By Willie Casas
By Othel V. Campos PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Aileen Anunciacion Zosa as the new president and chief executive officer (PCEO) of the Bases Conversion and Development
By Vince Lopez T HE composition of the new 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority is proof that the former warring members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have finally united under one Bangsamoro autonomous government.
DOTr, Chinese embassy agree to restart talks on rail projects
PH fewMorepopulation:seniorsasbabiesborn MARCOS NAMES FIRST FEMALE TO LEAD BCDA OWWA TO BRING BACK 'HATID SAYA' FOR OFWS Next page Next page Next page Positivity rate in NCR declines, seen as COVID-19 has hit peak
BTA unites ex-Moro rebels
AUTHOR JK ROWLING GETS ONLINE THREAT SCOTTISH police said on Sunday they investigating apparent "online threat" made to Harry Potter author JK Rowling in response to her tweet supporting Salman Rushdie following his stabbing. "We have received a report eyes sugar import of 150,000 MT 15,
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THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said Sunday it would revive the "Hatid Saya" entertainment program for Filipinos working abroad.
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SINO GAMING TYCOON HELD FOR ILLEGAL OPS AUTHORITIES in Bangkok have detained a controversial Chinese tycoon who has business interests in Cambodia, Myanmar and the Philippines and is the subject of an international arrest warrant for allegedly running an illegal online casino, Thai police said.
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by Oct. VOL. XXXVI • NO. 180 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 MONDAY, AUGUST
2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
RESTARTING TALKS. Transportation Sec. Jaime Bautista and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian restart 'negotiations for major transport projects' in a formal meeting at the Chinese Embassy in Makati City on Aug. 11, 2022.
By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said there may be a need to import sugar come October, but it will only be at most half of the 300,000 metric tons contained in an aborted illegal order issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration.“Perhaps,come October, our domes toc supply will already run short and we may need to import, but it will only be a little," he said in a vlog posted on his Facebook page. "It will not be as many as the 300,000 me troc tons that they are saying. Perhaps 150,000 metric tons will already be more than enough for the entire year. In my opinion, we cut down significantly on the importation of sugar," said Marcos who is also the concurrent head of the Department of Agriculture and chairman of the SRA. Marcos said he would have preferred to do away with importation, but is constrained to do so to prevent a spike in prices if supply remains low. "While we are still improving our production, we are forced to import but we have to make sure we do not overimport," he said. Aside from sugar, Marcos said he is also eyeing procurementgovernment-to-governmentoffertilizertotemperthe rising prices of urea in the country. "The high price of urea and fertilizer has become a big problem," he said. The President said the Department of Trade and Industry is already conducting dialogues with fertilizer traders to “control” the prices of urea. The government is likewise planning to release “e-vouchers” for fertilizers to aid“Myfarmers.dream is simple: For farmers to have sustainable income so that the next generation will be encouraged to continue this industry. My dream is for no Filipino to suffer from hunger," Marcos added. The House of Representatives is
FILIPINOS are having fewer babies while the number of senior citizens has doubled in the last 20 years to account for 8.5 percent of the total population in 2020, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) said Sunday. The agency said that the Philippine "population pyramid” is currently constricting at the bottom, which consists of Filipino children ages zero to 4; while it is increasing at the top, reflecting the part of the senior citizens as they continue to register growth. Citing a recent Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report, POPCOM derived that the percentage share of Filipino children under 5 is now down to 10.2 percent in 2020 from 10.8 percent in 2015, and 12.6 percent in 2000. In the last two decades, the percentage in the population of Filipinos under 15 has dropped from a 37 percent share in 2000 to 30.7 percent in 2020. Meanwhile, the median age of Filipinos also went up to 25.3 years old, from 23.3 years old in 2010, continuing a 30-year trend. In 2020, Filipinos 60 years of age and older comprised 8.5 percent of the population, or 9.2 million people. That year saw the doubling of the country’s
DOTr COOL SMASHERS STUN TAIWANESE, NAIL PVL SPORTSCROWN/B1 Next page Next page
THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Sunday it had agreed with the Chinese Embassy in Manila to restart negotiations for major transportation projects in the country, three days after Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian had their first meeting. “The two officials discussed resumption of talks for the major Chinafunded railway projects such as the PNR South Long Haul Project (NorthSouth Commuter Railway), SubicClark Railway and Mindanao Railway (Tagum-Davao-Digos),” the DOTr wrote on its Facebook page. Earlier, Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez said the Chinese government did not act on the Duterte administration’s request for loan financing for three major railway projects, which meant these were considered withdrawn and needed to be renegotiated by the incumbent government.Chavez said the Duterte administration’s National Economic and Development Authority Board approved the three railway projects to be funded by China's official development assistance loans. But the negotiations that began in 2018 did not prosper because China did not act on the Philippine government’s requests for funding, according to the DOTr. Also, Chavez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered them to
Palace sees it as sign MILF, MNLF members heed BBM unity call
OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo
ZHIJIANGSHE ZOSAAILEEN IGNACIOARNELL
THE COVID-19 positivity rate of Metro Manila dropped to 16.4 percent on Aug. 12, the first time it has done so in the current wave of infections, the independent OCTA Research Group said Sunday. The positivity rate, which refers to the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of people tested—had declined from 17.5 percent on Aug. 6, OCTA fellow Guido David said. “This is the first time in the current wave the weekly positivity rate decreased, and it gives us optimism that cases in the NCR (National Capital Region) may have already peaked,” he said. Despite this, David said, the number of COVID-19 cases is still increasing in the NCR at a rate of 5 percent. However, he said this was low compared to the rate of growth before, which went as high as 50 percent. Meanwhile, the Quezon City government said on Saturday that their COVID-19 positivity rate increased from 15.2 percent to 17.9 percent, citing OCTA’s data from August 2 to August 8.
PH... From A1 aging citizens’ numbers from 2000, when they represented just 5.9 percent of the national population at 4.5 million. (In 2015, 24.4 percent, or 5,606,500 of the 22,975,630 households nationwide had at least one member who was a senior citizen.)
OWWA... From A1 in Filipino: “We will bring it back. Hatid Saya will be back.” He said entertaining OFWs would be one of OWWA's initiatives under his watch, aside from providing assistance to workers and their families. Ignacio, who comes from the entertainment industry, announced this following his appointment as the new OWWA administrator by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Hatid Saya was first launched in the 1980s as a musical tour that featured Filipino performers, entertainers and singers, traveling to select cities abroad where there were large numbers of OFWs.The program was conceived to help ease OFWs' homesickness and culture shock, especially for those who had just migrated abroad for their new jobs. Meanwhile, Ignacio gave assurances that OFWs' concerns would be addressed by his office, as long as they are communicated through the right channels. He asked OFWs to properly identify themselves and the countries they were in, and what their concerns were to allow welfare officials to attend immediately to their concerns.
POPCOM Executive Director Juan A. Perez III said. “The high fertility levels of the last two decades were projected to create a bulge of young people entering the workforce up to 2035. This could prove to be a boon for the country if they become effective workers, or a lost generation if they are not employed or are underemployed, which will create a socioeconomic burden for a smaller, employed population.”
The tweet appeared to have been taken down on Sunday. The author also tweeted that police had been informed. The same Twitter account, believed to be based in Pakistan, also posted messages praising Rushdie's attacker. Hadi Matar, 24, was arraigned in court in New York state on Saturday, with prosecutors outlining how Rushdie had been stabbed approximately 10 times in what they described as a planned, premeditated assault. Rushdie's agent Andrew Wylie had said the writer was on a ventilator and in danger of losing an eye, but in an update on Saturday he told the New York Times that Rushdie had started to talk again, suggesting his condition had improved. AFP
Author... From A1 an online threat being made and officers are carrying out enquiries," said a Police Scotland spokeswoman. The 57-year-old writer tweeted on Friday that she was "feeling very sick right now" as news broke of the attack on Rushdie in New York state. In response, a user tweeted "Don't worry you are next." Rowling shared a screenshot of the reply, asking Twitter moderators "any chance of some support?" "These are your guidelines, right? 'Violence: You may not threaten violence against an individual or a group of people'," she added.
“The dynamics of the Philippine population continue to see lower levels of fertility, as evidenced by the decline in numbers of children under 5 years old,”
From A1 renegotiate the loan agreements for the three railway projects, noting that, as a matter of policy, the government should encourage more investments in railways. Bautista and Huang also tackled China-Philippines Maritime Cooperation Projects during the meeting, the department said. Among these projects are the hotline communication and legal affairs cooperation arrangements between the Philippine Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard; possible collaboration on Maritime Traffic Safety, Ferry Safety; a Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Search and Rescue; and the capacity building for maritime governance, safety supervision, and vessel safety inspection. “The Chinese government’s funding support for these projects will serve to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance the partnership between the Philippines and China,” the department said.
“The joining of the MNLF of Chair Nur Misuari with the MILF-led BTA is auspicious and heralds a significant step towards unity in the BARMM. It has been a long time since the MNLF and the MILF have split but under the Marcos administration, they are one in pushing for sustainable peace and development in the Bangsamoro," Galvez"Withsaid.the joining of the MNLF and the MILF, and with the 'balanced' and equitable composition of the 39 government nominees, this is now no longer just the BTA of the old BARMM but the BTA of a 'United BARMM,'" he added.Marcos, in his speech, pledged his full support to BARMM as he recognized the important work that the interim government needs to complete in three years, from the enactment of basic laws and fiscal policy to the conduct of elections."Weare given another chance because of the extension of the Transition Authority. We are given another chance, but we have three years, and three years is not a long time for this rather basic and fundamental and highly important pieces of legislation that have to be produced now by the Transition Authority," he added.He underscored the need to complete the work in 2025 as there will no longer be any extensions for the transition body."In 2025, we will no longer have any extensions to the authority, and we will conduct elections," he said. Republic Act No. 11593 reset the first regular elections in BARMM to have it synchronized with the 2025 national elections. The law also extended the transition period and allowed the BTA to continue as the interim government in the region."Itis important that we’re going to give a voice to all the stakeholders, to all the parties that are involved. But I'm confident because I have seen the list of the new appointees, the new members, and I believe that everyone has come on to be part of this process with a sincere desire to get BARMM back into the normal fold of life in the Philippines," Marcos said.
BBM...
Positivity... From A1
Marcos... From A1 Authority (BCDA), the first woman to hold the position. Zosa took her oath of office as the new BCDA PCEO in Malacañan Palace on August 11, 2022. As a career executive of 27 years at the BCDA, Zosa will continue to share her institutional knowledge with the agency. She will bring with her over a decade of experience in business development and public policy as she worked her way up from various academic and bureaucratic positions in the public sector. As BCDA president and CEO, Zosa will continue the infrastructure thrust of the previous Additionally,administration.herfocus will be on revenue generation, especially for the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization, and in strengthening the BCDA organization to be more responsive and efficient in the delivery of projects.“For the development of our properties, we have introduced three major components that will distinguish our properties from the pack and make our projects more globally competitive. These are sustainability, gender diversity and gender sensitivity, as well as smart components. Our projects should embed those three important elements. I hope that my experiences and perspective as a career executive and as a woman continue to bring a different lens on approaching opportunities and challenges for BCDA,” ZosaZosasaid.started her career in BCDA as manager for corporate planning and project development and later on was promoted to vice president, and executive vice president and CEO of the state firm until July 2022. Zosa said she aims to improve systems and processes in the organization and to “do more with less,” noting that the government will have to cope with a tightening budget. She started her career in government service in the Commission on Audit in 1984. She also worked in the Office of Senate majority leader Teofisto Guingona Jr. where she undertook policy and legislative support functions, and actively participated in the research, formulation, and deliberations on the Bases Conversion Law and the Special Economic Zones Law. These laws eventually laid the foundation of the BCDA. Zosa replaced Aristotle Batuhan, who served as officer-in-charge of the BCDA Office of the President and CEO since October 2021.
DANGEROUS WATERS. A young boy assists a toddler in wading at the shoreline of Manila Bay near the Dolomite beach on Roxas Boulevard in Manila on Sunday, August 14, 2022. The Health department still warns the public against swimming in Manila Bay due to the high amount of coliform in the water. Danny Pata
The POPCOM chief added that the most current statistics point at the effectiveness of the Philippines’ family planning program, as evidenced by the lower number of children born since 2015. As it was derived in the first year of the pandemic, that figure, he believes, may be further down in 2021. The latest PSA data also showed a steady growth in the Philippines’ working-age population, as the 15 to 64 age group now makes up 63.9 percent of Filipinos—slightly higher from 63.3 percent in 2015, and 59.1 percent in 2000. Women of reproductive age, or those 15 to 49 years old, are also at a record-high in 2020 figures, which stood at 27.8 million—a jump from 26 million in 2015. Perez said this was an opportunity for more Filipino women to further augment the country’s potential number of working citizens. In terms of responsible parenthood and reproductive health, POPCOM estimates that at least 9 million women from that age group will require family planning services.Perez asserted that the national government has to support the contraceptive needs of 7.6 million women who are currently being served by local governments, as well as anticipate the family planning requirement of the other women in that age group.
DOTr,...
Sino... From A1 She Zhijiang, 40, has been on the run from Chinese authorities since 2012, according to Chinese media. He has had controversial mega projects and gaming ventures in Cambodia and at Shwe Kokko in Myanmar's Kayin state, as well as a lottery venture in the Philippines, multiple media reports say. Thai police said She's Thai visa had been canceled after he was taken into immigration custody on Wednesday night, pending an extradition request. "The public prosecutor will submit a (provisional arrest) request to the criminal court next week," a Thai police official told AFP. An Interpol red notice published May 2021 and obtained by AFP says She is facing criminal charges in China related to running a casino and could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail. Between January 2018 and February 2021, the suspect – who heads up a "criminal gang" – colluded with others to register companies, and research and develop online gambling platforms, the red notice says. The notice adds that online gambling websites including Hongshulin, Yigou and Yiyou International were set up and 330,000 gamblers were recruited. "The illegal proceeds obtained by She Zhijiang were more than CNY 150 million ($22.2 million) in total which has been transferred abroad," the red notice reads.One Chinese victim who was scammed out of a substantial sum of money committed suicide, Thai media reported.The red notice says She has a Cambodian passport but was born in China's Hunan province. Frontier Myanmar reported he was granted Cambodian citizenship in 2017 but said the exact circumstances were unclear.TheCambodian government can grant citizenship if a person donates at least $250,000 to its coffers. China and Thailand have an extradition treaty, but the process could take several months. AFP
The recorded new COVID-19 cases in the city also went up from 245 to 279 over the same period. The city's reproduction number or the number of people infected by one case, however, decreased to 1.23. “The city remains at moderate risk level due to increased risk exposure to COVID-19.),” the Quezon City local government said. The Department of Health (DOH) said that the government will gradually follow the United States' model of loosening COVID-19 restrictions. DOH officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country is taking the same direction as the US, where the health care system will only "protect the most vulnerable." "We are here to live with the virus because we know that the virus will stay. What is important is, and I think the US government also has that kind of objective, that we will protect the most vulnerable, we will protect our health care system from being overwhelmed, and will try to prevent as much as possible severe and critical cases and deaths," Vergeire said on Friday. Vergeire said the Philippines needs to increase its immunity before lifting restrictions. For now, she said the DOH is pushing for individual responsibility among Filipinos for everyone's protection. According to the latest DOH data, 72 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, 17 million of whom have received their booster shots. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had earlier recommended the lifting of the following restrictions: physical distancing, quarantine, and testing for asymptomatic patients with no exposure. It has also recommended limiting contact tracing to health care personnel and other high-risk settings. The CDC said the United States is now in a better condition to protect the public from severe COVID-19 infection. Although the loosening of restrictions does not mean that the pandemic is over, it aims to help the public to return to their normal lives without having to worry about the “We’recoronavirus.inastronger place today as a nation, with more tools—like vaccination, boosters, and treatments—to protect ourselves, and our communities, from severe illness from COVID-19,” CDC Field Epidemiology and Prevention Branch chief Greta Massetti said. “We also have a better understanding of how to protect people from being exposed to the virus, like wearing highquality masks, testing, and improved ventilation. This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives," she added. Also over the weekend, the DOH advised students to keep their mask on, wash hands, sanitize with alcohol and check their temperature while inside the campus.This, as the DOH acknowledged that maintaining social distancing in classrooms will be "impossible.” “We are all going to live with the virus so we all need commitment to protect ourselves and the children,” Vergeire said on "24 Oras." The DOH also encouraged parents and students to get vaccinated against the viralVergeiredisease. said teachers and nonteaching personnel who will interact with the children must be vaccinated—a view the Department of Education does not share.The DepEd said it is constantly coordinating with the DOH in putting in place protocols to keep the students safe ahead of the return of face-to-face classes on Aug. 22. But it has also said that vaccination for teachers and students is voluntary, and that there would be no discrimination of those who are unvaccinated.
Newsmst.daydesk@gmail.comMONDAY,AUGUST 15, 2022A2 BTA... From A1 Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The government has strived to harmonize the Bangsamoro peace agreements that include the 1976 Tripoli and the 1996 Final Peace Agreements as well as the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.Theparticipation of the MNLF under the leadership of Nur Misuari, according to presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez, is a product of this convergence effort. Among the new members of the BTA are Abdulkarim Misuari and Nurrheda Misuari, son and daughter of Misuari.
