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BBM, Sara top picks in NCR

PUBLiCUS polls tandem at 51% plus each, Leni 24.3%, Isko 9.8%

ORMER senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio are leading the presidential and vice-presidential races in the National Capital Region, according to the latest Pahayag NCR Tracker Survey conducted by Publicus.

Over half or 51.6% of the 1,625 Metro Manila residents who participated in the survey conducted from April 8 to 13 chose Marcos as their bet for president, the firm said in a statement released Monday. Meanwhile, 51.3% of respondents chose Duterte-Carpio as their vicepresidential bet. The NCR-wide margin of error is +/- 3%, Publicus said.

It was the first time for Publicus to release presidential and VP survey results just for the capital region, the firm’s executive director Aureli Sinsuat said. In the March 2022 survey conducted by Pulse Asia with results released last April 6, Marcos got a 64-percent preference rating in Metro Manila, down slightly from a 66-percent score in February.

In the same survey, Robredo garnered 24 percent in NCR in March, up from 15 percent in February. As for the Social Weather Stations commissioned survey from January 28 to 31, Marcos enjoyed a firm grip on the top spot, and even gained seven percentage points after increasing his numbers from 43 percent in October 2021 to 50 percent in January 2022. Robredo was a far second with 19 percent. NCR has an estimated 7.3 million voters according to official Commission on Elections statistics. Next page

‘LANDSLIDE WIN.’ Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Chavit Singson, during the weekly

Samahang Plaridel forum hosted by veteran journalist Jullie Yap-Daza, predicts that Ilocos province will give a 90 percent landslide vote to Marcos. Danny Pata

Chavit sees big win for Marcos, says most local mayors for him By Rey E. Requejo MAYOR Luis “Chavit” Singson of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, who decided not to run for any public office in next month’s elections, predicts a landslide win for former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. after recent survey results still showed a

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 68 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

wide lead over Vice President Leni Robredo three weeks before the polls. During Monday’s Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel media forum at the Manila Hotel and moderated by veteran journalist Jullie Yap-Daza, Singson, president of the League of Municipal Mayors of the Next page

One Cebu hosts mega rally of 300,000 for UniTeam By Rey E. Requejo AT LEAST 300,000 people attended the grand rally Monday night of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas presidential candidate former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate, LakasCMD vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as Cebu delivered one of the biggest crowd for the tandem with barely three weeks to go before the May 9 elections. Next page

Media blamed for making presscon appear anti-Leni By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja A TORRENT of social media backlash hit the three presidential candidates who held a press conference on Easter Sunday to denounce alleged moves

from the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo to get them to bow out of the race and subvert the people’s will ahead of the May 9 elections. In response, the camps of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Senator Panfilo Lacson on

Monday blamed the media for posing questions that made it appear the presscon at the Manila Peninsula Hotel was an expressly anti-Robredo event. Ashley Acedillo, Lacson’s spokesperson, said on ABS-CBN News Channel’s HeadNext page

FESTIVE IN RED AND GREEN. (Upper left) A drone shot of the crowd during a grand rally in Cebu for presidential aspirant Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio that organizers say is expected to draw around 400,000 people. Facebook page of Caloy Ramirez

Oil firms hike pump prices by P1.70/liter

WHO warns of virus surge in May if people relax guard By Willie Casas THE World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday backed the Department of Health’s (DOH) warning that the country may experience another surge in COVID-19 infections by mid-May if minimum public health standards are ignored. WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Rajendra Yadav said he had seen the DOH projections that a 50 percent decrease in compliance with minimum public health standards could result in 25,000 to 60,000 new COVID-19

cases per day by next month. “If we relax our guard, if we relax our defenses, then yes, it’s possible to get to those numbers,” Yadav told a press briefing Monday. Based on its models, the DOH said a 20 percent drop in health standards could lead to 34,788 active COVID-19 cases by mid-May. Of these, 564 could be classified as severe and 267 would be critical. A 30 percent decrease in compliance might increase the cases further, possibly to as high as 300,000 over the same Next page

By Alena Mae S. Flores

VOTER EDUCATION CAMPAIGN. The Commission on Elections and SM Supermalls launched Monday the Let’s Vote PINAS, a vote counting machine demonstration that aims to increase public confidence in using VCMs and providing a hands-on, educational experience in preparation for the May 9, 2022 elections. Signing the agreement are Comelec executive director Bartolome Sinocruz, Comelec commissioner Marlon Casquejo, Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan, SM President Steven Tan and SM Senior Vice President Bien Mateo. Danny Pata

THE country’s oil firms raised pump prices by as much as P1.70 per liter effective 6 a.m. today [Tuesday], reflecting the continuing volatility of world oil prices due to the Ukraine-Russia crisis. “Petron will implement the following price increases effective 6 a.m. on April 19: P0.45/li gasoline; P 1.70/li for diesel and P0.45/li for kerosene. These reflect movements in the international oil market,” Petron Corp., the country’s biggest oil firm, said in its advisory.

Senate acts to overturn SIM bill veto, Sotto to talk to Palace execs 100 missing in Agaton wake, PH at weather’s mercy By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

card registration bill. Sotto said there were two ways to save the bill, which would require SIM SENATE President Vicente Sotto cards to be registered before they are III said Monday he would talk with activated, and require social media Malacañang officials about overturn- companies to register users under their ing the President’s veto of the SIM Next page

By Maricel V. Cruz

Duterte blamed climate change for the great destruction wrought by the first MORE than 100 people remained miss- storm on the country this year, and ing after tropical depression “Agaton” hoped the government succeeding him caused landslides last week, disaster of- after the May 9 elections could do better in preparing Filipinos for natural disasficials said Monday. This developed as President Rodrigo ters. “I hope the next administration, mas

maganda ang preparation or whatever efforts that would contribute to at least remedy the situation,” Duterte said in his pre-recorded Talk to the People aired last night. “Unless there’s a radical change in the weather patterns, we will have it hard Next page

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TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

BBM,... From A1 In the Pahayag poll, 24.3% of respondents said they would vote for Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, while 9.8% chose Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. For the VP race, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (15.4%), Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (11.6%), and Dr. Willie Ong (11.4%) found themselves in a statistical tie for second place.

Vote firmness was also markedly high in the presidential and vice presidential races, Publicus said, with most supporters of leading candidates reporting they would “definitely or likely not” change their respective votes. Robredo registered the highest proportion of firm voters among presidential bets, with 87% of the respondents who chose her as their presidential bet saying their vote would definitely or likely not change, the firm said. Meanwhile, 86% among the respondents who chose Marcos said their vote

would definitely or likely not change. About 68% of Domagoso’s supporters were also tagged as firm voters. In the vice-presidential race, DuterteCarpio notched the highest firm voters share with 90% of her supporters saying they would definitely or likely not change their vote. Pangilinan, Sotto, and Ong notched firm voter shares of 84%, 77%, and 69%, respectively. “The NCR vote firmness numbers appear to validate the general trend illustrated by our national data, which sug-

gests that a large majority of registered voters are already dead-set on whom to vote for President and Vice President on May 9,” said Sinsuat. The Pahayag NCR Tracker Survey is an independent and non-commissioned survey conducted by Publicus between April 8 to 13. The 1,625 registered Filipino voters comprising the purposive survey panel, all residents of Metro Manila, were randomly selected from the panel marketplace maintained by American firm PureSpectrum, Publicus said.

Parameters based on respondent age, gender, and location were also utilized in the sample formulation in order for the resulting sample to conform more closely to the features of the voting population, as defined by statistics from the Comelec. PureSpectrum is a US based panel marketplace with a multinational presence. Samples provided by PureSpectrum are not affiliated with any bias or political party. All opinions voiced in the interpretation and analyses of the data are those of the writer and/or project sponsor, it said.

One... From A1

BEATING THE DEADLINE. A taxpayer scrambles to fill up his income tax return on Monday to beat the deadline for the ITR filing today (April 19, Tuesday). Danny Pata

start: “The discussion took that turn because of the questions of the media. There would have been a lot more substantive issues that could have been discussed.” Ernest Ramel, chair of Moreno’s Aksyon Demokratiko party, shared the same view. “That’s why it went to that conversation that seemed anti-Leni Robredo. This was the media who put those questions in and eventually of course, the sentiments of the candidates came out about her,” he said. “It was that way because the questions by the media, they kept on pounding on the issue of Vice President Leni Robredo, that’s why the gentlemen obliged them by answering what they really felt,” Ramel added. He stressed that some media are framing the presidential election as a two-way race between Marcos Jr. and Robredo. “What they are doing, I’m sorry, some of the media people are framing it as a two-way race. It’s very unfair,” Ramel said. But the Vice President herself remained unfazed by the clamor of her rivals, specifically Domagoso, to withdraw her candidacy, and reminded her

supporters that only 20 days remained in the campaign before Filipinos go to the polls to elect their next leaders. Robredo still trailed former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in most presidential surveys, although her campaign made up ground over the last two months on the strength of massive campaign rallies across the country and fervent supporters on social media, who have also gone house-to-house to try and change Pinoy voters’ minds and elect her. Asked about his “Withdraw Leni” statement, Domagoso told reporters: “Kapag malaking tao ang nangbu-bully, okay lang. Kapag ang ordinaryong tao nangatwiran, bastos o masama na (When an influential person bullies others, it’s okay. When an ordinary person explains his point, he is either rude or evil.)” “Parang there is social injustice. Parang ang may karapatan lang na magsalita ay yung malalaking tao o matataas na katungkulan (It seems that there is social injustice. It seems that only people in higher position are the only ones who have the right to speak),” he said. Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday clarified they are not calling on anyone to withdraw, and Lacson called for respect as the elections near, particularly for voters. “With the campaign period for the

May 9 elections nearing the homestretch, it is not too late for candidates to show respect: Respect for one another, respect for the election process, and most importantly, respect for our voters,” he said. The three-term senator also maintained he only attended the press conference to offer himself as an alternative. Lacson, Domagoso, and Gonzales said Sunday they will not back out of the presidential race despite calls and feelers supposedly from Robredo or her emissaries. Domagoso said the “elitist” behavior of Robredo’s camp is driving away supporters. “They paid the price already in 2019,” the Manila mayor said, referring to Otso Diretso, the senatorial slate which Robredo endorsed during the midterm elections that year and which Samira Gutoc, one of Aksyon’s senatorial candidates this year, was a part of. “Zinero sila kasi masyado talagang elitist (None of them were able to make it because they are too elitist),” Domagoso added. Lacson’s own supporters on social media said people and media members should not have framed the gathering as an attack against Robredo, decrying allegations of “toxic masculinity” or “misogynism” leveled against the former national police chief and his fellow male presidential candidates.

China and the ongoing Ukraine crisis, according to Reuters. On April 12, the oil companies implemented a price rollback for gasoline of P1 per liter, diesel by P0.35 per liter, and kerosene by P3 per liter. These resulted in the year-to-date adjustments to stand at a net increase of P15 per liter for gasoline, P25.65 per liter for diesel and P21.10 per liter for kerosene. Meanwhile, Phoenix Petroleum Phil-

ippines offered a P3 per liter price cut on Monday for the opening of three new stations in Metro Manila. Available for one day only, the discount applies to all fuel products, which are blended with the brand’s signature PULSE technology. The limited discount was available at Phoenix Pioneer, located at Pioneer St. corner Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City; Phoenix Harvard, located at EDSA cor-

ner Harvard St., Makati City (near Kalayaan); and Phoenix Super 8, located along Ortigas Extension, Pasig City. “We are making our products more accessible by opening more stations, and offering this promo amid fluctuating fuel prices, so that today’s motorists can get more value when they gas up, and experience the difference our highquality products can make,” said Phoenix president Bong Fadullon.

Philippines, said majority of local mayors were supporting Marcos. “Former Senator ‘Bongbong’ Marcos and Davao City Mayor Inday Sara have the support of 80 percent of the incumbent mayors nationwide and also the majority of the governors and congressmen,” predicted Singson. Singson revealed he originally supported Sen. Manny Pacquiao with whom he had a falling out due to excise taxes on tobacco that Singson claimed benefitted several tobacco farmers in the Ilocos region. Singson switched to supporting Marcos, whose campaign machinery was much more organized this year than in 2016, he said. “I expect BBM to get more than 50 percent of votes,” Singson said. “Much more than what [President] Duterte got in 2016.” Meanwhile, Mindanao governors have vowed they will not allow Marcos to be deceived in the coming May 9 elections.

Leyte province, were missing. He said the authorities in these areas were expected to decide later Monday whether to stop rescue operations because the ground remained unstable. Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has renewed calls for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), whose charter he principally authored. “That kind of casualty level is unacceptable. We knew this typhoon was coming. We knew areas that were vulnerable. Those deaths were neither completely unpredictable nor unavoidable. More could have been done, but institutional handicaps are there. And those handicaps kill,” Salceda said.

WHO... From A1

cases but rather focus on increasing their COVID-19 vaccination drive to get more than 70 percent of its target population inoculated against the viral disease. He also appealed to Filipinos to urge the local chief executives themselves to ramp up the vaccination especially in areas with low vaccination rate, saying “no one is safe unless everyone is safe.” In contrast to the original target of fully vaccinating at least 90 million Filipinos by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term on June 30, 2022, the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) chairperson Dr. Myrna Cabotaje said on Sunday that they would already be happy if they reach 77 million by then.

Based on the latest data, at least 66.7 million Filipinos are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Meanwhile, some 12.5 million have received their first booster dose. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently granted the emergency use authorization for the second booster shot for the senior citizens, the immunocompromised, and frontline health workers. The Philippines recorded 195 additional cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, the lowest daily tally in nearly four months since December last year. This drove the total caseload to 3.683 million, which includes 3.6 million recoveries, and 59,969 deaths.

Senate... From A1

Media... From A1

real names and mobile phone numbers. Sotto said lawmakers could refile the bill in the next Congress, or the sitting legislators could override the veto. He said the provision that the President objected to, on the registration of social media accounts, could be challenged before the Supreme Court, which could declare that portion of the law unconstitutional. A presidential veto may be overturned by a two-thirds of the members of each chamber of Congress. The principal author of the Senate version of the bill, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, vowed to pursue the bill’s approval as a means to combat fraud. But he also said there was a need to separate the provision on social media after a more thorough and comprehensive discussion of the issue. In defending the necessity of SIM card registration, Gatchalian pointed out that criminals have been abusing anonymity to carry out their nefarious activities. Critics of the bill, however, point out that in countries where similar regulations are in place, a black market for stolen mobile phones soon developed, negating the effects of registration.

