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ASEAN fears ‘open conflicts’ Calls for restraint as China starts biggest military drills, fires missiles around Taiwan

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OUTHEAST Asian foreign ministers urged restraint as China fired ballistic missiles and deployed fighter jets and warships on Thursday during its largest-ever military exercises around Taiwan, warning the situation risked spiraling into "open conflicts."

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 170 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Airlines skirt no-fly zone, ships advised of danger

As of Thursday evening, Japanese "Five of the nine ballistic Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said missiles launched by China are beballistic missiles fired by China are lieved to have landed within Japan's believed to have landed in Japan's EEZ," Kishi told reporters. exclusive economic zone for the first China's show of force was sparked Next page time.

By Darwin G. Amojelar and Joel E. Zurbano

avoid Taiwan airspace following reports that 27 Chinese warplanes had entered the island’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

LOCAL airline carriers on Thursday On Thursday, Taiwan authorities said they are ready to reroute some also issued a NOTAM (Notice To of their international flights to Next page

HEIGHTENED TENSIONS. A Chinese military helicopter flies past Pingtan island, one of mainland China's closest points from Taiwan, in Fujian province on August 4, 2022. Inset photo shows the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN member-states, including the Philippines' Foreign Affairs Acting zUndersecretary Theresa Lazaro, during the 23rd Asean Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh where they warned tensions could lead to 'open conflicts.' AFP

DFA commits to One China gov't policy

DBM assures funds for free ride until Dec.

By Rey E. Requejo THE Philippines remains committed to adhering to the One-China policy amid looming tensions in the Taiwan Strait following the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

"The Philippines adheres to the One-China policy. The Philippines urges restraint by all parties concerned.

Diplomacy and dialogue must prevail," the DFA said.

However, the Philippines must be prepared for China's possible "forcible retake of Taiwan," a security analyst said Thursday.

The Asian giant's takeover of Taiwan is among the "worst" case scenarios, according to Chester Cabalza of the think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, in an interview with ANC Headstart.

"We have to be prepared for this.

Of course, our policy is not to interfere but to observe because we also have national security interest in Taiwan because we have overseas Filipino workers there,” Cabalza said.

“In case there will be a retake of Taiwan by China using force, automatically Manila will become the buffer zone of China," he added.

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NEW BUS STATION. Passengers of the EDSA Carousel board their bus inside the newly-opened Roxas Boulevard and Taft Busway station along EDSA Taft in Pasay City on Thursday, August 4, 2022. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista Jr. and LTFRB chairperson Cheloy Garafil lead the opening. Danny Pata

DTI to issue new price guide for school items

By Othel V. Campos

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is poised to release an updated list of back-to-school items before school year 2002-2023 starts this month of August.

Trade Undersecretary for consumer protection Ruth Castelo said the Balik

BBM, officials pay last respects to FVR

By Vince Lopez PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday visited the wake of the late President Fidel V. Ramos at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.

“His service to the public as a soldier and public servant will never be paralleled and will never be forgotten forever,” Marcos said Former President Rodrigo Duterte, former Vice President Leni Robredo, and current and former Cabinet officials likewise paid their respects to Ramos, the country’s 12th Chief Executive who passed away Sunday at the age of 94.

Other officials present at the wake yesterday were Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has earmarked the budget for the government’s free bus ride program up to December this year, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Thursday.

“We already have funds. The DBM has already set aside the budget,” Bautista said in a television interview.

He made the statement when asked if there is enough funding to cover the operating cost of the EDSA Bus Carousel until December.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) has called on the private sector to take part in providing basic services to the public, particularly the expansion of the OVP Libreng Sakay Program across the country.

President Anton Lagdameo and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III also condoled with the Ramos family with Energy Secretary Rafael Lotilla and Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, who were both undersecretaries in the FVR administration from 1992 to 1998.

Senators Ramon Revilla, co-chairman of Lakas CMD which Ramos founded, and Francis Tolentino were also present.

Marcos arrived at the wake past 10:20 a.m. just ahead of former Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales.

The President said he came to offer his condolences to the family of Ramos as he noted their kinship — Ramos is Next page Marcos' distant uncle.

Eskwela price guide is a seasonal price monitoring campaign to help consumers prepare for the onset of the school season, set aside a budget for school supplies and provide comparable prices for similar products by different manufacturers.

“Balik Eskwela

price guide is just a guide for consumers to know the cost and where to buy (them).

Prices of school products vary due to quality, make and volume. These are seasonal products,” she said Thursday.

The Balik Eskwela price guide campaign is back after two years in the pandemic when physical classes were Next page

PRICE GUIDE OUT SOON. A vendor

arranges school supplies at the Commonwealth Market in Quezon City. The Trade department said it will release its 'Balik Eskwela' price guide soon. Manny Palmero

Next page

DOLE allots P50m to aid Abra workers THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Thursday it has allotted P50 million for financial assistance to workers displaced by the magnitude 7 earthquake that recently hit Abra.

In a briefing Thursday, the regional director for DOLE-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Nathaniel Lacambra, said the funds will be used under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

Lacambra said so far, P25 million has been released to DOLE- CAR. The amount will be concentrated first on Abra, which is the area most affected by the earthquake, he said.

About P8 million of these funds have already been disbursed, he added.

So far, there are around 425 TUPAD beneficiaries, the DOLE official said.

Under the TUPAD program, beneficiaries will be temporarily employed from 10 to 90 days with a daily salary of P380, Lacambra said.

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News

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ASEAN...

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by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing views as its territory.

In retaliation, China launched a series of exercises in multiple zones around Taiwan, straddling some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and at some points just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the island's shore.

The drills involved a "conventional missile firepower assault" in waters to the east of Taiwan, the Chinese military said.

But a source with the Chinese military said the exercises would be staged "in preparation for actual combat.”

"If the Taiwanese forces come into contact with the PLA on purpose and accidentally fire a gun, the PLA will take stern countermeasures, and all the consequences will be borne by the Taiwanese side," the source warned.

Taiwan's military, for its part, said its forces were closely monitoring unprecedented Chinese drills taking place in waters surrounding the island and was prepared for war, but would not seek it.

"The Ministry of National Defense stresses that it will uphold the principle of preparing for war without seeking war, and with an attitude of not escalating conflict and causing disputes," Taipei's defense ministry said in a statement.

Taiwan said the Chinese military fired 11 Dongfeng-class ballistic missiles "in several batches" and condemned the exercises as "irrational actions that undermine regional peace."

Taipei did not say where the missiles

Airlines...

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Airmen) about the closure of specific airspace that would affect international flight operations in the area.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said its commercial flight operation in Taiwan was not affected at the moment.

"We are closely monitoring the situation in Taiwan. We have received the Notice to Airmen from Taiwan aviation authorities regarding a specific airspace closure from 12 noon of Aug. 4 to 12 noon of Aug. 7," Cielo Villaluna, PAL spokesperson said.

“Our flight to and from Taipei on Aug. 4--PR890/892--operated as scheduled utilizing a designated cleared flight routing," she said.

Villaluna also said PAL’s flights to and from Taipei scheduled today (Friday) will proceed as scheduled.

“We will carry out flight rerouting to avoid restricted airspace. This is made possible via PAL's coordination efforts with Taiwan aviation authorities,” she said.

“As for the Saturday flight, we will keep everyone posted. We are taking this a day at a time,” she added.

PAL operates three commercial flights in a week to Taipei regularly-- Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, Carmina Romero, spokesperson Cebu Pacific said the airline was “proactively routing” its Incheon flights away from Taiwan airspace.

"Manila/Cebu-Incheon-MNL/CEB

DBM...

From A1

In a joint press briefing on Thursday, OVP Spokesperson Reynold Munsayac said they are eyeing adding Commonwealth Avenue to their Libreng Sakay route apart from the two buses already assigned to the EDSA Carousel.

Munsayac stressed that the OVP is willing to shoulder the salaries of drivers for their buses.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairperson Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil earlier said they only have funds for the Libreng Sakay program up to September.

According to her, the LTFRB will ask for additional funds to extend the service until December.

Asked if the free bus ride program will be again extended beyond December 2022, Bautista said, “Right now, Libreng Sakay is up to December 31, 2022 only.”

Under the LIbreng Sakay program, the government hires buses to provide free rides to commuters.

“We are looking into several target routes because we are receiving reports that there are passengers along the Commonwealth area, en-route to Manila or Quiapo. So we are looking for private partners. Hopefully, there would be some kind-hearted groups so the government

BBM,...

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Marcos also recalled how “Steady Eddie” became a "symbol of stability" for the country.

“I just reminded Mrs. Ramos (saying) on how FVR, when he became president, was a symbol of stability after all the tumultuous events of 1986. When he came into the presidency, he brought calm and he brought stability to our country,” he

landed or whether they flew over the island.

The aim was to test the precision of the missiles and their ability to deny an enemy access to or control of an area, Eastern Theater Command spokesman Senior Colonel Shi Yi said in a statement.

AFP journalists on the border island of Pingtan saw several small projectiles flying into the sky followed by plumes of white smoke and loud booming sounds.

On the mainland, at what is said to be China's closest point to Taiwan, AFP saw a batch of five military helicopters flying at a relatively low altitude near a popular tourist spot.

Beijing said the drills will last until midday on Sunday.

The Group of Seven industrialised nations condemned the military drills.

"There is no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait" and China's "escalatory response risks increasing tensions and destabilising the region," the G7 foreign ministers said in a statement.

Ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Phnom Penh likewise warned against "provocative action."

The situation "could lead to miscalculation, serious confrontation, open conflicts and unpredictable consequences among major powers," the ministers said in a joint statement published Thursday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is attending the talks along with his US counterpart Antony Blinken, though they are not expected to hold a one-on-one meeting.

Beijing has defended the drills as "necessary and just," pinning the blame for the escalation on the United States and its allies.

"In the face of this blatant provocation, we have to take legitimate and necessary countermeasures to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular briefing Thursday.

At the meeting with ASEAN ministers, Blinken said the United States had contacted China "at every level of government" in recent days to call for calm and stability.

"I hope very much that Beijing will not manufacture a crisis or seek a pretext to increase its aggressive military activity," Blinken said.

"We and countries around the world believe that escalation serves no one and could have unintended consequences that serve no one's interests including ASEAN members and including China."

Beijing, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory to one day be reclaimed, by force if necessary, was enraged by the trip by Pelosi – the highest-profile elected US official to visit the island in 25 years.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, also in Phnom Penh, condemned the Chinese response.

"There is no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait. It is normal and routine for legislators from our countries to travel internationally," he tweeted.

Kung Phoak, Cambodia's deputy foreign minister and ASEAN spokesman, urged both sides to stabilize the situation.

"We hope de-escalation happens… and normalcy returns to the Taiwan Strait," he told reporters.

ASEAN is split between countries with close ties to China, such as Myan-

mar, Cambodia and Laos, and others that are warier of Beijing and its growing international assertiveness.

But no ASEAN country formally recognizes Taiwan and none has shown an appetite for backing Taipei against the communist giant.

The ministers' statement – which avoided referring to Taiwan by name – said ASEAN "stands ready to play a constructive role in facilitating peaceful dialogue," though it is not clear either side is interested in outside mediation.

While Wang and Blinken are not scheduled to meet bilaterally, they will both attend a meeting Friday of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), a 27-member body set up to discuss security issues that also includes Russia and the EU. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who will also join the ARF gathering, said the fragile status quo in the Taiwan Strait must be maintained.

"All parties should consider how they can contribute to de-escalating current tensions," Wong told AFP. "One of the risks the region is concerned about is the risk of miscalculation."

The military maneuvers are taking place along some of the busiest shipping routes on the planet, used to supply vital semiconductors and electronic equipment produced in East Asian factory hubs to global markets.

Taiwan's Maritime and Port Bureau has issued warnings to ships to avoid the areas being used for the Chinese drills.

And the Taiwanese Cabinet said the drills would disrupt 18 international routes passing through its flight information region (FIR). AFP

don’t always fly over Taiwan, depending on wind or weather but we will be flying through Japanese airspace until further notice," Romero said.

She added that all flights to and from Japan will also not fly over Taiwan.

"We currently only accommodate essential travel between Manila and Taipei, Taiwan. We are monitoring the situation but there are no changes in our network as of now," Romero said.

Steve Dailisan, spokesperson of AirAsia Philippine said the airline is observing the no fly zone advisory over Taiwan space while enroute to other destinations such as Seoul, South Korea until further notice.

Dailisan said AirAsia Philippines has yet to return to Taiwan.

Before the pandemic, AirAsia Philippines flew to Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan from Manila, Clark, Cebu and Kalibo hubs. It used to enjoy an average of 86 percent load factor.

The Agence France-Presse (AFP) also reported that ships passing through waters around Taiwan were advised of the danger in the Chinese military drills zone.

China started the military drills after United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo declined to comment on the situation.

Chinese military exercises around Taiwan are set to disrupt one of the world's busiest shipping zones, analysts told AFP, highlighting the island's critical position in already stretched global supply chains.

The drills—China's largest-ever

around Taiwan—are a major show of strength after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi infuriated Beijing by visiting the island.

The maneuvers kicked off Thursday and will take place along some of the busiest shipping routes on the planet, used to supply vital semiconductors and electronic equipment produced in East Asian factory hubs to global markets.

The routes are also a key artery for natural gas.

Nearly half the world's container ships passed through the narrow Taiwan Strait -- which separates the island from the Chinese mainland -- in the first seven months of this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

"Given that much of the world's container fleet passes through that waterway, there will inevitably be disruptions to global supply chains due to the rerouting," said James Char, an associate research fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Even a small disruption in global supply chains, already battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, could prove costly.

"China's planned live-fire exercises are occurring in an incredibly busy waterway," Nick Marro, the Economist Intelligence Unit's lead analyst for global trade, wrote in a note.

"The shutting down of these transport routes—even temporarily—has consequences not only for Taiwan, but also trade flows tied to Japan and South Korea."

The uncertainty dragged the Taiwan

Taiex Shipping and Transportation Index, which tracks major shipping and airline stocks, down 1.05 percent on Thursday.

The index was down 4.6 percent since the beginning of the week.

Taiwan's Maritime and Port Bureau has warned ships in northern, eastern and southern areas to avoid the areas being used for the drills.

But several shipping companies contacted by AFP said they were waiting to see the impact of the drills before rerouting.

The ongoing typhoon season made it riskier to divert ships around the eastern coast of Taiwan through the Philippine Sea, some added.

Others said they would stick to their schedules.

"We don't see any impact during (this) period and we don't have any plan on rerouting our vessels," said Bonnie Huang, a spokesman for Maersk China.

The drills have also hit air routes.

Over the last two days, more than 400 flights were cancelled at major airports in Fujian, the Chinese province closest to Taiwan, signalling that the airspace could be used by the military.

Taiwan's cabinet meanwhile, has said the exercises would disrupt 18 international routes passing through its flight information region (FIR).

During the previous Taiwan Strait Crisis in the 1990s, China conducted military exercises for months, including lobbing missiles into waters off Taiwan and rehearsing amphibious assaults on the island. With AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

would not have to spend more. We will add them to our current fit, so we can help more commuters," Munsayac said.

“Our goal is really to find private partners who will lend their buses. We will shoulder gasoline [expenses], even the salaries of drivers, if needed, repairs, and maintenance,” the spokesman of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio added.

Initially, the OVP deployed five buses for the OVP Libreng Sakay, including two buses in Metro Manila, and one each in Bacolod, Cebu City, and Davao City.

Besides the free rides, Munsayac said they have already processed millions of pesos worth of aid for medical and burial assistance at the central and satellite offices of the OVP. “As of yesterday, OVP has already processed claims for medical and burial assistance amounting to P36,476,494.32 and already released the amount of P11,482,023.40 for OVP NCR (National Capital Region) and the satellite offices,” he said.

The OVP also opened their seventh satellite office in Bacolod City.

Munsayac added that they have distributed relief in quake-affected areas.

“Among those given away are dining/ food starter packs, bottled drinking water, and medicine,” he said.

Earlier, Munsayac said the OVP would also launch a livelihood program for women and members of the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Plus) community.

DTI... suspended and the learning platform pivoted to online classes.

The DTI reminded consumers that the Balik Eskwela price guide is separate from the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) bulletin specific to prices of basic needs and prime commodities (BNPCs).

