By Willie Casas
House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez said the House will begin hearings on the National Ex penditure Plan on Aug. 26, and finish committee and plenary deliberation on the budget proposal by Oct. 1, when Congress goes on its first recess.
DOH: Non-traveler 4th confirmed monkeypox case New oil prices: LPG P2.80, diesel P2.60, gas P0.70
By Ronald Reyes
By Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja
Military
By Vince Lopez and Joel E. Zurbano
WATCH FOR SP ECIAL REPORT
Tiamzons killed in boat explosion? mum on details of incident
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In Metro Manila, however, the ex pected traffic from the first day of the school year 2022-23 and the rains that had prevailed over the last week did not develop.TheMetropolitan Manila Develop ment Authority has described as “man ageable” the morning traffic situation in the metropolis during the first day of face-to-face classes at all school levels. Citing initial reports from the office of Traffic Engineering Office director Noemie Recio, MMDA chief infor mation officer Sharon Gentalian said: “The traffic was manageable because the expected volume of vehicles did not happen, except for the traffic build-up at the De La Salle (Greenhills) and At eneo (universities), which was also im mediately fixed in less than an hour.”
“We welcome the submission of the proposed 2023 national budget that will provide the broad strokes needed to speed up our economic recovery,”
THE country confirmed its fourth case of monkeypox on Monday in a Filipino with no documented travel history to or from any country with cases of the disease. The Department of Health said the 25-year-old patient was confirmed positive on Aug. 19 through a PCR test. Fourteen close contacts have been“[Theidentified.case]is being cared for and is admitted in an isolation facility,” the
In Cagayan, the provincial govern ment canceled classes from the preschool to primary level, the National
“Petron will implement the following TURNOVER. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangadaman (left) submits to Speaker Martin G. Romualdez the proposed P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 during the turnover cer emony at the Social Hall of the Speaker’s Office in the House of Representatives.
Ver Noveno Benito and Wilma Tiamzon
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 189 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022 •
VP: Nothing to stop classes 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 NEWS / A2 WHO: 2ND COVID BOOSTER A MUST FOR MOST AT RISK NEWS / SABUNGEROS’A2 KIN BARES P1M OFFER TO DROP SEARCH
THE country’s oil firms implemented a pump price hike of as much as P2.80 per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world market. The firms raised the price of kerosene by P2.80 per liter, diesel by P2.60 per liter, and gasoline by P0.70 per liter, end ing two consecutive weeks of rollbacks across all petroleum products and seven straight weekly price cuts for diesel.
SEVERAL parts of the country sus pended classes due to bad weather on Monday, as the cyclone “Florita” strengthened into a tropical storm just as schools opened for the new academ ic year.
Says pandemic, classrooms lack no reason to keep kids from school
By Rio N. Araja and Joel E. Zurbano
Let us not waste more time in turning this dream into a reality,” he told Congress in his budget message.
• mst.daydesk@gmail.com
FROM a high of more than P100 per kilo, the retail price of refined sugar is expected to go down to P60 per kilo with the “discovery of thou sands of stocks” in warehouses in Bulacan and Pampanga, senior Ag riculture undersecretary Domingo PanganibanPanganiban,said.a former Agriculture chief, said that more raids will be con ducted on warehouses in the Visayas and“WeMindanao.expectto bring down the retail price of refined sugar between P60 and P65 per kilo. We have enough sugar supply following the discovery of thou sands of stocks in Bulacan and Pam panga,” he Meanwhile,said.the Bureau of Customs on Monday implemented a Letter of Authority (LOA) and Mission Order
A CLASSROOM shortage is no excuse to keep children out of schools, Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte said Monday as millions of students returned to schools that had been locked down for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sugar cost seen to drop to P60/kl after stocks found in warehouses
By Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Congress to waste no time in passing the proposed P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023, citing its im portance in helping the nation attain economic transformation, growth, and sustainability.“Theformula for prosperity is simple: Increase productivity with the overriding commitment to leave no Filipino behind, including Filipinos of the next generation.
Some classes canceled due to ‘Florita’, NCR traffic manageable PBBM asks Congress to act swiftly on nat’l budget www.manilastandard.net
By Alena Mae S. Flores
“We cannot make the lack of educa tional infrastructure or the inadequate number of classrooms in certain prov inces another excuse to keep our chil dren from schools,” Duterte said at the National School Opening Day Program at the Dinalupihan Elementary School in AtBataan.thesame time, Duterte said the pandemic can no longer be a reason to keep children from attending face-toface“Weclasses.cannot afford to delay the edu cation of the Filipino youth any longer,” she said. “We need to get them back
Full Reopening: PH Economy Nears Pre-Pandemic Level on August 29, 2022. BACK AFTER 2 YEARS. Grade 3 and Grade 6 elementary students stand in attention for the flag ceremony to start their first face-to-face classes since the COVID-19 pandemic began at the Pedro Guevarra Elementary School in Binondo, Manila on Monday. Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio was at Dinalupihan Elementary School in Bataan (right inset) to help kick off school year 2022-23, but students and teachers alike had to deal with their schools’ lingering problems, like flooding at Dalan Baliti Elementary School in Macabebe, Pampanga (left inset). Norman Cruz, Danny Pata, Dalan Baliti ES FB Page
TACLOBAN CITY—Top com munist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were reportedly killed in a boat explosion in Catbalogan City, Samar on Monday morning, an initial report showed. The Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas, however, has yet to confirm that the two leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peo ple’s Army were the ones killed in the Armedexplosion.Forcesof the Philippines - Joint Task Form Storm
“Since the threat of COVID-19 is still in our midst, it is important that our teachers and students continue to ob serve the minimum health protocols to ensure that they remain healthy while learning new things,” the President said. Mr. Marcos welcomed the return to face-to-face classes after two years of online learning due to the pandemic. He also expressed confidence that with Duterte at the helm of the Department of Education, the more than 28.21 million pupils enrolled in the K-12 system will receive a good quality education. “It has always been my belief that learning will be more effective inside classrooms where students fully inter act with their teachers and fellow stu dents,” the President said. “Since the threat of COVID-19 is still in our midst, it is important that our teachers and students continue to ob serve the minimum health protocols to ensure that they remain healthy while learning new things,” he added.
mst.daydesk@gmail.comTUESDAY,AUGUST 23, 2022A2
“Observance of minimum health standards must be ensured as the threat of COVID-19 continues to linger,” Vil lanuevaGatchaliansaid. pointed out that the chal lenge remains in vaccinating learners, cit ing the Department of Health (DOH) data that show only 26.94 percent of children aged 5 to 11 years old and 76.41 percent in the 12-to-17 bracket are fully vaccinated. “Let’s come up with innovative ways and partner with the DOH and local government units. See if we can set up vaccination sites in schools, and encour age more children to get their vaccines,” Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on basic education said. But the chief of the Public Attorney’s Office, Persida Rueda-Acosta, slammed the Commission on Higher Education
PBBM... From A1 Some... From A1 Tiamzons... From A1 VP:... From A1 Sugar... From A1 DOH:... From A1 New... From A1
The DepEd said Monday the first day of face-to-face classes was generally peaceful and orderly.
Another source told GMA News that the Special Investigation Task Group created to probe the missing cockfight players was expanding and expediting its probe. The sabungeros’ kin were also look ing forward to meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to raise with him their concerns and distress. “Perhaps they’re forgetting that our group is still here, knocking on their door,” Janina Pilarta, wife of the miss ing John Claude Inonog, told GMA also in Meanwhile,Filipino.a source from the spe cial investigation task group created to probe the missing sabungeros told GMA News that they were expanding and expediting their investigation.
The UN health agency has already recommended that all adults receive a booster shot four to six months after an initial round of vaccination, typically consisting of two jabs.
WHO: 2nd booster for most at risk
In separate statements, Senate Major ity Leader Joel Villanueva said he ex pects classes will be held in comfortable classrooms and with complete learning materials as promised by the DepEd, while Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said there must be creative ways in ensuring the health and safety of students.
Executive Direc tor Dr. Enrico Paringit said a total of $2,000 (about P112,000) worth TikTok promotional coupons and exclusive merchandise will be up for grabs in the competition dubbed “Pinoy Science STAR (Science and Technology Advo cates for Research) 2022.” Winners “will be part of the Pinoy Sci ence pool of content creators” and would meet experts who could help improve their skills, the council added on Facebook.
“This is our moment. Let the eco nomic transformation towards inclusive and sustainable growth begin. With your approval of the proposed 2023 na tional budget, certainly our agenda for prosperity can be achieved,” he added.
Sabungeros’ kin bares P1m offer to drop search
Duterte also said the resumption of in-person classes on Monday was a “victory” for basic education, includ ing the teaching and non-teaching staff, parents, local government units, and other education stakeholders. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday reminded both teachers and students to continue observing proper health and safety protocols amid the reopening of classes, saying that COV ID-19 remains a serious health threat.
AFP with Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta
“The House of the people will ef fectively respond to the needs of the people, and we will do our best to ad dress the continued impact of the health crisis, create more jobs and ensure food security,” the Speaker added. Romualdez said the House is targeting to finish committee and plenary delibera tions on the budget proposal before Oct. 1, when Congress is scheduled to go on its first recess that will last up to Nov. 6. Mr. Marcos acknowledged continu ing uncertainties caused by the COV ID-19 pandemic and unpredictable in ternational conflicts. He, however, said he was undaunted be cause of his faith in both the government’s economic managers and the Filipino people.
Romualdez said. Mr. Marcos said the timely passage of the proposed budget will ensure that the coun try’s agenda for prosperity will be realized.
In a Viber message, DepEd spokes man Michael Poa said there were no major incidents reported to them as of Monday morning. As of Monday, the DepEd recorded 28,035,042 enrolled learners nation wide, which is a slight shortfall from their targeted 28.6 million enrollees. Poa, however, said parents can still register their children, who will be eventually required to go into full-time face-to-face sessions by Nov. 2. “We are still encouraging those who haven’t enrolled to enroll as soon as possible. It also bears emphasizing that although we haven’t met our projected figures, the enrolled learners this year is already 101 percent of our figure from last school year’s enrollment,” he said.
A RELATIVE of one of the missing cockfight enthusiasts or “sabungeros” said they have been offered P1 million in exchange for waiving their right to search for their missing kin, GMA News reported Monday. In the report, the sabungeros’ kin, whose identity was concealed, told GMA TV reporter Emil Sumangil that they wanted to know where the offer or the information was coming from. “If we took the P1 million, there would no longer be a case, we just had to sign a waiver,” the source said in Fili pino. (See related story on A3 – Editors)
to in-person learning because with it, they will get a meaningful, adequate or proper, and quality education.”
price increases effective 6 a.m. on August 23: P0.70 per liter for gasoline; P2.60 per liter for diesel, and P2.80 per liter for ker osene. These reflect movements in the in ternational oil market,” Petron Corp. said in its Seaoiladvisory.Philippines, Chevron Philip pines, Cleanfuel, Phoenix Petroleum, and PTT Philippines also raised pump prices. Last week, the Department of Energy (DOE) predicted a possible oil price hike due to the movement of prices in the world market. Based on the latest trading move ment, DOE director for Oil Industry Management Bureau Rino Abad said diesel may go up by P2 per liter, kero sene by slightly more than P2 per liter, and gasoline by P0.50 per liter. Abad said the increased US fuel con sumption and tight supply scenarios pushed prices despite American reces sion fears.
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) said following initial vaccination, typically consisting of two doses, and an already recommended first booster dose, spe cific groups of people should be offered an additional jab. “We are doing this on the basis ob viously of observations in relation to waning immunity and particularly in the context of Omicron,” WHO senior health advisor Joachim Hornbach told reporters via video link.
News G ENÈVE—The World Health Organization’s vaccine advisers have recommended that people most at risk from COVID-19 should be offered a second booster dose to increase their immunity.
(MO) issued and signed by Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz against a warehouse in Caloocan City that held an estimated P231 million worth of rice and sugar. Customs officers said 66,000 sacks of rice and 13,000 sacks of sugar—all at 50 kilos each—that originated from Thailand and Vietnam were in the two big warehouses in a compound at 448 Kabutuhan Street, Deparo Road, Brgy. 168, Caloocan City. The LOA and MO were issued against the owner, representative, or whoever is in possession of the “im ported goods” in the storage, BOC said in a “Westatement.arevery proud of these re cent operations—the ones in Bula can, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Manila, Batangas, and Davao. It proves how serious we are in getting at the bot tom of the issue of hoarding agricul tural products, like rice and sugar,” Ruiz“Wesaid.are aware of how these could affect our farmers, our markets, the people. The inspections we’ve been doing are aimed at stopping this abuse,” he added. The Sugar Regulatory Administra tion earlier said they are determin ing, together with the Department of Trade and Industry, if there was hoarding in the two warehouses in Central Luzon that yielded some 44,000 sacks of sugar.
AN AGENCY under the Department of Science and Technology is holding a contest for TikTok content creators who could boost Filipino interest in science and technology through the widely pop ular video sharing app. The DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Tech nology Research and Development on Monday launched the competition for science communicators in partnership with the Chinese social media giant, ABS-CBNDOST-PCIEERDreported.
“We encourage our scientists, re searchers, science communication practitioners, and media and commu nications students to participate in this competition and harness your skills in turning science concepts to an enter taining and informative manner,” Par ingitThesaid.DOST believes TikTok can help more people understand science. “The challenge is to reach people where they are... One out of 3 Fili pinos are on TikTok. We hope that in this partnership we would be able to share the different technologies that we have,” said DOST-PCIEERD informa tion group head Mark Ivan Roblas.
DOST TikTok tilt aims to prop up science interest
DOH“Allsaid.four confirmed monkeypox cases in the Philippines are unrelated to each other,” it added. The first case has already recovered and been discharged from isolation as of Aug. 6. The second and third cases are still in home isolation and in sta ble condition. No new contacts of the first three cases have been identified,” it added.Asfor the fourth case, one close con tact is currently taking care of the pa tient in the isolation facility, while six are undergoing quarantine. Another is a healthcare worker who had complete personal protection equipment at the time of consultation and is now self-monitoring. Details of the other six are being verified. Meanwhile, an infectious diseases expert said the country might discover more monkeypox cases in the future.
Disaster Risk Reduction and Manage ment Council (NDRRMC) said. Classes were suspended up to the secondary school level in the towns of Alcala and Baggao, the disaster agen cyInadded.Albay, the local governments suspended classes at all levels in the towns of Daraga and Polangui. Mayor Paul Chino Garcia of Guino batan town also canceled classes at all levels due to the threat of flooding. In Oas town, Mayor Domingo Esco to Jr. suspended classes at elementary and high school levels. Several parts of Luzon were placed under Signal No. 2 due to rains dumped by Florita. The storm was last spotted 215 kilo meters east of Casiguran, Aurora, and was expected to make landfall in the east coast of Cagayan or northern Is abela by Tuesday afternoon, accord ing to DuringPAGASA.anemergency meeting on Monday, Claudio Yucot, Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Bicol regional director and Bicol DRRMC chairper son, said it was necessary to raise the alert status as the storm intensified. Among the areas that canceled classes in public and private schools at all levels were the province of Albay; Juban town in Sorsogon; and Sangay town in Camarines Sur. “We need to prepare, we are close ly monitoring the developments,” Yucot said. He said that due to possible inter ruption of electricity, mobile, and in ternet connections, provincial and lo cal DRMMCs are advised to explore all means of communicating adviso ries to the OCD-Bicolcommunity.recommended the trimming of trees in coordination with the Department of Environ ment and Natural Resources, as well as de-clogging and cleaning of ca nals and rivers to prevent flooding, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau PAGASA said Flo rita was last located 155 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 90 kph. It is mov ing west at 15 kph. PAGASA said Signal No. 2 is cur rently hoisted over Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, the eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, the eastern portion of Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and the northern and central portions of Aurora. Areas under Signal No. 2 may ex perience winds greater than 61 kph up to 120 kph in at least 24 hours. This can peel off old roofs and tilt or down wooden electric posts, and damage banana plants, rice, corn, and other trees.
