Manila Standard - 2022 September 9 - Friday by Manila Standard

On Thursday, Vergeire also said teachers and students attending face-toface classes must continue to mask up as these are held indoors. execs liable for sugar mess

DepEd files raps vs. 5 teachers for sexual offense

All her children—heir to the throne Prince Charles, 73, Princess Anne, 72, Prince Andrew, 62, and Prince Edward, 58, were either at or heading to join her at the Balmoral royal estate in Scotland, aides said.

Peso posts record low at P57.18 vis-a-vis $1 for fifth straight day

THE Philippines was again named Asia's leading dive and beach destination in the 2022 World Travel Awards (WTA) in Vietnam on Sept. 7, and Intramuros reclaimed its title as the continent’s leading tourist attraction. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco on Thursday welcomed the twin victories saying it proves the beauty of the"ThePhilippines.Philippines is a beautiful country and you (WTA) having given these awards is such an affirmation to all of our tourism stakeholders and workers who have greatly sacrificed throughout the pandemic," she said. "We look to the future with hope that through our combined efforts under the Marcos administration that has identified tourism to become a major pillar for economic recovery that not only will we survive the (COVID-19) pandemic but we will thrive, we will endure and we will get back stronger than ever," she added.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz T HE Senate Blue Ribbon committee on Thursday recommended the filing of graft charges against four officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) but cleared Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez.Committeechairman Senator Francis Tolentino said the charges should be filed before the Ombudsman against Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian, who has been placed under preventive suspension; resigned Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Hermenegildo Serafica; and resigned SRA board members Roland Bel tran and Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr. The committee also said the four officials should be

THE peso sank to a new record low for the fifth straight trading day on Thurs day, losing 4.5 centavos to close at P57.18 to the US dollar following the release of dollar reserves data for the month of August. The local currency dropped from Wednesday’s finish of P57.135 to $1, which came after data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that gross international reserves (GIR) stood at $98.975 billion as of Au gust, down from $99.838 billion in July

DOH, experts for mandatory mask use as COVID persists

Senate panel seeks graft charges against them but clears ES Rodriguez

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Bo Mancao Next page Next page Next page Next page Next page Next page Next page LEOCADIO SEBASTIAN HERMENEGILDO SERAFICA ROLAND BELTRAN AURELIO VALDERRAMA JR. Royal

WTA awarded the Philippines for the sixth time as the leading beach

WTA awards boost local tourism

By Willie Casas

THE Department of Health (DOH) prefers to keep the wearing of face masks mandatory while the COVID-19 pandemic persists, its officer-in-charge saidThisThursday.was the DOH position taken during the first meeting of the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. The IATF had earlier recommended making masks optional outdoors, after Cebu City defied the national mask mandate and ignored an appeal by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

BOOST.TOURISM File TravelthedestinationandleadingfortheagainTheoftheofvolcanicsiteshowsphotoadiveintheislandCamiguin,northerntipMindanao.PhilippinesbaggeddistinctionAsia'sdivebeachin2022WorldAwards. family gathers as Queen Elizabeth's doctors sound health alarm

“We are calling on victims of alleged sexual harassment to come out and give your affidavit, statement, or evidence so that we can file formal charges,” he said. The public, whether complainants or

File photo shows Queen Elizabeth in the Drawing Room before receiving Prime Minister Liz Truss for an audience at Balmoral in Scotland on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. The Queen remains under medical supervision as recommended by her doctors. (Inset) Crowds gather outside Buckingham Palace in central London as fears grew for the monarch's health. AFP

THE Department of Education has filed administrative charges against five out of seven teachers allegedly involved in the sexual harassment of learners in Bacoor, Cavite. In a press briefing, DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said the filing of cases followed the initial investigation on conversations allegedly initiated by the teachers, supposedly showing sexuallymotivated invitations, that have surfaced on online platforms.

QUEEN Elizabeth II's closest family travelled to join the 96-yearold monarch on Thursday after doctors placed her under medical supervision, prompting concern from British political and religious leaders.Britain's longest-serving monarch has been dogged by health problems since last October that have left her struggling to walk and stand.

NTC hit for failure to avert spate of spam texts

4 DA

“I guess the question is why only five were charged out of the seven. When we spoke with the schools division office and legal department, they said there was not enough evidence yet to include the two others in the complaint. That’s why we were only able to press charges against the five,” he said. The five teachers were charged with grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violation of DepED Order 40, series of 2012.The charges come with a 90-day preventive suspension for the five teachers, as well as their right to choose either “proceedings by position paper only or by trial,” Poa said. Poa again urged victims to come forward and file complaints to strengthen the case and ensure adequate measures for safe learning spaces in schools.

PERCENT

THE Department of Health (DOH) is in contact with Hong Kong authorities after the Chinese territory reported its first case of monkeypox in a traveler from the Philippines. DOH officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the patient's nationality is still unknown. "Based on what we have gathered yesterday as an initial report they have given us, they were not able to identify yet the nationality of this specific individual," Vergeire told ANC's "Headstart" Thursday."So,we are still coordinating closely HK‘s 1st monkeypox case detected in traveler from PH

By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 206 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DECLINED

Also heading to Balmoral was Charles's elder son Prince William along with his younger son Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, who RATE TO 5.2

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Darwin Amojelar SEN. Grace Poe on Thursday chided the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for being remiss in its job to avert the spread of text scams currently victimizing millions of mobile users.This developed as GCash, the mobile wallet of Globe Telecom, rolled out a feature update that anonymizes the names of users of its send-money service as an added customer protection measure. Previously, the recipient’s name would be seen during the transaction as an added convenience to the GCash sender and

NEWS / A2 PH ASKS ICC TO JUNK PROBE ON DRUG WAR BUSINESS / B4 JULY JOBLESS

“I have here the list of actual import al locations granted by the SRA under Sugar Order No. 3. It does not include a few of the leading players. How did you allocate the import program?” Salceda said.

During the hybrid hearing of the Committee on Public Services on text scams, Villar said he filed Senate Bill 225 to protect the integrity of online transactions from illegal schemes such as phishing and smishing (SMS phishing). Noting the spread of fake news through social media, messaging mobile applications, and short message service or SMS “triggered the political divide among Filipinos,” Sen. Robin Padilla pushed for an inter-agency approach to avert and prevent abuse of the Internet and other tools for information and communication.Concedingthat no single government agency can effectively fight fake news, Padilla filed Senate Resolution 191, which seeks to enhance the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and related laws. In yesterday's Senate Public Services Committee hearing on Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card registration, Poe noted that the NTC appeared to be doing only public information work by telling local telecommunication companies to issue warnings against the fraudulent practices. "Don't you have complaint hotlines? Have you caught anyone?” Poe asked NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, who replied that the hotline is on the agency’s website – which he could not recite. “You don't memorize your hotline number? If you do not know your hotline number, how can you expect us to know it? I’m very disappointed," said Poe. The senator said if the NTC is really serious about this issue, this would be at the top of their head. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) Peso... From A1 and marking a new two-year low. Yesterday’s close brought the peso down by P6.181 against the dollar or by 12.1% year-to-date, which Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael Ricafort warned it could lead to higher inflation and more aggressive policy tightening in the country. The peso opened the day at 57.07 and traded between 57.22 and 57.06. The average level for the day stood at 57.14. The trading volume went down to $1.15 billion from the previous day’s $1.23Ricafortbillion.said the continued weakness of the peso is expected to result in a high er inflation rate and sustained hikes in the BSP rate “to help stabilize both the peso exchange rate and overall inflation.” He said expectations for a similar trend in the Federal Reserve’s key rates to address the four-decade high consumer price index (CPI) is also seen in higher US Treasury yields. Ricafort said the US 10-year Trea sury yield is still at its 2.5-month high at 3.26 percent and this “also supported sentiment on the US currency in terms of higher US interest rate income recently.”

At the same time, the Philippines achieved Asia’s Leading Dive Destination title for the fourth straight year since 2019, edging Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Frasco said the dive citation from WTA cemented the DOT’s premise in hosting the Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX) 2022,considered the country’s largest platform to network and promote the local dive industry. The Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving, an attached agency of the DOT in charge of marine sports, has recently received a budget of P9.53 million for the first time by the national government for more intensified dive tourism promotion and development. Intramuros, meanwhile, won over other competitors such as the Angkor Temples of Cambodia; Borobudur Temple Compounds of Indonesia; Ha Long Bay of Vietnam; Sengan-en and Shoko Shuseikan Museum of Kagoshima in Japan; Taj Mahal of India; teamLab SuperNature of Macao, the Great Wall, The Forbidden City, and Terracotta Warriors, all in China; the Tokyo Imperial Palace of Japan; and Victoria Peak of Hong Kong. Frasco said the Philippines is ready to receive tourists while the DOT continues to promote the "Filipino brand" of hospitality.

PH asks ICC to junk drug war probe

MALACAÑANG has declared Sept. 12 as a special non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte in celebration of the 105th birth anniversary of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation No. 53 that marks his fa ther's birth anniversary. On Aug. 22, members of the Sanggu niang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Norte re quested the declaration of the holiday on Sept. 12 in lieu of the birth anniversary of the older Marcos on Sept. 11 which falls on a TheSunday.Palace said it recognized the need to enable Ilocanos to celebrate the occa sion since Marcos Day is being celebrat ed annually in the province with or with out a special holiday declaration. Among the regular mainstays of the annual celebration are an all-veggie cooking showdown at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Museum Complex, a debate cup, and a literary and musical competition to be participated in by various schools in the province.

4 DA... From A1 included in the immigration lookout bul letin.Charges should include violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, and usurpation of official functions under the Revised Penal Code. Tolentino, who had been quick to de fend Rodriguez, said there was no evi dence to counter his statements before the committee.Hesaidcopies of the committee report would be furnished to the Department of Justice, the Commission on Audit, and the Office of the Ombudsman for their infor mation and appropriate action. The committee's General Counsel Ge rard Mosquera said preliminary evidence showed that the four officials have “com mitted the administrative offenses of seri ous dishonesty, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service, and gross insubor dination under the revised rules on admin istrative cases in the civil service. Tolentino said 14 of 17 members of the Blue Ribbon committee signed the report with one dissenting opinion from Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, who maintained that those charged were “mere fallSenateguys.” Minority Leader Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said they will file a separate report."Itwill still be debated in the plenary," said Tolentino in a media briefing. The Committee Report 3 filed on Sept 8, 2022 after the Senate panel conducted three hearings on the fiasco, also recom mended the following remedial legisla tion:• Amendment of relevant legislation such as Executive Order Number 18, RA 10659 and related laws to inject transpar ency and accountability in the process of issuing import permits and other critical issuances;•Amendment of Executive Order Number 18 to provide for the expansion of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) board to eight members with the Secretary of Agriculture continuing to act as an ex officio chairman and the addition of sectors represented such as additional board members to represent consumers, both industrial and household, sugar in dustry workers, sugar transportation sec tor workers, and other stakeholders in the success of the sugar industry; and • Amendments of Executive Order No. 18 to prohibit the delegation of the author ity of the SRA or reclassify sugar. The committee also called for a review and rationalization of the sugar importa tion policies of the government; full fund ing for the Sugar Industry Development Act, and the preparation of a sugar impor tation plan by the SRA with appropriate safeguards clearly specified for review by higherTheauthorities.Senateprobe on the sugar impor tation was triggered by Serafica's issuance of Sugar Order No. 4 which provides for the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar even without the approval of Presi dent Marcos. The DA officials said they were under the impression that President Marcos ap proved the importation as he did not ob ject to it. In the House, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta of Sagip party-list group questioned Ro driguez's absence at the joint investigation of the House committees on good govern ment and public accountability and on agriculture and food on the Sugar Order 4 controversy. “Why did we not invite the Executive Secretary in order to shed light on these allegations and claims?" Marcoleta asked the joint panel chaired by Reps. Rida Robes of San Jose del Monte City in Bu lacan, and Mark Enverga of Quezon. Marcoleta said Rodriguez should have attended the congressional inquiry since he was present in a meeting with officials of the SRA and instructed them to draft an order for the sugar importation. “Why would these people draft an order if there was no order coming from above?” Macoleta said. House Minority Leader and 4Ps Rep. Marcelino Libanan said "there are other ways to get the answers from Rodriguez aside from inviting himto attend the hear ing such as asking them to send position papers or via Zoom." But Dasmariñas Rep. Elpidio Barzaga appealed to fellow legislators to consider the workload of Rodriguez, who is con sidered the “little president,” that caused him to miss the hearing.

At Thursday’s hearing, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda told acting SRA Ad ministrator David John Thaddeus Alba to commit to basing the import program on a rules-based system.”

When Salceda asked whether the SRA follows certain rules in allocating imports, the SRA administrator responded that the Board determines how to equitably allo cate the import program. Salceda also asked whether the SRA conducted an auction of the import slots, to which the SRA said no. Salceda pointed out that being allowed to import “is a unique privilege.” “Who allows the big guys to import at P20 and the average citizen from Polan gui at P120?” Salceda asked, referring to the price per kilo of imported sugar in the world market, and the retail price in his family’s hometown. “And how are the big retailers able to promise President Marcos to sell at P70 per kilogram?” Salceda suggested that an auction of sugar import slots should be conducted, to ensure fair allocation as well as to gen erate revenues for local industry support. “Since we impose no tariffs on sugar from our ASEAN neighbors, we should just auction off the slots for auction fees. That can be earmarked for local sugar in dustry development. That’s much better than setting very random import figures and allocating them arbitrarily among a small number of players." Also on Thursday, the Bureau of Cus toms (BOC) said its personnel discovered thousands of sacks of local and imported sugar and other goods worth P936 million in another series of warehouse inspec tions in Meycauayan City, Bulacan on Wednesday. Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz said members of the BOC's Intelli gence and letters of authority and mission orders proceeded to inspect several ware houses in the city. Ruiz said the group, escorted by the lo cal police and barangay personnel, found 11,717 sacks of local sugar with assorted brands at the warehouse located at B3L5 Kendex Drive, Polyland Industrial Subdi vision, Meycauayan, Bulacan. Also discovered by Customs personnel were 50,182 sacks of MITHR PHOL pure refined sugar from Thailand at the ware house at B5L5 Kendex Drive, Polyland Industrial Subdivision, and 60,876 sacks of imported sugar of assorted brands from Thailand at the warehouse of Edison Lee MKTG, Dazo Compound in Barangay Iba.They also proceeded to a storage facility located along Olympia Street, Sterling Industrial Park, also in Mey cauayan City, where they found 1,860 sacks of MITHR PHOL pure refined sugar from Thailand. In another facility along Copper Street, Muralla Industrial Park in Barangay Per ez, the team found 62,734 sacks of locally produced sugar of assorted brands, as well as kitchenware and other products.

NTC... From A1 helps verify that the recipient person is correct.Sen. Mark A. Villar also expressed support for the passage of measures “that will protect the public against unscrupulous individuals who are taking advantage of modern technology for their fraudulent schemes.”

One photograph of the queen greeting Truss at Balmoral on Tuesday had already sparked alarm, showing a deep purple bruise on the monarch's right hand.

"We are ready to receive you in the Philippines. We look forward to your visit and I invite every one of you to visit our beaches, our dive sites, and our tourist destinations," she said.

DOH,... From A1 "The position of the Department of Health is for us to continue masking but there were several data that were presented also that have led to this decision," Vergeire said during an interview with ANC's "Headstart." The DILG, for example, said the Philippines and Myanmar are the only member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that continue to implement mandatory mask rules in outdoor areas. The DILG data also showed that tourist arrivals have increased in countries with relaxed mask mandates while fresh coronavirus infections have decreased. However, Vergeire stressed that IATF's recommendation would only be implemented in low-risk settings and low-risk individuals. "So, meaning this will only be done outdoors, in settings where it is not crowded, in settings where there is good ventilation," she said. "This will be done among low-risk individuals, meaning not the senior citizens, not those with comorbidities, not the children, and definitely not those having symptoms of COVID-19," she said.Meanwhile, a former government adviser said the move to lift the mask mandate was premature. Dr. Tony Leachon, a former adviser of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said that only a few Filipinos have received their boosters against the coronavirus“Lookingdisease.atthe numbers right now, we have a booster rate of only around 18 percent or 18 million, and we have primary vaccines about 72 million,” Leachon told ANC’s “Rundown.” “I think we’re the lowest in Asia, Southeast Asia in terms of booster rate, while the rest which have opened the economy have 90 percent vaccination and around 80 percent in terms of the booster rate,” he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

HK... From A1 if this really is a national coming from our country and we will be providing information to the public once we get it,” sheThesaid.Philippines has so far detected four cases of monkeypox, with the first three cases linked to travel. On Wednesday, the country's flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) asked its passengers on PR300 flight to Hong Kong on Sept. 5 to monitor their condition after one of the travelers was reported to have monkeypox. "Despite the relatively low risk of getting infected, passengers on this flight are advised to monitor their health condition and requested to seek medical attention if they are experiencing symptoms.

