Manila Standard - 2022 May 17 - Tuesday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

manilastandard.net

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

ASG MAN TAGGED IN LAMITAN SIEGE NABBED AT NAIA

GOVT WORKERS TO GET NIGHT SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL PAY

NEWS / A4

NEWS / A3 VOL. XXXVI • NO. 91 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cabinet vetting in full swing BBM camp eyes ‘responsive’ team, may tap losing candidates

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE executive committee tasked to vet the candidates and aspirants for various Cabinet positions in the incoming administration of presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is moving in the right direction in forming a “responsive” team amid the challenges besetting the country, his chief of staff and spokesman said Monday.

“I know people are excited about who else’s names will be released, but the interview process and vetting will continue, searching to form a Cabinet that will really be responsive to the problems to be faced,” lawyer Vic Rodriguez said in an interview with Teleradyo.

“The election was just concluded exactly a week ago. I think we’re moving Next page

Employers okay to P33 pay hike but ask to spare micro businesses

By Othel V. Campos and Vito Barcelo EMPLOYERS agreed to raise wages in accordance with the proposed daily wage hike P33 of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) but sought the exclusion of micro enterprises from the proposed wage increase.

Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) president Sergio Ortiz-Luis said micro businesses are not financially sustainable at this time since many have just restarted their businesses.

“Micro enterprises are not our members but we feel that they are not up to the challenge. They have less capital, less financial muscle, and profitability during these times is still uncertain.

Therefore, we suggest that they be exempted from the wage increase,” he said in his capacity as chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

Ortiz-Luis said while DOLE defines micro entrepreneurs based on the number of workers employed, the Department of Trade and Indus-

Next page

WORKING CLASS. Commuters pass by

a mural in Paco, Manila depicting images of workers on Monday, May 16, 2022. Workers in the National Capital Region will get an additional P33 to their daily wage. Norman Cruz

New senators even with DQ cases to be proclaimed

By Vito Barcelo THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will proclaim the 12 winners in the senatorial race by Wednesday, including those who have pending disqualification cases before the poll body,

Yulo leads PH 10-gold haul in electrifying feat

By Riera U. Mallari HANOI—World gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo put himself in the conversation as the 31st SEA Games’ Best Male Athlete after an electrifying show that raised his golden total to five, fueling another frenzied assault by a Philippine team now engaged in a dog fight with Thailand for second place.

Next page

GOLDEN BOY. Carlos Yulo bags two

gold medals Monday in the high bar and vault for a total haul of five golds and two silvers in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

the Philippine Air Force’s commanding general; the Philippine Navy’s flag officer in command; unified commanders; and the inspector general.

Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11709, which aims to strengthen the merit sys-

By Maricel V. Cruz NACIONALISTA Party (NP) stalwarts paid a courtesy call on House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Romualdez Monday to formalize their support for him to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the next Congress.

Those who called on him in Makati City included reelected Representatives

Next page

Camille Villar of Las Piñas and Eleandro Jesus Madrona of Romblon; incoming Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, son of presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.; incoming Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron; and presumptive Sen. Mark Villar.

Villars’ parents are former Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. and Sen. Cynthia Villar, the leaders of the NP, which has a membership of 39 in the Next page

Kris: I’m still alive but my sickness is life-threatening

programs and policies. One of its most important provisions is the creation of fixed terms for its key officers.

The new law would end the “revolving door” policy that gave rise to military Next page

Next page

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz ippine Army’s commanding general; tem of the AFP and ensure continuity of

On the other hand, Garcia said, pending disqualification cases against partylist groups was a different matter.

“When it comes to party-lists, we follow a different rule. Before, the rule was that if a party-list is facing disqualification, it cannot

Romualdez gets more support for Speaker, NP latest backer

KRIS AQUINO, erstwhile presidential daughter and sister, last seen in public during a Leni-Kiko political rally in her home province of Tarlac during the campaign period, has admitted her illnesses have turned for the worse and now life-threatening.

On Monday, the 51-year-old Aquino took to Instagram to clear up online speculations that “she got confined,” “she was rushed to ICU,” and that “she is dying.” None of these were true, she said.

She added: “Masyado kayong advance. I’m not yet dead. I’m going to fight to stay alive.”

Law fixing 3-year-term for top AFP brass signed PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law giving three-year fixed terms for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, vice chief of staff, deputy chief of staff; the Phil-

and announce the winners of the partylist race by Thursday.

Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said as long as there’s no final decision in the disqualification cases against senatorial candidates, they have no choice but to proclaim the winners.

FIGHTING TO STAY ALIVE. Kris Aquino reveals her illness has become life threatening in a video posted in her Instagram account Monday, May 16, 2022.

Screengrab from Aquino’s IG account

A2

News

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Next admin must raise P326b yearly to cover COVID debts’

By Maricel V. Cruz and Willie Casas

A

LBAY Rep. Jose Salceda said Monday the incoming administration would need around P326 billion in new revenues every year to cover both principal and interest payments due to debts incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To achieve this, Salceda, chair of the House committee on ways and means, cited the need for Congress to enact new packages of tax policy reforms.

“Unless we can raise that kind of revenue, we will have to downscale our public spending or borrow again to pay the debt,” Salceda said in a statement.

Stressing the need for quick and effective fiscal measures, Salceda added: “The earlier the Marcos administration starts with a fiscal expansion program, the better it will be for investor confidence, our credit ratings, our debt overhang, and our future growth prospects.”

“You need money for the most important campaign promises: cheaper rice, more efficient government services, and improved agriculture.”

“So, I would suggest quick and effective fiscal measures being undertaken in the first hundred days.

Romualdez...

From A1

Cabinet...

From A1

House of Representatives.

A torrent of support from members of NP, PDP-Laban, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), National Unity Party (NUP), Liberal Party, Party-list Coalition Foundation, Inc. and independents have sealed the speakership for the representative of Leyte’s first district.

“I want to express my most sincere gratitude to all these political parties and their members. I am humbled and greatly honored by their statements of support and encouragement. I assure them that I will do my best to serve them well,” Romualdez, Lakas-CMD President, said.

In the Senate, outgoing Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Nationalist People’s Coalition had always had a good relationship with Romualdez.

The NPC, which Sotto chairs, threw its “unconditional support” behind the speakership bid of Romualdez “Most of our members are good old friends with Martin. As majority leader, he has always been fair with us,” Sotto said.

With the major political groups coming together to support him, Romualdez said the House of Representatives would be on solid ground in promoting the unity agenda of the incoming Marcos administration.

“We will work as one in pursuing this agenda and putting in place measures that would get us out of the COVID-19 pandemic and those that would sustain our nascent economic growth,” Romualdez said.

House legislators have said they see a brighter and more unified 19th Congress under the speakership of Romualdez.

“I have seen first hand the excellence in statesmanship, lawmaking, and governance that incoming Speaker Martin Romualdez has demonstrated.

I feel secure for my fellow legislators and my fellow Filipinos knowing that Speaker Romualdez is at the helm of the Lower House,” Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said in a statement.

in the right direction, with the appropriate speed,” he added.

Rodriguez, who heads Marcos’ transition team, said they are also looking at the possibility of tapping candidates who lost in the May 9 polls after the one year ban.

“We’re looking at some possible personalities but I think most of them would rather enjoy their much needed vacation for one year,” he said.

Marcos, Rodriguez said, is not looking at party colors when choosing his appointees.

“After May 9, we are longer talking about political color. Our call for unity is not just a campaign messaging,” he said.

So far, only two Cabinet members have been named—presumptive Vice President Duterte-Carpio as Education Secretary, and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

A former mayor of Mandaluyong City, Abalos served as the presumptive President’s campaign manager.

Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio announced Monday her inauguration is set for June 19 in her native Davao City.

“It’s just right—it’s the pride of Davao City and Davao Region that they can witness an oath-taking of a vice president,” Duterte said in a radio interview.

She noted that once a candidate is proclaimed winner by the Comelec, he or she can take the oath anytime.

Employers...

From A1 try (DTI) categorizes micro enterprises based on capitalization.

The DOLE considers a company with 10 or fewer employees as being a micro enterprise while the DTI puts companies with a capitalization of P3 million

Kris:...

From A1 In the 8-minute video, Kris began by saying she was soon leaving the country for her treatment. “[I’ve] always been proud of my honesty and courage. I had wanted to fly out quietly but I owe it to you that my health bounced back, and I want to thank you and tell the truth.” she said in her caption.

Kris has three confirmed autoimmune conditions: chronic spontaneous urticaria, autoimmune thyroiditis, and vasculitis.

The last of which, she said, was found after a third skin biopsy was read by a pathologist here in the Philippines and

He said: “That will of course vary per year, and some years will need lower debt than others.

“But if you want to stretch out the payment schedule, that’s the kind of fiscal space you need to cover the COVID-19 debts without incurring budget cuts.”

“And of course, the P326 billion figure relies on current interest rates.

To keep them at this level, we need to show our creditors we are in good fiscal standing. So tax policy reform is really our best option.”

Health Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an interview with ABSCBN’s TeleRadyo.

In Puerto Princesa City, 11 were foreign travelers and one was a local individual.

Tourists in Puerto Princesa who contracted the subvariant had booster shots, Vergeire said.

The two cases in Metro Manila had also received an additional dose, the DOH earlier said.

Local transmission

Pharmally execs to be released June 3—Sotto DETAINED executives of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. are set to be released on June 3, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said.

This was Sotto’s response when asked when Linconn Ong and Mohit Dargani will be freed from Senate custody.

The two are detained at the Pasay City jail after they were cited in contempt during the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearings on the government’s use of its COVID-19 funds.

Ong has been under Senate custody since September 21, 2021 while Dargani was arrested on November 14, 2021 as he tried to escape the country via a chartered plane in Davao City.

All 14 patients regarding cases of the omicron BA.2.12.1 in the country have already recovered, the Department of Health said Monday.

All patients, two in Metro Manila – both local – and 12 in Puerto Princesa City, were fully vaccinated and were required to isolate for seven days,

There is no indication there is already local transmission of the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 in the Philippines, although such remains “possible,” an infectious diseases expert said.

“As of now there’s no indication of local transmission — I mean, it’s possible, especially because of the high transmissibility of Omicron,” Dr. Edsel Salvana said at the Laging Handa briefing.

“The intent is I will be the first to take the oath so that I can attend the inauguration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” added Duterte, who earlier vowed to be supportive and loyal to whoever wins the presidency.

Duterte also said she will work hard for the country even if not given any Cabinet position.

One area she will focus on, she said, would be peace-building and child protection activities, particularly in schools.

A rumored candidate for the incoming Cabinet, infectious disease specialist Dr. Edsel Salvana, said on Monday he has “no comment” for now on reports that he could be the next Secretary of the Department of Health.

While he heard such reports, Salvana said: “Perhaps, I would just have no comment right now. Let’s go through the official channels if there are any.”

According to Rodriguez, some individuals are volunteering to be part of the Cabinet. He earlier talked about the requirements to be a part of the Executive Department under Marcos.

Apart from being competent and qualified, Rodriguez said the person should love the country and respect the Constitution. The prospective Cabinet official should also never call to topple the government, he added.

This developed as Marcos expressed his gratitude to hundreds of thousands of teachers, poll workers and volunteers who took to the frontlines in ensuring the peaceful, honest, orderly, and credible conduct of the historic May 9 elections.

Marcos described as “awe-inspiring” the heroism and sacrifice shown by the teachers, poll watchers and volunteers throughout the country in ensuring that the last election would be held smoothly and successfully.

On the election volunteers, Marcos said: “You really impressed us. The concern and sacrifice you have shown is one of the inspirations that Vice President-elect Inday Sara Duterte will use to serve our country well.”

“We saw your hard work and sacrifice. Your perseverance despite hot weather, wakefulness, fatigue, sweat and danger. We can’t use a word so that Inday Sara and I can express our sincere gratitude to you,” he added.

Marcos also saluted the entire Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and all force multipliers “who stood their ground against lawless elements and displayed utmost patience and bravery in maintaining peace and order throughout the entire campaign period until the actual election day.”

“You have shown remarkable professionalism and dedication in performing your sworn duties. Your courage and heroism have helped the entire nation in hurdling the many challenges brought by the past elections,” he said.

The partial and unofficial count by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed Marcos Jr. still leading the presidential race with over 31.09 million votes, as his chief rival, Vice President Leni Robredo, garnered 14.81 million votes.

chiefs serving for only a few months before they reached mandatory retirement.

The tour of duty of the aforementioned officers will begin once the date the appointment is signed and will occupy their post for three consecutive years unless sooner terminated by the President, provided that those mentioned will not be eligible for any other position in the Armed Forces unless promoted to the position of Chief of Staff.

The new measure also adjusted the

compulsory retirement age of military personnel.

Grades of Second Lieutenant/Ensign (O-1) to Colonel/Captain (O-6) – upon reaching 56 years of age or 30 years in active duty, whichever is later.

Grades of Brigadier General/Commodore (O-7) to Lieutenant General/ Vice Admiral (O-9) – upon reaching 59 years of age or the maximum tenure-ingrade as defined in this law, whichever comes earlier Key officers with fixed term of three years – retire after completing fixed tour of duty, unless promoted to Chief of Staff or relieved from post and not

designated to, or occupying, any position in the AFP Table of Organizations Commissioned under Presidential Decree No. 1908 and appointed in the Corps of Professors – upon reaching 60 years of age or 20 years of active duty, whichever comes later.

In addition, the fixed tour of duty of the chief of staff may be extended by the President “in times of war or other national emergency declared by Congress.”

Under the old law, all military officials are to serve until the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Rep. Ruffy Biazon welcomed the new law, calling it “a game changer for the AFP.”

or less in this category.

In the Philippines, about 90 percent of the industries are micro enterprises and 65 percent of overall employees are from the micro industries.

Ortiz-Luiz noted that while many small industries are still struggling to survive the effects of the pandemic, these industries will try to cooperate with the Tripartite Wages and Produc-

tivity Board in Metro Manila and Western Visayas.

With about P1,300 wage augmentation monthly, including other monthly dues, some employers or company owners would certainly oppose the proposal.

“It will be difficult to balance out the sentiments of employers and wage earners given that we’re still in a crisis. But since the die is cast, we all have to do

our best and comply with the decision,” Ortiz-Luiz said.

With the approval by the Wage Board of the P33 hike, the minimum daily wage will increase to P570 in Metro Manila for the non-agriculture sector and P533 for agriculture sector.

The last wage order for workers in private enterprises in Metro Manila was on Nov. 22, 2018.

be proclaimed yet,” he said.

Now, he said, if it is the party-list nominee facing a disqualification complaint, he or she cannot be proclaimed until the case is settled, but the party-list itself can be proclaimed the winner.

“We will proclaim the 12 senators on Wednesday afternoon if the COC (certificate of canvass) from Hong Kong is transmitted tomorrow and we will proclaim the party-list groups with guaranteed seats on Thursday afternoon,” Garcia said.

The Comelec is just waiting for 14 more COCs, including 11 on the overseas vote from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Vatican, Iran, Kenya, Nigeria, and Mexico.

Partial and unofficial tallies on Monday showed the top 12 senatorial candidates are Robin Padilla, Loren Legarda, Raffy Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Escudero, Mark Villar, Alan Peter Cayetano, Miguel Zubiri, Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros, and Jinggoy Estrada.

The top winning party list groups are ACT-CIS, 1-Rider, Tingog, 4Ps, Ako Bicol and Sagip.

