applied to identify and cut the roots of the problem such as poverty, criminality, and other social ills.
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, for his part, also pointed out that total POGO revenues from online gambling operations plunged to P3.9 billion in 2021, from P7.2 billion in 2020..
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
Sources said such a move will spare Rodriguez from having to face the
The announcement came a few days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration will “refocus” the war on drugs to include the treatment and re habilitation of drug users.
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.netMlaStandardtwitter.com/ ManilaStandardPHfacebook.com/ manilastandard.netS Next page
Abalos did not divulge the details of the campaign, but underscored that to control the spread of illegal drugs, a collective government effort must be
Kidnapping, other crimes linked to online gambling
NCRPO chief Police Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo and PNP officerin-charge Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo
“We have no reaction,” Press Sec retary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said when asked to comment on online reports and social media posts saying Rodri guez will likely be replaced and will instead serve as the President's chief of staff.
DepEd, rulescraftingDOHmaskinschools
S
retire
PBBM off to US on Sunday, set to speak at UNGA
Phone sellers must aid users to block texts
During the ceremonial opening of the session of the BTA parliament in Cotabato City, the President said the passage of measures would benefit people in the Bangsamoro Autono mous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).“Todeliver our commitments to the people of BARMM, I urge you to
The Senate probe stemmed from sepa rate resolutions by Senators Imee Marcos, JV Ejercito, and Poe, who all sounded the alarm over the recent surge in reported ab ductions nationwide.
By Joel E. Zurbano
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 212• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
By Vince Lopez
will be recovering from this pandemic, and where he intends to take this and how he will do so in cooperation with other states," Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-An geles“Thesaid.President is expected to dis cuss his administration’s priorities in his
For 2022, he said, the projected income from POGOs is P32 billion—but only P3 billion has been collected to date.
SPECULATION is rife that Execu tive Secretary Vic Rodriguez might be transferred to another post, but the Palace has yet to make a comment.
Kick out POGOs—senators
innumbersmobilenottheir
pass all the crucial legislation on fiscal policy--particularly taxation and to fa cilitate the conduct of the elections in the BARMM in 2025,” the President said.“I also encourage the BTA to pass measures that will secure the welfare of the Moro people, particularly in agri fishery, health care, transportation, com
Next page Next pageNext page Next page Next page Next page
“In fact, China has discontinued POGO. Even Cambodia. It also has a reputational risk. People will ask why are they going to the Philippines [when] it is discontinued in China? ...Maybe because we are loose; we are not strict on our rules,” he said.
President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. AFP
THE Department of Interior and Local Government is set to launch a new cam paign using what it described as a “wholeof-nation” approach against the trafficking of illegal substances to bring to justice the people behind the drug menace.
speech at the UN’s high-level general de bate, which he is expected to deliver on Sept. 20,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Sec retary Kira Azucena said.
By Vito Barcelo, Vince Lopez and Rey E. Requejo
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday called on the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to pass key legislation and to pave the way for elections in 2025.
The President lauded the BTA for its gains as three of the seven pri ority codes, such as the administra tive, civil service, and education, have already been approved. The first parliament, which served from
This year’s theme of the general de bate, she said, is “a watershed moment,
"We are going to expect that his speech will be relating to how the Philippines
Under NTC Memorandum No. 00609-2022, the agency directed the parties to provide directions to mobile phone users on how to block texts from
By Willie Casas and Vince Lopez
munication, digital infrastructure, and e-governance,” he added.
Diokno, testifying before the Senate Fi nance committee on the P5.8 trillion pro posed national budget for 2023, said rev enue collected from POGOs has dropped due to a “change in the environment,” add ing that the pandemic was a huge factor.
Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PCCCII) secretary-general Bengsum Ko
By Darwin G. Amojelar
UNITED BANGSAMORO.
DILG retouches war on drugs with ‘whole nation’ approach
he will speak on the country's efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, the rule of law, and food security, at the 77th United Nations Gen eral Assembly (UNGA) on Sept. 20.
ES post soon to be Palacevacant?mum
“The war on drugs will continue but we have to do it in a different way,” the President said in a television interview on Tuesday. “Even as we speak, there is a working group putting together (the revisions)…We are trying to formulate how, what is the latest and what’s the best way for the rehabilitation.”
By Nash Maulana, Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez
don't care if they (POGOs) shut down opera tions," Dela Rosa, a former police chief, said.
SWISS tennis legend Roger Federer is to after
"I don't care if we have nothing to eat, I
ENATORS agreed Thursday that the country should discontinue the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) program because of its social cost, including alleged involvement in criminal activities.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks with Murad Ebrahim (third from right), interim chief minister of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), during the ceremonial opening of the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority in Cotabato City on Sept. 15, 2022. Also in photo are (from left) Special Adviser to the President Anton Lagdameo, Senate
"Weareas.will
THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Thursday issued an order directing mobile phone manufacturers, distributors, and dealers to assist mobile phone users in activating the text-blocking feature on mobile devices amid rising SMS (short messaging service) scams.
THE Department of Education (DepEd) is coordinating with the De partment of Health (DOH) to craft new guidelines on wearing face masks in schools.DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said on Thursday the agency would update its health protocols in schools after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the use of face masks optional in out door consult the DOH because
Senator Ronald dela Rosa said the gov ernment can kick out the POGOs if public safety is at risk due to their involvement in crimes like kidnapping, illegal detention and sex Policeslavery.records show POGOs, com posed of Chinese workers, have been in volved in these crimes.
“We must harness the support of the grassroots, the schools, the community, the church, everyone. And that’s what we intend to do in our fight against ille gal drugs,” said Interior Secretary Ben jamin Abalos Jr.
BTA urged to pass key laws, push BARMM polls in 2025
next week's Laver Cup after admitting on Thursday his battles with a knee problem had forced him to call time on his historic career."The Laver Cup next week in Lon don will be my final ATP event," he Next page FEDERERROGER Tennis afterFedererlegendtoretireLaverCup
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will leave for the United States on Sept. 18 for a week-long working visit, during which
Senator Grace Poe also recommended to the Senate panel to study the possibility of asking POGOs to leave.
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Romualdez “is personally dealing with the matter,” Gonzaga said.
AFP
The Second Parliament of the BTA unanimously re-elected lawyer and member of Parliament Pangalian Balin dong Sr. as speaker.
“The President has made it very clear from the initial discussions preparatory to this trip to New York, that it will be more than his debut on the world stage,” DFA Assistant Secretary for the Office of American Affairs (OAA) JV Chan Gon
The DFA said that President Marcos’ delegation comprises secretaries, under secretaries, and support staff of different government agencies.
Despite the easing of the outdoor mask mandate, Filipinos should still wear face masks as their “default” habit, especially in so-called high-risk areas, DOH officerin-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
PBBM...
ES...
in China… So, whoever is working with the POGO or employees, if they are ab ducted or kidnapped by anybody else, they would not want to go to the authori ties,” Ko
DepEd,...
The NTC directed telcos to submit a written report of their compliance to the agency on or before today (September 16,Globe2022).
Mr. Marcos will also meet with Ameri can businessmen at an economic briefing
The same order said individuals who are not fully vaccinated, senior citizens, and the immunocompromised are highly encouraged to wear their masks.
Smart said it blocked 342 million “smishing” (SMS phishing) messages in the past three months.
He said the data may have been sold and bought in bulk on the “dark web,” where hackers and techies use special software to buy and sell information, which makes the users anonymous and untraceable.
PNP officer-in-charge Police Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo told the commit tee that he immediately asked the AntiKidnapping Group (AKG) about the al leged 56 “Theycases.cannot substantiate when did these incidents happened and where. So, we stand on our statistics that the 56 crime incidents did not happen" Malayo said.
The commission earlier ordered telecom companies to block domains or Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) in text messages to protect their subscribers from text spam and scams.
MP Omar Yasser Crisostomo Sema, a member of the majority caucus, said 79 members out of 80 members voted to re-elect Balindong as speaker of Second BTABalindongParliament.is a lifetime member of the Philippine Constitutional Association (Philconsa), having been elected to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. More recently, President Rodrigo Duterte ap pointed him as member of the Constitu tional Commission, under former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, tasked to review and make recommendations on a plan then to amend the 1987 Constitution.
From A1
there are times when our learners go to open spaces. We will incorporate them into our health guidelines.
transformative solutions to interlocking challenges.”“Thepublic can expect the President to highlight his plans to revive the country’s recovery after being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. He will likewise discuss the climate issues, challenges and solutions to address them, the role of the United Nations and how the Philippines intends to contribute to these efforts," she added.
In July, the DILG chief put a spotlight on the effective mechanisms in address ing the issues of illegal drugs, adding that the role of witnesses in assisting cases should be given more importance.
"As of Sept. 13, 2022, overall, the national positivity rate increased to 12.5 percent from 12 percent last week," the Health Department said in a statement.
“We all know what our risk level is, so whenever we will remove our mask, we will always think, 'Can I be in this situation?” she said.
The NTC also informed the manufacturers, distributors, and dealers the new directive shall form part of the mandatory requirements for type approval/acceptance and related permits for customer premises equipment, particularly mobile phone products filed before the agency.
At a hearing of the Senate commit tee on public order and dangerous drugs, PCCCII secretary general Bengsum Ko stood by the group's information that 56 kidnapping incidents had happened in a span of just 10 days, a claim that the Philippine National Police disputes.
"The peace implementing panels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government of the Philippines are scheduled to hold the decommissioning ceremony for the remaining 5,500 former MILF combatants and putting 2,400 fire arms beyond use on Sept. 28, 2022, the final phase of the third phase of the de commissioning process," Ebrahim said.
Dela Rosa, the chairman of the com mittee, urged the PNP and the PCCCII to coordinate with each other.
From A1
He also asked the community to avoid spreading unverified news or share un verified posts through social media and messaging applications, as these un verified reports may cause unnecessary panic and hurt the country’s image as a tourism and investment destination.
But Ko said the PNP statistics cov ered only reported cases.
Telecom, Smart Communications, and DITO Telecommunity said they will comply with the NTC directive.
The positivity rate refers to the per centage of all tests reported that are posi tive. The WHO recommends a 5-percent threshold for COVID-19 positivity rate.
Ejercito had earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 194, which seeks to direct the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs to conduct a probe on these “alarming” cases of kidnapping, abduction, and disappear ances, especially those against women, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) workers, and Filipino-Chinese individuals.Theresolution highlighted the alleged kidnapping of a Chinesenational in broad daylight along the Skyway elevated high way and the documented torture of a male victim whose ear was cut off.
"The diverse representation now of the BTA speaks volumes of your answer towards that call for unity, of shared responsibility, and the invitation to ad vocate peace and development in the Bangsamoro region," he added.
Tennis...
"Mobile phone manufacturers, distributors, and dealers shall include in each new mobile phone package an insert or leaflet containing directions on how to use, enable, or activate the text blocking, spam folder, and other similar features in their phones," it added.
These agencies include the depart ments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Fi nance (DOF), and Migrant Workers (DMW); the National Economic and De velopment Authority (NEDA); and about 20 to 30 senior Philippine corporate ex ecutives.
Globe said it blocked millions of scam and spam messages and deactivated 14,058 scam-linked mobile numbers, as well as blacklisting 8,973 more from January to July this year.
Marcos said his administration would provide "full and unwavering com mitment to the peace process and to BARMM."
Meanwhile, Malacañang remains in creasingly optimistic about the Philip pines’ economic recovery from the CO VID-19
According to the President’s Execu tive Order No. 3, face masks should still be worn in indoor private or public estab lishments, public transportation, and out door settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Earlier, Mr. Marcos said the anti-drug working group is looking for “the up stream of the problem, the prevention.”
Mr. Marcos earlier directed Philip pine National Police Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to come up with policies that would ensure the anti-narcotics campaign is compliant with the law.
From A1
An official of the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCII) told the Senate that Chinese who are employed by POGOs do not re port cases of abduction because they are afraid of being deported.
Poa said the DepEd would also re lease data on the number of students and teachers who have contracted COVID-19 since the start of School Year 2022-2023, which saw many schools resume in-per son classes at full capacity.
contact lists and create a spam folder in their"Theseinboxes. directions shall be disseminated through the manufacturer's websites and social media accounts (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, etc.), the NTC said.The regulator also ordered them to put up posters in their physical stores to educate consumers on how to block unwanted SMS, which often lead to internet sites that can steal the users’ personal information.
“Telcos are hereby ordered to block or deactivate domains or Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), TinyURLs, Smart Links and/or QR Codes emanating from malicious sites based on existing databases culled from government agencies such as the NTC, National Privacy Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, law enforcement agencies, subscriber reports and those generated from machine learning or artificial intelligence,” the regulator said previously.
Senators Marcos and Poe had previ ously filed similar resolutions.
This developed as the Philippine National Police renewed its call to enact a law that would mandate the registration of all SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards, amid the explosion of personalized text scams in the past weeks.
Cruz-Angeles cited President Ferdi nand Marcos Jr.’s decision to ease the face mask policy as among the measures expected to spur economic growth.
The 41-year-old winner of 20 Grand Slam titles has been out of action since a quarter-final loss at Wimbledon in 2021, after which he underwent his third knee
“He gave unequivocal instructions that his meetings, whether with fellow world leaders or with US corporations, should focus on finding necessary partnerships that will benefit the Philippine economy and the Filipino people,” he added.
He said the police arrested a suspect, identified as 33-year-old Chen Yi Bien, a human resource manager of a POGO establishment.
The Chief Executive also thanked everyone who came to Bangsamoro to support the peace process and spent time, energy, and money to makethis new po litical entity a reality.
In the same hearing, Ejercito said foreign nationals have been using the identities of dead persons to secure gov ernment-issued identification cards in the Philippines.
“We have to verify the authenticity of these videos so that we can attack the problems already head on and not cause panic among our fellow Filipinos and the business sector,” he said.
Kick...
However, the DOH reported a slight increase in the country’s COVID-19 pos itivity rate on Thursday.
“We should know the masks we use, we already have them. Or maybe, we have a strap that is always folded so that it does not contain other organisms or other particulates that can get dirty. As if we put it on, it's still clean. So, let's get used to it and always do it,” she said.
Fortunato Manahan Jr., OIC deputy commissioner at the Bureau of Immigra tion (BI), confirmed they have deported a number of foreign nationals for using fraudulent passports, birth certificates, and marriage certificates.
illegal drug campaign, filling the gaps to improve policies in other major programs of his agency, and “bring people power against social ills.”
He said COVID-19 cases are expected in classroom settings but what the DepEd wants to prevent are "major surges."
Mr. Marcos is also expected to partici
He also denied allegations he was ask ing P100 million each from those who wanted to be part of the Marcos govern ment, saying: “That amount is fantastic — demanded by whom?”
The information may also have been obtained through social media platforms, websites, and phone directories around the internet.
“We are continuing with our economic recovery program and our very recent re laxed mask mandate [is] also pursuant to that one,” she said in a Palace press briefing.
