sunday it was better for her brother to attend the debates organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), noting people who tune into the debates are excited to hear from the candidates.

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BBM tops anew DZRH poll, Sara secures Bulacan

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz Presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center) and running mate Sara Duterte-Carpio (4th from left) wave flags on stage with their senatorial slate, mayoral candidate Jeannie Sandoval and congressional candidate Ricky Sandoval during the UniTeam grand rally at Barangay Potrero, Malabon City. Ver Noveno

WITH less than two months before the May 9 elections, presidential frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. remains strong as he leads in yet another Next page

Lakas-CMD Vice Presidential Candidate Sara Duterte (center) flashes the ‘Tibay at Puso’ sign with House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and various candidates and provincial leaders during the ‘Sara Para sa Barangay’ program at the Brgy.

Magala Covered Court in Baliuag, Bulacan on Sunday. Ver Noveno

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News

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Turkey: Russia-Ukraine pact ’close’

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STANBUL—Turkey on Sunday said Russia and Ukraine made progress on their negotiations to halt the invasion and the two warring sides were close to an agreement.

"Of course, it is not an easy thing to come to terms with while the war is going on, while civilians are killed, but we would like to say that momentum is still gained," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in live comments from the southern Turkish province of Antalya.

"We see that the parties are close to an agreement."

Cavusoglu this week visited Russia

and Ukraine as Turkey, which has strong bonds with the two sides, has tried to position itself as a mediator.

Ankara hosted the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine in Antalya last week.

Cavusoglu said Turkey was in contact with the negotiating teams from the two countries, but he refused to divulge the details of the talks as "we play an honest mediator and facilitator role."

In an interview with daily Hurriyet, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said the sides were negotiating six points: Ukraine's neutrality, disarmament, and security guarantees, the so-called "deNazification," removal of obstacles on the use of the Russian language in Ukraine, the status of the breakaway Donbass region and the status of Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly appealed for peace, urging Russia to accept "meaningful" talks for an end to the invasion.

"This is the time to meet, to talk, time for renewing territorial integrity and fairness for Ukraine," he said, in his latest

Ship...

will distribute another round of subsidy payments to public transport drivers and delivery riders, and fuel discounts for the agriculture sector in April.

Another P2.5 billion has been allotted for the subsidy of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and P600 million for the agriculture sector, to help them cope with the rising fuel prices, said acting Budget Secretary Tina Rose Marie Canda.

This month, the government began distributing the first tranche of the subsidies. More than 377,000 public utility vehicle drivers are expected to receive P6,500 each while those in the agriculture sector will get P3,000.

PLSA members include 2Go Group Inc., Gothong Southern Shipping Lines Inc. (GSSLI), Magsaysay Shipping and Logistics (MSL)/ Lorenzo Shipping Corporation (LSC) and NMC Container Lines Inc. (NMCCLI), Meridian Cargo Container Shipping (MCCS), Moreta Shipping Lines Inc. (MSLI), Oceanic Container Lines Inc. (OCLI), Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation (PSACC), Solid Shipping Lines Inc. (SSLI) and Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holding Corporation (CLIHC).

They operate mainly from the Manila North Harbor as their primary port destination to about 22 local base ports in the Visayas and Mindanao.

They account for about 80 percent of Manila North Harbor's port volume.

Last Tuesday, Batangas-based Starlite Ferries hiked its rates by one-fifth for routes going to Mindoro and Romblon islands and to provinces in Visayas and Mindanao.

Montenegro Shipping Lines also added 10 percent to its fares effective March 1, and a similar hike to rolling cargo rates on March 16.

According to Emmanuel Carpio, director of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) in Calabarzon, the agency could not stop shipping companies from the hikes because ship fares are deregulated.

"On the part of Marina, we will just acknowledge them... they will just comply [with] some requirements," Carpio said.

Data from the Department of Energy showed that Dated Brent prices recorded a high of $137 per barrel on March 8.

Effective March 15, gasoline prices increased by P7.10-P7.20 per liter, diesel by P12.00-P13.25 per liter, and kerosene by

P10.50 per liter.

This resulted in a year-to-date increase of P20.35 per liter for gasoline, P30.65 per liter for diesel and P24.90 per liter for kerosene.

Also over the weekend, the organizer of the Maginhawa community pantry during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic said she has given food and other relief to drivers of public utility vehicles and delivery riders affected by the consecutive increases in gasoline and diesel prices.

In a Facebook post, community pantry creator Ana Patricia Non said that it was drivers who were hurt most during the pandemic by the suspension of public transport due to lockdowns.

Now, as they are about to go back to normal, they face the problem of rising fuel costs, she said.

Non said she partnered with a nongovernmental organization, Balai Obrero Foundation, to distribute the food aid to their driver-beneficiaries.

Based on her interactions with people who come to the Maginhawa community pantry, she said that the P1,000 to P4,000 cash aid they received were not enough for their needs due to the high prices of basic commodities.

But the almost dozen straight weeks of increases in pump prices have seen both gasoline and diesel prices breach the P80 mark in some areas.

“So far, there is no advisory yet from the DA Consumer Affairs.

However, based on the cost structure, we see movements in prices including cost of production and transport and logistics, as well,” she added.

While the DA acknowledges the pending hike in the price of agricultural commodities, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said there should not be any increase in the price of manufactured goods, and even for other agricultural foods, particularly staples like rice.

“Before a price increase is considered, please note there are other (means to)

support lower prices for consumers. For rice, the Rice Tariffication Law provides big support to rice farmers. And the DA is giving fuel vouchers,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

Under the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), farmers receive financial support of over P10 billion per year, for procurement of seeds, machineries, and fertilizers.

Lopez added the government is also pushing to remove pass-thru fees in all local government units, a measure intended to lower transportation costs.

He said LGUs were asked to build buffer stocks of rice since they can buy directly from farmers, and they can borrow funds from government financial institutions (GFIs) like the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Land

Bank of the Philippines.

“We also encourage and promote modes of direct selling to supermarkets to minimize transactions through middlemen. This is a program to sell cheaper rice in participating supermarkets and retailers,” he added.

The DTI is also pushing to deploy more Diskwento Caravans, where manufacturers and producers are given the opportunity to directly sell to consumers, at cheaper prices.

“When we cut middlemen, we were able to sell the status quo, particularly for rice and pork products,” Lopez said.

The DTI is set to pilot test permanent Diskwento Caravans in select LGUs and ambitions to replicate the same in all LGUs nationwide.

Region (NCR) with 2,155, followed by Region 4-A with 1,020 and Region 6 with 743.

Recoveries increased to 3,570,355 while new fatalities pushed the death toll to 58,023.

The latest data of the DOH showed that 24.64 percent of intensive care unit (ICU) beds for COVID-19 patients nationwide were in use.

At least 22.04 percent of isolation beds in the country were utilized, while 13.66 percent of ward beds nationwide were in use.

The independent OCTA Research Group said the Philippines was rated “very low risk” for COVID-19 even as its neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei experienced a surge in infections.

OCTA fellow Guido David, in a tweet, said the Philippines recorded an average daily attack rate (ADAR) of 0.47 on March 18, with a seven-day average of 527 cases.

ADAR pertains to the average number of new cases in a period per 100,000 people.

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ growth rate in new cases from the previous week as compared to the current week was at negative 22 percent.

The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Tuesday that all areas in the Philippines were now considered to be at low risk for COVID-19.

OCTA also reported that Timor Leste, Taiwan, Cambodia, and China were also at “very low risk” for the viral disease with an ADAR ranging from 0.13 to 0.86.

However, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei are all under the “severe” category, with South Korea recording the highest ADAR in East Asia countries at 788.15. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Marcos...

Rodriguez, however, was silent on the comments the elder Marcos sibling gave to radio DWIZ, pointing instead to their previous statement that the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer preferred to reach out to his supporters at the local level through campaign sorties.

Meanwhile, the Comelec said it would change the format of the second presidential debate, set for March 26— but did not say how it would do so.

"I am heartened to see that all of the candidates for the highest office in the land have decided to participate in Kandidatalks," Concepcion said in a statement.

"It is a rare achievement and tells us how important it is for the country's next leader to prioritize the welfare of the country's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)," he added.

The show will be streamed daily at 10:30 a.m. starting March 21 to 25 over the Go Negosyo Facebook page and broadcast over One PH (Cignal Ch.1).

It will also be broadcast over One News (Cignal Ch. 8) at 5:30 p.m.

The Marcos-Montemayor pairing will be followed by Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao and labor leader Leodegario "Ka Leody" de Guzman on March 22, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and former Defense chief Norberto Gonzales (March 23), Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso and former Palace spokesman Ernesto "Ernie" Abella (March 24), and Vice President Leni Robredo with Faisal Mangondato on March 25.

Organized by Go Negosyo and Bilang Pilipino, News 5's coverage of the 2022 Philippine Elections, "Kandidatalks" will focus on three issues that face the country following two years battling the COVID-19 pandemic: the economy, jobs, and health.

Go Negosyo first hosted a forum for presidential candidates in 2016.

Talking to reporters after the first debate Saturday night, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia described the first event as “perfect” -- even though Marcos Jr., the presumptive frontrunner in the presidential race, was a no-show.

“In the next presidential debate, there will be some adjustments that will surprise the candidates. If they already know or have an idea of what will happen, there is no more thrill,” he said after the first “PiliPinas Debates 2022” at the Sofitel Hotel Tent in Pasay City on Saturday night.

“We can definitely promise you that there will be changes in the format.

There is a surprise difference that they themselves will appreciate,” he added.

On her brother’s debate appearances, Senator Marcos said: “For me, I think it's better if he appears in the debates because the people are excited to hear from our candidates.”

Imee said she advised Bongbong, who is leading voter surveys, to attend the debates, "kahit hindi lahat, at least magpakita (Even if he doesn't attend all the debates, at least he shows up.)”

"At the end of the day I'm just the elder sister... I can advise him but it's his decision if it's important for them," she added.

Garcia said the first debate was “very successful.”

“It's not 100 [percent] perfect, but it's a good start, it's successful for us. We think everyone, probably even if those who watched on television, followed it on social media, heard over radio, we can say that it's very successful because it was appreciated by our candidates and their teams at the same time, and also by everyone who witnessed this debate,” he said after the more than two-hour event. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

alongside the Smartmatic employee who was recently placed under the custody of the NBI for involvement in the supposed infringement on Smartmatic's data.

Asked how to avoid the “Smartmagic” in the upcoming elections, Marcos said: “What we will really do is focus on this investigation. We will first allow the NBI, CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center), and DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) to conduct

a thorough investigation.”

But the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Sunday called on the public to continue to trust the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Smartmatic, reiterating the alleged breach first reported by a national newspaper (not the Standard) has nothing to do with the upcoming polls.

“We must still trust the Comelec and Smartmatic because if we don’t, then what is the point of our preparations?

What else are we giving importance to in our upcoming elections?” PPCRV national trustee and director for voters education and volunteers mobilization Dr. Arwin Serrano said.

But Marcos said: “These are the ones we are looking at because if there is one employee, there might be others. It’s very important that we know who they are.

Maybe it was all planted, and we don’t know who did that.” Vito Barcelo (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

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the volume is going up, the problem now is the fuel price has gone up," said Mark Mathew Parco, president of Philippine Liner Shipping Association (PLSA).

He said fuel now accounts for about 40 percent to 50 percent of the shipping lines' operating costs due to the continued increase in its price.

Given this, Parco is expecting a 2-percent increase in passenger and freight rates to recover losses from high oil prices.

He said the high fuel costs would further delay the industry's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

One executive of PLSA, who requested anonymity, said companies would be imposing a bunker surcharge to recover their high costs as a result of the continued rise in fuel prices.

This is on top of surging land transportation prices too, as last week a network of ridehailing drivers and operators pushed for a P15 base fare hike amid spiraling oil prices.

Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management said the government

High...

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for 60 percent of their production cost as they use tractors, machineries, and mills.

Palay farm gate prices may go up by at least P3, SINAG president Rosendo So said.

Aside from rice, the country's major agricultural crops are corn, coconut, sugarcane, banana, cassava, pineapple, and vegetables.

The major livestock products are hog, cattle, carabao, goat, and dairy products. Chicken and duck are the leading poultry products. Having vast stretches of coastlines, the Philippines boasts of an abundance in fish species.

‘Last...

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said NVOC co-lead Dr. Kezia Rosario, noting it would be more difficult to convince vaccine-hesitant groups.

"We are moving [in a] more granular [manner] to each government unit….

Now let's focus on the areas that are still unvaccinated and we will study how we can provide services in these areas," she said in a mix of English and Filipino.

She said special vaccination days could be possible in areas that have slow vaccination rates, such as Cebu, Lanao Del Sur, Bangsamoro region, Central Visayas, Mimaropa, Bicol region, and some areas in Soccsksargen.

The government reached its target of 1.8 million persons inoculated in the fourth phase of its Bayanihan, Bakunahan drive that started March 10, Rosario said, noting that senior citizen vaccinations were extended to Friday.

Rosario said vaccination for 12- to 17-year-olds had a good turnout with about 255,000 children of the age group showing up at vaccination sites to get either their first or second doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Vaccinations for senior citizens, however, had a lower turnout with almost 100,000 individuals taking their COVID-19 jabs.

“What we need to do with our senior citizens is to approach them, and to have more conversations and social preparations for them,” she said.

The Philippines reported 525 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, increasing the nationwide tally to 3,673,717.

Based on the Department of Health (DOH)’s data posted on its website, active infections stood at 45,339.

The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were the National Capital

Imee:...

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senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.), Senator (Vicente) Sotto, Senator Koko (Pimentel), we have different (presidential) candidates. but everyone really doesn't want to be Smartmagicked again,” she said.

The Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms, which Marcos chairs, will determine if there are others who worked

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video posted on social media on Saturday.

Turkey said it was ready to host a meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We are working day and night for peace," Cavusoglu said on Sunday.

The humanitarian situation was deteriorating in besieged Ukrainian cities under relentless Russian bombardment on Sunday, as Kyiv called on Moscow's ally Beijing to "condemn Russian barbarism".

In an apparent escalation of the conflict, Moscow on Saturday claimed it had used hypersonic missiles in Ukraine in what would be the first combat use of the next-generation weapons. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

TUCP to file P200 wage hike petition in Central Visayas THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is filing today a petition seeking to increase the minimum wage in Central Visayas, part of its efforts to raise salaries in most regions of the country.

According to TUCP Vice President Luis Corral, the TUCP will file a motion to increase the minimum wage in Region 7, which includes Cebu City, by P200 from its current level of P400, but the final petition will still be finalized.

“This wage petition is not just because (of the oil crisis worsened by the) Ukraine-Russia (conflict). This is just to come with the hikes in petroleum prices that will be artificially dropped next week,” Corral said in a GMA “24 Oras Weekend” report.

Moving forward, the TUCP said it will file petitions for increases in the minimum wages across nearly all regions in the Philippines.

The TUCP last week appealed for a P470 increase in the daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR) to bring it up to P1,007, citing hunger, malnutrition, and the steep increase in the prices of fuel and other basic goods.

Domestic oil prices have risen in 11 straight weeks so far, with gasoline up by P7.10 per liter and diesel by P13.15 per liter on Tuesday alone. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Common...

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Robredo, his running mate, who launched several COVID-19 response programs.

Rizalito David pushed for a shift to parliamentary government, saying if the Constitution had to be changed, the Philippines should turn to “a more sensitive method of governing society” by moving to a parliamentary system.

This shift would allow the elections to be cheaper for the government to stage and to prevent actors, entertainers, and other popular personalities from winning seats in the government at will, David added.

Candidate Manny Lopez said the Vice President should be given the power to "determine the validity of the assumption of the top position" or the presidency.

Dr. Willie Ong said he believes he could help the President by taking the helm of the Department of Health and the country's COVID-19 pandemic response, while Walden Bello wanted to take the reins of the Department of Finance owing to the power it wields over the country’s economic policies and foreign creditors.

Carlos Serapio, along with Pangilinan, Ong, said he supports tandem voting – where the President and Vice President are automatically voted together – in future elections, while Bello and Sotto said a "check and balance" would be welcome in the executive department.

Bello again took a swipe at survey leader Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, who was absent from the debate and opted to attend a campaign sortie with running mate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malabon on Sunday night.

"I really would like to hear from Sara Duterte. I don't know why she doesn’t appear in this debate to appear in front of the people," he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

BBM...

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pre-election poll, this time conducted by DZRH, one of the leading and widestreaching radio stations in the country.

Meanwhile, Marcos Jr.’s running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, on Sunday led another productive swing through Bulacan after she secured the support of several local mayors here.

The tandem later took the stage together at a sortie in Barangay Potrero, Malabon City, where they were joined by their senatorial slate and surrounded by thousands of supporters.

The latest DZRH “Desisyon 2022” survey conducted on March 12 showed Marcos got 49.8% of the votes from 7,566 respondents. This lead reflects Pulse Asia's recently released results where “BBM” solidified his lead by posting a 60% voter preference.

Far behind Marcos in the latest DZRH survey are Vice President Leni Robredo with 21.4%, Manila Mayor Isko Domagoso with 9.8%, Senator Manny Pacquiao with 8.0%, and Senator Ping Lacson with 4.7%. The undecided was recorded at 3.9%.

Marcos also attended DZRH's “Bakit Ikaw? Presidential Job Interview,” where he was praised for his intellectual and indepth answers on how he will handle the government under the UniTeam leadership.

Instead of attending televised forums, the Marcos-Duterte tandem prefer to conduct their campaign sorties in various parts of the country to deliver their message of unity and present their programs of government directly to the people.

(See full story online at manilastandard.net)

News

SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2022

UP-PGH in QC to create jobs, says Defensor THE P21.3-billion University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Diliman Project will have a huge multiplier effect on the economy of Quezon City in terms of creating new jobs and income, Rep. Michael Defensor (Anakalusugan) said Sunday.

