SRA board member quits, but Zubiri demands all agency execs resign
By Othel V. Campos, Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta, and Maricel V. Cruz S ENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday called on all officials of the Sugar Regulatory Administration to resign, even as current SRA board member Roland Beltran yesterday said he was resigning due to health reasons. mst.daydesk@gmail.com
By Rey E. Requejo
NEWS /
By Macon Ramos-Araneta VICE President Sara Duterte-Carpio, in her role as Education Secretary, has ordered a probe into the 2021 procure ment of alleged overpriced and outdat ed laptops through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).
THE Department of Justice on Monday said 16 persons, including members of the Rural Missionaries of the Philip pines (RMP), were charged in court for alleged involvement in the funding of the terrorist organization Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.
4 nuns among 16 charged for link to ‘terrorism’ financing of CPP, NPA DOH admits over 20.6m doses of COVID vax wasted Fernando Zobel takes sick leave as Ayala CEO Press Secretary, MMDA chief both test positive for COVID Celis named poll commish, Panganiban returns to Agri Story on B4Story on A2 Story on A3
In his privilege speech, Zubiri also called for a Senate investigation into the unauthorized release of Sugar Or der No. 4. The order would have authorized the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar, a move President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disallowed as concurrent
NEW LAKAS MEMBERS. Speaker Martin Romualdez (2nd from left) administers the oath to Eastern Samar Rep. Fe Abunda (right) and Calamba Laguna Rep. Charisse Hernandez (2nd right) as new Lakas-CMD Party members with Lakas President Emeritus and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (center) and Lakas VP for Mindanao Development Concerns and House Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe (left) as witnesses. Ver Noveno (See story on A4) SC BOOSTERS. Department of Health OIC Maria Rosario Vergeire (center) administers a booster vaccine against COVID-19 while Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo (left) looks on and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna (right) jabs another patient at the launching of the Pinas Lakas program at the SC offices on Monday. Danny Pata
Next page Next page Next page Next page Next page Next page Next page NEWS / A2 Oil prices rolled back for 7th straight week
for Pinoy Tasty VP orders probe of pricey laptops, wants fraud audit 37k
OVER FOOD AND SUGAR. In this photo posted by the Office of the President on his offi cial Facebook page, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (seated, third from right) meets with members of the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc. at Malacanang on Monday night. Agriculture Secretary and chairman of the SRA Meanwhile,board.Marcos on Monday sat down with the country’s top food manu facturers to discuss the country’s sugar supply and food prices. In a Facebook post by the Office of the President, Marcos discussed ways to solve the looming supply shortage of PICTURE OF POVERTY. A family eats their lunch inside their makeshift house in Baseco Compound on Monday. The prelimi nary results of the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) for 2021 showed that poverty incidence among the population rose to 18.1%, equivalent to 19.99 million Filipinos who lived below the poverty threshold of about P12,030 per month. Danny Pata
By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz SOME 37,000 unvaccinated teachers will now be allowed to teach during the resumption of face-to-face classes on August 22, the Department of Edu cation said yesterday. This was as the Department of Bakers seek P4 more
inteachersunvaxxedOKdF2Fclasses
By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta
By Julito G. Rada SOME 2.3 million more Filipinos were pushed into poverty from 2018 to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) saidByMonday.theend of 2021, the poor made up 18.1 per cent of the population, up from 16.7 percent in 2018, based on the preliminary results of the Family In come and Expenditure Survey (FIES) 2021. Poverty incidence among the popu lation is defined 2.3m Pinoys pushed into poverty last 4 yrs.
MORE than 20.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have either expired or remain unused, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday. Undersecretary Maria Rosario Ver geire, the DOH’s OIC, said the number represents 8.42 percent of the country’s total procured vaccines as of Aug. 12 this year, or within the 10 percent al lowed number for wastage by the World Health Organization (WHO).
DOJ spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano said the criminal charges were filed before the Iligan City Regional Trial Court against Sister Emma Ter esita E. Cupin, Sr. Susan M. Dejolde, Ma. Fatima Napoles Somogod, Sr. Augustina C. Juntilla, Sr. Mary Jane C. Caspillo, Melissa Amado Comiso, Czarina Golda Selim Musni, Maridel
More fallout from sugar mess MlaStandardtwitter.com/ ManilaStandardPHfacebook.com/ manilastandard.net Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net VOL. XXXVI • NO. 182 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net •
By Othel V. Campos BREAD bakers are actively push ing to raise prices of Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal by as much as P4 per pack, possibly in two tranches. “We will propose to the DTI (De partment of Trade and Industry) to allow us to increase prices effective August 30. We decided to hold off for two months to help consumers cope with food inflation,” said Philippine Baking Industry Group (Philbaking)
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Planning Secretary Ar senio Balisacan said the latest data meant that the country’s poverty in cidence fell short of its 2021 target of 15.5 to 17.5 percent as indicated in the Updated Philippine Development Plan for 2017 to 2022. “The effects of the COVID-19 pan demic, including income and employ ment losses, caused the poverty inci dence to rise. Restrictions on mobility and low earning capacity of poor house holds due to limited access to regular and productive jobs made the lives of Filipinos difficult,” Balisacan said. In 2018, Balisacan said the govern ment achieved its goal of lifting 6 million Filipinos out of poverty, four years ahead of the 2022 target. The na tional poverty rate declined from 23.5 percent in 2015 to 16.7 percent in 2018. He said prudent macroeconomic management and the enactment of various reforms that increased real in come opportunities for Filipinos made this“Aspossible.weallknow, the COVID-19 pan demic disrupted our growth momentum and development trajectory,” he said. With Macon Ramos-Araneta
4 nuns... From A1 2.3m... From A1 Bakers... From A1 More... From A1 37k... From A1 VP... From A1 DOH... From A1
The International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands has been in vestigating the allegations of extraju dicial killings in the anti-illegal drugs campaign of Duterte.
Health said some 28,008 new COV ID-19 cases were recorded from Aug. 8 to 14 – at least three percent higher than the 27,331 cases from Aug. 1 to 7. The DOH also verified 229 additional deaths – 98 of which occurred in Au gust, 129 in July, one in June, and one in September 2021. DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosa rio Vergeire, for her part, said COV ID-19 cases are expected to go up once schools resume face-to-face classes. “With the resumption of classes, there will be more people in public places. So, let’s protect the youth, let us get vacci nated and let’s follow minimum public health standards,” Vergeire said. DepEd Undersecretary Revsee Es cobedo said of the total unvaccinated teachers, some 20,000 were committed to receiving the vaccine, while the re maining 17,000 were not. “Our new policy is that we will al low unvaccinated teachers to report and teach, provided that they will still fol low minimum public health protocols, such as wearing of face masks, and the classroom where they will teach has proper ventilation,” Escobedo said. “We now no longer prohibit from teaching those who are not vaccinated. All teachers will teach our students and they will report to their respective class rooms,” he added. Teachers who manifest COVID-19 symptoms. Escobedo said, are advised to stay in their homes and get tested. He said teachers under quarantine are granted “excused leave with pay.” “If they are at home isolating, they are considered on leave,” Escobedo said. Some 14.1 million children and teen agers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of the school opening, the DOH said. Of the figure, some 9.8 million are teenagers ages 12 to 17, while around 4.3 million are kids ages 5 to 11.
In September 2021, the ICC author ized the start of the investigation into the killings but, in November 2021, the ICC prosecutor suspended the probe upon the request of the Philippine government.
She also asked the Commission on Audit to do a fraud audit on the procure ment for the Department of Education. “Since most of the information is beyond us, considering that these are PS-DBM transactions, and consider ing that these were transactions done by the previous officials, the Vice President and Secretary Sara Duterte has already permitted us to write a letter to Atty. Jose Calida, Chairper son of COA, to ask him for a fraud audit from COA,” DepEd Undersecre tary Epimaco Densing said. “One of the most important pro curement processes is market scan ning. This means that when you are procuring, the agency, in this case PS-DBM, needs to ask the market how much the laptops cost given the speci fications. When they returned to the Technical Working Group, they said it costs
Sebastian defended his decision to ap prove the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar during the joint briefing con ducted by the House committees on good government and public accountability and on agriculture and food on Monday. Sebastian told legislators that his deci sion was based on the data from the SRA. “I signed the documents based on the data presented to me by the Sugar Reg ulatory Administration,” he said, citing “a clear indication of the rapidly dimin ishing supply of sugar. Current supply is projected to run out in August 2022 this month,” he said. But food processing companies said they are eagerly awaiting the arrival of some 150,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar in the last quarter—held out as a possibility by the Palace--as demand normally shoots up towards Christmas.
Bilateral meets for PBBM at UNGA
presidentP58,000.”Johnlu
Solomon Fano, Jhona Ignilan Stokes, Hanelyn Caibigan Cespedes, Angelie Z. Magdua, Emilio Gabales, Mary Lou ise Dumas, Aileen Manipol Villarosa, Evelyn Lumapas Naguio, and Aldeem Abroguena Yanez. Clavano said they were charged in 55 information (criminal charge sheet) with violations of Section 8(ii) of Re public Act No. 10168, the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of According2012. to Clavano, the charges were filed after a panel of DOJ prosecu tors conducted a preliminary investiga tion on the complaints filed by the AntiMoney Laundering Council (AMLC). Section 8(ii) of RA 10168 makes any person an accomplice in financing ter rorism if he or she “makes available any property or funds, or financial services or other related services to a designated and/or identified person, organization, association, or group of persons.” Violators under the law “shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period to reclusion perpet ua” and a fine of not less than P500,000 nor more than P1 million.” During the preliminary investigation, Clavano stated: “Respondents failed to submit their respective counter-affida vits during the preliminary investiga tion. Thus, no defense on the part of the respondents were received by the pros ecuting panel.” The DOJ official said the AMLC filed the complaint before the DOJ after look ing into the bank accounts of RMP/RMPNorthern Mindanao Region (NMR) based on the sworn statements of two for mer members of the CPP-NPA.
Sebastian, Marcos’ chief of staff at the Department of Agriculture (DA), said he took full responsibility for signing the or der, which the Palace said was “illegal.”
“I think the President is preparing his speech. He’s had an outline about a month from now,” he said. Romualdez also said that Marcos will likely address questions on human rights issues on the Philippines, particularly the violent drug war by his predecessor, for mer President Rodrigo Duterte. “I’m sure there will be questions asked about that, but I think he has already made it clear that in his pronouncement in the PNP (Philippine National Police) that he would like to continue the opera tions against illegal drug activities fol lowing the rule of law,” he noted.
THE Senate on Monday elected nine more senators to sit as members of the powerful Commission on Appoint ments (CA), joining Senators Cynthia Villar, Christopher Go, and Francis Tolentino in scrutinizing the appoint ments made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The chamber named Senators Imee Marcos, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada, Risa Hon tiveros, and Senate President Pro Tem pore Loren Legarda as Senate contin gents to the bicameral commission. Meanwhile, the House of Representa tives on Monday adopted a resolution conveying its condolences to the fam ily of the “Sprint Queen of Asia” Lydia De Vega-Mercado and paying homage to her contributions to the country as a world-class athlete. House Resolution (HR) 231 is prin cipally authored by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, Majority Leader and Zam boanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, sen ior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Mar cos and Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre. The adoption was in consolidation of related HRs 214, 216, 217, 218, 219, and 228. Maricel V. Cruz senators panel; Vega honored
9 more
In an online media forum Monday, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said Mar cos is preparing a speech for the event as preparations are ongoing for his trip. Romualdez revealed that several bi lateral meetings have been lined up for Marcos but did not say if a side meeting with US President Joe Biden is included. “This is the first time that he will be addressing the UN – which is basically introducing himself to the world and the western world, specially, and secondly, to have economic meetings that will bring him investments to the Philip pines,” Romualdez said. The Filipino ambassador earlier said that he prefers a separate inaugural bi lateral summit between Marcos Jr. and Biden in Washington D.C. at a mutually agreed date sometime this year. Romualdez said Marcos has already drafted his speech, which he will de liver before the UN General Assembly.
Processed mango exporter HI-Las Mar keting Corporation said the food process ing industry needs more than the impor tation volume authorized by Malacañang. “We asked for 500,000 MT. We need refined sugar for our industry. However, we support the importation of 150,000 MT so that price will go down,” said HI-Las president Roberto Angelo Amores II.
Wastage was caused by the expira tion of the vaccines, opened or broken vials, backflow, and leftovers, and un der“Theredoses.were also wastage due to nat ural disasters, like typhoon Odette, fire and earthquake,” Vergeire told a Senate panel Monday. She also said some vac cines went to waste because the needed temperature was not maintained. Vergeire said the COVAX facility, which is supported by the WHO, has committed to replacing expired and wasted vaccines. But Senator Risa Hontiveros placed the peso amount of wasted vaccines at P5.78“Thisbillion.isa big amount, whether the vaccines were procured or donated,” she said, noting that this was an embar rassment as poorer countries were in need of the vaccines. She said Vergeire’s assurance that COVAX will replace the expired vac cines is not enough to end the discus sion. What is needed, she said, is to find ways to prevent the repetition of vac cineVergeirewastage.said one way to reduce wast age was to no longer procure more vac cines until the end of the year, given the sufficient supply right now. sugar with the members of the Philip pine Chamber of Food Manufacturers. “The President vows to have systems in place to manage the price increase so that businesses are kept running and job security is ensured,” the OP added. Earlier, Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian also resigned and apologized to Marcos for approving the sugar order and using the President’s signature without his consent. Beltran, who represented sugar mill ers on the SRA board, was one of the signatories of the unauthorized impor tation order. He is the first official of the sugar agency to resign over the issue. Technically, Sebastian is not an official of the SRA, as he was only representing Marcos on the Sugar Board as the chief of staff of the Agriculture Secretary. “We still have 126,336 metric tons (of sugar) in warehouses, 40-foot contain ers all over Metro Manila, and (stocks with) other traders which are yet to be released. Why are not they releasing the sugar? Are they creating an artificial shortage? So that when the price sky rockets, they will come out with it and earn that much?” Zubiri asked. Senator Grace Poe said the full force of the law must be brought upon all sug ar hoarders who are creating an artifi cial shortage and jacking up the price of the commodity in the country. Poe added that all government officials and employees who make possible all un due importations that cause the people to suffer must be held accountable. “Cases should be filed against them. They embarrassed President Marcos. They should resign and be sued, and taught a lesson. For the record, they lied because they said there was no sugar,” ZubiriBeltranadded.noted that he had already left the SRA on July 1 as he reached the end of his tour of duty in the agency but re sumed after being informed that he was on holdover capacity. In a letter to Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez dated Aug. 14, Beltran said he was resigning due to health reasons, but added that this is without prejudice to any investigation that may be con ducted in connection with the issuance of Sugar Order No. 4.” Beltran also said his vote was condi tional, subject to the compliance of pro visions of law. Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr. is the other SRA board member, representing sugar planters. He was appointed to the post early this month.
Press COVID-positiveMMDASecretary,chieftest
The ICC gave the Philippines until September 8, 2022, to provide any ob servations on the planned reopening of the“Thisinvestigation.government of Marcos has clearly set out the rule of what police officers would have to do following the rule of law and making use of using re straint,” Romualdez said.
added to CA
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president George Barcelon said it’s no industry secret that the shortage in local sugar output has sent prices shooting upwards in a mat ter of “Theweeks.importation of 150,000 MT tons will give the food processors a breath er,” Barcelon, who blamed the shortage on lower production due to calamities. Barcelon added that the Trade De partment should coordinate with the DA and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to institute a monitoring system to avoid future food-related crises. “There should be a system of bal ancing supply versus price so the local sugar farmers and mills would not be unduly impacted, and the consumers of processed food and beverage products will not be burdened,” he said.