Mr. Marcos said the working group is looking for “the upstream of the problem, the prevention.”
identities of dead persons.
Sharing the same view with the WHO chief, Cruz-Angeles said she also sees a rosy economic outlook for the Philippines.
said in a statement posted on his Twitter account.
In July, Romualdez said Biden invited Mr. Marcos to come to the US through a handwritten letter brought by US Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff who was his personal emissary to Mr. Marcos’ inaugu ration on June 30.
The operation was triggered by a message that Abalos received Tuesday afternoon from his friend whose Chi nese assistant was kidnapped.
Azurin ordered an audit of the drug situation in the country, focusing on areas where prominent drug personalities were killed.
Vergeire added that with voluntary masking, people going out should also practice keeping their masks clean when not being used, such as using plastic sleeves or containers.
phase of the decommissioning process for the remaining Moro Islamic Lib eration Front (MILF) combatants would take place this month.
From A1
A former Supreme Court justice is reportedly among those being eyed to serve as Executive Secretary.
"As we go on and we formalize the structure and institutionalize the functions of the Bangsamoro government, we will see that those efficiencies will come in and what we had celebrated today and at the very beginning of the existence of the BARMM, what we had celebrated, we will now look upon as only a glimpse of what will happen in the future," Marcos said.
Ejercito, meanwhile, urged the PNP to step up its operations against the ille gal entry of Chinese nationals using the
“As we all know POGO… is illegal
We will issue the guidelines very, very soon," Poa said in a press conference.
On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said some 43 Chinese nationals who were alleged human traf ficking victims have been rescued by the Philippine National Police-Anti Kidnap ping Group (PNP-AKG).
in New“ThisYork.briefing will be an opportunity to outline the key economic priorities of his administration, with a special focus on how we can hopefully expand and strengthen Philippine-US trade and in vestment relations during his term,” he added.The meeting, he said, aims to harvest investments for the Philippines.
In a statement issued to the Senate, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCC CII) President Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong said they could not confirm if abductions reported on social media were true.
“These are the things we would like to instill in each and every Filipino, that masking would always protect us—it is our default,” Vergeire said.
The Interior chief committed to sus taining the gains of the government’s anti-
“If the World Health Organization is optimistic, so are we in our outlook to re covering from this pandemic,” she added.
Phone...
During the operation, Abalos said 42 other Chinese nationals were also found and rescued in a POGO establishment.
Gonzaga said the department is still in consultation” with the White House and the US National Security Council for the possible meeting of the two leaders.
"Nationally, we are seeing a slow con tinued decline in cases, with reported cases in the recent week being 7 percent lower than the previous, which recorded an aver age of 2,369 cases daily," the DOH said.
These “high-risk” situations, she said, include crowded places, enclosed spaces, public transportation, or areas with poor ventilation. Anticipating these as well as knowing if one is immunocompromised, sick, or part of at-risk populations will “greatly determine” if one needs to keep a mask on, she added.
DILG...
“We should know when we should re move our mask,” Vergeire said.
Ejercito also revealed that several in telligence reports indicate the presence of Cambodian-Chinese criminal syndi cates in the country.
Cruz-Angeles was also asked by re porters as to the possibility of an ambas sadorial post for Rodriguez, to which she replied: “Can't confirm.”
His fellow tennis legend Serena Wil liams is all but certain not to play again after bowing out of the US Open in the third round this month.
Presspandemic.Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles made this remark following the state ment made by World Health Organiza tion (WHO) director-general Tedros Ad hanom Ghebreyesus that "the end is in sight" for the pandemic.
zaga said.
"But I also know my body's capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear.
He said his group had set up a hot line so that witnesses of such crimes can re port them and ask for help.
Abalos mentioned that for most cases, investigations are deterred, as there are no witnesses to backstop the cases. The for mer Mandaluyong City mayor said that for every illegal drug stash confiscated, there should be at least three witnesses: represen tatives from the media, the Department of Justice, and barangay officials.
“These are all being formulated. And then even on the enforcement side, I’d like to formulate that one,” the President said, noting the drug war was not men tioned in his first State of the Nation Ad dress as “it is an internal matter.”
“You have already a long list of achievements starting with the approval of the Bangsamoro Transition Plan, the passage of the most important legislation such as the administrative code, the civil service code, the education code – these are cornerstones of BARMM moral selfgovernance,” he said.
In her speech at a workplace booster vaccination activity at the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) in Man daluyong City on Wednesday, Vergeire reminded the public to be conscious of when to keep their masks on or off.
BTA...
Abalos said he then requested the PNP-AKG to conduct an operation to rescue the Chinese national, whose last known location was Clark City, Pam panga.“We are pleased to announce the suc cessful rescue of another kidnapped Chi nese shortly after midnight this morning in Angeles City,” he said.
He said the national government risks losing the confidence of investors and the rest of the business sector if the ongoing spate of kidnappings and tor ture is not addressed.
From A1
He had been speaker of the First Re gional Legislative Assembly on a shared term with the late Tawi-Tawi Assembly man Esmael Abubakar Jr.
The DOH earlier said it is not yet time to loosen restrictions on indoor masking or face-to-face classes.
In July, days before the President's inaugural State of the Nation Address, Rodriguez belied reports he had resigned from the Cabinet due to alleged pressure
The 48-year-old lawyer has been with Mr. Marcos' camp since 2016 when the then-senator unsuccessfully sought the viceMeanwhile,presidency. Cruz-Angeles said the President has appointed new officials of the Technical Educational and Skills De velopment Authority – Deputy Directors General Aniceto dela Rosa Bertiz III, Jo sefino Isaac Torres, and Teresita Machia velli Casugbo Mali.
Chief Administrative Officer, said his company is supporting the NTC initiative to protect the public from phishing, smishing, “quishing” (QR Code phishing) and other illegal activities.
Vergeire led the booster vaccination activity at the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) in Mandaluyong City organized in tandem with other agencies and the city.
From A1 2019 to 2022, had also enacted 31 bills and adopted 263 resolutions.
“Data aggregators” and contact-tracing apps are not the culprit in the ongoing “massive” spam phone messages that have targeted individuals through personalized smishing operations that include the recipients’ actual names, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) said earlier.
From A1
"I've worked hard to return to full competitive form," he wrote.
“Since they went public with these numbers, you have to seek their coop eration and find these 56.”
“This is apparently to avoid identification by law enforcers. We have already conducted social media exploitations and there are numerous possibilities on how scammers get hold of the personal information of the recipients of spam text messages,” said Doria.
Newsmst.daydesk@gmail.com A2 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
powerful Commission on Appointments where an unfavorable action could put Pres ident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a bind.
At the same time, the DFA said Mar cos’s meeting with US President Joe Biden has not been confirmed yet.
Some health experts have raised con cerns it would drive infections anew.
Adel Tamano, DITO Telecommunity
surgery in 18 months.
Amid these reports, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) said it has intensified col laboration with its partner government and law enforcement agencies.
The country is also averaging 2,201 daily coronavirus infections as of Sept. 14, the DOH said.
From A1
within the "inner circle" of the adminis tration.
"I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years.
"Tennis has treated me more gener ously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it is time to end my competitive career."
Dela Rosa said the social media has been used as a tool to disseminate re ports of kidnapping and other crimes.
The decommissioning process of MILF combatants is covered under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) forged between the government and the MILF in 2014.
pate in roundtables with targeted sectors, some US companies, the US Chamber of Commerce, US-ASEAN Business Coun cil, and the US-Philippines Society.
"As such, the other most important speech that the President will deliver in New York, aside from his UNGA address, will be at the Philippine Economic Brief ing (PEB). The PEB is expected to attract institutional investors, senior corporate executives, business analysts, and even academics, think tanks, and entrepre neurs," said Gonzaga.
“Becausesaid.once they go to the au thorities and it’s reported to the Chinese Embassy, immediately they would be deported back to China and they would be banned from going out of the country for the next five years,” he added.
In his speech during the inauguration of the BTA 2022-2025, BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim said the final
Police Brig. Gen. Joel Doria, director of the PNP ACG, said their initial investigation disclosed that the senders’ numbers are not linked to any social media accounts, messaging apps, and digital wallets.
Federer said that his body had effec tively told him it was time to bring the curtain down.
“The kidnap rescue operation stemmed from information provided by our foreign police counterparts based on complaints of the family of the kid napped Chinese who was held for a P1 million ransom since late evening of Monday, Sept. 12,” he added.
“Don’t put the burden of proof on them,” he said, addressing the PNP.
KSMBPI hits mandatory use of face mask order
M
Quijano disclosed that as high as 40 percent of the elderly Filipinos still work even after reaching the retirement age of 60.
THE Kapisanan ng Social Me dia Broadcasters ng Pilipinas Inc. (KSMBPI) on Thursday said the mandatory use of face masks among the elderly and those immunocom promised individuals in indoor places and public utility vehicles is a violation of the Bill of Rights.
“This means that in the future more senior citizens will have to remain working,” Quijano said.
AirAsia resumes flight operations in Singapore
The NCSC also “promotes programs that encourage participation of senior citizens in social and economic enter prise development.
He clarified however, that he is a pro- face mask advocate, and that he would never oppose the use of a face mask against COVID-19.
THE Taguig City government has signed an agreement with the So cial Security System to provide Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) personnel with SSS benefits and loan privileges.
BOOKS.BOOKS,BOOKS, Two girls pore over books at the pandemic.toofafterAsiaatwhichthespearheadedBookInternationalManilaFairbeingbyBookNookreopenedtheSMXMallofinPasayCitytwoyearsclosureduetheCOVID-19 Danny Pata GUARDCOAST ACTION.IN Philippine Coast Guard Seaman First hospital.takentheaidreceivingOccidental.Clarin,Ramaswimmingdrownedgirlfive-year-oldtimewasKevinClassSiclotattherighttosaveawhonearlywhileatBeach,inMisamisAfterfirsttreatment,victimwastothe CLOSED.ROAD A themotoristsapprisessignageontemporaryclosureofaportionofbusyMeralcoAve.inPasigCitystartingOctober1togivewayfortheconstructionoftheMetroManilaSubwayProject-ShawBoulevardStation. Joey Razon
KBR employs more than 1,200 mostly Filipinos as clerks, warehouse workers and in other semiskilled jobs. The firm engages in construction services such as industrial buildings, government building, complex refiner ies, warehouses and other projects
justice are in place to maximize coordina tion among the different agency actors to address the perennial issue of delay and the greater problem of accountability.”
ALACANANG on Thursday hinted it is clueless on the reported labor dispute between Filipino workers and a major American service contractor on Diego Garcia Island, and was still waiting for a report from the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) on the issue.
“Whether or not it’s going to be brought up, we will have to see about that one. But for the moment, we’re relying [on] and monitoring from the Depart ment of Migrant Workers. It’s still in the hands of Sec. Toots. We will wait for her report. Malacañang relies heavily on the people who are directly involved on this one,” Angeles told Palace reporters.
Mayor Laarni Cayetano met with SSS officials and the Taguig Human Resources and Management Office (HRMO) headed by Jeanette Clem ente to discuss the program.
By Angelica Villanueva
Marites Dagdag, general manager of Prestone manufacturer Clorox In ternational Philippines, said the gradu ates are all children of auto mechanics.
Taguig aims to serve as a “model city” for other local government units in the National Capital Region for the selfemployed program eyeing to expand SSS coverage to JO and COS personnel.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the Palace was expecting DMW Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople to release a statement on the issue.
The news report also said the KBR “emotionally blackmailed” the Philip pine government by canceling all char
THE National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) has cited the role of the Filipino elderlies in nation-building, saying they are a rich-source of “pro ductive“Seniormanpower.”citizens have been helping build a strong country,” said NCSC chair Franklin Quijano.
JZs are projects of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) which is composed of the Supreme Court (SC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of the Interior and Lo cal Government (DILG).
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 A3News
“It just so happened that both Con gress and the Senate must pass a new law for such purpose for the President to sign it. We want to put everything in its right perspective,” he said.
NCSC cites seniors’ role in dev’t.
Marcos is scheduled to leave for New York on Sept. 18 and will return to the Philippines on Sept. 24.
Clorox International Philippines commercial director Paulo Lao pre sented to the media the six 2022 Pre stone scholars who studied at the STI. They are Edmajea Aguinaldo from Taguig City (Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management), Aulinda Buban of Batangas (BS in Informa tion Technology), Anna Riza dela Cruz of Naga City (BS in Hospital ity Management magna cum laude), Christian Diamante of Batangas (BS in IT), Melver Masangkay of Batan gas (BS in IT) and Harvey Plazo of Naga City (BS in IT cum laude).
The NCSC estimated that one out of every 10 Filipinos belong to senior citizens sector who have been accorded various benefits by different laws, no tably Republic Act 7432 or The Senior Citizens Act.
A PROMINENT producer of auto care products has paid tribute to six children of mechanics who completed a four-year degree through scholarship.
Dagdag said Prestone launched the Anak ng Mekaniko scholarship in 2018 to celebrate its 90th anniversary and give back to the hardworking and loyal auto mechanics in the country by providing their children with a fouryear college scholarship. Rio N. Araja
The NCSC also urges families and communities with senior citizens to “reaffirm Filipino value of caring for senior citizens.”
A press conference followed the touchdown, attended by the low-cost carriers’ executives led by Capital A chief executive officer Tony Fer nandes.“Returning to this state-of-the-art fully automated terminal feels like coming home as we actively partici pated in the consultation and sharing of ideas in the design and functional ity of T4,” Fernandes said.
SINGAPORE—AirAsia has resumed its flight operations in Singapore as it made its return to world-class Changi Airport via Terminal 4 (T4) starting today, September 15, ending a fiveyearAirAsiahiatus. Aviation Group Limited (AAAGL), the holding company of Capital A’s airline group, welcomed its comeback to Singapore as the fully loaded plane arrived from Kuala Lum pur at 8:30 AM local time through Airbus A330.
By Joel E. Zurbano
Angeles said she has no idea if Presi dent Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would raise this during his trip to the US this month.
Gesmundo stressed that the JZ dialogue series will help the JSCC to hear directly from the frontliners of the justice sector the activities that are happening on the ground, as well as their accomplishments and the issues they are facing.
Quijano predicted that within 15 years, the number of senior citizens will double to the ratio of about two senior citizens out of every 10 Filipinos.
He also revealed that among the man dates of the NCSC is to encourage senior citizens to contribute to nation-building.
tice Zones will be able to maximize their potential and continue to be effective mech anisms for coordination and cooperation.”
He said that Singapore, being the airline’s third-largest hub, is also an integral market.
“We are proud to have contributed to the industry’s growth and played a pivotal role in making the Kuala Lum pur-Singapore route one of the busiest flight routes in the world,” he added.