“We are wholly endorsing the project. Besides vastly improving public access to world-class charity hospitalization and outpatient services, the project will create 3,400 new permanent jobs,” Defensor, who is running for Quezon City mayor in the May 9 elections, said.

“We’ve gone over the project details, and the hospital alone will create 1,500 new full-time occupations for medical and allied healthcare staff plus 1,900 new fixed positions for general administrative workers,” Defensor said in a statement.

Hundreds of new jobs in building and equipment maintenance, cleaning, and security services will also be produced and contracted out, according to Defensor.

“In the initial phase, the project will generate thousands of new constructionrelated jobs that will benefit low-income households,” Defensor pointed out.

“Once the project is completed, additional jobs will be created by small businesses that will emerge around the hospital’s 24-hour operation,” Defensor said.

“The new demand for housing, food, laundry, transportation, and other services will require supply,” Defensor said.

The UP-PGH Diliman Project involves the development of a state-ofthe-art, 700-bed university teaching and research hospital with multispecialty capabilities, outpatient services, hospice care, auxiliary services, and a College of Medicine.

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SUMMER SCENE.

Children from Baseco, Manila play in an inflatable swimming pool Sunday to cool their bodies down from the scorching heat.

State weather forecasters advised Filipinos to expect and prepare for hot and humid days as it officially declared the start of the dry season.

Norman Cruz

Teachers may soon get pay hike

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N INCREASE in the salaries of teachers might soon be realized despite the COVID-19 pandemic, acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar has said.

“I’m sure there will be an increase in the salaries of our teachers. Tatay Digong loves our teachers,” he said during the “Ask Me Anything, Anywhere” segment aired on his Facebook page on Saturday.

Duterte, in several speeches, said teachers were very important to him because his late mother Soledad was also a teacher.

Andanar said he would ask Education Secretary Leonor Briones for updates

regarding plans to raise teachers’ pay.

In March 2021, Duterte said the COVID-19 pandemic foiled his plan to increase the salary of teachers.

But he said he was “saving” funds so he could finally give the salary hike that teachers deserve.

Earlier, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers renewed its call for salary increases, saying their families are suffer-

ing from rising costs of fuel that also cause spikes in the cost of goods and other services.

The education sector obtained the largest increase in the approved 2022 national budget with P788.5 billion.

The 2022 budget is expected to help various reforms and initiatives for the country’s education sector amid the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwehile, Partido Reporma senatorial candidate Guillermo Eleazar said Sunday a subject that focuses on disaster resilience should be included in the school curriculum since Filipinos were often exposed to different natural

Solon to gov’t: Speed up fuel reserve project

hazards such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, among others.

Eleazar, the former Philippine National Police chief, said it was wise that the Department of Education (DepEd) considered the value of disaster resilience among young learners.

“We are hit by strong typhoons on a yearly basis and this do not include the threat of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. And every year, a lot of our countrymen are hit hard by calamities.

A lot of lives, livelihood sources, and properties are often lost making it difficult for those affected to recover),” he said in a statement.

Nograles asks: What’s spy ship up to?

By Rio N. Araja

By Rio N. Araja

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerye has urged the the Philippine National Oil Co. to fast track its strategic fuel reserve project.

Amid the continued volatility of the global oil market as the Ukraine crisis drags out, he said Sunday he was hoping the long overdue government plan to put up a strategic petroleum reserve would finally get off the ground before President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from his post.

The PNOC is the state-run firm that Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi claimed his office had tapped to do a feasibility on the SPR, “a facility that the DOE already considered way back two years ago to establish as a way to stabilize domestic supply and prices of gasoline and diesel to shield consumers from the kind of volatile situation now gripping the global oil market as an offshoot of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” Villafuerte said.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed that after the DOE had obviously dropped the ball on this SPR plan, which has progressed at a snail’s pace at this Department, the newly named PNOC president

PUWERSA ng Bayaning Atleta partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles questioned Sunday the true mission of the Chinese spy ship that ventured into Philippine domestic waters while warning that this could be a test of the country’s border security amid the escalating tension between China and Taiwan.

He cited the latest incursion of China must be cause of alarm for Philippine security officials, saying while previous territorial breaches were on the country’s exclusive economic zone, this was the first publicly disclosed incident of a Chinese military ship detected in our domestic waters.

He reacted to a report that a Chinese reconnaissance ship was detected in the vicinity of Sulu sea near eastern Palawan and was demanded to leave by the Philippine Navy.

There was no immediately available comment from the Department of Foreign Affairs or from the Department of National Defense.

Such incident was a serious act of provocation because it happened at a time when the Philippines was having a joint military exercise with the United States called the Marine Exercise 2022, Nograles said.

POLITICAL SUPPORTERS. Ituloy ang Pagbabago Movement Mahalin Natin Ang Pilipinas President Faith Recto lead Sunday the oath taking of the new set of officers at Conrad hotel in Pasay City. The group, which claims t have 7,732,000 million registered voters, promises to help Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos and Vice Presidential candidate Sara Duterte win the May 9, 2022 election. Norman Cruz

Caloocan City to honor 17 frontliners on Monday

By Jun David

THE Caloocan City Government is scheduled to honor today 17 outstanding frontliners for this year, in conjunction with the city’s Frontliners’ Day celebration, officials said Sunday.

Mayor Oscar Malapitan, and author of the Frontliners Day ordinance Coun-

cilor Vince Hernandez, will lead the celebration.

The 17 frontliners who demonstrated their invaluable service and sacrifice include doctors, police, firefighters, emergency responders, security guards, vaccination personnel, swabbing personnel, tricycle drivers, and media practitioners.

Some organizations that have shown support to the City Government in the midst of the ongoing fight against the pandemic will also be honored.

Hernandez, also president of the city’s Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, said the Caloocan Frontliners’ Day held every March 15 symbolized tribute for the heroism of the frontliners.

SHFC conducts 1st in-person orientation

By Rio N. Araja THE Social Housing Finance Corp. recently conducted its first in-person orientation of the community mortgage program in Magalang, Pampanga after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic Cesar Macaspac, Insurance and Community Enhancement Divi-

sion manager, said there were over 1,700 people who took part in the overview of the CMP, the agency’s flagship initiative that assists legally organized associations of informal settler families to purchase and develop a tract of land under the concept of community ownership.

He said he discussed the type of

loan a community association could avail of from SHFC, one of the key shelter agencies under the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

Other concerns from the Pampangueños were also tackled, including eligibility, application requirements and processes.

NBI seizes P31.5m worth of bogus Nike products

By Willie Casas

SHELTER ALLOWANCE. Tabaco city mayor Krisel Lagman of the province of Albay leads the distribution of emergency shelter allowance to 100 families totalling P5,000 each. Norman Cruz

THE National Bureau of Investigation said Sunday operatives of NBI-Rizal District Office (NBI-RIZDO) seized counterfeit Nike products in General Trias Extension Barangay H. Concepcion Cabanatuan City, with an estimat-

ed market value of P31.5 million.

NBI Officer-In-Charge Eric Distor said 20,914 pairs of counterfeit Nike slides/ slippers and 42 pairs of Nike shoes with a total estimatedý value of P31,581,000.00 were seized on March 10, 2022 by virtue of search warrants issued by RTC Manila for violation of Republic Act 8293 other-

wise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Charges for violation of Section 155 (Trademark Infringement) in relation to Section 170 of RA 8293 are being readied against Martin Sy and other proprietors, officers, employees, and/or occupants of the premises located at the area.

BBM supporters in Marikina vow to protect votes U

News A4

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022

By Rey E. Requejo

NITEAM supporters in Marikina on Saturday vowed to protect the votes which will be cast for presidential frontrunner Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. in the coming May 9 elections.

PASIG FOR LENI. Supporters fill Emerald Avenue and nearby streets in Ortigas, Pasig City for the arrival of presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday, in the much-awaited “Pasiglaban Para sa TRoPa Pasig People’s Rally.” VP Leni Media Bureau

Thousands show up in Pasig City for Robredo

By Rio N. Araja SUPPORTERS of Vice President and presidential bet Leni Robredo on Sunday stormed Emerald Avenue in Pasig City for the Pasiglaban Para sa Tropa Pasig City People’s Rally.

The event organizers said the activity was designed to “highlight Pasig City as a city of courageous and patriotic freedom fighters, with the likes of Jovito Salonga and Rene Saguisag having come from this city.”

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), there were an estimated crowd of 80,000 people as of 4:30 p.m.

Villanueva backs NEDA on four-day workweek for BPOs THE National Economic Development Authority’s (NEDA) proposal for a four-day work week to address high gas prices supports the IT-BPO workers’ call that they be allowed to continue working from home, Sen. Joel Villanueva said.

“Our government should be the first to heed NEDA’s call and apply it to the IT-BPO sector,” Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, said.

“There should be policy cohesion.

We cannot encourage industries to explore alternative working arrangements and at the same time order one industry to end remote work,” he added.

Saying that “commuting today is essentially a pay cut,” the senator earlier asked the government to withdraw its ultimatum to IT-BPOs to end remote work of their employees under the pain of losing tax incentives.

Aside from losing part of their wages “to the gas pump or to the fare box,” the return-to-work order “would mean that the budget for the family food would now be eaten up by commuting cost,” Villanueva explained Work from home is still one of the “best energy crisis mitigation measures,” he further noted.

“The most fiscally responsible ayuda is the one in which the industry and workers determine their mitigation measures such as that proposed by the IT-BPO workers,” the senator said.

In a letter dated March 17, 2022, Villanueva appealed to the Department of Finance to reconsider the Fiscal Incentive Review Board’s (FIRB) decision that only allows IT-BPO enterprises to implement a work-fromhome arrangement up to the end of the month. Macon Ramos-Araneta

yesterday. The crowd had spilled to other streets on Ortigas Avenue.

Six former Health Secretaries on Sunday, March 20, endorsed the presidential bid of Robredo, saying that she was able to show capability to address the people’s primary health care concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, the first global health crisis in decades.

“As our country struggles to recover from the wide-ranging effects of the pandemic, we need a leader who has demonstrated the values of integrity and caring, has governed wisely and fairly, prioritizes programs for the greater good, understands the processes of gov-

ernment, puts the interests of the country first and executes effectively amidst the complexities of day-to-day governance,” the statement said.

It was signed by Drs. Alfredo Bengzon, Carmencita Reodica, Jaime Galvez Tan, Manuel Dayrit, Esperanza Cabral, and Paulyn Ubial. Their endorsement is the latest addition to the snowballing support for Robredo’s candidacy.

“In the area of health, Vice President Robredo has demonstrated her capability to address the people’s primary health concerns during the pandemic,” the former health officials said.

“We will not allow you to be deceived!” the crowd shouted in unison, interrupting the speech of Marcos Jr., during a grand rally held at the Marikina City Amphitheater on Saturday evening.

The audience were alluding to the alleged cheating incident in 2016 when Marcos lost against Vice President Leni Robredo.

The BBM-Sara UniTeam held a rally on Saturday with supporters excitedly awaiting for them as early as 5 a.m. bringing with them their posters and tarpaulins.

“We were here early, maybe around 5 a.m. We arrived here just in time, that’s how much we love BBM and Sara, we fully support them, we are all in the solid BBM-Sara family,” according to a group of supporters.

The heavy rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of UniTeam supporters as they opted to stay and patiently waited for the arrival of Marcos, his running-mate Inday Sara Duterte and their senatorial slate.

“Thank you very much, UniTeam is really shocked, your reception for here in Marikina was very warm, it’s already raining, but your reception is still warm, when I entered earlier, there were a lot of people,” said Marcos, standard bearer of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.

Marcos Jr. meanwhile urged Filipinos to respect each other’s freedom to choose the candidate they want to support in the forthcoming May 9, 2022 elections.

The UniTeam presidential bet made the appeal after noting the increase in vitriolic exchanges among supporters of competing candidates on various social media platforms, barely more than a month before the national polls.

“There is no reason for us to fight with one another over whom to support in the coming elections. Let’s respect each other’s freedom to choose. My response to hateful speech has always been to maintain a dignified silence because bickering is a waste of time,” Marcos said.

A recent pre-election survey results done by polling firms Laylo Research, Pulse Asia, and PUBLiCUS Asia show Marcos and Duterte are still ahead of their respective rivals by significant margins.

His consistent strong showing in pre-election surveys since last year up to the present had political pundits convinced that a large portion of the country’s electorate has already chosen to elect the first majority president in Philippine history.

Lacson supports 4-day workweek, bats for Labor Code amendments

By Macon Ramos-Araneta FILIPINOS who have been reduced to suffering in silence in terms of their unreasonable work hours found another strong ally in Partido Reporma standard-bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who said in a recent presidential debate that amendments to the Philippine Labor Code may be called for to address their plight.

Lacson mentioned this in harmony with the position taken by labor rights leader and fellow presidential candidate Leody’ de Guzman during a discussion about normalizing a four-day workweek schedule for workers amid the rising costs of petroleum products in the country.

This is a proposal that many employers are naturally challenging. De Guzman noted that under such an arrange-

ment, employees would have to demand overtime pay if their work hours would be extended.

However, most employers were not willing to give it.

In light of this, Lacson said some provisions in the Philippine Labor Code would have to be adjusted to meet the objectives of the four-day workweek scheme.

“Ka Leody is right because (the workers) would be requesting for overtime pay. We would have to amend the Labor Code to allow this, so the workers would no longer need to demand overtime pay once they go beyond eight hours (of working),” said Lacson.

Earlier, Lacson said he is supportive of the four-day workweek schedule to help employees save on their transportation costs to and from their workplaces.

INDAY SARA IN BULACAN.

Lakas-CMD vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte delivers her message to Barangay officials,multi-sectoral leaders, senior netizens and PWD during the “Sara Para sa Barangay” program at Magala Covered court in Baliuag Bulacan. Inday Sara (5th left) flashes the “Tibay at Puso” sign with San Miguel Mayor Roderick Tiongson (center) gubernatorial candidate Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado (5th right), and other local officials in San Miguel, Bulacan. Ver Noveno

Gordon pushes for more bridges in Cagayan Valley SENATOR Richard J. Gordon said he will push for the construction of more bridges in the Cagayan Valley to help give a big jolt to the local economy.

Gordon, during his visit to the northern provinces of Cagayan and Isabela, noted that improving and building bridges will help cut travel time to other points of the country, which will increase economic gains in the area.

Gordon said these bridges will become “pathways to progress for the millions living in Northern Luzon” allowing for the “faster delivery of goods signal more progress to the people here.”

“They should take advantage of the various existing seaports, freeports, and airports in the area, because these are means to increase the production and distribution of agricultural produce elsewhere,” he also said.

Gordon traveled to the area as a guest

candidate of the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem, where they were warmly received by residents.

Aside from Cagayan, he flew to nearby Isabela to speak to local leaders and voters, which culminated in a grand rally in Echague, where about 10,000 eager supporters packed the venue.

Gordon also mentioned that he will push to revive the port of Aparri, and the airport in Lal-lo through the passage of the Regional Investment and Infrastructure Coordinating Hub (RICH) bill.

“Northern Luzon is a perfect area where we could implement the RICH bill if it’s passed into law because there are so many underutilized seaports and airports that we could use here,” said the senator.

“Products could freely get exported to other places, and the government could easily find tenable land to be able to convert into a one-stop shop, where agriculture,

business, and government could harmonize with one another to attend to the needs of the economy,” he further said.

As senator, Gordon pushed to improve the lives of the members of the agriculture sector by authoring and sponsoring Republic Act (RA) 10969, which provides free irrigation service to small farmers.

He also penned RA 11231, which simplifies the process of farmers in obtaining their land so that they could get ample support from banks and government agencies.

Gordon, as chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), had repeatedly responded to aid victims of various typhoons that have affected the area.

The PRC provided homes, livelihood assistance, cash grant, food and non-food items worth Php 266 million to about 77,000 families in the two provinces.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Go says Senate will continue to tackle health; eyes ‘Super Health Centers’ SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go said the Senate will continue to deliberate several proposed measures that improve the delivery of public healthcare services, especially in areas where the local communities are constrained by capacity and funds.

Go, chair of the Senate committee on health assured that many hospital bills will be tackled in the coming weeks.

The Senate had earlier approved on the third and final reading 15 local hospital bills sponsored by Go shortly before Congress adjourned its session from February 5 to May 22.

He noted that the government currently has nearly P3.6 billion available funds in the 2022 Health Facilities Enhancement Program to construct 305 “Super Health Centers.”

To expand access to affordable and comprehensive medical care, a Super

Health Center will be constructed in every region across the country.

The center will offer various services, including laboratory and diagnostic care, pharmaceutical care, birthing units, outpatient services, vaccination services and dental services.

Go also reiterated his appeal for the passage of Senate Bill No. 2155, a measure he earlier filed for the establishment of the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP).

The goal of the VIP is to develop vaccines against life-threatening viruses. It will serve as the principal laboratory of the country in providing virology laboratory investigations, research, and technical coordination of the entire network of virology laboratories nationwide.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

ELEAZAR’S LAGUNA SORTIE. Retired Philippine National Police chief

General Guillermo Eleazar speaks in front of supporters in a campaign sortie in Laguna.

Eleazar is running for senator in the upcoming May elections.

Gatchalian seeks recovery program for PH education SENATOR Win Gatchalian again cited the need to implement a learning recovery program to address the impact of prolonged school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the country gradually resumes in-person learning.

In a press briefing held on March 11, the Department of Education (DepEd) bared its proposed strategies and timeline for implementing learning recovery. The DepEd’s plan is anchored on learning remediation and intervention; health, safety, and wellness; and professional development.

Under Gatchalian’s Senate Bill No. 2355 filed in 2021, the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program is established to become the national learning intervention program, which will include wellsystematized tutorial sessions.

