Manila Standard - 2022 May 10 - Tuesday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

S

manilastandard.net

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 83 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Supporters of presidential frontrunner Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos troop to his campaign headquarters along EDSA in Mandaluyong City to celebrate his wide lead over his rivals early Tuesday dawn.

BBM, SARA WIN BIG

Post insurmountable leads with 87.74% of poll returns accounted for

By Joyce Pañares, Jimbo Gulle, Vito Barcelo, Rey Requejo, Rio Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO

F

ORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was heading for a landslide victory in the race for the presidency on Monday, getting over 28.03 million votes, a partial and unofficial tally showed early Tuesday dawn.

With at least 87.74 percent of the election returns processed, Marcos had more than twice the number of votes for his main rival, Vice President Leni Robredo, who had over 13.38 million votes.

His running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, was also solidly in front with over 28.14 million votes,

FERDINAND 'BONGBONG' MARCOS JR.

Next page

Duterte-Carpio starts 4-day thanksgiving caravan today

By Maricel V. Cruz VICE presidential frontrunner Sara Duterte-Carpio on Monday said will meet with support groups starting today for a four-day thanksgiving caravan to personally convey her gratitude for their unwavering efforts throughout her campaign.

“Tomorrow, our thanksgiving caravan will start so I will go to Manila,” she said in an interview after she casted her vote at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School in Davao City Monday morning.

“We have scheduled a meeting per group – it’s basically me personally

saying thank you to all of them,” she added.

Duterte-Carpio's four-day thanksgiving caravan will also include a visit to the Lakas-CMD headquarters in Mandaluyong.

An online thanksgiving event will also be held on May 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon via the Mayor Inday Sara Duterte official Facebook page.

One of Duterte-Carpio's 90-day campaign highlights was the Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride (MNPR), where she embarked on a month-long country loop caravan to campaign for unity, Next page peace, and patriotism.

EDITORIAL

Robin Padilla jumps to no. 1 in senatorial 'Magic 12'

By Joel Pinaroc ACTOR Robin Padilla remained on top of the “Magic 12” for senatorial candidates with 23.51 million votes based on partial and unofficial tally of the data from the transparency server of the Commission on Elections.

He was followed by former senator and Antique Rep. Loren Legarda with 21.77 million and broadcaster Raffy Tulfo with 21.01 million.

Padilla is a vocal supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte. He served as chairman of a committee within the Philippine Army Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board

prior.

Legarda, on the other hand, is a veteran lawmaker. She was a three-term senator before joining the House of Representatives.

Tulfo is a known broadcaster and his channel on the YouTube platform Next page

The people have spoken THE Filipino people—nearly 66 million of the 110 million population —have spoken in the consequential electoral exercise hobbled by the infectious coronavirus 2019, which wrestled down the domestic economy, sent millions out of jobs and killed thousands.

Now the leaders, who had their political slogans at the ready even

before the formal start of the 90-day campaign for national officials and shorter for local leaders, are preparing to take their respective oath of office.

So help them God. They are now challenged by the stalking memories of their promised platforms that animated crowds and caravans as well as urban rallies never Next page

LOCAL ROUNDUP

Frontrunners in local elections

By Joel Zurbano and Rio Araja VICE Mayor Honey Lacuna is expected to succeed Francisco Domagoso as the next Manila mayor as partial returns suggested she has won more than half the votes cast, with nearly 100 percent of election returns transmitted Monday night.

With 90.32 percent of Manila’s election returns transmitted, Lacuna got 485,539 votes, followed by Alex Lopez – 151,334; Amado Bagatsing – 103,413; Christy Lim – 13,468; and Elmer Jamias – 3,579.

Incumbent San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora is poised for a second three-year term.

Zamora, running under the ruling PDP-Laban party, gathered 66,054 votes, against his opponent Jun Usman, who has 9,330 votes.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto is assured of re-election with a landslide victory with 82.52 percent of election returns transmitted.

According to data from Comelec's transparency server, Sotto got 276,557 votes, while his rival Vice Mayor Iyo Bernardo got 37,953.

Former Pasig Rep. Dodot Jaworski, Sotto’s ally, is leading the vice-mayoral race with 169,523 votes, followed by Pasig Councilor Mario “Junjun” Concepcion Jr with 72,429 votes, and former Councilor Christian Sia with 62,196.

Next page

LONG QUEUES, LONG WAIT FOR VCMS. A throng of voters line up to enter a polling center in Sampaloc, Manila to cast their votes on Monday, May 9, 2022. In Quezon City, at almost 4 in the afternoon or just three hours before the close of voting, two of three machines in Bgy. Teachers Village East remain defective. Residents are being told they could either wait indefinitely until the issue is resolved so they themselves can feed their ballots into the machines—or leave their shaded ballots with officials who would do it when the machines are fixed. Danny Pata and Adelle Chua

A2

News

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PNP: 20 incidents of vote-buying T

By Maricel V. Cruz

PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo said 10 incidents are being investigated, three have been referred to the prosecutor's office, and one has been filed before a court.

At least 15 suspects have been arrested while nine remain at large, she said.

The incidents, Fajardo said, were recorded in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao, and Metro Manila.

The Commission on Elections on Monday urged the public to take photos and videos of people who distributed sample ballots on Election Day, which is against the law.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia told a press briefing that the distribution of sample ballots is still considered as a form of campaigning, which was supposed to end on May 7.

“If you distribute sample ballots, that will be considered as campaigning even if you claim that the individuals

who are distributing are supporters or leaders of their groups. That is a form of campaigning and we can still go after the candidates who authorized and distributed the sample ballots,” he said in Filipino.

Izah Katrina Reyes, of the watchdog group Lente, said the video and photographic evidence could later be used to identify those who broke the law.

Complaints, she said, could be sent to Lente or the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, through their hotlines.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said the Omnibus Election Code needs to be updated to provide stronger penalties against syndicated vote buying and “cyber vote buying” during elections.

“These provisions are over 30 years old. Sadly, those who seek to undermine the people’s right to vote have devised newer, more nefarious schemes that employ syndicated operations and modern technology,” Vargas said in a

statement.

“If we were to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and protect the people’s right to suffrage, then the law must evolve,” he added.

At present, the law punishes vote buying with imprisonment of one to six years, “a punishment that does not reflect the importance of the right to suffrage, nor ascribe full value to our democratic ideals grounded on the electorate’s free and informed choice.”

The Vargas bill defines two new offenses, syndicated vote buying and cyber-vote buying. These acts have been widely documented in the Fifth District of Quezon City, and have been ascribed to an outsider candidate acting in conspiracy with local accomplices.

Vargas said in his explanatory note that the intensity of vote buying in his district is “unprecedented."

Citing “ground reports, voluminous video and photograph records, and sworn statements,” Vargas said these vote-buying operations “work through a ‘pyramiding system’ where there is an active recruitment of networks of votebuying accomplices.”

Vargas said the vote buying scheme utilizes identification cards with QR codes, stubs, and tickets, and are

BBM...

Marcos.

“It’s a phenomena . . . It’s the first time that an elected president got more than 50 percent of the votes,” Rye said, noting that the Philippine presidential system has not produced a majority president in recent history.

Marcos' lawyer and spokesman, Vic Rodriguez, also expressed optimism that the Commission on Elections will vote in their favor and junk the disqualification cases against Marcos.

“We have always been confident in our cases before the commission. We are now just waiting for the ruling of the Commission en banc. But we're very confident that there will be no basis for them to overturn the dismissal of all the disqualification cases filed against presidential front runner Bongbong Marcos,” Rodriguez told GMA News in an interview.

In an earlier interview after casting her vote, Robredo said she remained upbeat despite trailing behind Marcos in all preelection surveys.

“I am happy that the campaign period

is over, and that I got the chance to do everything that I could without resorting to unpleasant maneuverings... We achieved so much more than we expected,” the 57-year-old Robredo said.

But in Naga City, her Bicolano supporters gathered at the Quince Martires plaza to offer prayers.

While Commission on Elections chief George Garcia said that it is not yet over “until the last vote is counted,” the writing appeared to be on the wall for Marcos's nine rivals vying to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte.

"The long lines are magnificent.

Filipinos wanted to be heard and heard loudly," Garcia said even as he acknowledged that nearly 2,000 vote counting machines had malfunctioned across the country.

More than 60,000 security personnel have been deployed to protect polling stations and election workers.

Shortly after voting got under way, three security guards were killed when gunmen opened fire at a polling station in

HE Philippine National Police said at least 20 incidents of vote-buying have been reported.

From A1

over triple that of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who had more than 8.36 million votes.

The UniTeam bets will be the first presidential and vice presidential candidates to secure absolute majority since 1986.

In a televised speech aired late Monday, the former senator told his supporters: "The count is not yet done.

Let's continue our watch. Thank you for all that you have done for us."

“We thank you all so very much. I want to thank my countrymen. They have been there, not just for the candidates... but for the bright future of our beloved Philippines,” Marcos added.

“We have a frontrunner from the start to finish,” said Prof. Ranjit Rye of the University of the Philippines-Political Science Department in describing the likely phenomenal presidential victory of

disguised as pandemic-related aid, scholarships, and fuel cards.

Earlier, special teams of policemen were formed to go after people engaged in vote buying and vote selling.

The teams — created in every city and provincial police command unit — are also tasked to investigate, gather evidence, and protect the witnesses in vote buying activities.

“This is a concrete effort of the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police to support the Commission on Elections and the interagency Task Force Kontra Bigay in ensuring a fraud-free election,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said.

“Evidence-based complaints will be acted upon and verified by the PNP AntiVote Buying Teams and will go through the same process of gathering evidence.

These will be forwarded to the Comelec which has a motu proprio power, or on its own accord, file cases of violation of election laws,” he added.

The Comelec on Saturday said it was investigating at least 10 cases of alleged vote-buying.

In 2013, the Comelec disqualified two local candidates – one in Roxas, Isabela and another in Norzagaray, Bulacan – for vote buying.

a restive region of the southern island of Mindanao, police said.

That followed a grenade attack on Sunday in the same province that left nine people wounded.

For her part, Duterte-Carpio said she will be a supportive vice president to her running mate should they win in the polls.

“First of all, I will be a vice president who is committed to working for the Philippines. That's our campaign, we seek out the support of all Filipinos in campaigning that we will remain committed for our community, for the nation, for the cities... and of course we will be a supportive and loyal vice president to Apo BBM in the event he wins,” she said.

She also thanked her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, for actively campaigning for her.

“I thank President Duterte for going around the country to campaign for me.

I also thank everyone who has helped in the campaign since January,” she added.

With AFP

development, and the living conditions of Filipinos in the countryside.

From A1 “We will also have a gift-giving for Davao City. Win or lose, we have The ride was an eye-opener, Duterte- already scheduled that gift-giving event Carpio said, as she was able to assess for our less fortunate constituents in first hand grassroot situations, local Davao City,” she added.

Duterte-Carpio...

Local...

From A1

Incumbent Mayor Abby Binay led Makati City's mayoral race by at least 206,000. Her lone opponent Joel Hernandez garnered 10,344 votes, based on 64.23 percent of Comelec's election returns.

Binay's running mate and vice mayoralty bet Monique Lagdameo was also leading with 217,852 votes, while competitor Kuya Rod Biolena logged 15,688.

Incumbent Mayor Joy Belmonte led Quezon City's mayoral race by over 190,000 votes, partial and unofficial results from Comelec showed Monday night.

As of 9:02 p.m., Belmonte has 527,639 votes, leading among 9 candidates for the post based on 79.74 percent of Comelec's election returns.

Michael Defensor placed second with 333,828 votes, followed by Glenda Araneta with 3,454 votes.

In Mandaluyong, all candidates of the Abalos family appeared set for victory.

Former mayor Benjamin Abalos Sr. was poised to return as the city's chief executive while his daughter-in-law, incumbent Mayor Menchie Abalos, is set to win as vice mayor after running unopposed.

stronghold Davao City, partial and unofficial data from the Commission on Elections showed on Monday night.

Hugpong ng Pagbabago's Sebastian Duterte led the mayoral race in Davao City with 482,391 votes, a huge gap from contender Ruy Elias Lopez at 53,087, based on 76.19 percent of election results transmitted, as of 9:17 pm.

J. Melchor Quitain, running unopposed for the vice-mayoralty race, has 424,090 votes.

Paolo Duterte led the congressional race in the city's first legislative district with 191,617 votes, far from Mags Maglana who so far has 12,851 votes.

Magalong in Baguio INCUMBENT Mayor Benjie Magalong looked set to return as Baguio City mayor.

As of 9:02 p.m., Magalong has 60,362 votes while his closest rival Mauricio Domogan garnered 45,400 votes, based on 85.35 percent of Comelec's election returns.

The other mayoralty candidates, Edison Bilog and Jeffrey Pinic, had 10,200 and 282 votes, respectively.

QUICK COUNT. Workers wait for polls to close for the presidential election at the election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) unofficial parallel count's command center in Manila on May 9, 2022. AFP

CEBU Gov. Gwen Garcia is poised to get three more years in office with 904,353 votes.

She leads by a wide margin over former tourism secretary Ace Durano, PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte's children who got 216,859 votes. led the local election race in the family's

reportedly has millions of subscribers.

The “Magic 12” remains unchanged, as of the latest tally.

Following the top three are Sen. Win Gatchalian (18.54 million), Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero (18.3 million), former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar (17.36

million), Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (17.29 million), Sen. Migz Zubiri (16.77 million), Sen. Joel Villanueva (16.70 million), former Senator JV Ejercito (14.22 million), Sen. Risa Hontiveros (13.97 million), and former Senator Jinggoy Estrada (13.47 million).

At the 13th and 14th spots are former Vice President Jejomar Binay with 11.93 million and former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista with 11.7 million.

cases having been offset by factors like an added relaxation of health restrictions, increased business confidence and election-related spending, our newly elected leaders have a template, as it were, from which to capture their vision sounded out during the campaign.

But they would have to guard against higher inflation because this could make growth slower in its forward move.

At the same time, the winners – incoming President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara DuterteCarpio – have it on their singular political lap and table to heal the divisions caused by the exhaustingly

harsh campaign mounted by 10 presidential candidates who aspired to win the country's highest political gift.

While we congratulate the winners, we also congratulate the Commission on Elections which deserves the people's unqualified support for protecting the generally peaceful elections that many had hoped would bring the country into a better tomorrow.

The salute also goes to the law enforcement agencies and all those in the civilian zone who volunteered to make the exercise truly reflective of the will of the majority as is expected highly in a democracy.

And thus the leaders must now prepare for the formidable horn they

would have to quickly grab in the next six years to fill the bill in the anxiety of the people whose hopes for a brighter future and better life they sketched in the two-page ballot on Monday.

When the leaders have properly addressed the apprehensions and the dreams of the people following the schismatic political exercise, then the country, sans the slogans crafted by political handlers from the thoughts of candidates, can truly move forward and face the forbidding challenges before the country.

We add that the people, who had supported our leaders, whatever their colors during the campaign had been, are now one with the country's tricolors.

Garcia in Cebu

Davao City winners Editorial...

From A1

before seen in the archives of Philippine political exercise.

This is now the time to give flesh and bones to the sketches made in the enervating political campaign filled with character assassination heretofore unseen in gravity during the post Second World War years from the time of Manuel Roxas in 1946 when Philippine Independence was restored by the Americans.

With analysts seeing above six percent first quarter Gross Domestic Product, a January surge in COVID-19

Robin...

From A1

7 killed in poll violence in Mindanao

By Nash B. Maulana and Ronald O. Reyes AT LEAST seven persons died on Election Day as an official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday pollrelated violence in Mindanao remains relatively lower compared to previous elections.

Three security guards were killed in Maguindanao when gunmen opened fire at a polling station, police said, as millions of Filipinos voted in the national elections.

Another person died in a shooting incident inside a voting center in Malabang, Lanao Del Sur, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala.

Three armed men were also killed in the brief exchange of gunfire with the Philippine Navy’s locally stationed Marines elements outside a school also in Malabang, authorities said.

Elections are a traditionally volatile time in a country with lax gun laws and a violent political culture, but police said this season had been comparatively peaceful.