Oil... From A1 Seaoil Philippines, Chevron Philippines, PTT Philippines, Cleanfuel, and PetroGazz also raised pump prices while other companies are expected to follow. On Monday, however, oil prices inched lower amid concerns of slowdown in demand due to lockdowns in

100 missing... From A1 here in the Philippines... The damage we take is great, but our contribution to climate change is small,” the President added in expressing sorrow over the lives lost to landslides after the storm. The death toll from Agaton stood at 172, while 110 people were still missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its latest report. In a radio interview, however, NDRRMC spokesman Mark Timbal said 100 residents in Abuyog town, and about 70 in Baybay City, both in

The rally was organized for the UniTeam by One Cebu local party led by Gov. Gwen Garcia, Lakas-CMD led by its President and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, and Tingog party-list headed by Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez in the country’s number one vote-rich province. Garcia said the mega rally for the UniTeam was a concrete expression of support to the candidacies of Marcos and Duterte-Carpio. “This is a 30 hectare lot and it was filled to the brim. Even if you were to give one sqm for every person, you do the math, one hectare is 10,000, this is 30 hectares, so in other words this is 300,000 at least if we were to give an allowance of one square meter per person,” Garcia told reporters in an ambush interview, adding that Cebu will deliver a landslide victory for the tandem. “The UniTeam is overwhelmed by Cebu’s great show of support. Thanks to our allies and partners led by Governor Garcia. This is a premise for what we should expect and what will happen in three weeks — an overwhelming win for Marcos and Duterte,” Romualdez said. Marcos thanked Garcia, the city officials as well as all the other mayors of Cebu towns for organizing the biggest rally in coordination with LakasCMD and Tingog party-list. On the other hand, Duterte-Carpio assured Cebu it will retain its status as the “Queen City of the South” and will become a key partner of the country in progress and economic development. For his part, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama has expressed confidence that the country could attain peace, prosperity and stability under the leadership of Marcos. “We’ve been with BBM for so long a time. I know him and having so much experience from his father to his senatorship, governorship. Put it all together, the element of experience is very important,” Rama said. “When you talk about capacity, let’s not talk about yesterday, let’s move forward. I can see Marcos and (Inday Sara) Duterte as the curing administration,” he added.

period, the DOH said. Yadav said “only time will tell” whether there will be a surge again, considering the increased mobility of the public especially during the Holy Week. “Whether this social mixing and increased mobility during Easter will cause increasing cases depends on whether people wore masks and avoided crowds and poorly ventilated places. Also, whether we are testing enough people,” he said. Yadav also called on the government not to rely too much on the number of

Chavit... From A1

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TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DOH suspends 2nd booster shot rollout T HE Department of Health (DOH) has suspended implementation of the second anti-COVID booster shots for specific targets while awaiting final recommendation from the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC). The second booster shots were supposed to be administered four months after the first booster, targeting senior citizens, immunocompromised, and frontline health workers which have been granted the emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “All vaccines mentioned in the EUA for 2nd boosters will be used except Gamaleya Sputnik V,” the DOH said in a statement. Health Undersecretary and National

Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) chairperson Dr. Myrna Cabotaje said on Sunday they have set April 20 as the rollout date for the second booster shot in the National Capital Region (NCR), expecting the HTAC to release the guidelines within the week. Some 12.6 million Filipinos have received their ﬁrst booster shots, the DOH revealed. Based on latest data by NVOC, there are 50.1 million eligible individuals due

for boosters as of April 17. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines said they preferred to use the phrase “up to date with the recommended schedules” in place of the “fully vaccinated” term. WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Rajendra Yadav said they also favored including the booster shots that follow the primary series, or the first two COVID-19 doses in the redefinition. “We prefer to use the term ‘up to date with the recommended schedules,” Yadav said, adding that “fully vaccinated” is a vague term because the definition may change with evolving evidence. “How many boosters are required? Do we need to keep giving the boosters every six months? We don’t know that yet,” he said.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire had said that instead of redefining the term “fully vaccinated,” the DOH was considering adding the term “up to date” for individuals who have received the booster shots. Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion had suggested that the term “fully vaccinated” be redefined as those who have received a booster jab could encourage more people to get their boosters, too. Based on the latest data, at least 66.7 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Meanwhile, some 12.5 million have received their first booster dose Yadav emphasized that the government needed to continue being proactive

in dealing with the COVID-19 situation in the country considering that there were threats of new mutations and strains of the coronavirus disease. “Unfortunately, many barangays are still nowhere close to 70 percent [target]. Actually, we need to even go much beyond 70 percent to create herd immunity. The local chief executives of the places where barangays have low coverage need to step up reaching the unreached through a last-mile approach,” he said, underscoring the importance of the house-to-house vaccination campaign. Yadav pointed out that the only way to be on top of COVID-19 and prevent its transmission was to achieve high vaccination coverage, including booster doses. Willie Casas, GMANEWS

Amid pandemic, workers consider health as their topmost priority By Othel V. Campos AFTER struggling over two years of COVID-19 pandemic, most Filipino workers consider health as their top priority. This was indicated in Microsoft Corp.’s recently released second annual Work Trend Index entitled “Great Expectation: Making Hybrid Work.” The survey covered 31,000 people in 31 countries, including the Philippines, along with an analysis of trillions of productivity signals in Microsoft 365 and labor trends on LinkedIn. “There’s no erasing the lived experience and lasting impact of the past two years, as ﬂexibility and well-being have become non-negotiable for employees,” said Modern Work for Microsoft corporate vice president Jared Spataro. In the 2022 Work Trend Index, employees have a new “worth it” equation wherein 67 percent of employees in the Philippines said they’re more likely to prioritize their health and wellbeing over work than before the pandemic.

The report highlighted that the “Great Reset” had about 46 percent of Gen Z and Millennials in the Philippines considering to changing employers in the year ahead. Meanwhile, surveyed managers felt they are wedged between leadership and employee expectations. Majority or about 69 percent of work leaders in the Philippines said their company was planning a return to full-time in-person work in the year ahead, compared to 50 percent globally. Nearly half or 46 percent of managers in the Philippines said leadership at their company was out of touch with employee expectations and 81 percent of managers in the Philippines said they don’t have the influence or resources to drive change for their team. The study also revealed that many office leaders needed to make the office worth the commute with 48 percent of hybrid employees in the Philippines saying their biggest challenge was knowing when and why to come to the office.

TRAFFIC LOGJAM. It is a sight reminiscent of the pre-pandemic era as vehicles of all shapes and sizes line up bumper-to-bumper along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

Iloilo police cadet tops PNPA graduating class

Senator scolds PAGCOR for allowing e-sabong during Holy Week By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Francis Tolentino on Monday castigated the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) leadership for allowing the operation of esabong (online cockfighting) even during Good Friday. Tolentino was angered that e-sabong operations continue to proliferate during traditional holidays. “There was a gross violation of our faith. I don’t know why it was done,” Tolentino said during the fourth hearing on the mysterious disappearances of more than 34 cockfighting aficionados. Tolentino told the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs that he got reports that e-sabong was “business as usual” for Pitmasters Live owned by gambling tycoon Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang even on Good Friday. He noted that Ang’s agency even carried out more than 200 matches (sultada) while other commercial establishments across the country were closed in deference to the Holy Week. Tolentino stressed that “PAGCOR slept on its job” and forgot that they were supposed to regulate as they claimed they were doing. “While majority of PAGCOR-operated casinos were closed on Good Friday, he pointed out the country’s gambling regulatory agency neglected its duty by allowing the e-sabong operators to desecrate religious traditions,” Tolentino told the panel chaired by Sen. Ronald dela Rosa.

COLORS OF SUMMER. Workers from the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City give the Palm Tress a new look with colorful clothes with the view of enabling mall shoppers and visitors to enjoy the sight of summer and get rid of their stress. Danny Pata

A POLICE cadet from Passi City in Iloilo is this year’s top graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), with six females joining him in the top 10 honor roll. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Dionardo Carlos on Monday presented to the media the top 10 graduating cadets of Alab-Kalis Alab-Kalis (Alagad ng Batas na Kakalinga sa Sinilangang Bayan) Class of 2022 in ceremony held at Camp Crame. “I take pride to introduce to the Filipino nation the top 10 graduating cadets of the PNPA, representing the Alab-Kalis Class of 2022 who have completed the four year cadetship program to become commissioned ofﬁcers to the police, ﬁre, and jail service bureaus,” Carlos said at a press conference. The following are the top 10 PNPA cadets in order of merit: - Ernie Alarba Padernilla from Passi

PH, Germany to seal two new labor accords By Vito Barcelo THE Philippines and Germany are set to sign two new labor agreements seen to open doors for Filipino workers in other skilled categories, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Monday. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said one of the pacts “add another pathway for recruiting Filipino healthcare professionals, while the other agreement focuses on the deployment of 31 other skills and professions. The targeted pilot sectors were hotel service, electrical engineering and mechanics, sanitation, heating and air condi-

tioning, and child care. Bello expressed optimism that the labor agreements would soon be ﬁnalized. “We are hopeful that the two agreements could come to fruition within the term of President Duterte and mark a signiﬁcant milestone in the history of Philippine-German bilateral relations,” said Bello. Presently, the Philippines deploys Filipino nurses to Germany under the Triple Win Program. “Since 2013, we have deployed around 1,811 nurses under the program, which is exempted from the cap on the overseas deployment of Filipino healthcare workers,” Bello said during the turnover of the Ger-

man-funded Geriatric Skills Laboratory in Baliuag University in Bulacan recently. The Bertelsmann Stiftung Foundation funds the laboratory through the collaboration of the Philippine and German agencies under the Triple Win Program-Global Skills Partnership program. An expansion of the Triple Win Program, the Global Skills Partnership program provides access to German training through face-to-face, e-learning, and other alternative methods. Given the aging population in Germany, geriatric care was also identiﬁed as one of the priority skills needing nurses in the European country.

Bicol solon seeks probe on COVID funds By Maricel V. Cruz

UP AND RUNNING AGAIN. After the Holy Week maintenance shutdown, MRT-3 trains will be running again starting today. MRT 3 management says they will continue to provide free rides for commuters until April 30, 2022.

THE House of Representatives still has time to look into how the administration spent the funds allocated to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Camarines Sur. Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said billions of pesos were allocated in connection with the pandemic under two Bayanihan laws. He urged the House leadership to look into the issue “with an eye on correcting project hitches that have marred or delayed the implementation of stimulus and bailout programs for sectors or industries hit hard by the two-year pandemic before the 18th Congress adjourns.” Villafuerte said he hopes that such an in-

quiry, which he along with six other legislators asked the House to conduct exactly a year ago this month, would subsequently enable Congress to help the national government avoid implementation ﬁascos and improve the absorptive capacity of agencies that will handle future programs related to Covid-19 response and other public emergencies. “There is still time for the House to carry out our year-ago motion for the chamber to exercise its oversight powers to dig deep into the implementation and utilization of appropriated funds under Republic Act (RA) Nos. 11469 and 11494, in the hope of pinpointing and correcting glitches that have marred or delayed the implementation of stimulus and bailout programs for pandemic-hit sectors,” Villafuerte said.

City, Iloilo - Regina Joy Belmi Caguioa from Taguig City, Metro Manila - Precious Shermaine Domingo Lee from San Juan City, Metro Manila - Fidel Elona Triste III from Palo, Leyte -Geneva Limjuco Flores from San Carlos City, Pangasinan - Zoe Compleza Seloterio from Santa Barbara, Iloilo - Neil Winston Navalta from Diffun, Quirino - Mhar Dum-Ayan Viloria from Pugo, La Union - Collyn Mae Dimazana Panganiban from Antipolo, Rizal - Alyssa Angalan Bantasan from Bauko, Mountain Province Carlos said the valedictorian would receive the Presidential Kampilan Award, while the salutatorian would get the Vice Presidential Kampilan Award.

Taguig sets up 19 multi-purpose community centers TAGUIG City has built 19 multi-purpose community centers to serve as venue for government services, communal space, sports and recreational activities and evacuation center. The buildings, according to Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano, also house MRFs or Material Recovery Facility to keep the city’s environment and communities clean. Last April 13, the local government opened a three-storey multipurpose building in Rockyside, Bagumbayan, one of the community centers, which will make government services more accessible for the people. This facility has a fully furnished common area and a lounge area for community groups, meetings, activities, events, and other functions. The area will also serve as a Government Satellite Ofﬁce, where City Hall services such as the issuance of burial and ﬁnancial assistance may be processed. “A Child Development Center can also be found here, which can serve as a daycare center for young Taguigeños. Clean restrooms for men, women, and PWDs (persons with disability) are also available,” Cayetano said. “On top of these features, there is also a court for sports such as basketball, volleyball, zumba, and yoga for those looking to keep themselves fit and healthy,” he added. Joel E. Zurbano

Comelec thumbs down extension of absentee voting

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has thumbed down the idea of extending overseas voting as it will go against the Constitution.

Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said extending the voting period for Filipinos overseas is not possible since the law allows it to be held only until the actual election day in the Philippines. There are about 1.7 million registered Filipino voters overseas. “The extension is not happening because we only have until May 9, Philippine time. We cannot extend beyond May. That would be a violation of the Constitution,” he said during the vote-counting machine (VCM) demonstration at a mall in Pasay City on Monday. Election watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) on Monday said there were several “irregularities” in Comelec’s conduct of overseas voting. In an interview, LENTE executive director Ona Caritos said several issues, such as delay of ballot shipments and possible tampering, were reported since the overseas voting began last April 10. Caritos urged voters who experience problems with postal voting to immediately reach out to the Philippine embassy or consulate. Casquejo, who heads the Comelec’s

overseas voting committee, admitted there have been delays. But these were all resolved, the official said.. The idea of extending the polls came after reports that there were delays at the start of the voting period on April 10. “The delayed arrival of ballots has already been resolved. Just a one-day delay,” Casquejo said. He, however, said they are concerned with the 1,991 Filipino voters in Shanghai which is under lockdown due to rising Covid-19 cases. “The only issue is really Shanghai. Let’s see what the decision en banc will be. For now, it is still suspended until such time that the lockdown is lifted,” Casquejo said. Meanwhile, the delivery of VCMs began during the first week of April. “We started the delivery of VCMs to remote areas in the first and second week of April. The delivery of the ballots will start in the third week or last week,” Casquejo said. He said they are looking to destroy defective ballots by the last week of April and subsequently reprint them. The 178,990 defective copies so far are smudged or not perfectly cut, among others.

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

A SONG FOR LENI.

Presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo visited the Marinduque Provincial Capitol in Boac on Monday. The Marinduque Capitol Choir serenaded Robredo with “Putong,” a song of thanksgiving and prayer while releasing butterflies, a symbol of Marinduque, the country’s Butterfly Capital. The people at the capitol also gave Robredo an advanced birthday greeting with a song and a cake. Robredo’s birthday is on April 23. (VP Leni Media Bureau)

Comelec, SM sign pact on counting machine demo By Vito Barcelo WITH 19 days left before election day, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started demonstrating how to use the vote-counting machine (VCM) in malls to inform and educate the public about the voting process. The Comelec partnered with the SM Supermalls to educate voters and allow them to test the VCMs before the May 9 polls. Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said the voting demonstration is part of the Comelec’s drive to familiarize the public on how to use the VCM. The VCM demo and experience

will be staged in SM’s 78 malls nationwide. “Through this vote-counting machine demo and experience, we hope to familiarize each voter with the tool that we will use to record and transmit their votes,” Pangarungan said during the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the poll body and SM Supermalls. He said the project aims to dispel the apprehension and fear of some voters regarding the use and security of the vote-counting machines. “These are state-of-the-art equipment that has been used by other countries. They are engineered to be secure and tamper-proof. The programming and codes for the machines

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘BUS NI ISKO’ IN VISMIN. The youth campaigners of “Bus ni Isko” Visayas-Mindanao leg just made rounds in Dumaguete City distributing Aksyon Demokratiko t-shirts, aprons, and other campaign materials to convince the voting public to “Switch to Isko.”

