Manila Standard - 2022 May 24 - Tuesday

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ENVOYS, BBM TALK ON WIDE-RANGING MATTERS

By Rey E. Requejo PRESUMPTIVE president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. held wide-ranging talks with the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States embassy in Manila as well as the ambassadors of Japan, South

Korea, and India during separate meetings on Monday at his headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

He expressed his desire to manufacture pharmaceutical products in his meeting with Indian Ambassador Shambhu S. Kumaran.

Marcos also signaled his determination to adopt nuclear power as he held talks with South Korean Ambassador Kim Inchul on possibly reviving a mothballed $2.2-billion plant built during his father’s term.

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HOST OF ENVOYS.

Presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. holds a press conference Monday at the BBM campaign headquarters in Mandaluyong City after talks with envoys from the United States, Japan, India, and South Korea.

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 98 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Congress begins the final count Sets 24-hour canvassing to proclaim new President, VP this week

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

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ONGRESS is ready for a 24-hour canvass of the votes in the May 9 presidential and vice-presidential races, with canvassing set to begin Tuesday.

House of Representatives Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza said once the Senate and the House convene as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), the process should be straightforward without any breaks or suspension of session.

“The Congress, sitting as the NBOC, is duty-bound to make sure that the entire process of vote counting, and transmission of results will be done expeditiously and with utmost transparency and integrity,” Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said in a statement.

“We will perform our constitutional duty quickly and efficiently. We will be combining accuracy and speed in order for us to meet our committed timeline,” he added.

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Marcos picks Remulla for DOJ, Balisacan returns to NEDA

By Maricel V. Cruz PRESUMPTIVE president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has tapped a former Aquino administration Cabinet member, Arsenio Balisacan, to return as head of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Referring to Balisacan as “an old friend,” Marcos said

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READY FOR COUNTING. Security officers from the Senate deliver ballot boxes containing Certificates of Canvass and Election Returns to the House of Representatives before dawn Monday, as Congress – led by (inset, from left), House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri – is set to convene in a joint session to canvass the votes for presidential and vice presidential candidates in the May 9 elections. Senate PRIB / Ver Noveno

Remulla

Balisacan

COVID cases up 9.9%, critical ones also increase

By Willie Casas and Othel V. Campos (DOH) said Monday.

Lakas-CMD formally endorses Romualdez for House Speaker

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party has formally endorsed its president, House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez, for the position of Speaker in the next Congress.

The endorsement released Monday is contained in Resolution No. 05, Series

of 2022, which the party’s executive committee approved.

Presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., who co-chair Lakas-CMD, led party officers in signing the resolution endorsing Romualdez for the top House post.

The approval of the resolution followed a previous appeal on May 14

THE country’s daily new COVID-19 cases were up 9.9 percent and the number of severe and critical patients increased in the previous week, the Department of Health

Some 718 or 12.9 percent of COVID-19 patients in hospitals were in severe and critical condition, the DOH’s latest bulletin said.

The figure is higher than the previous week’s 588 severe and critical patients,

who comprised 10.9 percent of COVID-19 hospital admissions at the time.

A total of 432 or 15.4 percent of 2,812 intensive care unit (ICU) beds for COVID-19 patients were occupied as of Sunday, the DOH reported.

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7 died, 127 saved in ferry fire off Real, Quezon

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Rody: I did my best to serve you, but sorry if you find that lacking PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said in a speech during the inauguration of the Monday he gave his “best” during his Metropolitan Manila Development Ausix-year term and apologized to Filipi- thority’s new head office in Pasig City. nos if this was lacking.

Duterte in 2016 swept to power under “In a few days, I’ll be out. Iyong nathe slogan “change is coming”, promisgawa ko, para sa akin, ‘yon na ‘yon ing to crush crime, including ille[What I did, for me, that was it], gal drugs, and corruption. the best that my efforts can really “The things that I failed to do [were] mostly not because achieve,” Duterte, who is stepping down on June 30, said. of negligence or may mga “Kung kulang pa ‘yon, shortcomings ako but talagang pasensya na po, hindi ko time. Six years would not na talaga kaya [If it’s be enough to finish not enough, I apoloall the projects,” the 77-year-old Chief gize, I cannot give Next page President Rodrigo Duterte any more],” he added

SMOLDERING REMAINS. This handout photo taken and released on May 23 from the Philippine Coast Guard shows people throwing buckets of water onto the smoldering ferry ‘Mercraft 2’ which had caught fire near Real town off Quezon province. AFP

AT LEAST seven people, including two senior citizens, were killed as scores were plucked to safety after a fire ripped through a ferry and forced passengers to jump overboard off the waters of Real in Quezon province on Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

The blaze broke out on the Mercraft 2 at around 6:30 am as it carried 134 passen-

gers and crew from Polillo Island to Real.

Some 127 were rescued, Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Armando Balilo said after the last missing were found.

The fatalities were identified as Viola Impreso, 47; Marivic Samareta, 61; Edna Balanac, 64; Mina Enciso, 57; Charito Escareces, 57; Crisanto Debelles, 51; and Andy Tejares, 54.

The fiberglass fast craft boat, which had a 186-person capacity, was about a kilometer from Real when it caught fire.

“We heard an explosion,” said Kycel Pineda, 18, who was travelling on another ferry.

“When we saw the boat, it was already engulfed by fire and passengers Next page

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Senate, House honor Susan Roces

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

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HE Senate adopted Monday Resolution 1002 expressing its profound sympathy and sincere condolences on the death of Jesusa Purificacion Levi Sonora Poe, more popularly known as Susan Roces, mother of Senator Grace Poe. Senator Poe said the “Queen of Philippine Cinema” died in the United States on March 20. She was 80.

In his speech at the resumption of the Senate session, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Roces – the wife of the late movie icon and National Artist Fernando Poe Jr. -- should be honored as an inspiration to a lot of Filipinos, and a treasure to the Philippine movie industry.

“Today we honor the life of a movie icon, a true Filipina, a national treas-

ure. However, it has been said that the best speech delivered on occasions like this do not emanate from the speakers, but from the deed or the legacy of the person being honored,” said Sotto, who sponsored the Senate Resolution.

In the House of Representatives, ACTCIS Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo filed a resolution urging the chamber “to unanimously nominate the late Susan Roces to posthumously join the Order of National Artists.”

Tulfo’s House Resolution 2584 ex-

presses “the deep sense of appreciation of the House of Representatives for the immense contribution of Susan Roces to Philippine arts and culture and the development of the entertainment industry.”

“Susan Roces is regarded as the Queen of Philippine Movies having starred in more than 130 films, reigning alongside her husband the ‘King of Philippine Movies’ National Artist Fernando Poe, Jr.,” Tulfo, vice chair for the House committees on overseas workers affairs, and on sustainable development goals, said in the resolution.

The resolution also enumerated the awards Roces received from the Film Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), including among others, the 1978 FAMAS Award for Best Actress for “Maligno” and the 1979 FA-

MAS Award for Best Actress for “Gumising Ka... Maruja”; the 2017 FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award; the 2003 Film Academy of the Philippines Lifetime Achievement Award; and the 2009 Cinema One Legend Award.

Tulfo also cited the nominations for best actress Susan Roces received from FAMAS .

Roces was nominated in 1966 for “Ana-Roberta”; 1969 for “To Susan with Love”; 1971 for “Divina Gracia”; 1973 for “Bilangguang Puso”; 1974 for “Hanggang sa Kabila ng Daigdig: The Tony Marquez Story”; 1975 for “Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara”; 1987 for “Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita”; 1988 for “Paano Kung Wala Ka Na?”; 1990 for “Ang Lahat Ng Ito Pati Na Ang Langit”; and 1998 for “Isinakdal Ko Ang Aking Ina.”

COVID...

From A1 From May 16 to 22, the country recorded 1,214 new COVID-19 cases or an average of 173 per day, which is 9.9 percent higher than the cases reported from the previous week, the DOH also reported.

Of the additional infections during the week, 14 were severe and critical, the DOH said.

The DOH has repeatedly said an increase in cases would not be considered significant if the numbers do not lead to a rise in hospitalization and severe or critical illness.

During the past week, the DOH said it verified six COVID-related fatalities, citing late encoding of death information. Three of the deaths occurred between May 9 and 22, one in April, one in February, and one in January 2021, the DOH reported.

Some 69 million people or 76.71 percent of the eligible 90 million population have been fully vaccinated against the respiratory disease. At least 13.8 million have received their booster shots, it said.

The DOH over the weekend announced it detected the first case of BA.4 in the country in a Filipino traveler from the Middle East earlier this month.

The DOH advised the public that practicing minimum health standards and vaccination remain the most effective ways of protection against new variants and the post-COVID condition or “long COVID.” Minimum health protocols can also protect against monkeypox, the DOH said (see related story on A2 – Editors).

Meanwhile, the independent OCTA Research Group said the new Omicron subvariants are finding it difficult to get through the country’s “wall of immunity” from its vaccination program.

The Philippines has so far fully vaccinated 68.6 million people, of whom 13.7 million have received their first booster as of May 16, according to the DOH. The government has begun administering second booster shots to the elderly, immunocompromised, and health workers.

The DOH on Sunday urged the public to practice minimum health standards and to get vaccinated as these are still the most effective ways of protection against any new COVID-19 variant or even the post-COVID condition, more commonly known as “Long COVID.”

Rody:...

From A1 Executive said.

Addressing the crowd, Duterte added in Filipino, “Thank you for your help in my journey in the 6 years that you gave me the honor of being the President of the Philippines.”

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has secured an insurmountable 16-million lead in the race to succeed Duterte, based on partial, unofficial tallies.

The President’s daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, also enjoys a wide lead in the vice-presidential race after garnering over 31 million votes like her running mate Marcos Jr.

7Fromdied,...

A1 were already floating in the sea,” the high school student added.

Thick black smoke billowed from the Mercraft as flames tore through the entire vessel, photos shared by the coast guard showed.

People with life rings and life vests were in the water. Some were rescued by other ferries or clambered into inflatable boats.

COURTESY CALL. Presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomes Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko as the latter pays a courtesy visit at the BBM Headquarters on Monday. BBM Media Office

Envoys,...

From A1 He also met with Japanese ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa and US Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava.

“We were able to discuss many of the things [such as] how we are going to handle the next few years in terms of the relationship of our countries,” Marcos said in a press briefing after the series of meetings.

In a statement after the meeting, the Marcos camp said the foreign diplomats vowed to strengthen ties in trade and diplomacy, as well as their common interests in democracy, self-determination, and economic recovery.

Congress...

From A1 Mendoza said the canvassing board will have alternate members who can take shifts during the planned 24-hour canvass. The Senate and the House will contribute seven regular members each to the committee, with four alternates.

He also said the canvassing this time would be faster than previous elections due to its automated nature.

Mendoza said the NBOC aims to finish canvassing by Friday. But should they be able to sustain a 24-hour canvass, they could proclaim the next president and vice president by Thursday morning, he said.

Velasco said that the canvassing would proceed despite a pending disqualification case against presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. before the Supreme Court.

“Our duty to canvass is mandated by the Constitution itself,” Velasco said.

“Nothing therein says that this duty is suspended while a case, which has already been dismissed by the Commission on Elections, is pending with the

The fire appears to have started in the engine room, Balilo said. A team of investigators was preparing to look into the cause.

“We were able to rescue 40 survivors,” said Captain Brunette Azagra, whose passenger vessel was 500 meters from the Mercraft when the fire broke out. Two bodies were also pulled from the water, he added.

“They were lucky because we also came from Polillo. They overtook us, but we were just nearby,” Azagra told a local radio station, describing sea conditions as “quite good.”

‘No need to shut PH borders amid monkeypox rash’

By Willie Casas HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday rejected proposals to close down the country’s borders amid the threat of the monkeypox virus.

“The closing of borders or strict border control, we should not do that as of now,” Duque said in an interview on Balitanghali.

“First of all, our measures for this are the stricter surveillance, the more stringent symptom screening,” added Duque, who said he is in constant coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Duque has also ordered the Bureau of Quarantine to monitor incoming passengers from countries that have detected monkeypox.

These include Canada, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Europe, and North America. The Philippines has yet to detect the monkeypox virus.

Monkeypox’s rate of transmission is not similar to COVID, he said.

“The mode of transmission is direct physical contact. So, person to person, skin to skin. For example, the source is bodily fluids, exchange of bodily fluids… some said there is also sexual transmission,” he said.

“The pus, the blood, there has to be an exchange,” he added.

Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.

The virus is less contagious and causes less severe illness compared to smallpox.

Duque earlier said WHO had not yet classified monkeypox as a threat to public health.

In related developments, infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante said COVID-19 was more transmissible than the monkeypox as it could be spread in various ways.

The Philippines has yet to detect the monkeypox. The disease has recently emerged in 12 countries, according to the World Health Organization.

“It’s still the COVID that’s more transmissible because of several ways of transmission. Aside from the droplet, you can also have the airborne... There’s also contact transmission,” Solante said.

“This new administration is being recognized – there seems to be no problem with recognition. Maybe the comfortable margin that we enjoy during the election has a part to play with that,” Marcos said.

The envoys also assured Marcos of their willingness to provide necessary assistance to hasten the country’s recovery from the ill-effects of the pandemic.

“All I always remind them is, in this pandemic the recovery of all of us will not be possible for even one country [alone]. No matter how much wealth [we have], we need the partnership [and that] will be the one that will bring us to keep the global economy as stable as possible,” Marcos said.

The Indian ambassador, for his part, said: “We’ve been having excellent pro-

gress for the past few years, and we look forward to continuing the progress under the new administration.”

“The President-elect was very keen to see domestic manufacturing of pharmaceutical products. Indian companies are looking forward to a strong engagement,” he said.

As for the 620-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant that was left dormant since 1986, Marcos said: “Can we continue with it, or do we need to build a new one? What are the things that we will have to do?”

“So, we revived the discussions on it, although they have come before. We will now study their recommendations and their findings, and we will see if we can still apply,” he added.

Supreme Court.”

“We are bound to proclaim the winning President and Vice President, and uphold the will of the people with dispatch,” he added.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon agreed that canvassing would proceed.

“I don’t think there will be main questions or disputes, I hope not. I don’t see much of a problem. I would predict that in one week’s time, we should be able to proclaim the president and the vice president,” Drilon said.

In the same interview with CNN Philippines, Drilon warned of a constitutional crisis if they failed to proclaim the winners before June 30.

“If by virtue of the temporary restraining order that they issue, we could not proclaim a president and vice president on June 30, then you have a situation where there is a constitutional crisis because you have no president, you have no vice president,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Congress is constitutionally bound to canvass the results for the president and vice president.

“Nothing prevents us from performing this duty to ensure the peaceful

transfer of power. That is our democracy and that is our sworn duty to the Filipino people,” he said.