Also in Lanao del Sur, some votecounting machines (VCMs) were destroyed, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said, as it awaited police reports to confirm the incidents.

This was on top of reports of up to 2,000 VCMs malfunctioning for various reasons across the country (see related story on A1–Editors).

Meanwhile, two former police officers and two farmers were arrested after they allegedly carried illegal firearms in separate police operations in Hilongos, Leyte and Pintuyan, Southern Leyte on Monday.

Police Regional Office 8 director Brigadier General Bernard Banac identified the former policemen as Julius Caesar Yadao, 50, and Slazenger Cadavis, 47, both residents of Tacloban City.

The two farmers were identified as Alejandro Manongsong, 57, and Donald Felicilda, 49, both from Pintuyan town.

“Again, I urge the public to be observant in your communities for the presence of these lawless elements and relay it to authorities for the apprehension of such criminals for the immediate action of our personnel for safe and peaceful national and local elections 2022,” Banac said.

As of Sunday, there had been 16 "validated election-related incidents" since January 9, including four shootings, said PNP spokesman Police Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba.

That compares with 133 incidents during the 2016 presidential elections.

The deadly shooting in Maguindanao happened shortly after voting got underway in Buluan on the island of Mindanao, a haven for multiple armed groups ranging from the private armies of warlord-politicians to communist insurgents and Islamist militants.

A fourth guard was wounded in the attack, said Maguindanao provincial police spokesman Major Roldan Kuntong.

Former mayor Ibrahim Mangudadatu told Agence-France Presse that people inside the school being used as a polling station ran for cover when the shooting started.

In Lanao del Sur, gunmen attacked a polling station, leaving one voter dead and two wounded, police said.

That came after five grenades exploded outside a polling station in Datu Unsay municipality in Maguindanao late Sunday that left nine people wounded.

In Malabang, former House Deputy Speaker Pangalian Balindong told the Manila Standard he and his brother, Malabang mayoral candidate Dagar Balindong, had just exited the gate of the school on board an SUV. This was when the armed men opened fire at the school grounds, apparently in a bid to halt the voting so authorities may declare a failure of elections.

Balindong, the incumbent speaker of the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority (BTA), said he could be the primary target of the shooting that occurred at around 11 a.m., after he and his brother Dagar had cast their votes at a polling precinct at the school.

Dagar Balindong is a local candidate of the Lakas-Muslim Christian Democrats.

In Buluan, four members of the local Barangay Patrol Action Team (BPAT), were shot dead as they tried to manage early queues to polling precincts in the town center.

At about 9:30 a.m. Assemblyman Khadafeh Mangudadatu went live on Facebook, saying he and mayor wife Jihan Mamalinta Mangudadatu of Pandag town were ambushed, and that two of their companions were hit as they traversed an interior road to Pandag.

News

tuesday, May 10, 2022

Better economy, higher debt await next admin—BSP

VOTING AND MOTHERHOOD CAN GO TOGETHER. A

mother cuddles her sleeping child even as she casts her vote at a polling precinct in Legarda Elementary school in Sampaloc, Manila. Danny Pata

Oil prices up by as much as P5.85/l DOH: Cases of COVID-19 going down

By Willie Casas THE incidence of COVID-19 in the country appeared to be slowing down, records at the Department of Health (DOH) indicated.

The country’s daily average coronavirus cases went down to 161 on May 2 to 8, representing a 20 percent reduction compared to the previous week, the DOH data showed.

On Sunday, a total of 152 new COVID cases was recorded by the DOH, bringing the number of active cases to 4,106, which was the lowest in more than two years, or since April 11, 2020, the DOH said.

COVID cases averaged 200 per day from April 25 to May 1.

In its latest case bulletin, the DOH said there were 1,124 new cases of the coronavirus, with 42 verified deaths in the recent week.

For the same period, 14 cases were added to the tally of severe and critical infections, bringing the figure to 611.

Only 16.8 percent or 474 out of the 2,817 intensive care unit (ICU) beds were in use, while 15.4 percent or 3,664 out of 23,818 non-ICU beds were utilized.

To date, about 68 million or 76.04 percent of the country’s target population (90,005,357) have been vaccinated against COVID, including 8,721,357 senior citizens.

As of May 1, a total of 13,454,867 out of 68,437,798 have received booster shots.

Of the latest infections, 45 were from Metro Manila.

The country›s total cases has climbed to 3,687,018 since the onset of the pandemic, the DOH reported.

The DOH logged no new death due to the disease for the fourth straight day. The death toll remains at 60,439.

A MAN HAS TO DO WHAT HE HAS TO DO. A

volunteer provides free alcohol and body temperature check as police and military security details maintain law and order while voting unfolds at the Kapt. Cardones Integrated School in Taguig City.

Manny Palmero

A3

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

By Alena Mae S. Flores

W

ITH the country still convulsing in election fever, oil companies are jacking up their pump prices anew with the usual excuse of “movements in the world oil market.”

Seaoil Philippines announced an oil price hike of P5.85 per liter for kerosene and P4.20 per liter for both gasoline and diesel effective today.

Petro Gazz and Cleanfuel also raised pump prices although the specific amounts were not immediately disclosed. Other companies were expected to follow suit.

The expected hefty increases in oil prices ostensibly reflected the continuing volatility of world oil prices driven by the Ukraine-Russia armed conflict and the increasing demand from China due to the

re-opening of businesses with the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions.

Dubai crude reached an average of $95.6 per barrel from January to March this year due to ‘geopolitical tension and supply concerns” triggered by the war between Russia and Ukraine, according to Petron Corp.

On May 3, the oil companies imple-

mented a minimal price rollback of P0.65 per liter for gasoline and P1.10 per liter for both diesel and kerosene.

These resulted in year-to-date adjustments to stand at a net increase of P17.80 per liter for gasoline, P30.30 per liter for diesel, and P23.90 per liter for kerosene, based on data from the Department of Energy (DOE).

Meanwhile, the DOE said 99.8 percent of 10,802 Liquid Fuel Retail Outlet (LFRO) facilities were operational yesterday as the whole country was busy with the national and local elections. May 9.

Those not operational were attributed to renovation, restoration, and repair of damages caused by past calamities.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday said the incoming administration will inherit a better economy, but faces higher debt as the outgoing government borrowed more to finance infrastructure projects and COVID-19 response efforts.

In an interview with ANC, BSP Gov. Benjamin Diokno said the next administration would be inheriting a sound tax system which was reformed many times under the Duterte administration.

At the same time, President Duterte’s successor would also be the recipient of many structural reforms such as the amendments of the Retail Trade Act, Foreign Investment Act, and Public Services Act, Diokno said.

“In other words, the next administration will inherit a much better economy than what we inherited from the previous one, but at the same time, it is faced with increasing public debt as a result of the COVID pandemic,” Diokno stressed.

He said before the pandemic, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio was in the area of 39.6 percent, but rose to 60.5 percent because of the COVID-19 response, and the accompanying drop in revenues.

“But this level is still pretty much manageable as long as we continue to grow at between 6 to 7 percent in the next few years,” Diokno said.

“That said, this [next] administration’s first order of business, I think, is to present to the people and to the international community what I call a fiscal consolidation program. What it will do in the next three years, at least, is to reduce the deficit-to-GDP ratio which has increased due to the pandemic,” Diokno said.

“And that has to be done, the framework should include timely and efficient implementation of the tax laws and recent amendments to the Retail Trade Act, Foreign Investment Act and Public Service Act. Efficient allocation of budgetary resources by continuing the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program and improving the tax spending mix of local government units,” Diokno added.

NUN SHOWS THE WAY.

A nun assists a Muslim woman on the voting procedures list Culiat High School in Quezon City. Jimmy Domingo

Former MMDA chief seeks NTC probe after alleged hacking of phone The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Monday said it was investigating the alleged hacking of the mobile phone of former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Benhur Abalos Jr.,

who served as campaign manager of presidential bet former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr “The NTC is still currently investigating the matter in coordination with Globe Telecom, but agrees with the lat-

ter that it may be a classic case of ‘SMS spoofing’,” the NTC said in a statement.

In Facebook post on Sunday, Abalos claimed that his Globe cellphone number had been hacked.

“It has been sending out unscrupu-

lous messages. (I) went to Globe office this afternoon to complain (about the hacking incident) and had the number immediately suspended,” Abalos said.

“Please ignore messages that you get from that number,” he added.

Lacson camp tells adversaries, critics to ‘stop peddling lies’ THE camp of presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson has called on their adversaries and critics to “stop peddling lies” as the elections were in progress.

Lacson’s spokesman, Ashley Acedillo, maintained that his boss was still very much in the race.

“Even now, on election day, some parties have still not desisted from circulating fake news claiming independent presidential candidate Sen. Ping Lacson has withdrawn from the race,” Acedillo said.

“This is simply not true,” he stressed.

“Not only was Senator Lacson among the first of the presidential candidates to cast his vote this morning which he did at Bayan Luma 1 Elementary School in his hometown of Imus, Cavite. He also settled into monitoring the events of today unfold through the Command Center of the Lacson Sotto Support Group,” Acedillo added.

“And that’s precisely how we were able to monitor this recent deplorable ploy in some areas in Bulacan,” he said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

A4

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022

32% overseas Filipinos cast votes–Comelec

News KANKANAEYS VOTE. Siblings

Igor and Nicole Cawed of the Kankanaey tribe of Bontoc, Mt Province cast their ballots in Baguio City – among nearly 66 million registered and qualified voters nationwide who participated in the electoral exercise Monday. Dave Leprozo

ONLY 32 percent of registered voters overseas had cast their votes as of 10 a.m. Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said the poll body still hoped this would rise to 40 percent by the end of the day, with the addition of mail-in ballots that have not been counted.

The Comelec said 1,697,215 overseas Filipinos registered for the 2022 elections: 786,997 in the Middle East and African countries, 450,282 in the Asia Pacific, 306,445 in North and Latin America, and 153,491 from Europe.

Casquejo earlier said the Comelec’s new “vote anywhere” policy and field voting as reasons for an expected improvement in the turnout among overseas voters this year.

Overseas voting for the 2022 polls started on April 10 and will end on May 9.

A total of 92 Philippine posts held overseas voting activities, using a combination of postal and in-person voting.

A total of 127 registered voters in four Philippine posts were unable to cast their votes as the Comelec ordered the suspension of voting there.

These are in the Philippine posts of Baghdad, Tripoli, Islamabad, and Warsaw, which cover the countries of Iraq, Algeria, Chad, Tunisia, Libya, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

Rody, presidential bets lead 63m voters

By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz, and Macon Ramos-Araneta

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte cast his vote for this year’s national and local elections in his hometown of Davao City as he joined this year’s candidates among an estimated 63 million Filipinos who exercised their right to vote on Monday.

Duterte arrived at polling precinct 124B at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School in Davao City at 4:41 p.m. He thanked his townmates “wholeheartedly” for electing him as the country’s 16th President.

He then promised he would remain their “sulugoon” (servant in Bisaya) when he steps down from office on June 30.

Among presidential candidates, Sen. Panfilo Lacson was the first to cast his vote for the day, at around 7:30 a.m. at the Bayan Luma 1 Elementary School in his hometown of Imus, Cavite.

Former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has led all presidential surveys leading into Election Day, arrived at

8 a.m. at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac, Ilocos Norte to cast his vote.

Vice President Leni Robredo, trailing Marcos in all major surveys, cast her vote in Magarao, Camarines Sur. She waited in line for almost two hours before turning in her ballot at Carangcang Elementary School in her home province.

Another presidential aspirant, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, cast his vote just before noon at the Kiamba Central School SPED Center in Kiamba, Sarangani.

At around the same time, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso lined up in his polling precinct at the Magat Salamat Elementary School at 11:02 a.m. and completed the

voting process in less than 15 minutes.

Labor leader Leody de Guzman cast his vote at Cainta Elementary School’s Precinct Number 0033A. Among vice presidential bets, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, running under the banner of LAKAS-Christian Muslim Democrats and Hugpong ng Pagbabago, arrived at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School with her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, at 9:15 a.m.

The VP frontrunner cast her vote at Precinct 1245A the same place where her father would vote later in the day.

One of her rivals, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, voted in Barangay White Plains, Quezon City. Accompanied by his wife, actress Helen Gamboa, Lacson’s running mate only took three minutes to cast his vote at the White Plains Covered Court after 10 a.m.

Robredo’s running mate, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, was able to cast his vote at 2:14 p.m. at the Inchican Elementary School, in Silang, Cavite,

where he currently lives.

House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez, the Marcos-Duterte tandem’s campaign manager, cast his vote at 11:45 a.m.

Monday at V&G Memorial Elementary School in Barangay 96, Tacloban City.

Romualdez, who is vying for his second term, is running unopposed.

His wife, Tingog Party-list Rep Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, cast her vote at the same school at 8:30 a.m., at precinct number 0840B, room 205.

Majority Leader Romualdez echoed the UniTeam’s call for the protection of votes in the May 9 polls.

“Going out to cast votes is just one part of our sacred duty. Now, we must remain vigilant and ensure that all of the votes get counted, up to the very last one. This is the only way to protect the integrity of the electoral process,” Romualdez said.

“Ang botohang ito ay para sa magandang kinabukasan ng mga Pilipino, isang kinabukasan na puno ng pag-

mamahal sa bayan at pagkakaisa,” added the Lakas-CMD president.

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos arrived at about 9:10 a.m. at Precinct 0212-B in Cabeza Elementary School in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte in the elections that will determine President Duterte’s successor, half the Senate, as well as local government officials.

Other Marcos family members who cast their votes around 7:30 a.m. at Precinct 0036-A in Mariano Marcos Elementary School in Batac were her sons -- incumbent Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc and lawyer Michael Marcos Manotoc -former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and sister Irene Marcos-Araneta.

Senator Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, urged all registered voters to exercise their constitutional right of suffrage that grants every Filipino from all walks of life the equal opportunity to choose the country’s next set of leaders.

Over 1,800 VCMs malfunction on Election Day

By Joel E. Zurbano, Vito Barcelo and Alena Mae Flores VOTING in Monday’s national and local elections was marred by almost 2,000 malfunctioning vote counting machines (VCMs) that led to long lines at some polling stations, with some voters waiting hours to cast their votes, but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said polling proceeded “smoothly.”

“We would like to assure everybody that the Comelec is in full control,” said Comelec Commissioner George Garcia as news of malfunctioning VCMs in several Metro Manila cities flooded the airwaves. “The election went on smoothly.”

“Although there were glitches in the use of VCMs, particularly in Pasay, Malabon and in Muntinlupa, these were immediately restored and no single ballot was reportedly missing,” he said.

The statement did not jibe with reports pouring in from polling stations in Makati, Quezon City and Pasig City where voters had to wait hours for the VCMs to be repaired of for SD cards to be delivered— and refused to sign a waiver that would allow the Board of Election Inspectors to feed their ballots into the machines when

they were finally repaired.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) slammed the Comelec as reports of VCM failures swamped the group’s election hotline.

“VCM failures have forced members of the electoral board to leave voters with unpalatable options—wait until the machine is fixed, sign a waiver stating their voluntary submission of their filled ballots for the electoral board to feed into the machine once fixed, or come back and vote later in the day when the machine has been fixed,” the group said in a statement.

The watchdog group Kontra Daya reported that about 2,000 VCMs malfunctioned in the first six hours of voting Monday. Aside from machine failures and errors, numerous reports of corrupted SD cards have also reached ACT Teachers Hotline.

Kontra Daya said it received and monitored numerous reports of voters being told to leave their ballots behind, either because voters were senior citizens, persons with disabilities, or machines were malfunctioning.

Long lines, manual voting and missing names in voters lists were also

Elsewhere, in Lingayen, Pangasinan, Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil casts his vote at Precinct 95A at Libsong Elem School, his alma mater, while Taguig City Rep. Lani Cayetano, who is running.for Mayor of Taguig, casts her vote at Kap Eddie Reyes Integrated School.

among the problems faced by voters piling into various polling precincts all over the country Monday.

Kontra Daya spokesperson Danny Arao estimated that 1.1 million voters were affected by the VCM breakdowns.