YOUTH volunteers of Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on board the “Bus ni Isko” campaign caravan braved the storm and rough waters during their trip to Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte last week, affirming their “no retreat, no surrender” attitude. Ces Bayan of the group Ama ni Isko, Team Leader of the Visayas-Mindanao leg of “Bus ni Isko” characterized their trip to Dapitan City via Roro as “challenging” because of the bad weather. Nevertheless, she said the youth volunteers of the 47-year-old Manila Mayor remain dedicated and committed to continuing and finishing the campaign notwithstanding the bad weather. The youth campaigners of “Bus ni Isko” Visayas-Mindanao leg just made rounds in Dumaguete City distributing Aksyon Demokratiko t-shirts, aprons, and other campaign materials to convince the voting public to “Switch to Isko.”

Binay says PH needs land use law to deal with typhoons By Joel E. Zurbano UNITED Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party senatorial candidate Jejomar Binay on Monday said the devastation caused by tropical storm “Agaton” and super typhoon “Odette” only underscores the need for a National Land Use law. The former vice president explained that such a law would identify hazardous areas in localities that should be designated as no-build zones by local authorities. “A National Land Use Law would help prevent the loss of lives and livelihood as a result of typhoons and other natural calamities caused by climate change,” said Binay. “The law would maximize the best use of lands, and will delineate specific uses for particular lands,” he added.

Binay noted that there are conflicts in the present policies concerning land use and management. “We need to avoid these conflicts and address problems caused by massive urbanization, such as the lack of housing and the proliferation of informal settlers,” he said. Binay also said there is a need to harmonize existing laws and adopt a consistent land use policy. “The law will also designate cer-

tain lands for protection and conservation, for agriculture and fisheries, as well as for residential, manufacturing, industrial, and infrastructure use,” he added. Binay, who served as housing czar from 2010 to 2015, said that a national lland-useplan would also help ensure food security in the country. “If the land is irrigable, then it should be reserved for agricultural use,” he said.

Zubiri named as one of 6 candidates endorsed by league of provinces By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has been named as one of the six common candidates endorsed by the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) for the upcoming election. “I am incredibly grateful to receive the trust and support of the LPP,” said Zubiri. He described it as affirming and motivating to know that people recognize his hard work in the Senate, particularly as a majority leader. “We are all partners in service, so I am glad to have developed a productive relationship with our governors over the years, allowing us to align

are also safe and secure,” he added. The Comelec official urged voters to take advantage of this exhibit so that they will be confident that votes are secured on election day. Part of the demonstration is to show how votes cannot be maneuvered or even tracked. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said 800 mock ballots with fictitious names will be allotted per day in each of the participating mall branches. “Our standard practice for VCM demos is that after the demos have been completed, they are then recovered, retrieved, and made ready for use in the elections as contingency machines,” he said.

Isko youth volunteers brave rough waters in Zamboanga poll sortie

‘House-to-house campaign is the real face of unity’ FORMER senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday said the “house-to-house/person-to-person” campaign being conducted by volunteers of the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem has become the “real face of unity.” He said the surging “Pink movement” has upped its ground game with tens of thousands of volunteers from various social classes going to public markets, transport terminals, and visiting homes. “What is more inspiring than the picture of people coming from different social backgrounds going on a house-to-house for VP Leni?” he said. Trillanes who is running under the Robredo-Pangilinan banner noted that “class divisions have been melted by VP Leni’s powerful message of love and unity.” “These gestures of kapit-bisig, driven by pure love for country, are done by tens of thousands of citizens every day in every corner of the country,” he said. “This is proof of Robredo’s ability to bring out the best in the Filipino. “‘The message of hope of VP Leni appeals to our basic decency,” he said. Robredo campaigners on the ground, Trillanes said, have this positive aura and sunny disposition. He emphasized the fact that artists and singers are doing concerts for Robredo and Pangilinan for free is proof of how the vice president has inspired good influencers to go out of their comfort zones.

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our legislative agenda with the priorities of our provincial governments,” said Zubir. The LPP, made up of 81 governors and headed by Marinduque Gov. Presbiterio Velasco, Jr., is endorsing only six senatorial candidates. Along with Zubiri, the league is endorsing Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Sen. Joel Villanueva, Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, Gov. Chiz Escudero, and Sec. Mark Villar. “As we saw all throughout this pandemic, we really need to strengthen the governmental and fiscal capacity of our LGUs, so they can provide more efficient and more immediate services to their constituencies,” Zubiri stressed.

PIOLO ENDORSES ANG PROBINSYANO. Actor Piolo Pascual appeals to the

people of Zamboanga to vote for the Ang Probinsyano Party-List during a sortie. Pascual joined Ang Probinsyano Party-List led by Rep. Alfred Delos Santos and Rep. Edward Delos Santos in campaign sorties in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur; Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay and Sergio Osmena, and Zamboanga del Norte. Danny Pata

Launched in Quezon City on April 4, the “Bus ni Isko” campaign caravan aims to increase awareness of Domagoso’s presidential candidacy, believing that with his proven track record as Manila Mayor, Domagoso can replicate his feat as the highest official of the land. The Visayas-Mindanao leg is planning to travel to Dipolog City, Zamboanga City to Pagadian City this week. The Philippine Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association Inc (PCARBA) Farmers and Fisherfolks Sector meanwhile endorsed Moreno through Resolution No. 05 that unanimously approved by the organization’s provincial, regional and national officers led by national president, Oscar Pialago, and secretary general Francisco Delasala. PCARBA claimed an active membership of 7.5 million that are distributed throughout the different provinces of the country. and belongs to the marginalized sector of society. With Rey E. Requejo

Rody yet to decide on police chief’s extension of term DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año has yet to receive word from President Rodrigo R. Duterte on the possible term extension of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos who is set to retire on May 8. “There is no guidance from PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte). So far, Gen. Carlos will retire as scheduled,” Año said Sunday. Carlos, who replaced Senate aspirant and former PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar last November, is scheduled to retire on May 8, when he reaches the mandatory age of retirement of 56. The date comes a day before the national and local elections. On whether he was going to recommend the extension of Carlos’ tenure, Año said he would have to assess and wait for the president’s order. “He has two options. PRRD can say ‘okay I’ll extend you (Carlos) up to June 30. Or he can appoint an OIC (officer-in-charge) up to June 30 so that the new president will be the one to appoint (a new PNP chief),” he added. “But more likely, the President does not want any extension (of the PNP chief’s term) to avoid any issue,” Año added. If the President does not want to extend Carlos’ term, Año said he was going to submit to the president this week a list of police officials who can succeed Carlos. Among the officials who can succeed Carlos are Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, PNP’s No. 2 man as the deputy chief for administration; and Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, the PNP’s No. 4 man as chief of the PNP Directorial Staff. The PNP’s No. 3 man, PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Ferdinand Divina, is due to retire on May 2 or six days before the scheduled retirement of Carlos.

Opinion State of denial

Mao’s vow Soon after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, Chairman Mao Zedong pronounced: “We too will make satellites.” It took more than a decade, but in 1970, China launched its first satellite on a Long March rocket. Human spaceflight took decades longer, with Yang Liwei becoming the first Chinese “taikonaut” in 2003. As the launch approached, concerns over the viability of the mission caused Beijing to cancel a live television broadcast at the last minute. But it went smoothly, with Yang orbiting the Earth 14 times during a 21-hour flight aboard the Shenzhou 5. China has launched seven crewed missions since. Space station and ‘Jade Rabbit’ Following in the footsteps of the United States and Russia, China began planning to build its own space station circling the planet. The Tiangong-1 lab was launched in 2011. In 2013, the second Chinese woman in space, Wang Yaping, gave a video class from inside the space module to children across the world’s most populous country. The craft was also used for medical experiments and, most importantly, tests intended to prepare for the construction of a space station. That was followed by the “Jade

It grips BBM-Sara poll rivals. Robredo and other BBM’s opponents, however, have shown no surrender feelers as they remain in a somewhat “state of denial.” Despite massive supporters’ defections, presidential wannabes Manila Mayor Fracisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson vowed to fight to the end. Unfortunately for them, all the mudslinging directed against BBM did not work, and time is running out for playing catch-up with the frontrunner UniTeam, as it has become mathematically improbable to do so with the divided Opposition. I would say they should come out of the state of denial and seriously consider BBM and Inday Sara’s call for national unity, especially during these critical times of post-COVID pandemic recovery. It is about time they came to grips with reality and stop fantasizing about becoming the next tenant in Malacañang Palace. Political analysts have noted that this is the first time in the history of Philippine elections that a presidential candidate leads by over 30 percent, an almost “insurmountable” lead as the race nears the homestretch. A BBM-Sara majority victory looms – it is a marriage made in heaven that we haven’t seen for quite a while. As it is said, if you cannot beat them, you might as well join them.

Rabbit” lunar rover in 2013, which initially appeared a dud when it turned dormant and stopped sending signals back to Earth. It made a dramatic recovery, however, ultimately surveying the Moon’s surface for 31 months — well beyond its expected lifespan. In 2016, China launched its second orbital lab, the Tiangong-2. Astronauts who visited the station have run experiments on growing rice and other plants. ‘Space dream’ Under President Xi Jinping, plans for China’s “space dream” have been put into overdrive. Beijing is looking to finally catch up with the United States and Russia after years of belatedly matching their milestones. Besides a space station, China is also planning to build a base on the Moon, and the country’s National Space Administration said it aims to launch a crewed lunar mission by 2029.

The world’s secondlargest economy has put billions into its military-run space program. But lunar work was dealt a setback in 2017 when the Long March-5 Y2, a powerful heavy-lift rocket, failed to launch on a mission to send communication satellites into orbit. That forced the postponement of the Chang’e-5 launch, originally scheduled to collect Moon samples in the second half of 2017. Another robot, the Chang’e-4, landed on the far side of the Moon in January 2019 — a historic first. This was followed by one that landed on the near side of the Moon last year, raising a Chinese flag on the lunar surface. The unmanned spacecraft returned to Earth in December with rocks and soil — the first lunar samples collected in four decades.

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Good riddance to bad legislation

RESIDENT Duterte’s veto of the SIM card registration bill last week is a welcome development.

The bill, passed by both houses of Congress, mandates all telecommunications companies to register SIM cards as a prerequisite to their sale and activation to curb fraud and other crimes committed using unregistered mobile phones. But the bill—quite separate from its title and scope-- also requires social media account providers to require a real name and phone number upon creating an account, ostensibly to expose the identities of online trolls and bullies. A Palace spokesman last week said the President, in vetoing the bill, observed that the inclusion of social media providers in the registration requirement “was not part of the original version of the bill and needs a more thorough study.” “Prior versions only mandated the registration of SIM cards,” the Palace said in a statement. “The President similarly found that certain aspects of state intrusion, or the regulation thereof, have not been duly defined, discussed, or threshed out in the enrolled bill, with regard to social media registration.” The Palace spokesman said the President “was constrained to disagree” with the inclusion of social media in the measure without providing proper guidelines, saying it may “give rise to a situation of dangerous

state intrusion and surveillance threatening many constitutionally protected rights.” “It is incumbent upon the Office of the President to ensure that any statute is consistent with the demands of the Constitution, such as those which guarantee individual privacy and free speech,” the Palace added.

Legislation is a double-edged sword. There is a measure of irony that an administration that has done so much to stifle press criticism in the last six years now uses the principle of free speech to justify a veto of a potentially dangerous bill—but who are we to look a gift horse in the mouth? The Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) observes that mandatory registration of social media accounts prevents internet users from exercising their right to anonymity, and, for some, even their ability to express themselves and freely associate with others. The SIM card registration bill also imposes an unnecessary burden on mobile phone users and third-party resellers, which consist mainly of small

businesses. Nor is SIM card registration an effective tool against criminals. In fact, the experience of many countries has clearly demonstrated the numerous ways through which criminals and rogue state actors regularly circumvent this type of regulation, the FMA notes. In some areas, this type of regulation has even caused the emergence of black markets where stolen or counterfeit SIM cards are sold, as well as an increase in handset thefts, as demand for untraceable phones spiked. Finally, the potential for abuse and function creep is high, especially when it comes to the use of the registration information for surveillance, the FMA says. Moreover, the bill seeks to establish another massive database that immediately presents itself as a major security risk. Opposition senators who think this bill will unmask online trolls working for the Palace should remember that legislation—especially the ill-considered variety—is a double-edged sword. We need only look at how this administration misused the draconian Anti-Cybercrime Act of 2012 to harass and persecute its critics. Some senators, bristling at the veto, speak of overriding it. Do we really need our legislators to expend their time and energy to impose regulations that will prove ineffective and even harmful, and burden 170 million mobile phone users with even more red tape and bureaucracy? We say good riddance to bad legislation.

From Good Friday to Easter Sunday

China’s ‘space dream’: a long march to the moon and beyond THE return to Earth of three astronauts on Saturday after six months at China’s new space station marks a landmark step in the country’s space ambitions, ending its longest crewed mission ever. The world’s second-largest economy has put billions into its militaryrun space program, with hopes of eventually sending humans to the moon. China has come a long way in catching up with the United States and Russia, whose astronauts and cosmonauts have decades of experience in space exploration. Here is a look at the country’s space programme, and where it is headed:

EDITORIAL

posted 55 percent of the votes against Robredo’s 21-percent preference votes. The same is true for Inday-Sara who leads by 30 percent over comedian turned senator Sotto and Robredo’s running mate, Sen. Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan. PRESIDENTIAL race frontrunner former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (BBM) and frontrunnermate Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio have reportedly reached out to their rival candidates with an offer of partnership in nation building. The BBM-Sara UniTeam has extended a hand of reconciliation and “sportsmanship” in the spirit of national unity even as the tandem emerged as the impending runaway winners based on major survey projections of the upcoming May 9 elections. With 21 days or three weeks left until more than 67 million Filipinos go out and vote, anything is still possible but all indications are BBM and Inday Sara are poised to triumph as they widen their lead, according to reputable poll surveys. The latest Pulse Asia survey shows BBM mustering 56 percent share of the votes, ahead by more than 30 percent of Vice President Leni Robredo who placed second with 24 percent of the votes. With a margin as large, Inday Sara on the other hand leads Senate President Tito Sotto in the vice-presidential derby. Reliable sources said that results of a recent Social Weather Station (SWS) poll yet to be disclosed show BBM and Inday Sara maintaining their “comfortable” leads over their respective rivals. The Uniteam tandem has yielded the same showing in a just-concluded Octa Research Group survey, garnering an over-30-percent advantage over Robredo. In a Publicus Asia survey, BBM

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

TWO millennia after the crucifixion, people continue to mock and reject the Messiah by their iniquities. We remain blinded by sin because of pride, selfishness, and unwillingness to love and acknowledge Christ as our savior. Yet by his suffering and death, Jesus teaches us the way to redemption. By his sacrifice, the Lord has shown us that sacrifice and death to oneself is not an object for mockery and derision but a way to redemption. To this day, we continue to look for redemption in all the wrong places. We continue to be lured by would-be messiahs who promise utopia or paradise but in the end are often merely illusionary. With elections just around the corner, the whole country is bracing to choose a leader, one who, we all aspire, will bring us out of the quagmire of poverty and inequality and steer the nation toward prosperity and security. Much like in the days of old, each has his own self-defined version of God, just us we harbor unique notions of what a leader should be – our own version of a messiah. God’s sacrifice shows us the guidepost on how to choose the right leader. During the traditional Sunday blessing following Palm Sunday Mass, Pope Francis said leaders should be “willing to make some sacrifices for the good of the people.” And at various moments of his pontificate, following the example of Christ as his guide, the Holy Father enumerated to us Christ-like qualities that a good leader must possess. The Holy Father said that a good leader fosters leadership in others, is willing to serve, is close to the people, is humble, is

And in February 2021, the first images of Mars were sent back by the five-tonne Tianwen-1, which then landed a rover on the Martian surface in May that has since started to explore the surface of the Red Planet. Palace in the sky A trio of astronauts docked successfully in October with the core Tianhe module of the Chinese space station, which was placed in orbit in April

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poor in spirit, and is not averse to undergo sacrifice for the common good. It is thus imperative that we choose a leader, not based on his promises, but because he impersonates the qualities that Christ manifested in his life as well as in his passion.