SAGE said second boosters should be offered to the elderly and all immunocom promised people, pregnant women, as well as those with conditions like diabetes, hy pertension and cardiac, lung and kidney disease that put them at higher risk. Health workers of all ages should also get the additional jab, Cravioto said, in sisting on the need to “protect our health systems from the devastation of having its personnel sick and not at work”. Looking forward, the SAGE experts pointed to “significant uncertainties re lated to the evolution of the virus, the characteristics of future variants, and the trajectory of the epidemic given in creasing vaccine- and infection-induced immunity globally”.
(CHED) for discrimination and segre gation of unvaccinated students in col leges and universities. Acosta said the memorandum order issued by CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III was unconstitutional and a clear violation of the basic human right to Sheeducation.saiditwas also illegal as it violated Section 12 of Republic Act No. 11525, which states that providing COVID-19 vaccination cards will not be considered as an additional requirement for educa tion, employment, and other similar gov ernment transaction purposes.
In the Philippines, The National Cap ital Region (NCR) is still moderate risk for COVID-19 even as new cases went down by 15 percent compared to the previous week, independent monitoring OCTA Research Group said Monday. In Congress, Sen. Sherwin Gathal ian, Chairman of the Senate Commit tee on Basic Education, wants to ex pand COVID-19 vaccination coverage among students and learners as classes in all levels started Monday. Amid the reopening of face-to-face classes, Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray Florence Reyes also renewed calls for a more aggressive COVID-19 vac cination to avoid possible surges and stop the spread of new variants. But SAGE chairman Alejandro Cravioto stressed that Thursday’s recommendation for a second booster after another four to six months had passed was only meant for the “populations at the highest risk”. It “does not constitute a general rec ommendation of vaccinating all adults after the first booster”, he told the vir tual press briefing.
The Philippine National Police’s High way Patrol Group, Intelligence Group, Anti-Kidnapping Group, and Anti-Cyber crime Group would be taking part in the special probe, the source added. He said authorities were trying to identify a person who was seen with drawing money from a bank using the ATM card of one of the missing sabungeros. They had also found an informant who could shed light on the missing cockfight enthusiasts.
(AFP-JTF) commander Maj. Gen. Ed gardo De Leon confirmed, “indeed there was a waterborne interdiction operation conducted against a hostile motorized boat.” He said the AFP is currently veri fying the personalities involved in the boat explosion even as he acknowl edged that there was “a report of an apparent movement of a group of NPA members traveling by sea.” Benito Tiamzon was reportedly a for mer secretary general of the CPP’s East ern Visayas Regional Party Committee. Authorities said he later rose to become chairman of the Commu nist Party and head of the group’s executive committee, while Wilma is the CPP’s secretary general and also a member of the central execu tiveChargescommittee.werefiled against the cou ple in 1990, but the Tiamzons were only arrested in Cebu in March 2014. They were granted bail in August 2016 when the government resumed the peace negotiations during the initial term of then-President Rodrigo Duterte. After the collapse of the peace talks in 2017, the couple reportedly went into hiding.
CHED’S memorandum order states that “only fully vaccinated students of higher education institutions located in areas under Alert Level 1, 2, and 3 shall be allowed to join limited face-to-face classes.” Millions of children returned to school as the academic year started on Monday, with many taking their seats in classrooms for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The Philippines is one of the last countries in the world to resume fulltime, in-person lessons -- sparking warnings that the prolonged closure of classrooms had worsened an education crisis in the country. Children in masks and uniforms lined up for a temperature check and a squirt of hand sanitizer at Pedro Guevara El ementary School in Manila, which had shut classrooms since March 2020. The school has adopted a hybrid sys tem of in-person and remote learning as it transitions its nearly 6,000 students back to face-to-face classes by No vember -- a deadline set by President Marcos soon after he took office two monthsGradeago.six student Sophia Macahilig said she was excited to meet her class mates and teachers after two years of Zoom lessons.
By Maricel V. Cruz ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chairperson of the House commit tee on ways and means has vowed to push for special provisions and unpro grammed appropriations to expand food production and reduce inflation.
IN BRIEF Lawmaker files measure to establish PWD office in LGUs
GAPP Bulacan president Maw Acier to also said that e-sabong stakeholders and enthusiasts should have control of their spending as the game was initially designed to become a livelihood. He added that money should be used correctly and responsibly so the indus try will be looked at in a different light from just regular gambling. “Lahat lang po sana ilagay lang sa ta mang lugar, sa tamang kontrol. Sigura do naman táyong ang GAPP...ay patuloy na mag-iimprovise ‘yan to continuously professionalize itong ating industriya,” Acierto said.
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Monday ordered a probe into an apparent rise in abduction cases in the country.Someof the said cases have gone viral on social media. In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Az urin said all concerned units of the PNP are being tapped whenever a relevant piece of information on a case is obtained by“Wheninvestigators.thereis a crime like an alleged kidnapping and a vehicle is seen, we also tap the help of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG). When a gun is recovered, we im mediately contact the Firearms and Ex plosives Office (FEO) for verification. It’s like we do an ‘all-PNP units app proach.’ Whatever a PNP unit can con tribute, what skills do they have that can be utilized, we are addressing these all at the same time,” he said. Azurin, meanwhile, emphasized that the public’s support is vital in solving these cases.
“In the long run, this will also be good for consumers who will have a greater array of original, quality, and home-grown content,” he said. But the next question, Abejo said, is whether our government would be able to implement the law so it achieves its objectives of building a globally com petitive creatives industry.
THE Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor under its new leadership vows to continue initiating activities to ward poverty alleviation and service to the marginalized sector through its programs of urban poor empowerment and leadership development. It recently conducted basic orientation and leadership seminars for residents of Baran gays Pasong Tamo and Fairview in Quezon City who would be affected by the national government’s ongoing NLEX-SLEX con nector project of the Department of Public Works and Highways. In Barangay Pasong Tamo, Field Opera tions Division-National Capital Region as sistant chief Dennis Protasio and NCR area coordinator Ed Labaco led the basic leader ship capability seminar to selected officials and members of the United Luzon Avenue Federation.Thenew administration under chairper son Elpidio Jordan Jr. expressed its drive to lower the incidence of poverty, if not elimi nate it, via sound economic reforms and empowerment of the citizenry, especially the urbanPCUPpoor.was created through Executive Order No. 82 on Dec. 8, 1986, to serve as a conduit to interconnect the urban poor with the government in the process of formulat ing and implementing policies that would ef fectively address the needs of the country’s poor. Rio N. Araja
The law defines the creatives in dustry as “trades involving persons, whether natural or juridical, that pro duce cultural, artistic and innovative goods and services originating in hu man creativity, skill and talent, and having a potential to create wealth and livelihood through the generation and utilization of intellectual property.”
REORIENTING COPS. Manila Police District Director (MPDD) P/BGEN Andre Dizon delivers a speech during the turnover of the Paco police station personnel for focused reformation/re-orientation and moral enhancement for police in line with internal cleansing efforts training, inside the MPD headquarters along United Nation avenue in Manila. Norman Cruz
First day of school in Makati, Taguig cities went smoothly
“Our work becomes easier because of the contributed videos being given to us through the social platforms it would aid our police personnel. If they did not send those videos, it would seem the policemen are totally unaware,” he said. Azurin said that the latest reported kid napping cases that they are probing hap pened on June 17 and July 4. “These pieces of information that are very vital for the information of the police and everything that are being forwarded are already being acted by our investiga tors. Actually, we checked the videos for warded to us using different media plat forms and we saw that they are past crimes, these happened in the past as early as 2021),” Azurin said. The PNP earlier allayed fears of ram pant kidnapping cases in the country. Citing the incidents of two children who were earlier reported missing in Bula can, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajar do said investigation showed that one of them ran away from home after being scolded while the other stayed over night with a friend without telling their parents.Meanwhile, Gaspar Maneja, the suspect in the killing of 15-year-old bike enthusiast Princess Marie Dumantay who was earlier reported missing, was already caught.
FIRST DAY. San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora inspects the San Juan Elementary School. San Juan opened full face-to-face classes in all 13 public schools found in the city. Manny Palmero
ALMA MATER. May Parsons (with bouquet), the Filipina nurse who administered the first COVID-19 vaccination dose to a 90-year-old British grandmother in December 2020, and recipient of the George Cross Award from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles at Windsor Castle is welcomed to her alma mater, the University of Sto. Tomas, during her visit on August 22. Danny Pata
Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval gives breakfast to students of the Malabon Elementary School during the first day of classes on Monday. Andrew Rabulan
Urban poor commission vows to anti-povertycontinueefforts
Advocacy group hails passing into law of Philippine creatives industry act Group: E-sabong industry will be professionalized and regulated
A RESOLUTION has been filed at the House of Representatives urging local government units (LGUs) to establish their respective Per sons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in accordance with Republic Act 10070 or the amended Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. In filing House Resolution 209, Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas seeks to ful fill the role of LGUs in establishing a PDAO in every province, city, and municipality, to further ensure the implementation of pro grams and services for persons with disabili ties, as mandated by RA 10070 which was enacted in 2010. “More than 12 years after the law was en acted, Filipino persons with disabilities remain vulnerable to marginalization with the absence of established PDAOs in many LGUs in the country,” Vargas stated in his resolution. Out of the 81 provinces, 146 cities and 1,488 municipalities in the country, the Na tional Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA) reported that only a total of 387 LGUs have established a PDAO as of June 2021. Of the 387 LGUs, only 254 have designated Focal Persons that may function as PDAO in the absence of such and is particularly found in 4th to 7th class municipalities. The resolution also noted the need for PDAO and its designated focal persons to ac tively monitor and update the data on persons with disabilities in the country to aid in the delivery of social services targeted to them. Maricel V. Cruz QC government, ILO set to open migrant resource center in city hall
AN ADVOCACY group championing citizen welfare has lauded the laps ing into law of Republic Act 11904 or the Philippine Creatives Industry Act, saying that this is a major step toward achieving the full potential of the country’s creatives industry. “Finally, we have a law that institutes government support for the creatives industry,” said Atty. Tim Abejo, coconvenor of CitizenWatch Philippines. “Our artists and workers in the crea tives sector have been needing this for a long time because of the many factors that undermine their work, cause them to feel undervalued and even exploited, and limit their potential.”
PNP chief orders probe on rise of abduction cases going viral
It establishes the Philippine Crea tive Industries Development Council (PCIDC), an agency that would be attached to the Department of Trade andTheIndustry.government has earlier said it envisions the Philippines to be the num ber one creative economy in Southeast Asia in terms of the size and value of our creative industries, as well as creating strong demand for our creative services and original content in international markets.
“I plan to introduce amendments to the budget to expand food production and reduce prices through higher pro ductive capacity,” he said. Salceda added that he plans to do this “since the policy of the admin istration is continuity of the PRRD spending plan for the first year.” Salceda noted that the P5.268 tril lion budget did not deviate from the amount proposed by the Duterte ad ministration.TogivePresident Ferdinand “Bong bong” Marcos Jr. room to fight infla tion and pursue his own priorities, however, Salceda said that he will introduce “unprogrammed appropri ations and special provisions so that he has flexibility when we earn more revenues next year.”
THE Quezon City government is set to open a migrant resource center (MRC) within the city hall compound, the first-ever one-stop shop destination for overseas Filipino workers and their families in Metro Manila. The establishment of the center is part of the implementation agreement signed yesterday by the city government and the International La bour Organization (ILO) to boost the city’s mi gration and development governance, program implementation, and service delivery. “We are elated about this partnership as this means, finally, the implementation of our existing ordinance that pushes for the creation of an MRC. From then until now, our goal is to honor our OFWs by taking action and leading them to a future where they will be met with a positive, profitable, and successful crossborder journey,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said. She was referring to Ordinance SP 2500 of 2016 or An Ordinance creating the Quezon City Migrants Resource Center. Funded by the European Union, the sup port is part of the Safe and Fair Programme, the program for the ASEAN. The ILO-UN Women-IOM BRIDGE Programme, which aims to help the government achieve its commitments under the Global Compact for Migration, will also contribute to the initia tive. Rio N. Araja
Solon eyes bills to expand food production
News TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022 A3
“Among the provisions, I will be introducing are unprogrammed ap propriations for climate resilience in our crops, support for farmers and fisherfolk affected by rising input costs, provisions for govern ment to government procurement of food and other agri inputs, and provisions for value-chain en hancements.”
THE much-awaited return of e-sabong to the country will be professionalized and regulated to address concerns re garding the negative impacts it has on society.This is what Gamefowl Affiliates of Pitmasters-Philippines Batangas Presi dent Fermin Solis has to say as he sees that this can be an industry with a big potential to grow further. Solis said that he understands that there are laws to follow and the online cockfighting community should also heed them for it to become a profes sional“Lahatindustry.naman ng bagay ay tama na mayroon dapat regulasyon, sapagkat tayo ay pumapasailalim sa batas. At maganda na rin naman na bagaman marami ang nakikinabang sa indus triya ng [eSabong]... dapat mapatupad ang tamang regulasyon,” Solis said in a press conference with Pitmasters Live. He added that with the addition of modern technology, the e-sabong in dustry will further be regulated in mod ernSolisways.also said that with the profes sionalization of e-sabong, veterinaries, feed suppliers, and other stakeholders will have a sustainable economy and will provide a livelihood for others.
By Joel E. Zurbano THE first day of full face-to-face classes in Makati City went smoothly, according to Mayor Abigail Binay. “I am glad to report that the first day of face-to-face classes in Makati’s public schools was successful. Nearly 80,000 students were able to come to school and were provided adequate protection through the strict imple mentation of health protocols,” she said.The city chief executive said prior to the opening of classes Monday, the local government had equipped all 38 schools with thermal scanners at entry points, accessible handwashing facili ties, alcohol dispensers, and foot bath mats.She added that air purifiers and UV light filters had also been in stalled in every classroom as part of the city’s compliance with health protocols set by the Department of Health.Themayor said the close coordi nation with the Department of Edu cation-Makati (DepEd-Makati) has ensured adequate preparations for the full implementation of face-to-face classes in the city. She said they will be closely monitoring the conduct of classes and make the necessary ad justments in the coming days. Each school has a morning and afternoon shift, with an average classroom size of 30 to 45 students. In Taguig City, Mayor Laarni Cayetano and other local officials inspected several public schools to check the condition of students and teachers during the opening of class es Monday.
RA 11904 mandates the govern ment to promote the development and the rights afforded to the creatives industry and to Filipino creatives.
“Ngayon umabot tayo ng third alarm dahil it is composed of light materials sa isang cluster na yon. So nahirapan tayo. Kaya very challenging ‘yung volume of water that is being provided to the firefighters, ‘yung frontliners natin,” Manila Fire District chief of operations Inspector Jude delos Reyes toldThereporters.Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said over 200 houses were affected by theThefire. homeless residents were temporarily staying at a chapel in the barangay.TheManila Social Welfare department said they will extend assistance to the victims, and request for assistance to help residents repair their houses. Willie Casas
New Shari’ah lawyers take oath today F2F at SC hall
Lawyer Macrina Morados, dean of the UP Institute of Islamic Studies, served as chair of the Bar examinationsThecommittee.top10passers are Ambung, Maniri Cayasalam C. (85.6 %); Curo, Norhasima S. (85.5%); Laguindab, Aina L. (84.9%); Mortaba, Nur-aima B. (83.9%); Lantud, Norajannah D. (83.4%); Barambangan, Hasmin M. (83.2%); Ameril, Shaibani S. (83%); Tawano, Abdul Raheem R. (82.9%); Domadalug-Abdullah, Moumina Sheryne L. (82.4%);and Alioden, Mohammad Muzahim A. (82.1%). The examiners were Atty. Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba (Persons, Family Relations and Property), Counselor Sheikh Luqman Bin Usman Imam (Jurisprudence [Fiqh] and Customary Laws [Adat]), Atty. Mehol K. Sadain (Procedure in Shari’ah Courts), and Dean Abdulcader Ayo (Succession, Wills/Adjudication and Settlement of Estates). Rey E. Requejo
The police reported that Saavedra and Li were caught red-handed during a buy-bust operation on May 7, 2019 at Saavedra’s residence in Barangay Unang Sigaw, following a tip from a confidentialUndercoverinformant.policemen said they were able to buy P200 worth of shabu from Saavedra and Li. The defense said the two were arrested separately—Saavedra at Balintawak and Li on his way home. Rey E. Requejo
PARTNERSHIP VS. HEALTH CRISES. Speaker Martin Romualdez and Acting Health Secretary Dr.Rosario Vergeire are joined by USAID mission director Rebekah Eubanks and other partners during the launch of the Strengthening Public-Private Partnership for Sustainable to Detection, Care, Treatment and Prevention at the House of Representatives. Ver Noveno
BFAR identi es 3 VisMin areas a ected by red tide
THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warns residents of at least three coastal areas in the Visayas and Mindanao against eating shellfish and alamang due to possible contamination of toxic red tide. In an advisory released on Monday, the BFAR identified the three areas with red tide contamination as Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur. Meanwhile, fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and the internal organs such as gills and intestines removed before cooking. The BFAR issued a similar warning on August 5. Eating shellfish with red tide toxins can cause a possibly fatal illness called paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Persons suffering from PSP will experience symptoms such as the tingling of lips and tongue minutes after eating poisonous shellfish. The symptoms may affect other areas of the body depending on the amount of toxins a person has ingested: first, a tingling of fingers and toes, then loss of control of arms and legs, followed by difficulty in breathing.Paralysis of chest and abdominal muscles may also take place. Symptoms can worsen within two hours.
