Issuu

Amenah Pangandaman, Department of Budget and Management

Erwin Tulfo, Department of Social Welfare and Development

Naida Angping, Presidential Management Staff

Ivan John Uy, Department of Information and Communication Technology

Christina Frasco, Department of Tourism

5 more nominated to Cabinet

By Rey E. Requejo, Othel V. Campos, and Maricel V. Cruz

RESIDENT-ELECT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday named five more nominees for various department heads of the incoming administration.

In a press briefing, incoming press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said those nominated to Cabinet positions include Ivan John Uy as secretary-designate of the Department of Information and Communication Technology; Former Manila representative Naida

Angping, as secretary-designate of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS); Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Assistant Governor Amenah Pangandaman, as secretary-designate of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM);

Liloan Mayor Esperanza Christina Frasco, as secretary-designate of the Department of Tourism; and journalist Erwin Tulfo as secretary-designate of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Uy served as chairman of the Commission on Information and Communication and Technology in the Cabinet of former President Benigno Aquino III. He is also the current corporate secretary of the Philippine Chamber Next page

FRENCH VISIT. French Ambassador Michele Boccoz (second from left) stands beside

President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after the latter received the envoy and other diplomats on Monday. Also in photo are incoming Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez (beside Marcos) and other officials. French Embassy photo via Twitter (See story below)

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 107 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Appointment of top Comelec execs expires June 3 unless CA confirms By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo

LAST FULL CABINET MEETING. In this photo from the Facebook account of PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar, President Rodrigo Duterte (third from left) leads the first full Cabinet meeting ‘after two years of COVID-19 pandemic and, maybe, the last for the Duterte Administration,’ said Andanar.

THE Commission on Appointments deferred for a second time Monday the hearing on the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of five top officials in three constitutional commissions — including the Commission on Elections — to give the Presidentelect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the chance to pick his own appointees. In the wake of Monday’s deferment, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said he and four other officials of the constitutional bodies appointed by outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte would be valid only until June 3, 2022. Aside from Garcia, they are Comelec Commissioner Aimee Torrefranca-Neri, Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan, Commission on Audit Chairperson Rizalina Noval Justol, and Civil Service Commission Chairman Karlo Alexei Nograles. “Based on the definition of ad interim against a regular appointment, the ad interim appointment is valid because Congress was not in session when we were appointed. The appointment is valid until the next Next page

DepEd looks to next year for full Marcos to inherit an agri sector ‘gasping for breath’ implementation of F2F classes By Othel Campos and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday the country is ready for a full and nationwide implementation of the face-to-face classes next year, but the modalities may still vary depending on their locations. At the Laging Handa Public briefing, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said

around 73.28 percent of the total number of public schools have already been deemed qualified for in-person learning. “In the next academic school year, we’re expecting that the face-to-face implementation will be fully 100 percent, but again, I just want to emphasize that

THE administration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will inherit an agriculture sector that has been “underbudgeted, neglected all

these 30 years,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said Monday – including almost three years under his helm. “It’s gasping for breath, and we need sizable budgetary support to make it possible to really now unlock the potential of Philippine agriculture,” said Dar,

Singapore, France, Britain, EU ambassadors meet with BBM

By Rio N. Araja

By Rey E. Requejo

OATH OF OFFICE. Lakas-CMD President and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez

(2nd left) administers the oath of office of Duterte Youth Party-List Rep. Drixie Mae Cardema (2nd right) on Monday. Looking on (from left) are Usec. Ronald Cardema and incumbent Duterte Youth Rep. Ducille Marie Cardema. Ver Noveno

Duterte ready to go home, finishing packing things to leave Palace A MONTH before he returns to being “Citizen Digong,” President Rodrigo Duterte has already started packing up his things in Malacanang, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said. And while the Palace earlier said

there was no legal impediment for Duterte to join the next administration as anti-illegal drugs czar, the outgoing commander in chief seems bent on enjoying his retirement from politics. “He is almost done [packing up]. Two

Leni greets Sara for her win, sets smooth transition

and the European Union during separate courtesy calls at the BBM headPRESIDENT-elect Ferdinand quarters in Mandaluyong City. First to visit Marcos was Gerard “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Monday received ambassadors from Singa- Ho, Singapore Ambassador to the Next page pore, the United Kingdom, France,

who was appointed DA chief in 2019. “I would’ve been much happier if agriculture would have been properly budgeted,” he added. Dar, a vocal supporter of Marcos Jr., has consistently said he is willing to serve

or three months ago, he has already sent aldea said. his personal things to Davao,” Medial“He said he was going to teach in dea said. Davao,” he added. Duterte, whose six-year term will end Duterte, a lawyer by profession, on June 30, might teach in his home- graduated from San Beda College. town after he leaves the Palace, MediNext page

OUTGOING Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday reached out to Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio to ensure a smooth turnover between them on June 30. In a letter, Robredo congratulated Duterte-Carpio on her proclamation as the country’s 15th Vice President and said she is ready to meet the VPelect’s transition team. “We respectfully acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 27 May 2022 requesting an initial meeting between our respective teams,” her letter to the current Davao City mayor read. “Please be advised that we are ready Next page

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TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022

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House OKs bills ahead of June 6 close By Maricel V. Cruz

HE House of Representatives on Monday approved several measures as the 18th Congress is set to adjourn sine die on June 6.

Michelin Guide tagged Kasama as one that “reflects their training, experience, and heritage for an experience that is ambitious, clever, and distinct.” On April 7, 2022, Kasama became the first Filipino-themed restaurant to win a Michelin star, an award given by the Michelin Guide recognizing culinary excellence considering the quality of ingredients, the harmony of flavors, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed in their cuisine, and the consistency of the entire menu. Filipino chef Timothy Flores and his wife Genie Kwon opened the restaurant in 2020 in the East Ukraine Village in Chicago highlighting contemporary cuisine.

Meanwhile, voting 186-0, the House approved on the third and final reading House Bill 1081 which establishes the archipelagic sea lanes (ASLs) in the Philippine archipelagic waters. The bill once enacted hopes to prevent arbitrary international passage in the Philippine archipelago. Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez, the bill’s author, said the bill is consistent with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to which the Philippines is a signatory. The lower chamber also passed on final reading House Bill 10802 which expands the coverage of compulsory insurance for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Among the measures approved was the proposed Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, amendments to the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995 (Republic Act 8042), and the proposed No Contact Traffic Apprehension Act. The House led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez also adopted a resolution congratulating a Filipino restaurant in the United States

for receiving a Michelin star. House Resolution 2573, with Velasco as one of the principal authors, recognized Kasama, a restaurant based in Chicago, Illinois for “representation of how both traditional and modern elements of Filipino cuisine, through its ingredients, flavors, and cooking techniques can be harmonized to create dishes which are representative of Filipino culture and heritage.” In the resolution, it noted The

Appointment... From A1

COVID-19 cases go higher in NCR, more jabs urged

adjournment of Congress... and well technically, the next adjournment of Congress is June 3, so therefore, it would appear that the validity of our appointment will be only until June 3, unless the CA gives us the confirmation,” Garcia said. During the hearing, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moved for the deferment of the hearing to afford President-elect Marcos the opportunity to pick his own appointees. Zubiri, who won a second term in the Senate running under the Marcos banner, cited a precedent in February 2016 or during the last year of the administration of late President Benigno Aquino III, in which former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile invoked Section 20 of the CA rules on the appointments of officials for constitutional offices and members of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). During that time, Zubiri noted the CA had given the then-incoming administration of President Rodrigo Duterte a free hand to choose the officials for some constitutional commissions. To avoid wasting time, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III proposed that confirmation hearings be done on a case-to-case basis, but Zubiri insisted instead that the matter be taken up on Wednesday or the last day of the CA session. In a separate development, the Comelec has subpoenaed nearly 1,000 people for alleged involvement in vote-buying. Around 400 reports from the field have been submitted with supporting evidence, while disqualification cases are now up for resolution after the respondents lodge their answers, Garcia said. “In the case of vote-buying, we have almost 1,000 cases being investigated, and we have several subpoenas issued too, requiring the respondents to explain,” Garcia said in an interview over ANC’s Rundown news channel. Based on data from its anti-vote buying task force, the Comelec received over 1,000 vote-buying reports from its Facebook page and email. “We cannot act on just mere complaints. As we have said, we need supporting evidence and someone who will testify against the vote buyer,” said Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino. However, the Comelec said investigations for other alleged cases of election fraud are underway and it would be transparent with the cases. “In the case of other fraud, like for example, the presence of this garbage in one area in Cavite, and the data breach that happened, these are ongoing investigations but definitely, I can promise you, we will come up and we will be very open and transparent to reveal to the public what happened and transpired in these investigations,” Garcia added. The Comelec on Monday shut down the automated election system (AES)

Singapore,... From A1 Philippines at around 9 a.m., followed by UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils. At around 11 am, European Union Ambassador Luc Vèron also paid Marcos a visit, followed by Ambassador Michelle Boccoz of France, who arrived at about noon. During their private meetings, the envoys vowed to strengthen their countries’ ties with the Philippines in trade and diplomacy, as well as their common interests in democracy, self-determination, and economic recovery. Singapore Ambassador Ho faced the media following his meeting with President-elect Marcos to discuss his short meeting with him. “As you know, Singapore and the

THE Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday 1,317 new COVID-19 cases from May 23 to May 29, 8.8 percent higher than the cases reported the previous week. According to the DOH’s weekly case bulletin, the daily case average for the week was 188. From May 16 to 22, DOH recorded 1,214 cases for an average of 173 per day. This developed as the National Capital Region’s reproduction rate has in-

creased to 1.08 in the recent week, but the area remains under low-risk classification for COVID-19, the OCTA Research Group said Monday. Also, a member of the inter-agency task force technical working group said Monday the Philippines should pick up the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations amid early signals of another COVID surge. The DOH also reported 12 new severe and critical cases but with zero deaths last week.

Some 4,073 or 17.2 percent of non-intensive care unit beds are occupied while 459 or 16.8 percent of ICU beds are in use. Data also showed that 679 or 12.3 percent of COVID-19 admissions are in severe and critical condition. OCTA Research said that the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded a “very slow” increase in COVID-19 infections in the recent week as its daily case average went up by 2 percent from the previous week. Willie Casas

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The daughter of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Frasco also served as the spokesperson of incoming Vice President Inday Sara Duterte in the May 9 elections. The DOT welcomed the designation of Frasco and expressed hope that the momentum generated in the last few months towards the revival and recovery of the tourism industry would be carried over to the new administration. Tulfo, a broadcaster and newspaper columnist, has long been known for helping through his “action center,” which became a refuge and destination for the poor and oppressed. “I know that there’s a lot of work waiting at the DSWD. What I can promise is that I will try my best to serve our poor countrymen and those who are in need,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page. Tulfo is the brother of incoming Senator Raffy Tulfo, who also rose to fame for his TV porgrams. Meanwhile, incoming Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said he would take a more liberal approach to the work-fromhome hybrid arrangement by allowing companies to decide on the proposed formalization of the 30/70 work set-up based on the viability of their businesses. In an interview Monday, he said the nature of business will determine how the set-up works per industry. “It will depend on the business of the company we’re talking about. If it’s a manufacturing company definitely has to

be on site. If it’s work that requires more mental inputs, then that work can be done anywhere you are,” Pascual said. “My position there is we leave it up to the management of the company to decide what’s best for them, and I think they will pick the best decision because their decisions will be anchored on the viability of their business,” he added. Pascual said the work ratio is something that the DTI cannot and should not regulate, adding that the proposed set-up can be used as a guideline without forcing its application on all industries. He said while he understands the value of having people go to their workplaces to spur the economy, the proposal can be supported “without being heavy-handed when some are dictating how to manage the modality of work.” Also on Monday, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas described the members of the Marcos Cabinet as “forwardlooking, proactive, and competent.” “The appointments give us confidence that the Filipino people will be in good hands. This is a Cabinet that will help our President-elect fulfill his promises to our countrymen and address whatever challenge may lie ahead,” Vargas said in a statement. “Having known and worked with most of them in Congress and in my advocacies, I know that the incoming Cabinet will be an excellent and credible team composed of men and women who are forward-looking, proactive, and competent,” he said.

of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), is a Humphrey fellow of the University of Minnesota, and is a well-known information technology (IT) law expert and a regular resource person for both houses of Congress on IT matters. Uy vowed to focus on the digital infrastructure, which was among Marcos’ main programs and campaign promises. “The president-elect’s vision of a digitally empowered citizenry actively participating in the increasingly digital economy would greatly help address nagging issues on poverty, job creation, bridging the digital divide making us globally competitive,” Uy said. Angping served three terms as a congresswoman in the third district of Manila. She also served as technical assistant of the Office of the Governor of Leyte and executive assistant of former China, Saudi Arabia, and US Ambassador Benjamin Romualdez. Pangandaman led various government offices before landing the role of managing director of the Office of the Governor and Executive Offices of the BSP in 2019. She is also a former assistant secretary of the DBM and former chief of staff of the late Senate President Edgardo Angara. Frasco recently won a second term as mayor of Liloan, a first-income-class municipality in Metro Cebu.

under the incoming administration. “If offered, I am there to serve this incoming leadership. If given the chance,” he said. On Monday, Dar led the launching of the P2.5-trillion National Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan (NAFMIP) 2021-2030 which aims to serve as a directional plan for the sector’s growth in the coming years. The plan targets to have at least a P250 billion budget annually for 10 years, for a total of P2.5 trillion. In particular, the fisheries sector, Dar said, needs a budget of P12 billion, triple its current budget of P4 billion. “That’s the level of budget we need in agriculture…We’re having strides in most areas, we can do much more

if we’re given the right budgeted support,” he said. “We recommit to ensuring that our economy is a place where all farm and fisher communities can thrive. And it is a whole-of-government effort. Our vision of food sovereignty cannot be achieved without a mature, industrialized economy and harmonized food systems,” Dar added. With NAFMIP, Dar said the succeeding leadership will not start from scratch as the plan can be further strengthened and translated into various programs, projects, and activities in the near-term, medium-term, and long-term. According to the DA, NAFMIP is by far the most comprehensive development blueprint for the agriculture sector since the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997. “It is a strategic plan that defines the directions, strategies, and priorities in

Philippines are friends and close partners. (Our) countries are both founding members of ASEAN and successive generations of Singaporean and Philippine leaders have worked together for the peace and prosperity of the region,” Ho said. “In fact, during our conversation earlier with the President-elect, we talked about all the conversations our founding father Mr. Lee (Kuan Yew) and his father, Mr. Ferdinand Marcos (Sr.) had talked about when we were discussing developments in the region and working together on it,” Ho added. The Singapore envoy also discussed the economic reforms between the two Asian countries. “I think with the resumption of crossborder travel, as well as the passage of a lot of significant economic reforms in the PH, we are hopeful that we continue

to grow this bilateral economic relationship with the PH and it will continue to flourish,” the ambassador noted. “We see a lot of growth potential in the Philippines, and we hope to see more and more Singapore companies coming into the Philippines’ market,” Ho added. He also confirmed that Singapore President Halimah Yacob invited Marcos to visit their country. However, he clarified there are no details for that as of yet, as they are still discussing the schedule of the two leaders. “I have also mentioned and reiterated that invitation in the earlier meeting with President Marcos,” Ho told reporters. Yacob reportedly made the invite via the congratulatory letter she sent to Marcos following the May 9 elections. A state visit is the most formal form of visit a head of state can do to a foreign country.