We fully trust that humanity and the Filipino people shall overcome. And His resurrection. We learn from the scriptures that as Jesus was suffering the agony of the cross, his disciples, fearful for their own safety, abandoned their master and fled. This is so because they did not understand what is written in the scriptures that on the third day, He will rise from the dead. But it is also written that in time, as they learned about Jesus’ resurrection, they were emboldened by his spirit and boldly left Jerusalem to enter the whole world, as dangerous as it was, to share this Good News. Yet the women, yes the women of Jerusalem, were present from the beginning until the end. They stayed with Jesus and his mother at the foot of the cross. One of the women, Mary Magdala and the other Mary visited the tomb in the morning of that fateful day to anoint the body and discovered the empty tomb. In his Easter message last year, Pope Francis pointed out what the Risen Christ means to us Christians. According to the Holy Father, because of Easter “it is always possible to begin anew, because there is a new life that God can awaken in us in

2021. The astronauts stayed at the station for six months before returning safely to Earth on Saturday, ending China’s longest crewed mission to date. The Chinese space station Tiangong — meaning “heavenly palace” — will need a total of around 11 missions to bring more parts and assemble them in orbit. Once completed, it is expected to remain in low Earth orbit at between

spite of all our failures…in the cross of suffering, desolation and death, and in the glory of a life that rises again, a history that changes, a hope that is reborn. In these dark months of the pandemic, let us listen to the Risen Lord as he invites us to begin anew and never lose hope.” Pope Francis emphasizes that the Risen Lord is the guide of history, “... He invites us to overcome barriers, banish prejudices and draw near to those around us every day in order to rediscover the grace of everyday life. Let us recognize him here in our Galilees, in everyday life. With him, life will change. For beyond all defeats, evil and violence, beyond all suffering and death, the Risen One lives and guides history.” Francis’ call for renewal of spirit, faith in the Risen Lord and Christ as guide of our history which he enunciated on Easter of last year remains true, if not moreso, to this day. Humanity has gone through so much during the last few decades. Violence, death, sickness and enormous suffering have come to visit many. On top of this, the war in Ukraine is seriously threatening the stability and security of the world while the Philippine elections in 2022 looms as a big reversal of democratic gains from 1986 and could cast a big shadow over human rights. But through Christ’s resurrection, we fully trust that humanity and the Filipino people shall overcome. For Christ has already turned defeat into victory, our sorrows into joy. And on this, we can believe in and live by because the Risen Christ is the guarantee of our vindication and the certainty of the final victory. Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

400 and 450 kilometers (250 and 280 miles) above our planet for at least 10 years — realizing an ambition to maintain a long-term human presence in space. While China does not plan to use its space station for global cooperation on the scale of the International Space Station, Beijing said it is open to foreign collaboration. It is not yet clear how extensive that cooperation will be. AFP

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US envoy on Nokor arrives in Seoul

‘Russia wants to destroy Donbas’; Mariupol prepares final defense K YIV—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of wanting to “destroy” the entire eastern region of Donbas, as the last remaining forces in the strategic port of Mariupol prepared Monday for a final defense.

Moscow is pushing for a major victory in the southern city as it works to wrest control of Donbas and forge a land corridor to already-annexed Crimea. But Ukraine has pledged to fight on and defend the city, defying a Russian ultimatum Sunday that called on the remaining fighters inside the encircled Azovstal steel plant to lay down their arms and surrender. Ukrainian authorities have urged people in Donbas to move west to escape a largescale Russian offensive to capture its composite regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. “Russian troops are preparing for an offensive operation in the east of our country in the near future. They want to literally finish off and destroy Donbas,” Zelensky said in an evening statement. Mariupol has become a symbol of Ukraine’s unexpectedly fierce resistance since Russian troops invaded the former Soviet state on February 24. “The city still has not fallen,” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

SEOUL—The top US envoy on North Korea arrived in Seoul Monday for talks after Pyongyang ratcheted up tension on the peninsula with an unprecedented blitz of missile launches and hints of a nuclear test. Pyongyang has carried out more than a dozen weapons tests this year, the latest one over the weekend, a short range test that North Korea claimed would enhance the “efficiency in the operation of tactical nukes”. Sung Kim, the US Special Representative for North Korea Policy, will meet with his South Korean counterpart Noh Kyu-duk and other officials during his five-day visit. His arrival comes as Seoul and Washington kicked off a nine-day annual joint military drill. Such exercises have always infuriated Pyongyang, which calls them a rehearsal for war. The allies regularly stage military exercises, but they have been scaled back in recent years as outgoing President Moon Jae-in made efforts to facilitate nuclear talks with the North. “This training is a defensive command post training using computer simulation, and there is no real military maneuver training,” Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Sunday. AFP

Raisi warns Israel on action vs. Iran

TANK SELFIE. A man takes a selfie as he stands in front of a destroyed Russian tank in the vilage of Andriivka, in the Kyiv region on April 17. Russia invaded the Ukraine on February 24, 2022. AFP “There’s still our military forces, our soldiers. So, they will fight to the end,” he told ABC’s “This Week”. “We will not surrender.” While several large cities were under siege, he said, not one — with the exception of Kherson in the south — had fallen, and more than 900 towns and cities had

been re-captured. ‘Last chance to save you’ Lugansk governor Sergiy Gaiday said the coming week would be “difficult”. “It may be the last time we have a chance to save you,” he wrote on Facebook. Russian forces continued to shell the

eastern Lugansk region and two people died in the town of Zolote, he told Ukrainian media earlier in the day. And five “powerful” Russian missile strikes hit Lviv early Monday, in a rare attack on a western city that has so far been spared much of the fighting since the invasion began almost two months ago. AFP

South Africa flood toll rises to 443; Deluge eases, most casualties in port city Durban DURBAN—The death toll from floods that have battered South Africa climbed above 440 on Sunday as abating rains allowed rescue operations to accelerate after one of the deadliest storms in living memory. Torrential rains that started lashing the southeastern coastal region last weekend quickly triggered heavy floods and landslides that smashed into Durban city and surrounding areas, pulling with them buildings and people.

By Sunday 443 people, including two police emergency workers, had died from the raging floods. Scientists warn that floods and other extreme weather events are becoming more powerful and frequent as the world gets warmer because of climate change. At least 63 other people are still missing and feared dead after the floodwaters — the strongest to have struck KwaZulu-Natal in recent memory — engulfed the region, trash-

ing the idyllic beaches with debris. Emotional prayers Amid the destruction, climbing temperatures and an overcast sky, survivors sought divine solace and temporary distraction from their misery while observing Easter Sunday. Thulisile Mkhabela went to church, at a large white concrete building with a tiled roof ceiling — one of a few solid structures left standing by the raging floods that engulfed her Inanda township. AFP

SWEDISH RIOTS. An anti-riot police officer stands next to a city bus burning in Malmo late April 16. The unrest in Malmo has continued after Rasmus Paludan, party leader of the Danish right-wing extremist party Tight Course, held a demonstration on April 16 at Skanegarden near the Oresund Bridge (see story at right). AFP

‘Saudi pushed Yemen’s leader to step down’ WA S H I N G TO N — S a u d i Arabia pushed Yemen’s president to step down earlier this month, and officials have confined him to his home and restricted his communications, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi announced his resignation on April 7, handing his powers to a new leadership council as Yemen entered into a fragile ceasefire that brought a rare pause in the years-long conflict.

Citing anonymous Saudi and Yemeni officials, the Journal said that Riyadh’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave Hadi a written decree delegating his powers to the council, which consists of eight representatives of different Yemeni groups. According to the officials, some Saudi officials had threatened to publicize what they said was evidence of Hadi’s corruption in their efforts to convince him to step down, the Journal wrote.

Since leaving office, Hadi has been confined to his house in Riyadh and denied access to phones, one Saudi official told the Journal. But another Saudi official said Hadi was encouraged to resign because various Yemeni factions had lost confidence in his ability to lead the Middle Eastern nation. Saudi Arabia had welcomed Hadi’s resignation announcement and pledged $3 billion in aid and support for its war-torn neighbor. AFP

TEHRAN—Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi warned on Monday that the armed forces would not let archfoe Israel rest if it took action targeting the Islamic republic. “You must know that if you try to take any action against the Iranian nation... our armed forces will not leave you in peace,” Raisi said, during a military parade to mark National Army Day. His comments come days after he warned neighbouring Iraq against using its territory for activities that disrupt Iran’s security. Last month, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the military’s ideological arm, said it fired a dozen ballistic missiles at a “strategic” site in Arbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous northern Kurdistan region, claiming they were being used by Israel. However, Arbil governor Oumid Khouchnaw dismissed as “baseless” the presence of Israeli sites in and around the city. “There are no Israeli sites in the region,” he said at the time. Also last month, Israel hosted talks attended by top Arab diplomats and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, saying the meeting would send a strong message to Tehran. AFP

IS vows ‘revenge’ for slain ex-leader BEIRUT— The Islamic State group on Sunday vowed “revenge” over the killing of its former leader, calling on supporters to take advantage of war in Ukraine to stage attacks in Europe. “We announce, relying on God, a blessed campaign to take revenge” over the death of Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi and the group’s former spokesman, an audio message attributed to the group and circulated on the Telegram messaging app said. The group’s new spokesman, Abu-Omar al-Muhajjir, also called on supporters to resume attacks in Europe, taking advantage of the “available opportunity” of “the crusaders fighting each other” -- in reference to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The militant group’s previous leader died in early February when he detonated a bomb to avoid capture during a US raid in northwest Syria, the White House and US defence officials said. AFP

New clashes over anti-immigration rally in Sweden STOCKHOLM—Swedish police said officers wounded three people Sunday in the eastern city of Norrkoping as demonstrators protested plans by a far-right group to burn copies of the Koran. “Police fired several warning shots. Three people appear to have been hit by ricochets and are currently being treated in hospital”, police said in a statement. The three who were injured were under arrest, police said, adding that their condition was not known. Sunday’s clashes in Norrkoping were the second there in four days. On the first occasion, the demonstrators had protested against a rally by antiimmigration and anti-Islam group Hard Line, led by the Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan, 40. On Sunday, they rallied again in protest another gathering, which in the end Paludan abandoned. Four people were arrested among the approximately 150 participants, as protester threw stones at officers and cars were set on fire, police said. According to health services quoted by local news agency TT, 10 people were hospitalized with minor injuries following the clashes and similar unrest in the neighbouring town of Linkpping, where far-right Hard Line also abandoned a demonstration. Swedish ‘tour’ Paludan, who intends to stand in Swedish legislative elections in September but does not yet have the necessary number of signatures to secure his candidature, is currently on a “tour” of Sweden. He is visiting neighborhoods with large Muslim populations where he wants to burn copies of the Koran. AFP

France’s presidential rivals gear up for final week of campaigning PARIS—The two remaining contenders in the French presidential race return to the fray Monday after a brief Easter pause in campaigning and ahead of a high-stakes televised debate. President Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen both have low-key meetings Monday, pacing themselves until Wednesday’s face-off, which could turn out to be the key to the cam-

paign. Last time around in 2017, when the same two candidates faced off at this stage of the campaign, most observers think Macron came off best. He won the election comfortably a few days later. This time however, Le Pen insists she is better prepared. “In my head, I’m ready to exercise power,” she told TF1 television Sunday night. Macron was equally confident in

his comments to TF1. “I think I have a winning plan that deserves to be known and I have the feeling that on the far-right side, there is a plan that deserves to be clarified,” he said. The latest opinion polls still suggest Macron has the edge, giving him scores of between 53 and 55.5 percent to Le Pen’s 44.5 to 47 percent. But allowing for margins of error, Macron knows there is no room

for complacency ahead of next Sunday’s second-round vote. ‘Reassure everybody’ Le Pen, too, knows what is at stake. “I’ve read so much nonsense about my plans over the last few days, so many caricatures — even fake news — that it’s extremely important I can get a moment with all the French people who are interested... so as to be able to reassure everybody,” she said Saturday. AFP

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TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks close flat; PLDT leads gainers

HE stock market virtually closed flat Monday on thin volume after a long holiday break, with investors trading cautiously amid surging oil prices in the world market. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added just 11.21 points, or 0.2 percent, to 6,996.11 on a value turnover of P3.6 billion. Losers edged gainers, 96 to 90, with 47 issues unchanged. PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm owned by the Salim Group of Indonesia, advanced 3.3 percent to P1,892, while conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. of the Gokongwei Group, rose 1.8 percent to P56.50. International Container Terminal Services Inc. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., the largest port operator, climbed 1.4 percent to P223.60, but newly-listed CTS Global Equity Group Inc. fell 2.7 percent to P1.08. The rest of Asian stocks closed lower on Monday in cautious trade, as figures showed China’s economic

growth accelerated in the first quarter of the year, but the government warned of “significant challenges” ahead. Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 ended down more than one percent and Shanghai posted small losses, while Hong Kong and Sydney were closed for holidays. Shanghai reported its first COVID-19 deaths since the start of its weeks-long lockdown. China’s largest city and economic powerhouse has stewed under a patchwork of restrictions this year amid the country’s worst COVID-19 outbreak since the start of the pandemic. The country reported first-quarter economic growth of 4.8 percent, the National Bureau of Statistics said, as the pandemic threatens Beijing’s ambitious annual growth target. That figure was up from 4.0 percent in the final months of 2021. The world’s second-biggest economy was already losing steam in the latter half of last year as it endured a property slump and regulatory crackdowns. “We must be aware that with the domestic and international environment becoming increasingly complicated and uncertain, economic development is facing significant difPeople walk inside Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in Colombo on April 18, 2022. Sri Lanka on April 16 announced a five-day share trading halt after the crisishit country hiked interest rates and declared a default on its external debt during the traditional New Year holiday, as trade unions and top cricket stars joined protests demanding the president's resignation. AFP

Manila ﬁculties and challenges,” said NBS spokesman Standard Fu Linghui. TODAY “Overall, the data suggest that China started the year well, but as the quarter has moved on, the headwinds have gotten stronger,” said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst with OANDA. “A slowing property market, sweeping CO-

VID restrictions, the Ukraine invasion pushing up base commodity and energy prices, and a central bank still intent on deleveraging sectors of the economy, have all combined to weigh on China’s growth. “About the only thing missing is a meaningful rise in inﬂation, which is some small sliver of comfort.” With AFP

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS MAY 13, 2022 Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of ROBINSONS RETAIL HOLDINGS, INC. (Annual Meeting) shall be held via remote communication at https://bit.ly/RRHI2022ASM on May 13, 2022 at 9:30 A.M. The Agenda for the Annual Meeting is as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Call to Order and Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders held on May 14, 2021 Presentation of the Annual Report and Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 Election of the Board of Directors Appointment of the External Auditor Ratification of the acts of the Board of Directors and its committees, officers and management Other Matters Adjournment

Record Date Meeting.