“It should be worthy to note that the objective of law enforcement to effect the arrest of the offender has been satisfied in these operations with only barest minimum application of reasonable and necessary force, and consistent with requirements of transparency thru digital recording, presence of witnesses, and proper authority of operating units,” Azurin stressed. He said the PNP’s aggressive anti-criminality and drug campaign is a program of organizational discipline through a combination of preventive, punitive, and restorative approaches to internal reform. “I would like to point out that mitigation of drug problems was specifically mentioned by President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. to visiting US Senator Edward Markey last Friday as among areas of partnership with the United States that the Philippines is looking forward to, along with renewable energy use, agricultural development, and economic reform,” he noted.
TRADITIONAL FLAG-RAISING CEREMONY. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the St. Dominic Savio College holds its rst face-to-face traditional ag-raising ceremony attended by the administrators, faculty members, and students from pre-school to college levels.
Fire leaves 400 families homeless
on two
News NAMFREL wants brgy., SK elections this Dec. 5
By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Monday lauded the strong partnership between the Philippines and the United States (US) in addressing global health emergencies and crises, with special focus on eradicating tuberculosis by 2030 as envisioned by the sustainable development goals of the United Nations (UN). to convey on behalf of all Filipinos our profound gratitude to the United States, particularly the USAID, for being a steadfast partner of the Philippine government in eliminating tuberculosis—one of the top ten leading causes of death in the country,” Romualdez said. He gave assurance that Congress supports Philippine-American partnership against tuberculosis, citing important legislative measures now being discussed in the Lower House on the subject. “In 2016, we passed Republic Act No. 10767, or the Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Plan Act. Since the 19th Congress opened, at least two bills have been filed seeking to strengthen RA 10767. This is in response to the WHO study that the Philippines is among the eight countries where two-thirds of total TB cases in the world are found,” the House leader said. “As a long-term strategy against tuberculosis and other communicable diseases, I, together with Representatives Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre of Tingog Party, filed House Bill No. 9, providing for the modernization of the public health emergency preparedness and response capabilities, establishing the Philippines’ own Center for Disease Control,” Romualdez said. “This bill and the 23 more bills on the subject underscore the fact that public health remains foremost in the minds of your Representatives in the 19th Congress,” he added. The Speaker said that according to the World Health Organization, TB incidence is declining at about two percent per year, with an estimated 66 million lives saved from 2000 to 2020 through early TB diagnosis and treatment. But even with these positive developments, he added, funding for the detection and treatment of TB in low- and middle-income countries fell short of what is actually needed.
THE Supreme Court will hold a faceto-face mass oath-taking of the 156 passers of the 2022 Special Shari’ah Bar examinations at the Supreme Court (SC) session hall starting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23. The SC said those who will take their oaths should present a negative antigen test result taken by testing laboratories accredited by the Department of Health (DOH) 24 hours before the event. “No guests shall be allowed to attend the oath-taking ceremonies,” the high courtThesaid.2022 Special Shari’ah Bar Examinations were held last March 20 and 22 at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City. The SC had earlier said it had to lower the passing percentage to 70 percent (from 75 percent) “taking into consideration the challenges and circumstances encountered by the examinees under extra-ordinary conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
PNP: indrugsP5.8bseizedpastweeks
“Few people would disagree when I say that two of the most important lessons we learned from the recent pandemic are: first, diseases do not recognize territorial boundaries; and second, the most effective way to deal with global health emergencies is by working together – each and every one of us, doing our share to make the world a healthier place to live in,” Romualdez said. The event was spearheaded by USAID’s TB Platforms together with Advanced Abilities and the Quezon City government. “In this regard, may I take this opportunity
By Vito Barcelo
In its statement, NAMFREL dismissed arguments raised during the last hearing of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms that recently voted in favor of the measure seeking the postponement of the December 5, 2022 AccordingBSKE.to the election watchdog, the funds appropriated for the conduct of the 2022 BSKE could not be used as savings for the government’s economic recovery and COVID-19 response, saying the Constitution prohibits the transfer of funds for other purposes.
THE National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) on Monday expressed opposition to planned deferment of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), and urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to schedule the conduct of the two political exercises.Meanwhile, the poll body said it is 70 percent prepared for the December 5, 2022 SK and village elections, Comelec chair George Garcia said. In a statement, NAMFREL cited a constitutional provision which gives Comelec the authority to “decide, except those involving the right to vote, all questions affecting elections, including determination of the number and location of polling places, appointment of election officials and inspectors, and registration of voters.”
“Only the term of office is expressly stated as that which should be determined by law, not the decision when to hold the elections for barangay and SK officials,” the group explained.
“The phrase ‘all questions affecting elections’ is broad enough to include setting the date of the BSKE. After all, the COMELEC is an independent Constitutional Commission, under Article IX, Section 1 of the Constitution,” NAMFREL said. The poll watchdog also cited Article X, Section 8 of the Constitution which grants Congress the authority to determine by law the term of office of barangay officials: “The term of office of elective local officials, except barangay officials, which shall be determined by law.”
‘PH keeps strong alliance with US vs. global health crises such as TB’
A4 TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has bared that they have confiscated some P5.8 billion worth of illegal drugs during raids conducted over a 50-day period ending on Aug. 20, “From2022.July 1 to August 20, 2022, the PNP, mainly through the efforts of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, gained significant headway in the campaign against illegal drugs with the arrest of 8,934 suspects and high-profile players in the drug trade, and confiscation of 805.63 kilograms of crystal meth or shabu, 83.33 kilograms of marijuana, other illegal substances, and destruction of 34 clandestine marijuana farms, all estimated to be worth P5.8 billion,” PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said during a press briefing in Camp Crame on Monday. He said these achievements prove the “aggressiveness of the intelligence-driven supply reduction strategy in support of the overall anti-illegal drugs campaign, with a strong emphasis on non-violent methods of effecting arrest while ensuring the protection of operating teams when engaged in a violent confrontation with armed suspects through proper equipment and training.”
Speaking at the launch of the National Lung Month celebration at the House of Representatives, Romualdez underscored the importance of unity in achieving goals, especially when it involves safeguarding the health of all the people against pandemics and epidemics.
SAFETY PROTOCOL. Students of the Manuel Araullo High School on United Nations Ave., Manila undergo body temperature check and cleansing of the hands with alcohol before entering their respective classrooms on the very rst day of the school year 2022-2023. Danny Pata
Lloyd Juztine S. Santos
THE Supreme Court (SC) has set free two men convicted about three years ago of illegal drug charges by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) for poor handling of evidence by the prosecution. In its ruling published online on August 17, the SC reversed the RTC decision finding Jimmy Saavedra and Ohmar Li guilty as charged. “Absent any evidence or stipulation on how the seized drugs were handled while the specimens were in the evidence room, the chain of custody could not be deemed established to a moral certainty,” the SC stressed. “If the chain of custody procedure has not been complied with, or no justifiable reason exists for its noncompliance, it is the Court’s duty to overturn the verdict of conviction,” the tribunal said.
A THREE-hour fire razed a residential area in Sta. Mesa, Manila on Sunday leaving more than 400 families homeless.Probers said the fire broke out at about10 p.m. and gutted down houses along Valencia and Anonas streets. It was tapped out shortly before 1 a.m. Most of the affected residents said were already asleep but awakened by loud sounds from explosions believed caused by liquefied petroleum gas tanks.Some families were lucky to save part of their belongings, including pets, but others were unable to save anything.Thefire reached the third alarm before it was declared under control by 12:46 a.m.
INFERNO. Firemen train their hoses on a raging re sweeping across a residential district in Barangay 636, Nagtahan, Manila Sunday night, leaving some 400 families homeless and P500,000 worth of property going up in smoke. Norman Cruz SC reverses RTC ruling drug convicts
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 MEMBER Philippine Press Institute
FEW days back, there was this announcement as regards a “landmark partnership deal” between ABS-CBN and TV5 – immediately welcomed by some consumer groups and one cautious member of the Senate.
Marcoleta also accused ABS-CBN network of violating its foreign-owned Philippine Deposit Re ceipts in violation of the Constitution requiring 100 percent Filipino mass media ownership and manage ment.Marcoleta said that these issues should be brought to the legislative franchise committee. The fact that ABS-CBN no longer has a franchise has raised the question whether or notABS-CBN can merge with TV-5. All these questions raised by Marcoleta could be a big issue affecting the press.•••
Rolando G. Estabillo Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor
Anita F. Grefal R. Felipe M. Valmorida
I derive the greatest satisfaction from my having played a part, however small, in the election to office of the best President that this county has had
Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer
FVR’s political horse to 1992 victory
lexicon –
It is well that the issue of whether or not the man datory age of retirement of both the government and private sector has been raised. In my opinion, the mandatory age of 60 to 65 is both unfair to senior citizens and impractical since senior citizen employees can still be very productive. In fact, people at that age are more productive than in their younger years. There are now so many se nior citizens going jobless. Congress must take another look at this manda tory retirement age because it has raised the issue of so many jobless seniors.
• • • During the height of the campaign before May 9, 2022 elections, when BBM continued to lead over all the presidential candidates and seen by all to be a runaway winner, I said that if he (Marcos) becomes President, he must realize the multi-fold challenges he will face, like high prices, the need for more jobs, low wages, the looming food crisis and the looming energy crisis insofar as the home front is concerned. On the foreign front, I am certain that BBM must have realized the gravity of the frequent intrusion of China on the West Philippine Sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone and how he will have to deal with it. Perhaps that was the reason why BBM empha sized that ““I will not preside over any process that will abandon even one square inch of territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power.” Well, Santa Banana, all these things are coming to pass and soon enough they will come. All I am saying is that the first 100 days of Marcos have been so far so good!
Quick on the draw, members of the House of Representatives sought to in vestigate whether the merger has led to violations.First,Zamboanga Sibugay 1st Dis trict Rep. Wilter Palma filed House Resolution 280 to check on the sup posed foreign ownership of TV5, popu larly regarded to be owned by tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, who, some keen media observers say, is fronting for an overseasAccordingtycoon.tothe resolution, “If this al legation that TV5 Network Inc. is owned by an Indonesian national is true, then there is a clear violation of the 1987 Con stitution, and on terms and conditions of the franchise granted to TV5 Network Inc., which must be thoroughly looked into in the interest of the public.”
Confusion on the sugar mess
Indeed, as the Opening Bill Board – to use a television is being prepared, are getting increasingly
Treasury Manager Baldwin
To govern well, (President Marcos) and his family do not have to revise history
The National Association of Philippine S. Puno Adviser
Board Member & Chief Legal
These apparent crises of food supply and other issues are beginning to be an acid test for the President on how he will meet the challenges in his first 100 days of office
Marcoleta, for instance, raised the question wheth er or not the merger would be in violation of the fact that the Lopez-owned network still owed, according to Marcoleta’s calculations, the government P1.5 tril lion in unpaid taxes because of uncollected permits for digital broadcast, and illegally sold millions of pay-for-view devices with the National Telecommu nications Commission’s approval. ABS-CBN was also accused of encrypting its sig nal and contents without NTC approval.
Associate Editors
EDITORIAL
Editor
How the Marcoses can vindicate themselves
Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was a dictator. He was cor rupt. His family was driven out by the people and a rebel military, with the assistance of the United States of America.Thereisone truth about what happened on Febru ary 25, 1986. But as Bernardine and I also wrote: Behind clearcut, black and white truths, morality remains gray which brings us to two significant deaths (one recent and one on its 13th anniversary) of people closely relevant to the Marcos regime – Fidel V. Ramos and CoryWeAquino.pointed out how Cory Aquino went from a widower to a leader of EDSA I to the president who finally replaced the dictator. The toppling of Marcos Sr. is a good thing in the absolute. However, we also observed how Cory Aquino’s administration after is where things become gray. It is true that Cory Aquino was a key figure that led to the ousting of a dictator who tortured thousands of Filipinos.However, it is also true that there were numerous human rights violations under Cory Aquino, some of the most prominent ones being the Mendiola Massa cre leading to the death of 13 farmers, and the 540 de saparecidos cases, the highest number after Marcos. These two truths about Cory coexist and so moral ity appears gray. And that’s simply how it goes, what matters is that we have truths to support whatever perception we make of any person, especially leaders of our country. If anything, this only proves that it was never the Marcoses against the Aquinos. It was and is the Mar coses against the Filipino people. Bernardine and I also observed that Fidel V. Ra mos (FVR) passed away just last July 31. FVR is also a morally gray martial law figure. During Marcos’ regime, he was the head of the Philippine Constabulary which was notorious for ar resting, torturing and murdering Filipinos, especially those from the opposition. However, despite working for Marcos, FVR was also one of the ‘leaders’ during EDSA I. He turned his back against the Marcoses and went with the Filipino people to oust the dictator. He would later on be Cory Aquino’s Defense secretary then a president himself. As a president, FVR was known for stabilizing the economy through his reforms; he also repealed the Anti-Subversion Law which was prone to redtagging abuse. As someone who worked for him. I can definitely attest to the greatness of FVR and the legacy he left behind. His style of leadership and governance is sorely needed by this country. These two key figures are far from morally per fect. One moment they’re with the Filipino people, another they’re against the Filipino people. However, without dismissing their wrongs, we acknowledge that these two defying Marcos during People Power I was more than just a small part of the ousting. FVR for one, some people believe, served atone ment through service after martial law which the Marcoses never did. And isn’t this why they continue to climb up the ladder? To restore their family’s name, to distort his tory, to hide the truth? Because they do not want to serve reparations. They cannot handle the justice that must be served with the truth. Today, the dictator’s son is our president. That too is the truth. To govern well, he and his family do not have to revise history. He should just do the right thing – for the econo my, for the environment, for the poor especially. That is the best vindication for the Marcoses, not a lousy movie that tells lies about what happened to them in 1986. Website; tonylavina.com. Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs THE botched importation of 300,000 metric tons of refined and brown sugar by the Sugar Regulatory Administration is rightfully called a mess. Unless clarified by President Marcos and Execu tive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, it is confusing, Santa Banana!Firstof all, is there really a sugar shortage? It would seem so because the prices of sugar in the market are increasing, and manufacturers of sweet beverages and confectionery are already complain ing because of the reported lack of sugar. Thus, it is very clear, my gulay, that there is a sugar shortage.But,is there really a shortage of sugar? Ware houses in Bulacan have been raided and found to be hoarding imported sugar. But, it would seem that despite those sacks of re fined sugar found in the warehouses, as far as Presi dent Marcos is concerned, together with the share holders of sugar, there is a shortage of sugar, which makes it all the more confusing, so much so that the President is concerned there is a need to import it. My gulay, he has just authorized the importation of 150,000 metric tons of sugar. All this confusion on whether there is a shortage of sugar or not, in my view, stresses the urgent need for the President and ES Rodriguez to clarify the real situation.Ihave been asked by friends and readers of my column what is really the situation of sugar. Is there a shortage or not? And more important ly, I have been asked what really happened to that botched importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar. In the case of the SRA botched sugar importation, was it authorized to import that amount of 300,000 metric tons of sugar? If not, how can the board members of the SRA, including resigned Agriculture Undersecretary Leo cadio Sebastian, be stupid to issue SRA 4 to import 300,000 metric tons of sugar? If indeed the SRA is not authorized to import sug ar, why did the President accept the resignations of Sebastian, who sat on the board in place of the Presi dent, and also other members of the SRA, including its administrator?SantaBanana,it is not only confusing but a real mess. Now, the President wants to revamp the SRA. Why? The apparent shortage of sugar must be clarified considering that it is already harvest time for sugar producers and farmers, and soon the milling season forThat’smillers.the reason why the President must be clear to the people about the real situation of sugar, whether there is or not a real shortage. Or, are the middle men hoarding the sugar in warehouses? The distributors of sugar must know the real score. If the middle men of sugar are hoarding they must be exposed and held accountable for the current shortage, if only to clear up the whole mess. • • • These apparent crises of food supply and other is sues are beginning to be an acid test for the President on how he will meet the challenges in his first 100 days of Certainly,office.BBM was well aware of them; fore most is his will to deal with the high prices of food. But, President Marcos must also be aware of side issues like that one coming up in the House of Rep resentatives in connection with the recent merger of tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan’s MediaQuest TV-5 and the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN. Some partylist members of the House have raised questions about the merger where ABS-CBN bought 36 percent of shares from TV-5. Following this merger, business groups have commended it as something good for the public in the wake of GMA-7’s dominance as the result of the failure of Congress in granting ABS-CBN a renewal of its franchise for another 25 years. Some representatives have in fact proposed an in vestigation of the merger because it could be violative of the TV-5 network franchise. In a privilege speech of Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, some members of the House raised questions on the Lopez-owned network that led to the non-renewal of the ABS-CBN network and whether or not there should be an investigation on the merger since there are questions about it.
