Manila Standard - 2022 June 22 - Wednesday

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‘Oil at P80-P90/l till yearend’ Industry executive tells Senate: Expect no relief from soaring prices

ExxonMobil: World pump turbulence may last 5 yrs CONSUMERS must be prepared to endure up to five years of turbulent oil markets, the head of ExxonMobil said Tuesday, citing under-investment and the coronavirus pandemic.

Energy markets have been roiled by the Ukraine war as Russia has reduced some exports and faced sanctions while Europe has announced plans to wean itself off dependency on Russian fossil fuels in coming years.

Speaking ahead of ExxonMobil's unveiling as the fourth international partner for Qatar's natural gas expansion, chairman and chief executive Darren Woods said major uncertainty lies ahead.

"You are probably looking at three to five years of continued

fairly tight markets," Woods told the Qatar Economic Forum. "How that manifests itself in price will obviously be a big function of demand, which is difficult to predict."

On top of under-investment in finding new oil sources in 2014-2015, Woods said the pandemic "really sucked a lot of revenues out of the industry."

Woods said companies and governments needed to think longterm. "We are going to see a lot of volatility and discontinuity in the market place if we don't get to more thoughtful policies," he predicted.

Representatives from the Middle East energy industry also renewed calls for better planning in consumer countries.

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By Alena Mae S. Flores and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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UMP prices will continue to go up and continue to hover at an average of P80 to P90 per liter until year-end, an oil firm official said Tuesday.

"Before, the movement of diesel prices was only by centavos, but now [it is] often by more than P1 per liter. The sad thing is I see it continuing until the end of this year," Cleanfuel president Jesus Suntay said during Tuesday's Senate committee on energy hearing.

Suntay said there are no indications of world oil prices going down. Oil supply

would continue to be available—but at a specific price, he added.

“OPEC refused to increase production, and a big portion supplied by OPEC goes to the EU, which Russia used to supply as much as 80 percent. But because of the embargo (against Russia), OPEC now supplies them (EU), and supply to Asia is affected," he said.

Suntay said many oil-producing countries suffered during the pandemic and are now trying to recover losses.

"While they said they would increase production, they didn't do it. We see oil prices hovering between P80 and P90. The problem is it's the start of the travel season in the US, so demand will increase," he said.

He said China's easing restrictions and talk of greater demand continue to drive up prices.

Suntay said the Department of Energy (DOE) had asked the fuel sector to subsidize fuel costs for public utility vehicles (PUVs), but he said this could not go forever.

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VOL. XXXVI • NO. 126 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gov‘t on alert over inaugural disruption buzz

By Francisco Tuyay COMMUNIST groups are still plotting to disrupt the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinanda Marcos Jr. on June 30 and the Department of the Interior and Local aGovaernment (DILG) is taking these reports seriously, its spokesman said Tuesday.

“Leftist organizers” have been gathering in Tarlac, Cavite, Pampanga, and Laguna in the past

INAUGURAL BANNER. Members of the

Department of Public Works and Highways hang banners announcing the June 30 inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. along Ayala Bridge near in Manila on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Norman Cruz

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BBM for full foreign capital in power deals Marcos plots hiked rice output to make up for import shortage

By Rey E. Requejo and Alena Mae Flores

PRESIDENT-ELECT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is open to the possibility of allowing 100-percent foreign ownership of power generation projects, but the government must first iron out bureaucratic and

legislative kinks that discourage foreign investments.

“The ownership is one issue but it’s not the main one. And I think if we can take care of all of that first, it would be easy to agree on the 100 percent ownership,” he said.

Marcos made the statement when asked about his views on foreign ownership

after the Ambassador of Norway Bjorn Jahnsen said his country is inclined to invest in the Philippines to develop the country’s offshore wind sector.

Jahnsen said some 50,000 goodpaying jobs could be generated from this sector, but noted that Philippine policies would have to be adjusted.

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Pfizer gets nod DILG to impose mask rules for booster for but Palace will have last say kids aged 12-17

By Willie Casas HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III has approved the Health Technology Assessment Council's (HTAC) recommendation to administer the first Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots for children ages 12 to 17.

“Yes, it has been approved, but wait Next page

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will not hesitate to press charges against persons who violate health protocols, such as not wearing face masks outdoors, as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers, an official said Tuesday.

Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño, who handles barangay affairs, said villages still continue to monitor health violators, including in Cebu province where Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT-ELECT President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to increase the country’s food production when he takes over as concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

Marcos said that the rice export ban currently imposed by Thailand and

Vietnam, the Philippines’ main sources of imported rice, has left the country with no choice but to increase its own production of the key staple.

“You may have noted that Thailand [and] Vietnam for example... our main sources of imported rice, have decided to ban rice exports, at least for now.

So, we have to compensate for that by hopefully increasing production here in the Philippines,” Marcos said. Next page

and the provincial board have relaxed the face mask rule.

"For us, we are enforcing health protocols, and violating those will have penalties," he said in a televised briefing.

"We will impose that. If there were no penalties in the locality, we will file a case in the prosecutor's office. Remember that there is a law," Dino added, referring to the Bayanihan to Heal and Recover as One Acts, which necessitates the DOH Next page

Duterte declines drug czar post in next administration PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has said yesterday.

Martin Andanar said. declined an offer for him to serve as "The last offer that I saw was to The outgoing president, however, has drug czar of his successor, President- become the drug czar. But he declined accepted the offer of his longtime friend Next page elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Palace that," acting Presidential spokesperson

SPECIAL YOGA. Jocel Del Rosario, a 29-years-old special needs person under the care of the Down Syndrome Association, joins 138 participants in a yoga session during the 8th International Day of Yoga at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Danny Pata

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News

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sara taps ex-PCGG head as spokesman

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HE Office of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio announced Tuesday that her law school classmate, lawyer Reynold Munsayac, will replace Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco as her spokesperson.

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Sheikh Nawaf Saud al-Sabah, chief executive of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, said the company was supplying all customers, but that multinational oil firms were not matching the investment of national oil enterprises.

As part of the Gulf state's response, Kuwait was starting its first offshore oil exploration and building the world's biggest oil refinery.

"We have never touched the offshore in Kuwait. The first offshore drill rig arrived in Kuwait a week ago and will start soon," he said.

The new refinery would come online by the end of 2022, Sabah added.

"It will be the largest refinery in the world at 615,000 barrels of oil a day capacity," he said, adding that it would help meet increased demand from Europe and elsewhere.

Sabah said there was a "dangerous trend," with world consumers wanting energy but not being prepared for the change from polluting hydrocarbons to green energy.

"That is a paradox here that is causing quite a tremendous disruption in the investment cycle. We are making longterm investments, but not international oil companies."

Sabah said the world currently produces and consumes about 100 million barrels of oil a day but that the equivalent of Kuwait's production – about 3.5 million barrels a day – was being lost through declining fields.

(See full story online at manilastandard. net)

Munsayac's appointment took effect Tuesday, June 21. Frasco, meanwhile, takes office as the next Tourism Secretary on June 30 after being appointed by President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “It is an honor to serve as spokesperson for Vice President-elect Sara Z. Duterte, a great leader and a good person. I thank her for her trust and confidence in me,”

Munsayac told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.

In 2021, Munsayac resigned as commissioner and acting chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to help campaign for “Inday Sara.”

Munsayac then filed Duterte-Carpio's candidacy for the May 9 elections two days before the deadline for substitution

of election aspirants on November 15, 2022.

According to the VP-elect's office, Munsayac was the valedictorian of his law school class and is a practicing lawyer.

In 2017, Munsayac assisted Duterte in the establishment of the worldwide group of Duterte supporters called “Tapang at Malasakit.”

“Munsayac’s professional portfolio is highlighted by his unquestionable integrity and dedication to governance and public service, and the Vice Presidentelect is confident that he will be able to bring this experience to his new duty,” the VP-elect's statement read.

‘Oil...

consecutive week by as much as P3.10 per liter for diesel and P0.80 for gasoline on Tuesday.

The latest data available from the DOE indicate that the year-to-dateadjustments stand at a net increase of P28.70 per liter for gasoline, P41.15 per liter of diesel, and P37.95 per liter for kerosene since the start of the year.

The peso’s depreciation, meanwhile, maeans that imported oil will cost more in the local currency.

The peso tumbled Tuesday to a new 44-month low of 54.265 against the US dollar in line with regional currencies’ weakness following the interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve.

The peso traded weaker than its Monday’s closing of 54.065 against thegreenback. It was the local unit’s weakest level since it settled at 54.32 a dollar on Oct. 4, 2018.

Senator Grace Poe said she was ready to refile a bill seeking a temporary halt to the collection of excise taxes on oil products to cushion the blow of the surging cost of fuel.

Poe’s bill proposes to amend Section 148 of the National Internal Revenue

Code to provide for the automatic suspension of the excise tax on regular gasoline, unleaded premium gasoline and diesel when the average Dubai crude oil based on Mean of Platts Singapore for threemonths prior to the scheduled increase of the month reaches or exceeds $80 per barrel.

Poe said suspending oil excise taxes will bring instant relief to the public as it will lower the prices of fuel products, reducing the costof goods and services.

"To our people in daily survival mode, the oil tax reprieve will provide a crucial lifeline," Poe said.

"The revenues the government will generate from the excise tax to fund cash aid might come too late for families who have nothing to eat now," Poe said Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, the excise tax on regular and unleaded premium gasoline is currently set at P10 per liter of volume capacity. The excise tax on diesel is pegged at P6 per liter.

A value-added tax of 12 percent is also imposed on the sale of gasoline and diesel.

The suspension of the excise tax will

immediately bring down costs by P10 per liter for gasoline and P6 per liter for diesel.

The authority granted under the TRAIN law to suspend the collection of excise tax was transitory and covered only the years 2018 to 2020.

"If the government is willing to spend billions in cash assistance to targeted beneficiaries, then it should also be ready to forego a portion of its revenues during the most critical times in order to save millions of lives," Poe said.

"We hope that this call on excise tax suspension, which is becoming louder by the day, will merit serious consideration from the incoming administration," the senator said.

President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said he prefers to provide aid to the sectors affected by the continuing increase in fuel prices instead of suspending the excise tax on oil.

Marcos said decreasing the excise tax on oil products does not help those affected by the soaring prices.

He said those who are directly affected, especially the transport sector, should be given priority.

However, Marcos pointed out that there are other issues that must be considered.

“These are the legislative guarantees and the regulatory guarantees.

This refers to a guarantee that the laws would remain intact for the duration of their project, that the regulations won’t change. Those are the things that they ask for,” Marcos said.

The Philippines’ Public Service Act (PSA), signed only last March by

outgoing President Duterte, allows up to 100 percent foreign ownership of public services in the country.

However, this relatively new law only covers the distribution and transmission aspects of power such as electricity, and not power generation or production.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Luzon grid on yellow alert from 1 p.m. to 4

p.m. Tuesday after reserves fell below the single largest unit operating in the grid of about 650 megawatts.

NGCP said Luzon's power demand was at 11,385 megawatts (MW) compared to the available capacity of 12,251 MW. Net operating margin reached only 412MW on Tuesday.

NGCP said unavailable capacity from unplanned outage of power plants reached 1,592MW.

Pasig River.

"Rest assured that the PCG will work side by side with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and other concerned government agencies to realize a safe, secure, and peaceful assumption of the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines," said PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu in a separate statement.

Earlier, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said all systems are in place to secure the inauguration of Marcos.

NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad said final security preparation had been laid down and finalized to ensure success and zero casualty and any untoward incident.

“We have not monitored any threat ahead as of this moment but we are continuously and closely monitoring and coordinating with our counterparts,” Natividad said.

He said several road closures, the 1-kilometer radius of the National Museum will be declared a no-fly zone for drones and aircraft, while several ports and waterways near the establishment have also been inspected.

Natividad said a gun ban will be imposed from 6 a.m. on June 27 to 6 a.m. on July 1, adding only police and military and other law enforcers who are performing official duties in prescribed uniforms will be authorized to carry firearms.

Motorists are advised to take alternate routes as heavy traffic will be expected, particularly on roads leading to and from the National Museum.

Backpacks also not be allowed in all VIP areas to ensure the safety of everyone.

At least 6,000 police officers will be deployed for Marcos’ inauguration.

DILG...

wearing. We will enforce it even though Cebu province has an ordinance," he said.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año – who like most officials of the Executive Branch steps down from office on June 30 -- earlier said he is mulling filing charges against Garcia over her EO 16.

“We will exhaust all options. The Office of the President gave instructions that we should seek all possible remedies before pursuing legal actions,” he said.

But Garcia has stressed that she has the mandate from “1.4 million Cebuanos (who) voted me into office after the liberal policies that I have implemented in the province trying to put (the provincial) economy back on its feet,” she said.

“I have a responsibility to the Cebuanos, not to unelected and outgoing officials,” she added – a group that includes Ano and President Rodrigo Duterte, who has said the face mask mandate stays.

So far, Diño said no barangay has expressed interest in issuing an ordinance to make wearing face masks optional in their areas.

“None. Barangays are compliant because they know their struggles and efforts in over two years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“There are many priorities that we have to attend to simultaneously, first will be to try to increase production as we come to the planting period, the harvest period after the rainy season, during, before, and after the rainy season. Hopefully, we can counteract some of the increases in prices,” he added.

Marcos announced Monday that he would be assuming the portfolio of secretary of Agriculture due to the severity of the looming food crisis and the continued increase in food prices.

He added that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has affected the country’s food supply “in a very serious way.”

Marcos said he would restructure the department to make it more responsive to the current global situation in terms of food supply.

He added this would include the return of agencies and organizations under the department, such as the National Food Authority (NFA), the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), and Kadiwa, to their original mandates and functions.

“Many of the agencies have changed their functions over the years and maybe it’s time to return them [to their original purpose],” he said.

Marcos said there may be a need to review the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund created by Republic Act (RA) 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law. He said in view of the need to increase local food production, that fund should probably be increased.

"When we see the accounting for rice tariffication, the P10-billion is sometimes unspent so it can still be used," he added.

Under the law, P10 billion will be appropriated every year for the next six years for programs in rice-producing areas, such as procurement of rice farm machinery like tillers, tractors, seeders, threshers, rice planters, harvesters, irrigation pumps, small solar irrigation, reapers, driers, and millers.(See full story online at manilastandard.net)

and special assistant, Senator Bong Go, to serve as his legal consultant.

“I said ‘Mr. President, may I get you as my consultant?' He said yes to serving as my legal consultant," Go said.

"It is just one of his options. I cannot say if it is final because there may be other offers for him to serve in a high position," Go added.

Marcos Jr. said he is “open” to making

Duterte the anti-drug czar under his administration.

The President-elect said he and Duterte have met more than once, with at least one of those meetings happening before the May 9 elections.

“One thing that he was very assertive about was ‘continue the anti-drug syndicate that I started. Do it your own way.’ He really said that,” Marcos Jr. said.

Duterte won the 2016 presidential race due to his hardline stance against illegal drugs and criminality.

During his term, Duterte came under

fire from human rights groups over allegations of summary executions in the drug war.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea earlier said Duterte is excited to enjoy his retirement, and has already started packing up his things in Malacañang as early as in May for his return to being “Citizen Digong."

Duterte, whose six-year term will end on June 30, might teach in his hometown after he leaves the Palace, Medialdea said.

the guidelines which will come very soon.

There are just a few technicalities that are being fixed. After that, the boosters can already be administered.”

She was referring to the guidelines for the rollout of booster jabs for minors 12 to 17, which National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) chairperson Myrna Cabotaje said may be released sometime this week.

Gloriani said the booster shots for teenagers might have a lower dose compared to the regular boosters given to the adult population.

“The ages 12 to 17 are quite considered adults, so the boosters might not be different.

Although, I have seen a part of the unreleased guidelines that 0.3 mL will be given to them for Pfizer. Usually, I think that’s 0.5 mL, so maybe half a dose will be administered. I’m

not too sure about that,” she said.

Gloriani said the booster vaccinations for adolescents may start with the immunocompromised, then the rest of the age group could start “eventually.”