Marcos... From A1

developing and growing Philippine agriculture with the objective that we are able to transform and unlock the potential of Philippine agriculture,” Dar said. According to the DA planning team led by planning and research undersecretary Fermin Adriano, the NAFMIP’s guiding goals are raising profitability and total incomes, promoting consumer health and nutrition, and enhancing environmental sustainability and resilience. “Triple the budget to at least P250 billion a year. Absent that, I cannot propose better solutions,” Adriano said. “Investing in our farmers and fisherfolk is investing in a future of economic growth and prosperity for all Filipinos,” he added. The looming food crisis, which the DA said was ascertained by experts and analysts worldwide, can be attributed to the disruption of the global supply chain due to the Ukraine-Russia crisis.

Leni... From A1 to meet to answer any questions you may have regarding the Office of the Vice President and to take all necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition,” Robredo added. She instructed her chief of staff, Undersecretary Philip Dy, to communicate and coordinate directly with the incoming vice president’s team. “Warmest congratulations on your proclamation as the 15th Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines,” Robredo wrote. The Vice President returned to the country this week from New York where she attended the graduation of her youngest daughter, Jillian. Meanwhile, the incoming education

Diesel up P1.20/l, but gas, kerosene pump prices down By Alena Mae S. Flores THE country’s oil firms implemented a mixed adjustment in pump prices anew to reflect the movement prices in the world oil market. The firms set a hike of P1.20 per liter for diesel and P2.45 per liter for kerosene but cut the price of gasoline by P1.70 per liter. “Petron will implement the following price adjustments effective 6 a.m. on May 31: P1.70/li rollback for gasoline; P1.20/li increase for diesel and P2.45/li increase for kerosene. These reflect movements in the international oil market,” the country’s biggest oil company said. Seaoil Philippines, Chevron Philippines, PetroGazz, PTT Philippines, Cleanfuel, and Total Philippines issued separate advisories of their latest oil price movements. Other oil companies are expected to follow. The world oil market remained volatile due to the Ukraine-Russia crisis. Reports of China emerging from several weeks of COVID-19 lockdown, which could trigger an increase in demand, and the start of summer driving season in the US also fueled higher prices. Last May 24, the oil companies raised the prices of gasoline by P3.95 per liter, in contrast to diesel and kerosene, which dropped by P2.30 and P2.45 per liter, respectively. These resulted in the year-to-date adjustments to stand at a net increase of P25.55 per liter for gasoline, P29.10 per liter for diesel, and P25.20 per liter for kerosene, according to data from the Department of Energy.

DepEd... From A1 the modalities of face-to-face vary in every situation in schools, depending on their local governments,” she said. As of May 26, some 34,238 schools have been nominated for the face-toface classes, over 33,000 of them are public schools while the remaining 1,174 are private schools. DepEd Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio explained that at 100 percent, schools nationwide will be encouraged to have in-person schedules included in the “blended learning” setup. “We are calling on all schools to implement face-to-face classes, but we are looking at a blended (setup), there are days for face-to-face, and there will be days allowed for home-based learning for kids,” he said in Filipino.

Duterte... From A1 Medialdea said this week’s Cabinet meeting will likely be the last as the Presidential Transition Team prepares for a smooth turnover for the administration of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Last week, acting deputy presidential spokesperson Kristian Ablan said while the decision to join the Marcos Cabinet is up to Duterte, many believe the outgoing President is looking forward to his retirement. “When it comes to that, there is no legal impediment for a former president to assume an executive position in the executive branch. Now whether President Duterte will accept that is up to him,” he said. “As far as we know, the President is looking forward to his retirement,” he added. leadership, under Vice President-elect Duterte-Carpio, must continue pursuing education equity for all learners, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said on Monday. President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had tapped his running mate, DuterteCarpio, to succeed Briones on July 1, which the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte accepted. At the Laging Handa public briefing, Briones cited the Duterte administration’s legacy of expanding opportunities for learners under the Alternative Learning System and the Last Mile Schools Program. “This is truly expanded, the budget of the Department of Education became higher because this was given additional support by President Duterte, this alternative learning system,” she said.

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TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Senate majority bloc nixes term-sharing T By Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE scramble is on for the majority leadership of the Senate and it looks like term-sharing is not an option.

“It still has to be discussed because I have members of the bloc who don’t want the term sharing,” Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said in an interview with reporters on Monday. He referred to their group as the “majority of the majority,” but refused to re-

veal their numbers. “I don’t want to say anything that will burn bridges that will put a wedge in our friendship. Even the numbers, it’s difﬁcult to say... the sniping and poaching are so grave, the calling in the midnight hour,” Zubiri said. Zubiri added however that would sit down with Sen. Cynthia Villar, a strong contender for the same position, and “we will see what is best.” He said a lot of things would happen in the next few days. Zubiri also disclosed that in a talk with President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, the incoming Chief Executive wanted to shape up the leg-

islative agenda and instructed him and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, who is being eyed as the next House Speaker, to sit down. “He (Marcos) asked for my help and who I am to say No,” Zubiri said, adding he was committed to help the Marcos administration whether or not he will be the Senate President. He noted that Marcos wanted to hit the “ground running”- to immediately work... he doesn’t think of vacationing, but working at once. What is important is- we are ready to help the new President, the new administration. We don’t want failures. “Remember, the success of the presi-

dency is the success of everyone,” he emphasized. Zubiri also said he talked to Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on the majority leadership issue. “I told him, partner, at the end of the day we should be together. Deﬁnitely, people like Sen. Bong Go, Sen. Francis Tolentino will still have to be in the supermajority. That’s what I have been doing...” Zubiri said, adding that the three committed to join him in the supermajority along with comebacking Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero. He said he would talk to Sen. Imee Marcos anytime this week. On committee chairmanships, he dis-

IN BRIEF

PH renews call to end Russia-Ukraine armed conflict

NCRPO bares 3-month accomplishment

By Rey E. Requejo THE Philippines has renewed its call for the cessation of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia during an economic forum where senior officials from Russia were present. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Daniel Espiritu made the call during the 18th ASEAN-Russia Senior Officials’ Meeting (ARSOM) held on May 23 via video conference. When the officials tackled regional and international issues, Espiritu joined the call to “strongly urge the parties to the Ukraine-Russia conflict to exert all efforts for the cessation of hostilities, to de-escalate the situation, and continue serious dialogue and diplomacy to settle disputes.” Espiritu also shared the ASEAN’s call for respect for principles to address the humanitarian crisis and safe access to humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. The DFA official also expressed the Philippines’ view that Russia as a dialogue partner should maintain its standing and representation in ASEAN meetings. “But we continue to reiterate to all of our external partners that no one should be allowed to disrupt or derail ASEANled activities, exclude any partner from them or to destroy the ASEAN process. Member inclusivity, and more importantly, ASEAN centrality should be maintained,” he Espiritu stressed. Espiritu emphasized the need to build back better after the pandemic by enhancing trade and investments between ASEAN and Russia. He stressed the need for regional infrastructure as well for ASEAN societies to keep up with the rapid changes in digitalization. He also pushed for the review of ongoing cooperation and the future direction of ASEAN-Russia dialogue relations across political, economic, and socio-cultural security.

CA NOD, FINALLY. Newly promoted generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines posed for posterity with Senators

Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (center) and Cynthia Villar after getting the much-coveted confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

MMSP set to start construction next month By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday said construction of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) will start next month. “Once we put down the tunnel boring machines, the actual construction of the [MMSP] will start in the ﬁrst week of June,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in a forum. Construction of the MMSP’s partial operability section from Valenzuela to North Ave. is in full swing, and the project’s ﬁrst two (out of 25) tunnel boring machines arrived in 2021. The agency expects the partial operability of the subway project between 2025 and 2026. Tugade gave assurance assured that the project would continue under the new administration as funds were al-

ready in place. The government has secured a total of 848 billion yen (P376.6 billion) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to fund the project. Tugade added that most of the contracts for the project have already awarded and the right of way acquisition started. The proposal for a subway in Metro Manila was ﬁrst developed in 1973 under the Urban Transport Study in the Manila Metropolitan Area. When Tugade took over the helm of the DOTr in July 2016, the MMSP project did not have a complete feasibility study, did not have the NEDA board investment approval, did not have any ﬁnancing, and did not have a single awarded contract. The MMSP was approved by the NEDA board in September 2017, its first tranche loan was signed in March 2018 and its first contract

was awarded in November 2018. The 33-kilometer subway, dubbed as the “project of the century” stretches from Valenzuela in the north to NAIA Terminal Terminal 3 and the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) in the south. The project is expected to reduce travel time between Quezon City and NAIA from one hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes. It is expected to serve around 370,000 passengers a day in its ﬁrst year of full operations, with capacity to serve up to one million passengers a day in later years. The MMSP is physically interconnected and inter-operable with the North-South Commuter Railway System’s (NSCR) south segment, enabling passengers to board the subway train, for example, in North Ave. Station of MMSP and get off at the Calamba Station of NSCR.

Nurses demand equal pay in private, public hospitals THE Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) demands equal pay in public and private hospitals due to the increasing number of Filipino healthcare workers going overseas for higher wages. The PNA said the incoming administration should look into implementing the proposed Philippine Nursing Act which would equalize the pay of nurses in public and private hospitals. Nurses in public hospitals in the Philippines are expected to earn P30,000 to P40,000 monthly, but can earn as much as four times overseas, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said. “As much as we wanted na hindi ito ang maging [for this not to be the] solution, but this is the most realistic solution that our nurses are seeing in this situation,” PNA president Melvin Miranda said in a report

GEARING UP FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY. Workers install

Philippine flags on lamp posts along Epifanio de los Santos Ave. in Caloocan City in preparation for the country’s observance of its 124th Independence Day anniversary. Joey O. Razon

closed that Sen. Sonny Angara will retain the ﬁnance committee “as he has been fair, forthright, and transparent.” He said the Senate Pro Tempore should be a senior member, possibly referring to Sen. Loren Legarda. The Blue Ribbon Committee, Zubiri said, would eventually go to a lawyer. “There are ﬁve or six lawyers left... it is best suited for a lawyer. There are certain committees that should be handled by a lawyer, like the Committee on Justice,” Zubiri said. According to him, his personal choice for Majority Leader is Sen. Joel Villanueva.

on GMA on Sunday. “The government can take into consideration ‘yung how they can subsidize these private healthcare institutions on a plan where these private institutions to be subsidized accordingly para ma-establish ‘yung need na pagtransition if ever ipapantay na natin [we will equalize],” Miranda said. Based on the current guidelines, the Philippines can only deploy up to 7,000 nurses given the current environment as the country continues to face risks brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Beyond that, we cannot deploy anymore. And besides, if only the private hospitals will follow the minimum wage for our nurses, I am sure hindi na aalis ‘yung ating mga nurses [our nurses won’t leave anymore),” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in the same program. Willie Casas

THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has arrested more than 5,000 drug dealers and seized more than P629 million worth of prohibited drugs in its relentless anti-narcotics campaign in Metro Manila over the last three months. NCRPO records showed that from March 1 to May 28, 2022, a total of P629,935,572 worth of illegal drugs was confiscated under the leadership of NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad. The document also showed that 2,779 anti-drug operations were conducted during the same period, resulting in the seizure of 92,083 grams of shabu worth P626,164,434; along with 30,076 grams of marijuana with a street value of P3,609,138; ecstasy, P13,600; and cocaine, P148,400. These operations also led to the arrest of 5,098 suspected drug dealers and their accomplices. In the anti-gambling drive, the NCRPO conducted 1, 392 police operations yielding 4,121 people arrested, and confiscate a total of P783,299 gambling bets confiscated. Natividad reiterated his warning against criminals and law offenders whom he described as “threats to the peace and tranquility of the nation’s capital.” “We are serious in our fight against all forms of criminality, illegal drugs, gambling, terrorism and corruption. We will not cease until we totally eradicate the long running societal problems of the region,” he said. Joel Zurbano

Marawi City to have sanitary landfill ENVIRONMENT Secretary Jim Sampulna on Monday vowed the completion of an engineered sanitary landfill in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur by end of June. The construction of a sanitary landfill in barangays Malimuno and Kasanayan in Kapai town would help “protect the health of the Maranao children and guard against groundwater contamination,” he said. “The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is moving forward toward the completion of an engineered sanitary landfill under its solid waste management program as prescribed in Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001,” he noted. The land used as an open dum in Barangay Papandayan would be rehabilitated and converted into good use, the DENR cited. Through RA 116961 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022, DENR determined the most affected areas through social cartography or mapping as the lead agency in the Land Resource Management Sub-Committee of Task Force Bangon Marawi. The law serves as “one of the information sources for updating postconflict needs assessment,” Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Michelle Angelica Go said. Under the program Katagombalay, DENR was able to validate 3,914 property claims, allowing owners to undertake reconstruction. Rio N. Araja

Las Piñas rolls out vax campaign for babies

TUTORS ACTING UP. Some members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) stage a protest action at the gate of Senate in Pasay City demand passage of a bill granting them tax-exempt pay for poll duties. Danny Pata

Comelec junks United Senior Citizens registration, shelves party-list victory THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has denied the petition for registration of the United Senior Citizens (USC), hence, its nominee was not included in the proclamation of the winning party-list groups. The Comelec 2nd Division, in a 22-page decision, cited several reasons for the rejection of the USC registration. The resolution, posted last December, is under appeal, with a ruling expected before the 19th Congress opens on July 1. The resolution stated that the group failed to prove that they were organized at least a year before they ﬁled their petition

for registration. A leader of the USC asserted that they were organized in 2020, not in 2018. He also claimed that his signature in the resolution of the group was falsiﬁed. The poll body also cited a document from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Project Management Bureau stating that the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines (FSCAP) was funded annually. This violated Comelec ruling mandating that a party-list group should not accept funds from any government agency.

THE Las Piñas City government has started its vaccination program for babies up to 23 months old against various diseases. The local government is targeting inoculating 4,000 infants to protect them against illnesses, including tuberculosis, measles and polio. The Department of Health (DOH) spearheaded the program dubbed Chikiting Vaccination that aims to reach young people who have not been inoculated with fundamental vaccines or those who have not yet completed vaccinations due to lockdown. Representatives from the DOH personally visited Barangay CAA on the ﬁrst day of the program for monitoring and evaluation. The vaccination will last until June 10 in twenty barangays until the number of infants who will be given the free vaccine is reached. Mayor Mel Aguilar and Vice Mayor April Aguilar earlier instructed the City Health Ofﬁce to focus on the vaccination to provide additional protection to the young people so that they can also be resistant to other diseases. Joel Zurbano

PhilHealth getting P34.99b for better packages via UHC

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022

News

By Willie Casas

TATE insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will get some P34.99 billion in 2023 to improve its benefit packages under the Universal Healthcare Act. The development comes as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) on Monday signed a joint circular on the guidelines for the remittance of funds for the Universal Healthcare Law. Under the law, 50 percent of the government’s share from the income of Pagcor and 40 percent of PCSO funds will be transferred to the Bureau of Treasury and then to PhilHealth through the General Appropriations Act to improve its benefit packages. From 2019 until 2021, the PCSO and Pagcor have accumulated some P1.66 billion and P33.332 billion, respectively, to fund the UHC Law. “Our fund pool for PhilHealth’s individual-based services is ready and available and shall be released promptly consistent with the DOF (Department of Finance), DBM (Department of Budget and Management), DOH (Department of Health), Pagcor, PSCO, PhilHealth UHC remittance guidelines,” PCSO chairman Anselmo Pinili said in a press briefing. “Your P20 bet… is not a wager, but a contribution to the health programs of the government. At PCSO, your bet is for charity,” he said. PhilHealth said the following were among the benefit packages that will be improved: • Select medical and surgical proce-

Bill exempting poll honoraria from tax passes in Senate, Du30 signing eyed SENATORS have approved a bill that would exempt election period service honoraria and allowances from income tax. Voting 17-0-0, the Senate approved Senate Bill 2520 or the Act Exempting from Income Taxation the Honoraria, Allowances, and Other Financial Benefits of Persons Rendering Service During an Election Period on its third and final reading. SB 2520 seeks to amend Section 32(B)(7) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997. Meanwhile, House Assistant Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro urged both houses of Congress to swiftly pass SB 2520 on its third and final reading and agree on the Senate version of the bill to be able to put the bill on the President’s table for signature. “Congress is nearing its sine die adjournment. It only has 3 session days left for the Senate to pass SB 2520 on the third and final reading. SB 2520 is the counterpart bill of HB 9652, which we filed and was approved on third reading by the HOR last August 23, 2021,” Castro said. Senate Ways and Means Committee chairperson Pia Cayetano said chairpersons of the Electoral Boards and poll clerks also received an additional P1,000 to P2,000 travel allowance for training. Election workers, depending on their position (chairperson, Electoral Board Members, Technical Support Staff, etc.) should receive a gross compensation of P4,500 to P12,000. With the imposition of a 20-percent withholding tax, they will only receive around P3,600 to P9,600 for the services they rendered during the 2022 elections. Maricel V. Cruz

ENHANCED NUTRIBUN.