Koa. Bread makers have produced budget breads as part of their corporate ser vice. However, Philbaking said they are forced by circumstances to impose price hikes due to the increasing cost of raw materials like flour and sugar. The price of hard flour increased to over P1,000 per 25-kilogram bag from around P750 to P780 in 2021. Flour millers are expecting prices of imported wheat to spike anew in the second half of 2022, given record inflation and the outside dynamics of global wheat supply and demand. Prices of refined white sugar, mean while, nearly doubled to P97 per kilo from P58 in early 2022. Both raw materials are major ingre dients for making bread. “They (government) should decide and bite the bullet because we could lose employment if we will not help the bakers and it is very difficult to halt and restart,” he said. Budget breads did not make it to the latest round of Suggested Retail Price (SRP) bulletin published August 12, 2022 by the DTI. At present, Pinoy Tasty retails at P38.50 and Pinoy Pandesal at P23.50 per pack. Last month, the Asosasyon ng Pana derong Pilipino warned there could be a “shrinkflation” where bakers could resort to shrinking the serving size of pandesal instead of effecting a price increase. The DTI on Friday issued two new SRP bulletins on basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPC) as well as school supplies. The SRP bulletin on BNPCs covered processed canned meats, canned sar dines, instant noodles, mineral water, detergents, toilet soap, vinegar, milk, coffee, and batteries, among others. The last price adjustment on BNPCs was issued in May. The DTI limits the price adjustment to 3 to 5 percent from the previous SRP.
PRESS Secretary Trixie Cruz-Ange les has tested positive for COVID-19, as well as Chairman Carlo Dimayuga III of the Metropolitan Manila Devel opment Authority. “I had a swab test yesterday and the result came out this morning. I tested positive for COVID,” Cruz-Angeles said in a Facebook Live video on Monday. “I will stay at home and work while in MMDAisolation.”chiefinformation officer Sharon Gentalian said Dimayuga took an antigen test on Sunday after expe riencing symptoms of COVID-19. Di mayuga will continue working remotely and will conduct meetings with MMDA officials via teleconference, she added. Cruz-Angeles said she is asympto matic. Asked if she had contact with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Mar cos Jr., she said: “The President is fine.” The Press Secretary also urged the public to get vaccinated and avail of booster shots to get additional protec tion against coronavirus. “I will take this opportunity to encour age the public to get vaccinated and avail of booster shots,” Cruz Angeles said. “Chairman Carlo Dimayuga tested positive. He has a mild (cold) symp tom, so he will be in isolation for sev en days. He (now) works from home,” saidGentalianGentalian.said those who made close contact with Dimayuga also un derwent antigen tests and all found negative for the virus. Vince Lopez and Joel Zurbano
De
as the proportion of Filipinos whose per capita income cannot sufficiently meet their individual basic food and non-food needs. “This translates to around 19.99 million Filipinos who lived below the poverty threshold of about P12,030 per month for a family of five,” the PSAThesaid.subsistence incidence, defined as the proportion of Filipinos whose income is not enough to meet even just the basic food needs, slightly increased to 5.9 percent in 2021 from 5.2 percent in 2018. It was estimated that a family of five needs at least P8,379 per month to meet their basic food requirements. Among families, around 3.5 million families, or 13.2 percent were consid ered poor in 2021. On the other hand, the subsistence incidence among families was observed at 3.9 percent, which is equivalent to 1.04 million poor families living below the food povertyEconomicline.
Newsmst.daydesk@gmail.comTUESDAY,AUGUST 16, 2022A2 By Rey E. Requejo P RESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. plans to hold several bilateral meetings with other heads of state on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
ICC Chief Prosecutor Khan in June 2022 requested to resume the investi gation, and, in July 2022, the tribunal invited the Philippines to provide ob servations on the prosecutor’s request to reopen the probe into the killings.
Norman Cruz
Tulfo says brownouts pose security threat MORE than 1,500 drivers were flagged down and have been warned during the first day of the reimplemen tation of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the number coding scheme. The Metropolitan Manila Develop ment Authority (MMDA) reactivated the campaign beginning Monday (Aug. 15) to ease traffic in the National Capital Region amid the expected increase in the volume of vehicles upon the resumption of face-to-face classes on Aug. 22. According to the MMDA - Public Information Office, traffic enforcers have flagged down a total of 1,588 violators from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mon day. But no penalties were imposed against them, and were just reminded about the resumption of the policy. Joel E. Zurbano SENATOR Raffy Tulfo yester day warned that massive power out ages nationwide have threatened the country’s national security and the health of the public. He said the brownouts in dif ferent provinces are becoming a serious national security threat. Tufo cautioned against terrorists, in surgents and other criminal elements who might take advantage of this situation.“Lawless elements might grab this opportunity to do their terroris tic acts and other criminal activities during brownouts. He said they might attack po lice starions, military outposts, and other government facilities. Tulfo also raised the alarm on the adverse effects of persistent and rotational brownouts to the health and safety of the Filipinos, especially the poor. Macon Ramos-Araneta Maynilad re-privatized program yields results WEST zone Maynilad Water Ser vices Inc. has recovered 838 million liters of water per day (MLD) since 2007 when the company was re-pri vatized under new owners. The water recovered —equivalent to filling up 334 Olympic-size swim ming pools — is enough to supply the water needs of some 4.3 million people.Maynilad has already spent nearly P25 billion on its non-revenue wa ter (NRW) management program to curb physical and commercial wa ter losses, which stood at 66 percent prior to its re-privatization in 2007. Rio N. Araja
RESCUE.FIRETRUCK A crane tries to lift a fire truck that fell on its side after the firetruck figured in an accident along Pedro Gil street while responding to an ongoing fire at Paco, Manila, on fornearbywereinjuredDistrictthefirefightersmidnight.MondayFourfromManilaFirewereandrushedtoahospitaltreatment.
By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar has filed Senate Bill 357 to entice the public and private sectors to prioritize Filipino prod ucts Senate Bill 357 also proposes to de clare November “Buy Pinoy , Build Pinoy Month.”“Patronizing our Filipino products strengthens the Philippine economy,” Vil larShesaid.said November was chosen due to the increased consumer spending that oc curs during the Christmas season. According to Villar, while we often hear the saying “Tangkilikin ang Sariling Atin,” the public normally takes this for granted and/or seldom follow it. She attributed this to the lack of con certed efforts of the government and stakeholders to effectively bring the ben efit of this practice to the consuming pub lic’sDueconsciousness.tothis,Villar said the government must empower resourceful Filipino entre preneurs to promote their development andThecompetitiveness.proposedbill also aims to in culcate in each Filipino the wisdom of supporting Filipino-made products, and recognize Filipino producers, particu larly micro, small and medium enter prises (MSMEs). “All heads of government offices and instrumentalities, including governmentowned and controlled corporations, as well as local government units, and em ployers in the private sector, shall en courage and afford sufficient resources, time, and opportunities for MSMEs to engage and participate in any and all ac tivities to mark the month,” Villar said.
HARVEST. A man collects water spinach along the shore of Manila Bay in Baseco, one of the biggest slums in Manila on August 15. (Photo by Jam Sta Rosa / AFP)
PH suspends OFW insurance scheme
By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has nominated Nelson Java Celis as Com missioner of the Commission on Elec tions (Comelec), the Palace said. Comelec Acting Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco confirmed that Celis has been nominated by Malacanang as Comelec Commissioner to serve the unexpired term of former Com missioner Aimee Neri until February 2029.Celis is an electronics and communi cations graduate of Don Bosco Technical College, he had been chief information office of Megalink and Philippine Veter ans’ Bank, general manager of a technol ogy company, and is the managing direc tor of his own cybersecurity firm. Celis, a professional lecturer of the DLSU’s Graduate School of Business and Graduate School of Computer Stud ies, is an electronics and communications engineer with 41 years of experience in information technology (IT) and man agement.Marcos Jr. also administered the oath of office of Domingo Panganiban as Un dersecretary of the Department of Agri culturePanganiban(DA). formally took his oath of office as shown in photos shared in the President’s official Facebook page on Monday.Panganiban was former Secretary of the DA in 2001 under President Joseph Estrada and in 2005 under Presi dent Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo. Arroyo tapped Panganiban to lead the Philippine National Anti-Poverty Commission with cabinet rank in No vemberPanganiban2006. began his career in public service as a Plant Pest Control Worker in the Bureau of Plant In dustry (BPI) assigned in Zamboanga City.He was later appointed DA Regional Director for Region 3 (Central Luzon).
Marcos names new poll body, DA executives
AMBASSADOR Jose Manuel Romual dez said the Philippine government may consider replacing the 16 canceled Rus sian helicopters with weapons as part of the $38-million down payment it is trying to recover from Moscow after Manila scrapped the agreement due to possible Romualdez,sanctions.the country’s top diplomat to Washington also said this is one of the options that he will propose to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Department of De fense (DND) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) after the contract to acquire MI-7 helicopters was termi nated by the Philippine government to avoid US and western sanctions, GMA NewsQuotedreported.inthe report, Romualdez said “definitely we will not just simply say goodbye to that money.” “Maybe we can look for the sup ply of other things we may need from Russia to replace the heli copters as part of the payment.”
T HE government has suspended the expanded mandatory insurance for land-based returning and directly hired overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the Philippine Over seas Employment Administration (POEA) said. The suspension of the mandatory insur ance was based upon instructions from Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople. “The suspension will save our ‘balikmanggagawa’ workers and the directly hired by foreign employers at least $35 worth of mandatory insurance coverage, while reducing the numbers of require ments imposed by government. This is a great help for our OFWs),” Ople, quoted in a GMA News report, said. The POEA also said the suspension was based on the improving global health situation, opening of borders, and high vaccination rates among OFWs. “In this regard, the implementation of the expanded compulsory insurance cover age shall be temporarily suspended pend ing the consultations and dialogue among the recruitment industry stakeholders, and submission of an offer from the insurance providers, for improved package of ser vices beneficial to the needs of the OFWs,” POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said in the GMA News report. The Department of Labor and Employ ment (DOLE) last year issued an order to “extend, expand, and strengthen” the protection of OFWs amid the COVID-19
IN BRIEF MMDA flags drivers in NCR coding scheme
The government said the heli copter purchase contract with Russia’s Sovtechnoexport was signed in November last year. Romualdez said the cancellation of the contract “is precipitated mainly by the war in Ukraine.”
Malacañang press air concern over denial of accreditation of member outbreak.Opleclarified that there are two kinds of compulsory insurance: for the new OFWs which is mandated by the law and the expanded compulsory insurance for the rehires and direct hires in accordance with an old DOLE order. The compulsary insurance for new OFWs will stay in place because it will by shouldered by the for eign employers, GMA News reported.
CODING SCHEME. Members of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) flag down motorists along EDSA-Pasay to remind the driving public that the expanded number coding scheme is in effect starting August 15, in preparation for the full faceto-face classes in November. Norman Cruz and Manny Palmero
PH eyes arms swap for helis in Russia deal
THE Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) has expressed concern over the denial of the press accreditation of Hataw re porter Rose Novenario by the Office of the Press Secretary. Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-An geles, in an August 9, 2022 letter to Hataw Managing Editor Gloria Galuno, cited that the decision to refuse accreditation to Novenario to cover President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Palace briefings and events was due to “conduct unbecoming” supposedly exhibited by the jour nalist.“Ms. Novenario’s negative actions and attitude towards the officials of the Office of the Press Secretary may influence others. Her name calling of several officials is blatant show [of] disrespect to authorities,” Angeles said, noting that ‘screenshots’ of her messages to the Malacanang Press Corps were proof of the journalist’s violations. She did not elaborate. “While we understand that the peo ple’s right to information is vital to na tion building, we cannot tolerate unruly behavior that may have a detrimental effect to the people around her,” she continued.Angeles however said the news outfit may resubmit its application for another journalist.Inastatement, the MPC urged the OPS to clearly state Novenario’s alleged violations as well as the circumstances that led to the denial of her accredita tion, noting that journalists covering Malacanang ‘need clear cut rules on what is deemed as an unacceptable be havior.’Despite the ban, the MPC said No venario will remain a member of their group.The group will also “continue to ex haust measures to address the issue, taking into account the need to bal ance the role of journalists to report independently and to ensure proper decorum in the performance of such a duty.” Vince Lopez
The benefits of such an insurance scheme for rehired and directly hired overseas workers at the height of the COVID-19 epidemic have yet to be es tablished, Ople said. Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Var gas meanwhile filed a bill mandating a free COVID-19 testing for Filipino jobseekers; vulnerable workers in micro, small, and me dium enterprises (MSMEs); and the infor mal economy. Maricel V. Cruz
Bill declares Nov. ‘Buy Pinoy’ month
Former Defense Secretary Delf in Lorenzana, under the Duterte administration, said getting the money back may be difficult since a contract has already been signed. The contract would have enabled the delivery of the first batch of transport helicopters in two years, but Manila is likely to face pres sure from Washington due to an existing sanctions legislation that prohibits the purchase of mili tary equipment from countries like Russia, GMA News reported.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com A3News
DOH: COVID still ‘low risk,’ dengue rising US-PH to meet on human rights issues this week
By Vince Lopez P RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asked the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) parliament members to work “double time” before their term ends in 2025. Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary. Carlito Galvez Jr. disclosed this on Monday following the oath-taking of 80 new members of the BTA. “So, President Marcos’ message to our BTA members, including the chief minister, was to work double time if they wanted to get the fundamental laws and legislation done.” Galvez said during the Laging Handa“Includedbriefing.are the electoral code, revenue code, local government code, and IP (indigenous peoples) code.” GalvezGalvezsaid.said Marcos has also ordered him to help the BTA, adding that achieving peace in Mindanao is “very important” for the President. “Our beloved President said he is willing to help the BTA members to make their tasks easier.” Galvez said.Then President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Republic Act No. 11593 in 2021 postponing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections scheduled for this year, thus extending the BTA’s transition period untilThe2025.BTA was tasked with passing crucial laws that would authorize the
. Mayor Francis Augustactiveyearsince83reportedCitydeBarangaycampaignandtheMondayZamora onleadscleanupfumigationatCorazonJesus,SanJuanwhichhasatotalofdenguecasesJanuaryofthisbutwithzerocasesasoflast12.
By Rey E. Requejo CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmun do on Monday appealed to judiciary officials and employees to avail themselves and members of their families of the government’s free vaccination against COVID-19. Speaking during the launch of the PinasLakas Vaccination Drive at the Supreme Court, Ges mundo thanked the Depart ment of Health (DOH) and to the Manila City government “for their tireless support for the Judiciary’s drive to vaccinate its employees and their families.” Also present during the launching of the PinasLa kas Vaccination Drive, include DOH Officer-in-Charge Dr. Maria Rosario Singh Vergeire and Manila City Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan. “With the help once again of the national and local governments, we have extended our vaccination and booster drives to not just our employees alone, but to their fami lies and household members as well. Truly, our continuing coordination and cooperation with these two entities have proved vital to the fulfilment of our duties in this time of crisis,” Gesmundo stressed. “To be sure, more than ever, we need a sense of oneness, a sense of nationhood, a sense of common good, for in the difficulties that lie ahead, we know that we cannot triumph individually. We can only prevail as a whole, as one nation ded icated towards a common goal, the public welfare.”