According to Gatchalian, a law institutionalizing a learning recovery program would ensure that enough resources are allocated for its implementation.

Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, said the proposed program will cover the most essential learning competencies under Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and Science for Grades 3 to 10.

For Kindergarten learners, literacy and numeracy competencies will be given focus to build on their foundational competencies, he said.

The tutorial sessions may be held on weekends during the school year or semestral breaks. Learners may also be grouped according to their assessed learning needs. For learners with particular learning needs, one-on-one tutorial sessions may also be provided.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Opinion Be ready to strike back vs. cybercrime

CYBERCRIMES are on the rise, and we are all at risk. The Department of Justice—Office of Cybercrime has reported a significant spike in“cyber tips,” from 400,000 in 2019 to 1.2 million in 2020, the first year of the global pandemic. When restricted mobility and recurring long lockdowns forced everybody to go digital, this online-all-the-time behavior has exposed all netizens, whether child or adult, to a myriad of risks not limited to cyber theft. Cyberbullying is rampant and a significant cause of mental illness in minors.

Even adults are not spared, especially public figures and journalists who often get swarmed by amoral trolls or irresponsible “cyber-bums”.

According to data from the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), the most prevalent cybercrime is libel with 3,291 cases during a seven-year period until June 2019. This is followed by 2,970 online scams, 1,427 cases of photo and video voyeurism, 1,263 computer-related identity thefts, 1,187 online threats, 712 system interference or hacking, 511 in unjust vexation, 346 illegal access, 273 cases of robbery with intimidation, and 269 incidents of ATM and credit card fraud. Concerning as these figures may be, I believe the actual cybercrimes that were committed are much higher as these only account for officially reported cases.

The boom of e-commerce and cashless transactions via e-payment platforms has spawned a rapid increase in the hacking of online accounts of even major banks that supposedly have the resources to ensure the deployment of the best cybersecurity measures.

Though our anti-cybercrime authorities have reported several arrests, aggressive and sophisticated hacking syndicates are able to adapt their attacks circumventing even the most advanced cybersecurity technologies by cunningly exploiting the careless online habits of online consumers.

The Bankers Association of the Philippines estimates a whopping P1 billion was lost in 2021 because of cyber fraud.

Cybercriminals are able to get into our emails, text and other messaging apps, and social media feeds with creatively innocent looking baits crafted to fool us into giving sensitive personal information and data that will compromise our e-banking, credit cards, and e-payment accounts.

If you are not aware of ransomware, this can be the most damaging malicious software (malware) especially to businesses as falling victim to an attack will deny access to whole database systems with threats to leak sensitive information to the cloud or loss of all data unless an expensive ransom is paid to the perpetrators— a cyber version of kidnapping but with a company’s computer system and data as the hostage.

Operations of enterprises can be disrupted causing huge losses with every minute of downtime. Victims fall into a dilemma of just paying the ransom and recovering their system as soon as possible instead of reporting the incident to authorities.

In a statement by consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines, coconvenor Atty. Tim Abejo calls on all Filipino consumers to become responsible digital citizens to protect themselves from internet-based crimes.

“While there are existing laws against cybercrimes, the government and the private sector must work together to educate and empower the people against falling prey to cybercriminals,” he said.

Atty. Abejo proposed that private sector interventions should even be incentivized especially when supportive of the education sector and its nationwide network of public and private education institutions as the lead for training a cybersecurity conscious workforce.

The figures are alarming. And those are just the reported cases.

As private enterprises and its stakeholders are actually the lucrative targets of cybercrimes, it makes perfect sense that we are seeing more proactive engagements initiatives such as Globe—which has evolved from its telco foundations to a digital solutions company—complementing the K to 12 curricula of the Department of Education with its Digital Thumbprint Program. The modules give knowledge of digital citizenship and cyber safety by studying online behavior and helping students navigate the inherent risks of the internet.

Government has been trying to beef up safeguards with a range of laws.

There is the Cybercrime Prevention Act, the Data Privacy Act, the Sim Card Registration Act, the Special Protections against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Law and pending legislations like the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act, and the Internet Transaction Act. While laws are important, the government’s capacity to enforce needs to be quickly developed. Access and building the PNP-ACGs capacity to deploy anti-cybercrime technologies will need serious funding allocations and partnerships with cybersecurity providers. As it is they could hardly cope with thousands of cybercrimes being committed with only a force of 200 personnel which is 600 short of their mandated total strength.

The growing cybercrime threat must be fought with an all-of-society strategy.

Government and the private sector must empower people to be digitally smart netizens. We are actually the frontliners in combatting cybercrime and must be ready to act and strike back at these online predators.

Transgender outcasts turn artists in India

By Glenda Kwek ON A giant flyover in the sprawling Indian metropolis of Mumbai, a transgender art collective is trying to change attitudes as radically as it transforms the concrete pillars into brightly coloured murals.

Known as “hijras”, individuals identified as male at birth but now part of India’s “third gender”, have an ambivalent position on the edges of Indian society, respected and feared in turn as some Hindus believe they hold the power to bless or curse.

Denied jobs at most workplaces, many are forced to beg at traffic in-

tersections, where they are a common sight in major cities, or on trains.

Some turn up at family events such as weddings or birth celebrations, or at new houses, to offer blessings in return for money, sometimes threatening to issue curses if denied. Others turn to prostitution, increasing their risk of violence.

The Aravani Art Project hopes to challenge the stigma and marginalisation by showing transgender people as artists in the same public spaces where they beg or face abuse.

At the latest mural site -- one of Mumbai’s busiest junctions -- the team painted portraits of local residents, among them two cleaners, a vegetable

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EDITORIAL

On the wrong side of history

A

LTHOUGH it has tried to maintain a neutral stance over Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine, China is clearly veering off to the wrong side of history.

Over the weekend, a senior Chinese government official said that sanctions imposed by Western nations on Russia over Ukraine are increasingly “outrageous.”

Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng also acknowledged Moscow’s point of view on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), saying the alliance should not further expand eastwards, forcing a nuclear power like Russia “into a corner.”

“The sanctions against Russia are getting more and more outrageous,” Le said at a security forum in Beijing, adding that Russian citizens were being deprived of overseas assets “for no reason.”

We beg to differ.

What we find truly outrageous is that Beijing has yet to condemn Russia’s invasion of a sovereign state for the purpose of replacing its democratically elected government. What

We who are free to read and watch the news, unfiltered and uncensored, recognize Russia’s war in Ukraine for what it is—a crime against humanity. is even more appalling is that Chinese leaders have yet to denounce Russia’s rocket and artillery attacks of hospitals, schools and apartment buildings, which have resulted in the death of more than 800 civilians—including 100 children. While the rest of the world watched in horror as Russian soldiers fired on civilians trying to flee the besieged city of Mariupol, Chinese officials were mouthing the same lies that the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin used to justify his bloody war to his own people.

In his remarks, Le said the sanctions would not work.

“History has proven time and again that sanctions cannot solve problems.

Sanctions will only harm ordinary people, impact the economic and financial system… and worsen the global economy.”

The vice foreign minister, it seems, needs a history lesson, particularly on how economic sanctions played a

significant role in ending apartheid in South Africa in the 1990s.

Le’s remarks that the sanctions against Russia are unilateral and not authorized by the UN Security Council are laughable. Of course the sanctions were not authorized by the UN Security Council, where Russia and China have permanent seats and where they can exercise veto power. Again, the vice foreign minister needs to be reminded that 141 countries in the UN General Assembly voted to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and that only five voted against the resolution—North Korea, Eritrea, Syria, Russia and Russia’s puppet state, Belarus.

China and 34 other states abstained.

In Russia, it is a crime to use the words “war” and “invasion.” The despot Putin insists it is merely a “special operation.”

China, whose President Xi Jinping described Putin as his “best friend,” has consistently parroted Moscow’s line. Given their authoritarian bent, this is no surprise. On the other hand, we who are free to read and watch the news, unfiltered and uncensored, recognize Russia’s war in Ukraine for what it is—a crime against humanity.

Anyone who does not see this is on the wrong side of history.

Ballet greats unite for London Ukraine benefit gala

By Anna Cuenca WORLD famous ballet dancers from Russia and Ukraine, Argentina, Cuba, France and Japan came together on Saturday for a gala to raise funds for Ukraine and send a message of peace.

The yellow and blue flag of Ukraine flew outside the London Coliseum for the show, which aimed to raise more than £100,000 ($130,000, 120,000 euros) for the UK Disasters Emergency Committee collective of leading charities.

But one of the organisers, Ukrainian dancer and producer Ivan Putrov, told the packed audience before the “Dance for Ukraine” event started that £140,000 had already been donated.

“Please don’t stop your support,” he told them.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, was given a standing ovation, while Putrov’s fellow organiser, Romanian ballerina Alina Cojacaru, said the show was “about democracy, standing for freedom and human values”.

Both Putrov and Cojacaru trained in Kyiv and decided to mobilize the world of ballet for what they said was a “humanitarian appeal” in the face of Russia’s invasion.

The team of world-leading dancers performing included Russia’s Natalia Osipova, Argentina’s Marianela Nunez and Japan’s Fumi Kaneko, all from the Royal Ballet, and France’s Mathieu

seller and a policeman.

“It’s an opportunity for us to show what talent we have,” said transgender woman artist Deepa Kachare.

“We have to beg from people by going to marriage functions, babies’ births, shops, trains, and some of us are sex workers to make money as well,” she said.

“We go everywhere to beg but we love to work hard and earn money.”

The organisation—whose projects are commissioned by governments, businesses and NGOs—has brought together dozens of mostly transgender women for street art projects in multiple Indian cities.

“People are very happy to see us working as artists,” said Kachare, 26. “Now they think positively when they see us.”

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

Ganio from the Paris Opera.

Ukraine’s Katja Khaniukova, Spain’s Aitor Arrieta and the United States’ Emma Hawes of the English National Ballet also took to the stage.

Putrov, who was a principal dancer with London’s Royal Ballet from 20022010, said before the show that they intended to send a message to the West, those in Ukraine but also Russia.

“Some Russians will hear us and will raise their voice... because what’s happening is outrageous,” he told AFP. “We as artists have talent and we need to use this talent to say what we believe in. Art has a voice and is the voice that we use.

“Is art appropriate in such a horrible circumstance? Of course it is, because it gives hope, it gives inspiration to people.”

Loaded with symbolism The evening opened with the Ukrainian national anthem and closed with “The Triumph of Love” from the ballet “Raymonda”, with music by Russia’s Alexander Glazunov.

The 13 symbolism-laden choreographies in between included “No Man’s Land” by Liam Scarlett, “Lacrimosa” by Gyula Pandi and

“Ashes” by Jason Kittelberger.

Russian composers including Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff also featured.

“Russian culture doesn’t have anything to do with (President Vladimir) Putin, and equally Putin has nothing to do with Russian culture,” said Putrov.

Osipova, one of the most famous Russian dancers outside her country, declined to be interviewed.

But her presence “signifies that Russia doesn’t equal aggression”, said Putrov.

Cuba’s Javier Torres of the Northern Ballet performed “The Death of a Swan” by Camille Saint-Saens.

The piece is about a paraplegic who loses one of his limbs and “represents fighting for what you have lost”, Torres told AFP. “It talks about fighting to the end and that’s how I wanted to interpret it,” he said, thinking of “people who try to resist what happens to them”, like the Ukrainians mired in war or the Cubans who have suffered under decades of US sanctions and embargoes, and “even by the Russians” in Soviet times.

“I have that pain, I have that anguish that every Cuban who lives outside of Cuba has, because we know the needs that are experienced there,” he said.

He said he has not previously mixed art with politics, but Saturday’s gala was “a humanitarian duty as a dancer, as a human rights defender, first as a person and then as an artist”. AFP

‘We are artists’ The art collective takes its name from Lord Aravan, a Hindu deity who is “wedded” to hundreds of transgender people every year in a southern Indian festival.

Hinduism has many references to “third genders”, such as Shikhandi, a character in the epic Mahabharata, and hijras have assumed different roles in society over the centuries, among them royal servants and harem guardians, according to historians.

But gay sex was criminalised in India during the British colonial period and only legalised by the Supreme Court in 2018.

The transgender community -- believed to number several million -- has fought to end discrimination, but many say they still struggle to be accepted by

broader society.

“What’s exciting for me is to tell them (transgender artists) that they are capable of doing anything,” said woman artist and Aravani co-founder Sadhna Prasad, 29.

“And gender is really something that should be discussed much, much later and what they do and what they want to do in life comes first.”

Another transgender woman member of the group, Ayesha Koli, 25—who still begs on the streets—said her pigmentspattered kurta had become a marker of a different kind.

“These days when we wear our ‘painting clothes’ and go, they ask with curiosity if we paint,” she said. “We feel immensely proud in saying ‘Yes, we are artists and we paint.’” AFP

The event is loaded with symbolism.

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N. Korea fires ‘multiple rocket launchers’— Seoul military SEOUL—North Korea fired multiple rocket launchers on Sunday, Seoul said, the latest in a series of provocations by the nuclear-armed nation to heighten tensions in the region.

Pyongyang launched a string of banned weaponry this year and tested what it claimed were components of a “reconnaissance satellite”—although Seoul and Washington have described them as a new ICBM system.

“There were shots suspected to be from North Korea’s multiple rocket launchers this morning,” said the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a text message to reporters.

“Our military is maintaining our defenceManila readiness while closely following related developments,” it Standard TODAY added, without further detail.

Four shots were fired into the western waters during a span of an hour from 7:20 am from an unspecified location in South Pyongan province, Yonhap news agency reported citing unnamed officials.

The intention of the firing was being evaluated, the report added.

South Korea’s National Security Council held an emergency meeting and called for a tight readiness posture to “prevent security vacuum during the government transition period”, according to a statement from the presidential Blue House.

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will be inaugurated on May 10 after winning the March 9 polls.

Pyongyang has long possessed the ability to devastate Seoul—which is only around 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the border—with artillery fire.

The US stations 28,500 troops in South Korea, a security ally, to protect it against its nuclear-armed neighbour, many of them based south of Seoul at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek—its biggest overseas military facility.

Sunday’s firings come just days after Pyongyang carried out a suspected failed ballistic missile test, in what analysts say could be the country’s new intercontinental ballistic missile. AFP

IN BRIEF Brazilian judge lets Telegram undo ban

TWIN BABES. Twins are photographed during a newborn photo shoot by local photographer Fanny Nurdiana in Banda Aceh, Indonesia on March 18. AFP

Russia fires hypersonic missiles anew in salvo M OSCOW—Russia said Sunday it has again fired its newest Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, destroying a fuel storage site in the country’s south.

The Russian defence ministry also said it killed more than 100 members of Ukrainian special forces and “foreign mercenaries” when it targeted a training centre in the town of Ovruch in northern Ukraine with sea-based missiles.

“Kinzhal aviation missile systems with hypersonic ballistic missiles destroyed a large storage site for fuels and lubricants of the Ukrainian armed forces near the settlement of Kostyantynivka in the Mykolaiv region,” the defence ministry said.

Honouring the life of RICARDO M. RODRIGUEZ Born on June 8, 1957 in Cavite, Philippines and died on February 5, 2020 in California, USA. May he rest in peace.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

The ministry said the base had been used for the main supplies of fuel for Ukrainian armoured vehicles in the country’s south.

The Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missiles were fired from airspace over Russian-controlled Crimea, the ministry said, adding that Kalibr cruise missiles launched from the Caspian Sea had also targeted the depot.

On Saturday, Russia said it had used the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles to destroy an underground missile and ammunition storage site in western Ukraine close to the border with NATO member Romania.

The Ukrainian armed forces confirmed to AFP on Saturday that the depot had been targeted but said they had “no information of the type of missile.”

Russian analysts said the use Friday of the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in Deliatyn, a village in the foothills of

BRASÍLIA—A supreme court judge in Brazil who ordered a suspension of the popular messaging app Telegram gave it 24 hours Saturday to enact changes so he can lift the order.

The government also appealed against the ruling from the judge against Telegram, a favorite communications channel of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Citing what he called Telegram’s failure to comply with orders from Brazilian authorities and remove messages found to contain disinformation, Judge Alexandre de Moraes on Thursday ordered the app blocked immediately in Brazil.

“Telegram’s disrespect for Brazilian law and repeated failure to comply with countless court decisions... is completely incompatible with the rule of law,” wrote Moraes.

On Saturday, after Telegram apologized for not complying with authorities’MAGENTA previous orders, the judge spelled CYAN YELLOW BLACK out steps the app had to take to be in the clear again.

These include appointing a legal representative in Brazil, erasing some profiles and spelling out what measures it will take to fight disinformation. AFP

Sokor president-elect ditches Blue House

the Carpathian mountains, was the first combat use of such weapons in the world.

The Russian defence ministry said that it also used long-range precision weapons against other facilities in Ukraine on Saturday evening and early Sunday.

Russian forces fired the Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea to target a plant in the northern city of Nizhyn used to repair armoured vehicles, the ministry said.

In Rome, Italy reacted furiously Saturday to “odious and unacceptable” insults and threats by a senior Russian foreign ministry official attacking sanctions applied against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

Alexey Paramonov, head of the Russian foreign ministry’s European department, accused Italy of falling victim to “anti-Russian hysteria”, in comments to the state-run RIA Novosti agency. AFP

SEOUL—South Korea’s president-elect said Sunday he will relocate his office from the “imperial” Blue House, in a move critics charged is linked to his belief in shamanistic spiritual practices.

Yoon Suk-yeol, who won a tight election earlier this month, pledged on the campaign trail that he would move presidential business out of the Blue House -- home to South Korea’s leaders since 1948.

The former prosecutor has accused the hilltop headquarters of fostering an “imperial” presidency and undermining communication with the public.

He is not the first to try to relocate.

