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Shooting mars Ka Leody’s meeting, 2 hurt; poll body to probe incident SHOTS were fired at a meeting attended by presidential candidate Leody de Guzman on Tuesday in Bukidnon, injuring at least two persons.

This prompted the Commission on Elections to offer additional security detail to presidential and vice presiden-

tial candidates who make a request.

Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said the poll body is investigating incidents of poll-related violence, including the shootinh in Bukidnon.

“While the Comelec is in the process

Govt won’t pay Smartmatic VOL. XXXVI • NO. 69 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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Comelec withholds P90m for VCMs until cleared of data breach

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is withholding payment of P90 million to its technology service provider Smartmatic because of a data breach uncovered in March, the poll body’s chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said Tuesday.

“We want to clear this matter about this leakage of some data,” said Pangarungan who attended a hearing of the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation.

The committee, chaired by Senator Imee Marcos, is looking into the reported data breach.

Pangarungan, who was appointed by President Duterte in March, said the Comelec would wait for the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation’s

LEGISLATIVE INQUIRY. Commission on Elections chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said the poll body will withhold the payment of P90 million to Smartmatic, its technology service provider for the May 9 polls, following a data breach uncovered in March. Aside from Pangarungan (center), among those who attended Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation are Smartmatic legal counsel Christian Robert Lim (left) and National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division Chief Victor Lorenzo (right).

(NBI) probe before deciding what to do If it is shown that Smartmatic comwith its contract with Smartmatic. mitted violations, its contract would be He said this would include the pos- terminated, the Comelec chairman said. sible sanctions against the company for Other sanctions, he said, include the any contract violations. possible blacklisting, forfeiture of per-

formance security, damages pursuant to the Data Privacy Act and Civil Code of the Philippines, and the filing of criminal cases.

“So far, we have not put in any of

By Willie Casas

By Vito Barcelo

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Rody limits to 2 armed escorts per candidate

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is invoking the “Alunan doctrine” and ordered limiting the number of armed bodyguards of political candidates for the May 9, 2022 elections to only two – more than that, he said, would be considered a private army and would be disarmed.

In his regular Talk to the People late Monday night, the outgoing 77-yearold Duterte urged all candidates to follow the Alunan Doctrine that limits the number of a politician’s armed guards to two.

The Alunan doctrine was introduced by then Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III, who served during the Next page

Ambassador Chito Sta. Romana

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Rising COVID cases noted in 14 areas—DOH

Duterte vows to keep polls trouble-free PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has said he will not allow any violence or terrorist acts during the remainder of his term—which ends on June 30—as he vowed to arrest any individuals or candidates who would sow chaos to gain advantage during the election period.

In his taped Talk to the People address aired late Monday night, Duterte ordered all law enforcement agencies and the military to maintain peace and order during the May 9 elections.

“We have a duty — to keep order here in our country. There must be peace. There must be law and order,” he said.

these except to withhold payment to Smartmatic. I have not signed the voucher for the payment to Smartmatic in the amount of P90 million pursuant

CEBU GOV VOWS 1M VOTES FOR BONGBONG, SARA NEWS / A4 GRAND RALLY. UniTeam presidential candidate Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr and his running mate, Lakas-CMD/HNP vice presidential bet Sara Duterte-Carpio, wave at the mammoth crowd during Monday night’s grand rally at City de Mare in Cebu City. Ver Noveno

G20 cites PH as ‘exemplary country’ for vax efforts

By Willie Casas THE Group of Twenty (G20) has recognized the Philippines as an “example country” in the acceleration of pandemic vaccine deployment, National Task Force against COVID-19 chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has said.

Galvez reported the group of major developed and emerging economies commended the Philippines for ramp-

ing up its vaccination efforts despite high hesitancy and low supplies at the early stages of the national immunization program.

“They acknowledged that the Philippines is an example country in the acceleration of the vaccine deployment,” Galvez told President Rodrigo Duterte in his prerecorded Talk to the People.

“They saw that we were able to increase the coverage. We had a lot of ob-

stacles especially due to the Dengvaxia mishap,” Galvez added, referring to the dengue vaccine that reportedly caused some 620 deaths among children after its initial rollout in 2016.

Meanwhile, the Philippines will begin the rollout of the second COVID-10 booster shots to vulnerable sectors by next week at the latest, a government official said Tuesday.

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COVID-19 cases are rising again in 14 areas under Alert Level 1, with Cavite, Manila and Quezon City registering the highest number of new infections, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

In his report during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the increase in the 14 areas has been gradual.

Level 1 is the most relaxed in the country’s COVID-19 alert system.

Duque’s presentation showed that the top regions with new cases from April 12 to 18 were the National Capital Region with 606; Region 4A, 226; and Region 3, 181.

For the same period, the top areas with new cases were Cavite with 101; Manila, with 92; and Quezon City, with 82.

There were 170 new cases reported on Monday, the lowest daily tally this year and the lowest since Dec. 21, when 168 daily infections were recorded The Philippines’ active cases further decreased to 19,923, with the nationwide tally now at 3,683,211.

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US vows ‘ironclad’ security to PH, govt eyes oil probe anew in WPS UNITED States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin affirmed America’s commitment to Philippine security when he met with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Manila time.

Meanwhile, Malacanang said the Department of Energy (DOE) has asked the government to reconsider the oil exploration activities it suspended in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), despite the tensions with Chinese ships there.

In a statement, the US Defense Department said their country’s commitment to Philippine security is “iron-

clad,” and that the two countries’ Mutual Defense Treaty commitments extend to PH armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft in the South China Sea. The Philippines has been fighting off Chinese incursions in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, despite the 2016 ruling of a United Nations-backed arbitration court that invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea. However, maritime expert Jay Batongbacal, in a recent interview, said the Philippines is “losing” the vital waterNext page

Ambassador Sta. Romana, 74

By Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo PHILIPPINE Ambassador to China Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana died on Monday “due to an illness,” the Department of Foreign Affairs announced Tuesday. He was 74.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs offers its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Ambassador Chito,

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IRONCLAD COMMITMENT. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (left) greets Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana during an honor cordon at the Pentagon on April 18, 2022. Lorenzana is in Washington for bilateral meetings with members of the Biden administration. AFP

AUG. 22 OPENING FOR SCHOOLS EYED—DEPED

‘RUSSIA LAUNCHES MAJOR OFFENSIVE IN EAST UKRAINE’

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WORLD / A6

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News

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

C. Luzon daily wage hike pushed

By Vito Barcelo

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HE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is pushing for an P820 minimum daily wage in Central Luzon, petitioning the Regional Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Region III for a P400 increase.

The TUCP said wages were set to the cost-of-living almost three years ago when the regional wage board granted a measly P20 increase in 2019, which had been long dissipated by the succeeding price increases since that year.

“We are now demanding the wage board to do its duty to set a minimum wage that can really meet the basic needs of workers and their families in Region 3. The current P420 daily minimum wage in Central Luzon, which

is already low, is only P368.10 in real terms. How can workers and their families cope with skyrocketing prices of foods and commodities with that small income?” TUCP President Raymond Mendoza said.

Region 3 covers Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Aurora.

TUCP said that inflation hit a high at 4 percent in March 2022 which pushed the cost-of-living further up-

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“We will not allow disorder nor intimidation or violence. We will remain neutral and we will see that the true will of the people will come out of the elections, ” the President added.

Duterte made the remarks following allegations of a possible destabilization attempt during the polls.

“Our government and our uniformed personnel are ready to maintain peace and order in our country,” Acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar added.

Earlier, presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson said he received reports about attempts to subvert voters.

PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos, however, said they had not encountered such reports, but they would seek details. “[We are] monitoring the elections.

We haven’t received such major reports,” Carlos said.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said several individuals were arrested for election gun ban violations.

He said the DILG recorded 2,536 gun ban violations from January 9 to April 18 that resulted in the arrest of 2,653 people.

The interior chief also reported that authorities seized 974 deadly weapons, 2,013 firearms, and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition. As of April 18, at least 5,809 firearms have been surrendered, he added.

Implementing the election-related gun ban, authorities established 5,187 checkpoints nationwide as of April 17, with the Philippine National Police (PNP) deploying more than 39,000 personnel.

to our contract because we want to clear this matter about this leakage of some data,” he told the Senate hearing.

He said the P90 million was supposed to be part of the third tranche in the Comelec’s payment to Smartmatic that was due in early March.

Smartmatic legal counsel Christian Robert Lim, former acting Comelec commissioner, said the company was “cooperating in any way possible” with the NBI. He confirmed the withholding of the payment.

Marcos, the sister of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., has rejected calls by a poll watchdog to resign as chairman of the Senate panel in view of her ties to the Marcos campaign.

At the same hearing, the NBI said the former Smartmatic employee implicated in the security breach was promised up to P300,000 in exchange for access to his company’s laptop.

NBI Cybercrime Division (CDD) chief Victor Lorenzo said Ricardo Argana of Smartmatic admitted during an administrative inquiry on Jan. 12

Rody...

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Having more than two bodyguards is considered as a private army that should be disarmed by the government, Duterte said.

“To those candidates, you limit yourself [to two bodyguards], and if you think that there is danger to your person in a certain place or a certain person, call the PNP regional director or the chief of police and talk to them to avoid any violence,” Duterte said.

“We have decided. I’ve communicated this with the Cabinet that rules should really be followed and the Alunan doctrine is better,” the President said in his taped public address.

He urged candidates to seek assistance from the Commission on Elections or from the police and the military when their safety might be in danger.

Duterte told law enforcement personnel to strictly implement it, as he warned that those who would violate the regulation would be arrested and prosecuted.

“I will arrest you and your bodyguards because I said that the fewer people with arms with you, the better,” he said.

The President reiterated his promise to ensure that elections would be free from cheating and violence.

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From A1 Data also shows that 664 severe and critical cases are currently admitted in hospitals due to COVID-19.

Of the 2,842 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, 450 or 15.8 percent were occupied. Meanwhile 4,164 or 16.9 percent of the 24,645 non-ICU COVID-19 beds were in use.

Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Philippines has not yet detected

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Malacañang also denounced the shooting at an ancestral land of the Manobo-Pulangiyen tribe in Butong village of Quezon town in Bukidnon, in which a lone gunman used a shotgun and hit up to four people, according to senatorial candidate David D’Angelo.

“Violence has no place in any civilized society, and we condemn the incident in Bukidnon where gunshots were allegedly fired against the camp of Ka Leody de Guzman,” acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a press statement.

The Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) said standard bearer De Guzman, along

G20...

From A1 The Food and Drug Administration granted last week the amendment of COVID-19 vaccines’ emergency use authorization to include a fourth jab for the elderly, immunocompromised and health workers.

The National Vaccination Operations Center is waiting for the final recommendations of the Health Technology Assessment Council, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said.

“There’s some delay in the HTAC recommendation but hopefully we can roll out by the end of the week at the earliest or by the start of next week at the latest,” she said during a televised press briefing. any case involving the “Omicron XE” or the recombinant of two sublineages of the more transmissible Omicron variant.

In a radio interview, she said so far, only three or four countries have detected this type of variant.

Infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana had explained that the Omicron XE is “more concerning” compared to other Omicron sub-variants because of its transmissibility.

However, he said it might not be more severe or affect the efficacy of the current vaccines available.

Schools may open Aug. 22 with expanded in-person class

wards. This year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas projected that inflation will hit 5.1 percent.

“With only low wages, our workers and their families are suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Just walk around working class communities and you will see stunted children. As a result of hunger and malnutrition, we now have 3.64 million stunted children according to the DOST whose physical and cognitive abilities could be permanently impaired and their future gravely jeopardized,” said Mendoza.

TUCP said that with the already high prices of food and other essential items, the measly income means each member of a family would get only P15 per meal.

TUCP said minimum wage earners and their families have already fallen

below the poverty level.

Based on 2021 government data, P16,226 a month is the poverty threshold for Region III, compared with the current minimum wage of only P10, 920 a month, with purchasing power of only P9,570.55.

“Our workers in Region 3 need wage adjustments now. Poverty incidence among families in different parts of Central Luzon is in double digits except in Pampanga with 6.2 percent poverty rate. Based on the first semester of 2021 data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, poverty incidence in Aurora is 24 percent; 12.8 percent in Bataan; 14.9 percent in Bulacan; 17 percent in Nueva Ecija; 13.2 percent in Tarlac; and 22 percent in Zambales,” he added.

that he shared his credentials with an unknown third person he met on Messenger in exchange for “free lectures.”

Argana later on admitted that he was also promised from P50,000 to P300,000.

“In the administrative inquiry conducted by Smartmatic, he only admitted having been promised training modules in exchange for allowing them, the third party, to access his laptop in order to be connected to the Smartmatic facilities,” Lorenzo said.

“But, when he appeared in our office, he admitted that he was also promised, aside from training modules, he was also promised money ranging from P50,000 to P300,000,” he added.

In his presentation of the timeline of events, Lorenzo said Argana brought home his company laptop on Dec. 29, 2021 during the completion of tests in the Comelec warehouse. He returned it on Jan. 3, 2022.

He said there was an “unusual traffic and downloads logged in SMMT Systems” recorded from Dec. 28, 2021 to Jan. 2, 2022. The activity was traced to Argana, he added.

Lim admitted to this “unusual traffic,” saying there was “unusual heavy access of files” on the company’s inter-

net server.

Lorenzo said that on Jan. 14, a certain XSOS Group sent an e-mail to Smartmatic claiming that it had infiltrated networks and exfiltrated its inner documentation. In the same email, XSOS was said to have offered to provide prevention services to Smartmatic.

On Jan. 16, XSOS sent another email threatening to send the files that it allegedly obtained to the Congress and the media.

Lorenzo noted that XSOS made four Facebook groups on Jan. 19, March 23, March 26, and April 15 and uploaded pictures of files allegedly taken from Smartmatic’s systems.

The NBI-CCD searched Argana’s residence and found his smartphone and some SD cards hidden in a room’s ceiling.

After the incident, Lim said the company has adopted a “more stringent approach” in screening employees, and are now requiring them to leave their laptops in the offices.

A total of 720 counts of unlawful access were filed against Argana, who is still at large, the NBI said.

Lim also said Smartmatic is now contemplating filing a civil case for damages against Argana.

with senatorial bets Roy Cabonegro and d’Angelo, held a dialogue with the indigenous people (IP) leaders who were complaining about a land-grabbing issue in the municipality.

Among those injured were Nanie Abela -- an organizer of farmers and farmworkers in Mindanao who was beside de Guzman during the shooting -- and an unnamed leader of the Manobo-Pulangiyen tribe, the presidential candidate said on Twitter.

“Salamat sa mga nag-alala. Ako po at sila kasamang Roy Cabonegro at David D’angelo ay ligtas (Thanks for your concern. Comrades Cabonegro, D’Angelo and I are safe),” the labor leader said.

D’Angelo told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo of the incident, and Chad Sadorra, an official from de Guzman’s camp, said they were getting updates from the people at the site.

Andanar expressed hope the people behind the shooting will be held accountable.

“We urge the local authorities to con-

duct a thorough investigation and prosecute those behind this dastardly act,” he said.

In a live stream shared on D’Angelo’s Facebook account, gunshots were heard at around the 16-minute mark. In the video, people can be seen running and lying face down to avoid bullets.

The Police Regional Office 10 (PRO 10) said they received a report of an alleged shooting incident that occurred at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday in Kiantig, San Jose, Quezon in Bukidnon.

The PRO 10 said one victim was reported shot and identified as a resident of Quezon, Bukidnon.

Police also said they sent personnel to the area to verify the report.

In another tweet, de Guzman called for peace in Mindanao.

“Alam nating mayayaman at makapangyarihan ang ating binabangga sa labang ito. Ngunit ibang klase pa rin kapag talagang direkta tayong dinahas.

Walang halaga sa kanila ang buhay nating mga maliliit,” he added.

“We will launch this in NCR although Region 3 and Region 4-A have requested to be included. Then we will expand it nationwide,” she said.

Cabotaje said vaccines included in the approved EUA amended were Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik Light, and Janssen.

There is an interval period of four months between the first and second booster, she added.

Galvez, for his part, said the G20 commendation was a “huge recognition” for the Philippines coming from the international community.

The G20 members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa,

Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.

Spain is also invited as a permanent guest.

Foreign nations have also lauded risk communication and community engagement strategies among local government units and the tireless efforts of health care workers and other frontliners, Galvez said.

Most parts of the country are under Alert Level 1, the lowest risk classification.

The national government is continuously coordinating with local governments to prevent a likely surge of 300,000 daily COVID-19 cases by mid-May. Dr. Rajendra Yadav, World Health Organization representative to the Philippines, said authorities must focus on vaccination instead of the number of possible virus cases.

to our nation for its great loss. We pray for the eternal repose of his soul,” the DFA said in a statement.

In Malacañang, acting Presidential spokesman Martin Andanar expressed appreciation for Sta. Romana’s service and his contributions to bilateral relations.

His sister Neni said her brother died in Huangshan, Anhui province where he was undergoing a required quarantine before returning to Beijing.

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing is coordinating with the Chinese authorities for the immediate repatriation of Sta. Romana’s remains.

Sta. Romana was appointed Philippine ambassador to China on Dec. 7, 2016.

The DFA said he was appointed “in recognition of his deep knowledge of China’s history and people.”

During his tenure, Philippines and China’s relations “flourished despite differences” and “flowered all the more in maturity and were deeply strengthened.”

“We honor his important legacy of selfless service to the Filipino in the most challenging foreign post,” the DFA said.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian condoled with Sta. Romana’s family and friends, including the DFA and Philippine government.

“I greatly value our time working together and will always be grateful for his friendship and undeniable contribution to the development of China-Philippines relations,” Huang said in a statement.

The Chinese envoy said Sta. Romana was among the first Filipinos to visit the new China when he headed the visiting Philippine Youth Delegation in 1971.

“Over the past 51 years, starting from a foreign student learning Chinese in Beijing, to ABC’s China correspondent for over 20 years and to Philippine Ambassador to China, Ambassador Chito has spent the best part of his life understanding and helping the world and the Philippines to understand China. China-Philippine relations have been strengthened and indeed flourished under his distinguished tenure as the Philippine Ambassador to China,” Huang said.

WPS until it secures clearance from the Security, Justice, and Peace Coordinating Council.

The SJPCC is a government cluster overseeing political, diplomatic, and national security concerns.

“The DOE is still waiting for the decision on its requests for reconsideration,” acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in an online press briefing.

Austin and Lorenzana affirmed the vital importance of ensuring peace and stability in the South China Sea, the US Defense Department said.

They agreed to strengthen their MDT commitments through the development of bilateral defense guidelines, enhance maritime cooperation, and improve interoperability and information sharing by exercising new capabilities.

They likewise discussed the importance of acting in unison to condemn Russian aggression and stand behind Ukraine.