Only shareholders of record as of April 5, 2022 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual

Attendance and Registration Shareholders may only attend the meeting via remote communication. Shareholders who intend to participate in the Annual Meeting should register by sending an email at corpsec@robinsonsretail.com. ph no later than May 5, 2022 in order to be considered as present. Quorum For purposes of quorum, the following shareholders shall be deemed present: (1) shareholders who register by May 5, 2022; (2) shareholders who register and vote in absentia by May 5, 2022; and (3) shareholders who submit duly accomplished proxy forms. Voting Shareholders may vote through the following: (1) by digital ballot, (2) by voting in absentia or (3) by appointing the Chairman of the Annual Meeting as their proxy. To vote by digital ballot and vote in absentia, please register by sending an email and submitting the required documents at corpsec@robinsonsretail.com.ph no later than May 5, 2022. Once the registration is validated, a digital ballot shall be generated for the shareholder who may then proceed to fill out the ballot. To vote by proxy, please submit a duly accomplished proxy form on or before May 5, 2022 either by email to corpsec@robinsonsretail.com.ph or a hard copy to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, 4th Floor, Building A, Robinsons Retail Head Office, 110 E. Rodriguez Jr., Avenue, Libis, Quezon City. We are not soliciting proxies. The procedure for attending the meeting via remote communication, registration, voting by digital ballot, voting in absentia and voting by proxy are explained in the Information Statement. Visual and Audio Recording In accordance with SEC guidelines, please be informed that there will be a visual and audio recording of the Annual Meeting. Electronic Copies An electronic copy of the Information Statement, Management Report, SEC Form 17-A and other related documents are available at https://www.robinsonsretailholdings. com.ph/investor-relations/2022 under the Annual Reports>Annual Report Documents>2022 tab and at PSE Edge.

Atty. Rosalinda F. Rivera Corporate Secretary

UNIVERSAL ROBINA CORPORATION

China economy grew in Q1 but virus stalks outlook BEIJING, China—China’s economic growth accelerated in the first quarter of the year to 4.8 percent, official data showed Monday, but the government warned of “significant challenges” ahead while massive COVID-19 lockdowns started to bite. The world’s second-biggest economy had lost steam in the latter half of last year with a property slump and regulatory crackdowns, pulling down growth. But it exceeded expectations in the first three months of 2022, growing 4.8 percent on-year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said, with Lunar New Year spending and factory production cajoling growth. The weeks ahead, however, appear treacherous for the economy with

Beijing’s unrelenting zero-COVID approach to outbreaks clogging supply chains and locking down tens of millions of people—including in the economic dynamos of Shanghai and Shenzhen as well as the northeastern grain basket of Jilin. Virus restrictions in March have already gouged at retail sales, as consumers shied away from shopping, and drove up unemployment. “With the domestic and international environment becoming increasingly complicated and uncertain, economic development is facing signiﬁcant difﬁculties and challenges,” NBS spokesman Fu Linghui said on Monday. The pandemic rebound—as well as the sanctions binding Russia’s

Mexican lawmakers veto power reforms opposed by the US MEXICO CITY, Mexico—Mexican lawmakers on Sunday rejected constitutional electricity reforms at the center of diplomatic tensions with the United States, in a blow to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Lopez Obrador promoted the changes to strengthen the state-owned electricity provider and roll back the effects of liberalization under previous governments that he says favored private companies. But his plans alarmed the United States and Canada, prompting warnings that Mexico is in danger of violating its trade commitments by favoring state-run entities heavily dependent on fossil fuels. After a marathon session in the lower house of Congress on Easter Sunday, Lopez Obrador’s Morena party failed to secure the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution. There were 275 votes in favor and 223 against the bill, with no abstentions, the president of the lower house, Sergio Gutierrez, announced. Gutierrez had earlier accused the opposition of wanting to remain “imperialist lackeys” at the service of foreign companies. But Jorge Romero of the conservative National Action Party argued that the bill would put the country “back 50 years” in efforts to protect the environment. Lopez Obrador’s Morena party and its allies only have 277 seats out of a total of 500 in the Chamber of Deputies, and the opposition bloc had vowed to vote against the legislation. Earlier during the debate, supporters of Lopez Obrador held a rally outside the Chamber of Deputies calling for the reforms to be passed, with one carrying a sign that said “Don’t sell out the nation.” The bill’s failure represents “a big defeat for Morena and Lopez Obrador because it is one of the central axes of their project to nationalize energy,” Jose Antonio Crespo, a political analyst at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics, told AFP. The United States had warned that Mexico’s reforms risk bringing “endless litigation” that would impede investment and undermine joint efforts to ﬁght climate change. AFP

economy—ups the ante on ofﬁcials to deliver Beijing’s full-year growth target of around 5.5 percent. The target comes in a pivotal political year for President Xi Jinping who is eyeing another term in power at the Party Congress to be held this autumn. The current virus outbreak is the worst since the peak of the ﬁrst wave which emerged in Wuhan in late 2019, and the economy is beginning to weaken. Industrial production growth eased to 5.0 percent in March, NBS data showed, down from the January-February period. Meanwhile, retail sales sank 3.5 percent and the urban unemployment rate ticked up to a 22-month high of 5.8 percent last month. AFP

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS MAY 11, 2022 1:00 P.M. Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of UNIVERSAL ROBINA CORPORATION (the “Corporation”) will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 1:00 P.M. in accordance with the relevant provisions of the By-Laws of the Corporation which allows meetings of the stockholders to be conducted by remote communication, subject to such guidelines as may be promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Stockholders may view the livestream of the Meeting and download the Information Statement at the following web addresses:

The Agenda for the Meeting is as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Proof of notice of the meeting and existence of a quorum. Reading and approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders held on May 13, 2021. Presentation of annual report and approval of the financial statements for the preceding year. Election of Board of Directors. Appointment of External Auditor. Ratification of the acts of the Board of Directors and its committees, officers, and management. Consideration of such other matters as may properly come during the meeting. Adjournment.

Only stockholders of record of the Corporation as of April 4, 2022 shall be entitled to vote. Stockholders may cast their votes on or before May 4, 2022 on all matters requiring approval by: (a) accomplishing and submitting the proxy form; or (b) voting in absentia.

NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

The procedures for attending the meeting via remote communication, submission of proxies, and for voting in absentia are explained in the Information Statement. Proxies shall be sent via email to corporate.secretary@urc.com.ph or hard copies to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, 40F Robinsons Equitable Tower, ADB Avenue cor. Poveda Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Validation of proxies shall be held on May 6, 2022. We are not soliciting proxies.

To All Stockholders:

By Authority of the Chairman (signed) MARIA CELIA H. FERNANDEZ-ESTAVILLO Corporate Secretary

Please be informed that the annual meeting of stockholders of MARCVENTURES HOLDINGS, INC. (the “Corporation”) for the year 2022 which is scheduled every last Friday of May of each year has been postponed and reset to a later date. The purpose of the postponement is to give Management ample time to prepare for the meeting.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS MAY 13, 2022 • 11:00 a.m.

A Notice of Meeting will be issued in relation to the new meeting date.

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of JG SUMMIT HOLDINGS, INC. (the “Corporation”) will be held on May 13, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in accordance with the relevant provisions of the By-Laws of the Corporation which allows meetings of the stockholders to be conducted by remote communication, subject to such guidelines as may be promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Makati City, 13 April, 2022. MAILA G. DE CASTRO Co-Asst. Corporate Secretary

Stockholders may view the livestream of the Meeting and download the Information Statement at the following web addresses:

(MS-APRIL 18 & 19, 2022)

NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING The Agenda for the meeting is as follows:

To All Stockholders: Please be informed that the annual meeting of stockholders of PRIME MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. (the “Corporation”) for the year 2022 which is scheduled every third Tuesday of May of each year has been postponed and reset to a later date. The purpose of the postponement is to give Management ample time to prepare for the meeting. A Notice of Meeting will be issued in relation to the new meeting date. Makati City, 13 April, 2022.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Proof of notice of the meeting and existence of a quorum. Reading and approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders held on May 14, 2021. Approval to amend Article Sixth of the Amended Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation in order to reduce the number of seats in the Board of Directors from eleven (11) to nine (9). Presentation of annual report and approval of the financial statements for the preceding year. Election of Board of Directors. Appointment of External Auditor. Ratification of the acts of the Board of Directors and its committees, officers and management. Consideration of such other matters as may properly come during the meeting. Adjournment.

Stockholders may cast their votes on or before May 5, 2022 on all matters requiring approval by: (a) accomplishing and submitting the proxy form; or (b) voting in absentia. Proxies shall be sent via email to corporate.secretary@jgsummit.ph or hard copies to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, 40F Robinsons Equitable Tower, ADB Avenue cor. Poveda Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Validation of proxies shall be held on May 10, 2022. The procedures for attending the meeting via remote communication, submission of proxies, and for voting in absentia are explained in the Information Statement. Only stockholders of record of the Company as of April 4, 2022 shall be entitled to vote. We are not soliciting proxies.

REUBEN CARLO O. GENERAL Corporate Secretary (MS-APRIL 18 & 19, 2022)

By Authority of the Chairman (signed) MARIA CELIA H. FERNANDEZ-ESTAVILLO Corporate Secretary

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

BSP: Remittances increased 1.3% to $2.5b in February By Julito G. Rada

CASH remittances posted the slowest growth in 13 months in February following the re-imposition of restrictions here and abroad amid the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday. Data showed cash remittances coursed through banks increased 1.3 percent to $2.509 billion in February from $2.476 billion in the same month in 2021. The growth was the slowest on a monthly basis in over a year since the 1.7-percent decline in January 2021. “The expansion in cash remittances was due to the increase in receipts from land-based and sea-based workers, which grew by 1.2 percent to $2.007 billion from $1.983 billion, and 1.6 percent to $501 million from $493 million, respectively,” the BSP said. The figure brought cash remittances in the first two months to $5.177 billion, up 1.9 percent from $5.078 billion a year ago. The growth in cash remittances from the United States, Japan and Singapore contributed largely to the increase in remittances in the first two months of 2022. Data showed that in terms of country sources, the US registered the highest share of overall remittances at 41.6 percent in the first two months, followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Taiwan, Qatar and Malaysia. The combined remittances from these 10 countries accounted for 79.3 percent of total cash remittances during the period. Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, grew by 1.2 percent to $2.793 billion in February 2022 from $2.759 billion a year earlier. The expansion in February increased the cumulative personal remittances to $5.759 billion in the first two months, up 1.9 percent from $5.653 billion in the comparable period dard registered TODAY in 2021. “The growth in personal remittances in February 2022 was slower, however, compared to that in January at 2.5 percent due in part to the re-imposition of restrictions in OFW host countries and the Philippines amid resurgence in COVID cases across the globe,” the BSP said.

March vehicle sales jumped 43%, hit pre-pandemic levels By Othel V. Campos

EHICLE sales jumped 43.4 percent in March from a year ago and reached the industry’s pre-pandemic levels, two groups said Monday.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report their members sold 29,685 vehicles in March, up from 20,702 units delivered in the same month last year. The ﬁgure was also the highest monthly sales in the two years of the pandemic. Monthly vehicle sales were in the range of 30,000 units before the onset of the pandemic. Month-on-month sales also improved 22.1 percent in March from 24,304 units in February. All segments posted higher sales, on a monthly

basis with passenger cars sales up by 12 percent from 5,914 units and commercial vehicles increasing by 25.4 percent from 18,390 units in February. CAMPI and TMA are composed of vehicle assemblers and importers. The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc., another industry group, announces a separate sales report. “March performance has already reached the industry’s pre-COVID level of sales and now the highest monthly sales recorded since the onset of the pandemic based on our data,” said CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez. “This milestone is very important to the industry as this essentially gives us a positive signal of continued recovery amid the economy and business operations alike starting to normalize,” said Gutierrez. Data showed that commercial vehicles led the rebound with 64.2 percent growth in March to 23,060 units from 14,041 units a year ago, while passenger car sales dipped slightly by 0.5 percent to 6,625 from 6,661 units. This brought total sales in the ﬁrst

quarter to 74,754 units, up by 6.3 percent from 70,312 vehicles that left the dealerships in the same period last year. Passenger car sales fell 16.2 percent in the ﬁrst quarter to 18,323 units from 21,855 units a year ago, while commercial vehicle sales rebounded 16.5 percent to 57,431 units from 48,457 units. “The industry remains ‘cautiously optimistic’ for full recovery this year as we just started the second quarter. At this point, it is indeed crucial that we remain on guard against any potential risks in achieving full economic recovery, and pre-pandemic levels of business and consumer conﬁdence at the same time,” Gutierrez said. Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. remained the top automotive company, accounting for nearly half of the market in March at 49.8 percent. Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. ranked second with 13.84 percent, while Nissan Philippines Inc. held 7.87-percent share. Ford Motor Company Philippines Inc. was fourth with 6.2-percent share, followed by Suzuki Philippines, Inc. with 6.09-percent market share.

IN BRIEF AirAsia posts 93% rise in passenger traffic AIRASIA Philippines said Monday it ﬂew 33,917 passengers in the Holy Week, up 93 percent from the same period in 2021. The recent increase in volume of passengers, however, was still 35-percent below the average pre-COVID passenger trafﬁc observed in 2019, the airline said. AirAsia said it recorded an average load factor of 88 percent for all destinations. Top summer destinations which contributed to the increase in load factor were Cebu with 92 percent, Caticlan-Boracay with 84 percent, Panglao with 92 percent and Puerto Princesa with 91 percent. “The numbers are very encouraging and a great indicator that indeed, we are now right on the path to recovery. Our guests’ hunger for travel really dictated the pace, especially this past Holy Week,” AirAsia Philippines spokesperson Steve Dailisan said. “We hope to sustain the growth leading to next month where more are expected to return to the provinces to exercise their right to suffrage,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Vitarich’s net income soared 10 times in 2021 POULTRY producer Vitarich Corp. said Monday net income jumped nearly 10 times in 2021 to P89.4 million from P9.3 million in 2020 on the back of higher sales. Vitarich said in a disclosure to the stock exchange revenues hit an all-time high of P9.7 billion, up 23 percent year-over-year, driven by growth across all business segments. “2021 not only delivered new revenue records across segments, but also pointed to higher long-term volume growth,” Vitarich president and chief executive Rocco Sarmiento said. Sarmiento said he expects revenues to remain robust this year, while the supply chain headwinds will affect earnings. Revenues from feeds segments, which accounted for 48 percent of total sales, rose 14 percent to P4.7 billion in 2021. This was due to the 12-percent increase in volumes and 3-percent increase in average selling prices. Annual feed mill capacity rose 3 percent to 300,200 metric tons in 2021 from 290,800 MT in 2020, while production grew 8 percent to 226,900 MT from 209,700 MT. Jenniffer B. Austria

Investment agencies receive P58-b support INVESTMENT promotion agencies received P58 billion as budgetary support from the national government in the last five years, the Fiscal Incentives Review Board chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Monday. The FIRB Secretariat said that in 2021, funds received by investment promotion agencies from the government amounted to about P5.07 billion. The recipient agencies are the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, Board of Investments, Bases Conversion and Development Authority Group, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority and the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority were not included in the list of budgetary support recipients as the two agencies are already selfsufficient. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Finance Assistant Secretary and FIRB Secretariat head Juvy Danofrata said during a recent DOF Executive Committee meeting BUSINESS CHALLENGE. BPI Foundation, the social development arm of Bank of the Philippine Islands, seals a partnership with AFAB allocated 100 percent of its budget to Entrego Express Corp., a technology-driven business solutions provider to provide logistic solutions to the top social enterprises who capital outlays, while SBMA and TIEZA allotwill emerge from this year’s implementation of the BPI Sinag business challenge. Signing the memorandum of agreement for the ted 100 percent of their budget to maintenance Sinag program are BPI Foundation executive director Owen Cammayo (left) and Entrego Express president Ismael Augusto Gozon. and other operating expenses. Julito G. Rada

Now on its eighth year, the program continues to elevate its mission from delivering capacity-building efforts that aim to develop social enterprises to lead systemic change that will put social entrepreneurship in the mainstream.