Chief Justice launches multi-sector ‘Justice Zone’ dialogue in Cebu
By Rey E. Requejo
In 2008, AirAsia started out with just two daily flights, then increased their services significantly to 281 trips per week. Meanwhile, in Singapore, the low-cost carrier contributed to 51 percent of the T4’s overall seat capac ity during pre-pandemic.
CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Wednesday opened a “justice zone (JZ) dialogue” in Cebu City with judici ary members, government prosecutors, law enforcers, and representatives of lo cal government units in a bid to firm up overall speedy coordination and coop
eration in the administration of justice.
Firm lauds 6 scholars who finished college
Aiming to bounce back from its five-year break from flying to Sin gapore, AirAsia airlines expects to capture a larger share of the air travel market in Singapore.
The city was also chosen for other LGUs to emulate because of the care its administration has shown even in the initial stages, when the program wasTheannounced.accordwould enable both the SSS and the city government to build a strong working relationship that would allow JO and COS employees to enjoy the social protection against the hazards of disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death and even unemployment.
Taguig, SSS seal benefits deal for contractuals
In a statement, the SC’s public informa tion office, said the Cebu City meeting “was the first of a series of face-to-face dialogues among the justice sector stakeholders that will be held to ensure that the existing Jus
IN BRIEF
At the coffee forum Kapihan sa Ma nila Hotel, KSMBPI founding chair man Dr. Michael Raymond Aragon invoked Article 3, Section 1 of the Bill of Rights which stipulates that “No person shall be deprived of life, lib erty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”
The dialogues serve as venues “where key programs relating to the delivery of
Palace awaits DMW report on US island labor dispute
The newspaper Washington Post re ported earlier that Filipino officials had asked the employer, Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), to raise the workers’ wag es to meet the United States’ federal minimum wage rate.
The company however, was allegedly forcing its employees to continue work ing at current wage levels.
ter flights from the island to the Philip pines since However,January.KBR vice president of global marketing and communications Philip Ivy belied the accusations.
“I hope that if there’s an energy prob lem, they should talk about it,” he said.
The Ombudsman’s proposed budget for next year contains P51.4 million in confidential funds.
Both groups agreed that food secu rity problems will be solved of there is a ready market for their produce.
the part of the people who made those claims... That’s not true because our Vice President and her family are al ready based in Manila,” Munsayac said.
Estrada said that the violation of the government procurement law stemmed from the splitting of contracts when the DepEd undertook repeat orders of lap
House panel members conclude 2023 budget discussions for CHR
GUESTHONOR.OF
BLU BOYS. Members of the Philippine softball team (Blu Boys) pose with House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The Blu Boys won silver at the Asia Cup Qualifying Tournament in Japan and earned the right to play in the World Cup in November in New Zealand. The Blu-Boys are headed by Coach Raymundo Pagkaliwagan (2nd right), Team Captain Michael Pagkaliwagan (3rd right) and player Marlon Pagkaliwagan (right).Also in
‘DepEd laptop purchase may have violated law’
“Because of her access to helicop ters, she is able to finish her obligations within the day. That’s why she said she is able to go home at night. That’s the point of her thanksgiving message,” the official said.
FOR SAFETY. A Department of Public Works and Highways CityAvenueCommonwealthlanerepaintingmarkingthermoplasticpersonnelmaintenance(DPWH)usesaroadmachineinthefadedmarkalonginQuezononThursday. Rico H. Borja
SENATOR Raffy Tulfo on Thursday blasted the slow actions of the Ener gy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) Task Group to curb the country’s power outages and address other energy-related issues.
The agency’s anti-corruption en forcement program, which includes whistleblower accounts and rewards, got the second highest amount with P586.201 million. Maricel V. Cruz
HE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe on the alleged overpriced and outdated laptops worth P2.4 billion revealed a possible violation of the law particularly on government procurement.
THE leadership of the House of Rep resentatives led by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez has completed constitut ing all its 65 standing committees and 15 special committees with Tuesday’s election of three chairpersons to fill the remaining vacancies, House ma jority leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe said on Thursday.
He also noted that task group mem bers seem to have been pointing an accusing finger against each on the energy problems. The senator said the council was created to hasten the issu ance of permits but said the task group should not just focus on permits.
tions, Inc. (ASI), Columbia Technolo gies, Inc., Reddot Imaging Philippines, Inc., Techguru Inc., and Girltekki Inc. “Was there a lack of planning here or was the DepEd deliberately dividing the contract so that it can use repeat or ders as an alternative mode of procure ment?” Estrada further said.
“Not everyone gets to receive ayu da. Only those that are close to those in power. But when palay price is raised to P23 per kilo at farmgate, that benefits all farmers,” said Mabandi MPC officer Atanacio Santos noting that only 75 percent of farmers get to receive ayuda.
T
“It’s very clear that there’s malice on
Duterte “doesn’t use government re sources for personal purposes,” Mun sayac said earlier in the day.
He said Duterte only uses the helicop ter for “official functions,” helping her ac complish her duties, ABS-CBN reported.
The panel, chaired by Ako-Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co of Ako-Bicol, also decided to terminate the budget hearing of the agency since no ques tions had been asked about the agen cy’s proposed budget.
top units and other information tech nology (IT) requirements only from the said five suppliers.
Tulfo slams energy task group on ‘slow actions’
THE House of Representatives Com mittee on Appropriations chaired by Rep. Elizaldy Co of Ako-Bicol on Thursday ended discussions on the pro posed budget of the Commission on Hu man Rights (CHR) for 2023. The panel’s vice chairperson, Marikina
THE House of Representatives com mittee on appropriations on Thurs day rallied behind the P4.78-billion budget for 2023 of the Office of the Ombudsman, the government body tasked to prosecute corrupt public officials and their cohorts.
“I feel relieved that we have finally filled up the organizational gaps. Now we are ready to focus on our primary mandate which is to create legislations that can make life better for our peo ple,” he added.
In terms of program expenditure classification, the Ombudsman allo cated the lion’s share of its budget or P783.208 million to its anti-corrup tion investigation program.
IN BRIEF
On Tuesday, the House plenary has elected Rep. Jorge Bustos of PATROL partylist group as chair of the House veter an affairs and welfare committee, Agusan del Sur Rep. Alfelito Bascug as chair of the special committee on oersons with dis abilities, and Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora of Davao de Oro as chair of the special committee on strategic intelligence.
THE office of Vice President Sara Du terte said it is looking at filing charges against individuals who claimed that Duterte was using the presidential chopper daily to travel between Manila and Davao City.
Providing a stable farmers’ market is a function that has been practised by countries with progressive, profitable agriculture sector, the FCLFC noted.
He asked if this council is working, saying that if they will base it on the last energy hearing, it would appear that the EVOSS “is not working.”
“This represents a P118 million slash or cut from their budget for the current year,” Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, during yes terday’s resumption of a Senate hear ing, presided by Committee chairper son Sen. Francis Tolentino quizzed Department of Education (DepEd) di rector Abram Abanil on the DepEd’s practice of repeat orders and splitting of “Incontracts.thecase of these suppliers, why did we not just bid for the goods in a sin gle lot? “ Estrada said while referring to technology suppliers Advance Solu
Limkaichong pointed out during the agency’s budget hearing. She said the number of Filipinos the CHR serves with their set budget is quite impressive, a larger sum of funds would enable them to expand and cover a greater number of vulnerable and underserved, including those who are victims of abuses by state and non-state actors.
FCLFC chair Simeon Sioson said if the government allows for the increase in the buying price, the amount will be enough to cover all costs of production including those for seeds, fertilizer, ir rigation, among others.
She said Congress fully supports the CHR in the performance of its impor
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo cited the CHR for its significant mandate which “not only helps to seek justice for the poor and underprivileged, but also helps main tain stability in communities, which in turn makes the country a more conducive environment for doing business.”
Tulfo also asked Energy officials whether the public will be expecting more red and yellow alert warnings this week after the forced outages at seven power plants, which caused the Luzon grid to declare a red alert last Monday. Macon Ramos-Araneta
OVP eyes charges on socmed posts
photo are Batangas 2nd District Rep.Gerville Luistro (left) and San Luis Batangas Mayor Oscarlito Hernandez (2nd left). Ver Noveno
tant mandate. For the fiscal year 2023, the CHR proposed P846.38 million budget or 12.27 percent lower from their previous budget. The Commis sion received a budget of P964.7 mil lion in the 2022 GAA.
“We are studying if that qualifies as a criminal case because a lot of people were fooled or misled by those types of posts,” Office of the Vice President (OVP) spokesperson Reynold Munsayac, quoted by an ABS-CBN News report said. “If we allow those to propagate, sometimes the people will believe it.”
Also elected was Bustos as vice-chair of the special committee on strategic Intelligence, Pangasinan, Rep. Arthur Celeste as member of the agrarian re form committee, Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Dalog Jr. for the danger ous drugs vice chairmanship, Caloocan City Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy for the committee on Health, Misamis Ori ental Rep. Yevgeny Vincente Emano for the committee on national defense and security, Iloilo Rep. Raul Tupas for the committee on environment, Paranaque Rep. Edwin Olivarez for public ac counts and Abra Rep. Ching Bernos for the committee on ways and means.
Bragado, in a Senate hearing, said that the Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service (DBM-PS) and the DepEd have “a general MOA for the projects that the Education department transferred to the procuring agency.”
Housenamingcompletesleadersinkeyposts
RICE farmers called on President Fer dinand Marcos Jr. to restore the regu latory powers of the National Food Authority (NFA) to ensure higher buying prices of farmers’ produce.
A4 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 News
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian added that the procurement process was “defective,” based on the statement of Marcelo Bragado Jr., director of DepEd Procurement Service, as he testified that the memorandum of agreement was only signed on May 28, 2021 or after the invitation to bid was posted and the quotation for the laptops were requested.
Munsayac, in the ABS-CBN report, also said “ït is also improbable for someone to use a helicopter to travel daily from Manila to Davao City” due to the distance between the two cities.
Vice guestspeaksSaraPresidentDuterteastheofhonortothehistoricanniversaryoftheopeningoftheMalolosCongressattheBarasoainChurchinMalolos,Bulacan.
Lawmakers support budget for Ombudsman
By Othel V. Campos
The Mabandi Multi Purpose Coop erative (MPC) in Pulong Bayabas, San Miguel, Bulacan and the Federation of Central Luzon Farmers Cooperative (FCLFC) have also asked the Presi dent to raise farmgate price of clean and dried palay to P23 per kilo.
“All of our standing committees and special committees are 100 percent filled up and ready to carry out their mandate as provided under the Con stitution,” Dalipe said.
By Maricel V. Cruz
Farmers noted that while ‘ayuda’ (financial assistance) is given in cash, the farmers insisted they prefer to be treated with fairness and in a more business-proper manner, given that “ayuda” is given arbitrarily.
Farmers’ plea: restore regulatoryNFAtask
By Maricel V. Cruz
AT LONG last, Atty. James Jimenez, the bearded, opinionated, and incompetent longtime spokesman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is no longer officially connected with the poll body.
However, Tui refused and invoked filial privilege by claiming that she is the stepmother of Emma Lee.The privilege cannot apply to them because the rule applies only to “direct” ascendants and descen dants, a family tie connected by a common ancestry.
The three multi-billion projects are challenging but they are not impossible to Somebuild. of our Asian neighbors now have advanced economies because of world-class infrastructure.
To prepare for the acquisition of submarines, the Navy had already sent as early as December 2018 a group of its personnel to France for training, so that they would be ready to operate a submarine once delivery is made.
in in frastructure, in the words of the ADB, has led to chronic capacity constraints in the transport sector, resulting in eco nomic losses due to road congestion... “making Metro Manila one of the most dense and congested natural cities in the Asian region.”
The Navy plans to acquire more modern war ships, including Acero-class gunboats, new con struction landing docks, new-generation corvettes and offshore patrol vessels in the next five years to give its seagoing platforms an average age of 10 years or comparable to the navies of some of our neighboring countries.
The Navy plans to acquire more modern warships, Acero-classincludinggunboats, new construction landing docks, new-generation corvettes and offshore patrol vessels in the next five years...
According to the boy, while sleeping in one room with his father (accused), the victim, and his two other younger brothers, he was awakened by the victim’s loud cries (People v. Invencion, G.R. No. 131636, March 5, 2003).
They also serve as the blueprint for alleviating poverty in the Philippines.
that the Comelec may call on the AFP to maintain peace and order during the elections, but only with the prior consent of the President.
The plan was for the Navy to conclude a P70-bil lion submarine contract, with the first to be delivered by 2027. But the planned acquisition in 2019 had to be shelved because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government was forced to realign funds from several agencies for its COVID-19 response. These included the defense department’s meager budget for military upgrade, which meant some key
AT
The Philippines early this month dis closed that it was seeking a $1-billion loan from the Manila-basedAsian Development Bank to finance the planned mass transport system that will run from San Juan City to Taytay in Rizal province.
The witness also testified that he saw his father on top of his half-sister, performing a pumping mo tion.After about two minutes, his father put back on his shorts. He further declared that his father was very strict, cruel, and a drunkard who angrily pro hibits the victim from entertaining any of her suitors (G.R. No. 131636, March 5, 2003).
Bongbong was very practical. The limited amount of time given to each presidential candidate to deliver a spiel in a televised debate, with 10 can didates in contention, is insufficient to thoroughly convey a candidate’s platform.
Jimenez reacted by declaring that if Bongbong continues to refuse to participate in the debates organized by the Comelec, Bongbong will not be featured in future online information activities to be undertaken by the poll body.
Disallowing a compelled testimony against a parent, descendant, or ascendant prevents erosion of family relations.
OPINIONMOREONLINE (www.manilastandard.net) Still sound with Olympia @ 95 A digital innovation campus Honor Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 B1
speak, is when it finally gets its first-ever submarine. Submarines are believed to provide credible deterrence against foreign intrusions, especially by China which claims almost whole of the South China Sea through what it calls the “nine-dash line.”
The Philippine Navy wants to be comparable and even better than our maritime neighbors in five years.That’s according to PN acting flag-officer in command Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia.
According to news reports, Impact Hub Manila was founded in 2015 by a certain Ces Rondario.
Jimenez had been comporting himself as if he is the Comelec, and that his limited understanding of the Constitution and the election laws should be considered the law of the land
[committed] against that person or [committed] by one parent against the other”. Regardless of whether the person is a victim or not, the parental and filial privilege will not apply if the witness freely and vol untarily testifies.
The Philippine perspective on the parent-child privilege Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 8-5646225 and 8-5646229 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 8325550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandard.net MEMBER Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine NewspapersPPI can be accessed manilastandard.netat: Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board ManilaStandard ONLINE Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer
Sofitel forthcoming, the poll body eventually can celled the debates.
brand-new ships and aircraft.
The two other infrastructure projects
James Jimenez’s departure from Comelec long overdue
Last August 31, 2022, the Comelec approved the retirement of Jimenez, without prejudice to the resolution of pending administrative issues againstJimenezhim.became the subject of controversy last April over botched up arrangements for an election debate to be held at Sofitel, a five-star hotel in the Manila Bay reclamation area.