Contentious, if curiouser
Jimbo Owen Gulle City
Publisher Honor
That many Filipinos – including some members of the press – did not take our new party seriously was shown by the ridicule that greeted the choice of the name Lakas Tao. Some renamed it Lakas Tawa; others called it Lakas Loob. It was not the best of times for FVR, politically speaking. Lakas Tao became Lakas Tao–NUCD when for mer Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus and my late brother Joe established connections with the Italian Christian Democrats. While serving as this country’s ambassador to Ita ly, my brother persuaded FVR that Lakas Tao would benefit greatly from an association with the strongest political group in Western Europe. Subsequently, our new party’s name became even longer when a Mindanao-based political group affili ated with it. My fellow-Lakas Tao organizers and I knew full well that FVR and our party were fighting an uphill battle, considering LDP’s enormous strength and the political survey and experience of Mitra and the other LDPButleaders.wehad something that none of the other Presidential candidates had: President Cory Aquino’s benediction of FVR, which she announced to the na tion on her birthday, January 24, 1992. At that juncture, her popularity being still at a high level, being “Cory’s Choice” would spell the differ ence between electoral victory and electoral defeat. My fellow-FVR supporters and I knew that our man Eddie Ramos could not lose the election. At the start of the 1992 campaign FVR was riding a horse that was puny and untested; by the end of that season FVR mounted a mighty thoroughbred that would take him all the way to victory. I derive the greatest satisfaction from my having played a part, however small, in the election to office of the best President that this county has had. One of the framed pictures prominent on a wall of my office is that of the January 6, 1992 newspaper an nouncement of the faith of Lakas Tao–NUCD, which contained my signature and the signatures of 21 other co-founders led by Raul Manglapus, Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. and Leticia Ramos-Shahani.
As things develop, we are reminded of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland where Alice — as quoted by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson — was surprised by the strange circum stances she found herself in and ex claimed things were getting “curiouser andIndeed,curiouser.”asthe Opening Bill Board – to use a television lexicon – is being prepared, things are getting increas ingly strange.
Earlier on, SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta delivered a privi lege speech questioning the deal as il legal, stressing the agreement between the two broadcasting networks violates laws and the 1987 Constitution. Marcoleta said TV5 violated Section 10 of its broadcasting franchise by en tering an agreement with ABS-CBN, which bought common shares in TV5 worth P2.16 MediaQuestbillion.Holdings, the media arm of the MVP Group, still has the control ling stake in TV5 at 64.79 percent. Section 11 (1) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution says: “The ownership and management of mass media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines, or to corporations, cooperatives or asso ciations, wholly-owned and managed by such Paragraphcitizens.”2adds: “The Congress shall regulate or prohibit monopolies in commercial mass media when the public interest so requires. No combi nations in restraint of trade or unfair competition therein shall be allowed.”
THE movie Maid in Malacañang by Darryl Yap shares an ‘untold story’ of the Marcoses before they fled to Hawaii during the first People Power Revolution in 1986–the last 72 hours of the family in Malacañang Palace to be exact. Unfortunately, its narrative appears as a blatant attempt to distort history and restore the ‘Marcos legacy,’ intended for the audience to sympathize with theAsMarcoses/Ihavewritten elsewhere with colleague Ber nardine de Belen, Maid in Malacañang follows the idea that perception is real while the truth is not. We observed how the movie humanizes the Mar coses who have stolen from and abused the Filipino people by painting them as characters who do not re flect what they have done to the Philippines. It is a film that acts as pro-Marcos propaganda which imitates Marcos Sr.’s tactic during his regime –drilling the idea of Bagong Lipunan, painting himself and Imelda as Malakas and Maganda, censoring all media that went against their character. Katips, the Movie by Vince Tañada, was released at the same time Maid in Malacañang was. This movie was originally an award-winning play in 2016 called “Katips: Ang Mga Bagong Katipune ro” before being adapted to film in 2021 and released in 2022.Katips is a musical about a group of student ac tivists who endured martial law and the Marcos re gime while trying to continue to fight for what they believedKatipsin.and Maid in Malacañang both offer two versions of the truths – Katips about the battle the Fili pino people fought against oppression and Maid in Malacañang about how the Marcoses continue to use propaganda to control their family’s image. But are there several truths? Or is there in fact only one truth?
Senator Raffy Tulfo, a former broad caster, told ANC’s “Headstart” that the Lopez-led ABS-CBN and Manny Pan gilinan-led TV5, by joining forces, are set to offer high-quality entertainment and news programs, but quickly added “If there is a violation, then it’s a differ ent story, it’s a different ballgame.”
Meanwhile, two other House Reso lutions – HR 281 and HR 282 – are dis puting why certain programs of ABSCBN, which stopped operations after being given a cease-and-desist order in May 2020, are being allowed to air on TV5.Authored by Rep. Jose Teves, HR 282 reads: “Given the possible viola tions committed by these networks, there is a need to determine whether their legislative franchises are being implemented and carried out in accor dance with the intent of Congress and whether or not they should be amend ed, altered, or repealed by Congress in the interest of the public.” ABS-CBN has acquired 34.99 per cent of total voting and outstanding capital in TV5, paying a sum of P2.16 billion in the deal. We have yet to hear what happened during the briefing called by the House of Representatives Committee on Leg islative Franchises on the reported agreement between ABS-CBN Corp. and TV5 Network Inc.
Editorial Board ManilaStandard ONLINE Chin
Joyce Pangco Pañares
News Editor
SINCE his passing two weeks ago much has been said or written about former President Fidel V. Ra mos’s remarkable six years in Malacañang. But hardly anything has been said or written about how FVR got there despite his having failed to win the nomination as Presidential candidate of his party, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP). The delegates to the late 1991 LDP convention se lected party president Ramon V. Mitra as the party’s Presidential candidate by a lopsided 90-2 vote. Having been a soldier all his life, FVR had never joined or affiliated himself with a political party, not even the Kilusan ng Bagong Lipunan (KBL), the party Ferdinand E. Marcos intended to be the politi cal arm of his martial law regime. FVR was a hero of the EDSA Revolution, but the most powerful politician in the Philippines in 1991 was Mitra, the Speaker of the newly restored House of Representative, a close friend of President Cory Aquino and her assassinated husband, Benigno Aquino Jr. If he was to be the Presidential candidate of the Aquino administration’s party – the 90 LDP – FVR would have to become a party member and submit himself to the LDP’s Presidential-candidate selection process.Hedid as he was told: He became an LDP mem ber and submitted himself as a candidate for the par ty’s Presidential nomination. But, as already stated, he failed to win the nomination. At that point it looked very much like FVR’s new born political career was over. But numerous Filipinos – myself included – were unwilling to accept the idea that a mere defeat in a political-party process would deprive the nation of the services of a man as principled, as competent and as experienced as FVR. Having been overwhelmingly rejected by his LDP partymates, FVR had effectively become partyless. He must have a political horse to ride on if he was to remain in contention for the then-impending Presi dential election. A political party that would have FVR as its Presi dential candidate was needed. With FVR’s approval, my fellow-supporters and I quickly proceeded to cre ate that party. The obvious first step that needed to be taken was the calling of a meeting that would discuss all the im portant aspects of the party that was about to be born –its structure, its needs – especially financial resources – and the elements of Philippine society that it could probably count on for support. That meeting – a real brainstorming session – was held in early December 1991 at the Ramos family vacation house in Tagaytay City. Other meetings were to follow in the immediately succeeding weeks. By the first week of January 1992 my fellow organizers and I were ready to announce the birth of the political horse that we were confident would carry FVR to victory. The announcement was made on January 6, 1992 at the historic Club Filipino in San Juan. What was the new party to be called? To create in the Filipino people’s minds the belief that the new party was a party of the people, FVR wanted it to be called Lakas Tao.
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AFP Five pilgrims, including child, killed in landslide at Iraq Shiite Muslim shrine
KYIV—Russia might take the provocative step of putting Ukrainian soldiers on trial as Kyiv marks 31 years of independence for the war-ravaged country next week, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Sunday.
AFP
“The significance of this joint exercise is rebuilding the South Korea-US alliance and solidifying the combined defense posture by normalizing... combined exercises and field training,” the defense ministryDetailssaid.ofthe drills that run from August 22 to September 1 have not been released, but they usually include field exercises involving aircraft, warships, and tanks—with tens of thousands of troops.During a meeting last week, the allies agreed to “expanding the scope and scale of combined military exercises and training,” noting the increased volume of North Korean missileThistests.will start “with Ulchi Freedom Shield... to bolster combined readiness,” they said in a joint statement. Analysts say North Korea may use the drills as a reason to conduct more weaponsEarliertests. this month, Pyongyang warned it would “wipe out” Seoul authorities, who it blamed for a recent Covid-19 outbreak in the isolated country.Thatthreat came less than a month after Kim Jong Un said his country was “ready to mobilize” its nuclear capability in any war with the United States and SouthNorthKorea.Korea has conducted a blitz of sanctions-busting tests this year, including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full range for the first time since 2017. Washington and Seoul officials have also warned that the isolated regime is preparing to carry out what would be its seventh nuclear test.
“I would like to express my conviction and hope that through open and sincere dialogue, the basis for respectful and peaceful coexistence can still be found,” the head of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics said after the Angelus prayer. A spokeswoman for the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the EU was “following closely the situation with concern”. She repeated Brussel’s position that “Nicaraguans have to find a peaceful and democratic solution to their political crisis through dialogue”. The Catholic Church in Nicaragua has been under increasing government pressure since opposition protests in 2018 were met with a crackdown that left hundredsPresidentdead. Daniel Ortega maintains the protests were part of a Washingtonbacked opposition plot to unseat him, and accuses bishops of complicity. AFP Israelspiritualultra-Orthodoxleaderdies
NO TO DRILLS. South Korean protesters hold a placard reading “Stop the joint military exercise!” during a rally against the joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States in front of the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul on August 22. AFP
SOMALIA SIEGE. Media report in front of a destroyed building after a deadly 30-hour siege by Al-Shabaab jihadists at Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu on August 21. The death toll has climbed to 21, Health Minister Ali Haji Adan said Sunday, as anxious citizens awaited news of missing relatives. AFP
Zelensky cited media reports that Russia was preparing to put Ukrainian fighters captured during the siege of Mariupol on a public trial to coincide with the independence anniversary Wednesday. Ukraine’s Independence Day, August 24, will also mark six months since Russia invaded the former Soviet republic, in a devastating war that has cost thousands of “Iflives.this despicable court takes place, if our people are brought into these settings in violation of all agreements, all international rules, there will be abuse,” Zelensky warned in an evening address. “This will be the line beyond which no negotiations are possible.”
“I suspect... that rift is very deep,” royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail. Things used to be so different. After Diana died from car crash injuries at 36, the boys touched the world walking behind her coffin. William was 15 while Harry was just 12. Both attended Eton boarding school and Harry pursued military training, while William went to university. They appeared to share a close bond as William married long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton in 2011 and started a family.
SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS. Iraqi rescue workers search for survivors trapped under the rubble of the Qattarat al-Imam Ali shrine following a landslide, on the outskirts of the holy city of Karbala on August 21. AFP
The capital Kyiv has already announced a ban on public gatherings. Kharkiv too, declared a curfew around theZelenskyholiday. was returning to a subject he had already raised in the previous night’s remarks.“Russia could try to do something particularly disgusting, particularly cruel,” he warned late Saturday. “One of the key objectives of the enemy is to humiliate us,” and “to sow despondency, fear and conflict”. But he added: “We have to be strong enough to resist all provocation” and “make the occupiers pay for their terror”. ‘Be vigilant’ A presidential adviser, Mykhaylo Podolyak, said Russia could intensify its bombing“Russiacampaign.isanarchaic state that links its actions to certain dates, it’s an obsession of sorts,” the Interfax-Ukraine news agency quoted him as saying. “They hate us and will try to increase... the number of bombings of our cities including Kyiv with cruise missiles,” PodolyakKyivadded.authorities on Sunday banned public gatherings from August 22 to August 25. In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, the regional governor announced a curfew from the evening of August 23 to the morning of August 25. “We will not allow any provocation by the enemy. Be as vigilant as possible during our independence holiday,” Oleg Synegubov wrote on Telegram. Kharkiv has been under regular Russian bombardment for weeks and on Sunday emergency services said a woman was killed and two other civilians were wounded in overnight strikes. Four civilians were reported killed by Russian fire in Donetsk, said the region’s pro-Kyiv governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko. Five cruise missiles were fired at Odessa from the Black Sea, a regional administration spokesman said. Two were shot down by air defenses and three hit a silo without causing injury. AFP
JERUSALEM—Rabbi Shalom Cohen, the spiritual leader of Israel’s largest ultra-Orthodox political party, died in hospital on Monday at the age of 91, his familyCohen,said.who headed the Council of Torah Sages, the highest body in the Shas party, had been at the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem when his health deteriorated on Sunday evening, according to his family. “On behalf of the Israeli government and all the Israeli people, I send my condolences to his family, his pupils and all those who honor his memory,” Prime Minister Yair Lapid tweeted. Shas was the third largest bloc in Israel’s outgoing parliament, with nine out of the Knesset’s 120 seats. Born in Jerusalem in 1930, Cohen succeeded the highly influential Rabbi Ovadia Yossef who died in 2013. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his “sadness” over Cohen’s death, in a tweet alongside a picture with him. “He was a spiritual leader who led with humility and modesty a large and important population in Israel and the Jewish world,” Herzog wrote. Tens of thousands are expected to attend a funeral service later Monday for Cohen, who also led Porat Yossef, the leading Talmudic school for Sephardic Jews in Israel.
Once-close royal brothers William, Harry US,—BritishestrangedmediaSokorbegin
KARBALA—Rescue workers searched through the rubble of a Shiite Muslim shrine in central Iraq into Sunday night, after a landslide killed at least five people including a child. After more than 24 hours of digging through collapsed rocks, wood and other debris, “we have found five bodies,” civil defense General Abdelrahman Jawdat told AFP. “That could be the final toll,” he added, while digging continued in case there were other victims. It is the latest tragedy to befall oil-rich but poverty-stricken Iraq, which is trying to move past decades of war but is hobbled by political paralysis, endemic corruption, and other challenges.
Civil defense spokesman Nawas Sabah Shaker said earlier that between six and eight pilgrims had been reported trapped under the debris of the shrine, known as Qattarat al-Imam Ali, near the city of RescuersKarbala.drove a bulldozer through the shrine’s entrance, which resembles half a dome ornately decorated with blue tiles covered in Arabic script. The sacred building, flanked by two minarets, sits at the base of high, bare rock walls. Part of its concrete roof had been torn apart.