The Comelec also said it was considering holding a partial proclamation for the groups which have garnered the requisite minimum 2 percent of the total votes cast in the party-list election.

The Comelec will fill 63 seats based on the formula set by the Supreme Court to allocate 20 percent of the total seats in the House of Representatives to the party-list groups.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the senators will be proclaimed, not based on their ranking, but on the number of votes.

“There will be no standing or ranking in the meantime since we will wait for the completion of Lanao del Sur [special polls],” he said in a press briefing.

He said the Comelec already made a decision that the remaining votes that are yet to be submitted or transmitted will no longer affect the top 12.

“We can no longer wait for COCs from Lanao del Sur because the special elections in Tubaran will be on May 24, so the most they can transmit the COC, by the 24th maybe. And therefore, we might proclaim by 24, 25, 26, if we’d wait for it,” Garcia said.

He said canvassing will continue even after the proclamation of the 12 senators to make sure they account for all votes.

The National Board of Canvassers has yet to release the official tally.

On Monday, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap said the ACT-CIS party-list is urging broadcaster Erwin Tulfo to serve as its third representative in Congress.

Tulfo is the third nominee of the party-list, which won three seats in the elections, but is still deciding whether to serve in government or “continue his public service,” Yap said.

the United States.

“My team of doctors here and abroad…are all worried about organ damage in my heart and in my lungs.

Reason they tried everything to get me out to Houston soonest,” she said.

She added the medicine that could cure her “doesn’t have FDA approval here or in Singapore.”

According to Aquino, her doctors wanted to simultaneously infuse the medicine and “chemotherapy as my immunosuppressant” because she was allergic to steroids.

In the latter part of her post, Kris requested everyone to please stop the hate and bashing on her social media pages, not for her sake but for her two sons.

Yulo...

From A1

Palace with an emphatic victory in the vault where he scored 14.700 points before weaving his magic in the horizontal bars, where his 13.867 tied for first with Din Phuong Thanh of Vietnam.

Counting his earlier wins in the men’s all-around, floor exercise and rings, on top of silver medal finishes in the men’s team event and parallel bars, Yulo, who stands to receive P1.8 million in bonuses for his feats, matched the five-gold haul of a forgotten gymnastics sports hero in Rolando Albuera, who achieved the feat in the Jakarta 1979 SEA Games where the Philippines collected a total of 24 gold medals and finished fourth overall.

Artistic gymnastics contributed 7 gold medals, 4 silvers and one bronze to

the Philippine campaign here, the best finish by Filipino gymnasts in memory.

The other two gold medals were contributed by Fil-Am Aleah Finnegan in the women’s team and vault while adding a silver medal in the balance beam, losing to Malaysia’s Rachel Yeoh Li Wen (12.567-12.467).

Also contributing to the Philippines’ cause was dancesport, which delivered four gold medals after being limited to one last Sunday, bowler Merwin Tan who ruled the men’s singles and ended an 11-year golden drought by the keglers, 110-meter hurdler Clinton Kingston Bautista and swimmer Chloe Isleta in the 200-meter backstroke, which was not yet recorded in the medal standings.

Debt service

Meanwhile, Salceda explained the debt service due to deficit spending from January 2020 to March 2022 would have been around P144 billion in principal payments over the next 20 years, and around P181 billion in interest payments.

Law...

From A1

Recovered Omicron patients

Showing that he is indeed a cut above the competition here, Yulo dominated the vault, where he is reigning world champion, before adding a surprise gold medal in the horizontal bars.

Yulo not only eclipsed his 2-gold feat in the 2019 Philippine SEA Games with his fifth title here, he also earned a crack at becoming the Best Male Athlete in the games, while leading a 10-gold rush by the Philippines on Monday—the Filipinos’ most productive yet.

The Tokyo Olympian thrilled an appreciative crowd at the Quan Ngua Sports

New...

From A1

News

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A3

State employees doing night shifts get 20% pay differential GOVERNMENT employees doing night shifts are now entitled to a 20 percent pay differential in their hourly basic salary.

President Duterte on April 13 signed into law Republic Act (RA) No. 11701 mandating a night shift differential pay to government employees including those in government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) working from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The new law covers government workers occupying such positions as division chief and below, or their equivalent, whether permanent, contractual, temporary, or casual.

Under RA 11701, the night shift differential pay would be in addition to and would not in any way diminish whatever benefits and allowances presently enjoyed by the affected government employees.

The hourly basic rate is computed by dividing the basic monthly rate by 22

DTI: Lowering rice price to P20 a kilo possible, but needs study THE campaign promise of presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to reduce retail price of rice to P20 or P30 is “possible,” but needs careful study, an official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Monday.

“Maybe we can study it then it’s possible that we can lower the (rice) prices),” DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said in a television interview.

“I remember in 2018, we studied rice prices and we set it at P35. It was upon the initiative of DTI with the help of the DA (Department of Agriculture), but at that time, our time was too short. We’re moving fast to give proper prices so it was at P35,” Castelo added.

“Maybe we can do it again, if we will thoroughly study how we can lower the prices,” she pointed out.

Latest data from the DA showed that local rice prices in Metro Manila ranged from P38 to P50 per kilo, while imported rice was sold at P37.00 to P52.00 as of April 13, depending on the variety.

Marcos had said he would recommend a price cap on rice and mandate government agencies to serve as middlemen in the procurement of harvests under his administration.

DTI’s stance echoed the remarks of Socio-economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua who earlier said Marcos’ campaign promise was possible, but warned that it might be problematic if the support for farmers comes in the form of subsidy that does not relate to outputs.

“If we are going to use taxpayers’ money solely to subsidize without conditions and without any productivity measures, then that’s a bad idea,” Chua stressed.

Meanwhile, Castelo said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez was preparing for the transition of the department to its next leaders under the incoming administration.

Stop Philhealth premium hike— Gabriela solon

By Maricel V. Cruz

AN opposition legislator has urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth) to further defer the premium hike set to take effect this June.

Rep. Arlene Brosas of the Gabriela Women’s Party said the looming Philhealth premium increase “will bite hard on already depressed wages amid steep prices of goods and services.”

“The deferment of the higher PhilHealth premium is even more necessary at this point amid the successive rounds of price hikes since January, and the still unresolved controversies in the state insurer,” Brosas noted.

Brosas, whose party-list group won one seat in Congress in the May 9 elections, also renewed her push for the adoption of a resolution “to suspend any PhilHealth premium hike.”

“We will push for the passage of House Joint Resolution No. 34 which we filed in January to suspend any PhilHealth premium hike, but more importantly, we will continue to push for amendments to the Universal Health Care Act in the next Congress to remove the automatic premium hikes,” Brosas added.

The Gabriela party list lawmaker said the insurance-based system of healthcare in the country must be revamped so that Filipino women and the people will not foot the bill.

working days and dividing the quotient derived by eight hours.

Government employees who work from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Are not covered by the new law. But they will be paid overtime pay if they work beyond the regular eight-hour schedule.

Also exempted from RA 11701 are government workers whose services are required or are on-call, 24 hours a day, such as the personnel of the uniformed agencies, namely, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The Civil Service Commission, in coordination with the DBM, was tasked 6to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this act. Vito Barcelo

PCG DEPLOYS RECRUITS. A medical team of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assists a recruit who fainted due to extreme heat during a send-off ceremony at Pier 13 of the Port of Manila for the new PCG members being deployed to the regions for further extensive training in marine security, soldier culture, and water-borne search and rescue operations. Danny Pata

Duterte EO mandates government spending, collections to be digital

By Vito Barcelo

P

RESIDENT Duterte has ordered all government agencies to adopt digital payments for government disbursements and collections to promote efficient, secure, and speedy transactions.

At the same time, the President signed an executive order (EO) directing the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to create a Franchise Registry for the protection of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The Chief Executive issued Executive Order No. 170 directing all government departments, agencies, and

instrumentalities, including state universities and colleges and governmentowned or -controlled corporations shift to digital payments for their disbursements and collections.

“The adoption of digital payments for government disbursements will facilitate the expedient distribution of financial assistance to beneficiaries, thereby provid-

ing a catalyst for financial inclusion for the most vulnerable sectors of society,” the EO stated.

The order also aimed to support the country’s “development trajectory towards an inclusive, resilient, and futureready economy.”

Local government units are likewise enjoined to do the same.

The EO also stated that all agencies should use “safe and efficient” digital disbursement in the payment of goods, services, and other expenditures, including the distribution of financial assistance, payment of salaries, wages, allowances, and other compensations to employees.

Likewise, EO 170 allows covered agencies to disburse funds directly into

the transaction accounts of recipients or beneficiaries, whether held in government or private financial institutions, without need of a special arrangement from the financial institution concerned.

Apart from distribution of financial aid, government agencies were also mandated to offer a digital mode of collecting payments for taxes, fees, tolls, and other charges.

Duterte said they can use the facilities of government servicing banks such as advice to debit account or interoperable electronic fund transfers (EFT).

“It is understood that this Order does not foreclose the acceptance of cash and other traditional modes of payment,” the order read.

Oil firms cut down pump prices

By Alena Mae S. Flores

UNITY TALK — Leaders of the Nacionalista Party (NP) led by presumptive Sen. Mark Villar (2nd from left), presidential son and Representative-elect Sandro Marcos (3rd from left), Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar (3rd from right), Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus “Budoy” Madrona (2nd from right), and incoming Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron (right) have a roundtable discussion with House Majority Leader and 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez (left) in Makati City. During the meeting, the NP leaders formalized their endorsement of Romualdez for Speakership. Ver Noveno

THE country’s oil companies have reduced pump prices by as much as P3.10 per liter effective 6 a.m. today to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.

The oil firms cut the price of diesel by P3.10 per liter, P2.10 for kerosene, and P0.40 for gasoline.

“Petron will implement the following price rollbacks: P0.40/ liter for gasoline; P3.10 for diesel and P2.10 for kerosene. These reflect movements in the international oil market,” Petron Corp. said in its advisory.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Chevron Philippines, Inc., PTT Philippines, Cleanfuel, PetroGazz,

Flying V, and Seaoil Philippines were expected to follow suit.

World oil prices declined last week due to forecasts of lower demand amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown in China and fears of a recession in the US. The latest oil price rollback was a reversal of the oil price hike implemented on May 10 where the oil firms increased the price of gasoline and diesel by P4.20 per liter and kerosene by P5.85 per liter.

These resulted in the year-todate adjustments to stand at a net increase of P22 per liter for gasoline, P34.50 per liter for diesel, and P29.75 per liter for kerosene, according to data from the Department of Energy (DOE).

DILG taps police, LGUs in campaign against Peryahan ng Bayan DILG Secretary Eduardo Año has tapped the Philippine National Police and local government units to monitor if the “Peryahan ng Bayan” continues to operate in their respective areas of responsibility in a bid to intensify the government’s campaign against the illegal numbers game.

Ano clarified that the illegal number game “Peryahan ng Bayan” (PnB) was still suspended.

The DILG chief made the clarification following reports that the PnB resumed operations in several areas of the country.

The PnB is similar to the small-town lottery with kubrador (bet collectors) going

around the community for wagers ranging from P5 to P20. The winning numbers are drawn later akin to the traditional jueteng.

“The operation of Peryahan ng Bayan is still suspended so I instructed the PNP to continue intensify its campaign to suppress all forms of illegal gambling, including PnB,” he said.

On January 29, 2020, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a memorandum to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), clarifying that the resumption of PnB operations was still suspended.

This prompted the PCSO to suspend the

Peryahan games effective February 6, 2020 and to file an Urgent Manifestation with Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 161 stating that the PnB “does not bear the approval of the President and is therefore still subject to the suspension order of PCSO Games as pronounced by the President.”

In an order dated February 18, 2020, the Court took note of the Memorandum from the Office of the President and the Urgent Manifestation filed by PCSO and recalled the Writ of Execution that it issued on January 24, 2020 which allowed the operations of PnB. “The DILG takes note of the recall or-

der issued by the court. Unless the said order is overturned by the same court or court of higher jurisdiction, the recall order is effective and should be implemented. Hence, the operations of Peryahan ng Bayan are still suspended,” said Año.

Last March, DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya warned the public against fake news that the DILG Secretary allegedly has directed the PNP to allow the operation of PnB. Malaya said Año would never issue such a directive to the PNP to condone illegal gambling activities such as Peryahan ng Bayan.

BI opens new service facility for seamen at Port of Manila THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has opened its bay service one-stop-shop (OSS) to serve boarding formalities for both departing and arriving Filipino and foreign seafarers at the Port of Manila.

The Port of Manila is the premier and largest international shipping gateway to the country.

The new office, located at Pier 15, South Harbor, Manila will serve as a 24/7 outpost for on-duty boarding officers for arriving and departing vessels at the port of Manila.

According to BI Bay Service Section (BSS) chief Alnazib Decampong, the OSS was one of his priority projects, aimed at improving the conduct of boarding formalities of BI officers.

“It is high time that we modernize immigration services at the ports. This project will provide accessible, swift, and safe crew change services for signing on and signing off seafarers, as well as provide immigration services to our stakeholders in Manila,” he said.

It may be recalled that in 2020, the government established crew change hubs and opened the country’s borders to international vessels, to facilitate crew change operations essential for the unhampered flow of supply chains across the globe.

The country, being the world’s largest supplier of seafarers, opened a green lane for crew change for seamen to allow vessels to refurbish their manpower speedily and safely.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente lauded the efforts of the BSS in improving its facilities.

“We have pushed for the improvement of immigration services nationwide by providing facilities that would allow easier processing, in accordance with the ease of doing business law,” said Morente.

“This project is our contribution in improving seaport operations, which is vital in reinvigorating the country’s economy,” Morente said. Vito Barcelo

STREAM OF COCS. Ballot boxes containing Certificates of Canvass (COCs) and Election Returns (ERs) for President and Vice President arrive at the Senate which has so far received 128 COCs representing 74 percent of the expected total of 173 COCs for eventual transmission to the Lower House where the official canvassing will be done during a joint session on May 24.

Abolishing party-lists in PH needs constitutional changes, Garcia says ABOLISHING the country’s partylist system will require amending the 1987 Constitution, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia said.

Garcia made the comment, after President Rodrigo Duterte earlier urged the next administration to initiate a charter change and to abolish the party-list system.

In a radio interview, Garcia said “in my opinion, abolishing the party-list system would need an amendment to the Constitution because it is written in our charter.”

Under the 1987 Constitution, partylist representatives shall constitute 20 percent of the total number of representatives including those under the party-list. A party-list group that gets at least two percent of the total number of votes cast in the party-list race will be entitled to at least one seat in the House of Representatives.

The Constitution said the sectors qualified for a party-list group are “labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the

religious sector.”

Garcia said the next administration should define and identify the sectors or groups that need to be represented in Congress.

“We should define it and enlist what are the sectors that we will allow to be represented in Congress. For example, we define 10 sectors. How many seats are we going to allocate to the women’s groups, to the farmers’ group, among others,” Garcia, in a radio interview, said.

He added that “this means, all sectors will have a representation. For example, the three of us are representing different farmers’ groups. During the elections, the three of us will be competing against each other to win the seats which were allocated to the farmers’ sector. So that at any given time, there is a representation for that specific sector.”

Duterte earlier encouraged the country’s next leader—presumptive President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., 13 years his junior—to make an initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution as soon as he assumes the presidency on June 30.