Outgoing President Moon Jae-in also pledged to move out “to eradicate the authoritarian presidential culture” but faced security and logistical hurdles.

Those hurdles remain -- the move has raised concerns for its reported cost of around 50 billion won ($41 million), and because roads in crowded Seoul would have to be closed every day during the presidential commute.

Yoon’s critics have said his desire to move is tied to his belief in feng shui, a traditional religious practice which stresses the importance of harmony between humans and nature. AFP

Two migrants dead, 26 missing in Indonesian boat accident MEDAN—At least two people are dead and 26 others are missing after a ferry carrying dozens of migrants sank off the coast of Indonesia, an official said Sunday.

The wooden fishing boat was carrying 89 onboard when it departed for neighbouring Malaysia through an unguarded route.

But it sprung a leak soon after departing before being hit by strong waves and sinking.

A man and a woman were found dead while

61 others were rescued and immediately donesia and were seeking work in Malaysia transported to hospitals for treatment. The re- without proper documentation, he added. maining passengers are still missing.

“We suspect the number of passengers exceed“We have deployed our personnel to search ed the boat capacity so when the vessel was hit by for the 26 missing victims but our efforts strong waves, it immediately sank,” he said. haven’t been fruitful so far,” head of local Relatively affluent Malaysia is home to search and rescue team Ady Pandawa told CYAN millions of migrants from poorer parts of MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK AFP on Sunday, adding that the damaged boat Asia, many of them undocumented, workhad been evacuated to the nearest port. ing in industries including construction and The passengers had come from across In- agriculture. AFP

ROYALS IN BLUE.

Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at Belize City’s International Airport on March 19 at the start of their Caribbean tour.

The couple are due to visit Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

AFP

Huthi rebels attack Aramco facility in Saudi—coalition

(MS-MAR. 21, 2022)

(MS-MAR. 21, 2022)

RIYADH—Huthi rebels launched multiple attacks into southern Saudi Arabia Saturday, including one on a facility run by oil company Aramco in Jizan, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels in Yemen said in a statement.

Quoted by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the coalition said that four drones had been launched into the region, which is regularly targeted by Huthi drone and missile attacks.

There was no loss of life, it said.

As well as the Aramco facility, the rebels also hit a desalination plant in Al-Shaqeeq.

In later statements, the coalition announced that the Dhahran Al-Janoub power station near Jizan had also been attacked -- with the SPA posting photos and a video clip showing firefighters tackling a blaze at the site.

The fourth target was a gas station in Khamis Mushait.

The drones were intercepted and destroyed near Yemen after the attacks, with a ballistic missile fired towards the city of Jazan also stopped, the coalition said.

The latest round of attacks comes after an oil refinery in the Saudi capital Riyadh was targeted on March 10 by a drone, an operation claimed by the Huthis. AFP

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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 94, QUEZON CITY

As to the second ground, petitioner argues that since the court ruled that the respondent is the guilty spouse, his 1/2 share in the net profits of the “Culiat Property” must thus be forfeited in favor of his common children with the petitioner.

MANUELI T. DE CASTRO-ARCAYA, Petitioner,

The first ground raised by the petitioner was already exhaustively discussed in the assailed Decision.

Investors weigh Fed rate hike, Russia-Ukraine war -versus- Civil Case No. R-QZN-19-06372-CV For: Legal Separation JOSEPH M. ARCAYA,

Respondent. x------------------------------------------------------x

DECISION

WHEREFORE, premises judgment is hereby rendered:

considered,

1. Granting the petition for legal separation with all the effects thereof as provided by law particularly Article 63 of the Family Code; 2. Dissolving the absolute community of property and directing the liquidation of the properties of the parties. The Decree of Legal Separation shall be issued only after full compliance with liquidation under the Family Code.

3. Awarding custody of the two (2) minor children Mikhaela Anne and Ma. Josephine to the petitioner with visitation rights granted to the respondent; 4. Petitioner and respondent are directed to jointly support Mikhaela Anne and Ma. Josephine in accordance with their means and the needs of the latter..

5. Ordering the City Civil Registrar of Manila, City Civil Registrar of Quezon City and the Philippine Statistics Authority to record this Decision after it has become final and executory in accordance with law and upon payment by increased rates the petitionerinterest of the lawful fees.by 25 basis

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

RADING at the Philippine Stock Exchange is expected to remain volatile this week as investors weigh the inflation risks caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and the recent move of the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.

The US Fed last week points and penciled six more rate hikes this year to curb Pursuant to Sec. 16 (d) A.M. NO. 02-11-11 rising inflation.

(Rule on Legal Separation), let the dispositive The Bangko Sentral ngportion Pilipinas, assuredatthe of the however, decision be published the expense of the petitioner, once in a and newspaper market its policy rates would remain data driven, not of general circulation to be chosen by raffle.

Indonesia starts first electric car assembly plant

Let a copy of the Decision be sent by registered mail to the last known address of the respondent.

SO ORDERED.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, October 20, 2021.

(Sgd.) ROSLYN M. RABARA-TRIA Presiding Judge Copy furnished: OSG - 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City (reg. mail) docket@osg.gov.ph

To reiterate, the court rules that it is presumed part of the absolute community of property.

There is no question that the property covered

by TCT No. 004-2013003680 was acquired on February 21, 2013. Thus, it was acquired during the marriage of the parties.

In this regard, Article 93 of the Family Code provides:

“Art. 93. Property acquired during the marriage is presumed to belong to the community, unless it is proved that it is one of dependent ontherefrom.” the action of the US Federal those excluded

Reserve.

Investors will also monitor other local developments, Aside from her bare allegation that it was her including the depreciation the peso against the dollar, father who purchased the said property,of no other proof was presented by the petitioner to support and the upcoming presiearnings report of listed companies her claim. She likewise failed to substantiate dential elections. her claim that she and the petitioner were not “Tradecapable within rangesaid and take heed of possible supply financially to purchase property. pressure on rallies,” online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com Thus, the court finds no reason to reconsider said.

It on placed the immediate support level at 7,000 points its ruling this ground. and the resistance at 7,200-7,250.

With regard to the second ground, the court The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange Index last granted the petition for legal separation with all the effects thereof 1.5 as provided by law. week slipped percent to 7,007.63 amid volatile trading dueFortopurposes external factors. of clarity, however, the court The All 1.3 percent while all major resolves to shares grant theindex motiondropped only on this ground. Pursuant to Articles 63 and 43(2) of sub-indices ended on the negative. the Family Code, respondent’s share in the The services index sank is3.4 percent; mining and oil was net profits of the “Culiat Property” forfeited in favor by of the common children, namely, Joshdeclined by 1.5 percent, lower 2.1 percent; industries Exequiel, Mikhaela Anne and Ma. Josephine, all holding surnamedfirms Arcaya.fell 1.4 percent; financials dipped 0.6 percent; and property decreased 0.4 percent. With AFP WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Partial Motion for Reconsideration (Re: Decision Dated 20 October 2021) is granted as to the second ground only.

The dispositive portion of the Decision dated 20 October 2021 is amended to read, as follows: 1.1. Granting the petition for legal separation with all the effects thereof as provided by law particularly Article 63 of the Family Code; 1.2. Dissolving the absolute community of property and directing the liquidation of the properties of the parties. The Decree of Legal Separation shall be issued only after full compliance with liquidation under the Family Code;

JAKARTA, Indonesia—South KoACP Arceli C. Ragsac OCP Quezon rea’s Hyundai has launched the City first acr .ocpqc@gmail.com electric car assembly plant in IndoAndres Padernal & Paras Law Offices 1.3. Forfeiting the share of the respondent nesia, as the Southeast8thAsian archi- Office Condominium Floor Sagittarius in the net profits of the property covered H. V.abundance dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village pelago looks to exploit an by TCT No. 004-2013003680 in favor of Brgy. Bel-Air, Makati City 1209 (reg.mail) his common children with the petitioner, of resources used in EVappartners@applawoffices.com production. namely, Josh Exequiel, Mikhaela Anne and Indonesia is the world’s Manueli T. largest De Castro-Arcaya Ma. Josephine, all surnamed Arcaya; Unit C, No. 59 Cenac\e Road nickel producer and also rich in co1.4. Awarding custody of the two (2) minor Sanville Subdivision, Culiat balt, bauxite and copper ores, key children Mikhaela Anne and Ma. Josephine to Quezon City (reg. mail) the petitioner with visitation rights granted to the materials in the manufacture batJoseph M.of Arcaya respondent; 1, Block 23, Sta. Barbara Villas 1 teries for electric cars. Lot wave1.5.

Spanish during aare nationwide protest called by Silangang San Mateo, RizalDemonstrators (reg. mail) Petitionerflags and respondent directed President Joko Widodo has said his to jointly Mikhaela andin .Ma. Spanish far-right Vox partysupport against priceAnne hikes, front of the city hall in City Civil Registrar Josephine in accordance with their means and government is aiming toQuezon establish City (reg.an mail) Madrid on March 19, 2022. Since the end of last year, there has been growing the needs of the latter; integrated EV “ecosystem” ranging Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) discontent (reg. mail) social in Spain over runaway annual inflation, which jumped to 1.6. Ordering the City Registrar from metals mining to battery pro7.6 percent in February, its highest levelCivil in 35 years.ofThe crisis has prompted Quezon City and the Philippine Statistics UGT and the CCOO, two unions, duction and car assembly. REPUBLIC OF THE the PHILIPPINES AuthoritySpain’s to record this biggest Decision after it hasto call a national strike final and executory in accordance with onCOURT March 23, whilebecome the far-right Vox has urged people to join nationwide The Hyundai factory will REGIONAL produce TRIAL law and upon payment by the petitioner of the NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL protestsREGION on Marchlawful 19. AFP fees. the firm’s newest model theBRANCH IONIQ 94, QUEZON CITY xxx 5, with an annual capacity of 250,000 SO ORDERED. vehicles.

MANUELI T. DE CASTRO-ARCAYA, Quezon City, Metro Manila, October 20, “I hope Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 Petitioner, will 2021.” become an important -versusmilestone in No. R-QZN-19-06372-CV Civil Case Pursuant to Sec. 16 (d) A.M. NO. 02-11-11 For:elecLegal Separation (Rule on Legal Separation), let the dispositive the development of Indonesia’s portion of the decision and this Order be tric vehicle ecosystem,”JOSEPH Widodo said M. ARCAYA, published at the expense of the petitioner, once Respondent. in a newspaper .of general circulation to be during an inauguration ceremony MADRID, Spain—Thousands of demonstrators hit the streets across x------------------------------------------------------x chosen by raffle.

Wednesday in the industrial township ORDERSpain on Saturday in protest at the soaring cost of food, light and fuel, Let a copy of the Decision and this Order Cikarang, east of the capital Jakarta.

For the consideration of the court ishave a Motion which beenbeexacerbated

by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. sent by registered mail ‘to the last known for Partial Reconsideration (Re: Decision Dated “Moving forward, electric vehicles address of theplace respondent.

The rallies, which took in Spain’s main cities, were called by the 20 October 2021) filed by the petitioner through counsel. should be the main mode of transporfar-right Vox partySOwhich sought to tap into growing social discontent ORDERED Quezon Metro Manila, January 2022. the spiraling cost ofCity, living that has left6, many families struggling to tation,” he added.

Copies of the motion over were furnished to the Office of the General, Assistant their bills.

Meanwhile, Suzuki Motor will in-Solicitorpay (Sgd.) ROSLYN M. RABARA-TRIA City Prosecutor Arceli C. Ragsac and the Outside a crowd of several thousand people gathJudge vest $1.3 billion into electric vehicle respondent.

The court has not received City any Hall in Madrid, Presiding ered, waving hundreds of Spanish flags and chanting angry slogans callCopy furnished: and battery production comment. in India, the OSG - 134 St., Legaspi Village, for the ofAmorsolo Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Japanese car maker said Sunday, Petitioner’s motion is ing anchored on resignation the Makati City (reg. mail) docket@osg.gov.ph following grounds: “Sanchez, you’re rubbish, bring down our bills!” they shouted, beas it accelerates long-term plans to ACP Arceli C. Ragsac tween patriotic cries of “Long live Spain!” at a rally demanding governOCP Quezon City achieve carbon neutrality.1. The court erred in ruling that the property acr .ocpqc@gmail.com covered by TCT No. 004-2013003680 ment action to lower prices.

In a deal signed with the Indian (“Culiat Property’’) is presumed part of Andres Padernal & Paras Law Offices have the worst possible government..

It’s not even a government, the absolute property .of the state of Gujarat in the presence of vis-community “We 8th Floor Sagittarius Office Condominium petitioner and the Respondent it’s a misery factory... which plunders and extorts workers through abuH. V. dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village iting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio sive taxes,” Vox leader Santiago Abascal told the rally to rousing cheers.

Brgy. Bel-Air, Makati City 1209 (reg.mail) 2.

The court failed to declare the forfeiture Kishida and Indian counterpart Naappartners@applawoffices.com of any of the respondent’s share in the “We will not leave the streets until this illegitimate government is exrendra Modi, Suzuki said itabsolute planned community property in favor of Manueli T. De Castro-Arcaya pelled.” the common children considering that Unit C, No. 59 Cenac\e Road to increase production capacity for the respondent gave cause legal This forgovernment “is takingCuliat everything from us,” said Anabel, a Sanville Subdivision, separation electric vehicle manufacturing in the Quezon City (reg. mail) 56-year-old demonstrator who didn’t give her surname. state.

Arcayagas prices and say it’s because of (Russian Petitioner insists that the “Culiat “TheyProperty” hike theJoseph lightM.and was purchased byin Manueli T. De Castro-Arcaya Lot 1, Block 23, Sta. Barbara Villas 1 It aims to begin operations President Vladimir) Putin, but that’s a lie. It was like this before,” she vs. Joseph M. Arcaya Civil Case No. R-QZN-19Silangang San Mateo, Rizal (reg. mail) 2025. AFP 06372-CV her father as categorically stated in told AFP. AFP City Civil Registrar

Thousands protest in Spain’s main cities over soaring prices

her Judicial Affidavit. She also maintains that respondent was incapable of purchasing a house or any real property because of his low income.

Quezon City (reg. mail)

Stewardship

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) (reg. mail) (MStandard - Mar. xx, 2022)

ONE of the topics in my as stewards of nature, not as Lasallian Business Leadership masters who should dominate class is Ethics and Environment. nature.

SHIELA ANN I was very amused by the counter As I understand it, a paradigm CATANGHAL questions and statements I shift is needed when we talk have read through during the about the issues, challenges discussion. I firmly believe that and obstacles faced in the each one of us has the moral environment. Since it has been responsibility to take care of our environment and proven that one of the causes of environmental issues enable our current resources to flourish so that the next is deeply rooted in our culture, we must act and generation has something to use. change the way we see when it comes to our duty to But then a few questions and statements popped up the environment. One cannot just turn a blind eye to during the discussion that questioned this belief, such this issue. as “Future generations cannot have rights because Everyone must be involved in caring for nature. they do not now exist and may never exist.” “Will The discussion mentioned a beautiful phrase worth future generations ‘miss’ what we have ‘taken from reflecting upon, “The demands of caring imply that one them’? (How could they if they never will know what ought to attempt to see matters from the perspective they have ‘lost’? and ‘Do human beings need nature of those with whom we are thus directly related and that implies an obligation to preserve it? What is the that we attempt to care for their specific needs.” We evidence for this?’ At first, I was shocked by these should treat the environment the way we take care of statements and asked, “how could someone think this our aging parents or our newly born children. In this way?” but in reality, yes, these questions are being way, the care given is personal and not just bound by asked when we talk about taking care of the natural adherence to the law or compliance with the rules and resources and preserving it for the next generations. regulations.

As mentioned in the discussion, our challenges If I am to sum up all the learnings and experiences regarding environmental issues are deeply rooted in I got from this course, it is about STEWARDSHIP. our culture.

Being a steward of the Lasallian teachings and Fixation on money: Things with no monetary value living up to our founder’s values as he started the in their natural state are not worth anything.

Lasallian way of teaching. Being a steward of good Belief in omnipotent technology: Technology can leadership, looking beyond the race and gender of be used to solve all our problems. my colleagues. Being a steward of this planet, we Belief in management through fragmentation: Do only have continuously advocated for the betterment not think about communities and interdependencies; of the earth through talks or awareness sessions that mismanagement of “The Commons.” will spark paradigm shifts on how they see nature These are quite alarming since this has been how and its resources. the world has been since I can remember. This way of thinking is dominant rather than the opposite of The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. what we should be doing. It was also mentioned that del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. She can be nature must be seen as an “other” that can be cared reached at shiela_catanghal@dlsu.edu.ph. for and with which one has a relationship that must be The views expressed above are the author’s and do nurtured and attended to—treating nature as if it is one of our own or members of our direct family that needs not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its to be taken cared of. Humans should see themselves faculty, and its administrators.

Green Light

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 91, QUEZON CITY

B3

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

the books of the LA CAMPANA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this July 9, 2008 at Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

(SGD.) KIM TIA CHUA TANTONGCO Shareholder/Assignor

WILLIP C. TANTONGCO, Plaintiff,

SIGNED IN THE PRESENCE OF

-versus-

Civil Case No. R-QZN-21-01961-CV For: Annulment of Document & Damages

WILLEX C. TANTONGCO, WILLIAM C. TANTONGCO and WILBERT C. TANTONGCO, Defendants. x----------------------------------------------x

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION WILLIAM C. TANTONGCO No. 4011 Williams Rd., Richmond BC V7EIJ7, Canada or at 29-D Baler St., SFDM, Brgy. Bungad, Quezon City

(initial)

(initial)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA) S.S. BEFORE ME, in Quezon City, Metro Manila this July 09, 2008 personally appeared with Community Tax Certificate No. 1640919 issued at Quezon City on February 27, 2008, known to me and to me known to be the same person who executed the foregoing “ABSOLUTE TRANSFER OF SHARE IN A CORPORATION” duly signed be her and her instrumental witnesses at the foot thereof and further acknowledged to me that the same is her free and voluntary act and deed therein set forth.