“The long lines and longer voting times are a looming reason for voter disenfranchisement,” Arao said.

Kontra Daya said it is the choice of voters to wait for their ballots to be fed to VCMs. Prohibiting voters from doing so may result in loss of confidence in the results of the election, it said.

“Paper jams and rejected ballots are common errors faced by voters. In some areas, machines have fully broken down, resulting in massive delays in voting as it can take upwards of three hours or even more for a machine to be replaced,” the group said.

According to guidelines set by the Comelec, if the vote-counting machine breaks down, voters can choose to wait for a replacement machine or have their vote inserted by a member of the election board when a replacement machine has been received.

“In the latter case, the voters must waive their right to receive a receipt

CAST IN BALLOTS. Tingog Party List Rep Yedda Marie Romualdez casts her ballot at 8:30 am Monday at Precint number 0840B room205, V&G Memorial Elementary School in Barangay 96 Tacloban City. confirming their vote, which can be a source of voter fraud,” the poll watchdog said.

The group had asked the Comelec to extend the voting hours following

In other areas of the metropolis, Navotas Mayor and congressional candidate Toby Tiangco casts his vote at the Navotas National High School while Quezon Ciy Mayor Ma. Josefina Belmonte casts her vote at the clustered precinct 1143 at the Christ the King covered court in the city. Ver Noveno, Danny Pata, Andrew Rabulan, and Manny Palmero

reports of malfunctioning VCMs in various parts of the country.

“With the volume of reports coming in to Kontra Daya regarding VCM breakdowns, as well as the longer time required to vote due to enforcement of health protocols, there is a large chance that many voters will be unable to vote or get cut off in line as the 7 p.m. cut-off approaches,” it said.

“Already, Kontra Daya has received reports of voters unable to wait for long lines or replacement machines, instead opting to go home. This is voter disenfranchisement,” it added.

ACT said the Comelec and its partner F2 Logistics must be held accountable for “these massive machine failures.”

“How can these machines pass the final testing and sealing but bog down in the first hours of voting? Also, the Comelec’s slow response to troubleshoot the machine problems is delaying the conduct of the elections,” said Raymond Basilio, an ACT nominee.

Opinion Challenges facing BBM-Sara administration THE people have spoken -- they want Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as their next president, and former Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for Vice President.

The crucial part of Election Day, May 9, 2022 is now that counting, and the supporters of the BBM-Sara tandem must not be too complacent because man-made “miracles” do happen as they did in past elections.

From my point of view, the endorsement of the Iglesia Ni Cristo of the BBM-Sara tandem was the clincher. They really got it made.

Clearly, the opponents underestimated them. They have the solid north and the solid south.

I am amused that the yellows say they are staging some kind of people power movement. How stupid.

And Robredo is tolerating this.

They are many.

The campaign of Bongbong and Inday Sara may have been a walk in the park for them, but the big challenges await them, like jobless, hid prices, jump-starting the economies after two years of recession as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

How Bongbong and Sara will address will address these remains to be seen.

First and formost, it would do well for Bongbong to let us know who are his cabinet members because he success our failure of a President depends largely on the kind of cabinet members appointed.

First of all, my guly, it must be a continuation of the Duterte administration to BBM-Sara administration. Bongbong must continue with Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” program to generate jobs, and push through with the amendments of the Public Service Act getting rid of the restrictive requirement of the 1987 Constitution, and opening the gates of foreign investments to transportation, land, sea and air, distribution of power, water, telephone and public utilities for job creation. Opening up responsible mining would certainly attraction, especially under its leadership as Mike Toledo, new chairman of the Chamber of Mining. Thus, it would do well for Bongbong to where three of Duterte’s cabinet members – Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, NEDA Director-General Ralph Chua and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, all

performers and excellent members of the cabinet. It would also give meaning the two Unity and BBM and Sara. Likewise, it would also do well for Bongbong to hire members of the opposition he thinks would be good for his administration.

On foreign relations, there is of course, the problem of China’s ever-ending bullying of the country on the WPS or West Philippine Sea problem, and its frequent intrusion on the Philippine EEZ or Exclusive Economic Zone. It is hoped that the good relations between China and the Philippine will continue as it did under President Duterte under the Bongbong Marcos and Inday Sara administration.

There are two developments that personally in my lifetime would like to see happen under the BBM-Inday Sara regime – resumption of our old alliances with the United States and other countries in Asia.

Most importantly, the 1987 Cory Aquino Constitution, has became Jurassic in many ways, like its economic provisions may finally be amended in a mode acceptable for the greater number of people, and for the common good. In many ways, my gulay, the 1987 Constitution has become outdated urgently needing updating to catch up with the global world and modern times.

In a wake of a political former that the country before Election Day. There was one good news that happened – the takeover of the South Korea Hajin Shipyards in Subic Bay fronting the former American naval base, the biggest outside of the US mainland as we all know. It is the acquisition of the debt-laden Hanjin Shipyards that resulted in the unemployment of thousands of Filipinos.

The acquisition was done by a US-based private equity firm, which secured the jobs of displaced workers in the area and will also create about 300 employment opportunities every year. The acquisition by Cerberus Frontier of the Hanjinfacilities in Subic would also result on the retention of jobs for workers who lost the income source after the South Korean shipbuilder filed for bankruptcy.

Further, the buyout would generate over 300 more additional jobs every year from locators and subcontractors who will benefit from the reactivation to by Ceberus, and would also stimulate business activities in Central Luzon. We want over-emphasize the advantage of the shipyard activity in Central Luzon. We want over-emphasize the advantage of the shipyard activity by less than five banks that became debt-laden when Hanjin ceased acitivities.

Most importantly, with the acquisition by a US-based firm like Cerberus, they can be assured that Subic villas again be controlled by the United States. Earlier, there were attempts by Chinese business to buy Hanjin and the Grande Island facing Subic.

As Ukraine war rages, Biden team revives Asia focus

By Shaun Tandon PRESIDENT Joe Biden was clear from the moment he entered office — China is the main international competitor and should be the top concern for US foreign policy. Then Russia invaded Ukraine.

After months devoted to supporting Ukraine and punishing Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden is shifting focus, at least temporarily, back to Asia, a sign that the ongoing war will not drown out the administration’s other international goals.

Biden from Thursday meets leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for a two-day summit, a sign of personal US engagement in a region full of disputes with a rising China.

He meeys Asean leaders this week.

A week later, Biden travels to Japan and South Korea, two treaty allies of the United States, and will hold a four-way summit in Tokyo with the prime ministers of Australia, India and Japan — the “Quad” widely perceived as a counter to Beijing.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will soon deliver what is billed as a major speech on China, although it was recently pushed back after the top US diplomat tested positive for Covid.

At the ASEAN summit, “certainly the war in Ukraine will be a topic of dis-

cussion, but it’s also an opportunity to discuss security in the region,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

She said she also expected discussion on the pandemic and on North Korea — which may soon soar to the top of US priorities with Washington seeing signs of an imminent new nuclear test.

Yuki Tatsumi, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, said Biden was sending a message by going ahead with the Asia diplomacy.

“For the Biden administration, this is quite important for giving assurances to countries in the Indo-Pacific that, yes, we are doing things in Ukraine in the short term, but we are fundamentally committed to the Indo-Pacific,” she said.

Hard choices With its rapid gains in technology, growing assertiveness at home and abroad and nearly one-fifth of the world’s population, China has loomed large for successive US administrations that have all seen the future in the Pacific — but each has faced the reality of troubles elsewhere.

Most famously, former president Barack Obama launched a “pivot to Asia” that included winding down commitments in the Middle East, although he sent troops back to Iraq after the rise of the Islamic State movement.

In 2014, after Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine, Obama angered Putin by dismissing Russia as a weak “regional power.”

Hal Brands, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said there was an “obvious tension” between

ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 8-5646225 and 8-5646229 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022

B1

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Salute to the voters

Y

ET once more we salute the nearly 66 million Filipino voters at home and abroad who trooped to their respective polling precincts Monday and, against all odds attendant in every electoral process, put their respective marks on the two-page long ballot where they cast their stake for their future.

It was axiomatically judgment day for more than 18,000 elective positions, from president down to the last town councilor, which capped for the aspiring national leaders a sapping 90-day campaign – shorter for those who ran for local posts – alongside traditional poll surveys and the new ones like Kalye surveys.

As the voting hours closed last night, the initial results of the historic exercise done during a jabbing coronavirus pandemic started to drip out from more than 106 clustered precincts across this nation of 100 million people.

Many have started to watch the electoral post-shading activities, high in the hope that their votes would be properly counted in a methodical and honest vote count – away from the dangers of any unnecessary illusions or magic that would destroy the sanctity of the

terflies up the spines of many ready to vote.

In some areas, some local officials were already proclaimed last night to be followed by the proclamation of provincial and congressional winners by noon today, if the timetable of the Commission on Elections would not be disrupted.

ballots cast.

And now the work begins Beyond the personalities involved in the general elections, beyond the slogans and the often sardonic, at times distasteful, rhetoric from majority of the candidates that carried them during their rallies and caravans, we pause once more and remind ourselves that the day is done, as it were.

Certainly, passions had run high with political differences coming under sharper focus. At the end of the day, we join the majority of Filipinos in praying for an honest and credible elections, against reports of some vote counting machines not working up to near sundown which sent but-

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia has given assurances the new senators can be proclaimed in three to four days, which means as early as this coming Sunday. The Comelec will eventually convene as the National Board of Canvassers to count and proclaim the 12 new senators and winning party list groups.

Two weeks from yesterday, on May 23, the Senate and the House of Representatives will then convene to hold the official canvass for president and vice president with,

by Comelec’s calendar, the proclamation of winning candidates for these positions done likely by the first week of June.

What we should recognize and appreciate are the voters who, in their clustered precincts yesterday, stood up for the future of their country in this headline exercise.

Turbulent days ahead for the country

I SUBMITTED this column not knowing the results yet of yesterday’s elections. Perhaps by the time the Manila Standard print edition comes out, there is already a clear winner. Given the consistency of the surveys from November to April, it is possible that Senator Bong Bong Marcos can win this election by a landslide and we would have known this by midnight last night or early morning today.

But there is also a plausible scenario of an upset, come from behind, and narrow victory by Vice President Leni Robredo.

Under this scenario of a close election, we would have to wait for a few more days before knowing the winner.

Observing the crowds and long lines in the polls today, we might see the highest voter turnout in Philippine electoral history, even surpassing the highest recorded turnout thus far of 86 percent in 1998.

The credibility of the elections will also be measured by the public eye through the extent of irregularities that occur on May 9 in precincts nationwide. A blackout of results in the first few hours, as we saw in the 2019 senatorial races, would be catastrophic to the credibility of the process.

Whoever wins, whether Marcos or Robredo, there are stormy days ahead for the Philippines.

Immediately, a Marcos, Jr. victory would make headlines in all major news organizations worldwide. This would shock the world, because a country that has suffered so much under the rule of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. and his cronies has given the reins of power back to the same family.

Marcos Jr.’s aversion to discourse, to participatory democracy, and to accountability by media as we have seen in the campaign could definitely be the tone of his evasive administration. Even as the

the need to keep the focus on Asia and the rising priorities around the world.

“I don’t wake up in the middle of the night worried about living in a Russocentered world because Russia doesn’t have that power and it’s certainly not going to have that power after this crisis,” he said.

“The administration is right to say that China is the only meaningful systemic competitor out there for the United States.

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

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

campaign ended, we do not know what Marcos stands for - his platform, economic plan, and other policy positions.

We do not know who his cabinet will be - although he would likely draw from the usual suspects from our traditional political elite.

However, these are contingent on the fate of Marcos, Jr.’s disqualification cases. As earlier said, these cases are still pending before the Commission on Elections en banc.

According to reports, the Comelec will decide this today May 10. If as expected, Marcos prevails at the Comelec, there will immediately be petitions in the Supreme Court questioning the Comelec decisions.

The poor and the basic sectors above all must be represented in that coalition of the willing.

Indeed, even if Marcos garners the most number of votes on May 9, he can be disqualified by the Supreme Court and will be replaced by the Vice-President-elect.

That could be Sara Duterte, confirming the conspiracy theory that this is what the lame duck President Digong Duterte wanted from the start. But that assumes a Supreme Court willing to play along -- a notion I totally reject believing in the integrity and independence of the Chief Justice and the members of the current Court.

It does not take rocket science to anticipate the anger of Marcos supporters if in fact he is disqualified. Still, they could be divided in that the Duterte supporters among them could welcome such a decision if Sara Duterte is installed as president, temporarily or permanently.

In the scenario that Leni Robredo wins, there will also be stormy days ahead of us.

First, the Marcos supporters have already said they would take to the streets to denounce and overturn a result as possible only through massive cheating.

“But in the past year, we’ve seen that the United States still has really important interests in regions outside of Asia, and those interests can be imperilled more easily than we might expect.”

Tatsumi said that the administration could also seize on the example of the Ukraine crisis while in Asia.

The Biden team can show “commonality” by showing that the United States is standing up for firm principles such as territorial integrity and human rights,

Second, even if Robredo is proclaimed and inaugurated, it will be a narrow victory and one can imagine there will be several destabilization attempts against her government. Given her strong will and character, however, these are likely not to succeed.

The Leni-Kiko campaign has mustered a historic unity coalition, from the most conservative groups to the most progressive ones, across basic sectors, and especially those from the margins of society. The grassroots support for the tandem surged as they presented a platform of government and governance philosophy that inspire Filipinos to be more creative, to be more generous, and to be more patriotic than ever before.

If Marcos prevails and makes bad decisions inimical to the country, this is the broad coalition (with the supporters of Leody de Guzman joining) that can be mobilize to push back against corruption, human rights violations, a return of cronyism, and major foreign policy blunders. More positively, this is a coalition that can unite for social equality policies, a strong climate justice agenda, and the completion of all the peace processes still pending - from the Mindanao process which the Aquino and Duterte administrations has rightly advances(and a Marcos government could endanger) to the negotiations with the National Democratic Front which must be resumed.

This broad coalition would not be destabilizing but would in fact challenge Marcos to flesh out his vision of national unity. He should welcome this and engage with the coalition.

Whether is it Marcos or Robredo who will win in these elections, eithet must call for and put together an authentic national unity government - not of political families and dynasties coming from different regions which actually represents the worst of our politics, but one that represents all stakeholder interests in our country. The poor and the basic sectors above all must be represented in that coalition of the willing.

Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

she said.

The United States has repeatedly warned China against changes in the status quo in Asia, particularly on Taiwan, the self-governing democracy that Beijing claims as its territory.

Blinken, testifying in April to Congress, said that China is sure to see the “massive costs on Russia for its aggression.”

“That would have to factor into its calculus about Taiwan going forward,” Blinken said. AFP

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

B2

World

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Zero-COVID-19 policy smothers capital Beijing BEIJING—Millions of people in Beijing stayed home on Monday as China’s capital tries to fend off a Covid-19 outbreak with creeping restrictions on movement.

Beijing residents fear they may soon find themselves in the grip of the same draconian measures that have trapped most of Shanghai’s 25 million people at home for several weeks.

Officials there have said the eastern powerhouse is winning its battle against the country’s worst outbreak since the pandemic began.

Yet the Shanghai lockdown has intensified, causing outrage and rare protest in the last major economy still glued to a zero-Covid policy.

That policy has winded an economy which just months ago had shown

China was bouncing back from the pandemic.

Customs data released Monday said exports in April slumped to their lowest monthly rate since June 2020, as key supply chains became knotted by restrictions.

The American Chamber of Commerce in China found that many of its member companies in Shanghai were still shut, with others delaying investments across the country in the face of the disruption.

In the face of “the world’s most extensive and unpredictable quarantine requirements”, chairman Colm Rafferty warned the business community was “bracing for a mass exodus of foreign talent”.

There is also a pressing political dy-

namic to China’s virus response, with President Xi Jinping pegging the legitimacy of his leadership to protecting Chinese lives from Covid.

Xi—expected to secure another fiveyear term as president later this year —has doubled down on the zero-Covid approach, despite mounting public frustration.