At least two petitions were earlier before the Supreme Court seeking to issue a temporary restraining order to stop Congress, sitting as National Board of Canvassers, from canvassing the votes of Marcos.

Even after Marcos is proclaimed president, Drilon said the petitions to cancel his certificate of candidacy could still be tackled before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

He said the issue of a TRO will be academic because “we would have proclaimed the president and vice president by that time.”

“But the issue of the respondent not being qualified for presidency because of various reasons alleged in the petition, the issue will be brought before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal,” Drilon said.

He added that the issue of the disqualification on its merits is not dead even if they proclaim the president and the vice president because the issue can be tackled in the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, which has jurisdiction over the case.

he had worked extensively with the NEDA chief when he was governor of Ilocos Norte and had asked him to return to the agency.

Meanwhile, reelected Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla said he accepted an offer from Marcos to head the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“I accepted it. It’s an honor to serve the country in that capacity,” Remulla, a lawyer, told reporters.

Earlier, presumptive vice president Sara Duterte and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos accepted offers to lead the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), respectively.

Former Labor secretary Benny Laguesma and Susan “Toots” Ople were offered to be part of the new administration as well, as secretaries of the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Migrant Workers, respectively.

Marcos spokesman Vic Rodriguez said he would join the Cabinet as executive secretary, and confirmed that Ople, Laguesma, and Balisacan have accepted the offers to be part of the incoming Cabinet.

“We have very similar thinking in that regard, so I am confident. I know he’s very competent, I know his policies are policies that will be for the betterment of our country,” Marcos said of Balisacan in a mix of English and Filipino.

“We’ve talked for hours, and I think we have the same thoughts on our approach when it comes to the country’s economy,” Marcos added.

Lakas-CMD...

From A1

the pandemic.”

It said Lakas-CMD has always been committed to nation building as a national political party.

“In order to be an effective partner in passing much needed legislation, the House of Representatives must be under the leadership of a strong leader. LakasCMD believes that its President, Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, can lead the House of Representatives into being an effective partner of the incoming (Marcos) administration,” the resolution stated.

The party resolved to endorse and

support Romualdez “to run for and be voted as Speaker in the 19th Congress.”

Other parties that have declared their support for the incumbent majority leader include the ruling PDP-Laban, National Unity Party, Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, Party-list Coalition Foundation, Inc., Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Nationalist People’s Coalition, independents, and a group of neophyte lawmakers.

Romualdez’s endorsers now comprise an overwhelming majority of the members of the incoming House.

from former President and returning Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is Lakas-CMD president emeritus, for party members to support Romualdez for the speakership.

In its resolution, the party said: “With the conclusion of the May 9, 2022 national and local elections, there is a need to set aside politics and work together for economic recovery brought on by

Marcos...

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Rights body vows vigilance over ‘misencounter’ cases

THE Commission on Human Rights on Monday vowed to stay vigilant in the proceedings of the criminal charges filed against operatives of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

This is in connection with the supposed “misencounter” on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Feb. 4, 2020, during which three operatives were killed.

“While the Commission is hopeful that the prosecution charges will subsequently be a means for the discipline of law enforcers, CHR also remains vigilant of the legal proceedings to help guarantee the right to a fair trial of the involved police officers and agents,” CHR executive director and spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.

“As fellow duty bearers, we hope for the continued efforts and reforms of state agents to respect, protect, and fulfill hu-

NTF-ELCAC: No factual, legal bases in CHR report The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Monday has debunked claims of alleged human rights violations made by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and other personalities.

In its weekly regular virtual press briefing, the NTF-ELCAC stated that the CHR’s Report on Investigated Killings in Relation to the Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign “is bereft of any factual or legal bases”and “nothing but an attempt to discredit and malign the government … and seeks to push the narrative that the killings were “sanctioned” by the State.”

The NTF-ELCAC noted that “nowhere in the CHR’s 48-page Report is such a conclusion supported by clear evidence—all but mere assumptions and surmises of CHR.” “Instead of trying to paint a dark picture of the so-called drug war, the CHR should have included, for the purpose of providing proper context, the data on the number of arrests, cases filed in court, the volume of drugs confiscated, the number of drug surrenderers under Oplan Tokhang, the data on those who availed of rehabilitation, those who underwent Community Based Rehabilitation Programs, the Balay Silangan project, and the decrease in the crime rate during the same period”, the NTF-ELCAC statement read.

It pointed out that “it needs a case to be filed in court to prove, and not for the CHR to conclude that it is ‘sanctioned’ by the State.”

Undersecretary Severo S. Catura, NTFELCAC Spokesperson for International Affairs, Peace Process and Human Rights Concerns, said that while the CHR has “finally” followed its mandate to investigate as it came up with an investigation report on the government’s war on drugs, the commission seemed to be clueless on what should be done next.

US CDC opens country office for PH in Manila THE US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially opened this month a new country office in Manila as part of its commitment to strengthen and expand its existing cooperation with the Department of Health (DOH) to advance a broad range of shared health priorities, including increased health security in Asia.

The DOH and the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also commemorated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Health and Medical Sciences.

This focused on increasing collaboration between the United States and the Philippines on public health emergency preparedness and response; the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable and communicable diseases; and the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is a poignant reminder of why strong international partnerships are so critical for our global health security,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs Loyce Pace.

“With the opening of the US CDC Philippines country office, we are further reinforcing the long-standing HHS partnership between our two countries and our work together to build a healthier world.”

Dr. Romel Lacson will serve as CDC’s first Country Director for the Philippines.

In collaboration with partners, Dr. Lacson will implement CDC-supported health programs and lead the agency’s peer-to-peer relationship with the DOH to address shared health priorities.

man rights,” she added.

The Department of Justice’s National Prosecution Service anti-drug agents after the National Bureau of Investigation indicted the accused of probable cause.

Prosecutors determined that both agencies were conducting separate buy-bust operations when the clash happened and found out that after a thorough evaluation, there was sufficient evidence to file charges.

“CHR believes that this indictment is a step forward in counteracting similar happenstance from taking place again and further proof that law enforcement agencies are inclined to prevent human rights violations,” De Guia said.

“Our leaders may change, but our obligations under the Constitution remain the same—to serve and protect the Filipino people,” she cited. Rio N. Araja

‘YAMASAKI’ SUPPORT. An independent group of lawmakers calling themselves ‘Yamasaki’ led by Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Barba (3rd left) declare their full support for House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (4th left) as the next Speaker in the coming 19th Congress. Others (from left) are Rep.Wilton Kho (Masbate), Rep. Fernando Cabredo (Albay), Rep Gerardo Valmayor (Negros Occidental), Rep.Ciriaco Gato Jr. (Batanes), Rep. Doris Maniquiz (Zambales), Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong (Lanao del Sur), and Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr. (Mt. Province). Ver Noveno

CHR: Slain law enforcers noted in final report on anti-drug EJKs

By Rio N. Araja

T

HE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has released its final report on investigated killings related to the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

The CHR said the report was completed by its EJK Task Force.

Executive director and spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said the concluding report is a more comprehensive and expansive version of the initial report released last November 2021, and that the findings of the final report extended its scope from the previous analysis covering only incidents investigated in Region III, Region IV-A, and the National Capital Region.

She said the scope of the April 2022 release is nationwide and covers 882 dockets involving a total of 872 incidents with

1,139 victims, “almost double in terms of the scope in the initial report.”

Unlike the initial report which included cases under investigation, the cases discussed in the concluding report were those that had already been investigated and resolved, she added.

“We stress that the comprehensive report also took into account law enforcers or police killed (pages 6-8) as well as killings by unidentified individuals outside of the context of police operations (pages 2426),” De Guia said.

“This is contrary to claims that there was no mention of law enforcers who lost

their lives and of killings outside of police operations,” she noted.

According to De Guia, the final report “serves to bolster the initial findings of the Commission: that there is a consistent narrative by law enforcers alleging victims initiated aggression or resisted arrest (nanlaban); that there is use of excessive and disproportionate force; that targeted victims were mostly civilians killed in uninhabited locations sustaining gunshot wounds in the heads and/or torso; that there is noncooperation by the police; and that there is a lack of effective, prompt, and transparent accountability mechanism to address the drug-related killings.”

She said the report has also already been formally communicated to the concerned government agencies, such as the Presidential Human Rights Committee and the Department of Justice.

“We are heartened by the remarks of

Acting Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Martin Andanar, which acknowledged the CHR’s independence and invited us to coordinate with concerned government agencies,” she noted.

De Guia said the commission is optimistic that such would signal greater cooperation and enhanced response of the government in bringing full justice to all alleged EJK cases linked to the anti-drug campaign.

“CHR is hopeful of the government’s openness to ascertain justice. We reiterate our continued support and commitment to the government in the pursuit of truth and accountability,” she said.

She welcomed constructive engagements among the different branches of the government, particularly if it involves independent bodies like CHR, manifest an adherence to the check and balance mechanisms within the government.

USAID adds P400m to ‘Odette’ aid

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WAGE HIKE PICKET. Members of the militant group Kilusang Mayo Uno gather outside the House of Representatives to pressure Congress to fast-track the passing of the P750 National Minimum Wage Bill. The group asserts the wage increases approved by regional wage boards are insufficient, especially amid nonstop price increases. Mike De Juan

American diplomat visits MSU on Press Freedom Day

By Nash B. Maulana THE US Chargé d’Affaires ad interim (CDA) of the Embassy in Manila visited the Mindanao State University on Thursday to celebrate the World Press Freedom Day at the MSU College of Technology and Oceanography in far Tawi-Tawi, an Island Province in the Southern Philippines.

Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava visited Tawi-Tawi to promote shared US-Philippine values in press freedom, as well as to further strengthen an already robust collaboration with local partners for inclusive peace in the region.

Variava addressed an audience of more than 100 among students

and faculty members of the MSUTawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU TCTO) on World Press Freedom Day event, as she emphasized the significant role of the media in democratic societies.

“It is important for our democracies and for our future that we find ways to make media freedom a reality. We need to protect these freedoms on the digital frontiers and in traditional media,” she said.

During her trip, Variava also engaged with local government officials, met with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi Commander Brig. Gen. Romeo Racadio, and toured the American Corner at the MSU-TCTO.

ROADSIDE END. The remains

of an elderly man are covered with a carton after he was killed by a speeding car while crossing Road 10 in Tondo, Manila, as police interrogate the car’s driver in the background.

Norman Cruz

(MS-MAY 24, 2022)

THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing an additional P400 million ($8 million) in assistance to the country to aid the recovery of millions of Filipinos affected by Typhoon Odette.

USAID Assistant to the Administrator (AA) Sarah Charles announced this on behalf of the American people on Monday.

This brings to P1.4 billion ($29.2 million) the total amount of aid the US government has given through USAID to assist the Philippines in responding to the immediate needs of those affected by the typhoon.

Over the weekend, AA Charles, who leads USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, also distributed shelter supplies in Barangay Caridad in Pilar municipality in Surigao del Norte province. She met with local government officials and heard updates from USAID partners on the ground.

“The U.S. government continues to support the people most affected by Typhoon Odette, the world’s worst cyclone event of 2021,” said Charles.

“The United States is pleased to provide this additional assistance to meet the recovery needs of individuals and families in the areas hardest hit by Typhoon Odette, and we will continue to work with our partners in the Philippines and across the region to help communities prepare for such disasters and build greater resilience.”

With the additional aid, USAID partners will provide emergency maternal and child health services, repair damaged health centers, extend protection services for vulnerable persons, support the livelihoods recovery for farmers and fisherfolk, and assist households in rebuilding their homes in safe locations.

Since December, USAID and partners Action Against Hunger, Catholic Relief Services, World Food Programme, and the International Organization for Migration have provided food, emergency cash, water, hygiene supplies, and other relief items to people affected by the typhoon across the southern Philippines and helped over 8,000 families rebuild their homes.

DILG urges LGUs, business firms to install CCTV to deter crimes

By Joel E. Zurbano THE government on Monday appealed to local executives to require owners and operators of commercial establishments, especially those situated in crowded and hazard-prone areas, to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año urged cities and municipalities to enact ordinances mandating the installation of CCTVs as a requirement for the issuance of business permits.

The DILG said CCTV footage have always complemented the investigation of law enforcers, and have resulted in the resolution of many criminal cases. The agency said CCTVs is a big help in the probe of high-profile cases producing vital leads for police investigators.

“CCTVs are applicable technologies that should be utilized to keep criminal activities and their perpetrators at bay,” Año said.

He said public safety must be a priority of local government units.

“Now is the right time to require businesses to install CCTV. People are going out of their homes and in various establishments nowadays due to lower COVID-19 cases and a CCTV system is a powerful

tool that can aid LGUs in ensuring public safety, deterring crimes, and identifying and apprehending culprits.”

Among the businesses that should have CCTVs, according to Año, are financial establishments such as banks, pawnshops, money lenders, and money remittance services and the likes; business establishments with several branches and chains; shopping malls, shopping centers, supermarkets, wet markets; and, medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and laboratories.

Places of entertainment such as theaters, movie houses, perya, internet cafes, arcades and other areas that draw a considerable number of customers; airports, public transportation terminals, parking lots and other similar establishments that cater to a large number of vehicles; car dealerships, gasoline stations, vehicle maintenance/service stations; and other similar business establishments deemed necessary by the LGU should likewise have CCTV cameras, added Año.

“Business establishments can help a lot in maintaining order in their communities by prioritizing the installation of CCTVs in their businesses. We must work in synergy towards a more peaceful community,” Año said.

A4

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

News

BEAUTY QUEEN HOPEFUL. Binibining Pilipinas candidate Nicole Budol from

Angono, Rizal reacts in jest as she sees her blown up picture at the ceremonial ribboncutting of the glam shot photo exhibit on Monday at the gateway mall activity area in Cubao, Quezon City. Danny Pata

Birth, marriage certificates are permanently valid—Senate bill C

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ERTIFICATES of live birth, death, and marriage issued, signed, certified or authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and its predecessor, the National Statistics Office (NSO), and the local civil registries are deemed permanently valid regardless of the date of issuance, and must be recognized and accepted in all government or private transactions and services.

This was embodied in Senate Bill No. 2450 unanimously approved by the Upper House as authored by Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

The measure stated that such documents are permanently valid provided

that they remained intact, readable, and visibly contained the authenticity and security features.

The bill prohibits national government agencies and instrumentalities, government-owned and controlled cor-

porations, local government units, private companies, private and public educational institutions, and other non-government entities from requiring the submission of another or newer copies of the aforementioned certificates when a valid certificate has already been presented.

Pangilinan said that new or old, official documents particularly birth certificates needed for local employment, as long as they are readable, are good to go.

Pangilinan said the proposed law would lessen the burden on Filipinos, especially those who are applying for employment and have no luxury of time to process newer copies.

“This is a big convenience for our people especially those applying for a job, passport or for their studies, “ Pangilinan stressed, adding they can save money, time, and effort chasing their papers.