Meralco, Mitsubishi launch self-sustaining e-vehicle charging station By Alena Mae S. Flores

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS MAY 12, 2022 Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the following companies (the “Companies”) will be held on May 12, 2022 at the time and place as stated below. In light of current conditions and in support of the efforts to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, stockholders may only attend the meetings via remote communication at the livestream links specified below:

MANILA Electric Co. and Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. unveiled on Monday the ﬁrst environment-friendly Dendo Drive Station, or self-sustaining e-vehicle charging station, at the Mitsubishi dealership under Peak Motors Philippines Inc. in Pasay City. The pilot Dendo Drive Station features a clean energy ecosystem provided by Meralco subsidiaries eSakay, Spectrum and MServ. The next-generation dealership uses solar panels and vehicle-to-home equipment with bi-directional chargers. The V2H system enables the charging of electric vehicles or plugin hybrid EVs at home using solar energy, while also supplying electricity from the EV or PHEV to an en-

PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, April 18, 2022

11.21 PTS.

The Agenda for the meeting of Robinsons Land Corporation is as follows: 1. Proof of notice of the meeting and existence of a quorum 2. Reading and approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders held on May 13, 2021 3. Presentation of annual report and approval of the financial statements for the preceding year 4. Amendment of Article II of the Articles of Incorporation 5. Election of Board of Directors 6. Appointment of External Auditor 7. Ratification of the acts of the Board of Directors and its committees, officers and management 8. Consideration of such other matters as may properly come during the meeting 9. Adjournment

6,996.11

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

751,058,094 49,797 3,655,370,672.10 90 96 47

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

51.9750

Japan

Yen

0.007911

0.4112

Pound

1.306200

67.8897

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127501

6.6269

Switzerland

Franc

1.060108

55.0991

Canada

Dollar

0.792896

41.2108

Singapore

Dollar

0.736540

38.2817

Australia

Dollar

0.739100

38.4147

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

137.8721

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

13.8600

Brunei

Dollar

0.733837

38.1412

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

The Information Statements of the Companies which contain more details regarding the rationale and explanation for each of such agenda items may be viewed or downloaded at the web addresses indicated above. Stockholders intending to participate via remote communication must notify the Companies by email on or before May 4, 2022 at the corresponding email addresses indicated in the Information Statements of each Company.

Thailand

Baht

0.029727

1.5451

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.1521

Stockholders who wish to cast their votes may do so via the method provided for voting in absentia, or by accomplishing the proxy form. The procedures for attending the meeting via remote communication and for casting votes in absentia are explained further in the Information Statements.

Euro

1.080900

56.1798

Korea

Won

0.000814

0.0423

Shareholders who wish to vote by proxy shall send the proxies via email to the corresponding email addresses indicated in the Information Statement of each Company or hard copies to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, 12/F Robinsons Cyberscape Alpha, Sapphire and Garnet Roads, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, not later than May 4, 2022. Validation of proxies shall be held on May 6, 2022. We are not soliciting proxies.

China

Yuan

0.156959

8.1579

India

Rupee

0.013105

0.6811

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.236239

12.2785

New Zealand

Dollar

0.677100

35.1923

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034339

1.7848

The Agenda for the meeting of RL Commercial REIT, Inc. is, as follows: 1. Proof of notice of the meeting and existence of a quorum 2. Presentation of annual report and approval of the financial statements for the preceding year 3. Election of Board of Directors 4. Appointment of External Auditor 5. Ratification of the acts of the Board of Directors and its committees, officers and management 6. Consideration of such other matters as may properly come during the meeting 7. Adjournment The Agenda for the meeting of Altus Property Ventures, Inc. is, as follows: 1. Proof of notice of the meeting and existence of a quorum 2. Reading and approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders held on May 13, 2021 3. Presentation of annual report and approval of the financial statements for the preceding year 4. Election of Board of Directors 5. Appointment of External Auditor 6. Ratification of the acts of the Board of Directors and its committees, officers and management 7. Consideration of such other matters as may properly come during the meeting 8. Adjournment

Only stockholders of record of the Companies as of April 4, 2022 shall be entitled to vote at the respective meetings. By Authority of the Chairman (sgd.) JUAN ANTONIO M. EVANGELISTA Corporate Secretary

Source: BSP

tire house or in the case of the Dendo Drive Station, the Mitsubishi branch. Meralco subsidiaries provided the tailor-ﬁt sustainable solution for the pilot station. Spectrum’s services involved the installation of a 28-kilowatt peak solar panel, while eSakay provided two EV charging pods. Putting them together was MServ, which handled the electrical works and system integration for the Dendo Drive Station. Mitsubishi’s ﬂagship plug-in hybrid SUV, the Outlander PHEV, which was launched in 2020, is also part of the Dendo Drive Station. When purchased, the Outlander PHEV will come with a conventional charger, allowing it to be charged directly from a home socket. MMPC president and chief executive Takeshi Hara said the Dendo

Drive Station brings a new kind of value in terms of eco-mobility. “Mitsubishi Motors has always been dedicated to continuously studying technologies and gaining expertise when it comes to vehicle electrification,” he said. MMPC signed a memorandum of understanding with its five dealers in 2020 to roll out the next-generation showroom—Dendo Drive Station in the country. “Designed to be part of our commitment to help achieve a sustainable society by 2030 while at the same time impact the communities where Mitsubishi dealerships are located. We hope to get more support in helping instill confidence among Filipinos when it comes PHEVs and more importantly shed some light on environmental sustainability,” Hara said.

British chamber expects Vape Bill to lower smoking prevalence in PH The signing of the Vape Bill into law will lead to a substantial smoking rate reduction in the Philippines, in the same way that the use of less harmful alternatives such as e-cigarettes helped the United Kingdom address its smoking problem. This is the gist of the letter sent by the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines to President Rodrigo Duterte, calling for the enactment of the bill into law, which it said will be an important legacy of the administration. BCCP executive director and trustee Chris Nelson said the Vape Bill presents an opportunity for the Philippines to replicate the United Kingdom’s success in addressing the smoking epidemic. “The liberal approach to vaping of the UK government has led to a signiﬁcant reduction in smoking rates,” he said.

Nelson said that with the approval of the Vape Bill, “the country will head in the same direction as the UK which has successfully accelerated the decline in national smoking prevalence”. The BCCP noted that between 2012 and 2016, the UK smoking rate fell from 20.4 percent to 16.1 percent, which could be attributed to the extensive evidence supporting vaping by Public Health England, the country’s leading public health authority, the embrace of harm reduction by public health ofﬁcials as well as no taxation and the limited prohibition on public use of electronic cigarettes. The UK’s smoking rate declined 25 percent since 2012. The percentage of daily smokers decreased from 17.9 percent to 15.5 percent and e-cigarette usage increased from 4.5 percent to 5.50 percent from 2015 to 2019.

FROM winning on a course she has had some local knowledge of to an unfamiliar terrain at Caliraya, Chanelle Avaricio remains upbeat but has expressed guarded optimism on her back-to-back title drive on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, which resumes Tuesday with the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship in Cavinti, Laguna. The P750,000 LPGT event, set over 54 holes, is held simultaneously with the men’s tour with the young guns bracing for a spirited battle of power and mental toughness with the seasoned campaigners in the next four days of the P2 million championship. Ira Alido, who nailed his first PGT victory at Riviera in 2020, Lloyd Go, Sean Ramos and Rupert Zaragosa are but four of a slew of young turks eager and ready to slug it out with the likes of Clyde Mondilla, Jay Bayron, Jhonnel Ababa and Tony Lascuña in what promises to be another down-to-the-wire finish after Miguel Tabuena nipped Mondilla on the second playoff hole to rule the PGT kickoff leg at Luisita in Tarlac last month. Others tipped to contend are Jobim Carlos, Jerson Balasabas, Michael Bibat, Marvin Dumandan, Zanieboy Gialon, Reymon Jaraula, Joenard Rates and Dutch Guido Van der Valk with legends Frankie Miñoza and Robert Pactolerin spicing up the cast in the invitational championship put up by ICTSI. The LPGT chase is also expected to be tight and fierce. “I won’t expect anything because I’m not familiar with the course,” said Avaricio after besting multi-titled Princess Superal in sudden death to claim the ICTSI Hallow Ridge Challenge in San Pedro, Laguna two weeks ago. It was Avaricio’s second LPGT win after scoring a breakthrough at RivieraCouples in big fashion last November with the former Alabama State U standout annexing her latest feat on a course, which staged an LPGT event for the first time but which she calls home. But heading to the Caliraya Springs Golf Club, also a first-time host of the pro circuit, Avaricio is staying positive while hoping to make the most of her practice stint at the well-maintained par-72 layout set amidst Lake Caliraya and a view of Mt. Banahaw yesterday (Monday). “Like most of the players, it’s my first time to be playing in Caliraya. I have no idea how the course looks like but I’ll do my best and I have prepared the way I usually prepare for a tournament,” said Avaricio. “I’m just focusing on my own game and I hope to see during practice what I can do for the week,” she added. The rest of the compact 17-player field, including amateur Aily Kidwell, are likewise all geared-up for the 54hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. while putting emphasis on their ability to adjust on the challenges offered by the Arnold Palmerdesigned layout. They include Harmie Constantino, who is out to check a skid after a remarkable pro debut last year where she won two tournaments on her way to clinching the the Order of Merit title, and fellow leg winners Sunshine Baraquiel and Daniella Uy with former champion Chihiro Ikeda also due for a big finish.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

Fiery duels seen as PH, ladies golf tours unfold

Chanelle Avaricio is staying positive while hoping to make the most of her practice stint at the well-maintained par-72 layout set amidst Lake Caliraya and a view of Mt. Banahaw on Monday.

Korean pro league allows recruitment of PH cagers By Peter Atencio

ALENTED Filipino cagers will soon play in the Korean Basketball League. The KBL, which used to exclusively hire Japanese players, approved of plans to expand their recruitment to include Filipino ballers, following a series of meetings over the last two days. The 10-member KBL will do this after they are done drafting the Asian Player Quota system, which was finalized following a series of talks and consultations with their counterparts in the Philippine Basketball Association. The criteria for recruiting players, according to reports coming from KBL officials, are limited to “Filipino citizens, and

each member club is allowed to hire only one player.” Club teams can hire a Filipino pro for a minimum of one year and a maximum of five years. Details on the contracts that will be offered and the players salary is still under discussion. The acquisition of Filipino players will soon commence for the coming 2022-2023 season. Last February, the PBA and

the Korean Basketball League made plans hold talks on cooperation, centering on plans for a player exchange from one association to another. The talks were formalized after PBA commissioner Willie Marcial received a letter last February from KBL President Kim Hee-ok, who expressed the desire of the Koreans to expand their reach and build a partnership with the league. The KBL is set to have a regular game schedule, starting on October 15, 2022 until March 29, 2023. A new group of officials are now leading the KBL after Changwon LG CEO Joo-wan, Goyang Orion CEO Lee Seungjoon, and Anyang KGC CEO Huh Cheol-ho were voted following an election.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial

Obiena proud to represent ‘100 million Filipinos’ By Randy Caluag THE Philippines’ top pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena expressed gratitude to the country’s top sports stakeholders as he prepares to unveil his best self by carrying the country’s flag during the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games. “It is my pride and honor to be carrying our Philippine flag in the opening ceremony of the upcoming SEA Games in Hanoi,” said Obiena, no longer the combative type at the height of his conflict with the Philippine Track and Field Athletics Association. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the sports governing bodies of the Philippines for giving me a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity. Thank you @officialpatafa for your blessing to do this; Thank you @olympic.ph for your nomination and thank you @phil. sportscommission for your support,” added Obiena, who will be defending his golden title in the men’s pole vault. Obiena acknowledged that he is “not

just representing athletes, but over 100 million proud Filipinos.” He is also thankful to Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz for her support. “Maraming salamat po ate @hidilyndiaz for guiding me and enabling me to have this opportunity. I am blessed to have such a humble role model to look up to.” Diaz congratulated Obiena for the honor and assured him of her support. Obiena will surely draw attention in the competition proper as he was formally included in the 49-man national squad after the successful completion of his mediation with his mother federation. In a gesture of goodwill—and after Obiena apologized to the Patafa board of trustees, Patafa president Philip Ella Juico and all the athletes and coaches for certain actions and statements he made—the federation agreed to endorse him to various international competitions on a case-to-case basis subject to federation’s rules and regulations. Obiena, the Asian record holder in the

men’s pole vault event, also appeared more mentally prepared as his liquidation issue with the Philippine Sports Commission “has finally come to a close.” Juico, as authorized by the Patafa board, formally transmitted their new entry by name list that includes Obiena and 4x100-meter relay member Kurt Baril to the Philippine Olympic Committee on April 8—a few days after the completion of the historic mediation brokered by Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, with the help of the Office of the Solicitor General and the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. Aside from Obiena, other athletic stars like Kristina Knott, William Morrison, Christine Hallasgo, Aris Toledo, and Sarah Dequinan will all return to defend their respective SEA Games’ titles. Toledo, a 27-year-old native of Nueva Ecija, will defend the decathlon title he won in 2015 in Vietnam and defended it twice in 2017 Kuala Lumpur and the 2019 Philippine SEA Games.

Heptathlete Dequinan strikes gold in Singapore

Ernest John Obiena

PTA accepting applicants for taekwondo classes

Young taekwondo hopefuls learn the basics.