The staff of BD Breads and Buns Bakery prepares and packs Enhanced Nutribuns or E-Nutribuns, developed by the Department of Science and Technology for the Department of Education’s School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) on Monday in Mandaluyong City. Manny Palmero

dures • Expansion of case rates for hemodialysis up to 156 sessions • Enhancement Z benefit packages for selected orthopedic implants • Post kidney transplant • Breast cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer • Open heart surgery for children (ventricular septal defect and tetralogy of fallout) and • Physical medicine and rehabilitation The law’s full implementation will “take years,” said PhilHealth spokesperson Shirley Domingo. “This is an omnibus law related to health reforms. There are so many components we cannot immediately implement [them] at once. We were given six years to transition to the full implementation of the law,” said Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde. “Now we are in the third year, we hope in the next three years we will be able to enforce all provisions under the law,” he said. Some provisions, such as the automatic membership of all Filipinos in PhilHealth, have already been implemented, Domingo said. When asked about PhilHealth’s delayed reimbursements to private hospitals, Domingo noted that the state insurer has been releasing funds through regular processing and its debit-credit payment mechanism.

FIRE BRIGADE. Youths frantically lift pails of water out of the Pasig River to extinguish a fire at Barangka Ibaba, Mandaluyong City on Monday. A fireboat from the Pasig City government (inset) also helped out. Danny Pata

Declare failure of Bacolod polls, Leonardia asks Comelec MAYOR Evelio Leonardia has sought the manual recount of all 450 clustered precincts in Bacolod City and asked the Commission on Elections to declare “failure of elections” and conduct special polls in the city due to massive vote-buying and fake voters being allowed to cast their votes that resulted in the “mysterious and unbelievable” outcome last May 9, 2022. Dr. Chris Sorongon, the spokesman of Leonardia, echoed the grounds for the mayor’s complaint lodged before the central Comelec office in Manila at a press conference at the Planta Hotel in Bacolod.

Sorongon was joined by lawyers Marcus Vaflor and Jireh Alimon. Massive and rampant vote-buying affected the results in all of the 61 barangays and 450 clustered precincts on the weekend leading to the elections and during May 9 balloting itself, Vaflor pointed out. “That is why our client deemed it appropriate to file the necessary complaint to know the truth with the prayer that Comelec will conduct a manual recount and consequently declare a failure of elections to pave the way for the holding of special polls,” Alimon pointed out. Sorongon disclosed it was the first

time ever that Leonardia, in his 34-year political career starting when he ran for councilor in 1988, filed an election protest because he said “the result of the recent polls was absolutely unbelievable.” The mayor’s complaint, filed within the allowable period, was docketed as Election Protest Case No. 008-2022. “The move of Mayor Leonardia to file a complaint was in response to the people’s clamor. The people of Bacolod want to know the truth. For them, the results were unbelievable as they pointed out the longest caravan ever mounted during our opening salvo,” Leonardia’s spokesperson said.

Senators approve doubling pension of indigent seniors to P1,000

foto 2 IMEE AND VEGGIES. QCitizens of Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City receive fresh vegetables, fish, and food packs from the ‘Kadiwa, Pasasalamat at Ugnayan’ program organized by Sen. Imee Marcos (center) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and barangay officials on Monday. Manny Palmero

SENATORS on Monday approved Senate Bill 2506 or the Act Increasing the Social Pension of Indigent Senior Citizens and Appropriating Funds Therefore on its third and final reading. Voting 18-0, the senators approved the measure, which increases the monthly social pension of indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,000. Senator Joel Villanueva sponsored SB 2506, which was hurdled by the Senate a week after it was sponsored. Aside from the increase in the monthly social pension for indigent senior citizens, the bill also provides options other than cash payout for the pension to reach the target beneficiaries. SB 2506 also transfers the “implementation, distribution, and management of the social pension for senior citizens from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) within a period not exceeding three years.” Villanueva, in a GMA News report, said

UK vows ‘close partnership’ with PH on SCS dispute By Rey E. Requejo THE United Kingdom will continue to partner closely with the Philippines under the administration of Presidentelect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in connection with the country’s maritime dispute over the South China Sea issue. UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils made the assurance on Monday after she paid a courtesy call to Marcos at the latter’s headquarters in Mandaluyong City. “The UK is also a maritime nation. We are focused on international law, in international maritime law in particular and UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” Beaufils told reporters when asked how her country would help “temper China’s militarization in the South China Sea” under the Marcos administration. “We’ve been working very closely with the Philippines in the past and will continue to do so, to support maritime

law through training but also joint exercises,” the UK envoy said. “We currently have a few British vessels in the region. We will build on that. Our carrier strike group will be back in this part of the world in 2023 and we’ll continue to work with all partners interested in maintaining international maritime law and UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral ruling as we move forward in the years to come,” she added. The 2016 ruling rendered by the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated the massive claim of China over the South China Sea and upheld the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. Beijing has butted heads with the Philippines and other countries on the matter of territorial claims. In a report, the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) said Chinese Coast Guard and militia harassed Filipino vessels in the Philippines’ exclusive economic

zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in three separate incidents over the last two months. AMTI reported that China challenged vessels conducting marine research and hydrocarbon exploration activities within the Philippines’ EEZ. In its report, the AMTI said a 60-meter research vessel operated by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA BFAR) from Palawan was trailed by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel. A 44.5-meter Parola-class patrol vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard, the BRP Cape Engaño, was also approached east of Palawan, AMTI said. The AMTI also said a Taiwan Ocean Research Institute vessel Legend has set sail for the Philippines on March 13 as part of a cooperative effort between the University of the Philippines’ National Institute of Geological Sciences and Taiwan’s National Central University.

VACC urges Marcos to defer P30-b purchase of patrol vessels for Navy THE militant Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) sought deferment of the controversial P30-billion purchase of offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Philippine Navy to allow for the incoming Marcos administration to decide on the matter. The group also sought to cut in the bud the purchase it described as a “midnight deal that is grossly disadvantageous to the Philippine government, and to the Philippine defense industry in particular.” The VACC also threatened to press appropriate charges against government officials involved in the transaction, including Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. In a letter to President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., VACC president Arsenio

Evangelista Jr. stated that the ongoing post-qualification process of Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) of South Korea should be stopped, and the TOR reviewed by the next administration. He said the HHI’s offer to deliver Completely Built Units (CBUs), based on the revised TOR “does not conform to the objectives of the government’s Self-Reliance Defense Posture program as mandated by Republic Act 10349. The group deplored that the “in-country shipbuilding” and the “transfer-of-technology” components appear to have been deleted in the terms of reference (TOR) as revised by the special bids and awards committee (SBAC) and presented for approval by Lorenzana.

that “there are seniors who can no longer work and who cannot be supported by their family, or else they have no family. SB 2506 “is a huge blessing as we have already fulfilled one of our campaign promises even before our new Senate term started,” the senator said. Villanueva recalled his meeting with senior citizens during his reelection campaign, where most of them emphasized that the current monthly pension of P500 is not enough as this only goes to their maintenance medicines. “The prices of basic goods have increased so it is just right to increase the monthly social pension of indigent senior citizens from ₱500 to ₱1,000,” Villanueva said. In addition to increasing the monthly social pension for indigent senior citizens from P500 to P1,000, the bill also provides options other than cash payout for the pension to reach the target beneficiary. The transaction fee, if any, shall not be charged to the beneficiary. Macon Ramos-Araneta

P25 wage hike for N. Mindanao workers okayed By Vito Barcelo MINIMUM wage earners and domestic workers in Northern Mindanao (NorMin) will receive a P25 pay hike after the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) approved the petition to increase the minimum wage in the region, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that RTWPB Northern Mindanao issued Wage Order No. RX-10 granted a pay hike of P25 upon its effectivity and another P15-P22 effective December 16, 2022. Bello said that 152,924 workers in private establishments and 54,851 domestic workers are expected to benefit from the minimum wage increases. The previous wage order for workers in private establishments took effect on November 1, 2018, while the wage order for domestic workers took effect on January 1, 2020. After the implementation of the wage tranches, the new minimum wage rates in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Malaybalay, Valencia, Gingoog, El Salvador, and Ozamis and the municipalities of Tagoloan, Villanueva, Jasaan, Opol, Maramag, Quezon, Manolo Fortich, and Lugait are P405 for the nonagriculture sector and P393 for the agriculture sector. Meanwhile, the new minimum wage rate in the cities of Oroquieta and Tangub and the municipalities of Laguindingan, Mambajao, Balingasag, and all other areas, including retail and service establishments employing not more than ten workers, are P390 for the non-agriculture sector and P378 for the agriculture sector.

Opinion Tragedy of Ecology Village anomaly SOMETIME in 1980, when the country was still under Martial Law and when former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos was the Minister of Human Settlements, through the Technology Resource Foundation Center Foundation, a portion of the kilometerslong National Power Corporation powerline, a strip of land running alongside San Lorenzo Village and Dasmarinas Village, some 154 townhouses were built and sold to the public at nominal prices and called Ecology Village. My wife and I had long wanted to transfer from our house at the Philamlife Homes in Quezon City to Makati City, and we took the opportunity to buy a townhouse beside the Don Bosco Church and beside the Don Bosco School, a few minutes walk to a shopping center and all the restaurants along Pasay Road. Luckily, one of the advisers of Imelda, the late Vincent Recto, was a good family friend and we managed to buy a townhouse with three bedrooms in the second story.

The incoming president must step in. The TRCF issued us a certiﬁcate of Ownership equivalent to a title with a lease of P1,500 a year. We were told that the lease of 25 years was renewable after 25 years. All the other buyers were also issued a Certiﬁcate of Ownership by the TRCF plus a leasehold on the property where the townhouses were built, ranging from 1,600 square meters to 27,000 square meters, depending on the land where the townhouses were built. When the strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos, the late father of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. Was exiled to Honolulu, and the late Cory Aquino was installed as President in February 25, 1986, the Ministry of Human Settlements was abolished. The vengeful administration wanted to erase then Marcos from the face of the earth, then Executive Secretary Joker Arroyo had all the leases of the 154 townhouses in the village called Ecology Village, cancelled, which technically made all the owners of those townhouses informal settlers or squatters on a public land. I was then chairman of the Ecology Village Homeowners Association and with the help of lawyer Manuel “Lolong” Lazaro, who then was also a unit owner, tried to have that leasehold renewed to no avail. In fact, I recall that we also had discussions with the Privacy Management Council when some big business corporations wanted to have the strip of Napocor powerline, but we could not agree because surveys showed that the 154 owners of the units did not want to sell their units. Thus, we ended all discussions about the nature of the townhouses at Ecology Village, making it almost impossible to sell the units. With this as background of this tragic anomaly called Ecology Village, I make this appeal to President-elect Bongbong to renew the leasehold of all the units at Ecology Village, to legitimize the 154 units called Ecology Village in fairness, justice and equity, only because we became victims to a vengeful Cory Aquino regime that wanted to erase the name Marcos from the face of the earth. I believe only a President can render fairness, justice and equity to everybody owning units, now in their twilight years. It would do well for the Ecology Village Homeowners Association to make this appeal to the President elect, since the homeowners bought the units during his mother’s tenure as Minister of Human Settlements, to render fairness, justice and equity to everybody. In our discussions with the Privacy Management Council, it was established that while technically, all unit owners of the

154 townhouses called Ecology Village are squatters, government cannot do anything because we have vested rights to the units we bought, and if government were to evict us, government would be facing 154 lawsuits. The issue of Ecology Village with all its unitowners having been made technically squatters, has been complicated by the takeover of the City Government of Makati of the Napocor powerline. As a consequence, the City Government of Makati has been charging the unitowners real estate taxes for the units they occupy and for all the open spaces. The question now is why should the Ecology Village homeowners be made to pay taxes if they don’t own the land? This is issue must be corrected in the soonest possible time. Personally I believe only the City Government of Makati can resolve this complicated issue, since it is only fair and just that the homeowners who don’t own the land should be made to pay real estate taxes. Again, I repeat this plea to President elect Bongbong to render us fairness, justice and equity by renewing our leasehold right to a government property. Thank you, Presidentelect Bongbong. *** Insiders tell me that the next Senate President will most likely be Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri because of his excellent performance as Majority Leader in the 18th Congress. His closest rivals must be Senator Cynthia Villar, a long-time senator. There were earlier reports that Senator Loren Legarda and Senator Sonny Angara may aspire for the Presidency of the Senate, but according to insiders, the Magic 13 prefers Zubiri. Speaking of the No. 1 Senator of the last elections, movie actor Robin Padilla, has chosen his own committee to lead – the Committee of Constitutional Amendments and Electoral Reform because he would like to push for Federalism. But, I wonder if Padilla knows what Federalism entails and how to get it done. Anyway, let’s see how far Padilla can get in his advocacy. Federalism? To replace a republican system of government? Let’s see how far he can get. *** People have been asking me what I think of the possible appointments of Presidentelect BBM. Frankly, it would seem that his chosen cabinet members have been getting approval by the private sector, the business community and investors, especially Bongbong’s economic team which is the need of the hour, composed of recycled government functionaries from the past administration. The choice of Benjamin Diokno, Bangko Sentral governor, as secretary of Finance is excellent. Diokno carries with him his experience as former secretary of Budget and Management and as BSP Governor. And deﬁnitely he is a man of honesty and integrity. Likewise his economic team, with Felipe Medalla as the new BSP governor, Alfredo Pascual as secretary of Trade and Industry, considering their competence and experience, are also men of honesty and integrity. As the new socio-economic Secretary of NEDA, Arsenio Balisacan carries with him competence and as man of honesty and integrity, he has the support of the business community and investors, a support muchneeded, my gulay, with the Marcos administration confronted with challenges like jumpstarting the economy, as much needed economic stimulus. But, Bongbong’s economic team will likewise need men of competence and men of honesty and integrity in the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation. So far so good as they say since we all know that the success or failure of any administration depends largely on the success and failure of cabinetmen. In the ﬁnal analysis, Santa Banana, the people can either sink or swim with the new President, considering the many challenges confronting the new administration. Personally, in my over-70 years as a journalist, my gulay, I have never seen so many challenges facing an administration as those facing the administration of President-elect Bongbong Marcos. To be honest, he will need all the help and assurance we can give him, even from a responsible and credible opposition.