Royal... From A1 have been on a rare visit to Britain after abandoning royal life to move to the United States. The queen -- an instantly recognizable figure to billions of people across the world -- is in her Platinum Jubilee year, marking 70 years since she succeeded her father king George VI in 1952. Moments before Thursday's announcement, notes were passed in the House of Commons to Prime Minister Liz Truss, her ministers and opposition leaders, prompting them to leave the chamber."The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime," the new premier tweeted, just two days after the queen appointed her at Balmoral to succeed Boris"MyJohnson.thoughts -- and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom -- are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time," Truss added, echoed by leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Palace: Sept. 12 a special holiday in Ilocos Norte

try’s “observation” on the request of Khan was submitted to the PTC-ICC yes terday through the Philippine Embassy at the Hague, Netherlands where the ICC headquarters is situated. The ICC is seeking to investigate the killings related to Duterte’s war on drugs for the period between July 1, 2016 and March 16, 2019, and those that happened in the Davao region between November 1, 2011 and June 30, 2016. In its submission, the government as serted that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the situation in the Philippines. “The alleged murder incidents that happened during the relevant period do not constitute 'crimes against human ity' considering that said incidents do not qualify as an 'attack' against the civilian population. Furthermore, the said occur rences were not in furtherance of a state or organizational policy to commit such an attack,” Guevarra said in a statement. The chief state lawyer also insisted the situation in the Philippines is inadmissi ble under Article 17 of the Rome Statute, noting that the complaints filed before the ICC are already being investigated and prosecuted by the proper agencies. He said the Philippine government is neither unwilling nor unable to carry out such proceedings.

Newsmst.daydesk@gmail.comFRIDAY,SEPTEMBER 9, 2022A2

DepEd... From A1 concerned individuals, may send their reports to depedabusereport@gmail.com, or via their hotline numbers at 8633-1942, 8635-9817, and 09959218461. Earlier, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Resolution 168 seeking an investigation into reports of sexual harassment in schools. The resolution urges the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality to conduct the probe with the end in view of “creating safe spaces for students that are conducive for their learning and making perpetrators accountable for theconsequences of their actions, consistent with the provisions of the Safe Spaces Act.” Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate panel, is the principal author of the Safe Spaces Act. She cited the reported incidents of harassment and abuse involving teachers at the Bacoor National High School in Cavite, St. Theresa’s College in Quezon City, and the Philippine High School for the Arts in Los Baños, Laguna. “I am sure incidents of violence, abuse, and harassment are not only happening in these schools. Often, victim-survivors do not report because their abusers are persons of authority. How many more of our students are suffering in silence? We can't just let this go,” she said.

The joint operation was conducted after the BOC received an intelligence report from the military about suspected warehouses that could be hoarding sugar amid high prices of the commodity.

They can contact the Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the HK Department of Health (DH)," PAL said in a statement. Reports said Hong Kong's first monkeypox case involves a 30-year-old resident who reported symptoms of the disease while in hotel quarantine after flying into the city. The traveler arrived in Hong Kong on Monday from the Philippines. He also traveled to the US and Canada between Aug. 2 and Sept. 2. "He developed symptoms including a severe sore throat and difficulty in swallowing in the late evening of the same day," the Hong Kong government said in a statement. "He also developed a skin rash as well as lymphadenopathy in the past week. He has been sent to Queen Mary Hospital, and has not entered the local community,” they said.

WTA... From A1 destination in Asia, besting India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the highest-ranking cleric in the Church of England headed by the queen, said she was in his prayers. "May God's presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those who are caring for her at Balmoral," he tweeted in comments echoed by other faith leaders. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Guevarra said the call was made in re sponse to the PTC-ICC’s earlier request for the government to comment until Sep tember 8 on the motion of ICC prosecutor KarimTheKhan.Solicitor General said the coun

By Rey E. Requejo T HE government has asked the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (PTC-ICC) to deny the request of its prosecutor to resume the body’s investigation into the alleged crimes against humanity committed under the Duterte administration in the implementation of its anti-illegal drug war, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said on Thursday.

Officials of the Federal Reserve have maintained a hawkish stance, with Chair Je rome Powell signaling tight monetary policy “for some time” until inflation is controlled. Ricafort forecasts the peso to trade be tween 57.05 to 57.25 to a US dollar on Friday. Inflation clocked in at 6.3% in August, slightly slower than the 6.4% in July but still faster than the central bank’s target range of 2.0% to 4.0%. BSP Governor Felipe Medalla already earlier signaled the possibility of more policy tightening, as food supply and pe troleum prices would first have to be ad dressed before a pause can be considered. He added, however, that inflation in the United States has shown signs of decelerating, which could lead to a downward correction in the US dollar against major global currencies.

By Rio N. Araja

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Of the total 27 cases, Fajardo said 11 have already been “solved”, meaning the charges were filed and the suspects were arrested; four are considered “cleared” or charges were already filed but the suspects still at-large; while the remain ing 12 were still under investigation.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 A3News IN BRIEF

‘Duck, cover, hold’ key to safety duringpollutedDENR-EMBearthquakes—expertsactstopurifywaterwayinCebu

“We will be needing around P76 billion for us to be able to sustain this provision of health-care workers’ benefits for 2023,” Ver geire told ANC’s “Headstart”. “But we were just given a budget that could only last for about 6 months of next year,” she Vergeiresaid.also disclosed that the agency had

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) is taking steps to reverse the damage brought about by the improp er waste disposal on Goyong River in Cebu after its water turned milky white on Aug. 21.

Of the said resolved cases, seven were related to PO GOs, three were the usual kidnap for ransom and one was casino-related.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aq uilino Pimentel III said nurses and doctors, whom he called the pandemic heroes, should not be made to bear the brunt of the budget cuts in the name of fiscal tightening. Vergeire, officer-in-charge of the DOH, said the amount allocated for the health workers’ allowances would only cover six months of 2023. The proposed 2023 national budget pegged the funds for public health emergency ben efits and allowances at P20 billion.

The notice, however, also stated that it is “temporarily suspending” visa-free entry to Chile, Dominican Republic, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Singapore, Ma laysia, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines, and Russia. Bello said Michael Pei-Yung Hsu described the report as “false rumor.” “He said please clarify that, that’s false rumor, it’s not true. That’s what he told me last night,” Bello said. By Joel E. Zurbano DUCK, cover, hold. Safety experts underscored that these three key words may make the difference between life and death during earthquakes. When earthquake strikes, disaster experts advised the people to duck or drop to the floor before the shaking knocks them down. They also said people must cover their heads and necks using their arms, and quickly get under desks and other shelters that are strong enough to protect them while the tremors last. They likewise advised the people to either hold on to their shel ter or continue covering their heads and necks until the shaking of the ground stops. These three techniques for survival during emergency situa tions were demonstrated during the 3rd Quarter Nationwide Si multaneous Earthquake Drill held Thursday in Makati City. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) noted that a number of scenarios made during shake drills were based on a simulated 7.2-magnitude tremor with Intensity 8 that supposedly happened in Metro Manila. The event, in partnership with the Makati Disaster Risk Reduc tion and Management Council, the Office of Civil Defense, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Ayala Property Man agement Corp., the Makati Central Estate Association, and the MMDA was held at the Legazpi Active Park. DOST Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum Jr. led the event with the ceremonial pressing of the button. Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Raymond Ferrer, other officials of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Man agement Council, and those from the local government of Makati led by Mayor Abigail Binay attended the exercise.

“Is this how we intend to reward the sacrifices of our pandemic heroes?” Pimentel lamented. He noted that the healthcare workers de serve a raise, praise, and more benefits, not a budget cut.

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has belied the claim of a business group saying there had been 56 kidnapping inci dents in Metro Manila over the last 10 days.

T HE Department of Health (DOH) needs at least P76 billion to sustain the health-care workers’ COVID-19 benefits for the whole of 2023, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Thursday.

According to EMB-Region 7’s preliminary assessment, “there were no traces of affected life forms, such as dead plants or animals.”

PNP belies PCCCI’s claim of rash of kidnappings in NCR

Bello denies report that Taiwan lifted visa-free entry for Pinoys MANILA Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) head Sil vestre Bello III has dismissed reports that Taiwan has tempo rarily suspended the visa-free privilege for Filipinos. Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Bello said he immediately sought clarification from Taiwanese representative to the Philippines Michael Pei-Yung Hsu about the report. Bello quoted the Taiwanese officials as telling him it was possibly just a case of misunderstanding. It appeared that the confusion from a September 5 notice post ed by Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs that said it will re sume visa waivers for the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several mostly European countries starting September 12.

Director William Cuñado said DENR-Region 7 is “coordi nating with the concerned individuals and authorities to make sure that the substance discharged to the river is removed.” “We are waiting for the results of the tests conducted by EMB-Region 7 to determine the contents of the discharge in the Goyong River. In the meantime, we will also be talking with local government authorities to make sure that this will not happen again,” he added. Goyong River located in Barangay Don Gregorio Antigua in Borbon town is mainly used for irrigation. About 80 households are living near the river. Based on the initial investigation, barangay officials identi fied a certain Elmer Pogado Degamo who allegedly dumped the contaminated water and oil that was used to wash a flex ible tank into the river. The local officials said the trucking company, where De gamo is employed, owner the flexible tank.

arrears of P64 billion for the retroactive pay ment of health emergency allowances (HEA) in 2021 and 2022. Medical frontliners are en titled to the HEA under Republic Act 11712. “So, this would be the budget that we need right now so that we can appropriately provide benefits for our health-care work ers,” she said. A healthcare workers’ group on Tuesday staged a protest in front of the DOH’s central office in Manila over their unpaid COVID-19 benefits and to demand wage increase.

‘DOH needs P76b, not only P20b for healthcare workers’ benefits’

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Wednesday, said they only recorded 27 kid napping cases in the country since January, which was less than one-half of the figure claimed by the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI).

“For this year, they (anti-kidnapping officials) recorded 27 and many of these cases are POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations)-related,” Fajardo said. She added that the PCCCI has not shown any proof to sup port its allegation.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Raffy Tulfo yesterday threatened to expose “forces” attempt ing to block the passage into law of a measure seeking to secure the rights of seafarers to humane and just working conditions this 19th Congress.

Recto vows to restore P1b cancer fund

By Maricel V. Cruz H

DAR

“The budgets of the Departments of Migrant Workers; Housing, Settle ment, and Urban Development; La bor and Employment; and Trade and Industry impact the most vulnerable members of Philippine society,” said Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, chair person of the House appropriations committee, told the panel during the budget hearing Thursday. “OFWs, homeless Filipinos, work ers, and MSMEs have been among the most affected by the pandemic. Their recovery will spell the recovery of the entire country,” Co added. Co said the P14.970-billion budget for 2023 of the newly created DMW will address all aspects of migrant la bor from deployment to compensation and working conditions to remittance to Hereintegration.saidthe DHSUD’s P3.951billion budget for 2023 seeks to ad dress the homelessness of Filipinos. It is broken down as follows: Office of the Secretary with P1.042 billion, Human Settlements Adjudication Commission with P408.9 million, National Housing Authority with P2 billion, and P500 million subsidy to Social Housing Finance. He said the DOLE’s P25.899-billion budget for 2023 should develop and har ness the country’s human resources, as an integral part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s socio-economic “Agenda for Prosperity” and economic transfor mation he presented in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). Co meanwhile said the DTI’s P19.998-billion budget for next year will focus on the “backbone of the Philippine economy, the MSMSEs.”

By Maricel V. Cruz

With Othel V. Campos

Tulfo: I’ll expose groups

DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III is set to hire additional lawyers for the swift resolution of land dispute cases in theThedepartment.agency will recruit topnotch and competent lawyers, abolish vacant positions and create new positions for higher wages, he said. “Currently, the DAR is experienc ing a shortage of lawyers to review all agrarian disputes that are pending un der the DAR adjudication board and agrarian law implementation,” he said.

By Rio N. Araja

toserviceprobesGatchalianDepEd’sfeePS-DBM

forOKLawmakersseafareragainstlawseekof’23budgetgov’tagencies

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian yesterday questioned if the Department of Edu cation’s (DepEd) P69 million “service fee” to the Procurement Service- De partment of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) was worth it. Gatchalian posed the question to DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Se villa during a Senate hearing. “Is it worth the amount for a sloppy job?” Gatchalian said, in yesterday’s resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the overpriced and outdated laptops worth P2.4 bil lion for the use of public school teach ers during the time of pandemic. He suggested that the P69 billion paid by DepEd to PS-DBM can be used to put up your own Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and go back to Acknowledgingbidding. that the P69 mil lion is huge, Sevilla however noted the DepEd saved 2 percent for the service fee which is usually 5 percent.

Romualdez: PBBM state visits highly successful

CHRISTMAS HAMS. A few months before Christmas, a saleslady arranges hams inside a popular ham store in Quiapo, Manila. According to the store, they have increased their prices for hams, a favorite dish served by Filipinos during the yuletide season. Norman Cruz News

DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed anew to a bilateral consulta tion mechanism over the issue of the West Philippine Sea. This was confirmed by Manalo when he faced yesterday’s hearing of the Senate committee on foreign rela tions chaired by Sen. Imee Marcos. But Manalo did not give any exact date for the resumption of bilateral consultation which was stopped for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 388 diplomatic protests were filed by the Philippines against China during the time of former Presi dent Rodrigo Duterte and 48 others during the present administration. Manalo also told the Senate panel that two protests were also filed by the Philippines against Vietnam. But Marcos explicitly commented that nothing came out of our protests.

THE House of Representatives com mittee on appropriations on Thursday batted for the approval of the 2023 budgets of the departments that look after the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the homeless, work ers, as well as micro-, small-, and me dium-scale entrepreneurs.

* Renewable Energy (floating solar) - $1.2 billion * Blue Economy (Marine renewable energy, water production, desalination, electric boats, aquaculture) - $10 mil lion to $100 million * Innovation Platform for Startups$20 million * Women in Tech - $20 million * Data Center - $200 million * Transportation (electronic tricy cles) - $5 billion “These investments mean thousands of new jobs for Filipinos here. Singa pore officials also assured the Filipino delegation that their country is ready to roll out close to 10,000 new job or ders for Filipino workers in Singapore,”

By Maricel V. Cruz

Tulfo asserted he won’t allow these lob byists under his watch as this would com promise the welfare of our seafarers.

MARIAN DEVOTION. Devotees pray in front of Our Lady of La Naval statue placed at the entrance of Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City. The Catholic Church celebrates September 8 as the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Manny Palmero

COURTESY CALL. Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Philippines Alain Gaschen pays a courtesy call on Speaker Martin Romualdez at the Speaker’s office in the House of Representatives. Ver Noveno

From 1988 to June 2022, DARAB has received 640,807 caseloads, of which 638,445 have been adjudicated leaving a balance of 2,362 pending cases. From 1993 to June 2022, DAR re ceived 945,875 caseloads under the ALI cases, resolving 943,584 cases and leav ing a balance of 2,291 pending cases.

“I congratulate the President and all Cabinet Members who joined his offi cial delegation for a job well done. The four-day trip turned out to be highly successful and very productive not only in strengthening our bilateral ties with our neighbor-countries but also in attracting much-needed investments for our people,” Romualdez said. In Singapore alone, local business leaders who met with the President and his delegation pledged to invest a total of $6.54 billion worth of foreign direct investments in the Philippines. The investments from Singapore, which are equivalent to P374.57 bil lion, are expected to generate jobs for an estimated 15,000 Filipino workers.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Com mittee on Migrant Workers, exposed supposed moves by several groups to strongly block the passage of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill at the Senate in the previous Congress. According to Tulfo, he learned this measure wasn’t passed in the previous Congress due to “strong lobbying.”