“As a principal author of this measure, we’d like to thank the sponsor Senator [Bong] Revilla for seeing the measure through,” Pangilinan said. He also thanked his colleagues in the Senate for supporting the bill.

Revilla also said the people no longer need to “unnecessarily spend time and money in securing new copies of their documents.”

“With this piece of legislation, we have clearly and categorically provided the permanent validity of the civil registry documents regardless of the date of issuance. As such, they will be recognized and accepted in all government or private transactions,” he said.

Revilla sponsored the bill on the floor as chairman of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation.

Cops nab 5, seize P204-m drugs in Caloocan, Angeles, Valenzuela ANTI-narcotics operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have seized more than P149 million worth of shabu from three suspects in separate buy-bust operations in Valenzuela City and Pampanga on Sunday.

Brig. Gen. Randy Peralta, chief of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), identified the suspects as Joseph Villamor Malasaga, 50; Algie Mingote Nabenia, 43; and Nolan Sarlego Julia, 38, who were arrested on Maysan Road corner Cecilio J. Santos St. in Valenzuela City.

A composite team of police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), operatives recovered 12 kilos of shabu with an estimated value of P81.6 million, marked money used in the buy-bust operation, a Honda Civic car with plate number UFY 330, assorted identification cards and documents and two mobile phones.

The suspects will be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, while the seized pieces of evidence were brought to PDEG in Camp Crame for documentation.

In another operation, authorities seized P68 million worth of shabu from Brenelyn Riños Urgel, while his two unidentified companions managed to escape, during a raid at Mt. View Subdivision, Barangay Balibago, Angeles City on Sunday afternoon.

Seized were 10 kilograms of shabu worth P68 million, marked money, black Toyota Corolla Altis with plate number ZBF 850, assorted drug paraphernalia, and documents.

In another raid, police nabbed a suspected drug pusher and confiscated P55 million worth of shabu in a buy-bust operation in Caloocan City, early Monday morning.

Caloocan Police chief Col. Samuel Mina Jr., identified the arrested suspect as Tantawi Salic, 35, of Phase 12, Riverside Brgy. 188 of the city.

Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) operatives led by PLt. Gilmer Marinas, together with the 6th MFC RMFB-NCRPO conducted the buy bust operation along Riverside Phase 12, Brgy. 188, Tala. Jun David

IN BRIEF

PAO: ‘We serve clients based on rule of law’

THE Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) on Monday vowed to “act in the best interests of its indigent clients through fair, humane and efficient justice system based on the rule of law.”

During yesterday’s live Zoom meeting with PAO officials, Dr. Persida Rueda-Acosta said PAO “will always uphold the human rights of their clientele and represent them in various courts without any hesitation.”

‘We thank all our clients who continue to trust us up to now,” she said.

“However, we regret not to serve the others in cases when their opponents in court have been the first ones who have approached us.

They may get their own lawyers since PAO lawyer cannot fight with another PAO lawyer in the same case,” she added.

She asked for more public understanding.

“Truth and justice shall prevail. One can only be freed from criminal liability if one is innocent of the crime, and if there is no evidence that could be presented against one,” she stressed.

Meanwhile, Rueda-Acosta announced that 2,500 PAO lawyers have been required to participate in the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) seminar at the Philippine International Convention Center in October.

All lawyers are mandated to complete every three years 36 hours of continuing legal education activities approved by the Supreme Court, she said. Rio N. Araja

BI reshuffles NAIA 398 field personnel

NEARLY 400 Bureau of Immigration personnel assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were reshuffled as part of continuing efforts by the agency to curb corruption in the ranks.

BI port operations division chief Carlos Capulong said a total of 398 immigration officers rendering primary inspection duties at the premiere port were affected by the reshuffle.

He said it was the second rotation of BINAIA personnel this year, the first one implemented last March.

Capulong explained that the move aims to prevent fraternization among the bureau’s airport personnel.

He added that aside from BI officers manning the NAIA’s immigration counters, the bureau has also been implementing a daily reshuffle of the terminal assignments of more than 80 immigration supervisors.

Meanwhile, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente announced that the BI is set to begin training 195 newly-hired immigration officers.

Morente said the new employees, whose appointments were signed by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, will commence their training program on immigration laws, rules and procedures at the BI academy located in Clark, Pampanga. Vito Barcelo

DOH, partner mark Int’l AIDS memorial

SENATE GLOOMY OVER PASSING OF SUSAN ROCES.

Sen. Grace Poe thanks her colleagues in the Senate for their messages of sympathy and tributes for her mother, veteran actress Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe, popularly known as Susan Roces. Still in mourning, Poe attended Monday’s plenary session saying her mother would always encourage her ‘no matter what, to finish what I started.’ (See story on A2)

Bicol wage earners get P55 increase given in two tranches MINIMUM wage earners in the Bicol Region will eventually be bringing home fatter pay envelopes.

This after the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) issued an order granting them a P55-raise, bringing the minimum wage rate to P365 a day for all sectors.

The increase however would be given in two tranches; the first P35 upon effectivity of the order, and the remaining P20 to take effect in December this

year.

The last wage order in the region took effect on 21 September 2018.

The RTWPB also gave a P1,000monthly pay hike for domestic workers chartered cities and first class towns in the region, and P1,500 for those in other municipalities, elevating their monthly pay to P4,000.

The new wage order is expected to protect around 94,042 domestic workers in Bicol. The previous wage order

for domestic workers took effect on 02 June 2017.

The Board, comprised of representatives from the government, management, and labor sectors, conducted public hearings on 26 April 2022 in Naga City, Camarines Sur and on 28 April 2022 in Legazpi City, Albay.

The new wage orders will be submitted for review and would take effect 15 days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

THE Department of Health (DOH) and Network Plus, the umbrella organization of more than 50 People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV), spearheaded this year’s commemoration of the Philippine International AIDS Candlelight Memorial last May 20.

Anchoring on the theme, “Keeping the Light, Honoring our Rights, Radiating Pride”, this served as a platform for unity of various groups to raise awareness on the different HIV programs of the government and civil society organizations geared towards the commitment to the advocacy of eliminating HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.

The event was open to the public with the participation of LGBTQ+ and HIV communities, DOH Metro Manila Center for Health Development, Quezon City Health Office, Philippine National AIDS Council, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Global Fund - PSF PROTECTS, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Epic Program, TLF Share, the DOH said in a statement.

Highlights of the event were the lotus ceremony, the unveiling of the ceremonial ribbon, and the AIDS Hour--set from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. , coinciding with the observance of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM) 2022 to commemorate those who have died of AIDS. Booths were also deployed to provide free HIV testing, promotion of HIV services, and signing of the commitment banner. The IACM parade started from Quezon City Hall to Liwasang Aurora. Willie Casas

MHD sets vaccination drive for babies THE Manila Health Department (MHD) will start next week its free vaccination drive for babies dubbed the “Chikiting Bakunation Days” for routine and catch-up immunization of all infants aged up to 23 months old in the city.

The immunization of the infants would be implemented on May 30 until June 10, 2022, according to the MHD. As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues, Manila is encouraging the public to join its immunization programs that would defend their children from vaccinepreventable diseases (VPDs) such as polio, measles and rubella.

This will be conducted in all the six districts of Manila, with the MHD setting up vaccination sites in the health centers and the six district hospitals of the city.

Door-to-door immunization will also be conducted.

The city government of Manila has been vigilant in preventing measles, polio, rubella, as well as other highly contagious diseases, which may lead to grave complications including permanent disability and death.

Such diseases can be prevented through the immunization program, as the MHD encouraged mothers and fathers to have their kids vaccinated.

The MHD also stressed the importance of good hygiene in all places, especially in the residents’ homes, in order to prevent these contagious diseases. On the other hand, the MHD said the vaccination program is important to help save lives of children. Willie Casas

PH, BANGLADESH SEAL AGRI-PACT. The Philippines and Bangladesh forge a memorandum of agreement on SL-8H F1 seed production between SL Agritech Corp. and Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corp. as witnessed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture,Bangladesh MD Sayedul Islam and Philippine Secretary of Agriculture William Dar. Teddy Pelaez

Opinion People of the Philippines versus the Supreme Court? with the Comelec challenging the results of the poll which PPCRV described as nearly 100 percent accurate.

CONGRESS is set to convene as the National Board of Canvassers today to canvass the votes for president and vice president in the May 9 elections, even as the nation awaits the decision of the Supreme Court on the petition to stop the impending proclamation of presumptive President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (BBM).

It’s a shame this habitual reaction of sore losers has reared its ugly head with a handful of individuals pleading the High Court to nullify the results of the presidential elections based on their previous petition over tax issues against BBM earlier junked by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

BBM has lauded other presidential candidates for participating in the democratic process in what turned out to be a clean, honest and fair elections as witnessed by the Church-backed poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

The presumptive president and presumptive vice president Sara Duterte-Carpio, who clearly won by a landslide, have reached out to the losing contenders who have all publicly conceded their defeat.

In the spirit of national unity and reconciliation, BBM and Inday Sara welcomed a partnership in nation-building particularly with the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo.

Apparently, our fellow Filipinos who voted for Robredo, Senator Manny Pacquiao and the other presidential aspirants have acknowledged the historic victory of BBM who garnered over 31 million votes or over 51 percent of the total votes cast.

There has not been any election protest filed

These agitators, backed by communist terrorists, are desperately trying to exploit the legal avenues in the High Court to advance their sinister schemes of anarchy and chaos.

There has not even been any protests in the streets questioning or complaining about the outcome of the election.

Unfortunately, this desperate left-leaning group would rather cause a “constitutional crisis” in appealing the Supreme Court to order the Comelec, the Senate and the House of Representatives suspend the canvassing of votes and the eventual proclamation of BBM as winner in the presidential race.

So, after their preferred candidate participated and lost, which was conducted fair and square, they now want the Supreme Court to declare the May 9, 2022 elections a “no contest” and the results invalid altogether.

These agitators, backed by communist terrorists, are desperately trying to exploit the legal avenues in the High Court to advance their sinister schemes of anarchy and chaos.

It is simply preposterous to even think the patriotic wisemen of the Supreme Court would go against “supreme will” of the 31 million plus Filipinos who voted for BBM for President.

SANTA Banana, with only oppositionist – Risa Hontiveros – getting elected in the Magic 12 circle of senators, I wonder what kind of opposition we will have under the incoming administration of presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. There are of course Senators Franklin Drilon and Koko Pimentel. But, with only three oppositionist senators in an institution that serves as the check and balance of the executive, how can there be a credible opposition in the Senate?

In the House of Representatives there is of course the Makabayan Bloc and the Yellows turned “Pinkos”. But, with the Makabayan Bloc, the congressional fronts of the communist movement, we can only have the anti-government noises, not the responsible opposition we expect. My gulay, this worries me because without dissent, there can only be tyranny.

What we need is a responsible opposition, not the kind of noise and bluster the Yellows and the party-list Makabayan Bloc is showing. Hopefully, some of the independents in the Senate will every now and then serve as the check and balance to the executive.

••• Leyte Rep. And House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez will surely be the next Speaker endorsed as he was by former President and Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

In the Senate, reports have it that it will be a fight between Senator Cynthia Villar and Senate majority Leader Migz Zubiri. There were earlier reports that aside from Villar, Senator Loren Legarda and Senator Sonny Angara will vie for Senate President. Whoever will become Senate President, since all the names mentioned, to my mind, are well -qualified, what matters more is that there is need for a responsible opposition in the Senate, which is expected to be the check and balance of the executive.

It is for this reason why presumptive president Bongbong Marcos must be very careful in choosing the people who will comprise his cabinet. People expect Marcos to name people with impeccable credentials of honesty and integrity, and of course, competence. So far, so good as they say with incoming Vice President Sara DuterteCarpio as secretary of Education; with former MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalaos as Interior and Local Governments secretary; with former Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma as Labor Secretary again, and

We need to maintain check and balance among our institutions.

But, with so many challenges confronting incoming President Bongbong, like jumpstarting economic recovery, and providing jobs, Marcos certainly needs support, not only from the business community and investors, but also from the opposition. The most crucial incoming President is the first 100 days. He must hit the ground running, especially so because of the great challenges he has to face.

The call for unity under the banner for Bongbong and Sara is appropriate at this time because an incoming administration certainly needs all the support it can get, not only from supporters and the over 31 million voters for the BBM-Sara tandem, but from the opposition. As I said, we either sink or swim with the BBM-Sara tandem.

At no point in Philippine history is there a greater need for we, the people, to unite for the common good.

••• An intriguing question has come up if the Supreme Court will decide to stop the canvassing of votes of presumptive president Bongbong and presumptive vice president Sara Duterte-Carpio. If the Supreme Court stops the canvassing of both, the question is not in the absence of Congress, but who will act as acting president in the afternoon

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EDITORIAL

‘A staggering milestone’

T

HE United Nations said on Monday that more than 100 million people across the globe have been forcibly displaced. These are the people forced to flee conflict, violence, human rights violations and persecution.

Internal displacement is likewise caused by conflict and natural disasters.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has significantly increased the number, with some 8 million displaced within the country and some 6 million crossing borders into nearby countries. Even before the February 24 invasion, the numbers were already high, caused by the violence in Ethipia, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Nigeria, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the Agence France Presse.

The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, says this must “shake the

world into ending conflicts.”

“It’s a record that should never have been set,” said UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi.

May we not be lulled into indifference or complacency.

To put the numbers in greater perspective, the 100 million count represents more than one percent of the global population. Only 13 countries have a bigger population than 100 million.

Indeed the figure is disheartening, especially since the world is simul-

taneously confronting the lingering pandemic and the irreversible consequences of climate change.

Nations naturally look out for their own interests, and people, especially those who could afford to immerse themselves in the good life, would have no reason to believe this milestone is at all alarming. Each government has its own struggles and these countries appear too remote from the rest of us.

But in the grander scheme, no borders apply to common experiences of humanity.

These are people who, by pure accident of birth were born into troubled societies, and would have done as well, or even better, had they been born in another land.

Much remains wrong in the world and we should never for a second be lulled into indifference or complacency just because we find ourselves in better circumstances – again, not because of our own doing.

Truly the best Bar exams

For a responsible, credible opposition with Susan “Toots” Ople, daughter of Marcos Labor Secretary and Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople, to head the new Department of Migrant Workers.

The success or failure of an administration largely depends on what cabinet secretaries are appointed as alter egos of the President. It is known that a president can either sink or swim depending on the success or failure of the cabinet. And we all know that we the people can also either sink or swim with the president.

It matters so much that there is also a responsible opposition in the House. When I talk of opposition, I am not referring to the Yellows turned “Pinkos”, much less to the communist fronts in the House of Representatives or the activists, but to an opposition that is reasonable and responsible, and above everything else, believable and credible. With dissent, we all know that an administration in power is prone to abuse and corruption. With a new President, it’s a chance for us, the people, to start anew for a better Philippines. It is for this reason why weexpect a lot from Bongbong Marcos.