The DOE, in an order dated April 6, ordered the suspension of PXP Energy’s exploration activities for Service Contracts 72 and 75, two sites off Palawan province, pending the SJPCC’s approval.

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The move, Batongbacal said, is an indication that “China is seriously out to prevent any petroleum exploration and development by the Philippines within its own waters.”

The Palace statement came after oil and gas firm PXP Energy Corp. was directed to put on hold its exploration activities in its service contracts in the

ACADEMIC year 2022-2023 may open on August 22, a Monday, with more schools holding limited in-person classes alongside distance learning, if plans of the Department of Education go through.

In an online press conference Tuesday, Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said the agency was proposing School Year 2022-2023 to start on Aug. 22 and end on July 7, 2023.

The SY will have 215 days with the following dates for the grading periods: Quarter 1 - Aug. 22 - Nov. 4 Quarter 2 - Nov. 7 - Feb. 3, 2023 Quarter 3 - Feb. 13 - April 28, 2023 Quarter 4 - May 2 - July 7, 2023 The proposed Christmas break will start on December 19, with classes resuming on Jan. 2, 2023, San Antonio said, adding there was a planned midyear break from Feb. 6 to 10, 2023.

San Antonio said the agency was eyeing to hold next school year’s end-of-year rites, such as graduation ceremonies, or moving up events, from July 10 to 14, 2023.

The official said the DepEd would continue to implement blended learning, with more schools reopening to face-to-face instruction.

“We will still have blended learning in the coming school year but with more face-to-face classes,” he said.

As of April 5, up to 17,524 public and private schools have begun holding limited face-to-face classes, equivalent to 30 percent of the total number of schools nationwide, according to the DepEd. The current SY 2021-2022 is scheduled to end on June 24, with some private schools holding their graduation exercises on May 17, a Tuesday.

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News Think tank says modern farming key to agri dev’t A THINK TANK has identified selfcontained food production areas and other pockets of innovation and development as the solution to improving the country’s agricultural sector.

“I actually no longer believe in a countrywide reform and that an overnight change in our economic and political sectors will happen,” said Dr. Carlos Primo “CP” David, a trustee of the Stratbase ADR Institute, and convenor of Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST).

The food production areas, he said, consists of industrial farms or large swathes of land using mechanized farmed, as well as the surrounding small older farms that could actually operate together with industrial farms.

“Within the food production area, there has to be a farm school for training the next generation of farmers and food producers because this is one other issue. I see in the sector wherein obviously, you are not earning a lot from agriculture – then many people shy away

from this sector—therefore we have to revive that by establishing farm schools.

The private sector can help establish processing plants within that self-contained area,” David said in his paper.

David launched his study during a recent virtual town hall discussion organized by Stratbase ADR Institute.

He said that beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, Philippine leaders have considered agriculture as a third-world endeavor, and opted for industrialization at the expense of strengthening the agriculture sector.

He said this bred social inequalities like farmers not owning the land they till, as well as inefficiencies in food production.

“In terms of food security and in economic terms, we are at the mercy of the producers, the countries that produce these commodities,” David said.

The idea of food production areas, David said, combines commercial production on the industrial scale with small older farms, training, as well as food processing and storage.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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DOH: Dengue cases rising in Zambo, CAR, BARMM T

By Willie Casas

HE Department of Health (DOH) reported on Tuesday increases in dengue cases in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with Zamboanga City surpassing the epidemic threshold.

DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in a radio interview, said they were closely monitoring the developments in the affected areas with a view to preventing further spread of the disease.

“We are seeing an increase in dengue cases in Region 2, Region 9, and CAR. There is also a slight increase in the BARMM area which we are closely monitoring,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire said the DOH noticed last

week a rise in dengue infections in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Davao region.

She pointed out however, that this year’s dengue incidence was “significantly lower” compared to the same period last year.

Health authorities declared earlier a dengue outbreak in Zamboanga City with 893 cases, including 11 deaths, from January 1 to April 2.

According to the Zamboanga City gov-

ernment, 85 of such cases were recorded for morbidity weak 13, representing a hefty rise of 963 percent from the same period in 2021.

Vergeire said the DOH has activated fast lanes in hospitals even as coordination with local concerned government were being done pertaining the spread of the disease.

She advised residents of the affected areas to take precautionary measures to combat the disease, notably keeping their surroundings clean all the time, and doing away with stagnant water where the dengue-carrying mosquitoes breed.

Vergeire also encouraged the people to follow the 4S rules: search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; self-protection measures; seek early consultation of symptoms; and support spraying or fogging to prevent further outbreaks.

To run after agri smugglers, use NBI, lawmaker tells DOJ

By Maricel V. Cruz

P10.2M BOUNTY. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Wilkins Villanueva hands over P10.26 million reward to confidential informants under its “Operation Private Eye” resulting in 22 successful anti-drug raids. Manny Palmero

MMDA gears up for global travel and tourism summit THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will enforce a “stopand-go” traffic scheme along Roxas Blvd. and Diokno Blvd, in Manila in connection with this year’s World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit.

The setup, according to the MMDA Public Information Office, will be imposed starting today from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

A total of 415 MMDA personnel would be deployed to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular traffic in the area.

Motorists are advised to take alternate routes.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) hosts the conference, a first for the Philippines, to be held April 20 to 22.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said the convention would open discussions between industry stakeholders, or-

ganizations, and governments to support economic recovery through the restarting of travel and tourism, and attracting investments centered on the safe and secure reopening of the industry.

She added that hosting the meeting would be advantageous to the Philippines, as it showcases what the country could offer to the world in terms of boosting investments.

“Through this event, we aim to stimulate discussions on how to solve the social, environmental, and economic challenges faced by the global travel and tourism industry. Likewise, we aim to increase the public’s appreciation for the travel and tourism industry’s role as a driver of economic growth, livelihoods and employment, and sustainable development,” Romulo-Puyat said.

Joel E. Zurbano

Immigration nabs Korean fugitive wanted for theft in Angeles City BUREAU of Immigration (BI) agents have arrested a South Korean national wanted by the authorities in Seoul for alleged burglary and theft.

The suspect, identified as Yang Heejun, was nabbed in Angeles City, Pampanga by operatives of the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU), in coordination with the Angeles City police.

BI commissioner Jaime Morente said Yang would be deported immediately as he was already ordered expelled by the BI board of commissioners late last year for being an undesirable and undocumented alien.

“He was arrested on the strength of a deportation warrant, and our legal division is now making arrangements for his trip to South Korea so he could stand trial for his crimes,” the BI chief said.

According to BI-FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy, Yang was a subject of an Interpol

red notice and an arrest warrant issued by the Seoul central district court where he was charged for special larceny, destruction and damage to property.

Sy said the Korean had been hiding in the Philippines for more than two years, having arrived prior to the pandemic in January 2020.

Information provided by the Interpol’s national central bureau (NCB) in Manila alleged that Yang forcibly entered a compatriot’s house in Seoul on Dec. 31, 2019 and robbed the victim of his valuables worth 18 million won, or nearly US$15 million.

The Korean was detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City while awaiting deportation.

He has been placed in the immigration blacklist and banned from re-entering the country. Vito Barcelo

ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to use the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in running after large-scale agricultural smugglers.

Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, indicated that he wanted a stronger enforcement of Republic Act 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act. Salceda issued the call during his committee’s hearing on the agricultural smuggling issue, stressing that the law considers large-scale agricultural smuggling as “economic sabotage.”

“Large scale agricultural smuggling is the single gravest sin to Philippine society today. I am disappointed in the Department of Justice that it does not use the efforts of the NBI enough,” Salceda said, in response to the DOJ’s admission that it merely uses its own initiative to pursue cases referred by the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

“I am the father of the National Prosecutor Service, having been the first Budget

chairman to provide its needed financial requirements during the time of PGMA (former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo).

I am disappointed that those resources are not being optimized to pursue these cases,” Salceda said.

“Leaving the prosecutors to figure out these cases based on the facts from the BOC is a rather simplistic approach to this. I am making this statement that the NBI should be more involved in pursuing cases against these smugglers,” Salceda stressed.

Salceda acknowledged issues of jurisdiction in the prosecution of cases of agricultural smuggling.

“The implementing agency of the law is unfortunately the Bureau of Customs, so there appears to be an issue of clarity about who should take the lead in pursuing these cases,” Salceda noted.

He also cited the mandate of the Criminal Investigation and Detention Group (CIDG), under the Philippine National Police, that included “monitoring, investigation and prosecution of all crimes involving economic sabotage.”

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News

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021

Supporters greet Robredo with Mardi Gras people’s party in Olongapo City poll sortie

By Rio N. Araja SUPPORTERS of Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday staged a Mardi Gras-themed people’s rally in Olongapo City.

They created pink “maskaras,” hung tarpaulins, showcased performances, and offered food and drinks to those who participated during the rally.

Shad Rojo, the event’s program committee chairperson, said they just wanted to treat the residents to a festival after almost two years of lockdowns and travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“And because the ‘Pink Movement’ is a really fun campaign, we chose to base the theme of the event on Olongapo City’s famous Mardi Gras because we also wanted to showcase the energy that is very Olongapo and Zambales,” Rojo’s statement read.

“Mardi Gras is something we, the

people of Olongapo and Zambales, look forward to, just like how we look forward to VP Leni and Senator Kiko winning this coming election,” he added.

Dumaguete, dubbed The City of Gentle People, meanwhile is all set to welcome Robredo at the Negros Oriental People’s Rally today at the RUSI Ballfield.

Robredo had won over the province in her vice presidential bid in 2016 with 255,000 votes against her rival Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s, 66,000 votes, the biggest difference in terms of percentage in the country in that election.

Robredo was last in Dumaguete in December, the first national official to visit Negros Oriental in the devastating aftermath of Typhoon Odette.

Earlier this month, a group of farmers from Sumilao, Bukidnon headed to Dumaguete to do a house- LENI’S VISIT TO OLONGAPO. Supporters of presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo welcomed her in Olongapo to-house campaign for Robredo and City, Zambales for the “Olongapink: Zambales People’s Rally” on Tuesday. Robredo joined the performers of the San Felipe Fiesta Pangilinan. dance upon her entrance and raised a basket of mangoes, the primary crop of Zambales. VP Leni Media Bureau

Cebu governor promises 1 million votes to Bongbong-Sara tandem C

By Maricel V. Cruz

EBU Governor Gwen Garcia said Monday night that the province will set a new record high potential margins of victory of over one million votes in the coming polls for Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

“You do the math by comparison, I think we will be greater than what can be the previous margins of votes, lamang, and it also helps BBM and Inday Sara are way ahead over their next [closest rival]...and so

certainly we would also have to give that tribute back to the UniTeam,” Garcia said when asked if the UniTeam tandem potential margins of victory in Cebu in the May 9 polls would exceed a million.

Garcia, leader of the One Cebu local party, made this remark during a chance interview with reporters following the UniTeam mega festival rally at the City di Mare, Filinvest Grounds along SRP Coastal Road.

Led by Garcia, Lakas-CMD led by its president and House Majority Leader Martin G. Romualdez, and Tingog party-list headed by Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, the rally was reportedly the biggest rally ever assembled for UniTeam in the current campaign.

“I do not wish to give numbers, but if we do a little review and that happened in the past, in 2004 we delivered, and we talked about votes, a margin of 1.2 million, margin of GMA (Gloria Macapagal-

Arroyo) over FPJ (Fernando Poe Jr.),” Garcia said.

“If you recall she won the presidency in 2004, due [to] the margin of about 1.1 or 1.2 [million] and that is why she took her oath of office here,” she said of Arroyo.

In her conservative estimate, Garcia said at least 300,000 people attended the rally in Cebu City.

“Ngayon I’m governor, the mayor of Cebu City, the mayor of Lapu-Lapu City, the mayor of Mandaue city and I representing 44 towns and six component cities have now thrown our support behind the UniTeam so kaya for the first time, we have this One Cebu island phenomenon,” Garcia said. With Rey E. Requejo

Isko supports creation of centralized disaster resilience and response body

By Rey E. Requejo AKSYON Demokratiko standard-bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso on Monday said he supports the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DRR) as a centralized government agency that will make disaster preparedness more comprehensive, responsive, and customized based on technical and scientific research and analysis.

“Yes, why not? If there’s a need to strengthen our capabilities ahead of time, why not? I will support it. I think it’s necessary because we know that within a year there will be a typhoon, the only question is - when? Where the storm will hit? But definitely because the geographical location of our country historically always has typhoons,” Moreno said in an ambush interview following his cour-

‘PH should look into digital economy amid pandemic’ SENATOR Joel Villanueva on Tuesday said the next administration should focus on the country’s digital economy as COVID-19 cases continue o decline.

“All sectors of the economy are expecting to bounce back from the pandemic,” he said.

While the next administration will have its hands full protecting broad sectors such as agriculture, he said it should also catch up with the fastevolving digital economy.

“Digital skills can be developed through formal education, informal instruction, or training, which makes the digital workforce very dynamic in terms of learning and employment,” Villanueva said.

He noted that “the next administration would be dealing with the fourth, or even fifth, industrial revolution,” as digital careers have gained even more strength during the pandemic.

“We are already playing catch up rather than staying ahead of the digital revolution. The Filipino workforce should benefit from the opportunities the digital economy provides, so the government should support them through skills training, digital upskilling, and making them competitive,” he said.

Villanueva added that digital careers in the country continue to flourish as it allows for alternative working arrangements such as work-fromhome, addressing concerns such as traffic congestion, rising oil prices, as well as the need for work-life balance.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

tesy call to Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas Jr. The House of Representatives approved the proposed DDR in September 2020, which was among President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority measures.

Under the bill, DDR will be the primary agency “responsible, accountable, and liable for leading, managing, and organizing national efforts to prevent and reduce disaster risks; prepare for and respond to disasters; and recover, rehabilitate and build forward better after the destruction.”

The Senate has yet to act on the bill.

Moreno said a government under his watch will also prioritize the building of disaster-resilient mass housing projects as well as evacuation centers to ensure the safety of displaced residents, especially in typhoon-prone provinces.

UNITEAM IN CEBU RALLY. Lakas-CMD president and House Majority Leader

Martin Romualdez (center), Tingog Party List Rep. Yedda Marie K Romualdez (right), and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama (left) flash a BBM-SARA sign during the UniTeam Festival Rally attended by more than 300,000 supporters in Cebu City. The rally was organized for UniTeam by the One Cebu group led by Governor Gwen Garcia.

Ver Noveno

Duterte asked to urgently sign solo parents’ law ASSISTANT Minority Leader and Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas on Tuesday urged Malacañang to urgently sign the Expanded Solo Parents’ Welfare Act “to enable struggling solo parents to immediately benefit from the measure.”

Brosas said the measure grants additional benefits for solo parents.

“This is much needed amid rising prices of basic goods, such as the P1,000 monthly subsidy and 10 per-

cent discount and VAT exemption for the baby’s basic needs such as milk, supplements and medicines,” Brosas said.

“It’s about time that we give the breather which solo parents have been pushing for the long time. During the pandemic, they were among those who were neglected in the government’s social amelioration programs,” she added.

Under the soon-to-be-signed law,

scholarship programs for children of solo parents and prioritization in the hiring of solo parents, especially solo mothers, are provided for.

Gabriela Partylist has been pushing for the amendments to RA 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act for years.

In the 18th Congress, the partylist filed the measure as HB 478 which is part of its top ten priority legislative measures. Maricel V. Cruz

‘Lacson gov’t will focus on new law for OFW protection’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENTIAL candidate Panfilo Lacson guaranteed that the new law which seeks to protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) would be properly implemented under his administration to prevent cases of neglect and abuse.

Addressing residents in a town hall meeting from Estancia, Iloilo on Tuesday, Lacson said Republic Act 11641 or the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Act has included safeguards and other provisions aimed at promoting the best interests of OFWs. One of these is the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan(AKSYON) fund, which provides immediate legal, medical and financial assistance for distressed migrant workers as well as seafarers or sea-based employees.

According to Lacson, the newlycreated executive department also has a reintegration program to help returning OFWs get livelihood opportunities in the country, so they could still contribute their skills and talents to society.

“So, they have insurance, the SSS (social security system) and then the reintegration program… When they (OFWs) return to the Philippines, they can expect to be reintegrated back to our labor sector,” said Lacson.

The senator pushed through with his visit to Iloilo where a lot of its residents have relatives working overseas.

One town hall meeting participant asked him if he has plans to help address the concerns of those who are also trying to seek employment abroad but have trouble processing their documents.

The veteran statesman explained that all relevant government agencies attached to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which have been taking care of OFW affairs, would now be incorporated under the DMW in accordance with the law.

“Because before it was confusing, the offices were separate. Now, it is integrated under one department…

It would be more accessible because they would be establishing regional offices, provincial offices,” he said.

“So, concerns like someone getting redirected (to other agencies) as well as cases of abuse of our OFWs would now be attended to through the Department of Migrant Workers that the Congress enacted,” Lacson said.

Survey says Lopez leads in Manila

ALL ABOARD. Aksyon Demokratiko candidates led by its standard bearer

Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso and his running mate Doc Willie Ong ride the “Bus Ni Isko” upon meeting volunteers during a sortie at the municipal hall of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. The “Bus Ni Isko” is part of the campaign wherein buses travel around the country to gather support.

LAWYER Alex Lopez, who is running for mayor in the City of Manila, topped a survey commissioned by the Far Eastern Research this 7-14 April 2022.

Lopez is the official candidate of the slate of former Senator Bongbong Marcos and presidential daughter Sara Duterte.

According to the survey results, Lopez gained 20,064 or 65.63 percent of the surveyed individuals.

On the other hand, Manila vice Mayor Honey Lacuna was at second place at 18.83 percent, followed by former lawmaker Amado Bagatsing (15.33 percent), Elmer Jamias (0.11 percent), and Cristy Lim (0.11 percent).

The total number of respondents was 30,571.

While in a separate survey done by Original Matang Manila for Charity Media (OMMCM), a volunteers group, last 9 to 19 April this year, Lopez emerged victorious with 56 percent, followed by Lacuna at 32 percent; Amado Bagatsing,

7 percent; Cristy Lim, 4 percent; and Elmer Jamias, one percent.

Prior to the said survey of OMMCM, Lopez also arose leading at 58 percent, with 1000 respondents asked, while Lacuna trailed second at 29 percent; while those undecided was at 13 percent.

The survey was done in order to know the pulse of Manila electorates, in which the surveying entity said, the City of Manila is clamoring for a different and new face to hold the post in the said city.

“The survey results speak well. I emerged because of my clear plans and advocacy for the city,” according to Lopez, noting that he is more than willing to answer all of the hopes and aspirations of the Manila electorates.

To recall, Lopez has questioned the legality of the release of food boxes as well as the P500 aid that senior citizens of the City of Manila are getting as a form of amelioration amid the spending ban imposed by the Commission on Elections.

