by Senator Cynthia Villar also favored Nograles’ designation as CSC chief. Nograles was appointed by then Pres ident Duterte. He was also designated by President Marcos to the same post. With the confirmation, Garcia will serve as Comelec chairman and Nograles as CSC chairman until Feb. 2, 2029. Villar described Nograles as a versa tile public servant having functioned as the chairman of the Cabinet Assistance Next page Next page Next page pageNext pageNext page Next page Comelec chairman George GarciaCSC chairman Karlo Nograles
P RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he secured some $14.36 billion (about P804 billion) worth of investment pledges during this four-day state visits to Indonesia and“MySingapore.inauguralstate visits to our two important Asean neighbors were fruit ful and engaging,” Mr. Marcos said in his arrival speech in Manila late Wednesday evening. “We will do everything that we can to ensure that what we have started in my inaugural state visits will be com pleted, until ordinary Filipinos feel the impact of these investments. We look forward to doing the detailed work nec essary to bring all of these proposals to fruition,” he Malacañangadded.earlier announced that Mr. Marcos has secured $8.484 billion worth of investment pledges from his three-day state visit to Indonesia.
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SINGAPORE has named a purple or chid hybrid after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza AranetaMarcos during the last day of their state visit to the Lion City on Wednesday. The Marcoses got a first-hand look at the Dendrobium orchid when they visit ed Singapore’s National Botanical Gar den on the last day of their state visit, according to “DendrobiumMalacañang.Ferdinand Louise Mar cos” was described as “a robust and free-flowering orchid hybrid.” It produces semi-arching inflores cences of 50 to 70 centimeters in length that bear 20 to 30 well-arranged flow ers, with each flower measuring ap proximately 4 centimeters in width. The orchid’s curled sepals have a white background adorned with laven der striations, while its petals are white and flushed with bluish mauve. Mr. Marcos is the latest leader to be honored under the so-called “orchid di plomacy,” a tradition of naming a new orchid species grown in Singapore after a foreign leader or celebrity.
By Vince Lopez, Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas
“We liberalized the use of masks out doors but for low-risk individuals and IATF has recommended relaxing the face mask mandate outdoors even as it encouraged senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals to continue their face masks.
wearing
MURDER charges have been filed against 30 police officers and person nel allegedly involved in the “Bloody Sunday” incident on March 7, 2021 that led to the deaths of nine activ ists and the arrest of six others in the Calabarzon region, the Department of Justice said on Wednesday. Justice Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said the murder complaints against the policemen arose from the operation to serve search warrants in Batangas that led to the deaths of the activists.
Norman Cruz
or email: circulation@manilastandard.net BUSINESS / B4
By Othel V. Campos “DATA aggregators” and contact-trac ing apps are not the culprit in the on going “massive” spam phone messages that have targeted individuals through personalized “smishing” (SMS phish ing) operations that include the recipi ents’ actual names, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) said on Wednesday. Though it may appear organized, the recent wave of smishing is likely “text blasts” transferred phone-tophone, Privacy Commissioner John Henry Naga said in the privacy we binar Privacy, Safety, Security and Trust Online (PSST!). “As confirmed with the telecommu nications companies, smishing messag es which are sent using mobile numbers are possible through a phone-to-phone (P2P) transmission,” Naga said. “Such transmission is usually coursed through a telecommunication compa ny’s regular network and does not pass through data aggregators,” he said. This developed as the Philippine Na tional Police renewed its call to enact a law that would mandate the registration of all SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards, amid the explosion of personal ized text scams in the past weeks. Police Brig. Gen. Jose Chiquito Ma layo, PNP Deputy Chief for Adminis tration, said such a law would add more
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PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not express his stand on the case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipi no on death row in Indonesia, until his government crafts a policy on the issue, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles said Wednesday. Cruz Angeles said the President will stay mum despite the appeal of the Veloso family for Mr. Marcos to bring up the matter with his In donesian counterpart Joko Widodo. “When it’s matters of interna tional relations, the President will make a pronouncement only when the policy is already set in place and after recommendations made by DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs),” she said. “We are always very careful about any statements because they have repercussions later on. We also do not want to transgress the sovereignty of another state,” the Press Secretary added. Foreign Affairs Secretary En rique Manalo met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Murder raps filed vs. cops linked to ‘Bloody Sunday’ Palace to keep mum on Veloso case at this point
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
THE Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday confirmed the ap pointments of George Erwin Garcia and Karlo Alexei Bendigo Nograles as chairmen of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Civil Service Commission (CSC), respectively.
Garcia was initially appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte as Comelec commissioner in 2022. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. then appointed him as Comelec chairman. He was a former election lawyer of President Marcos in his election protest against former Vice President Leni Robredo in the 2016 vice presi dential election.
By Rey E. Requejo
THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has recommended the voluntary use of face masks outdoors, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.InaPalace media briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Undersecretary Ma ria Rosario Vergeire said the optional wearing of a face mask is only for lowrisk individuals and in low-risk settings.
DIPLOMACY.ORCHID
By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., accompanied by his wife, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, with ForeignSingaporeMinister Vivian Balakrishnan (2nd from left) and his wife Joy Balakrishnan (left) attend an Couple.isFerdinandorchid,7,SingaporeOrchidceremonyorchid-namingattheNationalGardeninonSeptember2022.TheviolethybridDendrobiumLouiseMarcos,namedaftertheFirst AFP
PBBM brings home $14.36b worth of investment pledges
PESO P57.14FURTHERSLUMPSTOVS.$1
The CA Committee on Constitution al Commissions and Offices chaired
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in Orchid named after First Couple NTC says ‘smishing’ likely text blasts, not data aggregator-generated CA confirms Garcia for Comelec, Nograles for CSC IATF FOR OPTIONAL USE OF MASKS OUTDOORS, PILOT TEST INDOORS VOL. XXXVI • NO. 205 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com MASKLESS SOON? The
The three leaders said the COC must also safeguard the rights and interests of all parties in the South China Sea. China, the Philippines, and several other littoral states are locked in a ter ritorial dispute over the vital sea lane, where Beijing claims about 80 percent under its nine-dash line. The COC, a framework that would establish a set of rules to manage ten sions in the area, is under negotiation between China and the ASEAN. Aside from South China Sea, the three also discussed the situation in Myanmar and the continuing war in Ukraine. They called for the release of all po litical detainees in Myanmar including President U Win Myint, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and foreign detainees.
The NPC is also working closely with telecommunications companies in creating countermeasures against the recent wave of targeted smishing mes sages, Naga said.
“The NPC shall pursue its investi gation to its full extent and within the bounds of its mandate to protect the fundamental human right to privacy,” NagaThroughsaid. relevant issuances, the Com mission “will be compelling entities in volved to take firm action in addressing the possible privacy risk brought about by targeted smishing messages.”
* A memorandum of understanding between the Department of Information and Communications Technology of the Philippines and the Ministry of Com munications and Information of Singa pore in the field of digital cooperation; * A joint communiqué between the Department of Migrant Workers of the Philippines and the Ministry of Health of Singapore on the recruitment of Fili pino health care workers.
T AIWAN has temporarily stopped visa-free privileges for Filipinos.
The NPC reminds the public to re main vigilant and report incidents of targeted smishing through the NPC email, reportsmishing@privacy.gov.ph, or through its social media pages.
The PNP has been pushing for a law that would mandate the registration of prepaid phone cards, which are sold wide ly across the country at cheap prices. System, head of the Cabinet Cluster Secretariat, and chairman of the InterAgency Task Force on Zero Hunger. “As a lawyer, he is best qualified to chair the Civil Service Commission. His legal and human resource skills are key in reviewing policies of the CSC to ensure a responsive and trans formational civil service,” Villar said in her sponsorship speech.
“We are now gathering pieces of ev idence; we’re also creating a concept paper where and how the pilot study will be implemented” Vergeire said. She said the optional wearing of face masks outdoors is not yet a policy as the President has yet to issue an executive or der accepting the IATF recommendation. A pilot test of the proposal, if approved by the President, will happen “toward the last quarter of 2022,” she said. The IATF recommendation comes as Cebu City defied a national mask mandate and made the wearing of masks optional outdoors. Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-An geles, meanwhile, said the Palace is studying the IATF recommendation, and that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was optimistic about its effect. Citing the Department of Tourism (DOT), she said studies are showing a direct correlation between the lifting of the face mask policy to an increase in tourism However,numbers.shesaid local authorities also need to do their part in raising vaccination and booster rates. “There are studies that show direct correlation between the removal of man datory mask mandate and an increase in tourism numbers. On the other hand, we cannot just change health protocols without a backup plan and the backup plan really here is to make sure that peo ple are boostered,” she said. Cruz-Angeles also reminded the public of the need to maintain a bal ance between the people’s health and theTheeconomy.Department of the Interior and Lo cal Government warned that local govern ment units not following the national gov ernment’s policy on the use of face masks indoors will be “disciplined.”
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Taiwan halts visa-free privilege for PH
lowing them to stay visa-free in Taiwan for at least 14 days. The policy was extended and con tinued through July 31, 2020, until the pandemic came and borders were virtually closed. Taiwan resumed the policy for Manila from August 2021 to July 31, 2022. In past statements, the Taipei Eco nomic and Cultural Office said Ma nila’s initial inclusion was a “display of Taiwan’s amity with the Philip pines” and “to boost the travel con venience for Filipinos to visit Taiwan for leisure, business, or other shortterm purposes.”
The administration, he said, is striving hard to provide quality services to Fili pinos abroad and, at the same time, take care of their families in the Philippines through different government programs. Next year, Marcos vowed to make the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) fully operational through the stewardship of Secretary Susan Ople. There are over 200,000 Filipinos in Singapore working as household ser vice workers, medical professionals, en gineers, architects, bankers, entrepre neurs, teaching personnel, performers, lawyers, media practitioners, research ers, writers, as well as IT professionals. Despite the pandemic, OFWs in Sin gapore continue to send remittances to their families in the Philippines. Last year, Singapore was the second highest sender of OFW remittances, amounting to $2.2 billion. During his state visit, the Philippines and Singapore signed a number agree ments, including:
* A memorandum of understanding on cooperation in personal data pro tection between the National Privacy Commission of the Philippines and the Personal Data Protection Commission of *Singapore;Amemorandum of understanding between the Bases Conversion and De velopment Authority of the Philippines and Enterprise Singapore for Singapore and Philippines to collaborate on busi ness opportunities on the development of New Clark City; * A memorandum of understanding between the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System of the Philippines and the Public Utilities Board of Singa pore on water collaboration; and * Arrangements between the Singa pore Armed Forces and Armed Forces of the Philippines concerning the as signment of a team to the Regional Counterterrorism Information Facility in MarcosSingapore.arrived in Singapore on Tues day for a two-day state visit. Before flying to Singapore, Marcos had a three-day state visit to Indonesia, where he met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and witnessed the signing of agreements on the economy, culture, andMarcosdefense.was expected to return to the Philippines on Wednesday night.
The South China Sea and the need to maintain a conducive environment for code of conduct (COC) negotiations were among the issues discussed by Marcos and Singaporean leaders during his state visit. In a joint statement, Marcos, Sin gapore President Halimah Yacob, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong sought a stable South China Sea, as they reiter ated the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) call for “peaceful resolution of disputes” without resort ing to threat or use of force. “They underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Par ties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, and to conduct substantive ne gotiations towards the conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Con duct in the South China Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, in cluding 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” the statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
“His extensive experience in public service, especially during our coun try’s most challenging battle against COVID-19, showed and proved his fit ness and competence to be at the helm of the central personnel agency of the Philippine government. He is sure to inject his brand of visionary and stra tegic leadership to help the CSC fulfill its constitutional mandate,” she added. Senator Grace Poe, a former client of Garcia in an election case, described him as probably one of the most famous leading men in oral arguments before the Comelec, electoral tribunals, and even the Supreme Court. “It’s not unusual to hear of his involve ment in high-profile and controversial election cases, but he accepts these not for the recognition, but simply because it is his calling,” she said. “Blessed with a bril liant legal mind, he has devoted himself to upholding the integrity of our electoral system, and pushing for necessary ad vancements in our jurisprudence.” Garcia, before his confirmation, said the Comelec should lease new vote count ing machines for the 2025 polls to prevent incidents of malfunctioning VCMs.
As a concrete course of action, local telcos have blocked identified mobile numbers that sent smishing messages and are continuously blocking mes sages with malicious URLs (Uniform Resource Locators or Internet links) as sociated with smishing.
“It can also be acquired thru random typing of numbers in social media mes saging apps like Viber, which when add ed, the messaging app will automatically supply the person’s name,” he said. Social media has been abuzz about SMS (short messaging service) that contain the names of phone users, rais ing concerns about data privacy. In discounting that possibility, the NPC’s complaints and investigation di vision observed from the smishing re port it received that the smishing mes sages appear to have been sent using specific mobile numbers registered to certain texting services, Naga said. Unlike a P2P transmission, data ag gregators use an application-to-phone (A2P) transmission. The messages re ceived using this transmission use SMS ID like bank names and organization names that identifies data aggregators, or the brand or business name using the data aggregator’s services. Nonetheless, NPC said it has continu ously probed potential sources and the root cause of targeted smishing messag es, such as patterns in the use of name formats that prospectively match the names of data subjects registered with popular payment applications, mobile wallets, and messaging applications.
low-risk settings meaning they are not elderly. And low risk setting, meaning in uncrowded areas and with proper air ventilation,” she said. The recommendation also includes a pilot study on the wearing of masks indoors in selected areas. IATF noted that its implementation must be done in phases to ensure the popu lation’s protection against the coronavirus.
The President expressed optimism that the country could overcome what ever roadblock, particularly the corona virus pandemic, with its talented and hardworking people. “There is no doubt in my mind that the Philippines can recover from the hard ships caused by the pandemic. Hand in hand, we will all rise together,” he said. “We will rise above the challenges and we will fly to greater heights. We are Filipinos and must be proud that we are Filipino, ” he added.
The Bureau of Consular Affairs said the move was only temporary and sub ject to Taiwanreview.Ministry of Foreign Af fairs (MOFA) spokesperson Joanne Ou on Wednesday said the Philip pines was not technically removed. Rather, its inclusion in the scheme, which lapsed in July 2022, has just yet to “[W]eresume.didn’t ‘suspend’ it. Most of the Asian countries haven’t been ‘resumed’ just yet, but I am sure it will be in our next round of considerations. On 9/5 (September 5, 2022) we only resumed 54 countries from the original 66 coun tries of visa waivers,” she said. “For the rest of Asian countries, it will be in our next round of considerations, so it was not ‘suspended’, but rather just not yet. And of course, we highly value the good relationship with the Philip pines,” she added. Starting September 12, only 54 coun tries, including Australia, the United States, and France, are allowed visafree entry to Taiwan. Aside from the Philippines, the scheme has yet to resume for Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Russia, Israel, Chile, Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua in its visa-exempt entry scheme. Likewise, Filipino vessel/aircraft crew members or service personnel in tending to board to report for duty are “ineligible for the visa-free entry.” Filipinos were first included in the scheme in a nine-month trial period from November 2017 to July 2018, al
NTC... From A1 Orchid... From A1 IATF... From A1 PBBM... From A1 CA... From A1 Murder... From A1 Palace... From A1 mst.daydesk@gmail.comTHURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 8, 2022A2
teeth to the PNP’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to run after scammers, who appear to have “leveled up” as the text messages they send now contain the names of actual phone users. “This is expected to assist law enforc ers in identifying culprits or scammers who use their communication devices to victimize unsuspecting individuals,” saidPoliceMalayo.Brig. Gen. Joel Doria, direc tor of the PNP ACG, said their initial investigation disclosed that the send ers’ numbers are not linked to any so cial media accounts, messaging apps, and digital wallets. “This is apparently to avoid identifica tion by law enforcers. We have already conducted social media exploitations and there are numerous possibilities on how scammers get hold of the personal information of the recipients of spam text messages,” said Doria. He said the data may have been sold and bought in bulk on the “dark web,” where hackers and techies use special software to buy and sell information, which makes the users anonymous andTheuntraceable.information may also have been obtained through social media plat forms, websites, and phone directories around the Accordinginternet.toDoria, raffle tickets and other standard application forms that people would fill out in markets and other establishments could also be a source.