EDITORIAL
At present, the Navy has been equipped with two brand-new missile-armed frigates, two land ing docks, two anti-submarine helicopters, and 12 multi-purpose attack craft, six of which are now equipped with the Israeli-made surface-to-surface missiles.Infact, ample proof that our Navy is getting bet ter is the participation of the BRP Antonio Luna, in the recently concluded Rim of the Pacific (RIM PAC) exercise in Hawaii.
Another Jimenez goof up took place in early 2022.By the first quarter of 2022, then presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. de cided against participating in any of the televised debates sponsored by the Comelec. According to Bongbong, he preferred to reach out to the elector ate personally in the provinces.
THE parent-child privilege is not a novel or radical concept.Both ancient Jewish Law and Roman Law entirely barred family members from testifying against one another, the basis of which was the de sire to promote solidarity and trust within the family (Evidence, Third Edition, George Fisher).
Modernizing our Navy
This Mega Manila corridor will experience higher economic growth and further developmenturbanwith less road congestion
recognizedNewstatute,parent-childsomeMinnesota)Massachusetts(Idaho,andhaveadoptedvariantoftheprivilegebyandonestate,York,hasjudiciallytheprivilege
projects had to be pushed back.
The rail project aims to reduce travel time from San Juan to Taytay, Rizal to just 27 minutes from one to three hours.
Although Impact Hub Manila was able to hold two initial debates in late March and early April this year, the last two debates scheduled for April 23 and 24 faced a serious glitch after Sofitel threatened to back out of the event following the unexplained failure of Impact Hub Manila to settle its remaining contractual debt to the hotel in the amount of more thanOnP14-million.March31, 2022, Sofitel wrote to Jimenez about the problem. In his written reply to Sofitel dated the next day, Jimenez guaranteed that Impact Hub Manila will honor its debt to Sofitel. Jimenez said that the Comelec will be the source of the funds to be used by Impact Hub Manila.
The reason for the decline in the recognition of the parent-child privilege in the United States was explained in the case of the Three Juveniles v. Com monwealth, 390 Mass. 357 (1983), reasoning that “[b]ecause a parent does not need the advice of the minor child in the same sense that a child may need the advice of the parent, the case for a testimonial privilege [of this kind]… seems weaker…” (cited in Evidence, Third Edition, George Fisher).
In another case, Tui Chuan (Tui) was being sub poenaed to testify that Emma Lee is not the daugh ter of Keh Shiok Cheng (Keh). The case for the cor rection of entry of the certificate of birth was filed by the children of Spouses Lee Tek Sheng (Lee) and Keh to establish that Emma Lee is not the daughter of their mother (G.R. No. 177861, July 13, 2010).
A stepdaughter has no common ancestry by her stepmother; hence, Tiu can be compelled to tes tify against Emma Lee (G.R. No. 177861, July 13, 2010).
Substantialheavy.underinvestment
San Miguel’s 27.06-kilometer toll road stretching from the municipalities of Silang, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Indang, Mendez and Afonso in Cavite to Na sugbu, Batangas will significantly re duce travel time and ease the flow of produce and goods to and from these areas. As in other infrastructure proj ects, the toll road will create jobs and other economic opportunities in the twoTheprovinces.Sangley airport project, mean while, will decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport and revitalize the country’s tourism industry.
The vessel won third place in the Naval Surface Fire Support “Rodeo,” prevailing over 16 other warship
The government’s marching order to the Navy leadership is for the institution to be “a reliable part ner in nation-building, (to) sustain its transformation into a modern and multi-capable force, (and) a de pendable protector not only of our seas but also of our nation’s future.”
More importantly, this Mega Manila corridor will experience higher eco nomic growth and further urban devel opment with less road congestion.
This privilege “is an adaptation from a similar provision in Article 315 of the Civil Code that ap plies only in criminal cases. But those who revised the Rules of Civil Procedure [Evidence] chose to extend the prohibition to all kinds of actions, wheth er civil, criminal, or administrative, filed against parents and other direct ascendants or descendants” (Lee v. Court of Appeals, et al., G.R. No. 177861, July 13, 2010).
at least three members of the Comelec announced that no public money was spent to pay the balance due Sofitel.
Once the Philippines gets to acquire submarines, it will be a “game-changer” for the military.
Other issues have been raised against Jimenez prior to this election debate anomaly.
In sum, Jimenez had been comporting himself as if he is the Comelec, and that his limited understand ing of the Constitution and the election laws should be considered the law of the land.
In one case, an 8-year-old boy testified that he is a half-brother of the victim and son of the accused with the latter’s second common-law wife.
Filial privilege “refers to a privilege not to tes tify, which can be invoked or waived like other privileges. As correctly observed…, Elven [the boy] was not compelled to testify against his fa ther; he chose to waive that filial privilege when he voluntarily testified against him… of his own accord and only ‘to tell the truth’” (G.R. No. 131636, March 5, 2003).
Can it deliver? We really hope so.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Marine Corps will also take full delivery of its BrahMos anti-ship mis sile systems within the next three years. This is part and parcel of the PN’s archipelagic coastal defense strategy.Butthe icing on the cake for the Navy, so to
Most of the cases discussing this kind of privi lege have done so in the context of whether a child should be compelled to testify against the parent (Evidence, Third Edition, George Fisher).
Dean Wigmore’s four-factor formula requires satisfaction of all four factors to establish a privilege: the communication must originate in confidence that it will not be disclosed;
The Philippines, an archipelago of 7,640 islands, is one of the few remaining countries in the region without a submarine force. The military’s mod ernization program calls for the acquisition of two diesel-electric attack submarines for a total price tag of P70
First, the Comelec never authorized Jimenez to make such a guaranty on behalf of the commission.
More infrastructure projects Opinion
Its proponents hope to create 50,000 jobs and make the new airport a cata lyst project to bring in foreign direct investment and promote trade and eco nomic development as well.
It appears that an event organizer called Impact Hub Manila was to manage a series of election de bates for the May 9, 2022 elections, to be held at Sofitel. Under the corresponding contract, Impact Hub Manila was to pay Sofitel in four installments in the amount of almost P20.6 million.
With the Philippines consisting of around 7,640 islands, but only 2,000 big and small ones habitable in the three main island groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, it makes eminent sense to have enough hardware—ships and aircraft—in addition to trained personnel, to protect our territorial integ rity.For too long, particularly in the post-WWII era, we relied on the United States for hand-me-down ships and aircraft for national defense as we concen trated on economic development.
LEAST three proposed infrastructure projects of note have been reported in several media outlets this month.
That cancellation was irrelevant.
The 15.56-kilometer Metro Rail Transit Line 4 project would be a fullyelevated railway mass-transit system serving the eastern side of Metro Ma nila and the highly-populated areas
THE Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy. That’s a key principle enshrined in our Constitution, but that does not mean we cannot modernize our military to defend our territory.
For that reason alone, Jimenez’s sudden depar ture from the Comelec is good news, and is in the best interest not only of the Comelec, but of the electorate as well.
In September 2021, Jimenez told the media that only the Comelec can call on the Armed Forces of the Philippines to suppress lawlessness during an election. He said the President of the Philippines does not have that power during the election season.
In the United States, three states (Idaho, Massa chusetts and Minnesota) have adopted some variant of the parent-child privilege by statute, and one state, New York, has judicially recognized the privilege.
First, confidentiality is not essential to a success ful parent-child relationship. [I]t is not clear whether children will be more likely to discuss private mat ters with their parents if a parent-child privilege were recognized than if one were not (Evidence, Third Edition, George Fisher citing 520 U.S. 1253 [1997]).Second, any injury to the parent-child relation ship resulting from the non-recognition of such a privilege would be relatively insignificant. This is in contrast to the impairment of the truthseeking function of the judicial system and the in creased likelihood of injustice resulting from the concealment of relevant information (Evidence, Third Edition, George Fisher citing 520 U.S. 1253 [1997]).Inthe Philippines, the parent-child privilege is subsumed under parental and filial privilege in Rule 130, Section 25. Under the said Rule, “[N]o per son shall be compelled to testify against his or her parents, other direct ascendants, children or direct descendants…”However,anindividual may be compelled to tes tify when the “testimony is indispensable in a crime
Our military modernization program has been gaining ground in recent years. And it’s well in evidence in the way we have been beefing up the Philippine Navy to defend our territorial waters with
The public scored Jimenez for his foolish state ment.There is no law which compels a presidential candidate to participate in any debate organized by theBeingComelec.so, the candidate concerned cannot be penalized or punished for his refusal to join, or his disinterest in participating in, those debates. Thus, there is no legal basis for Jimenez to unilaterally ban Bongbong from any future online information ac tivities sponsored by the Comelec.
The goal has been to maintain a credible defense posture. That means having enough personnel and materiel to defend against any encroachment on our territory or bullying by other countries with superior firepower and huge armed forces.
Anotherbillion.pending item in the modernization plan is the procurement of Tactical Data Link (TDL) 16, currently the standard communications system used by the US military and its top allies.
Second, there was no public bidding for the hosting of the Thedebates.public wanted to know why Jimenez was willing to spend public money, and lots of it, for the debates, when the major television networks were ready and willing to host them at no cost to the gov
The Napoleonic Code also prevented the disclo sure of confidences between family members. The civil law countries of Western Europe, including France, Sweden, and the former West Germany also recognize a privilege covering compelled testi mony from family members (Evidence, Third Edi tion, George Fisher).
the relation must be one which in the opinion of the community ought to be sedulously fostered; and the injury that the relation would incur by the dis closure of the communications must be greater than the benefit… gained for the correct disposal of the litigation (Evidence, Third Edition, George Fisher citing in re Grand Jury Proceedings, 520 U.S. 1253 [1997]).Atleast two of Wigmore’s test requirements were not met.
COVID-19, therefore, dealt the “biggest blow” to the Philippine military’s modernization efforts.
(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
ernment.Anyway,
The reason for the rule is to preserve “family cohesion” and the lack of this provision under for mer laws is believed as doing violence to the most sacred sentiments between members of the same family (Evidence, Francisco).
There is no reason why the Philip pines cannot copy the model of these Asian economic powerhouses.
Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore achieved eco nomic progress over time through the pursuit of mega infrastructure projects.
of Rizal. Every commuter knows that traffic along Ortigas Avenue from San Juan, Mandaluyong and Pasig City to Cainta, City of Antipolo and Taytay is notoriously
are the Cavite-Batangas expressway project proposed by San Miguel Corp. and the $11-billion Sangley Point Air port Project offered by Cavitex Hold ings Inc. and the Yuchengo Group.
the element of confidentiality must be essential to the full and satisfactory maintenance of the relation between the parties;
Bongbong was better off speaking in nationwide campaign sorties where he can say all that he needs to say to the electorate, and where his speeches will make it to the television news.
Conductedparticipants.amid rising maritime tensions with China, the US-led RIMPAC involved 25,000 per sonnel, 38 ships, four submarines, nine national land forces and more than 170 aircraft from 26 countries.
In the United States, three states
How will they do this?
Jimenez’ retirement from the Comelec should not have been allowed in the first place. He should have been placed under preventive suspension then made to explain his role in the irregularity.
Apparently, Jimenez does not read the Constitu tion. Section 2(4), Article IX-C of the charter states
The Comelec postponed the remaining debates to April 30 and May 1, but with no payments to
But that began to change starting in the 1990s after the Senate junked the Military Bases Agree ment with the US and we started to modernize our military in earnest.
Infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, airports, seaports and rails provide the modern landscape for a de veloping economy.
lin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow this week.
Researchers said that they com pared TikTok and Google results from searches for information about school shootings, abortion, COV ID-19, US elections, Russia’s war on the Ukraine and other news.
NewsGuard describes itself as a “journalism and technology tool” that rates the credibility of websites and online information.
for a
FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday he will attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, as he called King Charles III to offer con dolences over the death of his mother.
For Putin, the summit is a chance to show that Russia cannot be isolated in ternationally, at a time when Moscow’s forces are facing major battlefield set backs in Ukraine.
Sokor nabs woman over dead children in suitcases in NZ
Residents told AFP of their pride in hosting the summit, pointing to Samar kand’s long history as an international crossroads.“Weare proud that so many leaders of various countries are gathering in our city. Samarkand from ancient times was a legendary city,” said 26-year-old Shakhboz Kombarov.
TIKTOK is serving up misinforma tion to users searching for news about politics, climate change, COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and more, accord ing to a report released Wednesday.
The United States for decades has sold weapons to Taiwan but the new legisla tion will go further by providing US se curity assistance of $4.5 billion over four years, a step sure to infuriate Beijing.
(MS-SEPT. 16, 2022)
The SCO—made up of China, Rus sia, India, Pakistan and the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan —was set up in 2001 as a political, eco nomic and security organization to rival Western institutions. AFP
SOUTH Korean police said Thursday they have arrested a woman accused of murdering her two children, whose remains were found in suitcases in New Zealand last month.
Typhoon Muifa lashes eastern China
“Even when TikTok’s search re sults yielded little to no misinforma tion, the results were often more po larizing than Google’s,” NewsGuard said of its NewsGuardfindings.in September ana lyzed the top 20 results from 27 Tik Tok searches on news topics, finding that 19.5 percent of the videos sug gested contained false or misleading claims, the report stated.
(MS-SEPT. 16, 2022)
stage major military exercises seen as a trial run for an invasion.
IN BRIEF
‘TikTok search results rife misinformation’with
“All members of the SCO stand for a just world order,” he said, describing the summit as taking place “against the background of large-scale geopolitical changes.”
Entry to Samarkand, a city of grand tiled mosques that was one of the hubs of Silk Road trade routes between Chi na and Europe, was restricted in the days ahead of the summit, with its air port shut to commercial flights.
“Police arrested the suspect at an apartment in Ulsan on Thursday following a stakeout with tips on her whereabouts and CCTV foot age,” South Korea’s National Police Agency said in a statement.
“The SCO offers a real alternative to Western-centric organisations,” Krem
It also lays out sanctions on China if it uses force to try to seize the island. With support from both parties, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the Taiwan Policy Act, billed as the most sweeping upgrade of the relationship since the United States switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing in Lawmakers1979.moved ahead on the act amid heightened worries for Taiwan af ter Russia invaded Ukraine and follow ing a visit to Taipei by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which prompted China to
At least 426,000 people were evacuated in Shanghai and another 1.2 million people were taken to temporary shelters in neighbouring Zhejiang province, CCTV added.