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Automated elections are here to stay

IF THERE are still people who insist that automated elections are unreliable because they are vulnerable to fraud, maybe we should ask them if this is merely a case of sour grapes, having lost in a previous poll and unwilling to accept the result. Or perhaps they want the old-school manual elections because that’s where they can more easily resort to cheating through dagdag-bawas or even intimidation and violence.

What’s clear at this point is that automated elections are here to stay, and there’s no turning back.

The Commission on Elections appears adequately prepared for next month’s presidential elections. In fact, since 2010, we’ve had generally peaceful and credible elections, thanks to automated polls.

Thus, the poll body now enjoys the highest trust rating in its history.

The Comelec chalked up a dismal trust rating of 40 percent during the heyday of manual elections. But public satisfaction with its performance increased to a historic high of 74 percent immediately after the first successful automated elections in 2010.

In 2019, a Pulse Asia survey showed that 84 percent of voters trusted election results — 94 percent said the vote counting machines were easy to use, 91 percent want automated voting in future elections. Until now, however, we still have skeptics who try to discredit the efforts of the Comelec in implementing the Automated Election System (AES). You guessed right: they come from the ranks of losing candidates.

But there is no denying the fact that the AES has ensured the sanctity of the ballot through meticulous auditing of the source code and software. We’re told that the source code is accredited by an international certifying entity, and reviewed by local experts and even by political parties. The Comelec has turned over the source code to the Central Bank where it will remain under lock and key until the poll body is ready to install it. As soon as the source code was officially turned over to the Comelec, it went through an unbroken chain of custody totally controlled by the agency.

In 2010, there were 176 reported cases of election-related violence.

This was a big improvement from previous manual elections. In 2016 the Philippine National Police reported 106 cases. Three years later, the police recorded 43 cases of election-related violence—a significant 60 decrease from 2016.

In past manual elections, teachers who served in polling places were sometimes harassed or threatened by

rabid supporters of candidates. With automated polls, the Department of Education (DepEd) has reported fewer cases of harassment and violence against teachers who serve as poll watchers.

The economy has benefited as well from peaceful automated elections.

After the 2010 elections, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSEi) posted a 3.85 gain while the Philippine peso rose by 1 percent against the dollar. After the 2016 elections, the PSEi climbed 221 points or 3.09 percent to close at 7,369.52. It would eventually surpass the 7,500 mark, driven by the euphoria from the peaceful elections.

There is no turning back.

It is said that no candidate in this country ever loses, since they invariably claim they’ve been cheated.

That makes election lawyers happy. But since adopting AES, election protests have actually declined: there were only 49 cases filed in 2010; 37 in 2013; 28 in 2016 and 20 in 2019. None of these cases, it should be pointed out, resulted in a reversal.

The automated election system is auditable and provides both paper and digital votes, and reports are tallied to confirm the accuracy of the votes and outcomes. The Philippine Statistics Authority held random manual audits of the 2019 automated elections and found an astonishing 99.9953 percent match between automated count and manual returns. In fact, since 2010, the AES has been consistently 99 percent accurate.

Those who have raised serious doubts about the credibility and accuracy of automated polls claim to be technical experts. But the AES has been able to withstand close scrutiny by genuine experts.

In perhaps 48 hours after the voting on May 9, we may already know the winners. This would be a far cry from previous manual elections whose results took many days to determine with finality. With the automated political exercise, we can already conclude that manual elections, with their vulnerability to dagdag-bawas and other forms of fraud, are a thing of the past.

What’s important is that Comelec is prepared for contingencies. At least with automated elections, there is little, if no possibility, of people trying to snatch the voting machines and run away with them, as what happened in previous manual elections.

There should be no going back to manual elections as certain quarters insist. Why do they want a return to manual elections anyway? So that the dagdag-bawas operators can once again resort to manipulation and thwart the people’s will? ernhil@yahoo.com

The great Easter debacle AS PRESIDENTIAL candidates Isko Moreno Domagoso, Ping Lacson, and Norberto Gonzales found out the hard way, a show of toxic masculinity and fragile egoism in the face of adversity is likely to reap criticism, particularly when the position they are running for requires a leader with wisdom, maturity, sagacity, diplomatic skills, and empathy, along with other virtues.

They staged a presscon last Easter Sunday at the swanky Manila Peninsula hotel and claimed that persons from the camp of another presidential candidate, Leni Robredo, had contacted them to make the “ultimate sacrifice” and quit the race. They added they were being asked to withdraw their candidacies in order to beat former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is leading the surveys.

The trio declared that they will not back down from the race.

Not only that, Domagoso called on Robredo to withdraw “because whatever you’re doing is not effective against Marcos.” He claimed that she is running only to “fight Marcos” and told her: “Withdraw. Come and join us. Can we substitute? We might get three points. One of us. It doesn’t have to be me. It can be Secretary Norberto Gonzales. It can be Sen. Ping. That is what we are saying.”

People took to social media to air their opinions on the matter. The comments ranged from accusations

of misogyny and toxic masculinity, to extravagance for spending money to hold the presscon at Manila Pen, which is known for its elegance and quality and is by no means a cheap venue. The money, some said, should have been donated to the victims of typhoon Agaton in Leyte and elsewhere.

On Twitter, Dr Tony Leachon wrote, as a caption to a video of Domagoso doubling down on his call for Robredo to withdraw and alleging “bullying” by the “yellow-pink” – “We don’t need arrogant leaders ~ we had enough. This latest evidence could be the final nail in the coffin for him. Let’s focus on the right path to choosing the authentic leader.”

Leachon was formerly a special adviser to the National Task Force on COVID-19, who said he was forced to leave the position after criticizing the Department of Health’s Covid-19 response measures. His Twitter caption encapsulates the reaction of many to Domagoso’s declaration.

Domagoso’s knee-jerk reaction cost him the support of many – on Monday, the day after the presscon, several Muslim groups declared their change of allegiance to Robredo’s campaign. They used to support Domagoso.

There were also tweets related to individuals having a change of heart after hearing Domagoso’s declaration.

Here’s one way of looking at this situation – it has now become a matter of practicality and reality. The camps of the Easter Sadbois (as some Gen Z’ers are calling them) are claiming also that Robredo’s supporters are pulling their supporters from them, with one extreme example being that Lacson’s own party, Partido Reporma, switched support to Robredo.

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A5

EDITORIAL

When the quiet returns

W

HEN all this is over, when the polls close and the winner is proclaimed, when the new administration begins its own six-year journey, our nation – battered and bruised by the chaotic campaign – will continue to face a myriad of problems.

There remains the threat from China, which has not tempered its violations of our sovereignty in our own territory.

This will be the true test of their mettle.

Our education system remains pitiful, worsened by the lockdowns, and millions of young Filipinos are not fully equipped to face the employment challenges of the next few years.

Our farmers and fisherfolk continue to live on the margins of society, even though they are the ones literally bringing food to the table.

Corruption remains endemic and many continue to believe that government office is not a public service but an opportunity to amass and protect their wealth.

Justice remains elusive, and the

After the recriminations and promises, and the exuberance of this noisy campaign season dissipates, we will be faced with the stark realization that our country is in disarray and there are multiple challenges to face on every front.

Foremost, as the recent typhoon Agaton reminded us, we continue to be at the mercy of extreme weather events and our uneven – at best – capability to anticipate disaster risk, much less plan for them and respond when they do strike close to home.

victims of crimes committed with impunity cannot seem to imagine a world where they can argue their case and win on its merits.

We have degenerated into a culture of free-for-all “information,” where many Filipinos are not able to tell if the “news” they are being fed is true or not—and worse, they do not seem to care.

And, of course, COVID-19 took an extraordinary toll on our health care system. The threat of the virus remains, even as fewer cases have been observed in the past few months.

The next days will be critical because it is then we will choose the next leaders who will steer us to recovery and development. Whoever the winner will be, however, faces the more daunting task of plodding through all these problems and more.

This will be the true test of their mettle: they will be held accountable for their promises, and they will be measured by their ability to actually produce results instead of just rhetoric.

Duterte delivered ON JUNE 30, 2022, one of the Philippines’ most remarkable presidencies will come to an end.

Rodrigo Roa Duterte ends his six-year term with possibly the highest approval rating for any outgoing president, 67.2 percent, and trust rating, 61.8 percent.

Those are Publicus Asia numbers in its 2022 first quarter survey.

In Pulse Asia’s December 2021 survey, Duterte enjoyed an astronomical approval rating of 72 percent, up from 64 percent in September 2021.

Contrast that with the approval rating of Leni Robredo as vice president, 43 percent in the same Pulse Asia December poll, down from 48 percent in September 2021.

Per Pulse Asia, Duterte had approval ratings of 50 percent or higher in all regions of the country and in all income classes—77 in NCR, 62 in Luzon, 64 in the Visayas, and 97 in Mindanao; 71 in income class ABC, 72 in D, and 76 in E. In December 2021, per Pulse Asia, no region and no income class gave Robredo any majority or plus-50 approval rating: 34 in NCR, 49 in Luzon, 41 in the Visayas (down sharply from 70 percent in September 2021), and 43 in Mindanao; 38 in ABC, 42 in D, and exactly 50 in E. in Publicus’ poll, Robredo had a disappointing approval rating of 32.3 percent in the first quarter this year. Even more heartbreaking is her disapproval rating, 43.2 percent.

Only one out of five approves of Leni’s performance as VP; two of every five give her a thumbs down for performance.

Publicus’ reason for Robredo’s high disapproval rating as VP: She is identified with the opposition. She is yellow. While she pretends to be pink on the outside, people see her as yellow on the inside. Like salted egg—pink outside, yellow inside. Like salted egg, she cannot be the main course for presidential leadership.

Why is Duterte hugely popular? One reason is his economic leadership. He delivered the major economic reforms, thanks to his team led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez. Sonny designed Duterte’s ten-point economic agenda. “We delivered 90 percent of the ten-point agenda,” Dominguez told businessmen in a forum last April 5, 2022.

“Years from now, when the Philippines brings down its poverty incidence to single-digits, we will look

They should consider putting their egos aside to look at reality dispassionately.

The shifting allegiances to the strong contender to the frontrunner, Marcos Jr., is sending a strong signal to the three male presidential candidates that the race is a two-way match. This supposed “framing” by media is something they

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

back to the Duterte presidency as the moment when the country made the turn towards more inclusive growth and prosperity,” Sonny gloated. “The Philippines made the decisive shift from an inward-looking economy to one ready to compete with the rest of the world.”

One of the most remarkable presidencies is nearing its end.

The amazing thing about Duterte’s reforms is that many of them were languishing in Congress for decades until the President revived them and had them enacted into laws. Anchor projects were completed.

Among the major reforms and projects: —Build, Build, Build. Duterte poured over P4 trillion into roads, highways, bridges, airports, ports and railways.

Average infra spending reached P800 billion per year and exceeded P1 trillion in a single year. The P4 trillion infra built created 6.5 million jobs, a record, thanks to Public Works Secretary Mark Villar. Railways increased from 77 kms in 2016 to over 1,100 kms by 2022, thanks to Transportation Secretary Art Tugade.

—Cheaper rice. Agriculture Secretary William Dar broke the bankrupt statetrading company, NFA’s monopoly on rice importation, with the passage of the Rice Tarrification Law (RTL).

The 2019 Rice Tariffication Law ensures that farmers benefit directly by providing at least P10 billion each year for mechanization, high-quality seeds, access to credit, and training.

For 30 years, NFA was subsidized by an average of P11 billion per year. RTL stopped that and instead earned for the state P46.6 billion in import tariffs in three years of its implementation.

—Peace. “We took a significant step towards lasting peace with the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The administration also maintained an unrelenting campaign against criminality and terrorism,” said Dominguez.

—Tax reform. Big corporations now pay 5% less on their income tax, down from 30 to 25 percent. SMEs pay 20 percent.

“The Duterte administration implemented the most comprehensive tax reform program ever in this country. are pushing against also.

But they should consider putting their egos aside to look at reality dispassionately. Robredo is the strongest contender among them and has the best chance at the moment to beat Marcos Jr. Why should she be the one to withdraw when she is already in second spot? It doesn’t make sense for them to pull her down. Rather, a pragmatic approach will make it obvious to them that they stand to gain if she wins and they are on her side.

If they set aside their own campaigns, this gives Robredo a better chance to

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

This provided robust and recurring revenues that helped expand social services and supported our massive economic investments in modern infrastructure,” gushed Dominguez.

TRAIN or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act reduced the personal income taxes for 99 percent of our taxpayers, giving them much-needed relief after 20 years of non-adjustment.

Through TRAIN, we have basically given out a 14th-month pay every year to our wage earners, reckons Sonny.

The law imposed excise taxes on sweetened beverages from which we collect almost P104 million a day. TRAIN likewise mandated the implementation of our first-ever nationwide fuel marking program to curb oil smuggling.

No past administration increased sin taxes more than once. Duterte raised sin taxes three times. The excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products improved funding for the Universal Health Care Program.

All in all, TRAIN and the other enacted packages of the tax reform program raised for the government additional P504.6 billion during the first four years of implementation.

—Ease of Doing Business Act. It paved the way for improved and efficient delivery of public services and will remarkably increase the competitiveness of the country’s business climate.

—National ID system and financial inclusion. This improves e-governance by cutting physical red tape and promotes financial inclusion with easier access to cash and finance by the poor.

As of March 23 of this year, 61.3 million individuals had a national ID. This allowed Land Bank to give 7.7 million formerly unbanked registrants to open a bank account.

For their part, OFWs now have their own bank. The Overseas Filipino Bank is our first branchless digital-only bank in the country. It now serves overseas Filipinos in 116 countries.

To further accelerate financial inclusion and broaden the capital markets, the Bureau of the Treasury introduced innovative government securities for small individual investors that can be purchased through digital channels.

“We also finally implemented the long-dormant Real Estate Investment Trust Act, which has become a powerful financial instrument for the property development sector and small investors,” Dominguez reported. Market capitalization of REITs has reached P269.7 billion. biznewsasia@gmail.com win, and together they can all forge a participative government that will boast the leadership and integrity of Robredo, the administrative expertise of Domagoso, the law enforcement and legislative savvy of Lacson, the defense savvy of Gonzales, the sincerity and eagerness of Pacquiao, the healthcare expertise of Ong, and so on.

How much stronger and better such a government would be. But then practicality isn’t on their radar. And they spoiled Easter this year for many. *** FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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

Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

A6

World

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

UN moves to limit veto power of Security Council members UNITED NATIONS—Liechtenstein is to convene the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to debate a draft resolution —backed by Washington—requiring the five permanent members of the Security Council to justify their use of the veto.

An old idea aimed at making Security Council permanent members cut back use of their veto powers, it has been revived by Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow’s veto power has allowed it to paralyze action in the Security Council, which is supposed to intervene in such conflicts as guarantor of global peace, as defined by the Charter of the United Nations.

The Liechtenstein proposal, cosponsored by some 50 countries including the United States but, significantly, none of the other four permanent members of the Security Council—Russia, China, France, and Britain—should be the subject of an upcoming vote, according to diplomats.

The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, who do not have the right of veto.

The proposal text, obtained by AFP, provides for a convocation of the 193 members of the General Assembly “within 10 working days of the casting of a veto by one or more permanent members of the Security Council, to hold a debate on the situation as to which the veto was cast.”

Among the co-sponsors who have committed to voting for the text are Ukraine, Japan, and Germany, the latter two hoping for seats as permanent members in a possibly enlarged Security Council in view of their global political and economic influence.

The positions of India, Brazil or South Africa, and other contenders for a potential permanent seat have not yet been revealed.

Even if it does not sponsor the text, France will vote in favor, according to one diplomat. AFP

MORE CASKETS. Andrii Holovine,

priest of the church of St. Andrew Pervozvannoho All Saints, leads the funeral of three killed victims at a cemetery in Bucha on April 18, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP

MOSCOW REFOCUSES ATTACKS ON DONBAS

Zelensky: Russia battering east Ukraine N

OVODRUZHESK, Ukraine—Russia has launched a major offensive into eastern Ukraine, authorities in Kyiv said, opening a new phase of its invasion after being thwarted in efforts to capture the capital.

The United States is due to hold a video meeting with allies Tuesday to discuss the conflict in Ukraine, where Moscow’s military campaign has refocused on the eastern region of Donbas, partly controlled by pro-Kremlin separatists since 2014.

“We can now confirm that Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas, which they have been preparing for a long time,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram late Monday.

“No matter how many Russian sol-

diers are brought here, we will fight. We will defend ourselves.”

Ahead of the widely anticipated advance, Ukrainian authorities had urged people in Donbas to flee west to escape.

“The second phase of the war has started,” Kyiv’s presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said.

Control of Donbas would allow Moscow to create a southern corridor to the occupied Crimean Peninsula.

In the south of the region, Russia continued its push to capture the besieged

BUNNY BRIEFING.

An Easter Bunny stands next to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki as she delivers daily briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC on April 18. AFP

Manila

Manila ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC Standard Standard (ORMECO) TODAY

TODAY

Brgy. Sta. Isabel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro 043.288.7801 / 288.7802 / 288.7803 Fax No. 043.288.7804 • E-mail: ormeco_coop@yahoo.com • Website: www.ormeco-inc.com

INVITATION TOAND BID AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION FOR THIRD-PARTY BIDS (TPBAC) MEMBERS FOR CAPTIVE CUSTOMERS ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ORMECO, INC.), through FOR THE CONDUCT OF COMPETITIVE PROCESS its BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC), herebySELECTION intends to apply the sum of Three Million Nine Hundred Nine Thousand Three Hundred Eighty-Twoand 80/100Pesos 1. In compliance with the jurisdictional of of theall Department Energy Only (₱3,909,382.80)funded

by Generalrequirements Fundinclusive applicableoftaxes and as Approved per Circular No. DC-2018-02-0003 in connection with the Selection fees, (DOE) being the Budget for the Contract (ABC), for the procurement, supply, Process of the Representatives of the Captive Customer of the proposed Third and delivery of materials/supplies/equipment.

Party Bids and Award Committee (TPBAC) for the new 60MW Power Supply Requirement, ORMECO, nowsubmission calls for of theLetter submission of Eligibility 1. ORMECO, INC. now callsINC. for the of Intentbyinterested Documents. bidders thru email at ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com.The list of the ORMECO, INC. Eligibility Requirements may be viewed at www.ormeco-inc.com,https:// 2. web.facebook.com/OrmecoOGMOfficial, The Eligibility Requirements listed hereunderand maymay be viewed and downloaded at be requested through email https://web.facebook.com/OrientalMindoroElectricCooperativeInc may of ormeco_coop@yahoo.com, including the numbers listed above. An and amount be requested through email at ormeco_coop@yahoo.com, including two hundred fifty pesos (₱ 250.00) is required as Accreditation Fee;the numbers listed above; 2. ORMECO, INC. now invites suppliers for the following: A. List of Requirements Qualification of TPBAC member – Two (2) Representatives COST OF BID for Captive Customers ABC DOCUMENTS FUNDING Scheme and Documentary Requirements LOT B. Grading ITEM DESCRIPTION (INCLUSIVE OF (NONSOURCE VAT) REFUNDABLE) 3. The Selection Process for captive customers as TPBAC members is duly approved I bySupply of Security of Agency ₱5,000.00 the Department Energy per ₱3,202,432.80 letter dated March 16, 2020.