Tiananmen memorials are being erased in Hong Kong By Xinqi Su FOR the ﬁrst time in 33 years, church services to commemorate the Tiananmen crackdown will not be held in Hong Kong, erasing one of the last reminders of China’s bloody suppression of the 1989 protests. Since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 to snuff out pro-democracy demonstrations, once-packed candlelit vigils have been banned, a Tiananmen museum has been forced to close, and statues have been pulled down. The annual Catholic masses were one of the last ways for Hong Kongers to come together publicly to remember the deadly clampdown in Beijing on June 4, 1989, when the Chinese government set tanks and troops

on peaceful demonstrators. But this year, they too have been cancelled over fears of falling foul of Hong Kong authorities. “We ﬁnd it very difﬁcult under the current social atmosphere,” said Reverend Martin Ip, chaplain of the Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students—one of the organizers. “Our bottom line is that we don’t want to breach any law in Hong Kong,” he told AFP. The Diocese, whose Justice and Peace Commission was a co-organiser, said its frontline colleagues were concerned they might violate Hong Kong law. Decades erased in months Discussion of the 1989 crackdown is all but forbidden in mainland China. But in semi-autonomous Hong Kong, its

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TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022

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EDITORIAL

A most basic insecurity

HE annual Global Report on Food Crises, released earlier this month, says 193 million across the globe experienced acute food insecurity last year. According to The Global Network Against Food Crises, which has compiled information since 2016, this represented a 25-percent increase from 2020. The group includes the European Union and the United Nations World Food Programme. The main drivers of this tragedy were conﬂicts, weather extremes and macroeconomic shocks, mostly caused by the pandemic. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year is also seen to worsen the 2022 numbers, when the 2021 estimate is already a record high. Here at home, we are being warned of a looming food crisis, and the incoming administration is hard pressed

We brace ourselves for another kind of crisis. to show it fully grasps the graveness of the problems and is committed to addressing it for all Filipinos. In an early interview, Presidentelect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he plans to take on the problem by increasing production and continuing importation. The choice of an Agriculture Secretary would be crucial at this point. Initial appointments to the economic team have been encouraging, with investors, businessmen and

analysts cheering the competence of the chosen alter egos of the incoming chief executive. The public is confident that these men’s expertise will do much to enable our economy to recover from the serious blow dealt by the pandemic. We need no less than a similar confidence in whoever the agriculture secretary would turn out to be. The position will be a difficult one to fill – if one were serious about putting the right, the best, individual at the helm of a troubled sector. Aside from competence in theory, that person needs to have the depth and breadth of understanding of the different agriculture stakeholders’ concerns. We should brace ourselves for another kind of crisis, while we do what we can to get by during difficult times, we should at all times hold our leaders accountable for the decisions they make on our behalf.

Susan Roces, national artist and friend I STILL can vividly recall the nostalgic years of the 60s and 70s, when going to the movie theaters to watch Tagalog action movies by FPJ or Tony Ferrer, or laugh at the antics of comedy king Dolphy and his sidekick Panchito, or giggle at the slapstick brand of comedy of Chiquito was a big treat for a growing boy like me. Those were the years when the cinema— Gala in Cagayan de Oro was my go-to movie house—was the favorite venue for family outing, when hordes of movie aficionados would create long queues to get tickets to watch their favorite local actors and actresses before the cashier at the “takilya” or ticket booth could post a notice that said “standing room only” or refuse admittance because there was simply no room inside the theater. Definitely, I was an FPJ and Susan Roces fan, with Zamboanga in 1966 (I was seven years old then!) resonating with me the most. FPJ could do no wrong, Susan was the most beautiful woman in the world, Mindanao was paradies. Those were the “Golden Years of Philippine cinema, and Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe (born July 28, 1941), better known by her screen name Susan Roces, reigned supreme. Her filmography lists more than 130 films to her credit, not to mention innumerable TV and radio guestings and product endorsements and commercials. She remained active in the industry she loved so much that even in her eighties, she joined the cast of “Ang Probinsyano”. Indeed, acting was her life, the air she breathed. But she was more than that. Most of us know Susan Roces by her

In the space of months, decades of commemoration have been wiped out as authorities wield the law to refashion Hong Kong in Beijing’s authoritarian image. history was often taught in schools and advocacy for ending the rule of the Chinese Communist Party was alive and kicking—until the imposition of the security law. In the space of months, decades of commemoration have been wiped out as authorities wield the law to refashion Hong Kong in Beijing’s authoritarian image. The Hong Kong Alliance, the most prominent Tiananmen advocacy group and the candlelight vigil organizer, was prosecuted as a “foreign agent” over incitement to subversion. Last September, its leaders were arrested, their June 4 Museum was shuttered after a police raid, and digital records of the crackdown were deleted overnight under a police order to close the group’s website and social media accounts.

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

public persona. The other half of the legendary actor Fernando Poe, Susan was a legend in her own right. A superb actress, she did not dabble in raunchy roles or got involved in scandals or controversies during her time. Her ﬁlms were a reﬂection of the days when life was simpler, when society valued decency, when so-called entertainment was unspoiled by vulgarity. In her tribute to her mother, Senator Grace Poe gave us an idea of Susan’s behind-the-scenes character. By the good senator’s account, the other half of the legendary couple, Susan Roces, was witty, humorous, caring, generous, down-to-earth,

This is who she was, behind the scenes. morally upright, courageous, and at times feisty. According to the senator, her mother would come up with a ﬁtting aphorism to express her feelings in a given situation. For instance, to express her displeasure over the supposed electoral fraud committed against her husband, Susan was heard to have remarked “hindi ko tinatangap ang iyong sorry”,” or “ang sinungaling ay kapatid ng magnanakaw.” These were acerbic, witty, and often humorous remarks laced with truth. Whenever the senator expressed her displeasure or frustration over a situation, Susan’s advice would be, “anak, mga responsableng tao lang ang nangugunsume.” Loosely translated: only the responsible people get affected, which is implying that her daughter is a responsible person, and not indifferent or apathetic, which is why she gets to be affected by things. Susan Roces, according to her daughter, had very simple tastes, given her stature in the industry. She treasured small things given to her by people no matter how inexFor others, much like the organizers of the masses, uncertainty over where the new red lines fall has been enough to make them pull back. Six universities removed June 4 monuments that had stood on their campuses for years—just before Christmas last year, three were whisked away within 48 hours. The “Pillar of Shame” in the University of Hong Kong (HKU), an eight-meter-high sculpture by Danish artist Jens Galschiot, was dismantled, tucked into a cargo container and left on an HKU-owned plot of rural land. At Lingnan University, a wall relief by artist Chen Weiming was banished to an underground storage room. His “Goddess of Democracy” statue at the Chinese University of Hong Kong was sent to a secretive “safe place”. “They are trying to wipe out a shameful episode in history when the state committed a crime on its people,” Chen told AFP. The universities said they had never consented to the statues’ presence, and that their removal was based on an assessment of legal risk. Overseas vigils Where the Goddess used to stand, only a faint mark from her square pedestal can now be seen. The Pillar has been replaced by a new sitting-out area with pebble-shaped chairs and potted ﬂowers. “This is the meaning... after a few years nobody knows what happened there,” the sculptor Galschiot told AFP.

pensive. She put her family’s interests and especially that of her husband’s and daughter’s (and grandchildren) over her own. One can say that behind the success of the king was the queen who gave her all to support her husband and to remain true to course in all the ups and downs of their life together. It is no wonder, the couple endeared countless not only because of their portrayals in movies but more so how they inspired a nation by their values and character. Knowing Senator Grace personally as well as grandson Brian, who is a fellow advocate of sustainability, and listening to the eulogies of son-in-law Niel and granddaughters Hanna and Nika, I also saw how their mother and grandmother inspired them to be good persons and citizens. I watched all the eulogies delivered by friends and colleagues last week. Aside from the family and close colleagues like Eddie Gutierrez, I was struck most by my friend Joey Ochave’s tribute to the role Susan Roces played in promoting RiteMed. As a beneﬁciary of this Unilab initiative that reduces the price of pharmaceuticals considerably, I can appreciate the impact of Roces on the lives of ordinary Filipinos. For all the awards and recognition she received for her achievements in the cinema industry and the adulation showered upon her by colleagues and an adoring public, there was no greater reward she could get than that Susan Roces left an indelible legacy of a good and meaningful life that people will treasure forever in their minds and hearts. That she has now passed on to meet her Creator, it is time to reap the greatest reward of them all - eternal life. Surely, Susan Roces was not only the Queen of the industry, a national artist for sure (and should be recognized posthumously as such), but a friend, mother, guardian, benefactor to everybody. Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs He has been trying to take the Pillar back to Europe, but such is the sensitivity around it that the university refused to lend him its crew, and logistics companies dare not get involved. They say “it’s too complicated and it’s too dangerous”, Galschiot said. The drive to remove all traces of Tiananmen is ongoing—earlier this year, HKU covered a painted June 4 slogan on campus with cement and called it “regular maintenance”. In the city’s public libraries, 57 Tiananmen books are restricted from general borrowers —nearly double the amount since local news outlet Hong Kong Free Press counted last November. Instead, the space for remembering the crackdown now lies outside Hong Kong, with exiled dissidents setting up their own museums in the United States and activists planning to resurrect the Pillar of Shame in Taiwan. On June 4, vigils will be held globally, with rights group Amnesty International coordinating candlelit ones in 20 cities “to demand justice and show solidarity for Hong Kong”. Tiananmen survivor Zhou Fengsuo, who lives in the United States, told AFP that in recent years he has seen more people joining such events in the West, including recently emigrated young Hong Kongers. “I am grateful that Hong Kong for the last 30 or so years has carried the torch of commemorating Tiananmen,” Zhou said. “Now it’s our job to do it outside of Hong Kong.” AFP

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

Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

World

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

UN: Record billion meth pills seized in East, Southeast Asia A RECORD one billion methamphetamine pills were seized in East and Southeast Asia last year, the UN said Monday, as crime gangs exploited the COVID-19 pandemic and instability in coup-hit Myanmar to boost their activities. Southeast Asia’s so-called Golden Triangle has long been an infamous hotspot for drug trafficking, with Myanmar, Laos and Thailand’s porous borders and lax local policing allowing illegal substances to slip across. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said law enforcement netted nearly 172 tons of methamphetamine— approximately seven times more than a decade ago—and the surging supply has sent street prices in Thailand and Malaysia crashing to all-time lows. “The scale and reach of the methamphetamine and synthetic drug trade in East and Southeast Asia is staggering,”

Jeremy Douglas of UNODC said in a statement. He said crime syndicates and armed groups had capitalized on the region’s political instability and the pandemic to make dramatic gains. “Organized crime has all the ingredients in place that they need to continue to grow the business,” he said, adding that they crucially had a “massive population with spending power to target.” Kavinvadee Suppapongtevasakul, UNODC regional synthetic drugs analyst for the global SMART program, said the drug’s plummeting prices had made it “much more accessible and available to those that could not afford it before.” “The social consequences of increased use are significant, and health and harm reduction services remain limited across the region,” she added. AFP

MEMORIAL DAY. A man prays at the border fence during the ‘Remembering our Fallen Exile Deported Veterans’ event to commemorate the Memorial Day at the US-Mexico border in Playas de Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico. AFP

AMID FEARS PROPOSAL WOULD CEMENT ‘BEIJING’S ORBIT’

China fails to ink Pacific security pact

ALKS between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and 10 Pacific Island nations failed to reach an agreement on a wide-ranging security deal Monday, after sharp warnings the proposal would push the region into “Beijing’s orbit.” A virtual summit of leaders and foreign ministers was expected to discuss proposals to radically increase China’s involvement in the security, economy and politics of the South Pacific. But the effort appeared to have fallen short after some regional leaders voiced deep concern.

“As always, we put consensus first,” cohost and Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said after the meeting, indicating that broad agreement would be needed before inking any “new regional agreements.” Wang is in the Fijian capital Suva as part of a 10-day diplomatic blitz, as Beijing jostles with Washington and its

allies over influence in the strategically vital Pacific. Ahead of his visit, China proposed a pact that would see Beijing train Pacific Island police, become involved in cybersecurity, expand political ties, conduct sensitive marine mapping and gain greater access to natural resources on land and in the water. As an enticement, Beijing offered millions of dollars in financial assistance, the prospect of a China-Pacific Islands free trade agreement and access to China’s vast market of 1.4 billion people. China has pitched itself to the South Pacific as a “major developing country”

that stands shoulder to shoulder with small and medium-sized nations. Before the meeting, President Xi Jinping sent a message that China would be “a good brother” to the region and that they shared a “common destiny,” according to state broadcaster CCTV. But in a letter to other regional leaders, President of the Federated States of Micronesia David Panuelo warned the proposed agreement was “disingenuous” and would “ensure Chinese influence in government” and “economic control” of key industries. Following Monday’s closed-door meeting, Wang did not cite the pro-

Rescuers pull bodies from wreckage of missing Nepal plane in Himalayas NEPALI rescuers pulled 14 bodies on Monday from the mangled wreckage of a passenger plane strewn across a mountainside that went missing in the Himalayas with 22 people on board. Air traffic control lost contact with the Twin Otter aircraft operated by Nepali carrier Tara Air shortly after taking off from Pokhara in western Nepal on Sunday morning headed for Jomsom, a popular trekking destination. Helicopters operated by the military and private firms scoured the remote mountainous area all day Sunday, aided by teams on foot, but called off the search when night fell, as bad weather hampered the recovery operation at around 3,800-4,000 meters (12,50013,000 feet) above sea level. After the search resumed on Monday, the army shared on social media a photo of aircraft parts and other debris litter-

ing a sheer mountainside including a wing with the registration number 9NAET clearly visible. Four Indians were on board as well as two Germans, with the remainder Nepalis. There was no word on the cause of the crash. The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the plane “met an accident” at 14,500 feet (4,420 meters) in the Sanosware area of Thasang rural municipality in Mustang district. “Fourteen bodies have been recovered so far, [and] search continues for the remaining. The weather is very bad but we were able to take a team to the crash site. No other flight has been possible,” authority spokesman Deo Chandra Lal Karn told AFP. Pokhara Airport spokesman Dev Raj Subedi told AFP the rescuers had followed GPS, mobile and satellite signals to narrow down the location. AFP

Iran mourns victims of building collapse as death toll tops 30

HUNDREDS of people gathered in southwestern Iran to pay their respects to dozens who died in a building collapse, local media said Monday, as two more bodies were discovered. The 10-storey Metropol building, located on a busy street in Abadan, a city in Khuzestan province, was under construction when parts of it imploded on May 23, in one of Iran’s deadliest such disasters in years. Two more bodies were discovered under the rubble on Monday morning, taking the confirmed death toll to 31, according to the Red Crescent. “Residents of Khuzestan wept for the victims” as they gathered on Sunday evening at the invitation of the imam of Abadan, the Fars news agency reported. Sunday had been declared a day of national mourning by the government. Hundreds of people shouted to drown out a speech by Mohsen Heydari, a local representative of the committee of experts, the body that selects Iran’s supreme leader. Others streamed onto a platform used by state television, knocking a camera to the ground, Tasnim news agency said, noting that police called on people to leave the scene to avoid escalating tensions. The provincial governor had said on Sunday that a total of 38 people were reported as missing in the disaster, indicating that seven now remain unaccounted for, after the new discoveries on Monday. AFP

posed “Common Development Vision” document directly, but said the two sides would “continue to have ongoing and indepth discussions and consultations to shape more consensus on cooperation.” He added: “China will release its own position paper” highlighting “our own positions and propositions and cooperation proposals with Pacific Island countries.” Wang instead announced that 10 Pacific Island nations had agreed on memorandums of understanding on China’s “Belt and Road” infrastructure initiative and urged those worried by Beijing’s intentions not to be “too anxious and don’t be too nervous.” With AFP

Russian forces advancing on important city

PAYING RESPECTS. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna (center) visits the site of a mass grave in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, near Kyiv on May 30, 2022. AFP