Gloriani also said the VEP is hopeful the HTAC will also recommend the administration of the second booster dose to the general public, despite a member of the DOH's Technical Advisory Group saying that doing so “does not show significant benefits as opposed to the elderly and immunocompromised.”

Infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante on Sunday said a variant-specific vaccine should be given as a booster dose for the general population as it may be more effective against the more transmissible Omicron variant.

Currently, the second booster shot could only be given only to frontline healthcare workers, senior citizens, and immunocompromised individuals, the DOH said.

The independent monitoring OCTA Research Group said that a weak surge in COVID-19 cases has started as the seven-day average of new infections in the National Capital Region (NCR) increased to 212 from June 13 to 19.

On the growth of new cases in Metro Manila, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said: “Before the one-week growth rate was small. It was 8 percent, then 2 percent, then it increased to 19 percent, then 31 percent, and now 84 percent. So, infections are increasing.” (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

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"They can be given subsidies if many private cars fuel up. But becauseof the price increase, there are fewer and fewer private cars being used, and they are now managing their consumption. So, the subsidy for PUVs will be affected,” he said.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday said vehicular traffic along the main EDSA thoroughfare has decreased this month, in part because of high fuel costs.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the number of vehicles that passedthrough EDSA on May 5 reached 417,000--above the pre-pandemic vehicular traffic of 405,000. But a count on June 9 showed only 392,000 vehicles on EDSA. “There was a total deficit of 27,000 from before the elections and wethink a big factor here is the continued rise in the prices of fuel," he said in Filipino.

Oil companies raised pump prices across all products for the third

BBM...

From A1

Although the envoy did not mention the need for 100 percent foreign ownership on that venture, Janhsen said “foreign companies should be able to own majority of the equity in these kinds of investments as they often are investments with several billions of dollars.”

Govt..

From A1

weeks to mobilize people, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a statement, without mentioning names or groups.

"We are taking these intelligence reports seriously, and we will do what is necessary to thwart any attempt to embarrass or discredit the forthcoming inauguration," he said.

Malaya made the statement after former rebels on Monday said communist groups have started organizing farmers in Tarlac to disrupt the inauguration next week.

The former rebels revealed this during a media briefing organized by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) – for which Malaya is also the spokesman.

“We respect the people’s rights to free expression, peaceably assemble, and the exercise of their democratic rights but this has to be done within the bounds of the law,” he said.

“Therefore, we advise all protesters to hold their peaceful demonstrations in Manila’s designated freedom parks such as Plaza Miranda, Plaza Dilao, Plaza Moriones, and Liwasang Bonifacio.

There are so many to choose from,” the official added.

The DILG has also tapped the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to augment security forces during Marcos' inauguration as the country's 17th president.

Through its fleet, the PCG said it will dispatch rigid hull inflatableboats, aluminum boats, and personal watercraft to provide intensified maritime patrol in the vicinity waters off Manila Bay and

Pfizer...

From A1

please for the issuance of implementing guidelines hopefully within the day,” Duque said Tuesday.

In a radio interview also Tuesday, Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) chief Dr. Nina Gloriani said Duque only approved the booster dose from Pfizer because the pharmaceutical firm gave data and applied first for an emergency use authorization with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Gloriani said the DOH gave the green light due to the waning immunity of the primary vaccine series against COVID-19, and the threats posed by the coronavirus

disease’s variants and subvariants.

This developed as the independent OCTA Research Group said a weak surge in COVID-19 cases has started, as the seven-day average of new infections in the National Capital Region (NCR) increased to 212 from June 13 to 19 -- 84 percent higher than the previous week.

Although NCR’s growth rate of COVID-19 cases has risen to 72 percent, OCTA noted its hospital utilization rate remains “low” at 22 percent.

Even then, Metro Manila might record around 1,000 new COVID-19 cases daily by the end of the month or early July, the independent monitoring group added.

As for the vaccine booster shots, Gloriani said: “Secretary Duque has already signed the approval. We are just waiting for

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to implement a COVID-19 "control plan" for the public.

However, at the Laging Handa public briefing, Diño also said the DILG would wait for the Palace’s decision after Garcia refused the department’s ultimatum to change her order.

“If that’s what Governor Gwen wants, let’s see what the law provides as well as the decision of Malacañang about this ordinance in Cebu,” he said.

The DILG gave the Cebu provincial government only until last weekend to rectify Garcia’s provincial Executive Order 16 on the optional wearing of face masks in well-ventilated and open areas —drawing the ire of the DILG and the Department of Health.

Malacañang had said the rules being carried out by the COVID-19 task force trump local orders.

Diño also insisted that barangay officials were tasked to implement COVID-19 rules.

"We ordered our barangays to enforce the guidelines of the inter-agency task force, most especially on face mask-

Duterte...

From A1

It also said Duterte-Carpio is grateful for Mayor Frasco’s help “inthe timely and effective communication of her messages to the Filipinos through the media.”

“Inday Sara wishes the incoming Secretary of the Department of Tourism Frasco all the best in her new role in nation-building,” the statement added.

Duterte-Carpio expressed gratitude to Frasco for her "help in the timely and effective communication of her messages to the Filipinos through the media."

"She was committed to the truthful dissemination of information, and her duty as the spokesperson was marked with intelligence and grace," the camp said.

ExxonMobil:...

Marcos...

From A1

News

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

PRC urged to revoke Badoy’s license

By Willie Casas

A

GROUP of medical doctors has asked the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to revoke the license of Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy, herself a licensed physician, for her red-tagging antics which allegedly violated their Code of Conduct and the ethical standards of their profession.

It was the second of such complaints filed in three months against Badoy, spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Last April, the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) lodged administrative complaints against Badoy at the PRC for the same reasons.”

Among the complainants in the

second case were physicians Eleanor Jara, Maria Magdalena Barcelon, Reynaldo Lesaca Jr., Edelina de la Paz, Joseph Carabeo, Carol Araullo, Alexis Montes, Benigno Santi II, Ruben Caragay, Violeta Casiguran, Eduardo Gatchalian, Ana Maria Consuelo, Rizalito Ocampo, Edgardo Ulysses Dorotheo, Raymond Joshua San Pedro, Jamie Dominique Dasmariñas,

and Merry Clamor.

The complainants claimed that Badoy violated the code of conduct and ethical standards of the medical profession with “her incessant red-tagging, not just of fellow health workers but also of different sectors.”

“Her unfounded and baseless claims especially violate the principles of respect for life and for person, and expressly goes against the principle of doing no harm,” the complainants stressed.

“Therefore, her actions of red-tagging are unethical, and cause substantial harm to the lives not just of the accused, but also their families and those they work with,” they added.

The doctors said Badoy has been an “additional, unnecessary stressor” for

health workers already dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We believe that such conduct and words are deeply unprofessional and form part of behavior so unethical that she deserves the suspension, if not the outright revocation, of her medical license,” the complainants said.

They further emphasized that “Badoy took it upon herself not to contribute to the betterment of lives and wellbeing, but to be the face of vilification and harassment.”

Badoy has charged that the AHW was among the organizations created by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDF) “precisely for the infiltration of the government.”

Solon eyes reforms in elderly policies

By Maricel V. Cruz HERE’S a bit of good news for all senior citizens out there.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte presses his advocacy for reforms in the government’s policies on senior citizens, including doubling of the elderly’s monthly pension to P1,000.

In pushing for the reforms, Villafuerte citied the Filipino culture’s deep respect for the elders.

“Filipinos have an innate deep regard and respect for our elders. It is ingrained in our culture as well as reflected in our own Constitution where it is stated that it is familial duty to take care of our elderly.” Villafuerte said.

“The State, in turn, provides for the protection and social services of such a vulnerable group as the elderly,” he added.

He said the enrolled bill only needs President Duterte’s approval to make it a law.

It provides for options for the pension other than a cash payout, the transaction fee of which will no longer be charged to the beneficiary-seniors.

It also stated that instead of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) would be in charge of distributing the monthly pension to the beneficiary-senior citizens.

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IN BRIEF Schools urged to keep vigilance vs. COVID-19 A PARTY-list lawmaker on Tuesday criticized the Department of Education’s (DepEd) pronouncement on easing social distancing protocols in schools under Alert level 1.

Assistant Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said the DepEd should prioritize addressing preparedness of school facilities and class sizes for safe face-to-face classes.

“COVID-19 is still present. Minimum health protocols should not be eased as schools prepare for face-to-face classes in the incoming school year especially when classrooms and school facilities are not adequate for providing safe spaces if social distancing protocols are eased.” Castro said in a statement.

To ensure the safe reopening of classes, Castro said the DepEd must provide classrooms that have better ventilation, air filtration, washing and sanitation facilities; ramp up vaccination programs for the youth; provide weekly testing for teachers and education support personnel; hire nurses in schools; and provide a medical fund for the treatment of those who will get infected with COVID-19. Maricel V. Cruz

Foreign Mission presses Mindanao peace plans

OATH-TAKING. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez administers the oath of office to Mayor Nasser Pangandaman Jr. of Masiu Lanao Del Sur in a ceremony held at the Lakas-CMD headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

At right is Pangandaman’s wife Farah. Ver Noveno

CAMP DARAPANAN, Maguindanao—Following a series of dialogues with President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Foreign Mission representatives visited Mindanao to launch continuing support programs to the peace process between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

European Union Ambassador Luc Véron said the EU has invested in the peace process “because we see remarkable achievements in the Bangsamoro, from developing its government structure to the organization of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.” The envoy added however, that ‘”a lot still needs to be done.”

UN Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez said peace and development “must go hand-in-hand.”

Nash Maulana

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News

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

IN BRIEF BARMM ‘saddened’ by stranded pilgrims IT’S perpetually saddening to learn about Philippine Hajj Pilgrims being held at the Manila International Airport for reason that they were not able to secure Hajj Visas, the Parliament Speaker of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said today.

The function of catering to the needs of Philippine Hajj pilgrims belongs to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) under which, the Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment (BPE) operates.

BARMM Parliament Speaker Ali Pangalian Balindong, author in Congress of Republic Act No. 9997, creating the NCMF, said under that law the commission was designed in such a way as to ensure that decisions are made by a collegial body and not just by one person head of an Executive Office. Nash B. Maulana

DAMAGED FLYOVER. MMDA Chairperson Atty. Romando Artes and DPWH officials conduct an ocular inspection of the damaged portion of the southbound lane of the Timog flyover in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

DAR distributes Yulo Estate to 190 beneficiaries

By Rio N. Araja THE Department of Agrarian Reform is set to distribute the remaining Yulo Estate to 190 farmers of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, including former rebels, in Masbate.

After the oath-taking of the 190 beneficiaries, the agency will be distributing the remaining 303.0467 -hectare Yulo Estate. Three of the beneficiaries were ex-members of the New People’s Army, Herald Tambal, agrarian reform program officer II, said the land is a portion of the 1,372.5657-hectare landholding formerly owned by Luis A. Yulo in Barangay Matagbac in Milagros town, of which 1,069.5280 hectares were already distributed to 357 agrarian reform beneficiaries in 1993.

“The subject property was once classified as an agrarian revolutionary area for many years,” he said.

Despite the local rebellion, Task Force Yulo of DAR and the Armed Forces of the Philippines were able to successfully acquire and develop the land.

“The issues in the coverage of the landholding were resolved, including the delays in the conduct of the subdivision surveys due to the anti-reform resistance by local rebels,” Tambal said.

The task of the land distribution to qualified farmers is “inching toward realization” with the completion of the identification of the landholdings for distribution, perimeter surveying, and submission of the survey plans for approval by the task force.

Former New People’s Army guerilla Alyas “Bambam”, who surrendered and made peace with the government under the rebel-returnee program, is one of the beneficiaries of the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, assuring him a 1.8-hectare land.

MMDA to close portion of Timog flyover for repairs

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will close the EDSA Timog Flyover southbound lane beginning Saturday (June 25) to give way to its one-month repair.

“We are advising the public to plan their trips and take alternate routes as the DPWH repairs the flyover,” said MMDA chair Romando Artes following inspection at the flyover with DPWH Quezon City Second District Engr. Eduardo Santos on Tuesday.

The repairs, spanning 30 meters, include the reconstruction of the damaged bridge diaphragm and the construction of a new bridge deck slab of the flyover.

“Total closure of the bridge has to be implemented considering that the con-

struction works have to be done without any vibration movement. Repairs will be done manually without heavy equipment,” Artes said.

The full closure of the flyover will take effect starting 6 a.m. of June 25. EDSA Carousel buses and private vehicles may use the service road and listed alternate routes.

Ahead of the closure, Artes said they are intensifying the clearing operations on Mabuhay lanes to ensure that alternate routes are passable and obstruction-free.

Around 140,000 vehicles passing

through the flyover daily will be affected by the closure.

Motorists coming from EDSA southbound are advised to turn right at Scout Borromeo St., straight towards Scout Ybardolaza and J.D. Jimenez St., turn left at E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, turn left at New York Avenue or take Aurora Boulevard to EDSA going to destination.

On Mabuhay Lanes, those coming from EDSA may turn right at West Avenue, right at Quezon Avenue, U-turn near Magbanua, right at Timog, right at T. Morato, right at E. Rodriguez, left at Gilmore, straight at Granada, right to Santolan Road or right at N. Domingo, left at Pinaglabanan, right at P. Guevarra, left at L. Mencias, right at Shaw Boulevard, left at Acacia lane, right at F. Ortigas, left at P. Cruz, left at F. Blumentritt, left at Coronado, take MandaluyongMakati Bridge to destination.

GOING TO COURT. Duterte

Youth PartyList chair Carlo Cardema and his wife Duterte Youth Party-List Representative Ducielle Marie Cardema filed a petition before the Supreme Court questioning the legality and nomination of Pamilya, Pasyente at Persons with Disabilities party-list (P3PWD) nominee Rowena Amelia Guanzon.

Danny Pata

SC asked to prevent Guanzon from taking post as P3PWD rep

By Rey E. Requejo THE Duty to Energize the Republic through the Enlightenment of the Youth (Duterte Youth) Party-List on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to prevent former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon from taking the post as P3PWD Party-list representative in

the House of Representatives.

In a 21-page petition, Duterte Youth through Rep. Marie Cardema and chairperson Carlo Cardema also sought the issuance of a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction enjoining the respondent Comelec from issuing a certificate of proclamation to the substituting nominees of P3PWD led by Guanzon.

DAR: No need to amend CARP

By Rio N. Araja

THE Department of Agrarian Reform has maintained its stance that there is no need to amend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law. “The agrarian reform program is not about consolidating lands. The program awards individual land titles to beneficiaries to give them the freedom of managing it themselves and to create more opportunities for them,” outgoing Secretary Bernie Cruz said.

He reacted to the statement of George Barcelon, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, who cited specific amendments of CARL, such as easing the rules in

land consolidation and ownership to create opportunities for better agricultural productivity by farming larger tracts of land.

The agrarian reform program under Presidential Decree No. 27 and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program issues individual land titles to landless farmers and farm workers, he said.

“If we will consolidate lands, that would be going against the intent and essence of PD 27 and CARP. We will be destroying the legacies of the father and grandfather of President-Elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and incoming DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella, III, respectively,” he noted..

The petitioners said the TRO should also enjoin the House of Representatives from allowing Guanzon and substituting nominees from assuming as members of the lower house.

Besides the Comelec and HR, also named as respondents were P3PWD Party-List and its nominees led by Guanzon.

Likewise, the petitioners also sought

for nullification of resolution issued by the Comelec approving the “illegal” and “belated” substitution of P3PWD’s nominees last June 14, 2022.

According to the petitioners, the Comelec resolution was issued in violation of Comelec promulgated rules on party-list substitution since it was made after the elections.

Angeles LGU completes four-storey college bldg ANGELES CITY—The city government completed the construction of the 4-storey building in the City College of Angeles, using the ₱50 million donation from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr., together with PAGCOR chairperson Andrea Domingo and CCA President Francisco Villanueva, PhD, led the inauguration and blessing of the building composed of 20 classrooms.