Russia may put Ukraine soldiers on trial on Independence Day rite
biggest joint drills since ‘18
IN BRIEF Bishop detained; Pope ‘concerned’
“This idyllic sort of brotherly relationship that they projected... did much to put the monarchy back on track,” royal historian and author Ed Owens toldButAFP.following Harry’s 2018 marriage to Meghan, relations have become strained. He told a 2019 interview that he and his brother were “on different paths”. A year later, Harry and Meghan sensationally announced their move to the US. The couple’s subsequent explosive Oprah Winfrey interview in March 2021 saw Meghan publicly claim Kate had made her cry. The most damaging claim, however, was that an unnamed royal had speculated about the skin color of mixedrace Meghan’s future child.
Jawdat said rescuers had recovered the bodies of two women, a man, and a child, and were working to free the corpse of the fifth victim, another woman whom they hadArmedlocated.security forces guarded the shrine entrance while rescuers worked inside, and onlookers watched from behind a metalThreefence.children were rescued earlier following the Saturday afternoon disaster, emergency services had said, adding that they were in “good condition” and being monitored in a hospital. Rescue teams working through the night Saturday were able to provide supplies of oxygen, as well as food and water to some of those trapped through gaps in the rubble, state news agency INA said. ‘Mobilize all efforts’ Iraqi President Barham Saleh on Twitter called on the “heroic” rescue workers to “mobilize all efforts to save the trapped people”.
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SEOUL—The United States and South Korea began their biggest combined military drills since 2018 on Monday, Seoul said—a move likely to enrage North Korea, which has been ramping up its nuclear threats. Washington is Seoul’s key security ally and stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea to protect it from its nuclear-armed neighbor.Thetwo countries have long carried out joint exercises, which they insist are purely defensive but North Korea sees them as a rehearsal for invasion. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise marks the resumption of largescale training sessions after they were scaled back due to Covid-19 and a bout of failed diplomacy with Pyongyang.
AFP
TAIPEI—A US state governor met Taiwan’s president Monday, days after Washington announced trade talks with Taipei in a show of support following China’s military threats towards the self-ruled island. Eric Holcomb, the Republican governor of Indiana, landed in Taiwan on Sunday for an “economic development trip”. US-China tensions have risen since Beijing staged huge military drills in retaliation for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan earlier this month. Taiwan lives under constant threat of an invasion by China, which claims the democratic island as part of its territory to be seized one day -- by force if necessary. Beijing lashes out at any diplomatic action that might lend Taiwan legitimacy and has responded with growing fury to visits by Western officials and politicians. In her meeting with Holcomb on Monday, President Tsai Ing-wen directly referenced Beijing’s drills and called for like-minded countries to continue supporting“PresentlyTaiwan.we are facing the continued expansion of global authoritarianism,” she told“TaiwanHolcomb.has been confronted by military threats from China in and around the Taiwan Strait. At this moment democratic allies must stand together and boost cooperation across all areas,” she said. Holcomb said the United States and Taiwan “share so many common values and interests and goals”. AFP
US governor visits Taiwan after China show of force to spur trade relations
VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis said Sunday he was “concerned” by rising tensions between the state and the Catholic church in Nicaragua, two days after bishop and regime critic Rolando Alvarez was detained. Francis said he was following “closely with concern and sorrow” the situation in Nicaragua, amid a worsening standoff between the Church and a government accused of increasing authoritarianism.
LONDON—A quarter-century on from the death of their mother, Princess Diana, Princes William and Harry are struggling to maintain their onceclose“Harryrelationship.andWills are barely on speaking terms after Megxit,” The Sun tabloid reported this month, referring to Harry and wife Meghan Markle’s decision to quit frontline royal roles in 2020 and move to the United States. As William has turned 40, the elder brother has embraced the royal establishment and taken on more duties, while the younger “spare” prince, aged 37, has rejected traditions for a life in California.
AFP
The five-year LPR, which is used to price mortgages, was cut from 4.45 percent to 4.3 percent, it added. The PBOC slashed key interest rates last week, bringing its seven-day reverse repurchase rate—a key rate at which it provides short-term liquidity to banks—to a new low. Analysts had expected cuts to the LPR rates, but said they may not be enough to rescue the property sector— which is estimated to account for as much as a quarter of China’s GDP.
MOSTVOLUMEACTIVEVALUE (PHP) 1 SMPH 15,434,300 568,076,795 2 ALI 14,317,000 412,778,325 3 ICT 1,583,440 293,039,294 4 ABA 115,389,000 251,489,210 5 SECB 2,662,960 238,252,016 6 CNVRG 10,984,300 211,126,866 7 AC 278,090 206,271,110 8 EMI 9,215,000 193,839,600 9 TEL 103,800 182,997,780 10 BDO 1,375,160 174,188,904 TOP LASTGAINERS % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 1 LBC 23.45 4.83 25.94% 2 JOH 4.5 0.5 12.50% 3 MB 0.38 0.04 11.76% 4 PHR 0.94 0.09 10.59% 5 PBB 7.4 0.59 8.66% 6 CIC 18.4 1.3 7.60% 7 APC 0.216 0.013 6.40% 8 PHA 0.42 0.02 5.00% 9 EMI 21.5 0.9 4.37% 10 FILRT 6.48 0.26 4.18% TOPPRICELASTLOSERS%CHANGECHANGE 1 BNCOM 9.05 -0.85 -8.59% 2 DWC 1.75 -0.13 -6.91% 3 SHLPH 20.5 -1.5 -6.82% 4 I 0.8 -0.05 -5.88% 5 HTI 0.91 -0.05 -5.21% 6 SFI 0.092 -0.005 -5.15% 7 AEV 57.5 -2.9 -4.80% 8 GTCAP 505 -24 -4.54% 9 AC 736.5 -33.5 -4.35% 10 LOTO 1.41 -0.06 -4.08% PSEi August 22, 2022
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The Art in Us
“The much larger cut to the five-year rate suggests the PBOC is particularly concerned about problems in the housing market,” Capital Economics said in a note on Monday. “However, homebuyers with existing mortgages will have to wait until the start of next year for the change to affect them.” China’s housing market was shaken by frustrated homebuyers in dozens of cities who boycotted mortgage payments as cash-strapped developers struggled to complete the units they had sold in advance. With property firms struggling to manage mountains of debt, fears have swirled since last year that the sector’s troubles could spread to the rest of the economy.
BEIJING, China—China’s central bank on Monday cut benchmark loan rates in an attempt to boost an economy battered by the government’s strict zero-COVID policy and a slump in the property market. The world’s second-biggest economy saw an improvement after some coronavirus restrictions eased in June, but consumer and business sentiment remains weaker than usual.
AFP
Nearly 2,000 unionized employees at the port in eastern England, including crane drivers, machine operators and stevedores, started their walkout Sunday morning in the first strike at Felixstowe since 1989. It comes amid stoppages over pay and working conditions across various UK industries, with railway workers just the latest to strike on Thursday and Saturday this week. Postal workers plan a four-day strike later this month, Telecoms giant BT will face its first stoppage in decades while Amazon warehouse staff, criminal lawyers and refuse collectors are among the others staging walkouts. Pay hike demands are driven by inflation, which hit a 40-year-high above 10 percent last month, as soaring food and energy prices hurt millions.
The Bank of England has forecast it will top 13 percent this year, tipping the British economy into a deep and long recession.Theglobal impact of the war in Ukraine on energy and food prices, and, to a lesser extent, post-Brexit trade frictions are blamed for the UK’s spiraling cost of living.
“They can give Felixstowe workers a decent pay raise,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, who added that parent company, CK Hutchison Holding Ltd, handed out nearly 100 million ($121 million) to shareholders in 2020. The Port of Felixstowe said in a statement that it was “disappointed” the walkout had gone ahead and called its offer of salary increases of on average 8 percent “fair.” “The port provides secure and wellpaid employment and there will be no winners from this unnecessary industrial action,” it added. AFP
By Heather Scott WASHINGTON, United States—US central bankers have been hammering home a single message: Interest rates will rise until infl ation begins to come down. But financial markets keep hoping to hear a different tune, one indicating the pace of rate hikes will slow. All eyes will be on this week’s annual gathering of policymakers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to hear Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell explain his stance—again—with market watchers hoping to get something more to their liking. The Fed could be a victim of its own success.After keeping the benchmark borrowing rate at zero throughout the pandemic, the steep spike in prices, which surged to a 40-year high following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prompted the central bank to take aggressive action. In the battle to contain red-hot inflation, which topped nine percent in June, the Fed has hiked rates four times, including massive, three-quarter point increases in June and July—steep moves unheard of since the early 1980s. But in recent weeks signs of easing price pressures and a slowing economy, along with falling energy costs and indications global supply chain snarls have lessened, caused financial markets to become optimistic the Fed will dial back or even pause rate increases—and even begin to cut next year.
Financial markets look for clarity but tuning out message of US Fed I NEVER consider myself an artsy person. Art overwhelms me as I supposed it would require me to be ‘extra’ on something. I believe that God destined art for limited individuals and not for everyone, including me. In the eighth grade, our biology teacher asked us to create human cell structures using molded clays on an illustration board. Unfortunately, I was asked to make it for our group. When I was making it, I believed my illustration would be one of our class’s most creative human cell structures. However, when the other groups presented their work, it seemed our group had the most miniature creative illustration. I was humiliated to show our work in class, and at the same time, remorseful to my group mates due to the unfavorable results of my ‘artwork.’ Since then, I have accepted that my creative juices are lacking. In short, I was not an art person. The announced creativity session in the Integral Human Development class revived my art frustration. Knowing that the session would have some hands-on art activity intimidated me. I first thought of not attending the session because the topic was out of interest. However, I found myself sitting in the Art class. Through that session, my perspective on art abruptly changed. I was convinced that art is subjective. Art is anything I like and anything I want to express. It should not be based on someone’s expectations but rather mirror my views andFromperceptions.beingaphilistine, I now consider myself an aesthete Art has created a space in my life as I incorporate it into every work. The enlightenment has given me another perspective on art. It is not totally about aesthetics, as it also serves functionality. Art is a method to make the way we do things better. Art is what we do. Aside from making things better, artistic engagements affect our health positively. An article published in Harvard Health Publishing in 2017 stated that creative activities could relieve stress, improve communication and prevent cognitive deterioration. Several notions linked these activities to strengthening memory, self-awareness and introspection. It increases our ability to concentrate and improves our problem-solving skills. Art can also make us happier. Creating or observing art decreases the stress hormone cortisol and releases endorphins which are feel-good hormones that help us cope with stress and discomfort. Moreover, it also raises dopamine levels which causes us to feel good (Oilpixel, 2017). The impact is only not for our health but also for promoting human connections as we could build social connections through our arts engagement. Art is supreme. Without understanding it, we could miss its meaningful sense. Edgar Degas said, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” Thus, let us appreciate Arts and be creative in our ways. The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. She can be reached at micah_abulencia@dlsu.edu.ph.Theviewsexpressedabove are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators. MICAH ABULENCIAD.
LONDON, United Kingdom— Workers at Britain’s biggest container port, Felixstowe, on Sunday began an eight-day strike over pay, in the latest industrial action as decades-high inflation intensifies the country’s costof-living crisis.
The one-year Loan Prime Rate, which serves as a benchmark for corporate loans, was reduced from 3.7 percent to 3.65 percent, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said in a statement.
Stocks on Wall Street have risen for four straight weeks, despite a string of offi cials repeating the message that rates will continue to rise, even though annual infl ation slowed
Jonathan Millar of Barclays said it was unlikely Powell would signal a slowdown in rate hikes this week. With AFP
Pedestrians walk past the US Federal Reserve in Washington, DC on August 18, 2022. US central bankers remain committed to raising interest rates further to quell rising prices, but agreed it would be appropriate to slow the pace of the hikes ‘at some point,’ the Federal Reserve said August 17. AFP in July as oil prices fell. While the annual gathering often becomes a place for global central bankers to signal shifting policy, Powell is expected to repeat that message Friday—though he may acknowledge that a slowdown will come later in the year.“It does seem like what we’ve heard from Powell so far suggests there’s quite a high bar for them to transition from aggressive hikes” to a slower pace of 25 basis point steps, said Jonathan Millar of Barclays. Millar, who served as a Fed economist and forecaster under four central bank chiefs, told AFP that markets are looking further ahead, anticipating the rate hikes will be successful in slowing inflation.
The Unite union representing the striking Felixstowe staff said the stoppage will have a big impact at the port, which handles around four million containers a year from 2,000 ships. The union wants pay rises for its members at or near inflation, arguing the docks are “enormously profitable.”
GREEN LIGHT
China central bank cuts lending rate to reinforce economy Britain dock workers latest to join summer of strikes
Stocks slump; Ayala issues lead losers
But for policymakers “One thing they definitely want to communicate is that they remain very much focused on issues with price stability and that they will react very cautiously to any signs of improvements in the inflation data.” That means indications prices are coming down more broadly, not just because of falling oil.
Managing the market’s expectations “is really job one,” Millar said. “They have to enforce that credibility.” But like other economists he believes the Fed’s policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) at its September meeting will step down to a 0.5 percentage point increase, taking the range of the key lending rate up to 2.75 to 3.0 percent, to be followed up with quarter-point hikes in November and December. AFP
SLOWER GROWTH. People walk out for a lunch break at Ra es Place nancial business district in Singapore on August 22, 2022. Singapore has narrowed its economic growth forecast this year after the economy contracted in the second quarter compared to the previous three months due to rising in ation and tighter monetary policies, the government said. AFP
THE stock market sank Monday on profit taking on renewed concerns about Federal Reserve plans to ramp up interest rates to combat runaway inflation. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index tumbled 159.45 points, or 2.3 percent, to 6,704.41 on a value turnover of P5.4 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 132 to 62, with 39 issues unchanged. Conglomerate Ayala Corp. of the Ayala Group slumped 4.4 percent to P736.50, while unit Ayala Land Inc. fell 2.2 percent to P28.90. SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the Sy Group, the biggest operator of shopping malls, dropped 3.7 percent to P36.55, but Emperador Inc. of business tycoon Andrew Tan, the largest liquor maker, advanced 4.4 percent to P21.50. The rest of Asian stocks declined Monday while the dollar rallied. All three main indexes on Wall Street fell Friday and Asia followed suit. Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Mumbai, Taipei and Jakarta dropped. But Shanghai rose after China’s central bank cut prime loan rates as it tries to bolster the world’s second-biggest economy, which has been ravaged by lockdowns as part of a zero-COVID strategy. Singapore, Bangkok and Wellington also edged up. All eyes are on a symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where Fed boss Jerome Powell will deliver a speech that traders will follow for an idea about the bank’s next moves. A dip in price rises and signs of economic slowdown had raised hopes policymakers would ease up—and possibly cut rates next year—after two successive, 75-basis-point hikes, helping equities rally globally. But that optimism has slowly been eroded in recent weeks as Fed officials, including Powell, have warned that the battle against inflation was far from won, particularly as the jobs market remained resilient. One of the latest was Richmond Fed boss Thomas Barkin, who reasserted his commitment to bringing inflation back to two percent from the four-decade high of around nine percent. He said on Friday the policy board would “do what it takes to get there,” but warned: “There’s a path to getting inflation under control but a recession could happen in the process.”
MPTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said the company would look for ways to make the project viable. “Viability is the issue because the project cost is high. We’re looking for ways to make that viable. If there are ways in the financing side to make it viable, then we will look at it,” he said.
NICKEL ASIA MISSION. Dinapigue Mining Corp., a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp., holds a dental-medical mission for the Agtas, the indigenous people of Dinapigue, Isabela. It is the mining company’s way of connecting and bonding with the IPs who are hosts to their mining operations in Dinapigue—a rst corporate social responsibility outing by DMC as soon as the lockdowns due to the pandemic start easing out. The medical team is composed of volunteer-doctors and healthcare workers from Southern Isabela Medical Center.
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TMO eyes completion of battery project in Q3 ABOITIZ Power Corp.’s Therma Mobile Inc. expects the completion of the 49-megawatt Maco Hybrid Battery Energy Storage System in Maco, Compostela Valley by the end of the third quarter. The project is intended for ancillary services and will serve as a model for future battery investments and hybrid renewable energy projects.
“As of the first half of 2022, the control system which automates the hybrid operations between the diesel and battery barges for contingency reserve ancillary service was completed. Commissioning activities in preparation for turnover by the end of the third quarter of 2022 are ongoing,” the company said in a regulatory submission.