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

ONE can say that the planning, preparation and actual conduct of the 2021-2022 Bar Examinations was well-thought, resulting in, arguably, one of the best bar operations in recent memory, considering that it was held in the midst of a pandemic.

With more than 11,000 examinees and multiple examination sites, and untested innovations and protocols introduced, there were enough variables that could have made the event problematic.

Thanks to the Supreme Court Bar Chairman Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and hundreds of proctors and facilitators, this bar, among others, exemplifies excellent adaptive and crisis management. This will be studied for how great leadership overcomes the biggest of obstacles and challenges.

The innovations introduced in this year’s bar exams include the scrapping of the traditional ranking of naming the top 10 bar topnotchers; localizing online examinations held in key cities and regional centers nationwide; modifying the traditional modality like reducing the coverage of the exams and limiting the number of exam days to two with only one day apart. Some innovations required quick judgments and were designed to address pandemic-related issues, but a few are long-desired structural reforms that many of us legal educators have advocated for in the past.

By giving emphasis on school performance rather than individual excellence for example doing away with the topnotcher list and replacing this with a list of excellent and exemplary law passers - law schools are given added motivation to refocus their efforts and resources to their overall performance. This will encourage law schools to adopt more deep-seated and lasting reforms, like emphasizing clinical legal education than enhancing the performance of

(12:01 pm) of June 30, 2022 ?

To avoid such a situation which would constitute a constitutional crisis, lawyer and former Government Corporate Counsel Philip Jurado suggests that Senate President Tito Sotto must step down now as Senate President on or before June 3, 2002, the last day of the Senate session, to enable the Senate to elect who the next Senate President will be.

As we all know, the Senate President is next in the line of succession in case there is no president and vice-president. The Speaker of the House comes after the Senate President. But, until when will the Senate President act as acting president? Santa Banana, that is why it’s important for the Supreme Court not to stop Congress in its constitutional duty to canvass the votes and proclaim the president-elect and the vice president-elect.

It is well, however, that the Supreme Court, in view of petitions to stop the can-

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

the school as a legal education provider.

As one of this year’s examiners, I had to read and reread thousands upon thousands of answers. It is no exaggeration that the sheer volume of exams to check could be backbreaking and required enormous physical and mental strain. In the six weeks I checked the exams, the music of Taylor Swift and Ben and Ben accompanied and helped me cope with the tedium. “All too well’ was my favorite song because I could check many answers in 10 minutes; but I also liked State of Grace, Daylight, and The Joker and the Queen as these songs inspired me and enabled me to be in a good mood checking the answers. Leaves, Lifetime, Bibingka, Pasalubong, and Kapangyarihan of Ben and Ben had the same effect.

The objective is to measure whether the Bar taker possesses the minimum skills, knowledge and competence to practice the legal profession in the Philippines.

I have taught over 500 of this year’s exam takers, most of them in their first year constitutional law subjects and in as many as a dozen schools in Metro Manila and Mindanao. I have also taught many deans and law professors and wanted to do this assignment well for them. I am of course grateful to Justice Leonen for the honor of being one of the political law examiners. It turned out that the other examiners in the subject were former students of mine as well.

Fortunately, the bar exams this year for the first time were digitalized, which made the checking much more bearable compared to the old system that involved leafing through thousands of physical booklets, oftentimes deciphering the handwriting of many with poor penmanship. Electronic writing eliminated

vassing and proclamation of the incoming President, not to issue an injunction, but instead to ask comments from Bongbong and Congress on the petitions, instead of stopping Congress from canvassing the votes ••• Presumptive president Bongbong Marcos had wanted to be proclaimed and take his oath as the next President of the republic his oath of office at the Quirino Grandstand as all Presidents before him did. The problem is that a portion of the Grandstand had been converted into a small hospital and a vaccination center. It’s for this reason why the Marcos camp is now looking for another venue to accommodate all his supporters and everybody else who would like to be there.

That should be no problem. For one thing, that portion of the grandstand where the temporary hospital is located, below the grandstand which can easily be accommodated in other hospitals. And for another, that portion

the penmanship factor, i.e. whether or not the writing is legible. It enabled the examinees to review, modify, and improve how they would present the answers, and refined the grammar via their computer. I noticed that most, if not all, the answers were well written, some in flawless grammar and with minimal spelling errors.

The holding of the exams in key cities and regional centers nationwide also made the testing sites more accessible. Unlike before where the examinees would be forced to stay in Manila, the “probinsyanos”, especially those coming from Mindanao or other far-flung areas of the country, took the exams without travelling outside their home province. The previous system was unjust and inequitable.

Digitalization and regionalization at the minimum should become the rule in future bar exams. Having non-Manila based bar examiners like Dean Joan Largo of San Carlos University in Cebu and Professor Lulu Reyes of Saint Louis University in Baguio should also be de rigueur from now on.

Bar Bulletin No. 30 2022 also introduced modifications to traditional modality like reducing the coverage of the exams and limiting the number of days to two. Streamlining the coverage allowed the examinees to plan and adopt a better review strategy, focusing only on relevant materials based on the guideline provided. For political law, it was a joy to confirm that political law professors everywhere taught the same basics - principles and precedents - to all students regardless of law school and physical location.

Bar exams should not be all about being able to perform mental calisthenics or mental contortions, or to determine who among the bar takers have the best memory. Rather the objective is to measure whether the bar taker possesses the minimum skills, knowledge and competence to practice the legal profession in the Philippines. The #bestbar2020-2021 did just that, thanks to the Supreme Court, Justice Alex Gesmundo, and Justice Leonen for making that happen.

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of the grandstand can easily be repaired now that COVID-19 cases can be easily accommodated in permanent hospitals.

What matters more is that Bongbong Marcos would be breaking tradition if his oathtaking would be in another venue. Quirino Grandstand carries a lot of memories to many people like me. It would indeed be unfortunate if the incoming President would take his oath in another venue.

This is a plea to Bongbong: Please take your oath of office at the Quirino Grandstand. It carries a lot of tradition and memories. Your late father, Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr took his oath in that place, as did all other Presidents before him, except for Joseph E. Estrada who took his oath at the Barasoain Church and Cory Aquino at the Club Filipino. Please follow tradition.

••• Last May 14, 2022, my wife and I celebrated our 67th Wedding Anniversary. We thank our Lord for the great blessing.

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

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TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IF CHINA ATTEMPTS TO TAKE CONTROL BY FORCE

Biden vows military defense of Taiwan

P

RESIDENT Joe Biden vowed Monday that Standard US forces would defend Taiwan militarily TODAY if China attempted to take control of the self-ruled island by force, warning Beijing was already “flirting with danger.”

Manila

The remarks, made in Tokyo where he is meeting with Japan’s prime minister ahead of a regional summit Tuesday, were Biden’s strongest to date on the issue and come amid rising tensions over China’s growing economic and military power.

Washington and allies like Japan have framed their tough response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a warning to others, especially China, against unilateral military action.

Biden hammered that message home after talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in which the pair agreed to monitor Chinese naval activity and joint Chinese-Russian exercises.

Biden then went further. Asked if Washington was willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan, he replied: “Yes.” “That’s the commitment we made,” he added.

“We agreed with the One China policy, we signed on to it... but the idea that it can be taken by force is just not appropriate, it would dislocate the entire region and would be another action similar to Ukraine,” Biden said.

Biden directly linked the fates of Ukraine and Taiwan, saying Western sanctions on Russia must exact a “long-term price” because otherwise “what signal does that send to China about the cost of attempting to take Taiwan

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK by force?”

He warned Beijing was already “flirting with danger right now by flying so close and all the maneuvers undertaken” – referring to a growing number of Chinese sorties, naval exercises and other power projection in the Taiwan Straits.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin swiftly responded, declaring that “no one should underestimate the firm resolve, staunch will and strong ability of the Chinese people in defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

“China has no room for compromise or concession,” the spokesman said. AFP

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.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

(MS-MAY 24, 2022)

(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,

BIDEN NOT WELCOME HERE. A group of activists march to Akasaka Palace State Guest House, where the Japan-US summit is held, as they protest against US President Joe Biden’s visit to Japan on May 23, 2022. AFP

Hong Kong cardinal’s arrest spotlights secretive deal between Vatican, China THE arrest of a 90-year-old cardinal un- cates arrested this month for “conspiracy to der Hong Kong’s national security law has collude with foreign forces.”

MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK over a shocked the city’s Catholic community asCYAN The group is being investigated the Vatican seeks to renew a secretive deal now-defunct fund to help pay legal costs for with Beijing. dissidents, and they will appear for a court Joseph Zen’s arrest comes during a crack- summons on Tuesday. down by Beijing on dissent in Hong Kong, Zen, who fled mainland China before the deepening fears that mainland China-style communists took control in 1949, was calm restrictions on faith are coming to a once- when the police came for him. outspoken city where many democracy ad“Fear not for God has it all planned,” he vocates are Christian. said according to Oscar Lai, a diocese offiIt is also a sensitive time for the Vatican, cer who volunteered to assist him. which is working to renew its controversial For decades, there have been two Cathoagreement with Beijing later this year over lic churches in China, one that answers to the appointment of bishops.

Beijing, and an “underground” congregation “Those who oppose the deal now have that remains loyal to Rome – often at huge a stronger reason to oppose it,” Beatrice personal cost.

Leung, a member of the Sisters of the PreMany underground church supporters recious Blood and longtime friend of Zen’s, sided in Hong Kong, a separate diocese in a told AFP. city where religious freedom remains, for now.

Zen, one of Asia’s highest-ranking CathoBut in recent decades, the Vatican has lic clerics, was among five democracy advo- built relations with China. AFP

LEGO LOVE. A

AMALIA DELA PUNTA GREGORIOS, Representing the deceased REYNALDO UETA GREGORIOS, Petitioner, -versus-

photo taken on May 22, 2022 shows people looking at a model made from lego blocks resembling a Lamborghini at a shopping mall in Shenyang, in China’s northeast Liaoning province. 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 (MS-MAY 24, 2022)

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

IN BRIEF WHO meet refuses to admit Taiwan

THE World Health Organization’s annual assembly refused Monday to discuss admitting Taiwan to the meeting, under pressure from China and despite impassioned pleas from several countries.

Taiwan has been blocked from attending the assembly in recent years by China, which considers the island a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland.

There have been growing calls to allow Taiwan in as an observer, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of global cooperation on reining in infectious diseases.

“As we continue to fight COVID-19 and other emerging health threats, Taiwan’s isolation from the pre-eminent global health forum is unwarranted and undermines inclusive global public health cooperation,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week.

At the start of the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA), representatives from 13 of WHO’s 194 member countries, including Belize, Eswatini, Haiti and Tuvalu, presented a proposal to put offering Taiwan permanent observer status onto the agenda.

Pointing to the still-raging COVID-19 pandemic, the text warned that “the continued exclusion of Taiwan from the World Health Organization has seriously compromised WHO’s overall disease prevention efforts, undermined the interests of its members, and jeopardized global health.” AFP

UN: Over 100 million forcibly displaced RUSSIA’S war in Ukraine has pushed the number of forcibly displaced people around the world above 100 million for the first time ever, the United Nations said on Monday.

“The number of people forced to flee conflict, violence, human rights violations and persecution has now crossed the staggering milestone of 100 million for the first time on record, propelled by the war in Ukraine and other deadly conflicts,” said UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

The “alarming” figure must shake the world into ending the conflicts forcing record numbers to flee their own homes, the UNHCR said in a statement.

UNHCR said the numbers of forcibly displaced people rose towards 90 million by the end of 2021, spurred by violence in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Nigeria.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and since then more than eight million people have been displaced within the country, while more than six million refugees have fled across the borders.

“One hundred million is a stark figure – sobering and alarming in equal measure. It’s a record that should never have been set,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

“This must serve as a wake-up call to resolve and prevent destructive conflicts, end persecution and address the underlying causes that force innocent people to flee their homes.” AFP

Business

B3

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Global elites back in Davos after two-year COVID break

PSEi May 23, 2022

TOP GAINERS

1 ECP

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 5 1.4 38.89%

2 3 4

LODE MVC IPO

0.59 5.49 7.97

0.135 1.08 1.27

29.67% 24.49% 18.96%

5 6

LOTO TUGS

1.45 0.84

0.13 0.07

9.85% 9.09%

7 8

X MRC

0.305 0.228

0.02 0.014

7.02% 6.54%

9

TCB2D

58.95

3.45

6.22%

10

STR

3.39

0.18

5.61%

TOP LOSERS

1 MACAY

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 5.52 -0.72 -11.54%

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

0.229 10.38 1.01 26.3 0.1 1.73 4.07 6.25 13

COAL BNCOM EURO CNVRG SFI PRIM RFM PMPC ACEX

-0.019 -0.74 -0.07 -1.75 -0.006 -0.1 -0.23 -0.35 -0.68

-7.66% -6.65% -6.48% -6.24% -5.66% -5.46% -5.35% -5.30% -4.97%

MOST ACTIVE

1 CNVRG 2 SMPH 3 ALI 4 BDO 5 ICT 6 MONDE 7 SM 8 GLO 9 SCC 10 BPI

VOLUME 35,251,000 13,592,400 16,208,900 3,248,840 1,306,120 16,012,400 288,260 85,485 5,279,600 1,692,400

VALUE (PHP) 948,746,445 515,538,435 462,790,645 414,994,437 273,966,676 254,582,738 244,314,280 216,746,920 174,000,640 161,742,580

Young protesters take part in a demonstration against the World Economic Forum (WEF) during the WEF annual meeting in Davos on May 22, 2022. AFP

Profit-taking pulls stocks lower; Converge, BPI fall T HE stock market retreated Monday on profit-taking as renewed inflation fears discouraged investors from buying.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 58.48 points, or 0.9 percent, to 6,687.85 on a value turnover of P6.6 billion. Losers beat gainers, 113 to 72, with 58 issues unchanged.

Fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. sank 6.2 percent to P26.30, while BDO Unibank Inc. of the Sy Group, the biggest lender in terms of assets, declined 1.6 percent to P126.80.

Bank of the Philippine Islands of the Ayala Group, the third-largest bank, fell 3.6 percent to P94.50, while sister unit and major property developer Ayala Land Inc. slipped 1.7 percent to P28.50 The rest of Asian stocks rose Monday after US President Joe Biden said he was considering lifting some Trump-era

trade tariffs imposed on China, although concerns over inflation and growth weighed on sentiment.

Tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese imports are due to expire in July, and Biden has faced growing calls to get rid of the punitive duties to help combat the highest US inflation in more than four decades.

Biden’s comments Monday during a visit to Tokyo come after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last week said some of the duties imposed by former president Donald Trump “seem to impose more harm on consumers and businesses” and do little to address real issues posed by the Asian giant.