31 rescued, 11 missing after Indonesia ferry sinks THIRTY-one people have been rescued and 11 are still missing after a ferry ran out of fuel and sank in bad weather off the coast of Indonesia, an official said Monday. Local tugboats and fishermen brought many of the survivors ashore after the KM Ladang Pertiwi sank while sailing through the Makassar strait in South Sulawesi province on Thursday. “Until now 31 people have been rescued alive and we are still looking for 11 more people who are still missing,” head of local search and rescue team Djunaidi, who like some Indonesians goes by only one name, told AFP on

Monday. “They have returned home now and they are generally in good health,” he added. Rescuers have deployed a helicopter and extended the search area to 20 nautical miles from where the boat sank in the search for the missing, Djunaidi said. The vessel did not have a permit to transport passengers, he added, and both the ship’s captain and owner have been taken in for questioning. No official passenger manifest was kept – common in a country where crews sometimes sell illegal tickets past the ships’ official capacity – but

authorities have said they believe there were 42 people onboard when the boat sank. Marine accidents are common in the Southeast Asian archipelago of around 17,000 islands, where safety standards are often lax. In May, a ferry carrying more than 800 people ran aground in shallow waters off East Nusa Tenggara province and remained stuck for two days before being dislodged. No one was hurt. In 2018 more than 150 people drowned when a ferry sank in one of the world’s deepest lakes on Sumatra Island. AFP

RUSSIAN forces were edging closer to the center of the eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk despite fierce resistance, Kyiv’s regional governor in the region said Monday. “The Russians are advancing into the middle of Severodonetsk. The fighting continues. The situation is very difficult,” the Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday said in a statement on social media. After failing to capture Ukraine’s capital Kyiv in the early stages of the war, Russia has shifted its focus to the eastern Donbas region and is attempting to consolidate areas under its control. “Severodonetsk’s critical infrastructure is destroyed and 60 percent of damaged residential buildings cannot be restored,” Gaiday said on Telegram. He added that three doctors in the area were reported missing after their vehicle was discovered badly damaged and that two volunteers had been targeted while driving. Severodonetsk, with a pre-war population of around 100,000 people, is one of several important urban hubs that lie on Russia’s path to capturing the entire Lugansk region, a key objective of Moscow’s military. Its forces earlier said they had captured Lyman, a smaller town and former railway hub in the area, and are ramping up pressure on Severodonetsk and its sister city Lysychansk. AFP

Hardliner, China hawk elected opposition leader in Australia

PRAYERS FOR THE DEARLY DEPARTED. A girl lays flowers as she visits a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims outside the Uvalde County Courthouse in Uvalde, Texas. AFP

AUSTRALIA’S conservatives elected hardliner and China hawk Peter Dutton as the country’s new opposition leader Monday, an outcome many will see as a lurch to the right for his party. Dutton came out swinging after accepting the top spot, saying the country’s newly elected Labor government was not “ready to govern and we are already seeing their inexperience on display.” Elected unopposed, the former police officer inherits a Liberal party decimated by Australia’s May 21 election, when many of its long-time voters swung to independent candidates who promised action on climate change.

The new opposition leader will have to rebuild his shattered party and try to unite its fiercely divided moderate and conservative wings, with climate a key sticking point. Dutton described himself Monday as “a very passionate believer” in Australia’s need for an “appropriate response” to emissions reduction. During his two decades in politics, the Queenslander has made a name for himself with tough talk and a penchant for headline-grabbing commentary. On election day, he tweeted out a Border Force statement about the interception of an asylum seeker boat, adding his comment: “Don’t risk Australia’s national security with Labor.” AFP

Business

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market rallies; Ayala issues advance S TOP GAINERS PSEi May 30, 2022

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

ATNB ABSP

0.48 10.32

0.05 1

11.63% 10.73%

3 4 5

BSC NI ABA

0.435 1.02 1.41

0.035 0.08 0.1

8.75% 8.51% 7.63%

6 7

GEO MBC

0.187 8.7

0.013 0.6

7.47% 7.41%

VUL

0.92

0.05

5.75%

9 10

MARC PSE

1.75 200

0.09 9.9

5.42% 5.21%

TOCKS surged Monday along with the rest of Asia, as investors rediscovered some verve after the release of healthy US data and as China eases some of its strict COVID curbs in Shanghai and Beijing, lifting hopes for the world’s number two economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index advanced 96.18 points, or 1.4 percent, to 6,822.32 on a value turnover of P7 billion. Gainers beat losers, 114 to 76, with 51 issues unchanged. Conglomerate Ayala Corp. of the Ayala Group rose 3.2 percent to P701, while unit AC Energy Corp. also gained 3.2 percent at P7.17. SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group climbed 2.8 percent to P862, but

fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. fell 1.7 percent to P26.05. The gains in Asian markets extended a positive end to last week for global equities with some commentators saying there was a growing hope that the months-long sell-off may have run its course. Wall Street provided a strong lead and snapped a series of weekly losses, with Friday’s rally supported by data showing an easing of the key personal consump-

tion expenditures (PCE) price index. Markets have been pummeled this year as soaring prices—caused by the Ukraine war, supply chain snags and China’s lockdowns among other things—forced central banks to hike interest rates and warn of more to come. The US reading lent hope that the worst of the inflation surge may have passed and could allow the Federal Reserve to ease back from its hawkish rate hike drive later in the year. May jobs data—due for release on Friday—should provide a fresh snapshot of the economy and possibly an idea about the Fed’s next policy moves. Asian investors followed the lead from their US counterparts. Hong Kong put on more than two percent

VW accused of ‘slavery’ ways during Brazil’s military rule

TOP LOSERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

CAB AREIT

44.55 37.5

-5.55 -3.25

-11.08% -7.98%

IPO

7.4

-0.57

-7.15%

RLT

0.23

-0.016

-6.50%

BHI

0.09

-0.006

-6.25%

6 7

MFC MONDE

950 15.8

-60 -0.88

-5.94% -5.28%

RCI

0.54

-0.03

-5.26%

LBC

-1

-4.00%

PPC

5.4

-0.2

-3.57%

MOST ACTIVE

VOLUME

VALUE (PHP)

CNVRG

34,587,300

926,600,670

2 3

SMPH ALI

16,854,500 13,962,500

646,141,045 411,310,035

371,350

318,420,375

BDO

2,104,470

272,897,003

6 7 8

MONDE AC MBT

16,926,800 354,060 4,327,480

271,018,258 247,793,820 237,696,022

BPI

2,053,300

199,909,997

ACEN

27,405,000

197,052,049

Pedestrians pass a sign showing the numbers for the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong on May 30, 2022. Hong Kong put on more than two percent Monday after a strong Friday performance fueled by a rally in tech firms. AFP

EU struggles to break deadlock on Russian oil embargo BRUSSELS, Belgium—Ambassadors from the 27 European Union member states on Sunday examined a compromise mooted to enable them to break the deadlock on a Russian oil embargo ahead of an emergency summit in Brussels. The bloc’s officials fear the absence of an agreement would cast a shadow over the two-day meeting starting Monday between European leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the gathering by video link to press the bloc to “kill Russian exports” three months after the invasion of Ukraine. The latest round of proposed sanctions by the EU has been blocked by landlocked Hungary, which has no access to seafaring

oil cargo ships. Hungary is dependent for 65 percent of its oil needs on Russian crude supplied via the Druzhba pipeline, which runs from Russia to various points in eastern and central Europe. Budapest has rejected as inadequate a proposal to allow it two years longer than other EU states to wean itself off Russian oil. It wants at least four years and at least 800 million euros ($860 million) in EU funds to adapt its refineries to process non-Russian crude and boost pipeline capacity to neighboring Croatia. Slovakia and the Czech Republic, also supplied by the Druzhba pipeline, accepted exemptions of two and half years,

diplomatic sources said. The compromise solution put to national negotiators on Sunday consists in excluding the Druzhba pipeline from a future oil embargo and only imposing sanctions on oil shipped to the EU by tanker vessel, European sources said. The Druzhba pipeline accounts for a third of all EU oil supplies from Russia. Maritime cargos account for the remaining two thirds. No agreement The compromise was tabled by France, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, and by the European Council, which represents the governments of the EU nations. AFP

Southeast Asian tech giant Grab’s female co-founder blazes a trail SINGAPORE—As co-founder of multi-billion dollar ride-hailing and food delivery firm Grab, Tan Hooi Ling is already smashing stereotypes in tech but she’s also trying to blaze a trail for the next generation of female entrepreneurs in the industry. This month the company announced it will raise the proportion of women in leadership positions to 40 percent by 2030—up from 34 percent now—and is committed to ensuring equal pay. The key weapon in her arsenal for gender equality? Data. “Data helps keep us honest,” the 38-year-old tells AFP. “Right now, we have monthly and quarterly reports that help us look at how many female ‘Grabbers’ we have in different teams to ensure there is no unintentional bias and whether our pay parity is equal.” Globally, tech firms suffer from a serious gender imbalance, with a study from consultancy Accenture and NGO Girls Who Code showing the proportion of women working in the sector is now smaller than in 1984. While male tech executives such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma are well-known, top female tech leaders remain more lower profile. Tan co-founded Singapore-headquartered Grab, a household name in Southeast Asia, in 2012 and now oversees hundreds of engineers. She hopes to be a catalyst for change in the male-dominated sector. She insists she did not face discrimination as she built up her company, but recognizes others have. “That’s the role I’m hoping to play -- to help create more of these environments where I was fortunate enough to grow up,” she adds. Battling sexism But industry experts say tech faces significant challenges in its bid for

after a strong Friday performance fueled by a rally in tech firms, while Tokyo, Sydney, Shanghai, Seoul, Mumbai, Taipei, Bangkok and Wellington were also well up. An easing of long-running lockdown measures in Shanghai provided a muchneeded lift to sentiment, with China’s biggest city seeing a drop in COVID cases, while some curbs were also being lifted in Beijing. Officials have also announced measures to ease the impact on the world’s number two economy, which has been hammered by the restrictions. Still, OANDA’s Jeffrey Halley said: “The devil is in the detail of course, and workers in both cities still face challenges either going to work, or even being allowed to leave the house.” With AFP

As co-founder of the multi-billion company, Tan Hooi Ling is already smashing stereotypes in tech—but she’s also blazing a trail for the next generation of female entrepreneurs in the industry. AFP

gender equality with reports of sexism and toxic cultures in some firms. A total of 44 percent of female tech founders said they had been harassed, according to a global poll by NGO Women Who Tech, which surveyed more than a thousand people. Last year, a female employee at Alibaba alleged she had been sexually assaulted on a work trip by her manager and a client. The Chinese e-commerce giant fired the manager -- but later police dropped the case and the employee was also sacked. And in the United States, video game giant Activision Blizzard is under investigation over accusations the firm condoned a culture of sexual harassment and discrimination. For the climate to improve across the sector, critics say addressing gender imbalance is vital. In Southeast Asia, 32 percent of the technology workforce is female, higher than the global average, but still lower

than the 38 percent in other industries, according to a Boston Consulting Group study. Some issues around gender diversity are a “by-product of history” Tan says—girls have not been encouraged enough to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics. According to the 2017 UNESCO report Cracking the code: girls’ and women’s education in STEM, only 35 percent of students of these subjects in higher education globally are female. “We believe in ‘normalizing’ women in tech. This starts by exposing females to many examples of women who have built their careers in tech,” Tan says. The company holds women’s leadership events and runs mentoring schemes to guide new female entrants to the industry. Girls should be motivated to take up courses such as software development and data science to help drive change, she adds. “We need to help break that bias,”

she argues, adding that it is crucial to ensure a fair hiring process and female representation on interview shortlists. Grab’s role in the growth of Asia’s gig economy has created opportunities for women who might previously not have been able to join the workforce, Tan suggests. “Not everybody in the world can do a nine to five job, five days a week. Some of them need flexibility because they’re moms, they are parents.” Tan adds that companies need to improve conditions for working mothers in order to ensure there’s no brain drain of female talent. “Being a working mother is not easy. And whether it’s in tech roles, or just in general leadership roles, I think we need to be more empathetic of the situations that they’re in and see if there are ways we can, you know, help, again, break biases.” $10-billion firm Tan grew up in a middle-class Malaysian family, the daughter of a civil engineer. She studied mechanical engineering in the UK, before joining McKinsey in Kuala Lumpur. She went on to study for an MBA at Harvard, where she met Antony Tan— no relation—and the pair came up with the idea behind Grab. He is now the company’s CEO. A decade on, the company is now worth about $10 billion and offers services ranging from digital payments to courier deliveries. Operating in diverse markets, from developed, orderly Singapore to the traffic-clogged streets of Jakarta and Manila, the company faces unique challenges. Tan, who has shadowed Grab’s drivers and spent time on the complaints desk in a bid to get to know all elements of the business, describes herself as the company’s “plumber.” AFP

BERLIN, Germany—Germany’s Volkswagen Group faces accusations of “slavery” practices in Brazil during the South American country’s military dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s, German media said Sunday. Volkswagen has been summoned to appear before a labor court in Brasilia on June 14, following a notification sent by the local judiciary on May 19, ARD public television and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily reported. A VW spokesman told AFP it was taking the matter “very seriously.” However, the world’s second-largest carmaker did not want to say more at this stage “due to possible legal proceedings.” The case covers the period from 19741986, when the dictatorship was in full flow to just after it ended. The military reigned in Brazil between 1964 and 1985. Former VW employees have been seeking compensation for several years. According to the reports, the Brazilian judiciary is examining complaints that allege the car manufacturer used “slavery-like practices” and “human trafficking,” and accuse the group of having been complicit in “systematic human rights violations.” At the time, the German group had planned to build a large agricultural site on the edge of the Amazon basin for the meat trade. Hundreds of day laborers and temporary workers were recruited for deforestation work on 70,000 hectares (173,000 acres) via intermediaries, but probably with the consent of the manufacturer’s management, German media reported. The outlets consulted over 2,000 pages of testimonies and police reports. AFP

Norwegian to buy 50 Boeing 737 MAX, option for 30 more OSLO, Norway—Low-cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle said Monday it would buy 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes, in another boost for the crisishit US aircraft after two deadly crashes. The 50 new aircraft will be delivered between 2025 and 2028, or around the same time that Norwegian’s aircraft leasing deals come to an end, and the contract includes an option for 30 more, the company said in a statement. The order is welcome news for the US manufacturer’s flagship Boeing 737 MAX 8, which was grounded for 20 months following two fatal accidents and has been gradually returning to service since late 2020. Norwegian and Boeing have meanwhile been locked in a legal battle for several years, with the Norwegian carrier launching legal proceedings against the US giant for compensation following setbacks related to its 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner long-range jets. The low-cost airline did not say Monday whether the order was part of any dispute resolution. Norwegian said the deal remains subject to “various closing conditions” that it hopes will be concluded by the end of June. Norwegian, which currently operates 61 aircraft, plans to ramp operations to have 70 in service this summer and 85 in the summer of 2023. Plagued by over-ambitious expansion, technical problems and the Covid pandemic, the company narrowly avoided bankruptcy last year via an extensive restructuring that led it, among other things, to give up its long-haul flight, reduce its fleet and cancel numerous orders. AFP

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TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022

ADB approves $400-m funding to deepen local capital markets THE Asian Development Bank said Monday it approved a $400-million (P20.8 billion) policy-based loan to help the Philippine government deepen the domestic capital markets. It said in a statement the loan aims to increase the supply of long-term finance especially for infrastructure development which is crucial for the country’s sustained economic growth. The Support to Capital MarketGenerated Infrastructure Financing Program, Subprogram 2, is helping build an efficient domestic debt market and increase institutional participation in the market, especially from insurance and pension funds, it said. The ADB said more supply of long-term finance would help address the country’s infrastructure financing gap estimated at roughly P2 trillion ($40 billion) a year up to 2030. “As the Philippines steers its economy towards sustainable and resilient growth after the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, it will require various sources of long-term financing to support the recovery of its industries and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises; provide social protection; and fund its infrastructure development priorities,” ADB principal financial sector specialist for Southeast Asia Stephen Schuster said. “A deeper, more diversified investor base can help ease fiscal constraints,” Schuster said. The ADB is assisting the development and growth of the insurance and pension sectors which can drive economic growth and contribute to poverty reduction. The policy loan is also helping create an enabling environment to launch a wider range of investment products suited for longterm investors. Pension funds and the insurance sector account for a small portion of the Philippines’ domestic capital market, with their combined volume equivalent to 12 percent of gross domestic product, compared to 30 percent in Thailand and almost 80 percent in Malaysia. Julito G. Rada

Business No more recession in PH, Diokno assures investors B By Julito G. Rada

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor and incoming Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno expressed confidence there will be no more recession in the country as the economy is poised to sustain its recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that triggered a 9.6-percent gross domestic product contraction in 2020.