Singapore Botanical Garden cura tor Whang Lay Keng said the orchid naming shows the close diplomatic ties between the two countries which will “grow and propagate” just like the“Weorchid.are very honored to have an orchid named after the President and [his] spouse,” Whang said. Orchid varieties have been named after Filipino leaders and celebrities in the past, among them former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, the Presi dent’sFormermother.President Gloria-Macapa gal Arroyo also had an orchid named afterTheher. late Presidents Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and his mother, Corazon “Cory” Aquino, were also given similar recognition. Vince Lopez “For those involved in Bloody Sunday, as per the EO 35 team, there were murder cases filed with the Office of the Prosecutor against 30 PNP officers and personnel,” Dulay said during the budget hear ing conducted by the House com mittee on appropriations. Dulay was responding to ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Cas tro’s inquiry regarding updates on the investigation into the Bloody Sunday incident.TheDOJ official said a preliminary investigation is ongoing, even as he committed to submit the status of the cases to the committee. The National Bureau of Investiga tion previously filed complaints for murder against 17 police personnel. When asked if the policemen in volved are currently detained, Dulay reiterated the cases are still undergo ing“We’reinvestigation.stillat the PI stage. Once this is done, our prosecutors will reach a decision on whether to file informa tion or not,” Dulay explained. But Castro noted the preliminary probe seems to be taking longer than usual since it involved uniformed per sonnel.Castro said the Bloody Sunday op eration was “obviously a murder,” cit ing the case of Bayan Cavite coordina tor Manny Asuncion, who was among thoseJusticekilled.Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he is among those who were disheartened by the death of Asuncion, who was shot in a raid at the Workers Assistance Center. “Manny Asuncion was my friend. We were always texting and talking before. And if there were people who were saddened by what happened, I am one of them,” Re mulla admitted.
Jakarta on the sidelines of Mr. Marcos’ state visit earlier this week to formally ask for executive clemency for Veloso, who has been sentenced to death in Indonesia on drug trafficking charges. Angeles assured the public the govern ment is continuously pushing for clem ency to be granted to Veloso, a domestic helper from Nueva Ecija, who was arrest ed in 2010 for smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin into Indonesia. She denied the accusations, saying she was tricked by her recruiter to bring the drugs, valued at around $500,000 or over P28 million, contained in the seams of a suitcase that Veloso said was given to her. She was meted the death penalty in October 2010 and was supposed to be executed by firing squad in April 2015. However, she was granted a last-minute stay of execution so she could stand as a witness in the human trafficking case against her recruiter Kristina Sergio and Sergio’s partner Julius Lacanilao. Veloso, now 37, is currently detained at the Wonosari Women’s Penitentiary in Yogyakarta and is in “relatively good health,” the DFA said. The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta had retained the services of an Indone sian law firm to serve as her legal coun sel in accordance with Indonesian rules, the department added. In August 2011, former President Be nigno Aquino III submitted an appeal for clemency on behalf of Veloso to his Indonesian counterpart, Susilo Bam bang Yudhoyono. The latter replied months later that the case will be given careful consideration in accordance with Indonesia’s relevant laws. When incumbent Indonesian Presi dent Joko Widodo was first elected in 2014, he declared war against drug traf ficking and rejected all the clemency re quests from drug convicts on death row. In January 2015, he rejected a batch of clemency appeals, including Veloso’s. Widodo had invited Mr. Marcos to a state visit on the latter’s inauguration last July, and the President made his first-ever foreign trip as Chief Executive to the Phil ippines’ southern neighbor. Cruz-Angeles said the President has yet to release an official statement on Veloso’s case but assured that processes are“If“moving.”thePresident feels that the policy is in place and it’s time to make a pronounce ment then, of course, he will do so. But for the moment, things are still moving. Since it was on Sept. 4 only that our foreign affairs (department) brought the matter up to their local counterpart in Indonesia, then there’s no decision yet that’s made,” she said.
Befor he left for Manila, Mr. Mar cos courted the Singaporean business community to invest in the Philippines, which he described as “Asia’s fastest rising star.” He said the Southeast Asian country became the Philippines’ top investor last year, with Singaporean companies maintaining big-ticket projects in tel ecommunications, infrastructure, start up and innovation, renewable energy, and health care. He said the next six years under his administration would be grounded on a favorable investment policy environ ment, sound macroeconomic funda mentals, and a solid and decisive eco nomic team. “We are on a steady path to a strong recovery from the pandemic and robust economic expansion,” the President said. “My administration is committed to establishing an even more competitive business climate conducive to highvalue investments. More investments translate to higher economic activity, more jobs, and a better life for all Filipi nos,” he added. “We proactively attract investments in our country in order to accelerate post-pandemic growth and create more jobs in the Philippines.”
At a news conference in Quezon City, lawyer Nikki de Vega, spokesperson of the Germany-based Dermalog, insisted that her client has a very good reputation “worldwide,” and that Guadiz was besmirching its reputation over his allegations that Dermalog must be blamed for the Malware attack on the agency’s system that caused the slow processing of driver’s license applications and other transactions.
PASIG RIVER CLEANUP. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority jointly undertake removal of water hyacinths that usually choke the metropolis’ main waterway during the rainy season. Manny Palmero
Health workers to suffer most from budget cut—DOH
THE Department of Health (DOH) is pushing for an increase in funds for the benefits and allowances of health workers next year. According to the DOH, benefits and allowances of health workers will suffer the most from the cuts in its proposed budget for 2023.
By Willie Casas
PRESIDENTIAL Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) chair Elpidio Jordan Jr. on Wednesday spearheaded the awarding of accreditation certificates to 25 urban poor organizations for linking their communities to the national government through its line agencies. PCUP Commissioner for the National Capital Region Rey Galupo, NCR Field Operations Division assistant chief Dennis Protasio, and area coordinators attended the activity. The PCUP chief cited the importance of having urban poor organizations accredited by the Commission to gain access to much-needed services for the marginalized sectors. “I can see how excited you are in your new role as lea ders of urban poor organizations. We cannot measure your responsibility to resolve various issues,” he“Thissaid. is the reason why we are giving you th recognition,” he added. On the other hand, Galupo vowed to transform the PCUP into an approachable agency, saying this time, the agency will assist the urban poor in seeking help from the national government by facilitating all means available. “We will not only be sitting inside our air-conditione offices but will be ‘hands-onÂ’ with our jobs, moving and empathizing with the happening on the ground for the equal protection of all stakeholders.” Rio N. Araja
By Rio N. Araja
DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Wednesday instructed local government units (LGUs) to implement strengthened measures against dengue in their respective areas of responsibility. Abalos issued the order amid an alarming increase in dengue cases, stressing the need to prevent its spread especially now that students have returned to in-person classes. “Dengue remains to be a public health threat and with the escalating cases in the country today, LGUs must take a proactive stance and implement strategies to protect our people in the communities from this deadly disease,” Abalos said. “We are not new to dengue outbreaks and we have already defeated these. With LGUs taking the lead, we will overcome this again,” he added.
THE Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) information technology (IT) service provider wanted LTO chief Teofilo Gua diz III to issue an apology for blam ing it over processing delays and long lines in district offices in Metro Manila and in some provinces.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com A3News
KEEPING THE FOOD SUPPLY LINE ALIVE. Delivery boys ease trolleys loaded with plastic boxes of goods to be distributed to wholesale and retail stores at the Kadiwa Market on Congressional Ave. in Dasmariñas City, Cavite. They say despite their meager income, they have no complaints because they are helping ensure families have food on the table. Gil Calinga
DILG chief orders LGUs to initiate anti-dengue drives also present during the news conference at the House of Representatives.
“I just hope that Guadiz would rec tify matters by apologizing,” she toldShereporters.saidDermalog that backs the Land Transportation Management System’s online portal of the LTO has been proven to be faster compared to LTO’s previous system.
THE Court of Appeals (CA) has denied a motion for reconsideration of actor-television host Eduardo “Edu” Manzano seeking a reversal of its 2021 decision that dismissed his complaint involving P2.6 million against ABC Development Corporation (TV5) after he declined to host a new game show called “Quiet Please.” In a two-page resolution dated August 31, the CA’s Former 17th Division denied the appeal of Manzano and his agency, Tentra, Inc., saying the actor did not raise new arguments to warrant a reversal of the assailed ruling. “The motion for reconsideration does not raise any new matter. Plaintiffs-appellant’s arguments are mere rehash of issues which have been elevated in the appeal, all of which have been addressed and exhaustively discussed in the assailed decision,” stated the resolution penned by Associate Justice Florencio Mamauag Jr. “Accordingly, the motion is denied for lack of merit,” the court ruled. Associate Justices Carlito Calpatura and Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles concurred with the ruling. The appellate court held that Manzano was not entitled to the P2.6 million deducted by TV5 from his P63millionCourtfees.records showed that Manzano, represented by his manager June Torrejon Rufino of Tentra, Inc., signed a three-year agreement with TV5 guaranteeing him P63 million in talent fees from Sept. 1, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2014. Under the contract, Manzano was obliged to do on-camera acting as well perform other services such as on-air appearances, costume fittings, makeup calls, pre-production meetings, rehearsals, publicity and promotional trailers, mall shows, post-production activities, ad agency visits and participation in station ID shoots.
Abalos said the LGUs can activate the Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD) to motivate a movement to counter the spread of dengue in communities. He said ABKD, an inter-agency effort against dengue, has been institutionalized since 2012 and has led to victories in the battle against the disease. Under ABKD, village chiefs must initiate cleanup drives within the community by mobilizing volunteers, residents and barangay health teams such as the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team and Barangay Health Workers.
De Vega stressed that Dermalog was looking into possible inside job, saying the “LTO’s computers were used to sabotage the program, and it happened within the premises of LTO.”
Group towantsGermanagainststrongerseekslawpiracyITfirmLTOchiefapologize
EARTHQUAKE DRILL. Students of the Epifanio delos Santos Elementary School in Singalong, Malate, Manila cover their heads during a disaster preparedness rehearsal which was part of a larger National Earthquake Drill meant to minimize casualties in emergency situations. Norman Cruz
“To this end, we implore our lawmakers to act on House Bill 799 authored by Rep. Joey Salceda. This will be the first bill for urgent reforms to the Intellectual Property Code that institutionalizes site blocking as an anti-piracy strategy,” Abejo said. House Bill 799 entitled “An Act Establishing for The Revised Intellectual Property Code of The Philippines” seeks to amend the IP Code by expanding the power of regulators to address online violation of intellectual property rights. The bill redefines pirated goods to include content in electronic or digital form, allows the IPOPHL to temporarily or permanently block websites and other platforms, broadens regulators’ powers to conduct intelligence gathering and block sites in coordination with other government agencies or intermediary service providers, and prescribes penalties against Intellectual Property Rights violators of up to P1 million. Abejo said the bill already enjoys wide support from stakeholders in the creative industry, telecommunication companies, and internet service providers. Salceda, during a recent summit dubbed “Content Piracy: A Barrier to Economic Growth and A Danger to Consumers”, organized by the Asia Video Industry Association, the Coalition Against Piracy and Globe Telecom, said there remains many things to do to combat online piracy. He proposed a five-point strategy for knowledge industries that could arrest this problem and enable the industry to enjoy the support it deserves.
By Rey E. Requejo
“We want these kidnapping gangs preying on the Filipino-Chinese community stamped out right away. We do not want their nefarious activities to mutate into a larger threat,” Libanan, nominee of 4Ps party-list group, said. “This is clearly a law enforcement problem. The only reason these kidnappers are getting bolder is because they have not been apprehended, and they have not been put behind bars,” Libanan stressed. Libanan made the statement following a news conference Wednesday wherein Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PCCCII officials appealed for the government’s help against kidnapping syndicates whom they said have been targeting the FilipinoChinese community. PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Undersecretary Agapito Guanlao were
CA junks Edu’s P2.6-m motion over row with TV5
DOH officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire lamented the meager funds allocated to sustain the benefits of all healthcare workers in the country until the end of next year. Vergeire issued her observation following comments by Quezon Rep. Keith Micah Tan who asked which DOH projects will be most affected by the cuts in its proposed budget. “We have a list of programs that received lacking funds in the 2023 budget. But primarily, what we are appealing to our Committee on Health and the members of the House of Representatives would be our insufficient budget that was provided for the healthcare workers’ benefits,” she said at the House of Representatives health committee hearing.
PCCCII secretary-general Bengsum Ko said most of the kidnappings were reported in the National Capital Region (NCR), notably in the cities of Pasay, Parañaque, Makati and Taguig. During the press briefing, Ko read a letter from PCCCII president Lugene Ang, stating that they have received 56 reports of kidnapping incidents over the past 10 days alone, excluding unreported cases. “Recent disturbing events create a state of fear and uneasiness among the Filipino-Chinese community. This is because of the recent rampant kidnapping cases both in Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon,” Ang said in his letter addressed to Congress and coursed through Libanan.
PCUP accredits 25 urban poor organizations
By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan on Wednesday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to stem the rash of kidnap for ransom incidents before they become a bigger threat to Metro Manila’s peace and order situation.
A CONSUMER advocacy group urges Congress to hasten the passage of an anti-piracy measure, saying that pertinent laws would give stronger protection to intellectual property owners, harness local talent and creativity, and provide consumers a safe digital environment.“Weshould encourage and develop, not discourage and disincentivize, the potential of the Filipino talent toward being a global creative powerhouse,” said lawyer Tim Abejo, coconvenor of CitizenWatch Philippines.
Solon urges PNP to curb rash of kidnappings in NCR
Then LTO chief Edgar Galvante tapped Dermalog to be the agency’s IT provider in 2018.
PNP: 5 suspects surrender in alleged killing of pharma exec
Lawmakers back approval of DOJ P28.2b
SC upholds graft case vs. Datu Sajid Ampatuan
on the financial sector from 83 to 58. That will significantly simplify tax ad ministration and encourage more finan cial transactions and financial inclusion in the country,” Salceda said. “If we are able to enact this package as proposed, we will be able to complete the Comprehensive Tax Reform, one of the largest tax reform programs of any country in the world. The program, I am proud to say, is now a case study for model reforms and best practices, in Harvard University, where Senior Vice Chair Suansing is a graduate,” Salceda said in his speech. Apart from simplifying tax rates, the bill harmonizes the interest income tax rates and gradually reduces these from 20 percent to 15 percent. This, Salceda said, will benefit the small savers or those with savings of less than 15,000 pesos, which comprise 79 percent of the total number of deposit accounts in the country, citing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data on the profile of depositors. The proposal also removes the docu mentary stamp tax on certificates. Common employment requirements such as the NBI clearance, birth certificates, diplomas, and tran scripts of records will no longer be subject to the DST.
THE House of Representatives on Wednesday pushed for the approval of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) pro posed P28.2 billion budget for 2023. At the same time, the House appro priations committee chaired by Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co commended Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remul la for the creation of the Prosecution Integrity Board of the DOJ. “We laud Secretary [Crispin] Re mulla’s first official order as head of the DOJ to create the Prosecution In tegrity Board. Established through Department Circular No. 027, the Board will look into misconducts of government prosecutors and rec ommend sanctions against them if necessary,” Co said during the hearing. As the State’s principal law agency, Co said the DOJ plays an indispensable role as government’s prosecution arm and administers government’s crimi nal justice system. DOJ is tasked to in vestigate crimes, prosecute offenders, and oversee the country’s correctional system.Coalso commended Remulla for his initiatives to strengthen the cause of jus tice and cope with the challenges brought by Covid-19 through the creation of the Case Decongestion Task Force and adop tion of the “e-inquest” and “alternative preliminary investigations”.
By Othel V. Campos
Congress set to OK final tax package of PBBM admin
By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the 2019 Sandiganbayan decision that convict ed former Maguindanao Gov. Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan of graft, falsification of public documents, and malversation of pub lic funds involving P35.7 million. In a decision, the SC sustained the antigraft court’s ruling that sentenced Am patuan to imprisonment ranging from six months to eight years in each of the 63 cases or a total of 504 years of maximum jail term, in connection with his conviction for falsifi cation of public documents. In the malversation of public funds, upheld by the SC was the reclusion per petua (a jail term ranging from 20 to 40 years) imposed on Ampatuan and his co-accused, Datualia K. Ampi Al Haj who was then the provincial budget of ficer. They were ordered to pay a fine of P35.7Themillion.highcourt also affirmed Ampat uan and Al Haj’s conviction for graft for which they were sentenced to eight years and one day to maximum of 12 years im prisonment.OnJuly1, 2011, the Commission on Au dit found that cash advances amounting to P85.7 million were made from the funds of the province of Maguindanao and paid to Abo Lumberyard and Construction Supply for the repair of school buildings. However, the COA team discovered that despite the disbursements, no ac tual purchases of materials were made and that Abo Lumberyard “did not exist as a business entity as it had no business permit, no records with the Bureau of In ternal Revenue (BIR), and could not be found at its given address.”
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said the country continues to be selfsufficient in sardines production for the rest of 2022.
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
The annual haul, sourced locally, comes from commercial and municipal fishers, at 208,387 MT and 85,043 MT, respectively.Datafrom the national stock assess ment program of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) show that sardines stock has significantly improved resulting in more sardines reaching maturity to ap propriate catchable size. The stable supply, NFRDI noted, was due to the effective implementation of the national sardine management plan, a 5-year plan which harmonizes all the policies and programs on sardines in cluding conservation measures such as the closed fishing seasons. Implemented in 2020, the plan was responsible for the notable improve ment in production and supply of sar dines.
LAWMAKERS passed the prohibi tion of the “No Permit, No Exam” bill at the committee level on Wednesday. This means that no student will be prohibited from taking an examination despite failure to pay tuition fees and settle other dues from school. “Schools have no right to deny ad mission or enrollment to any student having unsettled tuition or other school fees,” said Senator Chiz Escudero, chair of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education. “So if in the second semester, a student did not pay tuition fee for the first semester, the ‘no per mit, no exam policy’ won’t even apply because you would deny enrollment,” he further said. Dr. Anthony Jose Tamayo, vice chairperson of the Coordinating Coun cil of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) supported this measure. The penal provision of the measure provides that teachers would not be included in any charges filed. Only the school management will be held liable.