A4

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

News

RECYCLED BAGS. Members of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) of Manila City Hall show their bags made of recycled tarpaulins. Each district in Manila has been asked by the local government to recycle all election tarpaulins which will benefit different barangays in Manila. Danny Pata

Submit statement on spending, contributions, candidates told A LL participants in the May 9 elections, including candidates who had withdrawn their candidacies, are required to submit their Statement of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCEs), Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia, in a radio interview, urged candidates to submit the SOCEs. “Those who ran in the recently concluded elections, even those who had dropped their bids, should submit their SOCEs,” Garcia said, adding that with the filing of their SOCEs, the public and the Comelec “can track where they sourced

JV hopes to work with Jinggoy on a professional level in Senate post

By Macon Ramos-Araneta INCOMING Senator JV Ejercito on Monday said he hopes to work with his half-brother, also incoming Senator Jinggoy Estrada on a professional level.

“I hope it’s gonna be professional” as long as it doesn’t interfere with our work or perhaps, “we might just work by ourselves,” Ejercito, in an interview with CNN’s “The Source,” said.

Ejercito and Estrada landed in the 10th and 14th spots, respectively in the last senatorial race.

Both are sons of former President Joseph Estrada. The brothers have remained at odds with each other.

“I have to be honest, it will take time for our relationship to heal because there are a lot of things that happened, especially during this campaign,” Ejercito said.

However, he refused to further go into details.

In the same TV interview, Ejercito said he is against political dynasties.

He initially hesitated about running in last May’s elections.

“Frankly, I thought about it because I support the anti-dynasty bill.

Because I personally believe that with more than 100 million Filipinos, there are a lot of people there who also want to serve, who are also capable,” he said.

“But do they have the name? Do they have the machinery and the means to get themselves elected?” Ejercito said.

He thought it would not be good if he and his half-brother are running for the same posts, But with the early implementation of the housing department and the Universal Health Care Law—measures that he previously pushed as a senator—he said he wanted to make sure that these laws will benefit the public.

“At least we are elected by the people. Going back, I still believe there are a lot of people there who are capable and who can serve but don’t have the means to get themselves elected,” Ejercito said.

their funds for the entire campaign period. Are there excess campaign funds? Where are the excess funds?

At the same time, we will know if they paid the right amount of tax in their expenditures.”

Garcia cited Section 14 of Republic Act 7166, which said “every candidate and treasurer of the political party shall, within 30 days after

the day of the election, file in duplicate with the offices of the Commission the full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election.”

The law also prohibits a candidate from assuming office until the SOCE is filed.

The Comelec earlier said it is set to proclaim the 12 winning senators and partial winning party-list groups on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Garcia that if canvassing of the remaining certificates will be canvassed within the day, the poll regulator will then immediately prepare for the proclamation on the next day.

The Comelec reported that 149 out of 173 COCs have been canvassed as of Saturday. The poll regulator further said the 24 remaining COCs include 19 manual overseas COCs, one manual COC from the Vulnerable Sector Office, one manual COCs from 63 barangays, one electronic COC from Lanao del Sur, one electronic overseas COC from Hong Kong, and one electronic COC from Jordan.

Garcia however said not all COCs may arrive over the weekend, as Lanao del Sur has yet to hold a special election targeted on May 24, after failure of elections was declared in 14 barangays..

Agents intercept suspected Abu Sayyaf in NAIA

By Vito Barcelo BUREAU of Immigration (BI) agents intercepted a suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member who was involved in the 2001 Lamitan siege, possibly holding an assumed identity, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) using a Malaysian passport.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente identified the alleged ASG man as Omar Bin Harun, 52, who was intercepted at NAIA Terminal 2 after arriving via a Philippine Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur and presented a Malaysian passport that authorities suspect to have been fraudulently acquired.

“While his passport seems to be genuine, we believe he might have procured it through illegal means or by misrepresentation,” said Morente.

Intelligence sources revealed that Omar, a Filipino national, is reportedly a member of the ASG and was involved in the 2001 Lamitan Siege that took over a church and a hospital, and held priests, medical staff, and patients as their hostage.

BI-NAIA Anti-Terrorist Group (ATG) Chief Bienvenido Castillo III said that they received intelligence information about Omar’s arrival, and have coordinated with other law enforcement agencies to effect his arrest.

“Omar was also said to have links with the terrorist group ISIS. We were informed then that there was also a warrant for his arrest from the Philippine National Police Southern Police District,” he added.

Omar was turned over to the PNP. Morente thanked other law enforcement agencies for the cooperation which led to the successful arrest of Omar.

“Coordination amongst law enforcement agencies, both here and abroad, is necessary to curb terrorist activities that attempt to destroy the peace and order in our country. We will remain vigilant to ensure that these criminals are brought to justice,” he added

PNP cites lower election-related incidents in PH THE Philippine National Police (PNP) noted a sharp decline in the number of election-related incidents, recording only 20 validated ones from January 9 up to May 15.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the numbers are much lower as compared to the national and local election years of 2010 with 166 validated election-related incidents and 133 in 2016.

“When we look at the statistics, especially the validated ones, there were almost none in Mindanao and this can be attributed to the long preparations of our security forces in addressing insurgency),” Fajardo said during a briefing of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Election-related incidents recorded in 2010 and 2016 election seasons were mostly harassment, permit-tocampaign scheme and illegal activities of communist terrorist groups, she added.

“Since na-address na po ‘yan sa pamamagitan ng mga programa under the NTF-ELCAC ay malaki po talaga ang ibinaba (Since these have been addressed through the programs of the NTF-ELCAC, [election-related incidents] have been drastically reduced,” Fajardo said.

She said the 20 incidents happened in Regions 1 (Ilocos Region) with four; 3 (Central Luzon) with five, 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) with six; 10 (Northern Mindanao) with one and Cordillera region with four.

Meanwhile, the PNP reminded the public that enforcement of the gun ban is still in effect until June 8.

A total of 3,273 people have been arrested for violating the election gun ban as of Monday.

Taguig workers avail of civil service review

By Joel E. Zurbano

CHECKPOINT IN BUENDIA. Southern Police District and Philippine Air Force

members conduct Commission on Election (Comelec) checkpoints under the Buendia flyover in Pasay City on May 16. The Comelec checkpoints are being implemented for a nationwide gun ban to ensure a peaceful election. Norman Cruz.

MORE than 300 city hall employees have availed of the Taguig City government’s free online review sessions for civil service eligibility.

The online review sessions spearheaded by the Human Resource Management Office will run for seven Saturdays, which started April 23 until June 4. The employees will then cap their sessions with a face-to-face mock exam on June 11 to further prepare them for the actual Civil Service Examination scheduled on June 19.

The review sessions are being conducted under the city’s Personnel Capability and Professional Advancement Program, which aims to equip

the workforce with the knowledge and equal opportunity for a permanent position in the local or national government officials to make their lives better and give advice on career advancement and professional growth.

“We always create programs that allow our employees to grow and build their careers. This free review session is an excellent opportunity for them to continue helping serve our Taguigeños with the highest standards of public service,” said Human Resource Management head Jeanette Clemente.

The City of Taguig is a Bronze Awardee of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) ‘s Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management.

Cash assistance for fire victims in Angeles ANGELES CITY—Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr. has ordered the local finance committee to immediately process the P10,000 financial assistance for the business establishment affected by a 7-hour fire in Barangay Sta. Teresita on May 15.

The financial assistance will be charged to the Office of the City Mayor.

Apart from the financial aid, Lazatin coordinated with Business Permit and Licensing Division Chief Evangeline Malonzo to assist the Triple Five Auto Supply and General Merchandise commercial establishment in claiming benefits from their fire insurance provider.

A total of 10 families were also given food packages, according to City Social Welfare and Development Of-

ficer Edna Duaso.

The families were not affected by the fire but were preemptively evacuated due to the thick smoke.

Lazatin went to the fire scene to monitor the situation with the Angeles CityBureau of Fire Protection led by Chief Inspector Errick Derro, along with the rescue and medic team from Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office headed by Rodolfo Simeon.

“Sa [mga] pagkakataon pong ganito, agad po tayong nakatutok para kumustahin at tulungan ang mga naaapektuhan ng sakuna, lalo na po at pinagkukuhanang kabuhayan ito ng ilan sa ating mga kababayan,” Lazatin said. Butch Gunio

THANKSGIVING MOTORCADE. San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, waves to supporters during a thanksgiving motorcade in San Juan City. Zamora won his second term as San Juan City Mayor. He is joined by sister Bel Zamora who was elected as San Juan’s representative in Congress. Manny Palmero

Opinion Is Robredo plotting something?

••• If there’s anything the politicians can learn from this election is, it’s the fact that they cannot take preelection poll surveys for granted.

Despite the continued pre-elections poll surveys by poll surveyors ike Pulse Asia, OCTA, the Manila Bulletin, DZRH, Radio Mindanao Network, Laylo and Publicus that Bongbong and former Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio were leading and continued to maintain their lead as candidiaes for President and Vice-President, rivals refused to believe. “That is only poll surveys, “ they say, “and not result of the election” they add. Yes, pre-election poll surveys are not the result of an election, but are snapshots of what the results will be when elections are held. They show the preference of the people at the time they were held.

But when those poll surveys agreed on one thing, that the BBM-Sara tandem had a commanding lead over their rivals, certainly they cannot be all wrong.

Not being a statistician, I cannot explain the methodology of poll surveys, but they would not be in business if they were not credible and reliable.

Poll surveys are mandatory for business when they launch a product. They know whether or not a product is acceptable to the people. Thus, in finding out the preferences of people in an election, poll surveys are mandatory. Time and again, poll surveys during the election period of campaigning are essential. A politician or a businessman who contributes to the election kitty of a candidate must know whom to support or not.

And is it crazy, stupid or evil?

••• The most important lesson from the last election is that the Martial Law issue is already dead. Santa Banana, the name Marcos has transformed into something that people admire and respect.

The fact that Bongbong had a landslide victory with a margin of over 16 million votes can only prove that indeed he was cheated of the vice-presidency. Nothing could be clearer than that!

With all reports showing that supporters and volunteers of Robredo are now protesting, the big question that comes to mind is, what are they protesting against? That Marcos is now the presumptive president ? That the people have expressed their will? My gulay, what? Nothing could be more pathetic than what’s going on. Santa Banana, Robredo hasn’t even conceded. It’s for this reason why I fear that Robredo is concocting something desperate and evil.

Taiwan’s COVID-19 containment strategy

By Dr. Shih-Chung Chen MinisterofHealthandWelfare RepublicofChina(Taiwan) TWO years into the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 510 million confirmed cases and more than 6.25 million deaths have been reported around the world. As nations continue to battle the pandemic, Taiwan’s achievements have been widely recognized. As of May 10, 2022, about 390,000 confirmed cases and 931 deaths had been reported in Taiwan, which has a population of 23.5 million. And thanks to a joint effort by the government and the people, Taiwan’s economic growth rate for 2021 reached 6.45 percent.

Universal health coverage Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) system, which was launched in 1995, has played an important role in the fight against the pandemic. The NHI system provides comprehensive and high-quality health services, achieving universal (99.9 percent) coverage. Taiwan’s robust healthcare and NHI systems have safeguarded the people and ensured social stability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the NHI’s comprehensive database and other up-to-date information systems have been critical in ensuring the successful application of digital technology for disease prevention. Taiwan’s healthcare system was ranked second in the world in 2021 by CEOWorld. In Numbeo’s annual survey, Taiwan was ranked first among 95 countries surveyed in the Health Care Index category for 2021.

Use of technology for epidemic prevention During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020, to reduce the risk of community transmission, the government implemented the Quarantine System for Entry by integrating NHI, immigration, and customs databases to allow for big data analysis. Data

was introduced to the Digital Fencing Tracking System, which used the positioning system on mobile phones to monitor the whereabouts of people under home quarantine or isolation.

Moreover, to ensure privacy, personal data captured was stored for a maximum of 28 days and then deleted.

To ensure that all residents would enjoy equitable access to medical masks as demand increased, people were required to use their NHI card to purchase masks under the Namebased Mask Distribution System, helping to prevent an imbalance in supply and demand.

While protecting personal data, a new function for querying the travel and contact history of patients was added to the NHI MediCloud System to effectively integrate health data.

This helped frontline medical personnel judge infection risks and take relevant infection control measures.

Vaccinations and digital certificates To digitalize health care services, the NHI Express App was launched. It offers such features as vaccination appointments, personal health data, medical records, COVID-19 vaccination records, and test results. Taiwan joined the EU Digital COVID Certificate program at the end of 2021 and allowed citizens to apply for digital vaccination certificates and test certificates. This program was one of the first global standards developed. It was adopted by many states and was the first one to be applied in for international travel. Taiwan’s people can enter 64 countries, including EU member states, with such certificates.

Electronic medical records and telemedicine Taiwan has been building health information infrastructure since 2010, such as the electronic medical records (EMR) exchange system.

Since May 2021, Taiwan has expanded its telemedicine services in healthcare institutions and

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

W

E HAVE to wait a few more days to know whether there indeed was an uptick in the number of new cases of COVID-19 as a result or the political gatherings during the campaign and the flocking to polling precincts on Election Day. A week after elections, the OCTA Research Group said there appears to be no sustained increase in the number of new cases.

It is heartening to know that the Department of Health says all 14 patients found to have been infected by the Omicron BA.2.12.1 subvariant have now recovered.

Experts also say that there has been no reported local transmission of the variant even as the possibility continues to exist.

And, looking around, we may notice that if not for the near-ubiquitous masks on people’s faces, it is as if there has been no pandemic at all.

People feel free to go around, and

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

businesses are operating at or near their pre-pandemic levels.

We got caught up in the excitement of the elections.

If this optimistic scenario persists, the new administration may believe that COVID-19 is no longer on its priority list.

It will be mistaken in that belief.

First, the possibility of a resurgence remains.

Second, the health crisis will not end with the lower number of new cases.

During the darkest days of the pandemic, we saw how ill-prepared our health system was to accommodate the tens of thousands of new cases every day. Intensive care units of hospitals were full to the brim. Most of all, our medical frontliners found themselves exhausted, underpaid, and even neglected by the government despite the sacrifices and risks they made and took.

We saw, too, how poorer Filipinos ignored or underreported their symptoms for fear of losing their jobs or being discriminated against.

Some had no way of accessing healthcare or even medicines for their symptoms.

All these should be considered as the new administration crafts its health plan. The next leaders would find that an inclusive, accessible, and just health system would do Filipinos immense good.

Understanding the Marcos victory

••• As I write this column, so far only presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has been chosen.to be secretary of Education, and Bongbong’s campaign manager for Metro Manila Benhur Abalos, former chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, as secretary of Interior and Local Government, have been named.

As DepEd Secretary, Sara fits well like a glove.

While teachers have had mixed reactions to the incoming DepEd secretary, as I said earlier, Sara, being a lawyer and former local executive for many years, can meet the challenge as the new DepEd Secretary. I am sure Sara knows quite well that the Department of Education needs reform. Sara knows quite well that it can either break or make her.

As DILG Secretary, I am sure Abalos knows the need for reforms in the Philippine National Police and in local government. It would be no problem for him.

As for the other departments under presumptive president Bongbong, we wait with bated breath. As I said, a new administration needs competent and the best executives because a President can well fail or succeed depending on the kind of alter egos he appoints.

Oh yes, before I forget, it would do well for the Comelec to resolve the petition to disqualify Raffy Tulfo for having been convicted for the crime of libel which carries the element of moral turpitude.

This means that the #13 senatorial candidate, former Vice-President Jojo Binay, has a chance to be proclaimed winner in the Senate race.