The president also said a recession in the United States was not inevitable but acknowledged the economic pain felt

by American consumers, saying “this is going to take some time.”

Ending the tariffs could help cut roaring US inflation by making imports cheaper.

Biden also announced that 13 countries had joined a new, US-led Asia-PaManila

Standard

Economic fundamentals and policy continuity INCOMING president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will have the full task of reviving the Philippine economy and bringing it back to a growth trajectory seen during the prepandemic years. His is not an easy one, nor is it punishing because he will be inheriting an economy that has turned around and one that has kept its macro-economic fundamentals intact.

Local businessmen and foreign investors alike are often wary of a new administration because of what they perceived as “unknown factors.” They fear business rules under the new government could change and undermine their profit calculations. They prefer policy continuity from the previous government, which focused on reinforcing the economy and built its fundamentals.

Outgoing Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua stressed the solid fundamentals of the economy that shielded it from the health crisis and its adverse impact.

“It is very important at the outset to have a strong macroeconomy,” noted Chua, “so that you have enough buffers and enough resources to withstand any shocks, and you can concentrate on improving the welfare of the people.”

The fate of the Philippine economy in the next six years will hinge on the new team that will succeed President Rodrigo Duterte’s group, led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president George Barcelon said choosing experienced Cabinet members for major economic posts would be crucial for the incoming Marcos administration in addressing challenges, like higher debt and inflation.

Mr. Marcos no doubt will carefully weigh his economic team to build on the gains of the outgoing administration. Mr Duterte introduced several economic reforms that will make the Philippines more businessfriendly in the the six-year term of Mr. Marcos. These include amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, Foreign Investment Act and the Public Service Act, which will help relax foreign ownership restrictions and increase competition that can improve the quality of goods and services at lower prices.

The outgoing administration also enacted the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, which helped fund more infrastructure and social services, and the Rice Tariffication Law in 2019, which supported rice farmers in improving their productivity and significantly lowering the price of rice in the Philippines.

Deviating from these economic reforms

cific trade initiative, although there are questions about the pact’s effectiveness.

Investors will be looking to the release on Wednesday of notes from the latest Federal Reserve committee meeting for clues on further rate hikes by the US central bank.

Trade was cautious in Asia after Wall Street briefly dipped into a bear market Friday, with the S&P 500 index down about 19 percent from its January high.

Tokyo closed 1.0 percent higher, while Shanghai ended flat. Hong Kong was down 1.4 and Singapore slipped 0.6 percent but most other Asian markets saw gains, with Seoul, Bangkok and Taipei in the green.

Sydney ended marginally higher following a weekend election that saw the centre-left Labor party end a decade of conservative rule.

The new government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to undertake some policy shifts, particularly on climate change, but economists said they were unlikely to upset growth forecasts. With AFP

DAVOS, Switzerland—The Davos summit of global political and business elites returns Monday after a COVIDinduced two-year break to face another momentous crisis: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The theme of the World Economic Forum, “History at a Turning Point,” sets the tone for the four-day meeting in the glitzy Swiss mountain resort that will be dominated by the political and economic fallout from the conflict.

When the WEF last took place in Davos in January 2020, the coronavirus was just brewing in China before morphing into a devastating pandemic.

A Davos forum took place virtually last year, with Russian President Vladimir Putin among the speakers.

Russian business and political leaders, who used to participate in debates and mingle with other A-listers at champagne parties, were barred by organizers from attending this year’s gathering over the war.

Ukrainians, meanwhile, have deployed a strong contingent, including the foreign minister, to plead their case, with President Volodymyr Zelensky scheduled to address the forum via videolink on Monday.

“The major request to the whole world here is: do not stop backing Ukraine,” Ukrainian lawmaker Ivanna Klympush Tsintsadze told reporters on the eve of the summit.

Another lawmaker, Anastasia Radina, appealed for NATO-style heavy weaponry to “win the war.”

“We actually need weapons more than we need anything else,” she said.

The Ukrainians have transformed the “Russia House” in Davos—normally used by the Russian delegation—into the “Russia War Crimes House” to promote their cause.

WEF founder Klaus Schwab said last week that Davos would do what it can to support Ukraine and its recovery.

“Russia’s aggression on the country will be seen in future history books as the breakdown of the post-World War II and post-Cold War order,” he said.

More than 50 heads of state or government will be among the 2,500 delegates, ranging from business leaders to academics and civil society figures. AFP

TODAY

NOTICE AND AGENDA OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS:

will send a wrong signal to businessmen and prospective investors.

Lower electricity rates Lowering the cost of doing business in the Philippines is the objective of every administration because it will entice foreign investors, make local products competitive in the global market and create more jobs in the process.

Mr. Marcos and the incoming energy chief should take a more serious look at the prohibitive electricity rates in the Philippines.

The high cost of energy has disheartened potential foreign investors and convinced them to locate their business elsewhere in Asia.

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson Agnes Devanadera, whose stint in the agency has honed her skills in balancing the interests of consumers and power generation companies, knows why electricity rates remain high in the Philippines. A lawyer by profession, Ms. Devandera thought the practice of collecting value added tax from more than one component of the electric bill should be stopped, calling it double taxation.

All components of the electric bill, with the exception of the universal fees and feed-intariff allowance charges are subjected to VAT. She says customers consuming an average of 200 kilowatt-hours and below, thus, can save as much as P100 on their monthly electric bill if the VAT imposition is rationalized..

“This should be considered because it has an immediate impact on customers, especially those with monthly consumption of 200 kilowatt-hours and below. It translates to a discount of as much as P100,” the ERC chief told a virtual media roundtable.

The ERC chief also wants the issuance of a law on nuclear energy within the year.

The ERC chief clearly realizes the importance and the inclusion of big-capacity nuclear power in the energy mix. Nuclear energy is 40 percent cheaper than power generated from other sources. Japan and Korea became economic powerhouses because of their nuclear power plants that offer much cheaper electricity rates.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Alliance Global Group, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on 16 June 2022 at 9:00 a.m. to be conducted virtually, through the link https://www.allianceglobalinc. com/asm2022 that can be accessed through the Company’s website, with the following agenda: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on 17 June 2021 Report of Management for Year 2021 Appointment of Independent Auditors Ratification of Acts of the Board of Directors, Board Committees, and Officers Election of Directors Other matters Adjournment

Stockholders of record as of 19 May 2022 will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

As provided under Sections 23 and 57 of the Revised Corporation Code and the Company’s Amended By-Laws, the Company will hold the Annual Meeting via remote communication, and allow the stockholders to cast their votes by remote communication or in absentia, or by proxy.

To participate in the Annual Meeting, stockholders must register from 9:00 a.m. of 26 May 2022 until 5:00 p.m. of 09 June 2022. The procedure for participation via remote communication and in absentia are contained in the Information Statement.

Stockholders who wish to appoint proxies may submit proxy instruments until 5:00 p.m. of 09 June 2022, to the Office of the Corporate Secretary at the 9th Floor, Eastwood Global Plaza, Palm Tree Avenue, Eastwood City CyberPark, Bagumbayan, Quezon City or by email to corporatesecretary@allianceglobalinc.com. Validation of proxies shall be held on 13 June 2022. A sample proxy form will be enclosed in the Information Statement for your convenience.

The Information Statement and other pertinent documents and information on the Annual Meeting are available through the Company’s website. For any clarifications, please contact the Office of the Corporate Secretary via email at corporatesecretary@ allianceglobalinc.com.

Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 04 May 2022.

(SGD.) ALAN B. QUINTANA Corporate Secretary

or MS-MAY 24 & 25, 2022)

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

B4

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

UnionBank bares P1-b digital peso bond offer

By Julito G. Rada UNION Bank of the Philippines, one of the biggest banks in terms of assets, launched on Monday the public offering of the first digital peso bonds with a minimum issue size of P1 billion.

UnionBank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the offering is the first digital bond issuance in the Philippines, a result of its partnership with Philippine Depository & Trust Corp.

“UnionBank will issue the digital bonds from its existing P39-billion bonds program. The bonds have a tenor of 1.5 years and a fixed rate of 3.25 percent per annum. The public offer period will start from May 23, 2022 and end on May 27, 2022,” it said.

The bonds will be issued and listed on Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. on June 2, 2022 for trading in the PDEx fixed-income market.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd. and Standard Chartered Bank are the joint lead arrangers and book-runners of the transaction. They are also the selling agents for the offering together with UnionBank.

UnionBank posted a 9-percent year-on-year increase in net income to P12.6 billion in 2021, driven by the strength of core businesses. This translated into an above-industry return on equity of 12.0 percent.

UnionBank president and chief executive Edwin Bautista said the 2021 performance was a validation of the bank’s digital transformation strategy.

“We hit key strategic milestones that ramped up our growth aspirations. Customer accounts grew by 2.5 million this year, with close to 1 million accounts coming from our digital-only account opening offering,” Bautista said.

He said the current and savings account growth was at an all-time high for the second consecutive year, owing to its cash management solutions.

Business Biggest PH computer retailer plans to raise P5.4b from IPO

By Jenniffer B. Austria

U

PSON International Corp., the country’s largest retailer of personal computers and information technology products led by businessman Ricardo Lee, plans to raise up to P5.4 billion from an initial public offering.

UIC, the company behind Octagon Computer Superstore and Micro Valley stores, said in a statement it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an application to sell up to 986.8 million common shares, including 98.684 million secondary shares at a price of up to P5.50 apiece.

It said it would use the net proceeds from the offering to expand its store

network by 250 branches over the next three to five years, on top of the 183 stores as of end-2021.

“There are rapid technological developments in computers and other IT products matched with growing market segments like educational needs and computer and IT-related jobs in all 17 regions. These are compelling opportunities that fuel the need for an aggressive expansion of our retail network nationwide,” said UIC president and chief executive Arlene Sy. UIC sells IT products through various outlets, including Octagon Computer Superstore, Micro Valley and Gadget King. Its revenues expanded 5 percent in 2021 to P8.56 billion in 2021 from P8.15 billion in 2020.

The company said net income surged 95 percent in 2021 to P403.6 million from P206.7 million in 2020.

This represented a compounded annual growth rate of 8 percent for revenues and 78 percent for net income over

the last four years.

UIC hired First Metro Investment Corp. as the sole issue manager, bookrunner and lead underwriter for the IPO. Subject to regulatory approvals, the proposed offer period and target listing date in the main board of the PSE is September 2022.

FMIC president Jose Patricio Dumlao said the IPO was expected to draw strong interest among investors, given UIC’s steady and consistent growth in the consumer electronics market.

“UIC, which has a long-standing presence in the retail industry, has been consistently growing and performing so well in the Philippine market. With restrictions slowly easing up, UIC has been taking strategic initiatives to adapt to the constant change in behavior amongst its consumers and to ensure that they’re able to cater to more customers by providing a complete, quality, and an up-to-date suite of IT products both through their physical stores and online platforms,” Dumlao said.

SMC SLEX Inc., formerly South Luzon Tollways Corp., said Monday net income rose 4 percent in the first quarter from a year ago on higher vehicle traffic volume this year.

The tollway unit of San Miguel Corp. said net income amounted to P706.6 million from January to March, higher than P679.1 million it booked in the same period last year.

Total revenue went up 8 percent in the first quarter to P1.48 billion from P1.37 billion a year ago.

“SLEX traffic volume have shown a recovery in the first quarter after travel restrictions were eased from a strict alert level 3 in January to level 2 in February and level 1 in beginning the month of March in National Capital Region and Southern Luzon,” SMC SLEX said.

Traffic volume increased 4 percent to 351,773 vehicles daily from 337,601

6,687.85

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

1,222,956,686 87,337

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

6,641,317,014.34 72 113 58

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, MAY 23, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.2710

Japan

Yen

0.007822

0.4089

UK

Pound

1.249500

65.3126

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127421

6.6604

Switzerland

Franc

1.027116

53.6884

Canada

Dollar

0.778938

40.7159

Singapore

Dollar

0.724585

37.8748

Australia

Dollar

0.705000

36.8511

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

138.6572

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266596

13.9352

Brunei

Dollar

0.721970

37.7381

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.029189

1.5257

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.2327

Euro

Euro

1.056000

55.1982

Korea

Won

0.000785

0.0410

China

Yuan

0.149430

7.8109

India

Rupee

0.012845

0.6714

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.227946

11.9150

New Zealand

Dollar

0.640500

33.4796

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033644

1.7586 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Fruitas bounces back, books P6.4-m income

FOOD kiosk operator Fruitas Holdings Inc. returned to profitability with a net income of P6.4 million in the first quarter of the year, reversing a net loss of P16 million in the same period last year, as easing mobility restrictions resulted in double-digit growth in sales.

Fruitas said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday first quarter revenues rose 26.4 percent to P330.4 million from P261.3 million in the first quarter of 2020.

The increase was driven by the opening and re-opening of store operations and stronger performances of the outlets.

The company as of end March 2022 had about 700 stores in its network. It added about 10 stores in 2022 as of May 23, 2022.

Cost of sales also climbed 21.6 percent year-on-year to P2.7 million, mainly due to the rise in revenues. Despite the increase in cost of sales, the company said it was still able to improve its gross profit margin, which registered at 62.2-percent increase in the first three months of 2022 from a 60.7-percent rise in the same period in 2021.

Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Energy Regulatory Commission is tapping foreign experts to assist in the issuance of the rules for advanced metering infrastructure that will pave the way for the full implementation of smart meters.

“Because AMI is advanced in other countries but not in the Philippines. So we decided to get consultants, “ said ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera.

She said ERC had not finalized the AMI rules yet, but assured the regulator would released them this year.

“It should be this year but we are also dependent on the funder of the consultancy.

But we have started and we should see that in place this year,” Devanadera said.

AMI refers to an integrated system that is typically comprised of smart meters and other related devices, communication platforms and/or a combination thereof, and meter data collection and management systems, ERC said. Alena Mae S. Flores

POLYMER BANKNOTES. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas teams up with Note Printing Australia, a subsidiary of the Australian central bank, in the initial rollout of modern polymer banknotes. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno (center) receives uncut 1000-peso polymer banknotes from NPA chief executive Malcolm McDowell during a high-level event at the Manila residence of Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson (left). The new polymer banknote is more durable and cost-effective due to its extended lifespan, more environment-friendly because of its smaller carbon footprint and recyclability, and more hygienic and sanitary.

ible that can help its customers improve investment outcomes.

DragonFi is owned by BeeDragon Global Group Inc., which was formerly called Tristate Securities Inc. BeeDragon, a joint venture of Tan Caktiong’s Honeystar Holdings Corp., Injap Investments Inc. and the group of Jon Carlo Lim, acquired Tristate in November last year.

BeeDragon will be the corporate entity that will house the group’s fintech-related endeavors.

BeeDragon will be managed by Jon Carlo Lim as president and chief

SLEX operator registered 4% growth in three-month net income to P707m

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Monday, May 23, 2022

-58.48 PTS.