Another seasonal price guide is the Noche Buena price guide that is traditionally released as the Christmas season approaches.

Castelo said the Balik Eskwela price guide has been reviewed in detail as Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual ordered.

“We will publish the new school supply price guide as soon as the Secretary approves the new price bulletin,” she added.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has so far logged the highest number of enrolled learners in Calabarzon (Region 4-A).

According to DepEd's latest data, 2,116,809 learners were registered in the region's provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon for the upcoming school year 2022-2023.

This accounted for over 10 percent of the national figure for enrollment of 14,284,778.

The National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the second highest count with

more than 1.7 million enrollees, followed

by Central Luzon with over 1.4 million.

Learners at the elementary level recorded the highest turnout with over 6.6 million, followed by enrollees from Junior High School with more than 4.6 million, then over 2.1 million learners in Senior High School, and 946,611 learners in Kindergarten.

Earlier, Education spokesperson Michael Poa noted that this year's enrollment turnout was significantly higher than the previous school year, considering their approach to a gradual transitioning to in-person classes.

The DepEd assured the public that the majority of schools were prepared for face-to-face classes.

Meanwhile, the United Nations in the Philippines said Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has been named national convener for an education conference that will be held by the UN nex month.

In a statement, the UN in the Philippines said "Duterte will lead the national consultations and ensure that consultations are inter-sectoral and multi-sectoral, inclusive and results-oriented" for the Transforming Education Summit (TES), to be held on Sept. 19 during the 77th UN General Assembly in New York.

The TES seeks to "elevate education to the top of the global political agenda and to maximize public awareness and engagement," it said.

said in a short interview with the media.

“And for that, we will always be grateful to him and for all his service all throughout his life as a soldier and as a public servant,” he added.

Ramos will be accorded a state funeral with full military honors on August 9, according to Malacañang.

Marcos released Proclamation No. 33 last August 1 declaring a National Day of Mourning in honor of the late President.

He also called on Filipinos to pray for the former leader's eternal repose.

Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc lawmakers expressed condolences to the family of the late president, saying Ramos pursued peace and justice.

"The Makabayan bloc in Congress extends its condolences to the family and friends of former President Fidel Valdez Ramos. He was a leader who understood that for our country to prosper we need peace based on justice and that it can only be attained by addressing the root causes of armed conflict," they said in a statement.

"President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would do well to follow his example on the question of peace," they added.

During the Ramos administration in 1995, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) was inked between the Philippine government and communist rebels, a pact which provided safety and immunity to negotiators, consultants, staffers, security, and other personnel who participated in the peace process.

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DOLE...

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Aside from TUPAD, the DOLE-CAR also allotted P5 million for livelihood opportunities for the earthquake victims, he added.

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has earmarked 800,000 euros (about P45 million) to assist the victims affected by the recent earthquake that hit Abra and nearby areas in Northern Luzon.

The EU Delegation in Manila on Thursday said the emergency fund would provide safe drinking water and sanitation, hygiene, mental health and psychosocial support services, as well as education to the most vulnerable community in hard-hit areas.

“With this assistance, the European Union reaffirms its commitment and solidarity towards the victims of humanitarian disasters in the Philippines,” EU Delegation Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz said.

Apart from this, the EU's Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) had also activated satellite imagery and the Copernicus Maps to assist relief agencies in their delivery of emergency assistance in Northern Luzon.

Copernicus is an EU program that monitors and forecasts the state of the environment on land, sea and in the atmosphere to support climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. It also helps communities manage emergency situations efficiently.

The Philippines has also received Japan's humanitarian assistance for the victims of the recent magnitude 7 earthquake that hit Abra and nearby provinces, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

The agency said the donation, turned over by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Aug. 2, included camping tents, sleeping pads, generators, plastic sheets, and water containers.

"May this provision boost the relief efforts of Philippine authorities and ease the burden of communities devastated by the earthquake. Japan is in solidarity with you at this difficult time. Kasama nyo kami, Pilipinas (We are with you, Philippines)," said Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa in a separate statement.

Also present during the turnover ceremony were JICA Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto, DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Jesus Domingo, and DSWD Assistant Secretary for Special Projects Rommel Lopez.

Also on Thursday, state pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said it will open its emergency loan program Friday to nearly 7,000 members and pensioners in Abra, the epicenter of the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit the country last July 27.

“We are encouraging our members and pensioners who have been affected by the earthquake to avail of the GSIS emergency loan," GSIS president and general manager Wick Veloso said in response to the appeal of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure that those who need help receive assistance from the government.

DFA...

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Malacanang, through Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, reiterated that the Philippines' position on the One-China principle has not changed.

"Our answer is that we have not changed that," she said.

The statement came after Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian appealed to the Philippines to strictly abide by the One-China policy.

"The One-China principle is an international consensus and universally recognized basic norm governing international relations. It is also the political foundation of ChinaPhilippines relations," Huang said in an earlier statement.

"It is our hope that the Philippine side will strictly abide by the OneChina principle and handle all Taiwanrelated issues with prudence to ensure sound and steady development of China-Philippines relations," the Chinese envoy said.

In deference to the One-China policy, the Philippines does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a democratic self-ruled island that has been separated from the Chinese mainland since 1949 but is still claimed

by China as part of its territory.

The Philippines, however, maintains a de facto embassy in Taiwan, called the Manila Economic and Cultural Office or MECO. Taiwan hosts 115,000 Filipinos, mostly working in factories.

"In case China intends to invade the Philippines, it will be like the Ukraine case because we are very close to China already,” Cabalza said.

The Philippines should strengthen its military and not "depend on these two superpowers because they have their own vested interest," the analyst added. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

News

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

A3

Advocates want more teeth to e-cigarettes law

By Willie Casas

MEAT SHOPPING. A housewife shops for meat at the Bagong Silang Powerline Market in Caloocan City amid reports that the price of pork and chicken decreased in some markets in Metro Manila due to adequate supply. Ben Briones

DOJ eyes zero case backlog by 2023

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Department of Justice (DOJ) has vowed to resolve by yearend around 26,000 petitions for review arising from the resolutions of city and provincial prosecutors nationwide.

“Our target is to finish everything at the end of this year. We are doing something about it,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a press conference.

Remulla disclosed that there is an ongoing audit to determine which of these cases have been decided in courts, already dismissed, undergoing trial, or are still being pursued by the persons

who filed the petitions for review.

“We will ask all the prosecutors on duty here to help us finish these cases so we can start with a clean slate,” he said.

“That is the target, to start with a clean slate and be up to date again,” he added.

According to him, once the pending cases are resolved, “step two would probably be a very radical one.”

“We would archive everything and tell those who are still interested in pursuing their petition for reviews to file one more pleading,” he said.

“We will publish this in the newspaper telling them our intention and what they can file so we can still look for your cases to be reviewed,” he added.

Remulla noted that since he assumed the DOJ portfolio last July 1, there has been no backlogs on cases involving petitions for review.

“We have acted on every case submitted to us on petition for review since we arrived,” he said.

During the press conference, Jus-

tice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez explained that reforms have been undertaken to simplify the appeals process.

Vasquez cited Department Circular No. 27, series of 2022, which states that “the cases that would be elevated to the Office of the Secretary would be limited to cases that are cognizable by the regional trial courts.”

“While, we have empowered the regional state prosecutors and the prosecutor general as regional state prosecutor for Metro Manila to render decisions with finality on appeals relating to cases cognizable by the metropolitan trial court,” he said.

SC rules: Ex-DFA worker fired for bigamous offense THE Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal from service of a former employee of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) after she was found guilty of committing a crime involving moral turpitude.

In a decision dated June 15, 2022, the SC sustained the 2018 resolution of the Court of Appeals and denied the petition for review filed by Rosa GonzalboMacatangay, who served as secretary in the DFA’s Passport Division.

“The petition is not meritorious.

The Court affirms the CA ruling; the imposition of the penalty of dismissal from service is proper,” the SC ruled.

The tribunal noted that Macatangay did not contest that she is guilty of the administrative offense of conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude and that bigamy involves moral turpitude.

Citing the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, the high court said conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude is punishable with dismissal from service.

In 2014, the Civil Service Commission-National Capital Region found Macatangay guilty of the administrative offense and meted the penalty of dismissal from service, along with imposable accessory penalties.

This came after a complaint was filed before the CSC alleging that Modesto Macatangay Jr. married the petitioner in February 1997 while married to another.

The Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling of the CSC in August 2017.

Rey E. Requejo

FIREMEN ON THE MOVE. Firefighters respond to a fire that broke out at the first floor of a commercial building on Gen. Malvar corner San Marcelino Street in Manila early Thursday morning. Norman Cruz

SOME health advocacy groups on Thursday urged the lawmakers to strengthen further the law on e-cigarettes, also called Vape Law, citing some negative provisions of the measure which has lapsed into law.

Representatives of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, the Philippine Pediatric Society, the Parents Against Vape, and the Health Justice Philippines expressed disapproval of the new law.

During the regular Pandesal Forum sponsored by the Kamuning Bakery Cafe, Health Justice Philippines legal consultant Ben Nisperos said their groups believe that vapes or e-cigarettes are bad for the health and a threat against the youth.

“What we want is to closely monitor implementation of the vape law, if possible, we want it to be reversed and amended. There are already proposed laws to amend it,” Nisperos said, Imelda Gocotano, Parents Against Vape convenor, said they want to have a smoke-free and nicotine addictionfree environment for their children.

“The law must be reversed to protect the Filipino youth from the harms of these toxic products,” she said.

The groups also deplored that the vape law lowers the age of access to vape and e-cigarette products from 21 years old to 18 years old.

Philippine Pediatric Society’s anti-smoking task force head Corry Avanceña said the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) should be the agency to regulate vape products, not the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). With Stephanie Caesar, Chelsea Din, and Gabriellea Parino

BARMM set to enforce law on education A TOP education official of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has approved the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Bangsamoro Education Code.

Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal of the BARMM’s Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) signed the IRR of the Bangsamoro Education Code on Tuesday, August 2. The law has been passed as Bangsamoro Act No. 18.

Iqbal himself wrote and sponsored the law on a general objective that “no child in the Bangsamoro shall be left behind in the pursuit of quality, accessible, inclusive, and liberating education.”

On October 28, 2020 Iqbal delivered his sponsorship speech where he discussed the salient features of the then proposed BEC, even as he thanked the partners of the MBHTE for their assistance in the crafting of the education bill, said Member of Bangsamoro Parliament Rasol Y. Mitmug Jr. Nash B. Maulana

Wescom brings fresh supplies to troops at Ayungin Shoal in WPS THE Puerto Princesa, Palawan-based Western Command (Wescom) has announced the completion of its resupply mission for troops aboard the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57) which has been serving as the country’s offshore outpost at the Ayungin Shoal last August.

The mission was carried out by the civilian vessel Unaiza May. “Carrying an assortment of food and

clothing, as well as maintenance and repair equipment necessary to maintain the safety of the ship, the civilian boat M/V Unaiza May was able to follow its voyage plan, enter the shoal safely, freely unload its cargo, and exit the shoal without any untoward incident,” the Wescom said in a Facebook post late Wednesday night.

Unaiza May brought supplies and materials needed by the troops aboard

the stranded BRP Sierra Madre.

“I am very pleased with the smooth conduct of our re-supply run to Ayungin Shoal. We hope that we can sustain this effort aimed at promoting harmonious relations in the West Philippine Sea among claimant countries,” Wescom chief Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos said in the same post.

He also said these resupply missions

will continue to uplift the morale and welfare of Filipino troops manning the outpost.

“We must ensure our continuing support to the morale and welfare of our troops. Standing watch on distant and isolated islands is one of the most difficult duties a soldier can endure. The least we can do is to ensure sustained support to their requirements,” Carlos said.

Long arm of the law finally catches 32-year fugitive THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recaptured a fugitive who escaped in 1990 and went into hiding for more than 32 years, after being charged and found guilty of smuggling 58 kilograms of shabu.

The NBI – Dactyloscopy Division has positively identified through fin-

gerprint examination that the arrested suspect bearing the name Tsai Rong Chang is the same person as Frank Chua, who also used the alias Tsai Jung Shui.

Chua was first arrested in 1989 together, with the other suspects for smuggling of 58 kilograms of shabu in Ilocos Sur.

However, on March 22, 1990, all the accused escaped from the Vigan Provincial Jail.

Trial in absentia ensued and on October 7, 1994, the court found Chua and his cohorts guilty as charged and sentenced them to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment. Willie Casas

BoC-NAIA bares 3 top importers during ’22 1st sem THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has bared the top three importers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and recognized their contribution to the “excellent” revenue collection performance of the port during the first half of the year.

Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp. topped NAIA’s list of importers with P528

million in paid duties and taxes, followed

by Globe Telecom Inc. with P338 million, and Louis Vuitton with P315 million.

Customs NAIA collector Carmelita Talusan expressed gratitude to all the BoC stakeholders, saying they were key to the success of the Port of NAIA. She assured them that the facility would

continue to introduce reforms and initiatives meant to promote ease of doing business and trade facilitation.

“We will continue to work to provide quality public service to all while staying true to our mandates of trade facilitation, border protection and lawful revenue collection,” she said. Joel E. Zurbano

PHOTO EXHIBIT. Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System administrator Leonor Cleofas and Manila Water president and CEO Jocot de Dios discuss one of the photos on display at an ongoing photo exhibit meant to drum up public support and awareness on their shared vision and mission to improve their consumers’ quality of life through reliable and sustainable supply of clean and potable water. Manny Palmero

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Comelec says it is open to hybrid elections

News

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

MESSAGE OF ASSURANCE. House Speaker Martin Romualdez delivers his message during the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry General Membership Meeting at the Legaspi Ballroom, Makati Diamond Residences in Makati City. Ver Noveno

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is open to the possibility of the country adopting a hybrid election system.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Thursday he sees nothing wrong with the next national elections being held partly manual and partly automated.

“My personal position on that, ever since I was a practitioner (of election law), is that I support hybrid elections.

I even participated in the past Senate committee hearings on that matter,” he said in a Laging Handa briefing.

Garcia, meanwhile, believes that such an election system will be more transparent.

“It may cause a one to one and a half hour delay. But at least, the people will see not only the result from the vote counting machine, but they will see that their ballots were read and the watchers also see the ballots being read and their votes are actually canvassed on election day,” he added.

At the same time, Garcia is hoping that a bill seeking the implementation of hybrid polls will be fine-tuned by lawmakers and enacted into law.

During the 18th Congress, Senator Imee Marcos pushed for the adoption of a hybrid election system.

Speaker: Congress will act on priority bills

By Maricel V. Cruz

H

OUSE Speaker Martin G. Romualdez assured the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, that the House of Representatives will act on the administration’s priority bills related to commerce, and industry before the year ends.

Romualdez also committed to con“Majority of the priority measures sult PCCI regarding the priority leg- spelled out by President Marcos in islative measures of President Ferdi- his SONA are principally authored by nand Marcos Jr. no less than your House Speaker so I

expect my fellow legislators to act on these bills with dispatch. In fact, I am hopeful that we can approve most of these measures before the year ends,” Romualdez said in his speech during PCCI’s General Membership Meeting at Makati Diamond Residences, Makati City.

“One thing I assure you, though. As stakeholders, you will be consulted in every measure that we tackle especially those involving commerce and industry. Please make your positions very

clear on the issues I mentioned earlier as I want all stakeholders to be heard before we pass these measures,” he added.

Romualdez was referring to these priority measures: (1) The Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) Act; (2) Valuation Reform Bill; (3) Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act or PIFITA; (4) E-Government Act; (5) Internet Transaction Act or E-Commerce Law; (6) National Land Use Act; (7)

Enactment of an Enabling Law for the Natural Gas Industry; (8) Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act; and (9) Amendments to the BuildOperate-Transfer (BOT) Law. The Lakas-CMD President said PCCI’s invitation also came at an opportune time as the House adopted last Monday Concurrent Resolution 2, which expresses the chamber’s full support to the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) crafted by the administration of President Marcos, Jr.

NBI starts probe of drug-related deaths during Duterte admin: DOJ

By Rey E. Requejo THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI has started investigating 250 more cases of deaths as a result of the drug war operations during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

“Prior to our assumption to office, there are 250 other cases referred to the NBI by Secretary Guevarra [and now Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra] and the NBI is working on them,” Remulla said during a press conference on Wednesday.