“Last year po, sinimulan natin ang construction nito. Ngayon po, in the same month, we are in its completion,” Lazatin said. Butch Gunio

Agents nab 8 suspected drug syndicate members EIGHT suspected West African drug syndicate members were arrested by immigration agents in two separate operations in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation in Las Pinas and Makati.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the aliens were apprehended in two separate operations conducted by operatives from the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) in the cities of Las Piñas and Makati, in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation Special Action Unit (NBI-SAU).

Morente ordered the arrest of the aliens who will undergo deportation proceedings for being undesirable aliens and involvement in illegal drugs.

Vito Barcelo

Villar says farm tourism bill to help agri sector

By Macon Ramos-Araneta STRESSING that farm tourism and farm schools help augment the income of farmers and boost the country’s agriculture, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar said these are among the reasons why she authored the Farm Tourism Development Law or Republic Act 10816.

Villar, the chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, noted that this law paved the way for an increasing number of farmers, farm owners, and farming communities and enjoying the benefits of converting their farms into farm tourist sites and farm schools or learning sites.

“It multiplies the earning potential of farmers- from their crops, from the tourists who visit their farm and buy their produce or products, and from the tuition fees of the trainees in their farm schools,” Viilar said.

SEA ASSAULT TRAINING.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) collaborated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to train 82 students of PNPSpecial Action Force (SAF) on sea vessel assault onboard BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) in the vicinity waters off Port Area, Manila from 20 to 22 June 2022.

Opinion UP proposals on local governance LOLCAL government units led by provincial governors down to city and town mayors and their subordinates would do well to study the analysis of issues and concerns in local governance as well as proposed solutions by a multi-disciplinary task force convened recently by the University of the Philippines Diliman.

The academics agree on one thing: while decentralization under the 1991 Local Government Code or Republic Act 7160 has provided a policy framework to promote strong local leadership, people’s participation, and improved access to financial resources, it has “fallen short” in bringing about democratization, sustained economic development, social justice, human rights protection and gender equality in Local Government Units (LGUs).

Democratization has been stymied by vote-buying and the dominance of political dynasties at the local level. Civil society organizations and the public also have limited actual participation in local development councils, local special bodies, and other local processes.

The decentralization process, while granting autonomy to LGUs, leaves much to be desired, especially in the delivery of services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The result: development across regions has been uneven, and there is a widening gap in terms of average per capita income among provinces, cities, and municipalities.

According to the Bureau of Local Government Finance, the average per capita income of cities in 2020 is about twice as much as provinces, and about 1.5 times bigger than municipalities.

The imbalance is due mainly to the reliance of LGUs on their share in internal revenues as well as their inability to raise funds from local sources.

The devolution of public services from national agencies to LGUs has not gone smoothly.

The mismatch in LGU resource allocation and the cost of devolved functions is particularly glaring in the area of health services.

While there has been improved access to maternal health services and a decrease in infant mortality, LGUs still struggle with health service devolution as they can hardly cope with health financing, public health service delivery, health personnel benefits, and lack of technical coordination across the healthcare system.

Do LGUs really have the capacity to perform devolved functions, specifically the delivery of public services?

For the UP Task Force, it’s a valid question to ask.

Devolution could lead to further fragmented and inefficient service delivery because of unclear assignment of functions among the different tiers of government.

Lack of coordination between and among LGUs, national agencies, and their regional offices affects public service delivery and LGU performance.

Hence, LGUs must be able to manage the increase in local funds as mandated by the Mandanas ruling and to allocate and deliver the budget for services efficiently.

Public financial management, training, including local planning, investment programming, resource mobilization, and budgeting are all crucial in achieving administrative efficiency.

More than this, are the funds to be transferred to the LGUs enough to provide all the corresponding services and responsibilities that will be given to the local units?

After all, resources must be commensurate with the services that are going to be devolved. There is

also concern that LGUs are becoming too dependent on the national government as they receive about 60 percent of their income from internal revenue taxes.

The privatization of essential services at the local level, such as the provision of water and electricity, for example, could worsen the plight of underserved communities instead of improving their access to basic services.

Political dynasties tend to hinder popular participation and decision-making at the local level. There should be mechanisms to monitor how responsive and accountable local leaders have been while they are in office.

The UP Task Force makes several recommendations to make local governance effective and responsive.

While there has been improved access to maternal health services and a decrease in infant mortality, LGUs still struggle with health service devolution as they can hardly cope with health financing, public health service delivery, health personnel benefits, and lack of technical coordination across the healthcare system One, resources provided to the LGUs should be commensurate with the services to be devolved and the capacity of the LGUs to sufficiently manage the resources and deliver public services. Ensure representation of the basic sectors and women in local government.

Two, the distribution formula of the shares in national revenues according to the LGC will have to be changed to ensure provinces and municipalities have commensurate resources, and poorer LGUs can get more shares than cities and more economically developed ones.

Three, to fully perform devolved functions, capacity building on effective financial management and resource mobilization, national and local relations, local personnel administration, and local government performance assessment should be undertaken.

Four, improve coordination between different levels of the government, strengthen existing accountability and transparency mechanisms, conduct regular consultations with national government agencies like the Department of Interior and Local Government and other stakeholders such as universities and civil society organizations.

And, five, to enhance people’s participation, LGUs should establish programs for information dissemination and skills training for citizens and communities to raise awareness of basic laws of the country, human rights, and responsibilities of local and national officials especially when it comes to accountability and transparency.

Doable solutions, from where we sit, that could substantially improve local governance if implemented soon enough.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

Congratulations to the new National Artists SOME good news from the waning days of the Rodrigo Duterte presidency is that he named a new batch of National Artists in recognition of their “distinct and impactful contribution to the realms of Philippine arts and culture.”

Via Proclamation 1390, s. 2022 dated June 10, upon the joint recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Cultural Center of the Philippines, named National Artists for 2022 were Agnes D. Locsin (dance), Salvacion Lim-Higgins (design), Marilou Diaz-Abaya (film), Ricardo Lee (film), Nora C. Villamayor or ‘Nora Aunor’ (film), Gemino H. Abad (literature), Fides Cuyugan Asensio (music), and Antonio ‘Tony’ Mabesa (theater).

The Order was established in 1972 via a presidential proclamation “to give appropriate recognition and prestige to Filipinos who have distinguished themselves and made outstanding contributions to Philippine arts and letters,” with the first award conferred posthumously on Fernando Amorsolo for visual arts.

According to the government’s Official Gazette, “the Order of National Artists” is one of the “Honors of the Philippines” (capitalizations as is), embodying “the nation’s highest ideals in humanism and aesthetic expression through the distinct achievements of individual citizens.”

The Order is administered jointly by the NCCA and the CCP, and, per NCCA rules, “should be conferred every three years.” So the next batch of NationalArtists should be announced in 2025, still within the incoming administration’s term.

According to the NCCA’s National Artists of the Philippines guidelines, NAs receive the following honors, privileges, and emoluments: the rank and title of National Artist, as proclaimed by the President of the Philippines; the insignia of a National Artist and a citation; and a cash award of P100,000 net of taxes, for living awardees, and P75,000 net of taxes, for posthumous awardees, payable to legal heir/s.

They are also entitled to a monthly life pension, medical, and hospitalization benefits; life insurance coverage for awardees who are still insurable; a place of honor, in line with protocular precedence,

at national state functions; and recognition at cultural events. As a final tribute, they shall receive a state funeral and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Lim-Higgins’ and Diaz-Abaya’s awards were given posthumously, and I am sure that their families appreciate the honor. However, wouldn’t it be better if the award were given while the awardees are still alive and able to benefit from the prestige and emoluments the award carries?

The National Artists are also entitled to a monthly life pension, medical, and hospitalization benefits; life insurance coverage for awardees who are still insurable; a place of honor, in line with protocular precedence, at national state functions...and a state funeral and burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani In the case of Aunor, the award should have been given ages ago. Dolphy should have been made National Artist before he died. Cartoonist Nonoy Marcelo, who died in 2002, has been nominated for a posthumous award – I wonder what happened to that move.

Let us hope the incoming administration will take note of this and bestow the awards on the deserving while they are still around to enjoy it.

••• Speaking of National Artists, one of the freshlyproclaimed NAs is on the teaching panel of a nationwide writing workshop.

National Artist for Literature Gemino H. Abad is a senior guest panelist for the University of Santo

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EDITORIAL

Allusive lift to the ‘European dream’

F

EW days back, the European Commission recommended that Ukraine, in a battle for life since February 24 after Russia invaded it, become a candidate for membership which will be discussed in Brussels this week by leaders of the 27-nation bloc.

The February 2022 invasion, a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that began in 2014, caused Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II, with more than 7.7 million Ukrainians fleeing the country and a third of the population displaced.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the decision to recommend, saying the Ukrainians “are ready to die for the European perspective (and) we want them to live with us the European dream.”

The war has increased pressure on EU governments to fast-track Ukraine’s candidacy, but the process is expected to take years, and EU members remain divided over how to welcome new members.

Ukraine’s application to join the EU came four days after Russian troops poured across its border In another demonstration of Western

support, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv to offer continued aid and military training.

The visit distinctly marked another setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched his war apparently in hopes he would be able to pull his former Soviet neighbor from the West and back into Russia’s sphere of influence.

The Kremlin judiciously is closely following Ukraine’s bid to become a member of the United States-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization, especially in light of increased defense cooperation among the 27-member bloc We note that Johnson’s trip to Kyiv was followed by the leaders of Germany, France, Italy and Romania who pledged to support Ukraine without asking it to make any territorial concessions to Russia.

We understand the Western leaders are with Zelensky in giving him the “strategic endurance” needed by the war-battered

country. Britain itself would lead a program that could train up to 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers every 120 days.

The Kremlin judiciously is closely following Ukraine’s bid to become a member of the United States-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization, especially in light of increased defense cooperation among the 27-member bloc.

Ukraine has been taking heavy casualties – although it has as well been inflicting heavy toll on the invaders – but the training program can well “change the equation” in the strung out war.

The EU recommendation certainly foreshadows a dramatic geopolitical shift following Russia’s invasion – a move that endorses the bravery of Ukrainians which had brought an opportunity for Europe to “create a new history of freedom, and finally remove the grey zone in Eastern Europe between the EU and Russia.”

One of Putin’s stated objectives in launching what Moscow calls a “special military operation” that has killed tens of thousands, made millions refugees, and destroyed cities was to halt the West’s eastward expansion via the NATO military alliance.

In the meanwhile, not seen perhaps on the military radar screens, people near and far the battle front, including the Philippines, are feeling the impact of the protracted war in, among other areas, the increasing pump prices.

The dream team 1983, LLB 1987); Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual (BSChem 1969, MBA 1972); Pangandaman (DipDEco 1998, MDEco 1998); Uy (LLB 1988); Balisacan (MS-AgrclEco Los Baños, 1982); Angeles-Cruz (AB-Linguistics 1982, Law 1997); National Security Adviser Clarita Reyes-Carlos (BS Foreign Service 1966, MA PolSci 1976 PhD 1982); and Medalla (MA 1976). Enrile was bachelor laws, cum laude, 1953.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez has a Law degree 2002 and Legal Management degree 1995, both from the University of Santo Tomas. Abalos is Ateneo Law 1987.

DOUBTLESS, any head of government will be exuberantly proud of the Cabinet team of incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. (BBM).

The 21 nominees for Cabinet members so far combine the wisdom of their age, the experience of decades in public and corporate life, and the technocracy and expertise of having studied in the best schools in the Philippines and abroad.

Law graduates outnumber the economists in the Cabinet by a ratio of two to one. The preponderance of lawyers and economists in the Cabinet indicates how BBM sees the two major challenges of his presidency – enforcement of laws and reviving an economy battered by all kinds of crises.

The law graduates are: Executive Secretary Victor D. Rodriguez, 48; Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, 98; Labor Secretary Benjamin Laguesma, 71; Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, 61 (the Jesus was because he was born on a Good Friday in 1961); Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, 68; Interior and Local Government Secretary Ben Hur Abalos, 60; Education Secretary Sara Duterte Carpio, 43; Information and Technology Secretary Ivan John Enrile Uy, 58; and Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles, 57.

The average age of the Cabinet lawyers is 63, largely because three, Rodriguez, Carpio, Uy, and Angeles are all below 60.

The economists are led by Incoming Secretary of Finance Benjamin E. Diokno, 74; Economic Planning SecretaryArsenio Balisacan, 65; Budget SecretaryAmenah Pangandaman, 45; Bangko Sentral Governor Felipe Medalla, 72, and SpecialAssistant to the PresidentAnton Lagdameo Jr., 62. The average age of the economists is 64, because Amenah is young. Without her, the senior economists average 70 in age.

One may therefore quip that when BBM, 64, holds a Cabinet meeting, it will appear like it’s Senior Citizens or Grandparents Day. In his time, from Dec, 30, 1965 to Feb. 25, 1986, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos had Cabinet members whose average age was less than 40. Marcos Sr. had a deep bench. The second Cabinet members were equally qualified, if not more so, than the first tier. That is how powerful his official family was, in terms of dynamism, expertise, and capacity for disruption.

Half of BBM’s Cabinet studied at the University of the Philippines – Diokno (BAPA 1968, MPA 1970 and MA Economics 1974); Remulla (AB PolSc

Additionally, Diokno has a Master ofArts in Political Economy (1976) from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and a PhD in Economics (1981) from Syracuse University, New York.

Balisacan has a PhD Economics (1985) from the University of Hawaii. He has a BS in Agriculture (1979), magna cum laude, from the Mariano Marcos State University in BBM’s home province.

Medalla has a PhD in Economics from Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois. Lagdameo has a Bachelor of Business Administration (1989) from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Master in Economics, 1998, from the University of Asia and the Pacific.

Enrile has an Associate in Arts degree, cum laude, from Ateneo de Manila, 1949. He also finished his law course at UP, cum laude, and notched 90.7 percent in the 1953 bar exams, nearly making it to the top 10. He was also a scholar at Harvard Law School with a Master of Laws.

Other Cabinet members also have their special skills – Presidential Management Staff Chief Zenaida Angping is a first-rate experienced foreign service officer (FSO), having served since the days of Am-

Tomas Center for Creative Writing and Literary Studies National Writers’Workshop held online from June 13 to 22.

The other senior guest panelists, all acclaimed writers, are University of the Philippines professors Luna Sicat Cleto and Victor Emmanuel Carmelo Nadera and poet Jerry Gracio.

This year’s writing fellows are: Larissa Mae Suarez and Reil Benedict Obinque (short story), Carla Mortel Baricaua and Jerwin Bilale Uy (maikling kuwento), Jessie Raymundo, Karl Ren Lalas, and Cindel Ong (poetry), John Christopher DG Lubag and Nikki Mae Recto (tula), Linus Van Plata, Hezekiah Louie Zaraspe, and L.A. Piluden (creative nonfiction), Jason Federigan Pozon and Sherald Salamat (sanaysay), and J.M. Gomez and Zarina Sarapuddin (one act play/ screenplay).

The 2022 workshop is the 11th since the Center’s revival in 2012, but the 22nd counting the workshops held by the Center’s founding director Ophelia Dimalanta.

This year’s workshop director is Joselito Zulueta, while Nicole Marfil-Burris is workshop coordinator;

both teach creative writing at UST. This year’s teaching panel comprises CCWLS officials and Resident Fellows, all of whom are noted writers, poets, and academics: Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo (CCWLS director), Ralph Semino Galán (CCWLS assistant director), Augusto Antonio Aguila, Ma. Ailil Alvarez, Mark Angeles, Paul Castillo, Joselito Delos Reyes, Nerisa del Carmen Guevara, Nicole Marfil-Burris, Jose Mojica, Benedict Parfan, Chuckberry Pascual, Jenny Ortuoste, and Marfil-Burris and Zulueta.

••• Also to be held online this month, from June 22 to 25, is the 15th Palihang Rogelio Sicat, a prestigious allFilipino language writers workshop.

Scriptwriter and fictionist Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. will deliver the keynote address, while the craft lecturers include dramatist Chris Millado, fictionist and critic Eli Rueda Guieb III, filmmaker and writer Kristian Sendon Cordero, essayist Bebang Siy, and journalist Danilo Arao.