THE Philippine Taekwondo Association is now accepting participants for the ongoing 2022 SMART/MVP Sports Foundation Taekwondo Summer Class nationwide. The summer program is also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee. The PTA is affiliated member of the World Taekwondo Federation. For inquiries, contact Philippine Taekwondo Association at tel. no. 8 5220518/ 8 5220519 Cell Phone numbers: 0918-670-0370, 0977-422-5137 or Email: philtkd@ gmail.com/philippinetaekwondo@gmail.com

SARAH Dequinan took a silver medal in the 800-meter run to formally earn the gold medal in the women’s heptathlon event of the Singapore Open Athletics on Sunday. The 26-year-old Dequinan collected 5008 points after clocking two minutes, 28.91 seconds in the 800, behind Norliyana Kamaruddin of Malaysia, who was first in 2:28.89. It was the Philippines’ third gold in the meet. Dequinan, who will defend her crown in the coming Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, piled up big points after topping the 110-meter hurdles, the 200-meter run and javelin throw. A second-place finish in the high jump, shot put and the long jump also put Dequinan in contention for the gold medal. Kamaruddin, who will be Dequinan’s rival for the gold, took no. 2 with 4875 points. Another Filipina entry, Josefa Ligmayo, was third with 4486. Earlier, the men’s relay team of Frederick Ramirez, Joyme Sequita, Michael del Prado and Al Rhyan Labita also took the gold in 4x400 meter action, along with the women’s relay squad of Bernalyn Bejoy, Eloisa Luzon, Jessel Lumapas and Maureen Schrijvers. Ramirez and his teammates clocked 3:23.94, while Bejoy’s crew topped the distaff side in 4:02.26. Janry Ubas settled for the silver medal in the men’s long jump after clearing 7.52 meters, with Malaysian Andre Anura taking the gold in 7.60 meters, and Ted Toh (Wings) landing third in 6.93 meters. Peter Atencio

Sports

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

St. Benilde, Mapua try to keep slim hopes alive Games Today

(La Salle Greenhills Gym) 12 noon – CSB vs Mapua 3 p.m. – JRU vs SSC-R

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics celebrates the game winning basket as Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets looks dejected in Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. AFP

PPS national age-grouper gets going in Dipolog City THE PPS-PEPP national age group tennis circuit resumes Tuesday in Dipolog City with over a hundred youngsters chasing top honors in various divisions and ranking points at the RGS tennis courts in Zamboanga del Norte. The boys’ 16-and-under division, meanwhile, holds a one-day qualifier for four slots in the main draw, underscoring the big number of entries wishing to get a feel of tournament play and at the same gain exposure in the country’s longest-running junior circuit. Neo Maratas and Roddick Gabuat head the 16- and 18-U cast while Judyann Padilla and AJ Acabo loom as the players to beat in the top two divisions in the girls’ side of the tournament put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala president and CEO Bobby Castro and presented by Dunlop. Rose Mesiona and Stephanie Omos, meanwhile, lead the chase in the girls’ 14-U category while Pete Bandala and Clint Gallenero earn the top two seedings in the boys’ side of the tournament sponsored by Darel Dexter Uy. Omos and Hannah Jumawan top-bills the 12-U category with Bandala and Sherwin Gom-os bannering the boys’ class while Jared Sy and Brielle Gamus are fancied in the 10-and-under division, which also held an elims for the last remaining slot in the main draw. The staging of the Dipolog leg comes on the heels of the postponement of the La Carlota stage due to typhoon Agaton that hit the Visayas recently with the youngsters bracing for a busy schedule in the next five weeks of the circuit held under the auspices of the Unified Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating). The next PPS-PEPP stop will be held in Sindangan on April 21-24 then to Labason on April 25-27 and Liloy on April 28-30, all in Zambo del Norte with Lala, Lanao del Norte hosting the next leg on May 1-3 before heading to Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental on May 4-6. For details and registration, contact event organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

FREE THROW SHOOTER NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ

Sisyphean THE Nuggets called timeout sometime in the 3rd quarter of the Golden StateDenver game, and the camera caught Nikola Jokić looking up at the scoreboard on the way to the bench to huddle with the team, and I thought to myself: The Joker is tired—well, looks tired. And it is just Game 1 of a best-of-seven first-round series. Saying Jokić is/looks tired is not to suggest or insinuate anything weak, derogatory, or anything negative. Quite the opposite. When I saw him looking gassed, I think about how he is—has been—doing the heavy lifting for Den-

Tatum lifts Celtics; Suns, Heat, Bucks win openers M IAMI—Jayson Tatum spun in for a buzzer-beating layup to give the Boston Celtics a thrilling 115-114 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday in the ﬁrst game of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series. Tatum scored 31 points to lead the Celtics, who thwarted a fourthquarter comeback bid by the Nets to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series. The reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks, Eastern Conference top seeds Miami and Western Conference top seeds Phoenix also won their playoff openers. The Bucks, led by NBA Most Valuable Player award finalist Giannis Antetokounmpo, beat the Chicago Bulls 9386, and the Heat dominated the Atlanta Hawks 115-91. In Phoenix, veteran point guard Chris Paul scored 19 of his 30 points in the second half as the Suns, who finished the regular season with the best record in the

league, led wire-to-wire in a 110-99 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. In Boston, Tatum added eight assists and two blocked shots, Jaylen Brown added 23 points, and Al Horford and Marcus Smart scored 20 apiece for the Celtics, who took a 96-85 lead into the fourth quarter but trailed 114-111 with less than a minute to play. Former Celtic Kyrie Irving, booed throughout by Boston fans who still resent his departure for Brooklyn, led the Nets with 39 points. However, Kevin Durant was the only other Nets starter in double figures with 23. Irving will no doubt hear from the NBA after a middle-finger salute to heckling fans in the third quarter, but he saved his

best gesture for the fourth period, when he scored 18 points to key the Nets’ comeback bid. Irving’s long three-pointer over Smart put Brooklyn up 114-111 with 1:04 to play. But the Celtics clamped down defensively and pulled within one on Brown’s driving layup. After Durant missed a three-pointer, Tatum, fed by Smart from across the lane, willed his way through traffic for the game-winner. “When he took that dribble, we just kind of made eye contact and he made a great pass and I just had to make a layup,” Tatum said of the final play. A first half that featured 17 lead changes ended with the score knotted at 61-61, but the Celtics, who had been idle since their last regular-season game as the Nets battled through the play-in tournament, pulled away with a 39-24 third quarter. Irving was unrepentant after his response to Celtics fans. AFP

COLLEGE of Saint Benilde and Mapua battle for solo third as the two teams try to keep their slim hopes of securing an outright Final Four berth Tuesday in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the La Salle Greenhills Gym. Coach Charles Tiu hopes that his Blazers will regain the form that gave them four straight victories in the 12 noon match with the Cardinals. A shock 68-74 loss to last-placed Jose Rizal University a week ago put CSB in danger of missing the top two after the end of eliminations. The Bombers’ victory ended a five-game losing skid. “I hope they will bounce back and learn from the JRU loss where we were outplayed. We need to have better focus and take every team seriously because we aren’t that good,” said Tiu. Will Gozum, the team’s biggest acquisition during the hiatus, is expected to suit up after hurting his right foot in the second half against JRU. Gozum, who will face his former Red Robins teammate Warren Bonifacio for the first time in the NCAA, is not only coach Randy Alcantara’s main concern when they break their tie with the Blazers at 4-2. “Hindi lang si Will ang paghahandaan namin, pati ang whole team ng CSB,” said Alcantara. After starting 3-0, Mapua suffered back-to-back losses before regaining its winning ways via 95-83 rout of University of Perpetual Help System Dalta last Wednesday. With identical 5-0 records, defending champion Letran and San Beda need to win two more games to assure themselves of an outright Final Four berth with a twice-to-beat advantage. For this shortened season, the league has instituted play-in games, where teams ranked third to sixth after the single-round eliminations will have a shot of clinching the remaining Final Four slots. San Sebastian and JRU clash in the day’s other game at 3 p.m.

Online role-playing game Skyforge coming to PH PlayPark Inc. is proud to announce that action MMORPG Skyforge is indeed coming to Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Players can look forward to going god mode in Skyforge during the Closed Beta Test this April. To celebrate the coming of Skyforge, PlayPark has kicked off the biggest cosplay competition in the region. Dubbed “Cosplay SEAGods”, the event has the biggest prize pool of any gaming cosplay competition at $20,000 with different categories. You can join the TikTok Transformation category if you have a knack for putting together eye-popping short videos to complement your cosplay. Interested parties can sign up here. And of course, the #SEAGODS Battle category pulls out all the stops. This is where you’ll see literal gods and goddesses walking the land! If you think you have what it takes to be the ultimate cosplay god or goddess, sign up here. A pantheon of well-known cover, especially now that Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are not playing. I think about how hard he played ever since he joined the league. And the best he can show for it (individual accomplishments, including recordsetting feats, aside) is a 2019-20 Western Conference Finals defeat against eventual overall champions, the Los Angeles Lakers (4-1). Are they doomed to fall again this season? Odds are, yes. The chances of a team with no prior championship experience, no championship pedigree, dealing with injured superstars, and this season ranked #6th in the West, winning it all are not promising. If Denver wants to survive the improbable, it should start with Jokić’s teammates bringing their own winning energy. Jokić is the well from where his teammates draw energy, and for these intense, high-level games, that well will quickly dry, and with it, morale, fighting spirit, and the collective will. Imagine the task: you need to win four times against your opponent to ad-

splayers from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia have assembled to be judges for this competition, so this is your chance to be seen! More details of the competition may be found on the official Skyforge website. Additionally, PlayPark Inc. has several events lined up, including an on-going pre-registration campaign. Pioneer Packs that contain essential loot for helping you attain godhood faster will be up for grabs to pre-registered players and will be available at launch. There is also a Skyforge referral program that will net you even more loot and important items the more friends you help out. To pre-register, simply go to the Skyforge Pre-registration Page. Details on the referral program are also there. A product of the recent partnership between European publisher MY.GAMES and Asiasoft to bring western games to Southeast Asia, Skyforge features a twist to traditional MMO character progression: instead of just being a hero, vance, only to face the same goal, only this time, against a stronger opponent. And how does success in this series rewards you? Another assignment to win four more games. It only stops when every talented, championship-caliber team has been defeated, and the championship has been won. This is why the title is the reward for the tireless. The quest to win a championship is not for teams unable to muster the kind of zeal that wins series at the expense of teams good only for occasional spurts. So which one is Denver right now? The absence of that individual confident energy from Jokić’s teammates is very obvious, especially against a team like Golden State, where every player is radiating his own energy. They are not simply trying to feed off of the energy of Steph Curry or Draymond Green or Klay Thompson. Time and again, we hear this same commentary: playoff basketball is demanding. To say that it is tough is simplifying it. The Playoffs is for players who can survive—and triumph—despite the

long, slow grind. The Playoffs require confidence that manifests in how you play—it shows what you make of every open lane you are given—drive hard or opt to pass? That genuine, confident energy shows in whether you simply take what the defense gives you, or you make the defense scramble and pay for every missed cover. It shows in your willingness to take the hit and say play on, to avoid nitpicking on no-calls, to see clearly when the action around you seems to blur your view, to drown out the noise and hear only yours, your teammates, and your coach’s voices. The mindset should be “let’s win this”, not “let’s try our best not to lose by a large margin”. I am not surprised to see Jokić looking tired. Not because he is weak. He is tired because he is forced to give everything, and made to endure that feeling of being deflated when the scoreboard reminds you your best efforts and hard work are not enough and the Warriors are still ahead with a double-digit lead. I am not a fan of Jokić but I wish that

characters can go beyond and ascend to godhood. Skyforge blends elements of more dynamic gameplay with traditional MMO mechanics, allowing players complete freedom to explore the stunning world of Aelion. For the latest Skyforge news and updates regarding the Closed Beta Test this April, check out the official Facebook page. Skyforge is a game that boasts a total of 18 playable classes that cater to a wide variety of playstyles, from the tough sword-wielding Paladin to the devastating Cryomancer. The best part of the class system is that players can switch on the fly, easily adapting to different situations where one class is more efficient at dealing with specific enemies over the other. Becoming a god is a key element in Skyforge, complete with temples, worshippers, and of course, god-like abilities. The additional firepower god mode provides will be important to win in Invasions, massive events in-game that need all players active in order to win. he finds himself in a great team soon. I want to watch him play with teammates who are really good. I want to watch him play in a system where he will really shine as an individual player and not as a savior. I want to see him playing really good basketball with really good teammates, and not having to purchase good basketball at the cost of exhaustion. A great player need not exhaust himself, shoved closer and closer to breaking point. A great system need not require star players to finish games exhausted. That is why you have a system. That is why there are five of you on the floor. Jokić is tired not just because of Game 1 rigors. He is tired, but not because he gave it his all. He is tired because there is no one helping him. His exhaustion —that look of exhaustion in Game 1, I think, is mental fatigue. You gave it all, and still, you remain in a hole. All the chants of “MVP!” and all the songs of praises, they are all, for now, songs for Sisyphus.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

Box office magic in short supply for ‘Fantastic Beasts’

A scene from ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’

Smart Infinity gives back, helps rebuild communities impacted by Typhoon Odette SMART Infinity, the luxury postpaid brand Infinity’s text-to-donate feature on their of Smart Communications, Inc. is giving Smart-powered mobile devices. Text-toback to the communities still rebuilding their donate beneficiaries include COVID-19 / lives after Typhoon Odette ravaged parts of Disaster Response efforts of PSF, School in Siargao late last year. A Bag, and Kids for Kids PH. To know more Smart Infinity—through the help of PLDT- about these organizations, visit https://smrt. Smart Foundation (PSF)—will be sponsoring ph/texttodonate. the purchase of Solar Lamps to be given to Enjoy perks and privileges when you families affected in the area. sign up for a Smart Infinity iPhone 13 Pro “Smart Infinity will be donating a portion or iPhone 13 Pro Max at Limitless Plan of our proceeds to the communities affected 5000 or 8000. The Limitless Plans come by Typhoon Odette and will partake in the with unlimited surfing on Smart’s fastest rebuilding efforts that are currently ongoing. 5G mobile network, unlimited calls and We would like to express much gratitude to texts to all networks, and unlimited landline our Infinity Members calls starting at who have donated to our Infinity Limitless previous Corporate Social Plan 5000. Responsibility (CSR) Smart Infinity projects, and we look is powered by the forward to broadening country’s fastest and our support towards more most reliable 5G communities in the next mobile network as few days.” shares Sofia reported by Ookla. Borromeo Alvarez, To date, Smart Smart Infinity Head and has already fired AVP. up around 7,200 Smart Infinity 5G base stations members can also donate nationwide making easily to their chosen Typhoon Odette victims in Cebu receive it the country’s charities through Smart help from PLDT-Smart Foundation fastest 5G network.