Remulla stressed that the 250 cases are different from the 52 cases previously submitted by the Philippine National Police for review before the DOJ. Among the 52 cases, Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres

said that six have either been dismissed or the families of the victims have expressed their intention to no longer pursue their complaints.

“However, seven have already been subject of a case build up and these are already filed in court. And we are very confident with the evidence to be presented in these seven cases,” Andres noted.

Because of this, Remulla appealed to witnesses to come forward and help in the prosecution of the cases.

“The problem will always be the dearth of witnesses. There is always a lack of witnesses who are needed to be able to prosecute a case successfully,” he lamented. “We can take care of the witnesses, give them protection,” he said.

Besides, Remulla said the country’s justice system remains functioning and

NEW PINOY CHAMP. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., congratulates Pinoy boxer Dave “Dobermann” Apolinario for winning the IBO World Championship held in East London, South Africa, recently.

Solon to DOH: Pimentel sees easy passage of anti-political turncoatism measure Work with LGUs vs. monkeypox

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Maricel V. Cruz DAVAO City Rep. Paolo Duterte on Thursday called for a heightened community-based public awareness campaign about monkeypox following the confirmation by the Department of Health (DOH) of the country’s first case of the viral infection.

Duterte said the DOH should team up with the local government units (LGUs) and civic organizations to educate the public about monkeypox and its symptoms, and how it can be detected, transmitted, prevented, and treated to help stop the local transmission of the disease.

The information drive about monkeypox should cascade down to the community level by including barangay officials and workers in this campaign, Duterte said.

“Educating our countrymen at this stage will help the DOH in its public surveillance and prevention efforts. It will also clear up misconceptions about monkeypox that could lead people to become lax in following health protocols,” Duterte said.

SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said yesterday that he sees political turncoatism as easier to pass than the anti-political dynasty bill.

In an interview on Teleradyo’s On the Spot, Pimentel said all members of the lawmaking body are strongly objecting

to the anti-political dynasty bill.

“Let us say, in the anti-political dynasty law, we fully know that all members of the dynasty there in the lawmaking body will oppose it,” he said.

This anti-political turncoatism, Pimentel noted, has higher chances of being passed in Congress.

If the bill becomes a law, Pimentel

however said it would only benefit the younger generation of leaders.

“Maybe this law will benefit the future generation who will enter politics while they are still young,” Pimentel said. “If you are stuck for life in your party, it would be better to understand what you are fighting for,” he said.

DAR offers farm lots to agri course grads

PREP WORK.

Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval attends Brigada Eskwela 2022 Division Kick-Off in Malabon National High School, together with teachers, the Bureau of Jail and Management and Penology, the Philippine National Police, and parents to ensure the school is ready for returning students.

Andrew Rabulan

By Rio N. Araja

Party-list files ‘zero hunger’ bill in Congress

THE ANAKALUSUGAN Party-list filed the “Zero Hunger Bill” which aims to eliminate hunger and make affordable healthy food accessible to all Filipinos.

The group said this is in response to President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr.’s policy pronouncements on food security in his State of the Nation Address, Filed under House Bill No. 2189, the measure presses

Under Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s House Bill No. 488, politicians who will jump to another political party a year before and a year after any national polls would result in the forfeiture of the elective office that they are running for or the post that they have been elected for.

for the re-examination and calibration of government policies in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It pushes for a whole-of-government approach to eradicate the problem by 2030.

“It is our duty to address, not just hunger incidence but also the lack of healthy food available to all at a fair price point,” Representative Ray Florence Reyes penned in the bill’s explanatory note.

AGRARIAN Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III is now closely coordinating with state colleges and universities (SUCs) that offer agriculture courses to look for graduate-recipients of a three-hectare farm lot each in a bid to produce “a new breed of farmers equipped with scientific knowledge that can adjust, and be creative and innovative.”

Amid the threat of a shortage of farmers, he vowed to bring back the good old days when DAR was giving out all the kinds of support services to corn and rice farmers in the implementation of Presidential Decree No. 27 of 1972 or Decreeing the Emancipation of Tenant from the Bondage of the Soil, Transferring to Them the Ownership of the Land They Till and Providing the Instruments and Mechanism Therefor.

“We will heavily invest in the support services for the farmer-beneficiaries (under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program), just like what happened when my grandfather was then the agency secretary as well as under the administration of the father of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” he told the media.

Opinion PBBM should probe excessive salaries, allowances of Diokno, BSP officials PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did right when he vetoed the congressional bill which would have granted excessive pay and gargantuan allowances to lawyers of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.

If that bill became a law, OGCC lawyers would have had a compensation scheme far more lucrative than that of lawyers with higher ranks in other government agencies.

As it is, OGCC lawyers are allowed to draw public funds, in addition to the large pay and benefits they are already receiving, each time they appear in trials and hearings. Many of them protract the litigation of cases to draw more allowances.

Speaking of inequity, last month, the Commission on Audit released its 2021 Report on Salaries and Allowances. It indicates how much top government officials got paid in salaries and allowances for that year.

Under the salary standardization system, compensation of a government official or employee is pegged to the salary grade corresponding to his position in the civil service Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno was the highest paid official for 2021. Diokno received a total of P41.811-million in salaries and allowances.

His pay for 2021 was more than double the P19.791-million he received the previous year.

He was also the highest paid official in 2020.

The COA report covers 999 government agencies and corporations and their subsidiaries and instrumentalities. It also covers secretaries, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and other government officials of equivalent rank.

Many other officials of the BSP were also in the list of the best-compensated officials for 2021, namely, BSP board members Victor Bruce Tolentino (P23.292-million); Felipe Medalla (P21.83million); Antonio Abacan (P21.709-million); Peter Favila (P21.673-million); and Anita Linda Aquino (P21.426-million).

Also in the list are BSP deputy governors Chuchi Fonacier (P20.243-million); Maria Almasara Amador (P20.175-million) and Francisco Dakila Jr. (P17.831million), as well as BSP senior assistant governors Maria Ramona Gertrudes Santiago (P17.381-million) and Elmore Capule (P7.249-million).

Diokno’s annual salaries and allowances are far bigger than the official salary of the President of the Philippines!

This iniquitous, lopsided compensation system for top BSP officials should be explained by the Department of Finance and the Department of Budget and Management. The DOF explanation may not be forthcoming because Diokno is the new Finance Secretary.

THE action for replevin has deep common law roots, as it was “one of the most valued defenses of the feudal tenant against the lord.”

This was often referred to in the 13th century as a quare action, calling on the defendant (the lord) to show why he took cattle in distress and kept them in spite of the owner’s offer of “gage and pledge” (Theodore F.T. Plucknett, A Concise History of the Common Law).

In the Middle Ages, replevin was used when a landlord distrained his tenant because the latter disputed his liability to perform certain services.

The tenant can recover possession of the chattels by giving security to the sheriff for maintaining his contention in a court of law (A Concise History of the Common Law).

If the lord’s case is proved and judgment is rendered for the return of the chattels, the possession shall be restored to the lord (A Concise History of the Common Law).

In other words, the chattels originally distrained by the lord and returned to the tenant must be given back to the former to hold again as a distress (security).

Replevin is both a principal remedy and a provisional relief. When replevin is utilized as a principal remedy, the objective is to recover possession of personal property that was wrongfully detained by another.

When sought as a provisional relief, it allows a plaintiff to retain the contested property during the pendency of the action (Enriquez v. Mercantile Insurance Co., Inc., G.R. No. 210950, August 15, 2018).

In our jurisdiction, it may stand as a combination of the principal remedy with a prayer for provisional relief, or for the recovery of a loan obligation with an application for a writ of replevin on personal property used as security.

Examples of personal property that are the subject of the writ of replevin are motor vehicles, financial and corporate records, or jewelries, among others.

In the case of Fernandez v. International Corporate Bank, the Complaint for the collection of the sum of P190,635.90 with an application for a writ of replevin of a motor vehicle was filed in the Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) of Pasay City; however, the value of the vehicle subject of the provisional relief exceeded the jurisdiction of the court (G.R. No. 131283, October 7, 1999).

The Supreme Court said that although the value of the vehicle seized pursuant to the writ of replevin may have exceeded the jurisdiction of the MTC, that fact does not deprive the trial court of its jurisdiction over the case.

After all, the vehicle was merely the subject of a chattel mortgage that had been used to secure the petitioner’s loan (G.R. No. 131283, October 7, 1999).

Who is the defendant in an action for the recov-

ery of possession of personal property?

The person in possession of the property to be replevied is ordinarily the proper and only necessary party defendant; the plaintiff is not required to join as defendants other persons claiming a right on the property but are not in possession thereof (G.R. No. 210950, August 15, 2018 citing BA Finance Corporation v. Court of Appeals).

As a provisional remedy, a party may apply for an order for the delivery of the property before the commencement of the action or at any time before an answer is filed. Rule 60 of the Rules of Court outlines the procedure for the application of a writ of replevin (G.R. No. 210950, August 15, 2018).

The party seeking the issuance of the writ must file the required affidavit and a bond amounting to double the value of the property (G.R. No. 210950, August 15, 2018).

The applicant or some other person who personally knows the facts must show: that the applicant is the owner of the property claimed, particularly describing it; or is entitled to the possession thereof; that the property is wrongfully detained by the adverse party, alleging the cause of detention thereof; that the property has not been distrained or taken for a tax assessment or a fine pursuant to law, or seized under a writ of execution or preliminary attachment, or otherwise placed under custodia legis, or if so seized, that it is exempt from such a seizure or custody; and the actual market value of the property (Section 2, Rule 60, Amended Rules of Civil Procedure).

Once the affidavit is filed and the bond is approved by the court, the court will issue an order and a writ of seizure requiring the sheriff to take the property into his or her custody.

If there is no objection to the bond filed within five (5) days from the taking of the property, the sheriff shall deliver it to the applicant (G.R. No. 210950, August 15, 2018).

Hence, the contested property remains in the applicant’s custody until the court determines, after a trial on the issues, who among the parties has the right of possession (G.R. No. 210950, August 15, 2018).

If for any reason the property is not delivered to the applicant, the sheriff must return it to the adverse party (Section 6, Rule 60).

Personal property in custodia legis cannot be

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Blockade risk

T

Replevin and its common law origins

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Honor Blanco Cabie, Editor

EDITORIAL

HE global trade supply chain is again at the mercy of geopolitical tensions.

Apparently, the compensation paid to government officials and employees in previous administrations depended on political patronage.

Top officials with connections to the powers that be got gigantic salaries and allowances. Those with no connections ended up with morsels.

That inequitable system demoralized many middle-level and lower-ranking officials, and led to corruption and incompetence in the bureaucracy.

In an attempt to solve the problem, the national government set into place a law mandating the standardization of the salaries of all government officials and employees.

Under the salary standardization system, compensation of a government official or employee is pegged to the salary grade corresponding to his position in the civil service. That way, officials and employees belonging to the same salary grade received the same compensation.

Unfortunately, although salaries remained pegged to a government official’s or employee’s salary grade, the allowances received by top officials allowed them to receive practically limitless compensation through limitless allowances.

That arrangement is anomalous because an allowance is an augmentation of one’s salary, and should not be bigger than the salary it is supposed to augment in the first place.

People are asking -- what is so extraordinary about the jobs of Diokno and his top officials at the BSP that entitles them to their exorbitant compensation?

The Philippines is facing serious economic problems created by the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020. The war in Ukraine has forced the price of petroleum and prime commodities in the country to skyrocket. Many Filipino families today can hardly make both ends meet.

Despite the foregoing economic concerns, Diokno and his people were paid unconscionably high salaries and allowances.

Something is obviously wrong with that arrangement.

President Bongbong Marcos should investigate this shocking inequity, most especially because Diokno is now his Secretary of Finance.

Just how much will Diokno’s compensation be as Secretary of Finance? From past indications, it will probably be far more than the large amounts he already received in 2020 and 2021.

In return for the unconscionable compensation paid to Diokno as BSP governor, what did the Filipino people get?

Look at Diokno’s new P1000 polymer bank note. The three World War II Filipino heroes honored in the old P1000 paper bill are no longer in Diokno’s plastic version. Diokno’s decision to remove them is an insult to their heroism.

His P1000 bill is also very impractical to use because it doesn’t fit conventional wallets, and the slightest crumple to it may make it worthless.

The new P1000 bill is one of Diokno’s prominent “accomplishments” as BSP chief, for which he became the highest paid government official for 2020 and 2021.

President Marcos should review the compensation scheme currently enjoyed by the BSP and its related agencies, the DOF included.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

With the Russia-Ukraine war wreaking havoc on commodities trading and raising oil and wheat prices to unprecedented levels, consumers may experience further supply disruption amid China’s military exercises around Taiwan.

China is conducting the military drills near the Taiwan Strait, one of the busiest shipping routes on earth, in response to the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan – which Beijing considers a renegade island,.

Cargo ships pass through this sea lane to deliver key semiconductors and electronic equipment to global markets.

Such electronic parts and components are manufactured from factories in this part of the world.

Rerouting the shipments of goods and commodities from the major sea lane to alternative passages will increase transportation cost and extend the delivery

time for raw materials. Almost half of the world’s container ships, according to a Bloomberg estimate, passed through the narrow Taiwan Strait that separates

China’s show of force may have already hurt Taiwan’s economy...a reminder that Taiwan is living on borrowed time and that its economic success in the future will hinge on a peaceful settlement with China the island from the Chinese mainland in the first seven months of this year.

A sea blockade by China will make matters worse. The critical sea lane is often used by Japan and South Korea and the rest of Southeast Asian nations

in shipping out goods and commodities.

Air travel may also suffer from China’s military drills.

Over 400 flights have already been canceled at the major airports of Fujian province, the closes to Taiwan. Airlines from Southeast Asian nations using the airspace over Taiwan Strait may do the same as a precaution.

China will not likely escalate its saber-rattling in the region.

A blockade in the area will only hurt the world’s second-biggest economy that is still reeling from the damage of rigid COVID-19 rules.

But China’s show of force may have already hurt Taiwan’s economy.

It is a reminder that Taiwan is living on borrowed time and that its economic success in the future will hinge on a peaceful settlement with China.

Foreign investors in Taiwan, too, realize that the geopolitical conflict will drag economic growth in the island in the medium- and long-term periods.

They should start looking for more stable foreign investment sites in the region.

Put rail projects back on track IN HISfirst State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 25, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared that his administration would give priority to infrastructure as an integral part of his economic development program for the next six years.

The very next day, the Department of Transportation disclosed that it would resubmit three railway projects, whose loan agreements with China were earlier withdrawn by the government, to the National Economic and Development Authority for approval.

The first of the three railway projects covers the initial phase of the PNR Bicol project, with a cost of P142 billion. This will link Calamba in Laguna and Daraga, Albay via a 380-kilometer railway. It will cover the design, construction and electromechanical works of the project.

The second is the P50-billion Subic-Clark Railway Project, a 71.13-km link between Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Clark Freeport Zone that would transport both freight and passengers.

The third is the first phase of the P83-billion Mindanao Railway Project covering the 102-km Tagum-Davao-Digos route, envisioned to be the first rail line across Mindanao.

This has not been started although it was targeted to be completed by 2024-2025. It would reduce travel time to about an hour from the current 3.5 hours.

If all these were completed within six years, think of the immense economic benefits the country can reap from trains running at full throttle throughout the main islands.

But NEDA, along with the Department of Finance, would still decide how these projects’ funding would proceed, either through official development assistance loans or the public-private partnership scheme.

Funding negotiations for the three rail projects, which NEDA had already approved using ODA loans from China, began in 2018.

The DOTr had even procured and awarded contracts for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the Subic-Clark railway project; the design-build of the Philippine National Railways south long-haul project to Bicol, and the project management consultant of the Mindanao railway plan.

The finance department, however, informed China Eximbank that the loan applications for the three projects would be valid only until May 31, 2022, and would be automatically withdrawn if not approved by then.

As of now, the preferred route for three railway

In our jurisdiction, replevin may stand as a combination of the principal remedy with a prayer for provisional relief, or for the recovery of a loan obligation with an application for a writ of replevin on personal property used as security replevied. When property is lawfully taken by virtue of a legal process, it is considered in the custody of the law.