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

COVID remains

•••

THE continued mass gathering and protest rallies of the Yellows turned “Pinkos” together with the elements of the Makabayan bloc, front of the communist movement allied with Vice- President Leni Robredo, raises the big question: Are they planning something stupid, crazy or evil?

I never liked Robredo despite the fact that she was discriminated against by President Duterte.

That fact that up to now she has not conceded her defeat as a presidential candidate says a lot.

She is truly a very proud person.

If you read Facebook, Robredo continues to tell all her supporters that the fight will continue and her fight has just begun. In fact, there are already mass protests and rallies by her supporters who cannot accept the fact that Marcos won. What strikes me as rather strange is the fact that among those who cannot concede to the fact that a Marcos was chosen by the will of the people by over 16 million votes over Robredo are some bishops, priests, nuns and some Catholic organizations that cannot accept the fact that a Marcos won. Truly, what are they up to – something crazy, stupid, like people power? Pray, tell me. Are the people joining Robredo in the rallies, oblivious of the fact that the election was fairly honest, peaceful and orderly? Whatever happened to the fact that “vox populi” or the voice of the people is “vox dei” or the voice of God? Indeed, the fight must go on to stop mass false information and falsehood that we, the people elected another Marcos, who the Yellows and the Leftists and Marcos-haters continue to believe that the elder Marcos Sr. was the devil incarnate and that activists, Leftists and the Western Press portrayed that the Martial Law days as the dark pages of Philippine history.

B1

EDITORIAL

And indeed, what poll surveys tell us about the people’s preference for candidates of national or local positions must be believed. If they don’t, they are lost.

Another thing that politicians should learn is that there is no substitute for having a geographical combination for President and Vice-President belonging to the Solid North and to the Solid South. Thus, when Inday Sara accepted to be the Vice-President of Bongbong, who was running for President, I said “Tapos na ang boksing.” Game over.

The landslide victory of Bongbong and Sara confirms this when surveys showed that the BBMSara tandem became the runaway victors. The tandem from the Solid North and the Solid South, including the Visayas proves the fact that the landslide victory was the will of the people.

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

WHEN Ferdinand Marcos was booted out of the country, and together with family members and a few close associates were forced into exile in 1986 in the wake of the EDSA People Power Revolt, everybody thought the family, as a political force, was a goner. The record of the 21-year Marcos rule from 1965 to 1986 was simply too horrendous such that any political comeback, at least in the national political arena, by any member of the Marcos family or anyone closely associated with them was out of the question, if not a near impossibility.

With the exception of Marcos loyalists, mostly in the Ilocos region who remained loyal to Apo Marcos, the loathing and stigma associated with the Marcos name remained strong among the populace.

As soon as the Marcoses returned from exile, however, they wasted no time testing the political waters. Bongbong Marcos was among the first to arrive in the country in 1991, and in the following year he ran and was elected member of the House of Representatives for the Second District of Ilocos Norte (1992–1995). Imelda Marcos did the same when she ran for president but lost in the same elections. Imelda placed 5th of seven candidates, garnering 10.32 percent of electoral votes. Ramos was elected president.

In 1998 Bongbong Marcos ran and was elected Ilocos Norte Governor from 1983 to 1986. He served for three consecutive terms ending in 2007.

In 2007, he again took a congressional seat previously held by his older sister Imee. In 2010, he ran and won a senate seat and in 2016 lost to Leni Robredo for the vice presidency by a mere 263,473 votes or by 0.64 percent.

included such services into NHI coverage as a means of reducing the risk of cluster infections at such institutions. Using the NHI MediCloud and EMR systems, zero-contact telemedicine allows medical personnel to obtain patients’ medical records and offer people in remote areas appropriate and comprehensive services, in turn helping to realize the World Health Organization (WHO) goal of health for all.

It uses innovative technology and universal health coverage.

New Taiwan Model Taiwan was able to contain the pandemic while having people lead normal lives and achieving positive economic growth through the precise use of technology, information transparency, strict border controls, and accurate screening and case investigation. However, with the worldwide spread of the Omicron variant since the end of 2021, community transmission also began to increase in Taiwan. The variant appears to be much more contagious but to cause mild or no symptoms. Trying to block the transmission of every single case would be a vain effort that would greatly affect people’s livelihoods. The government has therefore chosen to aim at elimi-

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

Bongbong Marcos announced his presidential run in October 2021 and accordingly filed his candidacy soon after. Later, he teamed up with Mayor Inday Sara as his vice-presidential candidate to form the Uniteam. Bucking pressure from others, he refused to slide down and run for Vice-President.

More than any factor, it is this successful team up with Sara Duterte that sealed both their victories.

From the day this was announced, I had known it was a tall order for any candidate or other political coalition to defeat this formidable team from the North to the far South. This was a united front of two political clans, and their loyalist supporters, and one supported by most other political clans in the country.

As much as I do not like it, I wish presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos. Jr. the best in the years to come.

Of course, the disinformation campaign by the Marcoses and their allies contributed to the landslide victory. Their propagandists and paid trolls who at every turn peddled lies and disinformation using social media, particularly Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, deodorized the Marcos narrative as well as distorted and trivialized the elder Marcos’ human rights record, ill-gotten wealth and other unpalatable issues against the family, while attacking political opponents especially Leni Robredo.

The youth were most vulnerable to this massive disinformation campaign; after all, for the younger and not so young generations, the atrocities of the Marcos regime are now part of the nation’s distant memory, and must be consigned to history books.

This is not to say that the youth are not capable of

nating severe cases, managing mild cases, minimizing overall impacts, and caring for moderate and severe cases since April 2022. This new Taiwan Model seeks to allow people to lead normal lives while active epidemic prevention measures remain in place and the country is steadily opening up.

Strengthening people’s resilience With the introduction of rapid antigen test kits, Taiwan has shortened quarantines and reduced control measures, requiring confirmed cases to notify their close contacts to undergo home isolation and using electronic contact notification during the process. As the demand for rapid tests increases, the government has requisitioned a fixed amount and adopted a name-based rationing scheme, distributing tests to NHI-contracted pharmacies for the public to purchase using their NHI cards.

Preserving healthcare capacity Taiwan has adopted a triage approach, having milder COVID-19 cases undergo home care and reserving hospital treatment for members of highrisk groups, such as moderate and severe cases and the elderly. During home care, people can access emergency medical consultations through mobile apps. A network of pharmacists and community pharmacies has been put together to provide consultations and deliver medicines. As of the end of April 2022, about 80 percent of the people in Taiwan had received a primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 60 percent had received a booster dose.

critical thinking. Far from it. But understandably with no firsthand experience of the horrors of the Marcos rule, this demographic group, more than others, were more susceptible to historical manipulation and distortion.

A the chair and lead convenor of the Movement Against Disinformation, we tried very hard to counter the falsehoods. But we organized to late and found the social media companies to be uncooperative and not pro-active in addressing disinformation. Their profits, resulting from algorithms that incentivized disinformation, could not be sacrificed for the greater good.

I note the many observations that have been made about anomalies in the voting and the counting. But as an election law professor, I always ask my students to look at the big picture: if all these anomalies were true, would it matter for the result?

Whether a Bongbong Marcos presidency will be more like or different from that of his father, the late dictator, is too early to tell. After all, the character traits of father and son may be different, or that the political climate then and now are different. Indeed, Marcos Jr. is not Marcos Sr. The latter was brilliant, an outsider, a leader in the University of the Philippines, a bar topnotcher, the most ambitious politician of his generation with a grand if not distorted vision for the country.

In contrast, Marcos Jr. belongs to the political elite. His election is not an aberration but the culmination and the apex of elite control of Philippine politics. Nevertheless, one thing is certain – the long and dark shadow of the Marcos past, will haunt this presidency and how the son and the nation confronts that past will determine the success of the Marcos restoration.

As much as I do not like it, I wish presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos. Jr. the best in the years to come. I sincerely wish he will be true to his word about national unity as that would be good for the country.

Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Taiwan can help, and Taiwan is helping The world today continues to face challenges of the pandemic, vaccine supply, and the postpandemic recovery. Countries should work together and prepare for possible future pandemics.

Taiwan is an indispensable partner in ensuring a successful post-pandemic recovery. To contain the pandemic, Taiwan has continued to cooperate with other countries on the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines and drugs and has donated medical supplies, such as medical masks and medicines, to countries in need. This has demonstrated that Taiwan can help, and Taiwan is helping.

The 75th World Health Assembly (WHA) will be held in May. For the past five years, Taiwan has not been invited to participate in the WHA. To ensure that Taiwan is not left behind and there is no coverage gap in global health, Taiwan seeks to participate in the WHA this year in a professional and pragmatic manner, so that it can make contributions as part of the global effort to realize WHO’s vision of a seamless global disease prevention network.

We urge WHO and related parties to support Taiwan’s inclusion in WHO and allow it to fully participate in WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities. Taiwan will continue to work with the rest of the world to ensure that all enjoy the fundamental human right to health as stipulated in the WHO Constitution. In the spirit of the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, no one should be left behind.

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 17, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

New shooting leaves 1 dead near LA LAGUNA WOODS—One person was dead and four others in critical condition after a shooting at a church near Los Angeles, law enforcement said Sunday, just one day after a gunman killed 10 people at a grocery store in New York state.

Shortly before 1.30 pm (2030 GMT), parishioners were attending a banquet following a morning service at Geneva Presbyterian Church when the gunman began his rampage, authorities said.

There were 30 to 40 people inside the building in Laguna Woods, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles.

The churchgoers detained the shooter and “hogtied his legs with an extension cord and confiscated at least two weapons” before officers arrived at the scene

to apprehend and arrest him, Orange County Undersheriff Jeff Hallock told a press conference.

“That group of churchgoers displayed what we believe is exceptional heroism, and bravery,” Hallock said. “They undoubtedly prevented additional injuries and fatalities.”

“One person is confirmed deceased at the scene,” Hallock said. “Four others are critical and one other victim sustained minor injuries.”

The victims were all of Taiwanese descent, Taipei’s foreign ministry said, adding that it had “asked our representative office to express our most sincere and deepest condolences to those killed or injured in the shooting and their families.”

According to the sheriff’s depart-

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 81, QUEZON CITY IN RE: PETITION FOR CHANGE OF SURNAME from “CABUYAO to “GARGACERAN” And CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF ALLYN KATHRINE DANIELLE GARGACERAN CABUYAO, ALLYN KATHRINE DANIELLE GARGACERAN CABUYAO, Petitioner, -versus-

SP. PROC. CASE NO. R-QZN-22-01520-SP

EDWIN SAN GABRIEL CABUYAO, MA. CAROLINA GONZALES GARGACERAN, LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OF QUEZON CITY, Respondents. x---------------------------------------------------x

ORDER AND NOTICE OF HEARING

A verified petition had been filed by the petitioner praying that after proper proceedings, judgment be issued: 1) Ordering the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City to delete the surname “Cabuyao” in the Certificate of Live Birth of the 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.

ment, the victims were aged between 66 and 92.

Investigators were still searching for a motive, Hallock said, adding that the alleged gunman, who was not injured during the incident, was believed to be an Asian male in his 60s.

“The man is not believed to live in the area and investigators are working to determine his city of residence and whether he has any connections to the church or its congregants,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement.

The office of California Governor Gavin Newsom said it was working with local officials to monitor the situation.

“No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims,” the office tweeted. AFP

BLOOD MOON. The full moon, also known as the ‘Flower blood moon’, is pictured behind the two-headed eagle, the national symbol of Russia, atop a building on Red Square in downtown Moscow on May 15. AFP

Ukraine army readies for new Russian push in Donbas area Future king K Charles heads YIV—Ukraine was preparing Monday for a new Russian push in the eastern Donbas region, as Kyiv said its army’s counterattack around Kharkiv had gained momentum.

Since failing to take the capital at the beginning of the invasion in late February, control of Donbas has become one of Moscow’s primary objectives -- but Western intelligence has predicted its campaign will stall amid heavy losses and fierce resistance.

“We are preparing for new attempts by Russia to attack in Donbas, to somehow intensify its movement in the south of Ukraine,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address.

“The occupiers still do not want to admit that they are in a dead-end and their so-called ‘special operation’ has already gone bankrupt,” he added.

Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich told local television that Russian troops were being transferred in the direction of Donbas after withdrawing from Kharkiv following the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Kyiv’s troops have made so much progress in the northern region that they have almost reached the border

with Russia, according to interior ministry adviser Vadim Denisenko.

The Ukrainian army said Monday that some Russian forces remained to try and block the advance, and air sirens sounded in Kharkiv city in the early hours.

Arestovich said the Russian troops that had been pulled out were being sent towards Lugansk.

“Their task is to take Severodonetsk,” he said. “Well, something is not working for them.”

Severodonetsk is the easternmost city still held by Ukraine, and its fall would grant the Kremlin de facto control of Lugansk, one of two regions -- along with Donetsk -- that comprise Donbas.

(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)

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-

AGING QUEEN. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, 96, leaves after attending the “A Gallop Through History” Platinum Jubilee celebration at the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle on May 15. AFP

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)

1st plane in 6 years leaves rebel-held Yemen capital SANAA—The first commercial flight in nearly six years took off from Yemen’s rebel-held capital on Monday, a major step forward in a peace process that has provided rare relief from conflict.

The Yemenia plane carrying 126 passengers, including hospital patients needing treatment abroad and their relatives, took off from Sanaa for the Jordanian capital Amman just after 9:00 am (0600 GMT), AFP journalists saw.

Before take-off, the plane with red-and-blue tail livery taxied through an honor guard of two fire trucks spraying jets of water.

Sanaa’s airport has been closed to commercial traffic since August 2016 because of air strikes by the Saudiled military coalition, who are fighting Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest country, has been wracked with war since the coalition stepped in to support

the government in 2015, a year after the Huthis seized control of the capital.

According to UN figures, more than 150,000 people have died in the violence and millions have been displaced, creating the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

But a truce has been in place since April 2, coinciding with the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Five days after it took effect, Yemen’s Saudi-based president handed his powers to a leadership council tasked with holding peace talks with the rebels.

Resuming flights from Sanaa, reopening roads to the rebel-besieged city of Taez and allowing fuel tankers into the Huthi-held port of Hodeida -- a lifeline for Yemen -- were all part of the truce agreement.

While fuel tankers have docked in Hodeida and flights have now resumed from Sanaa, the main routes into Taez remain cut off. AFP

to Canada on queen’s behalf

LONDON—Prince Charles heads to Canada this week to represent head of state Queen Elizabeth II, with more attention than ever on his future role due to his mother’s age and failing health.

Increasingly, every movement of the heir to the throne is attracting greater scrutiny, as the 96-year-old monarch’s record-breaking 70-year reign draws to a close.

Last week, Charles, 73, was a lastminute stand-in for the queen at the state opening of the UK parliament, in the clearest sign that his long wait to become king is approaching its end.

His appearance and the queen’s absence from the ceremony for the first time in nearly 60 years have prompted a noticeable shift in public opinion towards her position.

A YouGov survey for Times Radio conducted this week suggested that 34 percent of people now believe she should retire, instead of remaining queen for life, up from 25 percent last month.

Just under half (49 percent) said she should remain queen, down 10 points from last month.

At the same time, Charles’s stock has risen: 36 percent believe he will make a good king, up four points from last month, the survey of 1,990 people found.

His visit to Canada comes as part of a series by senior royals to some of the 14 Commonwealth countries outside the UK where the queen is also head of state.

But the visits, which have included Platinum Jubilee celebrations, have not gone entirely to plan, particularly in the Caribbean.