‘PH still self-sufficient in sardine production’
Bill prohibiting ‘no permit, no exam’ rule approved
By Maricel V. Cruz
RIVER CROSSING. Residents of Barangay La Huerta and Barangay Sto. Nino use an improvised watercraft pulled by a man to cross the river boundary between the two barangays in Paranaque City. Revoli Cortez
Justice sought in alleged rape of OFW’s child KIDNAPPING SUSPECT. Alpha Tolosa Seranilla and her legal counsel Harry Roque show a photo of Carlo Cadampag, the alleged suspect in the kidnapping and killing of Eduardo G. Tolosa Jr., president, and chief executive officer of Iraseth Pharma. Tolosa Jr. reportedly went missing in July and was reportedly abducted and killed by a group of at least 11 men. Danny Pata
BAGUIO MUSEUM REHAB. Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson attends the unveiling of a wooden carving illustrating the surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita at the Baguio Museum. The US is supporting the rehabilitation of the Baguio Museum through a P7.5 million cultural preservation grant.
budget
The Philippine Statistics Authority and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquat ic Resources (BFAR) said sufficiency level for sardines or tamban is at 222.58 percent for the first quarter of 2022, and 409.06 percent for the 2nd quarter. For 2022, BFAR forecasts an annual production of 293,431 metric tons (MT) of sardines, more than enough to cover the national demand of 101,367 MT.
By Maricel V. Cruz
On March 27, 2014, COA filed with the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) charges of malversation, fraud against the public treasury, failure to render accounts, illegal use of public funds and property, and violations of Government Audit ing Code, Section 3(g) of Republic Act 3019 (the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Prac tices Act), falsification by public officers, falsification by private individuals, and use of falsified documents.
A4 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 News
By Maricel V. Cruz
A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Wednes day condemned the gang rape of a 13year old daughter of an OFW in Singa pore.“But condemnation is never enough; we join the cry for justice and the full enforcement of the law against the six maniacs who were identified by the vic tim,” Rep. Ron Salo of Kabayan partylist group, chair of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, said. “All suspects remain at-large.” “While rape is rape no matter who the victim is, I am doubly incensed because the case falls squarely within our party’s and my advocacy for the protection not only of the rights of migrant workers, but of their family members as well,” he added. Salo stressed “a different kind of trauma engulfs a migrant worker’s fam ily faced with this problem.” “I would never be able fathom the grief of a moth er who sacrificed so much to leave her family behind just to help them survive, then finds out that, in her absence, a loved one was preyed upon by licen tious individuals,” he said.
THE House of Representatives is set to approve anytime soon the final package of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), the capstone fiscal reform program of the Duterte administration, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. adopted as a policy priority during his maiden State of the Nation Address. This came after Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chair of the House ways and means committee, sponsored the measure embodied in House Bill 4339, alongside Ways and Means senior vice chair and Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela An gela“TheSuansing.billlowers the number of rates
Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Wednesday that five of the 11 suspects in the kidnapping and death of a phar maceutical executive have al Among those who turned themselves over to the police is a 13-year-old, GMA News re The report quoted PNP spokes person Jean Fajardo who said the suspects surrendered on August 8 and 11 and admitted to their participation in the crime. “There are five suspects who have surrendered voluntarily and based on their sworn statements, they admitted their participation in theTheincident.”suspects in their statements said victim Ed uardo Tolosa was killed as early as July 19, authorities said. On August 19, an official of To losa’s company received a message demanding a P100-mil lion ransom. Another mes sage asking for money was again received on September 1. Fajardo said the suspects were young people including the 13-year-old.Fajardosaid the stories of the suspects who surrendered were clear and that the suspects nar rated how they cleaned the crime scene and dug a hole to bury the victim. A piece of rock used in killing the victim was also pre sented, authorities said. Authorities said because of fear, some the suspects told their parents about the incident who pushed them to report to au thorities.
EDITORIAL
Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board
AS AN advocate for environmental protection and sustainability, I welcome with enthusiasm the news that San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has completed its clean-up initiative for the Tullahan River.My enthusiasm comes with the hope that more from the private sector will follow suit and help protect, rehabilitate and ensure the sustainability of our country’s natural resources. The clean-up of Tullahan River is among the flood mitigation projects of SMC and supports government efforts to rehabilitate Manila Bay. The initiative funded by SMC at a cost of P1 billion was launched in 2020. It is the first partnership between SMC and the Department of Environment and Natural Resourc es (DENR) under the Adopt-a-River program of theThegovernment.Tullahan-Tinajeros River system is a major tributary of Manila Bay and considered one of the most polluted waterways in the metropolis. It spans 27 kilometers from the La Mesa Water Reservoir in Quezon City to Centennial Park in Navotas City, flowing through the cities of Mala bon, Caloocan, and Valenzuela. The project involved garbage removal, and dredging and widening the river. Dredging deepens the river and increases its carrying capacity and allows free flow of water from upstream, aside from eliminating sediments that affect water quality in the waterways. The project had five phases: Phase 1 would in volve dredging the part of the Tullahan-Tinajeros River from Manila Bay to Tonsuya Bridge; Phase 2 from Tonsuya Bridge to Lambingan Bridge; Phase 3 from Lambingan Bridge to Tinajeros Bridge; Phase 4 from Tinajeros Bridge to Tulla han Bridge, and Phase 5 from Tullahan Bridge up to Potrero.Withthe completion of the project, 1.12 million metric tons of wastes were removed from the river of which 1,342 tons of solid wastes were extracted by the SMC team on the last day of operations at the Tullahan River. Despite the pandemic, SMC was able to breach the one-million-ton target. SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang (RSA) said with the cleanup of Tullahan River, flooding will be mitigated es pecially during the rainy season in nearby com munities. RSA thanked everyone who contributed to getting the job done. “We’re extremely proud of what this partner ship with the government and other stakeholders has achieved,” he added. “We are another step closer to realizing the dream of having truly clean and healthy rivers that can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations.”
The completion of Tullahan River rehabili tation project demonstrates SMC’s purposeful drive for accomplishment to benefit fellow Filipinos.Itsactive participation in government programs to protect the environment is indeed admirable. In his extemporaneous speech at the inaugura tion of the Million Trees Nursery and Eco Learn ing Center inside the La Mesa Watershed, RSA recalled how other taipans promised then Envi ronment Secretary Roy Cimatu to do their part in dredging the Tullahan River as well as other tribu taries that need private sector participation.
“This will entail a solid waste and wastewater management system that will involve all stake holders, including local and national government agencies, the private sector, and more importantly, the communities that are beside or near the river,” he SMCsaid. has embarked on coastal cleanup efforts in collaboration with community volunteers in Tanza, Navotas and Calatagan, Batangas. The conglomerate’s effort to rehabilitate our waterways is inspiring. Let us emulate the good work it has done. And our esteemed salute to RSA, an environmentalist who walks his talk in getting done for Mother Nature.
(MTV is a book author and biographer of former President Fidel V. Ramos and family, a publisher and journalist who dabbles into public relations to pursue certain advocacies).
ManilaStandard ONLINE Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors
Theextremis.Department
SMC initiative worth emulating
The initiative will be part of the flood mitigation measures in the province of Bulacan which is site of the New Manila International Airport (NMIA). San Miguel Aerocity, Inc., a subsidiary of SMC responsible for the design, construction, financ ing, and operations of the NMIA commissioned a study to assess the impact of the airport develop ment on flooding in the province. Measures to mitigate flooding in the province have been identified. For RSA, rehabilitating wa terways involves a holistic approach.
Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer
Many (of our laws) are obsolete, and must be amended to keep up with the times. Others need to be tweaked to make use of technology and digitalization
Since the prestige of UP is not the only one at stake but the country’s educational reputa tion as well, we should muster our collective resources to upgrade the ranking of our univer sities.But this is perhaps something that is not a priority for our leaders. It is too bad if this is the case because in many instances countries are judged by the quality of their universities.
The Constitution as agent of change Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com Stagnant University of the Philippines budget
*** But perhaps one quite egregious example of the law of unintended consequences hap pened in the Local Government Code of 1991, hailed as a landmark piece of legisla tion intended by its authors to enhance local autonomy.Thedownloading of more resources by way of the internal revenue allotments (IRA) came with a concomitant devolution of certain hitherto national government re sponsibilities, such as those pertaining to health, agriculture, social welfare and tour ism, among others. The health and agriculture sectors were the most affected. But for exceptional gov ernors like those of Isabela and Camarines Sur, for instance, most neglected giving ex tension services to their farmers. This is one of the reasons why our food security is now in
The ‘law’ of consequencesunintended EvEryman
By Melandrew T. Velasco
I am a bit surprised that graduates from UP are not up in arms objecting to what happened to their school’s budget. Perhaps those members of Congress who are UP graduates should show more loyalty to their alma mater instead of remaining so quiet. Although I am not a UP graduate, I am one of those who hate to see the country being overtaken in many areas where we used to be on top because it is not good for the country’s image.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 B1Opinion
of Health was relegated to providing technical support and assis tance to local health units, eventually result ing in a deterioration of public health, es pecially in the provinces, where despite the IRA, LGU’s kept complaining about their inability to provide quality health services.
MEMBER Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine NewspapersPPI can be accessed at: manilastandard.net
“The inspiration of the 1987 Constitution was EDSA. But EDSA was more than the res toration of democracy through peaceful means, it was also the promise, especially to the poor, of a new social order with radical changes be cause our present social order is rooted in a feudalistic system of dynasties that has been impervious to change for generations,” Mon sodThatsaid.was quite a mouthful to tell lawmak ers, especially since the current head of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amend ments, who used to be an onscreen action star, isn’t exactly a role model for a lawabiding citizen, let alone an exemplar for the Filipino youth. Monsod, however, clarifies that he is not against any amendment to the document, but even supports amendments to it, such as bloc voting for a presidential and vice presidential tandem, removal of the quasi-judicial functions of the Commission on Elections, amendments to the Judicial Bar and Council, and additional protection for the archipelagic character of Philippine territory. What is he saying? Let us amend the 1987 Constitution to make it responsive to the times, but first, let us implement its key provisions in the proper way, not by ignoring them and even outrightly violating them at every opportunity. While it is also true, as a sage once said, that “each generation has the right to choose for itself the form of government it believes best promotes its own happiness,” Charter change should be the product of sound and sensible arguments, not spur-of-the-moment decisions unsupported by careful reading of public sentiment and long-term national interest.
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) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandard.net
IT WAS the American sociologist Robert K. Merton who observed in 1936 that “often unanticipated consequences or unforeseen consequences are outcomes not intended by a purposeful action”. In other words, what was intended to achieve something good sometimes produce unintended negative results. There are many examples of legislation which are perfect examples of Merton’s “law”.Recently we learned from no less than our agriculture undersecretary that the country imports 93 percent of its total salt require ments.Expectedly, everyone raised a howl at the incredulity of it all. For an archipelagic country with one of the longest coastlines in the world surrounded by so much salt water, it seemed so unthinkable. Present and previous salt makers reason that aside from conversion of their land into subdivisions, RA 8172, enacted under Pres. FVR in 1995, and initiated by the DOH un der Sec. Juan Flavier, later senator of the land, is the culprit. The Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide Law of ASIN Law imposed the requirement of adding iodine to salt to eliminate micro nutrient malnutrition among Filipinos. Such lack of iodine results in thyroid problems, such as goiter which Tagalogs refer to as “bosyo”.TheASIN Law created an unintended consequence: patis and bagoong makers, big consumers of sea salt, would not use io dized salt; food exports could not be ascer tained as organic; and small farmers could not afford to follow the required iodization. I learned more than 20 years ago that we were importing salt from Australia, as told to me by a salt farmer in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte. But I did not expect the volume of imports to be as large as 93 percent. *** When I became NFA Administrator in July 2010, I inherited a mountain of debt —178 billion pesos, well above our credit limit.Moreover, I inherited mountains and mountains of rice imported from Vietnam, good for 59 days of the entire national con sumption (around 13 million tons or 260 million 50-kilo bags), double the maximum amount of inventory NFA needs for the lean months, requiring us to rent twice the num ber of warehouses the corporation owned. Apart from the over-importation of rice in the previous two years, our sales were very sluggish, even if retail prices were as low as 25 pesos per kilo. Our retailers were complaining that cus tomers did not like our rice because of the ugly yellow grains of fortified rice which when cooked resulted in a grayish color to the cooked rice. I found out that the yellow colored for tificants, added at a ratio of 50 grams to 1 kilo, was in compliance with RA 8976 of the Food Fortification Act of 2000 intended to address the micronutrient deficiency in the FilipinoBecausediet.we were part of government, my predecessor complied even if private pro ducers of sugar, cooking oil, flour and rice were not complying. As to why they ordered a yellow ochrecolored rice fortificant instead of white, they said it was to make sure there was no adul teration of NFA rice by the privates. As Filipinos were quite picky about the quality of the rice they eat, and NFA rice imports were actually 25 percent broken (25 percent binlid or pounded rice) to be able to sell low, add to that the ugly yellow grains, and our sales plummeted. Again, an unintended consequence of an otherwise well-intentioned piece of legislation.
Honor
Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor
IF IT is true, as someone once said, that “laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind,” that “as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and opinions change with the change in circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times,” does it follow that we’re on the right path in asking that our 1987 Constitution deserves nothing else but a total overhaul to “keep pace with the times”?
Perhaps those members of Congress who are UP graduates should show more loyalty to their alma mater instead of remaining so quiet Charter change should be the product of sound and sensible arguments, interestlong-termpublicbydecisionsspur-of-the-momentnotunsupportedcarefulreadingofsentimentandnational
***
Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager
Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor
Let me conclude this piece with an un solicited advice to the administration, par ticularly to the leadership of both houses of Congress.Itmay be appropriate at this point to re view our laws, whether they are acts dating back to the Commonwealth or the early days of the Republic, or presidential decrees pro mulgated during the martial law period, or even legislation passed from the re-birth of our present democracy operating under the 1987ManyConstitution.areobsolete, and must be amended to keep up with the times. Others need to be tweaked to make use of technology and digitalization.Stillandall, many have resulted in unin tended consequences which, when weighed against intent, have actually become problems. Perhaps Speaker Martin Romualdez and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri could create a special joint committee with a strong technical working group to undertake thisAbouttask. time.
If for instance, UP is in the top 30 of universities all over the world instead of between 601 and 800, then that says a lot about our educational system. But with the current ranking of UP, it’s not something to brag about. If there is P588B in unprogrammed expen ditures in the 2023 budget that Congressman Ralph Recto is questioning, was it so hard for DBM for instance to have added P5B to UP’s budget considering that inflation could hit about 6 per cent this year? In the overall scheme of things, P5B is a miniscule amount to add to the UP budget and other State universities for them to compete better.Inall probability, the P2.5B taken out will have a negative impact on UP’s ability to enhance its standing. The explanation of the Department of Budget and Management is that the P2.5B was a one-time capital expenditure outlay and should not be considered a reduction in the school’s budget. The DBM went further to explain that the overall education budget has actually increased and is still the biggest government outlay for the 2023 national budget, proving that the gov ernment’s priority is still education. This may be true but the explanation is very unsatisfactory. With inflation alone, DBM could have man aged to find a way to increase the budget in stead of basically maintaining it. This is true with the Philippine General Hospital whose budget also went down and the reason given by DBM is the same—one time capital expenditure. But with the hospital continuing to play a frontline role in treating COVID-19 cases, it stands to reason that it should have more resources.DBM,or perhaps Congress, apparently does not think that additional money is needed for the hospital and school. But going back to UP’s ranking, the way Universities are ranked all over the world is a complicated process. One item mentioned for instances is the number of Nobel Prize winners and foreign academics teaching in a university. Still another is the number of PhDs teaching in the Theschool.number of research studies published is equally important together with so-called citations.Aswe can see, all these activities need funds. But if a school is always scrambling for funds, it is going to be hard to compete.
“Everyone was eager and there was photo op portunity with the DENR. I don’t know how they were able to deliver on their promise but what I am sure of is that SMC fulfilled and delivered on its promise in the dredging of Tullahan River.” Aside from the Tullahan River rehabilitation, SMC is also actively involved in cleaning up Pa sigItRiver.hasallocated P2 billion for the initiative. Like Tullahan River, Pasig River empties into Manila Bay and a repository of untreated domestic and industrial wastes and plastic waste. This water pollution is a man-made problem that results in the destruction of marine life, among others. SMC’s partnership with DENR for the Pasig River rehabilitation initiative was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement in 2021. The Pasig River dredging project is also part of the conglomerate’s commitment to the Adopt-aRiverTheprogram.collaborative effort aims to extract at least 600,000 metric tons of silt and solid waste per year to clean the Pasig River, improve water qual ity and lessen flooding in Metro Manila. Some 510,760 metric tons of silt and waste from the pol luted Pasig River has been collected as of August 13 this Asideyear.from the Pasig River rehabilitation, SMC will also start cleaning up the rivers belonging to the Marilao-Mecauayan-Obando River System in Bulacan.