Therefore, when something is subject to the official custody of a judicial executive officer in pursuance of his execution of a legal writ, it is in custodia legis (Superlines Transportation v. PNCC et. al, G.R. No. 169596, March 28, 2007).

In the case of Dagudag v. Paderanga, the crew of MV General Ricarte failed to produce the certificate of origin and other pertinent transport documents covering the forest products.

Since nobody claimed the forest products, the Department of Environment and Natural Resourc-

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

projects is through ODA loans, as this is deemed cheaper compared to the Public-Private-Partnership scheme.

The DOF might also consider financing from other bilateral partners such as Japan, as well as multilateral lenders Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

According to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, these big-ticket railway projects would be pursued by the Marcos administration, and will check if potential loans from China for the three railway projects would still be feasible.

“The new administration can revisit the projects,” he said recently.

There would be four phases in the rehabilitation project, which runs from Lapuz district in Iloilo City to Roxas City in Capiz, as well as extending the rail line to Iloilo International Port in Barangay Loboc-Lapuz in Iloilo City.

The revival of the Panay railway is among the infrastructure projects that the Marcos administration plans to pursue either through PPP or the

If we can connect more areas in the countryside, then we can spur economic activities all along the routes – and thereby reduce poverty incidence, if not abolish absolute poverty – in the entire country possibly within two decades “If found worthwhile, it may choose to restore the loan application, if funding is still available.”

For Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, the Bicol railway would “change the game for our industries in the Pacific Seaboard,” since Albay is the most densely populated province in the area and hosts the Bicol International Airport.

“If we can connect Manila, Albay, and the Waray Region together through a network of rail transport infrastructure, we can accelerate development and economic interconnectivity between these regions…the Bicol railway will be the backbone of an emerging Bicol-Mimaropa-Waray economic axis.”

But there are other railway projects being considered by the new administration.

In Iloilo City, Panay Railways Inc. is looking at rehabilitating the Panay railways, which closed down in 1985.

Phase 1 of the railway’s rehabilitation alone would cost at least $1.5 billion as it would include buying the trains, construction, hiring of personnel, maintenance and relocation expense of residents along the rail lines, among others. es (DENR) considered them abandoned and issued a seizure receipt (A.M. No. RTJ-06-2017, June 19, 2008).

Forest products lawfully seized by the DENR are already in custodia legis and thus cannot be the subject of replevin. There being a violation of the Revised Forestry Code, the DENR seized the forest products in accordance with the law (A.M. No. RTJ-06-2017, June 19, 2008).

In another case, the presiding judge of the Municipal Trial Court of Masbate was held administratively liable for issuing a writ of seizure ordering the sheriff of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Masbate to take immediate possession of a 6 x 6 truck that was in custodia legis.

The truck ordered by the judge to be seized was part of the exhibits formally offered in evidence in a criminal case (Danao v. Ginete, A.M. No. MTJ03-1474, January 21, 2003).

The writ of replevin, being a provisional remedy, is ancillary to the principal action.

The dismissal of the replevin case for failure to prosecute results in the restoration of the parties’ status prior to litigation, as if no complaint was filed at all (Advent Capital v. Young, G.R. No. 183018, August 03, 2011).

To allow the writ of replevin to stand after the dismissal of the complaint would be to adjudge the complainant (Advent) as the prevailing party, when precisely no decision had been rendered.

Since Young possessed the subject car before the filing of the replevin case, the same must be returned to him (G.R. No. 183018, August 03, 2011).

A writ of replevin issued by any court in the Philippines may be served and enforced anywhere in the country.

There is no legal provision, statutory or reglementary, expressed or implied, that provides a jurisdictional or territorial limit to the area of enforceability of a writ of replevin (G.R. No. 131283, October 7, 1999).

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

build-operate-transfer option, with the latter on a 25 to 50-year operating time frame.

In Cebu, officials also want the government to pursue the construction of the railway system and the Bus Rapid Transit under the Marcos administration.

The two projects are seen to address traffic congestion in the province. At least three past presidents had promised to put up a mass transportation project to improve the traffic situation in Cebu.

But the Arroyo, Noynoy Aquino and Duterte administrations finished their terms that spanned 21 years without carrying out either the Cebu BRT or the Cebu railway system.

We cannot overemphasize the importance of proceeding with all these various railway projects as these would enhance economic growth and development in the rural areas along their path.

If we can connect more areas in the countryside, then we can spur economic activities all along the routes – and thereby reduce poverty incidence, if not abolish absolute poverty – in the entire country possibly within two decades.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

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World

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Heavy rain hits northern Japan, 200,000 urged to evacuate Bridges collapsed and rivers burst their banks as heavy rain lashed northern Japan on Thursday, with 200,000 residents urged to evacuate as authorities warned of dangerous flooding.

TV footage showed a muddy mass of broken trees swept into a mountainous residential area by the downpours, which broke records in some areas.

Two people have been reported missing, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

Authorities have warned of an increased risk of landslides and floods.

Public broadcaster NHK said noncompulsory evacuation advisories were issued to 200,000 residents in five regions: Niigata, Yamagata, Fukushima,

Ishikawa and Fukui.

Other TV footage showed homes flooded by an overflowing river and another muddy waterway reaching the height of a bridge.

Some shinkansen bullet trains were suspended in the affected areas.

Scientists say climate change is intensifying the risk of heavy rain in Japan and elsewhere, because a warmer atmosphere holds more water.

Strong rain in 2021 triggered a devastating landslide in the central resort town of Atami that killed 27 people.

And in 2018, floods and landslides killed more than 200 people in western Japan during the country’s annual rainy season. AFP

COLLAPSED BY TORRENTIAL RAINS. This handout

picture taken on August 4, 2022 and released by the Yamagata Prefectural Police shows Omaki Bridge, which connects to the town of Iide, Yamagata Prefecture, after it collapsed due to flooding of the local river in heavy rains across northern Japan.

Thousands of people in northern Japan were urged to evacuate, with authorities warning of flooding due to record rains. AFP

AI: BASES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS VIOLATE LAWS OF WAR

‘Ukraine forces endangering civilians’

U

KRAINIAN forces are violating international law and endangering civilians by establishing bases in residential areas, including in schools and hospitals, Amnesty International said Thursday.

The defenders’ tactics “in no way justify Russia’s indiscriminate attacks,” the rights group said in a new report, and some Russian “war crimes” including in the city of Kharkiv were not

linked to the tactics.

But Amnesty listed incidents when Ukrainian forces appeared to have exposed civilians to danger in 19 towns and villages in the Kharkiv, Donbas and

Mykolaiv regions.

“We have documented a pattern of Ukrainian forces putting civilians at risk and violating the laws of war when they operate in populated areas,” Amnesty secretary general Agnes Callamard said.

“Being in a defensive position does not exempt the Ukrainian military from respecting international humanitarian law.”

Residential areas where Ukrainian soldiers based themselves were miles away from frontlines, and “viable alternatives” were available that would not endanger civilians, the report said.

But it said the soldiers had failed to tell civilians to evacuate the areas, despite launching strikes on Russian forces that exposed them to retaliatory fire.

Amnesty researchers witnessed Ukrainian forces using hospitals as “de

facto military bases” in five locations, and in 22 schools.

Although the schools have been shut during the conflict, they were located in civilian neighbourhoods.

“We have no say in what the military does, but we pay the price,” the report quoted one resident as saying.

Amnesty said it had received no response to its findings from Ukraine’s defense ministry. AFP

In South Korea, Pelosi to visit heavily fortified DMZ border

Manila

Standard

FRONTTODAY ROW SEATS TO CHINA’S FIRE AND FURY. Smoke trails from projectiles launched by the Chinese military are

seen as tourists look on from Pingtan island, one of mainland China’s closest points from Taiwan, in Fujian province on August 4, 2022.

AFP

AFTER her high-profile trip to Taiwan, for “strong and extended deterrence US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in against North Korea,” and said they South Korea Thursday where her agenda would support efforts by the two counincluded a visit to the border with the nu- tries’ leaders to get Pyongyang to declear-armed North, an official told AFP. nuclearise.

Pelosi, who arrived in Seoul late Pelosi is scheduled to speak on the phone Wednesday, will visit the heavily forti- with President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is on fied Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where holiday this week, officials said. the two neighbours’ forces stand face Local media have criticised Yoon’s to face, the South Korean official said. purported snub of Pelosi, pointing to his She would be the highest-ranking US failure to meet her in person, and his adofficial to visit the inter-Korean truce ministration’s decision not to send a delvillage of Panmunjom since then presi- egation to greet her at the airport. dent Donald Trump met North Korean Some published photos of the presileader Kim Jong Un there in 2019. dent attending a play in central Seoul North Korea’s nuclear weapons pro- the night Pelosi landed. grams were discussed when Pelosi met Yoon took office in May, vowing to Seoul’s National Assembly Speaker boost ties with the United States, inKim Jin-pyo. cluding ramping up the joint military The pair “expressed concern over the drills that always infuriate North Kograve situation in which North Korea’s rea, which views them as rehearsals for level of threat is heightening,” Kim Jin- invasion. pyo said, reading a joint statement after Joint drills had been suspended due their meeting. to COVID-19 and during a period of North Korea has conducted a record- ill-fated diplomatic engagement with MAGENTAunder YELLOW BLACK breaking blitz of weapons tests soCYAN far Pyongyang Yoon’s predecessor this year, including firing an interconti- Moon Jae-in. nental ballistic missile at full range for The first such joint drills—now the first time since 2017. known as Ulchi Freedom Shield—will The two parliamentarians called begin later this month.AFP

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

STEADY RETURN. Parts of Australia’s beleaguered Great Barrier Reef now have the highest levels of coral cover seen in decades. Portions of the vast UNESCO heritage site showed a marked increase in coral cover in the last year, reaching levels not seen in 36 years of monitoring, the Australian Institute of Marine Science said. AFP

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(MS-AUGUST 5, 2022)

A JAPANESE journalist detained in Myanmar has been charged with breaching immigration law and encouraging dissent against the military, the junta said Thursday.

Toru Kubota, who was held while covering a protest in Yangon last week “has been charged under section 505 (a) and under immigration law 13-1,” the junta said in a statement.

505a – a law that criminalises encouraging dissent against the military and carries a maximum threeyear jail term – has been widely used by the military in its crackdown on dissent.

Breaching immigration law 13-1 carries a maximum of two years’ imprisonment.

Film-maker Kubota, 26, was detained last Saturday near an anti-government rally in Yangon along with two Myanmar citizens.

He is the fifth foreign journalist detained in Myanmar after US citizens Nathan Maung and Danny Fenster and freelancers Robert Bociaga of Poland and Yuki Kitazumi of Japan, who were all eventually freed and deported.

Myanmar’s junta has clamped down on press freedoms, arresting reporters and photographers, as well as revoking broadcasting licenses. AFP

Italy’s Salvini seeks anti-migrant votes ITALIAN anti-immigrant leader Matteo Salvini on Thursday takes his campaign for September elections to the tiny island of Lampedusa, the landing point for thousands of migrants trying to reach Europe.

Dozens of leaky, overcrowded boats have arrived in and around Lampedusa in recent days from north Africa, some landing directly and others requiring rescue by the local coastguard.

As often in the summer months, when the sea is calmer, the island’s reception centre has become overwhelmed, with more than 1,500 people said to be there this week, in a facility designed for 350.

Salvini, who leads Italy’s League party, has made stopping the arrivals the cornerstone of his platform ahead of general elections on September 25, where he is expected to gain power as part of a right-wing alliance.

“Italy cannot accept tens of thousands of immigrants who only bring problems,” he said on Wednesday, adding: “Italy is not Europe’s refugee camp.”

He accused Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s government – which he helped bring down last month by withdrawing his support – of trying to cover up the problem on Lampedusa before he arrived.

Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese last week announced a ferry would take migrants to Sicily three times a week, to ease the overcrowding.

“The island is collapsing – in the next few hours, before my visit tomorrow and Friday, will they try to hide their failures again?” Salvini asked. AFP

Business PSEi August 4, 2022

TOP GAINERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1

I

0.75

0.1

15.38%

2 3

ACEX CAB

15.62 62

1.64 6.1

11.73% 10.91%

4 5 6 7

AB FPI CA EEI

7.52 0.22 47 3.49

0.62 0.017 3.5 0.19

8.99% 8.37% 8.05% 5.76%

8

MEDIC

0.77

0.04

5.48%

9 10

PAL TUGS

5.84 1.17

0.3 0.06

5.42% 5.41%

TOP LOSERS

1 MBC 2 VVT

LAST PRICE CHANGE 6.31 -2.69 15.7 -2.32

% CHANGE -29.89% -12.87%

3 4

SSP WEB

1.46 3.04

-0.13 -0.22

-8.18% -6.75%

5

MG

0.102

-0.007

-6.42%

6 7

SFI ELI

0.085 0.193

-0.005 -0.011

-5.56% -5.39%

8 9 10

PXP ARA DELM

5.33 1.32 13.54

-0.3 -0.07 -0.66

-5.33% -5.04% -4.65%

MOST ACTIVE

1 AC 2 SECB

VOLUME 641,610 4,883,460

VALUE (PHP) 440,005,010 401,847,886

3 4 5

URC TEL SMPH

2,270,460 158,875 6,978,200

281,987,458 277,526,260 260,165,130

6 7 8 9 10

SCC MER ALI BDO SM

6,315,800 763,390 9,020,100 1,985,190 294,960

258,373,055 240,217,490 234,682,125 234,168,035 233,476,935

OPEC+ group agrees to tiny hike in output

UKRAINE EXPORTS.

Sierra Leoneflagged cargo vessel Razoni sails along the Bosphorus Strait past Istanbul on August 3, 2022, after being officially inspected. A team of Russian and Ukrainian officials in Turkey on August 3, 2022, inspected the first shipment of grain exported from Ukraine since Moscow’s invasion under a deal aimed at curbing a global food crisis.

AFP

Stocks climb; Ayala, PLDT lead advances

S

TOCKS rose Thursday, tracking a Wall Street rally fueled by healthy economic and earnings data, while traders kept a wary eye on Chinese military drills around Taiwan.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index climbed 53.03 points, or 0.8 percent, to 6,483.11 on a value turnover of P5.8 billion.

Gainer beat losers, 98 to 78, with 49 issues unchanged.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. of the Ayala Group advanced 3.6 percent to P692.50, while PLDT Inc. of the Indonesia’s Salim Group, the biggest telecommunications firm, increased 2.3 percent to P1,760.

Manila Electric Co., the largest retailer of electricity, added 1.5 percent to P316.60, while Security Bank Corp., the eight biggest lender in terms of assets, rose 1.4 percent to P82.10.

Meanwhile, oil managed to clock some gains following another selloff that came on the back of fresh signs of weakening demand in the United States. That followed major producers announcing a small increase in output.

New York’s three main indexes surged after a report on the crucial US services sector showed surprise improvement, soothing worries about a possible recession in the world’s top economy.

That came as several companies—including

An aerial picture shows a view of Nissi Beach in the Cypriot resort town of Ayia Napa, one of the Mediterranean island’s top tourist destinations, on July 17, 2022. AFP

Cyprus tourism rebounds despite Russian sanctions

By Chloe Emmanouilidis AYIA NAPA, Cyprus—Beside sparkling Mediterranean waters at the Cypriot resort town of Ayia Napa, the bars are bouncing with foam dance parties as tourist numbers rebound following two tough years of pandemic.

But one key nationality is effectively missing: Russian visitors, as the once lucrative market has been hit by European Union sanctions imposed after Moscow invaded Ukraine.

“This year, we expected 800,000 Russian tourists,” said Haris Loizides, head of the Cyprus Hotel Association.

The Russian market “was wiped out from one day to the next,” said Christos Angelides, head of the Pancyprian Association of Hotel Managers. “Nobody was prepared for this huge change.”

The key tourism sector, which had contributed 2.68 billion euros ($2.72 billion) in 2019, 15 percent of GDP, is still counting the cost of the disastrous years of COVID travel chaos.

In 2019, before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a fifth of tourists were Russian—782,000 out of 3.9 million—making it the holiday island’s second largest market after Britain.

Last year, despite tough COVID travel restrictions, that share rose to more than 25 percent, with arrivals from Russia totaling nearly 520,000 out of 1.93 million.