ERC to tap experts on metering rules

Tan Caktiong, Sia to launch new investment platform in fourth quarter DRAGONFI Securities Inc., a new brokerage firm led by tycoons Tony Tan Caktiong and Edgar Sia II, plans to launch a technology-driven investment platform by the fourth quarter of 2022.

DragonFi said in a statement the new investment platform would provide investors with most advanced web and mobile applications and offer fast, reliable and secure trade executions in the local equity market.

It also intends to provide exclusive digital financial tools and content that is timely, enriching and easily digest-

PSE INDEX CLOSING

vehicles a year earlier. It was only 4 percent below the pre-pandemic level of 367,220 vehicles in 2019.

SMC SLEX said majority of vehicles that used SLEX belong to the Class 1 category, which accounted for 84 percent of total traffic volume, which indicated high socioeconomic activity in the south.

Traffic volume for Class 2 and 3 categories achieved 7-percent growth, resulting from the resurgence of strong commercial activities particularly in Batangas province.

Cost and expenses rose 4 percent to P538.7 million from P516.6 million on the back of higher management service fees and repair and maintenance of the toll collection system.

The company earlier said it would spend P9.49 billion this year to partly finance the construction of a toll road from Batangas to Quezon and repair South Luzon Expressway.

executive, Cathryn Ann Lao as director and chief technology officer, Sia as chairman and Tan Caktiong as cochairman.

“We believe that harnessing the power of technology in a financial services context can be a force for good. Currently, less than 2 percent of the Philippines’ working-age population has a stock brokerage account.

By making investing convenient and effortless, we hope to broaden participation in the capital markets, one of the key builders of wealth,” Lim said.

“We aspire to democratize personal

finance in a meaningful way by leveraging best-in-class investment technologies. It is our intention to provide wealth-building tools to effect the dispersion of economic prosperity to more Filipinos,” he said.

Sia said the venture is expected to have a significant long-term growth potential.

“Over the long term, we also see the fintech space creating the synergic gel that would enhance and bring benefits to the various other business units in our ecosystem,” Sia said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

SL Agritech signs seed production deal

SL AGRITECH Corp. (SLAC) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corp.

(BADC) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on SL-8H F1 seed production, which further strengthens agriculture technology development between the Philippines and Bangladesh.

SLAC president and chairman Henry Lim Bon Liong said the renewed partnership comes in an opportune time as the world faces a possible food crisis due to the pandemic and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

“It is rewarding that our collective efforts, especially in rice production, will alleviate fear caused by the looming food crisis,” he said.

Under the MOA, SL Agritech will guarantee timely supply of good genetically pure parental lines to be used for F1 seed production in Bangladesh, while BADC will provide production area, inputs and facility.

BADC will also be responsible for labor and administrative expenses, as well as production and post-harvest activities.

Othel V. Campos

DTI sees economy growing over 7% this year under new administration production systems in agriculture and in- grams in research and development, ecomdustries,” he said. merce and digitalization of government TRADE Secretary Ramon Lopez on The DTI also pushed policies and pro- transactions.

Monday offered an unsolicited advice to the next government on efforts to help the economy recover from the pandemic.

“We need to continue the momentum of growth that we started. We’re really relieved that we’re able to reopen and recover at the last stretch of the Duterte administration,” Lopez said.

He said it would be easy for the incoming government to attain more than 7-percent growth this year, given the solid foundation built over years of creating a resilient economy.

“It is highly likely that the new administration may surpass the 6 to 7 percent growth expectation this year, on hopes that the Russia-Ukraine war will not aggravate” Lopez said.

SUZUKI WAREHOUSE. Suzuki Philippines Inc. unveils its spare parts warehouse He said the continuity of ongoing rein Cebu as a testament to its commitment to delivering the best satisfaction to customers forms is crucial to revive businesses and and dealerships. The 450-square-meter facility in Cabancalan, Mandaue City will provide give reason for start-ups and new vena more reliable service offering for Suzuki customers in the Visayas Region by enabling tures to develop. quicker parts delivery that enhances uptime within the competitive business landscape.

Policies in economic reforms should Attending the opening ceremony are (from left) Suzuki Philippines Visayas regional sales take precedence at this point in time to supervisor for motorcycles Engelbert Alinsug, general manager for after-sales service and “attract more foreign direct investments marine Tamotsu Shimizu and spare parts department head Nonito Dayandante. and support more modern and advance

By Othel V. Campos

Sports

Google aids SEA Games with AR, live updates, virtual exhibit GOOGLE brought the 31st Southeast Asian Games closer to the region’s 650 million people through live updates on the matches, scores, and tallies, including the latest trends across the 40 sports played in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Among the sports included this year was esports. This is the second time it has been included as a medal event in a multi-sport competition sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee after the Olympic Virtual Series–a lead-up event to the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.

The esports event covered eight games and ten events with Vietnam bagging 4 golds while Indonesia and the Philippines came home with 2 golds each.

While the majority of this year’s audience cheered their teams online, some were able to travel as quarantine restrictions eased in Southeast Asia. Here are some of the ways Google provided digital tools and experiences to help both online and on-site audiences enjoy the Games from wherever they are: Live updates with a dash of AR on Google Search The latest information on events, sports and players, country rankings, and medal tallies were made available on Google Search. As a tribute to where the Games were held this year, people who searched on their phones were treated to a 3D AR version of the Saola—one of the world’s rarest large mammals native to Vietnam.

A dedicated SEA Games Trends page was also put up for fans of sporting trends where Search stats on favorite moments were made visible. This was made available for six countries including the Philippines, along with a deeper focus on seven sports: badminton, basketball, chess, football, taekwondo, swimming and esports.

All the action live on YouTube Live events, clips and highlights from official SEA Games broadcasters were made available on their respective YouTube channels. A YouTube SEA Games Playlist included live feeds from local broadcasters including the Philippines’ TV5.

Ask Google Assistant for updates Missed the Games? Just ask Google Assistant for updates whether you’re using your phone, speaker, TV or other enabled device — Google Assistant will have all the important details.

Vietnam virtual tours with Google Arts & Culture If you were not able to experience the Games in real life, you can still take a virtual tour of the host country with 37 new exhibits in Google Arts and Culture’s Wonders of Vietnam feature. From astounding craft works to the world’s largest cave and cities packed with history and culture — see it all without leaving your chair.

Put Vietnam on your travel bucket list The Games may be over but that doesn’t mean you can’t travel in Vietnam in the near future. Put the beautiful host country in your bucket list and once there, make the most of your trip by keeping an eye on prices (just set up a “track prices” function on Google Flights) and find flights with a lower environmental impact using the Emissions filter.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

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BOXING GOLDS.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial (center), Ian Clark Bautista (left) and Rogen Ladon display the gold medals they won in the 31st SEA Games’ boxing competitions. Marcial made quick work of Timor Leste’s Delio Anzageci Mouzinho, forcing a refereestopped contest victory in the first round of the middleweight finals at the Bac Ninh Stadium.

Ladon edged Thao Tran Van of Vietnam, 3-2, in the men’s 52-kg division, and Bautista humbled Naing Latt of Myanmar, 5-0, in the men’s 57 kgs.

Fernandez hails best finish outside of PH since ‘83 tiffs H

ANOI—True to his word as the last man standing, national team chef de mission Ramon Fernandez stayed behind to represent the Philippine delegation that had its best finish in 39 years when it wasn’t the meet’s host for the closing rites on Monday of the 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian Games at the My Dinh National Stadium here.

Chef de Mission Ramon Fernandez

“We finished fourth place among 11 brother-countries in the region.

This is our best finish since 1983 (in the Singapore SEA Games when we placed second to Indonesia) in a SEA Games event outside the Philippines,” Fernandez claimed.

“This was an enlightening and educational experience for yours truly.

We fought as one and won as one!

Mabuhay ang atletang Pilipino!” he exclaimed.

With most of PH team members bound for or already at home, Fernandez was to be joined by his deputies Carl Sambrano and Pearl Managuelod of rollersports and muay thai, respectively, at the affair to be closed by Vietnam Sports, Culture and Tourism

Minister Nguyen Van Hung.

Also joining the event was Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who was to extinguish the Games Flame, as the curtain wrung down on the 31st edition of the biennial sports showcase held in the Vietnamese capital and neighboring provinces.

The Southeast Asian Games Federation flag will likewise be lowered and handed over to the representative of Cambodia, which will host the 32nd SEA Games in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh in May 2023.

The regional meet was supposed to be held last November but was delayed for six months due to the spike in COVID-19 cases that swept the region.

Sorely affected by the virus crisis was the build-up of the country’s campaigners, who fought an uphill but gallant battle in winding up fourth overall in the medal standings with 52 gold, 70 silver and 105 bronze medals, according to Fernandez.

As expected, Vietnam ran away with overall honors(205-125-116), Thailand was a distant second (92-103-136) and Indonesia third (69-91-81).

“As Chef de Mission, I am truly very

proud of this feat! Just as I thank my Philippine Sports Commission family headed by Chairman William Ramirez for their all-out support,” the PSC commissioner added.

“To Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino, maraming salamat po for giving me the honor to head the delegation. To my deputy CDMs Pearl Managuelod and Carl Sambrano and to everyone who contributed one way or the other, daghang salamat,” Fernandez said.

As one of his last functions as the head of the Philippine delegation, the PSC official attended the final CDM meeting the previous day, when Cambodian CDM Soksival Nhan thanked the Vietnamese organizers for their warm hospitality in the running of the Games.

“Nhan extended his personal invitation in welcoming all of the other 10 participating countries to the 32nd SEA Games in Phnom Pehn next year,” Fernandez said, adding that he would stay until today to see that all the PH team members are safely on their way back home before boarding his own flight back to Manila.

Chot takes blame; Gilas shakedown looms

By Peter Atencio FULL responsibility for the silver medal finish of Gilas Pilipinas in the 31st Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball tournament in Vietnam.

Unbeaten in the region for 31 years, the Filipino cagers fell to the Indonesians, 81-85, in the gold-medal match in a shocking result that is expected

to have repercussions on the Philippine team’s lineup, coaching staff and approach in its formation.

“Our players played their best. Indonesia came with a very good game plan.

They shot well from the three-point line. In

Chot Reyes

the end, we just couldn’t match it,” said Reyes after the match at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium on Sunday.

“Obviously that’s on me. I take full accountability and responsibility for the result. Like I said, they tried their best and that’s

sports. That’s life. Sometimes, things don’t work out the way we played,” added Reyes.

Team Pilipinas had trouble containing Indonesian big man in Marques Bolden, who finished with a teamhigh 18 points.

Gilas missed the services of talented cagers like Japeth Aguilar, Dwight Ramos, and Robert Bolick, with Aguilar out with an injury.

SEAG moments: Rock-star Reyes, Thai faster than Bolt Rock-star treatment HANOI—The 31st SEA Games in the VietEfren Reyes of the Philippines was given the kind namese capital Hanoi close later Monday after nearly two weeks of records, adulation and of reception usually more associated with rock stars than ageing pool players. marriage proposals.

With more than 100 professional titles to his name AFP Sport picks out five memorable moments: in a career spanning over four decades, the 67-year-old was mobbed by young fans eager to get a closer look and a selfie whenever their hero showed up.

Despite bowing out early from one event, hundreds of fans still chased the veteran player known as the ‘Magician’ as he left the building under a heavy security escort. “I love you!” they shouted as he waved regally from a bus.

He left the Games with one bronze.

Faster than Bolt Thai teenager Puripol Boonson blitzed the field in the men’s 100m and 200m to underline his status as a possible global sprint star of the future.

The 16-year-old twice broke the Thailand’s Puripol Boonson celebrates with his time after winning Games 200m record, his best time of the gold medal in the men’s 200m race during the 31st SEA Games. 20.37secs sealing his first gold, and the

fastest man (or teenager) in Southeast Asia is said to have run a 100m career best of 10.19sec.

“I have never seen someone from Asia move like that and at that age,” said retired sprinter U.K. Shyam, Singapore’s 100m national record-holder, according to The Straits Times.

“Just think: his time means he’s faster than Usain Bolt was when Bolt was 16.”

Golden timing A sport not usually associated with romance, a married Vietnamese chess couple each won gold in their categories at almost the same time.

Playing for the men’s and women’s rapid titles, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and his wife Pham Le Thao Nguyen claimed gold in their chess matches just minutes apart.

“We were always together in training. We supported and shared difficulties together,” Truong Son, 32, the youngest Vietnamese to be named a grandmaster, said.

“Now is the time for us to celebrate together.”

Stadium proposals There was something in the air too at Hanoi’s My Dinh stadium.

The Philippines’ Efren Reyes competes against Vietnam’s Tran Quyet Chien in men’s billiards 3-cushion event. AFP

Days after a spectator got down on one knee to ask his partner’s hand in marriage at the opening ceremony—she said yes—Vietnamese long jumper Nguyen Tien Trong did likewise with partner Nguyen Thi Phuong Trinh.

The sepak takraw competitor also said yes to cap quite a day for Trong—earlier he won gold for the hosts. AFP

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Sports

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

Thomas comeback seals PGA triumph

TULSA—Justin Thomas matched the greatest last-day comeback in PGA Championship history on Sunday, roaring back from seven strokes down at Southern Hills to capture his second major title.

The 29-year-old American defeated compatriot Will Zalatoris by one stroke in a tension-packed three-hole aggregate playoff after a heartbreaking 72nd-hole collapse by Chile’s Mito Pereira.

Pereira led all day only to hit his final tee shot into water and launch a double-bogey disaster at the 18th hole and hand Thomas the trophy.

“It was a bizarre day,” Thomas said.

“I was asked earlier in the week about what lead is safe, and I said, no lead.

This place is so tough.

“But if you hit the fairways you can make birdies and I stayed so patient. I just couldn’t believe I found myself in a playoff.”

Not since John Mahaffey’s sevenshot rally at Oakmont in 1978 had anyone made such a fightback to win the PGA Championship.

Thomas, who also won the 2017 PGA title, fired a three-under-par 67 in Sunday’s final round and Zalatoris, last year’s Masters runner-up, shot 71 to finish 72 holes deadlocked on fiveunder 275.

Zalatoris and Thomas each birdied the par-5 13th to open the playoff. At the par-4 17th, Thomas drove the green and two-putted for birdie from 36 feet while Zalatoris chipped to seven feet but missed his birdie bid.

At the 18th hole, Zalatoris missed a 40-foot birdie try and finished on oneunder while Thomas two-putted from 26 feet, tapping in for par and the victory on two-under.

“We just tried to play the golf course for what it is, and this place is so tough,” Thomas said.

Zalatoris settled for his fifth top-10 finish in eight major starts and a sense he’s near a breakthrough.

“I can do it. I’m pretty close,” said Zalatoris. “I battled like crazy today.

I’m close and super motivated. We’ll get one soon.”