DEPUTY Speaker and Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto on Thursday vowed to push for restoration of P1 billion can cer fund in 2023 national budget. “Restoring the cancer fund in the national budget is one doctor’s order we cannot ignore,” Recto said in a statement.“Andifit is the DOH Secretary her self who had issued that prescription, we have no other recourse but to fol low,” he added. Recto recalled that under the 2022 GAA, ang Cancer Control Program (P787 million) is under the “Preven tion and Control of Non-Communi cable Diseases” which was allocated P1.38Thebillion.Cancer Assistance Fund at P529 million is part of the “Social Health Protection Program” which gets P21.9 billion. “Sa ilalim ng panukalang 2023 na tional budget, ang panukalang budget para sa “Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases” ay itataas sa P2.1 billion at ang sa “Social Health Protection Program” naman ay aangat bahagya at magiging P22.4 bil lion,” Recto stated. “I propose a P1 billion fund for can cer control and cancer assistance and I believe that fiscal space can be created to accommodate it,” he said. “Cancer killed almost 60,000 Fili pinos last year, or one every nine minutes. Seven in 10 cancer patients drop out of treatment regimen for lack of funds. Most families is one cancer diagnosis away from bank ruptcy,” he added. This developed as Anakalusugan Rep. Ray Florence Reyes sought a re view of Republic Act 7875 or the Na tional health Insurance Program Law to address the issues.

A4 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

PH, China agree to bilateral talks, DFA chief says eyeing more lawyers to handle land disputes

OUSE Speaker Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday described as “highly successful” and “very productive” the recent state visits of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to Indonesia and Singapore, which he said, produced more than $15 billion worth of investment pledges for the Philippines.

Romualdez said. In Indonesia, President Marcos concluded his visit last September 6 with $8.48 billion worth of invest ment pledges and coal and fertilizer supply commitments from local busi nessTheleaders.MOUs and letters of intent signed at the Jakarta Business Round table Meeting on September 5, 2022, include the following: *USD 822 million in investments in textiles, garments, renewable energy, satellite gateway, wire global technol ogy, and agri-food * USD 7 billion in infrastructure for unsolicited private-public partnerships such as a C-5 4-level elevated expressway

Tulfo presided over the hybrid hear ing on the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers Act and the Pilipinong Ma rino Act last Sept. 7, where he con vened private sectors, seafarer groups, maritime training providers, and dif ferent government agencies mandated to protect OFWs and seafarers. In the 18th Congress, it can be not ed that the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers was left pending for Sec ond Reading at the Senate while the bill’s counterpart measure has already hurdled third reading at the House of Representatives.

Singaporean business leaders who signed Letters of Intent to invest in the Philippines during the Singapore Busi ness Round Table Meeting last Septem ber 7 expressed interest in the follow ing areas:

(www.manilastandard.net)

MEMBER Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine NewspapersPPI can be accessed at: manilastandard.net 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

Heart-to-heart talk with a priest

Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor

Power blocs, power plays tion to three different people – Maria Montalvo, Servino, and Cohen. Moreover, Fornes spoke to Father Towle precisely about whether he should reveal his involvement in the crime to exculpate Morales and Montalvo (154 F. Supp. 2d 706 [S.D.N.Y. 2001]). The Philippine amendment was expanded to cover communications outside of a confessional character, but this does not mean that any communication to a minister or priest is privileged. The party invoking the privilege must ﬁrst establish that the communication was conﬁdential, the advice given was for spiritual guidance, and that to do so is enjoined by the church to which the minister or priest belongs.

The Philippine peso is not the only currency that is losing its value in recent weeks. Every major currency in the world, including the euro, the Japanese yen and the pound sterling, is feeling the crunch created by the mighty American dollar.The peso yesterday fell to another alltime low of 57.18 against the greenback. It has depreciated against the US currency by a total of over P6 or 12 percent since the start of the year. The dollar just the other day touched a 37-year high against the pound sterling of the UK and was near to a 32-year high of over 147.60 to the Japanese yen. The US currency, meanwhile, reached a parity rate with the euro. A nation’s currency normally loses its value against the US dollar if there is a domestic political turmoil that results in a capital ﬂight and loss of business conﬁdence. The same currency can decline quickly if the economy is close to collapsing because of unsound policies.

F. Supp. 2d 706 [S.D.N.Y. 2001]). Shortly after Montalvo and Morales were convicted but before they were sentenced, another teenager from the neighborhood, Jesus Fornes, asked to speak to Father Joseph Towle. Towle, a Roman Catholic priest who worked in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx, visited Fornes in his home (154 F. Supp. 2d 706 [S.D.N.Y. 2001]).Fornes told Father Towle that he was upset because two members of his group had been convicted of a murder that he and two others had actually committed. Fornes said that one of the other two individuals was Peter Ramirez, the one who committed suicide (154 F. Supp. 2d 706 [S.D.N.Y. 2001]). When Father Towle was asked by Fornes as to what he should do, Towle told him that “if he had the courage and heart to do it, that he should go to the court and that he should acknowledge that he was responsible, and the others were not.” At the end of the conversation, Towle granted Fornes absolution (154 F. Supp. 2d 706 [S.D.N.Y. 2001]). The question to be answered is whether the statements of Jesus Fornes are privileged as confidential communication to a member of the clergy and are thus inadmissible at trial. Under New York law, a minister, priest, or other member of the clergy may not disclose, at trial, “a confession or confidence made to him in his professional character as spiritual advisor,” unless there is a waiver of the privilege by the confessing person (154 F. Supp. 2d 706 (S.D.N.Y. 2001). Although the clergy-penitent privilege derives from the Catholic practice of confession, it encompasses statements made to clerics in any denomination, so long as the “communication in question was made in confidence and for the purpose of obtaining spiritual guidance.” As the statute indicates, the privilege may be waived by the person who made the confession (154 F. Supp. 2d 706 [S.D.N.Y. 2001]). While Fornes’s statements to Father Towle may arguably qualify as privileged communication, the statements were not rendered inadmissible, for the following reasons, as quoted from the court records: First, Father Towle has concluded that his conversation with Fornes was not a “formal confession,” but that it was a “heart-to-heart” talk. After much deliberation, he has concluded that he was free, after Fornes died, to disclose the conversation. The Archdiocese has agreed that Father Towle acted properly in disclosing the conversation.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

During his time as Archbishop of Manila and, accordingly, the titular head of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, Cardinal Tagle allowed the Church to get involved in partisan politics. He was also very critical of then President Rodrigo Duterte. What Tagle did was in violation of the separation of Church and State mandated in the Constitution.Underhiswatch, Tagle allowed in the homilies paragraphs of partisan politics, political division, hatred and vindictiveness preached by many cardinals, bishops, priests and the like. The clerics had the habit of making highly politicized public statements designed to discredit the administration of President Duterte and to urge Catholics to oppose the government.In2018,the news media reported that during a mass he ofﬁciated for then Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a rabid opponent of President Duterte, Father Noel Gatchalian admitted he had been praying hard for President Duterte to get sick. Imagine that! A priest praying for someone to get sick! That same year, Father Jose Galoy, the parish priest in a plush village in Makati, tried to make a lucrative commercial venture of wedding ceremonies in his parish. Public disapproval forced to abandon his business plans. Caloocan City Bishop Pablo Virgilio David loved to travel to distant places just to deliver a speech against the government. His homilies were and are often directed against theIngovernment.December 2018, Father Decoroso Olmilla, a parish priest in Mandaue City, was arrested by the police after the young daughter of his convent’s cook complained about the injuries she sustained in the hands of Olmilla. The police report stated that Olmilla hit the girl’s butt with a box and kicked her because the girl forgot to feed Olmilla’s pet dog. Earlier in 2017, the news media reported that Msgr. Arnel Lagarejos of Taytay, Rizal was arrested by the police for bringing a 13year old girl to a motel in Marikina City. There is no record that I am aware of which indicates if Tagle admonished these clerics. Tagle himself is not known for candor and truthfulness. In 2010, the Catholic Church ﬁled a criminal case against Intramuros tour guide Carlos Celdran after the latter went to the Manila Cathedral and displayed a sign with the name “Padre Damaso” on it. Celdran was convicted. In a television interview, Tagle said the Church had already forgiven Celdran, but the “People of the Philippines” were the ones who pursued the criminal case against the tour That’sguide.alame excuse because the criminal case against Celdran was actively pursued by the friars in the Manila Cathedral. Poor Celdran! He died of heart failure in 2019 while in exile in Spain.

WE’VE long wondered why the government at both the national and local levels have ignored calls for them to build prison facilities that would meet international human rights standards. Is it because of budget constraints? Or maybe because our authorities believe that those who have committed serious crimes deserve to be punished—and punished enough—and kept for a long, long time in cramped cells and therefore prevented from committing more murder and mayhem?During the Duterte regime’s six-year brutal war on drugs, the thousands who escaped instantaneous death through Operation Tokhang and Oplan Double Barrel were kept in detention facilities where they practically lived in subhuman conditions, including sleeping side by side like canned sardines in really tight spaces.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Prison reform

Honor Blanco Cabie,

To compel a minister or priest to testify to a confession made to him by a penitent is equivalent to an annulment of the confessional institution, for many would no longer make confessions Those making noises about restoring the death penalty conveniently forget that our penal system already consigns inmates to a slow death through severe overcrowding, disease, and aboutcorruptionrestoring

Weak peso

HE peso is fast losing its appeal to money market traders. They are dumping the peso in favor of the US dollar, which is probably the strongest currency in the world now.

The peso’s current fall does not fall under such scenarios. It is weakening because of what the US Federal Reserve Board, or the US central bank, has done in recent weeks. The Fed is raising the interest rates to stop inflation from rising further in the US.Money market traders, wealth fund managers and other investors are gravitating toward the US dollar because of higher returns than those offered by otherThecurrencies.USdollar has become a a safehaven hedge against uncertainty and the global turmoil spawned by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The interest rates in the US may increase to above 4 percent next year and stay there for a longer time until the inflation threat is doused. In contrast, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has raised the local interest rate to 3.75 percent in its own fight against rising inflation.

EDITORIAL

ManilaStandard ONLINE Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors

A nation’s currency normally loses its value against the US dollar if there is a domestic political turmoil that results in a capital ﬂight and loss of business conﬁdence

Those making noises about restoring the death penalty conveniently forget that our penal system already consigns inmates to a slow death through severe overcrowding, disease, and corruption.

IN THE Federal Rules of Evidence of the United States there is a privileged communication known as the Priest-Penitent privilege. It is a form of communication made by a person to a priest, rabbi, cleric, or minister in the course of confession, or in a similar course of discipline by other religious bodies, that are privileged [or protected] from disclosure (Barron’s Law Dictionary). In the Philippine Rules on Evidence there is a similar provision seen in the 1964 Rules of Court, the 1989 Rules on Evidence, and the 2019 Amendments to the Rules on Evidence. However, the 2019 Priest-Penitent privilege provision was expanded to cover “any communication… made to or any advice given by him or her.”The privilege was originally limited to communications of a confessional character, but, with the 2019 amendments, now includes the advice provided by the minister or priest to the faithful, provided it is given in confidence and confers spiritualFurthermore,guidance.the amendments now extend to people who are not ministers or priests, but are “persons reasonably believed to be so” (Rule 130, Section 24 [d], Rules on Evidence). The Priest-Penitent privilege prior to the amendment was consistent with the Roman Catholic Canonical Rules that considers “penance” an inviolableTherefore,sacrament.itisabsolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason (Canon 983). In fact, if an interpreter or other person will “in any way have knowledge of sins from [the] confession… they are also obliged to observe secrecy” (Canon 983). Moreover, “a confessor is also prohibited… from using knowledge acquired from confession to the detriment of the penitent even when any danger of revelation is excluded” (Canon 984). To compel a minister or priest to testify to a confession made to him by a penitent is equivalent to an annulment of the confessional institution, for many would no longer make confessions. This must not be done in a society where religious tolerance is sanctioned by law (Francisco, Evidence citing People v. Philipps, 1 West. L.J., 1820). This tolerance is not surprising since eight out of 10 Filipinos are Roman Catholic, and utmost reverence is given to priests or ministers. Hence, it is very rare for them to be subpoenaed for a testimony.The privilege is limited to the confessions of sins made for the purpose of receiving spiritual advice or assistance. Where the accused met the priest on a railroad train and, with no intent of receiving his professional advice, assistance or consolation, told his story, incriminating himself, it was held that there was no privilege under the statute (Francisco, Evidence citing State v. Brown, 95 Iowa 381). Statements made by a church member, in the presence of his minister and fellow members, whom he had assembled, are not privileged, since they are not made to the minister in his professional character (Francisco, Evidence citing Milburn v. Haworth, 47 Colo. 593). Where a minister is consulted, not as such, but as a notary, or a friend and interpreter, there can be no privilege (Francisco, Evidence citing 58 Am. Jur.Hence,297). in a prosecution for the crime of bigamy it was held that the statements of the accused made to a clergyman who was asked to communicate them to the first wife to influence her to abandon the prosecution for bigamy are not privileged (Francisco, Evidence citing Underhill’s Criminal Evidence, 5th Ed., Vol. II). The communication was not of an ecclesiastical nature and was not intended to be confidential.

The penitentiary was constructed on an initial 551 ha of land, but a 104-ha portion was diverted to a DOJ housing project. The proposed P4.8-billion budget for the construction of the maximum security prison in Sablayan town would be included in the DPWH’s budget for its public buildings program. But the funding for the project would still depend on the design, as a special consultant might be needed to ensure the facility complied with international standards for prisons. Besides NBP and the Sablayan penal colony, BuCor manages five other facilities: Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao del Norte, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan, San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City, and Leyte Regional Prison in Southern Leyte. The DOJ’s plan to build more prison facilities to decongest existing ones has the support of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. The lawmaker suggested the construction of a “world-class” maximum security prison in the country. He said the country should have only one modernized maximum security prison because regionalizing it would be “impractical.” For Pimentel, a world-class maximum security prison should have state-of-the art security features.Inthe Senate hearing in October 2019 on irregularities in the Bureau of Corrections, it was revealed that about 20 percent of inmates at the New Bilibid Prison die every year because of overcrowding that prevents officials from stopping the spread of diseases, such as pulmonary tuberculosis.Iftheprison population then stood at 26,000, that means 5,200 die annually. During the same hearing, lawmakers learned that in the Quezon City Jail men’s dormitory, as many as three to five inmates die every month of treatable conditions due to lack of ventilation from overcrowding, and lack of access to medical care. Penal reform, starting with the construction of modern prison facilities and perhaps greater emphasis on rehabilitation, may be just what is needed to stop overcrowding and the high death rate from untreated diseases even if we have already abolished the death penalty for heinous crimes.

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

The US dollar, through investment outlets like the US Treasury Bills, will continue to attract foreign money because of better yields to investors. The peso and other currencies will remain weak unless their interest rates are priced higher, or enjoy a better spread, than those offered by dollar-based financialTheinstruments.exchange rate competition may continue to favor the US dollar in the coming months until the US Fed succeeds in its battle against inflation. Our own central bank, thus, must respond firmer to neutralize the strong dollar.