Operators had hoped this summer would see Russian numbers return to pre-pandemic levels.

Flight bans, banking sanctions Some 18,000 Russians are resident in Cy-

prus, many in the seaside town of Limassol— dubbed by some “Moscow on the Med.” But, with EU sanctions on Russia continuing and with no let-up in the bloodshed on Ukraine’s battlefields, just 17,000 Russian tourists came to Cyprus between January and June.

“Our hotel is doing well, but others— who had 100 percent Russian clientele—are not,” said Angelides, who is also manager of the Napa Mermaid Hotel.

Nicosia and Moscow have close political and cultural ties, but when Russia sent troops into Ukraine, the Cypriot parliament unanimously passed a resolution condemning the invasion.

Cyprus, the EU’s most easterly member, backed the bloc’s actions on Moscow, including a flight ban and sanctions barring some Russian banks from the SWIFT financial system.

The tourism ministry says fewer Russian visitors could mean some $600 million in potential lost earnings.

Overall, tourist arrivals in Cyprus are bouncing back, thanks to strong demand in other key markets following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

From January to June, Cyprus recorded 1.2 million visitors, nearly five times the level last year, and the white sand beaches at Ayia Napa are crowded with sun seekers and partygoers.

But that is still 25 percent down on the same period of 2019, when 1.63 million tourists came to Cyprus.

“We have somewhat limited the damage, but it is impossible to replace this huge number of customers,” Angelides added. AFP

B3

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Electronic Arts, Starbucks and Moderna—posted strong earnings, extending a broadly positive reporting season in the face of surging inflation and rising interest rates.

Hong Kong led gains, adding more than one percent, while there were also advances in Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Jakarta and Wellington.

However, Taipei fell again on worries that the Chinese maneuvers oeuvres would hit shipping lanes and flights into Taiwan.

Mumbai also dipped, while Sydney was flat.

All eyes are now on the release of US jobs data on Friday, which will provide the latest snapshot of the economy and could help guide the Federal Reserve in its debate on monetary policy.

Markets have swung this week after a number of Fed officials lined up to suggest there were still some big rate hikes likely and talk of cuts next year might be overdone. With AFP

VIENNA, Austria—The OPEC+ oil cartel agreed to a tiny increase in production Wednesday, an amount analysts say will disappoint US President Joe Biden after he personally lobbied Saudi leaders for help to tame soaring energy prices.

The cartel led by Saudi Arabia and Russia decided to raise production by 100,000 barrels per day for September, much lower than previous increases, according to a statement issued after a ministerial videoconference.

Oil prices seesawed following the announcement, rising before falling more than two percent in afternoon trading, with the main international contract, Brent, slipping under $100 per barrel. Traders were also reacting to data showing US crude inventories had unexpectedly risen last week.

“The smallest increase in OPEC+ history will do little to help the ongoing global energy crisis,” Edward Moya, analyst at OANDA trading platform, told AFP. “The Biden administration will not be happy and this will be a setback in improving US-Saudi relations,” said Moya, who expects oil prices to remain stuck around $100.

With energy prices soaring following Russia’s war in Ukraine, Biden made a controversial trip to Saudi Arabia in July in part to convince the kingdom to loosen the production taps to stabilize the market and curb rampant inflation.

The US president met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite his promise to make the kingdom a “pariah” in the wake of the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Biden said after his meetings with Saudi officials that he was “doing all I can” to increase the oil supply.

“A 100,000 barrel per day output hike is a pittance,” said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Exinity. AFP

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

B4

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

Business

IFC arranges $70-m fund for 600 PH towers

PLDT registers 30% profit growth despite headwinds

By Othel V. Campos

By Darwin G. Amojelar

INTERNATIONAL Finance Corp. teamed up with Communication and Renewable Energy Infrastructure Philippines Inc. to raise $70 million for the construction of more than 600 telecommunications towers in the country.

IFC said in a statement that more people and businesses in the Philippines would have affordable and better mobile connectivity through the $70-million financing package aimed at bridging the digital divide through shared mobile infrastructure.

It said the financing package consisted of a $25.5-million loan from IFC and a parallel facility of $44.5 million.

IFC Philippines country manager Jean-Marc Arbogast said the group wanted to help the Philippines narrow the digital divide and democratize digital connectivity through the creation of shared mobile infrastructure.

“Digital connectivity is more important than ever for businesses and people to thrive. By supporting the entry of a new company, IFC’s investment will contribute to a strong independent tower market in the Philippines, increasing competition, creating jobs, spurring economic growth and help cut emissions,” Arbogast said.

The IFC loan will help improve mobile network capacity, allowing operators to expand to high-speed mobile networks across the country and offer better services at affordable rates.

CREI Phils., a new tower company, said the assistance from IFC would allow it to expand its digital infrastructure portfolio in the Philippines.

“Our management team’s extensive knowhow gained through 15 years of telecoms operations across Southeast Asia and Africa, combined with IFC’s deep knowledge of the country’s telecoms regulatory regime and its experience as an investor in tower companies, will enable us to effectively develop and grow our operations in the country,” said CREI chief executive Kadri Hakim.

SMC earnings fell 33% but 1st half sales rebounded

By Jenniffer B. Austria DIVERSIFIED conglomerate San Miguel Corp. said Thursday net income fell 33 percent in the first half to P19.8 billion from P29.57 billion in the same period last year despite a 73-percent growth in net sales.

San Miguel said first-half recurring net income, which excludes impact of the foreign exchange movement and Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprise Law, jumped 24 percent year-on-year to P32.48 billion.

Net sales rose 73 percent in the first six months to P711.4 billion from P410.1 billion a year earlier on strong performance of core food and beverage, packaging, oil refinery and infrastructure businesses.

“Overall, it’s been a very challenging period, with geopolitical conflict resulting in uncertainties and serious supply and costs issues that are affecting industries all over the world,” San Miguel president and chief executive Ramon Ang said.

“Despite this, and even with the lingering effects of the pandemic, we’re encouraged by the strong and increasing demand for our products and services, as evidenced by our higher volumes and revenues in the first half. This shows that our country’s economic recovery and growth are gaining pace. We will maximize every opportunity to further strengthen our performance in the second half,” Ang said.

San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. delivered a record-breaking first-half performance, posting its highest level of revenue and profitability since its consolidation in 2018, despite the challenges of high inflation, rising fuel and raw material input prices and currency depreciation.

P

LDT Inc. said Thursday net profit grew 30 percent in the first half from a year ago, but warned of “stronger headwinds” in the second half on rising consumer prices.

The country’s largest telecom company reported a net income of P16.74 billion from January to June, higher than P12.92 billion it posted in the same period last year.

Telco core income, excluding the impact of asset sales and Voyager Innovations, reached P17 billion, up 12 percent from P15.21 billion last year.

Consolidated revenues rose 6 percent to P47.9 billion in the first half despite the more difficult market conditions, a top executive said.

PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan said he was expecting PLDT to outper-

form against a very challenging environment.

“We expect stronger headwinds in the second half, with higher inflation impacting our customers’ pockets as well as our own operating costs,” Pangilinan said.

Inflation in June accelerated to a 43-month high of 6.1 percent from 3.7 percent a year ago, the Philippine Statistics Authority said.

“With so much pressure on growth, it is imperative that we stay focused on our strategic initiatives and managing costs,” Pangilinan said.

He said PLDT was keeping its telco core income target of P33 billion this year as portions of proceed from the tower sale would be used to pay down debt in the second half. PLDT sold its more than 5,000 towers to two international tower companies for P77 billion.

PLDT Inc. said Monday it completed the sale of 1,013 more cell sites to two international tower operators for P13.2 billion.

PLDT said the deal was part of the sale and purchase agreements with ISOC edotco Towers Inc. and Conworks Infratech Corp., a subsidiary of Edge-

Point, involving 5,907 towers for P77 billion. PLDT units Smart Communications Inc. and Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. signed the deals in April.

PLDT and Smart Communications Inc. president Alfredo Panlilio said the group was on track to meeting its service revenue target of mid-single digit growth this year.

“Home broadband will lead this growth, with Enterprise also expected to register stronger performance, underpinned by ICT. Although Wireless faces tough market conditions, it should benefit from the continued opening up the economy,” he said.

Home service revenues amounted to P28.1 billion, up 24 percent year-onyear, while Enterprise posted a 9-percent growth in revenues to P23.2 billion.

Individual Wireless revenues reached P41.2 billion.

PLDT spent P46 billion in the first half of the P85-billion capital expenditure budget in 2022. The capex funded the Home broadband business, network expansion and construction of data center and submarine cable system.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Thursday, August 4, 2022

53.03 PTS. 6,483.11

TOTAL VOLUME

591,256,964

TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) ADVANCES

67,029 5,842,971,698.13 98

DECLINES

78

UNCHANGED

49

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2022

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

55.6740

Japan

Yen

0.007472

0.4160

UK

Pound

1.214800

67.6328

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127397

7.0927

Switzerland

Franc

1.041233

57.9696

Canada

Dollar

0.778574

43.3463

Singapore

Dollar

0.724218

40.3201

Australia

Dollar

0.694900

38.6879

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

147.6842

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.265972

14.8077

Brunei

Dollar

0.721605

40.1746

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.027613

1.5373

UAE

Dirham

0.272279

15.1589

Euro

Euro

1.017100

56.6260

Korea

Won

0.000765

0.0426

China

Yuan

0.147936

8.2362

India

Rupee

0.012641

0.7038

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.224467

12.4970

New Zealand

Dollar

0.627200

34.9187

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033408

1.8600 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF Del Monte unit buys Kitchen Basics brand DEL Monte Pacific Limited said Thursday US-based subsidiary Del Monte Food Inc. acquired the Kitchen Basics brand of readyto-use stock and broth from McCormick & Company for $99 million.

DMPL said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Del Monte Food Inc.’s acquisition of Kitchen Basics took effect on Aug. 3.

Kitchen Basics has an extensive portfolio of conventional and organic stocks and broths in varieties including traditional chicken and beef as well as newer items such as creamy bean and vegetable.

“Del Monte Foods has gone through a positive transformation over the past five years, and we have become a leading innovative CPG [consumer packaged goods] growth company,” said DMFI president and chief executive Greg Longstreet.

“As we plan for the next decade of growth, we’re committed to strengthening our branded product portfolio to meet consumers’ changing needs. The acquisition of Kitchen Basics will enable us to leverage synergies across our business to scale our broth and stock portfolio across North America,” Longstreet said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Meralco expects 4.6% rise in annual demand

UNIONBANK-CITI DEAL. Union Bank of the Philippines completes the acquisition of Citi’s consumer banking business in the Philippines. UnionBank president and chief executive Edwin Bautista (third from left) and Citi Philippines chief executive and country officer Aftab Ahmed (fourth from left) lead the signing of the agreement. With them are (from left) Citi Philippines consumer bank head Manoj Varma, UnionBank chief customer experience officer and chief digital channels officer Ana Delgado, Citi Philippines country counsel Pia Lacson and UnionBank treasurer and global markets head Jose Emmanuel Hilado.

ICTSI posted 50% net income increase to $294.5m in first half PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said Thursday net income jumped 50 percent in the first six months to $294.5 million from $196.7 million it earned a year ago, as revenues topped the $1-billion mark during the period on a 5-percent volume growth.

“We have delivered another period of strong operational and financial results across our global portfolio with throughput growth of five percent,” said ICTSI chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. “Revenues grew by 20 percent to $1.06 billion and EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization] increased by 26 percent to $672.1 million, driven by volume growth, strong contribution from new terminals and an improvement in trade activities as economies recover from the impact of lockdown restrictions and the

COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“Over the years, we have demonstrated our resilience and the benefits of having a clear strategic market position and a disciplined and purpose-led culture. Our talented team, expertise and experience remain key as we continue to navigate geopolitical and economic uncertainties. Despite these external challenges, we remain confident in driving growth across our global business and generating long-term sustainable value for the benefit of all our stakeholders,” said Razon.

ICTSI said revenues in the first half grew 20 percent from $882.6 million reported in the first six months of 2021, while EBITDA went up 26 percent from $532.5 million.

The company said improved operating income, higher net foreign exchange gain, increase in equity share

in net profit of joint ventures and strong contribution of new terminals led to the strong profit in the first half.

It said global port operations increased 20 percent in the second quarter to $534.6 million, while net income attributable to equity holders reached $152.2 million, up 43 percent from $106.6 million a year earlier.

ICTSI said its terminals handled consolidated volume of 5,752,582 twenty-foot equivalent units in the first six months, or five percent more than 5,459,523 TEUs handled in the same period in 2021.

ICTSI is a leading global developer, manager and operator of container terminals in the 50,000 to 3.5 million TEU/year range. It operates in six continents and continues to pursue container terminal opportunities around the world.

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said Thursday it expects peak demand to grow by an average of 4.6 percent annually, driven by increased economic activity.

“As economic activity resumes, from 2022 to 2031, peak demand is expected to grow annually by an average of 4.6 percent per year,” Meralco said in its power supply procurement plan 2022 submitted to the Department of Energy.

Meralco said the long-term forecast of the movement of peak demand would depend on how much renewable energy systems are introduced into the system and on the effectiveness of new energy efficiency measures.

Peak demand will also depend on the changes in consumption behavior arising from the “new normal” brought about by the pandemic. “The magnitude of these will only be realized as the industry continues to develop,” Meralco said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Metrobank offers low car, home loan rates METROPOLITAN Bank and Trust Co. has offered to upgrade consumers’ lifestyle with its 60th anniversary car and home loan promo.

Metrobank said it is offering its lowest car and home loan rates ever and is waiving fees of up to P60,000 as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. The promo runs until Sep. 30, 2022.

“As we celebrate Metrobank’s 60th year, we are ramping up our offerings for our clients. It’s the best time for everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to achieve their goals of owning their car and home,” said Metrobank senior vice president and consumer business sector head Ramon Jaime Del Rosario said.

Metrobank offers car loan for a rate as low as 9.11 percent per annum for a 60-month term. It also offers a one-year fixed rate of 4.88 percent with Metrobank home loan.

“Once you get your loan approved, you will also pre-qualify for a Metrobank credit card, which can help you pay for accessorizing your new car or furnishing your new home,” the bank said.

Metrobank is the country’s second largest private universal bank with consolidated assets of P2.7 trillion as of end-June 2022.

Makati court junks suit vs. Bank of Bangladesh THE Makati regional trial court dismissed a defamation suit and demand for damages filed against the Bank of Bangladesh by Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

Makati RTC Branch 142 Judge Rainald Paggao, in an order promulgated on June 30 and made available recently, dismissed the suit and granted a motion for reconsideration filed by the Bernas Law Office led by Atty. Jose Bernas, counsel of Bank of Bangladesh.

“The foregoing discussions inescapably lead to the conclusion that this court has no jurisdiction over the person of the defendant [Bangladesh Bank], nor will it ever have within the limits of the provisions of the present rules as regards summons and the service thereof” the court said.

The court also said “plaintiff’s notion that extraterritorial service of summons may be undertaken against Bangladesh Bank has no legal leg [to]

stand on” as the court reconsidered its earlier orders dated July 19, 2019 and Oct. 18, 2020.

Aside from RCBC, another plaintiff was the bank’s national sales director Ismael Reyes who accused the Bangladeshi bank of having repeatedly “called for press conferences, repeatedly perpetrated injustice and have maligned, defamed and engaged in tortious conduct in the Philippines” shortly after the 2016 incident involving $81-million theft from the Bangladesh Bank.

RCBC’s counsel in the case is Villaraza & Angangco law firm.

The Department of Justice filed anti-money laundering charges against five executives of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. in connection with the $81-million cyber heist at the Bank of Bangladesh three years ago.

An RCBC branch manager was also found guilty of seven counts of violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

MAYA LAUNCH. Maya, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas join forces to accelerate the digital transformation of businesses across the country. At the Maya Business launch event are (from left) PayMaya Philippines group president and Maya co-founder Shailesh Baidwan, DTI Assistant Secretary Mary Jean Pacheco, BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier, PayMaya founder and chief executive and Maya Bank co-founder Orlando Vea, BSP Governor Felipe Medalla, DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Voyager and PayMaya chairman and Maya Bank chairman emeritus Manuel Pangilinan and Maya Bank president Angelo Madrid.