Twelve writing fellows from over a hundred applicants were chosen to attend: Michaela Elaine Q.

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

Law and economics are skills that should come in handy as BBM grapples with four major crises gripping the Philippines today: food crisis, energy crisis, jobs crisis, and an education crisis

bassador Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez, father of the incoming House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Unknown to many Kokoy was a topnotch diplomat. He was responsible for paving the way for diplomatic relations with China in 1975 and with the Soviet Union in 1976, and in seeking the Tripoli Agreement with Libya in 1976.

Manuel Bonoan, 76, is a structural engineer and an old-timer at the Department of Public Works and Highways, where he is again at the helm.

Clarita Carlos, of course, is a political scientist of long standing. Retired Gen. Jose Faustino, the incoming Defense secretary, and retired Gen. Ricardo de Leon, the chief of National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, are the military types.

Law and economics are skills that should come in handy as BBM grapples with four major crises gripping the Philippines today: food crisis, energy crisis, jobs crisis, and an education crisis.

Filipino teenagers have the lowest scores in the world in international tests for reading comprehension, science and math.

In other words, our young, whom Rizal called the Hope of the Fatherland, are incompetent and stupid, not having the skills of their generation in other countries to live a modicum of the productive and prosperous life.

The three crises –food, energy, and education may explain why today, 30 million Filipinos are jobless and why a quarter of families in the country are victims of mindless poverty.

Poverty gnaws at the very fabric of society, which in turn could explain why the Philippines has the world’s longest-running communist insurgency (53 years old), and the world’s longest running Muslim separatist insurgency (50 years old).

The issues of security as well as peace and order thus rear their ugly head. Which may explain the need for so many lawyers in Marcos Jr.’s official family.

The shortages and high cost of food explain rampant malnutrition which in turn may explain why the average Filipino teenager is stupid by world standards.

High energy cost and the insurgencies explain why the Philippines has been considered the last choice of foreign investors during waves of foreign investments in three decades, into Southeast Asia, the world’s most dynamic and fastest-growing emerging economy region.

With the gravitas of age, wisdom, experience and purposeful action, Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet hopefully can grapple with and somehow solve the problems debilitating the people and the country.

There is no other option. biznewsasia@gmail.com Azores and Carmela H. Esguerra-Jose (children’s story); Keanu Harold G. Reyes (flash fiction); Larry Boy B. Sabangan and Arnold Tristan L. Buenaflor (short story); John Brixter M. Tino, Roda Tajon, Gregorio V. Bituin Jr., and Jefferson G. del Rosario (poetry); Anne Richie G. Balgos (drama); and Edward Joseph O. Fernandez and Mark Andy Pedere (essay).

PRS is named after and in honor of author Rogelio Sicat, a beloved teacher and friend to a generation of writers. The workshop founders are Reuel Molina Aguila and Jimmuel Naval.

The teaching faculty and panel members are award-winning writers of the University of the Philippines Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature: Luna Sicat Cleto, Michael Francis C. Andrada, Vladimeir B. Gonzales, Romulo P. Baquiran Jr., Victor Emmanuel Carmelo D. Nadera, Tilde Acuña, U Z. Eliserio, Amado Anthony Mendoza, Eugene Y. Evasco, Will P. Ortiz, Elyrah L. Salanga-Torralba, Bernadette V. Neri, Rommel B. Rodriguez, Glecy C. Atienza, Naval, and Aguila. *** FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

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

Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

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2022.

(MStandard- -June June8,8,15 15&&22, 22,2022) 2022) of (MStandard

Planned Myanmar executions may amount to war crimes–UN THE Myanmar junta’s plans to execute political opponents may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity, a UN official said Monday.

The junta said on June 3 it would execute a former lawmaker from Aung San Suu Kyi’s party and a prominent democracy activist, both convicted of terrorism, in what would be the country’s first judicial executions since 1990.

Four people, including former MP Phyo Zeya Thaw and democracy activist Ko Jimmy, “who were sentenced to death will be hanged according to prison procedures,” junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told AFP then.

Nicholas Koumjian, head of the UN’s Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, said he was following this case closely.

“The available information strongly suggests that under international law, fundamental rights of the convicted persons were blatantly violated in these proceedings,” Koumjian said of the trials, which were closed to the public.

“Imposing a death sentence, or even a period of detention, on the basis of proceedings that do not satisfy the basic requirements of a fair trial may constitute one or more crimes against humanity or war crimes,” he added.

The junta has sentenced dozens of anti-coup activists to death as part of its crackdown on dissent after seizing power last year, but Myanmar has not carried out an execution for decades.

For a trial to be considered fair it must be held in public to the greatest extent possible, said Koumjian.

“Exceptions based on national security or other considerations must be limited to the extent that they are strictly justified,” he said.

But in these cases, “it appears that there were no public proceedings nor are the judgments publicly available.”

This raised doubts as to whether the tribunal was impartial and independent, he added. AFP

T

Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh

WO Americans captured in Ukraine while fighting with Kyiv’s military were “endangering” Russian soldiers and should be “held accountable for those crimes,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview released by NBC News on Monday.

The interview marks the first time the Kremlin has commented on the cases of Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh, both US military veterans, according to NBC. “They’re soldiers of fortune and they were involved in illegal activities on the territory of Ukraine. They were involved in firing and shelling our military personnel. They were endangering their lives,” Peskov told the network in English.

“They should be held responsible for those crimes that they have committed,” he added in the first bits of the interview made public.

“Those crimes have to be investigated.”

When pressed on what crimes the Americans had committed, Peskov admitted their specific offenses were not yet known but claimed that they would

not be covered by the Geneva conventions on prisoners of war.

“They are not (in the) Ukrainian army, so they are not subject to the Geneva Conventions,” the Kremlin spokesman said.

Last week, a Russian state TV channel aired videos on social media of Drueke and Huynh.

The circumstances under which the two men were being held were not fully clear, nor who specifically was holding them. Peskov would only say they were being held by “authorities.”

As to whether they could face the death penalty, Peskov said: “It depends on the investigation.”

US President Joe Biden said Friday that he did not know the whereabouts of Drueke and Huynh, who are believed to have joined other foreigners in volunteering alongside Ukrainian troops. AFP

Hundreds of thousands evacuated after China’s heaviest rains in decades

PHOENIX-LIKE. This picture shows a wild toki bird taking flight on Sado

island, Niigata prefecture. In just under two decades, Sado’s population of wild toki has gone from zero to nearly 500, thanks to international diplomacy, scientific research and an agricultural revolution on the island off Japan’s west coast. AFP

Modern phoenix: Bird brought back from extinction in Japan EVERY day for the past 14 years, 72-year-old Masaoki Tsuchiya has set out before sunrise to search for a bird rescued from extinction in Japan.

Starting his car under star-dotted skies unpolluted by light, he works alone in the pre-dawn chill, marking sightings or absences in a planner, interrupted only by the crackle of a walkie-talkie.

The bird he is looking for is called “toki” in Japanese, and its presence on his home of Sado island is testament to a remarkable conservation program.

In just under two decades, Japan’s population of wild toki has gone from zero to nearly 500, all on Sado, where the bird’s delicate pink plumage and distinctive curved beak now draw tourists.

It’s a rare conservation success story when one in eight bird species

globally are threatened with extinction, and involved international diplomacy and an agricultural revolution on a small island off Japan’s west coast.

Tsuchiya, stocky and spry with an impish grin, doesn’t eat breakfast until he has made all his stops, and after years of practice he can spot chicks hidden in nests through the monocular attached to his rolled-down car window.

He points to virtually imperceptible marks on a road or a wall that help him remember where to park and start surveying.

“The number I see at this spot depends on the season,” he explains.

Some days dozens of the birds appear in one area, something unimaginable in 2003, when a toki called Kin or “gold” died in a cage on Sado at the record-breaking age of 36. AFP

THE heaviest rainfall in decades has triggered floods and landslides in southern China, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people, state media reported.

The downpours have dangerously swelled waterways in the low-lying Pearl River basin in recent days, threatening manufacturing, shipping and logistics operations at a time when supply chains are already stressed because of China’s strict COVID-19 controls.

The average rainfall in Guangdong, Fujian and Guangxi provinces between early May and the middle of June reached 621 millimetres (24 inches), the highest since 1961, according to China’s National Meteorological Center.

State media photos showed people huddled on camp beds in schools converted into temporary shelters in Guangdong’s Shaoguan city, and hundreds of tents erected on a sports ground.

In neighboring Guangxi region, muddy water was seen flooding urban areas and emergency rescuers were seen evacuating villagers on rubber dinghies, according to state media images.

Guangdong authorities said Monday that more than 200,000 people have been evacuated over the course of the disaster, and that the damage so far is estimated at 1.7 billion yuan ($254 million).

The evacuees were among almost 480,000 people impacted by the rains and floods, according to the officials. AFP

MONSTER FISH. This handout by the US-funded Wonders of the Mekong project shows a 300-kg giant freshwater stingray that was caught and released in the Mekong river in Cambodia’s Stung Treng province – the biggest freshwater fish ever recorded. AFP

‘World’s biggest’ freshwater fish in Mekong

NOTICE OF OF DISSOLUTION DISSOLUTION NOTICE Notice isis hereby hereby given given to to the the public public that that DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS GROUP GROUP Notice OF COMPANIES, COMPANIES, INC. INC. (Shangri-La (Shangri-La Finest Finest Chinese Chinese Cuisine) Cuisine) with with OF business address address at at No.4 No.4 Times Times Street Street West West Triangle, Triangle, Quezon Quezon business City was was declared declared closed closed effective effective after after the the close close of of business business hours hours City on 30 30 September September 2021, 2021, as as per per Board Board Resolution Resolution executed executed by by its its on Board of of Directors Directors led led by

by President President and and CEO CEO Ramon RamonA. A. Syhunliong Syhunliong in in Board Quezon City; City; subscribed subscribed and and sworn sworn before before Notary Notary Public PublicAtty.

Atty. Raul Raul V. V. Quezon Macatangayon onJanuary January10, 10,2022 2022under underNotarial NotarialRegistry RegistryDoc DocNo. No.161 161 Macatangay Page34; 34;Book Book69; 69;series seriesof of2022.

2022.

Page This notice notice isis being being published published for for whatever whatever legal legal purpose/s purpose/s that that itit may may This serve. serve.

(MS-JUNE15, 15,22 22&&29, 29,2022) 2022) (MS-JUNE

A FISHERMAN on the Mekong river in Cambodia has hooked the biggest freshwater fish ever recorded, scientists said – a 300-kilogram stingray.

The giant freshwater stingray, which measured four meters (13 feet) from snout to tail, was caught last week and released back into the wild after being fitted with a tag to track its behaviour.

The monstrous bottom-dweller beat the previous record for biggest recorded freshwater fish, held by a 293-kilo (646-pound) Mekong giant catfish caught in Thailand in 2005, the US-funded

Wonders of the Mekong research project said.

The stingray, caught in Stung Treng province in northern Cambodia, was more than twice the weight of an average lowland gorilla, the experts said.

“In 20 years of researching giant fish in rivers and lakes on six continents, this is the largest freshwater fish that we’ve encountered or that’s been documented anywhere worldwide,” Zeb Hogan, a fish biologist leading the Wonders of the Mekong project, said in a statement released Tuesday. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTAYELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK CYAN

Business PSEi June 21, 2022

TOP GAINERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 2 3 4

LSC KPPI MFC WEB

0.53 2.9 999 5.95

0.14 0.6 134 0.78

35.90% 26.09% 15.49% 15.09%

5 6 7 8 9 10

LFM MG CAT BRN LAND OV

19 0.125 11.1 0.82 0.76 0.0089

2 0.012 1 0.07 0.06 0.0007

11.76% 10.62% 9.90% 9.33% 8.57% 8.54%

TOP LOSERS

1 T 2 PTC

LAST PRICE CHANGE 0.6 -0.17 90.5 -24.4

% CHANGE -22.08% -21.24%

3 4 5

PA MED OPM

2.15 0.28 0.01

-0.47 -0.03 -0.001

-17.94% -9.68% -9.09%

6 7 8 9

ALLDY BCB ATN TECH

0.315 6.5 0.41 2.49

-0.02 -0.4 -0.025 -0.15

-5.97% -5.80% -5.75% -5.68%

10

EVER

0.25

-0.015

-5.66%

A7

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market declines on widening BOP deficit; PhilWeb advances

S

TOCKS fell Tuesday on expectations of an interest rate hike later this week and concerns over the widening balance of payments deficit that pulled down the peso to its weakest level in 44 months, contributing to higher prices of commodities including petroleum products.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark lost 48 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 6,285.19. The broader all-share index also slid 19 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 3,368.67 on a value turnover of less than P4 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 94 to 87, while 53 issues were unchanged. Only four of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by PhilWeb Corp. which advanced 15.1 percent to P5.95.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported Tuesday that the BOP deficit reached $1.61 billion in May on rising

commodity imports fueled by higher petroleum prices. The peso closed Tuesday at 54.265 against the dollar, a level not seen since October 2018.

Meanwhile, equities rose in most cities in Asia as some stability returned to markets after last week’s upheaval, but analysts warned of further pain for traders after central bank officials hinted at more interest rate hikes to reel in inflation.

While there was no catalyst from Wall Street owing to a public holiday, a healthy performance across Europe provided a little boost and bargain-buying was also lending support.

However, there remains an overarching sense of gloom as traders speculate that the sharp lift in borrowing costs around the world will tip economies into recession.

Focus this week is on Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell’s two days of testimony to lawmakers in Washington, which will be closely watched for insight into the bank’s thinking and possible clues about its plans for fighting surging prices.

The Fed announced a three-quarter point lift last week, after inflation data

days earlier had smashed forecasts and hit a four-decade high.

“While [investors do] not expect Powell to reinvent the policy wheel, we could expect him to reinforce the idea that the Fed is in data-dependent mode,” said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management.

“Hence, any shift in Fed rhetoric will be a function of incoming data, virtually all of which now presents event risk.

From that perspective, further evidence of persistent inflation will trigger policy panic, while any signs of sluggish growth momentum will confirm the recession narrative.

“Neither suggests that now is the time to board the rally wagon.”

Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta all rose but Shanghai slipped.

London opened barely moved, while Paris and Frankfurt edged up.

“There might be a narrative that we’ve hit a bottom, we are oversold, the Fed is taking inflation seriously and that might be slightly bullish in the interim,” Frances Stacy, of Optimal Capital, told Bloomberg TV. With AFP

MOST ACTIVE

1 SM 2 ALI 3 SMPH 4 BDO 5 CNVRG 6 ICT 7 MER 8 TEL 9 SEVN 10 WEB

VOLUME 390,460 9,489,500 6,631,800 1,490,920 9,063,900 873,820 418,920 84,120 2,941,910 25,286,200

VALUE (PHP) 304,345,165 262,794,090 241,151,215 183,202,076 177,619,636 172,988,231 154,485,772 150,535,245 146,969,836 140,221,240

UK STRIKE. Railway workers man a picket line at Liverpool Lime Street Station on June 21, 2022 amid the biggest rail strike in over 30 years to hit the UK. Rush-hour commuters in the UK faced chaos as railway workers began the network’s biggest strike action in more than three decades, with a cost-of-living crisis threatening wider industrial action. AFP

Industrial effluents enter the Buriganga River as boatmen wait for passengers in Karanigonj, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. AFP

the water.

Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka was founded on the banks of the Buriganga more than 400 years ago by the Mughal empire.

“It is now the largest sewer of the country,” said Sheikh Rokon, the head of the Riverine People environmental rights group.

“For centuries people built their homes on its banks to bask in the river breeze,” he added. “Now the smell of toxic sludge during winter is so horrible that people have to hold their noses as they come near it.”

Water samples from the river found chromium and cadmium levels over six times the World Health Organization’s recommended maximums, according to a 2020 paper by the Bangladeshi government’s River Research Institute.

Both elements are used in leather tanning and excessive exposure to either is extremely hazardous to human health: chromium is carcinogenic, and chronic cadmium exposure causes lung damage, kidney disease and premature births.