There, Charles’s eldest son Prince William faced protests about past royal links to slavery, demands for reparations and growing republican sentiment.

His youngest brother, Prince Edward, experienced similar protests, in a sign the global reach of the monarchy that Charles will inherit will likely be much diminished.

Royal historian Robert Lacey said the visits, widely criticized in part as an insensitive throwback to colonial times, represented a “sea change” for royal overseas tours. AFP

‘Economic war cabinet’ set for crisis-hit Sri Lanka gov’t COLOMBO—Sri Lanka was set to form a new cabinet on Monday as bitter political rivals make common cause to tackle a worsening economic crisis after last week’s deadly violence, party leaders said.

Protestors remained camped outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence demanding that he resign meanwhile, as troops continued to patrol the streets while ordinary Sri Lankans queued up for scarce supplies.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, appointed prime minister for a sixth time on Thursday, has struggled to form a “unity government” after the main opposition insisted that Rajapaksa should follow his brother Mahinda who quit as premier last week.

However, two stalwarts from the main Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) opposition party agreed to break ranks and join an “economic war cabinet”, party sources told AFP. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said his party would not block in parliament any legitimate “solutions to the economic problems”.

Another opposition group, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), said they will also offer conditional support to Wickremesinghe, overturning their earlier decision not to. AFP

KIM’S INSPECTION. This picture taken on May 15 and released from North

Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 16 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a pharmacy in Pyongyang, amid a deadly COVID-19 outbreak in the hermit country. AFP

Business PSEi May 16, 2022

TOP GAINERS

1 OPM 2 ACR 3 DFNN

LAST PRICE CHANGE 0.012 0.001 0.99 0.08 3 0.23

% CHANGE 9.09% 8.79% 8.30%

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1.77 0.076 1.6 1.35 1.88 6.61 1.59

7.93% 7.04% 6.67% 6.30% 6.21% 6.10% 5.30%

ARA BHI C NOW PRIM ACEN APX

0.13 0.005 0.1 0.08 0.11 0.38 0.08

TOP LOSERS

1 JOH 2 VVT 3 MJC

LAST PRICE CHANGE 3.91 -1.31 14.04 -1.96 1.65 -0.16

% CHANGE -25.10% -12.25% -8.84%

4 5 6 7

DWC RLT MWP2A APC

1.73 0.225 93.05 0.219

-0.15 -0.019 -6.95 -0.015

-7.98% -7.79% -6.95% -6.41%

8 9

ORE VMC

0.73 2.54

-0.05 -0.16

-6.41% -5.93%

10

LSC

0.8

-0.05

-5.88%

B3

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks up on bargain hunting; SM Prime and Ayala Land rally S TOCKS surged Monday in a technical rebound as many investors went bargain hunting after the benchmark index slumped in recent sessions on fears of surging global inflation and supply chain woes inflicted by Beijing’s punishing zeroCOVID policy.

lion. Gainers beat losers, 118 to 79, with 43 issues unchanged.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the Sy Group, the biggest mall operator, advanced 4 percent to P36.50, while parent SM Investments Corp. rose 2.4 percent to P808.

Major property developer Ayala Land Inc. of the Ayala Group climbed 3.3 percent to P28.40, while PLDT Inc. of Indonesia’s Salim Group, the largest telecommunications firm, added 1percent to P1,950.

The rest of Asian equities retreated Monday following last week’s tempoThe Philippine Stock Exchange Index rary rally on Wall Street. jumped 122.95 points, or 1.9 percent, to World markets have been volatile for 6,502.12 on a value turnover of P8 bil- much of 2022, fueled by uncertainty

over supply chain snarls due to China’s lockdowns, inflation pressures and anxiety over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Wall Street stocks closed Friday with a robust rally on the tech-rich Nasdaq after a tumultuous week that saw markets fluctuate based on US inflation data and an ongoing slump in Chinese exports.

One of the main drivers of volatility is China’s continued lockdowns. Economic engine Shanghai in particular has been under strict virus restrictions since April, shuttering factories and pausing port activity.

The extent of the economic hemorrhaging was revealed Monday when China’s National Bureau of Statistics announced that retail sales had

China’s retail sales slumped 11.1% In April on lockdowns

MOST ACTIVE

VOLUME

VALUE (PHP)

1 2

CNVRG SMPH

29,365,200 19,203,500

838,891,795 695,659,655

3 4 5

ALI AC AEV

23,981,000 642,300 7,478,100

690,326,875 433,427,180 353,306,855

6

SM

412,870

332,887,350

7 8 9

TEL MONDE BDO

165,635 21,767,400 1,898,090

321,668,255 310,265,518 239,703,990

10

ICT

1,096,030

227,837,352

Billionaire Adani in $10.5-b deal for Holcim India’s cement business MUMBAI, India—Indian billionaire Gautam Adani struck a $10.5-billion deal to buy Swiss cement giant Holcim’s local business, the companies said, betting on a construction boom predicted in coming decades.

In his biggest acquisition to date, the deal will give coal-to-ports magnate Adani—who vies with fellow Indian Mukesh Ambani for the title of Asia’s richest person—a controlling stake in India’s second-largest cement manufacturer.

“Our move into the cement business is yet another validation of our belief in our nation’s growth story,” Adani, 59, said in a statement late Sunday.

“Not only is India expected to remain one of the world’s largest demand-driven economies for several decades, India also continues to be the world’s second largest cement market,” he added.

The deal marks Holcim’s exit from the Indian market after 17 years and is a part of a global restructuring strategy after the Swiss cement giant’s 2015 merger with France’s Lafarge.

Once approved by regulators and shareholders, the firm will acquire Holcim’s stakes in local producers Ambuja Cements and ACC. The acquisitions will make Adani the country’s second-biggest cement maker with a capacity of 70 million tons per year.

India, already home to 1.4 billion people, is projected by the United Nations to become the planet’s most populous nation by the middle of the decade.

The International Energy Agency said in a report last year that an estimated 270 million people will be added to India’s urban population by 2040—the equivalent of adding a new city the size of Los Angeles each year. AFP

slumped by 11.1 percent on-year in April and its industrial production sank 2.9 percent—the lowest showing since March 2020.

“It is clear that the impact of lockdowns, or the fear of lockdowns, overwhelmed any economic easing, and the Shanghai lockdown had ripple effects across the nation,” said Wei Yao, head of research for Asia Pacific and chief economist at Societe Generale SA, according to Bloomberg.

The urban unemployment rate also climbed to its highest level in more than two years—which Wei said will be of particular worry to China’s leadership.

“If this set does not raise the urgency

People use their mobile phones outside a mall at a business district in Beijing on May 16, 2022. China’s retail sales slumped to its lowest in two years while factory output plunged, official data showed on May 16, capturing the dismal economic fallout from Beijing’s zero-COVID policy. AFP

Facebook: From Harvard dorm to global phenomenon

By Glenn Chapman WASHINGTON, United States—Key chapters in the history of Facebook, the world’s biggest social media application, which marks the tenth anniversary Wednesday of its stock market debut.

In the beginning In 2003, 19-year-old Harvard computer whiz Mark Zuckerberg begins working out of his dormitory room on an online network aimed initially at connecting Harvard students.

The following year he launched thefacebook.com with three Harvard roommates and classmates: Chris Hughes, Eduardo Saverin and Dustin Moskovitz.

As membership is opened up to other colleges around North America Zuckerberg quits his studies and moves to Silicon Valley.

The new company receives its first investment from PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, who stumps up $500,000, and officially changes its name to Facebook in 2005.

Not for sale In 2006, US media conglomerate Viacom and Yahoo make separate plays for Facebook, but both are turned down.

Microsoft takes a $240-million stake in the company a year later, by which time Facebook has 50 million users.

That year sees Zuckerberg admitting to privacy-related “mistakes” for the first time, over an ad platform called Beacon that tracked purchases made by Facebook members and let their friends know what they had bought.

In 2008, the platform topples MySpace to become the world’s most popular social networking website and launches

BEIJING, China—China’s retail sales and factory output slumped to their lowest levels in around two years, official data showed Monday, capturing the dismal economic fallout from Beijing’s zero-COVID policy.

The world’s second-largest economy has persisted with strict virus measures, choking up global supply chains as dozens of Chinese cities—including key business hub Shanghai—grapple with restrictions.

Although officials have said they plan to gradually reopen the city over the next month, there is no sign of Beijing shifting from the strict zero- COVID approach which analysts warn is severely hitting the economy.

The latest cut came Monday when the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced data showing that retail sales shrank 11.1 percent on-year in April.

It is the biggest slump since March 2020, as consumers remained cooped up at home or jittery over restrictions as China battles its worst COVID outbreak since the early days of the pandemic.

“In April, the epidemic had a big impact on economic operations,” NBS spokesman Fu Linghui told reporters Monday, adding that the outbreak had a “significantly larger-than-expected” effect.

But he stressed that the hit would be “short-term.”

Industrial production growth sank 2.9 percent on-year, reflecting damage from shuttered factories and transportation woes as officials ramped up COVID restrictions last month.

This figure is down from 5.0 percent growth in March.

“The prolonged Shanghai lockdown and its ripple effect through China, as well as logistics delays resulting from highway controls... have severely affected domestic supply chains,” said Tommy Wu, lead China economist at Oxford Economics. AFP

its first mobile app the following year.

Protest platform David Fincher’s story of the origins of Facebook, “The Social Network,” hits movie theaters in 2010 and wins Oscars for best adapted screenplay, original score and film editing.

Time magazine that year names Zuckerberg as Person of the Year for “transforming the way we live our lives every day.”

As membership rockets, Facebook plays a growing role in shaping public debate.

In 2011, the platform plays a key role in giving a voice to disillusioned Arab youth in the Arab Spring of revolts that began that year in Tunisia.

Stock market entry In 2012, Facebook snaps up photograph-sharing app Instagram for $1 billion and files for an initial public offering.

The biggest IPO ever in the tech sector raises some $16 billion and values the company at $104 billion.

A hoodie-clad Zuckerberg remotely rings the Nasdaq bell from Facebook’s California headManila quarters on the first day of trading. Standard

By October 2012, Facebook’s TODAY membership has topped one bilNOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS lion.

Social media conglomerate Please take notice that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the PHILIPPINE OF COMMUNICATIONS (“PBCOM”) will be held on Tuesday, 7 June 2022, In 2014, Facebook pays a small BANK 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be conducted virtually and can be accessed fortune to try boost its popularity at the link provided in the Bank’s website at https://www.pbcom.com.ph/. among younger smartphone users AGENDA by buying messaging platform 1.

Call to Order 2.

Certification of Notice and Quorum WhatsApp in a cash and stock 3.

Review and Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting deal valued at $19 billion. AFP held on 15 June 2021 (Annual Meeting), and 15 March 2022 4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

(Special Meeting) Annual Report of Management and Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for 2021 Ratification of Acts of the Board of Directors and Management since the Last Annual Meeting of Stockholders Election of Directors Appointment of External Auditor Other Matters Adjournment

For purposes of the meeting, only stockholders of record as of 18 April 2022 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

In light of the community quarantine measures still in place, PBCOM will be holding a virtual Annual Meeting. The conduct of the Annual Meeting will be streamed live, and stockholders may attend, participate and vote only through proxy, remote communication or in absentia. The requirements and procedures for voting in absentia and participation through remote communication are set forth in the Information Statement.

Stockholders who choose to vote by proxy must submit and address their signed proxy to the attention of the Corporate Secretary at 5/F PBCOM Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City or via e-mail at CorporateSecretary@ pbcom.com.ph not later than 5:00 p.m. on or before 30 May 2022.

In compliance with SEC Resolution No. 196, Series of 2015, a copy of the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements of PBCOM with Management Discussion and Analysis for the period ended 31 March 2022 shall be posted in PBCOM’s website at https:// www.pbcom.com.ph/ on or before 30 May 2022. A hard copy of the said interim financial statements shall be provided within a reasonable time upon request by any stockholder.

Copies of the following documents will be available upon request: (i) Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on 15 June 2021; (ii) Minutes of the Special Meeting of Stockholders held on 15 March 2022; (iii) Information Statement; (iv) Management Report; (v) Audited Financial Statements for the year 2021.

PBCOM IS NOT SOLICITING PROXIES.

In this file photo taken on April 30, 2019 an attendee tries out the new Oculus Quest Virtual Reality (VR) gaming system at the Facebook F8 Conference at McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. AFP

(MS-MAY 16 & 17, 2022)

MICHAEL STEPHEN H. LAO Corporate Secretary

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

B4

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

Remittances rose by 3.2% to $2.59b in March—fastest pace in 3 months REMITTANCES grew 3.2 percent in March, its fastest pace this year following a slowdown in February triggered by the re-imposition of restrictions here and abroad amid the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

Money sent home by Filipinos working overseas reached $2.594 billion in March, up from $2.514 billion a year ago. The March expansion was the fastest in three months since the 3.3-percent growth in December 2021. It followed the slower 1.3-percent growth in February.

“The expansion in cash remittances was due to the growth in receipts from land-based and sea-based workers, which increased by 3.7 percent [to $2.021 billion from $1.948 billion] and 1.3 percent [to $573 million from $566 million], respectively,” the BSP said in a statement.

The figures brought cash remittances in the first quarter to $7.771 billion, up 2.4 percent from $7.593 billion a year earlier.

“The growth in cash remittances from the United States, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia contributed largely to the increase in remittances in the first quarter of 2022,” the BSP said.

The US registered the highest share of overall remittances at 41.5 percent in the first three months, followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Taiwan, Qatar and Malaysia.

The combined remittances from top 10 countries accounted for 79.1 percent of total cash remittances during the period.

Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, rose 3.1 percent in March to $2.888 billion from $2.801 billion in the same month last year. This resulted in a 2.3-percent growth in the first-quarter personal remittances to $8.646 billion from $8.454 billion a year ago.

“The increase in personal remittances in March was due to remittances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, which grew by 3.7 percent to $2.195 billion from $2.116 billion in the same month last year, and sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year, which increased by 1.4 percent to $625 million from $616 million a year ago,” the BSP said. Julito G. Rada

Business Moody’s Analytics expects BSP to raise rates this week

By Julito G. Rada

M

OODY’S Analytics, a unit of Moody’s Corp., said Monday the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may be compelled to raise interest rates this week amid the rising inflation rate.

Moody’s Analytics said in a report the adjustment might happen despite the better-than-expected GDP growth of 8.3 percent in the first quarter, a reversal of the 3.8-percent contraction a year ago.

“Despite a largely favorable March quarter performance, the risks to our outlook are tilted to the downside. Chief among them is inflation. Higher prices for food and fuel are challenging the central bank’s accommodative monetary policy settings,” it said.

“We initially expected the first rate hike to take place in June. But the BSP

is under increasing pressure to arrest inflation pressures, which could mean a rate hike lands this month,” it said.

It said the timing and pace of interest rate tightening could dent demand and employment recovery, especially in the absence of sizable fiscal support to cushion the economy.

“We expect that monetary tightening will be calibrated to protect growth,” it said.

Inflation accelerated to 4.9 percent in April from 4 percent in March. This was the fastest in more than three years on higher prices of food, transport, oil and electricity.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that inflation averaged 3.7 percent in the first four months, near the upper end of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier said the inflation outturn was consistent with the BSP’s assessment that inflation would remain elevated over the near term on continued volatility of global oil and non-oil prices, reflecting

largely the continued impact of the conflict in Ukraine on the global commodities market.