Solon hopeful on PNR project
CJ backs free COVID vax drive at SC
DRIVEANTI-DENGUE
Two more lady solons join Lakas, bringing party strength to 66
By Maricel V. Cruz
COURTESY CALLS
OFFERING.FLORAL Speaker Representatives.ofLibraryMoreatduringVirginoftooffersRomualdezMartinflowerstheimagetheBlessedMaryaMasstheThomasChapel,BuildingtheHouseof Ver Noveno
TWO more members of the House of Representatives have joined the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (La kas-CMD), bringing the party’s total membership in the larger chamber of Congress to 66. Party president Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday administered the oath to Eastern Samar Rep. Maria Fe Abunda and Calamba City Rep. Char isse Anne Hernandez-Alcantara in simple ceremony at the Social Hall of the Speaker’s Office in the House. The event was witnessed by senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a former Presi dent and Speaker, who is also the president emeritus of Lakas-CMD. During the same event, Romual dez also administered the oath to Taft Mayor Gina Ty and former Guiuan May or Christopher Sheen Gonzales, both from Eastern Samar province, as La kas-CMD members. “We are happy that two more col leagues of ours in the House have chosen to join us in Lakas-CMD. We look forward to having a fruitful and pleasant bonding and interac tion with them and the rest of our members,” Romualdez said. With a membership of 66 congressmen and congress women, Lakas-CMD is now the largest political group in this 19thTheCongress.affiliation of Abun da and Hernandez-Alcantara followed last month’s member ship in the party of Representatives Isidro Ungab and Vincent Garcia of the third and second districts of Davao City, respectively; Alan Du jali of Davao del Norte’s second district, and Josefina Tallado of Cam arines Norte’s first district.
WORK. Construction workers finish painting the top floor of a building at the corner of EDSA and FB Harrison in Pasay City on Monday. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) August 8 report, nearly three million Filipinos in the labor force were unemployed as of June 2022. Norman Cruz
UNITED States Senator Edward Mar key will meet this week with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla pur portedly to discuss human rights initiatives and programs. Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesman Jose Dominic Clavano said the RemullaMarkey meeting is set within the week. Markey, a Democrat from Massa chusetts, is one of the US senators who have been calling for an end to al leged human rights abuses committed during the anti-illegal drugs war un der the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Markey and 10 other US senators had written to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last year asking the US government to condemn the human rights abuses under the Duterte adminis tration.Markey also authored a 2019 US Senate resolution that barred the entry to the US of Philippine officials who were involved in the detention of former Senator Leila De Lima. As a result, then President Du terte, also in 2019, declared Markey persona non grata in the Philippines. Rey E. Requejo ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda on Monday thanked Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista for reiterating the commitment of the Marcos administration to substantially complete the Philippine National Railways South Long-Haul Project beforeSalceda,2028.chair of the House Com mittee on Ways and Means, cited a conversation with Transport Under secretary Cesar Chavez, where the latter said China appeared to be will ing to continue the Bicol railway pro ject.“Undersecretary Chavez told me that Secretary Bautista will be reporting to the Cabinet soon so that the economic team can decide moving forward. For now, given how much progress has already been made on the Bicol rail, it appears that the best way forward is to just keep the arrangement with China, subject to some changes on interest rates,” Salceda said. “P14 billion in project manage ment consultancy has already been consummated for the project. What’s left to fund is civil works, the trains, and electromechanical equip ment. If the Department of Finance decides to resume the loan appli cation, construction can start very soon after,” Salceda explained. Maricel V. Cruz
BBM asks BTA to finish their mission by 2025
A4 TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021
Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to exercise legislative and executive powers during the region’s transition period.The composition of the new 80-member BTA was proof that the former warring members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islam ic Liberation Front (MILF) have finally united under one Bangsamoro autonomous government. “The fact that the unity between the MNLF and MILF happened under the present administration is an indication that President Marcos’ call for unity is being heeded by the former Moro rebel groups,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said on Sunday.The President on Friday administered the oath to the new members of the BTA, the interim government of the BARMM.
News
By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas THE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said while the incidence of COVID-19 in the country remained at “low risk,” it is facing a challenge on non-COVID cases particularly den gueMeanwhile,infections. the DOH logged a total of 102,619 dengue cases from January 1 to July 30, 2022, which is 131 percent higher than the figure recorded during the same period last year.This caused serious concern for the Magsasaka party-list as dengue cases breached the 90,000- mark, with deaths at more than 300. Acting Health Secretary Maria Ro sario Vergeire said the Philippines posted an increase of 19 percent and 31 percent increase in coronavirus cases last July 2, and August 8, respectively, generally considered as low risk. During the organizational meeting of the Senate Committee on Health chaired by Sen. Bong Go, Ver geire admitted a rise in non-COVID admissions since last February. Vergeire said 70 percent of nonCOVID beds were already occupied. She said the National Capital Re gion and Cordillera Administrative Region are in moderate risk classification with an average attack rate of 9.11 at 7.18 cases per 100,000 population. She also said Region 4-A and Re gion 6 were nearing the threshold for moderate risk health care system ca pacity with more than 42 percent total utilization rate.
. Labor Secretary Bienvenido “Benny” Laguesma on Monday calls on Speaker Martin Romualdez at the House of Representatives. Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Eatrella lll also visits Speaker Martin Romualdez at the House of Representatives. Ver Noveno
A MANILA lawmaker on Monday wished that Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle would be elected the next Pope should the ex alted post becomes vacant. Manila Rep. Joel Chua in a state ment noted that Pope Francis has been seen as possibly signaling his retirement the same way his predecessor, now Pope Emeritus Ben edict XVI, did. Chua said that Tagle is from Cav ite and rose to become Archbishop of Manila and Cardinal Bishop at the Vatican.“Apreacher, evangelist, and so cial justice advocate of the highest order he is. He championed the caus es and welfare of the urban poor in Manila and in Cavite.” Chua said Tagle “has proven to be a tireless pastor of the Catholic Church and has displayed his dip lomatic skills in interreligious dialogue.”Ifelected pope, Tagle would be the first Filipino and first Asian to rise to the highest position in Chris tendom.Cardinal Tagle is viewed as a pro gressive by some, coming from the developing world. Maricel V. Cruz Solon wishes Tagle becomes the next Pope
Manny HIGH-WIREPalmero
Consolidating the Marcos dictatorship
On the second issue -- As to whether Mar cos had the right to continue exercising powers under both Constitution, the Supreme Court likewise ruled in the affirmative, saying that “Because President Ferdinand E. Marcos is the incumbent President referred to in Article XVII of the transitory provisions of the 1973 Constitution, he can continue to exercise the powers and prerogatives under the 1935 Con stitution and the powers vested in the President and Prime Minister under the new Constitu tion until he convenes the interim National Assembly (Sec. 3(1), Article XVII, 1973 Con stitution).” On the third issue – The SC also affirmed the validity of his law-making power during mar tial rule, saying that as Commander-in-Chief and enforcer or administrator of martial law, the incumbent President of the Philippines can promulgate proclamations, orders and decrees during the period of Martial Law essential to the security and preservation of the Republic, to the defense of the political and social liber ties of the people and to the institution of re forms to prevent the resurgence of rebellion or insurrection or secession or the threat thereof as well as to meet the impact of a worldwide recession, inflation or economic crisis. The legality of the law-making authority of the President during the period of Martial Law was expressly affirmed under Section 3(2) of Article XVII of the new Constitution. This particular provision is not a grant of authority to legislate, but a recognition of such power as already existing in favor of the in cumbent President during Martial Law. This consolidated the legal framework of the Marcos dictatorship. Website; tonylavina.com. Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs
Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 8-5646225 and 8-5646229 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 8325550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandard.net
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022 B1Opinion
THE death of former President Fidel Valdez Ra mos was a personal loss to me. Eddie, as those who knew him and to his many friends, was a likable person. There were many occasions when he used to invite the regulars of the 365 Club to play golf with him at the Pangarap, the rest house of the President across Malacanang. Since I don’t play golf, as the only co-founder of the 365 Club still alive, all I could do was to watch the regulars of the 365 Club play golf with him. The 365 Club, which still meets weekly, (but, since the pandemic started, only via zoom), had no formal structure, no list of membership, no constitution and no officers (since I am the only living co-founder, I proclaimed myself as chair manBeforeemeritus.)theCOVID-19 pandemic, I used to visit Eddie at his office where he had his memo rabilia and there we would swap stories about the past and present. I cannot forget the time when, after he won the 1992 presidential election, he was a guest speaker at the weekly Monday breakfast meeting called “Kapihan” at Manila Hotel, which I used to attend.Afterthe breakfast, he took me aside and said, “Emil, you be my Press Secretary.” I was taken aback, since I could not imagine myself as a government functionary, much more a Press Secretary who had to apologize for a President when he commits a mistake. I answered him, “Mister President, I know a better person who would be your Press Secretary -- Rod Reyes, who is now a senior vice president of ABS-CBN. All you have to do is to ask Geny Lopez, who is the chairman of ABS-CBN.” I believed he did because Rod Reyes soon be came Ramos’ press secretary. I wondered for quite sometime why Eddie Ra mos wanted me to be his Press Secretary. I soon found out since I was a regular at the Wednesday Club at Dasmarinas Village. My personal relationship with Eddie Ramos continued. There was this instance when the late Su preme Court of Appeals Justice Fidel Purisima, a distant cousin, knowing how close I was to President Ramos, asked me for help to have him appointed to the Supreme Court. I had been told by my late mother, who was a Pacis, that the Pacis family of Magsingal, Ilocos Sur was somewhat related to the Purisimas of San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur. Thus, when I had occasion to talk privately with President Ramos, I told him that Justice Purisima of the Court of Appeals wished to be in the Supreme Court. President Ramos then told me in confidence that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approached him to name Renato Corona, who was then Chief of Staff of GMA, to the Supreme Court. I then told Ramos, “Mister President, Puri sima is my relative, you can name Corona, who is younger, next time.” Ramos then announced his appointment of Purisima. What is tragic about this event is that when Purisima retired, he did not even invite me. I was told that he believed his appointment to the Supreme Court was because of somebody else. Another event I recall was when the relation ship of then Defense Secretary Ramos and Juan Ponce Enrile soured after the ascension of the late Cory Aquino to power in 1986 after that 1986 People power revolution that ousted and had the late President Marcos exiled. Recall that both JPE and Ramos, together with Gringo Honasan, broke away from Marcos. When Cory became President, she named Ra mos Secretary of National Defense, who had to stop the nine, I repeat, nine coup attempts against the Cory government. The result was that the relationship between JPE and Ramos soured. When Ramos became President in 1992, it became clear that JPE and Ramos, the heroes of that four-day breakaway from Marcos, were not on speaking terms. I distantly recall that somebody, a certain General Cruz, approached me at my usual get to gether with friends at the 365 Club in the Jeepney Coffeeshop of the Intercontinental Hotel and wanted to talk to me. General Cruz asked me to have JPE and Ra mos meet privately – and I said I would try. I told then Senator Rene Cayetano that some body talked to me for Ramos and JPE to talk pri vately. “Sure.” Cayetano said, “I’ll talk to JPE.” Cayetano was then the partner of JPE’s law of fice, PECABAR. Thus, I introduced General Cruz to Cayetano.
For Paulina Zagorska, a women’s activist, “the fundamentalist undertone of these bill boards is obvious: their authors attribute the falling birth rate to contraception and chal lenges to the traditional family model.” Many observers have seized the occasion to denounce the near-total abortion ban intro duced by the right-wing government and to condemn its family policies. According to leftwing opposition MEP Rob ert Biedron, “there aren’t enough children be cause of a shortage of nurseries and kindergar tens... insufficient wages... a fear of pregnancy following inhuman anti-abortion laws.” A study published in May by the research firms SW Research and Garden of Words found that half of Polish women considered their country unfavorable to motherhood, notably because of abortion restrictions and difficult access to medical care. AFP Full version on www.manilastandard.net
I was then told by Cayetano that it was ar ranged that Ramos and JPE would meet at Hotel Mandarin.Cayetano told me that Ramos and JPE met privately at Hotel Mandarin and the two shook hands. This was my contribution to the peace ful settlement between two heroes. My friendship with Ramos lasted until he died. Eddie even wrote, together with for mer President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the foreword to my book titled, “The Road Never Ends,” on my memoirs as a journalist for over 74Asyears.the remains of Eddie Ramos gets into bed at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, I repeat my la ment, Goodnight Sweet Prince, may the flight of angels sing you to your rest, my good friend.
O
By Nell Saignes THE billboards are hard to miss: large and plastered all over Poland, they show two blonde girls in immaculate white posing in a wheatThefield.caption asks: “Where are these chil dren?”An accompanying pictogram showing falling birth rate statistics claims the average Polish family had five children in the 1950s, down to three in the 80s and 1.5 today. The signs, put up in recent weeks by a Catholic foundation, have triggered a fiery debate in the conservative-led country, where family and reproductive rights are an endur ing source of tension. The campaign has already spawned paro dies. One version has a billboard with a dumpling pictogram and the line: “Where are theseObserverspierogis?”have been quick to point out that the figures in the original billboard are incor rect: official statistics show Polish women were having fewer than four children on aver age during the 1950s. Still, the current birth rate is worrisome: with 1.4 children per woman, Poland is below the EU average and the threshold of genera tional“Ourrenewal.campaign does not have an ideologi cal or political goal,” said the Kornice founda tion whose president, a wealthy entrepreneur with Catholic ties, is one of Poland’s richest men. “It simply invites people to reflect.” ‘Fundamentalist undertone’ Kornice had already made headlines for other controversial billboard campaigns, including ones opposing abortion and di vorce.