“Following the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas’ decision to raise its policy rate by 50 bps [basis points] to 3.75 percent on Aug. 18, we now expect the benchmark policy rate to be hiked further to 4.50 percent by end-2022 from 4.25 percent previously,” Fitch Solutions said in a report. It said inflation would likely remain elevated relative to the BSP’s targeted range of 2 percent to 4 percent “and we expect the central bank to tighten policy rate further to rein in inflation.” Fitch Solutions noted that the Philippine peso came under significant depreciatory pressure as a result of tightening credit conditions globally. “This will likely prompt the BSP to hike rates further in order to safeguard external stability,” Fitch Solutions said. The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on Thursday raised for the fourth time this year the overnight borrowing rate by 50 basis points to 3.75 percent to tame the accelerating inflation. This brought the total policy rate increase this year to 175 basis points. The BSP kept the policy rate at a record low of 2 percent for the entire 2021 to support the economy’s recovery from the pandemic.
Aboitiz Power said the construction of the 24-MW Magat BESS project in Ramon, Isabela was also expected to start this month. Alena Mae S. Flores Air tra ic returning to pre-pandemic level
By Othel V. Campos
THE country’s air passenger traffic is slowing returning to pre-pandemic level on easing of domestic and international travel restrictions.Datafrom the Civil Aeronautics Board showed that air passenger volume reached 13.17 million from January to June, up from 2.95 million passengers in 2021. Domestic traffic reached only 5.53 million passengers lastDomesticyear. passenger volume reached 9.69 million in in the first six months this year, higher than 2 million passengers recorded in the same period in 2021. Cebu Pacific remained the country’s leading domestic carrier with 5.15 million passengers in the six-month period, followed by PAL Express with 1.58 million passengers and Philippine AirAsia with 1.38 million passengers.
CGT encourages cargo businesses to take this alternative to minimize congestion along the cargo truck trade routes from North Harbor to areas south of Manila.Major improvements at the North Port Passenger Terminal Building, managed by Manila North Harbour Port Inc., will also be undertaken to guarantee comfort and convenience. The PTB is handling about 4.5 million passengers annually before the pandemic.
THE Management Association of the Philippines on Monday asked the Department of Transportation to consider the privatization of the EDSA Busway and urban commuter rail systems consisting of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3, Light Rail Transit Line 2 and Philippine National Railways commuter lines under the so-called hybrid mode. The hybrid option calls for the government to provide the infrastructure and improvements in the systems. The group asked the government to designate a private concessionaire to operate the service and maintenance of the facilities under the operation and maintenance concession. MAP offered to work with the DOTr and other private sector stakeholders in preparing the terms of reference for the bidding and award of the concessions to ensure a level playing field. The proposed privatization is part of a set of recommendations submitted by MAP to the DOTr to prioritize the total system upgrade of the EDSA Busway and bus service on the “Carousel Line”. MAP said in a letter to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, the upgrade would complete the EDSA Busway which is a work-in-progress, scale up its capacity and raise it to the level of global standards. The planned upgrade will optimize the system to achieve its full potential as a cost-effective, efficient high-capacity urban mass public transport system commensurate to the high-commuter density of EDSA and ensure long-term sustainability to ably serve its role as the complementary mass transport to MRT 3. MAP also called for the augmentation of vehicles in the EDSA Carousel, MRT3, LRT2, LRT1 and PNR commuter lines when conditions in their respective stations allow. These lines should have the shortest waiting time, and therefore the shortest queues, for commuters during rush hours, the group said. Among the busway upgrade measures recommended by MAP include an increase the capacity of station platforms to accommodate larger number of commuters and enable simultaneous docking of buses; construction of more stations to close the gap between stations and footbridges with concourse dedicated for the busway; expedite the construction of donated busway station footbridges; and, resolve chokepoints along the carousel line.
FITCH Solutions, a unit of the Fitch Group, said Monday it expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to further increase the policy interest rate to 4.50 percent this year from 3.75 percent to ease price pressures in the coming months.
By Darwin G. Amojelar METRO Pacifi c Tollways Corp. is studying the possibility of building a toll bridge expressway connecting Cordoba in Cebu province to Bohol province for P90 billion, a top executive said over the weekend. “Gov. Gwen [Garcia] has asked us to look at building a bridge from Cordoba to Bohol ... That’s a P90-billion project,” said MPTC chairman Manuel Pangilinan. “The key there is really financing, because it’s a very big project for us. Of course, where [will we] get the funding for that. We still have to conduct a feasibility study because if the tariffs are so high, nobody will use it,” he said.
Fitch Solutions expects BSP to hike rate to 4.5% this year IN BRIEFBusiness
TRANSPORTATION Undersecretary for maritime Elmer Francisco Sarmiento and Philippine Ports Authority officer-in-charge general manager Francisquiel Mancile visited and inspected the Manila International Container Terminal and the Manila North Port over the weekend to ensure efficient operations and uninterrupted supply chain activities at the local and global levels.The visit was also an opportunity to seek assurance from the port operators in taming soaring commodity prices while securing safe, convenient, world-class and affordable port-related services in adherence to the marching order of President and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.MICTis set to strengthen its position as the country’s premier international port through capacity expansion from the current 3.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units to 3.5 million TEUs with the continued reopening of the economy. The company also presented its Cavite Gateway Terminal pioneering project in Tanza, Cavite which offers alternative means of transporting containers through barges.
By Jenni er B. Austria PHILEX Mining Co. plans to borrow more funds to finance the $224-million initial capital needed to develop the Silangan copper and gold project in Surigao de Norte province. Philex chief finance officer Romeo Bachoco said in a recent investors’ briefing organized by the Philippine Stock Exchange the company would launch this month a debt syndication program.Bachoco said Philex would add the funds from the debt syndication program to the P2.65-billion proceeds raised from the recent stock rights’ offering to develop the project. Philex would also infuse fresh capital from its cash reserves for the Silangan mine project, which is set to start commercial operations by 2025. The mining firm is open to entering into joint venture partnership as the development of the entire Silangan project will require $967 million in total capital for the estimated 28-year life of the mine. The Silangan copper-gold project will initially process 2,000 tons of ore a day until it reaches 12,000 tons a day or four million tons annually uponSilangancompletion.hasestimated mineral resources of 571 million tons, with 0.52 percent copper and 0.64 percent gold. Philex president Eulalio Austin Jr. said during the same forum said the company started conducting studies for the possible extension of Padcal mine in Benguet province. Eulalio said Philex was looking to extend the mine life of Padcal either by maximizing existing resources or exploring the vicinity of mine for additional resources.
B4 TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022
Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp., a subsidiary of MPTC, recently completed the construction of the P31billion Cebu-Cordoba Link Expressway—an 8.5-kilometer bridge linking Cebu City with the municipality of Cordova and outlying towns of Cebu province.Thebridge began commercial operations on April 30 and is expected to accommodate about 50,000 vehicles a day, easing the traffic in two old bridges—the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.
BSP Governor and Monetary Board chairman Felipe Medalla said in an online briefing the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also raised to 3.25 percent and 4.25 percent, respectively.“TheBSP’s latest baseline forecasts have shifted higher for 2022, with average inflation projected to breach the upper end of the 2 percent to 4 percent target range at 5.4 percent,” Medalla said.
TRANSPARENT BANKING. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla (center) says the central bank is looking into proposed amendments to the Bank Secrecy Law that will allow a thorough examination of bank accounts with suspicious financial transactions. In a meeting of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines in Makati City, Governor Medalla said the amendments being reviewed will strengthen BSP’s capacity to protect depositors from losses due to fraud and other unlawful activities. With Medalla are GlobalSource Partners Philippines country analyst Romeo Bernardo (left) and GT Capital Holdings Inc. independent director Consuelo Garcia.
PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, August 22, 2022 -159.456,704.41PTS. F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2022 Currency UnitUS DollarPeso United States Dollar 1.00000055.9790 Japan Yen SaudiBahrainDinar2.652872148.5051UKPound1.18300066.22320.0073090.4092HongKongDollar0.1274627.1352SwitzerlandFranc1.04340658.4088CanadaDollar0.76976443.0906SingaporeDollar0.71870140.2322AustraliaDollar0.68720038.4688ArabiaRial0.26633314.9091BruneiDollar0.71612740.0881IndonesiaRupiah0.0000670.0038ThailandBaht0.0279641.5654UAEDirham0.27228715.2424EuroEuro1.00410056.2085KoreaWon0.0007490.0419ChinaYuan0.1466928.2117IndiaRupee0.0125130.7005MalaysiaRinggit0.22351412.5121NewZealandDollar0.61780034.5838TaiwanDollar0.0332091.8590TOTALVOLUME816,983,546TOTALTRADES62,213TOTALVALUE(INPHP)5,443,326,861.36DECLINES132
Vista Real homeowners complain of harassment SEVERAL homeowners of a Quezon City subdivision built by Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Inc. of billionaire Exequiel Robles complained of harassment from a group of men hired by 8990 Housing Development Corp., which is insisting on its ownership of the property. Sta. Lucia Realty is a subsidiary of Sta. Lucia Land Inc., a publicly-listed company that reported a net profit of P2.84 billion in 2021. 8990 Housing Development Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of publiclylisted 8990 Holdings Inc. led by chairman emeritus Luis N. Yu Jr. that earned a P7.2billion net income in 2021. “We, legitimate homeowners at Vista Real Classica Village and victims of land dispute between the two multi-billion-peso property developers, feel harassed and threatened with eviction,” the homeowners said. The tension started on August 17, 2022 when the lawyers of 8990 Housing Development sent a letter to the concerned residents of the reconstituted Lot 116 to inform them that 8990 security guards were deployed on strategic points in the area to enforce the writ of execution issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 104 on June 7, 2022. The homeowners said about 30 non-uniformed individuals arrived in the area, which is subject of the court litigation, on Aug. 17. “We were caught off-guard by these actions of 8990 Housing personnel. As of now, we are still not aware of the full status of the case between Sta. Lucia Realty and 8990 Housing. We are very much concerned as homeowners, and we hope that Mr. Exequiel Robles as the developer can ably protect and support us,” the homeowners said.
Darwin G. Amojelar
DOTr, PPA congestion-freevowportoperations
Metro Pacific reviewing construction of P90-b Cordoba-Bohol Expressway Philex to raise more funds for Silangan mine
By Julito G. Rada
“While the forecasts for 2023 and 2024 have declined to 4.0 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively, the inflation target remains at risk over the policy horizon owing to broadening price pressures. Elevated inflation expectations likewise highlight the risk of further second-round effects,” Medalla said. He said upside risks also continued to dominate the inflation outlook up to 2023 due to the potential impact of higher global non-oil prices, the continued shortage in domestic fish supply, the sharp increase in the price of sugar and pending petitions for transport fare increases. Medalla said the Monetary Board deemed further monetary action to be necessary to anchor inflation expectations and avoid a further breach in the inflation target over the policy horizon.
MAP eyeing privatization of EDSA Busway, rail systems
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022 C1 Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor
Gilas PH composition best suited against Lebanon 5
The fourth window starts the second round of the qualifier where the national team holds an even 2-2 (win-loss) record
“We are getting better and better, little by little. We got to play our vol leyball. The fact that we are winning two games in a row, that’s great,” said Shibata, who tallied three attacks and anChangace. Li-Wen led the Taiwanese with 16 points while Lin Shu-Ho added 10Japanpoints.will have a two-day rest before wrapping up its Pool B assignments against Australia at 1 p.m. on Thursday. Chinese Taipei, meanwhile, will take on the Volleyroos at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
HOW is National Basketball Association star Jordan Clarkson blending with his Gilas Pilipinas national basketball team members, most of whom he just met for the first time?“As expected, his learning curve with his teammates is napakabilis,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios, who on Monday announced the 13man Gilas Pilipinas pool that will travel to Beirut for the Philippines’ match against Lebanon on Aug. 25. “Maganda ang samahan niya with the team. Mas bata ngayon ‘yung other members of the team. Wala na ‘yung mga dating nakasama niya sa Asian Games,” Barrios added. Clarkson wore the Philippine team uniform for the first time during the Asian Games in Jakarta Indonesia in 2018. They placed fifth. He is coming back this time a better, wiser player. “Iba talaga ang kilos ni Clarkson. Not to undermine the talents of other players in the team, but he’s a cut above the rest. He’s shooting inside and out, just admirable,” added Barrios.According to Barrios, Clarkson is “adapting very well and seems to be happy with what he is doing as a player representing the Philippines.” “His interaction with other players is commendable. There’s a half-court fun game after practice na parang agawang buko. Pati utility kasama. Nagpa-participate siya. Masaya siya.” “He’s one guy who’s always proud to be a Filipino,” added Barrios.
Jordan Clarkson (JC FB) Kai Sotto Scottie Thompson Japeth Aguilar Dwight Ramos
JAPAN moved on the cusp of sweeping Pool B following a 25-22, 25-22, 25-22 tripping of Chinese Taipei Monday in the AVC Cup for Women at the Phil sports Arena. The Japanese overcame a sluggish third-set start, closing out the one-hour, 45-minute contest with a Mizuki Tana ka“It’skill.kind off hard for us to get on our own pace but at the end, we were able to play our volleyball. That was really nice,” said Japan setter Mika Shibata through an interpreter. Yuki Nishikawa hammered 11 kills, including eight in the first set, while Miyu Nakagawa had three blocks and two service aces for a nine-point outing for the Japanese. Tanaka and Asuka Hamamatsu each produced nine kills. Japan, which also beat Thailand in straight sets in last Sunday’s inaugu rals, is looking forward to elevate their game as the tournament progresses.
KIMI Brodeth and Mcleen Gomera pulled off a win and runner-up finish each and split MVP honors in the PPS-PEPP national age group tennis circuit for the second straight week in the City of Naga leg in Cebu over theBrodethweekend.bucked a lackluster opening set game then wore down Judy Ann Padilla in the decider to pound out a 0-6, 6-2, 10-2 victory for her third straight triumph in the girls’ 16-andunder class following her romps in the Lapu Lapu City and Mandaue City legs of the four-leg swing of the country’s longest talent-search in Cebu. The Ormoc City lass, however, missed matching her golden double feat in Mandaue as Lapu-Lapu City’s Tiffany Nocos got back at her with a 6-2, 4-6, 10-4 reversal in the premier 18-U category of the Group 1 tournament put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.Meanwhile, the Cebu leg of the circuit, backed by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, the Unified Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating), winds up in Consolacion, Laray starting Thursday. For details, contact Bobby Mangunay at 09154046464.Gomera likewise re-asserted his mastery of the boys’ 16-U field, blasting Benedict Lim, 6-1, 6-1, in the finals although the Bacolod, Lanao del Norte fell short of his 18-U title bid, absorbing another 6-2, 6-1 defeat from last week’s tormentor John David Velez, also from Ormoc. Sharing the top podium finish were Juliana Tenepre from Mandaue, and Ormoc’s Renante Bravo in the 14-U division, and Ma. Caroliean Fiel from Ormoc and Cabanatuan’s Lexious Cruz in the 12-U class of the weeklong tournament marked by a couple of reversals.Theunranked Tenepre flashed top form as she shocked top seed Joy Ansay, 7-5, 5-7, 10-1, in the semis then upended No. 3 Kate Imalay from Danao, Cebu, 2-6, 6-3, 10-3, while the top ranked Bravo routed Tayasan, Negros’ Kurt Barrera, 6-3, 6-1. Kimi Brodeth (left) shares center stage in the PPS-PEPP junior tennis circuit with Mcleen Gomera for the second straight week.
Japan beats Taipei insecondforwinAVCCup
Jordan Clarkson and promising big man Kai Sotto lead the lineup that also include reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson and Barangay Ginebra teammate Japeth Aguilar, as well as Gilas first timers Jamie Malonzo (NorthPort), Chris Newsome (Meralco), and former PBA no.1 overall pick Roos eveltOthersAdams.named to the team by Chot Reyes and his coaching staff made up of Tim Cone and Jong Uichico are returnees Calvin Oftana (NLEX), Japan B. League imports Ray Parks Jr., Dwight Ramos, brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, and University of the Philippines stalwart CarlTheTamayo.announcement was officially made by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas ex ecutive director Sonny Barrios in a special session of the online Philippine Sportswrit ers Association Forum on Monday. Barrios described the team as athletic and has good height and heft. “We observed and evaluated what is the best mix for the Lebanon trip. That’s our consideration there. They’re not necessarily the best players in the country, but they’re the best team to play against Lebanon based on the available players,” said Barrios, also the SBP spokesperson.