Diokno said inflation could settle above the government’s target range in 2022, before decelerating back to target in 2023 as supply-side pressures eased.

He said while there were signs that inflation expectation would be higher for 2022, it remained broadly anchored to the target in 2023.

Diokno said the policy-setting Monetary Board would review its assessment of the inflation outlook and macroeconomic prospects with the release of the first-quarter GDP growth outturn, along with evidence of possible second-round effects and developments in inflation expectations during the monetary policy meeting on May 19.

He said in an interview with Bloomberg the BSP might consider raising interest rates from the record-low of 2 percent by June, amid the improvements in key economic indicators such as the gross domestic product and sustained manageable inflation environment.

MEGAWORLD Corp. said Monday net income increased 30 percent in the first quarter to P3.1 billion from P2.4 billion a year ago, on the back of double-digit growth in sales.

Megaworld said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated revenues reached P13.1 billion in the three-month period, up 29 percent from P10.2 billion recorded in the previous year on strong performance of various real estate segments.

“This is definitely a strong start

LOGISTICS PASS. Clark Development Corp. president and chief executive Manuel Gaerlan (third from right) and Anti-Red Tape Authority deputy director-general for operations Ernesto Perez (second from left) sign a memorandum of agreement and joint memorandum circular for the implementation of the Unified Logistics Pass in Clark Freeport Zone. The ULP will streamline the requirements for a unified Quick Response Code that will eliminate several and separate pass-through stickers being required by economic zones, ports and local government units.

for us, and affirms that our improved performance can be sustained. While there was some concern last January due to the Omicron variant, consumer confidence remained on the uptrend and our quick recovery showed that we are now in a better position to manage the pandemic and move forward,” Megaworld chief strategy officer Kevin Tan said.

Real estate sales went up 36 percent in the first quarter to P8.1 billion, while reservation sales also increased 12 percent to P23.2 billion from P20.7 billion.

Office business posted rental income

Meralco, Leviste-Razon joint venture starts negotiations on 850-MW renewable supply

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, started negotiations with the Leviste Group and business partner Enrique Razon Jr. on the supply of 850 megawatts of renewable energy, following the failed second round of the competitive selection process.

Terra Solar Philippines Inc., the joint venture of Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. of the Leviste Group and Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. of Razon, offered Meralco P6.0800 per kilowatt-hour headline rate and a levelized cost of electricity under an unsolicited proposal.

The offer involved the delivery of 600 MW of power supply by Feb. 26, 2026 and an additional 250 MW starting Feb. 26, 2027 over 20 years.

No company submitted bids in the two CSPs to challenge the offer of Terra Solar.

Meralco’s third-party bids and awards committee did not receive any expression of interest from any prospective bidder as of the May 2 deadline for Meralco’s mid-merit requirement.

Monday, May 16, 2022

122.95 PTS.

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES

6,502.12

678,357,037 105,730 8,058,698,247.56 118

DECLINES

79

UNCHANGED

43

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, MAY 16, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.4340

Japan

Yen

0.007730

0.4053

UK

Pound

1.225400

64.2526

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127392

6.6797

Switzerland

Franc

0.998403

52.3503

Canada

Dollar

0.774054

40.5867

Singapore

Dollar

0.717257

37.6087

Australia

Dollar

0.693000

36.3368

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652801

139.0970

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266610

13.9794

Brunei

Dollar

0.714694

37.4743

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028769

1.5085

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.2771

Euro

Euro

1.040000

54.5314

Korea

Won

0.000782

0.0410

China

Yuan

0.147275

7.7222

India

Rupee

0.012908

0.6768

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.227480

11.9277

New Zealand

Dollar

0.627800

32.9181

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033566

1.7600 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Converge ICT posted P1.97-b profit in Q1

CONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc. said Monday net income grew 27.9 percent in the first quarter on the back of higher subscriber base.

Converge ICT reported a net income of P1.97 billion in the first quarter, up from P1.54 billion in the same period last year.

Consolidated revenues went up 39.7 percent to P7.74 billion from P5.54 billion.

Revenues from residential business climbed 42 percent from P4.79 billion to P6.81 billion, driven by a 52.5-percent year-on-year growth in subscriber base.

As of end-March, Converge had 1.80 residential subscribers, up 52.5 percent from last year, Average monthly revenue per user declined to P1,243 in the first quarter because of rebates awarded to subscribers who were not provided broadband in the areas affected

by Typhoon Odette.

Enterprise revenues grew by 25.1 percent year-on-year, from P749.7 million to P938.2 million, mostly from the strong growth in the small and medium enterprise segment.

Darwin G. Amojelar

GMA Network raises first quarter earnings

Megaworld’s net income increased by 30% to P3.1b in first quarter

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PSE INDEX CLOSING

The TPBAC said that since there is no outstanding dispute on the first and second rounds of the competitive challenge for the contract, the distribution utility may enter into direct negotiation and award the 850-MW contract capacity requirement, as provided by the revised CSP rules.

“We have already started direct negotiations with the original proponent and intend to conclude it and sign the corresponding PSA for the 850-MW mid-merit requirement soonest,” said Jose Ronald Valles, head of Meralco’s Regulatory Management Office.

Solar Philippines president and chief executive Leandro Leviste confirmed the negotiations. Solar Philippines is finalizing plans for an asset-for-share swap with subsidiary Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp. that will enable the latter to acquire over 20 solar project companies, including over 10,000 megawatts of projects.

Valles said the power supply agreement with Terra would also form part of Meralco’s compliance with the Department of Energy’s Renewable Portfolio Standards.

of P3 billion in the first three months, up by 16 percent from P2.6 billion it netted in the same period last year.

Average occupancy rate of the company’s office buildings stood at 91 percent.

Revenues from shopping malls rebounded in the first quarter as sales rose 40 percent to P717 million on the back of improving foot traffic and the increase in retail locators that restarted operations.

Revenues from hotels and resorts registered a 50-percent increase in revenues to P502.9 million following the

easing of mobility restrictions and increased domestic travel.

Megaworld operates 11 hotels across the country.

“We are now focused on returning to our pre-pandemic performance and to grow beyond that. In fact, we are now looking at opportunities to further expand our geographical footprint in the country this year with the launch of several new townships,” Tan said.

Megaworld has 28 master-planned integrated urban townships, integrated lifestyle communities and lifestyle estates across the country.

GMA Network Inc. said Monday said net income rose 5 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, boosted by political advocacies and advertisements.

The broadcast company said net income amounted to P2.12 billion from January to March, up from P2.01 billion it booked in the same period last year. Consolidated gross revenues climbed 7 percent to P5.86 billion from P5.45 billion.

“Political advocacies and advertisements contributed more than a billion pesos during the quarter,” GMA Network said.

Sale of services overtook last year by 8 percent to P241 million, while sale of goods dipped by P54 million. The company said that as operations continued to progress towards the new normal state, consolidated operating expenses reached P3.07 billion in the first quarter, up by 9 percent from the same period last year.

Darwin G. Amojelar

First Gen’s recurring income reaches P3b

RENEWABLE energy producer First Gen Corp. said Monday recurring net income amounted to P3 billion ($59 million) in the first quarter, a decline of 25 percent from P3.8 billion ($78 million) in the same period last year.

First Gen said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its natural gas and geothermal platforms suffered from a drop in operating income.

First Gen president and chief operating officer Francis Giles Puno said the company generated more power in the first quarter following the commercial operations of Energy Development Corp.’s 3.6-megawatt Mindanao 3 plant in March.

“However, both Avion and EDC were affected by unplanned outages. In EDC’s case, it led to high replacement power costs as Typhoon Odette debilitated transmission capacity despite the plants’ ability to produce power. EDC was able to wheel out its power by mid-January,” Puno said He said the natural gas power plants were affected by gas interruptions at the Malampaya field, resulting in the importation of expensive liquid fuel. Alena Mae S. Flores

PSE approves P9.2-b initial public offering of Vista Land’s REIT unit THE Philippine Stock Exchange approved the P9.2-billion initial public offering of VistaREIT Inc., the real estate investment trust company of Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. VREIT will conduct its maiden share offering from May 30 to June 3, based on the terms approved by the PSE. It is expected to list its shares on the maid board of the PSE on June 15 under the trading symbol VREIT. “We are pleased with the steady increase in the number of REIT listings in the PSE. The entry of VistaREIT will further boost the size of the REIT market and broaden the portfolio of mall and office building assets in the local REIT space,” PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon said.

VREIT will offer up to 3.33 billion firm shares and up to 333.75 million over-allotment option shares at P2.50 apiece. The final offer price will be determined on May 25 after the company conducted its book-building process.

VREIT’s initial portfolio includes 10 community malls and two office buildings with an aggregate gross leasable area of 256,404 square meters.

The malls are located in Vista Land’s integrated developments, which serve as a one-stop shop for residents in Las

Piñas City, Bacoor City, General Trias City, Imus City, Municipality of Tanza, Antipolo City, San Jose Del Monte, San Fernando and Talisay City, Cebu. The office buildings are located in Taguig City and Bacoor City.

Post-IPO, VistaREIT will have a public float of 48.95 perfect while existing shareholders will retain the remaining 51.05

BAYAD-UBX TIEUP. Bayad,

percent.

The company engaged BDO Capital & Investment Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., PNB Capital and Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. as joint lead underwriters for the offering, with Abacus Capital and Investment Corp. as participating underwriter. Jenniffer B. Austria

the country’s authority in bills payment and Meralco’s full service fintech subsidiary, signs a partnership with UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines.

Under the agreement, i2i, the banking-as-a-service venture of UBX, will leverage the network of billers of Bayad, allowing i2i banking agents to process payments for Meralco and Home Credit, among others. Signing the agreement are (by row, from left) Bayad chief commercial marketing officer Dennis Gatuslao, UBX president and chief executive John Januszczak, UBX managing director of commerce and payments Jaime Garchitorena and Bayad president and chief executive Lawrence Ferrer.

Sports

Bautista keeps 110-m hurdles’ SEAG title HANOI—Clinton Kingsley Bautista wasn’t expecting to win, but still went on to keep a firm stranglehold on his 110-meter crown as the Philippines’ athletics team raised its haul to three golds in the 31st Southeast Asian Games at the My Dinh National Stadium here on Monday.

Bautista, the only Filipino to ever wi n the 110 -meter hu rdles i n the SEA Games, is now a proud ow ner of a second st raight gold i n the event, followi ng recordsmashi ng 13.78-second run that broke his own 13.97 set during the 2019 Philippine SEA Games.

The 29-year-old Bautista took the lead right on the get go and never let up despite knocking several hurdles along the way as he obliterated the field that included eventual runner-up Chen Xiang of Singapore (13.940) and third placer Natthaporn Dansungnoen (13.99) of Thailand.

“Hindi ko expected ito, kasi sila (Thai and Singaporean) ang may leading time bago itong SEA Games,” said Bautista, who was still scheduled to run in the men’s 4x100 later in the day.

Bautista’s feat was the third gold for the athletics’ contingent in the biennial meet, to go with Ernest John Obiena’s record-smashing performance in pole vault and William Morrison’s shotput triumph.

Pole vaulter Natalie Uy, complaining of numbness in both legs, wasn’t able to defend her crown though after three foul jumps, allowing Malaysian Nor Sarah Adi Binti to unseat the FilAmerican from her throne.

“Hindi niya raw maramdaman ang legs niya, maaring pagod sa mahabang byahe,” said pole vault coach Emerson Obiena of Uy, who is based in Kettering, Ohio.

Bowler Tan ends 11-year SEA Games gold drought HANOI—Merwin Tan finally ended the country’s 11-year dry spell in bowling on Monday, coming from behind to rule the men’s singles event at the Royal City Hanoi Bowling Lanes and fueling the Philippine drive in the 31st Southeast Games here.

Tan, 22, a left-hander, rolled a sixbagger in the sixth and last frame to erase a 52-pin deficit and beat Yannaphon Larpapharat of Thailand and Ryan Leonard Lalisang of Indonesia, to the delight of Pinoy officials, especially those from the Philippine Bowling Federation.

Tan finished with a total score of 1292, his bid immensely helped by six straight strikes in the sixth frame where he scored 249, after a 234 in the fifth frame that bumped him up to No. 3 overall.Larpapharat and Lalisang were relegated to silver and bronze, respectively, with scores of 1286 and 1221.

“Sobrang saya and shocking din po, na nanalo po ng gold ang Pilipinas. For the whole game, try lang po ako mag-maintain ng aking focus and execution. Execution, make good shots and maximizing every frame,” said Tan, who knew he had to come up with something big in the sixth frame to turn things around.

The other Pinoy bowler in the field, Ivan Malig, finished 11th with 1087.

“I am so overwhelmed, after 11 years... I cannot thank the Lord enough. Talagang coming from behind si Merwin. We prayed he could recover, and he did,” said PBF Secretary General Bong Coo, who anxiously watched from the sidelines.

Tan, a former junior bowler, delivered the country’s first bowling gold since Frederick Ong last did the trick in the 2011 Indonesia Games and the 21st for the Philippine delegation here, which is jostling with Thailand for second place overall behind runaway leader Vietnam.

It helped that Tan is a left-hander, according to coach Biboy Rivera. “Being a southpaw, Merwin had an advantage going into the last few games because the lanes were more difficult for right-handers,” said Rivera.

Alexis Sy and Mades Arles were still competing in the distaff side on Monday.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

C1

JuneMar Fajardo finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds to help Gilas Pilipinas turn back Thailand, 76-73, in the SEA Games basketball competitions in Vietnam.

1 threat down, more to go as Gilas PH edges Thailand

By Riera U. Mallari

H

ANOI—Gilas Pilipinas eliminated the first legitimate threat to its title-retention bid as it turned back Thailand, 76-73, at the start of the men’s basketball competitions of the 31st Southeast Asian Games at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium on Monday.

Hulking JuneMar Fajardo led the nationals with 28 points and 12 rebounds to help the Philippines fend off the Thais, whose several members won the 3x3 basketball crown last Saturday.

Gilas mentor Chot Reyes was right to expect Thailand to be a thorn on the side of the Filipinos for having three players with American heritage, name-

ly Moses Morgan, Fred Lish, Jeremy Morgan and Antonio Price Soonthornchote, who top-scored with 18 points.

“This was really the team that I was worried about,” Reyes said. “We are playing four Americans and we knew that this is a high-quality team. I don’t want to say that I expected it but I knew that there is a possibility that that start would happen.”

“We just talked among ourselves to make sure that we don’t panic and we stick to our game plan. In the end, our experience just came through. But like I said, our postgame talk was all about the need to just get better,” said Reyes.

Thirdy Ravena finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists for Gilas, which trailed by 10 early in the game, before surviving some uneasy moments in the end game.

Following misses from the free throw line, Naikorn Jaisanuk flubbed a corner triple at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime.

After trailing by 21-11, the nationals regained their composure and put up a 38-34 halftime lead. Fajardo’s jumper

with 1:07 left in the game gave the Filipinos a 75-68 lead, but the Thais just wouldn’t go away.

Ravena bungled two free throws and his older brother Kiefer split his freebies with 6.7 seconds, giving the Thais the chance to tie the game with a three only to miss the opportunity.

The scores: Philippines 76—Fajardo 28, T. Ravena 17, Tautuaa 9, Pogoy 6, K. Ravena 5, Wright 4, Rosario 3, Go 2, Montalbo 2.