In Beijing, subway stations and offices were empty during rush hour Monday morning across its most populous district of Chaoyang after officials stepped up a work-from-home order over rising Covid cases.

Non-essential businesses were shuttered in the district of 3.5 million people, with even the Apple store in the popular Sanlitun shopping area ordered to close after opening briefly. AFP

‘IMMORTAL REGIMENT’. People carry portraits of their relatives—World War II soldiers - as they take part in the Immortal Regiment march in the far eastern city of Vladivostok on May 9. Russia celebrated the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany—while its invasion of Ukraine to ‘denazify’ its neighbor entered its third month. AFP

Western firms, locals congratulate new HK leader Lee HONG KONG—Western multinationals and local tycoons published newspaper adverts on Monday congratulating John Lee on becoming Hong Kong’s next leader, following a rubber-stamp selection process condemned by critics as anti-democratic.

Lee, 64, a former security chief who oversaw the crackdown on Hong Kong’s REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 104, QUEZON CITY IN THE MATTER OF CORRECTION ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF REYNALDO UETA GREGORIOS, AMALIA DELA PUNTA GREGORIOS, Representing the deceased REYNALDO UETA GREGORIOS, Petitioner, -versus-

democracy movement, was anointed the business hub’s new leader on Sunday in a near unanimous vote by a small committee of Beijing loyalists.

He was the sole candidate in the race to succeed outgoing leader Carrie Lam at a time when Hong Kong is being remolded in China’s authoritarian image.

Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po, two newspapers that answer to the office which sets Beijing’s Hong Kong policy, were filled with adverts on Monday from leading companies and business figures praising Lee’s selection.

The majority were from Chinese and Hong Kong businesses as well

Case No. R-QZN-21-10928-SP

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY, CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL and the LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY, Respondents. x---------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER (Notice of Hearing)

A verified petition was filed praying for the correction of entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of Reynaldo Ueta Gregorios; that Isabel Ueta was the daughter of Yutaro Ueta, a Japanese citizen and Perpetua Caumeran having been born on July 8, 1928; that Isabel grew up during the Japanese occupation of the Philippine Islands; that for fear of discrimination, Isabel did not use her father’s surname instead she used Caumeran; that Isabel cohabited with Celerito Gregorios and Isabel became pregnant and gave birth to Reynaldo Gregorios on December 10, 1952; that Reynaldo’s Certificate of Live Birth appears to have been accomplished by Isabel; that prior to his death, Reynaldo learned that he is a descendant of a Japanese citizen and he and his family are considered Nikkei-jin hence he is eligible for a Nikkejin long term resident visa; that upon examination of Reynaldo’s birth certificate, it was shown that Reynaldo’s middle name is Caumeran instead of Ueta and under Entry 12, Isabel’s name was Isabel Canton Caumeran instead of Isabel Caumeran Ueta; that Reynaldo was not able to facilitate the correction of entries during his lifetime since he died on September 5, 2003; and that the error in Reynaldo’s Certificate of Live Birth should be corrected to reflect Reynaldo’s Japanese lineage so as to enable his family to apply for Nikke-jin visa.

WHEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the petition will be heard before this Court sitting at Room 507, Hall of Justice Annex, Diliman, Quezon City, on April 4, 2022 at 11:00 in the morning, at which date and time, all persons interested and concerned may appear and show cause, if any, why the petition should not be granted.

Let this Order be published for three (3) consecutive week in a newspaper of general circulation to be chosen by raffle.

Likewise, petitioner is ordered to serve a copy of the petition on the Office of the Solicitor General, the Civil Registrar General, the Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City and to the other respondents, and to submit proof of service thereof.

Moreover, the Civil Registrar General and any person having or claiming any interest in the petition may file opposition/ objection thereto within fifteen (15) days from notice, or from the last date of publication of this Order.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, December 29, 2021.

(Sgd.) CATHERINE P. MANODON JUDGE Copy furnished: ATTY. HELEN PAULETE HOMBREBUENO Lot 6 Block 3C, 3rd St., Gruar Subdivision, Cainta, Rizal OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY EDSA, corner Times Street, Quezon City CITY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE J. Cecilia Muñoz Palma Hall, City Hall Complex, QC LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY Quezon City Hall, Quezon City

(MStandard-May 10, 17 & 24, 2022)

as community organizations.

The “Big Four” accountancy firms— KPMG, Deloitte, EY and PwC —were among western multinationals placing adverts, as were city carrier Cathay Pacific and conglomerates Swire and Jardine Matheson.

Messages were also carried by Hong Kong’s family tycoon-dominated property giants, including Sun Hung Kai and Henderson Land Development.

Western businesses have found themselves in an increasingly precarious position in Hong Kong, especially as geopolitical tensions have risen with China.

Many have embraced progressive political causes in western markets, such as the anti-racism Black Lives REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Matter movement, same sex REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION equality and ridding supply BRANCH 81, QUEZON CITY chains of labor abuses.

IN RE: PETITION FOR CHANGE OF But they usually steer clear SURNAME from “CABUYAO to “GARGACERAN” And CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE of any criticism of China’s OF LIVE BIRTH OF ALLYN KATHRINE policies towards hotspots like DANIELLE GARGACERAN CABUYAO, ALLYN KATHRINE DANIELLE Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet GARGACERAN CABUYAO, and Taiwan.

Petitioner, Some companies such as -versusSP. PROC. CASE NO. R-QZN-22-01520-SP HSBC, Standard Chartered, EDWIN SAN GABRIEL CABUYAO, MA. CAROLINA GONZALES GARGACERAN, Swire and Jardine Matheson LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OF QUEZON CITY, publicly backed Beijing’s naRespondents. x---------------------------------------------------x tional security law, which was ORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING A verified petition had been filed by the petitioner praying that imposed on Hong Kong after after proper proceedings, judgment be issued: 2019’s democracy protests to 1) Ordering the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City to delete the surname “Cabuyao” in the Certificate of Live Birth of the curb dissent. AFP Petitioner and substitute it with the surname of her mother which is “GARGACERAN”; 2) To delete the middle name “GARGACERAN” and leave in in blank; 3) To delete pertaining to the date and place of marriage of parents and to leave it in blank.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the petition will be heard by this Court on 30 MAY 2022 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning through video conference hearing, in the Hall of Justice Building, Regional Trial Court, Branch 81, Quezon City, on which date and time, all persons concerned may appear and show cause, if any, why the aforesaid petition should not be granted. Parties are hereby directed to furnish this Court their email address thru its email address: rtc1qzn081@judiciary.gov.ph or thru mobile hotline are 09164532786 considering that the hearing of all cases before this Court during the pandemic shall be done thru videoconference.

Let this Order and Notice of Hearing be published at the expense of the petitioners in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks and the same be posted at the bulletin boards of the Hall of Justice Building, Quezon City, at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 81, Quezon City, at the Office of the Local Civil Registry of Quezon City and at the Office of the Civil Registrar General, Philippine Statistics Authority, Quezon City.

Likewise, let copies of this Order and Notice of Hearing together with the petition and its annexes be served upon the Solicitor General, the Quezon City Prosecutor, the Local Civil Registry of Quezon City, the Civil Registrar General, Philippine Statistics Authority and to respondents Edwin San Gabriel Cabuyao and Ma. Carolina Gonzales Gargaceran, all at the expense of the petitioner.

SO ORDERED. Given in Chambers this 4th day of March 2022 in Quezon City.

Manila

OSCOW -- President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russian forces in Ukraine were defending the Motherland from an “absolutely unacceptable threat,” as he opened the annual parade marking victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Putin told thousands of troops gathered in Moscow’s Red Square that Russian forces in Ukraine were continuing the battle against Nazism, but that it was important “to do everything so that the horror of a global war does not happen again.”

Putin made no major announcements in the speech, despite reports in the West that he could use the anniversary to announce an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine or a general mobilization in Russia.

Instead, Putin looked to rally public support for the campaign by linking the current conflict to what Russians call the Great Patriotic War. Addressing Russian forces in Ukraine, he said: “You are fighting for the Motherland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of the Second World War.” Putin blamed Ukraine and the West for the conflict, saying Kyiv and its allies had been preparing “an invasion of our historical lands” including in the Russian-speaking Donbas region and in Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

“An absolutely unacceptable threat to us was being created, directly on our borders,” Putin said, pointing to NATO weapons deliveries to Ukraine and the deployment of foreign advisors.

Russia had no choice, Putin said, but to undertake a pre-emptive response to aggression, calling it “the only right decision” for a “sovereign, strong and independent country”.

Russia was on Monday marking the 77th anniversary of its defeat of Nazi Germany with parades and marches, including the main celebration in Red Square featuring some 11,000 troops and more than 130 military vehicles.

the ruins of the Saratoga Hotel, in Havana on May 8. The death toll from an explosion at a luxury hotel in Havana’s old quarter rose to 31 on Sunday, authorities said, as Cuban firefighters continued to comb through the rubble. AFP

Clan gun battles kill at least 17 near PNG gold mine, say police

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT FOURT JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 138- ANTIPOLO CITY (RIZAL PROVINCIAL JAIL COMPOUND

TODAY

IN RE: PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH AYRA GARILAO MABULAC Petitioner/s -versus-

SP. PROC. CASE NO. 22-3404

THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OFFICE OF TAYTAY , RIZAL, PHILIPPINE STATISTIC AUTHORITY (PSA) MA. CHRISTINE TEVES GARILAO, ROMMEL CEBREROS MABULAC and all persons who have may claims and interest, Respondent/s x------------------------------------------------------------------------x ORDER Filed with the Court is a verified petition for correction of entries in the certificate of live birth of the petitioner represented by her counsel, praying that due notice, publication and hearing, judgment be rendered , to wit: 1.) GRANTING the instant petition for correction of entries in the certificate of live birth filed by herein petitioner; and ORDERING and DIRECTING the Local Civil Registrar of Taytay, Rizal and the Philippine Statistic Authority to correct the erroneous entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of the petitioner to wit; a.) ITEM NO. 3, denominated as “DATE OF BIRTH” from “21 (Day) June (Month) 1999 (Year) to “21 (Day) June (Month) 1996 (Year)”.

Finding the instant petition to be sufficient in form and in substance, the same is hereby set for hearing on MAY 26, 2022 at 8:30 in the morning at Regional Trial Court, Branch 138, Ynares , Building Rizal Provincial Jail Compound, Cabrera Road, Kaytikling. Brgy. Dolores, Taytay, Rizal, at which date, place and hour aforesaid, any interested person may appear and show cause, if they have any, why the said petition should not be granted.

Pursuant to Section 4 of Rule 108, the petitioner is hereby ordered to publish the instant Order once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the province.

Let therefore copies of this order, petition and its annexes be funished the Office of the Solicitor General, at 134 AmorsoIo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, the Civil Registrar General, of the Philippine Statistics Authority (formerly National Statistics Office), and the Local Civil Registry of Taytay, Rizal.

SO ORDERED. Taytay, Rizal, Antipolo City, March 11, 2022.

REY R. LOR Presiding Judge OffIce of the Solicitor General 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City

Philippine Statistics Authority East Avenue, Quezon City

Local Civil Registrar of Taytay, RizaI Taytay Municipal HaIl, Don Hilario Street Taytay, Rizal

Ma. Christine Teves Garilao Rommel Cebrerros Mabulac Blk 1, Lot 9, Tanzaville, Phase 4, Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain. Brgy.

San San Jose, Antlpolo City

Ayra Garilao Mabulac No.3 Verbena St., Cainta Greenpark, Brgy. Isidro, Cainta, Rizal

This was as its army battles Kyiv’s forces in the east of Ukraine, where 60 people were killed in an air strike on a school sheltering civilians.

Putin’s flaunting Russia’s power in celebration of Victory Day is an event that has taken on great prominence as he seeks to justify a war that has gone on far longer—and at far higher cost— than expected.

But as huge missiles are towed through Moscow’s Red Square and a planned flyover will feature fighter jets showing support for the war, Ukraine will be desperately battling to stop a hoped-for military breakthrough.

And civilians continue to bear the brunt of the bloodshed, with President Volodymyr Zelensky confirming that 60 were killed in a Russian air strike on a school in the eastern village of Bilogorivka—one of the highest one-day tolls since Moscow’s forces invaded on February 24.

Lugansk region governor Sergiy Gaiday said rescuers were searching for survivors in the debris left by the Russian attack on the school there, though the outlook was bleak.

“Bombs fell on the school,” he said on Telegram, “and unfortunately it was completely destroyed.”

‘Surrender is not an option’ To the south, in the devastated port city of Mariupol, depleted Ukrainian forces are defending their final bastion at the Azovstal steelworks, from which scores of civilians have been evacuated in recent days.

An AFP reporter in the city of Zaporizhzhia said Sunday that eight buses carrying 174 civilians—including 40 evacuated from the plant—had arrived in that Ukrainian-controlled city. AFP

HAVANA HOTEL RUBBLE. Firefighters and rescue workers remove debris from

Standard

(Sgd.) MADONNA C. ECHIVERRI Presiding Judge

Copy furnished: Atty. Asuncion Abasolo-Pacaldo Counsel for petitioner A.K.D. Gargaceran Cabuyao Petitioner Edwin San Gabriel Cabuyao and Ma. Carolina Gonzales Gargaceran The QC Prosecutor The Solicitor General The QC Civil Registrar The Civil Registrar General, P.S.A. (MStandard - May 10, 17 & 24, 2022)

Forces shielding Russia from ‘unacceptable threat’—Putin M

Atty. Jocelyn R. Sales-Masangkay Public Attorney’s Office 2nd Floor, Lores Country Plaza, M.L. Quezon Ext, Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City (MS-ARPIL 26, MAY 3, 7 10, 2022)

PORT MORESBY—Security forces moved in Monday to halt gun battles between rival Papua New Guinea clans that police said had killed at least 17 people near a major goldmine in the rain forestblanketed highlands.

Clans also torched buildings in the town of Paiam and nearby Porgera during the three days of fighting, according to police, who were backed by troop deployments in the volatile region.

Two mobile police units were “containing the situation in Porgera town and have moved into the mine site, too,” Police Commissioner David Manning told AFP on Monday.

Defence force personnel were assisting police on the ground, Major General Mark Goina said.

Police in Porgera said at least 17 people had been killed over the three days.

Four bodies had been taken to the morgue at Paiam District Hospital since the fighting began, medical superintendent Jerry Hoga told AFP. Porgera is the site of a large gold and silver mining operation, in which Canadian mining firm Barrick Gold is seeking to take a 49-percent stake.

The mine has been in “care and maintenance” for two years, the company said in a recent update.

The government had reportedly been hoping for a resumption of full mining operations as soon as last month, but no official timetable has yet been announced. AFP

Business

B3

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Asian stocks tumble over inflation woes TOP GAINERS H PSEi May 6, 2022

1 SLF 2 ROX 3 PRIM

LAST PRICE CHANGE 2498 248 1.27 0.12 1.44 0.1

% CHANGE 11.02% 10.43% 7.46%

4 5 6

LR PIZZA WEB

1.39 8.3 3.1

0.09 0.48 0.15

6.92% 6.14% 5.08%

7

RCB

20.6

0.88

4.46%

8 9 10

ICT BCB SGI

220.2 7.2 0.9

9.2 0.26 0.03

4.36% 3.75% 3.45%

ONG KONG, China—Asian stocks fell on Monday as investors remained anxious over inflation and the ongoing impact of China’s COVID lockdown policies, despite an initial Wall Street bounce thanks to a solid US jobs report.

Global markets have taken a beating over a series of crises including surging inflation, rising interest rates, China’s economic slowdown and the war in Ukraine.

Investors were given more bad news on Monday as China’s April exports slumped to their lowest level in almost two years, due to Beijing’s strict zeroCOVID policy which has pushed millions under lockdowns and halted man-

ufacturing hubs.

Exports plunged to 3.9 percent on-year, while imports were stagnant for April.

Chinese customs spokesman Li Kuiwen tried to strike an upbeat note by saying the economy still had room to make a turnaround but experts were less optimistic.