From A1 holding a hearing today into the aborted move to import 300,000 MT of sugar. “Good governance requires transparency and accountability,” said San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes, who chairs the committee on good government and public accountability. She said they “want to be enlightened” on the illegal order issued by the SRA that President Marcos rejected. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, for his part, said he will make a privilege speech today to press for the resignation of other SRA officials who took part in the illegal"Thoseorder.who were participating in this illegal sugar order should resign from their post," Zubiri said. Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian, who signed the order, has already tendered his resignation. Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda on Sunday said agricultural hoarding, profiteering and operating cartels must be considered economic sabotage. Salceda, chairman of the committee on ways and means, said he would file a bill Monday to that effect, subjecting their perpetrators to life imprisonment and steep fines. “It’s time to put greater teeth on the provisions of the Price Act as far as they apply to agricultural products. There is no economic crime more contemptible than knowingly depriving the people of food. That is the lowest depth of social evil,” he said. Under Salceda’s proposal, the hoarding, or profiteering off of sugar, corn, pork, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, fish, and cruciferous vegetables, in its raw state, or which have undergone the simple processes of preparation or preservation for the market, with a minimum amount of P1 million, or rice, with a minimum amount of P10 million, will be considered economic sabotage. The bill would amend Republic Act No. 10845, or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, by adding offenses defined under Section 5 of the Price Act. “I want to give the government the legal basis to raid hoarders and cartels, and to punish them with the full brunt of the law. I especially think there is something bitter going on in the sugar sector,” he said. He cited higher than usual withdrawals of imported sugar, lower than usual transfers of milled raw sugar to refiners, as possible “smoking guns” of abuse in the sugar market. “Mills have been transferring just 14,000MT of raw sugar to refineries from September 2021 to present, compared to 86,000 MT over the same period a year ago,” he said. “Another figure doesn’t make sense to me. While demand for raw sugar was down, demand for refined sugar was actually up, suspiciously due to faster withdrawals of stocks of imports,” he added. “I suspect abuse in the sugar market. The planters are saying the harvest didn’t decline as much as the market suggests it did. Production declined by just 16 percent, but prices are up as much as 90 percent year on year. If something looks, smells, and feels nefarious, it probably is,” he said. He said President Marcos can constitute a task force on agricultural hoarding, similar to what President President Rodrigo Duterte did with rice in 2018. Senator Imee Marcos, on a warpath over the aborted sugar importation, said the resignation of Sebastian was not enough. On Sunday, she assailed the Department of Agriculture (DA) plan to import white onions due to an alleged supply"Letshortage.thisserve as a fair warning to all concerned," Senator Marcos said. "We are aware of the modus operandi going on. It's the same old story. It just keeps repeating itself," she said. "First, they smuggle. Then they create a shortage, and produce a legitimate import permit,” she said. "By next week, I have no doubt smuggled onions will flood the market covered by a 'legitimate' importation order of gargantuan proportions.” At the height of the sugar importation fiasco last week, she revealed that some P36 million worth of onions were wrongly declared as “spring roll patties” and “plain churros” and were confiscated in Misamis Oriental. The senator said she was unconvinced there was a shortage because the DA has not presented any hard data to back this, “just blanket claims that the warehouses we inspected were really empty.” Also on Sunday, Magsasaka partylist Rep. Argel Cabatbat on Sunday said those who recommended the appointment of Sebastian must not be allowed to refer anyone to replace him. On Saturday, Malacañang defended Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, whose verbal order to create a sugar importation plan appeared to be misunderstood and became the basis for the illegal SRA order.
Consumer groups support merger of TV-5, ABS-CBN
Camarines Sur lawmakers want abaca program institutionalized
WORKINGSTILL. placea78,Pasquella,CarmelitathreadsneedletobuttonsonatailoreddressinsideherdressshopalongLoyolaStreetinSampaloc,Manila,onSunday,August14,2022.Pasquellaisaretirednursewhoworkedfor11yearsinEngland.
Danny Pata
By Rio N. Araja CAMARINES Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte and three other lawmakers from the prov ince has asked Congress to institutionalize the Philippine Abaca Industry Develop ment Program as a companion measure to the recently enacted law declaring Cat anduanes as the country’s abaca capital with a P500-million annual fund allocation.
“The elements of bribery are differ ent from those of illegal drugs trading,” DOJ spokesman Jose Dominic Clavano said in a text message to reporters. “The pieces of evidence are differ ent to probe bribery and drug trade,” heClavano’sadded. comment came after the Gabriela party-list called for the release of De Lima on the basis of the Ombuds man’s ruling. The Ombudsman earlier dismissed the bribery raps against De Lima and her former aide, Ronnie Dayan, over the alleged attempt to extort P8 mil lion from self-confessed drug lord
Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa in ex change for his protection. In dismissing the complaint, the Ombudsman cited the “glaring in consistencies” in the testimonies of Espinosa and government witness Marcelo Adorco. In an earlier statement, the DOJ expressed confidence that its 2017 resolution on the filing of illegal drug charges against De Lima was not in conflict with the recent ruling of the “TheOmbudsman.Department would like to re iterate and point out that we are con sistent with the recent resolution of the Ombudsman,” the DOJ said.
‘Dismissal of bribery case not basis to free De Lima’
Consumer advocacy group Citizen Watch Philippine convenor Mr. Orlando Oxales said: “The fusion of TV5 and ABS-CBN, is definitely good news to the viewing public as this will help democra tize the dissemination of well-vetted news reports to the public which is a mandated responsibility of a TV franchise.” “We look forward to enhanced public service programs that will keep Filipinos well informed of important information that are relevant to their everyday lives especially during times of crisis.” “CitizenWatch is hopeful that this un ion of TV5 and ABS-CBN will evolve into a positive force that will contribute to our common aspiration of recover ing from these difficult times and wield the power of its broadcasting platform in the most professional and responsi ble manner,” Oxales added. Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente convener Louie Montemar, in a separate statement, said: “The free-to-air broadcast platform of TV5 joining forces with the content and production talents of ABSCBN is an exciting development that will fill a void left when the Channel 2 fran chise was not renewed by Congress.”
MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022 A3News
By Rey E. Requejo
T HE Department of Justice on Sunday said the dismissal by the Office of the Ombudsman of the direct and indirect bribery charges against former Senator Leila De Lima cannot be used as basis for her release from detention over the non-bailable illegal drugs cases filed against her.
CONSUMERS groups expressed sup port for the recently announced merger of TV-5 and ABS-CBN, calling it a wel come development that would boost pub lic awareness of critical information on issues and events that have direct impact on the daily lives of every Filipino.
Through House Bill No. 1804, Villa fuerte and Representatives Miguel Luis Villafuerte, Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata and Nicolas Enciso VIII have proposed a development program for the abaca in dustry and the creation of a P500-million fund to bankroll a massive program on the propagation, production, processing, marketing, promotion and distribution of this product, internationally known as “Manila hemp.” They said that while they recognize the potential of the abaca industry and the government’s declaration of Catandu anes as the country’s abaca capital, more needs to be done to upskill the abaca sec tor and boost its production, especially now amid reports of declining output. “Reportedly, demand for the commodity is increasing while production has slowed. In addressing this, the bill proposes for the production extension and infrastructure development for the industry to provide ad equate technologies and facilities for pro duction and strengthen the sectors involved in the Abaca has evolved into a number of uses, such as a substitute for synthetic ma terials like plastic.
NewsA4 MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022
‘More cellular towers in rural areas’
QC BRIGADA ESKWELA. Representative Arjo Atayde activates Brigada Eskewela 2022 by donating school supplies to San Jose Elementary School through a partnership with J&T Express. Atayde also endowed each of the schools with a P10,000.00 financial assistance.
By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Sonny Angara renewed his call to in stitute a lifetime validity for identification cards is sued to select persons with disabilities (PWDs). For individuals with permanent disabilities, An gara said common sense dictates that they should no longer have to renew their PWD IDs. This includes those with an apparent disability or a disability which is manifested by the presence of phys ical impairment and impaired mobility or function. Angara has refiled his bill granting lifetime valid ity to the PWD IDs of both PWDs with permanent disabilities and senior PWDs. At present, PWDs are required to renew their PWD IDs every five years based on the guidelines set under the National Council on Disability Affairs Administrative Order No. 001 series of 2021.
SURIGAO del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimen tel has asked Malacañang to include in the proposed 2023 national budget the extra P25 billion needed to pay for the P500 increase in the monthly pension of indigent senior citizens. “We are hoping that the P25 billion will be factored into the budget bill that the Palace is scheduled to submit to Congress on August 22,” Pimentel said in a statement on Sunday. “Government has no choice but to provide funds to pay for the pension increase.” “We have to augment the allow ance of poor seniors so that they can meet their daily subsistence, including health maintenance needs, considering the soaring cost of food and other basic commodities,” he added. Pimentel said under Section 25 of the Constitution, “Congress may not in crease the appropriations recommended by the President for the operation of the government as specified in the budget.” “Congress can cut the budget, but we can’t increase it, so it would be better if the budget tendered to Congress al ready includes the additional P25 bil lion,” Pimentel said. The bill raising the monthly pension of indigent seniors from P500 to P1,000 earlier lapsed into a new law. Funding for the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPPISC) is lodged in the annual budget of the Depart ment of Social Welfare and Development. The SPPISC has an allocation of P25 bil lion this year, which is enough to pay for the P500 monthly pension of 4.1 million indigent seniors identified by the DSWD.
the NTC copies of their formal answers to the lawmaker’s request. The N TC chief’s directive was con tained in a memorandum dispatched to the regulatory affairs heads of the three telecommunications companies –Manuel Casiño of Globe, Roy Ibay of Smart, and Adel Tamano of DITO. In a statement on Sunday, Libanan said: “In order for the country to quick ly recover from the COVID-19 pan demic, our national economy has to be firing on all cylinders.” “And our economic engine cannot be fir ing on all cylinders as long as our MSMEs in the rural areas find it hard to achieve higher productivity due to the lack of reli able high-speed internet connectivity.” Cell towers, or cell sites, host electronic communications equipment and antennae that allow people in surrounding areas to access the internet using their wireless communication devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and computers. A key program of the Pagtibayin at Palaguin ang Pangkabuhayang Pilipino (4Ps Partylist) is “to support and assist the country’s MSMEs by providing them the necessary tools, technologies, skills and competencies.”
TAIWAN’S labor ministry has raised the monthly minimum pay of migrant home-based caregivers and household service workers, the labor department reported on Sunday. The new rates, which took effect on August 10, will benefit both arriving migrants and those who are signing new contracts with their employers in CitingTaiwan.a report from Labor Attaché Cesar Chavez Jr. of the Philippine Over seas Labor Office (POLO) in Taipei, DOLE said the 17.6 percent increase in monthly pay is the first granted by the Taiwan government since 2015 where migrants receive NT$8,250 lower than Taiwanese careworkers. The minimum wage committee of the Ministry of Labor has now pegged the monthly pay for migrant workers at NT$20,000 ($665.70) from the pre vious NT$17,000 ($565.90) a month, the POLO report said. Migrant workers who had signed a contract with their employer prior to August 10 are not covered by the new rate, the POLO report added. “The labor ministry has also ad vised Taiwanese employers that in order to encourage worker retention, salaries should be increased by NT$1,000 after three years and another NT$1,000 for workers who are six years in service,” Chavez said in his report. The POLO report also noted that for low-income and low-middle income employers to be able to pay the new wage rate to their workers, they will be entitled to a NT$3,000 monthly government subsidy for the next three years or a maximum of NT$108,000. Chavez said that for Taipei alone, the POLO processed about 2,400 re quests for caretakers and household workers from May to August 9. “It is estimated that around the same number of OFWs will be ben efitted directly by the wage increase,” Chavez said.
T HE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has directed the country’s three major telecommunications service providers to respond to a senior lawmaker’s plea for additional cellular towers and signal relay stations in rural areas.
SENATOR Lito Lapid has filed a bill that seeks the use of Tagalog or re gional dialects on announcements, ad visories, press releases, and any other information about local or national disasters or emergencies. He filed Senate Bill No. 273 which seeks to mandate all government agencies and local government units to use languages that can easily be un derstood by the public. Lapid said that most, if not all advi sories, announcements, or issuances on impending disasters or calamities are delivered either in English or Filipino. “And the government’s aim to keep its constituents well-informed of and pre pared for impending disasters fall short of its objective because not all could under stand English or Tagalog,” Lapid said. Bill No. 273, also known as the “Language Accessibility of Public Information on Disasters Act,” also proposed that information relating to impending calamities or emergencies such as epidemics, outbreaks, and public health emergencies shall be language-accessible and readily com prehensible, especially to speakers of regional languages and dialects.
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cor doba told Smart Communications Inc., Globe Telecom Inc., and DITO Tel ecommunity Corp. “to take appropriate action” on House minority leader and 4Ps Partylist Rep. Marcelino Libanan’s request for them “to immediately es tablish, commission, and activate” new cell sites in the countryside. Libanan had sent separate letters to Cor doba and the chief executive officers of the telecommunications companies, asking for more cell sites “to afford micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the rural areas much-need adequate and stable ac cess to high-speed internet connectivity.” Corboda in turn ordered the tel ecommunications firms to furnish By Macon Ramos-Araneta
Bill seeks use of Tagalog on disaster info Taiwanese gov’t hikes salary of foreign caregivers
By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Sicogon Island Wildlife Sanctuary Act, passed during the term of former President Rodrigo R. Du terte, has now lapsed into law. Senator Cynthia Villar filed Senate Bill 2277, now Republic Act No.119331, which declared two parcels of land in Sicogon Island in the municipal ity of Carles, Iloilo, as protected areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NI PAS), providing for management and appropriat ingInfunds.herproposed Senate Bill 2277, which she au thored and sponsored, Villar noted that Sicogon Island’s interesting biodiversity calls for a need to declare a protected area its remaining 282.867 hec tares of forestland. T he island Is characterized by moderately rolling terrain with the highest elevation of about 300 me ters above sea level. It has twelve freshwater springs which are the source of drinking and day-to-day use of residents.
INSPECTION. Meralco metersexaminelinemenelectricatapostalongQuezonAvenueinQuezonCity.
Manny Palmero NEW PFP MEMBER. Former Volunteer Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) commissioner Atty. Manuelito Luna takes his affirmation of oath as a member of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) before retired Gen. Thomson Lantion, PFP Secretarygeneral, in a ceremony at the Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City. Others in photo are former Coast Guard commandant Rear Admiral Damian Carlos and Customs Deputy Collector Atty. Lourdes Mangaoang.
Angara seeks lifetime validity of PWD cards Palace urged to include P25b for seniors’ pension hike in ‘23 budget
By Rio N. Araja BAGONG Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera is batting for the passage of a bill mandating the presence of representatives from the Commission on Human Rights in all police operations against suspected drug traffickers to prevent human rights violations in the government’s anti-drug campaign. She filed House Bill 1011 which aims to create an inter-agency task force to safely embed CHR agents within the anti-drug operations conducted by the Philippine National Police. “This aims to ensure the protection of human rights of drug suspects, as well ensuring that police officer prop erly conduct themselves so as not to subject themselves to situations that would have them liable for violations of human rights,” she said “CHR agents will be tasked to prop erly document police activities during anti-drug operations, for the mutual protection of the accused personalities and the police officers, and to ensure that the anti-drug war adheres to the Philippines’ obligations on the protec tion of human rights,” she added. She lamented that the rate at which suspected drug personalities were killed as a result of legitimate police operations had drawn the interest and rebuke of the international communi ty, with the United Nations and some countries urging the Philippine govern ment to ensure that the human rights of these drug suspects are protected.
Solon bats for inclusion of CHR agents in anti-drug operations
Villar: Sicogon Island protected under NIPAS
Taliban stronger than ever a year after takeover
societytotruthindemocraticandthatprofessionalismstrengthensprotectsourinstitutionsanenvironmentofanddedicationthebettermentof...withthesky-highpricesofrealestateinMetroManilaandotherurbanareasnowadays,whocanaffordtopurchaseorrenthousingunitswiththeirownparkingspaces?Onlytherich,that’swho
growth
By Emmanuel Peuchot and Abdullah Hasrat A YEAR since returning to power in Afghani stan, the Taliban are a stronger military force than ever, but threats to their rule do exist. To tighten their grip, the Taliban have poured thousands of fighters into the Panshjir Valley, home to the only conventional military threat the Islamists have faced since their take over.The scenic valley, located in northeastern Afghanistan, was for decades a bastion of re sistance against outside forces, and the birth place of the National Resistance Front (NRF). On the other side of the spectrum, the Is lamic State-Khorasan group (IS-K) has plant ed bombs and staged multiple suicide attacks in the past 12 months. But the jihadists have focused on soft tar gets — chiefly Shiite mosques and Sikh tem ples — rather than tackle the Taliban head-on.
Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor
TV5-ABS CBN: A welcome alliance
ManilaStandard ONLINE Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors
This is indeed a great opportunity that gives hope to thousands of families affected when ABS CBN went off the air. The advertising industry lost the leading broad cast platform of the country’s biggest advertisers which counts the leading enterprises in retail, food and beverage, telecommunications, automotive, financial service institutions, pharmaceutical, and more.This disrupted the whole ecosystem of linked businesses providing creative and production ser vices.Expectedly, the proponents that denied the ABSCBN closure will move to block the joint venture with TV5 and raise legal issues. Infrawatch PH convenor Atty. Terry Ridon said in an interview that the ABS-CBN and TV5 merger will hurdle anticipated competition issues already being raised by critics calling on the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to investigate the deal. “We don’t see any basis for PCC to strike the deal, as this does not involve a transaction which will reduce or limit competition. In fact, when ABSCBN lost its franchise in 2020, it ceased to be the dominant player in the broadcast segment. TV5 has not yet attained that dominant status in the same sector,” Ridon said. He points out that the transaction does not meet the current P50 billion threshold for compulsory review. I believe that realizing a successful synergy be tween ABS-CBN and TV5 must be seen from a developmental lens that would result a new level of quality, discipline, and trust in public service pro gramming.Thisisespecially critical during these times of more frequent calamities where access to accurate information can save many lives. What started as primarily an entertainment me dium that has now reached almost every home, the license to operate television networks should not be influenced by political gate keepers. The power of media should be a public trust that embodies the highest standards of professionalism that strengthens and protects our democratic institu tions in an environment of truth and dedication to the betterment of society.
The stark reality is that public transpor tation is woefully inadequate to serve the needs of the public. While we already have a light rail network, buses, jeepneys, tricycles and pedicabs operating all over Metro Ma nila and other urban areas, they are not enough to serve the needs of a population that seems to multiply faster than rabbits do every
We need to confront the biggest elephant in the room insofar as our hopes of creating a better quality of life and addressing our worse and worsening poverty level are
In fact, the first head of the United Nations Popu lation Fund established in 1969 was no less than Marcos’ second executive secretary, the brilliant Rafael M. Salas, who served as such until his death in 1987. In 1971, Congress enacted RA 6365 or the Popu lation Act creating the Commission on Population, which through a series of executive orders, has been transferred from the ambit of DSWD, DOH, NEDA and the Office of the President. There was a marked slowdown in population management efforts started by Marcos Sr. when Cardinal Sin became the eminence grise of Presi dent Corazon C. Aquino, but, under the recently buried Fidel Valdez Ramos, serious emphasis on family planning was again spurred. And it was under the presidency of Cory’s son, Benigno S. Aquino III, that the RA 10354, known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act, was enacted in 2012. But the intent of the principal authors, Rep. Ed sel Lagman of Albay and Sen. Pia Cayetano, and subsequent speedy implementation of its goals were hobbled by continued resistance from pro-life advo cates, principally the conservatives in the Roman Catholic Church who brought legal challenges to its constitutionality.TheSupreme Court has since ruled on its con stitutionality, although eight provisions were struck down.We are now in the presidency of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., whose candidacy was opposed by a majority of our Roman Catholic bishops. But the people rebuked their ministrations, some of which bordered on the sacrilegious manner by which they openly supported Leni Robredo. It is hoped that FM Jr. will support and fully im plement the provisions of RA 10354, and strengthen efforts at population management, consistent with our socio-economic goals. It is not one of petty po litical vindictiveness against the leaders of the nu merous church, but of plain socio-economic sense given the demographic situation. Add to this complex problem the “learning pov erty” we have seen through the last 20 years where even as we grow our population and claim this to be a “demographic sweet spot” which allows us to export labor, the biggest support system of our economy, our young population has continuously been retrogressing in abilities and skills. This is compounded by the food security situation which we have written about in several articles in this space, where food production lags woefully behind the consumption demands of a large population. Verily, we need to confront the biggest elephant in the room insofar as our hopes of creating a better quality of life and addressing our worse and worsen ing poverty level are concerned. Government has to pro-act on this serious prob lem.
Following the chaotic exit of US-led troops on August 31 last year, Western threats to Tali ban rule have also been crushed. Still, the recent assassination of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri by a US drone strike on his hideout in Kabul shows how vulnerable Taliban leaders could be to a high-tech enemy. While the Panjshir Valley is what worries the Taliban the most, analyst Michael Kugel man of the Washington-based Wilson Center think tank believes serious resistance is a long way off. “If we start to see IS-K pick up its attacks and start carrying out more strikes... I think that the NRF could really benefit from that,” he told AFP. “If Afghans are seeing their families getting blown up by IS-K... that could, I think, deliver a major dent to the Taliban legitimacy and that could benefit the NRF, and give them a win dow.” ‘Fear in our hearts’ Panjshir was the last province to fall to the Taliban in their lightning takeover of the coun try last year — holding out until September 6, three weeks after the capture of Kabul. An uneasy calm then enveloped the valley — around 80 kilometers north of Kabul — until May, when the NRF emerged from the mountains to strike again. In response, the Taliban sent in more than 6,000 fighters in long columns of armored vehicles, striking fear into the hearts of resi dents.“Since the Taliban arrived in the valley, people are in panic, they can’t talk freely,” said Amir, speaking to AFP in hushed tones in the provincial capital as a patrol passed by. “The Taliban think that if youths are sitting together, then they must be planning some thing against them,” he added, asking not to be identified by his real name. In the 1980s, fighters led by Ahmad Shah Massoud — nicknamed the Lion of Panjshir — fought the Soviet forces from its rugged peaks of Panshjir. AFP Full version on www.manilastandard.net
THE recent announcement of the TV5 Network Inc. led by MediaQuest Holdings chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan with Lopez led ABS-CBN is a very positive development that has sent a wave of excitement to millions of Filipinos ex asperated by the highly politicized closure of the free-broadcast franchise of Channel 2, then the dominant player in the Philippine broadcast in dustry.InFebruary 2020, the NTC and the Office of the Solicitor General issued a cease-and-desist order after renewal of ABS-CBN’s network franchise license was denied. This created a crisis that, according to data from independent ratings firms Nielsen and Kantar Me dia, greatly affected the viewing habits of Filipinos who were avid followers of Channel 2 programs. Their favorite entertainment channel was sud denly gone, and even more damaging was the loss of the main and only source of news in many re gions. The country’s viewing audience was cut by half. Analysts observed a “chilling effect” of Philip pine media seeing how the congressional power to award broadcast franchises can be weaponized to target media organizations the administration would consider to be antagonistic or for some reason has angered the politicians in power.
high-techleadershowhideoutdroneal-ZawahiriQaedaassassinationTheconcernedrecentofAl-chiefAymanbyaUSstrikeonhisinKabulshowsvulnerableTalibancouldbetoaenemy
Opinion MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022 A5 Honor Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com EDITORIAL
Population pinos wherever they may be in the archipelago.”
“THESE decrees of yours are no different from spiders’ webs. They’ll restrain anyone weak and insignificant who gets caught in them, but they’ll be torn to shreds by people with power and wealth.”
The National Economic and Develop ment Authority has identified Metro Ma nila, Angeles, Cebu, Bacolod, Baguio, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, Naga, and Olongapo as among the highly urbanized areas. Velasco moves in for the kill with the provision that motor vehicle owners who are able to register without the required parking area will have their registration revoked. On top of a hefty and ridiculous fine of P50,000, they will also be prohibited from registering any vehicle with the LTO for three years. The tightening of the screws on the poor via a no-parking space requirement for car buyers and owners actually isn’t the first to be proposed in Congress. There’s another one, we recall, by another lawmaker from Metro Manila which appears to have been shelved by his colleagues. Did they even bother to conduct a pub lic consultation on their proposed bills? Or are they simply out of touch with the reality on the ground, the real eco nomic situation and the extent of poverty in this country?
The quote is attributed to Scythian phi losopher and traveler Anacharsis by Plu tarch while discussing the laws of Solon, one of seven wise men of Greece who dominated Athenian politics in ancient times.Things do not seem to have changed much since then. Our own lawmakers, for instance, sim ply abhor the idea of passing a measure that would prohibit members of families from dominating our political system, despite the explicit ban on political dy nasties in the 1987 Constitution. But even as they pass laws that would ostensibly uplift the lives of the poor and the weak, it’s not beyond them to keep the downtrodden and the powerless where they are. After all, Congress is supposed to pass laws that would benefit the general wel fare and the common weal, not the inter ests of the few. We, therefore, view with concern the proposed measure that would require car owners in the urban areas to have their own parking spaces before they can reg ister their vehicles with the Land Trans portation Office. This measure, we think, is not only short-sighted and anti-poor but will also have a detrimental impact on the econo my as a whole.
Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer
The power of media should be a public trust that embodies the highest standards of
Anti-poor legislation
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House of Representatives Chairman of the Committee on Legislative Franchises, Rep. Gus Tambunting, said in a recent interview that he saw the merger of TV5 and ABS CBN as an investment agreement and simple business venture that aimd to leverage the complementing potential of two legiti mate networks. “In my opinion, this is just a simple business transaction wherein there is one company with a free channel and franchise, while another company formerly had a franchise and formerly featured good content. On a business point of view, it seems very sensible to give space to the former leading network. This can be a very good business venture. One has the airspace, and the other carries the con tent,” said Chairman Tambunting. As convenor of consumer advocacy group Citi zenWatch Philippines, we have expressed our sup port of this joining of forces of two of the country’s most influential broadcast networks –optimistic that this will elevate the quality of Phil ippine entertainment, public service programming, and promote constructive dialogue on issues of na tional
Micro and small businesses often rely on small trucks, second-hand vans and even tricycles to make deliveries of goods. Neither can they afford to buy or rent their own parking spaces. Besides, with the sky-high prices of real estate in Metro Manila and other urban ar eas nowadays, who can afford to purchase or rent housing units with their own park ing spaces? Only the rich, that’s who. The proposed bill of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco to compel car buyers and owners in the country’s urban hubs to have their own parking spaces before they can register their vehicles with the Land Transportation Office is, therefore, discriminatory and ill-advised. The lawmaker asserts that car own ers who park on public thoroughfares worsen street congestion and “when roads become parking lots, there will be longer trip times and increased vehicular queuing.” He claims that the bill would “deter the proliferation of vehicles occupying the roadsides or sidewalks.”
Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board
Thisimportance.ismosttimely as we live in critical and in the most difficult times of crises when the shift to online platforms of interaction has been invaded by dark agents of disinformation who are out to replace the truth with relentless messages of deception to serve politically motivated agenda. Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuyente (BK3) convenor Louie Montemar, in a published state ment, likewise lauded the merger as “an opportu nity to create a new brand of credible public service that would deliver not just entertainment but would hopefully become a developmental medium of education and good values freely accessible to Fili LET’S face it. Let’s be honest. The numbers do not lie.One of the principal reasons for many of the socio-economic problems that continue to hound us is a simple fact: there are far too many Filipinos in the small and dispersed geography that is the Philip pines.Our more than 7,000 islands constitute a land area of 300,000 square kilometers, equivalent to 30 million hectares. That is not such a big land area. Vietnam, our leading source of imported rice, has 33.2 million hectares of land in a basically contigu ous whole land mass, or a tad higher than 10 percent bigger land mass than ours. Yet its population as of 2021 is less, at 97 million, compared to ours at 110 million (all figures rounded off for simpler appreciation). Thailand, our second biggest source of imported rice, and largest source of imported sugar, is also basically one contiguous land mass with an area of 51.3 million hectares, or 70 percent more than the Philippines. But its population growth has been properly managed such that in 2021, they had 66.2 million people. In fine, the Kingdom of Thailand has 70 percent bigger land area than the Philippines, but with 66 percent population size compared to ours. Malaysia has about the same land area as Viet nam, although a large part of it, Sabah, is disputed by us through the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu. With around 33.1 million hectares, it feeds a popu lation of a similar 33 million. Indonesia is much larger, with almost 276 mil lion people, on similarly dispersed islands as the Philippines, totaling 190 million hectares, or more than six times bigger land area than ours, but with a population just two and a half times larger than ours. Let’s compare it to another ASEAN member state, perhaps on the extreme — Myanmar. The largely under-developed country has a land area of 67.6 million hectares, more than twice that of the Philippines, in basically one whole land mass like neighboring Thailand, but has a population half ours, at 54.5 million. Myanmar has a per capita income of just 1,200 US dollars, about a third of ours, but wait till it gets its political order and governance fixed. It has so much undeveloped land, and so much mineral wealth to tap. My favorite country comparison insofar as food production and self-sufficiency is concerned is Thailand.Wealways drool with envy by saying that the Thais learned modern rice cultivation practices from UP Los Banos and its neighbor IRRI, which is supported financially by American foundations, yet now we import rice and sugar from them. In 1978, the Philippines and Thailand had ba sically the same demographics: 43 to 44 million people. But in a span of 44 years, or barely two gen erations after, we have 110 million, and they have 66 million people. They have more than a third less mouths to feed, with 70 percent more land than ours. Because they consciously practiced sound popu lation management, and prioritized food production in the 70’s up to the turn of the century, they are now the second or third largest exporter of rice in the world (depending on annual comparative export volumes), and leads other ASEAN countries in the export of fruits and sugar (of which we were once Numero Uno, with a little help from the American sugar quota). Indonesia and Malaysia are the world’s largest producers of palm oil while our coconut oil industry, once the envy of every other country, has become a laggard, and poverty haunts our coconut-producing provinces.Sothisarticle wants to dispel the notion that we are a big country. We are not. In fact, if we compare our land area to that of the Pinoys’ favorite state in the US of A, it should be in formative to know that California has a contiguous area of 42.4 million hectares, and a population of 39 million with diverse ethnic origins. If it were a country, it would rank among the world’s 10 richest by per capita income standards, although the “golden” state’s reputation is now slowly tarnishing with very high costs of living and many social problems. The ideal ratio of people to land mass, looking at our ASEAN neighbors, should be that of Malaysia, which supports a 33 million population out of an area of 33 million hectares. One person per hectare. But we are now too far removed from that, with 3.67 persons per hectare, mountains, rivers and lakes included. And the popu lation density worsens in our urban areas. From 2015 to 2020, our average population growth rate was 1.63 percent per year. While there has been a slight tapering of our population growth in the last 10 years, it is still the highest in the region. Our Commission on Population and Develop ment (PopCom) is relatively happy about the lower growth“Filipinosrate. remained prudent by continuing to de lay having children or forming families during the COVID-19 period. Couples in growing numbers continue to avail (themselves) of family planning commodities and services … with 8 million users of modern family planning methods in 2020, or an addition of about half a million couples from 2019,” explained PopCom’s head, Dr. Juan Perez III. If our annualized population growth rate was in the vicinity of 1.5 to 1.6 percent since 1978, we would have much less than our 110 million people by now, but still higher than Thailand’s 66 million people.Soif we want to have a lesser population den sity, we need to set an initial goal of 1 percent to 1.2 percent per year. And progressively lower based on a timetable our demographers and statisticians can calculate.Serious attempts at population management started as early as 1967 when President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. signed, with 16 other heads of state, the United Nations Declaration on Population which stressed that the “population problem must be rec ognized as a principal element in long-range plan ning…to achieve economic goals and fulfill the aspirations of their people.”
Low-incomeyear.
people prefer to buy ve hicles, whether new or second-hand, even if they have no parking space and park right in front of their homes or nearby because they cannot afford to rent or buy parking space with their measly income.
Eight wounded, 2 critically, in terror attack in Jerusalem
Section 6. Notice to Respondents and Time to Plead.—If the committee finds the complaint sufficient in form and substance, it shall immediately furnish the respondent(s) with a copy of the resolution and/or verified complaint, as the case may be, with written notice that the respondent shall 1 The Supreme Court decision in Francisco et al. vs. House of Representatives (GR No. 160261, 10 November 2003), states that Impeachment proceedings are initiated upon filing of the complaint and/or resolution and its referral to the Committee on Justice.
RULE VI Prosecutor in All Impeachment Proceedings Section 16. Impeachment Prosecutor.—The House of Representatives shall act as the prosecutor at the trial in the Senate through a committee of eleven (11) Members thereof to be elected by a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum.
RULES OF PROCEDURE IN IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS
Section 7. Submission of Evidence and Memoranda.—After receipt of the pleadings, affidavits and counter-affidavits and relevant documents provided for in Section 6, or the expiration of the time within which they may be filed, the Committee shall determine whether the complaint alleges sufficient grounds for impeachment. If it finds that sufficient grounds for impeachment do not exist, the Committee shall dismiss the complaint and submit the report required hereunder. If the Committee finds that sufficient grounds for impeachment exist, the Committee shall conduct a hearing. The Committee, through the Chairperson, may limit the period of examination and cross-examination by members of the Committee. The Committee shall have the power to issue compulsory processes for the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and other related evidence. Hearings before the Committee shall be open to the public except when the security of the State or public interest requires that the hearings be held in executive session. After the submission of evidence, the Committee may require the submission of memoranda, after which the matter shall be submitted for resolution.
RULE VII Applicability of the Rules of Court Section 17. Rules of Procedure.—The Rules of Court shall, as far as practicable, apply to impeachment proceedings before the House.