(SGD.) ARTURO P. ZIALCITA Notary Public Until December 31, 2009 PTR No. A-8544079/Q.C. TIN No. 224-210-506-000 Roll No. 9246/Jan. 28, 1955 IBP No. 694287/CAL CITY/12-

WILBERT C. TANTONGCO No. 47331 Westminster Hwy, Richmond BC Canada or at 33-D Baler St., SFDM, Brgy. Bungad, Quezon City WHEREFORE, on March 1, 2021 plaintiff filed a Complaint for the Annulment of Documents and Damages.

WHEREFORE, on March 21, 2021, plaintiff filed a Motion to Admit Amended Complaint which was granted and admitted by this Court in an Order dated June 1, 2021. The Branch Clerk of Court issue a Summons upon defendants William C. Tantongco and Wilbert C.Tantongco requiring them to file an Answer to the Amended Complaint.

WHEREAS, on June 17, 2021, the Sheriff of this Court filed a Sheriff’s Return stating that service of Summons to William C. Tantongco and Wilbert C. Tantongco are Unserved for the reason that they are currently out of the country and no definite date of retun.

WHEREAS, on October 20, 2021, the plaintiff through his counsel, filed a Motion for Leave to Serve Summons by Publication.

The aforementioned defendants are in another country, beyond the territorial jurisdiction of this Court, and pursuant to Sec. 17, Rule 14 of the 2019 Revised Rules of Court on Civil Procedure, the instant motion is granted in an Order dated November 17, 2021.

NOW THEREFORE, defendants William C. Tantongco and Wilbert C. Tantongco are hereby summoned and required to file with Regional Trial Court, Branch 91, National Capital Judicial Region, Hall of Justice Building, Quezon City, their verified Answer to the amended complaint within thirty (30) days from the last date of publication of this Summons. Failure of the defendants to file their Answer within the reglementary period, the plaintiff will take judgment by default and maybe granted relief applied for in the Complaint.

WHEREFORE, let this summons together with the copy of the Complaint and the Order dated November 17, 2021 be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation to be selected by raffle pursuant to PD 1079, at the expense of the plaintiff.

Doc. No. 468 Page No. 45 Book No. 143 Series of 2008 12. Plaintiff, as well as his siblings Wilson, Thelly, Sally, Lily, Gerlie and Julie who are all oppositors in the above-mentioned petition for probate of Kim Tia’s will, first came to know about the existence of said Absolute Deed of Assignment only last October 2019 when they received, through counsel, copy of the Comment/ Opposition mentioned above.

13. Plaintiff made inquiries with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Quezon City regarding the said Absolute Deed of Assignment which appears to have been notarized by a certain Atty. Arturo P. Zialcita. Plaintiff was issued the following Certification dated October 23, 2019, to wit: CERTIFICATION TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: THIS IS TO CERTIFY that per record on file with this office, Atty.

ARTURO P. ZIALCITA was a duly commissioned Notary Public for and in Quezon City for the term beginning October 10, 2008 ending December 31, 2009.

IT IS FURTHER CERTIFIED that, per verification of the OfficerIn-Charge of the Archives Section, Atty. Arturo P. Zialcita has no notarial report submitted for the month of July 2008. Hence, no certified true copy of the requested Absolute Deed of Assignment dated July 9, 2008 with Doc. No. 468, Page No. 45, Book No. 143, Series of 2008 allegedly executed by Kim Tia Chua Tantongco can be issued.

This certification is issued upon the request of Mr. Willip Tantongco for whatever legal purposes this may serve.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, October 21, 2019.

Witness the Hon. Kathleen Rosario D. De La Cruz-Espinosa, Presiding Judge of this Court, this 9th day of February 2022.

By:

(SGD.) GREGORIO C. TALLUD Clerk of Court VII & Ex-Officio Sheriff MERCEDITA C. CARINO Asst. Clerk of Court

(Sgd.) ATTY. CHARISE ANN D. ALVARO Branch Clerk of Court

Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, Quezon City BRANCH 91

Verified by:

A copy of the said Certification is hereto attached as Annex G Civil Case No. R-QZN-21-01961-CV For: ANNULMENT OF DOCUMENT and DAMAGES

WILLEX C. TANTONGCO, WILLIAM C. TANTONGCO and WILBERT C. TANTONGCO, Defendants. x---------------------------------------------x

ORDER For resolution is the “Motion for Leave to Serve Summons by Publication” filed by the plaintiff, through counsel, before the OCCRTC on October 19, 2021, which was received by this Court on October 20, 2021. As alleged, summons on Wilbert and William Tantongco were returned unserved since both of them are residents of Canada and outside the territorial jurisdiction of this Court. Plaintiff therefore prays for leave of court to allow service of summons on the said defendants to be effected by publication.

Acting on the motion and finding the same to be well-taken considering that the summons to defendants Wilbert and William Tantongco were returned unserved per Sheriff’s Report dated June 17, 2021 and pursuant to Sec. 17, Rule 14 of the 2019 Revised Rules on Civil Procedure, the instant motion is hereby GRANTED. Let the summons as against defendants Wilbert and William Tantongco be served or effected by publication pursuant to Sec. 17, Rule 14 of the 2019 Revised Rules of Civil Procedure.

Defendants are ordered to produce the original copy of the Absolute Deed of Assignment relative to the subject matter of the instant case.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, November 17, 2021.

(Sgd.) KATHLEEN ROSARIO D. DE LA CRUZ-ESPINOSA Presiding Judge

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 91, Quezon City WILLIP C. TANTONGCO, Plaintiff, -versus-

(SGD.) TERESITA S. FABILA Record Officer III Notarial-In-Charge

(SGD.) GODFREY B. PALAD Clerk III

WILLIP C. TANTONGCO, Plaintiff, -versus-

Checked by:

Civil Case No. R-QZN-21-01961-CV Annulment of Document and Damages

WILLEX C. TANTONGCO, WILLIAM C. TANTONGCO and WILBERT C. TANTONGCO Defendants. x------------------------------------------x

AMENDED COMPLAINT Plaintiff, by counsel, unto the Honorable Court most respectfully states: 1. Plaintiff Willip C. Tantongco is of legal age, Filipino and a resident of No. 29-Baler St., SFDM, Brgy. Bungad, Quezon City 2. Defendant Willex C. Tantongco is of legal age, Canadian citizen and a resident of 29-C Baler St., SFDM, Quezon City where he may be served with summons and other processes of the Honorable Court 3. Defendant William C. Tantongco is of legal age, Canadian citizen and residing at No. 4011 Williams Rd, Richmond BC V7EIJ7, Canada. His last known address in the Philippines was at 29-D Baler St., SFDM, Brgy. Bungad, Quezon City where he may be served with summons and other processes of the Honorable Court 4. Defendant Wilbert C. Tantongco is of legal age, Canadian citizen and residing at No. 47331 Westminster Hwy, Richmond BC Canada. His last known address in the Philippines was at 33-D Baler St., SFDM, Brgy. Bungad, Quezon City where he may be served with summons and other processes of the Honorable Court 5. Plaintiff and defendants together with their siblings Wilson Tantongco, Thelly Tantongco, Sally Tantongco, Lily Tantongco, Gerlie Tantongco, and Julie Tantongco, are legitimate children and surviving heirs of the late spouses, Ricardo Tantongco and Kim Tia Chua Tantongco. Another sibling, Willy Tantongco, died on January 17, 2018.

6. Kim Tia died on September 24, 2015 leaving a Last Will and Testament, copy of which is hereto attached as Annex A 7. Willy Tantongco, during his lifetime, filed a petition for the probate of said Last Will and Testament before the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City docketed as Sp. Proc. No. 16-00588 and captioned In Re: Petition for Probate of the Notarial Will of the Late Kim Tia Chua Tantongco, Willy Tantongco, Petitioner.

8. In a Resolution dated March 26, 2019, the RTC (Branch 98) probated and approved the will. A copy of the Resolution is hereto attached as Annex B 9. Plaintiff was appointed court administrator of the estate of Kim Tia, proof of which are hereto attached as Annexes C, D and D-1 10. In the said probate proceeding, the defendants, through their counsel, submitted, sometime in October 2019, a copy of document denominated Absolute Deed of Assignment, as an attachment to their Comment/Opposition dated October 10, 2019. A copy of the Comment/Opposition is hereto attached as Annex E and the Absolute Deed of Assignment as Annex F 11. Said Absolute Deed of Assignment reads: ABSOLUTE DEED OF ASSIGNMENT KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: THAT I, KIM TIA CHUA TANTONGCO, of legal age, widow with postal address at No. 33 Baler Street, Barangay Bungad, San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City Metro Manila do hereby declare that I am the legal owner of NINETY TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (92,500) shares of stock of the LA CAMPANA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, a duly registered corporation with postal address at 13-19 Serrano Laktaw Street, Dona Aurora, Galas District, Quezon City, Metro Manila with a par value of ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND (Php 9,250,000.00) PESOS, Philippine Currency.

THAT I do hereby ABSOLUTELY, now and forever, CEDE, ASSIGN, CONVEY and TRANSFER to the following individuals: WILLIAM TANTONGCO, WILLY TANTONGCO, WILBERT TANTONGCO, WILLEX TANTONGCO and WILLIP TANTONGCO, as their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns all the rights, title, and interest for the total value of EIGHTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (18,500) Shares each, common shares of stock at ONE HUNDRED (Php 100.00) PESOS par value of the LA CAMPANA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION which are free and clear of all liens, charges and encumbrances, the absolute title and peaceful possession of the same are hereby guaranteed and warranted.

The same also authorize the corresponding officers of the corporation to make the necessary transfer of said shares of stock in

14. The said Absolute Deed of Assignment is fraudulent, spurious and void considering the facts and circumstances stated below, to wit: a. Kim Tia was confined at the Philippine Heart Center from July 4, 2008 to July 14, 2008 on a life-threatening illness, as evidenced by her medical records hereto attached as Annexes H, H-1 and H-2, when she purportedly signed the above-said Absolute Deed of Assignment and appeared before Notary Public Atty. Arturo P. Zialcita on the same date. b. Atty. Arturo P. Zialcita was not commissioned notary for and in Quezon City on the date the document was purportedly notarized before him per Certification of the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court of Quezon City quoted above. c. No record of such Absolute Deed of Assignment purportedly executed by Kim Tia exists in the Archives Section of the Office of the Clerk of Court per the same Certication. d. In the acknowledgment, the document adverted to is an “ABSOLUTE TRANSFER OF SHARE IN A CORPORATION” and not an ABSOLUTE DEED OF ASSIGNMENT. e. There was no consideration for said transfer of shares. f. Kim Tia’s purported signature in the said Absolute Deed of Assignment is significantly at variance with her signatures in her Last Will and Testament.

15. As above said, defendants Willex, William and Wilbert are Canadian citizens; hence, assuming without conceding that the Absolute Deed of Assignment is not fraudulent and spurious, the same is nevertheless invalid and void inasmuch as it results in ownership by foreigners of more than 40% of real property in the Philippines in violation of the law and the Constitution, considering that real properties devoted to and used for commercial purpose located in Baler St., Quezon City and covered by TCT No. RT10007(24403) and TCT No. RT-10008(24402) of the Registry of Deeds of Quezon City are owned by Campana Development Corporation. Copies of said TCT No. RT-10007 (24403) and RT-10008(24402) are hereto attached as Annexes I and J, respectively.

16. Earnest efforts to settle the case amicably have proved futile.

17. Plaintiff, in order to protect his rights, is constrained to litigate and to engage the services of counsel for a fee of P150,000.00 plus P5,000.00 per court hearing.

APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF WRIT OF PRELIMINARY INJUCTION AND/OR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER 18. Plaintiff re-pleads the foregoing allegations in so far as they are relevant and material hereto.

19. Plaintiff is entitled to the relief demanded the whole or part of which consists in enjoining the defendants, or any other person/s claiming rights under them, from exercising all rights, real or otherwise, arising from the transfer and assignment of shares of stock of La Campana.

20. The performance of the acts herein sought to be enjoined during the pendency of the litigation would probably work injustice to the applicant.

21. The defendants are attempting, threatening or procuring to be done some acts probably in violation of the rights of the applicant respecting the subject of the action and tending to render the judgment ineffectual.

22. Plaintiff is willing to post a bond in such amount as the court may determine to answer for whatever damages defendants may suffer as a consequence of the writ in the event it should later on be found that plaintiff is not entitled thereon.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, it is most respectfully prayed that (A) Upon the filing of this complaint, the Honorable Court issued a writ of preliminary injunction and/or temporary restraining order enjoining the defendants from exercising all rights, real or otherwise, arising from the Absolute Deed of Transfer subject of this action.

(B) After trial, judgment be rendered declaring the Absolute Deed of Assignment subject matter of this action null and void and reverting to Kim Tia’s estate the same shares of stock of La Campana.

(C) Awarding plaintiff and holding the defendants, jointly and severally, liable for attorney’s fees of P150,000.00 plus P5,000.00 per court hearing.

Plaintiff prays for such other relief just and equitable in the premises.

Quezon City, Philippines; March 3, 2021.

ALDON GUADES & ASSOCIATES Counsel for the Plaintiff Suite 304 Señor Ivan de Palacio Building 139 Malakas St., Central District, Diliman, Quezon City By: (Sgd.) ANECIO ROJAS GUADES SC Roll No. 31074/04.05.80 MCLE VI No. 0000556/09.16.16 IBP No. 154471/01.21.21 PTR No. 2564514/Calbayog/01.20.20 Email: aniguades@yahoo.com Mobile No. 09278480088/09998798079 VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION I, WILLIP C.TANTONGCO, of legal age, under oath state that: I am plaintiff in the above-captioned case; I caused the preparation and filing of foregoing complaint; all the facts alleged therein are true and correct of my own personal knowledge and/or based on authentic records; the pleading is no filed to harass, cause unnecessary delay or needlessly increase the cost of litigation; and the factual allegations therein have evidentiary support.

And I hereby certify that I have not heretofore filed or commenced any action or proceeding involving the same issues and parties, and none is pending, before any court, tribunal, agency or instrumentality of the government, save a criminal complaint for falsification docketed as XV-03-INV-19L-11159 before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City and still pending on appeal before the DOJ involving the same document subject of this case and Civil Case No. Civil Case No. R-20-05963 captioned Willip C. Tantongco, Plaintiff versus William C. Tantongco, Wilbert C. Tantongco and Willex C. Tantongco, Defendants before Branch 100, Quezon Regional Trial Court, Quezon which was dismissed on plaintiff’s Notice of Dismissal filed pursuant to Sec. 1, Rule 17 of the 2019 Amended Rules of Court (A.M. No. 19-10-20-SC); and I hereby further undertake that should any such case come to my knowledge, I shall inform the Honorable Court of such fact with five (5) days from the time I learn thereof.

DONE this 3rd day of March 2021 at Quezon City, Philippines (Sgd.) WILLIP C.TANTONGCO SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 4TH day of March 2021, at Quezon City, Philippines; affiant exhibited to me his valid ID, photocopy of which is hereto attached.

Doc. No.187; Page No. 38; Book No. IX; Series of 2021.

(MStandard-Mar. 14, 21 & 28, 2022)

S

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

B4

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022

IN BRIEF

SEC welcomes new commissioner

THE Securities and Exchange Commission welcomed lawyer McJill Bryant Fernandez as a new commissioner in place of Ephyro Luis Amatong who ended his eight years of service in the agency.

“We are excited to work with Commissioner Fernandez, whose extensive experience in government service will surely help push forward the commission in its mandate of enabling the corporate sector, deepening the capital market and protecting the investing public,” SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino said in a statement.

Fernandez previously served as the deputy executive secretary for general administration under the Office of the President.

As DESGA, he assisted the Executive Secretary in articulating the policy directives of the President through executive orders and other ordinances, processing of applications for the establishment of special economic zones, evaluation of special authorities for executive agreements, foreign loans and grants and in addressing policy, legal and administrative concerns of various agencies in the executive department and government-owned and -controlled corporations.

Jenniffer B. Austria

GSIS disbursed P151-b loans in 2021

Business Gov’t bares three-year goal to bring down budget deficit

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE Department of Finance disclosed over the weekend a three-year plan to reduce the deficit-to-GDP ratio through fiscal consolidation as the economy resumes its vibrant growth after being stalled by the global health crisis.

“The current medium-term fiscal program is calibrated such that the deficit gradually narrows down without sacrificing infrastructure spending. The 2021 deficit is estimated to be around 8.2 percent of GDP [gross domestic product] and is programmed to fall down to 5.1

percent by 2024,” the DOF said in an economic bulletin.

Data showed the economy from 2016 to 2019,expanded by 6.6 percent annually, cutting the poverty rate from 18 percent in 2015 to 12 percent to 2018.

But the pandemic caused a 9.6-percent GDP contraction in 2020, the worst since World War 2.

The DOF said infrastructure spending, as percentage of GDP, likely reached up to 5.6 percent last year, may increase further to 5.9 percent this year and settle at 5.4 percent by 2024.

“CREATE [cutting corporate income taxes], economic liberalization [amendments to the RTLA, PSA, and FIA] and infrastructure investment should be seen as key ingredients in a cocktail of economic recovery package that is most potent when all ingredients are available,” the DOF said.

PSA refers to Public Service Act,

STATE pension fund Government Service Insurance System disbursed P151 billion in loans to more than one million members and pensioners in 2021, up by 4 percent from P145 billion in 2020.

“Through our various Ginhawa for All loan programs, GSIS has extended financial assistance at a time when our members and pensioners were in dire need of help,” GSIS president and general manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said.