Billboards get Poles talking low birth rate
The logical consequence therefore is that President Marcos is a de jure President of the Republic of the Philippines
My Memories of FVR
MEMBER Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine NewspapersPPI can be accessed manilastandard.netat: 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
If there’s one thing that President Marcos must show to the people this early, within the first 100 days of his administration, is that he has zero tolerance to graft and corruption, and that whoever will try to pull an anomaly cannot get away with it and must be held accountable Rep. Salceda warned that the NCAP must conform with the Data Privacy Act and other circuitimplementedguidelinessupplementarysinceitisbeingusingclosed-televisionorCCTVs
IN AN original petition for prohibition, peti tioners Benigno Aquino Jr. et al. sought to nul lify Presidential Decrees 1366, 1366-A, call ing for a referendum on February 27, 1975, Presidential Decrees 629 and 630 appropriat ing funds therefor, and Presidential Decrees 637 and 637-A specifying the referendum question, as well as other related presidential decrees, orders and instructions. Petitioners contended that President Ferdi nand E. Marcos did not hold any legal office nor possess any lawful authority under either the 1935 or the 1973 Constitution and there fore had no authority to issue the questioned proclamations, decrees and orders. In addition, petitioners argued that due to the climate of fear generated by Martial Law there could be no true expression of the peo ple’s will and that the period for free debate was too short. In this case, the Supreme Court addressed three issues: (1) Whether or not President Fer dinand Marcos held any legal office or pos sessed any lawful authority under either the 1935 or the 1973 as to validly issue aforemen tioned presidential decrees, orders and instruc tions.(2)Whether or not President Marcos had the right to continue exercising powers under both the 1935 and 1973 Constitutions. (3)Whether or not the president can exercise law-making power during martial rule. On the first issue -- The Supreme Court af firmed the validity of Martial Law Proclama tion 1081 issued on September 22, 1972 by President Marcos because there was no arbi trariness in the issuance of said proclamation pursuant to the 1935 Constitution; that the... factual bases had not disappeared but had even beenAsexacerbated.towhether,under the 1935 Constitution, President Ferdinand E. Marcos was duly re elected. The High Court likewise ruled in the affir mative. According to the SC, Marcos was reelected by the vote of the sovereign people in the Pres idential elections of 1969 by an over whelm ing votes of over 5,000,000 electors as against 3,000,000 votes for his rival, garnering a ma jority of from... about 896,498 to 1,436,118 (Osmeña vs. Marcos, Presidential Election Contest 3, Jan. 8, 1973). While his term of office under the 1935 Constitution should have terminated on De cember 30, 1973, by the general referendum of July 27-28, 1973, the sovereign people... expressly authorized him to continue in office even beyond 1973 under the 1973 Constitu tion (which was validly ratified on January 17, 1973 by the sovereign people) in order to fin ish the reforms he initiated under Martial Law; and as aforestated, as this was the decision the... people, in whom “sovereignty resides . . . and all government authority emanates . . .,” it is therefore beyond the scope of judicial inquiry. The logical consequence therefore is that President Marcos is a de jure President of the Republic of the Philippines. Since President Marcos was the only in cumbent President at the time, because his term under the 1935 Constitution had yet to expire on December 30, 1973, the Consti tutional Convention, in approving the new Constitution, had in mind only him... when in Section 3(2) of Article XVII of the new Constitution it provided “that all the proc lamations, orders, decrees, instructions and acts promulgated, issued or done by the in cumbent President shall be part of the law of the land, and shall remain valid, legal, binding... and effective even after lifting of Martial Law or the ratification of this Constitution, unless modified, revoked or superseded by subsequent proclamations, orders, decrees, instructions or other acts of the incumbent President, or unless expressly and explicitly... modified or repealed by the regular National Assembly.”
The rationale for the issuance of the memo is “pending development of uniform guidelines for the imple mentation of NCAP” or the No Con tact Apprehension Policy being car ried out by the private sector through private-public partnerships. It is not clear which body will craft the uniform guidelines. But in the House of Representa tives, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda has commented that the NCAP, as car ried out by the private sector, has put its legality in question, noting the imposition of fines and penalties, for instance, could not be delegated by the government to private com panies as in the case of some LGUs implementing the NCAP. Was this perhaps one of reasons why a few hours after the LTO memo was issued, Guadiz, who holds the rank of Assistant Secretary, told the Management Information Division to re-activate all LGUs’ account de activated following his previous in struction to recall the memo? We can easily understand the confusion from the ranks of LTO officials, given that there has been neither confirmation nor denial by Guadiz of the reported issuance and recall.Salceda was on track when he asked: “Can law enforcement be the subject of a PPP? There appears to be no legal precedent for the exer cise of the police power by a private enterprise on behalf of the state.”
The Albay solon has a point there, because it would appear to contra
NLY five days back, Land Transportation chief Teofilo Guadiz issued a memorandum directing the head of the LTO Management Information Division to disconnect the access of local government units and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to the alarm tagging system. dict the established doctrine of the state’s monopoly of force, consider ing that the apprehension of traffic violators is “the exercise of the po lice power of the state.”
EDITORIAL
ManilaStandard ONLINE Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer
Honor Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Salceda is correct in pointing out that the police power of the state is originally a legislative power, del egated to the executive branch for implementation but it cannot be del egated further to private companies. Since police power involves the power of force, which is the monop oly of the state, law enforcement as a grain in PPP cannot be the subject of a commercial agreement between the state and the private sector. Salceda also warned that the NCAP must conform with the Data Privacy Act and other supplementa ry guidelines since it is being imple mented using closed-circuit televi sion or CCTVs. Such guidelines include the Na tional Privacy Commission Adviso ry 2020-04, or the Guidelines on the Use of CCTVs, especially because private firms operate the CCTVs, and not the government under “law ful surveillance” clauses. If we must add posthaste there should also have been substantial consultation before the PPPs were set into motion, which is required under PPP Governing Board Reso lution 2016-06-02.
• • • If there’s one thing that President Marcos must show to the people this early, within the first 100 days of his administration, is that he has zero tol erance to graft and corruption, and that whoever will try to pull an anomaly cannot get away with it and must be held accountable. And their “heads must roll” – as the saying goes. That anomaly by the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management that bought “pricey” and outdated laptops for teach ers for the Department of Education is a case of an anomaly. How in the world can the PS-DBM justify laptops costing more than P50,000 when every body knows that a mid-range working laptop can be bought for only P15,000? And why are those laptops for sale if they are outdated?Andthe total amount of the PS-DBM pur chase cost no less than P2.4 billion. Santa Ba nana, those geniuses at the PS-DBM must think that the people are that stupid not to smell a rat! Now it’s that importation of 300,000 metric tons of refined and raw brown sugar by the Sugar Regulatory Administration without the clearance of President Marcos, who is Secretary of the De partment of Agriculture and also Chairman of the SRA. To prove that President Marcos has zero tol erance to graft and corruption, he must make “heads roll,” and right away, to show to the people his determination against graft and cor ruption.Mygulay, those geniuses at the SRA must think that they could get away with what they did.All these attempts to commit graft and cor ruption must be stopped right away, and to show that President Marcos means business, I repeat, “heads must roll.” The Procurement Service must be abolished. Those who are behind attempts to pull one over the President must be held accountable and must be fired. Graft and corruption cannot be totally eradi cated in government, but BBM must show zero tolerance to make those thieves in government know that there’s a President now that they can not fool around with, my gulay. I can agree with the observation that President Marcos is doing very well during his first days of his administration. There are of course still the many challenges he has to face like the escalating prices of food, including rice, which BBM must resolve sooner or later, which affects every household in the country, poor and rich alike. There’s also the domino effect of high fuel prices which also affects jeepney and taxicab drivers, likewise bus drivers and all those taking publicWhiletransport.thenumber of jobless Filipoinos has gone down, there are those crying out for more jobs, but President Marcos is trying his best to address those challenges, fully aware of them when he was still a candidate.
Confusion over the NCAP memo
There are doubts the influx of Ukrainians — mainly women and children — who fled Russia’s invasion of their homeland for Poland is enough to ‘reverse the population decline’
Man wrecks car, shoots self near US Capitol WASHINGTON—A man died early Sun day near the US Capitol building after driving his car into a barricade and firing shots into the air before turning his gun on himself, police said. A statement from the US Capitol Po lice (USCP) did not identify the man or speculate on a motive. The incident occurred amid height ened tensions and violence-filled chatter on social media following the FBI’s sur prise seizure of several boxes of classi fied government documents from former president Donald Trump’s Florida resort estate.The Supreme Court, still behind se curity fencing after its bitterly divisive June ruling on abortion, is also nearby on Capitol Hill. The police statement said the man drove his car into a vehicle barricade at East Capitol Street and Second Street shortly after 4:00 am (0800 GMT). “While the man was getting out of the car, it became engulfed in flames,” USCP said. “The man then fired several shots into the Whenair.” officers responded to the sound of gunfire and approached the man, “he shot himself,” police said. No one else was hurt. The Congress is currently in recess, and police said “it does not appear the man was targeting any members of Con gress.” AFP Egyptians mourn 41 killed in church fire CAIRO—Funerals were held in two Cai ro churches Sunday evening for 41 vic tims of a fire that ripped through a Coptic Christian church during mass, forcing worshippers to jump out of windows. The blaze, blamed on an electrical fault, hit the Abu Sifin church in densely populated Imbaba, a working-class dis trict west of the Nile River, part of Giza governorate in greater Cairo. Hundreds gathered to pay their re spects in and around the two Giza church es where clergymen prayed for the vic tims, according to AFP correspondents. Pallbearers pushed through crowds of weeping mourners who reached for the coffins, including that of a priest at the church, Father Abdel-Messih Bekhit. The Egyptian Coptic Church and the health ministry reported 41 dead and 14 injured in the blaze before emergency ser vices brought it under control. Witnesses to the fire Sunday morning described people rushing into the multistorey house of worship to save those trapped, but the rescuers were soon over whelmed by heat and deadly smoke. Copts are the largest Christian com munity in the Middle East, making up at least 10 million of Egypt’s 103 million Muslim-majority population.
Another witness, Sayed Tawfik, told AFP that “some threw themselves out of windows to escape the fire”. He pointed to a car bearing dents “left by a person who is now lying in the hospital with a broken arm and back.”
China in fresh Taiwan drills as US lawmakers visit island
- Power surge“Everyone was carrying kids out of the building,” said Ahmed Reda Baioumy, who lives next to the church. “But the fire was getting bigger, and you could only go in once or you would asphyxiate.”
BEIJING—ChinasaidMondayithadorganizedfreshmilitarydrillsaroundTaiwan,asadelegationofvisitingUnitedStateslawmakersweresettomeettheisland’sleaderjustweeksafterasimilartripbyHouseSpeakerNancyPelosiheightened fears of conflict.
ARMENIA BLAST. A rescue worker operates on the site of a retail market in the Armenian capital Yerevan on August 14 after an explosion sparked a fire, killing one person and injuring 51, according to the emergency situations ministry. The blast ripped through the retail market in Surmalu, the ministry said. AFP
IN BRIEF WorldTUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022B2 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
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The five-member congressional del egation -- led by Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts -- was due to hold a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday followed by a banquet at the foreign ministry. Their visit will focus on trade, re gional security, and climate change, Washington’s de facto embassy in Tai peiThesaid.bipartisan trip sparked a caus tic response from Beijing, which said it had Monday carried out “combat readiness patrol and combat drills in the sea and airspace around Taiwan island”. “This is a solemn deterrent against the US and Taiwan for continuing to play political tricks and undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” Shi Yi, spokesman for the Chi nese military’s Eastern Theater Com mand, said in a statement, promising to “resolutely defend national sover eignty”. Taiwan’s government has accused Beijing of using Pelosi’s visit as an excuse to kickstart drills that would al low it to rehearse for an invasion. China’s communist party has never ruled Taiwan but says it will use force if necessary to take the island. That decades-old threat was reiter ated in a white paper published last week when China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said it would “not renounce the use of force” against its neighbor and reserved “the option of taking all nec essary measures”. It added, however: “We will only be forced to take drastic measures to respond to the provocation of separat ist elements or external forces should they ever cross our red lines.”
‘Day of conquest’: Taliban mark turbulent first year in power
AFP Agent says Rushdie on ‘road to recovery’ after stabbing
NEW YORK—Salman Rushdie is on the road to recovery and showing signs of his “feisty and defiant” self, family and friends said Sunday, days after a shocking assault left him on a ventilator with multiple stab wounds. Just hours after Friday’s attack at a literary event in western New York state, the British author had undergone emergency surgery for potentially lifethreatening injuries. But his condition, while still serious, has since shown clear signs of improvement and he no longer requires assisted breathing. “He’s off the ventilator, so the road to recovery has begun,” his agent Andrew Wylie said in a statement. “It will be long; the injuries are severe, but his con dition is headed in the right direction.” Iran “categorically” denied Monday any link with the attacker who stabbed British writer Rushdie, author of the novel “The Satanic Verses”, but blamed the writer himself. “We categorically deny” any link with the attack and “no one has the right to accuse the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani in Tehran’s first official reaction to Friday’s stabbing. “In this attack, we do not consider anyone other than Salman Rushdie and his supporters worthy of blame and even condemnation,” he said at his weekly press conference in Tehran. “By insulting the sacred matters of Is lam and crossing the red lines of more than one and a half billion Muslims and all followers of the divine religions, Salman Rushdie has exposed himself to the anger and rage of the people.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said Iranian state media had “gloated” about the attack, adding that “this is despicable”. The prize-winning writer—who spent years under police protection after Iranian leaders called for Rushdie’s killing over his portrayal of Islam and the Prophet Mohammed in his novel “The Satanic Verses”—was about to be interviewed as part of a lecture series when a man rushed the stage and stabbed him repeatedly in the neck and abdomen. AFP Ukraine nuclear plant blast risks increasing ‘every day’
AFP KABOUL—Taliban fighters chanted victory slogans next to the US embas sy in Kabul Monday as they marked the first anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan following a tur bulent year that saw women’s rights crushed and a humanitarian crisis worsen.Exactly a year ago, the hardline Is lamists captured Kabul after a nation wide lightning offensive against gov ernment forces just as US-led troops were ending two decades of interven tion in a conflict that cost tens of thou sands of lives. “We fulfilled the obligation of ji had and liberated our country,” said Niamatullah Hekmat, a fighter who entered the capital on August 15 last year just hours after then-president Ashraf Ghani fled the country. “It’s the day of victory and happiness for the Afghan Muslims and people. It is the day of conquest and victory of the white flag,” government spokesman Bilal Karimi said on Twitter. The chaotic withdrawal of foreign forces continued until August 31, with tens of thousands of people rushing to Kabul’s airport hoping to be evacu ated on any flight out of Afghanistan. Images of crowds storming the airport, climbing atop aircraft —and some clinging to a departing US mili tary cargo plane as it rolled down the runway—aired on news bulletins around the Authoritiesworld.have so far not an nounced any official celebration to mark the anniversary, but state tele vision said it would air special pro grammes. Many Taliban fighters gathered in Kabul’s Massoud Square, adjacent to the now-shut US embassy, where they displayed the regime’s white banners. “Long live the Islamic Emirate... long live independence,” they chant ed, some holding weapons while others took pictures on their mobile phones. Taliban flags fluttered from lamp posts along the road to the airport. Taliban fighters expressed happi ness that their movement was now in power —even as aid agencies say that half the country’s 38 million people face extreme poverty. AFP
The unannounced two-day trip came after Beijing sent warships, mis siles, and jets into the waters and skies around Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy that China’s leaders claim and have vowed to seize one day.
Seoul offering Nokor aid package for nukes
INDIA AT 75. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (center) greets participants after addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort during the celebrations to mark the country’s 75th Independence Day in New Delhi on August 15. Delhi’s historic Red Fort hung with freedom fighters’ pictures and was guarded by robot elephants. AFP DEWATERING A MINE. A rescuer works with a hose that extracts water from the flooded coal mine where 10 miners have been trapped since August 3 in the community of Agujita in Mexico on August 14. The flooded mine where ten workers have been trapped for 11 days in northern Mexico registered an “abrupt increase in water levels,” authorities reported on Sunday, which could complicate rescue efforts. AFP
KYIV—The risk of disaster at Eu rope’s largest nuclear plant is “increas ing every day”, the mayor of the city where it is located told AFP on Sunday, after Ukraine and Russia exchanged blame for fresh shelling around the fa cility.The Zaporizhzhia plant in southeast ern Ukraine has been occupied by Rus sian forces since March, and Kyiv has accused Moscow of basing hundreds of soldiers and storing arms there. The facility has come under fire re peatedly in the past week, raising the specter of a nuclear catastrophe. “What is happening there is out right nuclear terrorism, and it can end unpredictably at any moment,” said Dmytro Orlov, the mayor of Energodar city where the plant is based. “The risks are increasing every day,” he told AFP by telephone from the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zapor izhzhia.Hesaid there was mortar shelling on the plant “every day and night”. “The situation is hazardous, and what causes the most concern is that there is no de-escalation process,” he added. ‘Blackmail’ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously accused Russia of nuclear “blackmail” and using the plant to “intimidate people in an ex tremely cynical way”. He has also said Russian troops were “hiding” behind the plant to stage bombings on the Ukrainian-controlled towns of Nikopol and Marganets. But pro-Moscow officials in the oc cupied areas of Zaporizhzhia blamed the shelling on Ukrainian forces. Missiles fell “in the areas located on the banks of the Dnipro River and in the plant”, said Vladimir Rogov, a member of the Moscow-installed ad ministration, without reporting any ca sualties or damage. The river divides the areas occupied by Russia and those under Ukraine’s control.Orlov said over the past 24 hours, Energodar—which he left at the end of April—was shelled for the first time leading to a dramatic increase in those hoping to evacuate. Amid safety fears, he warned that in the “near future” there may not be enough personnel to man the station. Kyiv and Moscow have traded accusations over several rounds of shelling on the plant this month, with the strikes raising fears of a nuclear catastrophe.