Clarkson arrived in the country on Friday night aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Los Angeles. The family of his mother Annette Tullao Davis hails from Bacolor,Pampanga.Alwayscommitted to carrying the Philippine national flag whenever his schedule permits, Clakson will be playing as a naturalized player pending the result of SBP’s appeal to FIBA regarding his status. The 30-year-old NBA Sixth Man awardee will be teaming up with Filipino top-notch center Kai Sotto, who arrived a day earlier from Australia where he plays as an import for Adelaide 76ers. The two will lead the Chot Reyescoached Philippine squad that will face Lebanon on Aug. 25 and Saudi Arabia at home on Aug. 29. in Group E. The Filipinos will be leaving for Beirut early Tuesday morning for their August 25 match against the host team bannered by FIBA Asia Cup MVP Wael Arakji. The final 12-man Gilas team will be submitted by the SBP on the eve of the game.The Cedars finished a close runner-up against Australia during the finals of the Asia Cup, 75-73, the same tournament where they pounded the Filipinos in the group stage, 95-80. “Mabigat ‘yung Lebanon, but we are confident that we will play well. Sigu radong lalaban tayo,” said Barrios. “So ipagdasal natin ang kanilang safety and well-being. We pray for victory, God willing.”AfterLebanon, the national team re turns to the country early Saturday morn ing and prepares for its next game against Saudi Arabia on the 29th at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Two Japanese players foil a kill from a Taiwanese spiker in the AVC Cup for Women at the Philsports Arena.
A13-MAN team best suited against the Lebanon squad make up the Gilas Pilipinas roster that will travel to Beirut, to kick off its campaign in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup qualifier.
SEAwantsCambodia632eventsforGames
“Many events are under sports that don’t have international federa tions [IFs] or most of the SEA Games countries aren’t familiar with,” said Tolentino during the meeting held at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagay tay“ThisCity. is the biggest SEA Games in history with 632 events, but we will lessen them because they are so many, particularly in martial arts where most of the countries aren’t familiar with,” TolentinoCambodiasaid.organizers bared during the SEA Games Federation meeting in Bangkok last week that there will be an additional 30 events in vovinam, 24 events in martial arts Korea and 13 in dragonboat, a sport the hosts are strongMartialat. arts korea is distinct from taekwondo, which will be played with 24 events. Martial arts Korea, in memory, was never played in the SEA Games.Tolentino said that Cambodia’s tra ditional martial arts, Kun Bokator, will be allowed as a gesture of respect for the host country. “We respected the Kun Bokator be cause that’s their traditional sport, but we cannot allow the others,” Tolentino said. “They [hosts] also have a differ ent IF in Muay Thai and the martial arts
“This is the best combination base sa pagsusuri at pag-aaral ng ating coaching staff,” added the SBP official during the sports program presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Com mittee, Amelie Hotel Manila, Unile ver, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
Brodeth, Gomera sustain PPS run in Naga Clarkson blends well with PH teammates
FIRST-TIME host Cambodia in tends to go big time by laying out a 49-sport program with a potentially record number of events at 632 when the 32nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games are held May 5 to 16 nextButyear.Philippine Olympic Commit tee president Rep. Abraham “Bam bol” Tolentino told the POC Executive Board during its regular meeting on Monday that the other member coun tries are contesting the inclusion of dozens of events.
UtahKorea.”Jazzstar
By Randy Caluag
WASHINGTON—Eccentric former NBA star Dennis Rodman is planning a trip to Russia in an effort to seek the release of imprisoned WNBA player Brittney Griner, NBC News reported on Sunday.Thenetwork quoted Rodman as say ing that he was hoping to fly to Russia this week in an attempt to help basketball superstar Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in jail by a Moscow court ear lier this month on a drug charge. “I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,” Rodman told NBC. “I’m trying to go this week.” No further details were provided by Rodman, who was speaking at a restau rant in Washington where he was attend ing a sports apparel convention, accord ing to NBC. A senior official for US President Joe Biden’s administration said in a statement to AFP, “it is public information that the Administration has made a significant offer to the Russians and anything other than negotiating further through the es tablished channel is likely to complicate and hinder release efforts.”
CINCINNATI — Borna Coric, who only returned in March after missing a year with a shoulder injury, dominated fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday to win the ATP Cincinnati Masters.Theworld number 152 from Croatia dispatched the Greek star 7-6 (7/0), 6-2 to become the lowest-ranked player to ever lift a Masters trophy. “I have no words, to be honest. It’s just an unbelievable feeling,” the winner said. “I’m just gonna enjoy this. “I thought I could play well. I was training hard, and I knew I could play good tennis, but to play this level of ten nis - I was just not aware. “I’m just super happy, obviously.”. Coric lost his only previous final at this level, going down to Novak Djokov ic in Shanghai four years ago. On Sunday, Coric replaced 143rdranked Spaniard Roberto Carretero, the 1996 Hamburg champion, as the lowestrated Masters trophy lifter. “It’s been very stressful for my body this whole week,” the Croat said. “I came into the tournament with many, many (training) sessions “I played five matches now in a row. So I need to rest for a couple of days. I need to recover and just get ready for the USCoricOpen.”came back from an early defi cit, trailing Tsitsipas 4-1 before turning the corner and sweeping the tiebreaker to Momentumlove. shifted further in the sec ond set for the Croat, who was supported by a few fans wearing the national colors. “I realized that I needed to be more ag gressive,” Coric said. “He’s an unbeliev able player, and he’s not gonna miss on my solid balls. “I said to myself, ‘I have nothing to lose. If I continue like this, I’m going to lose anyway, for sure.’ “He was also playing very, very well, putting the pressure on me.” Coric fired seven aces and saved three of four break points in a two-hour vic tory.Coric improved to 2-1 all-time against Tsitsipas, having retired from their first meeting in Rome in 2018 and won in the third round of the 2020 US Open in a fifth-set“You’vetiebreaker.kickedmy ass the last couple of times,” Tsitsipas said to Coric in the trophy
SILAT CAMPERS. Pencak Silat campers proudly display their certificates of completion after the culmination of “Anak Silat Pendeker” Boot Camp recently at the Paradahan 2 Covered Court in Tres Cruzes, Tanza, Cavite. The project is part of the the Philippine Silat Association Inc. (PhilSilat) grassroots’ development program, spear headed by PhilSilat Secretary Inier Candor, with the support of Tres Ceuzes Barangay officials, Tres Cruzes Home Owners, Sunrise Youth Organization, Anak Silat Pendakar Tanza-Cavite Chapter team manager Felix Perez-Torres and Tanza Mayor Yuri Pacumio. Patrick Cantlay
inlevelsSunriseSprintupTagum
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022C2
AFP
Coric upsets Tsitsipas, wins Cincinnati Masters’ net title
Beaten Joshua admits ‘I let myself down’ with post-fight antics
JEDDAH—Anthony Joshua has admitted “I let myself down” after the British heavyweight’s antics following his crushing defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in their world-title showdown in Saudi Arabia were heavily criticized. Joshua hurled two of Usyk’s belts to the floor and stormed out of the ring in a fit of pique in Jeddah, then returned moments later to deliver a rambling speech pep pered with expletives. The 32-year-old’s career appears at a crossroads after Sunday’s second successive defeat to the unbeaten Ukrai nian and he came under fire for his emotional post-fight reaction.Writing on Twitter, Joshua hailed Usyk as “a class act”, adding: “Yesterday I had to mentally take myself into a dark place to compete for the championship belts! “I had two fights, one with Usyk and one with my emo tions, and both got the better of me. “I’ll be the first to admit, I let myself down. I acted out of pure passion and emotion and when not controlled it ain’t great. “I love this sport so so much and I’ll be better from this point on. Respect.” Tony Bellew, a retired cruiserweight champion who was similarly beaten by Usyk, sprang to Joshua’s defence.“Made a mistake like everyone else on planet earth has done, only difference is he makes his in front of millions on TV and then comes out (which is hard to do) and apologises to everyone!” the Briton tweeted. The 6’6” (1.98m) Joshua scented victory when he had Usyk hanging on in the ninth round, only for the mobile southpaw to come firing back and control the final stages for a deserved split-decision win. While Joshua was left trying to rebuild his career after his third defeat, Usyk retained the IBF, WBA and WBO titles and will now seek a unification showdown with WBC champion Tyson Fury.
Rodman, 61, a five-time former NBA champion, has a record of unorthodox forays into geopolitics. He has formed a relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un over the past decade, and has made several trips to the reclusive state. He traveled to Singapore in 2018 when Kim famously met former US President Donald Trump. Rodman has also spoken approvingly of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past. In 2014 he described Putin as “actually cool” after meeting the Russian leader in Two-timeMoscow.Olympic basketball gold medalist and Women’s NBA champion Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February for possessing vape cartridg es with a small amount of cannabis oil.
Thenceremony.hepraised Coric’s title run at Cincinnati, which included victories over Rafael Nadal, Britain’s Cameron Norrie and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime. “You’ve proved yourself over and over again,” Tsitsipas said. “It was an incredible comeback from injury. You are proving that you are up there with Tsitsipasus.”said he is still seeking a first title on outdoor hardcourt losing six fi nals played on cement. “It kind of sucks,” the Greek said. “I still hope to come back here and win it one day. “I was definitely not choking — I just played robots every time in fi nals.”Ominous clouds unleashed rain over the area shortly after the trophy ceremo ny was Therecompleted.werestorm delays much of the week at the Midwest event, the last major tuneup for the US Open, which begins on August 29. AFP
Sports
“I hit a lot of solid shots and then I got a couple of good breaks,” said Cantlay. “On 17, that break is something I’m not expecting and it was really big for me to take advantage of it.” Cantlay could also become the first to repeat as FedEx Cup champion next week in the season-ending Tour Cham pionship in Atlanta.
Cantlay defends BMW crown
AFP Borna Coric of Croatia celebrates his win Mason,TennisatSouthernoftheofStefanosoverTsitsipasGreeceduringmen’sfinaltheWestern&OpenLindnerFamilyCenterinOhio.
RussiaplanningRodmantripforGriner
SPRINT triathlon, one of the most pop ular types of endurance competitions, levels up as it shares center stage with the main event in Penong’s 5150 Davao unfolding Sept. 4 in Tagum City, Davao delTheNorte.Sunrise Sprint or S2 features the 750m open-water swim, 20km bike and 5km run, the length of which is a perfect entry-level distance for athletes making a comeback in the ever-grow ing sport or those looking to practice and build up to reach IRONMAN level. It is also ideal for competitors who are new to the sport because it requires less training and experience. The organizing IRONMAN Group/ Sunrise Events, Inc. expects another spirited battle for top honors in the subcategory to the centerpiece 5150 triath lon on an Olympic-style setup from the Banana beach to the Hijo Resorts the way it was when the S2 marked its re turn to the triathlon scene in Bohol last July after a long hiatus due to pandemic. The sponsoring Go for Gold is also confident of another successful S2 event held as part of the company’s commitment to promote nation-build ing through sports development and create ways to encourage young indi viduals to pursue excellence through physicalRegistrationliteracy. is ongoing un til race week. For details, log on to penong’s.5150philippines.com or fol low us on social media accounts: Penongs5150Davao with Hashtags (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter): #Pe nongs5150 and #5150Davao. Early Sunrise Sprint bidders are youthful Edsel Belican Jr., Christo pher Te of Trivengers and Tandag Tri Team’s Lawrence Uy, Ricaredo Gonzales of Team Surcyc, John Allan Honungan, Steve Lagapa, Arjay Ma chete of Southplus Triathlon, Florante Madali of Team Blanko and Karlo Mollejon of Haguros. Aminah Dimaporo, Triad’s Karina Gelito and Micaela Jayme, Manuella Lamorena of Tri-Generals, Kristine Macalisang of Trizur Kame and Hope Therese Santamarina, on the other, banner the cast in the distaff side of the event sponsored by Penong’s Barbecue Seafood and Grill, Powerball/Go for Gold, Davao del Norte, Hijo Resorts Davao and Tagum City.
Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk mangles Britain’s Anthony Joshua’s face with a punch during their heavyweight box ing rematch for the WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF titles, at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah. Usyk won his rematch against Anthony Joshua by split decision to retain his world heavyweight titles in just his fourth fight in the division in Saudi Arabia.
WASHINGTON—Defending Fe dEx Cup playoff champion Pat rick Cantlay won his second consecutive BMW Champi onship on Sunday, becoming the first player to successful ly defend a PGA Tour playoff title.World number four Cantlay recovered from a two-stroke deficit on the back nine to de feat US compatriot Scott Stallings thanks to a key break and clutch putting.Cantlay fired a two-under par 69 to finish 72 holes at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware on 14-under 270 and edge Stallings by a stroke. “I played a lot of great golf this week and I’m happy to come out of here with a win,” Cantlay said. Stallings shared the lead with Cantlay when he dropped his approach nine feet from the cup at 18, but Stallings missed the pressure-packed birdie putt and settled for a closing par. Cantlay, meanwhile, had his tee shot at 17 bounce out of the rough and onto the fairway. He pitched the ball to six feet and sank the clutch birdie putt to seize the lead. At 18, Cantlay blasted out of a bunker to 46 feet, then lipped out his birdie putt and tapped in for par and the historic triumph.
TELEVISION star Ruru Madrid doesn’t deny that there is pressure on their part, especially that Lolong is now ABS-CBN’s Darna’s direct rival on primetime. “The pressure will always be there. It’s just okay to be pitted against other programs. I guess every production is doing its best to come up with a quality show. The ultimate winners here are the viewers, of course. We’re here to give entertainment to all of them,” Ruru, whose show was previously pitted against FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, avers. “So, we welcome competition. It’s inevitable. The Lolong team knows that we made the project not just for us but more importantly, for the viewers to enjoy,” he adds. Lolong’s Book Two has already started and it introduced new characters like Rafael Rosell, Vin Abrenica, Alma Concepcion, Thea Tolentino, and Lucho Ayala Ruru felt bad that he wasn’t able to promote Lolong the way he wanted to. He was at the taping of Running Man Philippines in South Korea, thus he wasn’t able to show full support for his own project. “This is the reason why I’m grateful to my fellow stars in the soap because it was them who promoted the show in the different parts of the country when I wasn’t around,” he says. Speaking of his stay in South Korea, Ruru highly appreciated his girlfriend Bianca Umali’s surprise visit to him. “I was very happy when she came. You see, I wasn’t able to enjoy my time with the family when taping for Lolong wrapped up. It was very timely because I was feeling homesick already at the time. I must credit her for her efforts to travel to South Korea. She really surprised me. I didn’t expect it. When she arrived and I saw her waiting in the lobby, all my exhaustion was erased. I felt lighter,” Ruru narrates. Interestingly, he gets teased with Lolong co-star Arra San Agustin due to their romantic history. They were linked before and many thought they became steadies then. “Actually, it was during our Encantadia days when I courted her. But for the record, nothing happened. It didn’t prosper. We haven’t seen each other for six years so I guess it’s understandable if, during our initial taping days for the show, we were kind of awkward with each other. But it didn’t last long. We didn’t want the project to suffer because of that. I guess, our friendship mattered more. It wasn’t just the two of us but all cast members as well!” ends Ruru. • • • RIO LOCSIN happily recalls those days when she did her own version of Darna in the late seventies titled, Bira! Darna! Bira “It was really a huge honor to play such an iconic superhero role then,” she avers. “It was 43 years ago. I was still a newcomer in the ‘biz during that time. It was simply a privilege to be picked to portray Darna, that’s why it’s unforgettable for me.”The veteran actress says that the latest installment of Darna starring Jane de Leon where she breathes life into the role of her grandmother is far different from her time. “Technology-wise, there’s a wide gap. I remember that for my flying scenes, I just stretch atop a table with an electric fan blowing. Now, with the advanced technology, it’s definitely far more exciting to watch.” What tips can she give Jane now that she currently holds the magic stone? “I’m just happy for her. I always tell her that it’s a big honor to be called Darna. It’s not easy but it will make you feel proud in the sense that not all actresses get to portray the role. I tell her to really imbibe the character,” Rio states.