Bolt,Double Arming,5/8 x 16”,with nut and washer is as follows: 4. The schedule of activities – (200pcs.), Eyenut,5/8 ACTIVITIES DATE & TIME VENUE dia. – (300pcs.), Machine bolt,5/8ofx 16” with nut &April 20, 2022: Publication Local TV Networks and Local Radio washer – (100pcs.), CrossInvitation Wednesday Stations General Fund x 5-1/2April x 27, 2022: II arm,steel,4-1/2 ₱706,950.00 ₱ 1,000.00 Website:https://web.facebook.com/ 10ft.,0.3mm thickness,hot Wednesday OrientalMindoroElectricCooperativeInc dip galvanized – (50pcs.), www.ormeco-inc.com, Cross-arm,steel,4-1/2 x 5-1/2 x 8 ft.,0.3mm thickness,hot NEA and DOE Websites: dip galvanized – (50pcs.), LGU Bulletin Boards: ORMECO, Inc. Insulator,suspension,15,000 Offices lbs.,10” – (375pcs.)

Submission April 21, 2022: Thursday, ORMECO, INC. Office of the General 3. ofDue Community Quarantine (CQ),Online/ LettertoofCOVID-19, in compliance with the Manager 0800H to 1700H Virtual will be conducted.

Stable internet connection is Intent (LOI)Bidding Conferences ormeco_coop@yahoo.com required to all prospective bidders during theormeco.inc.tpbac@gmail.com conferences. BAC shall not be liable and Eligibility to May 05, 2022: in any unexpected disruption due to poor/unstable signal which may cause loss of Documents Thursday, connection and inability of Bidders to engross with the conferences.

0800H to 1700H For Additional infoMay please be Thursday, guided in the following: refer to Online Deadline of 05, 2022: ORMECO, INC.(please Board Room Bidding procedures) Receipt Letter of 1700H ormeco_coop@yahoo.com Intent (LOI) ormeco.inc.tpbac@gmail.com a. Payment of bidding documents shall be deposited to BAC bank account (to Preliminary May 10, 2022: Tuesday ORMECO, INC. Board Room be emailed by BAC secretariat).

Screening of Applicants b. Prospective bidders must submit to the BAC via email the scanned copy of Final Screening of bank May 13, 2022: INC. Board Roomfund transfer validated deposit slip / Friday, screenshotORMECO, of successful electronic Applicants as proof of payment.

0800H to 1700H Endorsement 2022: Tuesday INC.by Board c. Scanned copyMay of 17, Bidding DocumentsORMECO, will be sent theRoom BAC secretariat of evaluation upon validation that the payments are credited to the coop’s bank account. report of qualified applicants to the d. ID number or link of the Online/Virtual conference will be provided by BAC Board secretariat Submission May 18, 2022: 4. ofOnline be conducted through open competitive bidding the result Bidding will Wednesday ofprocedures the TPBAC using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the NEA selection process NO. 2017-019: Revised Procurement Guidelines and Simplified Memorandum toBidding the DOE Procedures for for Electric Cooperatives, IRR-RA 10531 (2017); All video confirmation conferences shall be recorded in CD/DVD for reference and other purposes.

5. The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: For ORMECO, Inc.: ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE -sgdRelease of Invitation to Bid 4December 2021 (Saturday) MR. REGINO QUING, JR. Submission of M. Letter Manager (MS-APR. 20 INC. & 27, 2022) ofActing IntentGeneral thru email / 5-11December 2021 OfficeHours,at ORMECO, Availability of Bidding Office (ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com) Documents 9:00 am for Lot I Online/Virtual Pre-Bid 13December 2021 (Monday) at Conference ORMECO, INC. Board Room 1:00 pm for Lot II

port city of Mariupol, where the last remaining Ukrainian forces have taken a final stand.

But despite the desperate situation in the city, a senior US Defense Department official said Mariupol “is still contested”.

Russia has also added 11 battalion tactical groups -- consisting of, among other things, artillery, helicopters, and logistical support -- to its forces in east Ukraine, the official added, bringing the total to 76 in the country.

Israel hits Gaza after rocket attack

JERUSALEM—Israel carried out its first air raids, which caused no casualties, air strikes on the Gaza Strip in months according to witnesses and security early Tuesday in response to a rocket fired sources in Gaza. from the Palestinian enclave as tensions No faction in the crowded enclave soar after a weekend of violence around a of 2.3 million inhabitants immediately Jerusalem holy site. claimed responsibility for the rocket but Warning sirens sounded in southern it comes after a series of attacks in IsIsrael Monday night after the rocket rael and a weekend of tensions at a holy was fired from the enclave controlled site in Jerusalem. by the Islamist group Hamas, the first Israel holds Hamas responsible for all such incident since early January. rocket fire from Israel, and usually carThe projectile crashed into the sea off ries out air strikes in response.

Tel Aviv.

The incident, the first of its kind since “One rocket was fired from the Gaza January, comes after a weekend of IsStrip into Israeli territory. The rocket raeli-Palestinian violence in and around was intercepted by the Iron Dome Air Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque Defense System,” the Israeli military compound that wounded more than 170 said in a statement. people, mostly Palestinian demonstraHours later the Israeli air force said it tors. had hit a Hamas weapons manufacturDiplomatic sources said the United ing site in retaliation.

Nations Security Council was to hold a Hamas claimed to have used its session on Tuesday to discuss the spike “anti-aircraft defence” to counterCYAN the CYAN in violence.

AFP MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK BLACK MAGENTA YELLOW

Judge nixes mask mandate for public transport WASHINGTON—A US federal judge on Monday struck down the COVID-19 mask mandate for public transportation imposed by the administration of President Joe Biden, prompting major airlines to quickly drop the requirement.

US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of the Middle District of Florida said the mask mandate exceeds the statutory authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The mandate requiring face masks on airplanes, subways, trains, buses, taxis, and other forms of public transportation was recently extended by the CDC until May 3 amid a rise in coronavirus cases.

US airlines and a number of Republican lawmakers have called for an end to the mask mandate, which was issued by the CDC on February 3, 2021, shortly after Biden took office.

In light of the decision, the Transportation

Monday also saw the first shipments of a new US military aid package arrive at Ukraine’s borders to be handed over in its fight against the Russian invasion.

The United States on April 13 unveiled an $800-million tranche of equipment for Ukraine, including helicopters, howitzers, and armored personnel carriers.

Moscow’s forces on Monday pounded targets across the country, killing at least seven people in the far western city of Lviv. AFP

Security Administration (TSA), which runs security at airports, will not enforce directives “requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs at this time,” an administration official said.

After the ruling was announced, United Airlines dropped its mask mandate on domestic flights and some international flights, depending on the rules in the country of arrival.

“While this means that our employees are no longer required to wear a mask—and no longer have to enforce a mask requirement for most of the flying public—they will be able to wear masks if they choose to do so, as the CDC continues to strongly recommend wearing a mask on public transit,” the airline said in a statement.

It was soon followed by American Airlines, Delta Airlines and Alaska Airlines, who all made masks optional for crew members and customers on domestic and most international flights. AFP

IN BRIEF East Timor votes to pick next leader

DILI, East Timor—People across East Timor went to the polls on Tuesday to choose either a Nobel laureate or a former guerrilla fighter—the incumbent president—as their next leader.

Frontrunner Jose Ramos-Horta has pledged to break a longstanding deadlock between the two main political parties in Southeast Asia’s youngest country should he win the run-off election against President Francisco “Lu-Olo” Guterres.

“If I win ... I will hold a dialogue with political parties, including (Guterres’) Fretilin, so they can work together to maintain stability and peace in TimorLeste,” the Nobel peace prize winner told journalists Tuesday, holding aloft a finger stained purple after casting his vote.

Former guerilla leader Guterres, meanwhile, promised “to ensure national stability, and to adhere to the mission as president of the republic, which is inseparable from the constitution”, at a polling station in the capital Dili. AFP

15 years for man who bit off ear

IRAQI MOON. An aircraft flies above Iraq’s southern city of Basra past the waning gibbous moon late on April 18. AFP

HONG KONG—A Hong Kong man was jailed for nearly 15 years Tuesday after biting off the ear of a democracy activist and attacking three others at the height of the city’s protests in 2019.

The prison term for Joe Chen, who shouted Chinese nationalist slogans before his attack, is the longest of those charged in relation to the city’s social turmoil three years ago.

High Court judge Judianna Barnes on Tuesday said Chen’s biting off part of the ear of democracy activist Andrew Chiu was “very barbaric” and defied belief.

In December, a jury found Chen guilty of three counts of wounding with intent—an offence punishable by up to life imprisonment—and one count of common assault.

The court earlier heard that Chen, 52, shouted “Reclaim Taiwan” outside a shopping mall in Taikoo Shing, a middle-class neighborhood, in November 2019. AFP

Business

A7

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market up slightly; Nickel Asia, Globe rise S TOP GAINERS TOCKS rose Tuesday on mild bargain hunting but traders were digesting growth concerns in China and rising interest rates in the United States.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 41.63 points, or 0.6 percent, to 7,037.74 on a value turnover of P5.2 billion. Gainers beat losers, 102 to 83, with 46 issues unchanged.

Nickel Asia Corp., the biggest nickel miner, advanced 5.4 percent to P8.17, while Globe Telecom Inc., the second-largest telecommunications firm, climbed 2 percent to P2,472.

Fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. gained 1.5 percent at P30.60, but newly-listed CTS Global Euqity Group Inc. sank 9.3 percent to

P0.98.

Hong Kong stocks, meanwhile, dropped sharply while Japan edged higher on the back of a plummeting yen.

Chinese growth numbers for the first quarter of 2022 exceeded expectations on Monday but the government warned of “significant challenges” ahead with key economic hubs in the throes of COVID-19 lockdowns.

Millions of residents are still cloistered in their homes in economic center Shanghai with restrictions—which have also hit tech hub Shenzhen and the

northeastern grain basket of Jilin—shutting supply lines.

Investors were left weighing whether attempts to lift the economy by Chinese policymakers—who have held off cutting interest rates—would offset Beijing’s zero-COVID policies.

“The focus in Asia is on mainland policy easing to cushion the impact of lockdowns,” Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management said, adding that while first-quarter growth was marginally better than predicted, “there was no positive follow-through in China-sensitive assets.”

“Reopening cities is the only fix to drive credit growth, which could translate into a sustainable economic rebound that supports equity markets and a load

of other China proxy assets,” he said.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 made healthy gains, with South Korea, Taiwan, India, and Australia all edging upward.

But Hong Kong plummeted by its largest margin in three weeks after a four-day holiday hiatus.

The Hang Seng Index shed more than 2.7 percent before recovering slightly to around 2.4 percent down, with the Shanghai Composite Index also slipping.

The impact of monetary policy tightening in the United States to combat inflation was another variable watched closely by investors, with major European markets in London, Paris, and Frankfurt resuming trade after a lengthy holiday break in the red on Tuesday. With AFP

Yellen set to insist for more Russia sanctions WASHINGTON, United States—US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen this week will call on her counterparts to ramp up the economic pain on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, a senior Treasury official said Monday.

Yellen will participate in the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank, as well as gatherings of finance officials from the G7 and G20 nations, where the fallout from the war will be a key topic of discussion.

“The secretary believes the Russian invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the need for the world’s largest economies to stand together to defend international order and protect peace and prosperity,” the official told reporters.

“She will use this week’s meetings to work with allies to continue our united efforts to increase economic pressure on Russia while mitigating spillover effects.”

The IMF and World Bank have warned of the devastating costs the war is imposing on the global economy, especially through rising prices for energy and food at a time of high inflation.

Western sanctions on Moscow have contributed to inflation pressures, hitting the poorest countries the hardest.

While Yellen is “deeply concerned” about the impacts, “We are firm in our resolve to hold Russia and its leadership accountable, and have imposed crippling sanctions,” the official said.

Washington also will continue to work to penalize countries that try to evade the sanctions, and restrict Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s ability to project power.

The official did not provide any specifics on the type of sanctions or the targets.

While Yellen will participate in key meetings this week, especially the opening session of the G20 focused on the fallout from the Russian invasion, she will not attend other sessions if officials from Moscow are included, a senior US Treasury official said. AFP

1 WLCON 2 SFI 3 BKR

LAST PRICE CHANGE 29 2.15 0.108 0.008 2.06 0.15

% CHANGE 8.01% 8.00% 7.85%

4 5 6 7

MFC KEEPR CA IPO

1018 1.3 47.95 7.44

67.5 0.08 2.9 0.43

7.10% 6.56% 6.44% 6.13%

8 9 10

NIKL MARC DIZ

8.17 1.76 5.49

0.42 0.09 0.27

5.42% 5.39% 5.17%

TOP LOSERS

1 FERRO 2 PA 3 CTS

LAST PRICE CHANGE 2.22 -0.6 2.56 -0.35 0.98 -0.1

% CHANGE -21.28% -12.03% -9.26%

4

CAB

50.05

-4.95

-9.00%

5 6 7 8

PERC ROX MWP2A LPZ

4.65 1.19 93 3.01

-0.43 -0.11 -6 -0.19

-8.46% -8.46% -6.06% -5.94%

9 10

LOTO PHR

1.69 0.96

-0.1 -0.05

-5.59% -4.95%

MOST ACTIVE

SEXIST COMMENTS. People walks past a Yoshinoya retaurant, which operates a chain of popular beef bowl restaurants in

Japan and abroad, in Tokyo on April 19, 2022. One of Japan’s most popular fast food firms said April 19 it had fired a top executive who reportedly suggested a marketing strategy of getting ‘virgins addicted’ to the company’s products. AFP

High debt could slow countries’ recoveries, IMF warns NEW York, United States—Debt accumulated by businesses and individuals worldwide could slow economic recoveries from the pandemic crisis, the IMF warned Monday.

Governments took exceptional measures to support their economies as COVID-19 spread two years ago, including rolling out debt repayment suspensions or offering large-scale loans.

But these programs resulted in higher debt levels for some sectors, including those most disrupted by the virus, like tourism and restaurants, as well as low income households, the

Washington-based crisis lender said.

In a chapter of its World Economic Outlook, the IMF said the debt burden could hold growth back in developed countries by 0.9 percent and in emerging markets by 1.3 percent over the next three years.

“Financially constrained households and vulnerable firms, which have grown in number and proportion during the COVID-19 pandemic, are expected to cut spending by more, especially in countries where the insolvency framework is inefficient and fiscal space limited,” the lender said.

To avoid exacerbating problems, government should “calibrate the

pace” of phasing out aid and spending programs.

“Where the recovery is well underway and balance sheets are in good shape, fiscal support can be reduced faster, facilitating the work of central banks,” the IMF said.

For struggling sectors, governments could offer aid to prevent bankruptcies, or provide incentives for restructuring, rather than liquidation.

“To lessen the burden on public finances, temporary higher taxes on excess profits could be envisaged.

This would help claw back some of the transfers to firms that did not need them,” the lender said. AFP

Libya’s distinct underground homes wait for tourism revival

By Jihad Dorgham GHARYAN, Libya—Gharyan’s unique underground houses were hewn into the mountainside centuries ago, and many lie abandoned, but residents of the Libyan town are hoping tourism can help restore their heritage.

“My great-great-great-great-greatgrandfather dug this yard 355 years ago,” said Al-Arbi Belhaj, who owns one of the oldest houses in the mixed Berber-Arab town south of Tripoli.

His ancestor would have used a “tajouk” pickaxe to chip away at the ground before loading the rubble into a woven date-palm “gouffa” basket to carry it away, he said.

Dug deep into the arid Nafusa mountains at around 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level, the home would have been protected against the scorching summers that bring temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).

It would have also stayed warm throughout the often snowy winters.

The region’s bedrock has a consistency that allowed the underground dwelling—known as a damous—to last for centuries without collapsing.

Some of the buildings are over 2,300 years old, and ancient Greek historians mentioned their existence, according to historian Youssef alKhattali.

The area also has burial sites dating back to Phoenician times, he added.

Today, Belhaj says he is the own-

PSEi April 19, 2022

A picture shows a view of an external yard of a ‘damous,’ a dwelling carved into Libya’s arid Nafusa mountains, in Gharyan town, about 100 kilometers southwest of the capital, on February 5, 2022. Gharyan’s unique underground houses were hewn into the mountainside centuries ago, and many lie abandoned, but residents of the Libyan town are hoping tourism can help restore their heritage. AFP

er of the oldest underground home in Gharyan, a town where many residents have family records and property deeds dating back centuries.

The warren of rooms dug into the rock around the courtyard once housed as many as eight large families, he said.

He was the last person to be born there, in 1967.

In 1990, like many people seeking more comfortable dwellings with running water and electricity, the family moved out of the home, but they kept ownership of it.

Now, Belhaj has renovated it and turned it into a tourist attraction.

‘Designed to be versatile’ While late dictator Moamer Kadhafi allowed tourists to visit the country on

organized trips, visitors have been thin on the ground since his fall in a 2011 revolt, which sparked a decade of chaos.

But the region’s Berber villages have continued to attract domestic tourists, and Belhaj is hoping that a return to relative stability could open the door to more visitors from Europe and elsewhere.

He charges an entry fee equivalent to a dollar for Libyans, or two for foreigners.

While some come for a cup of tea and to explore the building, others stay for lunch or spend the entire day there.

Damous structures were once common across a stretch of western Libya and eastern Tunisia—the other side of a border only drawn up in 1886.

“The same tribes extend from Nalut to Gabes,” said historian Khattali, referring to towns on the Libyan and Tunisian sides.

Their sites were carefully chosen and the buildings painstakingly excavated by hand to avoid them collapsing in the process.

In 1936, they attracted the attention of colonial power Italy, featuring in a tourist guide.

And they were not just used as homes.

“First of all, there were underground dwellings for humans and their animals, then buildings intended as places of worship,” Khattali said, referring to synagogues and churches that were mostly later converted to mosques. AFP

1 CNVRG

VOLUME 16,537,000

VALUE (PHP) 511,690,465

2 3 4

SM TEL BDO

569,580 190,265 2,204,530

492,652,790 360,867,320 288,352,040

5

ICT

936,340

209,667,022

6

CTS

179,543,000 183,719,730

7 8 9 10

GLO SMPH AC NIKL

69,920 4,528,600 200,580 18,422,000

173,363,980 168,733,470 154,812,635 149,533,265

Workers at NY Apple store start union campaign NEW YORK, United States—Workers at Apple’s Grand Central Station store announced Monday they are organizing to establish a union, in what would be a first at one of the tech giant’s retail locations in the United States.