Cardinal Tagle may be unfit to be Pope

During his time as Archbishop of Manila and, accordingly, the titular head of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, Cardinal Tagle allowed the Church to get involved in partisan politics

Second, even assuming Fornes’s statements were covered by the privilege, he has waived it. Following his conversation with Father Towle, Fornes disclosed at least portions of his conversa-

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 B1Opinion

In the case of Morales v. Portuando, Jose Antonio Rivera (Rivera) was murdered in the Bronx while walking with Jennifer Rodriguez, her 11-year-old son, and Cesar Montalvo (Montalvo) along a street near Kelly Park. A group of teenagers, at least one of whom was carrying a baseball bat or stick, chased and caught Rivera, struck him in the head and the rest stabbed and hit him (154 F. Supp. 2d 706 [S.D.N.Y. 2001]). No one was arrested at the scene of the murder. A few days later, a man named Morales who was then only 18 years old, appeared at a police station forHequestioning.didsovoluntarily and denied any involvement in the murder. He was then placed in a lineup. Rodriguez, who had watched as her common-law husband was murdered, identified Morales as one of the assailants (154 F. Supp. 2d 706 [S.D.N.Y.Morales,2001]).Montalvo, and a certain Peter Ramirez were indicted for Rivera’s murder. Morales was offered a plea bargain, but he rejected the offer and insisted on going to trial. Morales and Montalvo went to trial; however, Ramirez committed suicide. The jury later rendered a verdict finding both Morales and Montalvo guilty of murder in the second degree (154 FOR Filipinos, it is always nice to learn that a fellow Filipino makes a first in the annals of history, or puts the Philippines on the world map. In 1974, Filipinos were very proud that chess wiz Eugene Torre became the first grandmaster from Asia, and that the Philippines became the first country in Asia to host the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. Many Filipinos proudly remember 1975 for Thrilla in Manila, the most famous heavyweight boxing championship match in history—between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. The Philippines is the first country in Asia to host a heavyweight boxing championship bout. In 1978, from July 18 to October 18, at the height of the Cold War, the Philippines hosted the world chess championship match in Baguio City between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi (Karpov won and retained the title) from the communist world and a former Soviet citizen who sought political asylum in Switzerland.Filipinosproudly note that the Philippines is the first country in Asia to host the championshipLastmatch.month, a British organization announced that Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle of the Philippines has a very strong chance of succeeding Pope Francis. At 85 years of age, Pope Francis is showing signs that his health is past its prime. Like Pope Benedict XVI before him, there is word in the Vatican about his possible retirement. That British report sent pro-Tagle friars all over the Philippines in a frenzy. It also triggered the curiosity of some Filipinos. While the idea of having the first Filipino Pope elected in contemporary times sounds good and may be something to be proud of by Filipinos, some important questions have been raised by some sectors, Catholic or otherwise, about Tagle getting the papacy. First, this current talk about Tagle succeeding Pope Francis is in bad taste. Pope Francis is still very much around, and it is quite unbecoming for Catholics in the Philippines to be speculating about an imminent vacancy in the papacy for Tagle to fill up. Next, an ideal Pope is one who is tolerant of others, is compassionate and forgiving, and promotes harmony amongst his people. It is not enough that a candidate for the papacy espouses these principles; he must practice what he preaches. Tagle does not seem to possess those qualities.

The number of detainees got so big that they had to await their turn to sleep on the cement floor, an image captured by photojournalists and published even in newspapers abroad to show how dire the situation in Philippine prisons had become.Thegovernment keeps two kinds of prisons: detention facilities for those accused of crimes but still undergoing court proceedings, which are operated by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and regular prisons, ran by the Bureau of Corrections, for those already convicted and sentenced to stay behind bars for certain periods. But the new administration appears determined to address the perennial overcrowding in our penal system that’s been there for as long as we can remember. The latest development here is that the Department of Justice has firmed up plans to move inmates from the maximum security compound of New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City to the Sablayan penal colony in Occidental Mindoro. The agency is holding talks with the Department of Public Works and Highways to build a maximum security facility in Sablayan, a firstclass municipality in Occidental Mindoro that hosts a 16,190-hectare prison and penal farm established there in 1954. Prison relocation is something that’s long overdue, as Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has observed, considering the national penitentiary’s record of 400 escapes over the past 20 years and the proliferation of illegal drugs within its walls. The DOJ is also looking at converting the Mega Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija into a minimum security prison. That’s another long overdue project, as the facility has been a white elephant with few undergoing drug rehab since it was built from a donation by a Chinese tycoon years back. At present, the maximum security compound in the New Bilibid Prison houses 17,400 inmates even though it was only built for 6,000 people. That translates to a congestion rate equivalent to 300 percent of its recommended capacity. Built in 1940, NBP is the largest prison managed by BuCor with a population of 28,900 persons deprived of liberty, or PDLs, of whom nearly two-thirds are in the maximum security compound.Withinthe compound, the infamous Building 14 houses some of the most high-profile prisoners, many of them convicted drug dealers. As the most tightly guarded facility, the building is protected by its own set of security guards and equipped with surveillance cameras and signal jamming devices.

OPINIONMOREONLINE

WorldFRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022B2 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A DAYS-LONG search for the second man suspected of carrying out a deadly stabbing spree in a remote western Canadian Indigenous community ended Wednesday, with the 32-year-old dying after being taken into custody, police said. Federal police Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore told a news conference that Myles Sanderson, suspected along with his brother of killing 10 people and wounding 18 on Sunday, “went into medical distress” shortly after being arrested in Saskatchewan province. She added that he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead, but gave no other details of the circumstances. On Monday, his 31-year-old brother Damien Sanderson had been found dead in a grassy ﬁeld in the Cree community. Authorities said he likely had been killed by his older sibling, who remained a fugitive until his arrest near the town of Rosthern in Saskatchewan—about 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of where the stabbings occurred. Blackmore said that with both brothers now dead, “we may never have an understanding of (their) motivation.” The manhunt had stretched across three provinces, and gone from Regina, Saskatchewan province’s capital 300 kilometers to the south, and then back to the James Smith Cree Nation—in response to reported sightings. An AFP reporter at the scene near Rosthern on Wednesday saw several police cars surrounding a white pickup along the side of a Anhighway.hourbefore the arrest, police issued an alert about a man armed with a knife in a stolen white Chevrolet Avalanche nearby, making a link to the stabbing case and urging locals to shelter in place. AFP

China

AUnited Nations report published Thursday argues that an unprecedented array of crises, chieﬂy among them COVID-19, has set human progress back ﬁve years and fueled a global wave of uncertainty.

VIGIL. Tauriel (center), 7, is anked by her great grandmother, Priscilla McLean (left) and mother Cheyenne Bird (right) during a vigil in honour of the victims of the nearby community of James Smith Cree Nation’s series of stabbings, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The last suspect in the stabbing spree in a remote western Canadian Indigenous community died after being arrested on Sept. 7, 2022 at the end of a long manhunt, local media said.

AFP

Human development set back 5 years

WILDFIRE. Fire ghters along Cactus Valley Road watch smoke and ame rise into the air during the Fairview Fire near Hemet, California in Riverside County. A ferocious heat wave scorching the western United States could nally begin to wane in the coming days, forecasters said, but they warned of dangerous re conditions as howling winds sweep through the bone-dry region.

AFP

GORY ATTRACTION. Picture shows a performer acting as a zombie on board an LRT coach as part of the ‘Train to Apocalypse’ event, part of an initiative to attract commuters to ride the city’s rapid transit system, in Jakarta.

AFP

The UN Development Program (UNDP) announced that for the first time since it was created over 30 years ago, the Human Development Index – a measure of countries’ life expectancies, education levels, and standards of living – has declined for two years straight, in 2020 and 2021. “It means we die earlier, we are less well educated, our incomes are going down,” UNDP chief Achim Steiner told AFP in an interview. “Just under three parameters, you can get a sense of why so many people are beginning to feel desperate, frustrated, worried about the future,” he said. The Human Development Index has steadily risen for decades, but began sliding in 2020 and continued its fall in 2021, erasing the gains of the preceding five years, the paper says. Titled “Uncertain times, unsettled lives,” the report points to the COVID-19 pandemic as a major driver of the global reversion, but also says that a compounding number of crises—political, financial and climate-related—have not allowed time for populations to recover. “We’ve had disasters before. We’ve had conflicts before. But the confluence of what we’re facing right now is a major setback to human development,” saidTheSteiner.setback is truly global, impacting more than 90 percent of countries around the world, according to the study. Switzerland, Norway and Iceland all retain their spots at the top of the list, while South Sudan, Chad and Niger sit at the Andbottom.whilesome countries had begun to recover from the pandemic, many others in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Caribbean had not yet turned the corner before a new crisis hit: the war in Ukraine. While the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on food and energy security has not yet been calculated into this year’s index, “without any doubt, the outlook for 2022 is grim,” Steiner said. A large contributor to the Human Development Index’s recent decline is a global drop in life expectancy, down from 73 years in 2019 to 71.4 years in 2021.

TAIWAN is conﬁdent it can sign a trade deal with Washington, its leader told visiting US lawmakers Thursday, adding that the island “will not back down” against Chinese threats. Washington unveiled plans for formal trade talks with Taiwan in a show of support as China was staging huge military drills last Taiwanmonth.livesunder constant threat of an invasion by China, which claims the democratically ruled island as part of its territory to be seized one day—by force if necessary.Beijinglashes out at any diplomatic action that seems to treat Taiwan as a sovereign nation, and has reacted with growing anger to visits by Western politicians.Lastmonth’s drills were in protest at US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to WhileTaiwan.meeting the bipartisan US delegation, Tsai pledged to work with Washington to promote closer trade ties. “We are conﬁdent that through this initiative, we can sign a high-standard trade agreement and advance bilateral trade development,” she said. Representative Stephanie Murphy, a Democrat from Florida, urged Congress to “deepen economic relationship with Taiwan, in particular by pushing for a high quality Free Trade Agreement between the US and Taiwan.” China’s unprecedented drills triggered widespread support in the United States for solidarity with Taiwan, which already has rare bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. So far this year 28 members of Congress have traveled to Taiwan, the highest number since at least 2013, according to data from Bloomberg News. Last week the US announced a $1.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, vowing to keep boosting the island’s defenses. Many European powers have also grown more vocal in support of Taiwan in recent years, while Russia invading Ukraine has deepened fears China might do the same to its neighbor.

Manhunt in Canada stabbing spree ends with both male suspects dead quake death toll rises to 82, dozens missing Thai court asks for evidence in suspension case of PM Prayut

Attacker, girlfriend ‘planned’ attempted hit on Argentine VP

AFP

The paid attraction, which the supercity’s light rail operator PT LRT Jakarta and event organiser Pandora Box launched last month, aims to promote the relatively new system and, more generally, encourage young people to take public transport.

AFP

“We want to tell young people that taking public transportation can be something cool too,” Billy Junior, CEO of Pandora Box, told AFP. AFP

THE death toll from a strong earthquake that struck southwest China rose to 82, state media reported Thursday, as rain and possible mudslides threatened the search for dozens of missing people. The magnitude 6.6 quake hit about 43 kilometers (26 miles) southeast of the city of Kangding in Sichuan province at a depth of 10 kilometers on Monday, according to the US Geological Survey, forcing thousands to be resettled into temporary camps. State broadcaster CCTV said that 46 people died in Ganzi prefecture near the epicentre, while 36 deaths were reported in neighbouring Ya’an city. More than 270 were injured, while the number of missing remained at 35, CCTV reported.

“Since the post-earthquake geological conditions are inherently fragile, and the impact of additional rainfall may lead to landslides and mudslides, the local area needs to beware of secondary disasters,” China’s meteorological administration said.

The People’s Liberation Army, paramilitary police, and fire rescue services dispatched more than 10,000 workers to the area, who continued search operations and landslide clean-up efforts in the remoteRescuerscountryside.bravedflash floods and landslides caused by aftershocks to relocate villagers from destroyed homes, often having to haul them through mountainous terrain on ropes and stretchers. “We also waded through the water to get to Xingfu village. The mountain torrents contain rocks... the stones you can’t see in the water pose the greatest threat to us,” a rescue team member named Tan Ke told CCTV. “We quickly used ropes to build a human ladder... when we first started wading, the water reached our knees and thighs. By the time we got to a safe place, the flash flood had reached waist level.” AFP

The zombies drag their feet toward passengers, sending them running through the dark station tunnels to a train. Inside the blood-spattered carriage, a TV anchor—another actor—reports news about a made-up “Pandora” virus outbreak spreading around the city, turning humans into the walkingSoldiersdead.armed with fake rifles fight the “zombies” and try to escort passengers to safety. But the reanimated corpses lurk, hidden, ready to emerge and terrorise. “Danger, beware of zombie” warns a sign in the station, where red emergency lights“Thepulse.zombies didn’t actually chase us but we were still panicking,” said Genesis Christi, a 17-year-old zombie enthusiast. Called the “Train to Apocalypse,” the event is inspired by the 2016 South Korean horror ﬁlm, “Train To Busan.”

UN: DUE TO COVID, OTHER CRISES

The national weather service said moderate rain will continue in the affected earthquake area on Thursday and Friday, with some localised heavy showers.

THE man accused of trying to shoot Argentine Vice President Cristina Kirchner last week planned the attack with his girlfriend, according to preliminary charges filed by a judge, local media reported Wednesday. The alleged shooter in the attack at point blank range, Fernando Sabag Montiel, and his girlfriend, Brenda Uliarte, both in custody, are accused of trying to assassinate Kirchner “with planning and prior agreement,” Judge Maria Eugenia Capuchetti said in an indictment of the two, according to the Telam news agency. Kirchner, the 69-year-old former president and current vice president, survived the assassination attempt as she mingled with supporters outside her home last Thursday night, when a gun brandished by Sabag Montiel failed to fire. He was taken into custody on the spot and video of the incident quickly spread online. The charges seen by media Wednesday are preliminary and can still be modified, but they mark the first official charge that the attack on Kirchner was premeditated. Kirchner enjoys a loyal support base among followers of the center-left Peronist movement inherited from former president Juan Peron. But she is disliked in equal measure by the political opposition. Tens of thousands of Argentines took to the streets after the shooting attempt. Sabag Montiel, 35, a Brazilian national who has been living in Argentina since his youth, has not told investigators what his motivations were.

IN A city known for monstrous trafﬁc, “zombies” are rising up in a scary bid to get more people to use public transport. That’s the hope of Jakarta’s light rapid transit operator, which has turned a train and station into the set of a bloody zombie apocalypse—with real passengers invited to the show.

Jakarta’s ‘zombie’ train confronts tra ic apocalypse THAILAND’S Constitutional Court on Thursday asked for more evidence as it considers whether to terminate suspended prime minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s term in office.The court suspended the former army chief, who came to power in a 2014 coup, from office last month as it weighs a case brought by opposition parties arguing he had reached the end of his eight-year term limit and must step down. Under Thailand’s 2017 constitution, no prime minister may serve more than eight years in office, but when Prayut’s term began is the subject of dispute. The Constitutional Court said Thursday it required more information and reports from the official group that drafted the constitution. Deputy Prawit Wongsuwan has taken over as caretaker prime minister, while Prayut continues to serve as defencePrayutminister.ledthe military coup that ousted Yingluck Shinawatra’s democratically elected government, and led the junta government until becoming prime minister after a general election in 2019. Supporters of the 68-year-old leader argue the clock on his term began when the 2017 constitution came into law, or even after the 2019 general election.Ifthe court agrees, Prayut could technically continue to serve until 2025 or 2027—if he wins a general election due by March. But Prayut is increasingly out of favour with voters and under his watch the kingdom registered its worst economic performance in threeStudent-led,decades. pro-democracy protests in Bangkok in 2020 attracted tens of thousands of people at their peak, and a key demand of the movement was for Prayut to resign. The court’s next hearing will be September 14. AFP

Taiwan leader confident of signing US trade deal

The twitching, growling actors are dressed in tattered clothes. One especially scary character shows only the whites of his eyes.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

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).

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.

ATTY. KENNETH JOEY H. MACEREN Corporate Secretary (MS SEPT. 8 & 9, 2022)

NATURAL DIAMONDS. People shop for natural diamonds by Asi Abir at the 67th Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair in Bangkok on September 7, 2022. AFP

nouncement by new Prime Minister Liz Truss that she will cap energy bills to fight a cost-of-living crisis. Paris and Frankfurt were also well up. However, Hong Kong and Shanghai fell. The dollar resumed its upward march with the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank expected to announce more bumper increases in borrowing costs. Equities have been ravaged for weeks by fears that global central bank moves to rein in runaway inflation by ratcheting up borrowing costs will spark fresh recessions in some leading economies. In turn, the greenback has moved ever higher against its major peers as investors flood into the currency hoping for better returns and as a safe-haven hedge against uncertainty and worldwide turmoil. On Wednesday, the US unit hit a 37year high against sterling, while it was also closing in on a 32-year peak above 147.60 yen owing to the Bank of Japan’s refusal to tighten its monetary policy, seen as the key driver of that rally. With AFP Standard TODAY (MS-SEPT. 2022)

By Haitham El-Tabei RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—Under the watchful eye of an instructor, Munira alRubaian spreads fresh bed linen in a mock hotel room in the Saudi capital, aiming to land a job in the desert kingdom’s growing tourism sector. The unemployed 25-year-old is one of thousands of Saudis enrolled in the staterun “Tourism Pioneers” program, which aims to prepare 100,000 job-seekers for a field that government officials insist is set to take off. At two facilities in Riyadh, Rubaian and other trainees study tasks like welcoming hotel guests, plating food in upscale restaurants and keeping luxury suites squeaky-clean.Othersaresent abroad for short courses in countries with far more advanced tourism industries, including the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and France. This army of newly minted bellboys, cleaners and higher-paid hospitality managers is expected to help Saudi Arabia—a famously conservative and closed-off Gulf kingdom that only opened its doors to tourism three years ago—make a positive impression on first-time visitors. The scheme also supports the government’s goal of employing more Saudis in roles traditionally occupied by migrant laborers.Theniqab-wearing Rubaian signed up for Tourism Pioneers after her own efforts to find a job at a hotel went nowhere. She is optimistic the experience will help her get a foot in the door. “I’ve had the opportunity to learn and improve my capabilities for employment,” she told AFP. “I will now have the experience and self-confidence to deal with people.” Aiming high Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s 37-year-old de facto ruler, is counting on a tourism boom to diversify the economy of the world’s largest oil exporter. In 2019, two years after Prince Apple bares new gadgets amid supply woes

CUPERTINO, United States—Apple launched new smartphones Wednesday at prices similar to recent models despite inflation and supply chain woes, while unveiling a premium digital watch with a price tag to match. While a 90-minute presentation at the company’s California headquarters did not include any surprise reveals, the tech giant did unveil new digital identification system to obviate the need for a physical sim card. The company’s newest smartphone, the iPhone 14, costs $799 for the base model—the same price as the current version, while a premium iPhone 14 Pro Max will go for $1,100. The set of updated products, which also includes new earbuds, is designed to keep customers loyal to its lucrative technology ecosystem. “Apple continued its strong growth in the first half of 2022, driven by robust demand for the iPhone 13—which was the best-selling smartphone worldwide,” said Le Xuan Chiew, an analyst at Canalys. The ability to keep the iPhone prices flat reflected the benefits of diversifying the supply chain to India after China’s zero-tolerance COVID policies crimped production there, the analyst said.