Macron said on Twitter “I will be in London to attend the funeral” on Monday. AFP
Both had arrived in the city ahead of the talks, with Putin emerging from his plane under sunny skies to be greeted by an honour guard on the tarmac be fore being whisked away in a convoy of black vehicles.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila Standard TODAY CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK (MS-SEPT. 16 & 23,, 2022) NOTICE Notice is hereby given that ORIENTAL PARADISE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (Owner) and ETERNAL EMBRACE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (Developer has filed with this Office a sworn registration statement for the sale of vaults in ETERNAL EMBRACE GARDEN COLUMBARIUM (SERENITY GARDEN NORTH AND SOUTH COLUMBARIUM) located at Strong Republic Nautical Highway, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. The project is under EO 648. AIl papers relative thereto shaIl upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon. Absent legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed registered and a certificate, in evidence thereof, shall forthwith be issued after five (5) days from the last day of publication. Diliman, Quezon City, 25th day of August 2022. Recommending Approval: (SGD.) ATTY. DUNSTAN T. SAN VICENTE Assistant Regional Director APPROVED BY. (SGD.) ATTY. JULIUS ERVIN O. ENCISO Regional Director
US Senate takes first step to Taiwan direct military aid
Macron to attend Queen’s funeral
RUSSIA’S
as a
A SENATE committee took the first step toward the United States directly providing billions of dollars in military aid to Taiwan and making ties more of ficial, ramping up support following soaring tensions with Beijing.
MILITARYDRILL.
CYAN Regional Director
Muifa is the strongest tropical cyclone to hit Shanghai – home to more than 25 million people – since record-keeping began in 1949, state broad caster CCTV said.
“We partner with credible voices to elevate authoritative content on topics related to public health, and partner with independent fact-check ers who help us to assess the accu racy of content.” AFP
Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping gather with other Asian leaders in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand from Thursday regional summit touted challenge to Western global influence.
He also “wished the king the greatest success, and expressed his full availability to continue the work they have carried out together in recent years in the face of common challenges, starting with the protection of the climate and the planet,” the statement added.
Xi and Putin will be joined by the leaders of India, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and several other countries for the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the Uzbek city on Thursday and Friday.
Manila Standard TODAY (MS-SEPT. 16, 2022) NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC BE IT KNOWN THAT RICALDE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES owned by CHRISTOPHER RAY C. RICALDE with address at 60 Jose Piczon St., Brgy. Minda (Pob), Gandara, Samar has changed its ownership from sole proprietorship to corporation on August 30, 2022 and is now RICALDE CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION with business address at 60 Jose Piczon St., Brgy. Minda (Pob), Gandara, Samar. (MS-SEPT. 16, 2022) CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila Standard TODAY
Toxicity and false claims are a “significant threat” at TikTok, which is becoming a go-to online venue for young people to search for informa tion, according to a study by News Guard, a media watchdog.
Putin, Xi meet for regionalhigh-stakesdialog
HIGH winds and heavy rain lashed China’s densely populated east coast on Thursday, after Typhoon Muifa forced around 1.6 million people to leave their homes and grounded most flights at Shanghai’s main airports.
Senator Bob Menendez, a member of Biden’s Democratic Party who leads the committee, said that the United States “does not seek war or heightened tensions with Beijing” but needed to be “clear-eyed.”“Wearecarefully and strategically lowering the existential threats facing Taiwan by raising the cost of taking the island by force so that it becomes too high a risk and unachievable,” Menen dezSenatorsaid. Jim Risch, the top Republi can on the committee, said it was “im perative we take action now to bolster Taiwan’s self-defense before it’s too late.”The bill still must clear the full Sen ate and House. The White House has not said whether President Joe Biden will sign the bill, although the strong support it has may mean Congress could override any potential veto. AFP
SOMEONE ELSE’S TREASURE. A scavenger goes through a pile of waste at a dump site in Banda Aceh on Sept. 15, 2022. AFP
“She’s been found to have arrived in South Korea after the crime and has been in hiding ever since,” it added.
Soldiers hang on a rope from a helicopter during an exercise at the military base in Tolemaida, Colombia on Sept. 14, 2022.AFP
BE IT KNOWN THAT RICALDE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES owned by CHRISTOPHER RAY C. RICALDE with address at 60 Jose Piczon St., Brgy. Minda (Pob), Gandara, Samar has changed its ownership from sole proprietorship to corporation on August 30, 2022 and is now RICALDE CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION with business address at 60 Jose Piczon St., Brgy. Minda (Pob), Gandara, Samar.
The streets and its famed markets stood largely empty as AFP journal ists visited on Wednesday, and schools were to be closed for the two days of theSecuritysummit.was tight across the city, with a huge police presence on the streets and armored vehicles parked downtown.
False or misleading claims in re sults included conspiracy theories promoted by QAnon and supposed home recipes for hydroxychloro quine, a prescription drug used to treat malaria and lupus, according to NewsGuard.TikToksays the methodology used in the analysis is flawed, and that it makes a priority of fighting misinfor mation.“Our Community Guidelines make clear that we do not allow harmful misinformation, including medical misinformation, and we will remove it from the platform,” a Tik Tok spokesperson said in response to an AFP inquiry.
Heavy rainfall led to traffic tailbacks and floods in several areas of the Yangtze river delta region, a major global manufacturing hub.
WorldFRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022B2 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
And for both leaders, the summit will be a chance to thumb their noses at the West, especially the United States, which has led the charge in imposing sanctions on Russia over Ukraine and angered Beijing with recent shows of support for Taiwan.
Macron “offered his sincere condolences to the king and expressed his full support. He expressed the sadness of the French men and women at the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and their thoughts to the British people,” the Elysee said Wednesday.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
SEEN AS A CHALLENGE TO WEST
The main summit day will be Friday, but it is a meeting of the Russian and Chinese leaders on Thursday that will be the most closely watched.
The 42-year-old – reportedly a South Kore an-born New Zealand national – was arrested in the southeastern city of Ulsan and will be transferred to the capital Seoul to face extradi tion proceedings, police said.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Manila Standard TODAY
Images in local media showed the woman, who has not been identified by police in South Korea or New Zealand, being led out of the Ul san police station by plainclothed investigators, covering her head with a large brown coat. AFP
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
“The suspect is accused by the New Zea land police of having murdered her two chil dren – aged seven and 10 at the time—in around 2018 in the Auckland area.”
However, there were no immediate reports of any deaths or casualties.
MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK (MS-SEPT. 16 & 23,, 2022) NOTICE Notice is hereby given that ORIENTAL PARADISE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (Owner) and ETERNAL EMBRACE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (Developer has filed with this Office a sworn registration statement for the sale of vaults in ETERNAL EMBRACE GARDEN COLUMBARIUM (SERENITY GARDEN NORTH AND SOUTH COLUMBARIUM) located at Strong Republic Nautical Highway, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. The project is under EO 648. AIl papers relative thereto shaIl upon request and payment of processing fee, be available for inspection during business hours by any person having legal interest thereon. Absent legal impediment, the above-cited project is deemed registered and a certificate, in evidence thereof, shall forthwith be issued after five (5) days from the last day of publication. Diliman, Quezon City, 25th day of August 2022. Recommending Approval: (SGD.) ATTY. DUNSTAN T. SAN VICENTE Assistant Regional Director APPROVED BY. (SGD.) ATTY. JULIUS ERVIN O. ENCISO
For Xi—on his first trip abroad since the early days of the coronavirus pan demic—it is an opportunity to shore up his credentials as a global statesman ahead of a pivotal congress of the ruling Communist Party in October.
Giant waves were seen crashing onto the coastline in Hangzhou bay, to the south of Shanghai, and national radio reported a landslide in Ning hai County in Zhejiang province. AFP
The process required vast comput ing power and only the winner would be chosen to update the blockchain and get rewards. AFP
Biden announced that the administra tion had approved funding for the first round of EV charging stations included in a $7.5-billion program funded by the 2021 infrastructure bill.
HONG KONG, China—The amount of vacant top-tier office space has more than doubled in Hong Kong over the last three years as compa nies downsize operations, research ers have found, warning that demand could remain soft even if pandemic controls are lifted.
In Hong Kong, stocks closed 0.4 per cent higher on Thursday.
A day earlier, Japan’s central bank conducted a “rate check” operation on the yen, a move seen as a precursor to possible intervention, and which served to bring the currency back from the 145 level that is widely seen as a threshold by the market. With AFP
Biden’s appearance comes just weeks after the US president signed into law major new investments in semiconductor production and com batting climate change, lending the US president’s Democratic Party some momentum heading into the Novem ber midterm elections.
OANDA.
3 ALI 12,380,800 357,494,075 BDO 2,829,530 351,988,366 3,043,250 298,212,488 340,280 295,135,550 1,056,690 257,181,108 103,400 226,860,140 136,464,000 201,403,500
Net profits rocketed more than fivefold to $18 billion in the second quar ter of 2022.
Beijing responded with a crackdown that has purged the city of dissent and transformed its once outspoken vibe.
The switchover changes the way transactions are logged on the Ethere um blockchain.
Enthusiasts hope a more energy ef ficient Ethereum will spur wider adop tion, particularly as a way of enabling banks to automate transactions and other processes.
From the start of Ethereum in 2015, so-called crypto miners have competed against each other to solve equations— a system known as “proof of work.”
By John Biers/Aurelia End
stock market slipped Thursday, unable to recover from a rout this week on higher-thanexpected US inflation data.
“The great American Road Trip is going to be fully electrified,” Biden proclaimed after test-driving one auto during a gleeful spin through showroom floor.
Hong Kong office vacancies double after riots, COVID
BDO Unibank Inc. of the Sy Group, the biggest lender in terms of assets, dropped 2.1 percent to P122.50, while parent SM Investments Corp. fell 1.1 percent to P850.
DETROIT, United States—Fresh off recent legislative victories, President Joe Biden touted an electric auto fu ture Wednesday as the new-generation models shared the stage with gasoline at a revived Detroit Auto Show.
The US president said he liked the Lyriq, but took a particular shine to an Orange Corvette he had earlier exam ined, according to a White House pool press report.
The data showed US yearly inflation slowing less than expected and monthly inflation rising, stoking fears that the US Federal Reserve would continue its ag gressive tightening of monetary policy.
On Wednesday, Wall Street stocks rose as investors prepared for next week’s Fed decision, with the Dow rising 0.1 percent and the S&P 500 gaining 0.3 percent.
7 JFC
5 SMC
Developers had spent years work ing on a more energy-efficient version of Ethereum, a digital ledger that un derpins a multibillion dollar ecosys tem of cryptocurrencies, digital tokens (NFTs), games and apps.
The outgoing CEO “can look back with great pride on an extraordinary 39-year Shell career,” said chairman Andrew Mackenzie.
Hong Kong saw huge and some times violent democracy protests in 2019, which often spilled over into core business districts and helped tip the city briefly into a recession.
9 SPNEC
“People are on the precipice of a massive adoption of EVs,” Chevrolet Vice President Steve Majoros told AFP shortly before a presentation highlight ing the General Motors brand’s slate of electric versions of top-selling trucks.
4
Occupancy fell by 2.3 million square feet in that same three-year period—sinking to 73 million square feet—making up Hong Kong’s “big gest and longest office market down cycle in history,” the report added.
The Philippine Stock Exchange In dex lost 7.19 points, or 0.1 percent, to 6,575.67 on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Gainers, however, beat losers, 90 to 74, with 51 issues unchanged.
San Miguel Corp., the largest beer maker, however, rose 3.2 percent to P98, while Ayala Corp. of the Ayala Group climbed 2.5 percent to P748.
creased number of charging stations has boosted confidence in EVs.
Rents also dropped nearly 30 percent.
Shell’s CEO stepping down at end of 2022
said of Biden’s reaction to the Corvette, a gasoline-powered vehicle.
Under his tenure, Shell last year simplified its name and structure and outlined plans to slash greenhouse gas emissions.
On Thursday, the Australian dollar traded near a two-year low, with the yen at near 143 to the US dollar.
Prices have since rebounded sharply due to the Ukraine war and after coun tries lifted pandemic lockdowns.
Hong Kong was kept largely virusfree until earlier this year when the highly transmissible Omicron vari ant tore through, killing over 9,000 people and leaving the city with one of the highest death rates per capita in the world.
But so far the technology has been used largely to create speculative finan cial products.
Buterin quoted research claiming that the “merge,” as developers have called the software upgrade, would re duce global energy consumption by 0.2 percent.
“The economic recession has prompted businesses to look at the office costs more carefully and re duce office footprint over the past few years,” said CBRE’s head of re search Marcos Chan.
The jump came as a result of down sizing by nearly 950 companies, it said—a record high vacancy rate.
Ethereum is the second most important blockchain after bitcoin, but it has faced criticism for burning through more power each year than New Zealand.
The visit by Biden, a self-professed “car guy,” has boosted the profile of the Detroit gathering, which is much smaller than in years past, with most foreign automakers and newer players like Tesla not presenting.
Ford is scheduled to present its sev enth-generation Mustang Wednesday night at an evening event. The company has organized a “stampede” to Detroit’s Hart Plaza of Mustangs from the six earlier generations, begun in Tacoma Washington and crossing nine states.
But the Detroit show has otherwise been short of the sort of glitzy reveals of years past, a shift that partly reflects
A White House fact sheet highlighted a deluge of announcements by compa nies that have amounted to nearly $85 billion in investment on manufacturing of EVs, batteries, and chargers in the United States since Biden took office.
Any US interest rate hike tends to strengthen the dollar, and Asian currencies remain at risk from the strong greenback.
10 EMI 9,715,300 200,820,960 TOP LASTGAINERS % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE 1 MRC 0.22 0.035 18.92% 2 OPMB 0.012 0.001 9.09% 3 COAL 0.22 0.018 8.91% 4 PHA 0.39 0.03 8.33% 5 LCB 0.129 0.009 7.50% 6 FOOD 0.55 0.03 5.77% 7 LR 1.68 0.08 5.00% 8 T 0.66 0.03 4.76% 9 MARC 1.43 0.06 4.38% 10 PA 2.22 0.09 4.23% TOPPRICELASTLOSERS%CHANGECHANGE 1 KPPI 2.2 -0.25 -10.20% 2 CHP 0.71 -0.05 -6.58% 3 REG 2.91 -0.17 -5.52% 4 GEO 0.18 -0.01 -5.26% 5 ALLHC 3.36 -0.17 -4.82% 6 FPI 0.25 -0.01 -3.85% 7 CEI 0.079 -0.003 -3.66% 8 TUGS 1.14 -0.04 -3.39% 9 MONDE 14.5 -0.5 -3.33% 10 VITA 0.59 -0.02 -3.28% PSEi September 15, 2022 US President Joe Biden sits in a manufacturing.electricasCorvetteChevroletZ06hetoursthe2022NorthAmericanInternationalAutoShowatHuntingtonPlaceConventionCenterinDetroit,MichiganonSeptember14,2022.Bidenisvisitingtheautoshowtohighlightvehicle AFP G7 MEETING.TRADE Japanese Minis ter of Economy, Trade 2022.SeptemberGermanyberg,NeuhardenMeetingTradeHabecktionClimateEconomicsmancomed(right)toshiIndustryandYasuNishimuraiswelbyGerMinisterofandProtecRobertforaG7Ministersineasternon15, AFP
Van Beurden, who will have been at the helm for nine years, will be suc ceeded by the head of integrated gas, renewables and energy solutions, Shell said in a statement.