Diokno said in an interview on BBC Asia Business Report the Philippines continued to post strong macroeconomic fundamentals despite the pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine. “I can say with confidence that there will be no recession in the Philippines,” Diokno said when asked about warnings of a recession in the United States and its potential spillover to the rest of the world. “We had been growing at around 6 to 7percent before the pandemic. The economy has recovered after a slowdown and contraction in 2020. It

bounced back to 5.7 percent last year. During the first quarter of this year, it grew by 8.3 percent, and there is a strong probability that we will hit 7 to 9 percent this year, as originally projected before the pandemic,” he said. Diokno cited the country’s hefty gross international reserves that could service import requirements for almost 10 months, the steady inflow of overseas Filipino remittances and business process outsourcing receipts and the rise in foreign direct investments. He said to keep the economy on track, the BSP would continue to focus on its mandate of promoting price and

financial stability. He said the 2022 general elections resulted in the election of a majority president and vice president from the same ticket. The BSP is supporting whole-of-nation efforts and game-changing reforms to further bolster the country’s ability to recover from the pandemic, he said. These significant reforms include the recently passed economic liberalization laws that will help open the country to more FDIs, thereby spurring job creation and fostering economic growth, he said. These laws are the amended Retail Trade Liberalization Act that will lower the minimum paid-up capital for foreign corporations from $25 million to $500,000; the amended Foreign Investments Act that will allow foreign nationals to own a micro, small, and medium enterprise with a minimum paid-in capital of $100,000 subject to conditions; and the amended Public Service Act that will allow up to 100-percent foreign ownership of public services, such as telecommunications, railways, expressways, airports and shipping industries.

FIRST Philippine Holdings Corp. earmarked P51 billion for 2022 capital expenditures mainly to fund the expansion of power generation and property businesses. FPHC treasurer and chief finance officer Emmanuel Antonio Singson said during the annual stockholders’ meeting Monday the company would allot about 56 percent of the capex budget, or P29 billion, to the power generation group, particularly the drilling and growth initiatives of Energy Development Corp. and First

Monday, May 30, 2022

96.18 PTS. 6,822.32

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

890,174,254 89,138

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

6,999,746,796.09 114 76

UNCHANGED

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, MAY 30, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.3020

Japan

Yen

0.007868

0.4115

Pound

1.263100

66.0627

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127400

6.6633

Switzerland

Franc

1.045369

54.6749

Canada

Dollar

0.785669

41.0921

Singapore

Dollar

0.730620

38.2129

Australia

Dollar

0.715600

37.4273

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653012

138.7578

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266603

13.9439

Brunei

Dollar

0.727961

38.0738

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.029308

1.5329

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

14.2400

Euro

1.073400

56.1410

Korea

Won

0.000799

0.0418

China

Yuan

0.149298

7.8086

India

Rupee

0.012887

0.6740

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.228467

11.9493

New Zealand

Dollar

0.653400

34.1741

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034123

1.7847 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

SSS registered P28b in earnings last year

SOCIAL Security System said Monday it posted earnings of P28 billion in 2021 from its operations, with contributions and investment income exceeding benefit payments and operating expenses. Citing its 2021 unaudited financial statement, SSS said cash inflows of P262 billion surpassed cash outflows of P234 billion. SSS in the last six years recorded cumulative earnings of P202 billion, even with a record-breaking P1.1-trillion benefit payments and P254-billion loan releases to members and pensioners. SSS’ adoption of the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards (PFRS) 4, which recognizes Social Benefit Liabilities (SBLs) and the Margin for Adverse Deviation (MfAD), resulted in an increase in policy reserves of P872 billion that contributed to the accounting net loss of nearly P844 billion for 2021. SSS president and chief executive Michael Regino clarified that the increase in policy reserves was not actual cash that went out of the fund in 2021. He said these were simply estimates of the “required reserves to fund future benefit claims.” Julito G. Rada

Semirara remitted P5.9b to gov’t in Q1

INTEGRATED energy company Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) recently remitted P5.9 billion in government royalty to the Department of Energy (DOE) in the first quarter of the year. The first-quarter remittance is the highest in the Consunji-owned company’s corporate history, reflecting an 807-percent jump from the P656 million that SMPC paid during the same period last year. All-time high coal shipments and average selling prices account for the record-setting government share, the company said. “We had an exceptionally strong start, so much so that in three months, we surpassed our previous full-year royalty payments,” said SMPC president and chief operating officer Maria Cristina Gotianun in a statement. SMPC in 2021 paid a total of P5.4 billion to DOE as improved coal output and favorable market conditions allowed the company to ship more coal at higher prices. Alena Mae S. Flores

CLARK REOPENING. Celebrating its return as a hotspot for tourism and sports, New Clark City welcomes back visitors with a vibrant public event packed with music, art, wellness and all things about living a life well-lived. Leading the unveiling of the ceremonial banner on May 28 for the reopening of New Clark City are Bases Conversion and Development Authority are senior vice president for corporate services Arrey Perez (fourth from left) and MTD Philippines president Nikko David (fifth from left).

First Philippines Holdings allocates P51b for 2022 capital expenditures By Jenniffer B. Austria

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Gen’s liquefied natural gas and Aya pump storage projects. He said P18 billion would be spent in the property sector mainly for the construction and development projects of Rockwell Land Inc. The balance of P4 billion would go to construction, manufacturing and new businesses in healthcare and education, he said. Singson said FPHC’s financial performance would likely be flat this year, compared to the 2021 level. PFHC registered a 4-percent decline in net profit to P3.3 billion in the first quarter from P3.4 billion a year ago on

the lower earnings contribution of the energy sector. First-quarter consolidated revenues grew by 26 percent to P35.1 billion from P27.9 billion. FPPC president and chief operating officer Francis Giles Puno said power demand in Luzon was expected to continue to rise as the economy reopens and quarantine restrictions are gradually relaxed. Puno, citing data from the Department of Energy, said Luzon demand was expected to grow by 5.46 percent annually between 2022 and 2024. “We have and continue to experi-

ence several instances of thin supply margins due to unplanned outages of several baseload plants that resulted in 26 red alerts and 21 yellow alerts observed in Luzon for 2021. There have already been three yellow alerts in the first quarter of 2022, and we expect that this will persist for the rest of the year,” Puno said. He said the wholesale electricity spot market prices remain high on power plant reliability issues and seasonal high demand during the dry months. “We expect this to persist until new power plants come online,” Puno said.

Nestlé and Aboitiz renew supply deal

NESTLÉ Philippines has renewed its contract with Aboitiz Power Corp. to purchase clean energy as part of the firm’s goal of to reduce its carbon footprint and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The partnership enables Nestlé PH to use clean and renewable energy for six of its facilities, sourced from the Tiwi and MakBan geothermal Power Plants, which are operated and managed by AP Renewables Inc., an Aboitiz Power subsidiary. “We work constantly to deliver the quality of energy that will help power the needs of our partners and see their vision of environmental conservation becoming a reality. We are happy to support Nestlé Philippines as it pursues sustainable practices and maximizes the use of renewable energy to create a healthier future for the planet,” said Sandro Aboitiz, senior vice president of AboitizPower’s commercial operations business unit. Aboitiz Power along with its partners is the Philippines’ largest owner and operator of renewable energy based on installed capacity. The partnership between Nestlé PH and Aboitiz Power began in 2013, when the former started its energy transition. Aboitiz Power now supplies clean energy to all of Nestlé’s factories in Luzon as well as its local head office in Makati City. Alena Mae S. Flores

Electricity spot market prices slightly decreased in May on adequate supply THE average electricity prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market declined slightly to P6.21 per kilowatthour in May from P6.26 per kWh in April on adequate supply despite increased demand. The Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, which runs the WESM, the trading floor of electricity, said Monday the power supply averaged 15,406 megawatts in May, up from 13,995 MW in April. It said the average power demand also increased to 11,259 MW this month from 10,454 MW in April. “In spite of these increasing levels in demand, the significant growth in supply was able to offset the scale, through the increase in margin from 3,541 MW to 4,147 MW which provided enough leeway for the decrease in the average spot price of P6.21 per kWh. This is lower by 0.80 percent or P0.05 per kWh than the April 2022 figure,” the IEMOP said in a statement. It said the increase in the supply level resulted in a more competitive price in the spot market. “With the supply amounting to

15,406 MW, or a 1,411 MW difference from that of the previous month’s, the 10.08 percent increase led to a greater margin in the power bourse despite the growth in demand of around 7.7 percent or around 805 MW for a total of 11,259 MW,” the IEMOP said. It attributed the increase in supply to the resumption of the operations of power generators that were on outage in the latter half of April. Most of these power plants were coal and geothermal plants. The IEMOP said the Department of Energy, through its Energy Task Force Election, stayed on top of the entire demand-supply situation which further paved the way for the ample supply levels during the election period. The demand level continued to rise at a gradual pace as the economy started to pick up and businesses resumed their operations given the more lenient restrictions on health protocols. The country encountered remnants of the dry season in the early part of May which forced people to consume more electricity with the increased use of airconditioning systems. Alena Mae S. Flores

BEST RETAIL BROKER. BDO Securities, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BDO Unibank Inc.’s investment banking arm BDO Capital & Investment Corp., is declared the Best Retail Broker in the Philippines at the 15th Annual Alpha Southeast Asia Best Financial Institution Awards 2021. Alpha Southeast Asia said BDO Securities’ leading position as a retail broker on the Philippine Stock Exchange is undisputed. As one of the leading brokers in the local industry, its average volume turnover during the pandemic was P20 billion. It posted a higher percentage of the fast-growing retail volume, with a two-year compound annual growth rate of 57 percent.

Bangko Sentral registers 19% growth in basic deposit accounts THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Monday reported a double-digit increase in the number of basic deposit accounts in the fourth quarter of 2021 from a year ago, a sign of intensifying financial inclusion in the country. It said in a statement the latest data showed a 19-percent increase in the number of basic deposit accounts from 6.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 to 7.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. Data showed that as of end-December 2021, the total value of BDA deposits

reached P5.1 billion, a 7.6-percent increase from the P4.7 billion registered a year earlier. The BDA was created to meet the needs of the unbanked and low-income sector and foster greater financial inclusion. There are 138 banks offering basic deposit accounts. The BDA, introduced in 2018, is a deposit product that has a low account opening balance requirement of P100 or less, no maintaining balance, no dormancy charges and simple identification requirements.

Banks can customize the BDA products by utilizing technological innovations to on-board and service clients. The BSP said it continues to promote basic deposit accounts through enabling policy issuances. It said that on November 2021, it issued regulatory relief measures to encourage more banks to offer BDAs. The BSP, in January 2022, issued frequently asked questions to provide additional guidance and clarifications on the regulatory framework for BDAs. Julito G. Rada

Meralco crowned 3x3 Leg 2 champion MERALCO completed an amazing comeback despite playing undermanned as it pulled off a thrilling 18-17 win in overtime against Cavitex to emerge Leg 2 champion of the PBA 3x3 Third Conference on Sunday. The Bolts lost big man Maclean Sabellina in the early goings of the title showdown at the Robinsons Las Pinas after aggravating the injury he suffered in the semifinals earlier, forcing the team to play the rest of the finals behind the trio of Alfred Batino, Joseph Sedurifa, and Dexter Maiquez. But the Bolts’ power never waned, battling back from a five-point deficit late in regulation to force overtime, before leaning on the game-winning deuce by Maiquez in claiming their third leg title overall under coach Patrick Fran. “Ibinuhos na namin. Humugot kami ng lakas sa isa’t isa,” said Maiquez as the team celebrated winning the P100,000 prize money. Batino and Sedurifa had seven each to show the way for Meralco as the two instigated a late run after trailing 11-16 with 79 seconds to play. The tough-playing Batino scored on a layup, before Sedurifa hit backto-back deuces to knot the count at 16 and pave the way for the extra period. Bong Galanza put Cavitex on the hill by forcing his way inside, 17-16, but Sedurifa countered by bringing the ball outside following a quick pass from Batino and converted the winning basket. It was actually a long day for the Bolts – playing for the second straight leg without injured Tonino Gonzaga – who saw action in a total of five games, including the two postponed pool assignments last Saturday made possible by the unavailability of the playing court. The Bolts lost to Platinum Karaoke, 17-13, but won over Zamboanga Valientes, 21-13, to enter the knockout stage. They beat Leg 1 winner TNT Tropang Giga in the first round of the playoffs, 18-17, and then ousted Barangay Ginebra in the semis, 19-15, to book a spot in the finals. Despite the loss, Cavitex achieved its best finish in the tournament with its runner-up placing worth P50,000. Playing behind a revamped lineup, the Braves made the semis for the first time by knocking out Limitless App in overtime, 21-20, and then proceeding to dismantle Terrafirma, 22-11, to set up the title meet with Meralco.

Sports

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022

Duterte to award additional incentives to Filipino athletes By Macon Ramos-Araneta

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will award additional incentives to Filipino athletes, who won medals in the 31st Southeast Asian Games on top of the incentives provided by law, said Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Monday. Earlier, Go lauded Team Philippines for their remarkable performance at the SEA Games in Hanoi. With a total of 227 medals, the country’s delegation placed fourth in the medal standings, with 52 golds, 70 silvers and 105 bronze medals. President Duterte has also given additional financial incentives and other monetary rewards to athletes in the past.

The additional incentives for the 31st SEA games medalists shall be determined and provided by the Office of the President. This will be on top of what is provided by Republic Act No. 10699, which says the Philippine Sports Commission shall provide financial incentives to medal-winning athletes. The law, also known as the National Athletes and

Coaches Incentives and Benathletes in achieving their goals. efits Act, rewards a Filipino In a statement, Go, who athlete P300,000 for each heads the Senate Committee gold medal earned, while on Sports, expressed gratia silver and bronze medal tude for the efforts of all are worth P150,000 and the athletes who competP60,000, respectively. ed in the biennial sports Medalists, who break meet. current Philippine records, An advocate of longSEA Games standards, or term sports development, world records in any meaGo has been pushing for surable international compemeasures to protect the weltition may also be eligible for fare and promote the betterment cash rewards, as determined by Sen. Bong Go of athletes towards the country’s the PSC. sports renaissance. Go commended the government’s efAs Vice Chair of the Senate Comforts to support the delegation’s train- mittee on Finance, Go also ensured ing and assistance to the fullest extent that sufficient funding is included in possible. the budget of the Philippine Sports He said that the government should Commission to support the prepacontinue to invest in programs, finan- rations of athletes for international cial aid, and infrastructure to assist the competitions.