SEOUL—South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said Monday he will offer a wide-ranging aid package to the North in return for denuclearization, a deal long seen as a non-starter for Pyongyang. The proposal comes days after the North threatened to “wipe out” Seoul au thorities over a recent Covid-19 outbreak and less than a month after leader Kim Jong Un said his country was “ready to mobilize” its nuclear capability in any war with the United States and the South. But calling denuclearization “essen tial” for lasting peace on the peninsula, Yoon on Monday detailed a large-scale aid plan that would include food and en ergy as well as help in modernizing in frastructures such as ports, airports, and hospitals.“Theaudacious initiative that I envi sion will significantly improve North Korea’s economy and its people’s live lihoods in stages if the North ceases the development of its nuclear program and embarks on a genuine and substantive process for denuclearization,” Yoon said in a speech marking the anniversary of liberation from Japan’s colonial rule in 1945.Analysts say the chances of Pyong yang accepting such an offer—first float ed during Yoon’s inaugural speech—are vanishingly slim, as the North, which in vests a vast chunk of its GDP into weap ons programs, has long made it clear it will not make that trade. AFP
SALCON PHILIPPINES INC.
By: MISHELLE ANNE R. RUBIO-AGUINALDO Assistant Corporate Seecretary (MS-AUGUST 15 & 16, 2022)
By Clara Lalanne PARIS, France—Forced to start picking grapes much earlier than normal because of torrid temperatures, winemakers across France are worrying that grape quality will suffer from the climate-induced stress.The exceptionally dry conditions spread from the rugged hills of Herault along the Mediterranean, where picking is already under way, to the normally verdant Alsace in the northeast. Waves of extreme heat this summer accelerated grape maturation, meaning harvests had to begin one to three weeks early or more—in Languedoc-Roussillon, some growers even started in late July. “We were all a bit surprised, they began maturing very rapidly these past few days,” said Francois Capdellayre, president of the Dom Brial cooperative in Baixas, outside Perpignan. He said the shears came out on August 3 for the region’s typical muscat grapes, followed by chardonnay and grenache blanc. “In more than 30 years I’ve never started my harvests on August 9,” said Jerome Despey, a vineyard owner in the Herault depart ment. Stressed out Like other farmers, French winegrowers have been grappling for years with increasingly common extreme weather including spring freezes, devastating hailstorms and unseasonably heavy rains. But this summer’s combination of a historic drought—July was the driest month on record since 1961—and high temperatures are taking a particular toll on vineyards. Only 10 percent of France’s winegrowing parcels use artificial irrigation systems, which can be difficult or prohibitively expensive to Andinstall.while grape vines are more hardy than many other crops, with roots that descend deep into the ground over years of growth, even they can withstand only so much. When water is scarce, the vines suffer “hydric stress” and protect themselves by shedding leaves and no longer providing nutrients to grapes, stunting their growth. In Alsace, “we haven’t had a drop of rain in two months,” said Gilles Ehrhart, president of the AVA growers’ association. “We’re going to have a very, very small harvest” after picking begins around August 26, he said. And when temperatures surpass 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahr enheit), “the grape burns—it dries up, loses volume and quality suffers” because the resulting alcohol content “is too high for con sumers,” said Pierre Champetier, president of the Protected Geo graphical Indication (PGI) for the Ardeche region south of Lyon. Champetier began harvesting Monday, when “40 years ago, we started around September 20,” he said. Now he worries that global warming will make such premature harvests “normal.”
Manila Standard TODAY
AFP
Premature harvests latest test for French winemakers STOCKS rose for the sixth straight day Monday along with the rest of Asia, as investors cheered signs of cooling US inflation. The Philippine Stock Exchange In dex rose 38.18 points, or 0.6 percent, to 6,737.84 on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Gainers beat losers, 101 to 89, with 48 issues unchanged. Semirara Mining and Power Corp. of the Consunji Group, the biggest coal producer, rallied 3.6 percent to P42.55, while SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group added 2 percent to P860. Globe Telecom Inc. of the Ayala Group, the second-largest telecommu nications firm, advanced 3.6 percent to P2,320, while parent Ayala Corp. climbed 2.3 percent to P750. Asian markets mostly rose Monday but optimism was dampened by data showing China’s economic recovery stuttering under COVID-19 restric tions and a slumping property sector. Hong Kong ended down 0.7 per cent while Shanghai closed marginally lower to erase early gains after a mixed session.Tokyo was the standout in Asian trade, climbing 1.1 percent on easing concerns over US inflation and as GDP data showed the Japanese economy recovering after the government lifted COVID-19 curbs on businesses. Other Asian markets also got a lift from Wall Street, which ended Friday on a positive note after consumer and producer price data indicated a mean ingful cooling in inflation. Sydney rose 0.5 percent and Taipei was up 0.8 percent, even as China said it had organized fresh military drills around Taiwan as a delegation of US lawmakers visited the island. Wellington and Bangkok also saw gains. Singapore and Jakarta were lower, while Seoul and Mumbai were closed for holidays. China’s central bank slashed key in terest rates in a surprise move Monday as a raft of data showed weakness in the world’s second-largest economy. The figures showed China’s indus trial production and retail sales growth for July came in lower than expected. Industrial production was up 3.8 per cent year-on-year, but down from 3.9 percent in June and well below ana lysts’ forecasts. With AFP
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.
SPEC PROPERTIES INC.
NOTICE OF 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:
(MS-AUGUST 15 & 16, 2022)
Japan’s GDP rises 0.5% after COVID curbs lifted TOKYO, Japan—Japan’s economy ex panded in the three months to June, official data showed Monday, after the government lifted COVID-19 curbs on businesses. The world’s third-largest economy grew 0.5 percent quarter-on-quarter due to stron ger consumption and capital investment, but the rise was below market expectations of 0.7Whilepercent.the country never imposed strict stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, the government in March removed virus re strictions primarily targeting business open ingInboundhours. tourism remains limited to group tours, however, and the economy is facing headwinds—from the energy price crisis to fears of a global recession fueled by biting inflation. From April to June, private consumption grew 1.1 percent compared with the 0.3 per cent registered in the January-March quar ter, according to the data released by the Cabinet Office. AFP
Stocks up for 6th straight day; Ayala issues, Semirara advance
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.
Business TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022 || B3 extrastory2000@gmail.com
August 10, 2022, Muntinlupa City. By: MISHELLE ANNE R. RUBIO-AGUINALDO Assistant Corporate Seecretary
SII PROPERTIES & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
NOTICE OF MEETING
(MS-AUGUST 15 & 16, 2022)
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
Quality at risk Some winemakers are still holding off in hopes of rain in com ing weeks, such as red grape producers in Herault, where harvests should begin as usual in early September. In Burgundy, which two years ago saw its earliest harvest debut— August 16—in more than four centuries of keeping track, picking will start at cellars in Saone-et-Loire around August 25. But just south in the Rhone Valley, “the heatwave has accelerated maturation by more than 20 days compared to last year,” according to the Inter-Rhone producers’ association. They nevertheless hope grape quality will hold up, as do Cham pagne growers in the northeast, where harvesting will begin late August—though yields are set to fall nine percent year-on-year be cause of a brutal spring cold snap and hailstorms. Bordeaux plans to kick off on August 17 with the grapes for the region’s sparkling wines—appreciated by connoisseurs but just one percent of overall production. Next will come “dry whites, sweet whites and then the reds,” said Christophe Chateau of the CIVB producers’ group, though the pre cise dates will be set only next week. But he warned that even rainfall from storms forecast across France starting this weekend will “not be enough” to ensure a “beautiful vintage.”
AFP Jean Batiste Arena empties his bucket containing white grapes during the harvesting of a wineyard in Patrimonio on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica on August 12, 2022. The grape harvest season has begun a few weeks earlier this year due to a heat wave and drought on Corsica.
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 (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.
By Othel V. Campos VEHICLE sales increased 18.4 per cent in the first seven months to 182,687 from 154,265 units year-onyear despite supply chain disruption, two industry groups said Monday. The Chamber of Automotive Man ufacturers Philippines Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report combined sales of members climbed 29.4 percent for the month of July to 27,813 from 21,498 units a year ago.
Fernando Zobel takes sick leave as Ayala CEO Security Bank doubles profit to P6.2b; PNB registers 50% decline in earnings Vape law gives hope to over 16m Filipino smokers
RETAIL CONFERENCE. Retail expert Tom Oliver (6th from left), consultant to top Fortune 500 companies and Global Group chair of US- based The Tom Oliver Group, delivers the keynote address at the opening of the two-day National Retail Conference and Stores Asia Expo 2022 organized by the Philippine Retailers Association at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. PRA officials by president Rosemarie Bosch Ong (seventh from right) presented the plaque of appreciation to Oliver.
Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor extrastory2000@gmail.combusiness@manilastandard.net
TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) 5,488,749,402.13 DECLINES 89
Alsons’ first-half profit dropped 21% to P689m ALSONS Consolidated Resources Inc. re ported Monday net income declined 21 per cent in the first half to P689 million from P871 million year-on-year. The publicly-listed company of the Al cantara Group also posted a 25-percent drop in net earnings to P364.93 million in the sec ond quarter from P492.39 million on year. The company attributed the lower income figures to a one-time recognition of expens es this year. Alsons booked higher revenues of P5.4 billion in the first six months from P4.63 billion in the same period last year. Secondquarter revenues were also higher this year at P2.73 billion from P2.47 billion in the same period last year. The 210 megawatt base-load power plant pf Sarangani Energy Corp. continued to be the key revenue and income driver of Al sons. Alena Mae S. Flores No reason to cut DITO link, says ex-NTC chief DOMINANT phone operators Globe Tele com Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. have “no reason” to limit or cut their inter connection with DITO Telecommunity on fraudulent calls or ISR (international simple resale) activities, according to a former commissioner of the National Telecommu nications Commission (NTC). Former NTC chief Eliseo Rio said ISR activities have long been a problem in the market since his stint at the NTC in the early 2000s. But he said ISR activities “were nev er used to restrict interconnection between and among telcos.” Rio said interconnection is “paramount” than telecom companies’ feud over debts arising from supposed fraudulent international calls. Citing Executive Order No. 59 issued by late President Fidel Ramos in 1993, Rio said the directive mandated that “the intercon nection between NTC-approved telcos shall be compulsory.” “If it’s an interconnection issue, then there should be no other reason why the tel cos should prevent another telco to intercon nect with it. In this particular case, that is the issue being propounded by DITO,” Rio said in a TV interview.
HEALTHCARE PLAN. The healthcare group of the Private Sector Advisory Council meets with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (fifth from left) in Malacañang to help address the country’s most pressing health concerns. The president accepted recommendations on the country’s healthcare solutions after the PSAC led by Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz (sixth from left) endorsed the work plan.
CAMPI expressed optimism that the supply situation would soon correct as brands started to recover from the pan demic, bringing in new units and new models. The lockdown in China and the war in Ukraine affected the sup ply of automotive parts and electronics this year, resulting in delayed deliver ies of new vehicles. “The improvement in the availability of jobs and employment, business recovery and containment of the pandemic are important drivers for the overall economic recovery in this postpandemic normalcy, similarly true for the industry’s recovery as well,” Gutierrez said.
SECURITY Bank Corp., one of the top lenders in terms of assets, said Monday net income in the first six months of 2022 jumped 100 percent to P6.2 billion from P3.1 billion a year ago, driven by growth in core businesses, lower credit provisions and normalized income tax provisions. Net interest income increased 6 per cent to P14.4 billion, while total noninterest income was at P4.8 billion. Service charges, fees and commissions grew 22 percent to P2.6 billion, led by increase in fees from deposits, credit cards and capital markets. “We are very pleased by the contin ued improvement in our core business es. Our growth in loans and investment securities is a tangible manifestation of our commitment to clients to sup port the reopening of the economy and address the impact of inflation,” Secu rity Bank president and chief executive Sanjiv Vohra said in a statement. Pre-provision operating profit rose 6 percent year-on-year to P8.5 billion. The bank set aside P408 million as pro visions for credit losses in the first half, lower than P2.4 billion a year earlier. Meanwhile, Philippine National Bank controlled by airline and tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan posted a 50-percent decline in net income in the first half to P11.1 billion from P22.1 billion a year ago.“The year-to-date net income is lower than the P22.1-billion net income post ed for the same period last year as the bank recognized a one-off P33.6 billion gain from the property-for-shares swap transaction executed in 2021,” the bank said in a 15.1194 Euro Euro 1.026200 56.9869 Korea Won 0.000768 0.0426 China Yuan 0.148302 8.2355 India Rupee 0.012560 0.6975 Malaysia Ringgit 0.225098 12.5001 New Zealand Dollar 0.644700 35.8015 Taiwan Dollar 0.033386 1.8540
Darwin G. Amojelar Solar Philippines eyes private placements SOLAR Philippines Nueva Ecija Corporation (SPNEC) is in talks with investors on a pos sible equity sale through private placements. SPNEC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday it plans to conduct pri vate placements to increase the company’s public float as well as raise funds to achieve its target of building 10 gigawatts of solar projects by 2025. “Our job is for these offerings to cover the equity required to complete the devel opment of 10 GW of solar projects, while retaining an average of at least 50 percent economic interest,” said Leandro Leviste, founder of Solar Philippines, the parent company of “SPNEC’sSPNEC.model is to create value through project development, investing for a smaller percentage of the cost that catalyzes larger investments, in the same way that we have in our earlier projects,” Leviste added. SPNEC is conducting a P3.3-billion stock rights offering. The company is of fering 1.875 billion shares priced between P1.50 and P1.76 each. The offering period is scheduled from August 30 to September 5. Jenniffer B. Austria
By Julito G. Rada REMITTANCES grew 2.9 percent in the first half to $15.347 billion from $14.918 billion a year ago, on sustained demand for Filipino workers overseas, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday.
CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez
B4 TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022
By Jenniffer B. Austria AYALA Corp. president and chief executive Fernando Zobel de Ayala took a temporary medical leave to fo cus on improving his health, the con glomerate said Monday. Ayala said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the board in a spe cial meeting on Aug. 14 elected Ce zar Consing as acting president and CEO. The company did not provide further details on Zobel de Ayala’s medical condition. “Please be informed that Mr. Fer nando Zobel de Ayala, with the ap proval of our board of directors, has taken a temporary medical leave of absence as our vice-chairman of the board and president and chief execu tive officer. He remains a member of our board but has stepped down as a member of our executive committee and finance committee,” the company said. Consing, a former president and chief executive of Bank of the Phil ippine Islands, is a director at sev eral Ayala-owned listed companies, including Ayala Corp., BPI, Globe Telecom Inc. and ACEN Corp. Zobel de Ayala, 62, also stepped down as member of the executive committee and finance committee but would remain a member of the board. Delfin Lazaro will serve as vicechairman of the executive committee. Ayala chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, older brother of Fernando, said in a social media post the family supports Fernando’s decision to take a leave to rebuild his“Istrength.wantto assure everyone that Fernando is in high spirits, but he has asked for some time to focus on his health and recovery. We all have so many responsibilities and com mitments in all aspects of our lives, but first and foremost, we should all prioritize our health and well-being,” Jaime Zobel said. “Let us all give Fernando the sup port he needs to focus on improving his health, and Bong and Del our confidence as they take on their new roles,” he said.