The metropoliswaterwaystheconsideredofisTinajerosTullahan-RiversystemamajortributaryManilaBayandoneofmostpollutedinthe
Don’t ask lawyer Christian Monsod, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, that ques tion. More than likely, he’ll tell you that our Constitution is not the problem, it’s part of the solution.That‘s what he told the Senate committee on constitutional amendments that began discus sions on the possibility of amending the charter. According to Monsod, the country has “largely failed in human development” not due to the Constitution, but rather because “we haven’t implemented it,” particularly the provi sions on social justice and human rights. “This is the Constitution that is blamed as the source of our problems today… In other words, ‘our problems today can all be traced to the Constitution,’ I don’t think that is logical,’” Monsod said during the hearing. “I would argue instead that we have largely failed in human development not because of the Constitution, but because we haven’t implemented it, especially its provisions on social justice and human rights and local autonomy.”Monsod said that there are three central themes of the 1987 Constitution: social justice and human rights with the poor as the center of development, prohibiting the return of authori tarianism in any form, and prohibiting foreign domination of the country’s economy.
WE OFTEN hear the old cliché that education is the best investment a country can have to se cure its future. It used to be that when it came to education, we used to be the top in the region. We often heard some educators boasting that the country is where the oldest university in Asia is. Not anymore. Over the past decades, there has been a marked and undeniable deterioration of the quality of our education at all levels. It is pointless to have to enumerate again how badly our students are faring in reading, mathematics and science. We have been ending dead last or second to the last in many of the tests participated in by ourWhenstudents.itcomes to our institutions of higher learning, we have something like 15 universi ties listed in the World University Rankings led by the University of the Philippines placing be tween 601 and 800 for 2022. Singapore and Malaysia have universities currently ranked higher than our UP while Thailand has two ranked 521 and 541. Indonesia’s highest ranked university is cur rently at from 801 to 1,000. What this tells us is that our institutions of higher learning have been losing ground to our neighbors over the years and we do not seem to be bothered by it. I hate to think the country has sunk to the level of mediocrity. The competition among institutions of high er learning to rank higher than the rest or their previous ranking has been intense over the last decades.Thisis partly because rank plays an im portant part in attracting students all over the world. Students always want to go to the best school.
3 killed in Israeli strikes on Syria’s Aleppo airport
RIBBON DANCE. Men twirl dragon streamers on the Bund promenade along the Huangpu River during sunrise in Shanghai on September 7, 2022. AFP OPPOSITE DIRECTION. Construction workers walk past a mural in Phnom Penh. AFP WILDFIRE. Residents watch as a plane drops fire retardant over homes in Hemet, California on September 6, 2022. At least two people are dead and thousands have been ordered to flee the rapidly spreading Fairview Fire in California. AFP
BRITAIN’S new prime minister Liz Truss convenes her senior ministers for an inau gural cabinet meeting on Wednesday on her first full day in office, before she faces a barrage of questions in parliament. Truss, who officially became leader Tues day at an audience with head of state Queen Elizabeth II in Scotland after the resignation of Boris Johnson, is set to meet her top team at a morning meeting. They include the most diverse top team in British history ever: Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor of the Exchequer, James Clev erly as foreign secretary and Suella Braver man as interior minister. They face a daunting in-tray of issues, most notably decades-high inflation and how to deal with energy bills set to rise by 80 percent next month and then again in January. Meanwhile, the Bank of England has tipped the country to fall into recession later this year. She must also navigate the combustible issue of post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland, and in one of her first calls with a foreign leader late Tuesday, she agreed with US President Joe Biden “on the importance of protecting” peace in the province. In its readout of the call, the White House also said Truss and Biden ad dressed “the challenges posed by China (and) preventing Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon.” But Truss was bullish as she entered Down ing Street for the first time as premier, nar rowly avoiding a heavy downpour. “I am confident that together we can ride out the storm,” she said. Her new ministers may be asked to sign off immediately on a plan to freeze en ergy bills for the coming winter, possibly longer, a measure that would cost tens of billions of pounds, according to reports. Tax cuts and diverting some health funding to social care could also report edly be on the agenda.
A FIRE tore through a karaoke bar in southern Vietnam kill ing 12 people and leaving 11 injured, a local official said Wednesday.Theblaze engulfed the second and third floors of the building on Tuesday night, trapping cus tomers and staff members as dense smoke filled the staircase and blocked the emergency exit, state media reported. Many crowded onto a balco ny to escape the flames, which grew quickly as they caught the wooden interior, and others were forced to jump from the build ing, the reports added.
Iranian forces and Shiite militia groups it controls have a significant military presence across Syria and have been a key support to President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. Israeli strikes had already caused some damage to Aleppo airport on August 31. AFP
AFP ISRAELI air strikes have killed at least three people and damaged Aleppo air port in northern Syria for the second time in a week, a war monitor said Wednesday.
The strikes carried out on Tuesday evening caused damage to the main run way of Syria’s second largest airport, taking it out of service, the state news agency SANA reported. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that moni tors the conflict, said among the targets of the strikes was a warehouse in the air port compound used by Iran-affiliated militia. “Three people were killed and five were wounded,” the group said, adding that a total of six missiles were fired. The identities and nationalities of those killed could not be immediately confirmed.
Analie MatobatoPlaintiff,Bellen,Spec. Proc. No. R-QZN-22-03903-SP For: In re: Petition for the Recognition of Foreign Judgment (MARRIAGE) CASE IS NOW: 79 Days Today - 0.22 Years Kinvs. Gi Ito, The Local Civil Registrar of Pasay City, Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Administration (PSA), Office of the Solicitor General, x------------------------------------------------------------------------xRespondents.
ORDER The Petitioner Analie Matobato Bellen filed the instant petition for In re: Petition for the Recognition of Foreign Judgment on April 11, 2022, praying, “after due notice, publication and hearing, that judgment be rendered xxx 1. Recognizing the Divorce declaring the dissolution of Marriage between ANALIE MATOBATO BELLEN and KINJI ITO; and 2. Ordering the respondents Local Civil Registrar of Pasay City and the Civil Registrar General - Philippine Statistics Authority to recognize the said judgment and accept it for registration in their offices.” Petitioner alleged that: 1.“xxxPetitioner ANALlE MATOBATO BELLEN, is of legal age. Filipino, and a resident of B16, Lot II, Blueridge Avenue, Northwind Subdivision, Novaliches, Quezon City, Metro Manila where she may be served with notices, orders and other legal processes of this Honorable Court. 2 . Respondent LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF PASAY CITY is the custodian of all records of birth of persons born in Pasay City, and may be served with notices, orders, and other court processes at Room 114/115, Pasay City Hall, F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City; 3. Respondent ADMINISTRATOR AND CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL of the Philippine Statistics Authority is impleaded as the central custodian of all records of births in the likewise country and may be served with notices, orders and other processes of this Honorable Court at the PSA Complex, 174 East Avenue. Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila 1101: 4. Respondent KlNJI ITO a.k.a. “Ito”, is of legal age, Japanese citizen and may be served with notices orders and other process at 2-31-107 Shirohata Dori, Ichinomiya City. Aichi, Japan; 5. ALL OTHER PERSONS WHO HAVE OR CLAIM ANY INTEREST in the instant Petition are likewise impleaded; 6. Petitioner and private respondent contracted marriage on June 24, 2009 in Ichinomiya City, Aichi, Japan as evidenced by the Report of Marriage issued by the Philippine Consulate General, copy attached hereto and forms an integral part hereof as ANNEX “A”; 7. On March 21, 2011, respondent Ito was able to legally obtain Divorce in Japan with respect to his marriage with herein Petitioner, copies of the Authentication Certificate and Divorce Certificate, duly translated by the Embassy of Japan, are hereto attached and made integral parts hereof ANNEX “B,CA respectively; 8. In support of her Petition, Petitioner attached hereto, copies of the following:a.Civil Code of Japan duly translated in English as ANNEX “D” hereof; b. Certification issued by the City Civil Registry Office of Manila certifying that a divorce certificate between Petitioner and Ito was issued by the Consul of the Consulate of Japan, Pasay City dated January 5, 2012 bearing Certificate No. 1B11-00106-11 has been filed and recorded in the former’s office is likewise hereto attached as ANNEX “E”; c. Certificate of Acceptance of Notification of Report of Divorce issued by the Philippine Consulate General certifying acceptance of registration purposes and the dissolution of Petitioner’s Marriage respondent through divorce, as ANNEX “F and F-1”; with 9. Article 26 of the Family Code provides: 10.xxx Thus, the Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage having been validly obtained by respondent Ito capacitating him to remarry, the same shall likewise be valid in this jurisdiction, subject to recognition and enforcement by Philippine Courts pursuant to Section 48, Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, to wit: 11.xxx Pursuant to the Philippine Statistics Authority Memorandum Circular No. 2007-2008, Judgments/orders rendered by foreign courts must be passed upon judicially by Philippines to prove its validity: 12. Petitioner therefore comes before this Honorable Court for the recognition and enforcement of the Decree of Divorce, evidenced by the Divorce Certificate made on the basis of the Official Family Register issued by the Mayor of Kaizu City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan on December 9, 2011 having jurisdiction to issue the same. xxx” Notice is hereby given that the petition shall be heard before this Court sitting at the Hall of Justice, Annex Building, Quezon City on the following dates:Friday, August 19, 2022 Wednesday,October 05, 2022 Thursday, September 01, 2022 Tuesday, October 18, 2022 all at 9:30 a.m., unless sooner terminated, at which date and time, all persons interested may appear and show cause in writing why the petition should not be granted. Cancelled dates will be automatically replaced by the subsequent dates.Let a copy of this Order be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines chosen by raffle. It shall be further sent by registered mail, together with a copy of the petition and its annexes to the last known address of private respondent Kin Gi Ito, The Local Civil Registrar of Pasay City, Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Administration (PSA), Office of the Solicitor General who must file answer or comments within 60 days from receipt thereof or from last date of publication whichever comes earlier. Send also a copy to The Office of the City Prosecutor of QUEZON CITY. SO ORDERED in Chambers, QUEZON CITY, Metro Manila on June 24, 2022. (Sgd.) FERDINAND T. RAFANAN Acting Presiding Judge Copy Publicfurnished:Atty.Jeffrey Ontangco (Defense Counsel) 6th Floor, Office of the City Prosecutor, Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma Hall, DOJ Building, Quezon City Hall Complex Diliman, Quezon City Analie Matobato Bellen Block 16 Lot II, Blueridge Avenue. Northwind Subdivision, Novaliches, Quezon City, Metro Manila KINJI ITO aka “ITO”2-31-107 Shirohata Dori, Ichinomiya City, Aichi, Japan; PSA Complex, 174 East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila Local Civil Registrar of Pasay City. Administrator And Civil Registrar, Rm. 114/115, Pasay City Hall, F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City (MStandard - Sep. 1, 8 & 15, 2022)
PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin said Wednesday it was “impossible” to isolate Russia, as the country faces unprecedented Western sanctions over its military operation in Ukraine.
New York returns $19m of stolen art
The accident took place shortly after 10 am (0200 GMT) when the crane fell onto a container, which then toppled onto construction workers, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP). Authorities say they are still investigating the cause of the accident. Lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung, who represents the labour sector in Hong Kong, said crane collapses are rare in the city and called the accident a “major blow” to the industry. Kwok urged authorities to in vestigate whether the collapse was due to a design flaw or human er ror, and to publish their findings as soon as possible.
The scene of the accident was part of a massive construction site for a subsidized public housing project that aimed to create 19,000 homes, the SCMP reported. AFP
The stolen items had been sold to Michael Steinhardt, one of the world’s leading collectors of ancient art, the DA’s office said, adding that he had been slapped with a “first-of-its-kind lifetime ban on acquiring antiquities.”
WorldTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022B2 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Among the recovered treasures, which in some cases were sold to “unwitting collectors and museums,” were a marble head of the Greek goddess Athena from 200 B.C.E. and a drinking cup dating back to 470 B.C.E, officials said. The pieces were stolen at the behest of four men who “all led highly lucra tive criminal enterprises – often in com petition with one another – where they would use local looters to raid archaeo logical sites throughout Italy, many of which were insufficiently guarded,” the DA’s office said. One of them, Pasquale Camera, was “a regional crime boss who organized thefts from museums and churches as early as the 1960s. He then began pur chasing stolen artifacts from local loot ers and sold them to antiquities deal ers,” it added.
AFP REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 98, QUEZON CITY 0920266rtc1qzn098@judiciary.gov.ph8365(02)8518-0393
Truss to meet cabinet, face MPs on 1st full day in power
“No matter how much someone would like to isolate Russia, it is impossible to do this,” Putin told the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia’s Pacific port city of Vladivostok. The coronavirus “epidemic has been replaced by other challenges, also of a global nature, threatening the whole world,” Putin said in televised re marks. “I mean the sanctions fever in the West, its undisguised aggressive at tempts to impose behavior patterns on other countries, deprive them of their sovereignty and subordinate them to their will,” Putin added. Washington and Brussels have pummelled Moscow with a barrage of economic and personal sanctions af ter Putin sent troops into Ukraine on February 24. Facing growing isolation and dete riorating ties with the West, Moscow is seeking to pivot the country towards the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Speaking at the forum, Putin hailed the growing role of the Asia-Pacific re gion in global affairs. “The role... of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region has significantly increased,” he said. He added that partnerships in the re gion “will create colossal new oppor tunities for our people.” Meanwhile, Putin said most of the grain leaving Ukrainian ports after a blockade that fueled a global food cri sis is reaching the EU instead of devel oping“Almostnations.all the grain exported from Ukraine is sent not to the poorest de veloping countries, but to EU coun tries,” he Ukraine,said.one of the world’s largest grain exporters, was forced to halt al most all deliveries after Russia started a military operation in late February. Exports of grain across Black Sea ports resumed after Kyiv and Moscow in July inked a deal with the United Nations and Turkey acting as guaran tors.“We did everything to ensure that Ukrainian grain was exported... we did it together with Turkey,” Putin said at the forum. AFP
Putin: ‘Impossible’ to isolate Russia, hits ‘sanctions fever’
Photos showed plumes of smoke billowing out of the bar – located in a crowded residen tial neighbourhood in Thuan An city, north of commercial hub Ho Chi Minh City – as firefight ers on cranes tried to extinguish theAfire.local official confirmed to AFP that 12 people were dead and 11 injured in the blaze. “Rescue teams are still look ing for victims at the scene. The cause of the fire has not been determined and is being inves tigated,” Nguyen Thanh Tam, a top official with the ruling com munist party in Thuan An, told AFP.
AFP
Two dead, six injured in HK crane collapse
Vietnam bar fire leaves 12 dead, 11 hurt
TWO men were killed and at least six others injured after a Hong Kong tower crane collapsed at a construction site on Wednesday, authorities said. One man was certified dead at the site in eastern Kowloon and the other man died on the way to hospital, police told AFP. Six injured construction work ers were taken to hospital, while another man was still trapped un der the debris and awaiting rescue, police said. An AFP reporter at the scene saw over a dozen emergency workers from the city’s Urban Search and Rescue Team surrounding the crumpled crane, which had collapsed onto multiple cargo containers.
PROSECUTORS in New York on Tuesday returned dozens of antiquities stolen from Italy and valued at around $19 million, some of which were found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “These 58 pieces represent thousands of years of rich history, yet traffickers throughout Italy utilized looters to steal these items and to line their own pock ets,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, noting that it was the third such repatriation in nine months. “For far too long, they have sat in mu seums, homes, and galleries that had no rightful claim to their ownership,” he said at a ceremony attended by Italian diplo mats and law enforcement officials.
Israel rarely comments on the strikes it carries out against Iranian and allied targets in Syria.
Those who are unable to join the meeting via remote communication but wish to vote on items in the agenda may appoint the Chairman as proxy with specific voting instructions which will be duly counted. Proxies can be submitted to the Office of the Corporate Secretary or via email to the aforementioned address.
MAGENTA YELLOW
ATTY. KENNETH JOEY H. MACEREN Corporate Secretary (MS SEPT. 8 & 9, 2022)
Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg forecast export growth of 13 percent and a 1.1-percent increase in imports. Sporadic COVID-19 lockdowns around China have dampened con sumer enthusiasm and business con fidence, while searing temperatures across large parts of the country this summer prompted power rationing for factories.China’s factory activity shrank for the second month in a row in August, but of ficials are showing few signs of relaxing strict pandemic curbs, with southwestern megacity Chengdu locking down its 21 million inhabitants last week. And while officials have announced a range of measures aimed at bolstering the economy, commentators warned that there will not likely be any concerted re covery until the tough COVID measures are removed for good. AFP
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (“Company”) will be held on 30 September 2022 (Friday) at 9:00 A.M. The meeting will be held at Yakan, Abaca, and Jusi Function Rooms of the Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, Glorietta Mall, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City.