PH men’s chessers stay in Olympiad hunt THE Philippines drew strength from Grandmaster Banjo Barcenilla’s masterful effort as it pulled off an upset 2-2 draw with fancied Israel in the sixth round Wednesday night to stay in the hunt in the 44th World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India.

Barcenilla turned back GM Tamir Nabaty in 64 moves of a King’s Indian encounter on board two to save the day for the Filipinos, who were tied at 14th spot with 10 others with nine match points.

GM Mark Paragua was the last to finish as he tried his best to eke out a win, but ended up splitting the point with GM Avital Boruchovsky in 59 moves of a Four Knights Game that sealed the stunning standoff.

Grandmaster Darwin Laylo earlier drew with veteran GM Ilya Smirin on board three, that came after International Master Paulo Bersamina lost his way right in the opening and never recovered to succumb to GM Evgeny Postny on the last board.

The 11-round, 12-day biennial event took a much-needed breather on Thursday before plunging back into battle in the seventh round Friday when the Philippines, which is being sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, clashes with powerhouse fifth pick Poland.

National men’s team coach GM Eugene Torre is expected to field in an all-GM roster versus the Poles with GM John Paul Gomez expected to replace a shaken Bersamina in the line up.

In the women’s side, the Filipinas battled the lower-ranked Ecuadorians to a 2-2 standoff, a result sealed by a defeat by Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza to WIM Anahi Ortiz Verdezoto on board two.

WGM candidate Kylen Joy Mordido delivered the lone win on board four while WIMs Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Marie Antoinette San Diego were held to draws on second and third board, respectively.

The split sent them sputtering down a 13-country tie at 48th place with seven points and was scheduled to play Bolivia tonight in a match, where WGM Janelle Mae Frayna is expected to be injected back into the roster in place of Mendoza.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

Junna Tsukii vows to pursue her Olympic goal if Karate makes it to Los Angeles in 2028.

Karate’s possible inclusion in LA Olympics excites Tsukii

By Randy Caluag

T

HE Philippine karate community is awash with excitement after the International Olympic Committee has included the Japanese martial arts sport among shortlisted events in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Philippine national coach Okay Arpa, who is chiefly responsible for the gold-medal win of Fil-Japanese Junna Tsukii in the recent World Games, was among the first to post the news on social media.

“Motorsports, cricket and karate are among the nine sports invited

by Los Angeles 2028 to present their case for inclusion at the Olympics,” said Arpa, a former Turkish karate champ making wonders for

Philippine karate as a foreign coach.

If Arpa and Tsukii continue their journey together under the Philippine flag for the next six years, a karate medal in the Olympics is not impossible.

Why not?

With Arpa guiding the JapaneseFilipina, the Philippines won its first medal in the games—a shining gold—courtesy of Tsukii.

Tsukii is more excited and vowed to do even better.

“We have high expectations for the development of karate if it makes it to the Olympic Games, and if it really happens, I will do my best to try

it,” Tsukii told Manila Standard via private message.

According to reports, karate is among the nine sports invited by the Los Angeles 2028 organizers to present their case for inclusion in the Olympics.

Baseball-softball, lacrosse, breaking, kickboxing, squash, and flag football were also granted permission to submit Request for Information proposals for the sports’ program review.

Left out of the shortlist were Sambo, flying disc and teqball, which also submitted their bids to be part of the 2028 Olympic program.

Otom is PH’s 1st triple gold medalist in Para Games SURAKARTA – Angel Otom bagged two more gold medals, including one in record-breaking time, to emerge as the country’s first triple gold medalist as the Philippine para swimmers emerged with four mints from the Jatidiri Sports Complex pool in Semarangin here in the 11th ASEAN Para Games Thursday.

Picking up from where she left off, Otom was a runaway winner in the women’s 50-meter butterfly S5 event in 48.070 seconds, nearly eight seconds faster than the 17-year-old mark of 56.80 set by Singapore’s R.T. Goh in the Manila ASEAN Para Games in 2005.

She finished so far ahead of Vietnamese tankers Thi Sari Nguyen and Thi My Thanh Dan, who were second and third in times of 1:14.150 and 1:32.460, respectively.

As an encore, the 19-year-old pride of Olongapo City added her second mint in the women’s 50-meter freestyle S5 event, leading the way from start to finish in clocking 41.40 seconds, much to the delight of her parents Marlou and Mila Otom, who flew all the way from Manila PETR Lukosz sets out as the man to beat in the Megaworld IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines blasting off Sunday (Aug. 7) in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, all fired up to nail the crown against a mix of international bidders five months after dominating the full IRONMAN race in Subic.

The 40-year-old ace from the Czech Republic bucked extreme heat and lack of competitions to rule the Subic joust (3.8k swim, 180k bike and 42k run) in nine hours, 52 minutes and 34 seconds, nearly an hour ahead of second placer Filipino Jethro Ramos.

That makes him the triathlete to watch in the upcoming 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21k run race presented by AIA Vitality which drew 1,898 bidders from 46 countries, which offers titles in 12 age-group categories on a refreshed racecourse.

Lukosz and Ramos also head the 40-44 division of the event which also features competitions in the all-male and allfemale relay and mixed relay.

Also up for grabs is the CEO division trophy.

Lanao del Norte’s Satar Salem, who topped the Sun Life 5150 Bohol last month, is

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just to watch their daughter perform.

“I am so happy but it has not sunk in yet that I am the country’s first triple gold medalist,” said Otom of her outstanding achievement as a rookie in the biennial sportsfest.

“Iba po talaga na makita namin na manalo ang anak naming si Angel. Ito po pala ang feeling nananalo ang anak namin,” chorused Otom’s parents in witnessing their daughter see action for the first time.

Ernie Gawilan scooped up his second gold medal in topping the men’s 200-meter individual medley SM7 in recordbreaking fashion as well in 2:49.530, sinking the 14-year-old mark of 4:00.02

by Salungyoo Rawin of Thailand in the 2008 Bangkok Games.

A pleasant surprise was rookie Marco Tinamisan, who won the swimming team’s fourth gold in topping the men’s 50-meter freestyle S3 event in 54.660 seconds in the outing supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Over at the Manahan Stadium, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan secured also tipped to contend for the overall championship and in the 25-29 age category.

Other titles to be disputed in the event, backed by Active, Breitling 1884, Gatorade, Hoka and ROKA, are the 18-24, 30-34, 35-39, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69. 70-74 and 75-and-above.

A total of 222 bidders are also vying in the IRONKIDS tomorrow (Saturday), which ushers in the IRONMAN weekend. “ Fo r

his second gold in ruling the men’s 400-meter T5 race in 1:06.20 while teammate Rodrigo Potiotan Jr. finished third but did not get a medal since there were only three entries in the event (1:09.870).

Gary Bejino lost by a touch to Thailand’s Aekkharin Noithatto and settled for a silver in the men’s 50m butterfly S6 event in 35.440 seconds to the former’s 35.300 seconds before securing another silver in the men’s 50m freestyle (34.40).

The duo of Russel Cundangan and Mary Ann Taguinod likewise took the silver in the J1-J2 women’s team event of judo.

With the combined five golds of athletics and swimming, the Philippines raised its overall medal tally to 19 golds, 16 silvers and 34 bronzes, just one gold shy of the 20 golds the PH paraathletes won in the 2017

edition of the meet held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Philippines was poised to add another gold in the men’s P1 team event after FIDE Master Sander Severino and Jasper Rom downed their separate rivals in the fifth and penultimate round at the Lo-rin Hotel.

With their victories, the Filipino chessers were assured of their fifth gold regardless of the outcome of the final round.

Rookie Angel Otom takes a bite at her gold medal

Malixi still 1 shot behind leader at Jr golf tourney RIANNE Malixi checked an impending frontside slide with birdies in the last two holes as she saved a one-under 71 to remain a shot behind Kaitlyn Schroeder, whose two eagle-feat steered her to a 66 and a share of the clubhouse lead with fellow American Julia Misemer in the second round of the Junior PGA Championships in Palos Park, Illinois Wednesday.

Play was suspended due to darkness with a number of players to complete their respective rounds early Thursday, including Misemer, who hobbled with bogeys on Nos. 5 and 7 after an eaglespiked backside 33 before the round was stopped.

Her running one-under card and a nine-under aggregate, however, kept her in step with Schroeder, who assembled a 135 after a six-under card that featured eagles on Nos. 5 and 11 and four birdies against two bogeys.

Jaclyn LaHa also shot a 71 in challenging conditions but stayed at fourth at 137 in a provisional tie with Katie Li, who had a three-under card with two holes left to play, while Japanese Nika Ito slipped to sixth at 138, also after a 71.

Thai Thanana Kotchasanmanee likewise turned in a 71 for joint seventh at 139 with Kiara Romero of the US, who fought back with a 68, as the chase for top honors headed to a shootout or wild finish with six others within striking distance with two rounds to play.

The ICTSI-backed Malixi birdied the last two holes to make up for her mishaps on Nos. 3, 6 and 7, her 37-34 keeping her in the mix of things at 136 and a clear shot at the crown in the lead-up to her US Women’s Amateur stint in Kentucky next week.

Impressive with her closing run of birdies at Cog Hill’s Ravine’s layout that netted her a first round 65 Tuesday, Malixi actually sustained her top form, birdying two of the first six holes at the back and holing out with another birdie to negate a miscue on No. 17.

Czech ace man to beat in IRONMAN 70.3 all the athletes, it is time for your preparations to pay off and enjoy the experience. We understand the effort and sacrifice that you have made to prepare fot his event and our IRONMAN team stands ready to help you achieve your goals,” said Jeff Edwards, managing director of IRONMAN Asia.

The press conference for the

Petr Lukosz

IRONMAN 70.3 will be held at 3 p.m. today (Friday) with the IRONKIDS race briefing set at 5 p.m. on Facebook live.

For details, visit www.ironman. com/philippines70.3 with official hashtags: #IM703Philippines and #IMasia, social media (Facebook) Megaworld IM703 AIA Vitality and im703ph (Instagram).

Edwards also cited the event’s partners, volunteers, supporters and the local community for their all-out support to ensure the successful staging of the event billed as the crown jewel of Asian triathlon.

Race director Neville Manaois also expects a fast but exhausting race against time in the bike stage given the reconfigured racecourse that will take the triathletes over the CCLEX bridge, which connects Lapu-Lapu City to the Municipality of Cordova.

Other backers of IRONMAN 70.3 Cebu are Athletic Brewing Co., Hyperice, Santini, Wahoo, Fulgaz, City of Lapu-Lapu,

CCLEX, Municipality of Cordova (Cebu), City of Cebu, Lalamove, Alaska, Lightwater, Prudential Guarantee, RLC Residences, Regent, Rudy Project, Sante and Teresa Marble Corp. and media partners Cignal, the Philippine Star and Sportograf.com.

Meanwhile, the IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines Expo and the Merchandise Store Open yesterday (Thursday) kicked off activities for the big weekend that included the check-in of the first batch of athletes in the event which start and end at The Mactan Newtown.

Meanwhile, due to road closures from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. on race day and to ensure the safe of participants, the local government unit and organizers of the event will implement traffic rerouting in six barangays in Lapu-Lapu City, including in Mactan, Punta Engaño, Maribago, Agus, Marigondon and Subabasbas.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan also assured those with scheduled flights that there will be establishments offering airport lounge for them to stay while waiting for their departure.

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Sports

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

NBA players to coach top Asia-Pacific bets in BWB NEW YORK AND CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – The National Basketball Association, the International Basketball Federation and Basketball Australia on Thursday announced over 60 of the top boys and girls from more than 15 countries across Asia-Pacific will travel to Canberra, Australia for the 12th Basketball Without Borders Asia camp from Aug. 7 to 10 at NBA Global Academy, the league’s elite basketball training center at BA’s Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport.

BWB Asia 2022 will mark the first time the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in Asia-Pacific since 2019 in Japan and the first in Australia since 2016 in Melbourne. The camp will bring together the top male and female players ages 18 and under from throughout Asia-Pacific to compete alongside their peers from across the region and learn directly from current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players and coaches.

The campers will be coached by NBA players Jarrett Allen (2022 NBA AllStar for the Cleveland Cavaliers; U.S.), Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks; Australia), Cameron Johnson (Phoenix Suns; U.S.) and Coby White (Chicago Bulls; U.S.).

NBA assistant coaches Damian Cotter (Bulls; Australia), David Akinyooye (Oklahoma City Thunder; U.S.) and Eric Glass (Miami Heat; U.S.); New York Knicks international scout and Serbia Men’s National Team assistant coach Adam Tatalovich (U.S.); former WNBA players Kristi Harrower (Australia) and Annie La Fleur (Australia); and former Australia Women’s National Team player Jenni Screen (Australia) will also serve as BWB Asia coaches.

Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia) will serve as camp director, while Dan Shimensky (Denver Nuggets; U.S.) will serve as the camp’s athletic trainer.

Players and coaches will lead campers through a variety of activities, including movement efficiency drills, offensive and defensive skill stations, three-point contests, 5-on-5 games, and life skills and leadership development sessions. A ceremony on the final day of the camp will award the BWB Asia 2022 MVP, Defensive MVP, Three-Point Champion and the Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award to the boys and girls who distinguish themselves on the court and as leaders.

Tight duel looms as Sambalilo pro-am starts THE Sambalilo Golf Pro-Am tournament gets going today (Friday, Aug. 5) with 66 teams primed for a fierce battle right in the first round under the scramble format at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club in Cavinti, Laguna.

Zanieboy Gialon, who has earlier listed Gab Manotoc as his partner, will now be playing with Romeo Lopez, still hopeful to get into the mix early and gain a crack at the championship at the very site where he reigned in a pro tournament recently that snapped a long title spell.

Play shifts to four-ball (best ball) tomorrow (Saturday) with the top 10 teams to receive cash prizes, including the top P100,000 for the winning pro and gift prizes for the amateur.

Those finishing from 11th to last will get consolation prizes in the P500,000 event put up by the Municipality of Cavinti and which drew some of the country’s leading pros and top and rising amateurs, including those in the women’s ranks.

But the rest are also coming into the tournament brimming with confidence, including Michael Bibat, who’s pinning his hopes on partner Edwin de Ocampo, along with Tony Lascuña with Kevin Su, Jay Bayron with Russel Salazar, Rufino Bayron with Bobby Iñigo, Jerseon Balasabas with Pherham Saiddi, James Ryan Lam with Jet Mathay, Robert Pactolerin with Vince Cuevas and Jhonnel Ababa with Bong Macalalad.

“I like our chances but we have to stay focused and play to our strengths,” said Bibat, whose confidence is bolstered by a recent victory that likewise ended a string of missed chances. He hopes to give his partner some good looks at birdies.

Former US President Donald Trump and Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers CG talk on the 18th green during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational - Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on in Bedminster, New Jersey. AFP

Gloves off: LIV Golf players file anti-trust lawsuit vs. PGA Tour

S

AN FRANCISCO (AFP) — Eleven LIV Golf players, including Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, filed an anti-trust lawsuit on Wednesday against the US PGA Tour, some seeking a restraining order to compete in next week’s playoffs.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Northern District of California, challenges the indefinite suspensions imposed

by PGA commissioner Jay Monahan upon those who played in any of the Saudibacked upstart tour’s first three events.

The lawsuit begins a legal showdown between the rebel series and the established PGA Tour and whether the golfers are free agents or as tour members are subject to rules and punishments of the PGA Tour.

With LIV Golf events offering record $25 million purses and some players reportedly offered fat signing bonuses

as well, some top names joined the circuit despite criticism over Saudi human rights abuses.

“As the tour’s monopoly power has grown, it has employed its dominance to craft anti-competitive restraints to protect its long-standing monopoly,” the lawsuit claimed.

“Threatened by the entry of LIV Golf and diametrically opposed to its founding mission, the tour has ventured to harm the careers and livelihoods of any golfers... who have the temerity to defy the tour and play in tournaments sponsored by the new entrant.

“The tour has done so in an intentional and relentless effort to crush nascent competition before it threatens the tour’s monopoly.”

Australian Matt Jones and Americans Talor Gooch and Hudson Swafford want a temporary restraining order to be able to compete in next week’s first PGA Tour FedEx Cup playoff event at Memphis. They qualified based on season points before joining LIV Golf and being banished.