IN THEIR BIRTHDAY SUITS. Nude and almost nude cyclists ride through the city streets, as part of the World Naked Bike Ride, in Boston, Massachusetts on August 13, 2022. Cyclists took part in the naked protest to call for more bike safe streets, more bikeable streets and to call for an end to oil dependency. AFP
Section 8. Protection to Complainants or Witnesses.—The House may, upon proper petition, provide adequate protection to a complainant or witness if it is shown that the personal safety of the complainant or witness is in jeopardy because of participating in the impeachment proceeding. Section 9. Report and Recommendation.—The Committee on Justice after hearing, and by a majority vote of all its Members, shall submit its report to the House containing its findings and recommendations within sixty (60) session days from the referral to it of the verified complaint and/or resolution. Together with the report shall be a formal resolution of the Committee regarding the disposition of the complaint which shall be calendared for consideration by the House within ten (10) session days from receipt thereof. If the Committee finds by a vote of the majority of all its Members that a probable cause exists on the basis of the evidence adduced before the Committee, it shall submit with its report a resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment. Otherwise, the complaint shall be dismissed subject to Section 12 of these Rules. Section 10. Report to be Calendared.—The Committee on Rules shall calendar the report and the accompanying resolution of the Committee on Justice regarding the disposition of the complaint in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives. The House shall dispose of the report within sixty (60) session days from its submission by the Committee on Justice.
WorldMONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022A6 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
The contents of the verification shall be as follows: “We, after being sworn in accordance with law, depose and state: That we are the complainants in the above-entitled complaint/resolution of impeachment; that we have caused the said complaint/resolution to be prepared and have read the contents thereof; and that the allegations therein are true of our own knowledge and belief on the basis of our reading and appreciation of documents and other records pertinent thereto. (Signature)
RULE III Finding Probable Cause for Impeachment A. COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS Section 4. Determination of Sufficiency in Form.—Upon due referral, the Committee on Justice shall determine whether the complaint is sufficient in form. If the committee finds that the complaint is insufficient in form, it shall return the same to the Secretary General within three (3) session days with a written explanation of the insufficiency. The Secretary General shall return the same to the complainant(s) together with the committee’s written explanation within three (3) session days from receipt of the committee resolution finding the complaint insufficient in form.
EUROPE’S blistering summer may not be over yet but 2022 is already breaking records, with nearly 660,000 hectares ravaged since January, according to the EU’s satellite moni toring service. And while countries on the Mediterranean have normally been the main seats of fires in Europe, this year, other coun tries are also suffering heavily. Fires this year have forced people to flee their homes, destroyed buildings and burned forests in EU countries in cluding Austria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.Some 659,541 hectares (1.6 million acres) have been de stroyed so far, data from the European Forest Fire Informa tion System (EFFIS) showed, setting a record at this point in the year since data collection began in 2006. Europe has suffered a series of heatwaves, forest fires and historic drought that experts say are being driven by humaninduced climate change. They warn more frequent and longer heatwaves are on the way. For nearly two weeks last month, thousands of firefighters struggled to put out Slovenia’s largest wildfire in its modern history.Butthe worst-affected country has been Spain, where fire has destroyed 244,924 hectares, according to EFFIS data, followed by Romania (150,528 hectares) and Portugal (77,292 hectares).
“All those who seek our harm should know that they will pay a price for any harm to our civilians,” Lapid added in the statement. AFP
Section 12. Where Dismissal Recommended.—When the report of the Committee on Justice dismisses the complaint, it shall submit to the House a resolution for the dismissal of the verified complaint and/or resolution of impeachment. A vote of at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House shall be necessary to override such resolution, in which case the Committee on Justice shall forthwith prepare the Articles of Impeachment.
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Section 13. Vote by Roll Call.—The voting on a resolution with the Articles of Impeachment of the Committee on Justice or a contrary resolution dismissing the impeachment complaint shall be by roll call, and the Secretary General shall record the vote of each Member. RULE IV Verified Complaint/Resolution by One-Third of Members Section 14. Endorsement of the Complaint/Resolution to the Senate.—A verified complaint/resolution of impeachment filed by at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and in this case the verified complaint/resolution shall be endorsed to the Senate in the same manner as an approved bill of the House.
Section 1. Applicability of Rules.—These Rules shall apply to all proceedings for impeachment in the House of Representatives against the President, Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions and the Ombudsman for culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes or betrayal of public trust. RULE II Initiating Impeachment Section 2. Mode of Initiating Impeachment.—Impeachment shall be initiated by the filing and subsequent referral to the Committee on Justice of:1 a. a verified complaint for impeachment filed by any Member of the House of Representatives or; b. a verified complaint filed by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof; or c. a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment filed by at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House.
If the respondent fails or refuses to file an answer within the reglamentary period, the respondent is deemed to have interposed a general denial to the complaint. Within three (3) days from receipt of the answer, the complainant may file a reply, serving a copy thereof to the respondent who may file a rejoinder within three (3) days from receipt of the reply, serving a copy thereof to the complainant. If the complainant fails to file a reply, all the material allegations in the answer are deemed controverted. Together with their pleadings, the parties shall file their affidavits or counter-affidavits, as the case may be, with their documentary evidence. Such affidavits or counteraffidavits shall be subscribed before the Chairperson of the Committee on Justice or the Secretary General. Notwithstanding all the foregoing, failure to file an answer will not preclude the respondent from presenting evidence to support the defenses. When there are more than one respondent, each shall be furnished with a copy of the verified complaint of a Member of the House or a copy of the verified complaint of a private citizen together with the resolution of endorsement thereof by a Member of the House of Representatives and a written notice to answer. In this case, reference to respondent in these Rules shall be understood as respondents.
Section 5. Determination of Sufficiency in Substance.—Should the committee find the complaint sufficient in form, it shall then determine if the complaint is sufficient in substance. The requirement of substance is met if there is a recital of facts constituting the offense charged and determinative of the jurisdiction of the committee. If the committee finds that the complaint is not sufficient in substance, it shall dismiss the complaint and shall submit its report as provided hereunder.
RULE V Bar Against Impeachment Section 15. Scope of Bar.—No impeachment proceeding shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one (1) year.
2022
Adopted, August 10, 2022 IN BRIEF India’s stock market billionaire dies at 62 COLOURFUL stock market billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala—dubbed by local media India’s Warren Buffet—has died, his office said Sun day, just a week after he launched the country’s newestCallingairline.the 62-year-old “indomitable,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed tributes from other senior officials, tweeting that the death of the tycoon was “saddening.” The “Big Bull of of–StreetStreet”—theDalalWallofMumbaihadanetworth$3.5billion with significant holdings in more than 30 Indian blue chip Jhunjhunwalastocks. had invested $35 million for an estimated 40 percent stake in Akasa Air which made its maiden flight in the Asian country’s crowded aviation market last Sunday. Having made his money betting on stocks and lacking any experience in the airline indus try, the decision to enter the capital-intensive sector raised eyebrows. “A lot of people question why I’ve started an air line. Rather than answer them, I say I’m prepared for failure,” he told an industry event in February. “It’s better to have tried and failed than not tried at all,” he said. “I hope to prove people wrong. Now it’s become a matter of ego.” “Full of life, witty and insightful, he leaves behind an indelible contribution to the financial world,” Modi said. Jhunjhunwala’s office confirmed to AFP that he died on Sunday morning, without giving further details. AFP Police detain airport gunman at Canberra A GUNMAN reportedly fired shots inside Canberra’s main airport Sunday, sending pas sengers fleeing but injuring no one before he was detained by Australian police. Images posted on social media showed a police officer restraining a man on the ground inside the terminal as the emergency alarms sounded in the capital’s main airport. Outside, several apparent bullet impacts were visible on the glass front of the airport, according to images shown by Australia’s pub lic broadcaster ABC. “Police were called to the Canberra Airport following reports of gunshots in the main ter minal building,” Australian Capital Territory police said in a statement. “Shortly after one person was taken into custody and a firearm was recovered,” they said, adding that there were no reports of in juries.After examining the airport’s closed-circuit television images, police said they believed the man had acted alone. The situation was now “contained,” they said. AFP sees record Europe wildfire destruction—EU
The complaint/resolution must, at the time of filing, be verified and sworn to before the Secretary General by each of the Members constituting at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House.
AFP Rakesh Jhunjhunwala
answer the complaint within ten (10) days from receipt of notice thereof and serve a copy of the answer to the complainant(s). No motion to dismiss shall be allowed within the period to answer the complaint. The answer, which shall be under oath, may include affirmative defenses.
Republic of the Philippines House of 19thRepresentativesCongressRULEI Applicability of Rules
“The terrorist is in our hands,” police spokesman Kan Eli Levy told public ra dio hours after the attack that took place not far from the Western Wall, the holi est prayer site for Jews. A gunman started spraying bullets at the public transport bus and people out side the vehicle in the pre-dawn attack at the Tomb of David bus stop, recounted bus driver Daniel Kanievsky. “I was coming from the Western Wall. The bus was full of passengers,” he later told reporters in front of his bullet-rid dled vehicle. “I stopped at the station of the Tomb of David. At this moment, the shooting started. Two people outside I saw fall ing, two inside were bleeding. Every bodyIsrael’spanicked.”emergency medical services, the Magen David Adom (MDA), called the incident a “terror attack in the Old City.”“We were on the scene very quickly,” its medics said in a statement. “On Ma’ale Hashalom Street we saw a passenger bus ... in the middle of the road. Bystanders called us to treat two males around 30 years old who were on the bus with gunshot wounds.” MDA spokesperson Zaki Heller ini tially said six men and one woman were wounded, with all seven “fully con scious”, before police raised the wound ed toll to eight. One of the wounded was a pregnant woman, whose baby was delivered af ter the attack, a Shaarei Tsedek Hospital spokesman told AFP. “She remains intubated and in serious condition,” he said. “The infant was de livered and is in serious but stable con dition.”Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said after the attack that police, the army and other security services “are working to apprehend the terrorist and will not cease until he is caught.”
ISRAELI police said Sunday they had arrested a suspect in a shooting attack on a bus in Jerusalem’s Old City that wounded eight people, two critically and including a pregnant woman.
Section 3. Filing and Referral of Verified Complaints.—A verified complaint for impeachment by a Member of the House or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof shall be filed with the office of the Secretary General and immediately referred to the Speaker. An impeachment complaint is verified by an affidavit that the complainant has read the complaint and that the allegations therein are true and correct of his personal knowledge or based on authentic records. An impeachment complaint required to be verified which contains a verification based on “information and belief”, or upon “knowledge, information and belief,” or lacks a proper verification, shall be treated as an unsigned impeachment complaint. The Speaker shall have it included in the Order of Business within ten (10) session days from receipt. It shall then be referred to the Committee on Justice within three (3) session days thereafter.
B. HOUSE ACTION Section 11. Vote Required for Approval.—A vote of at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House is necessary for the approval of the resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment. If the resolution is approved by the required vote, it shall then be endorsed to the Senate.On the other hand, should the resolution fail to secure approval by the required vote, it shall result in the dismissal of the complaint for impeachment.
Section 14. Safekeeping and Release of Record of Testimonies of Witnesses.—The testimony of witnesses shall be recorded verbatim. Records of testimonies given in executive sessions shall be placed in the custody of the Secretary General who shall ensure their preservation and confidentiality.
RULES OF PROCEDURE GOVERNING INQUIRIES IN AID OF LEGISLATION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PART 2: POST E-SL REFLECTION
A counsel ordered removed from the room where the hearing is being conducted may, upon such counsel’s request, be allowed to remain in the room as an observer. The counsel shall sit in the place reserved for the general public and shal have no participation in the proceedings. In cases where a counsel for a witness is ordered removed from the room, the witness shall be given reasonable time as may be determined by the committee to secure the services of another counsel. Should the witness deliberately or capriciously fail or refuse to obtain the services of another counsel, a counsel de officio may be provided to the witness by the committee within a reasonable time. Thereafter, the hearing shall continue and the testimony of such witness shall be heard.
Section 7. Executive Sessions.—If the committee or subcommittee deems that the subject matter of the discussion in a public hearing may endanger national security or may be offensive to decency or public morals, it shall conduct the examination in an executive session. Attendance in executive sessions shall be limited to Members of the committee, the committee secretariat staff and such other persons whose presence are required or allowed by the Chairperson. Testimony taken or evidence presented in an executive session, or any summary or excerpt thereof or documents related thereto, in whole or in part, shall not be made public, unless authorized by a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum.
Section 9. Rights and Duties of Witnesses.—The rights of witnesses including their right against self -incrimination shall be respected. Witnesses who are not government officials summoned by the committee shall be entitled, upon their request and subject to the approval of the Speaker, to reasonable transportation expenses and such other amounts as may be deemed necessary for their stay in Metro Manila. Witnesses shall testify under oath to be administered by the Chairperson or by any other person authorized by law. A witness shall be limited to giving information relevant and germane to the subject matter under investigation. The committee shall rule upon the admissibility of any testimony or information presented by a witness. Privileged communications shall be respected. Any witness desiring to deliver or present a prepared or written statement before the committee shall file a copy of such statement, under oath, with the secretary of the committee within forty-eight (48) hours before the hearing at which the statement is to be delivered or presented. Such statements or portions thereof that are relevant and germane to the subject of the investigation may, at the conclusion of the testimony of the witness, and upon approval by a majority vote of the Members of the committee, a quorum being present, be inserted into the official transcript of the proceedings. A witness shall be allowed to request for and be granted Republic of the Philippines House of 19thRepresentativesCongress Section 1. Power to Conduct Inquiries.—Pursuant to Section 21, Article VI of the Constitution, the House of Representatives or any of its committees, may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with these rules. The filing or pendency of a case before any court, tribunal or quasi-judicial or administrative body shall not stop or abate any inquiry conducted to carry out a legislative purpose.
Section 12. Penalty.—By a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present, there being a quorum, those cited under Section 11, paragraphs (e) and (f) shall be detained for a period not exceeding ten (10) days in a place designated by the Chairperson or Acting Chairperson under the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Business MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022 || A7 extrastory2000@gmail.com
shall constitute a quorum. For purposes of determining the existence of a quorum, the Speaker, the Deputy Speakers, the Majority Leader, the Deputy Majority Leaders, the Minority Leader & the Deputy Minority Leaders or the Members deputized by them shall be added to the total number of committee or subcommittee members, as the case may be, if they are present in a meeting. In cases of joint referrals, a quorum must be present in each of the committees concerned.
postponement of the appearance before the committee or sub-committee on grounds that render such witness physically unable to attend the inquiry or investigation: Provided, That the fact of physical inability to attend the inquiry or investigation is supported by appropriate medical or other certification as may be required by the committee or sub-committee, and: Provided further, That no witness shall be granted more than two (2) postponements of appearance before the committee without justifiable cause. Section 10. Rights and Duties of Persons Affected by a Hearing.—Where applicable, any person named in a public hearing or in the released record of testimonies given in executive sessions, who has not been previously so named shall, within a reasonable time thereafter, be notified of such fact by registered letter, return receipt requested, to the address of such person last known to the committee. The notice shall include: a.a statement that the person has been so named; b.date and place of hearing where the person was named; c.name of the person who testified; and d.information that a copy of the Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation is available for the perusal of such person in the house. Any person so notified who believes that one’s character or reputation was adversely affected may, within seven (7) days after receipt of said a.communicatenotice:with the secretary of the committee; and/or b.request to appear in person before the committee in public session and give testimony, at the expense of the concerned person. Any person testifying under the foregoing provisions shall be accorded the same privileges as any other witness appearing before the committee, and may be questioned concerning any matter relevant and germane to the subject of the investigation Section 11. Contempt.—The committee may punish any person for contempt, by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present, there being a quorum. The following shall be grounds for citing any person in contempt: a.refusal without legal excuse to obey summons; b.refusal to be sworn or placed under affirmation; c.refusal to answer any relevant inquiry; d.refusal to produce any books, papers, documents or records that are relevant to the inquiry and are in the possession of the concerned person; e.acting in a disrespectful manner towards any Member of the committee or any misbehavior in the presence of the committee; or f.undue interference in the conduct of proceedings. Contempt of the committee shall be deemed contempt of the House. The person cited in this section may, upon order of the committee, be detained in such place as the Chairperson or acting Chairperson may designate.
A witness or the counsel of such witness may obtain transcripts of any public testimony of witnesses from the secretary of the committee at the expense of the witness and upon written request duly approved by the committee chairperson.Nocommittee report, an excerpt or summary statement of the contents thereof, or any publication related thereto, shall be released by any Member of the committee and its secretariat staff prior to the inclusion of the report in the Calendar of Business. Section 15. Termination of Inquiry.—The committee shall terminate an inquiry, and submit a report thereon within sixty (60) calendar days from the date of commencement unless the committee, by a majority vote of members present, there being a quorum, deems it necessary to extend such inquiry The inquiry commences on the date of referral of the privilege speech, resolution or petition or information to the concerned committee.