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (“Company”) will be held on 30 September 2022 (Friday) at 9:00 A.M. The meeting will be held at Yakan, Abaca, and Jusi Function Rooms of the Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, Glorietta Mall, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila Standard TODAY CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK (MS-SEPT. 7 & 8, 2022) (MS-SEPT. 7 & 8, 2022)
BEIJING, China—China’s export growth slowed significantly in August, customs authorities said Wednesday, as economic uncertainty is exacerbated by strict COVID-19 lockdowns across theThecountry.weakness in trade comes as global demand for Chinese products weakens with energy prices soaring and the United States facing the threat of recession. At the same time the domestic prop erty sector—which accounts for about a quarter of the world’s number-two econ omy—continues to struggle with firms staggering under vast amounts of debt. Overseas shipments increased 7.1 percent on-year, against 18 percent growth in July, China’s General Ad ministration of Customs said, while imports were up only 0.3 percent, com pared with 2.3 percent on year.
Business THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 || B3 extrastory2000@gmail.com
The order of business will be as follows: 1. Call to Order 2. Certification of the existence of quorum and sending of notices 3. Approval of the minutes of the last Annual Stockholders’ Meeting held on 24 September 2021 4. Report of the President 5. Election of the Members of the Board of Directors 6. Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation 7. Ratification of actions taken by the Board of Directors and Officers since 24 September 2021 8. Ratification of financial agreement 9. Appointment of Alas Oplas & Co. CPAs 10. Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the period ending 31 December 2021 11. Adjournment For purposes of the meeting, the close of business on 29 April 2022 has been fixed as the Record Date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice and to vote during the meeting. We are not soliciting your proxy. However, if you cannot personally participate in the meeting and you wish to be represented, you may coordinate by email to investors@ptt.com.ph so that we can assist you in the submission of proxy forms. The proxy forms together with voting instructions and other documents required for stockholders submitting a proxy must be received by the Office of the Corporate Secretary by email to investors@ptt.com.ph on or before 5:00 P.M. of 23 September 2022 (Friday).
To those who would opt to participate by voting through the Chairman as proxy, the deadline for submission of proxies will be at 5:00 pm of 22 September 2022.
Those who are unable to join the meeting via remote communication but wish to vote on items in the agenda may appoint the Chairman as proxy with specific voting instructions which will be duly counted. Proxies can be submitted to the Office of the Corporate Secretary or via email to the aforementioned address.
(MS-SEPT.
line
to visit a 7,SeptemberoningovernmentprovincialbyorganizedexhibitionjobtheSurabaya2022. AFP
CYAN BLACK (MS-SEPT. 7 & 8, 2022) (MS-SEPT. 7 & 8, 2022)
Negev desert winemakers show way ahead in Israel’s hot climate
Manila Standard TODAY NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS September 29, 2022
MAYLENE B. VILLANUEVA, CCO, AICD Corporate Secretary (MS-SEPT. 7 & 8, 2022)
For individual stockholders, the submission must be accompanied by a copy of a government issued ID as proof of identification. For corporations, the submission must be accompanied by a certification from its Corporate Secretary stating the corporate officer’s authority to represent and sign on behalf of the corporation. In case a quarantine is in effect which makes it difficult to obtain notarization at the time of submission, the Secretary’s Certificate, ballots and proxies need not be notarized. Kindly submit to the Office of the Corporate Secretary the original signed and notarized documents within a reasonable time after the resumption of regular business operations.
For the health and safety of the stockholders and all persons in light of the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company will not hold a physical meeting and will instead conduct the meeting via Zoom webinar. Stockholders can therefore only attend and participate in the meeting by remote communication. Stockholders also have the option to vote in absentia or appoint the Chairman as proxy. Stockholders who intend to attend by remote communication shall inform the Company by email to corpsec@ apmciloilo.com on or before 24 September 2022 subject to the procedure set in the Information Statement which will be posted in the Company’s website www.apmc-iloilo.com. In the same website, stockholders may access the following: (a) Minutes of the Meeting on 26 August 2021 and (b) Proxy Form for Attendance at Meeting and other meeting documents required under Section 49 of the Revised Corporation Code. The link for the Zoom webinar will be sent to the email address of the stockholders who registered to attend via remote communication.
During the meeting, the Company shall entertain questions and comments from the stockholders after the presentation of the Annual Report. Questions which were not answered during the meeting shall be forwarded to the Office of the Corporate Secretary for the appropriate response via email.
106 Carlos Palanca St. Legazpi Village Makati, Metro Manila Philippines, 1229 (+632) 8815-9961 • inquiries@ptt.com.ph • ptt.com.ph
The order of business will be as follows: 1. Call to Order 2. Certification of the existence of quorum and sending of notices 3. Approval of the minutes of the last Annual Stockholders’ Meeting held on 24 September 2021 4. Report of the President 5. Election of the Members of the Board of Directors 6. Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation 7. Ratification of actions taken by the Board of Directors and Officers since 24 September 2021 8. Ratification of financial agreement 9. Appointment of Alas Oplas & Co. CPAs 10. Approval of the Audited Financial Statements for the period ending 31 December 2021 11. Adjournment For purposes of the meeting, the close of business on 29 April 2022 has been fixed as the Record Date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice and to vote during the meeting. We are not soliciting your proxy. However, if you cannot personally participate in the meeting and you wish to be represented, you may coordinate by email to investors@ptt.com.ph so that we can assist you in the submission of proxy forms. The proxy forms together with voting instructions and other documents required for stockholders submitting a proxy must be received by the Office of the Corporate Secretary by email to investors@ptt.com.ph on or before 5:00 P.M. of 23 September 2022 (Friday).
For ASM-related queries, you may send an email to corpsec@apmciloilo.com or contact the Office of the Corporate Secretary at 3215748, 09292703169 and 09452331438. For concerns regarding shareholdings, please contact Toni Dinah Cheer D. Fernandez of the Investor Relations Office at 3215748, 09292703169 and 09452331438 or via email directly to corpsec@apmciloilo. com. Corporate Secretary 7 & 8, 2022)
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slumped 115.52 points, or 2.3 percent, to 6,554.08 on a value turnover of P4.8 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 115 to 59, with 50 issues unchanged. Major property developer Ayala Land Inc of the Ayala Group sank 4.5 percent to P28.55, while sister unit ACEN CORP. dropped 3.7 percent to P7.03. BDO Unibank Inc. of the Sy Group, the biggest lender in terms of assets, fell 3 percent to P124.20, but AbaCore Capitol Holdings Inc., a company that holds an exclusive right to lease online lottery equipment for the lotto operations of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in Vi sayas and Mindanao, climbed 3.1 percent to P2.66. The dollar, meanwhile, surged Wednesday against other major currencies and equities sank after a forecast-beating US economic report gave new life to talk of a third straight blockbuster interest rate hike next month. The services sector data showed the world’s top economy remained resilient in the face of surging prices and borrowing costs, high lighting the job the Federal Re serve has in taming inflation while trying to prevent a recession—a goal many observers doubt can be achieved.Thereading added to the gloom blanketing trading floors as inves tors face a range of headwinds including a worsening energy crisis in Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine and Chinese economic woes caused by COVID-19 lock downs.“Overall, the (services) survey paints a picture of solid activity in the services sector of the US econ omy supported by wages growth suggesting the Fed still has more work to do in order to cool the economy,” said National Australia Bank’s Rodrigo Catril.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING
Stocks drop sharply; ACEN and Ayala Land lead losers
To those who would opt to participate by voting through the Chairman as proxy, the deadline for submission of proxies will be at 5:00 pm of 22 September 2022.
By Michael Blum IN ISRAEL’S Negev desert, winemakers are sharing their knowledge of growing vines in the blistering heat with European producers also facing fierce temperatures this summer. Walking between rows of ripe grapes growing from the scorched land, David Pinto enthuses about how his vineyard has come of age in the past three“We’reyears.masters of the conditions, without depending on the whims of the weather,” said Pinto, whose estate near the town of Yeruham carries hisWithname.nearly year-round sunshine and little rain in the barren Negev, Pinto has adopted a micro-irrigation system to conserve resources and drip water slowly onto the vines. Such techniques may soon need to be used across the Mediterranean re gion, with winemakers in France forced to start picking earlier than usual due to an exceptionally dry and hot summer. “Winemakers from Bordeaux came to visit us following the heatwave in France,” said Pinto, who advised his guests on ways to adapt to climate changes.“Now we share the same challenges, with the extreme climate and the dryness that harms the grapes,” he added, while workers plucked grapes in the early morning light. Israel’s greener north has long been the center of its viniculture, but more pioneering winemakers are discovering its sun-baked south. Pinto, whose wines sell for 89 shekels ($26), is one of more than 25 win eries now dotted across the desert landscape. They include Ramat Negev, adjacent to the Egyptian border, and Nana, located near the vast crater-like formation of Makhtesh Ramon. Enduring extreme heat Ilan Abitbol, who advises various Israeli winemakers, is busy creating a variety of blends on a small plot of land. “The temperature of the Negev gives a particular identity to the region’s wines: more dry, stronger in alcohol,” he said. Pinto’s Malbec, for example, brings a weighty 14.5 percent alcohol vol ume to the table. “We’re used to extreme temperatures, whereas in Europe, the climatic changes have an impact on the vines, because they’re not used to these temperatures,” said Abitbol. AFP
The 2022 Regular Meeting of the Stockholders of Asia Pacific Medical CenterIloilo, Inc. (formerly known as Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center – Iloilo, Inc.) will be held on 29 September 2022 at 9:00 am. The meeting will be conducted via remote communication thru a Zoom AgendaConference.ofthe Meeting is as follows: 1. Call to order 2. Certification of Notice and Quorum 3. Approval of the Regular Stockholders Meeting Held on 26 August 2021 4. Report of the Management on the status of the construction of the hospital as of 30 June 2022 5. Presentation of Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2021 and action thereon. 6. Open Forum 7. Ratification and Approval of all previous acts and resolution of the Board of Directors and Corporate Officers. 8. Appointment of External Auditor 9. Election of the 2022 Board of Directors 10. Other Matters 11. Adjournment Only stockholders of record as of 9 September 2022 are entitled to notice of and to vote at this meeting.
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS September 29, 2022
106 Carlos Palanca St. Legazpi Village Makati, Metro Manila Philippines, 1229 (+632) 8815-9961 • inquiries@ptt.com.ph • ptt.com.ph
NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING
During the meeting, the Company shall entertain questions and comments from the stockholders after the presentation of the Annual Report. Questions which were not answered during the meeting shall be forwarded to the Office of the Corporate Secretary for the appropriate response via email. For ASM-related queries, you may send an email to corpsec@apmciloilo.com or contact the Office of the Corporate Secretary at 3215748, 09292703169 and 09452331438. For concerns regarding shareholdings, please contact Toni Dinah Cheer D. Fernandez of the Investor Relations Office at 3215748, 09292703169 and 09452331438 or via email directly to corpsec@apmciloilo. com.
(SGD.) MAYLENE B. VILLANUEVA, CCO, AICD
STOCKS plunged Wednesday as the peso and other major currencies plunged against the US dollar and on fears of a bigger rate hike from the Federal Reserve Board.
China export growth slowed significantly in August—data
AFP
Stockholders can therefore only attend and participate in the meeting by remote communication. Stockholders also have the option to vote in absentia or appoint the Chairman as proxy. Stockholders who intend to attend by remote communication shall inform the Company by email to corpsec@ apmciloilo.com on or before 24 September 2022 subject to the procedure set in the Information Statement which will be posted in the Company’s website www.apmc-iloilo.com. In the same website, stockholders may access the following: (a) Minutes of the Meeting on 26 August 2021 and (b) Proxy Form for Attendance at Meeting and other meeting documents required under Section 49 of the Revised Corporation Code. The link for the Zoom webinar will be sent to the email address of the stockholders who registered to attend via remote communication.
AFP seekers up
This picture taken on August 23, 2022 shows an aerial photo of the Yeruham Pinto vineyard near the development town of Yeruham in Israel’s southern Negev desert. In the Negev, winemakers are sharing their knowledge of growing vines in the blistering heat with European producers also facing fierce temperatures this summer.
ATTY. KENNETH JOEY H. MACEREN Corporate Secretary (MS SEPT. 8 & 9, 2022) Manila Standard TODAY
For the health and safety of the stockholders and all persons in light of the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company will not hold a physical meeting and will instead conduct the meeting via Zoom webinar.
(SGD.)
The 2022 Regular Meeting of the Stockholders of Asia Pacific Medical CenterIloilo, Inc. (formerly known as Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center – Iloilo, Inc.) will be held on 29 September 2022 at 9:00 am. The meeting will be conducted via remote communication thru a Zoom AgendaConference.ofthe Meeting is as follows: 1. Call to order 2. Certification of Notice and Quorum 3. Approval of the Regular Stockholders Meeting Held on 26 August 2021 4. Report of the Management on the status of the construction of the hospital as of 30 June 2022 5. Presentation of Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2021 and action thereon. 6. Open Forum 7. Ratification and Approval of all previous acts and resolution of the Board of Directors and Corporate Officers. 8. Appointment of External Auditor 9. Election of the 2022 Board of Directors 10. Other Matters 11. Adjournment Only stockholders of record as of 9 September 2022 are entitled to notice of and to vote at this meeting.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila Standard TODAY
For individual stockholders, the submission must be accompanied by a copy of a government issued ID as proof of identification. For corporations, the submission must be accompanied by a certification from its Corporate Secretary stating the corporate officer’s authority to represent and sign on behalf of the corporation. In case a quarantine is in effect which makes it difficult to obtain notarization at the time of submission, the Secretary’s Certificate, ballots and proxies need not be notarized. Kindly submit to the Office of the Corporate Secretary the original signed and notarized documents within a reasonable time after the resumption of regular business operations.
FAIR.JOB Job
By Julito G. Rada
Assistant
ALLTV teams up with CNN for news ALLTV, the premiere television channel of the Advanced Media Broadcasting System of the Villar Group, teamed up with CNN Philippines to boost its credibility in the de livery of reliable news and timely informa tion to Filipino viewers. CNN Philippines’ flagship news program, “News Night,” will be aired simultaneously at ALLTV from Monday to Friday at 6 p.m. starting Sept. 13.
AMBS president Maribeth Tolentino and chief financial officer Maryknoll Zamora forged the content rights agreement with CNN Philippines president Benjamin Ra mos over the airing of CNN Philippines on ALLTV.“CNN Philippines Hour on ALLTV” will be a 60-minute news program that show cases the day’s top stories with live reports, in-depth analysis and live interviews with prominent personalities. The segment will also be made available on 12 Radio Philip pines Network stations in key cities in Lu zon, Visayas and Mindanao.
season
Macay Holdings said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Wednesday its board of directors approved the pur chase of the 100-percent interest in RC GBI.RCGBI, which owns the rights to RC Cola brand globally, has the ability to grant bottling and distribution licenses to bottlers in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North American and South America, except for the US. Macay Holdings under the agreement will pay $21 million in equity value and assume RCGBI’s net debt of $25 million. The purchase price could be adjusted, depending on RCGBI’s net earnings performance in 2022. Macay Holdings president Antonio Panajon said the acquisition would en able the company to expand geographi cally and provide diversification and increasedAsiawideopportunities.Refreshments Corp., a unit of Macay Holdings, is the exclusive licensee of RC products in the Philip pines. It has rights over the brands RC Cola, Juicy Lemon, Fruit Soda Orange, Seetrus and Arcy’s Rootbeer in the country.“The RC Cola brand is an iconic 117-year-old brand and will allow Macay to establish cross border rela tionships with different food and bev erage companies in other countries, potentially leading to substantial op portunities in our current product of ferings and offshore partnerships,” Panajon said.
‘Success in Tandem’ event set this month
ALLTV is under Prime Assets Ventures Inc. of businessman Manuel Paolo Villar. Tolentino said ALLTV is banking on the years-long experience of CNN Philippines in delivering credible news to the public.
Founded in Columbus, Georgia by Claud Hatcher in 1905, Royal Crown Ginger Ale made a name in the US and abroad by staying true to its Southern roots and out-of-the-box advertising campaigns.ThePhilippines became one of its most successful overseas markets. Be fore the planned acquisition, Asiawide Refreshments Corp., a unit of Macay Holdings, the licensed bottler of RC Cola in the Philippines. RCGBI has relationships with 32 bottlers in 49 countries, including the Philippines. The transaction is subject to the finalization of a share purchase agreement and other closing condi tions.ARC is also engaged in the business of trading of goods such as beverages. Macay Holdings said earlier it was looking at various opportunities in the food and beverage sector to expand its portfolio and pursue growth opportu nities in the space. Macay acquired Artemisplus Ex press, operator of the canteen conces sionaire Kitchen City, for P2 billion in 2020. 6,554.08PTS.