106 Carlos Palanca St. Legazpi Village Makati, Metro Manila Philippines, 1229 (+632) 8815-9961 • inquiries@ptt.com.ph • ptt.com.ph

Capital 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 Visayas and Mindanao, gained 2.6 percent to P2.73, but major property developer Ayala Land Inc. of the Ayala Group fell 2.6 percent to Meanwhile,P27.80.most Asian markets enjoyed a rare advance on bargain-buying Thursday.Equitytraders mostly followed their US counterparts in returning to buying, with many believing the market had fallen too far too fast. Tokyo led the gains, helped by data showing the Japanese economy performed better than initially thought in the second quarter, while Sydney was also boosted by the prospect of a slowdown in the pace of Australian rate hikes. There were also gains in Seoul, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei, Mumbai, Bangkok and LondonJakarta.roseahead of an expected an-

Eyeing tourism boom, Saudi Arabia scrambles to train hotel sta

9 &12,

Students attend a training seminar at the Tourism Ministry Training center in the city of Riyadh on August 30, 2022. Thousands of Saudis enrolled in the state-run ‘Tourism Pioneers’ program, which aims to prepare 100,000 job-seekers for a eld that government o cials insist is primed to explode. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s 37-year-old de facto ruler, is counting on a tourism boom to diversify the economy of the world’s largest oil exporter. AFP Mohammed became first in line to the throne, the country introduced tourist visas, but the coronavirus pandemic dashed hopes of an immediate influx. Authorities nonetheless remain committed to their eyebrow-raising goal of drawing 30 million foreign guests annually by 2030, up from just four million last year. That’s on top of 70 million targeted domestic trips each year by Saudis and foreign residents. Of the combined 100 million a year hoped-for tourists, officials project some 30 million will be making religious pilgrimages, largely to Mecca and Medina, Islam’s two holiest sites, in western Saudi Arabia. The rest, officials hope, will be partially powered by new attractions like Al-Ula, a budding arts hub set amongst ancient Nabatean tombs, and the Red Sea Project, a Maldives-style resort destination. AFP

Oil tumbles to January low on recessionincreasingfears

NEW YORK, United States—US oil prices finished Wednesday at their lowest level since January on growing recession fears, while US stocks rebounded after a weak stretch left the market “oversold,” as analysts put it. Oil prices briefly climbed early on Wednesday as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said his country would stop delivering oil and gas supplies to countries that introduce price caps. But then oil prices then turned sharply lower, with Brent crude, the main international contract, passing under $90 per barrel for the first time since February. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate slid 5.7 percent to end at $81.94, its lowest closing price since January. “The oil market is a blood bath as the crude demand outlook took a major hit after Chinese and US trade data showed global demand is sharply weakening,” said Oanda’s Edward Moya. “It appears the risk of losing Russian energy supplies is no longer keeping oil prices supported and that has energy traders solely fixated on the demand side drivers.”Recession concerns also dampened sentiment towards equities, but Briefing. com analyst Patrick O’Hare said those worries were competing for investors’ attention with “the idea that the stock market is oversold on a short-term basis and due for a bounce.” US stocks finished firmly higher, with the S&P 500 winning 1.8 percent. On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Lael Brainard warned that the US central bank will stay the course on its aggressive fight against high inflation “for as long as it takes” to bring prices down. She said interest rates need to rise further, again knocking down hopes of a rate cut next year as the economy slows. The aggressive Fed posture has bolstered the dollar, which rose further against the Japanese yen even as it retreated against the euro. “The reason that we are seeing this much strength in the dollar against the yen is purely because of the difference in two central banks’ policies,” noted Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at AvaTrade.

Business FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 || B3 extrastory2000@gmail.com Market rises; SM Prime and URC lead advances THE stock market rose Thursday on bargain hunting tracking a Wall Street rally after a series of losses, while dovish comments on future interest rate hikes by Australia’s central bank boss provided a boost to sentiment. MOSTVOLUMEACTIVEVALUE (PHP) 1 ALI 17,496,800 491,388,350 2 URC 3,694,330 473,386,857 3 SMC 3,090,650 305,038,316 4 SMPH 8,012,900 295,548,400 5 BDO 1,642,610 205,357,759 6 ICT 1,046,980 190,581,430 7 EMI 8,401,400 173,957,860 8 JFC 697,070 172,926,624 9 ABA 59,186,000 158,125,270 10 TEL 88,300 146,732,820 TOP LASTGAINERS % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 1 DIZ 4.87 1.43 41.57% 2 MBC 8.36 0.86 11.47% 3 BCB 5.85 0.4 7.34% 4 WLCON 29.9 1.7 6.03% 5 SPC 10.68 0.42 4.09% 6 WPI 0.52 0.02 4.00% 7 PAL 5.97 0.22 3.83% 8 BRN 0.85 0.03 3.66% 9 SMPH 37.4 1.25 3.46% 10 APVI 14.6 0.48 3.40% TOPPRICELASTLOSERS%CHANGECHANGE 1 ALCPC 91.15 -13.75 -13.11% 2 MED 0.255 -0.02 -7.27% 3 ATNB 0.39 -0.03 -7.14% 4 APO 0.7 -0.05 -6.67% 5 LOTO 1.39 -0.09 -6.08% 6 MWIDE 4.8 -0.27 -5.33% 7 PBC 15.34 -0.84 -5.19% 8 ZHI 0.153 -0.008 -4.97% 9 CEI 0.079 -0.004 -4.82% 10 FAF 0.63 -0.03 -4.55% PSEi September 8, 2022

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said the launch event underscored Apple’s logistics strength. “Taking a step back, launching 3 new core hardware products within the Apple ecosystem despite the biggest supply chain crisis seen in modern history is a major feat for Cook & Co. especially with the zero COVID shutdowns in China seen in April/May,” Ives said. Features of the new iPhone 14 include a more durable battery and new photographic capacities to capture “ultra wide” scenes and low-light settings.

The phones also contain an “emergency SOS” function to enable messaging to emergency services when outside of Wiﬁ coverage.

The iPhone 14 Plus comes in a giant 6.7-inch (17-centimeter) screen that offers a better experience when playing games or watching videos. Company officials touted new digital watch products with enhanced features. The Apple Watch Series 8—which can monitor body temperature and other body functions—prices at $400. The company also unveiled the Apple Watch Ultra, priced at $800, which includes a battery with enough lifespan for hardcore athletes “to complete a long-course triathlon,” according to an Apple press release.

AFP The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 39.66 points, or 0.6 percent, to 6,593.74 on a value turnover of P5.2 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 99 to 88, with 48 issues unchanged.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the Sy Group, the biggest operator of shopping malls, advanced 3.5 percent to P37.40, while Universal Robina Corp. of the Gokongwei Group, the largest snack food maker, climbed 2.6 percent to AbaCoreP128.40.

Austria LISTED miner Omico Corp. said Thursday it cancelled its joint venture partnership with Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Inc. to develop a property in Pangasinan province. Omico said in a disclosure to the stock exchange both parties mutually agreed to rescind the agreement signed in 2005, which involved the redevelopment of a 23.25-hectare property in Urdaneta, Pangasinan into a residential and/or commercialSLRDIsubdivision.underthe agreement was entitled to 55 percent of the developed saleable lots while the remaining 45 percent would remain with Omico. “The decision made by both parties is to focus on their skills and resources on their respective real estate projects,” Omico said, adding it planned to pursue the project using cash reserves and internally-generated funds from the sale of housing units in Nueva Ecija province. “With regards to Omico, it will be an opportune time to enhance Omico’s capability to develop its real properties on its own, increase its revenues and maximize investor return,” it said. Omico, registered on Aug. 30, 1968, has two main business activities –mining exploration and property development. It is engaged in the marketing and sale of real estate and evaluation of future development of other real estate properties.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Thursday, September 8, 2022 39.666,593.74PTS. F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 Currency UnitUS DollarPeso United

The PSA said the latest ﬁgure improved from the 7.2-percent unemployment rate in the same period last year. It was also the lowest for all July rounds of the Labor Force Survey since 2005 and lower than 6.0 percent in June.

The generation charge for September increased P0.3581 to P6.9393 per kWh from P6.5812 per kWh in the previous month. Meralco’s charges from the independent power producers and power supply agreements rose P0.8026 and P0.3316 per kWh, respectively, driven by higher fuel costs and peso depreciation against the“Thegreenback.ongoing Malampaya gas supply restriction necessitated the increased use of more expensive alternative fuel which is utilized by First Gas Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo to ensure there is a continuous supply of electricity and fuel so that the power plants continue to run,” Zaldarriaga said.

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

By Julito G. Rada

The decline in the GIR somewhat correlated with the weaker peso in recent months,” Ricafort said. Ricafort said despite the decline in reserves, the August level was still above the minimum international threshold of three to four months, “thereby could still provide greater buffer/support/cushion on the peso exchange rate vs. any speculative“Forattacks.”thecoming months, the country’s GIR could still increase, amid the continued growth in the country’s structural inﬂows from OFW remittances, BPO revenues, foreign tourism revenues [which resumed since February 2022], as well as foreign investment inﬂows,” he said. Julito G. Rada

B4 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

HSBC launches new investment product HONGKONG and Shanghai Banking Corp. expanded its wealth investment business in the Philippines through HSBC Wealth, which is incorporated as HSBC Investment and Insurance Brokerage, Philippines Inc. James Cheo, chief investment officer for Southeast Asia at HSBC Private Banking and Wealth, said in a briefing Wednesday the launch of HSBC Philippines’ new business was timely given the rising wealth among Filipinos as evidenced by increasing bank deposits and investments on securities. “The Philippines has one of the most favorable demographics in the region. With a rising and young population, the Philippine economy is in a strong position to reap the benefits of its demographic dividends in the coming years,” Cheo said. HSBC Asia chief economist Fred Neumann said “economies that are growing rapidly such as that of the Philippines, tend to accumulate wealth faster and this is why the number of Filipino multi-millionaires is expected to more than double by 2030.” HSBC Philippines president and chief executive Sandeep Uppal said the launch of the new business demonstrates the bank’s confidence in the local economy. Julito G. Rada SPNEC raises P2.8b from rights o ering

The reserves were also about 7.1 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 4.6 times based on residual maturity. “The month-on-month decrease in the GIR level reﬂected mainly the national government’s foreign currency withdrawals from its deposits with the BSP to settle its foreign currency debt obligations and pay for its various expenditures, and the downward adjustment in the value of the BSP’s gold holdings due to the decrease in the price of gold in the international market,” the BSP said.

BSP SUPPORT. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla (left) assures House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of the bank’s policy settings support for futureprovideexpectationstemperpolicyMedallaRepresentatives.thebrieCommitteeCoordinationBudgetDevelopmentsidelinesgrowtheconomicattheofthengatHouseofsaystheratehikesinationaryandspaceforgrowth.

The PSA said the number of unemployed individuals declined to 2.60 million in July from 3.23 million a year ago. The number of unemployed individuals in June was estimated at 2.99 million. “Similarly, the underemployment rate plunged to 13.8 percent from 21.0 percent in July 2021. This is equivalent to 2.2 million fewer underemployed individuals,” the National Economic and Development Authority said. “We expect more jobs and income opportunities available for Filipinos in the coming months as we move toward the full reopening of the economy. These opportunities will help temper the impact of global inﬂationary pressures on the purchasing power of Filipinos,” Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said. Data showed the employment rate picked up to 94.8 percent in July from 94.0 percent in the previous month. The number of employed persons was estimated at 47.39 million in July, up from 41.67 million in the same period last year and 46.59 million in June. The labor force participation rate also improved to 65.2 percent in July, translating into 49.99 million Filipinos 15 years and older who were either employed or unemployed. Underemployed persons were estimated at 6.54 million in July, lower than 8.77 million reported a year earlier, but higher than 5.89 million in June. Underemployed individuals are employed persons who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, have an additional job or to have a new job with longer hours of work. Visible underemployment rate or the proportion of employed persons working less than 40 hours a week was estimated at 9.0 percent in July, lower than the estimated rates in the same month last year at 11.0 percent and in April 2022 at 9.2 percent, but higher than the recorded rate in June of 8.5 percent.

The peso depreciation also pushed up charges from the IPPs and PSAs as 98 percent of total IPP costs and 36 percent of PSA costs were dollar-denominated. The continued rise in international coal prices also increased the PSA rate. The higher PSA and IPP costs were partly mitigated by lower charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, which registered a reduction of P3.7473 per kWh as the supply situation in the Luzon grid improved.

July jobless rate declined to 5.2%, lowest since 2005

“The continuous reopening of schools is a pivotal step for all economic players. The latest data show that as more youth have opted to return to face-to-face classes, women were also relieved from additional care work at home, allowing for more possibilities for them to be economically active,” Balisacan said. The majority of the increase in employment came from the services sector, particularly in wholesale and retail trade. This was followed by the agriculture and industry sectors. “We need to intensify the vaccination program by increasing the country’s booster rate to sustain low alert levels and reinvigorate domestic economic activity,” Balisacan said.

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said Thursday consumers will experience a power rate increase of P0.3907 per kilowatt-hour in September. Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said the adjustment is equivalent to an increase of P78 in the monthly bills of residential customers consuming 200 kWh. The overall rate for a typical household rose to P9.9365 per kWh from P9.5458 per kWh in August. “What’s the reason behind this adjustment? It’s basically the higher fuel costs and weaker peso which pushed the generation cost upward,” said Zaldarriaga.Hesaid the rate increase followed two consecutive months of reductions amounting to P0.9154 per kWh.

Omico cancels join venture with Sta. Lucia Realty

Alena Mae S. Flores

By Alena Mae S. Flores BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender, announced Thursday its commitment to reduce its coal exposure by 50 percent by 2033 as part of its energy transition program. “BDO commits to reduce its coal exposure by 50 percent by 2033, while ensuring that its coal exposure does not exceed 2 percent of its total loan portfolio by 2033,” said BDO senior vice president and head of compliance group Federico Tancongco in a speech during the EcoBusiness Philippines forum. Tancongco said the commitment forms part of the BDO Energy Transition Finance Statement approved by the board on Aug. 26. The BDO Energy Transition Finance Statement is the bank’s holistic and realistic approach to the energy transition that considers the bank’s economic, environmental and social impact, anchored on good“BDOgovernance.recognizes that the banking industry plays a critical role in the Philippines’ committed transition to a low-carbon economy, a transition that will require providing access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean energy,” Tancongco said. He said BDO believes that the transition would require adopting a balanced approach that acknowledge the difficult trade-offs between national economic development that depends on affordable and reliable energy and climate sustainability. “We want to be specific in defining new coal exposure as exposure to new capacity, while coal exposure refers to the term loans that will naturally run their course in 2033 and does not include short-term working capital that companies will need to transition out of the coal business,” he said. Tancongco said the bank also supports the Paris Agreement of 2015 and the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution, while declaring its approach to energy transition finance. The Paris Accord of 2015 was an agreement among the world’s governments towards limiting global temperature increase to below 2 degrees Celsius while pursuing efforts to limit the rise to 1.5 degrees.