Other players filing the lawsuit include Mexico’s Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz, England’s Ian Poulter and Americans Jason Kokrak, Pat Perez and Peter Uihlein.

A memo from PGA commissioner Jay Monahan to players obtained by The Golf Channel said the tour was confident in its legal position regarding the suspensions.

“We have been preparing to protect our membership and contest this latest attempt to disrupt our tour and you should be confident in the legal merits of our po-

sition,” the memo stated.

“These suspended players, who are now Saudi Golf League employees, have walked away from the tour and now want back in.

“With the Saudi Golf League on hiatus, they are trying to use lawyers to force their way into competition alongside our members in good standing. It’s an attempt to use the tour platform to promote themselves and to free ride on your benefits and efforts.

“To allow entry into our events compromises the tour and the competition to the detriment of our organization, our players, our partners and our fans.”

LIV Golf backed the lawsuit in a statement to The Golf Channel.

“The players are right to have brought this action to challenge the PGA Tour’s anti-competitive rules and to vindicate their rights as independent contractors to play where and when they choose,” the LIV Golf Series statement said.

Adalem, Marinero shoot for D-League semis seats Games Friday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 9 a.m. - Marinerong Pilipino* vs CEU 11 a.m. - Builders Warehouse-UST vs Adalem Construction-St. Clare* * - twice-to-beat

The Saints narrowly escaped the threat from the Growling Tigers, 87-86, last July 21.

ADALEM Construction-St. Clare and Marinerong Pilipino eye a quick entry into the 2022 PBA DLeague Aspirants’ Cup semifinals when its battled separate foes on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The No.3 Saints face the redhot Builders Warehouse-UST at 11 a.m., following the 9 a.m. encounter between No. 4-seed Skippers and the hungry Centro Escolar University.

“The way UST is playing right

now, they’re on a roll so kailangang mag-prepare kami nang mabuti para sa kanila,” said Adalem-St. Clare coach Jinino Manansala who will rely on NAASCU MVP Johnsherick Estrada and Joshua Fontanilla.

Interim coach Albert Alocillo, for his part, is just elated with how Sherwin Concepcion, Nic Cabanero, and Kean Baclaan have stepped up to the plate in its last three wins to make this late charge to the top six.

“Ibig sabihin kaya pala talaga namin maglaro. Siguro sa ngayon, maganda ‘yung momentum namin and magandang motivation para sa amin ito,” he said.

The Saints narrowly escaped the threat from the Growling Tigers, 87-86, last July 21.

As for Marinerong Pilipino, the

meeting is a shot at redemption after suffering a shock 84-77 defeat to CEU just last Monday.

“Lesson pa rin sa amin ‘yun.

Hindi man namin nakuha ‘yung top two, ang mahalaga may advantage pa rin kami at ‘di namin pwedeng sayangin ‘yun,” said coach Yong Garcia as his side ended the eliminations losing back-to-back games but will now have a complete roster on hand led by Juan Gomez de Liano, Jollo Go, and Kemark Carino.

For CEU, there’s really nothing to lose with coach Chico Manabat unearthing gems in Jerome Santos, Franz Diaz, and Lenard Santiago in this surprise run to the top six.

“Beyond our expectations ito.

This is an opportunity for us to grow at sisiguraduhin naming ‘di na namin ito bibitiwan,” he said.

BBM, the athlete wants more time for sports: Let children play more A RECENT conversation with Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta gave The Designated Kit Man an unknown tidbit about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself.

The football chief said the Filipinas’ recent visit to Malacañang was a big boost to the sport. He said the team’scourtesy call on the Chief Executive was very fruitful and promising not only for football but for all sports in general.

Araneta said Marcos is very interested in sports revival, especially in the elementary and secondary levels. The government’s support in sports will eventually lead to more awareness and more support not only from the government, but from the private sector as well.

Araneta said that President Marcos knows this so well because he also played football when he was young.

“Coming from him, I think the President also played before when he was a student.

Ang sabi pa ni Presidente dapat talaga dagdagan pa ang time for sports and let the children play more and it should start with the Department of Education to allow the students to play more,” he explained.

“Football and other sports as well are very important factors in the in the country’s wellbeing because they promote good health and other good things and values. So, hopefully, the government will inject more funding for sports and also more time for students to play. Yung P.E. nila kasi 30 minutes per week eh ano naman ang magagawa nila for that? Dati nga may Department of Education, Culture and Sports tayo. Tapos naging DepEd na lang, nawala na yung Sports. We need more training for the children to play

outside, not only for football but other sports as well. A healthy body is a healthy mind,” Araneta added.

Which bring us to more interesting developments for the Filipinas.

The Philippine National Women’s Football Team’s road to the FIFA World Cup next year will now include a pit stop in Los Angeles, California.

Araneta also told the Designated Kit Man that the Filipinas will take another World Cup-bound team in a friendly next month in the United States.

“I think they’re playing New Zealand in L.A. on September 6 or 9,” Araneta said.

Aranerta likewise confirmed the Filipinas will also travel to Costa Rica to play two friendlies against the Latin American country in their home turf in October. He said the Filipinas’ success in the AFF Cup is only the beginning of more challenges for the team as it prepares for the biggest tournament in women’s football.

Araneta is hopeful also that with the team’s winning run, the renewed interest on football in the country will also translate to more fans and stakeholders’ support to all national football teams, including the Under-16, Under-19, Under-23 and the Philippine Azkals.

“The interest is there again because of the success of the women’s team. Football is in the limelight again. And we hope to sustain the interest that’s why we are scheduling a lot of games for them. And hopefully, in November, they can play a game here in the country and tuluy-tuloy ang preparation nila for the World Cup,” Araneta revealed.

And despite the losses suffered by the country’s youth teams in recent international competitions, he said it is still a good thing coming from more than two years of the pandemic. He believes there is so much to look forward to when it comes to football.

“Two years tayong wala at hindi naglaro ang mga bata and it showed. Unti-unti, we started participating in Indonesia pero makikita mo naman ang ‘yung match fitness nila – wala, even our Under-19 – but we are trying to revive football again by participating in tournaments and also holding local tournaments as long as the IATF will allow us. We have to start playing again. Matagal na nawala, let the players play again,” Araneta said.

Araneta is also ecstatic that the Football Federation will soon have a bigger headquarters in Carmona, Cavite with the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the five-story building. Aside from more services and facilities that can be offered in one place by the PFF for its grassroots program, coaches training, player education and other matters related to football, the new building is practical and sustainable.

“We have more classrooms for our coaches and referees as they take educational and technical courses and they can take practical applications of what they learned right away because the football pitch is just nearby. At hindi na kami magrerenta kung saan saan at malapit na lang ang football field,” he added.

Speaking of the domestic league, the Philippines Football League’s second tournament of the year is set to unfold this Sunday, August 7, 2022 at the Rizal Football Stadium with a double header. Kaya FC Iloilo will battle the Azkals Development Team in the opener at 4 p.m. before the Maharlika Manila FC takes on United City FC in the nightcap at 7 p.m.

“They are really gung ho about playing again because hindi na siya under a bubble tournament. It’s an incentive for them.

Moreover, the clubs should encourage their fans to go to the games and watch. We still have Qatar Airways as a major sponsor and hopefully local companies will also come in

and support us,” Araneta said.

PFL Commissioner and new dad Coco Torre said at least seven teams are competing in the tournament. Aside from Kaya, ADT, Maharlika and UCFC, Stallion Laguna FC, Mendiola FC 1991 and Dynamic Herb Cebu FC are also in the mix in the tournament.

“We are very excited to launch the 5th edition of the Philippines Football League this weekend because we are bringing back the home and away format so that football fans in other parts of the country can enjoy watching the games live, too. Matches will be played not only at the Rizal Football Stadium but also at the Imus City Grandstand in Cavite, Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna, Cebu City, Iloilo City, and New Clark City Stadium. We are also looking at holding the games in neutral grounds to benefit more football fans,” Torre said.

He added that fans will also be able to enjoy the matches through the PFL’s free livestream platforms on its YouTube and Facebook pages.

Torre added the PFL is very grateful for the tremendous success and awareness brought by the success of the Filipinas and he is hopeful that more football fans will troop to the venues to cheer and support their local teams.

I also hope that the renewed support and interest in football will last for a long time.

With more support coming from government, private sectors, fans and other stakeholders, I am hoping that the coming years will be kinder to football and more success will be reached because we can’t simply waste this opportunity.

Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat

Entertainment

Nickie Wang,, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

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The Boiz of P-Pop HERE’S a new Pinoy pop group to watch out for.

And rightfully so, because this particular boyband is so good that the members can excite even on paper.

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Consider the lineup. There’s lead singer Ethan David, 19 years old but no stranger to Pinoy pop, having trained and gained experience as one of the lead singers of the boy group Nitro.

And the brothers BJ and Gas Sy, aged 17 and 12, both growing up around some

The members of the new P-pop boy group Boiz will be boiz

Boiz will be boiz has a Gen Z feel to their fashion and sound

Cristine Reyes’ powerful performance in ‘Maid in Malacañang’

‘Wish Ko Lang’ celebrates 20 years with grand, cinematic anniversary episodes THIS August, exciting Saturday afternoons await viewers as Wish Ko Lang – hosted by GMA News and Public Affairs pillar Vicky Morales – celebrates 20 years of granting wishes with the most cinematic anniversary episodes and biggest presents to date.

For two colorful decades, the awardwinning GMA Public Affairs program has made life-changing memories for Filipinos here and abroad. With stories that spark hope and inspiration, Wish Ko Lang continues to touch viewers’ lives by granting their wishes every week. And from fulfilling wishes via mailed letters, Wish Ko Lang is now able to reach more people across the globe via social media.

“For anyone, 20 years – in a relationship or in business – is such a big milestone,” shared Vicky. “I feel very grateful that we have reached two decades. We’ve been through a lot in the past 20 years.

Andoon yung nagkaroon tayo syempre ng challenges. nawalan pa tayo ng programa for awhile tapos bumalik din tayo sa gitna ng pandemya. So parang sinasalamin natin yung talagang nangyayari talaga sa buhay—ng isang mag-asawa o ng magkaibigan. And this helps us to treasure every episode even more.”

As the show embarks on a new chapter, Wish Ko Lang is set to make more people smile, laugh, and believe that nothing is impossible to those who fervently hope and work hard for their dreams.

“Hangga’t hindi tayo napapagod humiling at maniwala, hindi tayo mapapagod lumaban sa buhay. Kaya sana ‘wag talaga tayong mawalan ng pag-asa.

Ang dami nating pinagdaanan, andito pa rin po tayo sama-sama,” Vicky further said.

This August, Vicky will give the show’s biggest gifts to deserving Filipinos, including a Wish Ko Lang financial assistance amounting to P 100,000.

The program is also giving away “Instant Wish” packages through its official Facebook page, where the most deserving individuals will have the chance to bring home business p a c k a g e s , gadgets, and cash assistance, among others.

“Natutuwa po ako na may presence po tayo sa social media.

Nakakatulong ito sa amin to get the show out more.

Sana mas marami pang makapanood ng Wish Ko Lang at ma-inspire sa

mga kwento natin,” shared Vicky.

Month-long anniversary special Shot in high-end C700 cameras, the month-long special features some of the country’s highly-acclaimed actors led by Sid Lucero, Bianca Umali, Ms. Tessie Tomas, and the Philippines’ Optimum Star Claudine Barretto.

In the “Sugal” episode airing this Saturday (August 6), Bianca takes on the story of Marife–a strong-willed and brave bus conductor. Joining Bianca are Andrea del Rosario, Ian de Leon, Prince Clemente, Dentrix Ponce, and Bryce Eusebio.

Marife doesn’t hold back, and even a bus holdup won’t work for her. But behind this facade is Marife’s big problem with their family. She became tough and strong because her father, Edgar (Ian), has abandoned his duties to the family and is wasting away his life on alcohol. When drunk, he hurts his children. Marife’s mother, Rosemarie (Andrea), has a weak body so Marife has no choice but to stand in as a parent to her younger brothers, Jose (Bryce) and Melvin (Dentrix).

When Marife meets bus driver Raymond (Prince), it is love at first sight but Edgar does not approve of their relationship.

Rosemarie soon falls ill. Marife will do everything to generate the needed amount to get her mother treated. Unfortunately, Edgar will run off with Marife’s money. But this will not stop Marife from trying to save her mother.

The episode is directed by Rommel Penesa and penned by head writer Erwin Caezar Bravo and writer Adam Cornelius Asin.

Don’t miss the upcoming episodes headlined by Claudine Barretto (August 13: Bisita), Ms. Tessie Tomas (August 20: Bintang), and Sid Lucero (August 27: Selos).

Wish Ko Lang’s 20th anniversary is made extra special with the release of the program’s original soundtrack (OST) to be recorded by Hannah Precillas, Anthony Rosaldo, Jessica Villarubin, and Ysabel Ortega.

Catch Wish Ko Lang’s anniversary episodes beginning August 6, 4 PM, on GMA Network with live streaming on GMA Public Affairs social media accounts.

Kapuso abroad can watch it as well via GMA Pinoy TV. ‘Wish Ko Lang’ host Vicky Morales

of the most talented dancerperformers in the biz. Their mom is Teacher Georcelle of G-Force.

Their cousin Jonric Reyna, 20, and similarly exposed to the same because of his proximity to his cousins.

And Rey Cariaso, 22 years old, who’s into performing and music all of his young life and eventually trained with G-Force.

And they’re the young, talented personnel that’s behind Boiz will be Boiz, the latest Pinoy pop group that aims to make a splash with its vibrant music and electrifying performances.

The group released its debut single “I Wanna Know” on July 29.

The band’s first pop single is a midtempo groover. This R&B-inflected pop number, written by Jin Chan and produced by NEXXFRIDAY serves as the launching point for more exciting things from singers Ethan David, siblings Gas and BJ, Jonric and Rey. And judging by the way the Boiz’s look, move and sound, there’s a strong likelihood that every Gen Z will hear about them soon because primarily, the members themselves

are of that generation. They’re into TikTok, into video games (Gas said that he’s into Valorant) and basically like hanging out as a group. And asked what they’re like as a group, each answered: “Makulit and fun kasi whenever we are preparing for something we would always have moments where we would just be doing random stuff and laugh about it and then the entire process doesn’t seem like work,” said Rey. “Fun and light. Whenever we have training, we really don’t treat it as work,” said Ethan, adding “what we do is our passion.”

“We’re makulit and very talkative,” chimed in BJ., As to what makes them stand out with other P-pop groups, Jonric said, “we’re trying to put together our own flavor on Ppop music that we hope listeners will like.”

“We came from a very dance-oriented background and our knowledge from performing is taught by the best; by G-Force,” said Rey. “A new fresh sound for Pinoy pop,” added Ethan.

“Our style,” interjected Gas. As a group, Boiz will be Boiz all agreed that Ppop fans can look forward to good performances, and surprises as far as presentation is concerned. And of course, new music “that’s really exciting” said Ethan.

“Fun and playful performances,” the Boiz will be Boiz reiterated.

Cristine Reyes as the young Imee Marcos

By Patricia Taculao THE long-awaited opportunity for the Marcoses to tell their side of the story finally arrived. After 36 years, Senator Imee Marcos, with the help of controversial director Darryl Yap, took to the big screen to show the narrative from their perspective.

Yap relayed the story chapter by chapter to highlight every character in the film.

It opens with Cristine Reyes as a young Imee Marcos, evidently copying Madonna’s style with her edgy look complemented

with the appropriate accessories. She’s in Singapore with her family for medical reasons. A few minutes in, she receives an overseas phone call from the Philippines.

Right off the bat, Cristine established that her character isn’t one to challenge. She exuded the strong personality of the eldest daughter born in an Asian household. In her case, however, she’s the firstborn among three children of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. and former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos.

As the eldest, her siblings depended on her to get things done around Malacañang, address their family’s political affairs, and find solutions to many of their problems.

Throughout the movie, Cristine embodied a restless Imee who was continuously scheming to get her family away from the Palace. Her dialogue, actions, and wardrobe worked together to portray a woman who will always find a way to get what she wants.

Senator Marcos, a creative producer for the film, also ensured her strong bond with her father is evident between Cristine and Cesar Montano, who played the late President. Their interactions were raw and heartfelt, showing how the Senator looked up to her father.