Ammonia, phenol and other byproducts of fabric dyeing have also helped to starve the river of the oxygen needed to sustain marine life.

Powerful people In Shyampur, one of several sprawling industrial districts around Dhaka, locals told AFP that at least 300 local factories were discharging untreated wastewater into the Buriganga river.

Residents say they have given up complaining about the putrid smell of the water, knowing that offending businesses are easily able to shirk responsibility.

“The factories bribe (authorities) to buy the silence of the regulators,” said Chan Mia, who lives in the area.

“If someone wants (to) raise the issue to the factories, they’d beat them up. They are powerful people with connections.”

The crucial position of the textile trade in the economy has created a nexus between business owners and the country’s political establishment. In some cases, politicians themselves have become powerful industry players.

Further south, in Narayanganj district, residents showed AFP a stream of crimsoncoloured water draining into stagnant canals from a nearby factory.

“But you cannot say a word about it loudly,” an area resident told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We only suffer in silence.”

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, which represents the interests of around 3,500 top factories, defends its record by pointing out the environmental certifications given out to its members.

“We are going green—that’s why we are witnessing big jumps in export orders,” BGMEA president Faruque Hassan told a recent press conference. AFP

STOCKHOLM, Sweden—Denmark’s energy agency declared a first level “early warning” alert over worries of its gas supply, due to uncertainty on energy imports from Russia because of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The European Union has established a system to allow member states to flag up impending energy supply difficulties using three ascending levels of alerts -- beginning with “early warning”, followed by “alert”, then “emergency”.

The system allows for mutual assistance from other EU countries, but could also mean a start to rationing supplies.

On Monday, the deputy director of the Danish Energy Agency, Martin Hansen, issued the first level warning.

“This is a serious situation we are facing and it has been exacerbated by the reduction in supplies,” Hansen said in a statement.

Currently Denmark’s gas stocks are about 75 percent full, “and gas has been added in recent days”, the agency said in a statement.

The declaration comes after Danish energy company Orsted announced at the end of May that delivery of Russian gas to the Scandinavian country would be suspended from June 1, after Orsted refused to settle the payment in rubles.

Gas represents 18 percent of the energy consumed each year in Denmark. Domestic production accounted for three-quarters of the gas consumed in 2019.

Russia is one of the main sources of natural gas imports, according to the Danish Energy Agency.

The Netherlands also announced Monday it will lift restrictions on coal-fired power generation, a day after Germany and Austria took similar steps to alleviate their reliance on Russian gas supplies. AFP

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Dead rivers: The cost of Bangladesh’s garment-driven growth DHAKA, Bangladesh—Bangladeshi ferryman Kalu Molla began working on the Buriganga river before the patchwork of slums on its banks gave way to garment factories -- and before its waters turned pitch black.

The 52-year-old has constant cough, allergies and skin rashes, and doctors have told him the vile-smelling sludge that has also wiped out marine life in one of Dhaka’s main waterways is to blame.

“Doctors told me to leave this job and leave the river. But how is that possible?”

Molla told AFP near his home on the industrial outskirts of the capital Dhaka. “Ferrying people is my bread and butter.”

In the half-century since a devastating independence war left its people facing starvation, Bangladesh has emerged as an often unheralded economic success story.

The South Asian country of 169 million has overtaken its neighbor India in per capita income and will soon graduate from the United Nations’ list of the world’s least developed countries.

Underpinning years of runaway growth is the booming garment trade, servicing global fast-fashion powerhouses, employing millions of women and accounting for around 80 percent of the country’s $50 billion annual exports.

But environmentalists say the growth has come at an incalculable cost, with a toxic melange of dyes, tanning acids and other dangerous chemicals making their way into

Denmark issues ‘early warning’ over Russia gas supply worries

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING Please be informed that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of HARBOR STAR SHIPPING SERVICES, INC. (“HSSSI”) will be held and conducted virtually via the MS Teams online meeting platform on Wednesday, 13 July 2022, 9:30 a.m. for the following purposes: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting held on 08 July 2021 Management Report Approval of Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of HSSSI and its subsidiaries as of 31 December 2021 Ratification of all acts, resolutions and proceedings of the Board of Directors and of Management, done in ordinary course of business since the 08 July 2021 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting up to 13 July 2022 Election of Directors Appointment of External Auditor Other Matters Adjournment

The record date for stockholders entitled to notice of, participate and vote at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting is set on 09 June 2022 (“Stockholders of Record”).

Considering the current circumstances, Stockholders of Record may only attend/participate via proxy, remote communication or vote in absentia, subject to validation procedures.1 Only validated stockholders will be provided access to the MS Teams meeting platform and can cast their votes in absentia on or before 04 July 2022 via the Corporation’s secure online voting facility.

Stockholders who wish to participate in the meeting via the MS Teams online meeting platform and to vote in absentia should notify the Office of the Corporate Secretary through a Letter of Intent to be sent via e-mail to asm-2022@harborstar.com.ph or fill up the registration form at www.harborstar.com.ph/asm2022registrationform on or before 28 June 2022.

The Corporation is not soliciting for proxies. Stockholders who are unable to join the meeting but wish to vote on items in the agenda by proxy must submit their duly accomplished proxy forms via email to asm-2022@harborstar.com.ph on or before 28 June 2022.

Stockholders may send their queries and comments to the Management Report and other items in the Agenda to asm-2022@ harborstar.com.ph on or before 06 July 2022.

The Definitive Information Statement containing the attendance, voting and election procedures, along with the Notice, Agenda, Proxy, Management Report, SEC Form 17-A, SEC Form 17-Q and other information related to the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting can be accessed at www.harborstar.com.ph/investors/pse_disclosures.

Very truly yours, (SGD) IGNATIUS A. RODRIGUEZ Corporate Secretary

1

For the detailed registration and voting procedures, please visit www.harborstar.com.ph/ and refer to the “Guidelines for Participation via Remote Communication and Voting in Absentia and through Proxy”.

(MS-JUNE 22 & 23, 2022)

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, June 21, 2022

-48.75 PTS. 6,285.19

885,420,667 53,167

TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES DECLINES

3,965,441,860.58 87 94

UNCHANGED

53

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2022

Peso tumbles to 44-month low of 54.26 a dollar on Fed rate hike

By Julito G. Rada THE peso tumbled Tuesday to a new 44-month low of 54.265 against the US dollar in line with regional currencies’ weakness following the interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve.

The peso traded weaker than its Monday’s closing of 54.065 against the greenback. It was the local unit’s weakest level since it settled at 54.32 a dollar on Oct. 4, 2018. Total volume turnover hit $1.389 billion on Tuesday.

“The peso exchange rate again [was] weaker vs the US dollar for the fifth straight trading day, by 0.20 or 0.4 percent,” Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., told Manila Standard via email. “[The] peso is also weaker ahead of the local budget deficit data, recent continued hawkish signals from some Fed officials, and ahead of Fed chair Powell’s semi-annual monetary policy testimony to the US Senate Banking Committee on June 22, 2022,” Ricafort said.

The Bangko Sentra ng Pilipinas said the balance of payments position incurred a deficit of $1.61 billion in May on government’s payment of foreign debt.

“The BOP deficit in May 2022 reflected outflows mainly from the national government’s foreign currency withdrawals from its deposits with the BSP to settle its foreign currency debt obligations and pay for its various expenditures,” it said in a statement.

The BOP deficit in May brought the cumulative level in the first five months to $1.53-billion deficit, lower than the $1.63-billion deficit recorded in the same period last year.

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

54.0050

Japan

Yen

0.007403

0.3998

UK

Pound

1.225300

66.1723

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127390

6.8797

Switzerland

Franc

1.034019

55.8422

Canada

Dollar

0.770357

41.6031

Singapore

Dollar

0.720357

38.9029

Australia

Dollar

0.695100

37.5389

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653083

143.2797

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266517

14.3933

Brunei

Dollar

0.717772

38.7633

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.028317

1.5293

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.7049

Euro

Euro

1.051400

56.7809

Korea

Won

0.000775

0.0419

China

Yuan

0.149434

8.0702

India

Rupee

0.012837

0.6933

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.227273

12.2739

New Zealand

Dollar

0.632800

34.1744

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033641

1.8168 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF BDO strengthens digital platforms

RENEWABLE SHIFT. Executives of Bank of the Philippine Islands and AC Energy Corp. sign an agreement that marks the 100-percent power supply transition from coal to renewable energy of BPI Buendia Center, one of the bank’s high-rise buildings in Makati City. The shift of BPI Buendia Center underscores BPI’s commitment to sustainable and low-carbon operations as part of its sustainability agenda. The agreement signing also forms part of BPI’s events for the inaugural Philippine Sustainability Awareness Month in June.

Razon’s Prime Infra readies P28-b initial public offering

By Jenniffer B. Austria

P

rime Infrastructure Capital Inc., the infrastructure arm of port tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., plans to raise P28.2 billion from an initial public offering this year.

Prime Infra, based on a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, plans to sell a maximum of 1.75 billion primary common shares, with an over-allotment option for another 175.6 million shares, at P14.60 apiece.

Prime Infra has core investments in industrial sectors including water, energy generation, construction and waste and sustainable fuels in the Philippines and other emerging markets.

It holds investments in operating companies Prime Metro Power Holdings Corp., Prime Metroline Infrastruc-

ture Holdings Corp., Prime Infrastructure Inc. and Trident Water Company Holdings Inc. The group said the fresh capital from the IPO would be used to primarily fund its energy and water ventures.

It plans to conduct the maiden share offering in October, based on the indicative timetable in the registration statement.

The IPO terms show that Prime Infra would have a public float of 22 percent, assuming the over-allotment shares are exercised.

Prime Infra booked a net income of P926 million in the first quarter, up 9,721 percent from P9.4 million it earned in the same period last year on strong contribution from Manila Water which Prime Infra acquired in June 2021.

Revenues jumped 745 percent in the first quarter to P5.79 billion from P684.6 million a year ago.

Prime Infra tapped CLSA Limited, BDO Capital & Investments Corp. and BPI Capital Corp. as the joint under-

writers and book runners for the IPO. Razon remains the country’s second richest billionaire based on the latest report of Forbes Asia magazine. He established his wealth by managing container ports in the country and overseas under International Container Terminal Services Inc. and gaming firm Bloomberry Resorts Corp. which operates Solaire Casino & Resorts.

The PSE earlier said it expects a record number of listings this year despite the volatile market conditions.

Six companies already conducted initial public offerings as of June 21, and one more—Balai ni Fruitas Inc.— is expected to follow by the end of the month.

Gadgets retailer Upson International Inc. also has pending IPO application with corporate regulators.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange Index is nearing bear market conditions after a steady decline in recent weeks on concerns about rising inflation and interest rate and slowdown in the global economy.

SMC secures deal for new Metro Manila expressway

By Darwin G. Amojelar

We produce power – so people can light their homes, enjoy modern comforts, and connect with family and friends.

We supported environmental conservation, safety and security, and rural electrification.

Electricity is a basic need. Which is why through the years, we at TeaM Energy have made it our mission to generate reliable and affordable power to fuel a nation’s progress.

And by enhancing food production and access to clean water, we have made pivotal contributions to what is most essential to people.

In our host communities and beyond, we have partnered with government in making a positive impact in helping address other basic needs.

We look forward to taking what we have started even higher. As we uplift the lives of fellow Filipinos, we have become aware of a most valuable strength:

We achieved this by implementing corporate social responsibility programs that improve education, and create livelihood opportunities.

the power of caring.

TeaM Energy is one of the largest independent power producers in the country with more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) of installed generating capacity nationwide. It operates two coal-fired facilities: the 1,200 MW Sual Power Station in Pangasinan and the 735 MW Pagbilao Power Station in Quezon province. It also has a 50% stake in the 420 MW Pagbilao Unit 3 Power Project in Quezon.

SAN Miguel Corp. and the Department of Transportation on Tuesday signed an agreement for the construction of the Southern Access Link Expressway—a new elevated toll road connecting Quezon City and the southern part of Metro Manila.

The conglomerate said the signing of the supplemental toll operations agreement would pave the way for the start of construction of the four sections of SALEX. The segments include the C3-R10 Extension, Shoreline Expressway, Quirino Extension and Buendia (Gil Puyat Avenue) Extension. It said SALEX would reduce traffic congestion along EDSA, South Luzon Expressway and other major road corridors in Metro Manila through road networks that will service both cargo and passenger traffic.

It is also expected to contribute to the economic development of the National Capital Region and Central Luzon.

The new toll road will also provide an efficient and direct access to the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan province and the support gateway to deliver its full economic potential, according to the company.

The project’s first section, the C3-R10 Extension will connect the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 at Sgt. Rivera in Quezon City to the proposed Shoreline Expressway at R-10.

The Shoreline Expressway will start from Ayala Bridge, pass along Ayala Boulevard, San Marcelino St., Padre Faura St., A. Mabini St., Pedro Gil St. and Roxas Boulevard. The Quirino Extension will connect MMSS3 at the Quirino Interchange to the proposed Shoreline Expressway and at Roxas Boulevard through an elevated structure.

BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender led by the Sy Group, further strengthened its digital banking platforms in line with the government’s efforts to promote cashless transactions and advance financial inclusion in the country.

BDO consumer banking group digital banking head Roy Villareal said Tuesday the country was gearing up to become a “cashless society.”

“To make cashless payments an active tool to promote financial inclusion, it needs to be easy to use and accessible for everyone. With our online banking and cashless payment platforms, BDO provides alternatives for those who wish to do their financial transactions digitally,” Villareal said in a statement.

BDO earlier launched its BDO Online and BDO Pay mobile apps not only to address the sudden demand for contactless financial transactions during the pandemic, but also to make bank services more accessible and convenient in the new normal. BDO Online and BDO Pay allow BDO clients to pay their bills, transfer money and monitor their bank account through their computers or mobile phones. Julito G. Rada

Wilcon on track to have 100 stores WILCON Depot Inc., a leading home improvement and construction supply retailer, is on track to meet its target of having 100 stores by 2025, a top executive said Monday.

Wilcon president Lorraine Belo-Cincochan said the company aimed to open eight new stores this year to end 2021 with 81 branches nationwide.

“We are well on our way to reach our 100 stores by 2025 target. We opened an unprecedented 10 stores in 2021, nine depots and one smaller format, Home Essentials. We have completely deployed our IPO funds in the first quarter of 2021 but have kept the company bank debt-free,” Belo-Cincochan said.

Belo-Cincochan said the company remained focused on growth strategies despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic and increased competition. She said the company was also devising plans to further improve its margins through product mix strategies and by constantly reviewing pricing strategy.

Wilcon chief operating officer Rosemarie Ong said the outlook for 2022 remained positive as construction activities significantly improved on the easing of quarantine restrictions. Jenniffer B. Austria

Flour millers seek lower tariff on inputs FLOUR millers asked the government to reduce tariffs on imported ingredients for bread production to help stabilize the price of local bread.

Philippine Association of Flour Millers Inc. executive-director Ric Pinca said the government has the authority to bring down duties on bakery ingredients as wheat imports are already duty-free.

“So it is for the best interest of everybody if the government could lessen, if not suspend, duties or tariffs on imported ingredients,” Pinca said at the regular Pandesal Forum at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City.

He said they could not determine if prices of flour might spike up again, as world supply was declining steadily over the last few months because of circumstantial factors like the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, India’s trade ban and the severe drought in major wheat-producing countries.

Pinca said the price of imported yeast for baking was on an uptrend. Tariffs on imported yeast is about 10 percent or more, he said. Othel V. Campos

Group endorses Marcoleta as Energy secretary THE National Center of Electric Cooperative Consumers Inc., an organization with 4 million members nationwide, endorsed SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta as the next secretary of the Department of Energy.

“NCECCO hereby pledges its support to Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and reiterates its endorsement of him to be the next secretary of the Department of Energy,” the power consumer group said in a public statement.

NCECCO said, “the success of the government’s socioeconomic plan will always be dependent in the situation of the energy sector of our country” and that “any big investments in infrastructure will be futile if it will not be accompanied by a similar venture in the energy sector.”