Source: BSP TOTAL VOLUME 674,593,29965,237 TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) 5,249,021,063.77 ADVANCES 88 DECLINES 99 UNCHANGED 48

GSIS-LHUILLIER TIEUP. Government Service Insurance System president and general manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso (right) and M. Lhuillier president and chief executive Michael Lhuillier sign a memorandum of agreement that will further expand the loan payment solutions for GSIS members and pensioners to 5,600 collection sites. M. Lhuillier is one of the biggest nonbank nancial services network with a total of 2,576 branches all over the country.

The company relinquished its rights and obligations in the Macawiwili mining project but remains an active minority investor in the venture. It diversiﬁed its operations into property investment, development of lowcost subdivision housing units and investment in joint venture projects, with the company as landowner and the JV partner as developer.

SOLAR Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp. said Thursday it raised P2.8 billion from its recently-concluded stock rights offering. SPNEC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the entire 1.875 billion rights shares were fully subscribed in the first and second rounds of the offering. Eligible shareholders were entitled to subscribe to one rights share for every 1.28 shares held at P1.50 apiece. The proceeds from the offering will fund new projects, including securing land and offtake agreements for the 3.5-gigawatt solar and the 4.5-GW battery Terra solar project. SPNEC said the strong takeup of the shares despite volatile market conditions showed robust demand for the company’s stocks and investors’ positive outlook on the company. Jenniffer B. Austria BCDA signs accord with Singapore rm STATE-RUN Bases Conversion and Development Authority signed Wednesday a memorandum of understanding with Enterprise Singapore to introduce future and climate-resilient innovations in the development of the 9,450-hectare New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. BCDA president and chief executive Aileen Zosa and EnterpriseSG chief executive Png Cheong Boon signed the MOU at the Istana in Singapore, witnessed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. “With Singapore as a global frontrunner in the area of smart city development, we at BCDA are very fortunate to have EnterpriseSG as our partner to facilitate knowledge exchange and link us with Singaporean firms who have the experience and expertise in the field. This MOU will surely be instrumental in achieving our goal of developing New Clark City into a smart, green, sustainable and highly liveable metropolis,” Zosa said. The MOU will create a framework for both parties to explore opportunities in the development of New Clark City, particularly in priority areas, such as affordable housing, estate management, transportation, solid waste management, waste-to-energy technology, smart cities, sustainability, green data centers, and urban development and people-centric programs. Othel V. Campos States SaudiBahrainDinar2.653224151.8069UKPound1.15390066.02150.0069570.3981HongKongDollar0.1273987.2892SwitzerlandFranc1.02385658.5809CanadaDollar0.76248643.6264SingaporeDollar0.71204840.7405AustraliaDollar0.67680038.7238ArabiaRial0.26613415.2271BruneiDollar0.70952240.5960IndonesiaRupiah0.0000670.0038ThailandBaht0.0274731.5719UAEDirham0.27227915.5787EuroEuro1.00110057.2789KoreaWon0.0007260.0415ChinaYuan0.1435718.2146IndiaRupee0.0125580.7185MalaysiaRinggit0.22222212.7147NewZealandDollar0.60740034.7530TaiwanDollar0.0324931.8591

BDO commits to reduce coal liability to 50% IN BRIEF Business

Meralco announces higher rates in September

The net international reserves, or the difference between the BSP’s reserve assets and reserve liabilities, also went down by $800 million to $99 billion as of end-August from $99.8 billion a monthMichaelearlier.Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said the August GIR was the lowest since August“Since2020.the start of 2022, GIR has already declined by $9.8 billion or -9 percent vs. $108.8 billion as of end-2021.

By Jenni er B.

August gross international reserves fell to two-year low of $99b

THE unemployment rate fell to 5.2 percent in July, its lowest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show Thursday.

Dollar 1.00000057.2160 Japan Yen

THE country’s gross international reserves fell to a two-year low of $99.0 billion in August from $99.8 billion in July as the government settled some of its foreign debt, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday. It said in a statement the latest reserves level still represented a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 8.3 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

No. 3 pole vaulter EJ Obiena proved in the month of August his bronze medal finish in the world championships was no fluke with sensational victories in three marquee German tourna ments.These incredible feats were enough to merit Obiena top hon ors in the Philippine Sportswrit ers Association monthly evalua tion of best performing Filipino athletes.The6’2” Obiena, who holds the Asian record of 5.94 meters, ruled the Internationales Stabhoch sprung-Meeting in Jockgim with a leap of 5.81 meters last August 24. He edged world No. 2 Chris Nilsen, who could only do 5.71 meters, and made the grade for an automatic slot in the world cham pionships that Hungary is hosting in A2023.few days later in the city of Leverkusen, Obiena stamped his class anew by ruling the True Ath letes Classics in Leverkusen with a 5.81 meter effort to beat Rutger Koppelar of the Netherlands and Kurtis Marschall of Australia via countback.Justbefore the month ended, Obiena struck anew by register ing 5.86 meters in the St. Wendel City Jump in Sankt Wendel. The 5.86-meter leap was a new meet record as Obiena relegated Menno Vloon of the Netherlands and French rising star Anthony Ammirati to second and third, re spectively.Drowned by Obiena’s latemonth brilliance was Gilas Pilipi nas’ win over Saudi Arabia in the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifying window game at the Mall of Asia Arena on 29 August. Coming off a heartbreaking loss to Lebanon in Beirut a few days prior, Gilas, starring NBA star Jordan Clarkson, zoomed to an 84-46 win.

ANTIPOLO – Amateur Rianne Malixi parlayed Harmie Con stantino and her rival’s early struggle and wavering finishes into a breakaway run, posting a huge 9-stroke lead with a two-under 70 as the heat presented another challenge in the second round of the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge here yesterday. But whatever conditions the weather had delivered, Malixi showed she’s mentally and physically prepared for the less-thanideal conditions at the tight, daunting Valley South, overcoming a two-bogey, one-birdie card after five holes with three birdies and bucking a double-bogey on No. 11 with back-to-back birdies from the 12th to pull away. “It was a game full of recoveries. I was able to bounce back on not-so-good holes and I was sinking the putts that mattered most,” said Malixi. While erstwhile co-leader Constantino and the rest of the pro field wilted in the debilitating heat and faded with mediocre rounds in the last nine holes of the tough up-and-down layout, Malixi remained cool and kept on firing with the accompanying breeze at the backside making it more unnerving for her pursu ers to ever mount a charge. With a 144 aggregate, Malixi heads to the final 18 holes of the P750,000 championship with the biggest lead ever-posted after 36 holes on the Ladies Philippines Golf Tour, looking for a sec ond win this year after edging multi-titled Princess Superal by one in this year’s kickoff leg at Luisita last March. “Unlike in the first round, I didn’t put too much pressure on myself, which is a good thing. I was able to play my game,” add ed the American Junior Golf Association, ICTSI-backed cam paigner, who nailed her first pro victory at Midlands at the close of last year’s LPGT season. With her third pro victory within reach, Malixi said: “I will just play a relaxed game tomorrow (today), play with confidence and will try not to think anything that would bring me down.” Constantino never recovered from a three-bogey skid from No. 2, dropping more strokes on Nos. 6 and 11 and on Nos. 14, 15 and 16 before hitting her first birdie – a downhill putt from four feet – on the course’s signature hole, the par-3 18th in an ending drenched in a drizzle.

THE undermanned Letran Knights have returned to practice on Thursday, after four players, who tested positive for COVID-19, have recovered.

naldo College has been reset after the squad underwent health and safety protocols.TheEAC Generals, coached by Ol iver Bunyi, will instead face Arellano University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., while San Beda University meets the Mapua University Cardinals at 6 p.m. Letran will make its debut on Sep tember 14 against Jose Rizal Univer sity at 12 noon. The Knights’ game with the Gener als will be held on October 11 instead and on the last day of the elimination round.They won’t have former stars Rhenz Abando and Jeo Ambohot as they make a bid for a third straight title.

By Peter Atencio

Obiena top PH athlete for August

Malixi routs pro field in the heat, leads by 9

eightEspejoblock.tacks,added.calledlationoftheforhisheadedpointsanMarckaddedpointswhile JP Bugaoan added six points which includes two kill blocks as 10 players scored two points or more for the HD Spikers in the game which lasted for an hour and 35 minutes. The Griffins, after trim ming the Cignal’s lead to just two in the opening set, 18-20, were plagued by errors which eventually put the HD Spikers at set point, 24-19. Marck Espejo and Rex Intal then committed service and at tack errors, respectively, while Roniey Adviento converted off a slide which saved three set points for VNS-One Alicia before Espejo dropped the ham mer to give his side the 1-0 lead. Things looked a bit easy for Cignal in the second set after going on a 7-2 blast after the second technical time out to take a 23-15 advantage over the Griffins. Kevin Montemayor tried to will VNS-One Alicia back into the match but Espejo delivered the final blows that helped the HD Spikers take the Leadingset.the Griffins, who dropped to 2-1 in the standings, are Montemay or and San Andres with 13 and nine points,VNS-Onerespectively.Aliciamissed the services of star middle blocker Kim Malabunga, who sprained his right ankle against Sta. Rosa.

NEWLY-APPOINTEDvirus.

The SBP team, led by executive director Sonny Barrios, pays PSC chairman Noli Eala a courtesy visit.

A basketball lover himself, Eala shared the same passion of the hoop-crazy na tion to stand behind our Gilas Pilipinas in next year’s World Cup.

On Wednesday, officials from the SBP paid a courtesy call to the new Chairman of the government’s sports agency. Join ing Eala in welcoming the delegates from the SBP is PSC Commissioner and Phil ippine Sports Hall of Famer Bong Coo.

4 Knights recover from COVID; opener with EAC Generals reset

“Back to basics ulit ang team sa practice. Naiwan na kami,” said Tan, in an interview with the Ma nila Standard, now that their open ing match with host Emilio Agui

HD Spikers score another sweep, down Griffins

As basketball is treated as a religion in the Philippines, Eala and the PSC are all out in supporting the World Cup that is expected not just to showcase our worldclass hosting capabilities, but also pro vide an economic boost to the country that is still trying to get its feet up on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Noli Eala is fully supportive of the country’s hosting of the FIBA World Cup next year and also asked the basketball-crazy nation to rally behind our Gilas Pilipinas team compet ing in the biggest basketball event. “I encourage everyone, not just the basketball-loving Filipinos, to support the country’s hosting of the World Cup, which gives so much pride for the Philip pines being one of the hosts, and stay be hind our very own Gilas Pilipinas team,” said Eala, who now leads the govern ment’s sports agency, succeeding Butch Ramirez.Aformer PBA Commissioner, who also served as Executive Director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas a few years ago, Eala was the project director of the original Smart Gilas Pilipinas in 2008. That Smart Gilas team was the pre cursor of the Gilas program now being handled by Chot Reyes.

Sports

Abando recently skipped his final playing year with Letran and instead opted to turn professional, playing for Anyang KGC in the Korean Bas ketballAmbohotLeague.also turned pro, signing up with Converge in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team scrimmaged without injured teammates Paolo Javillonar (hamstring) and Kobe Monje (broken nose). Tan said Javillonar is still undergo ing rehabilitation, while Monje is still with his new protective mask on. The Letran coach said most of the members of the team are doing fine, including the four, who contracted the

WORLD2023.

Leading the courtesy visit of the SBP team were executive director Sonny Bar rios, who also serves as event director for the FIBA World Cup 2023, Erika Dy, deputy event director, Dickie Bachmann, division chief for operations, local orga nizing committee, Jude Turcuato, repre senting Smart Communications, which serves as the event’s global partner, Atty. Aga Francisco, SBP legal consultant and chairman of FIBA legal commission and John Lucas, head of operations, joint management committee, Philippines, FBWC

After undergoing five days of quarantine, the squad has resumed its preparations for Season 98 of the National Collegiate Athletic Asso ciation, which starts on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum. Knights’ head coach Bonnie Tan confirmed the situation involving the team, which showed up at the college gym in Intramuros, without two injured players.

CIGNAL overcame VNS-One Alicia’s late rally in the third set to pick up its third sweep of the tournament, 25-22, 25-20, 26-24 in the 2022 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference, Thursday at the PacoTheArena.HDSpikers, who have yet to drop a set in their first three games, broke the three-way tie at the top spot after moving to 3-0. They also extend ed their winning streak to 16 games dating back to the 2019 Reinforced Conference.GeuelAsia gave Cignal a five-point advantage after delivering a booming ace, 20-15, late in the third set. The Griffins, though, did not go down with out a fight and leaned on Ben San An dres, who led a 9-2 blast that put them at set point, 24-22, after trailing for al most the entirety of the third frame. Ysay Marasigan and Edmar Bonono kept the defending champions alive, scoring on consecutive plays to save two points for Cignal. San Andres, min tinapos yung game,” he

Eala asks Filipinos’ full support for PH’s World Cup hosting, Gilas

Rianne Malixi blasts the opposition with the lone under-par round posted at the demanding Valley South in two days. Manny Marcelo Cignal’s Rex Intal celebrates

C1 Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

semi-finals.Thetop seed failed again as Pegula grabbed the 10th break to send the set into a tiebreak which the Pole dominated. “I am very happy as I have worked very hard but have kept my expectations low,” said the top Sabalenkaseed.reached the semi-finals for a second successive year, fired up by the lin gering and bitter aftertaste of her Wimble donRussianban. and Belarusian players, such as world number six Sabalenka, were prevent ed from competing at the All England Club due to the invasion of Ukraine. The ban deprived Belarus’s Sabalenka of the opportunity to improve on her semifinal run in 2021. “They took away one opportunity from me, so I worked really hard for this one,” saidSheSabalenka.admitted that she made a determined effort not to watch any of this year’s grasscourt Grand Slam as she trained in Miami during her enforced break from the sport. ‘Just an athlete’ “I’m just an athlete and I have nothing to do with politics,” she said.

“They are here. They are playing the golf tournament. My opinion is they shouldn’t be here, but again that’s just my opinion.“Butif you’re just talking about Ryder Cup, that’s not the future of the Ryder Cup team. They’ve played in probably a com bined 25, 30 Ryder Cups, whatever it is. “The Hojgaards (Rasmus and Nicolai), Bobby Mac (Robert MacIntyre), whoever else is coming up, they are the future of the Ryder Cup team. That’s what we should be thinking about and talking about.” McIlroy also could not resist a dig at the LIV rebels, who have been banned by the US PGA Tour for joining the breakaway series, which stages events over 54 holes.

Kahit olats: Still a good game, better assessment

“It was a tough time, especially when I was working out in the gym and there was Wimbledon playing on the TV. “I always turned it off because I couldn’t watchBelarusianit.” players were banned from Wimbledon because Belarus is a close ally of Russia and has allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch attacks into Ukraine. The 24-year-old world number six Sa balenka fired seven aces and a total of 30 winners past Pliskova, the 2016 runner-up in New York, without facing a break point. Sabalenka is making the most of her great escape in the second round in New York when she saved two match points against Kaia Kanepi having been a set and 1-5Ondown.Wednesday, she raced through the first set in just 28 minutes on the back of three service breaks. The 30-year-old Pliskova managed just a single winner in the opener while serving up five double faults. Czech world number 22 Pliskova saved two break points in the eighth game of the second set but was unable to halt Sabalen ka’s powerful drive to the last four.

ONE Fight Night 3 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting cards of the year after ONE Championship announced that two of its most exciting titleholders are taking center stage. Two-division ONE World Champion Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder and ONE Bantamweight World Cham pion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker will banner ONE’s third event on the morn ing of Saturday, 23 October. De Ridder defends his ONE Middle weight World Title against Shamil Ab dulaev in the main event of the evening. “The Dutch Knight” is fresh off an impressive first-round submission win of Vitaly Bigdash last July, and he’ll be looking to take out yet another tough Russian for his next assignment. De Ridder is currently 16-0, with 12 wins coming via submission, making him one of the most dangerous – if not the most dangerous – grapplers in mixed martial arts today. While this will be Abdulaev’s debut in The Home of Martial Arts, he’s set to give De Ridder a tough challenge. He comes in with a 13-1 record and holds seven knockouts. His lone loss was a split decision, but he came roaring back by winning his next three bouts in dominant fashion, marking his arrival in ONE.