Section 2. Modes of Initiation.—Inquiries may be initiated through the following modes: a. motu proprio action of a committee on any matter within its jurisdiction upon a majority vote of all its Members: Provided, That the committee shall first seek authority from the Committee on Rules to proceed with their motu proprio inquiry; or b.upon order of the House of Representatives through: b1. the referral to the appropriate committee of a privilege speech containing or conveying a request or demand for the conduct of an inquiry, upon motion of the Majority Leader or the Deputy Majority Leaders; or b2. the referral of a resolution to the appropriate committee: Provided, That all resolutions directing any committee to conduct an inquiry shall be initially referred to the Committee on Rules for the determination of the necessity and propriety of the conduct of such inquiry; or b3. the referral of a petition filed or information given by any person not a member of the House requesting such inquiry to the appropriate committee, Provided, That such petition or information shall be submitted to the Speaker under oath stating the facts upon which it is based, and accompanied by supporting documents, and thereafter included in the order of business for referral to the Committee on Rules which shall determine the necessity and propriety of the conduct of such inquiry. Section 3. Change of Referral. The referral of the privilege speech, resolution, petition or information may be changed on motion of the majority leader upon receipt and approval by the Committee on Rules of a written request from the chairperson of the committee to which said privilege speech, resolution, petition or information was originally referred. The Committee on Rules shall decide on the said request within a reasonable time from receipt thereof.
Section 16. Report of Committee.—The report shall contain the findings of the committee on the subject matter of the inquiry, the grounds on which its findings are based and its recommendations, if any. The report shall be approved by a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum. Members who vote against the approval of the report and who do not sign the majority report may make concurring or dissenting opinionsThe report, together with any concurring and dissenting opinion, shall be filed with the Secretary General who shall include the same in the Order of Business within three (3) days from receipt thereof. In case of joint inquiry, the committees concerned shall be jointly responsible for submitting the report to the House on the measure referred to them for consideration. The first committee mentioned in the joint referral shall be the lead committee and shall be principally responsible for preparing the report to the House: Provided, That the committees may decide to designate which committee among them shall prepare the report. Section 17. Plenary Action on the Report.—The report, upon inclusion in the Order of Business, shall be referred to the Committee on Rules for appropriate action. The Committee on Rules shall, thereafter, include the report in the Calendar of Business.Upon inclusion of the report in the Calendar of Business, the Plenary may approve or adopt, disapprove or reject, in whole or in part, the report and its recommendation(s) or commit it to the archives. Section 18. Internal Rules.—The committee tasked to conduct an inquiry may adopt internal rules of procedure: Provided That these rules are consistent with the Rules of the House and to these rules. Section 19. Rules of Procedure and Evidence.—The Rules of Court shall be suppletory to these rules. Section 20. Effectivity.—These Rules shall take effect seven (7) days after publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Adopted, August 10, 2022
PART 1: MY THOUGHTS AS WE PREPARE OUR PROPOSAL As part of the requirements we need to fulfill in our course subject Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility, we were assigned to work with a group as our Electronic Service Learning (e-SL) partner. Because of the continuing pandemic, all our activities were done online, even e-SL. It is the same as Service Learning, a collaborative teaching and learning strategy that fosters academic achievement, personal growth and civic engagement (Miller, 2020), only that we do it virtually or online. We are expected to share our expertise to resolve the identified needs of our beneficiaries.Ourgroup had set up a getting-toknow-you (GTKY) session with our partner organization, Community Organizers Multiversity, and the leaders of the community of Estero de Magdalena de Soler. From our fruitful discussion, our team focused on helping the community by introducing practical ways to put up, maintain, manage and monitor a small business in the community. Our team aims to equip the leaders of the community and everyone involved in running the business with basic knowledge in accounting and marketing. We envision the community handling any business, a start-up or a growing one, using the practical knowledge we will share with them. We expect the community to grow their businesses, which will help them elevate their lives and their families. This is also the very reason why we entitled our proposal as Start-up! Build them up, which is also a way for us to cheer them so they can pull this off with the right mindset and training. With the vision we had in our mind, we decided to provide the community with the workshop or webinar, and process manuals to clearly explain the topics they will need in managing their business. As much as we would like to visit the community, we needed to do everything virtually due to the restrictions brought about by the pandemic. But we hope that we can see them and be able to bond with the whole community as well. To compensate for that, our team put much work and effort into making our proposal. We wanted the best for our beneficiaries. And I’m pleased our group got along very well. We were able to submit the best proposal ever. Well, in my opinion. It was because we made our proposal with teamwork and collaboration. Everyone is willing to go the extra mile in making the proposal well-written such as extending time if needed during our meeting, etc. We didn’t see this activity as a burden we needed to complete. This activity is for a higher purpose which is to help the community. Besides getting good grades from the activity, our motivation is to see the impact of our contribution to the community. And hopefully, they will become the model community that improves lives and shares their best practices with others. It’s more of a pay-it-forward hope. I know we’re still far from the final result, but I am confident that my team will be able to ace this activity because we work as one and are guided by The One. Let me wrap up my reflection on this ESL activity by sharing a famous quote from Henry Ford, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” I hope we can continue the reach of this learning activity to help others so we can move forward together, holding each other’s hands. Then maybe we can see a better community, a better country, and a better world in the future.
Section 13. Appearance of Counsel.—The person at whose instance the inquiry was initiated may be represented by counsel. A witness shall be informed by the committee or subcommittee of the right to be represented by counsel. When informed by a witness of the desire to be represented by counsel or when such witness requests to be represented by counsel, the committee or sub-committee may provide a counsel de oficio or allow such witness to choose own counsel and be assisted by the same.Theparticipation of counsel for the witness during the hearing and while the witness is testifying shall be limited to advising on the legal rights of said witness. Counsel for a witness shall conduct oneself in a professional manner and shall observe proper decorum. Otherwise, upon a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum, such counsel shall be subject to contempt or to such other disciplinary action that may include censure and removal from the room where the hearing is being conducted.
How many of you are afraid to do new things? How many of you are weighing whether it’s okay to jump from one thing to another? Life is unpredictable. We may be afraid of things or events, but what’s constant is that they can change. What you’re scared of today is something you might even like or love in the future. It took a long time to pursue my goal of getting an MBA. I’m afraid of not being able to deliver what was expected. What if I don’t have time, money and resources? But, I wanted to learn. At first, it was hard, but as you do it repeatedly, it becomes a habit. You’re ingraining these habits into your system until you can adapt. So, it became natural for you to do your new role, as for me being a student. As I relate this to our e-service learning activity, there are many things I am unsure of. First is whether my group mates will be easy to work with. Second, how will we make an impact if we do it online? Isn’t it better if we do it face-to-face? How can we ensure that we can impact the community assigned to us? With all these things inside my head, I always go back to what I have learned so far with my journey, which is always to trust the process. As I trusted the process and was open to change, I gained new friends from my group mates. We could complete our activity without any issues with the teamwork we built. By trusting the process, we were able to impact community leaders. Having the opportunity to participate in e-service learning is one of the best things that I have experienced so far. Aside from gaining friends and completing this course, on a deeper level, it keeps everyone grounded. This activity reminds us that as we keep on investing in ourselves and grow as a person, let’s not forget that there are people who need our help. Some people can benefit from our grown self just like the community of Soler. Even after this activity, I hope we may still remember the lessons we learned from our experiences. The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. She can be reached at mariella_costa@dlsu.edu.ph.
Green LiGht MARIELLACOSTAGAY
Analysts said the lower-than-expected 8.5 percent US inflation rate in July would boost investor sentiments over the near term. Online brokerage firm 2TradeA sia.com said profit taking could also take place this week as the market rallied last week. “Eyes might be lock on whether gauges would barrel further up or sellers might soon appear to seize on this latest strength,” 2TradeAsia.com said. Analysts said trading could turn vola tile leading to the Bangko Sentral ng Pili pinas’ policy meeting before the end of August. The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, surged 4.6 percent last week to close at 6,699.66 on the back of renewed in vestor optimism. The all-share index also advanced 3.85 percent to settle at 3,464.16.Allsectoral indices ended in the green. Property jumped by 6.44 percent; holding firms, 5.47 percent; industrial, 2.59 per cent; financials, 2.59 percent; and mining and oil, 2.22 percent. Foreign investors were net sellers last week by P11.2 billion, from the previous week’s net buying of P1.4 billion.Average daily turnover reached P9.7 billion, up from the previous week’s aver age of P7.2 billion. Top gainers last week were ABS-CBN Corp. which jumped 30.6 percent to P13.32; Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which increased 12.6 percent to P6.98; and Ma nila Water Co. Inc., which climbed 12.3 percent to P16.62. With AFP
RECORD PROFIT. In this file photo, a sign indicates the Saudi Aramco in front of the company’s offices in the Saudi capital Ryadh. Oil giant Saudi Aramco unveiled record profits of $48.4 billion in the second quarter after Russia’s war in Ukraine and a post-pandemic surge in demand sent crude prices soaring. AFP
Section 8. Attendance of Witnesses.—The committee shall have the power to issue subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum to witnesses in any part of the country, signed by the Chairperson or acting Chairperson and the Speaker or acting Speaker. However, if the committee is unable to secure the signature of the Speaker or acting Speaker on a subpoena ad testificandum and/or subpoena duces tecum, it may request the Committee on Rules to act on the matter. Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Rules through a majority vote of all its Members after determining that the attendance of a witness is indispensable to the effective conduct of the inquiry, the Speaker shall issue a subpoena ad testificandum and/or a subpoena duces tecum to compel the attendance of a witness. Within Metro Manila, subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum shall be served by the Sergeant-at-Arms or his duly authorized deputies. Outside Metro Manila, service of these processes may be made by the appropriate police officer or authority of the town or city upon request of the Secretary General. Subpoena shall be served to a witness at least three (3) days before a scheduled hearing in order to give the witness every opportunity to prepare for the hearing and to employ counsel, should the witness desire. The subpoena shall be accompanied by a notice stating that should a witness wish to confer with the secretary of the committee prior to the date of the hearing, the witness shall convey such desire to the committee by mail, telephone or any other electronic communication device
The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.
Section 4. Conduct of Inquiry. – The committee(s) authorized and directed to conduct an inquiry may: a.upon a majority vote of all its Members, invite any other interested committee(s) or Members thereof to attend its hearings: Provided, That the committee(s) or Members thereof so invited shall not participate in the preparation and approval of the report on the investigation; and b.constitute sub-committees composed of at least one-fifth (1/5) of the total number of committee Members for the purpose of performing any and all acts which the committee as a whole is authorized to perform in the conduct of an inquiry except to punish for contempt. The findings and recommendations of the sub-committees shall be submitted for approval and other appropriate action(s) thereon by the mother committee: Provided, That findings and recommendations including summary statements thereon or publications related thereto shall not be released by any Member of the sub-committee and the secretariat staff prior to the inclusion of the final committee report in the Calendar of Business as provided in Section 17 hereof.
My e-SL experience Easing inflation likely to support stocks this week
Section 5. Joint Inquiry or Investigation.—When a privilege speech, resolution, petition or information is referred to two or more committees, a joint inquiry by the said committees shall be conducted. Section 6. Quorum.—One-fifth (1/5) of all the Members of a committee or a majority of all the Members of a subcommittee
By Jenniffer B. Austria STOCKS are expected to trade sideways with an upward momentum this week on expectation that external headwinds such as higher inflation will ease in the coming months.
Listed
By: MISHELLE ANNE R. RUBIO-AGUINALDO Assistant Corporate Seecretary (MS-AUGUST 15 & 16, 2022)
Cavitex finishes C5 Link project CAVITEX Infrastructure Corp. said over the week end it completed the new segment of Cavitex C5 Link Project that will benefit more than 15,000 motorists. “More than 15,000 motorists going to Taguig from Paranaque and vice versa are expected to benefit with this new segment of Cavitex C5 Link. We urge every one to utilize Easytrip RFID to avoid the long line at cash lane and maximize the benefit of shorter travel time,” CIC president and general manager Raul Igna cio said. Darwin G. Amojelar
The NAIA Consortium, which includes Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC In frastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp. and JG Summit Holdings Inc. earlier submitted a proposal to rehabilitate NAIA for P102 billion.
Listed firms that debuted in the stock market this year were Haus Talk Inc., Fi garo Coffee Group Inc., Citicore Energy REIT Corp., Bank of Commerce, CTS Global Equity Group Inc., Raslag Corp., VistaREIT Inc. and Balai ni Fruitas Inc. Monzon said the local bourse was looking to revive its offer to buy the rest of Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp., the operator of the fixed-income market.Monzon said the PSE temporarily put on the sideline its plan to acquire PDS af ter Land Bank of the Philippines offered to buy 49-percent interest in PDS. “But nothing has happened in the past two and a half years since Landbank has been pursuing PDS. We feel maybe the in terest is not there anymore specially with the new administration,” he said. Monzon said the PSE would also pro ceed with the plan to increase from 15 percent to 20 percent the minimum public float requirement for index stocks by De cember this year. Three companies that are part of the 30-company PSE index have public float of below 20 percent. These are San Miguel Corp., AC Energy Corp. and Emperador Inc.
A8 MONDAY, SPEC PROPERTIES INC.
DOTR open to new PPP offers for NAIA upgrade
AUGUST 15, 2022 CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila Standard TODAY CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
NOTICE OF MEETING Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Shareholders’ Meeting is scheduled on September 6, 2022, Monday, at 2:00 PM by remote communication pursuant to SEC Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2020. The meeting will be hosted at the principal office of the Corporation located at 7th Floor, BDO Towers Paseo (formerly Citibank Center), Makati City. The Organizational Meeting of the Board of Directors will be held immediately after the shareholders’ meeting. Stockholders as of August 12, 2022 are entitled to this notice and to vote in the said meeting. Electronic copies of the proxy form (Special Power of Attorney or Secretary’s Certificate and/or Board Resolution) and valid government-issued ID must be submitted at least five (5) days before the meeting at: ocs.secretariat@gmail. com and ocs.dtvgroup@gmail.com. The link and other meeting instructions will be emailed after validation of the documents submitted. Please note that the meeting will be recorded. The agenda will be as follows: 1. Call to Order 2. Notice and Quorum 3. Election of Directors 4. Ratification of Past Actions 5. Appointment of External Auditor 6. Other Matters 7. Adjournment With respect to any matter to be acted upon at the meeting which may give rise to the right of appraisal, stockholders may invoke Sections 80 to 85 of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines. August 10, 2022, Muntinlupa City.
BusinessBRIEF
SALCON PHILIPPINES INC. NOTICE OF MEETING Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Shareholders’ Meeting is scheduled on September 6, 2022, Monday, at 2:00 PM by remote communication pursuant to SEC Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2020. The meeting will be hosted at the principal office of the Corporation located at 7th Floor, BDO Towers Paseo (formerly Citibank Center), Makati City. The Organizational Meeting of the Board of Directors will be held immediately after the shareholders’ meeting.
(MS-AUGUST 15 & 16, 2022)
1. Call to Order 2. Notice and Quorum 3. Election of Directors 4. Ratification of Past Actions 5. Appointment of External Auditor 6. Other Matters 7. Adjournment With respect to any matter to be acted upon at the meeting which may give rise to the right of appraisal, stockholders may invoke Sections 80 to 85 of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines. August 10, 2022, Muntinlupa City. By: MISHELLE ANNE R. RUBIO-AGUINALDO Assistant Corporate Seecretary (MS-AUGUST 15 & 16, 2022) WESTERN PANAY HYDROPOWER CORPORATION NOTICE OF MEETING Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Shareholders’ Meeting is scheduled on September 6, 2022, Monday, at 2:00 PM by remote communication pursuant to SEC Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2020. The meeting will be hosted at the principal office of the Corporation located at 7th Floor, BDO Towers Paseo (formerly Citibank Center), Makati City. The Organizational Meeting of the Board of Directors will be held immediately after the shareholders’ meeting.
IN
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe inappall-in-onethepayments.person-to-personmerchantforfornationalwithenabledabuysPeterBoardwith(right),MedallatogetherMonetarymemberFavila,tahofromstreetvendorbyMayaQRPh,thestandardQRpaymentsperson-to-andMaya,country’smoneyandleaderthedeployment of QR Ph in the country, supports the Paleng-QR Ph program of the BSP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
LAUNCH.PALENG-QR
Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor extrastory2000@gmail.combusiness@manilastandard.net
The PSE, in its latest review from July 2021 to June 2022, included Semirara Mining and Power Corp. as member of the 30-company PSEi in place of Security Bank Corp. The top-publicly listed companies based on liquidity, market capitalization, and free float level are the securities considered for inclusion in PSE indices. Aside from these criteria, relevant financial benchmarks are also used in the index review. It said companies should have a public ownership level of at least 20 percent to qualify for index inclusion in the next review period. “We expect companies that would like to remain index constituents but have a free float of less than 20 percent to take the necessary corporate action to address this concern,” Monzon said earlier.
P200 billion from the sale of shares as the number of initial public offerings may reach a record this year.
By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Transportation will entertain new proposals for the multibillion-peso rehabilitation and upgrade of the Ninoy Aquino Inter national Airport, a top official said over the weekend. “It’s still a priority. We will invite the private sector again to revisit the possibility of doing a PPP [public private partnership] for NAIA,” Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told reporters.
“Maybe, Megawide and the super consortium can participate again,” he said. Bautista said discussions on the redevelopment of NAIA should start within the “Actually,year.we met some of the members of the consortium. They have given us their interest to start the discussion,” he said.