The effort, calling itself “Fruit Stand Workers United,” aims to garner signatures from at least 30 percent of the New York store, the minimum needed to qualify for a unionization election.

The campaign is connected to Workers United, an affiliate of the national Service Employees International Union, which was established in 2009 from several earlier unions.

Workers United confirmed its involvement.

“Like so many recent campaigns, this has been worker-driven, and worker led,” Workers United said in an email. “We recognize the tremendous bravery and courage these workers have taken to stand up for their rights, and we will support them every step of the way.”

Organizers of the Grand Central campaign described themselves as working in “extraordinary times with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and once-in-a-generation consumer price inflation,” though their website did not disclose the name of staff members leading the effort.

“Grand Central is an extraordinary store with unique working conditions that make a union necessary to ensure our team has the best possible standards of living,” the workers said on the campaign website for the prospective union.

The Apple effort comes as a Starbucks unionization drive backed by Workers United has spread nationally after election victories last year in New York. AFP

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, April 19, 2022

41.63 PTS. 7,037.74

TOTAL VOLUME

988,954,739

TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

73,858 5,204,741,477.33 102 83

UNCHANGED

46

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.2310

Japan

Yen

0.007869

0.4110

UK

Pound

1.301700

67.9891

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127536

6.6613

Switzerland

Franc

1.058873

55.3060

Canada

Dollar

0.793021

41.4203

Singapore

Dollar

0.734107

38.3431

Australia

Dollar

0.735200

38.4002

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

138.5511

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266674

13.9286

Brunei

Dollar

0.731422

38.2029

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.029718

1.5522

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.2218

Euro

Euro

1.078100

56.3102

Korea

Won

0.000810

0.0423

China

Yuan

0.157070

8.2039

India

Rupee

0.013113

0.6849

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.235128

12.2810

New Zealand

Dollar

0.673000

35.1515

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034208

1.7867

JAPAN-BASED debt watcher Rating and Investment Information Inc. kept the country’s credit rating at BBB+ with a “stable” outlook, citing the economy’s solid growth recovery, healthy government finances, rising investments and a stable banking sector.

BBB+ is two notches higher than the minimum investment grade, while a “stable” outlook indicates that the rating is likely to stay the same over the near term.

R&I said that while the world continues to face the challenges of the pandemic, “the Philippine economy has been demonstrating solid growth since the second quarter of 2021” and that “the government debt ratio is expected to stabilize in the near term, supporting the country’s economic recovery.”

The Philippine economy grew by 5.7 percent last year, reversing the previous year’s pandemic-driven recession. The rebound was punctuated by the rise in foreign direct investments to a historic high of $10.5 billion last year.

It said while government debt rose following massive spending on the COVID-19 response, the debt level remained manageable at 60.5 percent (debt-to-gross domestic product ratio) as of end-2021 compared to a number of the country’s rating peers.

“With this development, the Philippines maintains its streak of affirmations of our investment-grade credit ratings throughout the pandemic amid the wave of rating downgrades globally,” Finance Secretary Carlos DominManila guez said.

Standard “ThisTODAY is a testament to our ability to strike a careful balance between supporting economic recovery, such as through relief for vulnerable sectors and infrastructure investments, and maintaining order in our fiscal house,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

PH-US PARTNERSHIP. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (right) and US Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai hold a landmark bilateral meeting to discuss trade and investment issues, sectoral and industrial cooperation and the trajectory of the PH-US economic relations during the Philippine trade delegation’s official trip to Washington DC. Lauding the significant accomplishments of both countries in the past 75 years of diplomatic engagement, Lopez highlighted the role of the Philippines-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement as an effective mechanism in addressing issues of mutual concern, complemented by the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue with the US Commerce Department.

PLDT signs deals to sell 5,907 towers to 2 companies for P77b

By Darwin G. Amojelar

P

LDT Inc. said Tuesday it signed deals to sell its telecom towers and related infrastructure to two companies for P77 billion.

PLDT said subsidiaries Smart Communications Inc. and Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. signed sale and purchase agreements with a subsidiary of edotco Group and a subsidiary of EdgePoint, which are supported by international groups with extensive experience in the telecom tower space.

It said that of the 5,907 towers being monetized, 2,973 towers across the country would be acquired by ISOC edotco Towers Inc. (subsidiary of edotco Group) and 2,934 towers in Luzon would be bought by Comworks Infratech Corp. (subsidiary of EdgePoint).

PLDT said concurrent with the ex-

ecution of the agreements, Smart entered into master services agreements with the tower companies where Smart agreed to lease back the towers for 10 years.

It said that in addition to space, the TowerCos would also be responsible for providing operations and maintenance services and power to the sites. Smart secured competitive terms as the anchor tenant on the towers and expects to benefit from operational and capital expenditure savings.

The sale and leaseback will be complemented by a new tower build commitment of 1,500 towers over the next few years. The arrangement will further solidify Smart’s superior network quality and enhance the best customer experience in the Philippines.

“Our TowerCo partners, selected after a thorough process, will provide the group with the infusion of global best practices and innovative solutions,” said PLDT and Smart president and chief ex-

By Alena Mae S. Flores

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.

ecutive Alfredo Panlilio.

PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan said the agreement with experienced international tower companies represented another milestone in PLDT’s strategic transformation.

“We expect to reap benefits in terms of a valuation uplift and capital reallocation with PLDT applying the proceeds to deleverage, further invest in the network, and return cash to shareholders via a special dividend,” he said.

Adlan Tajudin, chief executive of edotco Group, said the transaction presents a highly strategic acquisition for the company as it diversifies and strengthens its pan-Asian platform with exposure to a nascent, highgrowth market with strong governmental support.

Edotco Group manages over 54,000 towers across nine countries in Asia and is majority-owned by Axiata Group, a major telecom operator across Asia.

NEA identifies seven ailing electric cooperatives nationwide

tive and Basilan Electric Cooperative.

The agency said the compliance report SEVEN electric cooperatives of the total on the performance of ECs is summarized 121 ECs nationwide continue to be “ail- quarterly. It focuses on the assessment of ing,” the National Electrification Admin- the ECs’ performance on several aspects of operations, such as financial, operationistration said in its latest report.

ECs labeled as “red” under NEA’s third- al, technical and institutional components.

The report aims to evaluate the perforquarter 2021 assessment report were Abra Electric Cooperative, Masbate Electric Co- mance of ECs to ensure early detection operative, Sulu Electric Cooperative, Lanao of adverse financial condition, to serve as del Sur Electric Cooperative, Albay Electric triggers for NEA intervention in the EC Cooperative, Tawi-Tawi Electric Coopera- operation and to institute preventive, remedial and mitigating measures prior to being categorized as ailing EC. Assessment results during the period showed that aside from NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS the seven ECs labeled as red, MAY 13, 2022 46 ECs were labeled as green, Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of ROBINSONS RETAIL HOLDINGS, INC. (Annual 59 as yellow-1 and nine as yelMeeting) shall be held via remote communication at https://bit.ly/RRHI2022ASM on May 13, 2022 at 9:30 A.M. low-2.

The Agenda for the Annual Meeting is as follows: NEA said green ECs are able to meet all the seven perfor1. Call to Order and Certification of Notice and Quorum 2. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders held on May 14, 2021 mance standards and parameter.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

AIA PH optimistic on Q1 performance

ONE AIA Philippines, which combines the businesses of AIA Philippines and bancassurance arm BPI AIA, expects to end the first quarter on a high note, a top executive said Monday.

“The gradual return to normal at the first quarter makes us very optimistic and excited for what is ahead,” said Kelvin Ang, chief executive of AIA Philippines which was formerly known as AIA Philam Life.

“The past two years have underscored the importance of protection and health and wellness. As One AIA Philippines, together with BPI AIA, we remain committed to our mission of saving lives through our protection products, and to being the partner of Filipinos in helping them be the healthiest they can be through our health and wellness propositions,” said Ang. BPI AIA chief executive Surendra Menon explained their move to align with the AIA Group including streamlining their systems and developing processes to elevate the services provided to clients. AIA Group’s value of new business went up by 18 percent and operating profit after tax rose 6 percent. AIA Group demonstrated its financial strength by announcing a $10-billion share buy-back program.

AIA Philippines chief financial officer Gary Ogilvie said the company closed 2021 at the top among insurers in terms of net worth and net income in the country.

Roderick T. dela Cruz

BOP posted $754-m surplus in March

Source: BSP

Japanese firm keeps ‘BBB+’ rating on PH

IN BRIEF

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.

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

Honda PH launches new HR-V model

HONDA Cars Philippines Inc. on Tuesday disclosed its plan to recoup lost market share in the subcompact crossover sport vehicle segment as it launched the all-new Honda HR-V. HCPI president Masahiko Nakamura said he is confident the new Honda HR-V would aggressively take on the challenge of Chinese automotive brands with similar models.

“The Chinese models are really a challenge for us, but we are confident with the Honda brand. That’s why our objective is to capture some of the market that we have before,” he said during the launch.

He said Honda enjoys an advantage over Chinese vehicles given its track record on innovation and research.

HCPI vice president Louie Soriano said the brand aimed to increase its market share to 10 percent from 3 percent. The car firm aims to sell 1,400 units annually or 120 units a month from 30 units. Othel V. Campos

Max’s Group’s profit rebounded to P451m in 2021

“The number of green ECs continues to vary for the last few quarters whileCYAN red MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

By Jenniffer B. Austria ECs remained the same,” the report said.

Yellow-1 ECs are those which fail to comply with not more than three key perRESTAURANT chain operator formance standards and parameters while Max’s Group Inc. said Tuesday it yellow 2 ECs fail to comply with four or posted a net income of P451 million more of the key performance standards in 2021, a sharp turnaround from the and parameters.

P1.68-billion net loss it incurred in NEA declares ECs as red or “ailing” 2020. when it has negative net worth for the last Max’s Group, in a financial report three years, accumulated 90 days arrears in filed with the Philippine Stock Expower supply purchases and transmission change, attributed the reversal to the charges, unable to provide electric service cost savings realized from rightsizing due to technical and/or financial inefficiencies and/or institutional problems, and more efficient operations. unable to efficiently perform its electric “With dine-in channels expected distribution utility obligations or continue to return in 2022, significant margin in business due to organizational, external upsides are expected in the coming and internal factors and fail to meet other year when the market comes back,” operational standards established by the the company said.

NEA and unable to continuously support System-wide sales, composed of its Wholesale Electricity Spot Market prusales from both company-owned and dential requirements.

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

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.

THE country’s overall balance of payments position posted a surplus of $754 million in March, a reversal from the $73-million deficit recorded in the same month last year.

The BOP surplus in March reflected inflows arising mainly from the government’s net foreign currency deposits with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and BSP’s income from its investments abroad.

It brought the cumulative BOP surplus to $495 million in the first quarter, a reversal from the $2.84-billion deficit recorded a year ago.

Preliminary data showed the cumulative BOP surplus reflected inflows including personal remittances, net foreign borrowings by the government and foreign direct and portfolio investments.

Meanwhile, the gross international reserves declined slightly to $107.31 billion as of endMarch from $107.8 billion in February.

The latest GIR level represents a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 9.5 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

WATER TECHNOLOGIES. Manila Water Company Inc. signs a memorandum of understanding with Enterprise Singapore, a statutory board and economic agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore during ‘TechXchange,’ the opening event of the Singapore International Water Week 2022. The MOU aims to promote collaboration between Singapore companies for the test-bedding of water technologies in the concession areas of Manila Water across the East Zone and outside Metro Manila. The exchange is led by Manila Water chief operating officer for non-East Zone and international businesses Melvin John Tan (left) and ESG assistant chief executive Geoffrey Yeo (right), and witnessed by ESG managing director and chief operating officer Jeffrey Siow.

franchised stores, climbed 15 percent in 2021 despite strict dine-in and mobility restrictions implemented for the most part of the year.

Revenues, which include restaurant sales, commissary sales and franchising and other revenue, increased 7 percent to P7.64 billion from P7.14 billion in 2020.

Restaurant sales, which accounted for 78 percent of consolidated sales, rose 4 percent to P6 billion while commissary sales and franchising and other revenue grew 29 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

It said the increase in revenues was driven by overall market conditions as well as continued growth in offpremise channels of all brands. Shifts in channel segments were seen as consumers adjusted to governmentmandated protocols such as limited dine-in due to health and safety precautions.

Max’s Group said customer preference shifted to delivery instead of dine-in while takeout remained stable during the pandemic.

Blistering golf start nets Gialon 1-shot lead CAVINTI, Laguna—Zanieboy Gialon outduelled Clyde Mondilla with an early birdie blitz then held sway at the back to fire a 67 and seize a one-stroke lead over Joenard Rates at the start of the ICTSI Ca l i r aya Springs Championship here yesterday.

Only 12 players produced under-par rounds in preferred lies at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club course hosting the Philippine Golf Tour and the Ladies PGT for the first time and the 78-player starting field, including 19 in the distaff side, all reveled at the challenge that the Arnold Palmer-designed had presented in the early going of the four-day invitational PGT and the 54-hole LPGT championship.

“The course is good, this being the first time that it is hosting the PGT. It has a good setup, good greens and good weather,” said Gialon, seeking to snap out of a long title spell in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. More importantly, he had a good, solid start.

The 2017 ICTSI Calatagan winner birdied four of the first six holes inside 12 feet then bucked a two-bogey mishap at the back, including on the par-4 17th after overshooting the green, with three birdies to upstage the more fancied Mondilla, a playoff loser to absentee Miguel Tabuena at the ICTSI Luisita Championsip in Tarlac last month.

The 32-year-old Davaoeno, whose campaign is backed by businessman Carlo Quimson and Coast Guard Admiral Roy Echeveria, used just 24 putts to highlight his 32-35 round and fuel his title drive in the P2 million championship sponsored by ICTSI. Mondilla actually grappled with his balky putter at the front, mixing two birdies with the same number of bogeys but cranked up his game at the turn, gunning down an eagle on the par-5 No. 12 then closing out with two birdies against a bogey in the last three holes.

The former Philippine Open champion signed a 69 for solo third as the diminutive Rates took the early challenger’s role with a solid 68, spiked by three birdies in the first nine holes of the par-72 layout situated at the foot of Mt. Banahaw.

“It’s a challenging course even with the wind at its manageable level,” said Rates. “Maganda ang ball placing and my putting clicked.”

The same could not be said of Mondilla, who flubbed four putts inside six feet.

“I struggled with my putting and missed a lot of chances. But the course is good—fairways, greens and the entire layout. I would say, it’s anybody’s game,” said Mondilla. “I hope I have gotten the feel of the greens. Sana lang, mag click na.”

“My driving is ok although it will still depend on the wind,” he added.

Stalking the troika with 71s are a merry mix of seasoned campaigners and lesser lights, including Jhonnel Ababa, Richard sinfuego, Ira Alido, Albin Engino, Tony Lascuna, Anthony Fernando, Rufino Bayron, Michael bibat and Reymon Jaraula.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022

Zanieboy Gialon is seeking to snap out of a long title spell in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

New weight classes for Marcial, Paalam in 2024 Paris Olympics

By Peter Atencio

F

ILIPINO Olympians Eumir Felix Marcial and Carlo Paalam will have to cxhange their weight classes when they seek qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

For Marcial, it will be a difficult decision, while it will be easier for Paalam.

There is a new format that will be used for Paris 2024 and it recently got approval from the International Olympic Committee Executive Board following months of development.

Association of Boxing Alliances in the PhilEumir Marcial ippines secretary general Marcus Manalo said Carlo Paalam this after learning of the changes in the weight For Paalam, it will be easier because he will adjust by classes that will be played in the coming a kilogram, from 52 kgs to just 51.

Olympiad.

“Carlo Paalam, Rogen Ladon and other Olympic Marcial, who competed in the men’s 75-kg during the Tokyo Games has two options—he will hopefuls who are currently at 52 kgs will also have have to decide if he will go down to 71 kgs or climb to go down to 51 kgs, which again shouldn’t be a big problem. The concern is for Eumir Marcial who up to 80.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone

Diaz to lead PH campaign in SEA Games

fought in Tokyo at 75 kgs. If he’s still aiming for Paris, he will need to either go down to 71 kgs or go up to 80 kgs,” said Manalo in an interview with the Manila Standard.

The new system does not include the 75-kg and the 52-kg events in the men’s division, where Marcial got a bronze and Paalam claimed a silver, respectively, in the Tokyo Olympics.

Under the new system, there are seven men’s weight categories to be contested at the Paris Games—the under-51kg, under-57kg, under-63.5kg, under-71kg, under-80kg, under-92kg and over-92kg.

The women’s competition is set to take place at under-50kg, under-54kg, under57kg, under-60kg, under-66kg and over75kg categories.

Marcial, who recently scored a fourthround technical knockout win against American Isiah Hart, is set to go to Muaklek, Thailand to join the national team’s training camp.

Manalo said Marcial will join the 24-member Philippine national team that is getting ready for the country’s campaign in the coming Southeast Asian Games set to happen next month in Vietnam.

Kings shoot for title; Bolts eye equalizer A TEAM like Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has been through various situations before.

And coach Tim Cone is thankful he has an experienced squad that can handle any situation when they confront the Meralco Bolts in Game 6 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I’m fortunate to have a team which understands and

has been through many wars,” said Cone as they brace for another tough grind against Bolts, following their 115-110 Easter Sunday triumph that moved the team a win shy of the title.

The Gin Kings shoot for the crown against the Bolts, who in turn, will attempt to equalize the series and send the contest into a do-or-die Game 7.

“They only have three wins.

(If) we win this game, we tie the series so that’s what we’re focused on right now,” said Bolts’ coach Norman Black.

The Gin Kings will once again count on Best Import Justin Brownlee, Arvin Tolentino, LA Tenorio and Best Player of the Conference Scottie Thompson. Brownlee showed the way with 40 points the last time around in Game 5.

Brownlee distinguished

himself as having the scored the most points in PBA Finals’ history since TNT’s Terrence Jones sank 41 in San Miguel Beer’s 102-90 Game 6 victory in the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup. The Bolts have been frustrated by Ginebra for the crown in 2016, 2017 and 2019, and are still hoping that they can finally reverse their situation this time around.

Peter Atencio

OLYMPIC gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz will be at the forefront of the 13-man Philippine weightlifting team eyeing at least four to five gold medals in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam next month.

The 31-year-old Diaz is going to defend her gold in the women’s 55-kg class, and is considered by Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella as the top bet of the Filipino weightlifters aiming to surpass the two gold medals they won during the 2019 edition of the biennial showcase here in the country.

Puentevella said in the virtual Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday the federation is looking at a minimum of two golds and maximum of four to five gold medals.