Auto sales grew 18.4% to 182,687 units in seven months
Remittances climbed 2.9% to $15.35b in first 6 months
statement. Julito G. Rada PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, August 15, 2022 38.186,737.84PTS. F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2022 Currency Unit US Dollar Peso United States Dollar 1.000000 55.5320 Japan Yen 0.007493 0.4161 UK Pound 1.213700 67.3992 Hong Kong Dollar 0.127621 7.0870 Switzerland Franc 1.062699 59.0138 Canada Dollar 0.782840 43.4727 Singapore Dollar 0.729022 40.4840 Australia Dollar 0.711200 39.4944 Bahrain Dinar 2.652661 147.3076 Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266397 14.7936 Brunei Dollar 0.726375 40.3371 Indonesia Rupiah 0.000068 0.0038 Thailand Baht 0.028277 1.5703 UAE Dirham 0.272264
CAMPI president Rommel Gutier rez noted the higher demand for new motor vehicles in July that led to the double-digit sales growth and brought a high degree of confidence on the re covery of the automotive industry in the Philippines. “This mirrors the improvement on the consumer outlook for big-ticket items based on the government re port,” said Gutierrez. Industry data showed that commer cial vehicle sales jumped 31.1 percent in the seven-month period to 137,338 from 104,757 units a year earlier. The segment also registered 49.1-percent increase in sales in July to 21,467 units. The robust performance of com mercial vehicles offset the decline in passenger car sales this year. Demand for passenger cars, made up of sedans and hatchbacks, fell 8.4 percent in sev en months to 45,349 units as buyers preferred vehicles with higher ground clearance. Sales in July also went down by 10.9 percent to 6,346 units.
The BSP said cash remittances coursed through banks in June reached $2.8 billion, up 4.4 percent from $2.6 billion posted in the same month last year. “The expansion in cash remittances in June 2022 was due to the growth in receipts from land-based and sea-based workers,” the BSP said in a statement. It said the growth in cash remittances from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Qatar and Singapore contributed largely to the increase in remittances in the first Personalhalf.remittances, which include non-cash items, also rose 4.4 percent year-on-year to $3.1 billion in June from $2.9 billion a year earlier. The fig ures brought total personal remittances to $17.1 billion in the first half, up 2.8 percent from $16.6 billion in the same period last year. “The increase in personal remittances in June 2022 was due to remittances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more and seaand land-based workers with work con tracts of less than one year,” the BSP said. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort ear lier said remittances to the Philippines were consistently the fourth largest in the world after those going to India, China and Mexico. These remittances were a source of resilience despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Ricafort said the Philippines was among the biggest suppliers of nurses around the world, accounting for at least 20 percent of the total. The Philip pines is also the main supplier of seafar ers worldwide, accounting for about 20 percent to 25 percent of the global tally. He said that over the years, the de ployment of OFWs has diversified to include more countries worldwide, es pecially those outside the traditionally biggest host countries. Cash remittances hit a record $31.418 billion in 2021, up 5.1 percent from $29.903 billion in 2020. The 5.1-per cent expansion missed the 6-percent growth target for the year but was a sig nificant improvement from the 0.8-per cent contraction in 2020 at the start of theRemittancespandemic. were equivalent to roughly 8 to 9 percent of nominal gross domestic product in the Philippines. They were also equivalent to about 32 percent to 37 percent of income from exports of goods and services, and 26 percent to 37 percent of gross interna tional reserves.
THE enactment of the Vape Law that regulates smoke-free alternatives provides hope to more than 16 mil lion Filipino smokers who are ex posed to serious health risks, accord ing to lawmakers and proponents of the measure. “We fought for 16 million smokers who wanted to change. With this law, we regulate the products, we regulate the flavors, we regulate the marketing of the products to the youth. This is purely for those who want to quit,” said former Rep. Wes Gatchalian, one of the main authors of Republic Act No. 11900, or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act. RA 11900, which became a law on July 25, 2022, regulates the importa tion, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use and communication of vaping products such as e-ciga rettes and heated tobacco products. Dr. Lorenzo Mata Jr., a physician and president of advocacy group Quit For Good, said the vape law would help address the world’s leading cause of preventable deaths—the smoking epi demic. “Ten Filipinos die of smokingrelated diseases every hour,” he said. Mata said the vape law would pro vide comprehensive restrictions on trade of vape products, boost the econ omy by supporting small and medium enterprises and the government, protect minors and give adult smokers a chance to leave their deadly habit behind. “Quit for Good welcomes the en actment of the Vape Regulation Law. This will usher the drastic decline of smoking prevalence in the Philip pines with the potential to save the lives of 16 million Filipino smokers. With the vape law, we now expect to see a decline in smoking-related deaths and diseases,” Mata said. Mata said compared to cigarette smoking, vaporized nicotine prod ucts such as e-cigarettes or vapes and HTPS are fundamentally differ ent from and are better alternatives because these innovative products do not produce smoke and generate only aerosol or vapor by heating the e-liquid or tobacco.
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022 C1
NOW that the TNT Tropang Giga are in the PBA Philippine Cup finals, coach Chot Reyes and members of the team will have a chance at looking at how the last game of the semifinal series between the Meralco Bolts and the San Miguel Beermen will play out.
Chot: Beermen, Bolts will test Tropang Giga’s grit, versatility
Members of the Creamline Cool Smashers, led by Alyssa Valdez, display their PVL championship trophy.
THE International Chess Federation or FIDE conferred Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino as Honorary Member during its congress concurrent with the 44th Chess Olympiad recently in Chennai, India. Tolentino, president of both the Philippine Olympic Committee and PhilCycling, was accorded the FIDE recognition for his “special contribution to the world of chess.” It is the highest honor given by FIDE General Assembly, one of the largest international sports organizations with 195 member nations. “It’s an honor to be conferred such award from the FIDE, but this honor is not for me personally, but for Philippine chess, Philippine sports and the entire country in general,” Tolentino said. “It was also an honor to have served the FIDE, one of the international federations with the most number of member countries.”Tolentino served as FIDE general secretary during his term as president of the FIDE Southeast Asian Zone. He was a long serving general secretary of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines having yielded the post “to give way to young blood” during the national sports association’s recent elections. FIDE recognized his service and accomplishment as head of the POC as well his presidency of the SEA Games Federation when the country hosted the games’ 30th edition in 2019. Tolentino is a three-term congressman from the Eighth District of Cavite and is currently the mayor of Tagaytay City. He was the Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines in 2017.
UST Tigers recruit 6’7” center from Mali
THE University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers are in a rebuilding mode with the acquisition of Mohamed Tounkara, a 6’7” center from Mali, as reported by the school’s official student organ The Varsitarian.Tounkara arrived on Sunday and was presented to Institute of Physical Education and Athletics director Fr. Rodel S. Cansancio, OP. on Monday. Described as having a seven-foot wingspan, Tounkara was reportedly recruited by Tiger Cubs’ head coach Jinino Manansala and should be ready to suit up for Season 86 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. There was not much information about Tounkara, but the 19-year-old was said to have played FIBA-sanctioned tournaments in Mali. He is set to join Willie Wilson as foreign student-athletes of the Tigers, whose last championship was in 2006 under thenrookie head coach Pido Jarencio. UST is the second team, in a tie with the University of the East, with the most number of titles won in the men’s
Cignal Best Player Estrada lets game speak for itself
UST import Mohamed Tounkara (Photo from the Varsitarian FB page) basketball tournament with 18 titles. Far Eastern University is at the top with 20 Formertitles.Ginebra star Bal David has taken over the head-coaching post at UST, replacing Jino Manansala, and has been holding practices daily with the Tigers. David, a former Ginebra player in the Philippine Basketball Association, was part of UST’s back-to-back champion team in the 1993 and 1994 seasons under coach Aric Del Rosario.
Adalem-St.JohnsherickEstradaofClare
The coming finals will also put Reyes, who is also the Philippine basketball team coach, in a tough situation because he has started holding Gilas’ practices on Monday at the Meralco Gym in Pasig, in time for the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers’ fourth window nextGilasweek. will have a complete roster, with Kai Sotto arriving on Thursday, and Jordan Clarkson, the following day. The two coming games of Gilas will coincide with the Philippine Cup Finals, with Game 1 set this Sunday. Game 2 is slated on August 24, while Game 3 is set Aug. 26, followed by Game 4 on Aug. 28. By then, Gilas will have gone to Beirut to face the Cedars on the Aug. 25 before meeting Saudi Arabia at the Mall of Asia Arena on Aug. 29. Reyes said a decision has yet to be made regarding his availability in the PBA championship series.TNT coach Chot Reyes
JOHNSHERICK Estrada would rather let his game do the talking. Just 20 years, the NAASCU MVP finds more comfort going toe-to-toe with bigger foes rather than speaking his mind before the media. Fortunately for Adalem Construction-St. Clare, Estrada finds no trouble letting his game speak for itself. With the Saints facing elimination in the quarterfinals of the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, the 6-foot guard uncorked 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists as they booked the last ticket to the semifinals with a huge 90-87 win over Builders Warehouse-UST—curiously the same school which cut him out of its roster back in 2019. Even in the Final Four, he was one of the main aces for Adalem-St. Clare averaging, 18.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists—including an allaround 22-point, 6-rebound, 3-assist, 2-block, and 1-steal performance in the team’s must-win 72-64 Game Two escape over the formidable no. 2-seed EcoOil-La Salle on Sunday . Estrada, however, was still quick to simplify his game in his very few words. “Nag-ensayo lang kami ng maayos. Sinunod lang namin ‘yung mga tinuro ni coach at binigay lang namin ‘yung best namin,” he said. The Pangasinan-born playmaker need not to elaborate further as he was hands down the week’s best and copped the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps D-League Player of the Week award for the period of August 8 to 14. Estrada’s standout performance edged those of Ichie Altamirano of Apex Fuel-San Sebastian and Juan Gomez de Liano of Marinerong Pilipino as the group, made up of sportswriters and editors covering the beat, hands out citations in celebration of the developmental league’s 10th season. This, however, is just the tip of the iceberg for Estrada, if his coach Jinino Manansala is to be believed.
For Reyes, both teams will test the versatility and grit of the Tropang Gigas in the coming finals. “It’s going to test our versatility because each team presents a different kind of problem,” said Reyes after TNT advanced to the finals following an 87-74 triumph in Game 6 of their best-of-seven semis clash with the Magnolia Timplados Hotshots on Sunday night . The win earned TNT its third straight stint in the all-Filipino finals. On the other hand, the Bolts pulled off a 96-92 win over the Beermen and equalized their own semis series at 3-3. This put the Beermen and the Bolts into a do-or-die encounter on Wednesday.Reyesnoted that the Beermen will be a puzzle with the size, ability and imposing presence of 6’10” center JuneMarMeralco,Fajardo.onthe other hand, is known for its scrappy nature and defense. “We like to play small. (But) Maski sino man (between SMB and Meralco), we will be tested,” said Reyes.
World chess body highestTolentinoconfersaward
By Randy Caluag
By Peter Atencio
WITH the next conference still two months away, Creamline has already set its sights on what could be the crowning jewel to a first ‘grand slam’ in the Premier Volleyball League. And with the system in place, coach Sherwin Meneses can’t help but look ahead. “Actually, it’s a continuous system. The longer the system goes, the more it is improved,” said Meneses after steering the Cool Smashers to a straight-set (25-21, 2519, 25-8) victory over KingWhale-Taipei in their winner-take-all match for the Invitational Conference crown at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last Sunday. That should make the Open Conference champions stronger and fiercer when the season-ending Reinforced Conference is fired off on Oct. 8. “You can’t work out a system in one or two years. so, it’s a continuing process and there’s a lot of work to do,” added Meneses while stressing the need for his wards to stay healthy. “Of course, if we are healthy, the job becomes a lot easier,” he added. With the next tournament to feature imports, Meneses points out the need to tap a reliable, explosive reinforcement although he could conveniently rely on his deep, intact local bench that continues to get better and stronger each passing conference. “It is very important to get a good import kasi almost 50 percent, talagang pupuntos yan,” said Meneses. “We already have one and we’re trying to bring her in early to practice with the team.” He, however, wouldn’t disclose which position their import would play and how she would fit in in a team teeming with talents. But one thing is sure though, Creamline will still rely on its vaunted attacking game anchored on heavy-hitters Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Alyssa Valdez while expecting to raise the level of their floor defense following their two-game matchup, including their five-set loss in the semis, with the young but talented Taiwanese. “Yung fast set nila (through KWT’s playmaker Liao Yi-Jen), ganun din naman si Jia (de Guzman). Pero yung floor defense nila, talagang hirap patakan ng bola,” said Meneses. “So, sinabi ko naman sa mga players na itodo na natin. Kung madedepensahan nila, eh ‘di paluin ng paluin.” Strike hard the Cool Smashers did as back-to-back conference MVP Carlos and Galanza combined for 23 of the team’s 43 attack points, 13 more than the KWT side. He also took notice of his wards’ neversay-die attitude, citing in particular Michelle Gumabao and Kyle Negrito’s breakout games while coming off the bench. “Actually, every game naman, tina-try talaga namin ‘yun, kasi ‘yun ang advantage namin. Alam mo naman si MG (Gumabao) at saka si Kyle (Negrito), veteran players na talaga. Nakikita naman namin sa training na nasa good condition talaga sila. Paminsan hindi nagki-click. Ngayon nag-click sila, so napakalaking bagay noong second set na ‘yun. Gamechanger talaga sa laro and they really won the second set for us,” said Meneses. Gumabao scored four points and provided the spunk in their stirring second set rally from way down while Negrito came through with a slew of digs that had led to a series of Creamline’s attacks and helped overturn a huge deficit into a resounding triumph. The Taiwanese never recovered from that meltdown and played listlessly and disorganized in the third that set the stage for the Cool Smashers’ romp to a second straight pro championship and the franchise’s fifth in the league organized by Sports Vision. The one-game title duel also produced a new star in Ced Domingo, who finished with 11 points, highlighted by four blocks, in a stint that netted her the Finals MVP honors. “Since last conference, talagang si Ced na ‘yung nandiyan sa loob eh. Nag-adjust lang kami ng kaunti sa middle, kasi siyempre, iba na talaga pag matangkad ka. So na-adapt niya ‘yung system na mabilis kaya siguro naging ganyan ‘yung laro niya, especially sa blocking. Pinagtrabahuan niya yun at talagang maganda siyang bumasa sa block,” said Meneses. He also commended Valdez for delivering the game expected of her despite being bothered by an ankle sprain, but Meneses reserved his last remark on Carlos, saying: “She deserved to be the MVP again since she worked hard for that. Kahit na isang daan palo na ‘yan, hindi naman nagre-reklamo ‘yan. Sana magtuloy-tuloy, madami pa ‘yan. Kasi batang-bata pa.” That makes the Cool Smashers’ more than ready in their pursuit of the league’s first “slam.” Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor
zeroesCreamlineinonPVL’s1stgrandslam
AFP Rafael Nadal of Spain fields questions from the media during the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. AFP
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2-stroke penalty on Smith jeopardizes no.1 bid
AFP RIDING on the crest of a wave with the success of triathlon’s return to the mainstream, the Penong’s 5150 Davao gears up for an explosive launch on Sept. 4 in a test of endurance and mental limits on a challenging course in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. Close to 500 entries make up the initial roster of the 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run event marking the organizing IRONMAN Group/ Sunrise Events, Inc.’s first race in Mindanao after the pandemic. The Penong’s 5150 was originally slated to take-off in 2020 but was put on hold, along with a couple of top IRONMAN races, due to lockdowns. But with Covid-19 on the wane, the ever-growing multi-sport has flourished the last few months with the successful staging of the full IRONMAN in Subic last March, the Sun Life 5150 Bohol last month and the IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines in Cebu two weeks ago. The tri-sport’s return to Cebu also featured the IRONKIDS. “We have been coordinating with the local government to ensure the safe conduct of the event. With the success of our past races, we can guarantee another smooth and trouble-free staging of this short course race set over the premier Olympic distance,” said Princess Galura, general manager of The IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events, Inc. She also cited the all-out support of Chad Regis, president of the sponsoring Penong’s Barbecue Seafood and Grill, along with Powerball/ Go for Gold’s Jeremy Go, Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib, Hijo Resort Davao president Rosanna Tuazon and Tagum City Mayor Rey RegistrationUy. remains open until race week. For details, log on to davao5150@ironman.com or follow us on social media penongs5150 davao (Instagram) and @Penongs5150Davao (Facebook). The long break has only made local bidders eager and hungry for recognition, including those sharpening their skills and building up to reach IRONMAN level, making the upcoming 5150 Davao, backed by Lightwater, Finis, Rudy Project Sante (Barley), Manila Bulletin and Tempo, a race to watch.