The energy portfolio in the Cabinet is considered by many as a crucial position now that many economies were headed toward

recession amid increasing prices of oil and derivatives, affecting basic commodities and services.

“As a matter of fact, any of our policies and plans can be held hostage by problems and turmoil involving energy concerns.… In the last few months, we have experienced the most devastating increase in oil prices affecting the cost of basic commodities, while the purchasing power of most of the people remains the same,” NCECCO said.

The national association said, “it is of utmost importance for the incoming administration to select a secretary of the Department of Energy who is not only adept in solving problems of national significance, but someone who has the heart for the masses and someone who has experienced the plight of the marginalized people for proper perspective.”

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

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Matt Beyer

PBA BEST PLAYER. Ian Sangalang held his own against formidable Philippine Cup counterparts like NorthPort’s Arwind Santos, Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar and San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo as he averaged 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 assist in three gruelling games in five days as Magnolia won two games to raise its record to 2-3 overall. His heroics earned him the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period June 15 to 19.

Yulo’s road to Paris Olympics to pass thru 5 World Cup tilts

By Peter Atencio

T

HE road to the 2024 Paris Olympics has just begun for Asian champion Carlos Yulo.

And he will have to be ready for better-thanever performances when he competes in five world championships to make it to the quadrennial meet.

The 22-year-old Yulo is aware of this as he immediately plunged into training after he was given a warm victory party by members of the national men’s and women’s team by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines on Tuesday at the Heritage Hotel.

“I have no problem in scoring points on my event. I just need to brush up on the levels and difficulties on two of my

events,” said Yulo, who arrived in Manila on Sunday after a triumphant campaign in the 9th Senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the Aspire Dome in Doha, Qatar.

The 4’11” Yulo claimed three golds and a silver, to go with a fourth-place finish in the Doha tournament, where he was rewarded with five slots to the FIG Artistic World Championships in Liver-

pool from October 29 to November 6.

Not only will Yulo prepare for Liverpool, he will also have to be ready for world meets to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan next year, and in Doha, Qatar, Cottbus, Germany, and in Cairo, Egypt.

“So, this is his first step, which is to qualify to the World Cup. And we have five World Cups coming,” said GAP president Cynthia Carrion.

Carrion said they are not just celebrating Yulo’s win, but the success of the national team in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games, where the women’s team contributed one gold and two bronze medals.

Yulo ended the Asian meet with two more gold medals during the final day of the tournament, with his first-place finishes coming from the vault and the parallel

bars. His gold-medal finish in the floor exercises was his first on Friday, a day after he settled for a silver medal in the men’s all-around.

He also had a fourth-place performance in the rings during the late Friday evening finals.

Yulo, who is returning to Tokyo for training, said he has made a lot improvements in the rings and the horizontal bars, to go with the all-around.

Training has been non-stop for Yulo, who is set to continue his practice sessions when he returns to Japan on Wednesday.

After visiting his family’s home province in Pangasinan on Monday, Yulo has gotten busy with daily practice sessions, with coach Munehiro Kugimiya virtually monitoring him from Japan.

Netherlands sweeps Slovenia at VNL

Nimir Abdel-Aziz paced the Dutch with 18 points and six digs.

THE Netherlands opened its Quezon City swing with a 25-17, 25-21, 26-24 victory over Slovenia in the men’s Volleyball Nations League Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Captain Nimir Abdel-Aziz, an opposite spiker from Italian club Trentino, paced the Dutch with 18 points and six digs, Bennie Tuinstra added 13 points and six digs while Thijs Ter Horst scored 12 points.

The Netherlands, which chalked up its third win in five matches to remain in the upper half of the standings, fired nine service aces, with Abdel-Aziz accounting for three.

“We played very clean, like a team,” said Tuinstra, who contributed two service winners. “It was tough, we were pushing and they (Slovenia) gave up big points that’s why we won today.”

The Dutch displayed composure late in the third set behind clutch kills by Tuinstra and Abdel-Aziz producing clutch kills.

Jan Kozamernik tried to extend the match for the

Slovenians but his quick attack went wide.

The good-sized men’s opening day crowd who showed up at the Big Dome inspired the Netherlands.

“It’s always nice to have fans in the stands. The fans are great. It’s amazing to play here,” said Abdel-Aziz.

The Slovenians dropped to 2-3 card to stay at the lower half of the 16-team field.

Rok Mozic took the scoring mantle for Slovenia with 12 points, including three blocks, and seven digs, while Stern Ziga contributed 11 kills, six digs and five receptions.

The event has Mikasa, Ganten, Gerflor and Senoh as global sponsors and global suppliers, PLDT Home as presenting partner, Rebisco, MG Philippines, TOP Speed Insurance, Asics and Maynilad as official sponsors, Havas Ortega, The Look Company, Summit Outdoor Media, The Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Marketing Media Ventures, Strong Media Advertising Solutions. 91.5 Win Radio, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, City of Taguig, Quezon City and F2 Logistics as official suppliers.

UFC Gym opens in SM Southmall LIVING a more active lifestyle is important in increasing one’s immunity to certain illnesses. It is imperative to stay healthy as we continue the fight against COVID-19.

This is what SM Supermalls President Steven Tan emphasized during the opening of the newest branch of the UFC Gym at the SM Gamepark in SM Southmall.

“We are all fighters, and we are all fighting against COVID. And one of the ways to win this fight is to keep yourself healthy. Thank you to the UFC Gym for giving us this platform to workout and live healthier lives,” Tan said.

The gym opening was attended by UFC Gym CEO Adam Sedlack, UFC Gym Master Franchisee Mark Dayrit, UFC GYM Philippines CEO Mylene MendozaDayrit, and Ms. Aura International 2021 Faith Garcia.

Hosted by Ms. Earth Philippines-Fire 2019 Alexandra Dayrit, the event was filled with action as the demonstration of various UFC Gym classes were held.

Meanwhile, amateur boxers and mixed martial arts fighters showed their amazing skills and talents at Musclecontest Philippines’ ‘King of the Fight 9.’

Thirty bouts were lined-up for neophytes who were given the chance to display their skills in one of the country’s most anticipated events in grassroots combat sports. The two-day exhibition matches were held at SM Southmall’s activity area.

“We’re thrilled to be working with the biggest mall

developers in the market that is SM Supermalls. We are very excited to what we can accomplish here and if we do it right, we might be able to have a studio in every one of their malls in the Philippines. I am really looking forward to working out this brand with SM Supermalls and really continue to drive awareness on why fitness with an MMA spirit is such a great way to get in shape,” shared Sedlack.

The UFC Gym is located at the third level of SM Southmall and is housed in the mall’s 2,500 sqm-interactive Game Park— the newest leisure and entertainment space in the south of Metro Manila. Aside from the gym, SM Gamepark houses all the indoor sports and arcade game staples you can find; like the 14-lane bowling area, billiards, archery, table tennis and so much more!

And if you still have the energy to stroll inside the mall and do some activities with friends and family after working out at the gym, SM Southmall’s got you covered! Relive the good ol’ days of fun games and retro activities at SM Southmall’s #SouthTopia from now until July 10.

Play The King’s Claw crane game at the Food Street Concourse and catch #aweSM prizes! You can get 2 chances to play for every P1,500 worth of purchase from any SM Southmall store or SM Malls Online.

Also, Buzz Lightyear, the Minions, and Thor are

The UFC Gym is located at the third level of SM Southmall and is housed in the mall’s 2,500 sqminteractive Game Park

visiting down South for the weekend! Get ready for an All-Star Weekend as some of the most loved cartoon characters drop by at the SM Southmall’s Outdoor Overdrive and Food Street Concourse from June 18 to June 25. To meet them, just present any of the following: a receipt with a minimum purchase of P500 from any SM Southmall store or SM Malls Online from June 1 to July 9, a cinema ticket purchased from June 1 to July 9, or an Outdoor Overdrive ticket purchased from June 1 to July 9.

EASL holds June 28 draw at Shangri-La Fort Manila THE inaugural drawing of lot for the coming East Asia Super League is set on June 28 at the Shangri-La Fort Manila.

Matt Beyer, the EASL co-founder and CEO, will preside over the ceremony to be attended by no less than FIBA executive director for Asia and FIBA Asia secretariat CEO Hagop Khajirian.

Representatives from competing teams Seoul SK Knights and Anyang KGC from the Korean Basketball League, Utsonomiya Brex and Ryukyu Golden Kings of the B. League, and the Bay Area Dragons from Greater China will be coming over, while the PBA and P LEAGUE+ still have to determine the teams seeing action in the tournament and will be given their respective designations during the draw.

The finals of the P LEAGUE+ is ongoing between the Taipei Fubon Braves and Hsinchu JKO Lioneers, with the champion earning a berth in the EASL tournament, while the champion and runner-up teams in the ongoing Philippine Cup will represent the PBA. The process of the draw will have each domestic league given the right to choose the side during the coin flip, and the winner being placed in Group A and the other in Group B. The PBA Board of Governors, led by chairman Ricky Vargas, commissioner Willie Marcial, and the league’s management committee have been invited to attend the ceremony.

Barangay Ginebra governor and San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua will represent the PBA in the EASL Advisory Board.

NU’s Belen makes history as UAAP’s 1st rookie MVP MHICAELA Belen was hailed as the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, making her the firstever in the league’s long history.

National University’s Belen was just everywhere, leading the league in the service department at 0.47 per set, while also placing second in spiking with a 38.96 success rate, and third in scoring with 203 points in the elimination round.

With her outstanding all-around offensive prowess, she also bagged the 1st Best Outside Hitter as well.

Her defense was top-notch as well, going sixth in reception at a 40.85 efficiency rate while being eighth in digs at 2.38 per set.

Belen also knotted Dzi Gervacio’s record in most service aces in a single match with eighth. She did it against University of the Philippines last June 4.

The undefeated Lady Bulldogs dominated the other individual awards as well with Camilla Lamina and Jen Nierva copping Best Setter and Best Libero plums. Alyssa Solomon won the Best Opposite Spiker award.

Lamina talMhicaela lied 5.81 excelBelen lent sets per set, while Nierva registered a 55.96 receiving percentage and 4.4 digs per set.

Solo m o n had 145 spikes on a 38.98 percent success rate.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

14. Considering the approximately 33 km distance of the Plant to the Paranas S/S and the proximity of 400 meters to the existing 69kV Paranas-Quinapondan Transmission Line, the tapping point for the immediate connection of the THPP to the Visayas Grid has been decided with no other options identified. The pertinent Conceptual Engineering Design and Drawings is attached hereto as ANNEX “K”.

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP AND OWN OR OPERATE DEDICATED POINT-TO-POINT LIMITED TRANSMISSION FACILITIES TO CONNECT THE 15.930MW TUBIG HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT TO THE VISAYAS GRID OF THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF ERC CASE NO. 2022-012 MC THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP)

15. Taft Hydro has found that connecting to the Visayas Grid via the Dedicated Facility Project is the most cost-effective for the immediate connection of THPP. The construction of the Dedicated Facility Project, excluding the complete testing and commissioning with load, may be completed in approximately 5 months. The Gantt Chart for the development of the Dedicated Facility Project is attached hereto as ANNEX “L”.

TAFT HYDRO CORPORATION HYDRO), ENERGY (TAFT Applicant. x---------------------------------------------------x

16. A System Impact Study (“SIS”) was conducted with finding that the connection of Taft Hydro’s THPP through the Dedicated Facility Project is technically feasible and was recommended as the interconnection scheme for THPP. A copy of the SIS by NGCP is attached hereto as ANNEX “0”.

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

17. Taft Hydro engaged the services of Power System Research and Consultancy Group (“PSRC Group”) to conduct the Interconnection Facilities Study (“Facilities Study”) for Taft Hydro’s THPP to ensure that the equipment to be installed will satisfy the recommendation of the SIS, and that the Dedicated Facility Project complies with the Philippine Grid Code. A Copy of Facilities Study is attached hereto as ANNEX “N”.

Notice is hereby given that on 16 May 2022, Taft Hydroenergy Corporation (Taft Hydro) filed an Application dated 22 April 2022, seeking the Commission’s approval for authority to develop and own or operate dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities to connect the 15.930MW Tubig Hydroelectric Power Plant to the Visayas Grid of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

The pertinent allegations in the said Application are hereunder quoted, as follows: 1.

Taft Hydro is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at 126 5th Street, B. Serrano Between 11th and 12th Avenue, Grace Park, Caloocan City.

2.

Taft Hydro is primarily engaged in the business of building, constructing, generating, operating and maintaining power plants derived from coal, fossil fuel, geothermal, natural gas, biomass, solar, wind, hydroelectric and other viable sources of power. As evidence of its personal circumstances, the following documents are attached as follows: Annex “A” “A-1” “A-2” “B” “C” “D” “E”

18. NGCP, in its Letter dated 24 July 2020, informed Taft Hydro, among others, that “[t]he SIS showed that the entry of the Project to the Visayas Grid via tap connection along NGCP’s Paranas - Taft 69 k V Transmission Line is technically acceptable.” A copy of NGCP Letter dated July 24, 2020 is attached hereto as ANNEX “P”.

19. In view of the foregoing, Taft Hydro respectfully seeks the confirmation and approval of this Honorable Commission that the connection of the Dedicated Facility Project to the Visayas Grid, as proposed under the SIS, is the most viable option for connecting the THPP. 20. Taft Hydro has either secured or in the process of securing the necessary permits, licenses and authority from the appropriate regulatory agencies for the Dedicated Facility Project. Thus, Taft Hydro undertakes to file an application for a Certificate of Compliance with the Honorable Commission for the THPP pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 16, Series of 2014.

Document Certificate of Incorporation of Taft Hydro with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Articles of Incorporation of Taft Hydro Amended Articles of Incorporation of Taft Hydro By-Laws of Taft Hydro Latest General Information Sheet of Taft Hydro Latest Audited Financial Statement Certificate of Registration from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (“BIR”)

21. In addition to the foregoing attachments, the following supporting documents are herein attached and made an integral part of this Application:

NATURE AND LEGAL BASES OF THE APPLICATION 3.

4.

5.

Annex “F”

Section 9(f) of the Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (“EPIRA”) and Rule 5, Section 5(a) of the EPIRA Implementing Rules and Regulations provides that a generation company may develop and own or operate dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities, subject to a prior authorization from the Honorable Commission.

“G” and “H” “I” “J” “K” , Series

Further, Article IV, Section 1 of Resolution No. 16. Series of 2014, provides that “[a] Generation Company which develops and owns or operates a dedicated point-to-point limited transmission or distribution facilities for the purpose of connecting to the transmission or distribution system, respectively, should secure prior authorization by the ERC.”

“L” “M” “N” “O” “P”

Thus, this Application is filed before the Honorable Commission for consideration and approval of Taft Hydro’s proposed development, ownership and/or operation of connection facilities which shall connect the 15.930MW Tubig Hydroelectric Power Plant (“THPP”) located in Barangay San Rafael, Taft, Eastern Samar, to the Visayas Grid via the NGCP’s Paranas-Taft 69kV line through the 0.35-kilometer 69kV line being constructed by PSRC (“Dedicated Facility Project”).

“Q” “R” “S” “T” “U” “V” Series “W” “X” “Y” “Z”

STATEMENT OF FACTS 6.

7.

8.

Taft Hydro is the owner and developer of THPP, which will generate power using the 3 x 5.310 MW generators equipped with 1X18 MVA, 6.3/69 kV step-up transformers from its powerhouse located in Barangay San Rafael, Taft, Eastern Samar. The THPP is covered by the Hydropower Service Contract No. 2016-06-663-A issued by the Department of Energy (DOE).

“AA” “BB”

Taft Hydro is currently developing the THPP, and its target commencement commercial operations is 2nd qtr of 2022.

Thus, in order to test, commission, and dispatch from the THPP, Taft Hydro shall develop, own, and construct the Dedicated Facility Project. A summary of the relevant dates relative to the Power Plant and the Dedicated Facility Project is attached hereto as ANNEX “M”.