“Fearless forecast… ang tingin ko minimum of two gold medals, and then laban kami sa four or five na golds. Baka maka-tsamba. Kung ibigay ng Panginoon ang mas malaki, why not? So minimum of two golds and maximum of four or five,” the former mayor and congressman of Bacolod said.

Diaz is part of the seven-women team seeing action in the May 12 to 23 meet that’s also composed of Mary Flor Diaz (45 kg), Rosegie Ramos (49 kg), Margaret Colonia (59 kg), Elreen Ann Ando (64 kg), Vanessa Sarno (71 kg), and Kristel Macrohon (+71 kg).

Olympian Nestor Colonia (67 kg), meanwhile, spearheads the men’s team of six, along with Fernando Agad Jr. (55 kg), Rowel Garcia (61 kg), Lemon Denmark Tarro (73 kg), John Paul Padullo (89 kg), and John Dexter Tabique (+89 kg).

Puentevella mentioned Ando, Sarno, Macrohon, Ramos, and Colonia as among the possible gold medalist together with Diaz.

Like Diaz, Macrohon also won gold in the 2019 SEA Games, while Sarno bagged a gold in the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last year.

Monsalve takes control of Caliraya tourney with 69 CAVINTI, Laguna—Marvi Monsalve, due for a big finish in a career marred by shaky starts and finishes, sizzled with a three-under 69 this time, finding herself a bewildered leader in the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club here yesterday.

Monsalve used a near-impeccable iron game to shoot four birdies against a bogey and come out of a windy day in command by two strokes over Chanelle Avaricio, who turned in a twobirdie, one-bogey 71 card two weeks after besting multi-titled Princess Superal in sudden death in the inaugural ICTSI Hallow Ridge Challenge in San Pedro, Laguna.

“I played it simple, hit a lot of greens but missed a lot of putts. But I was able to drop some,” said Monsalve, who tied for eighth at Luisita and limped to 12th place at Hallow Ridge, also a first-time venue host like Caliraya of the

B1

Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

“Actually, I didn’t expect much since I hardly had a practice round heading to this tournament.

But I committed to my target and just played my game,” added Monsalve, who set her bid in motion with back-to-back birdies from No. 5 that negated a miscue on the fourth then capped her fine start with birdies on Nos. 15 and 17.

“It’s windy but the course is in good condition and in top shape—fairways, greens and even the bunkers, they are all taken care of,” she added.

Avaricio rued a couple of missed chances on the unpredictable surface but expressed hopes of a better showing in the last two rounds of the 54hole championship for a crack at a back-to-back title romp.

“I had a couple of birdie putts but they didn’t go in. Still having a hard time reading the greens,” said Avaricio. “Hopefully, I can improve on that

tomorrow (today) with emphasis on ball placing and putting.”

Chihiro Ikeda, a multi-titled campaigner out to break a long title drought, hit just one birdie against two bogeys but her 73 put her at third, four strokes behind Monsalve, even as RivieraLanger leg winner Daniella Uy carded a 74 and amateur Arnie Taguines shot a 75 to stay in early contention in the third leg of an 11-stage circuit put up by ICTSI. Reigning Order of Merit winner Harmie Constantino continued to grope for form as she hobbled with a 76, Gretchen Villacencio turned in a 78 and Kristine Fleetwod and Florence Bisera matched 79s for joint eighth with amateur Eagle Ace Superal.

Last year’s Midlands leg champion Sunshine Baraquiel also wavered with an 81 in a tie with former leg winner Sarah Ababa as they stood behind Pamela Mariano, who carded an 80.

Marvi Monsalve sinks a putt

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

OF THE PHILIPPINES StandardREPUBLIC REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

TODAY

NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 91, QUEZON CITY

ARNOLD J. TAGORDA, as represented

by ABDON OWENS B. CABATU, Plaintiff, -versus-

Civil Case No. R-QZN-21-05453-CV For: Judicial Partition of Real Property

SPOUSES REYNALDO D. CORPUS and EVELYN B. CORPUS, NILDA T. TOLENTINO-INGOGLIA, the CITY TREASURER OF QUEZON CITY and The REGISTRY OF DEEDS OF QUEZON CITY Defendants. x---------------------------------------------------x

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION SPS. REYNALDO D. CORPUS and EVELYN B. CORPUS No. 172 Guava Ct., Vallejo, California USA (previous USA address) 141 Bluebell PI, Vallejo, California, USA (current USA address) NILDA T. TOLENTINO-INGOGLIA 1E Broadway Apt 6L, Long Beach, New York (USA address) WHEREFORE, on July 1, 2021 plaintiff filed a Complaint for the Judicial Partition of Real Property under Co-Ownership.

WHEREFORE, on October 13, 2021, the Branch Clerk of Court issue a Summons upon defendants Sps. Reynaldo D. Corpus and Evelyn B. Corpus, Nilda T. Tolentino-Ingoglia requiring them to file an Answer to the Complaint.

WHEREAS, on November 16, 2021, the plaintiff through his counsel, filed a Motion for Leave of Court for Extraterritorial Service of Summon by Publication. The aforementioned defendants are residents of another country, beyond territorial jurisdiction of this Court, and pursuant to Sec. 17, Rule 14 of the 2019 Revised Rules of Court on Civil Procedure, the instant motion is granted in an Order dated November 17, 2021.

NOW THEREFORE, defendants Sps. Reynaldo D.Corpus and Evelyn B. Corpus, Nilda T. Tolentino-Ingoglia are hereby summoned and required to file with Regional Trial Court, Branch 91, National Capital Judicial Region, Hall of Justice Building, Quezon City, their verified Answer to the complaint within thirty (30) days from the last date of publication of this Summons. Failure of the defendants to file their Answer within the reglementary period, the plaintiff will take judgment by default and maybe granted relief applied for in the Complaint.

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

Witness the Hon. Kathleen Rosario D. De la Cruz-Espinosa, Presiding Judge of this Court, this 18th day of November 2021.

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

Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, Quezon City BRANCH 91 ARNOLD J. TAGORDA, as represented by ABDON OWENS B. CABATU, Plaintiff, -versus-

Civil Case No. R-QZN-21-05453-CV For: JUDICIAL PARTITION OR REAL PROPERTY

SPOUSES REYNALDO D. CORPUS and EVELYN B. CORPUS, NILDA T. TOLENTINO-INGOLGIA, THE CITY TREASURER OF QUEZON CITY and the REGISTRY OF DEEDS QUEZON CITY, Defendants. x----------------------------------------------------x

ORDER For resolution is the “Motion for Leave of Court for Extraterritorial Service of Summons by Publication”, filed by the plaintiff, through counsel on October 7, 2021. As alleged, the defendants Reynaldo D. Corpus, Evelyn B. Corpus and Nilda T. Tolentino-Ingoglia are already residing at California, U.S.A. and New York, respectively thus, plaintiff moved with leave of court to serve summons by publication.

Acting on the motion and finding the same to be well-taken considering that the aforementioned defendants are residents of another country, beyond the territorial jurisdiction of this Court, and pursuant to Sec. 17,Rule 14 of the 2019 Revised Rules on Civil Procedure, the instant motion is hereby GRANTED. Let the summons as against defendants Reynaldo D. Corpus, Evelyn B. Corpus and Nilda T. Tolentino-Ingoglia be served or effected by publication pursuant to Sec. 17, Rule 14 of the 2019 Revised Rules of Civil Procedure.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, November 17, 2021.

(Sgd.) KATHLEEN ROSARIO D. DE LA CRUZ-ESPINOSA Presiding Judge Copy furnished: Atty. Juan DC Gonzales B59 L27 Area I, Sto.Nino 1. Sapang Palay City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan

Republic of the Philippines National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Quezon City Branch__ ARNOLD J. TAGORDA, as represented by ABDON OWENS B. CABATU, Plaintiff, -versus-

Civil Case No. R-QZN-21-05453-CV For: Judicial Partition of Real Property

SPOUSES REYNALDO D. CORPUS and EVELYN B. CORPUS, NILDA T. TOLENTINO-INGOGLIA, the CITY TREASURER OF QUEZON CITY, and the REGISTRY OF DEEDS QUEZON CITY, Defendants. x----------------------------------------------------------x

COMPLAINT (For Partition of Real Property Under Co-Ownership) Plaintiff, represented by his Attorney-in-Fact, by the undersigned counsel, unto this Honorable Court, most respectfully files this Complaint and states: PARTIES 1. Plaintiff Arnold J. Tagorda, is of legal age, Filipino citizen, and with an address at No. 5, Rodriguez St., Sta. Barbara, Iloilo City.

2. Plaintiff is hereby represented by Abdon Owens B. Cabatu, of legal age and Filipino citizen, by virtue of a special Power of Attorney. For purposes of this complaint, plaintiff may be served with notices and other pertinent processes at Lot 6H, Block 15, Carnation St., West Fairview Park, Fairview, Quezon City.

The Special Power of Attorney dated 14 April 2021 is attached as Annex “A” and made an integral part of this Complaint.

3. Defendants Reynaldo D. Corpus and Evelyn B. Corpus are husband and wife, citizenships unknown, Philippine address at No. 78 Mindanao Avenue, Project 6, Quezon City, previous United States of America (USA) address at No. 172 Cuava Ct., Vallejo, California, and current USA address at 141 Bulebell Pl., Vallejo, California.

4. Defendant Nilda T. Tolentino-Ingoglia is of legal age, present civil status unknown, citizenship unknown, with Philippine address at No. 78 Mindanao Avenue, Project 6, Quezon City and USA address at 1 E Broadway Apt. 6L, Long Beach, New York.

5. The City Treasurer of Quezon City with address at City Treasurer’s Office, Annex Building, Quezon City Hall Compound is impleaded as a nominal party to the case considering its role to send demand letters/notices to all delinquent realty taxpayers within Quezon City and to determine the collection of deficiency taxes of the subject property.

6. The Registry of Deeds of Quezon City with address at Land Registration Authority-East Avenue, corner NIA Road, Diliman, Quezon City is likewise impleaded as nominal party to the case, considering its role in the cancellation, issuance and/or registration of new title/s anent the property depending on the decision of this Honorable Court.

ANTECEDENT FACTS 7. This is the second time that the plaintiff seeks the partition of this subject property regarding the same subject matter. The first was in Civil Case No. QZN-16-09111 entitled “Arnold J. Tagorda, represented

by Abdon Owens B. Cabatu v. Spouses Reynaldo and Evelyn Corpus, et al.” which was dismissed by the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 92, Quezon City, and CA-G.R. SP. No. 150339 entitled “Arnold J. Tagorda, represented by Abdon Owens B. Cabatu v. Spouses Reynaldo and Evelyn Corpus, et al,” before the Court of Appeals who affirmed the dismissal of the said case by the RTC, The Decision thereof is without prejudice to the re-filing of this Complaint.

Description of the Subject Property” 8. Project 6, Quezon City, consisting of 390.50 square meters, is covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (CTC) No. 004-2011005831 issued by the Registry of Deeds of Quezon City, and more particularly described as follows: TCT No. 004-2011005831 “ A PARCEL OF LAND (LOT 16-A OF THE SUBDN. PLAN (LRC) PSD-96262, BEING A PORTION OF LOT 16, BLK. LCH -671, PSD-53250, LRC (GLRO) REC. NO. 7681), SITUATED IN THE DIST. OF DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY, IS. OF LUZON, BOUNDED ON THE N., POINTS 2-3 BY LOT 18, BOTH OF BLK. LCH-671, PSD-53250; ON THE N., POINTS 3-4 BY LOT 24; AND POINTS 4-5 BY LOT 19, BOTH OF BLK. LCH-671, PSD-53250; ON THE S., POINTS 5-1 BY LOT 16-B OF THE SUBDN. PLAN; AND ON THE W., POINTS 1-2 BY LOT 28, BLK LCH 671-, PSD 53250 (SERVICE RD.) BEGINNING AT THE POINT MARKED “1” ON PLAN, BEING N. 2 DEG. 30’W., 2687.39 M. FROM BLLM 7, QUEZON CITYL THENCE N. 2 DEG 45’W 15.10 M. TO POINT 2, THENCE N. 86 DEC. 27’E., 20.01 M. TO POINT 3; THENCE S. 2 DEG. 45’E., 1.78 M. TO POINT 4; THENCE S. 2 DEG. 24’W., 13.22 M. TO POINT 5; THENCE S. 86 DEG. 10’W., 19.93 M. TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING; CONTAINING AN AREA OF THREE HUNDRED SQ. METERS AND FIFTY SQ. DECIMETERS (300.50), MORE OR LESS ALL POINTS REFERRED TO ARE INDICATED ON THE PLAN AND ARE MARKED ON THE GROUND AS FF; POINTS 1 & 5 BY PS AND THE REST BY OLD BL CONC. MONS. 15X60CM; BEARINGS TRUE; DATE OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY, DEC. 1910-JUNE 1911 AND THAT OF THE SUBDN. SURVEY, NOV. 17, 1968.”

The certified true copy of the Transfer Certificate of Title No. 004-2011005831 is attached as Annex “B” and made an integral part of this Complaint.

The Assessed Value of the subject property for jurisdictional purposes – 9. The plaintiff respectfully submits certified true copies of the originals on file of the tax declarations of the subject property (land and improvements) issued by the Office of the City Assessor – Quezon City on 13 April 2021. Based on the said tax declaration documents, the assessed value f the subject property is enumerated as follows: Property Amount 1. Land assessment value of property under Evelyn B. Corpus et al.

Php 375,630 2. Improvements and Building Php 399,780 Total Php 755.410 The certified true copies of the originals on file of the Tax Declarations issued by the Office of the City Assessor – Quezon City on 13 April 2021 with Nos. F-085-00783, D-085-04505, D-085-04506, and D-085-01914 are attached as Annex “C1”, “C2”, “C3”, and “C4”, respectively, and made integral part of this Complaint.

10. Based on the above assessed value, it is most respectfully submitted that the Honorable Court has the jurisdiction over the subject matter of the case as provided for under relevant laws and jurisprudence.

Nature and extent of plaintiff’s title – 11. It is worth noting that the registered co-owners of the subject property are the following, namely: (1) Roderick T. Tolentino (Roderick), the vendor f the aliquot 100-square meter part of the total 300 square meter subject property; (2) Private defendants Spouses Reynaldo Corpus and Evelyn B. Corpus; and (3) Private defendant Nilda Tolentino-Ingoglia; all in equal share respectively consisting of one hundred (100) square meters each of the three of them.

12. The aforementioned TCT No. 004-2011005831 indicated the determined equal share of the respective registered co-owners, Roderick Tolentino, Evelyn Corpus, and Nilda Tolentino.

13. Plaintiff Arnold J. Tagorda brought the proportionate property owned by Roderick by virtue of the execution of the Deed of Absolute Sale on 01 August 2016.

The Deed of Absolute Sale dated 01 August 2016 is attached as Annex “D”, and made an integral part of this Complaint.

Compliance with the Notice to Exercise Pre-emptive Right and Peculiar circumstances of Actual notice of the sale of the Subject property – 14. Prior to the execution of the Deed of Absolute Sale dated 01 August 2016, Roderick was made to sign a document/Special Power of Attorney by the private defendants, authorizing them to sell his pro indiviso share. However, Roderick never received any notice from the private defendants of their willingness to buy his share.

15. On 03 February 2015, Roderick sent a Letter of Revocation of Special Power of Attorney Notice to Exercise Pre-emptive Right dated 28 January 2015. However, despite reasonable notice and time given to the private defendants, they failed and continue to refuse to exercise the said right.

Letter of Revocation of Special Power of Attorney with Notice to Exercise Pre-emptive Right dated 28 January 2015 are attached as Annex “E”, and made an integral part of this Complaint.

16. Further, for purposes of subdividing the land, the plaintiff demanded the private defendants to surrender the said Original Owner’s Duplicate Copy of TCT. A letter of final demand to surrender TCT

No. 004-2011005831 dated 28 April 2016 was sent to the addresses of the private defendants with one labeled to their local address in Quezon City and another to their previous USA address. However, both letters were returned to sender a few months later for the reason it was unclaimed despite due notices.

The Letter of Final demand to Surrender Owner’s Duplicate Copy of TCT No. 004-2011005831 dated 28 April 2016 is attached as Annex “F” and made an integral part of this Complaint.

17. Furthermore, despite the fact that the Civil Case No. QZN-16-09111 have been instituted and decided by this Honorable Court, private defendants show no indication of any interest to exercise their right of legal pre-emption.

Recent Notice to Remind Private Defendant’s Right of Pre-emption – 18. In the earnest desire of the plaintiff to remind private defendants of their Pre-emptive Right, the previous Letter of Revocation of Special Power of Attorney with Notice to Exercise Pre-emptive Right dated 28 January 2015 and the Letter of Final Demand to Surrender Owner’s Duplicate Copy of TCT No. 0042011005831 dated 28 April 2016 (In the form of attachment to the Final Notice of Pre-emptive Right) were mailed once again to the private defendants’ new found addresses in the USA via LBC on 10 April 2021.

Also, the same notice with its attachments were sent on their old known address in Quezon City and the new USA addresses through registered mail on 12 April 2021.

The Final Notice of Pre-emptive Right dated 09 April 2021 with proof of mailing is attached as Annex “G” and made an integral part of this Complaint.

19. Further the plaintiff sought other available means to send the said notice through Facebook accounts of Spouses Reynaldo and Evelyn Corpus as well as Jericho Corpus, their son, on 09 April 2021.

The print out copy of the Facebook messages dated 09 April 2021 is attached as Annex “H” and made an integral part of this Complaint.

20. However, despite these efforts, private defendants failed to show any interest in the sale of Roderick’s share over the subject property. Hence, private defendant’s silence constitutes a waiver to exercise their Pre-emptive Right.

Tax deficiency – 21. Sometime in 2016, plaintiff was informed that the entire undivided subject property has accrued real property tax arrears. As reflected in the print out of the Real Property Assessment Record by the City Assessor’s Office on 06 April 2021, the Quezon City Treasurer’s Office issued a Warrant of Levy per Tax Dec. Ref. No. 47 dated 11 September 2013.

The print out of the Real Property Assessment Record by the City Assessor’s Office on 06 April 2021 is attached as Annex “I” and made on integral part of this Complaint.

22. The above-mentioned accrual of tax deficiencies and the issuance of Warrant of Levy are prejudicial to the rights of the plaintiff over the subject property. Hence, the plaintiff demanded the extrajudicial partition of the subject property. Hence, the plaintiff demanded the extrajudicial partition of the subject property at the Barangay Project 6.

Earnest effort to conciliate Before the Barangay – 23.To buy peace and good will, the plaintiff requested the private defendants for possible extrajudicial partition before the Barangay of Project 6, Quezon City. Plaintiff submitted a proposed subdivision / partition plan least prejudicial or detrimental to the entire property, taking into consideration the rights of the other co-owners, given the fact that they leased out portions of the subject property to third persons.