“Asian equities are down heavily in the red today as regional markets react to tightening COVID-19 restric-

tions in China and fears of a prolonged slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy,” Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst at OANDA Asia Pacific, said.

Lockdowns across dozens of Chinese cities—from the manufacturing hubs of Shenzhen and Shanghai to the breadbasket of Jilin—have wreaked havoc on supply chains over recent months, crushing small businesses and trapping consumers at home.

The jitters reverberated across Asian equities Monday, tanking in Australia, Singapore and Seoul. Tokyo’s Nikkei index closed down more than 2.5 percent, while China’s two mainland indices— Shanghai and Shenzen—saw a slight bump throughout the day.

Hong Kong stock exchanges were

China’s April exports fell to lowest level in two years

TOP LOSERS

1 PAX 2 ACEX 3 ACR

LAST PRICE CHANGE 1.81 -0.18 15 -1 0.91 -0.06

% CHANGE -9.05% -6.25% -6.19%

4 5 6 7

UPM NRCP BKR PGOLD

0.0061 0.64 1.97 33.6

-0.0004 -0.04 -0.12 -1.9

-6.15% -5.88% -5.74% -5.35%

8

CEI

0.092

-0.005

-5.15%

9 10

SMPH ALLHC

35.2 4.22

-1.8 -0.2

-4.86% -4.52%

MOST ACTIVE

1 SM 2 ALI

VOLUME 906,610 13,005,200

VALUE (PHP) 763,599,450 421,691,545

3 4

ICT BDO

1,847,720 3,082,280

406,978,082 395,689,946

5

TEL

142,285

271,897,280

6 7 8 9

AC CNVRG SMPH GLO

360,240 8,226,900 6,370,100 92,725

265,854,280 242,135,160 226,238,110 225,189,210

10

BPI

1,659,260

158,274,463

Will HK reopen for business under new leader Lee? HONG KONG, China—Hong Kong’s next leader John Lee is inheriting a once vibrant Asian business hub mired in its third year of pandemic isolation but he may prioritize security over an economic reboot, business leaders and observers say.

Lee, a former security chief, is expected to be confirmed Hong Kong’s next chief executive on Sunday by a committee of 1,463 elites after running uncontested with Beijing’s blessing.

He has promised a “results-oriented” government and a new chapter for the southern Chinese city—although his manifesto announced few major policy shifts.

Business leaders have expressed concern over Lee’s lack of details on how he might kickstart the city’s fortunes, including moving beyond Chinese-style travel curbs that have left the city cut off and sparked an exodus of talent.

“In order to reboot Hong Kong’s reputation as a business hub, we need a COVID exit plan,” Kristian Odebjer, head of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, told AFP. Tara Joseph, former head of the city’s American Chamber of Commerce, said travel connectivity was a key first step for Hong Kong to regain its international stature after “so much reputation damage.”

But Lee appeared to brush aside those concerns last week, saying that he will instead prioritize reopening the border with mainland China—signalling any immediate policy U-turn is unlikely.

Lawmaker and businessman Michael Tien said the coronavirus has trapped Hong Kong’s leader between a rock and a hard place, no matter who fills that seat.

“Our country is going for zero-COVID while the rest of the world is living with the virus,” Tien told AFP. AFP

closed for a public holiday.

Markets were briefly lifted by a solid US jobs report released Friday. The US Labor Department had announced that the world’s largest economy added a better-than-expected 428,000 jobs in April, with the unemployment rate remaining at a low 3.6 percent.

But any uptick was short-lived, as the United States’ fierce monetary tightening has continued to send traders running for the hills.

The Federal Reserve hiked borrowing costs by half a percentage point last week—the most since 2000.

Wall Street’s S&P 500 dropped 0.6 percent, while the other two US indices had also dipped by close of Friday. Nasdaq suffered the most at 1.5 percent. With AFP

HARVEST SEASON. Palestinian beekeepers collect honey from beehives at an apiary during the annual harvest season in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 9, 2022. AFP

G7 countries pledge to discontinue Russia oil imports WASHINGTON, United States— The G7 club of wealthy nations committed Sunday to phasing out its dependency on Russian oil and issued a scathing statement accusing President Vladimir Putin of bringing “shame” on Russia with his invasion of Ukraine.

The statement from the Group of Seven—France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States—did not specify exactly what commitments each country will make to move away from Russian energy.

But it was an important development in the ongoing campaign to pressure Putin by crippling Russia’s economy, and underscores the unity of the international community against Moscow’s actions.

“We commit to phase out our dependency on Russian energy, including by phasing out or banning the import

of Russian oil. We will ensure that we do so in a timely and orderly fashion, and in ways that provide time for the world to secure alternative supplies,” the joint statement said.

“This will hit hard at the main artery of Putin’s economy and deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war,” the White House said.

The announcement came as the G7 held its third meeting of the year on Sunday via video conference, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participating.

The West has so far displayed close coordination in its announcements of sanctions against Russia, but has not moved at the same pace when it comes to Russian oil and gas.

The United States, which was not a major consumer of Russian hydrocarbons, has already banned their import.

But Europe is far more reliant on Russian oil. The European Union has

already said it is aiming to cut its reliance on Russian gas by two-thirds this year, though Germany has opposed calls for a full boycott, with member states continuing intense negotiations Sunday.

The G7 also slammed Putin personally for his actions in Ukraine.

The Russian president’s “unprovoked war of aggression” against its Eastern European neighbor has brought “shame on Russia and the historic sacrifices of its people,” the group said in its statement.

“Russia has violated the international rules-based order, particularly the UN Charter, conceived after the Second World War to spare successive generations from the scourge of war,” the statement continued.

The date of Sunday’s G7 meeting is highly symbolic: Europeans commemorate the end of World War II in Europe on May 8. AFP

BEIJING, China—China’s export growth slumped in April to its lowest level in almost two years, customs data showed Monday, as a COVID resurgence shuttered factories, sparked transport curbs and caused congestion at key ports.

The data shows the extent of growing damage to the world’s second largest economy as millions are confined to their homes—particularly in key business hub Shanghai—to stamp out its worst COVID resurgence since the early days of the pandemic.

Beijing has persisted with a strict zero- COVID policy involving lockdowns and mass testing, but the economic costs are mounting as manufacturing hubs and supply chains atrophy under grueling restrictions.

Export growth plunged to 3.9 percent on-year last month, the Customs Administration said Monday.

While this was above analysts’ expectations of 2.7 percent growth according to a Bloomberg poll, it marked the lowest rate since June 2020.

Import growth was flat in April, an improvement from a 0.1-percent contraction in March, as Chinese consumers remain hesitant under a welter of restrictions across the country.

Customs spokesman Li Kuiwen tried to strike an upbeat note on Monday saying the economy still has room to make a turnaround and that its “positive fundamentals” remain unchanged.

But analysts are less optimistic.

“Export growth could get worse in the next couple of months due to the pandemic and China’s stringent COVID containment measures, falling external demand, and loss of orders to other regions,” Nomura chief China economist Ting Lu told AFP. Export growth was among the key economic drivers of the last several quarters but could turn into a “drag” on the economy, he warned. AFP

Canadian offices going to the dogs as work-from-home arrangement ends

By Michel Comte OTTAWA, Canada—Daisy moseys over to greet visitors, her tail wagging.

She’s listed as chief morale officer on Tungsten Collaborative’s website, and is among the many pets joining their owners returning to Canadian offices after working from home through the pandemic.

The 12-year-old Lab sniffs for treats.

Before long, a Basset Hound named Delilah waddles over, offering up her belly for a rub, along with other fourlegged colleagues Eevee the Greyhound and German Shepherd puppy Hudson, who lets out a bark.

Daisy’s proficiencies include “stress management” and “client engagement,” according to her biography, which notes that many of the industrial design studio’s “greatest innovations can be traced back to a long walk” with her.

“We encourage people if they have pets to bring them (to work),” Tungsten president Bill Dicke, 47, said in an interview with AFP. “You develop this relationship being at home with your pet on a day-to-day basis and all of a sudden you go back to work, so now they have to be crated for the day or roam the house alone, it’s not fair to them,” he opined.

“The tolerance for pets (at work) during the pandemic has increased,” he added.

These dogs sleep under desks or in the boardroom throughout the day, chase balls down a hallway or chew squeaky toys. There’s a row of water bowls in the office kitchen, if they get thirsty.

The Ottawa company is listed by the Humane Society as dog-friendly, and it’s actually helped drum up business,

Bill Dicke, president of Tungsten Collaborative, gives a high five to his dog Nature May 5, 2022 in Ottawa, Canada. According to a recent Leger survey for PetSafe, 51 percent of Canadians support bringing dogs to the office. AFP

Dicke said, as well as increased staff productivity.

Workers are forced to take regular breaks for dog walks instead of “eating lunch at their desk,” for example, and are not fretting about their pet being left alone at home, he explained.

According to a recent Leger survey for PetSafe, 51 percent of Canadians support bringing dogs to the office.

Younger workers were the most supportive, with 18 percent of those aged 18 to 24 years saying they would change jobs if their employer refused to allow them to bring their pet to work.

With an estimated 200,000 Canadians adopting a dog or cat since the start of the pandemic in 2020, bringing the

nationwide total to 3.25 million, it could force employers now pressing staff to return to the office to consider this option.

‘Going to w-o-r-k’ Johan Van Hulle, 29, joined Tungsten last year. Its dog policy, he said, “was a key part of the decision” to take the job, after working from home with Eevee.

“Allowing dogs is a good indicator” of a company’s culture, he said, and the kind of “not too corporate” workplace that appeals to him.

Across town at construction joint venture Chandos Bird, people designing a nuclear research laboratory are visibly smitten by 10-year-old Samson.

His owner Trevor Watt didn’t want to leave the Yorkshire Terrier alone after

moving into a new house and starting work in a new office in January.

It was supposed to be a temporary arrangement until Samson got used to his new surroundings, but he endeared himself with colleagues and staff in neighboring offices, who take turns walking him.

“He loves going to work,” Watt said.

“When I say I’m going to w-o-r-k, he’s ready to jump in the car.”

Watt likes it, too. “I don’t have to worry about him.”

“Dogs in new environments get very anxious, when left alone,” he explained. “I think a lot of new owners know that now that they’ve had their puppies through COVID.” If Samson needs to go out, he just puts a paw on Watt’s leg. He has toys and a bed at the office, and wanders from desk to desk.

Petting him is a great way to “decompress after a tough meeting,” commented Watt’s boss Byron Williams.

Dogs in the workplace, however, can also create challenges, he said, such as “if somebody is scared of dogs” or allergic to dander.

One of Watt’s coworkers is terrified of dogs. It was agreed with her that Samson would be leashed the days she comes to the office.

At other offices, workers surveyed

by AFP lamented carpet stains, disruptive barking and pet hair or drool on clothes—not a great look for impressing clients.

Downtown, many stores and cafes have water bowls for dogs, and several shopkeepers such as Emma Inns of the Adorit fashion boutique bring their dogs to work. AFP

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

B4

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022

Global oil price surge, disease outbreaks to lift inflation further

By Julito G. Rada THE Department of Finance said the economy continues to face inflationary pressures from both food and non-food items amid the lingering African swine fever and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine that affects global oil prices.

It said in an economic bulletin the African swine fever threatened food security, while the geopolitical tension in Ukraine has implications on both food and energy security.

“Moreover, avian flu outbreaks in parts of the country pose threats to the poultry sector. The country needs to repopulate decimated hog populations, momentarily supplement any shortfall with meat imports, and effectively contain the avian flu outbreak,” the DOF said.

It said that in the short-term, nonfood price inflation would continue to be driven by developments in the global energy market. Dubai crude oil continued to hover high, averaging $102.68 per barrel in April, up by 64.6 percent from the same month last year, but down by 9.2 percent, month-on-month.

“The futures market for oil continues to be in backwardation [i.e., the spot price is higher than near-term futures contracts which are, in turn, higher than longer-term contracts], suggesting tight supply conditions and higher convenience yield associated with having on hand the physical commodity,” it said.

The DOF said higher energy prices in the world market ultimately get translated into higher local pump prices.

The general price level accelerated 4.9 percent in April, further picking up speed from the 4-percent increase in March. The April print came out higher than the economists’ median outlook of 4.6 percent.

Food price inflation jumped 2.75 percent in March to 3.96 percent in April. Rice price inflation remained relatively flat at 1.64 percent. The prices of other food items, however, increased at a faster rate: meat (from 2.92 percent to 4.21 percent); fish (from 4.31 percent to 5.0 percent), and; vegetables (from minus 0.09 percent to 9.19 percent).

Business PDEX expects bond listings to reach P300b by end-June

By Jenniffer B. Austria

B

OND listing at Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. is expected to reach P300 billion by the end of June as more companies plan to tap the debt market to fund expansion plans and projects, a top executive said.

PDEX president and chief executive Antonino Nakpil said during the recent listing ceremony of Ayala Land Inc.’s P12-billion bonds that bond listing so far reached P216.45 billion. The figure already exceeded the P213.45 billion in total corporate bond listings in 2021.

“This year is officially better than last year, and the pipeline of reservations indicate that our regular returnee issuers

are flexing and showing their prowess in debt capital raising, suggesting a level of P300 billion may be reached by June of 2022,” Nakpil said.

Many companies are tapping the local bond market ahead of the expected rate increase and to diversify funding sources.

The Bangko Sentra ng Pilipinas hinted that it may study adjusting the interest rates by June this year, after keeping the cost of borrowing at record low for almost two years. The overnight borrowing rate stays at 2 percent, which keeps the 91-day Treasury bill rates and bank lending rates steady.

Nakpil said demand for debt capital was strong as all 11 corporate bond listings this year were oversubscribed by an average of 3.2 times their original amounts. Most of the bond subscribers were also domestic investors.

The largest bond listing so far this year was the P52.7-billion Asean sustainability bonds issued by BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender,

BDO set a new record as the largest bond issuance by a local bank in the domestic debt market in a single tranche.

The previous record of P40.1 Billion was coincidentally also held by BDO. Other top bond offerings this year were SM Prime Holdings Inc. (P30 billion), San Miguel Corp. (P30 billion), Bank of the Philippine Islands (P27 billion), SM Investments Corp. (P15 billion), Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

(P 14.75 billion), Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions Inc. (P10 billion), Aboitiz Power Corp. (P10 billion), Ayala Land (P12 billion) and Century Properties Group Inc. (P3 billion).

PDEX recorded a record P388 billion worth of debt paper listings in 2020.

This may be exceeded by bond issuances this year, once the P300-billion mark was achieved in the first half.

Debt issuances are used by companies to support expansion, which in turn create more jobs and boost production.

THE Department of Public Works and Highways said it expects to complete an access road that will connect the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to the Hermosa Ecozone Industrial Park in Bataan by 2027.

Public Works Secretary Roger Mercado said the construction of the access road is divided into two stages, including the Mabiga-Morong-SBFZ section

PCCI MEETING. Experts and stakeholders in the transport and logistic industry discuss the traffic congestion in Metro Manila in anticipation of the full reopening of the economy. Some recommendations presented include the shift to hybrid work and school set-up and completion of the long-overdue infrastructure projects. Leading the discussion are (from top left, clockwise) Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president George Barcelon; honorary chair and committee-in-charge for membership Alegria Sibal Limjoco; lawyer Vincent Rondaris, president of Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas Inc.; Rene Santiago, former Japan International Cooperation Agency consultant on urban transport; Pierre Carlo Curay, president of Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines; Henry Basilio, adviser for transport and logistics committee; and Christian Martin Gonzalez, executive vice president of International Container Terminal Services Inc.

for Phase 1 and the MabigatPalihan section for Phase 2.

Included in the project’s Phases 1 and 2 are the construction of a four-lane, 17.74-kilometer road from SBFZ to the Mabiga Exit of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the 7.43-kilometer road opening with slope protection and drainage from Barangay Mabiga to Barangay Palihan in Hermosa.

The first phase of the project received a P120-million funding

ERC approves P9.97-b relocation of Meralco facilities to pave way for various rail projects

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission approved Manila Electric Co.’s relocation project in connection with the implementation of several “Build, Build, Build” projects of the Department of Transportation.