Document Certificate of Registration No. HSC 2016-06-663-A issued by the DOE Secretary’s Certificate showing the resolution adopted by and the Board of Directors of Taft Hydro approving the application for approval, development, and construction of the Dedicated Facility Project Summary and Details of Project Cost Estimates Detailed project design of the Dedicated Facility Conceptual Engineering Design and Drawings (Forebay, Headrace Channel, Penstock, Powerhouse, and WEIR) Gantt Charts for the construction of the Dedicated Facility Project Powerplant and Dedicated Facility Project Relevant Dates Facilities Study Report System Impact Study NGCP Letter dated 24 July 2020 Sworn statement of Taft Hydro’s representative, stating that he has filed or shall file applications for necessary permits, licenses and authority with all the concerned agencies that may have interest therein Company Profile and Description of the Project Document showing that the project is consistent with the Transmission Development Plan (TDP), such as copy of the TDP portion showing the project.

Detailed Single Line Diagram Name/s and company profile/s of contractors

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

Thousands salute Dubs

S

AN FRANCISCO—Tens of thousands of fans poured onto the streets of San Francisco on Monday to salute the victorious Golden State Warriors as the team celebrated its fourth NBA championship in eight seasons with an open-top bus parade.

A blizzard of blue and gold confetti billowed along downtown San Francisco’s Market Street as buses carrying the Warriors players and team staff made their way along the 1.4 mile-long parade route.

The Warriors clinched their seventh NBA crown on Thursday after defeating the Boston Celtics on the road in game six of the finals to close out a 4-2 series victory.

The victory completed a triumphant return to the pinnacle of the sport just two years after the Warriors finished the 2019-2020 season with the worst record in basketball.

Warriors talisman Stephen Curry—wearing a gold chain carrying his collection of NBA championship rings—led the festivities as Golden State players sprayed hordes of fans with champagne in brilliant sunshine.

“I had to bring the jewelry back out,” Curry said of his ring-laden necklace.

“I don’t look at it during the year.

Every so often though you gotta remind yourself —we got four!”

Curry said the Warriors had been motivated to get back in the winner’s circle after a painful defeat in the 2019 NBA Finals.

“I’d be lying if I said I knew we’d be champions because it’s a lot of work—but sometimes you’ve got to manifest it,” Curry said.

“We had some reverses, hit some road bumps, but peaked at the right time and everybody, 1 through 16, our coaching staff, everyone, played a significant part in this.”

‘An amazing year’ The Warriors’ defensive star Draymond Green paid tribute to the Warriors players and team personnel that made the win possible.

“This has been an amazing year,” Green said. “I told you no one could stop us from winning a championship. I warned you all.

“I really love this group, and when I say this group, I mean this entire group.

“There were times in the past when we won a championship and everything didn’t have to be aligned, like we were just that good. AFP

Demand-Supply Scenario Demand and Energy Forecast Power Situation and Outlook Connection Agreement Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) No. ECC-O L-R08-2019-0167 Letter dated 16 October 2019 issued by DENR stating that the ECC issued in favor of Iraya Energy Corporation was transferred to Taft Hydroenergy Corporation

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that, after hearing on the merits, a DECISION be rendered approving the instant Application.

The Dedicated Facility Project is comprised of the following:

Other just and equitable reliefs are likewise prayed for.

a. Six (6) 90ft singular steel poles connected by 350 meters of 3 x 336.4MCM ACSR transmission line;

The Commission has set the instant Application for hearing for the determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on the following dates and online platform for the conduct thereof, pursuant to Resolution 09, Series of 2020,1 dated 24 September 2020, and Resolution No. 01, Series of 2021, dated 17 December 2020 (ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure): 2

b. Switchyard which is 60meters from the Plant’s Powerhouse with the following S/S equipment: gantry structures, 75kV SF6 hypact HV switchgear, 18 MVA, 6.3/69kV step-up power transformer, instrument transformers, 3 pcs. lighting arresters, metering equipment and disconnect with earth switch;

Date

c. NGCP line Tapping point with 2 sets of disconnect switch, 12 pcs 30 ft steel and 2 pcs 90 ft steel poles with corresponding cables.

9.

Sports

development of the Dedicated Facility Project, and thus, will not have any impact on regulated charges.

Republic of the Philippines TODAY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pasig City

Platform

05 July 2022 (Tuesday) at nine 0’ clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

These are all within the Power Plant vicinity and Taft Hydro plans to engage the services of NGCP for its operations and maintenance. Taft Hydro’s Company Profile and Project Background for the Tubig HEPP and the Dedicated Facility is attached hereto as ANNEX “S”.

12 July 2022 (Tuesday) at nine 0’ clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.)

Microsoft Teams Application

Activity Determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements and Expository Presentation Pre-trial Conference and Presentation of Evidence

Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled virtual hearing, via electronic mail (e-mail)at docket@erc.ph. copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation.

Moreover, all persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission via e-mail at docket@erc.ph. copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1) The petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address; 2) The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and 3) A statement of the relief desired.

Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file through e-mail at docket@erc.ph. copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc. ph, their Opposition or Comment thereon at least five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following:

US basketball player Stephen Curry (left) holds the MVP trophy alongside teammate Damion Lee (right) as they celebrate from a double decker bus during the Golden State Warriors NBA Championship victory parade along Market Street in San Francisco, California. AFP

Zamboanga trounces Marikina for win No. 4 STREAKING Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines showed its depth in a 91-76 pounding of Marikina on Monday in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented

by Extreme at the Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

With 13 players scoring, Zamboanga led by as many as 23 points, 75-32, before cruising to its fourth straight win in as many starts in the 22-team tournament.

Jaycee Marcelino presided over Zamboanga’s offense with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals, while his twin brother Jayvee, John Mahari and Jerald Bautista contributed 10 points each for Coach Vic Ycasiano.

Zamboanga also got 8 points each from Adrian Santos, Chito Jaime and Ramon Mabayo to stay close behind pacesetters Nueva, Ecija, Batangas and Sarangani, all with 5-0 slates.

Marikina, being supported by OKbet, got 23 points from Kyle

Tolentino, 17 from Yves Sazon, 15 from Nhomer Gonzales and 9 plus 11 rebounds from Antonio Joson but still couldn’t match Zamboanga’s firepower and dropped to 1-5.

Imus Bandera Xtreme routed Makati City, 72-44, in the nightcap to get back on track.

Displaying balanced scoring, Imus stormed ahead, 63-31, early in the fourth quarter and went on to tally its second win against 3 losses.

Jeric Serrano shone for Imus with 11 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Jessie Saitanan and Mark Anthony Guillen with 11 points each. Homegrown stars Ian Melencio and Egie Boy Mojica added 10 points each for Imus, which pulled down Makati to 1-5.

Mojica added 7 rebounds, Guillen 5 rebounds and Rene Pacquiao 5 rebounds as the Bandera ruled the boards, 52-49.

The MPBL visits Orion, Bataan for the first time when it plays a triple-bill at the Orion Sports Complex on Tuesday.

1) The name, mailing address, and e-mail address of such person; 2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon.

Any of the persons mentioned in the preceding paragraphs may access the copy of the Application on the Commission’s official website at www.erc. gov.ph.

10. The detailed project design of the dedicated Facility Project is attached hereto as ANNEX “J”.

Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the scheduled virtual hearings by providing the Commission, thru legal.virtualhearings@ erc.ph, with their respective e-mail addresses and indicating therein the case number of the instant Application. The Commission will send the access link/ s to the aforementioned hearing platform within five (5) working days prior to the scheduled hearings.

11. The estimated cost of construction of the Dedicated Facility Project is P55,355,899.86, with the following major cost components: PROJECT COMPONENTS Supply of Civil Works and Electrical Works at NGCP Tapping Point Supply of materials, Labor, supervision for complete installation and commissioning of the Transmission Lines Supply of Civil Works and Electrical Works, Protection, Control Equipment, Supervision for Complete Installation, Testing and Commissioning of the Taft HEPP Switchyard/ Substation Estimated TOTAL Plus O&M Fees with a 3rd Party

AMOUNT (PhP) 1,213,097.27

WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA, FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL and MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES,, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 24th day of May 2022 in Pasig City .

7,931,827.50

46,210,975.09

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson and CEO

55,355,899.86

12. The summary and detailed breakdown of the Dedicated Facility Project Cost is attached hereto as ANNEX “I”.

13. Taft Hydro will exclusively pay for the cost of construction and

1

2

A Resolution Adopting the Guidelines Governing Electronic Applications, Filings and Virtual Hearings Before the Energy Regulatory Commission.

A Resolution Adopting the Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Commission.

(MS-JUNE 22, 2022)

CAGE CLINICS. Hoopz Dreams organizers coach Henry Subido (left) and Florence Subido pose with Maramag, Bukidnon Mayor Jose Joel Doromal after a 10-day cage camp, which drew hundreds of participants, at Camp I Mini gym recently. Other stops of the cage clinic, which offers extensive program on fundamental ball handling and shooting skills for young hopefuls aged 8-16, are in Valencia, Camp Philips, Kibawe and Quezon.

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Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

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Paulo Avelino, Janine Gutierrez bring romance back to local theaters

Paulo Avelino (left) and Janine Gutierrez play an unlikely pair of college buddies-turned-bandmates

AND what better way to herald its return than with a great love story starring today’s newest and most-talked-about love team?

Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez star in the highly anticipated Ngayon Kaya, which opens in theaters tomorrow, June 22.

Directed by Prime Cruz and written by Jen Chuaunsu (the creative pair behind Isa Pa With Feelings and Can We Still Be Friends), its story tells of college buddies AM (played by Janine) and Harold (played by Paulo), an unlikely pair of a shy probinsiyano and a rich city girl who are college buddies-turned-band mates.

Harold had a crush on AM, but he never had the guts to tell her. Even after college, they stayed friends and continued pursuing their music dreams. Harold stifled his feelings for fear of losing her friendship. Eventually, time runs out for Harold when he’s forced to choose stability and work in Canada, leaving AM to wonder what could have been if he had stayed.

Years later, AM and Harold ito ang ginawa ko, siguro, itong taong meet by a chance meeting at ito ang kasama ko ngayon...’ I feel their friends’ wedding, and everyone can relate to that.” this time, AM is the one Music plays a big part in running out of time as narrating Harold and AM’s she realizes – one day saga, so the filmmakers have before Harold’s flight chosen the soundtrack of back to Canada – that the biggest songs from the it was not just their 2000s and beyond that not dreams that were a big only define the milieu of the “what if” but also their characters but also convey their innermost feelings and desires. relationship that never Ngayon Kaya features songs was.

by Mayonnaise, Typecast, Ang Paulo and Janine believe that Bandang Shirley, Shirebound Ngayon Kaya’s appeal lies in its true-to-life relatability. I’m sure ‘Ngayon Kaya’ is a relatable and Busking, and Johnoy Danao.

Ngayon Kaya, produced by everyone has a lot of ‘what ifs’ in movie that focuses on the T-Rex Entertainment and cotheir lives,” says Paulo. “what ifs” in their lives produced by WAD Films, also stars “It’s always something that happens,” Janine says of their characters’ Alwyn Uytingco, John James Uy, Donna predicament.”You daydream (what if), ‘Kung Cariaga, Haley Dizon and Rio Locsin.

South Korea’s 2022 top-grossing film unspools in local cinemas I

T’S safe to say that Filipino cinemagoers will soon be able to watch more Korean titles on the big screen. But before it happens, let us feast our eyes on The Roundup, which commercially screens exclusively in SM Cinemas starting today.

“The Roundup’s performance in the local box office will determine which titles we would bring next to the country,” television host and entrepreneur Grace Lee told the press shortly after the successful screening of the movie at Cinema 1 of SM Megamall on Monday evening.

Lee is the CEO of the content production and distribution company, Glimmer Inc., which made the Philippine screening of

The Roundup possible. The comedy-action film, which stars Don Lee (a.k.a. Ma Dong-seok), is this year’s top-grossing bigscreen title in South Korea.

Since its local premiere in May, the homegrown action-comedy (and sequel to the 2017 blockbuster The Outlaws) has become the country’s biggest draw since the pandemic began, attracting over 2 million moviegoers on its first weekend. For three

Glimmer, Inc. team headed by TV host and CEO Grace Lee (fifth from right) at the premiere night of ‘The Roundup’ held Monday evening at SM Cinema

‘The Roundup’ combines elements of action and comedy in its scenes

consecutive weekends, it continued to set records, becoming the first Korean film since 2019 to reach more than 10 million admissions.

Screen actor Don Lee of the 2021’s Marvel Hero Eternals and 2016’s Train to Busan won over the audience while portraying no-holds-barred cop Ma Seokdo, who stops at nothing to catch criminals.

He ups the ante in The Roundup and shows what his character is really made of.

“You can fully expect upgraded action and Ma’s comedic chops in this sequel,” said director Lee Sang-yong.

His co-stars Choi Guy-hwa (Capt. Jeon), Heo Dong-won (Oh Dong-gyun), and Ha Joon (Kang Hong-seok) all return as Major Crimes Unit members, as well as Jung Jae-kwang who plays rookie Kim Sang-hoon.

Not only that, one of The Outlaws’s most memorable characters, Jang Isu of the Isu Clan, played by Park Jihwan returns to add comic relief to the film.

The most welcoming aspect of The Roundup is the fact that filmmakers

A scene from the blockbuster Korean comedy action movie

and casts of the first film came back onboard. New actors joined the crew and an introduction to the new villain played by Son Sukku.

The most impressive addition to the cast who plays an unbelievably vicious villain Kang Hae-sang, from the current popular series, My Liberation Notes, has been making a name for himself with various projects in recent years.

He takes on the challenge of becoming a memorable villain who could make a lasting impression on the audience for years to come.

A f t e r deciding that the pandemic will not subside anytime soon, even though it became difficult to shoot

there, the director and core staff moved to Vietnam and began the production. Despite the takeover of COVID-19 in Vietnam, filmmakers of The Roundup together with the local crew went out of their way to create this film and even the virus couldn’t stop their passion as they used ingenuity and creative solutions to wrap the film.

“I wanted to show the type of action the audiences were waiting for that feels so satisfying,” said director Lee, who wanted to fill the film with never before seen action sequences.

“Encouraging good and punishing evil isn’t something that can be felt easily in our modern society, but I wanted to express that with this film,” the director carried on.

Expanding the world of The Outlaws was discussed since the early stage of the development of this film, and he earned actor Don Lee’s trust with a tight narrative.

“Perhaps because we’ve worked together before, Lee took care of everyone on the set. He was a trustworthy ally and someone I could rely on,” ended the director.

Don Lee, aka Ma Dong-seok, reprises his role as the aforementioned heavyweight lawenforcer, who travels to Vietnam to extradite a petty criminal

MCC, NBDB announce National Book Awards finalists Rising hallyu star Hwang In Youp in Manila

Korean actor Hwang In Youp (center) during the BYS Fun Meet in Manila

By Glaiza Lee KOREAN actor Hwang In Youp is no stranger to the Philippines having lived in Davao City during his teens. In fact, the 31-year-old actor finished his secondary education at Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School, and received his degree in fashion design at the Philippine Women’s College of Davao.

“It has been 10 years since I saw my friends, but we still keep in touch. I love to go back to Davao. Although I love Manila too, Davao has a special place in my heart because I lived there for four years. The schedule for this trip is quite tight, so I will not be able to go to Davao.

But I will probably make a side trip.”

During BYS Fun Meet in Manila recently held at the New Frontier Theater, Hwang shared that it was in Davao when he started dreaming of becoming an actor.

While watching Korean dramas such as Boys Over Flower, Coffee Prince, and The Heirs, the young actor thought about the possibility. But being an introvert, Hwang wasn’t sure if he was made for the limelight. He took the modeling route before debuting in the web series Why in 2018.

His fans could not be any happier that he pursued his acting dream. Truth is, he never thought he would be back in the

Philippines as an actor.

“I am very happy to be back in the country that I love. Last night (June 18), I arrived at 10:30 p.m., and I was so surprised to see my fans waiting for me.

I am very excited to be back and see my fans,” he shared.