GSIS said of the total amount granted, P106 billion was under GFAL multipurpose loans. The loan aims to help active members, particularly those who reached their borrowing limit and unable to pay their loans.

It consolidates the existing loans of members, except housing and policy loans, and waives surcharges on in-default accounts.

Through GFAL MPL, members may apply for up to 14 times their basic monthly salary but not to exceed P3 million. It has a low interest rate of 7 percent or 8 percent depending on members’ premium payments.

FULL-BLAST CONSTRUCTION.

The pace of finishing works on Binondo-Intramuros Bridge Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways is ramping up with night work, in addition to keeping up with daytime construction activities.

Asphalt resurfacing began on the ramps and main bridge deck as contractor China Road and Bridge Corp. gets as much work done as possible to open the new bridge by early April. Once completed, about 30,000 vehicles are expected to use the bridge every day.

LandBank delivers P569-m fuel subsidy JEEPNEY drivers claimed their Pantawid Pasada cash cards loaded with P6,500 fuel subsidy at Land Bank of the Philippines Cubao Branch in Quezon City on March 18 as part of the government’s support intervention to PUV drivers amid the rising fuel prices.

The driver-beneficiaries can use the cash cards to purchase fuel at participating fuel stations nationwide. About 87,500 jeepney drivers nationwide received fuel subsidy worth P6,500 each.

The bank, in close coordination with the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, credited fuel subsidies totaling P569 million for ePantawid Pasada cash cardholders under the Fuel Subsidy Program.

More than 377,000 PUV driver-beneficiaries are eligible to receive the subsidy under the program.

“LandBank is one with the national government in providing immediate support interventions to PUV drivers to weather the impact of the fuel price surge. We are working closely with the DOTr and LTFRB to complete the distribution of the fuel subsidy to all beneficiaries nationwide at the soonest time possible,” said LandBank president and chief executive Cecilia Borromeo.

while FIA pertains to Foreign Investment Act. Republic Act No. 11534, or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act was passed by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a fiscal relief to domestic and foreign corporations doing business in the Philippines.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Dec. 10, 2021 signed into law RA 11595 or the “An Act amending Republic Act No. 8762 or the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000, by lowering the paid-up capital requirement for foreign retail enterprises and other purposes.”

The DOF also said it is important that infrastructure investments be continued.

It said cutting infrastructure spending may narrow down the deficit momentarily but would be counter-productive in the long-run as far as economic recovery is concerned.

Dominguez orders SEC to intensify campaign against abusive lenders FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission, an attached agency of the Department of Finance, to intensify the crackdown against illegal and abusive lending companies that charge very high interest rates.

The SEC is the national government regulatory agency charged with supervision over the corporate sector, capital market participants, securities and investment instruments market and the investing public.

SEC chairman and chief executive Emilio Aquino said in a report to Dominguez the agency revoked the registration of 2,081 firms and secured the conviction of 76 individuals in eight cases for violations of the Lend-

ing Company Regulation Act as part of a crackdown against illegal and abusive lenders.

The corporate regulator also issued cease-and-desist orders against 73 online lending apps and cancelled the licenses of 36 financing or lending companies for various violations of the Lending Company Regulation Act and other applicable rules and regulations.

“We are also creating a Financing and Lending Companies Division within the SEC to focus exclusively on the regulation and monitoring of these entities,” Aquino said in his report.

Dominguez asked Aquino to stopped the proliferation of illegal and abusive lending companies/ Aquino said the SEC would also focus

its campaign on abusive lending companies following complaints received by the commission from consumers about the collection practices of these firms that involve threatening or insulting borrowers.

He said the SEC has an online team that conducts regular sweeping operations, monitors all complaints and goes through the different social media platforms to check on possible abusive or illegal lending practices.

The SEC began its crackdown against illegal lenders with its successful operation against Cashtrees Lending Corp.

Aquino said the SEC conducted the crackdown in coordination with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group. Julito G. Rada

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, March 18, 2022

-114.82 PTS. 7,007.63

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

1,653,035,966 87,049

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

27,588,094,210.22 81 100

UNCHANGED

49

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.1670

Japan

Yen

0.008431

0.4398

UK

Pound

1.315000

68.5996

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127921

6.6733

Switzerland

Franc

1.066894

55.6567

Canada

Dollar

0.792267

41.3302

Singapore

Dollar

0.738825

38.5423

Australia

Dollar

0.737500

38.4732

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652731

138.3850

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266539

13.9045

Brunei

Dollar

0.736106

38.4004

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.030066

1.5685

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.2044

Euro

Euro

1.109200

57.8636

Korea

Won

0.000826

0.0431

China

Yuan

0.157542

8.2185

India

Rupee

0.013173

0.6872

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238464

12.4400

New Zealand

Dollar

0.687900

35.8857

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035466

1.8502 Source: BSP

Abacore unit to sell 40% stake in Phil Star Bank

By Jenniffer B. Austria PHILIPPINE Regional Investment Development Corp. , a wholly-owned unit of listed Abacore Capital Holdings Inc., is selling a 40-percent stake in Phil Star Development Bank Inc. for $6 million.

Abacore said in a disclosure to the stock exchange PRIDE would sell its shares in the bank to a consortium led by Demry Cheng of Black Gem Development Corp.

The deal is still subject to regulatory approvals.

Abacore said Cheng through Blackgem would develop and expand the bank with a consortium of local and foreign partners.

The sale of PRIDE’s stake in the bank is in line with Abacore’s thrust to pursue long-term growth initiatives that will deliver value to shareholders and take advantage of a brighter economic outlook.

“As we look forward to 2022, we have reasons to be optimistic about the future, especially with the full reopening of the economy that will allow for increased operating capacity for businesses. In turn, this will stimulate demand for financial services which we can provide for them to achieve growth,” PRIDE president Antonio Gregorio III said.

PRIDE is a duly-licensed investment house and a member of the Investment House Association of the Philippines with an authorized capital stock of P1 billion and an asset base of P2.5 billion.

The company’s thrust is to develop projects that uplift the Philippine countryside.

Phil Star is a development bank headquartered in Batangas City.

It was the oldest rural bank in Batangas before it was converted into a development bank.

NextPay of Sy and Ayala groups set to launch ‘email money’ service in PH

MISTER DONUT CONCEPT. Mister Donut launches a new franchising concept tailored for convenience stores, community groceries and supermarkets that are looking to add its well-loved doughnuts and other baked products to their offerings. The Mister Donut ‘Mini Cart Franchise Package’ is in response to inquiries and requests that grocery owners and operators are getting from customers. The package is offered exclusively to owners of supermarkets, convenience stores and community groceries, with a minimum space requirement of 3 square meters for the cart setup.

By Darwin G. Amojelar NEXTPAY, a homegrown financial technology startup backed by the Sy family and the Ayala Group, is expanding its digital payment solutions by offering Email Money that allows users to transfer money to any bank or e-wallet without the need for the recipient’s account details.

“We are giving our customers more options to transfer funds through Email Money. By introducing the country’s first payment service that enables users to transfer money to any bank or e-wallet via email, we are empowering NextPay customers to streamline their financial needs and allow them to focus on growing their business,” said NextPay chief executive and co-founder Don Pansacola.

He said with Email Money, NextPay provides growing businesses with greater

convenience when transferring funds, paying suppliers or customers by removing the need to collect and manage their recipient’s bank details.

The new service also adds another layer of privacy, especially for small businesses that use their personal bank accounts for their transactions. It also lessens the instance of human error, as the sender does not need to input long bank account details, reducing the process of manual verification.

“We constantly pursue new innovations that are relevant to our target market―the micro, small and medium enterprises.

Email Money is a solution fit for businesses that need to process refunds or for those who want to settle their obligations early to finalize their book,” said NextPay chief experience officer and co-founder Aldrich Tan.

PH went down to fifth place in terms of vehicle sales growth among Southeast Asian markets in January

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippines slipped to fifth place in January as the fastest growing automotive market in Southeast Asia from second last year.

Data from the ASEAN Automotive Federation showed vehicle sales in the Philippines fell 10.7 percent in January to 20,879 units from 23,380 units a year ago, while production declined 8.7 percent to 5,543 from 6,704 units.

Indonesia maintained its top posi-

tion in sales with 84,098 units sold in January 2022, up by 58.9 percent from 52,909 units, followed Thailand with 25.8 percent growth to 69,455 from 55,208 units.

Malaysia sold 40,581 units, higher by 21.5 percent than 33,972 a year ago, while Vietnam also fared well with 16.3-percent sales increase to 30,742 from 26,432 units.

Similar to the Philippines, Singapore and Myanmar suffered declines in sales by 45.7 percent to 3,747 units and 56

percent to 1,125 units, respectively.

Thailand led production with 151,747 units in January, or 2.5 percent higher than 148,118 units produced a year ago.

Indonesia placed second with 113,004 units manufactured in January, up 40.1 percent from 76,319 units a year earlier, followed by Malaysia with 42,961 units produced, up 8.3 percent from 39,666 units in the same month last year.

Vietnam and Myanmar recorded production declines. Vietnam‘s production

went down by 4.6 percent to 18,405 from 19,284 units, while Myanmar’s output went down by 25.2 percent to 603 from 806 units.

Total sales in the region increased by 24.8 percent 250,627 units from 200,776 units while production remained healthy at 14.5 percent growth.

Scooter and motorcycle sales and production registered decline in January. Sales were down by 3.6 percent to 303,511 from 314,947 units.

The Philippines posted slower output

both in sales and in production. Sales declined by 8 percent to 115,698 from 125,033 units, while production dropped 8.8 percent to 79,651 units.

Thailand led the region with 7-percent increase in sales to 145,095 units from 135,041, while production was also up by 3.6 percent to 169,171 from 165,874 units.

Sales by Malaysia dropped 20.4 percent to 41,868 from 52,609 units while production decreased 13.3 percent to 42,800 from 50,451 units.

Nadal sets up Indian Wells final with Fritz INDIAN WELLS—Rafael Nadal battled past Carlos Alcaraz and the elements on Saturday, beating his talented young Spanish compatriot 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to book an ATP Indian Wells Masters title clash with American Taylor Fritz.

Nadal, who claimed a record-setting 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, improved to 20-0 in 2022.

The 35-year-old superstar was pushed all the way through three hours and 12 minutes by the 18-yearold aiming to follow in the footsteps of his childhood idol.

“I think was my best match so far in the tournament in terms of level,” Nadal said.

“In the third I played with great determination against a very difficult player to play. He’s great. He has a lot of amazing things.”

The array of shots and athleticism that have already stamped Alcaraz a star were on full display in a match that saw gusting winds buffet the players in the second set, sending debris skittering across the court and at one point forcing a readjustment of the billowing net.

Alcaraz’s fearless start to the contest saw him take a quick 2-0 lead -- fighting off five of the astonishing 17 break points he would face in the set in the second game.

Nadal won the next four games before surrendering his serve again, but he pocketed the set with another break in the 10th game.

Down 0-40, Alcaraz delivered a drop shot winner, a backhand volley winner and a service winner.

A forehand into the net gave Nadal another opportunity, which the former world number one squandered with an easy forehand miss. He’d make no mistake two points later, pocketing the set on his fifth opportunity.

Alcaraz again seized the initiative in the second set with a break for a 3-2 lead.

That launched a run of five straight breaks of serve, the last another marathon in which Nadal saved five break points and missed two game points before Alcaraz finally put him away.

Alcaraz, who had won just three games in his only prior career meeting with Nadal in Madrid 10 months ago, then calmly served out the set.

As the wind died down again, the third set saw both players hitting winners from every quarter of the court.

Nadal stepped up his attack, coming to the net more in a bid to end the rallies.

A high forehand volley gave him another break and a 5-3 lead.

Sports

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022

C1

Navy’s Lomotos crowned Ronda Pilipinas champion Ronda Pilipinas champion and Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance’s Ronald Lomotos raises his hands in triumph as he arrives at the finish line of the bikefest’s 10th and final stage.

By Peter Atencio

B

AGUIO City—Ronald Lomotos of the Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance enjoyed his last ride before formally taking the overall crown in the 10th and final stage of the 11th LBC Ronda Pilipinas, which started and ended at the Burnham Park here.

Greeted by a big crowd of young fans and teenage cycling enthusiasts, Lomotos was 35 seconds behind stage winner, Excellent Noodles’ bet Ryan Tugawin, who started taking charge in the eighth lap.

But it was enough for the 27-year-old Lomotos to bag his first-ever Ronda title following a previous best finish of third in the 2020 edition.

Lomotos soaked up in the sights and sounds of the numerous shops and restaurants that clutter Session Road around 16 times to place 35th in the final stage, a criterium race, to finish

with a total time of 35 hours, 31minutes and 38 seconds.

“Hindi ko na pinuwersa dahil criterium na lang ito. Ang game plan na lang dito ay i-secure ang title para sa team,” said Lomotos, who was joined by teammates Ronald Oranza, El Joshua Carino and rookie Jeremy Lizardo in claiming the team honors after they took second, third and fourth place overall in the general classification, respectively.

“Tulong ko na ito sa pamilya ko at para sa team na rin ito,” added Lomotos after he claimed the P1-million top

purse, while the Navymen bagged the team prize of P200,000.

In all, the Navymen went on to collect a total of P1.710 million in cash in the overall team and individual classifications.

Oranza, who held the red jersey thrice after taking Stage 6, 7 and 8, before slowing down in Stage 9, was second overall, trailing Lomotos by 21 seconds, while Carino is far behind by 18:54.

After losing the red jersey in Stage 9, Oranza redeemed himself by grabbing the King of the Mountain accolade, with Carino and Lomotos trailing in second and third. Lizardo added another gold medal by being acclaimed as the event’s top under-23 rider and no. 1 rookie.

Excellent Noodles, a new entry coached by Santy Barnachea, landed second in the team classification, with three riders finishing in the overall top 10, namely Joshua

HD Spikers stun Cargo Movers, grab lead STOPPED on its tracks by a resurgent F2 Logistics side in the third set, Cignal HD responded to the challenge and pulled off another shock 25-14, 25-21, 19-25, 25-18 triumph to zero in on the top Group A spot in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila yesterday.

The HD Spikers oddly dominated the first two sets but blew the chance to essay a sweep of one of the most feared teams in the league on a late third set meltdown. But they put their act together in the next, breaking off a tight duel midway through then building enough cushion to complete the one-hour, 42-minute victory for a 2-0 mark.

The win came on the heels of Cignal’s similar fourset reversal over defending champion Chery Tiggo last Wednesday, their sweep of their first two games eclipsing their dismal one-win performance in the league’s inaugural pro season in Ilocos Norte last year.

“I’m so proud of this team, but we really prepared hard for this. We executed well and so happy the others performed well,” said Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos, whose wards also bucked the sidelining of top hitter Ces Molina, who sustained an ankle injury early in the fourth after landing on Kim Dy’s foot.

But the HD Spikers used that setback as a rallying point as they took six of the next 10 points to pad a shaky twopoint lead to a 15-10 cushion. And unlike in the third set

where they squandered a 13-8 lead to enable the Cargo Movers to extend the match, the HD Spikers held sway behind Jerrili Malabanan, Roselyn Doria, Ria Meneses, Rachel Ann Daquis, Angeli Araneta and the gutsy plays of setter Gel Cayuna and libero Angelique Dionela.

Molina and Daquis unloaded 13 points apiece, Meneses fired 12 hits, mostly on quick plays and brilliant tap-ins, while Doria and Araneta added nine and five hits, respectively, and Cayuna came through with seven points on top of 18 excellent sets to clinch the best of the game honors.

Tin Tiamzon topscored for F2 with 15 points as Kim Dy struggled in the early going before finishing with 11 hits while Aby Maraño fired 10 points, majority of which she pumped in their big third set rebound.

The Cargo Movers, who held off the Army Lady Troopers in four in their PVL debut last Wednesday then swept the Crossovers last Friday, slipped to 2-1.

Meanwhile, Group B action heats up today (Monday) with Petro Gazz and Creamline clashing with PLDT and BaliPure, respectively, in virtual tune-ups for their explosive faceoff in the penultimate playdate of the compact elims Wednesday.

The Angels turned back the Water Defenders in four while the Cool Smashers dominated the High Speed Hitters in three last Thursday with the winning teams

Rachel Ann Daquis

tipped to score repeats as they switch opponents in the fifth playdate of the single round, daily elims of the tournament compressed to a four-week schedule to make way for the training of the national team building up for the SEA Games in Hanoi in May.

Sibol begins ‘Lakad Matatag’ to 31st SEA Games in Hanoi PHILIPPINE national esports team Sibol will try to keep the flag flying high in the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi from May 12 to May 23.

After weeks of tryouts, Sibol completed its roster last February with a total of 55 athletes and 9 coaches vying for the gold slate at the upcoming biennial regional sports event. Powered by Smart, Sibol debuted in the 30th SEA Games and has since then secured other major sponsors including PLDT, TV5 and Cignal.

In a press briefing hosted by the Philippine Esports Organization (PeSO), the team unveiled its new logo, a first look at the official jersey, and its slogan, “Lakad Matatag.” This battle cry was taken from PeSO Executive Director Marlon “Lon” Marcelo’s globally famous caster call from a Dota2 match.

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

PeSO is the country’s national governing body for esports. It has been a member of the International Esports Federation since 2012 and an associate member of the Philippine Olympic Committee since 2020.

PeSO also gave a sneak peek at the athlete roster during the press briefing. In attendance were Kristoffer Ed L. Ricaplaza - MLBB World Champion Coach, Christine Ray Roque Natividad - Wildrift No.1 Female team SEA, Angel Danica Quiros

Lozada—Wildrift No.1 Female Team SEA, Dennis O. Ramos Jr.—CrossFire FPS game, Ralph Andrei M. Llabres— SIBOL Overall Head Coach, and Jabs Escutin—Sibol General Manager.