Pereira shot 75 to share third with American Cameron Young on 276.

“It’s really sad to not be in the playoff,” Pereira said. “I wasn’t even thinking about the water. I just wanted to put it in play and I hit it too far right.

“I guess you have so much pressure in your body you don’t even know what you’re doing.”

The fate of Pereira, who missed the 2019 US Open cut in his only prior major, recalled the epic watery last-hole collapse of Frenchman Jean Van de Velde to lose the 1999 British Open.

“I was really nervous,” Pereira said.

“I tried to handle it a little bit, but it was really tough. Sad to hit it in the water. I wish I could do it again.”

The 27-year-old from Santiago twice squandered three-stroke leads before throwing away his chance at the last.

“He’ll be able to learn from it and be better from it,” Thomas said. “He played unbelievable golf this week.

There’s no reason to hang his head.”

Thomas had issues as well, shanking a tee shot at the par-3 six but making a 19-foot bogey putt.

“It was the best bogey I’ve ever made in my life, that’s for sure,” Thomas said.

While Pereira struggled, Thomas went on a birdie binge starting with a 12-foot putt to close the front nine.

Thomas holed out from 64 feet at the par-3 11th, sank a birdie putt from just inside 18 feet at 12 and blasted out of a bunker to inside four feet of the cup at 17.

Zamboanga 5 shows strength; Sarangani posts 2nd win

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrates during Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. AFP

Dubs on brink as Curry, Wiggins sink Mavericks D

ALLAS—Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins starred as the Golden State Warriors moved to the brink of the NBA Finals on Sunday with a 109-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

The clinical Warriors performance on the road in Dallas gives Steve Kerr’s team a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals series.

No team in the 75-year history of the NBA has ever successfully overturned a 3-0 series deficit in the playoffs.

Curry led the scoring for the Warriors with 31 points, 11 assists and five rebounds while Wiggins was exceptional with 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Klay Thompson also came up big with 19 points while Draymond Green and Jordan Poole added 10 points apiece.

Luka Doncic once again delivered a monumental display for Dallas with 40 points, but the Slovenian star will need to conjure something even more miraculous to prevent the Warriors from advancing to an NBA finals showdown against either Boston or Miami.

“That was just a great team win,” Curry

said afterwards.

“When you’re up 2-0 and you win on the road, it gives you a stranglehold and control of the series. That’s huge.

“We obviously know that the job’s not done, but it’s a good feeling to know that we can play with house money on Tuesday (in game four) and try and get the job done.”

Warriors coach Kerr paid tribute to Curry’s performance.

“Steph was brilliant tonight. His conditioning level is amazing,” Kerr said.

“He’s out there flying around defensively and then playing at such a high level on the offensive end. It’s remarkable to watch him play.”

Doncic defiant

Doncic meanwhile refused to concede that a Warriors series victory will now be a formality.

“It’s not over yet, but it’s not going to be

easy,” Doncic said. “The Warriors are not going to give you anything easy.

“Nobody had us being here in these Conference Finals. But I think the Warriors are playing incredible. Everybody knows their role.

“Everybody just stays together.

They’ve been together for a long time, and I think they’re playing good basketball, so that’s what I think is going to be really difficult.

“These past three games it’s been very difficult.”

After taking a 48-47 half-time lead, the Warriors took a decisive grip on the game in the third quarter.

Curry drained 11 points as the Warriors outscored Dallas 30-21 in the third to lead by 10 heading into the fourth at 78-68.

That margin proved to be enough as the Warriors maintained their composure during the fourth quarter to keep the Mavs at arm’s length.

Wiggins produced a highlight-reel worthy moment mid-way through the final quarter with a monstrous onehanded dunk over Doncic. AFP

Djokovic, Nadal launch French Open bids as Swiatek puts streak on line PARIS—Defending champion Novak Djokovic and 13time French Open winner Rafael Nadal start their Roland Garros campaigns on a star-studded Monday, while women’s favourite Iga Swiatek begins her quest for a second title in three attempts.

Unseeded Naomi Osaka faces a tough first-round test as she returns to Paris a year on from her dramatic withdrawal after she was fined and threatened with a Grand Slam ban for refusing to honour media commitments.

Djokovic plays Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan in the first of 10 night sessions—introduced at Roland Garros last year when a pandemic curfew saw most late matches played in front of empty stands.

It is the world number one’s first Grand Slam match since his high-profile deportation from Australia. He won his first title of the year at the Italian Open earlier this month.

“I feel I am always in that contention to fight for any Grand Slam trophy,” said Djokovic, who is seeded to meet Nadal in the quarter-finals and Spanish teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the last four.

Djokovic’s last match at a major was his loss to Daniil Medvedev in last year’s US Open final, a defeat which denied the Serb a calendar Grand Slam.

Nadal has yet to win a title on his beloved clay this season, but played down concerns over the chronic foot

issue that resurfaced in Rome.

“There is nothing to recover,” said Nadal who faces Austalia’s Jordan Thompson.

“What happened in Rome is something that happened very often in my practices.”

“I was suffering after that for a couple of days, but I feel better. That’s why I’m here.”

Nadal began the year with a 20-match winning run, capturing a second Australian Open title to claim a record 21st Grand Slam and move ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer.

The 35-year-old’s record at the French Open stands at a staggering 105 wins and just three losses since his 2005 title-winning debut.

Djokovic has been responsible for two of those defeats. One came in the bruising semi-final 12 months ago, the most recent clash of the pair’s epic 58-match rivalry.

All eyes on Swiatek, Osaka Swiatek, the 2020 French Open champion, takes on Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko in round one.

The 20-yearold from Poland has swept

ZAMBOANGA Family’s Brand Sardines flaunted its strength while Sarangani continued to spring surprises on Saturday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Showing why it’s one of the touted teams this year, Zamboanga trounced Caloocan Excellence Victory Liner, 9170, in its first stint in more than 2 years after taking a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vastly improved Sarangani Marlins thwarted the Rizal Golden Coolers Xentro Mall, 94-83, for their second straight win that gave them a share of the lead in the Southern Division, where the Zamboanguenos are also bracketed.

Zamboanga drew firepower from the Marcelino twins, Jayvee and Jaycee, big man Jhaymo Eguilos and Irven Palencia.

Jaycee fired 16 points while Jayvee contributed 14 to tow Eguilos and Palencia, who scored 10 each, in the wideopen game where they led by as many as 23 points, 91-68, with 39 seconds to go.

Caloocan got 26 points from 6-foot-1 guard Damian Lasco while Achie Inigo and Jomar Santos added 10 each.

Sarangani pulled away at 57-34 and was never headed as Kyt Jimenez sparkled with 20 points and 9 rebounds. Yvan Ludovice added 17 points ad Donald Gumaru for Coach John Kallos.

Laurence Paul Victoria scored 24 points, followed by Edgar Charcos with 11 and Christian Caldozo with 10 for Rizal.

aside all-comers and transformed herself into the player to beat in women’s tennis since the shock retirement of world number one Ashleigh Barty.

Swiatek has won her past five tournaments and is unbeaten in 28 matches dating back to Dubai in February. Her winning streak is the longest on the WTA tour since Serena Williams won 34 matches in a row in 2013.

“I’m aware that this streak is something that may be coming to an end soon, so I don’t want to be like heartbroken when it’s going to happen,” said Swiatek.

Japanese superstar Osaka admitted she was “worried” over her return to the French Open, fearing she had “offended” people when she controversially quit the 2021 tournament.

Osaka, a former world number one and four-time major winner, then took a break from the sport, revealing she had been suffering bouts of depression.

“I’m not going to lie. Like when I first came here, I was very worried,” the 24-year-old said last week.

“I was just kind of worried that there were people that I offended some way and I would just kind of bump into them.”

She opens against American 27th seed Amanda Anisimova, a semi-finalist in 2019.

Anisimova knocked Osaka out of the Australian Open in the third round this year. AFP

Tabuena joins hunt for ICTSI Splendido title

Miguel Tabuena

LAUREL, Batangas—Miguel Tabuena sets out for another title run on an exacting course where he has reigned twice, leading a stellar 60-player field in the ICTSI Splendido Taal Championship which reels off today (Tuesday) here.

Tabuena hopes to come out strong coming off a long break after edging Clyde Mondilla in sudden death to snare the ICTSI Luisita Championship last March. He vied in Thailand then skipped the next Philippine Golf Tour stop at Caliraya to campaign abroad but a travel snafu to Korea left him out of competitive play the last few weeks.

But he remains one of the fancied players in the P2 million championship given his talent and skills that have marked his rise to elite status since he nailed his first pro career victory here in 2012.

He repeated the feat in 2015 with the two-time Philippine Open winner racking up eight more victories, including the Queen’s Cup of the Asian Tour in 2018 and the Idaho Open for his first title in the US last year.

“The game is there but I just have to be more patient because I’ve not been playing as many tournaments as I want to,” said Tabuena during yesterday’s pro-am. “I’m excited to be playing again here. This is where I won my first pro event, so this (course) is very close to me. It’s just nice to be back here.”

Also back in the hunt is Zanieboy Gialon, whose emphatic four-stroke victory over Clyde Mondilla in last month’s Caliraya Springs Championship has put him back in the conversation after a long dry spell.

“Coming off a win certainly is a big boost to one’s confidence and I like my chances again this week,” said Gialon, who however is putting premium on putting as key to another title drive in the circuit or-

ganized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Others tipped to contend in the 72-hole championship are Jhonnel Ababa, Ira Alido, Michael Bibat, Lloyd Go, Reymon Jaraula, Tony Lascuna, Joenard Rates, Rupert Zaragosa and Mondilla.

Rains the past few days have softened the Greg Norman-designed course, rendering the hilly, challenging layout longer and more daunting, especially in the presence of the wind.

“Wet or dry, the key to scoring at Splendido is to be patient and they must play the course as is it is designed,” said Splendido Taal Golf Club general manager Bobby Chico.

Side by side with the PGT is the Ladies PGT with Chihiro Ikeda eyeing a second straight title after also snapping a long title drought with a three-stroke victory over Chanelle Avaricio at Mount Malarayat two weeks ago.

Entertainment Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange

Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

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‘Doctor Strange’ still reigns at the tills DOCTOR Strange in the Madness continued its North American theaters earning an $ 3 1 . 6 t h e

Multiverse of domination in this weekend, estimated million, while latest Downton Abbey came in a stately second, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

Marvel and Disney’s Strange,

Cignal, TV5 mark broadcast milestones with historic UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball finals THE recently concluded UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball final game was the most talked about sporting event last week following the UP Fighting Maroons’ historic win over the seemingly invincible Ateneo Blue Eagles squad, which ended UP’s 36year championship drought.

UAAP broadcast partner Cignal also marked its own milestones, with the UAAP finals series reaching millions of Filipinos via free-to-air channel TV5, while Cignal’s UAAP Varsity Channel leads the charge for OTT via the Cignal Play App, with recordbreaking numbers as well.

Sports fans of all ages who thronged the Mall of Asia for the intercollegiate basketball crown match between Ateneo and UP saw a heart-stopping game that was literally settled in the final seconds of Game 3. On TV5, the game registered an average minute rating (AMR) of 2.8 percent (10.45 SHR) or over 4 million audience reach and was the network’s highest-rated program on May 13. The live airing AMR peaked at 5.5 percent during the final minutes of the game.

Game 3 of the UAAP S84 men’s basketball finals was the highest-rated program on TV5 in the last three weeks, lifting the ratings up by 13 percent versus the previous weekday (May 6). On average, 1.3 million viewers tuned in every minute of the UAAP Finals Game 3 on TV5.

For OTT Streaming on Cignal Play, Game 3 also garnered over 333,000 site and app visits, with its peak at 30,000 concurrent users for the final minutes of the game, the highest traffic numbers for a live finals match since the app was launched.

The UAAP Varsity Channel remains to be a pillar driver of paid subscriptions for the app, which continued its coverage of UAAP Volleyball, and the Cheerdance Competition on Sunday, May 22.

Social media views and engagement were also remarkably boosted by their UAAP content, scoring over 700,000 YouTube views for the platform’s UAAP content.

Cignal boasts of a comprehensive coverage of UAAP Season 84 that allows fans to watch the games through different platforms – on free and pay television, desktop, and mobile.

The games are aired on free television via TV5 and One Sports (channel 59).

For Cignal subscribers, all UAAP games and related content are available on the UAAP Varsity Channel 263 in High Definition. More than just the Season 84 games, the channel also broadcasts classic UAAP matches and documentary-style shows that feature current UAAP athletes. Cignal Play, which caters to fans who opt to stream the games online, can be downloaded for free from Google Play store and the Appstore.

The UP Fighting Maroons are the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball champions

again starring Benedict Cumberbatch, has been a COVID-era star since its release three weekends ago.

It has now earned $342 million domestically and $461 million abroad for a global total of $803 million.

Downton Abbey: A New Era from Focus Features took in a solid $16 million. Perhaps not surprising given the huge popularity of the British TV series that inspired it, but nonetheless a sign that older moviegoers — the most reluctant to return to pandemic-era theaters — are beginning to do so.

Most of the original Downton cast — led by Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, and Michelle Dockery — appear in the sequel, which critics

have called an “affectionate group hug.”

In third 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 $6.1 million.

Paramount’s family-friendly Sonic the Hedgehog 2 slipped one spot from last weekend to fourth, at $3.9 million.

In fifth was A24’s new horror film Men, at $3.3 million.

Directed by Alex Garland, who made Ex Machina, and starring Jessie Buckley, it drew a rare low D+ grade from the CinemaScore site. AFP

Ian Veneracion, Ogie Alcasid formalize partnership

Ian Veneracion is exploring his career as a musician

O

GIE Alcasid’s ATeam Management has recently welcomed Ian Veneracion into its stable of stars.

The two made it official via a hybrid event where they talked about how the partnership started and what projects they have in the pipeline.

Ogie and Ian had collaborated a few times before they decided to take their partnership to a different level. They shared the stage in Kilabotitos and ATeam produced one of Ian’s concerts that happened before the pandemic.

Now, Ian plans to focus more on his singing career. Ogie, on the hand, wants to give Ian all the creative freedom for the latter to realize his plans while giving him all the support that he may be needing along the way.

Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, the duo said that “it was a Ogie Alcasid’s ATeam Management welcome Ian Veneracion with open arms natural process” for them.

“Para kaming that Tito Ogie and me, us Kilabotitos, nagliligawan and we thought that it’s about time to put a to visit our compatriots in the Middle label on our partnership,” Ogie said in East, in Europe,” he said, alluding to the concert they had in 2021. jest.

“As an artist, you have so many “I think It’s good that he feels ideas but sometimes there are comfortable, and it’s good that limitations that prevent he also wanted to formalize our you from making partnership. There was a point things happen. na nag-aantayan kame, I mean Now it makes we’re comfortable just working my job so much together or working on what easier because I he wanted to do. So, when he can concentrate initiated the talks, I realized that o n it’s time that we put a label on this partnership,” he explained.