“But I’m also waiting for the day when my Filipino fans and friends could come to Korea and spend time over there. I would love to take all of you. Do you want to go to Seoul? Where would I take you? To my house,” he added.

Hwang might be just starting his acting career, but he has already made a great impact and has won the hearts of fans worldwide with iconic characters he amazingly brought to life.

He had a couple of bit roles including in web series Freshman and historical drama The Tale of Nokdu, portraying a tough warrior escorting and protecting a prince with his life. He played a school bully in JTBC fantasy drama 18 Again, a remake of the American film 17 Again.

Hwang rose to global stardom through his breakout role in True Beauty, the hit drama based on webtoon of the same title where he played the second lead, acting opposite Korean actor Cha Eun Woo and actress Moon Ga Young. Read full story on manilastandard.net

THE Manila Critics Circle (MCC) and National Book Development Board (NBDB) have announced the finalists of the 39th National Book Awards, an annual prize honoring the best book titles written, designed, and published in the Philippines.

The recognition seeks to stimulate literary production and the book trade by highlighting the continued significance of books and reading in the daily lives of Filipinos.

This year’s NBA includes titles published in 2019 and 2020. The last awards were handed out in 2019, prior to the pandemic, recognizing the books published in 2018.

For this year’s NBA, in the category Novel in English, the four finalists are Daryll Delgado for Remains, Caroline S. Hau for Tiempo Muerte, Criselda Yabes for Broken Islands, and Jessica Zafra for The Age of Umbrage.

For Novel in Filipino, only two made the cut: Rhod V. Nuncio for Omnibus at ang Misteryo ng Nawalalang Ulo, and RM Topacio-Aplaon for Topograpiya ng Lumbay: Imus Novel 6.

Among the seven finalists for Short Stories in English are Jose Dalisay Jr. (Voyager and Other Fictions: The Collected Stories of Jose Dalisay), Angelo R. Lacuesta (City Stories), and Ninotchka Rosca (Stories of a

Kahig, Isang Tula: Mga Tanaga) and Louise O. Lopez (Lungsod-Lungsuran).

The other NBA categories are Nonfiction Prose, Essay, Anthology, Drama, Literary Criticism/Literary History, Translation, Graphic Literature, Art, Professions, Social Sciences, History, Journalism, Humor, Sports, and Lifestyle, Food, Science, and Design.

Read the full list of finalists on the NBDB website: https://booksphilippines.gov.ph/39thThe 39th National Book Awards highlights the national-book-awards-finalists/ Founded in 1981, the Manila Critics continued significance of books andreading in Circle is a non-stock, non-profit organization the daily lives of Filipinos of professional literary critics, newspaper Bitter Country). For Short Stories (Maikling columnists, journalists, and academics who Kuwento) in Filipino, among the five finalists believe that Philippine books deserve much are Nap Arcilla III (Maqueda: Mga Usipon more attention than they usually get from Mula Lawod Hanggang Baybayon) and business, media, and the general public.

John Iremil Teodoro (Sad-Sadan, HappyIn 2008, the MCC entered into an Hapihan: Mga Kuwento ng Pag-Ibig). agreement with the NBDB to institutionalize For Poetry in English, there were seven the National Book Awards to better honor finalists, including newly-named National Philippine publishers and authors.

Artist for Literature Gemino H. Abad (When The current members of the MCC are Bridges are Down, Mountains Too Far: New National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Poems) and media personality Lourd de Almario, Dean Francis Alfar, Alma Veyra (Marka Demonyo or Poems on Love, Anonas-Carpio, Dr. Isagani R. Cruz, Ruel Faith, and Duct Tape).

S. De Vera, Dr. Shirley O. Lua, Dr. Michael For Poetry (Tula) in Filipino, seven made M. Coroza, Dr. Jenny Ortuoste, and Dr. the cut, among them Albert Alejo, S.J. (Isang Danton Remoto.

‘I-Witness’ wins Silver Green Award in Environmental Film Festival in France DURING the COVID surge of 2021, Howie Severino’s I-Witness team didn’t have to travel far to produce a relevant documentary. Just on the shores of Manila Bay was an overlooked danger created by COVID, the litter of countless used and discarded masks that were considered hazardous waste. Hidden in the sea were even more used masks threatening corals and marine life.

A toxic side effect caused by a global crisis, mask pollution was an issue that apparently resonated with an international jury that recognized the documentary, “Mask Land,” as deserving of honor at the Deauville Green Awards in France, one of the longest-running environmental film festivals in the world.

“Mask Land” won a Silver Green Award in the Health and Living Environment category.

“Like everyone else in 2021, our movements were very limited. Good thing my team found an urgent topic nearby that many around the

world could relate to,” said program host and writer Severino, who went to Deauville, France to receive the documentary’s silver trophy on behalf of GMA Network and I-Witness.

“The pandemic has challenged all of us to produce quality work under very stringent conditions. My talented and courageous team stepped up,” added Severino, who in 2020 produced another prize-winning documentary about COVID, which focused on his experience as one of the first survivors of the disease in the Philippines.

The Deauville Green Awards is an international film festival that honors the best in environmental reporting. Among the 100 finalists from 500 entries around the globe, “Mask Land” sheds light on the problem of ocean pollution due to single-use items such as plastics and medical masks.

‘I-Witness’ host Howie Severino went to Deauville, France to receive the documentary’s silver trophy on behalf of GMA Network and ‘I-Witness’

Life

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

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

Ronald Rudolf C. Molina, Ginebra San Miguel’s AVP and Marketing Manager, kicks off the nationwide Gin Bar Crawl

A cocktail made from local ingredients like calamansi, green mango, and Ginebra San Miguel

Ginebra San Miguel executives celebrating World Gin Day

‘Gin Bar Crawl’ challenge marks World Gin Day celebration in PH AFTER more than two years of pandemic disruptions, Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI), the maker of the world’s no. 1 selling gin, returns to celebrate World Gin Day (WGD) in true Ginebra fashion. The celebration consists of month-long activities, highlighted by a media launch on June 10 to kick off the nationwide Gin Bar Crawl challenge that started on June 11.

Held every second Saturday of June, WGD was first celebrated on June 13, 2009, in Birmingham, England. GSMI led the first WGD celebration in the Asia Pacific region in 2014, coinciding with the

180th anniversary of its flagship brand, Ginebra San Miguel. Since then, the WGD celebration in the Philippines has become a much-awaited, month-long event for gin enthusiasts.

On June 10, four of the country’s top professional mixologists took centerstage to craft one-of-a-kind cocktails based on GSMI’s gin products.

During the Gin Bar Crawl, gin lovers were invited to try five specially-concocted signature drinks made with GSMI gin products (Ginebra San Miguel, GSM Blue, GSM Premium Gin, and 1834

Premium Distilled Gin) or buy a GSMI featured product at any of the 30 partner establishments nationwide on June 24 and 25 from 6:00 p.m. to 12 midnight.

Participants will be given a Gin Passport with five sticker slots. All they need to do is buy the five different signature WGD cocktails from the partner bars and have their Gin Passports stamped with five corresponding stickers. One drink is equivalent to one sticker. Those who complete five stickers will receive a WGD Finisher Pack, consisting of three

GSMI products, and a finisher T-shirt.

Apart from the Gin Bar Crawl challenge, other WGD activities include online videos on the gin attributes and gin-drinking experience as well as pocket events in Baguio, Naga, Cebu, and Davao to drum up the celebration.

New innovations GSMI continues to innovate and cater to the varied tastes of its different markets.

Among its latest creations is the 1834 Premium Distilled Gin. Infused with classic juniper berries, and unique Philippine botanicals such as Sampaguita and Calamansi, 1834 appeals to sophisticated tastes.

Another exciting new product from the GSM Blue Flavors is the GSM Blue Cosmopolitan.

This new flavor is a mix of sweet and tangy notes from Cranberries and Lime. Patrons of the GSM Premium Gin will also have a more exquisite experience with its new look and enhanced flavor of natural ingredients such as juniper berries, botanical essences, and citrus flavors.

GSMI also previously released the Ginebra San Miguel Hari, a one-liter version of the flagship brand, Ginebra San Miguel that is designed for group drinking. San Miguel Hari also bears the Ginebra San Miguel label with the iconic St. Michael logo made

by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.

Food and food habits as essential parts of culture W

HENEVER I would meet some foreigners in a gathering, they would always grumble about how many times we, Filipinos, would eat in a day.

They would run down how we would have heavy breakfast (usually a silog meal if we have time and not in a hurry to catch the bus ride and avoid the traffic going to the office), then we move on to morning snacks (coffee and sandwiches or whatever we fancy).

Even before lunch has ended, we are already thinking of what to have for the afternoon break. Then, there’s dinner. And if it is already the weekend, an “inuman sesh” would follow, complete with pulutan and all the shebangs.

“Why do Filipinos love to eat?” they would ask.

Food is every Filipino’s language of love.

Notice how we would say “Kumain ka na?” to greet someone, instead of the typical “Kamusta ka?” Or how we would utter “Kain tayo” to just anyone present at the place where we are having our meal.

In the past weeks, there was a trending topic on cyberspace about the unusual Swedish/ Nordic dining custom where families don’t

A satisfying serving of Beef Rendang from Mindanao

invite their children’s visiting friends to eat with them during mealtimes.

While this may seem usual in Sweden and neighboring countries as a sign of respect for the independence of family and privacy, this custom is unheard of in the Philippines.

Sharing is deeply ingrained in our culture, more so if it is about food. This could be rooted in the culture of communality, our sense of belonging to a group or a community.

We put value in togetherness rather than individually. Although I could not say it is still the norm, what’s with the culture of “othering” that is prevalent in our society today.

This can be seen in the way we built our traditional houses like bahay kubo. A typical bahay kubo doesn’t have partitions. In the olden days, family members eat, sleep, work, and do basically everything together in that communal space. Rooms or dividers were not common.

Bangko is a shared space for sitting. Chairs (a foreign concept) are for individuals, while bangko is communal.

The culture of communality manifests in the way we eat. We don’t have meal courses (appetizers, main dishes, desserts), which are usually served and plated individually. That’s a foreign concept we learned and adapted

The hearty and sumptuous lechon is a favorite among Filipinos

through the years.

Instead, we serve everything all at once on the table. We practice communal dining, where everyone – even strangers – sits at the table and shares the food. Conversations are always plentiful as the food, with our lolas insisting we need to eat more because we’re always “too skinny” for their liking. Dining is not just stuffing our hungry stomachs with food. It is a social thing.

Communal eating strengthens the bond we have with whoever we are dining with, or helps us reconnect with the people. Food has a way to bridge relationships.

Filipino cuisine is an amalgamation of various cultural influences from Spanish, Mexican, Malay, Chinese, American, and what have you.

“The Philippines is a melting pot. We have so many influences, from Chinese, Spanish, Malay, among others. Our food is quite different from other Southeast Asian countries. They use aromatics such as lemongrass and ginger. While we also have that, especially in the Mindanao regions, our dishes are more varied,” shared Conrad Manila executive sous chef Patricia Mesina.

“Being an archipelago with so many islands, we have different interpretations of a dish, like adobo or sinigang. But I believe it is innate in us, Filipinos, that we enjoy food. So we also make sure to serve well-prepared and delicious food,” she carried on.

At the center of our cuisine, a huge part of it is still rooted in the culture of communality.

Look at how most of our dishes are cooked.

Take, for instance, sinigang. Meat, vegetables, and other ingredients are all thrown in a pot and cooked together, not separately. Our stews – kaldereta, menudo, afritada, and what have you – are cooked the same way.

Compared to, let’s say, Korean bibimbap where the array of ingredients has to be prepared individually. Or a French main dish where each component is prepared separately and then assembled together.

“Linamnam, the richness of the flavors, is what sets Filipino dishes apart. Also, we cook from the heart. It can be seen in how we prepare our food, and how we want our guests to partake in the meal. That’s how we

A warm jug of Tsokolate de Batirol made from tablea

are as Filipinos. We convey our love through food,” said chef Mesina.

I’m no chef. I’m not even a sociologist. I might be wrong in my observations. But one thing is for sure, I’m a Filipino and food is my love language. Just ask my friends who always receive padigo from me.

••• Because good food is always meant to be shared, I let you in on a not-so-secret tip: If you want to try and discover the rich Filipino cuisine, particularly from the Northern and Southern regions of the country, Conrad Manila’s Brasserie on 3 presents “Flavors of the Philippines” until June 30.

In celebration of the Philippine Independence Day, executive chef Warren Brown and executive sous chef Mesina curated regional favorites on their spread, featuring pyanggang manok or blackened coconut grilled chicken, balbacua

Lumpiang Ubod is well-loved for featuring fresh ingredients

or a stew made from collagen-rich beef parts, beef kansi or a soup originating from Western Visayas and made sour using batwan, among others. All dishes are prepared using sustainably-sourced, organic, and local ingredients.

“We are delighted to celebrate the diverse gourmet traditions and heritage of the Philippines, as we take our patrons on a journey of flavors with signature dishes from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” said Conrad Manila general manager Linda Pecoraro.

True, not everyone digs our food.

Some find it too salty, has strong flavors, or is too sour. To each his own.

“For me, there’s nothing wrong with our cuisine. We just have to introduce it. Be proud of it. Maybe we can showcase it in a contemporary way. But we should remain true to its authenticity of flavors and preparations,” said Mesina.

SNAPSHOTS

Art Lounge Manila returns to its southern roots SINCE opening an eye-catching Given the gallery’s penchant space at The Podium mall, Art for combining various art Lounge Manila has specialized not forms, it is fitting that Art only in creating novel experiences Lounge Manila would mark for its clients, but in introducing the opening of its flagship fine art and Filipino culture to a location in Molito Lifestyle wider audience.

Center with a fashion show.

By opening its new flagship Titled Voyageur, it showcases location at the Molito Lifestyle designs by Robbie Santos of Center in Alabang, Art Lounge Septième Rebelle using the Manila is returning to its roots. textile designs of Presidential The gallery is part of the Galerie Merit Awardee Juvenal Sansó.

Francesca Group, which opened The fashion images to preview its first branch in Festival Mall the collection were photographed Alabang 17 years ago.

by Erwin Canlas with hair and “Although our clients come makeup by the team of Nicole from far and wide, we consider Ceballos. The fashion show the south to be our home and The ‘Voyageur’ exhibit showcases designs by Robbie Santos and and exhibit music were mixed where the roots of our galleries textile designs of Juvenal Sansó

by DJ Mike Lavarez. Fashion really are,” explains Susanne show images were photographed Tiausas, managing director of

by Norman Lleses with hair to give the experience of learning from a Art Lounge Manila. “We were proud to visit to the museum and the entertainment and makeup by the team of Karen Tan. be part of a group of galleries who were from watching a live performance and Howwwl Digital of Niccolo Cosme the first ones to open up a space in the just interacting with art and culture but executed the fashion show and event south. in a more accessible and less intimidating video coverage.

“We want to entertain, educate, and space. This is also the reason why we opt Voyageur is on display at Art Lounge enrich those who enter our spaces,” to be located in more commercial areas Manila at Molito Lifestyle Center in continues Tiausas. “Basically we want such as malls.”

Alabang until June 28.

West Philippine Sea soldiers receive care packages, letters, and artworks of gratitude IN COMMEMORATION of Philippine Independence Day, the University of the Philippines Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (UP ROTC), Corps of Sponsors, and the Cadet Alumni Organization (UPCAO), spearheaded by Maria Christina Cecelia “Tina” C. Hernandez, once again conducted the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) Care Package Project.

Hernandez invited organizational partner Desi Marie Sapnit, an educator and internship coordinator at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance (SDG), to participate in the program.

In turn, Sapnit extended the request to her current Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Studies class. They voluntarily created letters, graphic artworks, and art cards of gratitude to be sent to the deployed KIG Troops in the West Philippine Sea. The heartwarming contributions, printed in color, were included in the 29 boxes of care packages prepared by the UP Diliman ROTC cadet officers and volunteer cadets. These were turned over to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations Brigadier General Gabriel Viray III in an intimate ceremony held at the UP Department of Military and Tactics in Diliman, Quezon City.