Metro Pacific Investments Corp. backed out from the consortium over unresolved issues with the government. The members of the consortium sent a letter to the National Econom ic and Development Authority on July 6, 2020, informing the agency that they were not confident about financing the project and pushing through with it. Megawide Construction Corp. and partner India-based GMR Infra structure Ltd. also submitted a proposal to rehabilitate and upgrade NAIA for $3 billion with a contract period of 18 years. MegawideGMR is the same group that built the new Mactan terminal facility.
Stockholders as of August 12, 2022 are entitled to this notice and to vote in the said meeting. Electronic copies of the proxy form (Special Power of Attorney or Secretary’s Certificate and/or Board Resolution) and valid government-issued ID must be submitted at least five (5) days before the meeting at: ocs.secretariat@gmail. com and ocs.dtvgroup@gmail.com. The link and other meeting instructions will be emailed after validation of the documents submitted. Please note that the meeting will be recorded. The agenda will be as follows: 1. Call to Order 2. Notice and Quorum 3. Election of Directors 4. Ratification of Past Actions 5. Appointment of External Auditor 6. Other Matters 7. Adjournment With respect to any matter to be acted upon at the meeting which may give rise to the right of appraisal, stockholders may invoke Sections 80 to 85 of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines. August 10, 2022, Muntinlupa City. By: MISHELLE ANNE R. RUBIO-AGUINALDO Assistant Corporate Seecretary
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Smart responds to DITO’s complaint SMART Communications Inc. assured the public that it is not engaged in any act constituting abuse of dominant posi tion or other anti-competitive behavior against DITO Telecommunity Corp. Smart and DITO signed an interconnec tion agreement in February 2021 to allow inter-network calls between their respec tive subscribers. Smart said shortly after DITO’s commercial launch, it detected fraudulent international bypass traffic from DITO’s network to Smart subscribers, and Smart promptly notified DITO. “International calls [calls from abroad to the Philippines] using DITO SIMs that should have been subject to proper toll rates, came through SMART’s network as local calls with DITO mobile num bers as caller IDs. This has resulted in poor customer experience and revenue losses on the part of Smart,” Smart said. Smart said it devoted the past sever al months in earnest negotiations with DITO on the establishment of opera tional coordination and fraud detection measures to mitigate, track and block the illegal bypass traffic. “It must be emphasized that DITO’s vulnerable network has adversely af fected Smart subscribers, not only in the form of low-grade calls from masked DITO numbers, but also through spam or robot calls and scams from overseas sources that are difficult to trace,” PLDT Inc., the parent com pany of Smart, said in a statement to the Philippine Stock Exchange. Darwin G. Amojelar LT Group’s income hit P15.4b in first half LT GROUP Inc., the publicly-listed holding company of tycoon Lucio Tan, said over the weekend net income jumped 313 percent in the first half to P15.4 billion from P3.73 billion in the same period last year on higher net in come contribution from banking unit. LT Group said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-half consolidated revenues rose 4 percent P45.8 billion, led by higher beverage and distilled spirits revenues. First-half cost of sales and services increased 13.6 percent to P22.6 billion from P19.9 billion. The group’s tobacco business, which accounted 50 percent of to tal first attributable net income, went down by 14 percent to P7.74 billion. “Volume was relatively flat. But the lower profits can be attributed to the in crease in excise taxes that PMFTC Inc. had to absorb as a price increase was only implemented in the end of March 2022,” LT Group said. The group’s banking arm Philip pine National Bank contributed P6.28 billion to total net income, a reversal from previous year’s contribution of P6.5-billion loss. Jenniffer B. Austria Sika rebrands Davco, Lanko products SIKA Philippines Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swiss company Sika Group, said it started rebranding its Davco and Lanko products into Sika brands. “In line with the integration of Sika and Parex last 2019, we are transitioning Davco and Lanko brands under the Sika brand while retaining their product names. The transition will begin in the second quarter of 2022 onwards until old packaging are fully depleted,” said Sika Philippines general manager Christophe Lejeune. Lejeune assured there would be no changes on the Davko and Lanko prod uct formulations despite the rebranding. “We will continue to provide you with the same trusted and excellent product quality,” he said. The company is undertaking the re branding for consumers to fully benefit from the Sika brand’s reputation of de livering high-quality products. Parex brands—Davco and Lanko— were initially introduced in the Philippines in the 1990s through distributors before Parex Group Inc.’s establishment in 2008. In 2019, Sika completed the global acqui sition of Parex, resulting in Davco and Lanko becoming Sika brands. firms seen raising P200b year
By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange companiesexpectstoraise
SII PROPERTIES & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
(MS-AUGUST 15 & 16, 2022)
PSE president and chief executive Ra mon Monzon said in a virtual press brief ing companies raised P76.17 billion in capital in the first half, while another P75 billion worth of fund-raising activities were in the pipeline. “With the pending applications and completed capital raising activities, we al ready have P150 billion. We hope to get more applications, and we hope to reach P200 billion by the end of the year,” Mon zonAmongsaid. the companies that will sell shares in the second half are Alternergy Holdings Corp. (P2.18 billion), ORCA Cold Chain Solutions Inc. (P1.6 billion), Prime Infra structure Capital Inc.(P28.1 billion), Upson International Inc.(P5.4 billion) and Globe Telecom Inc. which will raise P32 billion from a follow-on offering.
NOTICE OF MEETING Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Shareholders’ Meeting is scheduled on September 6, 2022, Monday, at 2:00 PM by remote communication pursuant to SEC Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2020. The meeting will be hosted at the principal office of the Corporation located at 7th Floor, BDO Towers Paseo (formerly Citibank Center), Makati City. The Organizational Meeting of the Board of Directors will be held immediately after the shareholders’ meeting. Stockholders as of August 12, 2022 are entitled to this notice and to vote in the said meeting. Electronic copies of the proxy form (Special Power of Attorney or Secretary’s Certificate and/or Board Resolution) and valid government-issued ID must be submitted at least five (5) days before the meeting at: ocs.secretariat@gmail. com and ocs.dtvgroup@gmail.com. The link and other meeting instructions will be emailed after validation of the documents submitted. Please note that the meeting will be recorded. The agenda will be as follows: 1. Call to Order 2. Notice and Quorum 3. Election of Directors 4. Ratification of Past Actions 5. Appointment of External Auditor 6. Other Matters 7. Adjournment With respect to any matter to be acted upon at the meeting which may give rise to the right of appraisal, stockholders may invoke Sections 80 to 85 of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines. August 10, 2022, Muntinlupa City. By: MISHELLE ANNE R. RUBIO-AGUINALDO Assistant Corporate Seecretary
Stockholders as of August 12, 2022 are entitled to this notice and to vote in the said meeting. Electronic copies of the proxy form (Special Power of Attorney or Secretary’s Certificate and/or Board Resolution) and valid government-issued ID must be submitted at least five (5) days before the meeting at: ocs.secretariat@gmail. com and ocs.dtvgroup@gmail.com. The link and other meeting instructions will be emailed after validation of the documents submitted. Please note that the meeting will be recorded. The agenda will be as follows:
Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy
The win also primed Creamline for a shot at the Asian Volleyball Confederation Championship for Women, which unfolds Aug. 21 at the Philsports Arena in ThePasig.Taiwanese, who spiked their semis run with a five-set win over the Cool Smashers, failed to recover from their late second set foldup, groping to launch their attacks in the third and struggling to neutralize the Cool Smashers’ onslaught as they settled for another runner-up finish, their fourth counting the three in the Top Volleyball League back home. Earlier, Cignal HD overcame all odds – absence of two key players, a two-set deficit and a huge hole in the third – as it hacked out an improbable 17-25, 2025, 27-25, 25-22, 15-5 victory over a luckless PLDT to clinch third place honors, matching its finish in the OpenTotsConference.Carlos,who watched from the sidelines as Michelle Gumabao took over to preside the team’s fiery comeback in the second frame, went on to fire 14 points and bag the MVP honors for the second straight conference. The former UP stalwart also copped the best opposite spiker trophy.
Caluag, Assistant Editor B1MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022
La guardshootingSalleCuajaojoinsLetran
THE Philippine Olympic Committee will immortalize the late Asian Sprint Queen Lydia de Vega at the soon-to-rise POC Museum at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino made the promise to De Vega’s daughter, Stephanie Mercado-Koenigswarter, and mother Mary when he visited De Vega’s wake at the Heritage Park in Taguig City on Saturday“Lydia’smorning.legacy will forever be remembered. So we, the POC, are planning to put all her achievements on a wall inside the Olympic museum,” Tolentino told MercadoKoenigswarter and Mary de Vega. “Her achievements in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Championships and Asian Games, among others, will be immoratlized there in the museum,” Tolentino said. “She’ll be an inspiration to all aspiring athletes.” Work on the POC headquarters at the New Clark City will soon start, according to Tolentino. “This is the first time that the POC will have a home of its own,” said Tolentino, who was accompanied in the wake by POC secretary general for international affairs Bones Floro. “And a museum will be built to aptly highlight this home.”
The young Black’s three free throws in the dying seconds sealed the win for Bolts as they equalized their series with the Beermen for a third time, 3-all. This set up a do-or-die Game 7 on Wednesday. Black, who got timely screens from Raymund Almazan and Hodge, hit seven points during a 13-0 run that he, Chris Newsome and Hodge initiated. The rally allowed the Bolts to overcome a 10-point, 80-90 deficit in the last 4:23 of the fourth period.The Bolts then took a 93-90 spread in the remaining 31.5 seconds, following Black’s triple, two charities and three-point play. “It was not only me, it was the guys who were screening for me, Raymund and Cliff. That’s why I was open,” said Black. CJ Perez, who had 13 points, had a chance to get the Beermen into a deadlock. But he knocked in only two of three charities in the last 8.3 ticks off Black’s foul, 92-93. Black then delivered three of four freebies off fouls from Chris Ross (final 5.7 seconds) and Perez (final two seconds) as the Bolts boosted their chance to remain in contention for a best-of-seven finals“Proudslot.of Aaron where he’s come from in the last couple of years as a player. I’m happy that he took over in this game,” said the elder Black. Newsome banged in a game-high 19 points for the Bolts, while JuneMar Fajardo showed the way for the Beermen with 23 points.
Cool Smashers
The Creamline Cool Smashers celebrate their title romp Sports of Asia Arena. That they needed just three sets to dispatch the once-formidable Taiwanese spoke well of the caliber of the team that also swept Petro Gazz in the recent Open Conference finals following a breakdown to Chery Tiggo when the league marked its inaugural pro staging in bubble set-up in Ilocos Norte last year. But while it might have looked like quicker than expected, the Cool Smashers had to go through some anxious moments, particularly in the second frame when the Taiwanese fought back from an opening set setback and took the last of their two six-point leads at 17-11 on a Kyle Negrito service miscue. But Chang Chih-Hsuan’s own flawed serve in the ensuing play sparked a Creamline run that the Cool Smashers would sustain till the end of the 80-minute match as they countered with a decisive 14-2 binge that pushed the Open Conference champions to the threshold of another gold medal feat. They kept the momentum of that big assault, racing to an 11-3 lead in the third and cruising to the troublefree win to the delight of majority of 7,148 fans, whose thundering roars kept the Cool Smashers’ adrenaline rush pumping while befuddling the Taiwanese poise so evident in their pair of five-set escapes that steered them to the finals. And it took Creamline’s designated closer to finish off the visiting squad as Alyssa Valdez, bucking an ankle sprain, blasted in a kill that hit the arm of a KWT defender and into the stands as confetti fell from the rafters to mark another Cool Smashers’ masterful victory following their sweep of the Angels at the Ynares Center in Antipolo last April.
PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino (right) speaks with Stephanie Mercado-Koenigswarter. At left is POC secretary general for international affairs Bones Floro.
ON its third straight stab at pro glory, Creamline didn’t crack and won for the second straight time, cutting erstwhile unbeaten KingWhale-Taipei down to size with a 25-21, 25-19, 25-8 victory for the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference crown before a roaring Sunday crowd at the SM Mall Meralco’s Chris Newsome scores on a jumpshot against the San Miguel Beermen in a PBA Philippine Cup semi nal game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Newsome topscored for the Bolts with 19 points as Meralco stayed alive following a 96-92 win.
Johnsherick Estrada and Joshua Fontanilla made sure the Saints stayed alive as they repulsed EcoOil-La Salle, 72-64. Ichie Altamirano also went on a hot streak in the final 5:29 to help the Golden Stags take the 82-74 win over Marinerong Pilipino. Estrada unloaded 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, as well as six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal, while Fontanilla got 21 points, seven coming in the final canto, to go with three boards, a steal, and a rejection to lead Adalem-St. Clare. “Alam namin na tatapusin ni Josh and Estrada ‘yung game, pero dapat lahat ‘yan magsimula sa depensa,” said Saints’ coach Jinino Manansala. Senegalese center Babacar Ndong also hauled down 15 rebounds as his side survived the Green Archers’ 23-point third quarter fightback. Altamirano, meanwhile, poured eight of his 13 points in that crucial stretch, to go with four rebounds and four assists as Apex Fuel-San Sebastian overturned a 71-68 deficit to a 7871 edge with 2:07 on the clock. “The effort, palaging nasa kanila. When you work hard, good things will happen,” said coach EgayRomelMacaraya.Calahat paced the Golden Stags with a double-double of 15 points and 10 boards, Jesse Sumoda collected 14 points, eight rebounds, and three steals, and Alex Desoyo and Rafael Are combined for 20 in this big win to finally get one over the Skippers after losing in the eliminations, 86-74, and in Game 1 last Friday, 74-66. Both sudden deaths are set this Wednesday at the same venue. Ben Phillips led EcoOil-La Salle with 15 points and six rebounds, while Kevin Quiambao was limited to just nine points, four steals, three boards, and three assists in the loss. This was also a missed opportunity for the Skippers which leaned on Jollo Go scoring 28 points on 5-of-9 clip from beyond the arc.
Saints, Stags live to ght another day in D-League
By Peter Atencio AARON Black didn’t disappoint his father, coach Norman Black, when he took over in the final stretch and carried the Meralco Bolts to a 96-92 triumph over the San Beermen in Game 6 of their best—of-seven semifinal series in the 2022 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
POC to immortalize Diay in museum Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) Game 3 of Best-of-3 Semifinals 9 a.m. - Marinerong Pilipino vs Apex Fuel-San Sebastian 11 a.m. - EcoOil-La Salle vs Adalem Construction-St. Clare
ADALEM Construction-St. Clare and Apex Fuel-San Sebastian lived to fight another day in the 2022 PBA DLeague Aspirants’ Cup semifinals by hurdling their respective foes Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum to force a winner-take-all Game Three.
The MERALCOScores: 96 – Newsome 19, Black 17, Hodge 17, Banchero 13, Almazan 11, Maliksi 7, Pascual 6, Quinto 6, Hugnatan 0, Pasaol 0, Jose 0 SAN MIGUEL 92 – Fajardo 23, Manuel 16, Lassiter 14, Perez 13, Tautuaa 8, Cruz 8, Enciso 8, Brondial 2, Ross 0, Herndon 0 QUARTERS: 33-22, 56-45, 74-71, 96-92
The 25-year-old point guard shot 17 points with Cliff Hodge and led the Bolts’ charge in the fourth period with straight 11 points.
Black takes charge as Bolts nip Beermen, tie series, 3-3
THE Letran Knights have acquired 6’1” shooting guard Deo Cuajao, who is expected to play in Season 99 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament next year. Cuajao left the De La Salle University Green Archers and joined the Knights late last week. Letran athletic director Fr. Vic Calvo, OP, has accepted Cuajao’s decision to transfer to the Knights, who are in a quest to complete their three-peat bid in Season 98, which kicks off next month. It will be recalled that Cuajao joined the University of Santo Tomas Tigers back in 2019. But Cuajao and teammate Mark Nonoy later moved over to La Salle and joined their cage team following UST’s situation involving the “SorsogonManybubble.”players in the UST Tigers’ roster left the team after its coaches and officials were accused of allowing team practices in Sorsogon, without approval from the proper authorities due to prevailing COVID-19 restrictions at that time. Cuajao is expected to showcase his talents as Letran sees action in the ongoing FilOil EcoOil PreseasonCuajao’sCup. entry into the team comes following the departure of Rhenz Abando, who signed up with Anyang-Korean Ginseng Corporation team in the Korean Basketball League. Peter Atencio
De Vega dominated track and field in the region in her prime, winning back-to-back Asian Games 100 meters gold medals in New Delhi 1982 and Seoul 1986, two 100 and two 200 meters titles in the Asian championships in Singapore 1983 and Kuwait 1987 and nine SEA Games gold medals from 1983 to 1987. De Vega’s wake will be transferred on Monday to her native Meycauyan in Bulacan where she once served as councilor. Tolentino, meanwhile, will fly to Bangkok on Monday for a SEA Games Federation Council meeting on the Cambodia 32nd SEA Games in May 2023. surprise Taiwanese, nail PVL Invitational crown M.
SportsMONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022B2
Jinggoy commends PH’s big medal haul in ASEAN Para Games
Members of the team are, Cyrus Rodan Sinugbojan, Justine James Diasnes, Renzo Maverick Gavilanes, John Joseph Timothy Melicado, Jose Jacob Cartagena, John Renzo Balido, Legolas Peñaredondo, Devy John Singson (Coach, Kyorugi), Carlos Jose Padilla, V (Coach, Kyorugi), Rani Ann Ortega (Coach, Poomsae), Rodolfo Reyes, Jr. (Coach, Poomsae), Vince Raiane Santianez, Allain Keanu Ganapin (Para Player), Kent John Banzon, Rodito Sinugbojan, JR., Ethan Jervey Dayne Chavez, Abram Josiah Resimo, Juan Victorio Ongsiako Yamat and Kurt Jyrus Emboltura. Other members are Merica Lillyn Chan, Tachiana Keizha Mangin, Bob Andrew Fabella, Eljay Marco Vista, Jose Lucas Llarena, Caleb Angelo Calde, Dean Darnet Venerable, Paul Anthony Rodriguez, Ian Matthew Corton, Joshua Aaron Erece, Andrea Marie Benocilla, Felicity Jana Castel. (Sitting from left), Caitlyn Julia Carlos, Ryane Joie De Juan, Elizabeth Marie Borres, Julianna Martha Uy, Casey de Leon, Acey Kiana Oglayon, Sophia Jane Dorado, Maria Nicole Anne Labayne, Aesha Kiara Oglayon, Antonette Medallada.
“Massive thanks to everyone who had an input in my career over the years & after long hard conversations I’ve finally decided to walk away & on my 34th birthday I say Bon voyage,” Fury posted on Twitter.The announcement has been greeted with scepticism as Fury has previously stated his intention to retire only to return to the ring. He was expected to fight the winner of Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Anthony Joshua on August 20 for the chance to unify the world heavyweight titles. As recently as Tuesday, Fury suggested his most recent spell in retire-
LONDON—WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said he is retiring from boxing on his 34th birthday on Friday, having previously performed a number of U-turns over his future in the sport.
PARIS—Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi paid a high price for an underwhelming first season with Paris Saint-Germain when he was left off the 30-strong list for this year’s coveted football award. Lucy Bronze, who was runner-up in 2019, is one of three members of England’s Euro-winning squad to be shortlisted for the women’s award. Messi, who won the title last year, had been an ever-present amongst the nominations since 2006 and a regular feature in the top three since 2007 with the exception of 2018. But Messi, 35, has missed out on the 2022 award following his switch from Barcelona to the French capital. A change in the format has also worked against the Argentine superstar with the Ballon d’Or no longer acknowledging the best player over a calendarInstead,year.itis based on a season’s record highlighting “the individual performances” and the “decisive and impressive character” of the nominees, according to the criteria. After leaving Barcelona in the summer of 2021, Messi was unable to stamp his genius on a PSG team desperate for a Champions League title. The French champions suffered a last-16 exit at the hands of eventual winners Real Madrid. In total, Messi scored only 11 goals for PSG with his relatively indifferent club form failing to impress France Football magazine, the organisers of the Ballon d’Or which will be awarded
THE Smart/MVP Sports Foundation National Kyorugi and Poomsae Team are set to compete in the 2022 Asian Cadet/Junior/ParaTaekwondo Championships slated on August 22 to 27 in Ho Chi Minh City,TheVietnam.45-men delegation is composed of eight officials, headed by Raul Samson, Secretary General of the Taekwondo Philippine, and 37 Players (22 Kyrugi and 15 Poomsae). The team’s participation in the event is supported by Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and MILO.
Serena lossCanadagoodbyesaystoaftertoBencic CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila Standard TODAY CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK NOTICE OF LOSS NOTICE is hereby given that the whereabouts of the Stock Certificate in the Palms Country Club under the name of Oscar Llamas Arcinue with stock certificate no. 2883 representing one share cannot be determined and, thus, the said certificate is considered lost. This announcement will serve as notice to all parties concerned of the loss of the aforementioned stock certificate (MS-AUG. 15/22/29,
ORDER Before this court is a Motion to Allow by petitioner through counsel on June 30, 2022. Petitioner prays in the said Motion that summons be served by publication upon the respondent considering that as per Sheriff’s Return of Summons May 5, 2022, Summons together with a copy of the Petition and its annexes were returned unserved “for the reason that there was no one in the respondent’s residence” and that “the respondent was not around for she is currently living and working in Italy xxx”. The same ground was reiterated by petitioner in his Affidavit attached thereto. He likewise avers in the said affidavit that he does not know the current address of the respondent abroad for they have not been communicating for the last few years and that their common friends also do not know of her exact address except that she is in Italy. After a careful perusal of the Motion to Allow Substituted Service and the Affidavit of the petitioner, this court resolves to grant the same. It appears that this is one of the instances wherein summons by publication may be allowed. Section 6, A.M. No. 02-11-10-SC (Rule on Declaration of Absolute Nullity of void Marriages and Annulment of Voidable Marriages in relation to Rule 14 of the Rules of Court) provides: “Sec. 6. Summons. - The service of summons shall be governed by Rule 14 of the Rules of Court and by the following rules: (a) Where the respondent cannot be located at his given address or his whereabouts are unknown and cannot be ascertained by diligent inquiry, service of summons may, by leave of court, be effected upon him by publication once a week for two consecutive weeks In a newspaper of general circulation In the Philippines and In such place as the court may order. In addition, a copy of the summons shall be served on the respondent at his last known address by registered mall or by any other means the court may deem sufficient. (b) The summons to be published shall be contained in an order of the court with the following data: (1) title of the case; (2) docket number; (3) nature of the petition; (4) principal grounds of the petition and the reliefs prayed for; and (5) a directive for respondent to answer within thirty days from the last issue of publication.WHEREFORE, In view of the foregoing, let service of summons and a copy of this Order be effected upon respondent MARIA KATRINA R. DAMAYO by publication at the expense of the petitioner once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation to be chosen by raffle pursuant to P. D. 1079. Respondent shall be given a period of thirty (30) calendar days from the last issue of publication of the summons to file her answer serving a copy thereof upon the petitioner. Likewise, let copies of this Order, summons and petition be sent to respondent at her last known address by registered mall. SO QuezonORDERED.City,Metro Manila, July 8, 2022. (Sgd.) ROSLYN M. RABARA-TRIA Presiding Judgeacr.ocpqc@gmall.comACPcopyRMRT/fepsfurnished:ArcellC.Ragsac
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 94, QUEZON CITY Room 406, 4th Floor, Hall of Justice Bldg.,(Annex) e-mail address: rtc1qzn094@judiciary.gov.ph Contact Nos. (02) 8 534-2811 / 0947-5867158 NOMER GABRIEL A. CABRERA,Petitioner, - versus - CIVIL CASE NO. R-QZN-21-10387-CV For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage MARIA KATRINA R. x---------------------------------------------------------xDAMAYO,Respondent.
Heavyweight champ Fury to retire on 34th birthday
TORONTO—Serena Williams, who said this week she will soon call time on her storied tennis career, departed the WTA Toronto Masters for the last time Wednesday with a 6-2, 6-4 loss to Belinda Bencic. The second-round defeat by Switzerland’s reigning Olympic gold medallist was hardly unexpected, with the 40-year-old Williams competing in only her third match of 2022. Bencic fired eight aces and broke Williams twice in the first set and once in the second, advancing on her first match point after 78 minutes. But as Bencic herself said in the post-match interview on court: “Tonight is about her.” Williams’s farewell on-court interview was threaded with emotion. “I love playing here, I’ve always loved playing here,” she said, choking up as fans who cheered her throughout the match called out their appreciation. “I wish I could have played better tonight, but Belinda was playing so well.”Williams, who turns 41 next month, had beaten Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz on Monday for her first singles victory since the 2021 French Open, 14 months ago. But it sent shockwaves through the sport when she revealed in an essay in Vogue magazine and an Instagram post on Tuesday that “the countdown has begun” to her retirement from the sport. Williams didn’t specify an actual retirement date but is expected to compete next week in Cincinnati before travelling to the US Open, which starts on August 29. AFP 2022)
SMART/MVP-PH Team joins ‘22 Asian Taekwondo Championship
FOR achieving another milestone for the country, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada filed a resolution seeking a Senate commendation for the Philippine contingent in the recently concluded ASEAN Para Games for hauling 104 medals exceeding the previous best in the 2009 edition. “The perseverance, discipline, commitment to excellence, and sportsmanship they have shown during the regional meet and throughout the period of their preparation and training are exemplary values and attributes that the younger generation and all Filipinos could emulate,” Estrada said in Senate Resolution No. 110. “Their remarkable accomplishments and success in the international sports stage brought honor and pride to the nation, hence deserving of commendation and recognition from the Senate,” he added. While majority of the 144 para-athletes who participated in the 11th ASEAN Para Games held in Surakarta, Indonesia competed for the first time, Estrada said they delivered impressive performances in their respective fields. At the conclusion of the regional sports fest, which was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines ranked fifth overall, with 28 gold, 30 silver and 46 bronze medals—the country’s biggest medal haul in the history of the ASEAN Para Games. The country’s best record of 74 medals—24 gold, 24 silver and 26 bronze—was during the 2009 edition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The ASEAN Para Games is a biennial multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities in Southeast Asia. The 11th edition was held from July 30 to August 6, 2022 and was participated in by 1,648 athletes and 661 officials from 11 countries across the region. Macon Ramos-Araneta
STILL AT IT. Pool legend Efren “Bata” Reyes was seen playing 10-ball billiards at the Makati Square Billiards Hall in Makati City against Philip Dimalibot of Mindoro. Reyes won with a 20-15 score. Diana B. Noche Tyson Fury 7-time winner Messi misses out on Ballon d’Or nomination in Paris on October 17. PSG teammate Neymar also misses out after a season where he scored 13 goals in 28 matches. The remainder of the list of nominees throws up few surprises. French international striker Karim Benzema is the overwhelming favourite after being the architect of Real Madrid’s 14th Champions League title. He finished the European campaign with 15 Benzemagoals.is likely to become the fifth French winner after Raymond Kopa (1958), Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985), Jean-Pierre Papin (1991) and Zinedine Zidane (1998). In the 2021/2022 season, Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 appearances for a Madrid side who also won the Liga title. His goal in Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the European Super Cup took the 34-year-old to 324 goals for the Spanish giants. That edged him ahead of Raul in the club’s all-time list with only Cristiano Ronaldo in front of him with 450. AFP
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION TO: MARIA KATRINA R. DAMAYO Brgy. Ayao-iyao, Lemery, Batangas GREETINGS:WHEREAS, a Petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage has been filed by petitioner Nomer Gabriel A. Cabrera against Maria Katrina R. Damayo; WHEREAS, petitioner, through counsel, filed “Motion to Allow SubstitutedWHEREAS,Service”;onJuly 8, 2022, an Order was issued directing the service of summons be effected upon the respondent by publication at the expense of the petitioner; WHEREAS, in the Petition, the relief/s prayed for are hereby quoted as follows: “WHEREFORE, it is most respectfully prayed that this Honorable Court, after due proceedings, after due notice and hearing, render Judgment as follows,: 1. After DUE NOTICE AND HEARING, DECLARING that the parties marriage on March 11, 2011 be declared as VOID AB INITIO under Article 35 (2), as this was solemnized by a person not legally authorized to perform marriages; and 2. FURTHER DECREEING that by reason of the both parties’ psychological incapacity, that the marriage contracted by the parties NOMER GABRIEL A. CABRERA and MARIA KATHRINA R. DAMAYO, on March 11, 2011 as well as its civil effects, If any, are VOID AB INITIO, pursuant to Article 36 of the Family Code, as amended. Other equitable reliefs just and equitable are likewise prayed for.” (emphasis supplied) NOW, THEREFORE, You, respondent MARIA KATRINA R. DAMAYO is summoned and required to file with this court your verified Answer or any responsive pleading to the Petition of herein petitioner within thirty (30) days from the last issue of publication, serving a copy thereof upon petitioner. If you fail to file your answer within the said thirty (30) day period, petitioner shall take action as authorized under the law and ask from the court the relief/s applied for in the said Petition. Let this Summons and copy of the Order dated July 8, 2022 be published by the petitioner at his expense once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation, and likewise, to deposit copy of the same, as well as, of the Petition and its Annexes in the Quezon City Post Office/other courier, postage prepaid and by registered mail addressed to respondent’s last known address, also at the expense of the petitioner. WITNESS MY HAND SEAL of this Court, this 19th day of July, 2022 at Quezon City, Metro Manila. (Sgd.) Atty. MA. ADORACION J. BAETIONG Clerk of Court VAtty.Cc: Maria Perlita C. Pinza 57-B Iriga St., Sta. Mesa Heights Quezon City Maria Katrina R. Damayo Brgy. Ayao-iyao, Lemery, Batangas (MStandard-Aug. 8 & 15, 2022)
Office of the Solicitor General 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City Atty. Maria Perlita C. Pinza (counsel for Petitioner) 57-B Iriga St., Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City 101Nomerpericabrera.sclaw@gmall.comGabrielA.CabreraBlock7,PookPalaris,Brgy. UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City Maria Katrina R. Damayo Brgy. Ayao-Iyao, Lemery, REPUBLICBatangasOF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 94, QUEZON CITY Room 406, 4th Floor, Hall of Justice Bldg. (Annex) Quezon City Hall Complex e-mail address: rtc1gzn094@judidary.gov.ph contact numbers: (02) 8-534-2811 / 0947-586-7158 NOMER GABRIEL A. CABRERA, Petitioner, -versus- Civil Case No. R-QZN-21-10381-CV For: Nullity of Marriage under Articles 35 (2) and 36 of the Family Code MARIA KATRINA R. DAMAYO, x----------------------------------------------------xRespondent.
ment was over in order to set up a trilogy fight against Derek Chisora and even claimed to have appointed a new trainer in Isaac Lowe. However, he has now announced the intention to retire undefeated with a record of 32 wins and one draw from 33Furybouts.went onto thank his wife, promoter Frank Warren and a series of other training partners and television companies who have bought rights to his fights over the years. The Brit stated ahead of his win over Dillian Whyte in March that he would retire after that fight as he has “150 million in the bank and nothing to However,prove.” earlier this week, Warren had cast doubt on the suggestion Fury will not fight again. “I think what’s going to happen is, see what happens on 20 (August) and the outcome of that, and that’ll determine what he intends to do in the future,’ Warren told talkSPORT. “I think he will (return), because he’s a fighting man and he misses it. That’s what he does, he wants to fight.” AFP
Rio Locsin, a former Darna herself, plays Jane’s grandmother in the series Richard Quan (left) and Simon Ibarra also lend their skills as actors for ‘Darna’ Jeffrey Santos (left) and Eric Fructuoso have supporting roles as good and bad cops, respectively (From left) Joj Agpangan, Viveika Ravanes, and Dawn Chang add depth to the series as supporting characters Janella Salvador shows dedicationher to her role hercurledwithredcarpetwalkingValentinaasbytheasnakearoundforearm
Benz Sangalang (left) and Azi Acosta are the lead stars of ‘SitioVivamax’sDiablo’
SMART Communications, Inc. (Smart) has launched a new partnership with TinyTAN, the group of animated characters created from the seven members of 21st century pop icons BTS, to bring a new line of special licensed products, including 5G-ready SIM packs and load cards exclusive for subscribers. TinyTAN was first launched in 2019 and is currently licensed by BigHit Music under multinational entertainment company Hybe Co., Ltd. The name comes from Bangtan Sonyeondan, the transliteration of BTS’ Korean name. Each TinyTAN character projects a personality representative of each BTS member but follows a unique narrative in the TinyTAN universe. Under this exciting team up, subscribers can experience Smart’s fastest mobile network with their Smart SIM TinyTAN Edition that comes with one character card in each pack. Fans can collect a total of eight special edition TinyTAN character cards by simply purchasing a 5G-ready SIM pack. Subscribers can also access Smart Prepaid’s data, call and text promos using their Smart Load Card TinyTAN collectibles. “In the same way that we enable fans to connect with their favorite idols through mobile technology, we always go the extra mile in empowering our subscribers to live more and make the most of their passions,’’ said Francis E. Flores, SVP and Head of Consumer Business Group– Individual at Smart. “Our special collaboration with TinyTAN is in line with our efforts to go beyond providing our subscribers with world-class connectivity but also delighting them with special lifestyle experiences and rewards,” he added. All Smart TinyTAN licensed products will be available online at https://store1.smart.com.ph/ at Smart Stores nationwide, accredited retailers, and Smart’s flagship stores on Lazada and Shopee. Know more about the campaign by following Smart’s official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok using the official hashtag #SmartTinyTAN.