Ian, who is celebrating his 40th year in the business, plans to explore his career as a musician, and with the help of Ogie, he’s excited to take his music to different territories where Filipinos crave more OPM performances and shows.

“I am very grateful to ATeam for their support in all aspects of my career. I would hope

the ideas that I have. I see so much potential in our partnership since they give me so much freedom to execute my plans,” he added.

Ian believes that it’s such a big help for any artist that they have a management that can help them hone their craft and see the creative possibilities.

As ATeam’s newest member, Ian shared that he is set to star in a new action series that will be available on Netflix. He also released a new single, “Ninuno” with A Team’s assistance.

“The song is also a call for action, it is dedicated to those that came before us, our ninuno, our ancestors. The song can be applicable to situations even today because its message revolves around a sense of honor, courage, and respect for others,” Ian explained.

The single, he further said, is also about our need to go back to our roots.

“So, it’s like reminding and sending questions to myself, mula sa mga ninuno natin — I think we come from a bloodline of warriors — paano tayo nagprogress, ano ba talaga nangyayari, you know, it throws a lot of questions there,” ended.

Ian Veneracion (left) and Ogie Alcasid finally puts a label to their partnership after years of collaboration

Viewers glued to their screens for NCAA Finals Opener Viewers were at the edge of their was anchored by Synergy Sports host De La Salle-College of St. Benilde. seats as defending champion Colegio Anton Roxas and Sports analyst Mikee “I would like to congratulate NCAA de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) and Reyes. Joining them was guest analyst basketball teams, from its players to Mapua University (MU) battled it out Benjie Paras. The awarding ceremony its coaching and support staff, for their during Game 1 of what is aptly called was hosted by Synergy Sports host sacrifice and hard work this Season 97.

You all made your schools proud. Your the “Battle of Intramuros” at the jam- Martin Javier. packed Filoil Flying V Centre in San “Game 1 between Letran and Mapua GMA Network, especially Synergy, Juan City. was really intense and we would like to will continue to work on providing our Playing catch-up for most of the thank all the NCAA fans who watched viewers the best NCAA coverage we The Letran Knights defend their title as champions game, the Letran Knights rallied late last Sunday. I would like to congratulate can offer, capturing hardcourt drama at during the NCAA Finals in the fourth quarter and seized the both the Letran Knights and Mapua its best. I would like to thank the NCAA COLLEGIATE basketball won last opener of the best of three series. Cardinals for giving us a very exciting community for their all-out support as Sunday as more viewers stayed glued With forward Rhenz Abando suffering finals,” shared NCAA Season 97 we continue to strengthen the NCAA to their TV screens during the Game an injury during the third period, his Management Committee Chairman as the premier athletic league in the 1 of the National Collegiate Athletic teammates led by Brent Parasio, Jeo Manuel Raymund Castellano, Jr. of Philippines and Asia,” said GMA Regional TV and Synergy First Association of the Philippines Ambohot, Fran Yu, and Mark Vice President and Head Oliver (NCAA) Season 97 Basketball Finals Sangalang played big to secure Victor Amoroso. the victory against the Mapua which aired live on GMA and GTV. Further heating up the Based on Nielsen Philippines’ Cardinals. basketball showdown was Julie The hardcourt action overnight data for May 15, the NCAA Anne San Jose who performed 97: Stronger Together Buo Ang Puso continues with Game 2 on during halftime.

- Finals Game 1 on GMA and GTV Sunday, May 22, with live recorded a combined average of 3.7 airing again on GMA and For more updates on NCAA, percent people rating in NUTAM GTV with the Cardinals’ visit its official website www.

(National Urban TV Audience solid numbers from Warren ncaa.com.ph.

Follow @ Bonifacio, Arvin Gamboa, Measurement). ncaaphilippines, @gmasynergy, This was way ahead of TV5’s PBA Brian Lacap, Adrian Nocum, The Mapua Cardinals during Game 1 of the NCAA Season 97 and @gmasportsph on social Gatorade Season 47 Draft, which only posted an and Jeric Pido. media.

Game 2 of the NCAA Finals Basketball Finals average of 1.6 percent people rating.

‘The Broken Marriage Vow,’‘2 Good 2 Be True’ most viewed on Viu, Netflix ‘2 Good 2 Be True’ stars Kathryn Bernardo (left) and Daniel Padilla

VIEWERS around the country are tuning in to ABS-CBN’s primetime series as The Broken Marriage Vow is consistently the most viewed Asian drama on Viu in the Philippines, while 2 Good 2 Be True lands on the number one spot in the Top 10 list for both TV series and movies on Netflix Philippines.

For The Broken Marriage Vow director Concepcion Macatuno, she is happy with the overwhelming support of Filipinos for the show, which recently began its second season.

“We are grateful that people continue to connect with the authenticity of our characters and their unfolding stories. Thank you for that. We are glowing and smiling with the love and support,” she said.

Meanwhile, 2 Good 2 Be True director Mae Cruz Alviar admitted that Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla were both doubting their acting skills during their first taping days.

“Kath and DJ told me during our first day taping that maybe they don’t know how to act anymore. They were so nervous because it’s been a long time since their last project,” she said.

She even recalled her exact conversation with Kathryn. “It was so simple. No dialogue, she just needs to look at the TV. She then did it but before I ended the scene, she shouted, ‘Ahhh!’ I asked her, ‘What’s wrong?’

She asked me if she was doing it right,” the “2G2BT” director said.

All their hard work has paid off as their show leads the hit global streaming platform in the country and has been trending worldwide.

Viewers should watch out for more intense scenes in The Broken Marriage Vow as the second season unfolds with heightened conflicts and confrontations. Currently, things are getting complicated as Dr. Jill (Jodi Sta. Maria) and David (Zanjoe Marudo) shared a night together leaving David’s wife, Lexy (Sue Ramirez), clueless. The two are also at war due to their son Gio’s (Zaijian Jaranilla) mental health problems.

On the other hand, viewers are slowly getting to know more about the lives of Eloy (Daniel) and Ali (Kathryn) in 2G2BT. As Eloy tries to locate Ali and uncover the evidence she has against him, he learns that she works at the same hospital where Mang Ben (Earl Ignacio) is

admitted. See how Eloy and Ali’s lives are entangled with each other.

Continue to watch advance episodes of The Broken Marriage Vow on Viu and iWantTFC. The series can also be seen on weeknights at 9:20 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

It is also available to viewers out of the Philippines on iWantTFC and The Filipino Channel (TFC) on cable and IPTV. Be the first ones to enjoy the advance episodes of 2 Good 2 Be True on Netflix. Viewers can also catch it weeknights, 8:40 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, Jeepney TV, and Cinemo.

A scene from ‘The Broken Marriage Vow’

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

C4

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

Reimagining casual gatherings with a dash of luxury

By Patricia Taculao

F

INALLY, after two years, the Philippines is returning to its everyday life before the COVID-19 pandemic kept everyone indoors for two long and arduous years. Today, people celebrate the opportunity to experience outdoor activities and relish in their newfound freedom.

Casual gatherings among friends, families, and loved ones returned and faced no backlash from others. Everyone treasured these simple moments and continued to explore other locations to make the most of their time and mobility.

Enhancing casual gatherings is the inspiration for the team behind the newly-opened Arcana Lounge in Promenade Mall in Greenhills, San Juan. It Guests can dine al fresco at Arcana Lounge provides a curated dining experience shared with those who matter the most.

Arcana Lounge prides itself in bringing a luxurious ambiance and experience at an affordable rate. It recently opened its doors to curious diners searching for new locations offering low-key luxury experiences without the extra cost. The venue has seats and private rooms that can accommodate small groups.

Yet the space isn’t the only thing about Arcana Lounge that diners will enjoy. Chef Edward Dimaculangan brings several favorites to the menu with A rack of lamb from Arcana Lounge’s menu is The dining area can accommodate small groups looking Chef Edward Dimaculangan ensures that all the meat and some modifications. He made from imported meat from New Zealand for a casual yet intimate gathering ingredients for their menu are bought fresh also emphasizes their attention to detail, from curating the raw materials to finalizfrozen, except for the rack (P1,945), truffle pasta (P575), and Aside from the dishes, Arcana member. ing the overall look and flavor pork and lamb, be- pizzas (P395 to P475). Other dishes, like Lounge also offers specially curated Those who want to enjoy long, hearty of the dish. cause nothing com- sisig rolls, sliders, buffalo wings, pork drinks and signature cocktails that conversations with great company at the “We’re one of pares with USDA ribs, and porterhouse steaks, are also have a shot or two. An example is Arcana Lounge will enjoy these drinks the chefs who take grade pork and New available on the menu. the Arcana Breeze (P320), which has and more, like its versions of Forgotten time to visit the Zealand lamb,” DiDimaculangan added that some dish- coconut rum and cranberry juice that Classics, including the rich Whiskey slaughterhouse maculangan said es, like the sisig rolls, are also served leaves a sweet flavor with just the Sour and refreshing Negroni. to pick out the during the opening with authentic Filipino flavors to honor right kick. Arcana Twister (P420), on Casual gatherings can take a step to seafood and the of Arcana Lounge the country’s diverse cuisine. the other hand, has a creamy yet re- the next level at Arcana Lounge, where meat [that comes] last May 18.

“I want the food to be a part of memo- freshing take on a favorite pineapple good food, good drinks, and good comstraight from the Some of the ries today, especially when we go out drink, giving guests a taste of summer pany make the experience worthwhile. source. We pride signature dishes and hang out with friends, but done in whenever they take a sip. Lastly, the ourselves in not Arcana Breeze is made with ingredients served at Arcana a method that’s a little bit on the high- Picnic cocktail (P420) has an unlikely For more information, visit Arcana buying anything like coconut rum and cranberry juice Lounge include lamb end,” he said. combination that makes it a treat to re- Lounge on Facebook and Instagram.

Life

Chilling outdoors at Wind Festival in Tagaytay

Friends and Families enjoy an outdoor picnic at The Strip at Wind, SMDC Wind Residences, Tagaytay City

FUN, food, and entertainment highlight the recent Chill at Wind festival at The Strip at SMDC’s Wind Residences, Tagaytay City.

Organized by SMDC Commercial Properties, the Chill at Wind festival was a series of enjoyable outdoor activities for families and friends, delicious food fair, and live performances topped with the cool breeze and comforting ambiance of Tagaytay’s weather.

The event also highlighted The Strip At Wind, a new hang-out place in Tagaytay, transformed into a festive and relaxing outdoor event place just as the economy has started opening up.

During the festival, foodies enjoyed a wide array of sweet and savory choices from food trucks like Chino Latino, Tacolicious, and CM’ Ice Scramble and refreshments from pop-up stores such as Clem’s Fruit Juice, and Dream A Latte. There were also comfort food options to satisfy one’s cravings from Pizza Kanina, Grab ’n Go, Hime’s Takoyaki, Grabstreat, Steak Garage, Chichagos, Munch Egg Dop, Ka Tunying’s. There were also fun fashion finds from Kokay Fashion for those in need of some retail therapy.

Residents, visitors, and local tourists sweat out during the Zumba sessions with ZST

Zumba sessions with ZST Dance Studio

Dance Studio. Likewise, kids were surprised with special creative activities such as free face and body painting as well as balloontwisting by Zen Events.

As the sun went down, music came alive with live acoustic performances by Dino Robles, Jaime Kliatchko, Jam & Thirdy, and other talented artists entertaining music lovers of all ages.

SMDC Wind Residences is an hour’s drive south of Manila into the lushness of Tagaytay. Experience a vacation within your own condo at SMDC Wind Residences as you enjoy the country club amenities like the clubhouse, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis court, and basketball court. In addition, the signature 5-star amenities in Cool Suites Tagaytay located also in Wind Residences makes it a perfect holiday home for those who enjoy cool winds and cozy weather.

The Strips at SMDC are strategicallyplaced commercial strips, complete with stores that cater to residents and

Live performance and music jamming with Jam & Thirdy during the SMDC Chill at Wind festival

visitors of SMDC condominiums. These retail strips provide residents with easy access to all things important such as grocery, pharmacy, laundry, grooming, and other personalized services, banks and restaurants providing utmost convenience that cater to residents’ basic needs and wants. It also organizes exciting events and activities like the Chill at Wind festival.

“This is just the beginning of a series of fun-filled activities and exciting new attractions we have prepared for the Tagaytay community and its visitors,” says Royston Cabuñag, Assistant Vice President of SMDC Commercial Properties. “We invite everyone to Chill at Wind and make it your new go-to destination in Tagaytay.”

The Chill At Wind festival is one of the many #GoodTimesWithTheGoodGuys The Strips at SMDC activities, follow www.facebook.com/SMDCTheStrips for upcoming events and latest updates.

The Chill at Wind festival by SMDC Commercial Properties is a weekend full of fun and exciting activities

Cebu Pacific goes green, uses sustainable aviation fuel on new jets CEBU Pacific (CEB) has used green fuel to power its brand-new Airbus A33NEO on its delivery flight from Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France, to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, becoming the first low-cost carrier in Asia to incorporate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into its operations.

The historic flight, with the Airbus330neo aircraft, departed Toulouse, France and was powered by a blended mixture of SAF and conventional fuel, before arriving on May 20, at the NAIA. The new aircraft is CEB’s third A330neo and is the greenest aircraft in the industry given its fuel efficiency and carrying capacity. CEB’s A330neo is configured with 459 seats in a singleclass layout and is fuel-efficient, achieving 25 percent less fuel burn than previous-generation aircraft.

CEB intends to use SAF for the delivery of two more A33neo aircraft later this year.

“This move to use SAF is a pillar of Cebu Pacific’s sustainable journey. SAF will be used for aircraft delivery and is a major component of our fleet modernization. This strengthens our drive to achieve our green goal of being carbon neutral by 2050,” said Alex Reyes, C h i e f Strategy Officer at Cebu Pacific.

SAF is a “drop-

in” replaceme​nt for fossil fuels, produced from renewable resources. The use of SAF results in an up to 85 percent reduction in carbon emissions across the SAF lifecycle. The chemical and physical characteristics of SAF are almost identical to those of conventional jet fuel and these can be safely mixed with regular jet fuel to varying degrees. SAF does not require any adaptations to the aircraft or engines, and does not have any negative impact on performance or maintenance.

The airline’s sustainability goal is aligned with global aviation’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

To respond to this challenge, CEB invested in appropriate technologies and is practicing fuel-saving and emission reduction strategies.

The airline’s three major pillars on its sustainable journey are fleet modernization which aims, among others, having an all-Neo fleet by 2027; resource optimization, which includes pushing for fuel efficiency best practices; and utilizing SAF by launching green routes by 2025 and using SAF for its entire network by 2030.

Cebu Pacific’s new Airbus A33Neo jet