Thailand 73—Soonthornchote 18, M. Morgan 15, Muangboon 12, Lish 10, Jaisanuk 6, Jakwaran 4, Chanthachon 4, Towaroj 2, J. Morgan 2, Klaewnarong 0, Chungyampin 0, Klahan 0.

Quarters: 13-21; 38-34; 58-52; 76-73.

POC chief Tolentino asks Filipinos to rally behind athletes HANOI—Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino on Monday asked the entire nation to rally behind Team Philippines which, despite stumbling in events Filipino athletes were expected to dominate, stood fighting at third place halfway through the 31st Southeast Asian Games.

“We are hoping and praying to maintain our momentum although we lost in some sports like tennis, golf and basketball 3X3, among others, which we had a good chance of winning gold,” Tolentino, also the PhilCycling head, said.

“We need to recover [lost golds] and capture more golds from the other sports,” added Tolentino, who’s energy continued to surge as he tried his best to make the rounds in venues situated distant from each other to rally behind Filipino athletes. “We still have boxing, gymnastics, karate, athletics, basketball, weightlifting, taekwondo, wrestling and other

Lois Kaye Go

combat sports where we could win medals.”

The Philippines was a fighting third in the medals race on Sunday with 20 golds, 27 silvers and 38 bronzes. Host Vietnam was in a hurry to emerge overall champion with a frontrunning 67 golds, 46 silvers and 44 bronze followed by Thailand with 27 golds, 24 silvers and 38 bronzes.

Indonesia continued to threaten the Philippines with 20 golds in fourth place. Tokyo Olympian and two-time world champion Carlos Yulo led the gold medal rush for the country with three gold medals as of Monday. Kim Mangrobang also made it a double with her victories in triathlon and duathlon that were staged within 24 hours apart.

Tolentino told the Filipino athletes who have yet to compete to never lose hope, saying “the whole nation is with them in this fight.”

“Never give up and continue to fight for our country,” he said.

Multiple-gold winner Carlos Yulo and POC president Abraham Tolentino

Go, Malixi save day for golfers in team event VINH PHUC – Determined to make up for their failure to win medals in individual play, Lois Kaye Go and Rianne Mikhaela Malixi rallied in the closing holes Monday to power the Philippines, the defending champion, to a 2-0 win over Indonesia and into the semifinals of the women’s golf team event in the 31st Southeast Asian Games here.

Malixi, the 15-year-old prodigy backed by ICTSI, trailed Holly Hallim Victoria by one hole through most of the match until she caught fire, knocking in three straight birdies to post a 2 and 1 victory at the Heron Lake course.

Go, 23, a member of the team that won the gold in 2019, also pulled off a come-from-behind 1-up win over Ida Ayu Indira Melati Putri after trailing by as many as two holes.

She began holding the lead in the first four holes until Putri won 14, 16 and 17 to take a two-hole lead. Go took the 18th hole to reduce the deficit to one. After both played halved the hole from first to sixth, Go turned the game around by winning 7 and 9 to prevail 1-up.

The Filipinas take on top seed Thailand, which took a bye,

on Tuesday.

While the women’s team advanced, the men’s bowed out after suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Indonesia.

Jet Hernandez led early after taking the second hole, but lost grip of the match and trailed by as many as two holes until he drew level on 12.

But Randy Arbenata won 13, 14 and 17 to complete a 3 and 1 victory.

Gab Manotoc was beaten 3 and 2 by Naraajie Emerald, who led all the way after winning the third hole, while Jed Dy lost to Amadeus Christian 3 and 2.

The other women’s semifinal match pits Malaysia against Singapore.

The Malaysians routed Vietnam 2-0, with Mirabel Ting Ern Hui trouncing Minh Doan Xuan Khue 5 and 3, and Jeneath Wong humbling Thuy Le Thi Thanh 4 and 3.

Singapore ousted Myanmar 2-0. Aloysa Mabutas Margiela Atienza, whose parents are Filipino migrants, whipped Waing Waing 4 and 2, while Hailey Loh Suanne edged Phu Pwint Yati Khine 1-up.

C2

Sports

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

Mavericks, Celtics advance as Bucks, Suns exit playoffs L OS ANGELES—Luka Doncic led a stunning Dallas Mavericks rout of the top-seeded Phoenix Suns while the Boston Celtics eliminated the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks on a day of NBA playoff upsets on Sunday.

In Phoenix, Slovenian superstar Doncic led a total eclipse of the Suns as Dallas clinched a 4-3 series victory with an extraordinary 123-90 thrashing of the Western Conference favourites.

The Suns had entered the playoffs boasting the best record in basketball after a 64-win regular season and were tipped by many to return to the NBA Finals for a second straight season.

But the Suns’ dreams of a championship were incinerated by a red-hot shooting performance from Doncic and the Mavs, who will now advance to a Western Conference finals showdown with the Golden

State Warriors starting on Wednesday.

Doncic finished with 35 points, 10 rebounds and four assists while team-mate Spencer Dinwiddie provided scoring support with 30 points, including five three-pointers.

Jalen Brunson also posted double figures while Phoenix were left pondering a no-show by their two stars Devin Booker (11 points) and Chris Paul (10).

The Mavericks led from start to finish and at one stage in the second half had sprinted into a 46-point lead.

Their 57-27 half-time lead was the biggest ever in a decisive game seven in the NBA playoffs.

“Amazing,” Doncic said. “I don’t know what to say but this was amazing to win.

“Everybody played as hard as they can.

We didn’t have any days off. An incredible team win. I don’t have nothing more to say.”

Phoenix coach Monty Williams said his team had saved their worst performance of the season for their most important game.

“I just told them how badly I hurt for them,” Williams told reporters shortly after addressing his team.

“I know they didn’t want to play that way. We basically played our worst game of the season tonight. I know how bad they wanted it, they

just could not execute tonight, could not make a shot early on.

“And that messed with us a little bit, and Dallas played their tails off from start to finish.

“It’s a part of manhood. There are days when it doesn’t go your way and you’ve got to stand there and show character and integrity and take it. That’s life.”

- Williams stuns Bucks There was a similar sense of deflation amongst the Bucks players after their reign as NBA champions ended in a convincing 109-81 game seven defeat to the Celtics in Boston.

Celtics forward Grant Williams produced a deadly display of scoring from three-point range at the TD Garden as Boston advanced to a conference finals showdown with the Miami Heat with a 4-3 series win. AFP

Pioneer Group insures Filipino athletes, coaches in SEAG, beyond TRUE to its mission of helping protect national assets, the Pioneer Group partnered with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to provide Philippine athletes, coaches, trainers, and technical staff with group personal accident insurance for the 31st Southeast Asian Games, which will be held on May 12 to May 23 this year in Hanoi, Vietnam.

This forms part of the memorandum of agreement signed by Pioneer Inc. President & CEO Lorenzo Chan Jr., Pioneer Insurance President and CEO Atty. Betty Medialdea, and PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez in February 2022, naming Pioneer as the official insurance partner of national athletes and coaches in the next few years.

Pioneer is providing a year-round Group Personal Accident with Accident Medical Expense insurance to over 1,300 national athletes and coaches. The insurer is covering the entire Philippine delegation of athletes, technical officials, PSC representatives and staff participating in the 31st SEA Games.

“This partnership represents another significant milestone for Pioneer. After a three-year break (2018 to 2021), we are excited to once again be of service to our country through the field of sports. We want to ensure our athletes, coaches, and trainers representing the Philippine National Team are properly covered,” said Chan.

“We are grateful to Pioneer Insurance for extending a hand to our national athletes competing in the 31st SEA Games. It is very important that when they compete, they are confident that they are covered whatever happens,” said Ramirez.

Pioneer’s involvement in the world of sports can be traced back to the 1975 Thrilla in Manila heavyweight boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, wherein it provided personal accident insurance as well as third party liability coverage.

One of its most significant contributions in sports occurred in 1991 when it was designated as the exclusive insurer for the Manila SEA Games. It was during this time when Pioneer provided P720-million worth of group personal accident coverage to participating athletes, officials and sportswriters from nine countries.

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against Jrue Holiday of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter in Game Seven of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. AFP

Lee holds off Spieth for 2nd straight Byron Nelson crown LOS ANGELES—Lee Kyounghoon fired a career-low nine-under par 63 on Sunday to win the US PGA Tour Byron Nelson tournament for a second straight year at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

South Koreaäs Lee, who won his first US tour title at the tournament in suburban Dallas last year, made his second victory a successful defense as he erased a four-shot overnight deficit to build a 26-under-par total of 262 and beat three-time major winner Jordan Spieth by one stroke.

“Feels like a dream again, like last year,” said Lee, who was greeted at the 18th green by his wife, Yu Joo-yeon and their baby daughter Celine, who was born weeks after Lee won last year.

“It’s an amazing feeling.”

On a windy day north of Dallas, Lee got going early with a 51-foot birdie putt at the second hole.

After a seven-foot birdie at the third he blasted out of a greenside bunker to two feet for birdie at the fifth, then added birdies at six and nine before sticking his approach at the par-five 12th within five feet for an eagle that put him atop the leaderboard.

He added a 14-foot birdie at the 13th, then sealed the victory with a birdie at the par-five 18th—where his 25-foot eagle putt stopped an inch from the cup.

Lee powered past overnight leader Sebastian Munoz, who began the day at 21-under and one shot in front of Spieth.

Both got off to a slow start with bogeys at the first. Spieth went on to post eight birdies with three bogeys in his five-under 67 while Munoz had four birdies in a 69 that left him tied for third on 264 alongside former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, who charged up the leaderboard with a 10-under-par 62.

Lee preserved his one-shot lead with a gritty par save at the par-three 17th, where his tee shot left him in the left rough with an awkward stance in a bunker. AFP

Villegas makes quarterfinals in World Championships ON the eve of the national boxing team’s campaign in the SEA Games in Vietnam, lone Philippine entry Aira Villegas (light flyweight, 48-50 kg) stamped her mark with two consecutive wins Saturday and Sunday in the IBA Women’s World

Championships at the Besaksehir Youth and Sports Facility in Istanbul, Turkey.

After disposing of her first opponent Maxi Klotzer from Germany on Saturday (5-0), the Tacloban City lass upset professional boxer Nina Ra-

Shown here are (from left) coach Reynaldo Galido, boxer Aira Villegas, coach Pat Gaspi and ABAP president Ed Picson.

dovanovic of Serbia.

The Serbian boasted of a 14-4 record in the pros and was a quarterfinalist in the Tokyo Olympics last year. She is also a former IBO f lyweight champion.

Villegas exploited her height and reach advantage by keeping a distance and delivering solid counterpunching with right hooks and left straights.

Three judges returned scores of 30-27, while two had it 29-28, all for the Philippine boxer.

On her 3rd consecutive day of competition Monday evening, Villegas faces a tough local fighter in the quarterfinals, Buse Naz Cakiroglu.

Women’s coach Reynaldo Galido, who is working the corner with Head Coach Pat Gaspi, said: “The Turkish girl has the hometown crowd advantage and she has a similar style as Aira. We will change things up tomorrow. Aira is determined and is in excellent shape”.

The International Boxxing Association is giving out cash incentives of $100,000 for gold, $50,000 for silver and $25,000 for bronze.

There are 310 boxers from 73 countries in the competition, which ends on May 21.

ABAP president Ed Picson who was at ringside, treated the team to a Chinese hotpot dinner after the fight.

Secretary general Marcus Manalo, who watched Saturday, was at the airport on his way to Hanoi.

SEA Games Mobile Legends: Bang Bang matches begin 18 May HANOI—The 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) commenced in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Thursday, with 11 participating countries competing in 40 sports events since May 4.

This week, fans and viewers will witness professional esports athletes in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in their quest to dominate the region.

The teams will be divided into two.

Group A consists of the Philippines to be represented by Blacklist International, the group that took home the M3 World Championship title in 2021. Malaysia, Laos, and Myanmar also join the

same cluster.

On the other hand, Group B consists of Indonesia, represented by athletes from MPL Indonesia powerhouses Onic Esports, RRQ Hoshi, and EVOS Legends. Vietnam and Singapore also fall under the same group.

On May 18, the group stage will start through the best-of-two series.

The best-of-one tiebreaker series and best-of-three semi-finals will be held on May 19, starting from 9 a.m. onwards.

The championship match takes place on May 20.

Watch the upcoming 31st SEA

Games MLBB matches through the following channels: YouTube Vietnam National Esports Federation - https://www.youtube.com/c/VietnameSportsFederationVIRESAOfficial MLBB Esports (Vietnam) - https:// www.youtube.com/c/MobileLegendsB angBangVi%E1%BB%87tNamOfficial MLBB Esports (Vietnam) - https:// youtube.com/c/MobileLegendsBangBangVietNamOfficial MLBB Esports (English) - https:// www.youtube.com/c/MLBBeSports MLBB Esports (Malay) - https:// MLBB Esports (Bahasa) - https:// MLBB Esports (Filipino) - https:// www.youtube.com/c/MLBBeSports www.youtube.com/c/MLBBeSports www.youtube.com/c/MLBBeSports

Entertainment

Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

C3

KD Estrada, Alexa Ilacad form deep connection in digital series ‘Run To Me’ IRECTOR Dwein R. Baltazar did not experience any hard time capturing the KDlex magic – the description most fans give to KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad’s genuine chemistry off-screen.

D

KD Estrada (left) and Alexa Ilacad star in their first-ever digital series ‘Run To Me’

In fact, the two young stars had more to give the director had to purposely tone their sweetness down as their characters in Run to Me go through different romantic phases.

“Kung kilig lang, tutukan mo na lang sila ng camera, and they’re good to go,” was the director’s quick answer to the question about her experience working with the KD and Alex who have been very vocal about their being comfortable with each other.

“Good acting is not acting. They’re so natural and they were able to apply that kind of sweetness onscreen,” Nikki Valdez, who plays KD’s mother in the story, seconded.

In Run to Me, KD and Alexa form a deep connection as they get entangled in a kidnapping incident gone wrong in their firstever digital series, which streams on Kumu this May 20 and will be available for free in the Philippines on iWantTFC the day after (May 21).

The feel-good, romantic drama series revolves around the “not-so-perfect” lives of Jewel and Wilson (Alexa and KD). Jewel is a superstar in the streaming world who is famous for her ability to sing flawlessly while putting on make-up.

Despite her massive success The pair easily translates their off-screen online and her wealthy chemistry to their roles in ‘Run To Me’

background, Jewel still struggles to find happiness as she constantly longs for her mother Emerald’s (Mickey Ferriols) love and affection. Jewel feels

The cast and production team of ‘Run To Me’

KDLex at the media conference for their new series

shunned by her own mother, who gives all her attention to Jewel’s younger brother Diamond (Sean Tristan), as well as their family business.

On the other hand, Wilson is also a music-lover streamer but is struggling to gain popularity in the digital scene. Because of this, he is forced to work different side jobs in order to pay for the hospital bills of his mother, Mami Bebot (Nikki Valdez), who is battling leukemia. Unlike Jewel, Wilson has always had a close relationship with his mom and he always receives

unconditional love from her.

Jewel and Wilson will unexpectedly cross paths one night when he rescues her from kidnappers. However, the two will be faced with a much more complicated situation when Wilson finds out that Jewel staged the kidnapping herself - in the hopes of getting her mother’s attention - and will eventually convince him to act as her fake kidnapper instead.

As they pursue their plan, Jewel will get to know Wilson’s family and friends, and they will soon realize that they actually have much more in common when they find themselves falling in love.