McIlroy: LIV Golf defections have strained friendships

NEW YORK — Iga Swiatek reached her third Grand Slam semi-final of 2022 on Wednesday and first at the US Open with an error-strewn triumph over Jessica Pegula, the last remaining American woman in the tournament.

just the way a camp goes and football goes but I’m pretty happy with the camp overall. But as I’ve said all the time, we’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of us as well,” Stajcic added.While winning friendlies is a good mo rale booster, these don’t mean much when the actual competitions begin. Just like in the past, I would rather see the Filipinas lose a tuneup game or two or even three as long as these games help them get better, stronger, more confident and physically and mentally ready when the World Cup starts less than a year from now. It’s better for them to lose now if it means getting a chance to rack up wins in Aus tralia or New Zealand in August next year. The Designated Hit Man wouldn’t mind if that happens. I also don’t mind the mindset of Stajcic when he was asked if the Filipinas can compete against stronger, bigger and high er-ranked teams on their way to the World Cup. I also liked his answer on the loss against the Football Ferns. ‘We can compete, but we have to win and we didn’t win, so you know, I’m happy that we competed. And I’m happy that we showed we’re at this level, but ultimately you have to find a way to win and you know, I’m never going to be happy with losing. That’s for sure,” Stajcic said. Speaking of losing, I can’t blame the fans for their comments regarding the “si lence” of the Philippine Azkals’ FB page. They have the right to rant, of course. Not knowing the latest updates or movements of the team, overshadowed by the success of the women’s team, is simply nuts. And as rabid as they are, these Azkals’ fans are entitled to know. I can’t blame the football gods also if their attention is fixated on the Filipinas right now. Just hoping, too, that somehow, some attention will also be given to the men’s squad – after all, they are still ourHeard,Azkals.however, that there are efforts to make the Azkals’ social media accounts more active and to have more content in the coming days. The people behind the team are asking for a little bit more of patience and understanding. As to how and when, we will get updates soon and will share them right away here once available. Kapit langBeforepo! I forget, a new Pinoy wrestling champion will be crowned in the annual live extravaganza of the Manila Wres tling Federation (MWF). Dubbed “Road to Fate,” the Grand Championship of the MWF is set to unfold this coming Sun day, September 11, 2022, 5 p.m. at PETA Theatre Center. The venue is located at #5 Eymard Drive, E. Rodrguez Avenue, New Manila, in Quezon City (near corner of QC Sport Club after Christ the King Church). Local wrestling icons such as Crystal, Ni gel “Suplex” San Jose, Jake De Leon and Fabio Makisig are expected to compete and vie to become the country’s representative to the Southeast Asian professional wres tling scene. If you are an avid fan of Pinoy Wrestling, then this event is for you. And speaking of updates, we would be happy, too, if we can hear what will the government do in the face of the peso falling to its weakest against the dollar in recent decades, high inflation rates and high cost of basic commodities and other issues currently being faced by the country. Straight forward answers, just like what Stajcic gave, will be much appreciated. Stay safe. Stay happy peeps! For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_ca batbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat

Eala

Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates after defeating USA’s Jessica Pegula during their 2022 US Open Tennis tournament women’s singles quarter-final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

THE Philippine Women’s National Foot ball Team gave New Zealand fits before yielding a 2-1 loss in their friendly last Wednesday at the Cal State Fullerton’s Ti tan Stadium in California.

Swiatek, Sabalenka barge into semis

French Open champion Swiatek claimed a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) win, her third against Pegula thisInyear.Thursday’s semi-final, the 21-year-old Pole will face Aryna Sabalenka who she has also got the better of on three occasions thisWorldseason.number six Sabalenka made the last-four for a second successive year with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) victory over former finalist Karolina Pliskova. “That will be a very tough match. There will be some fast serves and heavy hitting, just like tonight,” said Swiatek who beat Sabalenka in Doha, Stuttgart and Rome. The Pole went onto win the titles at those events, three of her six trophies collected in 2022.On Wednesday, she came through a mistake-plagued quarter-final which fea tured 13 breaks of serve and a combined 61 unforced errors. “It means a lot to be in the semi-finals for the first time,” said Swiatek. Swiatek overcame giving up the first break of the match in the fifth game to reel off 16 of the next 18 points to claim the opening set in 38 minutes. The pair exchanged three service breaks apiece in the first eight games in an untidy second set. It was the French Open champion who carved out the seventh break on a net cord to give herself the opportunity to serve for the match. ‘Low expectations’ Eighth-ranked Pegula roused herself to stay alive before a double fault on break point in the 11th game handed Swiatek a second opportunity to seal a spot in the

AFP Rory McIlroy

FightbannerDeLineker,RidderONENight3

juniors’twinkillscoresintilt

“New Zealand is a team that has been to every World Cup in recent times and Olympic Games. This is a good marker for us and I thought we matched them. You know, I don’t think there’s too much in the game in terms of chances. Either way or, or shots on goal or possession or anything so I think there’s a fairly equally and hotly contested game,” Stajcic said. Just like in the past, Stajcic and the rest of the team will bounce back from the loss with lessons learned. Not known for mak ing excuses, Stajcic will move on from the New Zealand loss in making the team bet ter and more prepared. “We’re always progressing. We’re al ways reaching high and that’s why we picked an opponent that’s over 30 spots in front of us in the rankings to test this and see where we are and I think we can com pete at that level if we do everything right and there’s certainly a lot of improvement left in us as well. So the best part is we’re working hard and trying to improve every day and trying to get better,” he said. “It’s good that a lot of players could complete the game and unfortunately, one or two players had to miss out. That that’s

LONDON — Rory McIlroy admits his relationships with a number of Ryder Cup team-mates have been significantly dam aged by their defection to LIV Golf. Five members of the European team beaten at Whistling Straits last year have joined the Saudi-funded breakaway, along with Henrik Stenson, whose decision re sulted in him losing the captaincy for next year’s contest in Rome. Four of those five — Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Bernd Wi esberger — are among the LIV contingent in the field for this week’s PGA Champi onship at Wentworth, near London, a fac tor McIlroy said he would find “hard to stomach”.Askedon Wednesday if his relationship with Poulter, Westwood and Garcia spe cifically could survive, McIlroy said: “I have no idea. I wouldn’t say I’ve got much of a relationship with them at the minute.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022C2

AFP By Peter Atencio TENTH seed Alexandra “Alex” Eala of the Philippines pulled off twin wins on Wednesday (Thursday in the Philip pines) to reach the girls’ singles quarter finals and girl’s double second round of the US Open Juniors Tennis Champion ships.The 17-year-old Eala, who is ranked no. 297 in the Women’s Tennis Associa tion Tour, made it to the Round of 8 for a second straight year after she battled to a 6-2, 7-6 (1) upset win over a higherranked foe, no. 8 seed Taylah Preston of Australia at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York City. Later in the day, Eala and Russian partner Mirra Andreeva opened their girls’ doubles campaign on a bright note. Eala, who is seeking her third junior grand slam title in doubles, and Andre eva were in control when they eased out Americans Shannon Lam and Iva Jovic, 6-2, 6-2, to reach the Round of 16. In the singles’ clash, the 16-yearold Preston forced six match ties in the second set and a decisive 13th game, at 6-all.Eala held her ground in the tiebreak by scoring six straight points following a series of miscues from Preston (60). She finally clinched the win with a crosscourt backhand shot, which Pres ton sent to the net with her forehand return, 7-6 (6-1). Eala will meet Andreeva, her 15-yearold doubles’ partner, in the the quarter finals.After this, Eala and Andreeva will team up again for a clash with the Ger man duo of Carolina Kuhl and Ella Se idel.Eala, a former International Tennis Federation Juniors World No. 2, won the girls’ doubles championships at the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 Roland Garros.ARafa Nadal Academy player, Eala has two professional singles’ titles from the 2021 W15 Manacor in Spain and 2022 W25 Chiang Rai in Thailand.

The Filipinas took an early 1-0 lead courtesy of Sarina Bolden off an assist by Sara Eggesvik before the halftime whistle. The Football Ferns, however, came back in the final half and had to endure an all-out effort from the Filipinas for the equalizer to escape with the win. A penalty kick by skipper Meikayla Moore in the 66th minute and the go-ahead strike by Ali Riley in the 82nd minute sealed the win for the 22nd-ranked New ZealandFilipinas’side.head coach Alen Stajcic gave a straight forward assessment of the perfor mance of his “Certainly,team.there’s a lot of areas for us to improve on on the ball and with our move ment and execution of passes. But overall, I thought it was a good performance against a strong team – an experienced team – and you know, in some respect, maybe I’m lucky enough to get a point out of it and could have even got a win,” Stajcic said af ter the Newgame.Zealand Coach Jitka Klimkova, on the other hand, was relieved her side won the tough game against the Filipinas. She said it was very important for the Ferns to show their grit and toughness to come back from one goal down after the first half. “Congrats to Philippines for the perfor mance. I think they were very strong oppo sition. It was not easy to find a way to win this game. I’m very happy that our second half had the great that we were talking in our locker room with the players, with the team to find a way to win this game. It’s been a while since we had two wins in in our pocket,” she said. The international friendly was the cul mination of a 13-day training camp for the Filipinas as the team continues to pre pare for its biggest tournament next year. Moreover, the game against the FIFA Word Cup co-host was a gauge to know where the team is right now. Despite the disap pointment of losing and what could have been, Stajcic was on point when he said it achieved one of the goals of the friendly.

Asked about the prospect of battling a LIV player in the final round on Sunday, he said: “I’ll be trying to win a golf tour nament regardless. They are going to be pretty tired on Sunday — it will be the fourth day.” The world number three has emerged as one of the most vocal supporters of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour (European Tour) as they try to combat the threat of LIV Golf, which he likens to a “soap op era”.“It’s incredibly divisive and does it bring more eyeballs on to golf? Probably, because people are interested in the soap opera of it all, but that’s not golf,” he said. “The most interesting thing about LIV is the rumours and who is going and who is not going. It’s not the golf right now. It might be at some stage, but right now it’s the rumour mill that’s fuelling it. “So when you come back here and you play DP World Tour or PGA Tour, you’re watching the golf and you’re watching who is going to win tournaments and have context and mean something. That’s why I’m speaking up.” AFP

The co-main event will be equally as interesting as Lineker finally takes on his brash, confident, and equally danger ous compatriot in Fabricio Andrade. Lineker took ONE by storm, beating the likes of Muin Gafurov, former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin Belingon, and Troy Worthen before fi nally being given a shot at longtime divi sional king Bibiano Fernandes. “Hands of Stone” truly lived up to his moniker, knocking out the erstwhile World Champion in a thriller to usher in a new era in the ONE bantamweight di vision.Waiting for him is another tough Bra zilian who has been nothing short of splendid in the promotion. Andrade is currently 5-0 in ONE, fin ishing four of his wins – one with a wellplaced liver kick to Kwon Won Il in their meeting this past June. “Wonder Boy” called out Lineker af ter that, setting up what could very well be the fight of the year.

Entertainment FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 C3 E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

Mister International Philippines’ partner

Francesca Taruc The beauty queen publicly expressed her interest in Gilas Pilipinas player Dwight Ramos but lost her poise through the process. While it’s not wrong to admire someone, it leaves a bad taste when you’re suggesting something more than friendship or professionalism to a committed man. Ramos’ significant other, volleyball player Kim Kianna Dy, has yet to comment on the issue.

MISTER International Philippines, headed by national director Atty. Manuel Deldio, recently partnered with Kemans ‘Your Way to Better Skin’ at The ICON Clinic in Greenhills, San Juan. The new faces of Kemans – Mister International Philippines 2022 Myron Jude ‘MJ’ Ordillano, together with Mister Global Philippines 2022 Mark Avendaño Mister National Universe Philippines 2022 Michael Ver Anton Comaling, Mister Tourism International Philippines 2022 Kitt Cortez and Andre John Cue, Mister International Philippines 2022 fourth runner-up and Caballero Universal Pageant 2022 Philippines Representative this coming November in Venezuela – graced the partnership event. Kemans, headed by CEO Dr. Eric Yapjuangco and COO Vina Yapjuangco, is co-sponsor of the coming Mister International 2022 pageant to be held for the first time in the country, with the finals set on October 30.

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better skin The candidates of Mister International Philippines with Kemans CEO Eric Yapjuangco and COO Vina Yapjuangco (third and fourth from left, respectively) The winners of Ginang Angono 2022 Gracelle

Gracelle Nicole Distura off to Thailand for Supermodel International BEFORE, it was Ford Supermodel of the WorldPhilippines, now it’s Supermodel International Philippines, under Canadian-based Spotlight Couronne Internationale, Inc., headed by CEO/ president Limuel Vilela and Alvin Francia national director of Supermodel International Philippines.TheSupermodel International Philippines national competition will be launched early next year. Supermodel International Philippines 2022 Gracelle Nicole Distura the present Supermodeltitleholder.International, the most prestigious international model search in the world, continues to discover new talents through its theme – expanding international cultural and fashion development, and meeting worldwide demands based on the beauty resources across the world. The 10th Supermodel International 2022 finals is set in Chiangmai, Thailand on September 15, Distura is now in peak preparation for this international competition under Kagandahang Flores Camp headed by Rodgil Flores after being appointed by Meg Perez, Operations Manager, Spotlight Couronne Internationale Inc., and Supermodel International Philippines. • Special child welfare advocate named Ginang Angono 2022 MOTHER and teacher Annievi Perez Delos Santos of Brgy. Kalayaan, Rizal was named Ginang Angono 2022 during glittering finals held at the Angono Gymnasium on Thursday. Delos Santos, a 29-year-old former team captain of the Far Eastern University cheering squad, is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts in Physical Education at University of Rizal System. Delos Santos competed in her advocacy/program called “Pusong Espesyal” to raise disability awareness and help children with special education needs, to have access to free diagnostic assessment and therapy services. Delos Santos also swept four special awards, best in national costume, talent, swimsuit, and Mrs.DelosPhotogenic.Santos’ court of honor winners were Ginang AngonoKabuhayan Katlyn Juanson, Ginang Angono-Kalikasan Jennica Cadeliña, Ginang Angono-Edukasyon Thelma Aquino, and Ginang AngonoKalusugan Melgie Reyes Ginang Angono 2022 was presented by the Angono Business Club, headed by Mrs. Pacific Continental 2021 Michelle Lucas, and the Municipality of Angono.

By Joba Botana LET your afternoon delight come in the form of this latest GMA series titled Abot Kamay Na Pangarap, which premiered on Sept. 5. Filled with tender love, enduring values, and inspiration, this program headlines some of the country’s finest actors and actresses, such as Carmina Villarroel who plays Lyneth, Richard Yap as Dr. Robert, and Jillian Ward as recent media conference via Zoom, the cast talked about the most exciting and challenging parts of the making of this program which puts the medical field in the Well-lovedspotlight.veteran actress Carmina, who has been in the industry since she was a teenager shared that no matter how long you have been in the industry, there is always something new to learn. “Isa na naman ito sa mga una ng GMA dahil may medical aspect siya, so it’s something new. Hindi rin mawawala siyempre ‘yung kwento ng pagmamahal ng isang ina sa kanyang anak. Hindi siya hardcore drama pero tagos talaga sa puso and it will talk about hope. Accomplished actor Richard, who many of us still recognize as everybody’s Sir Chief considers his new character as a dream-come-true, “I took up pre-medicine in college pero hindi ako tumuloy kasi ayaw ng father ko. Since hindi ako naging doktor, I might as well just play one. Completely different din ang genre nito for me It’s about family, love, and career You’ll see a different Richard Yap here.” Versatile and highly-talented Sparkle star Jillian candidly admits that this is by far her most challenging role, “Priceless talaga ‘yung experiences ko rito. Tinuruan kami ng live brain surgery as part of our immersion. Kaya mas lalong tumaas ang respect ko sa mga doktor. Sa totoo lang kinakabahan ako, but I’m very grateful and excited.” Abot Kamay Na Pangarap follows the story of an illiterate mother, Lyneth, and her genius daughter, Analyn, as they go through hardships together while hoping that someday, they would reach their dreams and share each other’sBecausetriumphs.ofpoverty, Lyneth was not able to study. When her father died, she went to Manila to work as a flower vendor. She then meets the handsome and rich Dr. Robert. Lyneth falls in love with him and later on gets pregnant. Surprisingly, Robert is already married to someone else and he doesn’t want to take responsibility for Lyneth’s child.Lyneth’s boss Michael helped her instead to give birth and raise a beautiful and loving daughter, Analyn. Years later, Lyneth would struggle to send her daughter to school because of financial problems. Until one day, a researcher discovered Analyn’s exceptional intelligence. She gets featured on television as the genius child from a poor family. This will open the doors for her to receive a scholarship and study in a prestigious medical school. Amid all the odds in life, will Analyn achieve her ultimate dream to become a doctor? How can she guide her mother toward literacy? Is there a second chance in love for Lyneth and Robert? The series is made possible under the supervision of GMA SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable; VP for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy; AVP for Drama Ali NokomDedicatoria; Program Manager Edlyn Tallada; and Executive Producer Joy Lumboy-Pili The creative team behind this incredible show is composed of Associate Director April Vicencio; Creative Director Aloy Adlawan; Content Development Consultant Ricky Lee; Creative Head Richard Dode Cruz; Creative Consultant Denoy Punio; Head Writer Geng Delgado; Writers Lobert Villela and Kenneth Angelo Enriquez; and Brainstormers Ma. Christina Velasco and Jai Shane Cañete Completing the cast are Dominic Ochoa, Pinky Amador, Andre Paras, Chuckie Dreyfus, Sophie Albert, Denise Barbacena, Wilma Doesnt, Ariel Villasanta, Dexter Doria, Kazel Kinouchi, Jeff Moses, Alexandra Mendez, John Vic De Guzman, and Heart Ramos Catch Abot KamayPangarapNa — under the helm of Madridejos,LA Monday to Saturday at 2:30 p.m. afterBulagaEat onAfternoonGMA Prime.