Modern entertainment company Complex to launch in the Philippines via KROMA
FundalesMcoyLemonsandOrangevocalistoriginalandsongwritersinger-Kapusotheof sing what the audience wants or the current trends, however, I would still go back to my own style. As much as possible I want to sing songs that are characteristically my style,” he added. Fans of Mcoy and of the bands he was associated with would know that the artist has that distinct ‘croon-y’ side about him – in his own words, the Kundiman side of Orange and Lemons was him. This new single, indeed, speaks of this style of his and directly talks to his audience. “Ang kantang ito ay para sa mga taong gustong magmahal at i-enjoy ang buhay, because that’s the stage where I am at right now.”
By Joba Botana
ABS-CBN Philippine
YOU may know Mcoy Fundales as the original vocalist of the popular band of the late ’90s to mid-2000s, Orange and Lemons, yet nowadays, a lot has been keeping the singer-songwriter busy. Quite recently he released a new single “Ang Forever Ko’y Ikaw,” under AltG Records, a sublabel of GMA Music. According to him, he composed the song as a theme song for GMA’s romantic comedy series Ko’y Ikaw in 2018. Back then, the song was made up of only one stanza and chorus. “It took some time before I finally finished it. I want to put another stanza, arrange, and record it properly. Nandoon kasi ako sa point na naghahalughog ako ng mga unfinished song ko. I want to finish them for posterity and ito yung inuna ko,” Mcoy revealed.“Ang Forever Ko’y Ikaw,” which is produced by Kedy Sanchez, A&R Manager of GMA Music, is about the serendipity of falling in love and instantly knowing that the person is meant for you.
AFP Ball’ roars to top of box office
Nickie
Mcoy Fundales
Mcoy, who is happily married with two grown daughters shared that he is over the moon now that his single is finally out this year, “I’m happy to release this song because this is close to my heart, and I have been thinking of releasing this for quite some time now. This song could have been released probably a year ago if not for the pandemic.”Aside from this, he is also planning to releasealbum,an“Sofar,Ihave already recorded two singles for AltG Records and I already have two more to go. An album is possible if I will be able to write, prepare and record around two moreCurrently,songs.”he enjoys juggling being a songwriter and scriptwriter at the same time. Writing for TV and movies is still his focus now, according to him, “But music will always be with me. I can always write songs, either for myself or for another artist, or for projects. I am privileged to be able to record and release singles for AltG Records.” At the conference, Mcoy was candid in sharing with the press that he was a late bloomer when it came to scriptwriting. He had always loved telling stories, and even back during the heyday of Orange and Lemons, whenever he wrote a song, it was always a story that he wanted to share. And always, one would notice his signature humor incorporated into whatever work he does, whether it is a song he wrote or a music video he has produced with the team. No wonder he is now one of GMA’s household names when it comes to creative writers. He has been one of the main writers of Pepito Manaloto for seven years now. He is one of the writers of Bubble Gang, All-Out Sundays, and quite recently, he was contracted for the most recent season of StarStruck “Ang Forever Ko’y Ikaw” is now available on all digital streaming platforms worldwide.
Entertainment TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022 C3 E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
Sony’s action-thriller Bullet Train, which topped the box office the last two weekends, slid to third at $8 million. Brad Pitt plays a paid assassin on a train seemingly loaded with them. In fourth was the still high-flying Top Gun: Maverick, which took in a substantial $5.9 million in its 13th week out. The Tom Cruise vehicle has pulled in $683 million domestically and $703 million overseas. And in fifth, down three spots from last weekend, was Warner Bros.’s animation DC League of Super-Pets at $5.8 million.
songwriting contest wins big at
Quill Awards ‘Kapamilya Himig Handog’ is ABS-CBN’s internal competition that allows it’s employees to unlock their musical potential through song compositions After bout with ‘Ang Probinsyano,’ ‘Lolong’ now pitted against ‘Darna’ Ruru ‘Lolong’fantasyheadlinesMadridGMA’sseries
ABS-CBN won a Philippine Quill Award for “Kapamilya Himig Handog,” an employee songwriting contest that enabled Star Music to discover new songwriters internally and led to the launch of Star Music’s OPM Fresh Songwriters Series Vol. 1 EP featuring popular artists singing the contest’s top winners.Thetop entries that are featured in the EP include “Kaya Pala” by Jona (written by Jane Abaday), “Sleep Tonight” by Trisha Denise (written by Mark Marcos), “Mahiwaga” by Bugoy Drilon and Liezel Garcia (written by Michelle Saubon and Michael Obregoso), “Ikaw Na Lang Ang Kulang” by Kyla (written by Kitte Estabillo and Paul Armesin), and “Stop Missing You” by Maris Racal (written by Mycah Borja). The project fulfilled the dreams and aspirations of the ABS-CBN employee composers to have their works heard as they are currently streaming on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, and YouTube. An offshoot of the country’s premier songwriting competition, “Kapamilya Himig Handog” is an internal communications competition that allowed aspiring employee songwriters to unlock their potential in creating meaningful songs and be recognized by StarTheMusic.Philippine Quill Awards, organized by the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines) annually honors excellent communications programs and skills by companies and agencies in the country. “Kapamilya Himig Handog” also earned global recognition after bagging an international Gold Quill Award given by the International Association of Business Communicators at the Excellence Gala Night in New York, USA last June.
‘Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero’ excites fans in North America as the series climbed to the top of the box office
Complex is part of Complex Networks, which was recently acquired by BuzzFeed Inc., and features a strong portfolio of brands and IP’s in key categories: fashion, food, music, and pop“Complexculture. has always been authentic in our voice, to the cultures we represent, and the topics we cover. With KROMA, we’re excited to represent and speak to these cultures and topics, which transcend borders and are just as important in the Philippines, but authentically from the Filipino perspective,” shares Nick Wang, SVP of International Business Development and Partnerships at BuzzFeed Inc. The collaboration is expected to deliver hot and fresh content available across different channels and media, but with hyperlocal flair. Complex Networks is a modern entertainment company and is a part of BuzzFeed Inc.. It creates and distributes programming with premium distributors, including Netflix, Hulu, Corus, TBS, truTV, Snap, Spotify, Tempo, and Roku. Its content spans music to movies, sports to video games, fashion to food, and more. It reaches a coveted 18 to 34-year-old male and female audience in the U.S., per Comscore
COMPUTER-ANIMATED martial arts film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, the 21st in the Japanese franchise, seized control of the North American box office this weekend with an estimated take of $20.1 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. That impressive result for the film from Crunchyroll, which called it the best global opening ever for an anime movie, proved a bright spot in a tepid August, easily outshining the $11.6 million take of another new release, Universal’s Beast “This is another outstanding Crunchyroll anime opening,” said analyst David A Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. He said Crunchyroll, 95 percent owned by Sony, now “dominates the genre.” Gross rated Beast, meantime, as having only a “fair opening” for the Friday-through-Sunday period — at least “for an action-adventure film featuring a beast.” The beast, in this case, is a huge rogue lion that pursues a recently widowed man (Idris Elba) and his daughters when they go on safari. Iceland’s Baltasar Kormakur directs.
“This one is like an ‘an old new song,’ he shared during a recent media conference. “I appreciate the need to LEADING multimedia brand KROMA Entertainment, Inc. welcomes global youth culture brand Complex to the Philippines with the launch of Complex PH. “We are very proud to collaborate with Complex in a partnership that will expand their unique voice, content, and other movements to the Philippines through the KROMA ecosystem of platforms. KROMA is all about elevating Filipino talent and content on the world stage and giving Filipino audiences new ways to access world-class entertainment. Working with a leading global youth brand like Complex, under media and entertainment giant BuzzFeed, is aligned with this goal,” says Ian Monsod, CEO of Kroma Entertainment, Inc. The partnership with Complex was sealed with KROMA Publishing, the digital publishing network under Kroma Entertainment, Inc., which is in the business of enabling cultures, creating content, sparking conversations, and building communities for the youth market. Its portfolio features owned titles, like Wonder.ph and FreebieMNL, as well as partner communities and creators LunchboxerPH, PinoyGamer, and TNC PRO ML.
‘Dragon
The diverse portfolio of Complex PH hits romantic spot with new single ‘Ang Forever Ko’y Ikaw’ exhibits traces of Mcoy’s ‘croon-y’ side as an artist
Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant
C4 TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022 Nickie Wang Editor E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com LifePatricia Taculao Editorial Assistant Joba Botana, Associate Editor
buttonedwashBluefulldenimjacketforladies Nice and cozy topcottonladies’croppulloverandmen’sjacketwithhood jacketreversibleThishoodedwillgiveyoutworainydaylooks Xiaomi 12 displays a perfect balance between design and efficiency— slim, sleek, and lightweight allowing users go about their everyday tasks with ease.
RAINY days are here. And while they may seem ominous for some, they also open fun fashion possibilities from Surplus that will keep you warm, protected, and stylish. It’s a great time to play with layers with preppie-inspired pullovers, cardigans, and checkered long-sleeved tops. Add a pop of color to your outerwear – raincoats, and jackets - to bring out your shine. Go for multi-functional pieces – hoodies and reversible windbreakers that go a long way. Surplus also has hologram-long umbrellas for walking in the rain. Whether it’s a drizzle or a storm, never forget your personal style. Express yourself as you brave the weather and create your own fashion statement. The collection is available in Surplus stores located in most SM Supermalls nationwide. For a more convenient shopping experience, you may check out Surplus at Lazada, SM Malls Online, and ShopSM. Surplus Order to Deliver is also now available; join their Viber community and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @SurplusPH and @Surplus_ph for more details.
Technical innovation meets aestheticsvisual and clearer even in the evening. That’s the best selfie experience,” explained Leong al luding to stunning photos that the phone’s front camera can capture. Boasting a studio-level triple camera set up, Xiaomi 12 Lite features a 108MP main camera powered by a large HM2 sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide angle camera, and a 2MP macro camera that captures high-definition images in detail from any angle. When com bined with Eye tracking focus and enabled Motion capture, the camera setup gives bet ter clarity and quality to pictures and opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for impromptu cover shots. Additionally, Xiaomi 12 Lite comes in stalled with a series of impressive imaging features to enrich your posts and videos on so cial media, including Magic cutout—a profes sional editor that automatically identifies and outlines people, cats, and dogs for image edit ing, Vlog mode with 19 templates for creating vlogs in various styles in an instant, and other exciting features such as One-click AI cinema and a range of easy-to-use cinematic filters.
Meanwhile, Tomi Adrias, head of mar keting for Xiaomi Philippines, shared that the brand started engaging with Gabbi since the Xiaomi 11 5G NE campaign last year. “She is very influential. Aside from that, she embodies the tonality of the Xiaomi Lite Series - being stylish, fashionable, very good design matched with very good func tionalities,” Adrias said.
Flagship-level 5G performance with 67W turbo charging Xiaomi 12 Lite is equipped with a Snap dragon 778G chipset to deliver flagship-level 5G performance. Built on a 6nm process, the octa-core SoC maximizes 5G while keeping a balance between performance and power consumption. The multi-tier cooling system ensures efficient heat dissipation in order to deliver a smooth all-around experience. The 4,300mAh battery on Xiaomi 12 Lite easily supports full-day of usage, while the 67W turbo charging powers up to 100 per cent of battery in just 41 minutes to keep you on the move. As for prolonging the smartphone’s long-term battery health, Xi aomi’s smart charging algorithm - Xiaomi AdaptiveCharge, learns users’ night-time charging patterns to optimize charging strategy throughout the night, allowing the device to be charged fully right before the user wakes up.
Featuring all-day eye care including Sun light mode 3.0, Reading mode 3.0 and True Display, Xiaomi 12 Lite provides a comfort able viewing experience and works to mini mize eye Xiaomistrain.12Lite also incorporates a pair of stereo speakers and Dolby Atmos spa tial audio technology for an immersive sound experience.
All-new Xiaomi AIoT products to enhance home lifestyles Xiaomi also unveiled its new AIoT eco system products, which include the Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact (P4,799 with free Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact filter), Xiaomi Smart Doorbell 3 (P5,199 with free Mi Motion-Activated Night Light 2), Xiaomi Smart Pet Feeder (P5,199 with free Mi 360° Camera (1080P)) and Xiaomi Smart Pet Fountain (P3,299). These innovative products offer smarter ways for individuals to enhance their life styles indoors. All of these devices can be accessed through the Xiaomi/Mi Home App on the Xiaomi 12 Lite.
The Menara located on the ground floor of the iconic Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where the official launch of Xiaomi 12 Lite was held KM Leong talks about Xiaomi milestones A DJ spins EDM music to entertain guests Xiaomi 12 Lite phones on display Xiaomi executives and top vendors
The Philippine media with Kah Mun Leong (center), general manager for Southeast Asia of Xiaomi International Kapuso star and market.theendorserisGabbipersonalitysocialhyphenatedmulti-mediaGarciaXiaomi’sforPhilippine
The perfect ‘it girl’ as endorser For the Philippine market, Xiaomi is renew ing its partnership with television star Gabbi Garcia whom Leong introduced as “the mil lionaire It Girl” during the grand launch. “We are partnering with the millionaire It Girl Gabbi Garcia who is an actress, a mod el, and a well-loved social media personal ity,” Leong said during the announcement before introducing the new fashion film headlined by the Kapuso star.
Immersive viewing and sound experience for everyday use Xiaomi 12 Lite comes with a 6.55” AMOLED display and features both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision that brings a first-class viewing experience. The True Color display, capable of displaying 68 bil lion colors, delivers rich and accurate color when browsing through your photo albums or through your favorite fashion catalogs. It’s also equipped with a screen refresh rate of up to 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz for a smoother experience.
“I T’S a perfect balance between design and efficiency.” That was everyone’s main takeaway from the official launch of Xiaomi 12 Lite held on August 18 at Menara located on the ground floor of the iconic Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. On the night of great food and music, the chic event billed My Style, My Shot, Xiao mi’s flagship phone was introduced to the members of the local media and the press who came all the way from the Philippines and“WeCambodia.arelaunching a phone that comes in a range of gorgeous colors, which looks beautiful yet really highly functional. It’s extremely slim and lightweight letting us ers go about their everyday tasks with ease,” said Kah Mun Leong, general manager for South East Asia of Xiaomi International. But before making the grand announce ment, the executive shared some of the milestones for Xiaomi including its move ment in the Fortune Global 500 list for the 4th consecutive year, rising 72 places in 2022 compared to the previous year. “We are the number one smartphone vendor in Malaysia, and no. 4 in the Phil ippines, and also recognized as the no. 1 mobile phone brand by GMV and Units sold by Lazada and Shopee during their 6.6, 7.7, and 8.8 sales,” Leong beamed to the audi ence earning cheers and applauses. Speaking onstage with a massive video wall as a backdrop, Leong unveiled Xiao mi’s flagship smartphone that boasts a sleek 7.29mm thin design and weighs a mere 173g, allowing users to have an incredibly comfortable in-hand grip. The back cover is fitted with a matte color gradient that dances with the light. The color further stretches across the flat edges for a simple yet refined aesthetic. On its back are three elegantly placed metalringed rear cameras that convey a height ened sense of Showcasingluxury.afashionable color palette, Xiaomi 12 Lite’s refined design stands out in three stunning colors - Lite Green, Lite Pink, and Black, appealing to the desire for self-expression in all of us. Best front camera experience “With this flagship phone, we are intro ducing the best front camera experience. It captures more light, and has autofocus let ting users focus more quickly and easily on what they really wanted [to capture],” the executive added. The 32MP front camera features a GD2 sensor and autofocus capabilities, enabling ultra-clear selfies with refined clarity and color. Powered by Xiaomi’s self-developed algorithm that leverages depth estimation and portrait matting to simulate a true-tolife bokeh effect, the Selfie portrait mode with auto HDR manages to deliver flatter ing fashion selfie results. Complemented by Xiaomi Selfie Glow—two soft LEDs, the front camera captures your natural beauty in exceptional detail in all scenarios. “It places you in the spotlight, adding light to any photos. Without a doubt, the Xiaomi Selfie Glow feature gives a perfect finishing touch to all selfies. It also means that all my video calls are always brighter
Dazzle in these rainy day outfits