Produced by ABS-CBN Entertainment, Dreamscape Entertainment, iWantTFC, and Kumu, Run to Me also stars Malou Crisologo, CJ Navato, Karl Gabriel, Ivan Carapiet, Margaux Montana, Henz Villaraiz, Matty Juniosa, and Haira Palaguitto.

Smart rolls out GigaLife Surprises on GigaLife App MOBILE services provider of customized value-packed offers Smart Communications, Inc. that suit their lifestyle. These offers (Smart) is leveling up the are refreshed every week. mobile lifestyle of subscribers Aside from the “Don’t Miss Out” as it rolls out GigaLife tile, the GigaLife App will also Surprises, a line-up of exciting soon introduce the Giga Missions, must-not-miss perks, promos, which gives subscribers a chance and privileges exclusively to earn points and rewards by available on the GigaLife App. completing tasks and challenges in the GigaLife App. Downloadable on the Moreover, subscribers can Apple App Store and Google look forward to Giga PayDay on Play Store, the Smart the app, which comes with huge GigaLife App is designed as discounts for all subscribers every the one-stop super app for payday every 27th and 28th of the subscribers of Smart Prepaid, month.

Smart Postpaid, Smart Bro, All these add to the ongoing Infinity, PLDT Home WiFi, GigaDays, which offer discounts and TNT, enabling them to on GigaPoints redemption of simply manage their account, exclusive perks such as data offers, access and register to datagadgets, and lifestyle rewards, packed promos, monitor happening every 19th to 22nd of usage, pay bills, as well as the month. earn GigaPoints that can be With GigaLife Surprises, Smart exchanged for data perks and subscribers have so much more to lifestyle rewards—all with a look forward to every time they few taps on their smartphone. use the GigaLife App to fulfill all Now, with GigaLife Surprises, subscribers can Subscribers can avail customized value-packed offers that suit their connectivity, productivity, and entertainment needs. expect exciting surprises of Giga their lifestyle throughSmart’s GigaLife App magnitude as they log in and use Learn more about GigaLife App the GigaLife App regularly. by visiting https://smart.com.ph/ subscribers can just tap the “Don’t Miss As part of GigaLife Surprises, Out” tile on the GigaLife App to avail Pages/gigalife-app.

‘Doctor Strange’ slips but stays atop box office MARVEL and Disney’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw a sharp dropoff this weekend from its blockbuster opening, but still reported $61 million in estimated ticket sales to top North America’s box office, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

The superhero sequel, again starring Benedict Cumberbatch, had opened last weekend to a year’s best $187 million. It has now earned $292 million domestically and an additional $396 million abroad for a global total of $688 million.

Far behind in second place for the Friday-through-Sunday period was

Universal’s animated action-comedy The Bad Guys. The DreamWorks Animation production, with a voice cast led by Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, and Anthony Ramos, took in $6.9 million.

In third for the second straight weekend was Paramount’s family-friendly Sonic the Hedgehog 2, at $4.6 million.

Firestarter, a new release from Universal based on the Stephen King horror-thriller, took in $3.8 million, a disappointing opening for a major-studio thriller. It stars Zac Efron (the onetime High School Musical heartthrob) and Sydney Lemmon (of Fear the Walking Dead fame) as parents who have been

trying to hide daughter Ryan Kiera Armstrong from a shadowy federal agency that wants to use her, um, matchless ability to start fires using only her mind.

The film has received a dismal 12 percent rating on the Rotten Tomatoes website, in sharp contrast to the fifth-place film, A24’s sci-fi yarn Everything Everywhere All at Once, which scored 96 percent on the site and earned $3.3 million in its eighth weekend out. AFP

Mikee Quintos is on fire EVIDENTLY, GMA-7 has a huge trust on Mikee Quintos. For one, they always cast her in big projects, like at present, she headlines the network’s latest drama offering Apoy sa Langit.

All these times, Mikee is thankful to her home studio for assigning her vehicles where her acting chops get honed. She gets to play different characters that are quite challenging.

“This is the reason why I’m inspired to always give my best,” avers Mikee.

According to the young actress, from the very beginning, since she signed up with GMA, she was vocal that she wanted to be challenged and that she wanted to grow in every project where she could pick up new and valuable insights.

“Luckily, that’s what I get in the roles being assigned to me. I’m very happy about it and I feel that the lock-in taping is a master class,” she says.

In Apoy sa Langit, Mikee considers her transition from comedy to drama as her biggest challenge.

“I came from Pepito Manaloto (Unang Kuwento) that ran for ten months. I noticed as early as our initial script reading stage that I making some adjustments.. In Pepito, I speak with a soft and caring voice because I play the younger Elsa (Manilyn Reynes), right? Ate Mane’s voice is soft so I had to pattern it to hers,” she states.

“So, Direk Laurice (Guillen) noticed that my voice sounds soft at the start of our script reading.

She readily noticed my habit of adjusting my voice. So, I really worked hard on that aspect. I had to change my voice for my character in Apoy sa Langit for it to be different from that of Elsa’s,” she carries on.

On the lighter side, many of her fans would like to

know the present state of her love life especially since Paul Salas recently admitted in an interview that they’re currently in the dating stage.

“I’m happy as of now. I’m dating.

Perhaps you know who the guy is. I’m enjoying and happily growing,” Mikee ends.

••• It’s good that finally, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera have their own sitcom, something that they really wanted to do for a long time. Titled, Jose & Maria’s Bonggang Villa, the show is a co-production among GMA Network, APT Entertainment, and AgostoDos Pictures (Dong’s own production outfit).

“We want the viewers to see not only the characters of Jose and Maria but also what happens in the life of married couples,” states Dingdong. “We present many domestic issues in the program.

There are challenges and conflicts and even those things which are funny but if analyzed, are problematic.”

“The show is not all comedy. There would be episodes that are dramatic.

The bottom line is, after watching the program the public will learn different values. It’s like getting entertained and learning at the same time,” he adds.

Does he want their show to stay on air for a long time?

“Well, hopefully! Who wouldn’t want your program to be long-running, right?

That’s our goal actually. If others were able to do it before us, it’s also possible that we’ll achieve the same feat!”

Does this mean he is open to more co-production ventures in the future?

“Not everyone is given this opportunity. As much as possible, I want to be a partner. But it’s more on the creative side.

Ever since that’s my condition.

I want to be involved in character development, whether it’s a drama or c o m e d y, ” says Dong.

Kapuso actress Mikee Quintos A scene from ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

Life

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

C4

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022

The Banana Oh spot with giant banana leaves in the background is one of the newest photo spots in Lakbay Museo

Travel the Philippines in 1,000 steps and be mesmerized by the enormous transformation of Lakbay Museo with new instagrammable installations

Traveling with a twist at S Maison’s interactive museum LAKBAY Museo, the first-ever interactive millennial museum in the country, officially reopened to welcome back its byaheros to travel the Philippines in just 1,000 steps.

Here, you can visit Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in just a span of two hours.

At Lakbay Museu, visitors can have a glimpse of the divine beauty of the Banaue Rice Terraces, Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, Bicol’s Mayon Volcano, and many others in just one go.

It also welcomes everyone with new art installations inspired by the beauty of the Philippines.

The Millennial Concept Factory, Inc. decided to bring Lakbay Museo to a whole

new level by curating another batch of unique and colorful attractions for the byaheros to enjoy.

This time, Lakbay Museo made sure that every byahero will have a new experience to remember as they explore the Philippines in a span of two hours. The new spots in the museum are all Instagram-worthy and deserve to be part of your feed.

Foodies will love attractions that celebrate tropical fruits at Mango Rave, Strawberry Clouds, Banana Oh, and Chunky Pineapple.

You can also go Loco over Coco with dangly coconuts; play it cool in the Wall of Popsies, and experience an Empanada Dream with rainbow-colored empanadas.

Taking fun to the next level

By Patricia Taculao

O

NE THING that kids, and kids at heart, look forward to is spending time in an arcade, where they can enjoy a myriad of fun-filled activities like playing video games, winning prizes, or going on exciting rides to their hearts’ content.

Adorable pets and their humans take their places at the start of the Walkathon

Nationwide walkathon for furry friends IT WAS a delightfully bright and sunny day when doggies of all shapes and sizes headed out to select branches of Golden Haven Memorial Parks to join its Nationwide Pet Walkathon—with their excited humans in tow, of course.

Between the adorable pups and their families, it was hard to tell who had a greater time as they bonded, played, and strolled at the lush and beautifully landscaped environs of Golden Haven Memorial Parks in Las Piñas, Bauan, and Sariaya in Luzon; Cebu and Iloilo in Visayas, and Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, and General Santos City in Mindanao.

Golden Haven’s Nationwide Pet Walkathon featured activity stations for the furry babies; energy-burning obstacle courses; and even pet shop booths for a lively day outdoors.

Freed from restrictions and set loose in the soothing green spaces of the memorial parks, pets and pet owners alike savored breathable fresh air, sunny blue skies, calming views, and natural vitamin D. Heartwarming scenes showed the frisky pups making friends with each other. As they

did so, their fur moms and dads followed suit. After all, Golden Haven’s Nationwide Pet Walkathon was for creating lovely new memories, too.

To cap the unforgettable day, each furry participant received a certificate of completion, as well as a commemorative photo, for joining the walkathon.

Golden Haven Memorial Park is a subsidiary company of publicly listed Villar-owned Golden MV Holdings Inc., which is currently positioned as one of the largest real estate companies in the country. Golden Haven offers premium death care services and prime memorial lots. It is dubbed as the most lucrative real estate investment with an average of 20 percent annual value appreciation.\ Visit goldenhaven.com.ph or follow “Golden Haven” on social media platforms. For sales-related inquiries, you may contact (02) 8 8 7 3 2922 to 23.

A cute furry friend enjoying the day at the walkathon Heartwarming scenes where frisky pups make friends with each other

Visitors can capture and recreate their childhood memories in a Whimsical Carousel; strike an Instagram pose in the fabulous Pink Post; and transform into a mermaid at Arielle’s Tail.

Lakbay Museo Boarding Pass, which costs P399 (online rate) or P499 (walkin-rate), allows visitors to discover an enhanced level of experience via an interactive tour, enjoy more than 600+food art collections from the different parts of the country, and over 100+IG spots to rave on.

Lakbay Museo is located at the ground floor level of S Maison at Conrad Hotel.

Book your tickets now at https://www.lakbaymuseo.ph/ .

You’ll be loco over coco with dangling coconuts

In the past, arcades and recreational venues were in dimly lit locations, and people used tokens to operate the machines or play games. All these nuances are what Timezone Philippines aims to address.

By locating its branches within malls, Timezone Philippines gives millions of mallgoers from the country access to safe and enjoyable arcade amenities for the whole family to enjoy. Now that the Alert Levels against COVID-19 protocols are laxer, Timezone unveiled its newest branch that boasts of new activities.

“We started going to the big multiattraction format in 2018…We felt the traditional idea was not bad—having

the video games, the ticket games, the prize games were good, but we want to bring more things to it,” said Rafael Prats Jr., Timezone CEO and general manager.

He and his team felt that more attractions encourage more families to drop by Timezone and entice them to stay longer.

Timezone’s first large store in Ayala Malls Feliz at the Pasig-Marikina boundary measures 2,200 square meters. Its newest branch is in Robinsons Place Manila, 2nd Level, Pedro Gil Wing, measures 1,500 square meters and lives up to its promise of bringing more attractions to mallgoers.

One of the features in the new Timezone branch is short-lane bowling, an idea from the Timezone Philippines team that’s undeniably a first in the world. Unlike most malls where recreational activities and arcade games are in different areas, the Timezone branch in Robinsons Place Manila is a one-stop-shop where families can enjoy attractions from both venues.

“We brought bowling lanes that are normally 27 meters long and cut them by seven meters to make them shorter.

We made the bowling balls the same size as the standard but lighter, and we

A variety of prizes await those Families and mallgoers can also who earn enough tickets from the enjoy playing billiards in the new games Timezone branch

made sure that people don’t have to change their shoes to play,” Prats said.

He added that most of these modifications were made so kids can participate in these activities without much of a challenge. As a result, the Timezone branch in Robinsons Place Manila made bowling more fun because the shorter lanes and lighter balls allow kids and their families to get more strikes and make more memories together.

Aside from the short-lane bowling alleys, the new and improved Timezone branch also features a 9D ride, billiards, plush singing booths, and a bigger arcade. Timezone Philippines also updated its database so that cardholders can access their rewards in any branch in the country.

Prats then teased that this is just the beginning for Timezone Philippines as the public can expect more from them in the future. One of their ongoing developments that will take place soon is the possibility of loading their cards online or via GCash for faster transactions and more playtime.

He assured that as new technology for arcade attractions and recreational activities is developed, Timezone Philippines will also continue to evolve to bring the best for Filipinos.

The short lanes have lighter balls for kids to use

Timezone Philippines adds arcade attractions to its Robinsons Place Manila branch

3D clothing certificate course for aspiring designers, business owners

LEARN how to transform your By the end of the course, the design illustrations into a three- participants will be able to prodimensional fashion collec- duce and render their very own tion through Introduction to 3D 3D garments, which they can use Clothing Visualization, a short as visuals for look books and soonline certificate course that will cial media. run for four Saturdays starting May 21.

Ideal for aspiring designers as well as e-commerce business owners, the course champions sustainable design and fashion in the digital landscape.

The lectures are aided by the simulation technologies of CLO, Zak designs pieces for major men’s one of the most advanced, in- fashion lines tuitive, and cohesive 3D garment The Introduction to 3D Clothdesign software used by small and big names in the fashion in- ing Visualization is offered by the dustry.

School of Professional and ConThe program will walk the stu- tinuing Education (SPaCE) of the dents through the basic tools of De La Salle-College of Saint Bethe software and will train them nilde. It is one of the latest short on how to navigate through its course offerings of the innovative diverse functions. They will be institution to elevate the skills guided through the process of and talent of young professionals creating their very own 3D cloth- in the field of design and arts. ing patterns from scratch, includIt will be facilitated by clothing stitching and puckering the ing designer, graphic designer, details, manipulating the shapes, and illustrator Zak Gonzaga.

Equipped with over 10 years and drafting and editing these patterns. Then, they will apply of experience in the clothing and test their finished works on retail business, particularly in major men’s fashion lines, his the application’s 3D avatar.

designs have taken the shape of a range of stylish pieces from graphic tees, polo shirts, jackets, bottoms, and swimwear, all the way to accessories.

Gonzaga has rendered his talent as fashion/graphic designer for brands such as Tyler, Memo, Oxygen, and Regatta. He likewise served as graphic designer, product development officer and visual merchandiser for Hang Ten and Cotton Project, has designed men’s wear for Folded and Hung, and has served as fashion consultant for Mango.

Today, he is a clothing designer for a streetwear clothing line based in San Diego.

Gonzaga finished his formal education under the Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. He is currently sharing his knowledge in fashion illustration and pattern-making as mentor and part-time professor in the institution.

The Introduction to 3D Clothing Visualiza-

tion is scheduled on four Saturdays, May 21 and 28 and June 4 and 11. It will be conducted online and will run from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with combined synchronous and asynchronous sessions.

The module fee for the certificate course is P11,895 for a total of 24 hours of classes.

Participants must have a qualified internet connection and computer or laptop that can accommodate Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, plus basic knowledge in both programs.

I n t e re s t e d participants may register through this link: https:// docs.google. com/forms/d/e/1F AIpQLSenGRSHUfY767hJvnxgj50AJ6HO 424Fin7GMTFSq7W D6jSd_w/viewform Clothing designer, graphic designer, and illustrator Zak Gonzaga