Janella Salvador As Regina/Valentina in the hit television series Mars Ravelo’s Darna, Janella amassed a significant fanbase with her powerful character. In real life, however, she plays another role that requires just as much strength. Janella recently admitted to being a single parent, confirming her split with partner Markus Paterson Being a single parent is no easy feat, and Janella knows that. But like Regina, she’s going to fight for what she thinks is right.

THE newest sixmember K-Pop girl group Lapillus is finally meeting their Filipino supporters for a dynamic and packed two-week Manila visit.

Gretchen Ho Reporting the end to an alleged conflict between Vice Ganda and Marian Rivera drew the ire of the former on Twitter. While the former volleyball player turned journalist already apologized to Vice for the incident, people can’t help but wonder if Gretchen should be held accountable for the situation. Some argue that although she’s just the medium, she should also factcheck the information she reports, especially when fake news is rampant in society. and feel the love in Kamay Na Pangarap’

PEOPLE Be inspired

Since the debut of the group’s digital single “Hit Ya!” the 4th Gen girl band has been earning raves online from all over theLapillus,globe. composed of leader Shana, main dancer Yue, main vocalist Bessie, main rapper Seowon Maknae (youngest in the group) Haeun, and of course, the pride of the Philippines, visual (most beautiful in the group) Chanty, have long been excited to share not only their music but also their journey to becoming an idol to their eager Filipinos fans. The all-female group under Korean entertainment agency, MLD Entertainment, which brought Momoland into the spotlight, is going full throttle in getting their own brand of music through several local engagements and activities. They are heading towards completing several exclusive multiplatform interviews, feature photo shoots, TV, radio, and digital appearances on top media agencies, creative vlog collaborations, live performances, and even immersion-charity work. Capping off their activities is Lapillus’ two-day fan meet on September 10 and 11 at Market! Market! And Ayala Fairview Terraces, respectively, where they would have the chance to meet their avid supporters and share with them their latest “present” for them. Following their debut single “Hit Ya!” which has now raked in 10 million views since its launch in June, the sextet is making a comeback this September 22. Their single “GRATATA” will surely put on the groove anew as it is described as a “Mumbaton rhythm song with an addictive hook.” “We are very grateful and excited to share our music and who we are as performers to our Filipino fans, who have been especially supporting us ever since our debut,” Shana said. Chanty, for her part, is happy to be home and to allow her co-team members to experience the global Filipino warmth and“Thislove. is the first time that I’m coming home since our debut and I’m just thrilled to be back. Because this time, I know I can give more to my supporters, and hopefully I can inspire some of them to continue chasing their dreams, just like what I did,” she said.Follow Lapillus’ official social media accounts to get exclusive updates about their latest happenings and engagements in theLapilluscountry.is under the global entertainment company MLD Entertainment which produces luxury Korean content and is also the powerful force behind the K-Pop group, Momoland.

DuringAnalyn.the

Heart Evangelista She may be a famous fashion icon and socialite, but at the end of the day, Heart is like any of us: human. Life can be a struggle at times, yet it takes courage to admit if one’s lost. Although Heart acknowledges going through some personal challenges, she still looks at the brighter side of life. However, netizens are speculating trouble between her and her husband, Senator Chiz Escudero …are talking about ...are not talking about

isLapillusreadyto‘Hit Ya’ The newest six-member K-Pop girl group Lapillus

GMA’s ‘Abot

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Anthony Taberna joins AMBS’s Anthony Taberna (third from left) joins the growing roster of AMBS’s ALLTV Carmina Villaroel (left) and Jillian Ward headline the inspiring series ‘Abot Kamay Na Pangarap’ to Nicole Distura stunninglookinginherswimsuitattire

BROADCAST journalist and radio commentator Anthony Taberna has been added to the growing roster of broadcast personalities joining the Advanced Media Broadcasting System’s (AMBS) ALLTV. Taberna signed the contract with AMBS President Maribeth Tolentino AMBS General Counsel Atty. TJ Mendoza, AMBS Chief Finance Officer Maryknoll Zamora at Mella Hotel in Las Piñas on September 6. Taberna was accompanied by his wife and Outbox Media’s top executive, Rossel ALLTV is the newest TV network joining the Philippine broadcast spectrum that aims to provide Filipino viewers with an elevated TV experience in the country. Tolentino cited Taberna’s high-trust rating as the reason why ALLTV tapped him as one of the pioneer talents of the new TV network. “We welcome Mr. Anthony Taberna to our family. Ka Tunying’s intelligent insights on radio and TV make him one of the trusted news personalities in the country. He gives our public interesting views, news scoops, and entertaining programs, making him fit for ALLTV,” Tolentino said. Taberna adds to the growing list of credible TV personalities joining ALLTV. The country’s top radio and TV commentator said he is humbled by ALLTV’s move to tap him as one of the pioneer broadcast personalities for the new TV“Thanknetwork.you po sa pamilya ng AMBS dahil pamilya nyo na ako ngayon. Salamat po sa tiwala ninyo sa akin. Alam ninyo, pinag-uusapan nga namin ng aking bossang aking misis - kung ano ang maiiambag natin sa larangan ng telebisyon… sabi niya sa akin, 48 years (old) pa lang naman ako sa January….Kumbaga ay napakamura ko pa lang po para lumisan sa larangan ng telebisyon,” he said during the event. Taberna, who has been in the broadcast industry for 30 years, said he is excited about this new partnership with ALLTV. “Ang pagsimula po ng aking pang-40 na taon sa pamamahayag, kasama ko po ang AMBS-ALLTV,” he ended.

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant

ALLTV

“It’s the preparation. It’s when I feel like I did my homework, I already know eve rything that I have to know if I have to stretch (keep the audience entertained during lull time) because I know it hap pens. That will give me some comfort and the confidence to relax a little bit.” Her concerns are valid. The moment Sam steps onstage, the possibilities, good and bad, are endless. Adding to the nerves is the occurrence of unforeseen events. “You know, every K celebrity who has come has been so gracious, but the most memorable, oh my gosh, is the recent one when Kim Soo Hyun (My Love From the Star, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, One Ordinary Day) was here,” Sam began her anecdote. “He had never had Hawaiian pizza. So, we had Hawaiian pizza brought to him on the stage for him to try it for the first time in front of his Filipino fans and we dropped the pizza. Onstage!” she cringed in disbelief. “But you know what? He ate the pizza! That was pleasantly surprising for me.” As a host, Sam said, the incident spelled panic inside, but the kind actor made her job more manageable.

For your random thoughts, e-mail the author at randomrepublika@gmail.com.

Speaking of close-to-fangirl mo ments, Sam’s high school self would also get the kilig feels and be thrilled to know her current work is aligned with her dream job. Sam shared, “In my high school yearbook, in our senior year, we all had to finish the sentence ‘Ten years from now, I’m going to be a _____’ and I wrote ‘I’m gonna be an MTV VJ!’ As advice to high schoolers or anyone dreaming of becoming a host, she has these to share, “Never underestimate a show. It might look simple or easy on pa per, but until you show up and see every thing, you really never know. And events always have an unpredictability factor, so you really have to do your homework. It’s being prepared that gives you that confi dence when you’re hosting.” I can only wish Sam the best in get ting prepared in case she encounters her crush of the moment soon. She hopes to meet the award-winning actor one day but expressed a legitimate fangirl con cern. Sam quipped, “I’m not sure if I want to interview him because I don’t know if I’ll be able to contain [the emo tions], but if Gong Yoo (Goblin, Train to Busan, Squid Game) comes here, oh my gosh, that would be so exciting.”

Gum With the one Youp.Hwangfeels,thegavewhoherkiligIn With

Manny V. Pangilinan MPIC President, Chairman and CEO

Prefer to shop now and pay next month at 0 per cent interest? You now have the option of flexible installment plans of up to 12 months, made possi ble with Lazada’s program LazPayLater. Qualified users can shop with a credit limit of up to P15,000, and pay up to 45 days later. Users can avail of this feature for most products, except Digital Goods and fine Lazadajewelry.Loans partners Billease and TendoPay will also offer 0 percent interest while JuanHand is giving away P999 Lazada Gift Cards for the first approved 99 borrowers from September 2 to 8. With deals, promos and more to make your on line shopping enjoyable, #AddToCartAddToLife now with #LazadaPH’s 9.9 Mega Brands Sale. For more information on Lazada’s 9.9 Mega Brands Sale, check out Lazada, https://www. facebook.com/LazadaPhilippines, https://www. instagram.com/lazadaph/, and https://twitter. com/LazadaPH.

Lazada ambassador Bea Alonzo

Lazada Philippines CEO Carlos Barrera Chaye Cabal-Revilla MPIC Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer

C4 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 Nickie Wang Editor E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com LifePatricia Taculao Editorial Assistant Joba Botana, Associate Editor

LAZADA kicks off its year-end mega campaigns with the much-awaited 9.9 Mega Brands Sale from today un til September 11, spotlighting exciting in-app features, spectacular deals with up to 90 percent off, fast and free shipping (as fast as 3 days in Metro Manila) and stackable vouchers, on top of an exciting lineup of performances for its highly anticipated La zada Super Show on September 8. “It has always been a focus for us at Lazada to connect our customers to a wide assortment that add value to their everyday lives, with the convenience of a trusted service that de livers straight to their doorstep. With a wide range of participating brands and sellers this 9.9 Mega Brands Sale, we look forward to enabling our custom ers to discover trends and great deals through a fun experiential shopping journey with us.” says Lazada Phil ippines CEO Carlos Barrera

MWELL, the Philippines’ fastestgrowing health app, made history by gathering hundreds of doctors, medi cal specialists, and mental health ex perts to give free online consultation and sound medical advice to patients and health-conscious Filipinos from all over the country from August 27 to 28. National mWellness Day, mounted for the second time since its inception in 2021, has achieved a milestone in its mission to bring quality healthcare to more Filipinos nationwide in the new normal by providing free online consulta tion to hundreds of patients from all over the country through the mWell PH app. The two-day advo cacy event was helmed by hundreds of fam ily doctors and special ists from Metro Ma nila, Cagayan De Oro, Davao, and Zamboanga who donated their time to provide consulta tion via the mWell app, while mental health ad vocates from MindNa tion and Makati Medi cal Center Wellness Center gave on-call services for free mental health counseling. Dr. Reymark Calma congratulated mWell for the event which al lowed him to feel the true spirit of volunteer ism while fellow volun teer, Dr. Mark Calban said, “It was such an inspiring experience serving the medical needs of patients not only from Metro Manila but from different provinces.” Expressing her appreciation for the support she re ceived, Dr. Mae Doctolero, said, “The responsive tech team and operations support made everything so easy.” A record number of patients, includ ing celebrities, Metro Manila-based journalists, and regional influencers were able to consult for free. After the consultation, they also received free eprescription, medical certificates, lab referrals, and vouchers. mWell partners, including the country’s top insurance companies –PhilCare and Generali gave their full support for the advocacy along with Makati Medical Center Foundation, MPIC Foundation, Unilab, MedEx press, 24 Alkaline-C, and PiCur anti oxidant.Atthe same time, mWell provided free consultation to residents of Baran gay Lumutan, a remote community in General Nakar, Quezon through mWell OnTheGo, a portable digital clinic. The mWell OnTheGo bag was filled with a tablet and a phone preloaded with the mWell PH app containing a health passcode for free con sultation. Foldable so lar panels, batteries, and Smart pocket wifi were also donated to enable the residents to consult Chairmancare.andfocusingKalusuganMVPDayNationalanytime.nWellnessisinsupportoftheGroup’sGabayadvocacyonqualityaffordablehealthMPICPresident,andCEO, Manny V. Pangilinan says, “Filipinos now have better access to healthcare through mWell’s integrated digital healthcare eco system with a wide and sustainable network of medical experts and services.”ForChaye CabalRevilla, Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer of Metro Pa cific Investments Cor poration, sustainability is the backbone of the work done across the group. CabalRevilla says, “Being able to serve Filipinos nationwide is at the heart of what we do in mWell. That’s why we dedicated two days working with vol unteer docs and partners to provide consultation for free. As part of the MPIC Group, mWell is committed to work towards the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.” Download the mWell PH app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Follow mWell on Facebook and mwell ph on Instagram for more updates.

SamOh,it’sOh!

The go-to K-events host weighs in on her enviable job Medical experts, volunteers, health-conscious Filipinos gather on National mWellness Day

Lazada Super Show The fun shopping experience carries over on Su per Shows, starring your favorite celebrities who presented even more unbeatable deals and offers. Hosted by Kapuso stars Ruru Madrid, Bi anca Jacinto, Daiana Menezes, and Anthony Rosaldo, Lazada’s 9.9 Super Show delivered top trending performances from a star-studded lineup of artists including P-Pop groups BINI, KAIA, and BGYO. Joining the 9.9 celebration were Bea Benedicto and Jessey De Leon with Kapuso Stars Ashley Ortega and Althea Alban who went head to head in piecing together the best look. Apart from the top trending performances, shoppers got the chance to win up to P3 million worth of prizes andThegiveaways.9.9Super Show was livestreamed on the app through LazLive+ and on Lazada Philippines’ offi cial Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube chan nels on September 8 from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 mn. LazPayLater and Lazada Loans

F OR any K-Pop or K-Drama fan, hers is THE dream job. In Korean press conferences and fan meets, television and events host Sam Oh leaves others green with envy as she is usually seated right next to the stars. Aside from her charm, Sam’s ability to quickly switch from Korean to Fili pino and English gives her the advantage. Born in South Korea, Sam moved to the Philippines with her family when she was just six years old and has been based here all these years. When asked about being tagged as the go-to host for K-events these days, she smilingly agreed, “There’s not many of us who can do something like this, so I’m very lucky!” Sam’s hosting career kicked off in 2005 when she had a TV stint with ETC. A casting call was made, and she audi tioned and eventually bagged the job. “It’s been like 17 years,” the bubbly host estimated how long she has been hosting on different platforms. “But you know, with these Korean celebrities, much less than that.” She recalled her first Korean celebrity event to be the one with superstar Lee Min Ho (Boys Over Flowers, The King: Eternal Monarch), sponsored by a local clothing brand. Opportunities started trickling in since then. “The Filipino fans just love every thing that’s Hallyu (Korean wave). It’s been amazing,” Sam explained. Just like them, she is also a K-drama fan, but one who keeps her viewing habit at bay. Asked if she still gets starstruck, Sam told us that she is like the rest of us. “I do!” she confirmed, “To see them in the flesh is always like ‘Oh, wow!’ It looks like they just popped out of the screen.” She then debunked the misconception that she bonds with the celebrities all day. “That is not true,” Sam corrected. “Sometimes, the first time I see them will be onstage already. You can imag ine the starstruck factor. I mean, it’s a lot,” she emphasized.

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eCommerce pioneer kicks off year-end campaigns, mega sale

Hundreds of patients from across the country were able to consult for free via the userfriendly mWell PH app.

Sam Bo SooWithKi-YongJangKimHyunHae

with Park

With Jung

Sam let us in on her secret to conquer ing getting starstruck and the cold feet.