PSE INDEX CLOSING Wednesday, September 7, 2022 -155.52
F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 Currency Unit US Dollar Peso United States Dollar 1.000000 56.9500 Japan Yen 0.007004 0.3989 UK Pound 1.151900 65.6007 Hong Kong Dollar 0.127395 7.2551 Switzerland Franc 1.016570 57.8937 Canada Dollar 0.760341 43.3014 Singapore Dollar 0.710985 40.4906 Australia Dollar 0.673600 38.3615 Bahrain Dinar 2.653224 151.1011 Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266113 15.1551 Brunei Dollar 0.708466 40.3471 Indonesia Rupiah 0.000067 0.0038 Thailand Baht 0.027285 1.5539 UAE Dirham 0.272279 15.5063 Euro Euro 0.990700 56.4204 Korea Won 0.000726 0.0413 China Yuan 0.143792 8.1890 India Rupee 0.012520 0.7130 Malaysia Ringgit 0.222321 12.6612 New Zealand Dollar 0.604000 34.3978 Taiwan Dollar 0.032468 1.8491 Source: BSP TOTAL VOLUME 59,433916,465,432 TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) 4,852,406,338.67 ADVANCES 59 UNCHANGED 50 FLASH EXPRESS PITCH. Flash Express, the fastest-growing logistics and courier services company in the Philippines, launches ‘Juan Asenso’ campaign that focuses on bringing sustainable business opportunities to Filipino micro, small and medium enterprises and long-term commitment to its employees. Leading the launching are (from left) Flash Express consultant Alvin Chew, marketing deputy director AR Polinar, head of legal and compliance Atty. Sherry Lou Bernabe, shareholder representative Tony Luo, Flash Group chief executive Komsan Lee and consultants Cao Yuan, Wang Wei, Lu Ji Lin, Yiking Chua and Liu DengKe. ZERO HUNGER. Officials of Century Pacific Group and Gawad country.communitiesvariousmillionhopesForDevelopmentNationslinethealleviatethatofAlliance,ZeroinaugurateFoundationDevelopmentCommunityKalingaInc.theHungeracoalitionorganizationsseekstohelphungerinPhilippinesinwiththeUnitedSustainableGoals.2022,thegrouptoserve10mealstounderservedinthe
Ray S. Roderick T. dela Cruz, Editor extrastory2000@gmail.combusiness@manilastandard.net
Megaworld to open 2nd Belmont Hotel in Cebu by 4th quarter
FGEN LNG and BW LNG, a lead ing developer, owner and operator of floating gas infrastructure, will rename the FSRU to BW Batangas from BW Paris. “This change is intended to ac knowledge the historical, current and future support given by the prov ince of Batangas and by our hosts Batangas City and to underscore our commitment to supporting the energy security of the Philippines. It is also intended as a tribute to all of our colleagues from Batangas in recognition of all of their dedication and hard work,” said FGen executive vice president and chief commercial officer Jonathan Russell.
THE peso fell again Wednesday to close at a new record low of 57.135 against the US dollar as investors ex pect further rate hikes by the US Fed eral Reserve. Data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines website showed the peso depreciated from 57 a dollar on Tuesday. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the peso’s decline was “due to higher US dollar vs. major global currencies on more hawkish Fed signals [about raising interest rates] recently.” He said the peso depreciated against the greenback by a total of P6.136 or 12 percent since the start of the year. The drop could lead to higher infla tion and more aggressive local policy rate hikes “to help stabilize both the peso exchange rate and overall infla tion,” he Ricafortsaid.said the seasonal increase in remittances in the fourth quarter, especially during the holiday season, could support the value of the peso. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gover nor Felipe Medalla said on Friday the movement in the exchange rate was due mainly to a “stronger dollar.” The BSP raised the policy interest rates by 175 basis points this year to rein in inflation and support the peso against the greenback. The inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee was initially expecting the peso-dollar ex change rate to settle between P51 and P53 this year. The local currency closed 2021 at 50.999 against the dollar, weaker than 48.023 on the last trading day of 2020.
By Alena Mae S. Flores
MEGAWORLD Corp. said Wednes day it will open its second home grown hotel development inside the 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu by the fourth quarter this year. This will be the 12th hotel property of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, the country’s largest operator of home grown hotel Megaworldbrands.saidthe 20-story Bel mont Hotel Mactan would have 550 guestrooms and suites, with most units featuring an expansive view of the Hilutungan Channel. All rooms will be fully-equipped with essential amenities, in-room electronic safety box, wall-mounted TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, a minibar and wireless Internet con nection.Thenew hotel is located beside Savoy Hotel Mactan along Newtown Boulevard and a a few minutes’ walk from the Mactan Newtown Beach and the soon-to-rise Mactan New town Beach Walk Mall. It will also be about a five-minute walk away the Mactan Alfresco—a hawker-type dining destination that hosts a variety of restaurants offering authentic Cebuano cuisine and other delicacies.“Belmont Hotel Mactan will be our third Belmont Hotel property in the country. It is only about 15 min utes away from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and will offer an unparalleled opportunity for fami lies and travelers visiting Cebu either for business or leisure,” said Cleofe Albiso, managing director of Mega world Hotels & Resorts. “From cafes, restaurants, grocery stores—everything is just a few steps from the hotel. Once opened, we will be the largest hotel operator in the whole of Cebu province in terms of the number of hotel keys,” said Al biso.
Meralco Group gets International award THE Meralco Group bagged 12 wins for its remarkable customer service initiatives, corporate social responsibility and thought leadership.Itbrought home two golds, four silvers and one bronze for various initiatives and programs geared towards supporting Fili pinos and contributing to the improvement of their lives at the recently concluded 2022 Stevie International Business Awards. Besting other nominations in the Best Use of Social Media-COVID-19-related In formation category, the “Meralco Corporate Partners Viber Community: Engagement when connectivity is a must” was given a gold award. This Viber community served as the company’s channel in providing relevant updates to enterprise customers that may im pact their business operations. Another gold went to the “One Meralco Foundation’s School Electrification Pro gram: Energizing the country’s off-grid pub lic schools during the COVID-19 pandem ic” which was recognized as the Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year among nominations from Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
ENTREPRENEURS and business mentors Reymond delos Reyes and Marc Jiuliano Lopez teamed up for the transformational “Success in Tandem” event on Sept. 24 at 12 p.m. at the City of Dreams in Manila. A pre-event press conference was held at the Aloha Plaza in Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City. Several firms will support the affair including North Point Marketing, TipidSulit Laundromat, 3A’s Fuel Services Inc., D&D Realty Services, BazFam Stu dio, Jimp’s Brokerage and Realty Services, Kenta Kogaku and One Pure Life. Delos Reyes and Lopez, with almost 400 million views combined in their so cial media platforms, found their common ground—help people succeed through shar ing their proven effective success principles, self-help tips, mental processes, intensive trainings, tailor-fitted manuals and more. Thus, their partnership took off. Delos Reyes is the founder and chairman of Growth Circle International, a non-prof itable organization that empowers start-ups and business owners through networking within the community. BRIEF Business
By Jenniffer B. Austria MACAY Holdings Inc., the listed investment holding company of businessman Alfredo Yao, is acquiring RC Global Beverages Inc., which owns the global rights to the RC Cola brand, for $46 million.
IN
ICTSI subsidiary in Subic deploys RTGs ahead of peak
By Darwin G. Amojelar INTERNATIONAL Container Termi nals Inc. said Wednesday its subsidiary in Subic Bay Freeport will deploy four additional rubber tired gantries to boost landside operations and improve overall productivity ahead of the peak shipping season.Scheduled for delivery in the last week of September, Subic Bay Inter national Terminals Inc. said the RTGs would augment the terminal’s fleet of six to enable quicker truck and vessel turnaround times for smoother cargo flow.“The resulting efficiency gains will allow SBITC to stay ahead of the de mand curve and cater to the increased cargo shipments during peak shipping season,” the company said. SBITC started using RTGs in 2019, which resulted in reduced truck dwell times, improved yard utilization and a 42-percent increase in the terminal’s staticThecapacity.additional RTGs will enable SBITC to further improve its ser vice offerings to stakeholders and raise the industry standard in the region.SBITC, which has an annual capac ity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, is the gateway to the markets of North and Central Luzon. Its strategic location at the Subic Bay Freeport, nat urally deep waters and proximity to ma jor international shipping routes, com bined with ICTSI’s world-class brand of port operation and management, helped transform the Port of Subic into one of the Philippines’ most important shipping hubs.
B4 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 Macay Holdings buying RC Cola brand for $46m Peso furtherslumpstonewlowof57.14versusdollar FGen unit set to finish LNG terminal by Q1
Eñano, Editor
4 new
FGEN LNG Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Gen Corp., said Tuesday it expects to complete the construction of an interim offshore liquefied natural gas receiving ter minal by the end of the first quarter nextFGENyear.said in a statement the in terim LNG terminal project would ac celerate its ability to introduce LNG to the Philippines and serve the natural gas requirements of current and future gas-fired power plants of third parties and FGEN LNG affiliates. “FGEN LNG believes the project will play a critical role in ensuring the energy security of the Luzon grid and the Philippines, particularly as the indigenous Malampaya natural gas resource continues to decline,” the company said. FGEN LNG is investing around P13.28 billion ($260 million) on the LNG facility, which has a capacity of 5.26 million tons a year, according to government data. The company said the availability of LNG would assist in efforts to help decarbonize the Philippines by pro viding a clean bridge fuel to increase the energy security of the Philippines and help support the introduction of intermittent renewables. The company will also deploy a floating storage re-gasification unit to the First Gen Clean Energy Com plex in Batangas City by the second or third quarter of 2023.
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Author ity, under the Subic Port Development Project, awarded SBITC the concession for the New Container Terminal 1 in 2007, with commercial operations com mencing in 2008. SBMA, under the Subic Port Proj ect’s second phase, awarded ICTSI Subic Inc. in 2011 the concession to op erate NCT 2. Increasing volumes at the Subic Bay Freeport enabled ICTSI to streamline and interface the operations of NCT 1 and 2.
Valley74sMalixiConstantino,matchtoleadgolf
A day earlier, it was payback time for the team against Samoa.Sumayah Sugapong led Gilas Women with 28 points as the Filipina cagers got back from a past defeat to the same foes with a 66-59 victory. Sugapong unloaded nine during a decisive run the first quarter, spearheading the Filipinas’ big 19-7 start that set the tempo for the rest of the game. Kristan Yumul banged in 16 points built on 5 triples, to go with 5 rebounds,3 assists and a steal for the Philippines.
By Randy Caluag ANOTHER National Basketball Association prospect, who claims to have Filipino lineage, wants to play for the Philippine national team.
ANTIPOLO—Harmie Constantino thrived on the par-5 No. 17 to salvage a two-over 74 and catch amateur hotshot Rianne Malixi at the helm, just a stroke ahead of Marvi Monsalve at the start of the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge here onConstantinoWednesday. and Malixi took charge at the end of a punishing day where the lead routinely changed hands in furnacelike conditions at Valley South with the former enduring a pair of back-to-back bogey mishaps from Nos. 1 and 14 with two birdies, the last on the penultimate hole that saved her a pair of 37s. “I played okay but I could’ve have played better since there were a lot of putts that I could’ve made and a lot of up-and-downs that I could’ve saved,” said Constantino, who also flubbed a couple of birdie chances from close range.Malixi, toughened up by a threemonth stint in the US, held her ground against the two-time Ladies Philippine Golf Tour winner and last year’s Order of Merit champion in one of the featured flights and looked headed to wrest early control with a bogey-birdie card after four holes. But she holed out with a double-bogey on the par-5 No. 5 then negated a birdie on the ninth with a missed green bogey on the 15th, dropping her to joint lead instead, also with a couple of 37s. “Not good,” said Malixi when asked to describe her round, ruing her daylong struggle with her irons. “My iron game wasn’t that good and it could’ve been better. I wasn’t able to convert some putts, didn’t make those that mattered,” said the 15-year-old rising“I’llstar.just play my relaxed game tomorrow (today) and not put pressure on myself,” she added. Monsalve missed forcing a three-way tie in the early going of the P750,000 tournament with a flubbed par-putt on the challenging par-3 closing hole but her 75 put her on track for a crack at a breakthrough win in the tour put up by ICTSI.Chihiro Ikeda, winner of the Eagle Ridge Aoki leg last July before the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.organized circuit took a two-month break, also birdied the 17th but her 76 dropped her two strokes off the joint leaders in a tie with Sarah Ababa, who actually tied Malixi and Constantino at one-over with a birdie on No. 12. But the one-time LPGT winner at Sherwood in 2015, who finished second to Ikeda at Aoki, dropped three strokes on the tough par-4 13th and ended up with a pair of 38s. Mafy Singson, who matched Malixi’s feat at Luisita last March with a victory at windy Splendido last May, also caught up with the co-leaders with a birdie on No. 11 after making the turn at 38.
; Assistant Editor NBA prospect with Filipino roots wants to play for Gilas
The Patrick Aquino-coached Gilas also drew eight points each from Bobadilla and Ozar for the sole leadership in Group A. “We are just happy to be competing here in the FIBA Asia Cup Under-18 for almost a decade now. The experiences we are having are great for the women’s program and the next generation of Gilas women,” said Aquino in an interview with the Manila Standard. Kira-May Filemu led Samoa with 19 points, 13 rebounds and 7 steals in a loss that allowed the Philippines to avenge their setback to the same team that kept the Filipinas from advancing to Division A in the U16 Women’s Asian Championship last June. Samoa, which dropped to 1-1, also got big plays from Malia Jae Ruud, who chalked up a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, to go with an assist and a steal each. Thailand, on the other hand, crushed Maldives, 12431, and Hong Kong escaped Jordan, 72-57, in other encounters.Laksamee Hewchaiyaphuim led the way for the Thais with 21 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals and a block in helping Thailand recover from a loss to the Philippines 1.29 assists, and 1 steal per game. In the NCAA Division 1 tournament, he averaged 10.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2 assists per game with the Temple University squad.
The Philippine women’s national team competing in this weekend’s ASEAN Grand Prix in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
PH volley teams compete in Thai tourneys
Gilas Women sweep 1st round, enter semis
Sports
Nate Pierre-Louis, son of former FedEx import Frantz Pierre-Louis, posted on Twitter his intention to play in FIBA tournaments, carrying the flag of his kins’ country of origin. “I want to play for a country I have a bloodline in,” said the 6’4” Pierre-Louis, a guard/shooting guard, who was not picked in the recent NBA draft, but played impressively in the NBA SummerHisLeague.tweet showed his parents’ flags, referring to his mother, followed by the Philippine flag.
Pierre-Louis calls himself “the best defensive player in the world. And I want to prove that in theLeftNBA.”undrafted in the recent NBA lottery, he’s now an unrestricted free agent and can negotiate with any NBA team. In some videos posted on his page, he’s a slasher-type of player, who can both attack and dunk the ball. On defense, he’s like a smaller, pesky version of Dennis Rodman. His documents are not clear, but if his ability can prove his worth to the Gilas Pilipinas team, he maybe considered as a naturalized player, like Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Clarkson,Jazz.the NBA 2020-21 Sixth Man of the Year awardee, saw action in the recent FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers’ fourth window against Lebanon in Beirut and Saudi Arabia at the MOA Arena. He is also expected to play again for Gilas in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
TWO Philippine teams—volleyball and beach volleyball—flew to Thailand on Wednesday to see action in separate tournaments.Thesame national team that finished a record sixth in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup for Women that the Philippine National Volleyball Federation hosted at the PhilSports Arena two weeks ago will vie in the Second Asean Grand Prix beginning Friday in Nakhon Ratchasima.Thepairsof Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons and Dij Rodriguez and Gen Eslapor, meanwhile, will be in Roi-et also in Thailand for the AVC Asian Beach Tour Roi-et Open from September 10 to 12 and AVC Senior Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship from September 14 to 17. “It’s again a busy schedule for our national teams as they compete in these two tournaments in Thailand,” said PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara from Poland, where he’s tasked as a technical delegate for the FIVB world championships.ExceptforIndonesia, the nationals have already faced the Thais and the Vietnamese in the nine-team AVC Cup for Women ruled by Japan. The Philippines will face Thailand at 7 p.m. on Friday, Vietnam at 4 p.m. on Harmie Constantino watches her drive. Manny Marcelo Nate Pierre-Louis (Twitter)
“Can we make that happen?”he asked. His post was re-tweeted by a Philippine-based basketball page Basketball NationAndPH.he replied to the PH site: “My great grandmother on my mother’s side had Filipino blood. But they lived in Trinidad (Trinidad-Tobago). That’s how it was explained to me.” The 23-year-old native of New Jersey played for seven games with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Summer League last July, averaging 16.1 minutes, 4.43 points, 4.14 rebounds, Filipinas fall to Ferns, but Stajcic still lauds team
Saturday and Indonesia at 4 p.m. on Sunday.TheAsean Grand Prix was first staged in 2019 with two legs, with the Philippines finishing with the bronze medal in the Nakhon Ratchasima and Santa Rosa (Laguna) editions. Jia de Guzman, a member of the 2019 team, will lead the squad. Joining her are Tots Carlos, Ced Domingo, Jeanette Panaga, Michele Gumabao, Ella de Jesus, Risa Sato, Pau Soriano, Kyla Atienza, Fille Cayetano, Kyle Negrito, Rosemarie Vargas and Rizza Mandapat. Sherwin Meneses is the head coach, with Karlo Santos and Bok Morado as his assistants and Mark Caron as strength and conditioning coach. The Rondina-Pons and RodriguezEslapor pairs, meanwhile, are among 22 teams competing in the Roi-et Open. They will compete against host Thailand (four teams), Australia (two), China (two), Hong Kong, Japan (two), New Zealand (two), Singapore (two), Chinese Taipei (two), Malaysia, Vanuatu and Vietnam. The Philippine pairs are also among the 32 tandems in the AVC Senior Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship which has five squads from Thailand, three from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore, two from Chinese Taipei, and one from Vanuatu andPaulVietnam.JanDoloiras is the head coach, while Romnick Rico serves as the assistant coach. It will be Rondina, Pons and Rodriguez’s first international competition since helping the Philippines bag bronze with Jovelyn Gonzaga in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May. Eslapor’s most recent competition overseas was the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour last March, when she paired with Nene Bautista. They clinched bronze in the Women’s Challenger Division held at the Coolangatta Beach.