Despite the film’s title and scenes focus on the help in the Palace, viewers are in for a big revelation as the real maid in Malacañang who knows the most about the people in

…are talking about

PEOPLE

Herlene Budol

From a comedienne with a dream to a Binibining Pilipinas first runner-up, Herlene came a long way to achieving her goal.

Although many are still debating whether or not she deserved the top spot, she proved anything is possible with faith and perseverance. Nonetheless, she deserves the milestone and has since become an inspiration to people who want to achieve what people deem impossible.

Sandara Park It’s been some time since the “Pambansang Krung Krung” came home to the Philippines, so fans were ecstatic to see her during the K-pop Masterz concert. Although she initially planned to surprise GOT7 member BamBam, she performed alongside the Thai musician after giving him a taste of the Philippines. It must be nice to have Sandara as a friend and big sister.

the area and does nearly impossible feats to secure everyone’s safety is Imee all along.

The late President praises his eldest for being the best maid the Palace ever had, even if he doesn’t pay her for her efforts to secure her family’s interest.

Yet Cristine wasn’t the only one who stole the movie throughout the spotlight. Ella Cruz (Irene Marcos) and Diego Loyzaga (President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.) also matched the intensity and mildness of Cesar and Ruffa Gutierrez (Imelda).

They starred alongside each other to show the relationship between the members of the former first family, where they poke fun at each other, get into misunderstandings, and put their family first.

With the Marcoses struggling to get through the last 72 hours in power, viewers can feel the heavy atmosphere lingering around the characters as dread slowly sets in. However, Yap added elements of comedy through Karla Estrada, Elizabeth Oropeza, and Beverly Salviejo, who played the three loyal maids, Santa, Lucy, and Biday, respectively.

In several scenes, the movie focuses on the various quirks of the three characters, which helps lighten the mood when things get too heavy.

The ending, however, is true to Yap’s reputation as a controversial director. Giselle Sanchez brings the late President Corazon Aquino to life with a portrayal sure to earn some comments from fans and critics alike.

Maid in Malacañang will premiere on August 3 in local and international cinemas.

...are not talking about Giselle Sanchez

She played a controversial role in Darryl Yap’s Maid in Malacañang. Now, critics are coming for her portrayal that people find insulting. While Giselle already faces the wrath of netizens, director and playwright Floy Quintos also gave his two cents on the issue, saying her explanation sounded more like a justification. As an artist, she remains firm on her choice, but her lengthy post made some people wonder whether she’s convincing them or herself.

Kuya Kim The presence of monkeypox in the Philippines alarmed everybody as they clamored for more information on the new health risk. As the country’s Trivia King, Kuya Kim shed some knowledge on the disease, which turned out to be offensive and inaccurate.

Thankfully, he was quick to address his mistake. Now that’s one way to use a celebrity’s influence for the better.

Directors ‘shocked’ by axing of $90m ‘Batgirl’ film THE directors of Batgirl said Wednesday they were “shocked” that the $90 million dollar superhero film had been axed by the studio and will now not be released in any format.

Warner Bros. Discovery announced they were shelving the movie adaptation of the DC Comics character, which was to star Leslie Grace in the title role, alongside Michael Keaton as Batman, preventing it from being seen in either theaters or on streaming platform HBO Max. “We are saddened and shocked by the news. We still can’t believe it,” directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah wrote on Instagram.

“As directors, it is critical that our work be

shown to audiences, and while the film was far from finished, we wish that fans all over the world would have had the opportunity to see and embrace the final film themselves.”

The movie had completed principal photography and much of the post-production work – where special effects, sound, and graphics are added – was also done.

Star Grace (In the Heights) had told interviewers how excited she was to have landed the role, and how thrilled she was to be working with Keaton and other luminaries.

Her efforts were applauded by El Arbi and Fallah, who described themselves as “huge fans of Batman

since we were little kids.”

“It was a dream to work with such fantastic actors like Michael Keaton, J.K. Simmons, Brendan Fraser... and especially the great Leslie Grace, who portrayed Batgirl with so much passion, dedication, and humanity,” the Bad Boys for Life directing duo added.

The move sent shockwaves through Hollywood, where industry veterans said it was unprecedented for a movie to be so close to completion – and with so much money already spent – and not be released.

Batgirl appears to have fallen victim to a change in corporate strategy after a merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery. AFP

‘Batgirl’ directors Adil El Arbi (left) and Bilall Fallah are ‘saddened and shocked’ by thedecision to cancel the $90m film, even though it was nearly complete

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

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

Life

Passing the bra exam Where ‘comfidence’ is the goal

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HE best part of the day for a woman, as portrayed by a lot of memes, is the moment she gets to take off her bra. While the joke is funny and relatable, I realized from last Saturday’s Inspiring ComforTalks on Facebook Live that it should not be the case. Looking back, intimate wear does contribute to a woman’s wellbeing as it creates a domino effect in the different aspects of her life.

At the recent Inspiring ComforTalks on Facebook, host Issa Litton and social media personalities Melissa Benipayo and Pat Bobadilla, talked about how comfort, in terms of intimate wear, contributes to a woman’s wellbeing and creates a domino effect in the different aspects of her life.

make a woman feel conscious, insecure, and uncomfortable. These seemingly trivial things distract her from being 100 percent in the zone and functioning at her best in important moments of her life.

A woman then should seek comfort to achieve the confidence she needs. Comfort, in terms of intimate wear, comes in different forms. As discussed by the talk’s host Issa Litton and social media personalities Adjusting loose bra straps and loosen- Melissa Benipayo and Pat Bobadilla, ing the occasional tight grip on the ribcage colors, form, material breathability, and while performing other activities can right measurements top their bra criteria.

Colors

More than anyone, the woman wearing the bra should be able to appreciate its color. Colors trigger emotions and the joy of picking the right one is very personal.

Form

Bras should feel like a second skin and celebrate the uniqueness of a woman’s body. Ill-fitting ones may lead to constant fidgeting and adjustments and can affect a woman’s posture.

When it comes to bra criteria, the colors, form, material breathability, and right measurements are top considerations a woman should look for as these will help her perform her best in various situations.

makes all the difference. You’ll feel Breathability It is important for the bra’s fabric comfortable, supported, and ready to to have the right amount of moisture- tackle whatever obstacles lay in front wicking properties to keep a woman of you,” Mel said.

The power women can both attest dry and odor-free. that in anything, confidence does come from within.

Right fit Heritage lingerie brand Triumph ofGetting the right fit is like a signal for a woman to dream big and hustle. She is fers a wide range of non-wired bras for worry-free support, security, and style. free to embrace herself.

Pat learned about comfort the hard For your random thoughts, e-mail the way as she was used to giving it up just to look good. “The right bra author at randomrepublika@gmail.com.

Body care line for moms and babies

The Uniservitate Award 2022 for Asia and Oceania regional hub commended ‘TANAW: Breaking Barriers for Blind and Visually Impaired Students through Multi-Sensory and Experiential Design,’ a renovation project that transformed the e-Learning Resource Center of The Philippine National School for the Blind (PNSB) into a multisensory educational experience.

Philippine National School for the Blind library renovation wins global award UNISERVITATE Award, a global program that recognizes the best Catholic Higher Education Institutions (CHEIs) that involve the younger generation to address contemporary challenges, recently lauded Filipino Interior Design students and educators in creating an inclusive classroom adapted to the needs of the blind and visually impaired.

The Uniservitate Award 2022 for Asia and Oceania regional hub commended TANAW: Breaking Barriers for Blind and Visually Impaired Students through Multi-Sensory and Experiential Design.

A renovation project, it transformed the e-Learning Resource Center of The Philippine National School for the Blind (PNSB), a special institution for visually challenged junior and senior high schoolers, into a multisensory educational experience.

The 63-square meter expanse’s core feature is an interactive wall to encourage sensory learning that can be touched, rearranged, and played with to stimulate auditory and kinesthetic senses. The flooring was specifically designed to encourage a continuous accessible path of travel and notifies to take caution when approaching a change in zone.

The room provides audio-visual aids and online materials and is equipped with assistive features such as Braille system for digital learning. High contrasting hues were considered to allow better identification of various areas and furniture. For easy navigation, the room has an open space with no physical partitions. It likewise houses a teacher’s desk and workstations with supplies and facilities.

The center is complete with an array of bookshelves, a computer area, a reading nook and an announcement board.

The renovation was made possible by 24 Interior Design students from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, guided by Benilde Interior Design educators IDr. Randy Pabona and IDr. Maria Celiza Sim, who were all motivated by the mission to promote inclusive education and empathetic design to

foster growth and development among those with specific needs.

The team was comprised of Pamela Aldaba, Jallf Alora, Andro Bonoan, Nina Cabral, Dan Camus, Moira Campoy, Andrea De Castro, Janus De Guzman, Katrina Del Rosario, Martin Dena, and Sophia De Jesus.

The roster was completed by Nigel Delos Santos, Tommy Escay, Jennifer Gongora, Raven Landicho, Nicole Lopez, Krishna Loquinte, Se Vin Moon, Jazel Ong, Arrah Pamintuan, Nicole Quiat, Paola Sarmiento, Margaux Sia, and Katrina Viloria.

The college likewise received an Honorable Mention for FLECORP Corporate and Non-Cinematic Filmmaking, an initiative that aims to produce audiovisual material to help non-government organizations communicate to the world.

Uniservitate also awarded the Australian Catholic University (Australia) for the Solomon Islands Teacher Education Immersion Program, which focuses on improving the quality of education in the territory through teacher training.

Another Honorable Mention was granted to Don Bosco University (India) for a project on water purification entitled Bixudha Jol Asoni “Safe drinking water for all”.

The winners were selected by a jury of leading figures in the field of education, who screened the entries on the basis of their quality, replicability and ability to inspire other initiatives.

Coordinated by CLAYSS (Latin American Center for Service-Learning) and Porticus, in adhesion to the Global Compact on Education, the global network of Uniservitate is present in 26 countries on five continents through partnerships with over 30 higher education institutions. The regional hub for the Asia and Oceania was represented by the Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) of the De La Salle University.

SINCE celebrity entrepreneurs and power couple Rocco and Melissa Nacino recently shared the good news that they are expecting, they have been taking important steps to prepare for their family’s future and safety.

One such effort is partnering with Orabella Direct Selling Inc., the fastest-growing direct selling brand in the country today, for the creation of the MamaLuna Series – a set containing Phytosense Conditioning Shampoo, Bath Gel, and Body Lotion that is safe for all mothers and the whole family.

Rocco and Mel have been heavily involved with Orabella for the development of the MamaLuna Series since day one: from branding, to product development, to home usage testing, pilot approvals, and now marketing.

“We are so excited to launch this product line because it feels very personal for us.

We closely worked with the Orabella team during the whole development process. We wanted to make sure that our products are safe for my pregnant wife, and perfect for use for the whole family,” Rocco shares.

The MamaLuna Series contains the Phytosense Conditioning Shampoo, which has Coconut Surfactants for gentle cleansing, Cressatine for hair fall defense, and organic Chamomile Essence for calm and care. Cressatine has Watercress and Indian Cress extracts that strengthen existing strands by building high-quality keratin, stimulate new hair growth by triggering keratin growth factors, and prolong the growth phase of hair.

Also included in the set is the Phytosense

Bath Gel, which has Amisoft for gentle cleansing on the skin, organic aloe vera for lasting hydration, as well as organic Chamomile Essence for calm and care. Amisoft has nourishing amino acids that repair damaged skin, replenish undernourished skin, and boost moisture retention.

Last but not least is the Phytosense Body Lotion, which has organic Sunflower Oil for a multi-blemish defense, aloe vera for lasting moisture, and organic Chamomile Essence for calm and care. Organic Sunflower Oil is rich in Vitamins A, C, and D, which boosts skin cell turnover, ridding Celebrity entrepreneurs and power couple Rocco and the skin of bacteria. The Aloe Vera Melissa Nacino has partnered with Orabella for the juice contains Aloesin, which prevents creation of the MamaLuna Series – a set containing Phytosense Conditioning Shampoo, Bath Gel, and Body scarring and hyperpigmentation.

Lotion that is safe for all mothers and the whole family.

Aside from the many benefits that the MamaLuna Series offers, Rocco and Mel wanted a sustainable packaging for the ucts that they can truly be proud of, which is products as a way of making them environment why they have also invested in Orabella as a friendly. “We wanted a product that is not just Franchisee in the Antipolo area.

“We are happy to work with Orabella for safe for me while I’m carrying our baby, but also safe for the environment, which will benefit not the MamaLuna Series because they underjust my child, but all our children when they stand our needs as soon-to-be parents. Orabella takes pride in being a Filipino brand grow up,” Melissa quips.

The MamaLuna Series makes use of eco- that can create world-class innovative prodfriendly wheat straw bio packaging, a BPA- ucts promoting sustainable beauty and wellfree and Pthalate-free renewable and sustain- ness. We look forward to a fruitful partnerable alternative to plastic. It is biodegradable ship in the years to come,” Rocco ends.

The MamaLuna Series is available on in three to six months via composting, and Shopee and Lazada, and is also available completely recyclable and remoldable.

With all of these in mind, Rocco and Mel nationwide via Orabella Franchisees, Disbelieve that the MamaLuna Series are prod- tributors, and Resellers.

Luxury French skincare brand opens boutique store in Makati

By Patricia Taculao AS SKINCARE brands continue to rise in popularity for their ability to enhance one’s complexion and confidence, the public began investing in products that benefit their skin. Among all the products available in the market, consumers prefer those with more than one function.

For consumers, splurging on skincare products should be worthwhile and bring evident results. French luxury skincare brand Cle de Peau Beaute offers just that and more.

Clé de Peau Beauté, pronounced clay de poe BOW-tay, means “the key to skin’s beauty” in French. Founded in 1982, the brand aims to forge new frontiers in advanced skin cell science. This 2022 Clé de Peau Beauté celebrates 40 years of scientific research and progress, bringing its top-quality luxury products to the Philippine market.

Last July 27, the brand opened its flagship boutique in Greenbelt 5, Makati, to give Filipinos a chance to access skincare products developed from years of meticulous research.

Shiseido Philippines Managing Director Michael Goh, who was present during the grand opening of the Clé de Peau Beauté boutique, said that this year, the brand solidified itself as a luxurious, innovative, and eco-friendly brand in the market.

Among its luxury skincare products, Clé de Peau Beauté is particularly proud of La Crème or The Cream (P34,000). It has a skin-empowering illuminator that helps the skin achieve

Clé de Peau Beauté The Serum in 30ml and 50ml, Hydro-Softening Lotion, as well as HydroClarifying Lotion

Clé de Peau Beauté flagship boutique in Greenbelt 5 welcomes shoppers with a luxurious feel.

and maintain its optimal condition. La Crème’s formulation also contains a rare bio-ingredient, CeraFerment Extract, designed to help skin feel rejuvenated from within.

When combined, the ingredients address the signs of aging to help skin achieve remarkable resilience and feel incredibly smooth and firm.

La Crème has been recreated eight times since its initial launch in 1982, showing Clé de Peau Beauté’s dedication to scientific innovation in the beauty industry. The brand’s scientists developed each version to become more potent and innovative than its predecessor. Its present formulation expertly combines more than 60 ingredients, along with relevant items, to create the ideal face cream.

Parallel with the global anti-aging trend, Clé de Peau Beauté recognizes that women grow more radiant with time. Thus, the brand creates products that empower the innate abilities and processes within the skin to help it reach its highest potential.

Now, the latest La Crème reiteration incorporates the technology in higher potency than any other Key Radiance Care product. A significant final step in an empowering daily routine.

The new formula follows the idea that Skin Intelligence becomes least active at night. La Crème, when applied in the evening, features a breakthrough complex SkinEmpowering Illuminator in the highest potency of any Clé de Peau Beauté product. It helps amplify Skin Intelligence and enhance the skin’s ability to repair and defend itself from damage caused by stressors.

Clé de Peau Beauté also offers a cream, lotion, and emulsion to maximize the skin’s glow. Beauty products such as lipsticks, face powders, eye makeup, and accessories are also available in its flagship boutique.

Visit Clé de Peau Beauté’s flagship boutique in Greenbelt 5. For more information, visit www.cledepeau-beaute.com/ph/.