Sibol is set to introduce its complete team within the next few weeks who will be competing in all 10 esports events at the 31st SEA Games: League of Legends, FIFA 4, CrossFire, Arena of Valor, Garena Free Fire, Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB), League of Legends: Wild Rift, and PUBG. The first batch of delegates is scheduled to fly to Hanoi on the week of May 9.

“We’re extremely proud to support a talented and passionate team who has been training relentlessly to represent our country to the best of their abilities. We are confident that Sibol will continue to put the Philippines on the global esports map

and prove that Filipinos can dominate in this arena,” says Jane Basas, PeSO board member and SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

Currently, the 64-strong Sibol team is training at the Brenn Esports Facility in Makati, which is funded by Smart.

Marcelo adds that PeSO, together with its sponsors are working on a lineup of activities for the delegation to give local and international esports fans an opportunity to get to know them leading to the competitions.

Bringing in an all-new Sibol delegation, featuring an all-female team and twin athletes Sibol will be debuting its first all-female team for League of Legends: Wild Rift at the 31st SEA Games, alongside the first-ever twin male athletes who will be competing individually for Wild Rift.

Mari Bonifacio in fifth, Jan Paul Morales in seventh and Joshua Pascual taking eighth place.

One of Excellent Noodles’ top riders in Mervin Corpuz was cut from the list and penalized after he was reportedly caught getting assistance by being towed by a team vehicle in Stage 8.

Go For Gold, led by Jonel Carcueva’s sixth-place ranking, settled for third place in the team classification, while Team Nueva Ecija and Ilocos were in fourth and fifth places, respectively.

The 32-year-old Tugawin submitted a clocking of one hour, 17 minutes and 15 seconds when he arrived at the finish line together with Navyman George Oconer and Go For Gold’s Ronnilan Quita to claim the criterium plum.

Tugawin, who is from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, earned his best finish at 11th spot overall since making it to 17th spot back in 2019.

Patrombon turns back Olivarez, wins Open crown JESON Patrombon took the first Open crown in tennis restart after a two-year hiatus, repulsing a game Jed Olivarez with a clutch break in the decider to capture the PPS-PEPP Olivarez Cup crown via a 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4 decision at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat over the weekend.

Patrombon, 28, wore down Olivarez in a gripping third set battle of nerves, snapping their hold-hold game by foiling the latter at serve in the 10th after blowing two match points and then forcing a deuce and winning the last two points to clinch the three-hour, 10-minute victory worth P30,000.

The Iligan City ace capped his big weekend by teaming up with Vicente Anasta to thwart Olivarez and Joewyn Pascua, 7-5, 6-4, for the doubles crown of the event organized by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala that marked the return of the country’s longest running circuit from the pandemic disruption.

Patrombon, who marked his finals run with a string of straight-set victories, including an abbreviated win over No. 3 and many-time fellow Davis Cup teammate Johnny Arcilla, dropped a set for the first time as the 23-year-old Olivarez pulled through in a tense tiebreaker after trading breaks in the seventh and 10th games of the opening set.

But the top-seeded Patrombon recovered strong in the second frame, breaking Olivarez in the fourth and eighth games to essay the 51-minute win and send the match to a deciding set that saw the second ranked Olivarez struggle in the second game before hacking out a scrambling win to draw level.

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Sports

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022

Tabuena back in PGT hunt; ladies ready for fierce chase MIGUEL Tabuena tries to pick up from where he left off, leading a compact field chasing top honors in the rich ICTSI Luisita Championship which gets under way tomorrow (Tuesday) at the fabled Tarlac layout.

The two-time Philippine Open champion topped the last Philippine Golf Tour leg at Eagle Ridge last year before the circuit went on a year-long hiatus due to pandemic and other concerns. He shifted his campaign abroad, winning his first US title in the Idaho Open last September but struggled in the Asian Tour restart where he tied for 36th in the Laguna Phuket Championship in Thai- Miguel Tabuena land last December.

He hasn’t seen action this year, skipping a couple of Asian Tour events and marrying his longtime girlfriend in the US last February.

But he stayed in shape during the break, building up on strength and length which he hopes to flaunt in this week’s P2 million, 72-hole championship marking the

start of the new season of the PGT as well as that of the Ladies PGT, which also kicks off its 54-hole tournament tomorrow.

But Tabuena will be facing a slew of rivals who are all coming into the event with lots of enthusiasm and hungry for recognition, including multi-titled Tony Lascuña and former Philippine Open titlist Clyde Mondilla and legend Frankie Miñoza.

Others in the fold are Anthony Fernando, Gerald Rosales, also a former Phl Open champion, Manilabased Dutch Guido Van der Valk, Reymon Jaraula, many-time PGT champion Jay Bayron; former Masters titlist Jerson Balasabas, Joenard Rates, Marvin Dumandan, Mhark Fernando, Michael Bibat, Mars Pucay, Rufino Bayron and Rupert Zaragosa.

Meanwhile, the top draws in the Ladies PGT brace for a battle royale with Princess Superal expecting a shootout with reigning Order of Merit winner Harmie Constantino, leg winners Sunshine Baraquiel, Chanelle Avaricio, Daniella Uy and multi-titled Chihiro Ikeda.

SCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139)

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF LINDA MARIE KOO REYNOLDS to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139.

SCN CASE NO. x------------------ x

PETITION Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares: 1. My full name is LINDA MARIE KOO REYNOLDS, but I have also been known since childhood as _____ or I have been N/A . judicially authorized to use the alias name(s) 2. My present place of residence is 1332 PALM AVE., DASMARIÑAS VILLAGE City/Municipality of MAKATI CITY Province of METRO MANILA and all my former places of residence are (please indicate periods of residence) 3. I was born on 20 MAY 1953, in STA MESA, MANILA Philippines. I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 4. My father's name is WELLINGTON KOO, JR. and he was born on 30 JANUARY 1922, in WASHINGTON DC USA. He is a citizen or subject of CHINA. My mother's name is LOURDES TINSAY KOO and she was born on 31 OCTOBER 1924 in BALIUAG, BULACAN. She is a citizen or subject of PHILIPPINES. 5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is HOUSEWIFE and from which I derive an average annual income of N/A , inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances. My wife's/husband's trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which she derives an average annual income of P N/A .

(Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained:BS SPORTS SCIENCE, (2) name of school: UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS and (3) years graduated: 2016] who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship.

6. My civil status is MARRIED, I was married on 26 AUGUST 1963 in NORTH HAMPTON, UNITED KINGDOM. My wife's/ husband's name is DAVID JOHN REYNOLDS and she/he was born on in 29 DEC. 1953 in UNITED KINGDOM She/ he is a citizen or subject of UNITED KINGDOM and presently resides 1332 PALM AVE., DASMARIÑAS VILLAGE, MAKATI. 7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N/A granted by N/A. (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N/A in N/A. 8. I have THREE (3) child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows:

Date of Birth CHRISTIASN SOTTO 11/18/1973 ARA MARIE R. 8/11/1984 ZOBEL LORRAINE 12/12/1988 MARGAUX R. MAXINELL

Place of Birth USA MAKATI

Residence UNITED STATES MAKATI, PHILS.

MAKATI

MAKATI, PHILS

9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Name of School MARYKNOLL COLLEGE PHILIPPINE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Place of Dates of School Study QUEZONCITY 4/20/1968 MANILA CITY 4/6/1988

Highest Grade Completed ELEMENTARY HIGH SCHOOL

10. I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines: ENGLISH & FILIPINO 11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philipine History, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Name of Child N/A

L

OS ANGELES—LeBron James moved into second place on the NBA’s all-time regular season points scoring rankings on Saturday but could not prevent the Los Angeles Lakers from slumping to defeat against the Washington Wizards.

James produced a typically virtuoso performance to finish with 38 points and 10 rebounds at the Wizards’ Capital One Arena.

That was enough to power James past Karl Malone into second place in the regular season scorers rankings with 36,947 points.

But it did not stop the Lakers from sliding to a jarring 127-119 loss against a Wizards side which had been on a sixgame losing streak.

“Just to be a part of this league for as many years as I’ve been a part of it, to be linked with some of the greatest to ever play this game, guys I’ve watched or studied, or read about, or inspired to be like, I’m just lost for words for it,” James said of his scoring achievement.

“It’s an honor for myself, for my

friends and family to live these moments, for anyone who’s shared my journey.”

James—who holds the NBA’s outright scoring record for regular season and playoff games—started the game needing just 20 points to surpass Malone’s regular season total of 36,928.

James wasted no time in hunting down Malone’s benchmark, rapidly reaching double figures before moving to 16 points with back-to-back three-pointers early in the second quarter.

The four-time NBA champion then added another three-pointer to tie Malone, before finally taking sole possession of second place with a two-point layup with just over five minutes left in the second quarter.

The Washington crowd gave James an ovation after he reached the milestone,

with the Lakers star saluting fans as he basked in the applause.

James’ points haul leaves him within range of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time record of 38,387 points.

But James’ celebratory moment was diminished after the Lakers suffered another fourth quarter collapse to allow the Wizards to claim victory.

The Wizards outscored the Lakers 34-20 in the final period, completing a comeback from a 16-point deficit to grab the win.

Kristaps Porzingis led the Washington comeback with 16 points in the fourth quarter, part of an overall tally of 27 points.

Lakers coach Frank Vogel saluted James’ scoring achievement despite the loss.

“It’s bittersweet but I think it’s important to separate it,” Vogel said.

“We can’t get caught up in the pain of this loss, and have to recognize what an incredible feat this was.

“LeBron just attacked the game tonight. Just a signature performance in a game where he passes one of the greats.” AFP

violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease. The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION

Name

LeBron 2nd place in NBA scoring list but LA slumps

Name and Place of School N/A

Date of Enrollment N/A

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living. I mingled socially with Filipinos and have evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139.

I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to UNITED STATES OF AMERICA of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship.

14. My character witnesses are MARIA LOURDES DE LEON BUENAVENTURA and JEAN MARIE TAN both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at 58 MCKINLEY RD. BRGY FORBES PARK, MAKATI. and 109 CAMBRIDGE CIRCLE NORTH FORBES MAKATI respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization.

15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box): [ / ] a. Petitioner's birth certificate [ / ] b. Petitioner's alien certificate of registration (ACR) [ / ] c. Petitioner's native-born certificate of residence (NBCR) [ ] d. Petitioner's marriage certificate, if married [ ] e. Death certificate of his/her spouse, if widowed [ ] f. Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact [ ] g. Birth certificates of petitioner's minor children [ ] h. ACRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] i. NBCRs of petitioner's minor children [ / ] j. Affidavits of financial capacity by the petitioner, duly supported by bank certifications, passbooks, stock certificates, or proof of ownership of other properties [ / ] k. Affidavits of at least two (2) credible witnesses who must be Filipino citizens of good reputation in petitioner's place of residence [ / ] l. Medical certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or any incurable contagious disease. [ / ] m. School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines [ / ] n. Certifications stating that petitioner's minor children are enrolled in public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality [ / ] o. Petitioner's income tax returns for the past three years [ / ] p. Petitioner's receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years 16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition: PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139.

Dated at Makati City, Metro Manila, this 23 day of SEPTEMBER 2021.

LINDA MARIE KOO REYNOLDS Name and Signature of Petitioner Contact Number: 0917-5202053 Email Address: lindakooreynolds@yahoo.com

Right Thumbmark of Petitioner

Petitioner's signature and right thumbmark

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF QUEZON CITY) S.S. I, LINDA MARIE KOO REYNOLDS of legal age and a resident of 1332 PALM AVE., DASMARIÑAS VILLAGE, MAKATI after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have read the foregoing petition and know the foregoing petition and known the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge.

LINDA MARIE KOO REYNOLDS Name and Signature of Petitioner

SUBCRIBED AND SWORN to before me at QUEZON CITY, this 22 day of JUNE 2017.

Official authorized to administer oaths/ Notary Public

(MS-MAR. 14, 21 & 28, 2022)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers hi-fives a fan after the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. AFP

Plana, Macalaguim capture Southwoods Invitational title JUNJUN Plana and Gab Macalaguim formalized their claim on the overall gross title while Richard Santos and Michael Miguel edged the Manolo Agojo-Joven Guevarra pair in a tiebreak to snare the overall net crown in the Southwoods Invitational at the Legends and Masters courses in Carmona, Cavite over the weekend.

With no team able to mount a final day challenge, Plana and Macalaguim cruised to a seven-point romp with a 161 total built around 84 points in best ball format at the Masters and 77 points in aggregate play at the Legends.

Justine Tambunting and Terrence Macatangay settled for second with a 154 (86-68), while Edsel Opulencia and Abraham Avena carded a 153 (8271) for third in the club’s first member-guest tournament after a two-year break due to pandemic.

The Santos-Miguel tandem, meanwhile, combined for a 180 (96-84), the same output put in by Agojo and Guevarra but the former bagged the net title with a lower team handicap.

Sharing the podium in the four-day event which drew a full-packed field of 400 players were Thirdy Escaño and

Bong Tirol (Division I), Ian Tambunting and Raymond Lacdao (Division 2), Ian Arceo and Mike Ong (Division 3), Vince Siy and Francis Tanjangco (Division 4) while Agojo and Guevarra took the Division 5 plum.

Escaño and Tirol pooled a 174 (96-78) to nip Edsel Opulencia and Abraham Avena (94-79) by one; Tambunting and Lacdao scored a 176 (96-80) to post a three-point victory over Victor Tanjuatco and Paolo Iñigo (96-77); Arceo and Ong assembled a 176 (96-80) for a seven-point win over Bob Sobrepeña and Monet Garcia (96-73); Siy and Tanjangco turned in a 170 (96-74) and won by four over Jimmy Borromeo and Raymond Bunquin (92-74); and Agojo and Guevarra posted a best 180 (96-84) to foil Dexter Lim and Lucas Lim, who pooled a 179 from rounds of 96-83.

Juan Miguel Cantero and Paolo Nicomedes topped the Sponsor/Guest division with 177 (96-81) with Jerry Lim and Rafael Reyes finishing second with 172 (92-80) in the event backed by The Turf Company as title sponsor and Mitsubishi Motors Phil. Corp./Alpine Motors Corp., Royal Caribbean/Baron Travel, Agrexplore Corp., Abomar Equipment

Sales Corp., Sojitz Fuso Phil. Corp., Klio International Marketing Corp. and HBW Enterprises as Platinum sponsors.

Christian Angeles, with member partner Oscar Visaya, grabbed the opening day spotlight by scoring a holein-one on No. 3 of the Masters. He won a 4-night Southeast Asia cruise for two, inclusive of two economy class tickets (Manila-Singapore-Manila), courtesy of Royal Caribbean/Baron Travel and pocketed P100,000 from Sojitz Fuso Phils. Corp. for the feat.

Isa Lorenzo, with member teammate Lora Roberto, drove home a brand new Mitsubishi Mirage G4 GLS CVT A/T Sedan, courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors Phils. Corp./Alpine Motors Corp., after scoring a hole-inone on No. 5 of the Masters.

Other backers of the event were Club Car by The Turf Company, Gran Sportivo and Mercedes-Benz as holein-one sponsors while The Manor & The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay and Leads Agricultural Products Corp. head the Gold backers list and Le Chef, Inc., Metro Rail Transit Dev’t. Corp., PGA Clubshares and PNOEZ as Silver sponsors.

Marquez out of MotoGP after crash MANDALIKA, Indonesia—Six-time world champion Marc Marquez is out of Sunday’s Indonesian Grand Prix after a horror crash in the final morning warm-up.

Marquez was catapulted from his bike on turn seven just before the end of Sunday morning’s 20-minute session at the Mandalika International Street Circuit.

Marquez’s Honda cartwheeled end-over-end as it disintegrated and the Spaniard appeared to land heavily on his left arm at approximately 180kph (110mph).

A shaken Marquez got to his feet and walked away before being taken to a nearby hospital for medical checks.

His team Honda said on social media: “Marc Marquez has been declared unfit after examination in local hospital and by the circuit staff and doctors.”

Marquez had already suffered a bruising weekend, having two crashes during qualifying on Saturday, and was thought to have suffered a concussion from Sunday’s spectacular accident.

He had been due to start from 14th on the grid after being promoted one spot due to a three-place grid penalty for Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli.

Organizers soon after announced the MotoGP race would be reduced from 27 laps to 20 over tyre safety fears caused by the extreme heat at the circuit.

MotoGP has returned to Indonesia for the first time since 1997 at the new venue on the resort island of Lombok, which was partially resurfaced following problems during February’s testing. AFP

Entertainment Six-member girl group Calista

Deciphering

CALISTA

A QUINTET of comely chanteuses namely Olive Bihag, Laiza Comia, Dainiel Leones, Elle Pascual, Denise Pello, and Anne Tenorio comprise Calista, the latest addition to the evergrowing P-Pop community.

People are curious about this all-female group, topping the enumeration, of course, is their name, which is of Greek origin that supposedly means most beautiful.

The nearest person that comes to mind carrying the name is Calista Flockheart of Ally Mc Beal fame, now the significant squeeze of Harrison Ford. Also, I cannot help but wonder how the mighty Aphrodite, Grecian goddess of love and beauty reacts to the moniker. She might be frowning, fuming with a raised eyebrow, if the goddess was for real.

The ladies that compose Calista are all so relatively young, with digits ranging from 16 to 21. They are harnessing the power of electric youth, as Debbie Gibson used to sing it. Their interesting backstories of having joined beauty and talent contests are proof that they are extremely competitive, confident of their physical endowments, and at an early age, they know that being beautiful is their greatest advantage.

Being in showbiz, as part of Calista, is their means to fully express and realize their artistry and showcase their worldclass talents.

The sleek music video that was “Race Car,” produced by Marcus Davies who also wrote the song scream and sound American Top 40 variety was presented during the media conference.