The Proposed Subdivision / Partition Plan is attached as Annex “J” and made an integral part of this Complaint.

24. However, despite issuance of several notices of Barangay Summons for mediation /conciliation, private defendants refused to heed the said summons. Consequently, the Barangay issued a Certificate to File Action on 05 August 2016.

The Certificate to File Action is attached as Annex “K” and made an integral part of this Complaint.

The plaintiff seeks judicial Partition of the subject Property – 25. To plaintiff’s knowledge, the subject property is free from any lien and/or encumbrances. In addition, aside from the tenants who lease the portion of the subject property, no person or entities other than himself and private defendants have an interest in ownership of the property involved.

26. Hence, this instant Complaint for Partition under Rule 69 of the Rules of Court praying before the Honorable Court that the above specified real property be now judicially partitioned, between and among the plaintiff and herein private defendants, as respectfully suggested in the attached Proposed Subdivision/ Partition Plan.

APPLICABLE LAWS AND JURISPRUDENCE 27. Partition is the separation, division, and assignment of a thing held in common among those to whom it may belong. Every act which is intended to put an end to indivision among co-heirs and legatees or devisees is deemed to be a partition. (Marcos v. Heirs of Isidro Bangi, G.R. No. 185745, 15 October 2014).

28. “Petitioners who project themselves as prejudiced co-owners may bring a suit for partition, which is one of the modes of extinguishing co-ownership. Article 494 of the Civil Code provides that no co-owner shall be obliged to remain in the co-ownership, and that each co-owner may demand at any time partition of the thing owned in common insofar as his share is concerned. X X X” (Arambulo, et al, v. Nolasco, et al., G.R. No. 189420, 26 March 2014.)

29. Under Section 1 of Rule 69 of the Rules of Court, “A person, having the right to compel the partition of real estate may do so as provided in this Rule, setting forth in his complaint the nature and extent of his title and an adequate prescription of the real estate of which partition is demanded and joining as defendants all other persons interested in the property.”

30. “The law does not encourage co-ownerships among individuals as oftentimes it results in inequitable situations such as in the instant case. Co-owners should be afforded every available opportunity to divide their co-owned property to prevent these situations from arising.” (Patricio v. Dario III, et al., G.R. No. 170829, 20 November 2006.)

31.Article 1620 of the New Civil Code provides: A co-owner of a thing may exercise the right of redemption in case the shares of all the co-owners or of any of them, are sold to a third person. If the price of the alienation is grossly excessive, the redemptioner shall pay only a reasonable one.

Should two or more co-owners desire to exercise the right of redemption, they may only do so in proportion to the share they may respectively have in the thing owned in common.

32. Article 1620 contemplate of a situation where a co-owner has alienated his pro indiviso shares to a stranger. By the very nature of the right of “legal redemption”, a co-owner’s light to redeem is invoked only after the shares of the other co-owners are sold to a third party or stranger to the co-ownership. [Marina Z. Reyes, et al. v. The Honorable Alfredo B. Concepcion, et al., G.R. No. L-56550, 01 October 1990, citing Estrada v. Reyes, 33 Phil. 31, (1915).]

33. The law does not prohibit a co-owner from selling , alienating or mortgaging his ideal share in the property held in common. The law merely provides that the alienation or mortgage shall be limited only to the portion of the property which may be allotted to him upon termination of the co-ownership [See Mercado v. Liwanag, G.P. No. L-14429, June 30, 1962, 5 SCRA 472; PNB v. The Honorable Court of Appeals, G.R. No. L-34404, June 25, 1980, 98 SCRA 207; Go Ong v. The Honorable Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 75884, September 24, 1987, 154 SCRA 270,] and, as earlier discussed, that the remaining co-owners have the right to redeem, within a specified period, the shares which may have been sold to the third party.

[Articles 1620 and 1623 of the New Civil Code.] [Marina Z. Reyes, et al. v. The Honorable Alfredo B. Concepcion, et al., G.R. No. L-56550, 01 October 1990.]

34. x x x The applicable law is Article 493 of the New Civil Code, which spells out the rights of co-owners over a co-owned property, to wit: Art. 493. Each co-owner shall have the full ownership of his part and of the fruits and benefits pertaining thereto, and he may therefore alienate, assign or mortgage it, and even substitute another person in its enjoyment, except when personal rights are involved. But the effect of the alienation or the mortgage, with respect to the co-owners, shall be limited to the portion which may be allotted to him in the division upon the termination of the co-ownership.

Pursuant to this law, a co-owner has the right to alienation his pro indiviso share in the co-owned property even without the consent of his co-owners. This right is absolute and in accordance with the well-settled doctrine that a co-owner has full ownership of his pro indiviso share and has the right to alienate, assign or mortgage it, and substitute another person for its enjoyment. In other words, the law does not prohibit a co-owner from selling, alienating, mortgaging his ideal share in the property held in common. (Heirs of Reynaldo Dela Rosa, et al., v. Mario A. Batongbacal, et al., G.R. No. 179205, July 30, 2014.)

WITNESSES TO BE PRESENTED 35. The plaintiff’s Attorney-in-Fact, Abdon Owens B. Cabatu, to testify the nature and extent of the plaintiff’s title over the subject property, and the compelling circumstances to exercise the right of the plaintiff to demand partition over the subject real property.

The Judicial Affidavit of plaintiff’s Attorney-if-fact is attached as Annex “L” and made integral part of this Complaint.

36 Era Mae G. Encina, to testify: (1) the earnest effort to notify private defendants the Final Notice to Exercise Pre-emptive Right via Facebook Messenger (FB), accredited courier (LBC), and registered mail; and (2) the production of the print out copies of the messages from the FB Messenger.

The Judicial Affidavit of witness is attached as Annex “M” and made integral part of this Complaint.

37. The plaintiff respectfully reserves the right to present additional documentary as well as testimonial evidence during the trial of the instant cases for meritorious reasons.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed to the Honorable Court that after due notice and trial, judgment be rendered as follows: 1. To order the partition of the subject property between the plaintiff and the private defendants of their respective equal shares as indicated in the TCT No. 004-2011005831 and in accordance Proposed Subdivision/Partition Plan; 2. To order the Registry of Deeds of Quezon City the re-issuance of the Original Owner’s Duplicate Copy of TCT No. 004-2011005831 should the Court favor the subdivision/partition of the said property for the issuance of a new title under the names of respective co-owners.

3. To order the City Treasurer of Quezon City to provide the plaintiff the current tax delinquency incurred over the subject property for the settlement of the same.

Other relief just and equitable under the premises are also prayed for.

Quezon City, 20th April 2021.

(Sgd.) ARNOLD J. TAGORDA Affiant Assisted by: (Sgd.) JOAN DC. GONZALES Attorney’s Roll No. 73357 PTR No. 2472969; 02/05/2021; CSJDM, Bulacan IBP No. 146486; 02/05/2021, Bulacan MCLE Compliance Cert. No. New Lawyer Email Address: atty.joandcgonzales@gmail.com Contact No.: +63-9956511287 (Globe) +63-9494121608 (Smart) OFFICE ADDRESS B59 L27 Area I, Sto. Nino 1, Sapang Palay, City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Copy Furnished: SPS. REYNALDO AND EVELYN CORPUS Defendants No. 78 Mindanao Avenue, Project 6, Quezon City No. 172 Guava St., Vallejo, California (USA address) 141 Bluevell PI, Vallejo, California (USA address) 349 Meadows Dr., Vallejo, California (USA address)

NILDA T. TOLENTINO-INGOGLIA Defendant No. 78 Mindanao Avenue, Project 6, Quezon City 1E Broadway Apt. 61., Long Beach, New York (USA address) CITY TREASURER Defendant City Treasurer’s Office Annex Building, Q.C. Hall Compound Quezon City

REGISTRY OF DEEDS OF QUEZON CITY Defendant Land Registration Authority-East Avenue Corner NIA Road, Diliman, Quezon City VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION AGAINST FORUM SHOPPING We, ARNOLD J. TAGORDA and ABDON OWENS B. CABATU, both of legal age, and residents of No. 5, Rodgriguez St., Sta. Barbara, Iloilo City, and Lot 6H, Block 15, Carnation St., West Fairview Park, Fairview, Quezon City, respectively, under oath, depose and state that: 1. We are the Plaintiff and Attorney-in-fact in the above case, and we have caused the preparations and filing of the foregoing Complaint; 2. We have read the same and declare that the contents thereof are true and correct of our knowledge and based on official and authentic records; 3. This Complaint is filed not to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase cost of litigation.

Moreover, this Complaint contains factual allegations that have evidentiary support or will likewise have evidentiary support after reasonable opportunity for discovery; 4. We further certify that, except for Civil Case No. QZN-16-09111 entitled “Arnold J. Tagorda, represented

by Abdon Owens B. Cabatu v. Spouses Reynaldo and Evelyn Corpus, et al.” dismissed by the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 92, Quezon City, and CA-G.R. SP. No. 150339 entitled “Arnold J. Tagorda, represented by Abdon Owens B. Cabatu v. Spouses Reynaldo and Evelyn Corpus et al. “ before the Court of Appeals who affirmed the dismissal of the said case by the RTC, we have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or different divisions thereof, or any other tribunal or agency; to the best of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding is pending in the Supreme Court knowledge, no such action or proceeding is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or different divisions thereof, any other tribunal or agency; and 5. If we should thereafter learn that the same or similar action or claim has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or different divisions thereof, or any other tribunal or agency, we shall report that fact within five (5) calendar days therefrom to the court wherein, the aforesaid complaint or initiatory pleading has been filed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands this APRIL 20, 2021.

(Sgd.) ARNOLD J. TAGORDA (Sgd.) ABDON OWENS B. CABATU Affiant Affiant Driver’s License No. F03-00-135508 Driver’s License No. N02-11-009310 Expiration Date: 15 Dec. 2022 Expiration Date: 05 Aug. 2024 SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO BEFORE ME this 20th day of ,APR. 2021, affiant exhibiting to me their ________ with number __________bearing their picture and signature.

Doc. No. 498; Page No. 100; Book No.V Series of 2021.

NOTARY PUBLIC (Sgd.) ATTY. Michael JOSEPH C. CAPINPIN Notary Public for Quezon City Until December 31, 2021 PTR No. 5265600/1-4-2021/QC IBP Lifetime No. 08330 ROLL No. 56199 MCLE Compliance No. VI-0008995 Adm. Matter No. NP-207(2020-2021) 101 Malakas Lane Brgy. Central Q.C.

(Abante- Apr. 20, 27 & May 4, 2022)

Sports B2

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022

Brunson powers Mavs; Warriors, Sixers go 2-0

W

ASHINGTON—Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 41 points and Germany’s Maxi Kleber added 25 points off the bench to spark the Dallas Mavericks over Utah 110-104 and level their NBA playoff series.

The host Mavericks, playing without injured star Luka Doncic, deadlocked the bestof-seven matchup at 1-1 as the scene shifts to Salt Lake City.

“We needed this win,” Brunson said. “I just tried to go out there and have fun. I’m just being aggressive, trying to make plays, trying to engage multiple people, trying to create problems. Just playing my game.”

Brunson sparked a 10-0 Dallas run to put the Mavs ahead 96-93 with 5:40 remaining.

Utah scored the next five points but Kleber—who shot 8-for-11, all from 3-point range—followed with back-to-back 3-pointers for a 102-98 Dallas lead and the Jazz never matched them again.

“Maxi was huge,” Brunson said. “We’ve just got to keep playing together, no matter what.

We’re just taking one game at a time. This was great, but we’ve got to look forward.”

The Mavericks made a team-record 22 3-pointers but committed only three turnovers, tying an NBA playoff record.

In other playoff games Monday, the host Philadelphia 76ers seized a 2-0 series lead by beating Toronto 112-97 and Golden State ripped Denver 126-106 for a 2-0 series edge.

At San Francisco, the visiting Nuggets seized a 43-31 edge before Golden State closed the second quarter on a 26-8 run over the last seven minutes for a 57-51 halftime lead.

The decisive spurt, which began with a 16-0 run to give the Warriors their first lead, was

sparked by the three-guard alignment of Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson.

“We’re executing the best we can,” Poole said of the electrifying trio. “We’re ready to fight night in and night out.”

Golden State seized command in the third quarter, leading 101-81 entering the fourth, and cruised to victory.

All-Star guard Curry, coming off the bench in his second game back from a foot injury, scored 34 points on 12-of-17 shooting, going 5-of-10 from 3-point range in 23 minutes.

Poole had 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting and eight assists and Thompson contributed 21 points on 9-of-19 shooting.

“We all want to see other people get going,” Poole said of the Warriors backcourt trio. “We love playing team basketball. We can all get hot at any time.

“We all feel like we’re really special. Playing together makes us really lethal.”

Serbian center Nikola Jokic, last season’s NBA Most Valuable Player, led Denver with 26 points but was ejected after a second technical foul with seven minutes remaining.

‘We’ve got it all’ Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, a Cameroonian center and like Jokic a 2022 NBA MVP finalist, delivered game highs of 31 points and 11 rebounds.

Tyrese Maxey contributed 23 points, nine rebounds and a game-high eight assists for the Sixers while Tobias Harris added 20 points and 10 rebounds and James Harden had 14 points, six rebounds and six assists.

As a result, Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers took his 100th career NBA playoff triumph.

“We’ve got it all. We’ve just got to put it all together on the floor,” Embiid said. “We have to keep playing the way we’ve been playing. We know what we’ve got to do. We’ve just got to execute.”

Embiid was unhappy about the Sixers’ 14 turnovers but pleased with their physical play in outrebounding the Raptors 41-35. AFP

Jalen Brunson of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz during Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. AFP

Maroons nail 8th straight triumph

By Peter Atencio ZAVIER Lucero scored the go-ahead basket, while Senegalese big man Malick Diouf sank a freebie for good measure in the final minute as University of the Philippines escaped with a 7370 triumph over Far Eastern University on Tuesday in the 84th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Lucero, getting a pass from Carl Tamayo, put the Maroons for good at 72-70 with a driving shot with 1:25 left, before the 6’11” Diouf split his charities with 25.2 seconds to go for the final count to save the day for the Fighting Maroons, who picked up their eighth straight win—their longest winning streak in 18 years.

The Tamaraws had three big chances to force overtime, but RJ Abarrientos couldn’t find his range in the three-point area every time FEU took possession of the ball in the final minute.

Ricci Rivero played one of his best games in the season when he top-scored for 19 points and

had five rebounds, spearheading the Fighting Maroons to their 8-1 win-loss record.

Tamayo added 14 points and six boards as the Katipunan cagers remained in second place behind front-running Ateneo. CJ Cansino knocked in 12.

“In the first half, hindi naming masyado makuha ‘yung rhythm namin. Pero, iyung depensa namin, especially in the third quarter, doon naming nakuha iyung confidence, kaya gumanda ang offense,” said Maroons’ coach Goldwin Monteverde.

The game got into its final deadlock at 70-all behind the three-point play of FEU’s Emmanuel Ojuola in the 2:33 mark of the fourth period.

But Ojuola, who had a 14 points and 16 boards, bungled a chance to put FEU back in the lead with a pair of missed free throws in the final 1:46, before Lucero then scored the go-ahead basket.

The Tams, who have a 3-6 record in sixth spot, were led by Abarrientos and LJ Gonzales, who eked out 13 points apiece.

Cardinals rout Blazers to secure Final 4 seat MAPUA pulled away in the second quarter to beat Games Today College of Saint Benilde, 84-65, and seize solo third (La Salle Greenhills Gym) place in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament 12 noon – Perpetual vs San Beda Tuesday at the La Salle Greenhills Gym. 3 p.m. – EAC vs Letran Brian Lacap, making his second straight start after the Cardinals lost two in a row, scored a game-high 22 points on an 8-of-13 shooting to go with four rebounds, four steals and two assists.

“So totoo lang, medyo pressure siya,” said Lacap, who also started in Mapua’s 95-83 victory over University of Perpetual Help System Dalta before the Holy Week break.

“Kapag first time, good start ka para mahawa ang bench,” he added.

The victory, the fifth in seven games, gave the Cardinals hope to secure one of the two outright Final Four berths.

Mapua trails joint first placers Letran and San Beda by a full game.

The Blazers, who have lost two straight, dropped to fourth spot with a 4-3 card. The Cardinals, who started the season at 3-0 before encountering a rough patch, drew huge games from Paolo Hernandez and Rence Nocum.

Hernandez added 17 points, seven boards, two steals and two assists, while Nocum was the other player who scored in twin digits with 14 points.

Lacap’s three-pointer at the 5:59 mark of the second period capped Mapua’s 15-0 run to shatter a 19-19 stalemate at the end of the first quarter.

With 12 treys, the Cardinals’ sustained their hot shooting from beyond the arc, as they dropped 16 triples in their previous win against the Altas.

“Nagpapasalamat ako nag-payoff ‘yung extra shooting sa practice,” said Lacap, who had a +32 efficiency rating.

Will Gozum posted his second straight double-double with 13 points while Miggy Corteza and AJ Benson chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, for CSB.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment

Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022

B3

Daniel Radcliffe plays bratty billionaire in ‘The Lost City’

Daniel Radcliffe (left) and Sandra Bullock in ‘The Lost City’

AN ACTION-ADVENTURE comedy is only as good as its villain, and Paramount Pictures’ The Lost City has an unforgettable one in eccentric, author-nabbing billionaire Abigail Fairfax, played by Daniel Radcliffe.

When Radcliffe was first mentioned for the role, co-star Sandra Bullock thought the suggestion was, as she calls it, “genius,” adding, “Daniel has these piercing blue eyes that are soft and inviting, until Fairfax starts going nuts. Then, Daniel transforms into that maniacal guy. He’s brilliant and I am excited for audiences to experience a Daniel Radcliffe they will not expect.”

Radcliffe embraced the villainous but always fun role. “Fairfax is a bad guy, but there’s a lot of humor to him because he’s both bratty and petulant.

All of Fairfax’s villainy comes from a

Seasoned director hopes to instill values of love and respect in new series ‘False Positive’

By Patricia Taculao

M

OVIES and television series can influence audiences greatly with their creative takes on storytelling and sharing relevant life lessons.

So, when GMA gave the green light for False Positive, a series that tackles gender equality, its director, Irene Emma Villamor, made sure that it lived up to its promise.

Villamor is known for directing projects that follow the romance and drama genres. Before False Positive, she dabbled with fantasy and comedy in small doses throughout her directing career.

The series is her first time working with a slightly longer story rife with comedic value.

During an online media conference for False Positive, Villamor shared how she wanted the audience

Xian Lim

to learn the relevance of respect in every relationship. “‘Yong gender equality parang madali siya. Parang abstract natin siya na nakikita na dapat pantay-pantay pero when it comes to intimacy and the relationship ng mag-asawa, ‘yong respeto sa isa’t isa doon naman ‘yon magsisimula,” she said.