San Beda eyes Ayo to coach Lions

The Philippine Basketball Association held a press conference for its 47th season at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City on Monday. Shown here are (from left, standing) Blackwater Gov. Siliman Sy, Northport Gov. Erick Arejola, Ginebra Gov. Alfrancis Chua, Magnolia Gov. Rene Pardo, SMB Gov. Robert Non, NLEX Gov. Rod Franco, Rain or Shine Gov. Atty Mamerto Mondragon, Converge FiberXers’ Gov. Atty. Chito Salud, (from left, seated) Terrafirma Gov. Bobby Rosales, PBA chairman and TNT Gov. Ricky Vargas, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and Phoenix Gov. Atty. Raymond Zorrilla. Danny Pata

By Peter Atencio

Malixi shoots 67, salvages 3rd place at Arizona golf

Rianne Malixi poses beside the ad poster marker at Longbow Golf Club.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

RIANNE Malixi birdied four of the last 10 holes and shot a 67 to salvage a third-place finish in the Albane Valenzuela Girls Invitational topped by American Jaclyn LaHa in wire-to-wire fashion in Mesa, Arizona Sunday. Malixi appeared headed for a soso finish with a one-birdie, one-bogey card after eight holes but gained some spark after birdying the ninth of the Longbow Golf Club layout. She hit back-to-back feats from No. 12 then holed out with another birdie, her 34-33 card giving her a 54-hole

total of five-under 208. It featured a similar four-under card in the first round before the young ICTSI-backed star hobble in the second round with a 74 and slipped from joint second to a share of fourth, eight strokes off LaHa. That all but scuttled Malixi’s bid for a second American Junior Golf Association after ruling the Thunderbird All Star in a three-way playoff in Phoenix last April. The Californian, in contrast, sustained a big opening 66 with a 67 then coasted to a trouble-free win

at 202 after a 69 for her first AJGA victory. Catherine Rao, also from California, posted the tournament-best 64 as she came out of nowhere to snatch runner-up honors at 207. Next up for the two-time Ladies Philippine Golf Tour leg winner is the US Girls’ Junior Qualifying on June 6 at the El Dorado Country Club in McKinney, Texas where she and Mafy Singson will seek to regain the crown won by ICTSI teammate Princess Superal in 2014, also in Arizona.

BOYET Fernandez will have a replacement as coach of the San Beda University Red Lions men’s basketball team this week. And it could be Aldin Ayo, if ongoing talks with the 3x3 mentor prospers. San Beda team manager Jude Roque told the Manila Standard on Monday that they have narrowed down their choices on who will handle the Red Lions when season 98 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball kicks off in September. He, however, did not mention any name, although Ayo said he was one of the choices. “I am being considered by San Beda. There’s nothing final yet,”said Ayo, who added he has not made a commitment and is currently focused on his job as coach of the Chooks 3x3 basketball teams that are competing locally and internationally. The 44-year-old Ayo has taken on the new job as a 3x3 basketball coach after he parted ways with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers two years ago. Fernandez and his staff were officially let go by the university following an online meeting last Sunday. He first handled in San Beda in 2013 and 2014. The Red Lions completed a fivepeat run from 2010 to 2015, before winning back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.

Sports

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022

Nadal, Djokovic set blockbuster French Open quarterfinal faceoff P ARIS—Rafael Nadal set up a blockbuster French Open quarter-final against world number one Novak Djokovic on Sunday when he defeated Felix AugerAliassime in a five-set fourth round epic and pledged to “fight until the end”.

Nadal, the 13-time champion at Roland Garros and holder of a record 21 Grand Slam titles, triumphed over the Canadian 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in a match which lasted four hours and 21 minutes. It was only the third time in his 17year, 112-match career in Paris that Nadal had been stretched to five sets. Nadal and Djokovic will meet for the 10th time at Roland Garros and 59th overall in a rivalry stretching back to 2006. “We know each other well, we have a lot of history. The only thing I can say is that I will be focussed, try my best and fight until the end,” said Nadal on facing the defending champion on Tuesday. Djokovic has been responsible for two of Nadal’s three defeats in Paris—in the

quarter-finals in 2015 and last year’s semi-finals. Nadal hailed 21-year-old Auger-Aliassime, who has been working with his uncle and former coach Toni since April last year. “Felix is a great player. He’s very young with a lot of power and great mobility,” said the 35-year-old Spaniard who has made the last-eight for the 16th time. Ninth-ranked Auger-Aliassime raced into a 3-1 lead in the first set and battled from three break points down to edge 4-1 ahead. Nadal retrieved one of the breaks in the seventh game but the 21-yearold Canadian held his nerve to pocket the opener. Two loose forehands at 3-5 in the sec-

ond set opened the door for 35-year-old Nadal while the third set swung the Spaniard’s way in the third game when three rapid, defensive scrambles forced an error from his opponent. ‘Huge challenge’ Auger-Aliassime then rallied to level the tie. In a tense finale, Nadal converted the sixth of 22 break points he had carved out to lead 5-3 and held his nerve to claim his 109th victory at Roland Garros. Djokovic also reached the quarter-finals for the 16th time when he eased to a 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 victory against 15th seed Diego Schwartzman of Argentina. “It’s a huge challenge and probably the biggest one that you can have here in Roland Garros. I’m ready for it,” said Djokovic of facing his old rival. Djokovic is still to drop a set at Roland Garros after cruising through the first week. He has also won 22 sets in a row, stretching back to his Italian Open title triumph in Rome earlier this month.

Auger-Aliassime said he was happy with his performance. “He raised his level when he needed to. I did what I had to do. He was dictating, aggressive when he needed to and also defending really well,” said the Canadian. Untroubled Alcaraz Djokovic or Nadal could face Spanish teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals. On Sunday, the 19-year-old romped into his first French Open quarter-final with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian Karen Khachanov. “I had a great match from start to finish,” said sixth seed Alcaraz who will face German third seed in the last eight. The teenager defeated Zverev in the Madrid Masters final earlier this month after also knocking out Djokovic and Nadal. It was a second successive straightsets win for Alcaraz after saving a match point when winning a secondround thriller against compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas. AFP

Tolentino lone guest at PSA’s online forum PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino will be the lone special guest in the resumption of the virtual Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday (May 31). Tolentino will give an assessment on the performance of Team Philippines in the just concluded 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, and discuss what’s in store next for the Filipino athletes. Returning after giving way to the coverage of the Hanoi SEA Games the past three weeks, the weekly Forum starts at 10 a.m. The session is presented by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, Unilever, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The public sports program is being livestreamed in the PSA Facebook page f b.com/Philippi ne Sp or t s w r it e r s A s s o ciat ion and aired on a delayed basis over Radyo Pilipinas 2, which also officially airs the program on its Facebook page.

Rep. Abraham Tolentino

Rafael Nadal (left) and Novak Djokovic (right) will meet for the 10th time at Roland Garros and 59th overall in a rivalry stretching back to 2006.

Sam Burns

Burns stuns Scheffler in playoff to win at Colonial LOS ANGELES—Sam Burns rolled in a 38-foot birdie putt from off the green at the first playoff hole to beat world number one Scottie Scheffler at the Charles Schwab Challenge on Sunday. Burns, seven back to start the day, matched the biggest comeback in tournament history at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, a mark set by Zimbabwe’s Nick Price in 1994. Burns polished it off with a playoff win over his good friend Scheff ler. Burns shared a house with the Texan at Augusta in April, when Scheff ler won his maiden major title at the Masters. “Gosh, I don’t even know,” Burns said of how he made his winning putt, some two hours after he had completed a five-under par 65 final round for a nineunder total of 271. It matched the low round of the day as fierce winds pushed up scores and a stream of contenders wilted in the Texas afternoon heat. “I think just with the conditions today, how tough it was playing, just so proud with how we hung in there,” Burns said. Scheffler started the day with a twoshot lead, but the world number one had two bogeys without a birdie in his twoover par 72. He kept himself in the hunt with some clutch par putts on the back nine, a ninefooter at the 15th, an eight-footer at 17 and a five-foot putt to salvage par from a greenside bunker at the last. Burns launched his comeback by getting up and down from a greenside bunker for birdie at the first. He rolled in a 10-foot birdie at the second and an eightfooter at the fourth. AFP

Celtics cool off Heat in Game 7, face Warriors in Finals MIAMI—The Boston Celtics, sparked by 26 points from Jayson Tatum, advanced to the NBA Finals by defeating Miami 100-96 on Sunday, setting up a title showdown against the Golden State Warriors. Boston captured the winner-takes-all matchup to claim the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals 4-3 and secure a place in the championship series, which begins Thursday in San Francisco. “We aren’t satisfied. We’ve still got a long way to go,” Tatum said. “We know we have a tough task ahead. I’m looking forward to it.” The Celtics, who eliminated 2021 NBA champion Milwaukee in seven games, led from start to finish but had to hold off a Heat fightback in the dying minutes to reach their first NBA Finals since 2010. “We fought through a lot of adversity,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. “We’re a resilient group. We can’t ever really slam the door but we held them off. “Now our focus is to win four more.” Boston advanced after losing the conference finals three times in the past five seasons. “To get over the hump with this group, it means everything,” Tatum said. “Not a lot of people believed in

The Boston Celtics pose for a photo with the Bob Cousy Eastern Conference Championship Trophy after Game 7 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at the FTX Arena in Miami, Florida. AFP

us, but it worked out.” Tatum, who also had 10 rebounds and six assists, was named the Eastern Conference Most Valuable Player. “It was the biggest game of my career,” Tatum said. “Going through those tough times helped us grow, helped us

learn. They kept coming at us. We kept responding. We left it all on the floor. We got it done.” Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown each added 24 points for Boston while Jimmy Butler led Miami with 35 points in a losing cause.

“Not good enough. I didn’t do enough,” Butler said. “Stats don’t mean anything. I learned I have to be better and I will be better. We’re going to come back better than ever.” Miami, the East’s top seed, missed a chance at a second NBA Finals trip in three years and a first title since 2013. “It’s one of the worst feelings in the world to address your locker room after a game like this,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It’s heartbreaking when it ends like this.” Golden State split two games with the Celtics in the regular season, winning 111-107 in December at Boston and losing 110-88 in March at home when star guard Stephen Curry was injured. Boston hadn’t been to the finals since losing 12 years ago to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics haven’t won the NBA crown since 2008. The Warriors, in the NBA Finals for the sixth time in eight years, seek their fourth title in that span and the first since 2018. “This is a great opportunity. This is what you put all the work in for your whole life,” Brown said. “We’ve got to embrace it but also embrace the challenge. AFP

Bikers’ pit stop, cross country trail soon to open in Clark CLARK FREEPORT—With its thrust to become a “Biker-Friendly Zone”, the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) will soon open two new bikers’ destinations which will welcome both bikeriding public and professional bikers in this Freeport. First, is the Bikers’ Pit Stop which is a stopover designed to become a one-stop shop located at the rotunda bounded by Panday Pira Avenue and Creekside Road. The design of the pit stop takes inspiration from the surrounding greenery and promotes an eco-friendly and sustainable design made from recovered woods. It’s also a dedicated rest area where bikers and their families can re-

lax and recharge. The pit stop will have retail spaces that can be rented out to interested concessionaires offering various goods and services for bikers. Food trucks, bike parking area, selfservice bike cleaning kiosk, parts and repair shop, first-aid clinic, restrooms, and a pump track will soon be made available to the public. Second, is the Cross Country Trail. This new bikers’ course features a challenging route specially made for professional bikers and adrenaline junkies who are seeking a thrilling adventure. The Cross Country Trail is also located along Creekside Road and its starting point is at Midori Park. All

these and more will officially open during the launching of “Clark as a BikerFriendly Zone” on June 3, 2022 in front of the Clark museum. Meanwhile, more bike-friendly signage that will include emergency hotlines will be placed along bike paths and existing bike lanes to ensure safety among bikers and motorists alike. These will also appear along major thoroughfares of this Freeport to remind the bikers of traffic rules and regulations and maintain a safe environment for everyone. CDC continues to advocate and implement the “bike culture” within the Freeport to encourage a healthier lifestyle among residents, workers and visitors.

CLARK IS A BIKER-FRIENDLY ZONE. The Clark Development Corporation will have its official launching of Clark as a Biker-Friendly Zone on June 3, 2022 coinciding with the Philcycling Festival happening over the weekend from June 3 to 5. The launch will also include a simultaneous ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the Clark Museum, Bikers’ Pitstop, and the Clark Cross Country Trail.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022

‘Top Gun’ soars to record box office opening MUCH-ANTICIPATED action film Top Gun: Maverick was expected to have a big opening and it did not disappoint, taking in an estimated $151 million in North America for the four-day Memorial Day weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported. Viewers had to wait 36 years to see the sequel to the original Top Gun, but critics say the Paramount/ Skydance production was worth the wait, with some calling it superior to the original film. “The source material remains strong, the execution is excellent, and Tom Cruise makes it work impeccably well,” said analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. The film -- whose release had been delayed two years by the COVID-19 pandemic – notched

$124 million for the first three days of the holiday weekend and took in the same amount overseas, despite not playing in China or Russia. It was Cruise’s first opening to top $100 million. He again plays cocky (if grayer) navy test pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, now a captain, as he trains to bomb a rogue nation’s uranium enrichment facility. A strong supporting cast includes Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, and Jon Hamm; original Top Gun veteran Val Kilmer (Iceman) appears briefly. Slipping a notch to second place was Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which in its fourth weekend took in $16.4 million for the Fridaythrough-Sunday period and $21.1 million for the full four days.

The Disney film, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, had opened to a year’s best $187 million. In third spot was 20th Century’s new Bob’s Burgers Movie. The animated film, based on a popular television show, earned $12.6 million for three days and $15 million for four. Focus Features’ Downton Abbey: A New Era took fourth place, with $5.9 million for three days and $7.5 million for four. Based on the hugely popular British series, it again stars Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, and Michelle Dockery. And in fifth was Universal’s family-friendly animation The Bad Guys, at $4.6 million for three days and $6.1 million for four. AFP Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Jace Roque bares his soul about heartbreak and pressure in two new singles By Patricia Taculao AFTER a year of abruptly going on hiatus, Filipino electronic dance music (EDM) artist Jace Roque is back to producing new music that highlights his chosen genre while telling the story of his recent heartbreak. Jace chose EDM as his genre because he saw the lack of songs in the Philippine market when he started his music career. Moreover, it suits his artistic preferences to a tee because he vibes more with upbeat songs with meaningful lyrics. “Just because dance track siya, it doesn’t mean masaya na siya kasi my songs have duality. Painful ‘yung lyrics pero very upbeat ‘yung production,” he said during an exclusive interview with Manila Standard Entertainment. The EDM artist added that the genre also helps him address personal issues and share through his music without triggering unwanted negative emotions from fans who can relate to his ordeals. For his comeback, Jace prepared two singles, one in English and the other in Filipino, that tackle his journey to healing, acceptance, and self-love. Jace Roque bares his soul about heartbreak and pressure in two new singles

“Di Para Sa’yo,” released last April 22, Friday, revolves around his experience of loving someone 110 percent, only for him to realize that it’s not worth it. In the end, he turned his attention and affection towards himself. Heartbreaks are already traumatic experiences and affect everyone differently. Jace admitted to attending therapy sessions because he couldn’t process the situation himself, leading him to seek professional help. “I got treated for depression and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Pinarealize sa akin na ‘it’s not your fault—it’s not completely your fault. At some point, you have to take accountability for some of it, but not everything is your fault,’” he said. Eventually, Jace learned how to let go of all the blame and the guilt weighing him down. He’s now on his way to accepting that someone better will come his way sooner or later. In the meantime, “Be Someone,” released last May 20, Friday, is about Jace’s journey to showbiz and having to meet unrealistic expectations from his family, friends, and the industry. Unlike most artists related to already significant names in the industry, Jace kept quiet about his family tree early in his career, when he began as an actor. “We made sure na unknown individual ako. Walang connections, walang kahit ano. I had to work on my career na ako lang for the first few years. Noong naka-achieve na ako ng success, doon na namin ni-reveal sino relatives ko,” he said. Jace is related to ‘80s action star Boy Roque, who encourages him to venture into action, and OPM icons Gino Padilla and Luke Mijares. Instead of following in their footsteps and succumbing to the pressure, Jace chose to carve his path and stand out from the rest. The Filipino EDM artist will also release a meaningful mini-album aptly named “Inferno,” inspired by the classic poem of the same name by Italian writer Dante Alighieri. He chose the title because, in the album, he’s purging the pain, blame, and guilt that we experienced in the past year. “Before ka umakyat sa Paradiso and Inferno, pinu-purge ka muna talaga,” he said. As an exclusive treat, Jace shared that his full-length album coming next year is titled “Paradiso,” another reference to Dante’s poem of the same name.