As Calista performed the song during the press shindig, remembering how they sang and danced on the stage, the cons of the quintet becomes more apparent.

They still lack the attitude, precision, snap, and synchronicity when they dance.

For the singing part, the lyrics were

ARIAS ALWIN IGNACIO inaudible, the voices, raw and shaky, they have not achieved that “one unison sound” that is a must in a group performance.

The singing and dancing at the same time, take a toll on them, one can sense the catching of their breathing and they were not giving it the so-called “performance level” the song deserved. These, as they say, can be remedied with the old saying of “practice makes perfect.”

The biggest con of Calista, which is not their fault, is the anthem assigned to them.

There is nothing Filipino about it. When you listen and hear the song, immediately the conclusion you get, here is another all-American pop girl group wanting our attention. We have heard this before, next please!

The people behind their maiden track, seem to have forgotten how the likes of Korean singing megastars captured the fascination of the world. Prime points are PSY of “Oppa Gangnam Style,” BTS’s pre-Butter era, Super Junior, and the other Korean androgynous-looking boy bands and power feminine groups.

All of them sing in Korean, with a few songs peppered with English lines and what one hears and experiences, the distinctive color, texture, and sound of being Korean that pulsates in their ditties.

Another case to prove my observation, Ricky Martin, whose biggest hits were “ La Copa de La Visa,” “Livin La Vida Loca,” and “She Bangs,” that Latin fire, sexiness, and passion, not only oozes but are perceptible in all the mentioned hits.

With “Race Car,” where is the Filipino in Calista? If they continue with this song choice path, please give me BINI and MNL 48 anytime, and yes, they may kiss their international career as to who would want to invest in copycats?

On April 26, Calista holds court at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in a concert billed as Vax to Normal. Hope springs eternal that by concert night, being proud maidens of the Philippines will be seen and heard.

Jona, Ariel Rivera

join ‘Sing Galing‘ Nation FOLLOWING its successful bigger with the announcement of comeback that marked many firsts for songstress Jona and OPM hitmaker the country’s original and pioneering Ariel Rivera as the newest Jukebosses videoke TV program, Sing Galing to join the program. Sing-lebrity announces a Year 2 that Edition Jukeboss Allan levels up in excitement and K will also be joining amusement with bigger as official Jukeboss to prizes, new segments, delight the viewers and new personalities to more with his hilarious watch out for. yet insightful comments In a record-breaking every day. grand finale that garnered Moreover, viral the largest audience TikTok cuties Danelle share for TV5’s Saturday Jeshorun and Dandan primetime since 2016, Sing Padilla will also be joining as Galing recently made history Jonalyn Viray new Singtokers to showcase their by being the first TV show to air Sing-giling moves. The Singlive from the newly-restored galingan continues for the ten cultural treasure, The Team Galing members as Metropolitan Theater. they will now be joining Mari Mar Tua of the show’s weekly Pampanga, a recordKan2waan. holder BidaOke Star with Sing Galing Year eight wins in the show’s 2 unveils not just a regular edition, was hailed new look for the show as the first-ever Ultimate but bigger prizes and BidaOke Star during the more chances of winning. finale. She won a Sing Galing Contestants will get to win trophy from renowned artist Toym Ariel Rivera a total of P100,000 for the day Imao, a house and lot from Bria, if they achieve a perfect score in and one million pesos cash. the Asingtado round. The return Actor Patrick Quiroz also won one of Sing Galing’s iconic Pachinko Ball million pesos cash plus P100,000 for will also give a nostalgic twist for Kahis chosen beneficiary when he bagged awitbahays across the country. the Ultimate Sing-lebrity BidaOke title Sing Galing airs every Monday, in the celebrity edition grand finals.

Tuesday, and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on The Sing Galing family grows even TV5.

Western The Power of the Dog, the presumed Academy Award frontrunner.

The Producers Guild Awards, taking place with Oscars voting now underway, have correctly predicted 11 of the past 14 winners of the best picture Academy Award.

Encanto won the PGA’s best animated film, strengthening its own Oscars bid before voting ends Tuesday.

Summer of Soul—musician Questlove’s first movie, about the huge “Black

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Another dream come true for

DINGDONG DANTES

T

WO weekends VERY ago, I was invited WANG to play in Family Feud hosted by Dingdong NICKIE WANG Dantes. It’s a mock game to give members of the press an idea of how it is played. Naturally, the host was very engaging and made sure that he was part of the banter within each group.

After the mock game, which was the press conference proper, Dingdong admitted that hosting Family Feud again is a dream come true for him. From 2009 to 2010, he subbed Richard Gomez as host of the local franchise, now for his second outing for Family Feud, he reclaims the throne as the main host.

He admitted that when he did the hosting job for the popular game show back then “it already made a mark in me.”

“Even without this new franchise, Family Feud still remains as one of my memorable experiences as a TV host,” he said.

Family Feud is one of the longest-running game shows in the world. Making the local version more unique and entertaining are the survey questions that the Pinoy viewers can easily relate to.

“We have big shoes to fill dahil sobrang sikat siya all over the world and personally I’m a big fan of Steve Harvey. Pero siguro ang kagandahan dito, ‘yung mga tanong pa lang kasi very Pinoy na. Doon pa lang very relatable na kaya magiging super relaxed na lahat ng nanonood,” shared Dingdong.

As he brings his charm, confidence, and natural talent to Family Feud, Dingdong reveals the fun side of hosting this widely popular game show, “Ang pagkakaiba talaga dito yung aspeto na kahit na sabihin natin na ako yung host o game master, e, naglalaro din kasi ako. Kumbaga, kahit nagpa-facilitate ako ng game, kahit ako mismo nakikisama ako sa laro e. Dahil sobrang saya kasi niya.

Talagang enjoy siya.”

The battle is on once more for two families of four as they try to outsmart each other in guessing the most popular answers to survey questions. The winning team will take home P100,000 plus another P100,000 if they win in the jackpot round. Meanwhile, the losing team will receive P50,000.

Viewers will also get a chance to win cash prizes while watching and enjoying the show in the comforts of their homes with the ‘Guess To Win’ promo.

All Filipinos aged 18 years old and above and currently residing in the country are allowed to join. Participants must watch Family Feud and wait for any of the three questions that will be flashed on the screen. All entries must be submitted to the website www.gmanetwork.com/FamilyFeudGuessToWin. Deadline for submission of entries is during the airing of the show only. All entries submitted are qualified for the electronic raffle. There will be five winners of P20,000 each per episode, for a total of 25 winners per week to be drawn. Weekly winners will be posted on the program’s social media accounts.

Family Feud, directed by Treb Monteras, premieres tonight and will air Monday to Friday, at 5:45 p.m. before 24 Oras on GMA.

Dingdong Dantes is the game master of ‘Family Feud’

A musical affair with Basil and Jamie OPM legend Basil Valdez and seasoned love songs like “Hey, It’s Me,” “Awit singer Jamie Rivera team up for a night Para Sa’Yo, ”and “I’ve Fallen For of uplifting music to the country’s pioneer You,” has also made a name for herself lifestyle and entertainment destination, internationally when she played the role Resorts World Manila (RWM). of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon in The one-night-only affair, aptly dubbed London, England in 1992.

Love and Light, will delight the live audience Produced by Full House Theater of the ultra-modern Newport Performing Arts Company in cooperation with NY Theater on April 30 at 8:00 p.m.

Entourage Productions, the show is set The award-winning Filipino balladeer to serenade the crowd with the OPM Basil Valdez started his career in the icons’ timeless hits and inspirational ‘70s when he released his first solo anthems, under the musical direction of album entitled Ngayon at Kailanman.

Adonis Tabanda and directed by Frank He reinvented himself as a singer of Mamaril. movie theme songs in the ‘80s, and has Basil Valdez (left) and Jamie Rivera team up for Tickets to the Love and Light concert etched his mark in the industry with hits a one-night-only performance dubbed ‘Love are now available at TicketWorld and “Ngayon at Kailanman,” “Hanggang sa and Light’ SM Tickets. For inquiries contact Girah Dulo ng Walang Hanggan,” “Paano Ba Manaligod (0917 872 8309), Archli ang Mangarap,” and “Muling Buksan Ang Puso” among others. Enriquez (0917 823 9602), or Neil Crisostomo (0917 658 9378).

Meanwhile, pop singer Jamie Rivera, known for her string of For more information on RWM’s thrilling entertainment offers meaningful song hits, including “Tell The World of His Love” and shows, visit www.rwmanila.com or download the RWM and “We Are All God’s Children,” as well as some touching Mobile App.

Hollywood’s producers honor ‘CODA’ THE Producers Guild Awards named CODA, a heartwarming indie drama about a deaf family, the year’s best film at their annual gala Saturday, throwing the race for next weekend’s Oscars wide open.

CODA, which cast deaf actors in several lead roles, follows teenage Ruby —who can hear—as she juggles pursuing her musical ambitions with her family’s dependence on her to communicate.

The movie, released by Apple TV+, is now best-placed to vie with Netflix’s

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

Woodstock” festival that took place in 1969 Harlem—racked up another best documentary win.

“In music, coda means the end of a movement. But our film is the beginning of one,” said CODA actress Marlee Matlin before the film took the night’s top prize.

“It’s a wonderful thing that audiences have embraced our movie and it’s wonderful to be making history,” she ended. AFP

‘CODA’ is a heartwarming indie drama starring deaf actors in lead roles

Life

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

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MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022

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NTIQUE, a province in Panay Island in Western Visayas in the Philippines, is often overlooked as a tourist destination because of its proximity to the more popular Boracay Island in Aklan. But Antiqueños believe this will soon change.

“Antique is a paradise where the mountains meet the sea. It is a province that may have been in the doldrums for three decades but is now experiencing (its) Golden Age,” says Loren Legarda, Deputy Speaker and Representative of the Lone District of Antique.

Under Legarda’s vision of discovering, documenting, and protecting Antique’s rich marine biodiversity, she allocated a budget under the Department of Tourism that was implemented by the local government of Antique and the DOT regional office.

In early 2021, Studio H2O organized an expedition team composed of marine researchers, scientists, and underwater cinematographers. Aside from conducting a scientific survey of the reefs in Antique, particularly around the coastal areas of Pandan Bay and Libertad, the project also held a freediving workshop for fisherfolks with the intention of teaching them how to survey, protect and do an inventory of their own marine areas.

“Part of the survey is to have the local people learn the method so they can continue on with the monitoring, or at least be interested in learning more about it,”

Where the mountains meet the sea An expedition team of marine researchers, scientists, and underwater cinematographers surveys the reefs in Antique for tourism and environmental preservation purposes

says Tara Abrina, one of the team’s researchers and freediving instructors.

“The objective of the project was really for tourism, to see where people can go to dive, where guests can stay, and what might be interesting underwater,” she adds.

During the survey, a rare sighting of an oceanic manta ray, a creature known to visit nutrient-rich waters that provide zooplankton, surprised and excited the team.

The oceanic manta ray is famous for its majestic form that could reach up to twenty-three feet across. For the researchers, the encounter was truly magical. But no one was more delighted than the staunch environmental champion herself.

“The discovery and sighting of the existence of the manta ray in our waters is so important because it shows they thrive in

Deputy Speaker and Representative of the Lone District of Antique Loren Legarda

a healthy marine ecosystem,” says Deputy Speaker Legarda. “And the manta ray, of course, must be protected at all costs, especially because it is identified as possibly threatened for extinction.”

Deputy Speaker Legarda is aware that the oceanic manta ray sighting can draw in more visitors and open up more possibilities for ecotourism. That is why she believes that the tedious task of survey and documentation is crucial in educating the public about the all-important work of protecting the environment. Thus, her continued support for projects such as this remains steadfast.

“How can we protect something we don’t know exists and so documenting all of this—taking photos and video without destroying their habitats—is very important,” Legarda emphasizes.

The beautiful reefs in Antique are teeming with marine life

Legarda authored several landmark environmental laws, as well as laws on marine protection and conservation such as Ecological Solid Waste Management Law, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, the Climate Change Act, Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System, National Environmental Awareness and Education Act, People’s Survival Fund Act, and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, among others. As Deputy Speaker and Representative of the lone District of Antique, Legarda has also authored bills for the province’s marine protection such as the establishment of a multi-species marine hatchery in Tibiao and the Northern Antique Pro-

tected Seascape and Landscape.

Watch the journey of the Antique expedition team in Antique: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea, a new documentary produced by Studio H2O through the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda, the Department of Tourism in partnership with the Province of Antique.

The 20-minute documentary, which captures the underwater beauty of the province, as well as the true heart of the Antiqueños, airs on Discovery Channel on March 23 at 6:15 p.m. with replays on March 24 at 8:15 a.m. and 11:25 a.m.

Discovery Channel airs in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, and India.

A rare sighting of an oceanic manta ray in the waters of Antique

Legarda describes Antique as a paradise where the mountains meet the sea

A section of the Heritage House’s living room, with its antique furnishings and the sturdy narra floor panels

One of the attractively designed floating ‘casitas’ at the popular seafood restaurant, Kamayan Sa Palaisdaan in Tayabas

Our Quezon escapade The imposing façade of Villa Sariaya

IT ALL started with an invitation from long-time travel industry colleague and Quezon resident Annette Feliciano for us to visit her idyllic retirement abode, just in case any of us would eventually choose to

enjoy our senior years away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis and spend them in similar surroundings. Our group is composed of a handful of former and current travel industry professionals who meet

I was “king of the day” in the company of this gaggle of former and current travel industry professionals, at the Kamay Ni Hesus pilgrimage site – (from left) Ingrid Baltao, Mary Ann Bringas, Merle Villacorta, Chona Paredes, Annette Feliciano, Patti King, Menchie Orobia, Bessie Escalona, and Marian Vicencio

virtually every Wednesday to pay homage to the Almighty, after which we chat about anything and everything under the sun.

So there we were, one very early morning last week, heading for our respective assembly points, to start our fun-filled escapade, after more than two years of being kept hostage by the pandemic’s quarantine restrictions.

The “southerners”—Marian Vicencio (formerly of EgyptAir), Merle Villacorta (of Travel Counselors), Patti King (former International Air Transport Association Country Manager), Menchie Orobia (former Asian Development Bank Travel Manager), and Bessie Escalona (of Voyager Travel and Tours) started the daylong “excursion” using a de luxe tourist van from their meeting place in Alabang.

Those of us from the metro’s north, Mary Ann Bringas (formerly of the Macau Government Tourist Office), Chona Paredes (of the multi-airline general sales agency, APG), and I met at Ingrid Baltao’s (formerly of Thai Airways) massive Quezon City mansion and used her luxurious van for the smooth and relaxing 2.5-hour travel to the province, which is named after the first freely elected president of our country, Manuel L. Quezon.

Since the bond of faith and prayer is our common denominator, we decided to start our Quezon visit at the St. Francis of Assisi Church, also known as the Sto. Cristo de Burgos, in Sariaya.

This Barn-style Baroque house of worship has a very interesting history. Although the present church is 274 years old, the original structure was actually built 324 years ago.

Earthquakes, floods, war, and fire made it go through two reconstructions, and the present one is actually the fourth structure.

Enshrined in the altar is the miraculous image of the Sto. Cristo de Burgos, a gift of King Felipe V to the natives. When the

church was decimated by a Muslim invasion, the image remained unscathed. The residents then wrapped it in white cloth and wanted to ensure its safety by sneaking it up the slopes of Mt. Banahaw. Along the way, they rested for a while but when they continued their journey, they could no longer lift the small statue. It became so heavy that they took it as a sign that God wanted them to build the church right at that spot, where it now stands.

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE VALID QUESTION: If flying is so safe, why are airports called “terminal?”

Visitors will marvel at the beautifully designed al fresco inner courtyard which has a life-sized replica of the Last Supper. Beside it are the Stations of the Cross, where our group decided to render our Lenten obligation, amid the breezy, cool environs of this sacred place.

One block away from the church is the famous Don Catalino Rodriguez Ancestral House or the Villa Sariaya. Declared by the National Historical Commission as a Heritage House, the 100-year-old abode of the former town mayor occupies an entire block and has now been converted into a museum where visitors may also wear period costumes and pose for souvenir photos for a reasonable fee. Rodriguez’s youngest daughter and her husband restored the house to its former glory, seeing to it that the beautiful art nouveau wall paintings and wood carvings are preserved.

Next stop was at the Kamay Ni Hesus, a very popular religious landmark in Lucban, built twenty years ago by the Ministry

founded by the renowned healing priest, Fr. Joey Faller, and the Javierto-Brizuela Family. The 50-foot statue of the Risen Christ is perched on top of a hill, approximately 300 steps above the ground. Of course, none of us in the group had the spunk to make that climb. For us, it would probably have been like crossing the Rubicon.

The most awaited part of any excursion is the meal. Our lunch was at the well-known Kamayan Sa Palaisdaan in Tayabas. This 30-year-old unique seafood restaurant has a charming feel to it and has around 50 nipa “casitas” built on bamboo rafts floating on a large pond that is filled with koi fish. The cool breeze swirling around the native structures further increased our appetite for delectable and authentic Tayabas specialties cooked by local chefs. It was a one-of-a-kind culinary experience that certainly deserves an encore.

And what is a tour without shopping?

Naturally, we spent the longest time in this particular activity, especially because I was with a gaggle of Travel Industry veterans who have toured the four corners of the globe and are all black belters in shopping, used to coming home with excess baggage of shopped goodies. I’m sure the province’s economy spiked that particular day, as we almost wiped out the bakery items and tasty specialties sold at the many establishments we stopped in.

On the ride back home, everyone’s energy level was still at its peak, as we reminisced on the fun activities we had during the day.

We didn’t even reach home yet and we were already planning our next domestic adventure. I guess that’s what Travel people do when they’ve been “confined to quarters” for so long…that’s revenge travel at its best.

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com