THE Philippine Women’s National Football Team still played a great game even though it took a 1-2 setback at the hands of the New Zealand Football Ferns in a friendly on Wednesday morning, Manila time. For national coach Alen Stajcic, the way his squad stood its ground against the Kiwis did not disappoint him. “Certainly, there’s a lot to improve in this team and on its executions and passes. But overall, it was a good performance,” said Stajcic on Zoom after the game at the Titan Stadium in the Cal State Fullerton campus in California.SarinaBolden struck and drew first blood for the Filipinas in the 45+1-minute mark on an assist from SaraTheEggesvik.Lady Kiwis, who are no. 22 in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, then picked up the pace in the second half. New Zealand levelled the count in the 71st minute off penalty, with defender Meikayla Moore sending her spot-kick past Filipinas’ goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel. Defender Ali Riley’s strike in the 83rd minute then won the game for theTheFerns.Philippines tried to equalize again, but Jessika Cowart’s late effort missed its mark. “It was a good performance against a strong team, an experienced team. And in some respects, we are lucky to get a point out of it,” added Stajcic. The Filipinas are at the end of a 13-day training camp in Irvine, California. Peter Atencio
By Peter Atencio FIL-FRENCH Louna Ozar struck with 22 points as the Gilas Pilipinas national women’s basketball team demolished Maldives on Wednesday in the FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Championship 2022 Division B tournament at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bangalore.Theheroics of 17-year-old Ozar, a 5’8” guard from French ballclub ESB Villeneuve-d’Ascq Lille Metropole, enabled the Filipinas to pull off a three-game sweep of Group A and reach the semifinals on Thursday. Her Fil-am teammate Kate Bobadilla and Fil-Canadian standout Ryhanna Calvert added 17 points for the Gilas Women, who never looked back from a 6-0 spurt, en route to a 21-6 edge at the end of the first period.
Gri ns, HD Spikers’disputeSpikerssololead toParañaquebuildowncoliseum
Kyrgios was handed a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct as he angrily berated himself at the changeover. That will likely lead to another cash penalty to add to the $18,500 in fines he carried into Tuesday’s tie. Kyrgios broke for a 3-2 lead in the fourth but handed the advantage straight back with a lazy double fault. Another opportunity went begging in the ninth However,game.Kyrgios settled and as the clock ticked past midnight, he played an impressive tiebreak to send the quarterfinal into a Khachanovdecider.broke for 1-0 in the final set while Kyrgios failed to convert break points in the second and fourth games. The Russian went to match point off a net cord and claimed victory off an unreturned serve after three hours and 39 minutes of action. Kyrgios hit 31 aces in his 75 winners but his unforced error count of 58 was almost double the 31 of Khachanov. Earlier Tuesday, Ruud defeated Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to make his second Slam semifinal of 2022. AFP Khachanov, seeded 27, fired 30 aces and a total of 63 winners past Wimbledon runner-up Kyrgios in a bigserving contest. The 26-year-old will face fifth seed Casper Ruud of Norway for a place in Sunday’s final. “I did it, guys. Finally, you are showing me some love,” Khachanov told the mostly pro-Kyrgios crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium. “It was a crazy match I was expecting it would be like this. I’m ready to run, to fight to play five sets. We played almost four hours and that’s the only way to beat Nick.” The Russian said he had “nothing to lose” when he faces French Open runnerup Ruud on Friday. “I would like to win it,” he said. “But as deep as you go the expectations rise up. I did the step forward, I made my first semi-final and I think I have nothing to lose. “I just want to go for it and be ready for the next match and hopefully it will be a goodKyrgiosone.”was feeling his left knee at each changeover in the first set on Tuesday and summoned the trainer after dropping the opener complaining ‘I can’t walk’. It was a rapid-fire first set dominated by serve with Khachanov sending down four successive aces to lead 6-5 before pouncing on the only break point to seal theDespiteset. his physical worries, the 27-year-old Kyrgios, who knocked out defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round, broke for 2-1 on his way to pocketing the second set. Kyrgios served up a 47-second service game, courtesy of four aces in a row, but wasted two break points in the ninth game of the third set. He was soon made to pay as the Russian edged ahead two sets to one. return puts Bucs in spotlight as NFL kicks o
Tom Brady (AFP)
GENERAL SANTOS-The General Santos Warriors withstood the fourth quarter onslaught of the Bacoor Strikers and prevailed, 75-74, on Tuesday to boost their playoffs drive in the OKbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season presented by Xtreme at the Lagao Gym here. Trailing most of the way, the Strikers struck back through RJ Ramirez and seized the lead at 6462 early in the fourth quarter, With Ramirez pouring 15 of his 19 points and Mark Montuano adding a jumper, Bacoor last led at 7473 with 36.5 seconds left. Dhon Reverente, however, pierced Bacoor’s defense for a layup that turned out to be the marginal basket with 248 seconds to go. The OKbet-backed Warriors posted their seventh straight win and climbed to an 11-5 record in the single round-robin elimination phase of the 22-team tournament. Bacoor, supported by Picur, dropped to 6-10. Nikko Panganiban led the Warriors with 17 points and 5 rebounds, followed by Mark Cruz with 14 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds.
NEW YORK—Russia’s Karen Khachanov reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open on Tuesday with a 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4 win over Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios.
GenSan edges Bacoor; Bacolod subdues QC
A NEW and modern coliseum is set to be built in the heart of Parañaque, Mayor Eric Olivarez announced on Wednesday. The new Parañaque City Coliseum will be situated beside the Parañaque City College at the corner of Cav itex and Victor Medina street, making it in the vicinity of Baclaran, the business district shared by Parañaque and Pasay, heOlivarezadded. made the announcement after a series of meetings with city sports officials and consultants.Henoted that the sports center is a project of his elder brother and predecessor Edwin Olivarez, “but was halted after the national government declared lockdowns amid COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.”Olivarez said that city budget officer Alejandro Depano and city treasurer Anthony Pulmano assured him that the city coffers would have funds available next year for this multi-million government infrastructure project. Under the engineering plan, he said, the coliseum will have a 5,000-seating capacity that will feature the most modern technology and sports equipment available in the market today. Olivarez said that the sports center would be the official home court of the city’s men and women basketball team, volleyball team and other indoor sports like badminton and lawn and table Olivarez,tennis.whois an international lawn tennis player, said many indoor games help to improve athlete’s awareness and consciousness and keep their brain active. According to the mayor, the new coliseum will also be useful and suitable for graduation ceremonies, barangay events, beauty pageants and other city programs and activities.
Khachanov whips Kyrgios in 5 sets, makes semifinals
CIGNAL and VNS-One Alicia face-off Thursday in a clash of teams that swept their first two games in varying fashions with the solo lead in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at stake at the Paco Arena in GametimeManila.isat 2:30 p.m. with the HD Spikers eager to sustain a big start they spiked with back-to-back straight-set romps over the Sta. Rosa City Lions and the Army-Katinko Troopers that netted them a shared view of the top with the Griffins and the idle Sta. Elena Nationals side. But while Cignal appears to be playing solid and in control, VNS-One Alicia is unfazed, hopeful of stretching its own run fashioned out via five-set escapes over the Ateneo-Fudgee Barr Eagles and the City Lions. Navy, meanwhile, seeks to rebound from a sorry five-set setback to Sta. Elena last Tuesday that saw the Sealions blow a match point and yield three straight points in a loss that stymied its bid for early joint leadership. Still, they set out for their 5:30 p.m. match with the Troopers confident of nailing their second win in three starts against a team reeling from losses to the Nationals and the HD Spikers. But all eyes will be on the HD Spikers-Griffins encounter with Cignal coach Dexter Clamor expected to lean anew on his tested crew made up of Marck Espejo, JP Bugaoan, Rex Intal, Ysrael Marasigan, Alfred Balbuena, Edmar Bonono, Peter Torres and playmaker Owen Suarez, who have been playing with the same fire and cohesion that have marked their back-to-back title romps before the country’s first and only men’s volley league went on a three-year hiatus. VNC, however, is all primed for a big showing after two scrambling wins with the diminutive but talented JB San Andres and Uriel Mendoza, along with Michael Doria and Kevin Montemayor and setter Ish Polvorosa, raring to slug it out and prove their worth against their fancied rivals.
Nikko Panganiban spearheads GenSan’s o ense against Bacoor.
Games Today (Thursday) 2:30 p.m. – VNS vs Cignal 5:30 p.m. – Navy vs Army Brady’s
LOS ANGELES—Tom Brady’s dramatic retirement U-turn has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the spotlight as the NFL season kicks off with the superstar quarterback in search of an eighth Super Bowl title. Brady’s retirement, announced shortly after the Bucs fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in last season’s playoffs, lasted just weeks before he reversed his decision. Needless to say he was welcomed back with open arms by Tampa Bay, where new coach Todd Bowles is at the helm and Bruce Arians, who coached Brady and the Bucs to a Super Bowl title two seasons ago, is now a consultant. Arians’s take is that Brady is “throwing better than I’ve ever seen him” heading into his 23rd NFL campaign, his body holding up thanks to an efficient throwing style and scrupulous attention to Brady’sfitness.excused absence from some preseason activities for personal reasons raised eyebrows around the league. But the 45-year-old insisted that despite the tug of off-field obligations “the competitive fire still burns.
GenSan pride Gerald Anderson contributed 8 points, matching the output of Niko Elorde, plus 3 rebounds and 2 Homegrownsteals.Ian Melencio supported Ramirez with 14 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds while Mark Montuano chipped in 10 points and 6 rebounds.BacolodBingo Plus, powered by Mark Yee, subdued Quezon City MG Cars, 79-64, in the first game to improve to 10-7. Quezon City skidded to 7-8. MPBL CEO and founder Manny Pacquiao watched the games with wife Jinkee and GenSan Mayor and sister-in-law Lorelei Pacquiao. The league’s Mindanao swing takes a two-day break and will resume on Friday with a doubleheader at the Sarangani Capitol Gym in Alabel. The games will pit Muntinlupa against Bacolod at 7 p.m. and Sarangani against Quezon City at 9 p.m.
“I’ve got a lot to prove this year,” Brady said. “I’m out there to prove that I’m still capable of leading a team to a championship.” His teammates don’t question that. “Tom’s Tom,” rookie running back Rachaad White said. “He’s our leader. He’s everything we want. He’s our captain. He’s iconic.” Brady’s presence puts the Bucs firmly in the spotlight in a season that features the Rams’ bid to become the first team in 18 years to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Once again, however, the NFL finds itself touched by unsavoury scandal with Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson banned for the first 11 games after accusations of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massageWatson,sessions.who missed the entire 2021 season amid the allegations while with the Houston Texans, didn’t face criminal charges and landed a five-year, $230-million deal with the Browns. He’ll be eligible to return on November 28— just in time for his first possible game to be a December 4 contest at Houston. The Buffalo Bills, meanwhile, did what they could to sidestep controversy when they jettisoned rookie punter Matt Araiza two days after a civil lawsuit was filed alleging he was among a trio of San Diego State University players who raped a 17-year-old girl last year—allegations Araiza denies. The immensely popular but controversyprone NFL also goes into the season facing a lawsuit from three Black coaches—led by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores— alleging racism in league hiring practices. The NFL is counting on the start of the season to turn attention to the field. The Rams kick things off on Thursday against a Bills team widely touted as a Super BowlPerhapscontender.thebiggest question mark for the Rams in their repeat bid is quarterback Matthew Stafford’s balky throwing arm. Stafford, who played through pain last season, declared himself “ready to go” with no limitations as the tough season-opener loomed. The Bills are hoping to launch their campaign with a statement win as they seek to end the franchise’s 0-4 record of Super Bowl futility. AFP Karen Khachanov celebrates after defeating Nick Kyrgios of Australia in their Men’s Singles Quarterfinal match on Day Nine of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. AFP
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022C2
The Kapuso star during the grand media event for Shopee’s 9.9 Super Shopping Day
“The Philippines’ Most Awarded Journalist,” Soho is one of the main driving forces behind GMA Public Affairs. She conceptualized many iconic Kapuso public affairs shows, including Brigada Siete, Emergency, and I-Witness Soho is the Philippines’ first recipient of the highly coveted George Foster Peabody Award. She is also the first and only Filipino broadcast journalist to have been nominated and won the bronze medal in the prestigious New York Festivals “World’s Best TV and Films” Competition in the Best News Anchor category. Soho remains one of the most trusted news personalities at the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Awards 2022. She currently hosts the Filipinos’ favorite Sunday viewing habit on TV, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, which recently won as Top Media Publisher in 2022 TikTok Awards Philippines. For David, being a public affairs host does not end when the camera stops rolling. “Yung mga taong ini-interview natin, nagpapatuloy ‘yung impact ng taong ‘yun sa buhay mo.” “The Country’s Premiere Documentarist,” David has been praised for her documentaries that tug at the viewer’s hearts. One of her documentaries for I-Witness “Ambulansyang de Paa,” gave the Philippines its second George Foster Peabody Award. Apart from I-Witness, David currently hosts Pinas Sarap and Brigada. In 2011, she was included in the Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS). She has been recently named as the new chair of the journalism department at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication. Read full story on manilastandard.net users can win a sponsored community project for their barangay, such as a new basketball court, multi-purpose hall renovation, and public school supplies. Until September 9, Shopee users from all over the Philippines can nominate their barangay for a chance to win a community project of their choice that addresses their barangay’s needs. To join the initiative, users simply need to post their video entries on Facebook and submit the link via the Barangay Shopee page in theAlso,app. big rewards await lucky shoppers with Shopee’s newest game, 9.9 ShopeePay Shop & Win Up to P1 million. To join, users need to purchase on the Shopee app and claim their code from September 1 to 9 for a chance to win up to P1 million at our draw.
world tour over health issues
Entertainment’s Lino Cayetano, Shugo , and Philip King have officially signed a partnership with Viva Entertainment. On September 1, the entertainment company entered a non-exclusive partnership with Viva for a multiseries and movie deal. According to Cayetano, Viva and Rein will work on multiple and long-term projects, films, and series for both mainstream TV and online streaming platforms.ReinEntertainment is also in partnership with ABSCBN having created and produced the groundbreaking socio-political thriller series Bagman, two seasons of which are now available on Netflix. They have also partnered with Tencent Video for their first-ever project in the Philippines with the youth drama series Section St. Valentine: The Disappearance of Divine and the romantic LGBTQ series Betcin streaming on WeTV. Rein Entertainment also has a highly anticipated Rein Entertainment seals partnership with Viva
ABS-CBN continues bid to go international, inks deal with Korean talent management agency
of ABS-CBN TV Production and Star Magic Laurenti Dyogi (second from left) with the heads of the Korean talent management agency Viva and Rein’s partnership will allow them to work on multiple and long-term projects, films, and series
CANADIAN pop superstar Justin Bieber said Tuesday that he is once again taking a break from touring, months after revealing he’d been diagnosed with a syndrome that caused him partial facial paralysis. In June, Bieber pushed back the North American leg of his Justice tour due to Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, a complication of shingles. The 28-year-old pop star recently went back on the road, performing six live shows in Europe as well as the Rock in Rio festival in Brazil this weekend. But he said Tuesday his return to the stage had been premature.“Thispast weekend I performed at Rock in Rio and I gave everything I have to the people in Brazil. After getting off stage, the exhaustion overtook me and I realized that I need to make my health the priority right now,” Bieber said. “So I’m going to take a break from touring for the time being,” the “Peaches” singer continued. “I’m Justin Bieber scraps
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 C3 nickie.standard@gmail.com Nickie Wang, EditorEntertainment
STARHUNT, ABS-CBN’s premier grand audition platform, partners with Korean talent management agency MLD Entertainment and Kamp Korea Inc. to discover new talents in search of the next global all-male pop group in Dream Maker The latest collaboration of ABSCBN with foreign groups is part of the company’s international expansion plans as it continues to form strategic partnerships to champion Filipino talent on the global ABS-CBNstage.Head of TV Production and Star Magic Head Laurenti Dyogi said, “We are getting serious in getting to the international arena. We are looking at all ways and means to get Filipino artists and Filipino talents to be recognized globally. We are happy to have partners who recognize Filipinos are talented and we can compete globally.” CEO of MLD Entertainment Lee Hyoungjin said, “It’s a natural mix between ABS-CBN, MLD, and Kamp. Because ABS-CBN has the infrastructure, resources, and history in the Filipino market, combined with MLD Entertainment’s K-Pop know-how and Kamp Global’s global network knowhow, it was quite a natural combination.” He also believed that Pinoy pop may be the next global phenomenon. With this partnership, he is confident that they will discover fresh faces that may soon conquer the international music scene. “I have seen so much talent in the P-pop side and just girls and boys who love to sing and dance. As K-Pop has become a global phenomenon, I believe that P-pop is the next,” he added. Dream Maker, the newest idol survival competition show, is about to make dreams come true for seven aspiring male singers and performers who will have the chance to debut in Korea. Tim Kim, CEO of Kamp Korea Inc, shared what qualities they were looking for in the competition. He said, “The X-factor and talent are definitely something we’re looking for. More importantly, we are looking for a P-pop group, but we’re looking for a global group. A global mindset and being a global citizen is another factor that we’re lookingWinnersfor.” of Dream Maker will also be under the guidance and tutelage of established Korean idols and mentors who will personally train them as well as world-class Filipino mentors. Starhunt will open the auditions for male contestants ages 13 to 22 years old who can sing, dance, or rap starting
Viewers of the draws from September 2 to 9 also stand a chance to win exciting prizes with Guess to Win, a daily in-app game that rewards one lucky viewer with thousands of cash via ShopeePay when they guess the winning bag. Non-stop fun and entertainment at the 9.9 Super Shopping Day TVFilipinosSpecial can also look forward to big giveaways, fun, and entertainment when they tune in tomorrow, September 9, at 9:35 p.m. on Shopee Live and GMA 7 for the 9.9 Super Shopping Day TV Special Exciting performances are lined up for the event with Marian, Dingdong, Michael V, Carla Abellana, and more Kapuso stars.