Anne Curtis’ trending return Dyosa star Anne Curtis made her much-anticipated comeback on the popular ABS-CBN noontime show It’s Showtime with a captivating production number and became a top trending topic worldwide. Anne expressed her joy at reuniting with her It’s Showtime family after more than two years of absence. She said, “Happy ako na nandito ulit ako, pero sabi ko nga baby steps. Alam kong nandyan naman kayo para suportahan ako.” Similar to what she said, she took to Instagram to thank “madlang people” whom she Anne Curtis (left) reunites with her ‘It’s Showtime’ asked to tune in a day prior to co-hosts Vice Ganda (center) and Vhong Navarro her return to the small screen. “Kept my promise. I came back. Thanks for tuning in today guys. Baby steps,” Anne said in the caption of her social media post. Anne performed her rendition of Ariana Grande’s “Break Free” to the delight of viewers and received a rousing welcome from her co-hosts who expressed how much they missed her. Meanwhile, Vice Ganda expressed that he is happy now that their family is gradually becoming complete and hints at Jhong Hilario’s return, as well. It’s Showtime airs on A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel, and Facebook page, as well as on the iWantTFC app (iOS and Android) and iwanttfc.com. Outside the Philippines, it is also available on cable and IPTV via The Filipino Channel.

Film lab for emerging film creatives

GoWATCH Film Lab has four workshop sessions on filmmaking that are facilitated by acclaimed filmmakers Jade Castro, JP Habac, Antoinette Jadaone, and Erik Matti

LOBE Prepaid Virtual Hangouts – Gen Z’s exclusive interactive platform that houses all fun, innovative, educational, and passionbased experiences – has launched a learning program for emerging creatives who desire to tell their stories through the art of cinema.

Called GoWATCH Film Lab, it consists of four workshop sessions on specific filmmaking techniques to be facilitated by acclaimed filmmakers Jade Castro, JP Habac, Antoinette Jadaone, and Erik Matti. GoWATCH Film Lab is Globe Prepaid’s fifth pillar and learning program under its Virtual Hangouts platform. In the past, it conducted the

GoESPORTS Game On! Training Camp for ESports streamers and casters; GoHUSTLE Boss Up Bootcamp for entrepreneurs; GoKOREAN K-Fashion Institute for Korean fashion lovers; and the recently concluded musical talent search called GoJAM On Stage. According to Head of Globe Prepaid Givielle Florida, “It’s time for our cinephiles and emerging filmmakers to take the spotlight. We want to give them the world-class mentorship that they deserve.” The GoWATCH Film Lab is part of Globe’s continuing mission to give a platform to cinema artists to express their perspectives. In 2019, Globe’s film production arm, Globe Studios now called ANIMA, launched its firstever Short Film Lab during the .giff Festival of New Cinema. ANIMA is Globe Prepaid’s partner in putting up this year’s GoWATCH Film Lab. “We believe that the Gen Z’ers have a strong and unique voice,” said ANIMA Executive Director Quark Henares.

“During our 2019 Short Film Lab, we paired our participants with seasoned filmmakers for a hands-on mentorship to guide them from their short film’s concept and script development, to finding their audiences here and abroad. For the GoWATCH Film Lab, we are extending the same opportunity to our participants,” Henares added. The four-part workshop sessions are just the beginning. Participants have a chance to pitch their own story, wherein selected finalists will face a jury of industry players, for a chance to win a script development mentorship plus P200,000 seed grant. The Globe Prepaid Virtual Hangouts GoWATCH Film Lab is open to individuals 16 to 27 years old who have a story to tell and who are interested in finding and developing their voices and talents in filmmaking. To register, visit www.globevirtualhangouts.ph. Registration is open until June 1; the actual film lab will be held on June 4 to 5 and June 11 to 12.

Why Julia doesn’t want Joshua to be in a relationship just yet ACCORDING to Joshua Garcia, his former girlfriend Julia Barretto told him not to engage in any romantic relationship yet. And the young actor doesn’t see any problem with that advice. Prior to their talk, Julia said that she always tells Joshua to focus on his career more at this point especially since he is making a name as one of his generation’s most reliable dramatic actors. “She tells me that every time we see each other. I tell her back, ‘Why can’t I? Is it only you who can?’ But seriously, I think her advice is logical. There are lots of good developments in my career this year. There is continuous work for me. Projects just land on my lap. I feel so blessed,” he relates. When it comes to his personal life, Joshua doesn’t really close his doors believing that if someone comes along and they’re on the same wavelength and everything’s smooth, then, he’s welcoming the possibility that something will eventually lead to something. “I want it to happen at the right time. I don’t want to rush and jump into a relationship right away,” Joshua explains. People laud him for still maintaining his friendship with Julia despite their split-up. “When you love someone, you want her to grow. Even if it’s painful on your part, it’s just okay. It’s already a thing of the past,” he states. Meanwhile, Joshua feels proud that he’s part of the latest reboot of Darna, which features Jane de Leon in the title role, and Janella Salvador as the main arch nemesis Valentina. H e said he can’t wait until it starts airing and he considers it an exciting and unique Former flames project. “It’s something new and is not Julia Barretto normally done in the Philippines. (left) and The action and special effects are Joshua Garcia spectacular.”

*** Kylie Padilla says she’s already open to the idea of having a new relationship after her failed marriage with Aljur Abrenica but she’s not really in a hurry. But the 29-year-old actress maintains that her kids are still her priority. Even if she’s already open to entertaining a new romance in her life, the actress reveals that it won’t be easy for the guy. “There are checklists. He will undergo a lot of tests. I don’t know who can endure knowing that my kids are my top priority, then myself. My work comes in next,” she says. Kylie admits that she learned a lot of lessons from her past relationship and that the qualities she looks for in a man have also changed. “I just feel I matured a lot. I’ve learned to be grateful for the things that I already have,” the Bolera star ends.

Life

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

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2022

Walk down the aisle in exquisitely Filipino style FILIPINOS love weddings. Perhaps it’s because of the romantic in us and these have a way of bringing families and friends together. While many still prefer traditional weddings, new concepts like destination weddings and ready two wear bridal gowns have become popular in recent years. Weddings have become more intimate occasions attended by only immediate family members during the past two years because of the pandemic. But with the recent easing of restrictions, we see couples planning grander ones closer to their dream weddings. Whether you’re planning a simple or

grand ceremony, you can still walk down the aisle in style with Kultura’s Selebrasyon collection. There are beautifully designed bridal gowns and barongs – traditional or reinvented for modern brides and grooms – and marked by the elegant craftsmanship of our local designers and artisans. All of these can also be worn by entourage, sponsors, and guests. Brides-to-be will love Kultura’s exquisite Filipiniana embroidered, beaded, or hand-painted ensembles. There are exquisite gowns that will make walking down the aisle breathtaking when worn with delicate veils from the store. For the modern bride, there are piec-

es like terno sleeved tops that can be mixed and matched with silk pants and long skirts. Grooms can choose from Kultura’s selection of elegant barongs in piña silk, silk cocoon, cotton silk, organdy, and jusi materials with intricate embroidery details. Favors, tablescape dining accessories, entourage gifts, and decors are also available making Kultura a one-stopshop for your Filipino-themed wedding. Check out Kultura’s Selebrasyon Wedding Collection in store, online or through call to deliver for all your Filipino-themed wedding needs. Kultura ships here and abroad.

FILIPINIANA FOR THE MODERN BRIDE. A piña silk barong with intricate handembroidered calado for the groom

Turn heads as you walk down the aisle with an amor embroidered calado cropped top with terno sleeves, silk cocoon skirt with a ruffled hem, and embroidered veil from Kultura

Kultura store locator: https:// Shop online: www.kulturafilipino.com w w w. k u l t u r a f ili p i n o.c o m /p a ge s/ Call To Deliver: 09175174096 or store-locator 09676093407

Welcoming Marian Rivera into your home

Marian ensures that the Reverie line of Beautéderm Home triggers different feelings while neutralizing unwanted odors

HE sense of smell is the only sense directly connected to the oldest part of the brain, which might explain why the smell of something can so immediately trigger a detailed memory or even intense emotion.

In the business of home fragrance, the process of creating a cool and soothing ambience in your home – through your sense of smell – is always at the center of what they do. Take for example the Reverie Home line of Beautederm endorsed by actress and television personality Marian Rivera. Reverie is a play of words between the name of Rhea A n i c o c h e -Ta n or Rei – Beautéderm’s President and CEO; and Marian’s maiden name; and the concept of the brand’s desired effect to its users – to drift away, dream, and relax while basking in the extraordinary, sweet, and “beautéful scents of love by Beautéderm Home.” Originally, the Reverie line of Beautéderm Home includes Into The Woods (Bamboo Scent), Smells Like Candy (Cherry Scent), Time To Bloom (Fresh Rose Scent), Something Minty (Eucalyptus Scent), and Rest & Relaxation (Lavender Scent) – all created from formulation to individual packaging in very close collaboration with Marian. In 2021, the line introduced two additional scents namely Matcha To Love and Take Me Away. This year, Beautéderm Home levels up as it introduces brand-new, essential products under the Reverie line that will not only provide every home an ambrosial ambiance but will also protect it from germs, bacteria, and viruses as well. The first of the new products is Pour Tout Faire – a 3-in-1 multi-purpose spray that deodorizes, disinfects, and protects as it is formulated to eliminate unpleasant odors, and instantly disinfect surfaces as it destroys bacteria and viruses upon contact. With its two variants Fresh & Vibrant and Clean & Calm, Pour Tout Faire is ideal for sanitizing and freshening the air; for linens and all surfaces; and it may be ap-

plied to the skin and on clothes while being 100 percent safe for children and pets. “We decided that our first variants would trigger different feelings depending on your mood. And not just that, we created a variant that you can use to get rid of unwanted odors in your home especially when you are cooking. I know that some of us have an exhaust system, but lighting a candle, for example, neutralizes the odor inside your home,” said Marian during her renewal of partnership with Beautéderm Home. The actress has been the face of Beautéderm Home for five years now. As a special treat to honor the partnership renewal of the home line and the actress, Reverie will be releasing a special limited-edition soy candle box set that includes three new scents which include Inviting Cherimoya, Irresistible Vanilla, and Tempting Pear and Melon. “We are also introducing new scents and for sure, we would again think of other new variants in the future,” Marian added. The historic partnership between Beautéderm Home and Marian happened in 2018 when the brand launched Reverie – an exquisite line of home scents that originally consisted of soy candles and air purifiers as well as room and linen sprays. “I am truly overjoyed that my relationship with Beautéderm Home lasted for

Marian Rivera-Dantes (right) with Beautéderm’s President and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan

this long and I’m excited as I look forward to many more years with this brand that is very dear to my heart,” said Marian. “We have worked so hard in developing these new products and I am so proud to introduce and present them to everyone.” Anicoche-Tan on the other hand expresses that her relationship with Marian has transcended from business to a loving sisterly bond that she deeply treasures. “Marian is an extremely valued member of the Beautéderm family and I am so happy to have her on board as the brand ambassador of Beautéderm Home for another 30 months and hopefully more years in the future,” said the lady CEO. “Marian and I are really like sisters. She’s my baby sister as she is the sweetest and the kindest, and one of the most professional ambassadors that we have. What I love about her is that her love for me is wholeheartedly extended to my staff and to all of our resellers and distributors. I truly celebrate Marian and her solid partnership with Beautéderm Home. But more than that, I am grateful for her sincere and loyal friendship,” she carried on. For more information on Beautéderm Home and Reverie follow @beautédermcorporation on Instagram and TikTok; follow @beautedermcorp on Twitter; like Beautéderm on Facebook; and subscribe to Beautéderm TV on YouTube.

Rhea Anicoche-Tan (left) considers her relationship with Marian as sisterly

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BRIA condos are for young professionals, independent millennials, and starting families who can expect to thrive in their cozy, cleverly laid-out units

Easy, flexible down payment term for your BRIA condo CHOOSING between staying in the congested metropolis and moving to healthier environs in the provinces? For aspiring homeowners who want sufficient space while still needing access to the city, a happy medium awaits them: suburban neighborhoods. These are quiet, lowdensity communities located just outside the bustling metro but near urban areas where business and commerce thrive. Leading real estate developer BRIA Homes, long recognized for its vast residential enclaves in fifty-plus locations all over the country, sees this market segment as a prime motivator for its vertical housing projects in Calamba in Laguna; Gen. Trias in Cavite; and Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao. The charms of condo living are not lost on home seekers such as young, ambitious professionals, business start-ups, and clever millennials looking to strike out on their own. They set their eyes on BRIA Homes’ walk-up condominiums and immediately perceive cozy and intimate co-living as their idyllic domiciles. With BRIA Condo Calamba showing outstanding sales performances in its pre-selling stage, other BRIA vertical developments are following suit, proving that compact condo living is a cool option when complemented by suburban vibes. Noting this positive trend, BRIA Homes is making its vertical developments more financially viable to both potential homebuyers and budding investors with flexible and convenient payment terms. To start with, prospective buyers can reserve their very own BRIA Condo unit and then opt for BRIA’s easy downpayment terms—paying only P6,500 a month for 8 months (terms and conditions apply) for their first down payment. With BRIA’s condo downpayment promo being available on a limited basis, there’s no better time than now to invest in units that will soon benefit from the

country’s massive infrastructure program. Future BRIA condo residents are set to experience reduced travel time between the metropolis and component cities in Southern Luzon. BRIA condos are for young professionals, independent millennials, and starting families who can expect to thrive in their cozy, cleverly laid-out units. Providing distinct features such as reliable internet connection, landscaped gardens, jogging paths, and amenities like a function hall, swimming pool, fitness gym, and kiddie play area, BRIA condos ensure work-life balance for residents at any time. Potential condo unit buyers who want to check these out from the comfort of their homes may join BRIA’s 360 Virtual Tours available on their official website www.bria.com.ph. No need to drive out to the property; just a few clicks are all they need. Even better, they can also reserve a unit online through https://www. bria.com.ph/online-reservation/ On this note, ET Aguilar, BRIA’s Division Head, enjoins interested buyers to strike while the iron is hot. “We’ve been seeing a rapidly growing response to our BRIA condo developments of late. This has inspired us to offer flexible and easy payment terms to help even more Filipinos move closer to the best options available— BRIA condos.” BRIA Homes is a subsidiary of GOLDEN MV Holdings, Inc., one of the top real estate companies in the country. Acclaimed for its massive footprint of over 50 developments in major Philippine cities and municipalities, BRIA Homes is committed to bringing quality and best-value residential communities closer to everyday Filipino families. To know more, visit their website at www.bria.com.ph, like and follow “Bria Homes, Inc.” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Spotify, Viber Community, Telegram Channel, Kakao Talk, LINE, and WhatsApp, or call 0939-887-9637.

BRIA Condos offer amenities like a function hall, swimming pool, fitness gym, and kiddie play area