“And we finalized!” tweeted Ethe reum’s co-creator Vitalik Buterin, call ing it a “big moment for the Ethereum ecosystem.”
8 GLO
Sawan’s appointment comes as the oil giant attempts to pivot toward be ing a net-zero emissions business, de spite criticism from the environmental campaigners who accuse it of corpo rate “greenwashing”—the practice of marketing a company as more climatefriendly than it really is. AFP
1 SMPH 12,820,700 467,924,685
“When you’re driving coast to coast along I-10 or on I-75 here in Michigan, charging stations will be up and easy to find as gas stations are now.”
The outgoing CEO, 64, has presided over a tumultuous time at the energy titan, weathering collapsing oil prices in 2020 as COVID lockdowns ravaged demand, with the market briefly turn ing negative.
“During the last decade, he has been in the vanguard for the transition of Shell to a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.”
Ethereum blockchain developers complete ‘monumental’ overhaul
(PHP)
The group switched headquarters from the Netherlands to the UK and dropped Royal Dutch from its name.
LONDON, United Kingdom—British energy giant Shell announced Thurs day that chief executive Ben van Beur den will step down at the end of the year to be replaced by renewables di rector Wael Sawan.
Biden tours Detroit Auto Show in electric vehicle push
Meanwhile throughout the pan demic Hong Kong has stuck to a ver sion of Beijing’s zero-COVID strat egy, quashing outbreaks with travel curbs, targeted lockdowns and strin gent social distancing rules.
“He said he’s driving it home,” Barra
Biden has a long and generally warm relationship with Detroit giants after pre siding as vice president over the bailouts following the 2008 financial crisis. AFP
Asian stocks mostly edged higher on Thursday, tracking gains on Wall Street.
And critics remain skeptical of the claims of massive energy savings, pointing out that it is unclear much en
The release of US producer price data also affected market sentiment, showing costs dropping for the second straight month, mainly driven by falling US fuel prices.
“Stock markets have stabilized a little after Tuesday’s rout which saw risk as sets pummeled across the board,” said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at
“More and more Americans are ready,” said Majoros, who said the in
Business FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 || B3 extrastory2000@gmail.com
While gasoline-powered cars still dominate US roads, Detroit auto giants have unveiled more EVs as they seek to wrest control of a growing market from Tesla and newer upstarts.
PARIS, France—Senior figures in the crypto world said on Thursday that one of the biggest software upgrades the sector has ever seen was completed, an overhaul of the Ethereum blockchain aimed at re ducing its massive energy consumption.
AFP
Stellantis brand Jeep released a 30year commemorative edition of the popular Grand Cherokee SUV, as well as a new fifth-generation model that is the first Jeep plug-in hybrid.
Analysts said markets were bouncing back from the steep losses that followed the inflation data, and traders were pric ing in an expected 75 basis-point inter est rate hike by the Fed at a meeting next week.
Tokyo—the previous day’s biggest loser in Asia—closed up by 0.2 percent, but investors there remained wary of the speed and degree of future US rate hikes, analysts said.
MOSTVOLUMEACTIVEVALUE
2 AC 605,900 448,785,465
Empty Grade A office space spiked from 4.2 million square feet to 9.6 mil lion square feet (390,000 to 892,000 square meters) in the three years lead ing up to March, according to a report by real estate investment firm CBRE.
He “leaves a financially strong and profitable company with a robust balance sheet, very strong cash gen eration capability and a compelling set of options for growth”, Macken zie added.
Corvette fan Midway through the morning, the De troit convention center was cleared of journalists to secure the space for Biden, who was greeted by GM Chief Execu tive Mary Barra and other top GM of ficials before test-driving the Cadillac Lyriq, a luxury EV.
On Thursday, bourses in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Kuala Lum pur and Jakarta made cautious gains. Markets in Shanghai and Seoul, how ever, were down at the close.
The data adds to warnings that Hong Kong’s luster as a business hub has been dulled by political unrest and a subsequent crackdown. Pandemic curbs have also kept the city interna tionally isolated while rivals reopen.
6 SM
ergy the new system will need.
THE
changing preferences of companies who now prefer to market directly to con sumers in online launch events.
Stocks decline slightly; San Miguel, Ayala climb
Van Beurden also presided this year over its costly withdrawal from Rus sian gas and oil after Moscow’s inva sion of Ukraine.
Cavitegovernmentprovincialofawarded
The SPIA Development is expected to create 50,000 jobs and be a catalyst project to bring in foreign direct invest ment that will promote trade and eco nomic development, the group said.
INTERNATIONAL scientific studies from different countries found no evi dence that vapers and users of heated to bacco products are turning into smokers, contradicting the “gateway to smoking” theory spread by anti-vaping groups.
The Keepers will fund the acquisi tion from the P4.5-billion share sale it conducted in 2021. The company earlier said it was looking for possible acquisitions overseas to expand its portfolio.Bodegas Williams & Humbert is a respected family-owned winery in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. It is pro ducing a wide variety of wine and spir its specially sherry and is the leading producer of light brandy. The company distributes its products in Spain and 50 other countries.
“With this program, we expect more Filipino workers to enjoy the benefits of being a Pag-IBIG member in line with the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to provide a better life for all Filipinos,” said Acuzar who is also the chairperson of the 11-member PagIBIG Fund board of trustees.
Pag-IBIG Fund proposes condonationpenaltyplan
Switzerland Franc 1.039177 59.3994
which
THE Keepers Holdings Inc., the liquor holding company of businessman Lu cio Co, said Thursday it signed a share purchase agreement over a 50-percent stake in Bodegas Williams & Humbert SA for 88.75 million euros, or about P5.05 billion.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said remittances to the Philippines were consistently the fourth largest in the world, after those sent to India, China and RemittancesMexico.were equivalent to roughly 8 to 9 percent of the Philip pine gross domestic product. They were also about 32 percent to 37 percent of income from exports of goods and services and 26 percent to 37 percent of gross international reserves.
Othel V. Campos
Dirham 0.272279 15.5635 Euro Euro 0.998200 57.0571 Korea Won 0.000719 0.0411 China Yuan 0.143616 8.2091 India Rupee 0.012590 0.7196 Malaysia Ringgit 0.220994 12.6320 New Zealand Dollar 0.600400 34.3189 Taiwan Dollar 0.032191 1.8400 Source: BSP TOTAL VOLUME 662,909,152 TOTAL TRADES 63,342 TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) 5,479,573,398.66 ADVANCES 90
“The challenge is great, but the SPIA Development Consortium is very well prepared for the work at hand, highly committed to deliver within the project timelines because of the local and in ternational members who are all highly reputable developers and investors that have enviable track records in developing large-scale infrastructure projects,” it said.
Inside the main hall, Isuzu boasts one of their best-selling trucks, the Isuzu TRAVIZ..
The Cavite government in Janu ary 2021 scrapped the deal with China Communications Construction Co. and MacroAsia to build and operate the Sangley International Airport because of deficiencies in documentations.
2020 Corporate Reports, which won under the publications category, showcased Meralco’s 2020 Annual Report, Power On; 2020 Meralco Sustainability Report, Live Life; and One Meralco Foundation’s 2020 Annual Report, Give Hope. Meralco’s Corporate Reports detail how Meralco, through various programs and initiatives, help the country in its fight against the COVID-19 and support pandemic recovery efforts. 0.006987 Pound 1.154400 65.9855
PSE INDEX CLOSING Thursday, September 15, 2022 -7.196,575.67PTS. F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 Currency Unit US Dollar Peso United States Dollar 1.000000 57.1600 Japan Yen
Australia Dollar 0.675000 38.5830
Personal remittances, which in clude non-cash items, also went up by 2.3 percent in July to $3.24 bil lion from $3.17 billion a year ear lier. This resulted in the cumulative personal remittances rising by 2.7 percent in the first seven months to $20.33 billion from $19.78 bil lion registered in the same period in 2021.“The increase in personal remit tances in July 2022 was due to remit tances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, and sea- and land-based work ers with work contracts of less than one year,” the BSP said.
economic recovery and growth and de velopment agenda, but also the overall business environment.
Cavitex-led consortium wins $11-b Sangley airport project Business
“Overall, there is no evidence that ecigarettes have driven up smoking prev alence in this age group. In fact, smok ing prevalence among young people has declined since e-cigarettes came onto the market,” ASH UK said.
A 2017 study showed the use of e-cig arettes was accompanied by a decline in smoking rate in several countries. The study conducted by Shu-Hong Zhu and other researchers said it is not possible to conclusively prove that changes in population smoking could be attributed to any one “However,intervention.itisnoteworthy that the rate of decline in smoking in both the USA and UK has accelerated over the period that vaping has become wide spread and quit rates have increased across the population. These changes do not appear to be explained by other fac tors such as tax rises and public health marketing campaigns,” the study said.
The Keepers said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the acquisition is part of its strategic long-term invest ment aimed at enhancing its position as the largest imported liquor distribu tion in the Philippines.
price was based on the independent valuation by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Meralco’sskills.
TOP executives of Pag-IBIG Fund asked employers with unremitted con tributions for their employees to avail of the agency’s penalty condonation program and settle their obligations— both prior and during the pandemic— free from any monthly penalty charge on delayed remittances.
BDO Securities said in a statement Thurs day that while elevated inflation remains the key risk for equities and earnings growth— as it erodes consumers’ disposable incomes, investor risk appetite and overall business sentiment—investors can look at stocks with strong balance sheets and resilient busi ness
By Darwin G. Amojelar
“We at Pag-IBIG Fund recognize the significant role that the business community plays in allowing Filipino workers to gain Pag-IBIG member ship, and in helping our nation contin ue to recover from the pandemic. That is why we are providing the means for employers to settle the unremitted Pag-IBIG contributions of their em ployees free from penalty charges,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.
is composed of Cavitex Holdings, Yuchengco Group, MacroAsia Corp. and their foreign partners, committed to transform the Sangley Point Interna tional Airport into a fully-modernized, world-class and green airport.
Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266028 15.2062
FOOD EXHIBIT. Consul General Voltaire Mauricio (second from right) of the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka and Commercial Counsellor Michael Alfred Ignacio (center) of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Osaka join the representatives of Philippine brands and Philippine sourced products at the official opening of the FoodPhilippines booth at the Food Store Solutions Fair 2022 at Intex Osaka. Organized by PTIC-Osaka, with the support of Osaka International Business Promotion Council, the FoodPhilippines booth features an excellent curation of premium food and beverage products from the Philippines, including Verra Coffee, Cocowell and Auro Chocolate.
ISUZU Philippines Corp. joins the muchawaited 8th Philippine International Motor Show from Sept. 15 to 18 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City with this year’s theme, Mobility + Humanity: Innovating for the Common Good.
the $11-billion Sangley Point Airport Project to a consortium led by Cavitex Holdings Inc. and Yuchengo group after a series of failed biddingS and negotiations with China ConstructionCommunicationsCo.SPIADevelopmentCorp.,
Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor extrastory2000@gmail.combusiness@manilastandard.net B4 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
“Givenmodels.the uncertain macroeconomic backdrop, we suggest investors to consider quality names in consumer, banks, property, and conglomerates, or sectors which we ex pect to still benefit from positive reopening dynamics and offer healthy earnings growth at reasonable valuations. Several of these names are also trading at deep discounts and are good value recovery plays, in our view,” said BDO Securities head of research Abi gailChiwChiw.said investors could look for stocks that offer products and services with endur ing demand and cost pass-through structure as these are better positioned to manage in flation headwinds. Jenniffer B. Austria
Indonesia Rupiah 0.000067 0.0038
“We are excited to begin the work necessary to finally implement this longneeded infrastructure project that is aimed at providing a premium gateway that will initially serve as an alternative to NAIA [Ninoy Aquino International Airport] and designed to meet an anticipated increase in demand for air transport in the next 3040 years,” SPIA said.
Public Health England, the highest health authority in the UK, said “latest survey results in the UK do not support the idea that vaping (or the use of e-cig arettes) is a gateway to smoking.”
0.3994 UK
Brunei Dollar 0.708767 40.5131
By Jenniffer B. Austria
MOTOR SHOW. Top executives of the automotive industry gather at the booth of Toyota Motor Philippines during the opening ceremony of the 8th Philippine International Motor Show at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. The automotive exhibition, which features the latest models including electric and hybrid vehicles and runs from Sept. 15 to 18, returns to the stage after a long hiatus caused by the pandemic. This year’s #PIMS2022 focuses on the theme of innovation that makes sustainable mobility possible. Roderick T. dela Cruz
Studies find no proof vapers turn into smokers
projects.MacroAsia said it would lend its exper tise with aviation support in logistics and technical services for aviation support.
Meralco bags more international awards
Hong Kong Dollar 0.127411 7.2828
More than the durable and reliable vehi cles, providing mobility and transport solu tions has been IPC’s vital role in Filipino’s lives which enables them to take ahold of the title “Number 1 Truck Brand in the Philip pines” for 22 consecutive years.
The foreign members of the con sortium include Samsung C&T Corp., Munich Airport International GmbH and Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited.Theproject includes the construction of a four-kilometer connector road, with provisions for rail connectivity, fullyintegrated logistics and aviation support facilities. With the development of the first runway, SPIA can operate as a satel lite runway to immediately relieve the ex treme congestion of the runway at NAIA.
and category, ‘Alfonso’,” the liquor firm“Itsaid.will also transform the company’s business model from trading to a manu facturing/distribution one,” it said.
It said the purchase would be bot tom-line accretive from its share in the future net income of Bodegas Wil liams & Humbert. The final purchase
Results of these studies are relevant in the Philippines which enacted Republic
BDO Securities Corp. asked investors to ride the volatility in the equities market by focusing on quality names in consumer, banks, property and conglomerate sectors.
BDO Securities shares tips to stock investors
By Julito G. Rada
Action on Smoking and HealthUnited Kingdom, a staunch anti-smok ing organization, also cited the results of five large surveys of 11 to 16 year olds in the UK between 2015 and 2017 showing that “most young people who experiment with e-cigarettes did not be come regular users.”
“The Keepers’ acquisition of up to 50 percent of Bodegas Williams & Humbert SA will secure the compa ny’s supply line of its biggest brand
Isuzu PH showcases products at 8th PIMS
Canada Dollar 0.759821 43.4314
Under the agency’s charter, employ ers are responsible for the registration and remittance of its employees’ man datory monthly Pag-IBIG contribu tions, which consist of the employee’s contributions and the employer’s coun terpart share. With its penalty condo nation program, eligible employers can now settle their employees’ unre mitted Pag-IBIG contributions without penaltyPag-IBIGcharges.Fund chief executive Ac mad Rizaldy Moti said the program is purposely broad in scope to aid in boosting economic activity. It cov ers not only all unremitted Pag-IBIG contributions by employers during the pandemic, but also all unremitted con tributions even prior to the pandemic.