The Truth Seeker Atom Araullo The Philippines’ Most Awarded Journalist Jessica Soho The Fearless Journalist Maki Pulido The Country’s DocumentaristPremiereKaraDavid Adventurer for Life Drew
Meanwhile, the 38-year-old primetime star expressed her happiness seeing the media again in an in-person event, noting that it’s something that she’s been looking forward to experiencing since the start of more relaxed pandemic restrictions. “We’ve been doing a lot of zoom meetings, so seeing you guys in person gives me so much happiness,” she said. As Shopee ambassador, Marian is promoting 9.9 Super Shopping Day, the start of the company’s year-end shopping season. Community project for barangays Beyond offering the best deals through its double-day sales, Shopee continues to work towards utilizing its resources and technology to help underserved communities across the Philippines. Specially crafted to start of the 9.9 Super Shopping Day, Shopee Barangay Shopee, the newest initiative Shopee Bayanihan CSR program, where
Seasoned broadcast journalists uphold ‘Tatak Public Affairs’ Tapang (Courage). It takes grit and determination to report big stories and engage in dangerous coverages. Talino (Intellect). Every story is backed by thorough research and a discerning attitude to achieve objectivity and balance. Totoo (Truth). GMA Public Affairs’ pledge and commitment have always been the truthful delivery of stories and information to Filipinos. Changing lives, one episode at a time Pag sinabi mong ‘Tatak Public Affairs,’ hindi lang tayo nagbabalita o nagkukwento. We want to change lives, one episode at a time,” shared Soho.
Marian Rivera keen on becoming a game show host
WATCHINGtelevisiongameshows is one of our guilty pleasures. More than training our brain cells on general knowledge and the ability to think quickly, it’s the entertainment that always ropes us in to have our attention glued on the boob tube. The experience is the same when we watch it live. At the grand media event for Shopee’s 9.9 Super Shopping Day, ambassador Marian Rivera hosted a game show, which mechanics is similar to that iconic game show where a lucky player was selected randomly. “Anong bayong ang gusto nyo,” the actress said during an interview with Manila Standard Entertainment. She acted as if she was ready to dip her toes into something like what her husband Dingdong Dantes has been doing on television. “I’m not closing my doors to hosting a game show, but why not, let’s try,” she said. Marian admitted that she’s done so many things on TV including hosting a variety show but doing a game show is something that she will welcome with open arms in case an offer would land on her doorstep.
Shopee ambassador and Kapuso royalty Marian Rivera Marian (right) with a Shopee executive
ArellanoHead
JESSICA Soho. Kara David. Maki Pulido. Drew Arellano. Atom Araullo These names have been synonymous with GMA Public Affairs–widely regarded as the most awarded broadcast news organization in the country and one of the top content creators on air and Foronline.over 35 years, GMA Public Affairs has continued to be the leader in producing stories that impact Filipinos’ lives: from investigative reports that tackle in-depth discussions of issues, to magazine and reality programs that touch hearts, and to documentaries that open the public’s eyes to shocking realities.Like GMA Public Affairs, Soho, David, Pulido, Arellano, and Araullo are just some of the Kapuso broadcast journalists who have showcased what it means to create stories that are “Tatak Public Affairs,” upholding truth in the age of fake news and misinformation. “Tatak Public Affairs’’ is anchored on three values “Tapang. Talino. Totoo.”
Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared “We are thrilled to be welcoming the busiest sale season of the year with our users, sellers, and communities from all over the Philippines. We aim to be a platform that harnesses the power of technology to help all of our stakeholders and the community — whether it’s through our impactful CSR initiatives or exciting double-day sales.”Tolearn more about the 9.9 Super Shopping Day and Barangay Shopee, visit the 9.9 Super Shopping Day page and the Barangay Shopee page on the app. Download Shopee for free on App Store or Google Play Store. at Market Market this September 10 (Saturday) and Ayala Fairview Terraces this September 11 (Sunday), from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. entry in the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival this December with Nanahimik ang Gabi starring Heaven Peralejo and Ian Veneracion written and directed by Shugo Praico get better. I’ve been so proud to bring this show and our message of justice to the Ramsayworld.”Hunt Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that can inflame and paralyze the facial nerve, and cause a painful rash around the ear or mouth. In addition to facial paralysis, it can cause hearingBieberloss.had dozens of performances across the globe scheduled through March 2023. He did not give an estimated timeline of recovery or indicate whether the Justice tour would ever resume. COVID-19 had forced two postponements even before the singer’s health began suffering. AFP
WHEN everything seems overwhelming, pause and take a full deep breath. As you inhale, your heart rate speeds up. As you exhale, your heart rate slows down. This routine calms down the nervous system and makes you feel more Experiencedrelaxed.healthwriter
Clinical test shows the e ectiveness of a specific gargle solution vs . COVID-19
GROWING old has undeservedly been given a bad rep. Often, it is portrayed as a phase in life that is riddled with sickness and helplessness or a state of fragility and inactivity. When in fact, it can be anyone’s best years. You are wiser, more experienced, and likely, have more time to pursue a hobby (or several) you have been interested in or a lifelong personal dream. “Aging is a natural process. It is inevitable, yet, each has a different aging experience. It manifests in different ways, from as normal as hair turning gray to something more complicated like developing a chronic illness,” says Janice Zamuco MD a specialist from the Department of Geriatrics of top hospital in the Philippines Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) “We cannot reverse or stop aging, but we can improve our experiences during these later years in our life.” She adds that aging gracefully and healthily is more possible if you subscribe to these simple habits every day: Get moving. Older adults should limit their physical activities, they say. But Dr. Zamuco encourages at least 30 minutes of daily activities like walking, aerobic exercise, or even tai chi. “People often think that an older person will have a higher risk of accidents, if they move more. This is not usually the case. Exercise can in fact improve one’s balance and coordination and prevent falls,” she explains. Eat more fruits and veggies. No matter how old one is, incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods into every meal has numerous health benefits. “Having a plant-rich diet can give you the antioxidants that can fight inflammation and free radicals that can damage the organs and speed up the body’s natural aging processes. Plantbased eating can also give you the nutrients you need to improve your immunity,” the doctor states. Get quality sleep. It is believed that getting older also means getting less sleep. Yet, Dr. Zamuco says that a good night’s sleep is a must to keep older adults healthier and well. “Many older adults only clock in a few hours of sleep every night, dismissing this as just a part of growing older. It is recommended that people 61–64 years old need 7–9 hours, and people aged 65 and up should have 7–8 hours of sleep each night,” she points out. Practice mental exercises. One of the usual problems associated with aging is dementia. The doctor says it is common but not necessarily something that all seniors will go through. There are many ways to maintain one’s mental sharpness, “If you are at risk of developing memory loss and cognitive issues into older adulthood, take the necessary steps to fortify your mind as early as possible.” Reading books, working on puzzles, playing board games, and learning something new can all help keep the brain active and dementia at bay, she adds.
Five fortechniquesbreathingstressrelief
Pasig promotes responsible pet ownership, intensifies animal care program description, health and immunization history, and the contact details of the registered owner.This information will be uploaded with all confidentiality in the pet registration system of the City Government of Pasig. Just about the size of a grain of rice, the microchip used in the program is a permanent and tamper-proof identification for pets. Gone are the days when pet owners would attach animal tags to their pets and lose them in the process.PetiChip utilizes the RFID (radio frequency identification device) technology that reads the ID number through radio frequency, which is implanted by authorized veterinarians between the animal’s shoulder blades.With this, it can closely monitor and check the number of animals that have already been vaccinated with anti-rabies shots. To ensure that this will be enforced at all levels of the city, deputized offers in all the barangays of Pasig will be issued with a microchip scanner and a mobile application. The scanners (or readers) are handheld equipment that read the microchip implanted in the pet, while the mobile app will serve as the information retrieval system that can acquire the identity, owner and vaccination history of the dog in real-time. All the deputized officer has to do is to scan the dog, type the number in the mobile app and the information will be Anotherretrieved.beneficial feature of the microchip allows the reading of the pet’s body temperature. The Pet iChip variant from the company Plaridel Products & Services Inc. is incorporated with the temperature sensing feature called BIOTHERMO. This can determine abnormal temperature readings without causing the animal any discomfort.Thisisimportant in the health monitoring of pets to promote further animal welfare through identification and tracking. This effort by the City of Pasig is also in accordance with law as mandated by Republic Act 9482, or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007. Through the launch of Pet iChip, Pasig City moves a step closer to achieving its goal to create a healthier, livable and sustainable ecopolis; making the city a safer place for both humans and pets.
It’s also important that your blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol are in check. These also increase your risks of dementia if uncontrolled. While years do add up, the latter part of your life can still be filled with vitality and excitement. “One of the ‘secrets’ to healthy aging is simply taking a proactive approach to your health,” Dr. Zamuco underscores. “Growing old doesn’t have to be a dreadful part of human life. With better lifestyle choices, you can live every moment of your life with your loved ones to the fullest.” For more information, please contact MakatiMed OnCall at +632.88888 999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. Follow @IamMakatiMed on Facebook and Twitter.
healthcare professionals, with the synergistic action of its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anesthetic, and antiseptic properties in relieving sore throat, as well as other symptoms of throat and mouth infection. Clinically-tested efficacy in COVID-19 Patients Lead investigators of the study have found that Difflam-C® significantly relieves the COVID-19 patients’ sore throat and alleviates throat discomfort associated with difficulty and/or pain in swallowing. Results also show that it helps shorten the duration of the said condition of COVID-19 patients, with the VAS scores of participants significantly decreased during the course of treatment with Difflam-C®.
A month ago, four people within my circle got hit by the virus and somehow they all had similar mild symptoms— headache, fatigue, and sore throat. In a recent media roundtable along with one of the country’s trusted medical research teams as well as representatives of iNova Pharma Philippines Inc., the makers of the Difflam- C gargle, a discussion underscored the recent developments in our fight against COVID-19.
Here are five drills to practice at home: Deep breaths. Short, shallow breaths consume energy. This makes you more anxious. Take deep breaths instead. Breathe in through your nose. Fill your belly with air. Then breathe out through your nose. Take three more full deep breaths. Focus. Whenever you breathe in, picture the air infused with peace and calmness. Feel it throughout your body. Now, imagine releasing all the stress and tension as you breathe out. Repeat this mantra: I breathe in peace and calm, I breathe out stress and tension. Continue for 10 to 20 minutes. Equal time. Breathe in, count to five. Breathe out, count to five. Once you are at ease, you may increase it up to 10 counts. Relax muscles. Lie comfortably on the floor. Breathe in as you tense the muscles on your feet. Count up to 10 before you release it. Proceed with your calves. Work your way up to your body. Include your legs, belly, chest, fingers, arms, shoulders, neck and face. This technique helps you relax physically and mentally. Modified lion’s breath. Sit comfortably. Imagine that you are a lion. Breathe in through your nose. Fill your belly with air. Then open your mouth as wide as you can to release it with a big “HA!”. Repeat several times.
Pia Wurtzbach for Di am-C®
LifeC4 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 Nickie Wang Editor Joba Botana, Associate Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
THROUGH the leadership of Mayor Vico Sotto , the City Veterinary Services Department and with the help of Plaridel Products & Services Inc., the LGU launched the Pet iChip project, a pet identification program using microchip technology.PetiChip supports the city’s goal of eradicating rabies and promoting responsible pet ownership. In recent years, both the national and local government units strive to control rabies through vaccination campaigns or the impounding of stray dogs. Although these efforts reduced the incidence of clinical rabies cases, the bites reported were not actually from rabid dogs, but from animals of uncertain vaccination history. This prompted Mayor Sotto to adopt a system that will properly identify and view a dog’s health history accurately at any given time, hence the initiation of the pet microchipVaccinationprogram.drives against rabies will continue. However, after the immunization, the implantation of the microchip in pets shall provide the following information: breed and
THE past months have shown a slightly higher COVID-19 positivity rate in the Philippines compared to the prior months. This may be attributed to the new Omicron variants that seemed to inevitably make their way all around key areas.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto Dr. Jennifer Nailes, MD 9 (leftmost), and Dr. Roberto Salvino, MD, the doctors who spearheaded the recent study done to evaluate the effectivity of the Difflam-C gargle against COVID 19-related throat pain
“At specified time intervals, median VAS scores showed a decreasing trend from baseline until after 12 hours of Day 1 and are significantly different from baseline values (p<0.001). There were some participants whose sore throat pain was relieved within 30 minutes of first use of the solution which persisted even until after 12 hours,” says lead investigator Dr. Jennifer M. Nailes, MD, MSPH, Vice-President for
From left: Michelle dela Cruz, Nailes,Pharma;ManagerMarketingofiNovaRiaEnriquez,DiamProductManager;Dr.JenniferVPforresearchatUERMMMC;Dr.RobertoSalvino,MedicalDirector,iNovaPharmaPhilippinesInc.,andEricYuson,AssociateMedicalAairsManagerofiNova.
Paige Fowler, who regularly contributes to some of the leading health and wellness magazines and websites, has shared several breathing tips on WebMD. It is a global health information platform managed by a team of award-winning experts and professionals in medicine, journalism, health communication and content creation. These pointers were reviewed by Nayana Ambardekar, MD, a board-certified general internist and an assistant professor of medicine at the Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Based on all this information, the Benilde Well-Being Center (BWC) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) invites the general public to maximize the powers of the breath as a tool to de-stress through this collection of health reminders.Foroptimal results, comfortable clothing is recommended. Some exercises are best done while seated, while others are accomplished lying down with a pillow under the head and knees.
JOB WELL DONE BY JOBA BOTANA
For years now, the national and local government units strive to control rabies through vaccination campaigns or the impounding of stray dogs
Research of the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc. “There was a noticeable shortening of the course of the sore throat in the study subjects, with their use of Difflam-C® during treatment. This gargle solution
Healthy aging is not a myth
Pasig City intensi es its animal care program by implementing a permanent registration system for pets in the city.
could be viewed as an effective treatment for patients with odynophagia (painful swallowing) or dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), conditions associated with severe sore throat among COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. ThoughNailes.yetto be published by Acta Medica Philippina, a peer-reviewed general medical and health science journal, these results are extremely encouraging and present a positive step in addressing the COVID-19 sore throat, using a widely available medicated gargle solution such as Difflam-C® in the study. As cases rise and new Omicron variants are discovered, the results of this study could be valuable information in making the public more aware of clinically tested remedies to help address key symptoms like the COVID-19 sore throat. While Benzydamine HCl + Chlorhexidine gluconate (Difflam-C®) could be an effective treatment for COVID-19 sore throat, getting vaccinated with boosters, the observance of standard health protocols, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are the current mainstays for the prevention of COVID-19 infection.
It was an eye-opening discourse as the UERM Memorial Medical Center Research team shared the result of the recent in-vivo study they conducted for Difflam- C, a locally-available antiseptic gargle solution. It was shown that Difflam-C significantly alleviates the so-called COVID-19 Sore Throat— the most common symptom and tell-tale sign of people diagnosed with COVID-19. The in-vivo study focused on establishing whether the combination of Benzydamine HCl and Chlorhexidine gluconate in Difflam-C are effective in a real-world setting and was conducted on 219 COVID-19 patients from November 2021 until February 2022. This combination of active ingredients found in Difflam-C solution has been gaining popularity in the Philippines particularly among doctors and