The ERC said the relocation cost would be shouldered by the DOTr amounting to P9.97 billion and not be recovered by Meralco.

“Considering the impact of the implementation of the project to electricity consumers of Meralco, the commission deemed that funding for the relocation project cost, as well as the expansion cost, be scrutinized. After all, the costs that will be shouldered by the DOTr under the MOA will likewise be settled through taxpayer’s contribution to national coffers,” it said.

The regulator, however, disapproved the petition of Meralco for approval of its expansion project amounting to P4.24 billion. It said it could not validate the component parts and costing due to insufficient data and was thus constrained to disapprove the expan-

Friday, May 6, 2022

-109.02 PTS. 6,759.90

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

653,644,826 68,389 5,949,061,380.96 60 107

UNCHANGED

61

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.3310

Japan

Yen

0.007681

0.4020

UK

Pound

1.236200

64.6916

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127400

6.6670

Switzerland

Franc

1.015125

53.1225

Canada

Dollar

0.779241

40.7785

Singapore

Dollar

0.722804

37.8251

Australia

Dollar

0.711300

37.2230

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652731

138.8201

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266610

13.9520

Brunei

Dollar

0.720202

37.6889

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.029125

1.5241

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.2491

Euro

Euro

1.054400

55.1778

Korea

Won

0.000788

0.0412

China

Yuan

0.150297

7.8652

India

Rupee

0.013069

0.6839

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.230044

12.0384

New Zealand

Dollar

0.642300

33.6122

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033747

1.7660 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Globe fired up 252 cell sites in 1st quarter GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Monday it fired up 252 cell sites in the first quarter to provide connectivity to more Filipinos.

It said with the additional infrastructure, total cell towers reached 12,194 as of end-March, allowing more people and communities across the country to experience the company’s first world network.

“We want as many Filipinos to enjoy the benefits of mobile technology and have access to the Internet, even in far-flung areas. This way, more people can enjoy the digital solutions that are accessible through our network and help uplift the lives of many,” Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said.

Globe also installed 380 new 5G sites in the first three months of the year. The additional facilities were established in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Davao, Cebu, Misamis Oriental and Iloilo. Globe’s 5G network now covers 95 percent of the National Capital Region population and 84 percent in Visayas and Mindanao.

“These new builds augment both 5G outdoor and in-building solutions across the country. They also support the company’s strategy of providing 5G technology where it matters,” said Globe vice president Marge Dizon.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Halal processors told to exploit global market

DPWH expects completion of 25-km Subic-Hermosa road by 2027

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PSE INDEX CLOSING

sion project.

It said Meralco could still re-file the subject project within 30 days from the receipt of the decision, as the commission sees the importance of the project in addressing the identified issues.

Meralco previously filed a petition for contingency projects for the relocation of electrical facilities in connection with the various BBB projects.

These projects involve the Common Station Project, Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1, North-South Commuter Railway System (composed of PNR North 1, PNR North 2, and PNR South Commuter) and PNR South Long Haul (Manila-Sorsogon-Batangas).

Meralco said the DOTr projects would affect 154 distribution circuits and 18 sub-transmission circuits and involve 10, 372 poles.

The DOTr projects will be implemented by Meralco in phases through the relocation of the affected facilities to give way to the construction poles. Meralco will permanently install poles and electrical facilities in the space with corresponding rights-of-way to be provided by the Philippine National Railways.

from the 2020 national budget for the 3.95-kilometer road improvement of the Mabiga-Morong segment.

Meanwhile, a total of P200 million from the 2021 General Appropriations Act was allocated for the civil works of the Mabiga-Palihan section.

The DPWH said the expected completion dates for the construction works in the MabigaMorong segment and the Mabiga-Palihan section are June 2022

and January 2023, respectively.

The whole stretch of the access road is expected to be fully operational and open to public by 2027.

Once completed, the access road will serve as a new alternate road from the HEIP to major seaports and airports in the region while also facilitating inter-regional transportation by acting as a link of the industrial center to the Luzon Spine Expressway.

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority encouraged Halal processors to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the global halal market particularly on new platforms that brought global trade to another level.

PEZA investment promotions division chief Raison Arobinto said in webinar that the pandemic was not expected to result a significant drop in Muslim spending on halal food, while non-Muslim consumers are becoming more health-conscious.

Some of the trends that are expected to boost Halal trade are e-commerce delivery, mobile catering, cloud kitchens and healthy functional clean label food.

“When we say halal, it’s healthy because halal promotes good health and anything that could harm the body, the health of an individual, is not halal….Halal is almost synonymous with organic. It does not use hazardous chemicals that will harm the environment. That is why halal is also environment-friendly. It also connotes animal welfare,” Arobinto said.

Othel V. Campos

Gov’t asked to resolve NCR traffic congestion EXPERTS and stakeholders in the transportation industry asked the outgoing and incoming government to act with urgency on the traffic congestion in Metro Manila in anticipation of the full reopening of the economy.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president George Barcelon said in the recently concluded PCCI 2nd general membership meeting the traffic situation in Metro Manila and other major urban areas in the country deteriorated.

Barcelon, citing figures from Japan International Cooperation Agency, said the P3.5-billion daily economic costs of traffic congestion, which could rise to P5.4 billion a day by 2035, could hinder the country’s long-term vision.

He said slow-moving traffic severely impacted workers’ productivity and subsequently, the productivity of business enterprises.

Barcelon said transportation is essential to sustaining economic gains and building on the reform measures that are aimed at making the country attractive to investments and conducive to job-creating activities.

Othel V. Campos

NPC eyes P20.46b in universal charge for missionary electrification STATE-RUN National Power Corp. is seeking approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission for its proposed 2023 basic universal charge on missionary electrification amounting to P20.46 billion, or equivalent to a rate of P0.1839 per kilowatt-hour.

Napocor said in an application the proposed basic UCME for CY 2023 of P0.1839 per kWh would result in an increase of P0.0659 per kWh in UCME from the provisionally approved basic UCME rate of P0.1163 per KWh for NapocorSmall Power Utilities Group and New Power Players/Qualified Third Parties.

“The recovery of the proposed basic UCME rate of P0.1839 per kWh inclusive of RE Cash Incentive for CY 2023 is vital to NPC’s subsidy requirements to maintain a reliable and stable funding source for its operating costs requirements and to ensure sufficient subsidy to NPPs/QTPs and RE developers,” it said.

It said the proposed UCME rate considered the commitment of Napocor in ensuring the required volume of fuel that would be timely paid to suppliers, payment to NPPs and QTPs, and ensuring the continuing operation of existing units.

“The proposal, when approved, will

allow NPC to deliver its commitment to systems consistent with the specific proprovide a reliable and sufficient power grams in the missionary areas that NPC supply and efficient operation of its is currently serving,” it said. plants and its associated power delivery Alena Mae S. Flores

TREE PLANTING. The Nayong Pilipino Foundation teams up with the Department of Health in a tree planting activity in Parañaque City to bring mental health benefits to all. Joining the activity are (from left) NPF deputy executive director for marketing and operations Jovertly Pudan, DOH Health Promotion Bureau director Beverly Lorraine Ho; and DOH senior program officer Francis Paule.

Sports Mavericks drill 20 treys to pull level with Suns

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after teammate Dorian Finney-Smith scored a three-point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks won 111-101. AFP

Kickboxer Saclag on track to win 1st PH gold in SEAG J

EAN Claude Saclag fights for a place in the gold-medal round of men’s kickboxing against Vu Truong Giang, who will have the raucous hometown crowd rooting for him in the 31st Southeast Asian Games at the Bac Ninh province gymnasium on Tuesday.

Saclag, a kickboxing convert from wushu, where he first made a name for himself in the continent, assured himself of the men’s low kick -63.5-kg class bronze medal following his 3-0 conquest of Souliyavong Latxasak of Laos on Sunday.

But the 27-year-old from Kalinga and Benguet would be utilizing his veteran smarts from his numerous international stints to neutralize his Vietnamese opponent and the hometown crowd.

“I really need to be dominant in my performance here,”

Defense keeps PH Azkals in1st place IT was a big defensive effort for the Philippine Azkals’ national under-23 men’s football team as they fought defending champion and host Vietnam to a scoreless draw on Sunday evening in the 31st Southeast Asian Games football tournament at the Viet Tri Phu Tho Stadium in Viet Tri. Everyone involved in defense did their part and this allowed the Philippines to remain in first place in Group A with 4 points.

Fil-Dutch goalie Quincy Kameraad said this as the Azkals head into their third game on Tuesday against Myanmar.

“Everyone involved did an amazing job, defensively,” said Kameraad in keeping the Vietnamese booters from scoring a single goal throughout their encounter.

Kameraad came in the way of two Vietnamese frontliners, Nham Manh Dung and Huynh Cong Den, who had two great chances each to score.

But their shots lacked accuracy and kept Vietnam from getting past the Filipinos in the first half.

Vietnam also got two free kicks close to the box, but Le Van Do couldn’t convert both when the first half was over.

Fatigue caught up with the Vietnamese players, some 15 minutes into the second half, allowing the Philippines to organize its defense in front of the goal from then on.

Vietnam is now second in Group A, behind the Philippines.

Kameraad said the team followed coach Norman Fegidero’s instructions to stay in a defensive mode against Vietnam. Peter Atencio

Saclag said. “I will do everything to win the gold medal.”

If he wins, Saclag will face either Chalemlap Santidongsakun of Thailand or San Rakim of Cambodia in the gold medal round.

Saclag was a Wushu World Cup champion in sanda and clinched a silver medal at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games. He won gold in the same kickboxing event at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games played at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Three other Filipino kickboxers, however, already fell out of medal contention.

Kurt Lubrica lost to Thailand’s Chaiway Sungnoi, 1-2, in a men’s -57 kgs low kick clash, while Jomar Esteban suffered a 1-2 beating from Racchan Toch of Cambodia in -57 kgs and Carlos Alvarez lost to Vietnam’s Nguyen The Huong, 0-3, in -67 kgs in men’s full-contact action.

The other Filipino bets were fighting late Monday— Daryl Chulipas against Indonesia’s Salmri Stendra Pattisamallo in men’s full contact -51 kgs, Honorio Banario against Tanoi Yermias Yohanes of Indonesia in men’s -71s kg low kick and Emmanuel Cantores against Malaysian Ain Kamarrudin in men’s -60 kgs low kick.

Jean Claude Saclag

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022

C1

LOS ANGELES—The Dallas Mavericks rained 20 three-pointers and again neutralized Phoenix point guard Chris Paul to beat the top-seeded Suns 111-101 on Sunday and knot their NBA playoff series at two games each.

Star guard Luka Doncic scored 26 points and Dorian Finney-Smith added 24 for Dallas, who have won two games at home to level the best-of-seven Western Conference matchup after dropping the first two games in Phoenix.

The Suns, who finished the regular season with the best record in the league, will try to regain the advantage when they host game five on Tuesday.

It’s guaranteed to shift back to Dallas for game six on Thursday.

The Philadelphia 76ers also won a second straight game at home to level their Eastern Conference series with Miami at two-all.

Former NBA MVP James Harden scored 31 points to lead six Philadelphia players in double figures in a 116108 victory.

Center Joel Embiid, who missed the first two games with a concussion and facial fracture, scored 24 points, his presence again making things tougher for Miami defensively.

“The organization on offense, it helps a lot with him on the floor,” said Philadelphia’s Danny Green, who made three three-pointers on the way to 11 points. “Without him we look a little discombobulated.”

“James was incredible tonight for us,” Green added of Harden, who also pulled down seven rebounds and handed out nine assists in his strongest showing of these playoffs.

Embiid carried the Sixers early, scoring 15 points in the first quarter. Harden, who didn’t score in the opening period, took over with 13 points in the second and Philadelphia took a 64-56 lead into halftime after an opening half that featured 17 lead changes.

The Sixers, up 89-85 going into the fourth, pushed the lead to 10 with less than six minutes remaining. Miami had cut it to five when Harden drove to the rim for a basket then drained a three-pointer.

Embiid, still playing in a protective mask, grabbed an offensive rebound and fed Tyrese Maxey for a dunk that made it 111-103 and Harden made another three-pointer to push the lead to 11 with 1:07 left, effectively sealing the win.

Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter as the Sixers withstood a 40-point performance from Miami’s Jimmy Butler.

“We know it’s going to be tougher in their building,” Green said of game five looming in Miami on Tuesday.

“We’ve got to come in more intense, more focused.” AFP

Ateneo vows not to suffer 3rd straight loss to UP

By Peter Atencio SINCE Tab Baldwin started coaching the Ateneo Blue Eagles back in 2014, the Katipunan cagers have not experienced three straight losses to a team in their University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball wars. And they are not about to.

With the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on the cusp of winning the Season 84 crown after a Game 1 win, the Blue Eagles will be keeping this in mind as they try to bounce back in the second match of their best-of-three finals series with the Maroons.

“UP deserves the credit. Goldwin (Monteverde) coached an excellent game, his players played tough as they did against La Salle. There was nothing but scrapping in them and fighting, and they did

the things necessary to win big games.

They rebounded the ball like there was no tomorrow, and they played defense like there was no tomorrow, and they took us out of our offensive rhythm, and we have to figure out how we can maintain offensive rhythm,” said Baldwin.

The Ateneo coach talked about what transpired after his defending threetime champion Eagles took an overtime, 74-81 loss in Game 1 on Sunday and suffered their second straight stunner to the Maroons.

The first loss to UP was an 83-84 setback at the end of the elimination round.

Because of this, Baldwin said he can’t allow a third consecutive loss to happen in their next game.

“We certainly have to figure how we can keep Malik (Diouf) and Zav Lucero off the boards among the rest of the guys, and if

we do those things and make some free throws, it’s a different result. But it’s just a waste of time to talk about that, we actually have to do (these) things,” said Baldwin.

The Maroons now have the momentum in the title series after they overcame a three-point deficit in the extra period and got eight straight points off Lucero’s three, Ricci Rivero’s and-one and Carl Tamayo’s layup to get a 79-74 lead with 2:04 left.

“I think it was all UP’s defense, but we have to be better than that. They certainly disrupted our rhythm with their defense,” added Baldwin.

Rivero led with 19 points, including a flawless 11-of11 from the free-throw line, while Lucero made 17 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks.

Tab Baldwin

Amateurs out to steal show in LPGT Malarayat

Arnie Taguines

ARNIE Taguines and Eagle Ace Superal won’t be just chasing the low amateur honors in the ICTSI Mount Malarayat Challenge but the overcall championship as well when the P750,000 event is unwrapped Wednesday in Lipa City, Batangas.

Taguines is due for a big finish, fresh from topping their side of the duel in the last Ladies Philippine Golf Tour stop at Caliraya last month while Superal is raring to break a long spell and check a dip in form with a strong performance this week.

The two other amateurs in the compact field— Martina Miñoza and Lesley Icoy—are using the 54-hole tournament to gain entry into the country’s premier ladies pro circuit.

Amateurs need to break 82 in all three days to earn their pro cards with the next stop of the ICTSI-backed tour, the Splendido Challenge, slated on May 24-26 to be held simultaneously with the third leg of the Philippine Golf Tour.

The top amateurs have provided an enlivening challenge to the touring ladies and the circuit a venue to hone their talent and skills with SEA Games stalwart and two-time AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) champion Rianne Malixi upstaging the pros at the close of the LPGT season at Midlands last

year and in this year’s kickoff leg at Luisita last March.

Lois Kaye Go and Mafy Singson, teammates of Malixi in the SEAG mission firing off Friday in Hanoi, have also figured in the LPGT title chase but the former lost steam in the final round and settled for fifth and the low amateur plum at Hallow Ridge.

Singson, on the other hand, had gained cracks at the LPGT plum at least four times last year but just couldn’t unleash the strong finishing kick to merit a breakthrough championship.