The consortium said the project would revitalize not only the tourism industry, which is a major pillar in the country’s
Singapore Dollar 0.711288 40.6572
Cavitex Holdings, the Philippine lead, said it would bring its expertise in infrastructure development, while the Yuchengco Group of Companies, through House of Investments, said it would contribute its expertise and finan cial resources in developing large-scale
The Keeper said the amount would be paid in cash upon the signing of the share purchase agreement and comple tion of other legal requirements.
$2.92bgrewRemittances2.3%toinJuly IN BRIEF
Lucio Co’s Keepers signs P5-b deal to acquire 50% of Bodegas
Bodegas Williams & Humbert is a Spanish company with over 140 years of history producing alcoholic bev erages. The company, owned by the Medina family, is the producer of “Al fonso,” a leading brandy brand.
“The expansion in cash remittances in July 2022 was due to the growth in receipts from land-based and seabased workers,” the BSP said in a statement.Itsaidin terms of country source, the growth in cash remittances from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Sin gapore and Qatar contributed largely to the increase in remittances in the seven-month period.
Isuzu Philippines’ take on this year’s theme is an extension of their recently an nounced Road To Progress vision on their 25th inaugural anniversary in July. With sustainability and responsible partnership as their core concept, IPC designed a booth that encompasses the benefits of Isuzu products and services to the society.
Act No. 11900 or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act as a law to regulate the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribu tion, use and communication of vaping products such as e-cigarettes and HTPs.
MANILA Electric Company, the country’s largest electric distribution utility, continues to exemplify communication excellence as it adds more major wins to its long list of recognitions in the international stage.
THE
Meralco won two awards of excellence at the 2022 Silver Quill Awards, an awards program organized by the International As sociation of Business Communicators that honors outstanding work of communication professionals across the Asia Pacific Region. These awards were among the seven win ning entries from the Philippines that earned the coveted highest award for demonstrating strategic acumen, innovative thinking and creative
UAE
Bahrain Dinar 2.652801 151.6341
The Keepers distributes Alfonso bran dy in the Philippines and accounts for 60 percent of the company’s revenues.
REMITTANCES rose 2.3 percent in July to $2.92 billion from $2.85 bil lion a year ago on sustained demand for Filipino workers abroad as global economies recover from the pandem ic, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas saidTheThursday.latestfigure brought cash re mittances in the first seven months to $18.26 billion, up 2.8 percent from $17.77 billion recorded in the same period last year.
Thailand Baht 0.027337 1.5626
Prior to becoming a collegiate star and eventually becoming one of the promising cagers in the PBA, Tolentino used to play for the national youth team in Asian Championships.
Top helpcoachSwisstoFilipinoswimmers
Someone’s win streak will be snapped Lee has won two consecutive fights in incredible fashion. Her latest win came at the expense of Stamp Fairtex after a second-round submission at ONE X in March. Prior to that, she scored a submission victory over Xiong at ONE: CENTURY PART I in October 2019.
LUKA Gabrilo, an outstanding swimming coach from Switzerland, is taking his act to the Philippines to help the Philippine Swimming Inc. develop its national coaches and handle Fil-Canadian Kyla Sanchez in her quest to qualify to the Paris Olympics.
Asia’s best pole vaulter Ernesto John “EJ” Obiena with PSC chairman Noli Eala Norman Cruz
His last was on Monday during the Gala dei Castelli in Bellinzona, Switzerland. where he also set a new meet record, clearing 5.81 meters on his second attempt to claim his 10th overall outdoor gold medal and eighth straight podium finish.
But Labide scored on an off-balanced push, hammered a down-the-line hit off Santa Rosa’s poor reception that came after the City Lions’ attack error and Tony Torres scored on a quick hit to give the Troopers a 10-5 cushion.
“When I beat Mondo, I was not supposed to beat him. So now, I understand how it works. That’s why my goal is always to win, and that’s how it’s going to be. And it’s not about how high I jump. But how I’m going to take that medal on that day. I truly believe that it’s the guy who wants it most who will likely take the medal,” said Obiena.
THE road to the Paris Olympics begins next month for World Championship pole vault bronze medalist Ernest John “EJ” Obiena.
Labide stretched the lead to six with another kill and the Troopers built a huge lead on another Santa Rosa mishit.
2019 SEA Games in Manila, but the Gin Kings star made his way back to the program when he played in the last window of the FIBA World Cup AsianAlsoQualifiers.beingplanned to be included in the coming window this November is two-time PBA scoring champion and World Cup veteran CJ Perez.
Coach Vitaly Petrov is now laying out the groundwork for his qualification, with the facilities in Formia, Italy again be the training area for Obiena, who has been away from the country for almost three years.
performance when he pulled off a rare upset win over world champion and world no. 1. Armand “Mondo” Duplantis on Sept. 2 in the Diamond League Series meet in Brussels.
PSI president Lani Velasco said Gabrilo will be around when the Philippines prepares its swimmers for international meets next year.
Xiong-Lee showdown excites fans worldwide Fajardo, Thompson, Perez eyed as SBP reaches agreement to get players from SMB, TNT, Ginebra
Obiena said his visit to the RMSC brought back memories of the time he trained there.
Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 C1
Gold is up for grabs
While this is Lee’s second shot at the strawweight strap, there is much more on the line for the 26-year-old.
But to force a playoff, the Troopers must hurdle their last assignment against the Griffins on Tuesday and hope VNS would also drop its match against unbeaten Navy tomorrow.
Xiong dropped Lee in their first fight in the fifth round at ONE: A NEW ERA in March of 2019. The Chinese
Games Saturday 2:30 p.m. – VNS vs Navy 5:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU-Sta. Elena
ARMY-KATINKO recovered from a fourth set struggle with a fiery start in the decider then blitzed Santa Rosa with a barrage of hits to hack out a 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 17-25, 15-6 decision and stave off elimination in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Thursday.
“It will be the last time for me to be here before Paris. We are already planning the things that we need to do,” said Obiena, who planed in yesterday to Manila with his girlfriend, Caroline Joyeux.
Obiena and Joyeux were picked up by the pole vaulter’s parents Emerson and Jeannette and Philippine Sports Commission personnel from the airport early Thursday and were brought to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila, for a courtesy call with PSC chairman Noli Eala and commissioner Bong Coo. Lawyer Bobbit Bruce, who also handles Obiena’s legal matters, was also there.
Sports
Army’s Mads Gampong scores against two Sta. Rosa defenders in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Thursday.
“This is where I trained when I was young. It brings back memories and a lot has changed,” added Obiena.
Pogoy and Erram had also represented the national team several timesThesebefore.PBA players are being planned to be included after Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes reached an agreement with management of San Miguel Beer, Ginebra and TNT on the availability of these players for the coming FIBA window.
TNT shoots for title; SMB tries to stay alive
“EJ has sacrificed many, many years being away from the Philippines and bringing honors to the country. It’s time for him to take a break and enjoy the fruits of his labor,” said Eala.
CityforstayTroopersinhuntsemis,foilLions
“We really wanted to win,” said Gampong, who was scheduled to head home for Tawi-Tawi on Saturday but later hinted at extending his stay to help anchor Army’s most crucial game againstExperienceVNS. and poise prevailed over firepower and hustle in the end as the Troopers racked up the first three points in the decider and sat on a couple of four-point cushions before the hard-hitting Gampong’s service miscue put the City Lions back in the game at 5-6.
Below, we break down why this fight promises to have fans on the edge of their seats.
So far, Obiena, has accumulated eight gold medals in 16 outdoor events since May in Europe.
If she can overcome the seven-time ONE Strawweight World Champion’s striking and grappling prowess, “Unstoppable” could become the only other current two-division ONE World Champion aside from Reinier de Ridder, and the only woman in the organization’s history to lay claim to that feat.
athlete retained her strawweight World Title and snapped Lee’s undefeated fight record by doing so.
“Philippine Swimming Inc. is excited for what the future holds with Gabrilo guiding our coaches and mentoring our athletes,” said Velasco in a statement.
By Peter Atencio
ONE Championship superstars Xiong Jing Nan and Angela Lee will step into the Circle for the third time as the headliners of ONE Fight Night 2 on October 1 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
This matchup is Lee’s second attempt at “The Panda’s”
Xiong has been victorious three times since her last meeting with “Unstoppable.” The 34-year-old’s latest victory came by unanimous decision against Ayuka “Zombie” Miura at ONE: HEAVY HITTERS. She also took home wins against Tiffany “No Chill” Teo and Michelle Nicolini.
He has been assigned to take care of Sanchez, a member of the Canadian national team until 2022. Sanchez previously represented Canada at the Olympic and World championship level.
PAST and present PBA Most Valuable Player winners June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer and Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel are among those being eyed to lead a bumper crop of talented players for the coming fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, where the Filipinos play Jordan and Saudi Arabia, both in awayFajardogames.is a six-time MVP, who had represented Gilas Pilipinas as early as the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship when the Philippines qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 40 years, but the 6’10” center had played in the biggest basketball event twice, the latest was the 2019 edition in Thompson,China.the reigning PBA MVP, on the other hand, was a member of the gold medal winner Gilas team coached by Tim Cone in the
FajardoJuneMar
During his amazing stretch, Obiena had a memorable
Obiena’s other gold medal wins came in the Stabhochsprungmeeting in Jockgrim, Germany, the True Athletes Classics in Leverkusen, Germany, the Saint Wendel City Jump in Sankt Wendel, Germany and the Golden Fly Series in Liechtenstein.
Madz Gampong delivered what could be a big farewell performance for the Troopers, unloading 22 points he spiked with 13 attack points and seven kill blocks while Benjaylo Labide took charge in the clutch, spearheading the team’s strong finish that saw them break from a tight 6-5 lead en route to the nine-point win.
While it was Army’s only first victory after four straight losses, it revived the Troopers’ bid for the last semifinal berth as it tied its victim at sixth, just a couple of games behind fourth-running VNSOne Alicia and half-a-game off fifthrunning Ateneo-Fudgee Barr.
Obiena to ramp up training for Paris after PH vacation
Perez had just won his first ever PBA championship with the Beermen and his scoring prowess will be much-needed by the Philippine squad when the team plays in front of our countrymen. The 6’2” former Lyceum stalwart was also a member of the 2019 national 3 x 3 team that also won the gold medal in the biennial meet cage Thompson’sgames.Ginebra teammates—6’9” athletic forward Japeth Aguilar and dead shot Arvin Tolentino—are also being eyed to be in-
Months later, “The Panda” made a bid for Lee’s atomweight strap at ONE: CENTURY PART I. Once again a fifth-round finish was secured—but this time by “Unstoppable,” who submitted Xiong with a rear-naked choke.
Each athlete holds one win over the other
But for now, the 26-year-old Obiena takes a threeweek break before he prepares again for the indoor season in Europe and his journey to qualify for the Olympics, which happens two years from now.
The stakes are high in this fight, a fight that will ultimately determine who is the more dominant fighter.
ONE Strawweight World Championship. “Unstoppable” already holds the atomweight strap and is looking to be the organization’s first female two-division titleholder.
However, if Lee is unsuccessful, it’s likely that “The Panda” could make another run for her atomweight belt. There is a lot at stake and history to be made when these two dominant competitors meet.
Ateneo, meanwhile, could clinch an outright semis seat with a sweep of its last two games but against two of the league’s most fancied teams—Cignal and Sta. Elena.
It happened when Duplantis failed to clear 5.91 meters on his third attempt during the competition, allowing Obiena to take home the gold medal for successfully making the attempt.
The PSC chairman said Obiena’s time away from the country was big sacrifice for him.
This will be Gabrilo’s first time to visit the Philippines as a high-performance consultant. Peter Atencio
Aguilar has been a consistent fixture in the national team program and as early as 2008 when Smart-Gilas was formed, he was already included in the squad then coached by Rajko Toroman.
Gabrilo used to be the national team coach of the Israeli Swimming Association and the Swiss national swim team.
Sanchez finished with a silver medal with the Canadian 4x100 meter freestyle team and a bronze with the 4x100 medley relay squad in the Tokyo Olympics.
Obiena also reset his own Philippine record when he leaped 5.94m in the World meet in Eugene, Oregon last July.
Editor
The 21-year-old Sanchez will now represent the Philippines in future internationalGabrilocompetitions.wasaconsultant for the Philippine team during the 2022 Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, before he made a decision to accept more“Theresponsibilities.youngmentor developed an interest in helping the Philippines emerge as a global force in swimming in the years to come,” said Velasco.
cluded as well as TNT stars Roger Pogoy and Poy Erram.
The 21-year-old Joyeux, who is in a relationship with the Obiena for the last three years, is also a national athlete from Berlin, Germany, dabbling in long jump, triple jump and in the 100-meter sprints. Joyeux is ranked no. 74 in the world in triple jump.
In an interview with The Australian newspaper, Norman said he had offered to meet with PGA Tour officials but they had repeatedly declined, instead focusing on reforming their tour to hang on to leading players.
Before I forget, I would like to greet my former boss Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer, a very Happy Birthday! May the good Lord continue to bless you with good health, more success and happiness Ma’am Yoly! Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
The country’s top 3x3 team Cebu Chooks! headlines the Philippine contingent and will be joined by Manila Chooks! and developmental team Butuan Chooks!
At least these players are match fit, but then again, there is a reason why I’m not part of the coaching
“If they had made findings that, in fact, his conduct was motivated by racial animus, absolutely that would have had an impact on the ultimate outcome here,” Silver said. “But that’s not what they found.”
LIV talkingnoNormanGolf’shasinteresttoPGA
SportsFRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022C2
Magrata says the main purpose of the tournament is to give aspiring girl soccer players in Central Luzon and nearby provinces a venue to showcase their skills. To discover future Filipinas or Malditas and youth team members is also among the hopes of Magrata. Which makes sense, because not all girls who play good soccer are based in Metro Manila – some are in the provinces just waiting to be given the opportunity to play and show what they’ve got.
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat
YORK—NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday the punishment to Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver for racist and misogynist remarks was severe even though it didn’t force him to sell the team.
“I was in disbelief to a certain extent about what I learned,” Silver said. “I was saddened by it, disheartened... The conduct is indefensible but I feel we dealt with it in a fair manner.”
With LIV offering $25 million purses in no-cut 54-hole tournaments, a host of high-profile golfers have signed up, including Cameron Smith, the British Open champion who was world number two when he switched sides thisHemonth.joined other major winners such as Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau with the PGA Tour adopting a zero-tolerance stance, suspending those whoDespitedefected.the unprecedented turmoil, Norman rejected LIV as being a “breakaway” league, telling the newspaper its “business model from day one was always built around being inclusive”.
BOUNTY Agro Ventures Inc., the mother company of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3, is celebrating the silver jubilee of its founding.
Donald Sterling was blatant racist conduct directed at a select group of people,” SilverRegardingsaid.