Leading man Teejay finds joy in playing baddy roles on my lap. I’m relieved that IN A recent interview, newbie actor Direk Joel was pleased Teejay Marquez expressed his with my performance happiness over the positive feedback and he didn’t regret that he is getting for his role in Mano Po he chose me as Christian’s Legacy: Her Big Boss, which replacement,” Teejay recalled. top-bills Bianca Umali, Lastly, many are asking if the Kelvin Miranda, and third season of the popular Ken Chan. Pinoy Boy Love (BL) In this GMA series Ben x Jim, which series, Teejay plays he and Jerome Ponce his first contravida headline, will still role. push through. “I’m glad “Well, I feel, it will that the general still do. Our director public likes my (Easy Ferrer) is just performance. In busy and so am I with fact, when I’m the soap. Maybe after outside, many ‘Mano Po Legacy: would approach Her Big Boss’ we’ll me, especially be able to start on it,” those who don’t ended Teejay. really know me, ••• and say they’re MAJA Salvador is grateful angry at me. Many for the warm reception she Teejay Marquez television viewers gets from TV viewers these also hate me. But days because of her hosting for my fans, they tell me they still love stint in GMA’s longest-running noontime me despite my bad character in the show. variety show Eat Bulaga. I’m just pleased with this development “All I can say is they’re all easy and as it is proof that I’m effective in my fun to work with. They’ve accepted me portrayal,” he averred. with open arms. They’ve made me feel However, there is one thing that that I’m welcome. It’s really a pleasant audiences notice about him on TV, experience,” Maja said alluding to the especially the way he speaks. treatment she gets from the bosses, staff, “They say I’m nasal-sounding like I and hosts including Vic Sotto and Joey have colds all the time. As of now, that’s de Leon. the area where I’m trying to improve. She hosts the dance segment “DC When I’m on the set, I try to modulate 2022” and so as “Bawal Judgmental” my voice so that it will sound different. where she was able to form the group Normally, I’m still nasal-sounding but in “4Ms” along with Maine Mendoza, MJ front of the cameras, I try to change it.” Lastimosa, and Miles Ocampo. Teejay is happy to announce that their program is extended until June. “From what I heard, we got extended for two weeks more because of our consistently high ratings. That’s why all of us in the production are happy,” he said. Apart from Mano Po Legacy: Her Big Boss, Teejay is also starring in G! LU (Go! La Union) where he shares stellar billing with Ruru Madrid, Derrick Monasterio, David Licauco, Enzo Pineda, and Kiko Estrada. Then, there’s this Joel Lamanganhelmed Ang Huling Baklang Birhen sa Lupa where Christian Bables was the original choice for the titular role. According to the be-dimpled actor, he is happy that the multi-awarded director liked his interpretation of the role. “I was asked before if it was just okay that Christian was the original choice. The 4M group consists of (from left) Maja I told them it’s just fine with me. I’m Salvador, MJ Lastimosa, Maine Mendoza, thankful that the role eventually landed and Miles Ocampo

FANTASTIC Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore had a slightly less than fantastic North American opening this weekend, at least by Wizarding World standards, taking in an estimated $43 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. Ticket sales for the Warner Bros. fantasy film, the third in the Fantastic Beasts series, were the lowest of any of the 11 films in the Wizarding World franchise, even while topping the weekend box office, industry outlet Variety said. “Fantastic Beasts was never going to maintain Harry Potter’s success,” said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. “That was a once-in-a-generation phenomenon.” Some of the early Potter gloss has been lost as author J.K. Rowling faces

criticism over statements on sex and gender identity. But Gross said the series remains strong overseas — as it will need to do, with COVID-inflated production costs of some $200 million. In second place, down sharply from last weekend’s $71 million opening, was Paramount’s family-friendly Sonic the Hedgehog 2 at $30 million. The hybrid film features Jim Carrey in a liveaction role, while Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, and Colleen O’Shaughnessey voice animated characters. The original Harry Potter, likable British actor Daniel Radcliffe, has embraced the dark side as a villain in Paramount’s The Lost City, which took in $6.5 million to place third for the Friday-through-Sunday period. Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum also star. Sci-fi comedy film Everything

Everywhere All at Once from indie production company A24 came in fourth, at $6.2 million. The movie has enjoyed strong reviews — with a 97 percent rating on the Rotten Tomatoes site — with critics lauding its originality. Its unlikely plot has Michelle Yeoh playing a woman being audited by tax authorities who learns that she must jump between versions of herself in different multiverses to save them all. And in the fifth spot was new Sony/ Columbia Pictures release Father Stu, at $5.7 million. Based on a truelife story, Mark Wahlberg plays a boxer who gains religion and becomes a priest after suffering a muscular disease. The film has drawn mixed reviews but strong audience ratings. Mel Gibson also stars. AFP

Bringing the biggest Eleksyon 2022 coverage online

MA News Online (GNO), the official news portal of the country’s leading broadcast company, brings the biggest Eleksyon 2022 coverage online. Led by the award-winning team of GMA News and Public Affairs Digital Media, GMA News Online delivers the fastest, most relevant, and most accurate electionrelated news and content straight to online users everywhere. These include more than 173 million followers and subscribers of GMA News and Public Affairs’ social media platforms via its interactive Eleksyon 2022 website (http://www.eleksyon2022. ph/) powered by the network’s forerunner in technology, GMA New Media, Inc. (GMA NMI). The website provides the public with information and intuitive tools to guide them before, during, and after the polls. The Candidates Profile page (https:// www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2022/ candidates/) contains in-depth information about the candidates for president, vice president, and senators, compiled by GMA News Research. The Debates page (https://www. gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2022/ debate/) features videos and stories from the debates and interviews for Eleksyon 2022, including The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews. The Voter’s Profile and Demographics dashboard (https://www.gmanetwork.com/ news/eleksyon2022/voters/) shows the demographic breakdown and geographic profile of the registered voters for the 2022 Philippine national and local elections, with data coming from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Users can choose a specific location, and the dashboard will display its data. Meanwhile, the Guides page (https:// www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2022/ guides/) houses content related to guides and tools to help Filipino voters choose the right candidates. These include voter education materials, candidates’ stand on issues, and similar information that voters will find useful. With mobile devices prohibited in the precincts, voters can count on GMA News Online’s My Kodigo (https://www. gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2022/ mykodigo/) feature. Customizable, “My Kodigo” lets a voter select his preferred candidates and generate a printable list to serve as a guide inside the polling precinct.

The home page for the 2022 election coverage from GMA

GMA News’ election microsite is easily accessible to TV viewers as well via the Eleksyon QR Code. During GMA newscasts, a QR code appears on TV, which, when scanned, leads to the website of Eleksyon 2022. Educating voters across GMA digital platforms In the weeks leading up to the elections, the digital explanatory journalism program Need To Know created three

celebrities Bianca Umali and Rain Matienzo, and officials from social media platforms TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. To bring voters’ education to Gen Z audiences, GNO created the Eleksyon 2022 quiz filter, the first augmented reality (AR) quiz filter produced in partnership with GMA NMI. Since it launched last March, the #eLeksyon2022 quiz filter has reached over 69,500 organic Facebook and Instagram users. Kapuso personalities led by Jessica Soho, Vicky Morales, Severino, Atom Araullo, Kara David, Kuya Kim Atienza, and Pia Arcangel tried the #eLeksyon2022quiz filter. Stars like Rhian Ramos, Andrea Torres, Umali, Ken Chan, and Rita Daniela also joined the challenge. This April, GMA launches the #DapatTotooDanceChallenge on Tiktok. Influencers and Bianca Umali dancers published their dance challenge entries. To date, the special series for #DapatTotooDanceChallenge voters’ education: hashtag gained more than 1.9 Stand on Issues, million views already. Ahead of the Disinformation the elections, a new set of TikTok Series, and Election challenges will be launched, this time Basics. Rita Daniela (left) for TikTok musicians and singers. Meanwhile, the and Ken Chan #PanataDuetChallenge will include a birit pioneering digital duet challenge and open verse challenge. newscast Stand for Truth produced “In On May 9, as the country elects its next set Review,” a seven-part series that highlights of leaders, GMA is one with every Filipino the status of the country’s sectors and how in safeguarding their votes as it brings realthe government addresses their struggles. time and up-to-the-minute election results. In April, GMA began the “Dapat Totoo In partnership with the COMELEC, GMA Lectures,” an exclusive series of webinars for News Online and GMA NMI will publish student volunteers for the network’s election data from the national and local elections as coverage. The soon as these are available on COMELEC’s lectures tackle the media server. role of journalism Netizens can also catch the live stream of and social media GMA’s Eleksyon 2022 coverage on GMA in delivering News Online. news and fighting In the Eleksyon 2016 Presidential misinformation Elections, GMA News Online was the during this crucial most preferred online go-to source for time. Panelists election results and election-related news, were led by award- outperforming competition with 34 million winning journalists pageviews on May 9, according to data from Howie Severino, Effective Measure for worldwide audience. Raffy Tima, and Visit http://www.eleksyon2022.ph/ for all (From left) Jessica Soho, Atom Araullo, and Vicky Morales trying the Emil Sumangil, election-related news and information. 2022 elections quiz filter

Noli de Castro returns to TV with inspiring stories in new show a fire survivor who is BROADCAST journalist Noli now an inspiring Tiktok De Castro is back on TV as influencer and a social he headlines ABS-CBN’s new media ambassador of a show, KBYN: Kaagapay ng local cosmetics company. Bayan, which aims to bring Kabayan also visited inspiring stories of the Filipino people to audiences. hog raisers in Barangay Viewers instantly liked the San Isidro in Cuenca pilot episode of KBYN that Batangas who are aired on April 10 before TV experiencing the pains Patrol Weekend on Kapamilya brought by several Channel, Kapamilya Online misfortunes, including the Live, TeleRadyo, ABS-CBN Kabayan Noli de Castro spread of AFS (African News (news.abs-cbn.com), Swine Fever) among their and A2Z. livestock. One of the first stories Kabayan Other featured stories include the Aeta highlighted was about Joana Sisracon, community of Zambales who are doing their

best to continue their studies in the middle of the pandemic, and the story of Gizelle Obidao, a ‘dog yaya’ of 50 different breeds of dogs. On the show’s second episode on April 17, Kabayan put the spotlight on jeepney drivers turned computer table makers and on aspiring P-Pop idols training under the meticulous eye of the SBTalent Camp, the team behind the successful P-Pop group, SB19. Watch for more stories that will bring inspiration and hope featuring Filipinos that overcome challenges and help other people regardless of their situations in life in KBYN: Kaagapay ng Bayan, every Sunday at 5:00 p.m. before TV Patrol Weekend.

Life

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

Sustainability also comes from

supporting ethical businesses By Patricia Taculao

N RECENT years, sustainability has become the lifestyle to follow. The idea is to produce little to no waste from daily activities to protect the environment and future generations.

Living a sustainable life is challenging at first–some even see it as more expensive than opting for single-use plastics and similar materials. However, humanity will pay a larger price if they don’t start considering the environment’s needs. The most plausible solution to solving climate change and the degradation of the environment is by following a sustainable lifestyle. Yet, for it to be efficient, people must also consider businesses that share their ideas on sustainability. For IKEA, the Swedish-founded furniture store with branches across the globe, sustainability begins at home. And what better way to start that initiative than by setting an example within their store.

Sustainability gives George Platzer, store manager of IKEA at the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City, passion and inspiration. As the manager of the largest IKEA store, it’s his responsibility to share IKEA’s mission of inspiring and empowering Filipinos to live sustainably. Rags2Riches, a social enterprise that empowers women artisans, also shares this vision with the Swedishfounded furniture store. Co-founded by Reese Fernandez, Rags2Riches provides sewing services for IKEA, like altering curtains and producing pillowcases, bedsheets, and more. As their contribution to sustainability, the women artisans of Rags2Riches are

IKEA Philippines at SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City is the largest IKEA branch in the world. (Inset) IKEA Philippines store manager George Platzer

creating textiles made from scrap fabrics while still following IKEA’s standards of style and quality to ensure that none of them goes to waste. Rags2Riches also follows this same sustainable principle in creating their fashionable pieces. “Sustainability always starts with us, and it can start small—it can start with simple things we do at home to the habits we form to the companies that we support,” Fernandez said. Mober, IKEA’s delivery service, also took a significant step towards sustainability. Established during the pandemic by Dennis Ng, Mober aims to lower carbon emissions and reduce the number of delivery trucks in traffic by

(From left) Dennis Ng, Reese Fernandez, Cynthia, and Karen Davila

utilizing as much of its space as possible when making deliveries. Presently, Mober utilizes electricpowered trucks to meet its sustainability goals while providing Filipino consumers with the service that IKEA boasts of. Working hand-in-hand with their local partners, IKEA provides everyday Filipinos a chance to bring sustainability into their homes and follow in the journey. With the collaboration between large companies and SMEs that share a passion for sustainability, the public–or in this case, the Filipinos–have a better chance of combating climate change and mitigating its harmful effects.

However, the most significant step towards sustainability that the Swedishfounded furniture store took is upcycling or refurbishing old furniture and fixtures to give them new life before reselling. Located on the third floor of IKEA Philippines, the Circular Shop is IKEA’s worldwide sustainability initiative. But since the store only opened in November of last year, it may take some time before it accepts furniture for returns as they’re still establishing a good rapport with the Filipino consumers. IKEA proves that it takes small steps to achieve a significant achievement that even future generations can appreciate.

BRIA Homes inaugurates new headquarters in Las Piñas LEADING real estate developer BRIA Homes recently opened another corporate headquarters situated on the 8th floor of Vista Mall in Las Piñas, a propitious milestone that marks the company’s exemplary growth and achievements in the housing industry. BRIA’s new home office is at Alabang-Zapote Road, smack-dab in the highly urbanized city of Las Piñas. Located on the southern fringes of Metro Manila, Las Piñas is considered the gateway to the Calabarzon (Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, and Quezon) areas and is close to some of the fastestgrowing communities in the metro. Quite expectedly, therefore, BRIA Homes’ new headquarters is virtually “next door” neighbor to great commercial centers, retail outlets, and office blocks. Quiet and secure, low-density residential enclaves are also nearby, making it a prime location for BRIA’s executives and workforce alike. BRIA Homes distinguishes itself as one of the Philippines’ top property developers through its sheer drive in offering superior quality homes of choice to as many hard-working Filipinos as possible. With a diverse portfolio of horizontal developments and vertical villages nationwide, BRIA serves the housing needs of aspiring Filipino homeowners. After all, a comfortable and beautiful home is essential to everyone who dreams of living a fulfilling and meaningful life. From starting families looking to own their first house to young professionals and entrepreneurs seeking comfortable living

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BRIA’s new home office is at Alabang-Zapote Road, smack-dab in the highly urbanized city of Las Piñas

spaces and to Overseas Filipino Workers who wish to invest in property, these comprise the vast market of home seekers that BRIA constantly engages with. And now they are even more inspired to work on their corporate, marketing, and sales goals from their sleek new home base in Las Piñas. At the formal inauguration and blessing of BRIA Homes’ new head office on April 8, graced by Vista Land’s COO, Jerylle Luz Quismundo, together with the Management Committee, the visibly excited Eduardo T. Aguilar, BRIA Division Head, proudly stated: “For all of us at BRIA, a bigger and more spacious home simply resonates with the

(From left) Jerylle Luz Quismundo, COO of Vista Land, Arnaldo Lumague, Operations Head, and Shatriya Paredes, Admin Head, cutting the ribbon at BRIA’s new offices

remarkable progress we’ve made since BRIA started. We hope this new space bolsters our team’s resolve to continue offering the very best service to all our customers and potential clients in the days to come.” Prospective homebuyers looking to check out the options available at any of BRIA Homes’ fifty-plus projects can immerse themselves in BRIA’s 360 virtual tours through their official website www.bria.com.ph or inquire online through BRIA’s Facebook page at www. facebook.com/BriaHomesIncOfficial. They can also reserve a house online through https://www.bria.com.ph/ online-reservation/.

BRIA Homes’ new headquarters is virtually “next door” neighbor to great commercial centers, retail outlets, and office blocks

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