Villamor added that it’s a lesson that transcends gender because it focuses on love and the complexities of relationships.

Glaize De Castro and Xian Lim headline False Positive, marking the latter’s first full-length series with the network since he first joined the previous year.

Although Xian feels excited and grateful to the network’s creative team for considering him in such an unconventional role, he admits to having challenges during the production period.

“The challenges, siguro if I can pick one, is giving a genuine portrayal of being pregnant. ‘Yong mga nararamdaman or ‘yong mga mannerisms or ‘yong mga pinagdaraanan ng isang tao pag nabubuntis,” he shared.

Xian added that he had a lot of questions about pregnancy. Luckily, there were helpful people on set, such as mothers, who gave him insights to help him develop a more accurate portrayal of his role. They even instructed him on how to show pain and discomfort to be more believable.

False Positive is also Xian’s first time working alongside Glaiza, also known as Asia’s Acting

Glaiza De Castro in a scene from ‘False Positive’

Gem. Xian describes her as “super nice” but also intimidating at first.

On the other hand, Glaiza welcomed her character with open arms and an open mind. She shared that she learned a lot from her role in the series but thoroughly enjoyed it because of how professional her colleagues were in tackling a project that was new to them.

“Nilabas ng project na ‘to ‘yong inner kulit namin. Which I think nagwork naman kasi lahat nga open, lahat mapagbigay, lahat masaya, at masasabi ko lang talaga na ang sarap tumawa,” the actress said.

Glaiza is known for her powerful roles in many drama series, making False Positive a break from her usual.

She’s also married to American TV personality David Rainey. Presently, the couple wants to enjoy as much of their time together because Glaiza said that she needs to be physically, mentally, and spiritually prepared before she takes the next step in their lives and assumes the role of a mother.

False Positive will premiere on May 2 on GMA 7. Joining Glaiza and Xian are other notable celebrities like Nova Villa, Tonton Gutierrez, Rochelle Pangilinan, Dominic Roco, Luis Hontiveros, Yvette Sanchez, and more.

Free unlimited Tiktok access, anyone?

MOBILE services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) unveils Free TikTok For All, a promo for prepaid subscribers that allows them to access Tiktok for free.

Under Smart’s Free TikTok For All, subscribers can enjoy free unlimited access to TikTok every day upon registration to select Smart Prepaid promos worth over P99. On the other

Smart allows prepaid subscribers to access Tiktok for free with its new promo

hand, subscribers can enjoy free 1 GB of TikTok every day upon registration to select Smart Prepaid promos worth P99 and below.

With Free TikTok for All, Smart Prepaid makes good on its commitment to be the youth’s champion in enabling them to live their passions bigger.

Smart subscribers can avail of Free TikTok For All on the GigaLife App,

Smart subscribers can avail of Free TikTok For All on the GigaLife App

which is downloadable on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei Mobile Services. Customers can also avail of the offer by dialing #123# and choosing FREE TikTok For All. The offer also applies to all TNT subscribers.

Smart Prepaid promos make it is easier than ever for young Filipinos to join TikTok’s 1 billion monthly active users around the world - over 240 million of which coming from Southeast Asia.

Smart subscribers nationwide can simply enjoy TikTok to discover, experience, and share creative video content, such as trending dance and song covers, fun skits and monologues, life hacks, and more - all without incurring data charges.

Subscribers can also follow the latest updates of their favorite content creators and online celebrities as well as explore their ever evolving ‘For You Page’ or #fyp, the landing page that features specially curated content based on what TikTok thinks a specific user wants or likes.

Meanwhile, as part of the launch of Free TikTok for All, Smart Prepaid has kicked off the #WhatMakesYouTick Challenge, which encourages Filipino TikTok creators to showcase their passions in a 15 to 30-second TikTok video using the official hashtag #WhatMakesYouTick.

TikTok creators with the most creative and interesting entries get a chance to have their TikTok videos featured on Smart’s online and on-ground channels such as digital billboards at main thoroughfares nationwide.

need to please his media mogul father, which undercuts any real evil about him. Fairfax is just this terrible, entitled colonialist.”

“He has a real interest in archeology and history, but for all the wrong reasons,” Radcliffe continues. “Fairfax wants to possess treasures so that the rest of the world cannot. It’s a very childish motivation.”

When Fairfax pitches reclusive author Loretta (Bullock) the idea that her expertise can help him find the Lost City of D and its hidden treasure – a rare red diamond headdress – he thinks she will jump at the chance. When Loretta resists, he decides his next best option is to kidnap her.

“Fairfax chloroforms Loretta and puts her on his jet, expecting that she’ll change her mind, and when she doesn’t, it is clear

to Fairfax that he’s not going to get his own way,” Radcliffe points out.

“When she steals Fairfax’s one clue to finding that treasure, he decides she’s not an innocent anymore. Loretta is now fair game, and Fairfax is going to hunt her down.”

Radcliffe always remained cool under the locations’ unforgiving sun and tripledigit temperatures.

“Normally, extreme heat or cold are great because they sort of make you forget about acting; you’re just in it,” he says. “But Fairfax was not somebody who was supposed to be particularly sweaty, so I had five people around me with fans just trying to stop me sweating through my T-shirt.”

In Philippine cinemas on April 20, The Lost City is distributed by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Filipino celebrities are into NFTs, too A NUMBER of famous personalities idolized by fans here and around the world are exploring the possibilities of cryptocurrency by way of Non-Fungible Tokens, or better known by its acronym NFT. In layman’s terms, it is a way of selling an artist’s works as unique items through digital technology.

International celebrities who are into NFTs include socialite Paris Hilton, TV host Ellen Degeneres, rapper Snoop Dog, NBA star Stephen Curry, among others.

Locally, actresses and social media darlings Heart Evangelista and Bea Binene are at the forefront of this community after posting on their social media accounts that they are into it as well.

Digital entrepreneur Julius Santillan must be a name now circulating in NFT circles in the Philippines. He appreciates for sure the inherent advantage of popular figures when it comes to maximizing the strength of selling works of art. In fact, when he formally launched his own Vention app, an NFT marketplace run by Filipinos, he invited social media star Ivana Alawi and ace rapper Gloc-9.

He shared, “Marami nang NFT market places all over the world pero wala pa kahit isa na Pinoy ang gumawa kaya ‘yun ang naisip naming simulan sa blockchain

technology.”

He explained, “Marami tayong Filipino artists, well-known man or rising pa lang.

At bilang pag-support sa kanila, ginawa namin ang Vention App to be a platform to showcase their talents all over the world.

Hindi kasi nagpapahuli ang Pinoy pagdating sa ganyan. Katulad nung nalaunch namin ang Vention App as Philippine’s first NFT Market place, naglabasan ang mga nakakahangang gawang Pinoy and we are expecting more to follow lalo ngayong mas lumalaki na ang ating Vention community.”

VNT Vention is a global market site focusing on artists and their creations.

It lets anyone create, buy, sell or even collect digital merchandise with minimal platform fees. It’s the first of its kind in the Philippines and the site’s main proponent seeks to attract more local artists such as actors, musicians, painters, authors, and the like to this unique marketing platform.

Santillan noted, “The stuff best for NFT are paintings and collectibles or unique items. Non-fungible assets are not interchangeable. Mahalaga sa NFT ang identity ng item, yung story nito, history, or owner that makes it unique. For example, yung NFT ni Stephen Curry na digital replica ng sneakers na suot niya when he broke the all-time three-point record in the NBA. Dahil may identity ang particular na sneaker na yun, naging unique yun kaya ang value tumaas din.”

As for the status of NFT here in the Philippines, Santillan can only speak of positivity. He related, “Though starting pa lang unlike sa ibang bansa na very much aware na ang mga tao, we are going there na din at baka kapag talagang na-master na natin how NFT works, marami talaga ang makikinabang. NFT is actually a blessing for us especially during this pandemic. Since nagka-pandemic kasi, almost everything is online na and that’s how NFT works in cryptoworld.”

NFT is said to be the future regardless of how the pandemic pans out. As the app founder noted, further research and we can say that cryptocurrency could be the most powerful currency in the coming years.

The Vention App will not just be a welcome addition to the plethora of marketing platforms for local arts, but more importantly, it can eventually lead the way to an explosion of interest in Philippine arts in all its varied forms across the globe.

Vention App founder Julius Santillan (right) with actress and social media star Ivana Alawi

Sports advocate group congratulates Rambo Nuñez in his engagement to Maja Salvador THE Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta or PBA, a leading partylist created to support the Filipino athletes who are poor and marginalized, recently sent a congratulatory message to its newly appointed representative Rambo Nuñez and his fiancée, actress Maja Salvador.

“The PBA Partylist would like to congratulate our very own Rambo Nuñez and the beautiful Maja Salvador on their engagement. We celebrate the excitement of this joyous occasion with the couple, their families and friends. In all their years together, Rambo and Maja have consistently proven their love and dedication to the Filipino people—whether it’d be through entertainment (showbiz) or public service,”the group said in a statement sent to Manila Standard Entertainment.

“With Rambo’s nomination to the PBA Partylist and now the formality of an engagement, we congratulate the couple for truly winning in love and in life. Additionally, given the couple’s tightly packed schedules, their uncompromising efforts in championing our youth-driven causes are admirable,” the statement continued, wishing Rambo and Maja a life full of

love and success as they embark on this momentous chapter.

“Maja has been incredibly supportive of Rambo’s endeavors and has been doing her own voluntary efforts in terms of championing the PBA’s advocacy,” the statement ended.

The PBA is a partylist organization in the House of Representatives. It aims to represent the youth with athletic and artistic abilities - but are poor and marginalized in life. It was created for the purpose of discovering, cultivating and harnessing young and promising talents from impoverished and disadvantaged families leveraging on the advantage of sports and culture as a means to uplift lives and empower futures.

Rambo was recently fielded in as among PBA’s partylist representatives for the May 2022 election.

He and Maja announced their engagement last April 17 after rekindling their romance in 2019.

Rambo Nuñez (left) and Maja Salvador

Life

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2022

Kristine Lim returns to Intramuros with ‘Tetelestai’

Kristine Lim at Molito Lifestyle Center

AFTER mounting her very first art installation Portraits of Christ in Intramuros, Manila, “Artist on a Mission” Kristine Lim transformed the exhibit into something more thought-provoking, and intriguing to coincide with the Holy Week celebration.

As a missionary visual artist, known for being bold and unapologetic when it comes to having no dissociation between her art and her faith, she evolved Portraits of Christ into its sequel she calls Tetelestai. According to the artist, “it is a personal reminder for a sinner like me, who keeps on failing and falling in the mundane, to ask the Lord to help my unbelief.”

“It is a personal reflection I want to extend to others who are also going through life’s adversities.

I pray we always find that confidence in Him to overcome our fears, insecurities, and uncertainties.

We must live a life that’s completely free because we are forgiven through the Love that’s beyond what our mind and hearts can conceive,” she added.

Creating a deeper experience for the art installation is the musical score composed by ABSCBN Music’s creative director Jonathan Manalo.

“Tetelestai is an apt reminder that we all need.

I’m grateful that the Lord allowed for such a beautifully breathtaking yet bold and brave art installation to be mounted in a very timely season.

This has been inspiring and honoring for both me and Kristine for we know it is what we are called to do for this very specific moment, especially for the country,” Manalo said of the installation.

According to Lim, Manalo’s music was able to

Art exhibit pays tribute to Mother Earth

capture the soul and spirit of her artwork and visitors will be able to communicate Kristine Lim (left) and Jonathan Manalo with the Divine through wordless interactions. She believes deeply rooted and honest emotions and even prayers are articulated in such ways. Most of the time, no words are perfect to equate and suffice their full expression.

The vernissage of Tetelestai was held last April 9 at Molito Lifestyle Center Alabang. It was attended by heads of Art Lounge Manila led by their owner and managing director, Susanne DS Tiausas, leaders of New Life Christian Center, and executives of Molito Lifestyle Center. Lim and Manalo were not present during the event but both were able to record on video their messages. Celine Tojos attended on behalf of the duo and read both their Kristine Manalo (left) and Jonathan Manalo combine art and music to create a deeper experience for the art installation remarks during the event.

Tetelestai exhibit is on view at the Baluartillo de San Francisco Javier, Fort Santiago, It was also showcased at Molito Lifestyle Center Intramuros, Manila until today. It is presented by in Alabang from April 10 to 17. The installation the Department of Tourism, It’s More Fun In The was in collaboration with New Life Christian Philippines, Intramuros Administration, and Art Center, Art Lounge Manila, and Molito Lifestyle Lounge Manila.

Center.

A scene from ‘Doc Resureccion’

Celebrated Hawaii artist Juno Galang beside his Fish Series Paintings Blowing Bubbles and Two Fishes

‘Doc Resureccion’ is a politicalthemed play that urges voters to be critical

ArtisteSpace Inc. Managing Director Anton Magpantay (left) and SM Senior Vice President for Marketing Millie Dizon at the ‘Art For Life’ + ‘Upcycled’ exhibit at the Upper Ground Floor of SM Aura Premier

IN CELEBRATION of Earth Day this month, the Art for Life + Upcycled exhibit recently paid tribute to the beautiful planet we live in, highlighting ways to make it a happier, healthier world.

A joint project of SM Aura Premier and ArtisteSpace, Inc., the back-toback exhibit on the Upper Ground Floor of SM Aura Premier, aims to bridge art and sustainability and create more awareness about the environment through the works of amazing artist-advocates.

Art for Life highlights the beauty of nature, enjoying life, and giving importance to the things around us.

Hawaii –based artist Juno Galang takes us to the depths of tropical seas with his dazzling Fish Series in vibrant hues of purple, green, yellow, red, and blue that characterize his true nature.

Fashion designer-turned-visual artist Boysie Villavicencio’s coral paintings, on the other hand, reveal his attention to detail and eye for the exquisite.

An advocate of Philippine endemic flora and fauna, Bing Famoso-Tac-an showcases rare flowers and birds from

A relevant political theater ‘Doc Resureccion’ delves into the disturbing underbelly of local politics

our native species on her canvasses and her clothes.

Upcycled, on the other hand, features artworks from discarded things that are transformed into works of contemporary art and sculpture.

An aeronautical engineer, sculptor Arnel Borja demonstrates his ideas on balance in new works that make use of fulcrums to achieve the necessary weights and counterweights of the concept.

Swedish artist-musician Janet Kamphuis, who believes that “Art is Oxygen,” breathes creative life into her mixed media and wood canvases.

Art for Life + Upcycled aims to promote the growing importance of Earth Day as an annual observance in keeping environmental awareness front and center for all shoppers.

“We have been working on our operational elements to uphold the way we do business and align efforts that will directly or indirectly benefit the planet, its people, and communities,” shares ArtisteSpace Inc. Managing Director Anton Magpantay.

The Art for Life + Upcycled exhibit is one of the many exciting events at SM Aura Premier.

Accomplished Swedish Artist Jeanette Kamphuis beside her Purity series of mixed media on wood paintings

Bing Famoso Tac-an, an advocate of endemic flora and fauna, depicts larger than life versions of very small flowers Hoya Camphorifolia and Hoya Bicolenesis in her works

T

HE dead come back to life during elections. Not-sosecret vote-buying methods. Blaring political jingles so early in the morning waking you up after a night of burning oil. Politicians promise the impossible just to win and retain power and smear mud on their opponents. People vote for unscrupulous candidates even when there are better choices.

Nanding” Josef as Boy Pogi’s father.

The political-themed play was first staged in 2009 as part of the Virgin Labfest, the annual theater festival of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It was restaged a year after as part of the Revisited Set. Tuxqs Rutaquio directed the restaging in 2010.

This year, the CCP resident theater company decided to restage it for the third time because it is very timely since the presidential election is just around the corner.

If you’ve seen the first two stagings, you’ll notice that nothing much has changed. It’s the same We are all familiar old tale. with these scenarios.

Dennis Marasigan, Same situations, who will be directing same nuisances, this latest staging, same vicious cycle shared that they remain happening then and faithful to the material, now. Things have except for two lines never changed in the which they changed political arena. This is to mirror the current why Doc Resureccion: automated election Gagamutin Ang process.

Bayan, a stage play “I did not think that written by Layeta it had to be different. I Bucoy and produced focused on the elements by Tanghalang and themes that are Pilipino, still resonates relevant today. For me, these days. the election is not the The play follows the only thing that is wrong. story of two cousins On the surface, we who are running for might think corruption the same position in is the problem because A scene from ‘Doc Resureccion’ their hometown in the during the press preview hints of it are always coming election. One present is a doctor who has little experience in in the election process. But running a bureaucracy but has a high chance if you go down deeper, the of winning against the incumbent mayor problems we have is because seeking re-election. The other becomes a of ‘othering.’ If you are not nuisance candidate paid by the incumbent with us, you are against us. If mayor to confuse the voters. Things turn you are against us, away tayo.” nasty when Doc visits Boy Pogi, asking the We can discern this latter to withdraw his candidacy. phenomenon of othering not TP Actors Company’s Jonathan just during this campaign Tadioan reprises his role as Boy Pogi, period, but in our everyday while TP associate artistic director Marco lives. Just on social media Viaña plays Doc. Completing the cast alone, see how divided we are Lhorvie Nuevo as Boy Pogi’s wife are.

Elsa, Sherry Lara as Boy Pogi’s mother, “Sa election, habang and TP artistic director Fernando “Tata umiigting, may kami at sila.

Sila ay iba. Kami ay iba. Ideally in a democracy, if we have different political leanings, it is a matter of questions of ideas. Pero ngayon, basta iba ka, wala tayong usapan. Sa dula, bagamat may kaugnayan ang mga karakter sa isa’t isa, kapag nilagay mo sa isip mo na iba ka, ito na ang simula ng away at hidwaan.

Walang patutunguhan maganda.”

Doc Resureccion streams until April 30.

Tickets are available on Ticket2Me.net.

Originally, the plan was to stage the play live when the pandemic eases up.

But Omicron surged and we were on lockdown again. TP wanted the play out before the election; hence, they decided to stream it online instead.

The director shared that they will probably do a stage version (hopefully soon), and they are thinking about a film adaptation.

In a time when fake news and misinformation are rampant, this is truly a play worth watching.

“I hope when they watch, they will look at themselves and try to see things – Ganun ba ako? Kilala ko ba itong napapanood ko? Instead of seeing things as simply black or white, the play presents realities that are happening around us.

Nothing has changed since 2009. It will make you think, be critical about things, examine things and go beyond the surface.

Kaya tayo may fake news kasi we’re not that critical anymore.”

Come May 9, we will all go to the poll precincts and elect who will govern us for the next six years. I won’t tell you who you should vote for, but I’m going to emphasize to be discerning. More than the who, we should choose how we will be governed. Let’s focus on the platforms rather than the personalities.

The cast of ‘Doc Resureccion’