WASHINGTON—British Open champion Cameron Smith of Australia was penalized two strokes by US PGA Tour officials on Sunday, dimming his chances of a victory to become world numberWorldone.number two Smith started the final round at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, four strokes off the pace instead of only two after the punishment was applied for improper ball placement. Smith, who has deflected questions this week on reports he will jump to LIV Golf after the PGA playoffs, made the violation on the par-3 fourth hole in Saturday’s third round at TPC Southwind.GaryYoung of the PGA Tour rules staff said that Smith plunked his tee shot into the water on the hole and when he dropped the ball outside the penalty area, it rolled back and came to rest touching the red hazard markingRulesline. committee members reviewed video replays of the hole and brought in Smith to talk about the infraction. “At that point, he said yes, my ball was definitely touching the line,” Young said. “He wasn’t aware that no portion of the ball could be touching the“Youline. have to take complete relief from that area.”
Golf invitational to launch OKBet, OKBet VIP Club
CINCINNATI—Rafael Nadal is keeping expectations in check while focusing on fitness as he prepares for the Cincinnati Masters.
The world number three, who handed in an abdominal muscle injury walkover in his Wimbledon semi-final with Nick Kyrgios, takes the second seeding behind Daniil Medvedev in the American Midwest at the joint ATP and WTA tournament.WithNovak Djokovic missing due to his refusal to get a Covid-19 vaccination, the 36-year-old Spaniard has one less dangerous opponent to deal with at the US Open tuneup. Nadal could return to the top ranking spot for the first time since January 2020, which would mean a top seeding at the US Open starting on August 29.
That could come to pass if he wins the Cincinnati title and Medvedev fails to reach the quarter-finals. But for Nadal, it’s all about keeping healthy, letting the results fall where they“Numbermay. one is nice but staying healthy is the most important thing,” Nadal said on Sunday. “I don’t have a goal of returning to number one. “If that happens because I play very well, then it would mean a lot to have thatTheopportunity.”2013Cincinnati champion said that his goal will be to “stay healthy and finish the season playing where I want to play.” “I won’t play more than what I think will work for my body.” The Spaniard said that with a baby on the way, his playing schedule might have to be moderated. “I’m happy to be in this position—if for some reason I return to number one, I’d be very happy.” Nadal, who has put in a brutal training schedule since arriving in Cincinnati at mid-week, said that still feels pain on serve from his injury. But he said that obstacles are part of any“Youcomeback.cannot expect to play at an amazing level immediately. You have to be humble and use the tools that you have to win the first match,” Nadal said. “Once you win a few, things change. I’m not always having some good feelings on court. You need to accept that things will be difficult at first.”
The two-stroke punishment boosted Smith’s score from a three-under par 67 to a one-under 69 that left him on nineunder 201 through 54 holes, four adrift of 54-hole leader J.J. Spaun. “He felt it was OK to play it from there but unfortunately the rules say differently,” Young said. “He just said to me, ‘The rules are the rules.’ He just accepted it and left theMeanwhile,office.” three-time major runnerup Will Zalatoris won his first US PGA Tour title, defeating Austria’s Sepp Straka in a playoff to capture the St. JudeZalatorisChampionship.madea seven-foot bogey putt on the third extra hole to end a season of near misses that included second-place efforts at the US Open and PGASmithChampionship.wasseeking his seventh career PGA title and his fourth of the year after the Tournament of Champions, the Players Championship and taking the Claret Jug last month at St. Andrews. A victory would have vaulted Smith over Masters champion Scottie Scheffler of the United States to the top of the world rankings for the first time in hisSmithcareer.said his game has not been affected by distractions this week such as numerous questions about his future and reports compatriot Cameron Percy said the Smith has already made a deal to join LIV Golf. “My goal here is to win the FedExCup playoffs. That’s all I’m here for,” Smith said earlier this week. “If there’s something I need to say regarding the PGA Tour or LIV, it will come from Cameron Smith, not Cameron Percy. “I’m a man of my word and whenever you guys need to know anything, it’ll be said by me.”
A TEARFUL Kevin Yu of Chinese Taipei made it a record five Asian golfers to secure their dream PGA TOUR cards following the conclusion of the Korn Ferry Tour Regular Season at the Pinnacle Bank Championship on Sunday. It was the perfect birthday gift for Yu, a former amateur star who turned 23 earlier in the week. Despite missing the halfway cut at The Club at Indian Creek in Nebraska, Yu safely finished in 20th position on the final Regular Season Eligibility Points List to join China’s Carl Yuan and Marty Zecheng Dou, and Korean duo Byeong Hun An and Seonghyeon Kim amongst the Top-25 who graduated to the PGA TOUR for next season. The quartet had secured TOUR bound status earlier in the year. “It’s amazing, it’s a dream come true to me,” said Yu after receiving his PGA TOUR card. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was five years old and since I just started to play golf. Now it’s a dream come true and I’m looking forward to next season.” Yu joins close friend, C.T. Pan as the only other Chinese Taipei player in history to earn a PGA TOUR card via the Korn Ferry Tour. He earned two runners-up and a solo-third this season, which was his second year on Tour. Following a decorated career at Arizona State University where he was ranked World Amateur No. 1, Yu earned status on the Korn Ferry Tour after finishing fourth in the inaugural PGA TOUR University Class of 2021. He made an immediate impression in the professional ranks by contending twice in his first four starts last season. After watching a congratulatory video message from his ASU coach Matt Thurmond, Yu teared up. “A lot of emotions right now. I went through a lot of stuff from college to now,” said Yu as he tried to hold back tears of joy. “I’ve been dreaming of this for a while … 20 years is a long time,” added Yu, who learned the game at a driving range his father owned in Chinese Taipei. This is the first time a total of five Asian golfers have emerged from the Korn Ferry Tour’s Regular Season graduating class. China’s Yuan concluded his campaign as No. 1 and the Dalian native is now looking forward to his first ever stint on the PGA TOUR. He is the third mainland Chinese after Dou and Xinjun Zhang, both in 2018, to hold a TOUR card.
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Cameron Smith of Australia plays a second shot on the 17th hole during the nal round of the FedEx St. ChampionshipJude at TPC Southwind in Tennessee.Memphis,AFP YuKevin
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022C2
Nadal puts fitness atop his Cincinnati priority list
Tearful Yu is record 5th Asian to nail PGA Tour card
OKBet, the emerging Filipino-owned and operated sports booking site, and OKBet VIP Club, an operator of gaming infrastructures facilities in major Luzon casinos, are jointly organizing a most anticipated invitational golf tournament this year known as the OKBet VIP Club Golf Tournament. The exclusive August 18 invitational at the Clark Sun Valley Golf Club in Angeles City, Pampanga will begin with a ceremonial tee-off at 9 a.m. and conclude with a banquet and awarding ceremony at the Clark Marriot Ballroom.Many specially-selected notable personalities from the business and expatriate communities confirmed their attendance to the exclusive tourney, wherein they will be eligible for golf awards. The event has been making waves of late among players and enthusiasts in the local golf community due to itsOKBetexclusivity.and OKBet VIP Club are part of the flourishing Philippine gaming industry set to rival neighboring countries’ casino destinations in terms of gaming revenue. OKBet’s presence marks an important turning point and growing confidence in the Philippine investment climate.Owned and developed locally by Ekxinum, Inc., OKBet offers its users various sports entertainment options and aims to become a significant homegrown platform banking on the phenomenal rise of technoabledWithFilipinos.over10,000 events across various sports, OKBet enables sports fans to browse through all types of sports on their devices in the comfort of their own homes. From basketball to football, the platform serves the undeniable gaming appetite of this sports-obsessed nation. OKBet VIP Club, on the other hand, currently operates gaming infrastructure facilities in PAGCORlicensed casinos such as The City of Dreams Manila, Okada Manila, Newport World Resorts and The Hann Casino Resort. Both OKBet and OKBet VIP Club are committed to becoming significant gaming revenue drivers for the Philippines. With the group’s online and physical gaming infrastructure all set to be launched in the coming months, such investments will translate to job opportunities for Filipinos as well as provide additional tax revenue for the government.
musicstarsSanSharlenePedro(right)inthe‘Kabado’video
GMA has PhilippinesthenominationsnumerousseveralfromTikTokAwards
Jane is making a mark in showbiz by playing the titular role of Darna
‘Kabado’ is about expressing a love to someone by inviting them to dance
Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant
span of seven days, singer-songwriter and certified hitmaker Adie was able to release not just one but two music Just last week, the music video of “Mahika,” Adie’s collaboration single with Janine Berdin, premiered on the official YouTube channel of O/C Records. The said MV is currently among the top 15 trending entries on the video streamingStarringsite.
Various GMA artists, platforms among TikTok Awards PH nominees
Anne Curtis (left) and Jane de Leon collaborate in Smart’s latest campaign as they embody empowered women making the most of their lives Anne is one of the biggest local celebrities today and remains the most followed Filipino celebrity on social media
SMART brings two powerful women together to banner its new campaign that reveals the telco’s groundbreaking “Best Mobile Network” recognition from Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence. A first for a mobile operator in the Philippines, the “Best Mobile Network” award was given to Smart after winning Fastest Mobile Network and Best Mobile Coverage for Q1 to Q2 2022. Multi-hyphenate star Anne Curtis and rising actress Jane de Leon have suited up as two powerful superheroes in Smart’s latest campaign, which video was officially launched on Monday. “We thought that it would really resonate well with our audience if we would bring together two powerful women. These two women are very iconic. They are two of the rising if not established stars in this generation – the Dyosa and the new Darna. We’re happy to do this with Anne and Jane despite their very hectic schedule. Although they are in different stages in their career, they’re both powerful women in their own special way,” said Francis E. Flores, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business - Individual at Smart, during the virtual launch. “We want to celebrate this milestone by putting together two of today’s remarkable women in one campaign that shows just how Filipinos are empowered with the best mobile experience on the Smart network. Anne has been a long-time Smart user and endorser while Jane is excited to further explore the power of Smart. Like Anne and Jane, we want our customers to enjoy the same powerful experience,” Flores added. As Anne and Jane power through obstacles in withvideoaction-packedthecompletedynamic effects and stunts, they assert: “When you have the power of the fastest speed, and when you have the power of the widest coverage, you get the best overall Accordingexperience.”toFlores, although Anne and Jane are in different phases of their careers, both are powerful women in their own special way. A Smart endorser for over 10 years now, Anne has seen Smart evolve through the years even as herselfestablishedshe one of the biggest local celebrities today and remains the most followed Filipino celebrity on social media. “I have been a loyal Smart subscriber for years, and it’s because Smart has allowed me to do so much - it’s almost like having superpowers. I’ve always been so proud to be part of this family and even happier now that the brand that has empowered me all these years is today’s Best Mobile Network,” said On the other hand, Jane is about to make her mark in showbiz as she becomes the iconic Filipino superhero Darna. Her journey in getting this lifechanging role serves as an inspiration for everyone to power through challenges, according to Flores. “I’m happy to be part of the Smart family. I can’t even begin to tell you guys how much this means to me because I’m so excited to endorse a network that really empowers me to do what I want,” said Jane.With Smart’s fastest speeds, subscribers can do and accomplish more – from connecting with loved ones in crystal-clear calls, sending important work and school files in seconds, sharing content on social media in real-time, to enjoying their favorite videos, music, and games Smart’sseamlessly.widestcoverage means subscribers can stay connected more – whether it’s from the comfort of their home or office, the commute to school or work, or outside the city for a well-deserved break. The latest Ookla Speedtest Awards add to Smart’s recent string of citations that reinforce its network leadership. Last April, independent firm Opensignal declared Smart as the “operator to beat in the Philippines” as it dominated the Opensignal Mobile Experience Awards, covering the essential aspects of service, especially speed and experience. These awards include Best Overall Experience for Video, Games, Voice App, and Download Speed across all technologies. Non-Smart subscribers can experience the power of Smart without changing their number through Mobile Number Portability, a service that can be conveniently booked via mobilenumberportabilityhttps://smart.com.ph/Pages/ and at Smart Stores nationwide. To know more about the Philippines’ Fastest and Best Network, visit www.smart.com.ph
Young hitmaker releases MV for ‘Mahika,’ ‘Kabado’
Arron Villaflor hopes to stay busy as he furthers his career as an artist
Entertainment TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022 C3 E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
ACCORDING to Arron Villaflor, his current goal as an artist is to be as busy as possible. He doesn’t want to be stagnant when it comes to projects. Thus, in a recent interview, he was quizzed whether he had any issues with his former management. The 32-year-old actor officially left ABS-CBN and Star Magic and transferred to Viva Artists Agency. Despite this development though, he points out that there’s no bad blood between him and his former home studio. “I want to make it clear that I hold no grudge against ABS. It’s just that I was only given a rare opportunity by Viva. I believe in timing and this is it. I’m not getting any younger. At this point, I’m just so excited about all the possible projects that could land on my lap. To reiterate, I don’t have anything against my former mother studio. What I want is to just work and work,” he explained. “It just so happened that I wasn’t given projects, especially during the pandemic and I understand how hard the situation was. There were lots of restrictions on shootings or tapings. So, I opted to move to someplace where there is work available,” he added. At the height of the pandemic, when showbiz offers were scarce, Arron was busy attending to his businesses. And that’s what kept him busy while everybody was having some difficult moments. “Perhaps, I’m not just used to doing nothing. With those struggles I faced, I just kept myself busy with other equally important things like I opened a new salon. I also have my real estate. I’m just thankful that we’re alive.” With regards to the new phase in his acting career, the appealing actor avers that he is prepared to be daring in the projects he will do for Vivamax, like Wag Mong Agawin ang Akin “Yes, I am ready to go sexy on screen but still with limitations. For one, I can’t do frontal nudity. But sexy, it’s a hundred percent. When I signed up with Viva, I know that the projects would be intense, which makes it exciting,” ended •Arron.•• It’s confirmed that GMA will have a reboot of one of the ‘80s hit and unforgettable teen flick Underage The original potboiler directed by the late Joey Gosiengfiao was a blockbuster hit and propelled the popularity of Maricel Soriano, Snooky Serna, and Dina Bonnevie The Kapuso remake recently had its virtual story conference and it was learned that taping would commence anytimeTappedsoon.toplay the titular characters are promising GMA young actresses Elijah Alejo, Lexi Gonzales, and Haile Mendes. In the story, they are the Serrano siblings Chynna, Celine, and Carrie,Actorsrespectively. Gil Cuerva and Vince Crisostomo serve as their leading men. Other cast also includes Yayo Aguila, Jean Saburit, Christian Vasquez, Jome Silayan, Nikki Co, and TJ Trinidad Interestingly, among the original Underage babies, it’s only Snooky who’s also part of the TV remake. Here, she plays the role of Velda Gatchalian. The show will be under the helm of Rechie del Carmen. This early, many are already excited with this Kapuso offering.