Taguines and Superal, however, are upbeat of their respective chances this week although focus will be on in-form Chanelle Avaricio, who is shooting for a third straight crown after topping the Hallow Ridge and Caliraya legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. But out to stop her remarkable run are reigning Order of Merit winner Harmie Constantino, Chihiro Ikeda, Sunshine Baraquiel, Marvi Monsalve, Sarah Ababa, Gretchen Villacencio, Pamela Mariano, Eva Miñoza, Lovelynn Guioguio, Sheryl Villasencio, Lucy Landicho, Apple Fudolin and brand-new pro Kristine Fleetwood.

C2

Sports

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022

Verstappen prevails in sweltering heat Frustrated M Hamilton

IAMI GARDENS—World champion Max Verstappen resisted a late attack from series leader Charles Leclerc of Ferrari to claim an accomplished victory for Red Bull in sweltering conditions at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix on Sunday.

In a physically exhausting race for the drivers and teams at the Miami International Autodrome, the 24-year-old Dutchman produced a mature performance to make the most of superior straight line speed in a largely processional race until a late Safety Car intervention.

His second win in succession and third of the season enabled him to trim Leclerc’s advantage to 19 points in the drivers’ championship. Leclerc has 104 and Verstappen 85. It was the 23rd win of the Dutchman’s career.

“It was an incredible Grand Prix, very physical as well, but I think we kept it exciting until the end,” said Verstappen, interviewed by retired American driver

Willy T. Ribbs after the race.

When Ribbs suggested he looked ready to “get into a boxing ring”, Verstappen retorted: “I think I’ll stick to racing, but I appreciate boxing a lot. It felt a bit like that out there in terms of how we feel now.

“I’m incredibly happy with winning here in Miami and it was an incredible Sunday for us.”

Leclerc said he felt that the Red Bull was clearly a faster car than his Ferrari in a hot and punishing race.

“It was such a difficult race, physically,” said Leclerc. “We struggled quite a bit with the medium tyres, especially in the first stint, and was overtaken there. That made our race a bit more difficult from

that moment onwards.

‘Step up’ “On the hard tyre, we were very competitive and towards the end I thought I could get Max at one point, but today they had the advantage in terms of pace.”

He said he hoped Ferrari would make a ‘step up’ with upgrades for the Spanish Grand Prix later this month, but added that he had enjoyed the atmosphere generated by a sell-out crowd that was sprinkled with celebrities.

“It was fun and it’s amazing to see so many people again,” he said. “I keep saying it, but it’s great to see so many Ferrari fans in the grandstands.

“Now, we need to keep pushing. Upgrades will be very important throughout the year and I hope that we can do a step up from the next race onwards.”

Verstappen came home 3.786 seconds ahead of Leclerc with Carlos Sainz third in the second Ferrari after holding off a late charge from Sergio Perez. George Russell finished fifth after recovering

from 15th on the opening lap to come home ahead of Mercedes team-mate, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.

“I did the best I could. It’s a good result for the team,” said Hamilton, who had spent the buildup to the race rowing with the sport’s governing body about how much jewellery he wears.

In a tactical race of attrition and many minor incidents, Russell made the most of a late Safety Car intervention when McLaren’s Lando Norris collided with Pierre Gasly’s Alpha Tauri to take a ‘free’ pit stop for new tyres.

The final ten laps produced more action than the previous 47 including another accident when Mick Schumacher of Haas collided with fellow-German four-time champion Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin.

Valtteri Bottas of Alfa Romeo finished seventh ahead of Esteban Ocon and his Alpine team-mate two-time champion Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon who was a fine 10th for Williams. AFP

Teenager Alcaraz has eyes on French Open MADRID—Teenager Carlos Alcaraz continued his blazing rise by demolishing Alexander Zverev in the Madrid final on Sunday and then said “I really want to prove my level in a Grand Slam”.

Two weeks before the start of the French Open, the young Spaniard brushed aside his third-ranked foe 6-3, 6-1 in 62 minutes to continue a run that signals tennis has a new power.

“I really want to go to Paris to win a Grand Slam, to show my level in a Grand Slam,” said Alcaraz at a press conference after winning the second Masters 1000 of his career.

“People are going to take me as a favourite, but I take that as motivation,” added Alcaraz.

He said he will miss the Rome claycourt tournament this week after injuring an ankle in beating Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals on Friday.

“This morning, because of the fall against Rafa, I woke up with a more swollen ankle and I also had a blister that had become infected,” he said.

“It was a little difficult to walk, but... we were able to do a few things to be at 100 percent for the match.”

Before the Madrid tournament last year, Alcaraz was ranked 120th in the world. On Monday he will reach number six.

“I have five more to go to be the best in the world,” he said.

He became the youngest US Open quarter-finalist of the Open era last September, then won his first Masters 1000 title in Miami in early April.

Victory on Sunday brought a second Masters 1000 title. The only younger player to reach that milestone was Nadal, who won in Monte Carlo and Rome when he was 18.

Alcaraz turned 19 on Thursday and over the next two days battled past Nadal in two hours and 28 minutes and Novak Djokovic in 3hr 36min.

“I am 19 years old, which I think is the key to be able to play long and tough matches in a row. I am feeling great physically,” he said. AFP

Red Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after the Miami Formula One Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida. AFP

questons team strategy

MIAMI GARDENS—A frustrated Lewis Hamilton questioned his Mercedes team’s strategy on Sunday after he finished sixth behind team-mate George Russell at the Miami Grand Prix.

After the fifth race of the year, Hamilton is sixth in the drivers’ standings on 36 points, with fellow Briton fourth on 59.

The seven-time world champion said he was surprised to be asked if he wanted to pit for fresh tyres during a Safety Car period after 41 laps of the inaugural 67-lap race at the Miami International Autodrome, won by Max Verstappen.

“I really don’t know, in that scenario I have no clue where everyone is,” he explained when asked about the incident.

“When the team say ‘it’s your choice’—I don’t have the information to make the decision.

“That’s what your job is! Make the decision for me. You’ve got all the details right there in front of you. I don’t.

“That’s what you rely on the guys for, but today they gave it to me and I didn’t understand it.”

The team decided not to pit Hamilton.

“It’s just a bit unfortunate on the Safety Car, but at least we got points today,” he said.

“We’re finishing and reliability is good. We just have to keep trying. I’m excited to, at one stage, take a step forward, which we haven’t yet.”

He had finished a forlorn 13th two weeks previously at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Team-mate Russell made the most of the Safety Car to pit for fresh tyres and, with that advantage, was able to pass Hamilton to finish fifth.

“It’s good when you battle with our team-mate,” Hamilton said. “You show more respect, give more space and I enjoyed it. I think there’s good respect between us and I was pushing as hard as I could.” AFP

Globe fetes Eala on 2nd pro crown, sends off tennis sensation to SEAG FILIPINA tennis sensation and Globe ambassador Alex Eala received a warm welcome at the company’s headquarters in Taguig City on Wednesday as she visited Globe leaders and employees ahead of her Southeast Asian Games medal bid.

Eala, with parents Mike Eala and Rizza Maniego-Eala, Globe CFO, paid a courtesy call on Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu, who conveyed his congratulations for Eala’s latest win.

Eala had clinched her second pro title at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W25 Chiang Rai in April, a stellar followup to her victory at the W15 Manacor in Spain in 2021.

“We are very proud of Alex, our Globe Ambassador, on her victory as she continues to bring glory to the country. She truly embodies our values of perseverance, the will to win, and the drive to continuously get stronger and better,” Cu said.

“We send her off to the SEA Games with our wishes for another victory. The Globe Group is behind her all the way and will be cheering for her as she takes the Philippine flag and the Globe brand to the tennis court,” he said.

During her visit, Eala also met with Globe employees who excitedly welcomed her at The Globe Tower, the first ambassador to

visit the Globe HQ since returnto-office took effect in April.

“It felt like a homecoming. It was great to meet with the Globe leaders and employees a few days before I head to the SEA Games.

I’ll bring this great energy with me. Thank you Globe for the constant support throughout my career!” Eala said.

Eala has been a Globe ambassador since age 8, getting the corporation’s support since her early days competing in tennis tournaments. The 16-year-old tennis ace has since gone on to reap several championships, including the 2021 French Open Juniors Doubles tournament and the Australian Globe Ambassador Alex Eala with Globe President and CEO Open Girls’ Doubles in 2020.

Ernest Cu during the tennis ace’s visit at The Globe Tower.

Homa outduels Bradley, wins PGA Wells Fargo title WASHINGTON—Max Homa held off fellow American Keegan Bradley down the stretch on Sunday to win the Wells Fargo Championship for his fourth career US PGA title.

World number 38 Homa fired a two-under par 68 in cold and breezy conditions to finish on eight-under 272 for a two-stroke victory at rainsoaked TPC Potomac at Avenel in suburban Washington.

“It feels good,” Homa said. “It’s a special day for me. I just feel like life is good and I’m playing some good golf.”

Homa, 31, had captured prior tour trophies at the 2019 Wells Fargo, Riviera in February 2021 and last September at Napa, California.

Homa joined Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, fellow American Sam Burns, Australian Cameron Smith and 2021 Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama of Japan as multiple PGA Tour winners in the 2021-22 season.

“It’s super awesome,” Homa said.

“I’m coming into my own and starting

to believe in myself and that’s all I can ask for.”

Third-round leader Bradley, the 2011 PGA Championship winner in his major debut, made a closing bogey to shoot 72 and settled for a share of second on 274 with countryman Cameron Young and England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick.

“I didn’t play my best golf,” Bradley said. “It was choppy and then I had a couple good stretches but I had a chance there at the end, so I’m proud of that aspect of it.”

Four-time major winner and defending champion Rory McIlroy was fifth on 276 after a closing 68 with India’s Anirban Lahiri, American Lanto Griffin and Germany’s Stephan Jaeger on 277.

Bradley, ranked 64th, was chasing his first title in four years but couldn’t match Homa as both endured roller-coaster back nines.

Homa sank a birdie putt from just inside 10 feet at the par-3 ninth, then made a three-foot birdie putt at the par-5 10th to grab the lead alone at 9-under.

Max Homa of the United States plays a shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in Potomac, Maryland. AFP

Bradley knocked his approach into a hazard at 11 on the way to a double bogey while Homa sank a par putt from just inside nine feet to seize a threestroke advantage.

Homa found deep right rough off the 13th tee on the way to a bogey and Brad-

ley two-putted from 48 feet for birdie at the par-4 14th to pull back within one.

‘Unbelievable birdie’ But Homa bounced back with a 13-foot birdie putt at the par-4 15th while Bradley missed the green on the way to a bogey and fell three adrift with three to play.

“I made an unbelievable birdie on 15 while I was trying not to make double,” Homa said.

Again Homa found trouble, sending his approach at 16 into deep right rough and rolling a 25-foot par putt five feet past the cup. Then Homa watched Bradley sink a ninefooter for birdie before making his bogey putt to keep a one-stroke edge.

At the par-4 18th, Bradley found a fairway bunker then came up short of the green. Bradley chipped to 21 feet and two-putted for bogey as Homa made a routine par.

Bradley began with a two-stroke lead but Homa opened with a birdie and Bradley made double bogey the par-5 second, leaving Homa one ahead.

Bradley missed a six-foot par putt to bogey the fourth but answered with a 21-foot birdie putt at the par-4 fifth, although Homa topped him from just inside eight feet at the fifth to keep a two-stroke edge. AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022

Huge opening for ‘Doctor Strange’ gives Hollywood a boost DOCTOR Strange in the Multiverse of Madness enjoyed a blockbuster opening over the weekend, taking in an estimated $185 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

That represented the biggest opening weekend of the year, the second-biggest of the pandemic era, and the 11th biggest all time, analysts said.

“This is another sensational Marvel opening, by Marvel’s own dominant standard,” said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.

The superhero sequel, directed by Sam Raimi and distributed by Disney, again stars Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role, backed by Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejofor, and Rachel

McAdams.

The complicated plot – how could a multiverse story not be complicated? – includes alternate universes, witches and sorcerers, death and revival, and even an octopus demon.

With the huge bump from Dr. Strange, the weekend’s estimated gross offered more evidence of Hollywood’s return from the darkest pandemic days: It was nearly 10 times the $22 million from the same weekend last year.

Strange shoved Universal’s animated actioncomedy The Bad Guys out of the top spot where it had resided for two weeks. The DreamWorks Animation production took in $9.8 million for the

C3

Benedict

Cumberbatch as Doctor Stephen Strange

Friday-through-Sunday period.

In third, also down one spot from last weekend, was Paramount’s family-friendly Sonic the Hedgehog 2, at $6.2 million.

Warner Bros.’ Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, the latest episode in the Harry Potter prequel series, also slipped a notch, to fourth, at $4 million.

And with multiverse-based films seemingly everywhere, A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once held to fifth spot, at

Stars descend on voting precincts Pinoy celebrities exercise their right to vote

Jolina Magdangal (right) and Mark Escueta showing off their inked index fingers

(From left) Kaye, Kathryn, and their mother Min

By Patricia Taculao

ESTERDAY’S event was one of the most significant moments in the Philippines as citizens face the heat and crowd to vote for their desired candidates for government positions.

Y

Similar to the 2016 elections, Filipinos once again trooped to the voting precincts to elect a new president who will lead the country for six years. After months of tireless campaigning and learning about their favorite candidates, the time has come to make their voices heard.

Even notable celebrities took the time from their busy schedules to flock

to their assigned precincts to make a difference with their votes. Here are some of them: Kathryn Bernardo She was one of the local celebrities who went out to vote early. Her sister Kaye and mother Min also accompanied her to vote. Kathryn then posted a photo on Instagram showing their marked right index fingers, indicating they finished

Lorna Tolentino’s new venture IN A recent radio interview, Lorna Tolentino admitted that she fell in love with Ilocos Sur, the venue of their lockin taping for Ang Probinsyano, and the reason why she decided to buy a property there.

The multi-awarded actress revealed that she bought the property to be an additional source of income.

“It’s just a small piece of land, not really that huge since I don’t really have plans of living there,” she started.

“Yes, I entered it in a time-sharing scheme where we are holding the taping. It’s like you can have your unit rented out by the resort. So, it’s really small,” she went on.

LT stated that she knows a few celebrities who have also entered into that kind of business in Ilocos including Coco Martin. She also cited artist Ben Cabrera and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.

“They have their units rented out in the resort. Even Coco has bought a property, I just don’t know its size,” she said.

Lorna is studying the Ilocano dialect at present and has built friendships with prominent people in the Northern province. In fact, she was tapped to endorse a partylist based in Ilocos but insisted that she has no plans of entering politics.

“It’s not for me. I’m not cut out for it.

You will feel it in the first place. As for me, showbiz is really my career,” she affirmed.

Speaking of Ang Probinsyano, the veteran acting stalwart said that they will be back in their lock-in taping after the elections. She just doesn’t know if that will be the last cycle and if they will be eventually replaced by Darna.

“Well, the number of characters in the story is gradually diminishing. This is why we got closer to each other.

Imagine, we just live in one hotel or resort. When we don’t have tapings, we bond together. We go to one villa,” she stated.

“We do this to unwind. To relieve ourselves of the stress brought about by being there for a long period of time already. We need to unwind even just for

a day to balance things,” ended LT. ••• After the movie 366, which served as her directorial debut, Bela Padilla reveals that she’ll soon work on a follow-up project. She’s been tapped

by Viva to develop her next film.

“It’s the same process: I will be the one to write the script, direct, and star in it. Triple threat. The project will be something different. It won’t be a love story but family-centered. I hope I’ll be able to finish writing the script soon. Currently, I’m still in the writing stage.”

After realizing that she can multitask, it seems that she enjoys wearing different hats in her projects.

“Of course, I also wish to work solely on directing in the future without being involved acting-wise. I think acting is still my favorite but writing and directing also give me a different high,” she confessed.

Having directed Zanjoe Marudo and JC Santos in 366, Bela now lists Kim Chiu as the next star that she would want to work on a film project.

A lock-in taping for ‘Ang Probinsyano’ at Ilocos Sur is Lorna Tolentino’s inspiration for buying a property in the area

Jasmine Curtis-Smith dedicates her vote to children

voting and had no problems.

Sharon Cuneta The Megastar cast her vote alongside her husband and Vice Presidential candidate Kiko Pangilinan at their designated precinct in Silang, Cavite.