By Patricia Taculao I N 1951, Rosa del Rosario delighted Filipino viewers as the first actress to portray the role of Mars Ravelo ’s titular heroine, Darna. In the following years and decades, different actresses have taken on Darna’s mantle to entertain and inspire Filipinos of all ages. Nearly every Filipino has a core memory of Darna, whether reading the comics, dressing up as her, or watching the films or series. This 2022, Jane de Leon took on the responsibility of furthering the heroine’s legacy in the present and future generations. Excitement welled up in Jane as she received the casting call for the titular role. However, things didn’t go as planned with the pandemic and the network shutdown affecting its production. Still, Jane did not lose hope. After a meeting on the fate of Darna, the bosses of ABS-CBN broke the news to Jane, surprised that she wasn’t at all fazed by the decision. The young actress shared she only needed to wait for the right time and role as another opportunity to springboard her career. True enough, Darna returned to her grasp with an even more star-studded cast and production team. Directors Chito S. Roño Avel E. Sunpongco, and Benedict Mique lend their creative minds to creating Mars Ravelo’s Darna Jane wasn’t the only one who received a once-in-alifetime opportunity with Darna. Actress Iza Calzado also stars in the series as Leonor, the first Darna. Iza auditioned for the role years before, but landed the part. Like Jane, time and back to portraying screen.The modern retelling of Darna adds elements of dramatic flair but ultimately stays true to the original concept from the comics. But who is Darna in real life? Mars Ravelo’s son, Ravelo, sheds some light on his
TinyTAN refers to the group of membersfromcharactersanimatedcreatedthesevenofBTS
Owen Wilson superhero film bets on streaming power
The lure and rule of Benz Sangalang and Azi Acosta
A scene from ‘Secret Headquarters’ starring Owen Wilson TONIX and Hi-C, the characters given life by Benz Sangalang and Azi Acosta are definitely not as juvenile as Romeo Montague and JulietTheCapulet.placewhere they lure and rule, the maddening and sickening world of Sitio Diablo, the sayings “survival of the fittest, elimination of the unfit” and “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” are the governing laws, Sangalang and Acosta, fight for their right to be the resident alpha male and female in a place where drugs, sex, and violence are everyday staples. “The story of Sitio Diablo is as timely as today’s headlines,” the hunky Sangalang begins. “We are not glorifying anyone here, just presenting a slice of life of the so-called people who inhabit the laylayan ng lipunan Essential ang survival skills sa isang lugar like Sitio Diablo and as an actor, giving life to Tonix, is challenging and daunting at the same time. I had fun playing him. It is in a way a liberating experience to do a role that is totally opposite of me. Alam kog kakaiba talaga itong movie.” “Rarely do we see the lives of gangs and the slums, their friendship, the concept of loyalty, who to trust, who they are willing to bet their lives on, kaabang abang ang dynamics in Sitio Diablo na capture sa movie. Of course, the action sequences, are top-notch, grabe ang adrenaline high,” Sangalang carries on. Tonix to Benz is: “Maangas siya sa harap mg kanyang mga tauhan at kalaban pero when it comes to his family, he becomes a little softie, mushy even. Mahal niya talaga ang family niya at grabe siyang magmahal.” Speaking of his lady love in the film, Azi Acosta who plays Hi-C, Sangalang is all praises: “She is a fast learner. Emotionally intelligent. What I like about her is that she listens well. She is not afraid to ask questions. siya nagpapapanggap na she knows all. And I know at first, medyo nahihirapan siya pero dahil sa nakikinig siya sa mga instruction direk Roman, kuha niya agad.” Azi Acosta’s take on Sitio Diablo: “It is not just about violence and drugs, there are also life lessons like what you do to others will eventually happen to you and always be grateful for what you currently have, that’s what I learned from it. And iba ang sense of family, love and loyalty ng mga tao sa Sitio“Hi-CDiablo.”isadetermined woman. Once she sets a goal, she’ll do her best to realize it,” Acosta describes her character. “She’s an Alpha female, she’s not a damsel in distress, which I like.” “Physically, nag diet ako kasi skinny siya Gusto ko yung almost famished yet grungy look for her,” says Acosta about fleshing out the character. “Also. I added more angst to the way she speaks.” Acosta describes Sangalang as a partner and co-artist, and she feels how much he respects her. “He is aware of my restrictions, especially when we do love scenes, and he abides by them. Walang chancing-chancing. Lahat pinag-uusapan at kung ano ang napag-usapan yun talaga yun. He is fun to be with. No dull moments.” Benz Sangalang and Azi Acosta are indeed two refreshing and talented faces in showbiz now. To actually hear how dedicated they are to their craft, and how much love and commitment are they giving to the characters assigned to them, hope springs eternal for Philippine show business.
Leading mobile service provider rolls out BTS TinyTAN SIM pack
Entertainment MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022 B3 E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
The cast and directors of ‘Darna’ during the grandconferencemedia
Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant
OWEN Wilson’s new superhero film Secret Headquarters, out Friday, was originally slated for a theatrical release – before creators opted to put it out exclusively on the streaming platform Paramount Plus instead. In the old days, the move akin to a straight-to-video release might seem like a slight – but the film’s directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman say the release strategy appeals to kids, the movie’s target audience. “There was talk of the theatrical versus streaming and Henry and I were torn and then we sort of pitched it to the kids just to see how they felt because their response is more important to us,” Schulman told AFP, referring to the youthful cast. “We want them to have their big premiere... what do they want from it?” “They all sort of just shrugged and said ‘streaming’ – like of course,” he continued. “Because we want to watch it right away, and as many times as possible.” The film – available on streaming in the United States as well as in Australia, Canada, and Britain – sees Wilson play an absent father who turns out to be a superhero, with a lair of world-saving gadgets revealed underneath his bachelor pad. It’s told primarily from the perspective of Wilson’s character’s son – a classic superhero flick set against the growing pains of puberty. Wilson told AFP when he first received the script he read some of the scenes to his young sons, who got “caught up in the story.”“That’s kind of what appealed to me also, was the more sort of stuff of kind of first crush and that kind of awkwardness of, you know, being in middle school and trying to fit in and that stuff just kind of rang true to me,” the 53-year-old said. Wilson said the film also brought on some awkward moments for him: a lefty, the actor was scripted as a righthanded superhero. AFP
The right time and role for Jane de Leon
inspiration for the heroine. As a child raised by a single parent, the late Ravelo was in awe of his mother and how she managed to sustain them throughout the years while only depending on herself. His mother instilled an image in Ravelo of a strong, independent woman. Eventually, Darna was born through paper and ink. Other elements of Darna draw from Philippine themes. Aside from the strong Bayanihan bond from the superheroine’s good deeds, the magically-imbued stone represents agimat, a significant part of traditional Pinoy culture. Ravelo shared that when Darna swallows the stone, it goes to her heart, allowing her to transform and use her powers whenever she shouts the iconic line, “Darna!” Ravelo added that his father created Darna as a woman without a weakness. The stone doesn’t leave her body, and she only has to shout, “Narda!” to switch back to her mortal self. However, someone from production suggested giving her a weakness to make it more interesting. Thus, the concept of the stone leaving Darna’s body was born. It also gave whoever played Ding, Narda’s brother, a more relevant part in the movie or series. Mars Ravelo’s Darna takes flight today, August 15, Monday, replacing FPJ’s: Ang Probinsyano in its regular time slot. Fate is on Jane offorshe’sprovingLeon’sdeside,thatmeanttheroleDarna
Guavas are ripe Of kitchen creativity and sustainable living Scallion Buns
TO CELEBRATE Nutrition Month, the Mama Sita’s Mga Kuwentong Pagkain (MKP) spotlights the stories of inspiring Filipinos, whose creativity in the kitchen proves one can enjoy healthy, wholesome meals and at the same time appreciate the value of living sustainably. If you have food stories to share, watch out for the next MKP contest.
Yet, Pinky highlights them with wooden vines and bundles of baby’s breath in Sea Green Frosted Glass Vases to harmonize all the elements together. Pottery Barn’s bestselling Flame less Candles on top of Bro ker Bronze Pillar Holders give added light and dimen sion. Interestingly, Pinky combines a touch of citrus to the tablescape with fresh oranges sliced and whole that adorn the entire look, evoking bright colors on the table.For the dinnerware, the Chambray Tile Melamine Dinnerware, ideal for both forcandining,outdoorandindoorbeusedanyparty.
Healthy and wholesome eating Veganism is often associated with healthful living, and one reason why is the use of fresh and wholesome ingre dients. Jeeca shares that she doesn’t “do big grocery shopping days,” but buys her fresh produce from a vegetable vendor who passes by her house. “His name is Rey and I usually get what I need for the day (and the upcoming three to five days) from him and work around what I want to cook from there. So, if today he comes selling bell pep pers and eggplants, I’d usually buy a few and make an eggplant dish and something with bell peppers for the week.” Her menu revolves around what’s fresh and available. Tofu and fresh shiitake and king oyster mushrooms are always in stock, as well as dry goods like rice, noodles, beans, and dried mushrooms. She buys from her local Chinese or Korean stores. Her freezer keeps frozen noodles, dumpling wrap pers, and ready-to-eat veg an food (which she enjoys occasionally as a treat). “I could say my menus are very dependent on what product and ingredients I have access to and work around those,” says Jeeca. Seasonings, oils, and sauces Of course, there are the seasonings and sauces she uses to create differ ent flavor profiles. Some of her go-to options in clude soy sauces, vinegar, sesame oil, vegetarian oyster sauce, sake, mirin, fermented bean pastes, and chili sauces. She even makes her own chili oil. For Filipino cook ing, Jeeca shares, “I love Mama Sita’s Coconut Vinegar, Sukang Iloko, and Pinoy Ensalada for vinegar -- I have an evergrowing stash of vinegar at home that I use for cooking and making dif ferent sauces for dipping or marinades. Vinegar is a key ingredient in Filipino cooking, so I really can’t live without them. I really love the different sinigang mixes, from the clas sic Sinigang sa Sampalok to Sinigang sa Bayabas. I love how these are vegan by default! I use Mama Sita’s Vegetarian Oys ter Sauce, Barbecue Marinade, Sisig, and Adobo Marinade for my recipes. They’re super handy to have in my pantry and are staples for my cooking.” What’s interesting is that this vegan cook’s creativity led her to use the Sini gang Mix in a different way: “I’ve fried rice powders. It’s actually so good to sprinkle the powder over anything and everything, but that fried rice was just on another level with a mix of vegetables!”
Chemist and tablescape artist Pinky Tobiano with husband Juancho Robles
va jam recipe. Mo nique immediately went to work and came up with a true homage to the guava! Its moist chiffon layers have the distinctive and unique taste of the fruit, with its pastel green color as the cake’s frost ing, and topped with fresh guava slices. In no time, the cake became a hit among Mo nique’s bakery items and, as a tribute to her Mom who came up with the idea, she decided to label it Helen’s Guava Cake. This has be come so popular that it has now giv en rise to M’s Guava Gelato, which is produced in collaboration with Karabella Dairy Products. You’ll find yourself in culinary heaven ev ery time you have your slice of the delectable Helen’s Guava Cake or in dulge in the creamy and rich guavaflavored ice cream version! I have to admit that I immediately became a loyal fan when I had my first taste of Helen’s Guava Cake. Its unique taste made me hanker for more, so I spoiled myself with another slice of it…and more! The delectable taste brought me back to my fun childhood days, when my siblings and I enjoyed climbing the guava tree in our backyard to pick and eat the ripe fruits while we were perched on the branches. As I enjoyed my scoop of M’s Gua va Gelato, the ice cream lover that I am, I easily yielded to its soothing and creamy taste which made me feel like I was floating among the clouds. Naturally, I readily surrendered to the temptation of having more of it. The beautiful feeling led me back to, once again, mentally sing, “Guavas are ripe, guavas are ripe, the mayas sang one Everyoneday…”deserves to be in bakery heaven. Get your share of these de lightful treats. M Cakes by Monique T may be reached through IG mo niquecakesph, or (632) 7003-5340, 0916-330-9757 care of Miel and hello@moniquecakesph.com
The layered dinnerware can be blended with neat, Linen Hemstitch Table Napkins and Mori Coll Jute Placemats made of 100 percent jute ma terial, adding organic texture to the setting. To complete the setting, Pinky’s favorite Drinkware Collection, the Happy Hour Acrylic Glasses, made of molded Tritan both short and tall that are durable, crack and warp-resistant.
THE rains need not thwart any celebration that can easily be switched to indoor get-together and still bring in the fun and al fresco feel. Entertaining family and friends at home over lunch and dinner led chemist Pinky Tobiano to one of her lifestyle ventures, tablescaping in Ta bleLove by Pinky with Pottery Barn Dazzling outdoor-themed ta blescapes are delivered indoors by Pinky through her artistic partnership with Pottery Barn. That makes any dining at what ever time of the day feasible and easily workable. Starting with the base, Pinky used the Modern Farmhouse Extending Dining Table crafted from solid Meranti wood that is ideal for a group of six or eight people, mostly fam ily members or friends. The table can go with Pot tery Barn’s Fenton dining chairs made with an acacia wood frame and intricately wrapped in fine, woven buf falo hide, undoubtedly an eyecatcher and definitely comfort able.In Pinky’s years of doing tablescaping, having diverse choices undeniably sparked an interesting conversation with guests at the dining table. Monstera leaves adorned by white roses don’t normally come together.
Pottery Barn’s Fenton dining chairs made with an acacia wood frame and intricately wrapped in fine, woven buffalo hide
YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE Marriage is when a man and woman become one. The trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobra do@gmail.com
Monique and her bakery ‘gems’
Monique Tangcongco The specialty of the house – Helen’s Guava Cake, with fresh guava slices on top can see why M Cakes by Monique T’s Strawberry Shortcake is bestselleranother
“ G UAVAS are ripe, guavas are ripe, the mayas sang one day…” used to be one of the nursery rhymes I’d sing in primary school in Cebu. Oftentimes, it was also an affirmation of the status of the tree we had in our backyard which, somehow, never stopped bearing that delicious fruit, yellowish-green on the outside (when ripe) and pink inside. My siblings and I grew up with that “generous” guava tree and all of us even learned how to climb it to pick the ripe fruits expertly without putting ourselves in danger. Furthermore, in those days, diseases were unheard of, so there was no problem eating the fruit directly from the tree without washing it first. That was one of the memorable joys of my childhood. Fast forward to today – I learned from my jet setting Hong Kongbased dear friend, Michele Mitsch iener-Hoeflich, that a new bakery gem is now available here in the metro – Guava Cake. A cake made from guavas? I was, at first, incred ulous because it was the first time I heard of such. I’m a cake lover and have tried all kinds, but never one with guavas in it. Nevertheless, I gave Michele, being my long-time friend, the benefit of the doubt and listened to herAccordingstory. to her, Monique Tang congco grew up in a “guava household” where her grandmother taught her, at the age of 10, how to make her sig nature guava jam breakfastpledailyjamhomemadedeliciousden.yardtheirfruitspickedfreshlyfromfrombackgarThiswasastaontheirtable.Manyyears lat er, Monique became working in luxury hotels and megacruise ships. When the pandemic brought her back home, she kept busy baking cakes and gifted these to friends and family. Unexpectedly, her well-loved bakehouse creations sparked a buying frenzy among her friends. She eventually had an ardent and loyal following, thus, M Cakes by Monique T was born. Lucky me, I eventually connected with Monique and got to try her bakery “gems.” At first, her bestseller was her Straw berry Shortcake, which is also “to die (Take it from me…I be came a slave to it once I had my first slice.) But one day, while having her daily dose cometosuggestedHelen,mother,nique’sMoguavaofjamovertoast,hertoupwith a new cake flavor using their family’s gua
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White roses and succulents adorned with wooden vines and bundles of baby’s breath in Sea Green Frosted Glass Vases harmonize all the elements together and can spark an interesting conversation
Deliciously vegan Jessica “Jeeca” Uy is a 24-year-old digital personality who started an Insta gram account in 2015. Today, she has over 800,000 followers, a website, a book, and more posts up her sleeve. What makes her different from other online personalities her age? Her insta is about cooking – vegan cooking.“Ilearned to cook when I was young er, but it was when I went vegan that I really got to apply what I learned grow ing up,” shares Jeeca, who went vegan in the same year she started her social media handle, @thefoodi etakesflight. “I wanted to create vegan versions of my favorite food. I learned a lot from simple stir-fry ing, braising, pan-frying, baking techniques that I get to apply to plant-based food and alternative pro tein, like my favorite tofu, today.”
Seven years since her life style change, Jeeca can say that her food choices go beyond the plate: this young cook’s healthy cooking is also her way of living a more sustainable lifestyle. With her creativ ity, influence, and herfoodiesshownJeecamessage,relevanthasthatlikecannot only take flight, Indoor dining with al fresco feel in ‘TableLove by Pinky with Pottery Barn’
B4 MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022 Nickie Wang, Editor Joba Botana, Associate Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com Life
This al-fresco feel dining experience is delivered indoors by Pinky through her artistic partnership with Pottery Barn
Going vegan The young cook shares that going vegan “over night” and being vegan through college had its chal lenges, but she wouldn’t have wanted it another way. “I think being vegan made me see vegetables in a dif ferent light. I saw them as more than just a side or an accompaniment to another main ingredient, and instead saw the potential of tofu and vegetables as the main star of the dish. There are so many different vegetables with varying textures and tastes that I really love to work with.” This new perspective inspired Jeeca to spend hours in the kitchen experiment ing with ingredients, flavors, textures, and techniques. Her style is not to focus on sal ads and wraps, but to reimagine the food she grew up with as vegan dishes.
Mango Sticky Rice Sundubu Jjigae Jessica “Jeeca” Uy, a digital cookingknownpersonalityforherveganandrecipes