The longest-running morning program ‘Unang Hirit’ is nominated for Top Media
No bad blood between Arron and Star Magic
Dyosa and Darna team up in Smart’s new ‘powerful campaign’
GMA Network continues to show its dominance on various platforms after scoring numerous nominations at the TikTok Awards Philippines. The annual award recognizes creators who have embraced the value of TikTok and have created a big impact on the platform in the past year. GMA Network and YouLOL are both nominated for the Top Entertainment Award, under the Judges’ Pick Category. Some of the most-loved content in the Kapuso Network’s official account are ‘Kapuso Showbiz News’ and the #GMAPaNoticeChallenge. GMA Network currently has 1.2 million followers and over 16.8 million likes on TikTok. YouLOL, which serves as the users’ go-to source for all things Kapuso comedy, has garnered 2.2 million followers and 16.7 million likes. In turn, three of the Network’s news and public affairs accounts – Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), Unang Hirit, and 24 Oras – are nominated for Top Media Publisher. Award-winning TV program KMJS has amassed 598 million views in 2022 alone, with over 3.2 million followers and 43.4 million likes. Unang Hirit has 1.4 million followers and 27.4 million likes, while 24 Oras also has 1.4 million followers and 16.5 million likes as of writing. Contributing to these numbers are various News and Public Affairs’ campaigns on the platform, particularly the #eLeksyonSerye and the #24OrasChallenge. The voters’ education campaign #eLeksyonSerye raked in over 28.8 million views on the platform, while the #24OrasChallenge started a major trend and racked up over 54 million views. 24 Oras was also the first live newscast on TikTok Philippines. Unang Hirit followed suit as the first morning program to air via livestream on TikTok. Meanwhile, in the People’s Choice Category, Kyline Alcantara, Althea Ablan, Cassy Legaspi, and Dasuri Choi contenders for Celebrity of the Year. Girl group XOXO nominated for the PPOP Group of the Year. XOXO is composed of Lomadilla, Dani Ozaraga, Mel Caluag, and Lyra Micolob The TikTok Awards PH will stream live on the social media platform on August 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Audrei Garcia and Chloe Reyes, and directed by Kris Cazin “Mahika” official MV left the audience with an ambiguous ending — suggesting that the story will develop with a sequel. Here comes Friday, August 12, O/C launches the MV of Adie’s new romantic track offering, “Kabado.”
The music video features actress Sharlene San Pedro Released on the same day, “Kabado” is inspired by Adie’s “prom experience” as it revels in a scenic and romantic gesture of aiming to express love and affection for someone through a fluttering dance, but somehow thwarted by feelings of anxiousness in the process of determining how to spark a conversation with the admired one. The song, according to Adie himself, is about expressing your love to someone by inviting them to dance. “My own prom experience inspires it in high school. I had a crush on someone I badly wanted to dance with for the rest of the night and talk about stuff,” he says. “This song is the right feeling I felt when trying to figure out how to make a move.”The record features a mixture of alternative indie, RnB soul, and indie pop tunes—seemingly rendering a dreamy and passionate mood as the song gradually flourishes through a wave of catharsis. “The song will somehow give you a nostalgic feeling the moment you hear the art. It has this magical type of love that you want to express to a thing or someone that you love and make you dance as well,” Adie“Kabado”shares. marks Adie’s third release for the year, following the launch of his rendition of “You’ll Be Safe Here” as the official soundtrack of the Vivamax Movie, 366 , and “Mahika,” which has garnered over 22 million streams on digital music platforms.
Publisher YouLOL serves as the users’ goto source for all things Kapuso comedy
TOBY’S Sports, the largest multi-brand sports retailer in the Philippines, has jumpstarted its latest round of growth with the opening of three new store locations in the past three months. The new store opening holds even more significance to Toby’s Sports as it came on the heels of a pandemic that forced many local and international retailers to close physical stores across the country. “We are excited to open new stores after putting our expansion plans on hold because of the pandemic,” Toby Claudio, Presi dent of Quorum International Inc. (QII), the parent company of Toby’s Sports, said. “Helping Filipinos become champions through sports and an active lifestyle has always been our advocacy and it’s never been as relevant and important than it is now. There is a strong resur gence of sports participation, and the reopening of sports facilities allows us to continue to bring the power of sports and fitness to millions of Filipinos nationwide,” Claudio added. The three new Toby’s Sports stores are located in SM Lipa, SM Grand Central Caloocan and SM Cabanatuan. The opening of three stores in consecutive months signals the company’s de termination to pick up where it left off and continue to strengthen its footprint, now totaling 58 stores across the country. Apart from the opening of new physical stores, Toby’s Sports continues to grow its eCommerce business (www.tobys.com), which saw significant growth during the pandemic. In addition to its own eCommerce site, Toby’s Sports has also strengthened its multi-channel approach by opening its own malls in the Lazada and Shopee marketplaces as well as e-commerce storefronts for its affiliate brands runnr (www.runnr.com.ph) and urbanAthletics (www.urbanathletics.com.ph).
Life C4 TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022 Nickie Wang, Editor Joba Botana Associate Editor Patricia Taculao Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
face-to-face classes back after two years of virtual learning, it’s time to say hello again to teachers, classmates, and friends in the classroom and on-campus. It’s also time to say hello to dressing up again, and new clothes for comebacking students. And Forever 21 celebrates schoolgirl style with four spirational looks: Elle, Alexa, Callie, Everything Elle. Wear a cropped denim jacket with a flo ral print midi dress for a cool and relaxed day in school. Elle introduces a bohemian rock-nroll vibe with a touch of west ern floral and elegant feminine - dresses, woven tops, flare pants, denim flares, sweat ers, boots, and hats. Alexa’s Allure will be enjoyed by girls who want to have contemporary mini malist work/school wear. Think faux leather bustier bralettes, and button-down shirts. baguette shoulder bags, bootcut jeans, knitted bodysuits, and faux leather blazers.Alexa’s style highlights contemporary minimal ist work/school wear with a downtown luxe feel. Tops, pants, dresses, skirts, and heels as it transi tions into a 90s wall street style with a touch of modern minimalism. Callie Cool. Sporty and punky striped rugby cropped shirt, a plaid skirt, faux leather lace-up booties, and a bucket hat. Callie has a touch of 90’s skate culture with back-to-school grungeathletic tops, sweaters, skirts, shoes, and bucket hats for athletic and punky girls. Sofia Style: casual and trendy bustier cropped top paired with a lace-up mini skirt from F21. Sofia’s high-speed style is sporty and with a touch of motor racing, and sexy night out/party outfits.Check out Forever 21’s Back to School col lection in-store at SM City North Edsa, SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM City Clark, and SM Lanang Premier or you can also shop these items from the comfort of your homes by checking out Forever 21 at ShopSM, Lazada, Shopee, and Zalora. You can also follow Forever 21’s facebook: facebook.com/Forever21 (PH) Instagram: @ f21philippines and tiktok: @forever21ph for the latest updates.
AS TWO of the most sought-after ce lebrities in the Philippines, power cou ple Luis Manzano and Jessy Mendio la-Manzano know all about living a life juggling all their passions. Aside from their on-camera projects, the Manzanos are also well-known content creators, entrepreneurs, and loving fur-parents to their dogs Chanel, Chewy, Louis, and Sky. With multiple online work and ac tivities, it is incredibly important for the couple to always have the fastest con nection at home. That is why in PLDT Home’s newest Do It Better campaign, the Manzanos show how the country’s fastest home broadband network suits their different lifestyles and needs with the best digital products and services. The Manzanos gave us a glimpse of their daily life and how PLDT Home enables them to handle tasks such as vlogging, holding meetings, arranging their finances, and taking care of their pets, just to name a few. “The internet is a vital part of our ev eryday lives. It helps us to connect to each other and learn new things. When you are open to learning new things and exploring new possibilities, you will surely be able to do things better at home and in life,” said Jessy. “The fastest connection of PLDT Home makes everything simpler. We live in an age where everything must be quick and instant. Having a fast and efficient connection gives you more chances to do things better for yourself and others in a day, whatever hat you have on,” Luis added. As Filipinos embrace a more digital lifestyle, PLDT Home continues to ad dress the demand for better, faster, and stronger connections. With the fastest Home Fiber plans, subscribers can do more at home. The whole family can comfortably watch their favorite shows on HBO GO, Lion sgate Play, and Viu, or work, study, cre ate content, level up in their games, and enjoy the convenience of smart gadgets in the Withhome.thefastest internet speeds, fami lies can do all of these and more without worrying about having enough band width for everyone. PLDT Home remains the undisputed fastest broadband in the Philippines for five consecutive years after it was once again awarded at the Ookla Speedtest Awards Q1-Q2 2022. PLDT bested all major internet providers in the Philip pines, achieving a speed score of 77.91.
for your family, visit: Plans_DIBHome_PUB_WEB_ART_NewFiberDIB&utm_content=HM_PLDT%20campaign=NewFiberPlans_medium=General_Release&utm_com/internet?utm_source=PR&utm_https://pldthome. As PLDT Home’s ambassadors, power couple Luis Manzano and Jessy MendiolaManzano, show how one of the country’s fastest home broadband network suits their different lifestyles. Get your fitness fix at Toby’s Sports Adidas, Nike, Wilson, Toby’savailablebrandsinternationalandSpeedoTYR,moreareinSports Sports retail giant opens new stores Schoolgirl dressing takes on preppy twist Crowd lining up to get their hands on the best sports and fitness gear in the market Elle Callie SofiaAlexa Supermarket chain launches new sustainability campaign To further encourage consumers toward a sustainable lifestyle, the supermarket chain also offers P1 cashback for every eco bag used by Perks and Tindahan Ni Aling Puring membersThe Puregold Team enjoins everyone to reduce the excessive use of plastic bags and encourage customers to consider how their packaging can impact the planet. Puregold Eco Bag Puregold’s ‘Walang Plastik Mondays’ is part of the brand’s bid towards lessening their carbon footprint and pollutionplastic
Life at home made better It also logged the fastest download and upload speeds at 210.83 Mbps and 234.21 Mbps, respectively. Watch Luis and Jessy Manzano on PLDT Home’s video: tube.com/watch?v=osVjw5D4Cqwhttps://www.youToknowthebestPLDTHomeFiberplan
By Patricia Taculao PLASTICS are a common sight in the Philippines. However, the colorful bags, although convenient and often durable, are an immense contributor to environmental pollution. According to a market study by the World Bank, the Philippines produces a staggering 2.7 million tons of plastic waste each year, with 20 percent end ing up in the ocean. Due to the alarming rate of plastic use and waste, several companies, in stitutions, and local government units began initiatives to lessen the amount of material in the environment, miti gate its harmful effects, and slowly convert people to a more sustainable lifestyle.Tostrengthen its sustainability ef forts, Puregold continues to incorpo rate eco-friendly practices in relevant aspects of its business. Last July 25, Puregold launched its “Walang Plastik Mondays” to mini mize pollution and protect water re sources in the country. “Puregold’s intent is to be a mind ful company that reuses, recycles, and reduces whatever resources are avail able, and as a retailer, encourages its customers to do the same. We are very much invested in doing business sus tainably and helping the younger gen erations look forward to their future,” said Puregold President Vincent Co Whenever shoppers drop by Pure gold on Mondays, the retail brand encourages consumers to bring their own bags or boxes. All Puregold stores in the National Capital Region adhere to the sustainability effort. And to further encourage consumers to ward a sustainable lifestyle, the super market chain also offers P1 cashback for every eco bag used by Perks and Tindahan Ni Aling Puring members. They can earn up to P5 cashback for every transaction. It is part of a bigger goal to reduce the excessive use of plastic bags and encourage customers, especially those who buy in bulk, to change how they consume goods and consider how their packaging can impact the planet. “Aside from plastic use, Puregold’s concern is the production of single-use plastics, which requires a lot of energy and resources. It may be impossible to [completely] eliminate plastic from the retail industry, but we can take steps to reduce the amount we are us ing,” Co said. The Tindahan Ni Aling Puring pro gram is also doing its part to educate Puregold’s consumers, composed of sari-sari store owners and retail buyers. Yet Mondays aren’t the only days when Puregold engages in sustainable actions. Aside from its “Walang Plas tik Mondays,” Puregold is also work ing towards a 100 percent conversion to LED main lighting to reduce energy consumption. Moreover, Puregold’s 135 wastewater treatment facilities comply with the government’s regu lations as it ventures into rainwater catchment, gray water reuse, and other similar measures to lessen the compa ny’s impact on water resources. Puregold is also eyeing to reduce its carbon emissions by 36 percent by migrating its logistics requirements to optimum cross-dock operations effi ciency.Creating an environment-friendly society requires the assistance of the public to become effective. Puregold, through its sustainability efforts, not only takes the necessary steps to se cure the company’s corporate social responsibility but raises awareness among its consumers so they too can play a role in preserving the planet. Visit shoppingwww.facebook.com/puregold.formoreinformation.
Toby’s Sports plans to further grow and future-proof its retail business by moving towards an omni-channel strategy, introduc ing services and innovations that will allow its customers to have a seamless experience across all its sales channels. This includes offering a Click & Collect option on its eCommerce site that will allow customers to order from tobys.com and have the option to pick up their orders from their preferred store. “This kind of shopping flexibility is the best way we can lever age our large network of stores. And with our renewed focus on customer experience, it will really make purchasing and returning products from our online stores even faster and more convenient” Claudio said. Health and fitness trends, franchise business as growth drivers With the opening of Toby’s Sports SM Lipa and Toby’s Sports SM Grand Central, both of which are under its growing franchise business, Toby’s Sports brings its total of franchise stores to 20, mak ing up over 30 percent of the retail chain’s total stores in the country. Toby’s Sports, which in 2019 received Hall of Fame status as Most Outstanding Filipino Retailer from the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) after winning its second Outstanding Filipino Franchise Award from the Philippine Franchise Association, sees its franchise business as key to its mission to maintain its status as the #1 sports retailer in the country. “The goal is to bring our world-class lineup of sports brands and products closer to more consumers, and we see our franchise business playing a huge role in our growth, particularly when it comes to expanding our footprint in key provincial areas,” Clau dio concluded.