She shared that they expected no VIP treatment from the precinct and that lining up to vote is not a big thing compared to fighting for the future of the country. However, she does feel nervous about the turnout yet remains hopeful that her husband might pull through.

Francine Diaz Like many young voters, Francine was excited to cast her vote for the first time. She’s also hopeful that her fellow voters will make the right choice for the country’s future. She uploaded a selfie

Mariel Rodriguez admits to becoming emotional while voting for her husband

doing a finger heart and encouraged her fellow youth to elect leaders who genuinely care for their countrymen.

Mariel Rodriguez After months of showing her devotion and support to her husband, action star and senatorial aspirant Robin Padilla, the former host and actress finally voted.

She went to her voting precinct as early as 7:00 a.m. and shared that she became emotional as she was voting for her husband.

Jolina Magdangal The ‘90s superstar was accompanied by her husband, Rivermaya frontman Mark Escueta, in voting for the next Philippine officials. Aside from following their principles, the couple also based their decision according

to what they think is best for their children, Pele and Vika. Jolina posted a photo on Instagram, with the caption dedicated to their children, saying it’s proof that they fought for a good future for them. She added that she also hopes that their children grow to become good citizens and care for their countrymen.

Jasmine Curtis-Smith Similar to Jolina and Mark, actress and model Jasmine dedicated her votes to children as they’ll help shape the future of the Philippines. She then called on her followers on Instagram to “be involved in any way you can in our communities. Whether loud and big or small and quietly” through a photo where she shows off her inked finger.

GMA Network earns multiple accolades from UPLB, DLSU Drew Arellano wins a Special Citation for ‘AHA!’ in ‘Gandingan ng Edukasyon’

GMA Network continues to gain the students’ trust as various Kapuso personalities and programs won several honors at the University of the Philippines Los Baños’ Gandingan Awards and the De La Salle University’s Lasallian Scholarum Awards.

Earning three Core Awards during the UP Community Broadcasters’ S o c i e t y ’s Gandingan Aw a r d s h e l d virtually last April 2 was G M A Public Affairs program I - Wi t n e s s .

S a n d r a Aguinaldo’s “Di Paiiwan” won as the “Most

Development-oriented Educational Program” while Kara David’s “Nueve, Trese, Katorse” docu won the “Most Development-oriented Youth Program.” Howie Severino’s “Mask Land” completed the list, winning the “Most Developmentoriented Environmental Program.”

Kara David was hailed as the “Best TV Program Host” for “Brigada,” while its “Millennial Vote” episode won the “Most Development-oriented Magazine Program” award.

Raffy Tima was named as this year’s “Best News Anchor” for “Balitanghali.” The newscast, in turn, was recognized for its “Bantay Kalikasan: Used Face Masks in Batangas Coral Reefs” episode as the “Most Development-oriented Feature Story.”

Reporter’s Notebook took home the “Most Developmentoriented Investigative Story” award for its “Lilibeth, Sonya, Frank at Fabel” episode. At the same time, The Atom Araullo Specials was lauded as the

“Most Development-oriented Documentary Program” for its “Habol Hininga” documentary.

Meanwhile, Drew Arellano was conferred a Special Citation for “AHA!” in “Gandingan ng Edukasyon,” while Susan Enriquez also earned a Special Citation for “Pera Paraan” in “Gandingan ng Kabuhayan.”

The Gandingan Awards once again recognized GMA Network’s regional arm GMA Regional TV (RTV), conferring it with the “Most Development-oriented TV plug” award for “Nakikita Kita” (Pagpupugay Plug of GMA RTV).

GMA’s Entertainment Group earned various awards as well.

Winning the “Most Developmentoriented Drama Program” was the high-rating primetime series First Yaya, while hit weekend variety program All-Out Sundays won “Most Development-oriented Musical Segment/Program” for its “Tuloy pa rin: The COVID Special” episode. Read full story on manilastandard.net

What Charlie Dizon learned from ‘Viral Scandal’ MAKING Viral Scandal has exposed lead star Charlie Dizon to contemporary social issues and the critical nature of a support system for victims of controversies.

“I’m extremely proud of what I accomplished with Viral Scandal. The program has molded me into a new person,” Charlie said at the virtual media conference of the program, which is now in its final two weeks.

She also shared the lessons she learned from Rica, the character she portrayed in the series, and the ordeal she went through as a rape victim who had to endure a social media scandal.

“In every victim, laging apektado yung buong environment niya and doon ka rin talaga makakakuha ng support system,” she added.

In the last episodes of the series, see how Rica’s support system, the Pamilya Sicat, and her boyfriend Kyle (Joshua Garcia), help her in her battle against the Ramones.

Currently, Rica and Ella (Aya Fernandez) continue to seek justice

against Jigs (Markus Patterson), and they will find an unlikely ally in Raven (Kaila Estrada). She will discover an unedited video of Jigs and Rica that will help strengthen her stepsister’s case. Things will favor Rica as the justice department will grant their case and serve an arrest warrant to Jigs.

On the other hand, Kyle decides to investigate further his father’s death. He will learn that his father did not commit suicide and that someone had pushed him.

See where Kyle’s search for the truth leads him, especially that the evidence he has involves Troy. Will he be able to keep his promise to stay with Rica? Will the truth prevail and let Rica get the justice she wants?

Since its launch, Viral Scandal has been consistent on the trend list of Twitter for its brave storytelling on timely, relevant, and sensitive issues like women empowerment, fake news, cancel culture, and sex education. It has also kept its slot in the top

10 most-watched shows on iWantTFC throughout its airing.

Viral Scandal airs weeknights at 9:20 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, Jeepney TV, iWantTFC, We T V, and iflix.

Charlie Dizon

Life

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

C4

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022

THIS summer, as the world is finally opening again and inviting us to explore its beauty, Crocs bring us to the great outdoors where we can enjoy a world full of endless possibilities. A place where we can express ourselves without fear of judgment.

A location where we can push our infinite creativity and versatility to the fullest while staying true to who we really are.

Crocs’ main objective for the hotter than the hot season is to do safe travel and see the world in a fun and comfy way. Of course, your choice of footwear ultimately matters. With that, the brand is taking you to different exciting places.

Crocs headlines “fun and coolness” this summer. Be on-trend as you hit the different destinations by sporting the well-loved Crocs iconic Classic Clogs, Slides, and Sandals. Each Crocs pair takes us through the roughest terrains to the smoothest paths in comfort and style.

What’s the best way to beat the heat than heading to the best summer locations in the Philippines?

First stop is the sunny paradise of Coron, Palawan. Distanced at 11035 kilometers away from the bustling city of Manila, a plane trip of one hour or more will take you to wonderful spots like you’ve never

At the spectacular crystal-clear freshwater of Kayangan Lake featuring underwater rock formations, caves, and islets

Invading Coron imagined.

The dependable pair of Crocs brought us to the edges of the enchanting waters of Coron – from the calming views of Twin Lagoon and Kayangan Lake to the timeless beauty of Banul Beach.

Crocs also took us on an elevated journey and hiked the steep trails of Mt. Tapyas, the second tallest mountain and one of the most dominant land features around the town of Coron in Busuanga Island, Palawan. Take note, the 740 steps leading up to the summit were no joke, but with the

undeniable comfort and easygoing Crocs, all sweats and trek are all worth it.

The island hopping experience is definitely one-for-the-books from the exquisite waters of CYC Beach and the fine sands of Malcapuya Island. A picturesque scene that you can only see on snaps made the more than an hour boat ride truly remarkable.

Crocs also headed to one of the isolated, distant, and hardly accessible paradises in Coron. Culion is a small, very walkable town but very big in history. Doing a

Going coastal chic IMAGINE an airy coastal home filled pieces. Discover these and more when you with sun-bleached whites and deep ocean visit the Crate and Barrel stores, order by blues, doors thrown open to phone, or shop online. You the breeze. It’s a home built can contact Crate and Barrel on environmentally friendly on these numbers: SM Aura choices – materials that honor Premier 09178895667, SM the natural beauty of coastal Makati 09175833573, and SM Megamall 09178704796. living.

Browse the store catalog at Create your own oasis at www.storecatalog.crateandhome with new furniture and barrel.com.ph, and the online houseware from Crate and selections at www.crateandBarrel. This coastal home barrel.com.ph.

– where everyone can live, Product availability is subwork, and play – is made for ject to change without prior real life. Inviting and comfortnotice. able, it’s well-edited and easy Curve Marble and Glass to be at home in, not to men- Hurricane Candle Holder tion that it has a respect for the environment.

There are pure, minimal, and modern pieces like The Hague Mid-Century Sofa, the Icon Pine Wood Coffee Table in whitewash finish, and the Solano Bed made of solid white oak with soft round edges. Bring a touch of the tropical to your home with the Fields Cane Settee by Leanne Ford and the Brigton Rattan Lanterns handwoven by skilled artisans. Everything is relaxed and casual with the Meadow Grasscloth Tables with waterfall edges and natural fiber and the Wren Dinnerware dip-dyed in ocean blue surrounded by white.

Go coastal with Crate and Barrel’s new arrivals of quality furniture and houseware Solano Wood Bed

Start your international career with TrueProfile THE demand for healthcare workers worldwide shows no sign of slowing down. The pandemic is clear proof that a strong healthcare system is the only means of survival.

Filipino medical professionals are known worldwide for their work ethics, loyalty, compassion, and dedication.

And while overseas employment presents overwhelming opportunities for Filipinos, the recruitment process can pose several challenges.

Healthcare workers in the Philippines who wish to work abroad can start their journey with TrueProfile.io.

The company has been assisting overseas workers since 2006.

TrueProfile.io works with employers and recruiters in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and in Europe who are actively hiring health professionals from all over the world. The platform hosts job opportunities with a team that is actively on hand to assist in the recruitment process and to ensure that application TrueProfile.io co-founder Alejandro Coca

heritage walk with Crocs footwear while checking the historical sites and cityside streets gave us a glimpse of the overall charm.

True to the brand’s belief that all of us should be comfortable in our own shoes comes efforts to make sure that we also

live in a comfortable world. Comfort is the key to happiness and with Crocs being the irreverent go-to comfort shoes, we can be who we want to be as we help make this world a happier and comfier place one pair of personalized and comfy Crocs at a time.

The charming biker’s hotel

Taj White Dining Chair

By Tet Defensor

Explore the Philippines’ game reserve and wildlife sanctuary in Calauit Safari Park

and relocation flow smoothly.

Signing up with TrueProfile.io is free and simple. In a few clicks, one can create an account, build a digital CV and address other recruitment requirements. All the information will be viewed by employers and will be matched with relevant vacancies. TrueProfile.io members can also access licensing services, English language training, and other resources that are useful to overseas healthcare like “How to Prepare for the Job Interview” or “How to Apply for Multiple Jobs at the Same Time?”.

“TrueProfile.io is not limited to healthcare professionals. It is accessible to any professional, but healthcare practitioners will certainly gain the most benefit,” explained co-founder Alejandro Coca.

Countries worldwide are constantly taking steps to strengthen their health care system. “One example is the pre-pandemic situation in the United Kingdom. According to the “The Health Care Workforce in England” report published in 2018 by three inde-

The pool at Le Charme’s Ibiza Roof Deck gives guests a 360-degree view of the city and Subic mountainside.

W

HENEVER I think of Subic, given that most of my visits to the coastal municipality were media events and press coverages, for some reason, Le Charme Suites always comes to mind.

I first visited Le Charme around five years ago.

Just a few months after the hotel started operations, I met with the partowner who referred to Le Charme as an accidental hotel. The building was originally envisioned to be a furniture showroom, thus the elevators are big enough to accommodate recreational equipment.

The hotel, which opened in March 2017 by Grand Pillar International Development, Inc. (a Filipino and Taiwanese-owned company), is French-themed (the hotel’s name is French for “charm” or a “charmer”), from the framed posters on the lobby to the Eiffel Tower statuettes at the lobby (made with Legos) and on every table in Mi Tapas Coffee Shop.

It is also the only “bike-friendly” hotel in town and in Central Luzon Through the years, this DOT-accredited, 4-star, handsome, sleek, and modern hotel has developed facilities to accommodate competitive and leisure bikers alike.

Upon entering the hotel lobby, a pair of bikes, hanging on racks on the walls, welcomes guests.

Upon getting out of the elevator, pos-

A de luxe king suite

pendent health organizations (The Health Foundation, Nuffield Trust, and The Kings Fund), there was an existing shortage of 100,000 healthcare staff which had undoubtedly been exacerbated by the outbreak of the coronavirus.”

The GCC and Europe are very open to Filipino healthcare workers. “These regions have a pre-existing community of Filipino medical workers who are renowned for their excellent work ethic and patient care. The Philippines is known as a huge exporter of healthcare profession-

sibly with your bike, you walk along slip-free and wide carpeted hallways (it also has classic trainers or rollers, for bikes, in the middle) to your beautiful and stylish room, one of 46, which are, possibly, the most spacious in Subic Bay Freeport. It has the usual amenities of many 4-star hotel rooms -50’’ digital LED flat-screen cable TV; electronic door access; high ceiling, individually controlled centralized airconditioning, in-room safety box, personal refrigerator with complimentary minibar, and coffee/tea set-up.

What differentiates itself from other hotels is that active professionals can bring their bikes inside the room and hang them safely and securely on bike racks along the wall.

These rooms use green technology, with motion sensor LED lights lighting up the bathroom and a soft touch switch panel (including the Don’t Disturb sign) is used to operate everything. Each room has a spacious ensuite bathroom with a bathtub and separate glass shower enclosure. The bath has French-made Rosslyn personal care products (conditioner, shampoo, and gel douche in tubes at the lavatory and refillable bottle dispensers in the shower enclosure.

The Le Charme Fitness Center, with its Zwift trainers and Spin bikes, also offers the first-ever spin bike class in Subic Bay. Here, you can groove and workout in style and also enjoy a sunset spinning session prepared to have your workout session in style.

Just recently, Le Charme Suites, with

the support of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the Aeta community, and the hotel staff, initiated the First FRIKE (Fun. Ride. Bike) Enduro Challenge held at the 2.5 km. long Paco 55 Track of the Pamulaklakin Forest Trail inside the Aeta tribal reservation within the SBMA grounds.

According to Le Charme Suites CEO Josephine “Jho” Floresca-Pellicer, an active member of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, a total of 50 participants from Olongapo City and the nearby provinces joined the ecofriendly competition, with 30 in the Full Suspension category and 20 in the Hard Tail category.

Come next year, Floresca-Pellicer plans to hold it during the long weekend and she hopes that more will join and in an eco-friendly manner as well.

For those not into biking, there’s a world-class 22-meter-long, half Olympic-size swimming pool on the rooftop.

Called Ibiza Roof Deck, it has a captivating, almost 360-degree view of the city and the Subic mountainside.

After a day of biking, swimming, or wall climbing, guests can rest their tired muscles at Taichi Wellness Spa, with its sauna and jacuzzi. They can also unwind at its in-hotel Las Palmas KTV Room.

Apart from its Mi Tapas Coffee Shop, guests can dine at the ground floor, hotel-owned Teppan 101, the only Asianfusion restaurant in Subic. For intimate meetings and events, there’s the Versailles conference room that accommodates 20 people. And for wedding receptions, birthdays, and conferences, there’s the spacious Paris Hall that can house 200 people.

The slip-free and wide carpeted hallway at Le Charme Suites

als to foreign countries which then became a convenient source to fill the shortage in the nursing field abroad, especially during the pandemic crisis.”

The platform can vouch for the legitimacy of employers.“Our team researches employers and recruiters thoroughly and ensures they meet the requirements and criteria for each location in order for them to legally recruit healthcare professionals from our platform. As we are part of the DataFlow Group, which are key play-

A bike rack at the reception area

ers within the regulatory requirements associated with hiring healthcare staff, we have also built a rapport and good relationship with healthcare recruiters and employers in these regions.”

In time, TrueProfile.io platform will have a referral feature to reward members who invite colleagues and associates who sign up. Also in the pipeline is the “salaries” feature that will help ensure fair pay.

Members will have access to the salary pay scale in other countries, so they can easily evaluate their job offers.