“We tried awfully hard, I know I did personally for the past year... when we knew we were never going to hear from them, we just decided to go.
4-leg kiteboardingICTSItourslated
Cebu will be composed of PH no. 1 Mac Tallo, no. 3 Brandon Ramirez, no. 29 Vince Tolentino, and import MikeCebuNzeusseu.willbe slotted in Pool B in this level eight tournament that has $10,000 and a Cebu Masters main draw ticket going to the champion. Also in their group
Sarver was fined $10 million and suspended for one year by the NBA on Tuesday following a 10-month investigation into Sarver’s actions over 18 years.
Silver also pointed to the findings by investigators regarding Sarver.
In 2014, Silver forced former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling to sell that club after private recordings of him making racist comments were madeSilverpublic.saidthe situations were “dramatically different” and there was “no discussion” about the process of removing Sarver as owner but admitted, “There’s no neat answer here.”
‘Trying to destroy us’ “It was always an additive to all tours,” he said. “This notion we’re trying to destroy tours is not true. The PGA Tour is trying to destroy us, it’s as simple as that.
On an even better news, the Philippines finally had a grand slam champion after Alex Eala took home the 2022 US Open Juniors Girls title recently. The long-time Globe Ambassador beat reigning French Open Juniors champ Lucie Havlickova of Czech Republic in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. With the win, Eala is now at a career-high 297 in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings, the highest-ever position held by a Filipino. What made the title even sweeter was Eala’s short speech during the awarding ceremony. She spoke in Filipino, which we rarely see and hear. We can feel the sincerity and how proud she is, not only for herself but for the country she represents. In these times of so many challenges and uncertainties, hearing Eala speak in the local tongue is a welcome and much needed relief. Kudos to Mike and Rizza Eala for raising their kids well.
“I have access to information that the public doesn’t,” Silver said. “I’m able to look at the totality of the circumstances around those events in a way that we’re not able to completely bring to life.
pete in the seven-a-side tournament which will have at least three age brackets—the Under 12, Under 14 and Women’s Open.
MELBOURNE—LIV Golf kingpin Greg Norman Thursday said he was no longer prepared to negotiate with US PGA Tour chiefs while denying the Saudi-funded circuit was a “breakaway” league.
“That’s why we are where we are today,” Norman claimed.
DEU to the Filipinas’ success in the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship and their entry to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup next year, it is expected that women’s football in the country will get its much needed boost.
“I don’t have the right to take away
The launch of LIV this year plunged golf into crisis, with the rebel circuit sparking a bitter split that threatens to tear the sport apart.
his team,” Silver said. “I don’t want to rest on that legal point because of course there could be a process to take away someone’s team in this league. It’s very involved, and I ultimately made the decision that it didn’t rise to that level.”
Aside from the all-girl soccer event in December, Magrata revealed they intend to hold a futsal tournament, too, next month. The Designated Kit Man believes this is the right way to promote football in other parts of the country. Start them young with a good program supported by perseverance, patience,
are Mongolia’s ZaisanMMC Energy, Japan’s Saitama Alphas, and Butuan Chooks!
Having said that, it is still much better though to know that indeed there are football events being planned not just for women’s football but for girls as well.
Silver said many who came forward with evidence were promised confidentiality.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media during a press conference after the Board of Governors Meeting at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. At right is Robert Sarver. AFP
Speaking of laban, the Manila Wrestling Federation crowned its new king at the recently concluded “Road to Fate” at the PETA Theatre Center in Quezon City. Mr. Pinoy Wrestling Jake De Leon outlasted an injured Fabio Makisig to win the title in a three-way championship match that included Nigel “Suplex” San Jose. It was my first time to watch a live show of the MWF and to say that I had fun is an understatement. The seven-bout event was quite a show and hats off to the organizers and of course to the fans. I heard the next big event will be in December and hopefully, I will be able to watch it, too.
The ICTSI-backed tour kicks off on Oct. 15-17 at Kingfisher, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and will head to the Visayas after a three-month break for the second leg on Jan. 1315 in Sicogon Island, Carles Iloilo at the start of the season dominated by the trade Bantayanwinds.Island in Cebu is scheduled to stage the third leg on Feb. 10-12 with the tour winding up its eighth season on March 3-5 in the world-renowned Boracay Island, Aklan.Local kiteboarding star Fil-Norwegian Christian Tio bested a slew of riders from all over to clinch the silver medal in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina with the Boracay native setting his sights on the Olympic gold in the 2024 Paris Games.
“But the PGA Tour has not sat down and had a conversation with myself or any of my investors.”
Silver said he feels there has been improvement over the years in the NBA workplace environment, but says the league is no different than any other business in needing to remain vigilant.
care and concern – then nothing could go wrong. As we always say in the past, short cuts could only do so much whether in football or even basketball.
NEW
At least 23 players, including 12 holdovers from the AFF U19 Championship campaign in Indonesia last July, compose the squad helmed by Christopher Pedimonte. Midfielder Sandro Reyes, defender Jaime Rosquillo and forward Andres Aldeguer are in also in the team. Stephan Schrock is also part of the Thedelegation.topteamin each group, along with the five best second placed squads, will advance to the final round of qualifiers in Uzbekistan next year. Laban lang!
With so many things in store for Olongapo, it is very heartening to know that football, especially girls’ and women’s, is very much alive and kicking in that part of the country. Incidentally, Donnie Mapanao, father of former youth team goalie Isabelle Mapanao, is helping Magrata to make the tournament possible during the second week of December. May your tribes continue to increase, good
Butuan will be headlined by NCAA Season 94 MVP Prince Eze. He is joined by new boys JP Cauilan, Jason Strait, and Aurin Catacutan.
“I believe we’ve seen significant improvement over the years,” he said. “But ultimately, I think some of the issues we experience here in the NBA are not all that different than what you see, unfortunately, in other workplaces. AFP
“We have no interest in sitting down with them, to be honest with you, because our product is working.”
Haven’t turned a corner
The Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 International Standalone Quest, which takes place on Friday at Ayala Malls Solenad, is part of the activities to celebrate the milestone and will culminate on October 1-2 during the Chooks-to-Go FIBA 3x3 World Tour Cebu Masters at SM Seaside.
Take a Alex!bow,
Silver saw Sterling and Sarver differently.“Ithinkwhat we saw in the case of
“We came up with the idea since may boom ngayon sa women’s football. Sigurado kasi na marami ang intresado na mga team to join and to participate in the tournament kaya ginawa namin na All-Girls,” Magrata explained.Healso said the tournament will be open to teams from Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Bulacan and other provinces in Central Luzon. Teams from Metro Manila are also welcome, but participants will be entertained through a first-come, first-served basis.
AFP
“Since our silver medal win in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, we have set our eyes on other global events. Our aim is for this tour to again put into track our Olympic program for training local athletes and talents as kiteboarding will be a permanent event beginning with the 2024 Paris Olympics,” said Ortiz.
“Siyempre kailangan namin manalo,” said Tallo. “Malaking selebrasyon ito para sa Chooks-to-Go at kayla Boss Ronald. Sana maulit namin yung nagawa namin nung Super Quest ngayong Biyernes.”“Anggoal namin siyempre All-Filipino na Finals,” added Lanete. “Sa tingin ko kakayanin naman namin basta huwag lang kami magkampante.”
Sometimes,staff.common sense is the first thing we need because things will get even
“As part of our 25th anniversary, we have two key events for sports—the first is the Chooks-toGo Pilipinas 3x3 International Quest which will be the start of our athletes’ journey towards the Cebu Masters. And we are planning a lot of surprises for both tournaments,” the godfather of Philippine 3x3 said.
Pressure’s on for local teams in Chooks-to-Go tilts
“We are excited to bring back the tour after two years of absence due to the global pandemic,” said PKA president Jay Ortiz during Wednesday’s event launch at Manila Baywalk Dolomite beach along Roxas Blvd. “We are bringing these extreme athletes to four exotic and pristine beaches that will definitely give a boost to local tourism by showcasing these spots to the kitesurfing world.”
THE Philippine Kiteboarding Association has lined up a four-leg tour marking the return of one of the fastest growing sports to hit Philippine shores before the pandemic with an eye on training and producing world-beaters and at the same time boost local tourism.
Manila, composed of PH no. 4 Chico Lanete, no. 5 Dennis Santos, newcomer Dave Ando, and import Henry Iloka, will have a tough task as Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar and Zavkhan MMC Energy; and Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Aseel are their poolmates.Pressureis on for the three home teams as the champion will win $10,000 along with an outright main draw seat for the Cebu Masters that takes place from October 1 to 2 at SM Seaside. Meanwhile, the secondplace team will bag $5,000 and a qualifying draw slot in the level 10 tournament.
The Designated Kit Man was able to chat with Herbert Lew Magrata, the secretary general of the Olongapo City, Zambales Football Association, and he shared that plans are in the works to host a two-day all girls’ football tournament in December.
Sarver, Silver said, “It’s beyond the pale in every possible way to use language and behave that way, but.. it was wholly of a different kind than what we saw in that earlier case.”
Magrata said they are planning to invite teams from neighboring provinces to com-
harder as we will next face Thailand tomorrow, September 17 at 12.45 a.m. Manila time. Despite the strong opposition, we are still hoping for a better result against the Thais. The team ends its campaign in the group stage against Afghanistan on Sunday, September 18, at 9 p.m. Manila time.
NBA commissioner: Sarver punishment severe, but fair
“I think that puts me in a different position ultimately as the person who has to render the ultimate judgment about what is a fair outcome here.”
TheSirs!Philippines got off on the wrong foot to start its campaign in the AFC 2020 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Oman. The boys dropped their opening game in Group G with a 3-0 loss against the hosts at the Al-Saadah Sports Complex yesterday. And as expected, football fans were not so happy with the way the team played. I may agree with some of their points, especially on how the coaching staff chose who will start and play in the game. Again, learning curves in youth tournaments are not privileges given to our teams. Why not use players who are coming from the domestic league right away?
Chico Lanete and Mac Tallo
Nung binasa ko ‘yung script, sabi ko it’s very far from Stella (her character from Apoy Sa Langit). Kailangan ko mag-adjust talaga kasi, ‘yung role ko dito sa Regal Studio Presents, she’s very perky, bubbly,” Lianne said.
By Patricia Taculao
She added that this role also brings a kilig factor, adding to her excitement as she discovers new things she can do in her career.
Yasmien sees her role in ‘Start-Up PH’ as something fresh and exciting, a break from her usual oppressed characters
Asked when he realized that he wanted to be a musician, he told Manila Standard:
GMA First Vice President for Program Management Joey Abacan says he has a good relationship with Regal Entertainment, which reflects in the success of ‘Regal Studio Presents’
Celebrities at Stardohm Studios’s soft-opening STARDOHM Studio, a movie and television studio, had its soft opening recently graced by several celebrities. Owned and operated by Stardohms Multimedia Production, headed by CEO Harley Manalili, and located at Roces Avenue beside Privato Hotel, offers space for photoshoots, pasarela training, meeting, modeling, singing, and acting workshops.Presentat the event were Jukebox Queen Imelda Papin, actors Janina Raval and Ahron Villena, Mr. World Noble King Philippines 2021 and singer Lester Paul Recirdo, Misters of Filipinas 2022 Aspirant Pedro Red, GMA’s Protégé crooner Yohan Castro and PEPPS Foundation/Misters of Filipinas founder Carlos Morris Galang Stardohms Multimedia Production is also accepting fresh/new talents as contract artists to become models, actors, and singers.
ValentinLianne has to adjust to her new role for the Presents’‘RegalepisodeanniversaryfirstofStudio
Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant
Entertainment FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 C3 E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
Catch Regal Studio Presents
Xander Ford
YASMIEN Kurdi expressed her excitement about her role in Start-Up Ph, the local adaptation of the hit Korean soap opera top-billed by Bea Alonzo and Alden Richards
He added that he’s happy with the show’s development over the past year and counting as they’ve been working with fresh faces.
“Again, being the artist that she is, she said what she wanted. So it went back to Mon and he redid it. And then the next thing I knew, I had the music in the music studio,” Gary ended.
Presents never fails to bring heartwarming and inspiring stories to its loyal viewers across the country. It stirred the audience’s emotions as they laughed, cried, and felt kilig from the character’s stories.
Jason Abalos and Vickie Rushton
Yasmien Kurdi challenges self with unconventional role
•
“In the past, I portrayed oppressed characters. This time, I’m given the chance to play someone who’s in the business world. It’s something fresh for me and I’m simply excited to work.”
In the meantime, Carlo steps away from playing makwela roles to become the bad boy in the show’s anniversary episode. Since “Love Your Beat” is musically inclined, both actors are excited to show their talents in singing and playing instruments.Onthe following Sunday, September 18, another episode of Regal Studio Presents brings Kapuso artists Almira Muhlach, Bryce Eusebio, and Jana Taladro
In a recent media con, Gary Valenciano revealed that he’s very happy with his musical collaboration with Julie Anne San Jose via the song “Di Ka Akin,” which the latter composed. This became possible since both of them are part of Universal Records Philippines.Mr.PureEnergy has only good words for his fellow artist who is serious with her craft.
E VERY anthologyEntertainment’sNetworkafternoon,SundayGMAandRegalweekly
Carlo San Juan plays Ian in ‘Love Your Beat.’ He describes his character as a bad boy, different from his previous roles
This September, the show celebrates its first anniversary and promises to bring new entertaining stories to its line-up.Kicking off the show’s anniversary celebration is the episode titled “Love Your Beat,” starring Lianne Valentin and Carlo San Juan . Both found their new roles for the show a stark contrast to what they’ve played in other series.
Ever since he became single and dominated TikTok, everyone has been waiting for Joshua to name a lucky girl. While many have tried to get his attention, like the Filipino-American singer Bella Poarch, another Bella bagged the actor’s heart. Dating rumors sparked when he posted photos on social media with vlogger Bella Racelis. Neither confirmed their relationship, but netizens can’t help but feel kilig towards a possible romance and a chance for Joshua to find love again.
“In the story, Ina is a fashionista. So, in most of the scenes, I’m seen wearing slick, sophisticated, and modern office attires. It goes with the character since she is very driven. I also made some adjustments in my voice,” she went on.
Beauty Queen continues charity mission
Drama anthology teases viewers with new content
Reigning Mrs. Elite International Philippines Michelle V. Encarnacion (second from left, standing) celebrates her birthday by spending time with those in need
And to his fans in the Philippines, great news as the R&B and Soul artist Pink Sweat$ will be taking over the New Frontier Theater on September 27, 8:00 p.m. as Live Nation announces that the artist will bring his highlyanticipated Pink Sweat$ Pink Moon to Asia from September to October this year.
Thanks to the working relationship between Regal Entertainment and GMA Network, Regal Studio Presents is now a hit show among Filipino audiences. As it celebrates its first anniversary, the show promises to bring more feel-good stories that feature several Kapuso
At a recent intimate online media roundtable, the Philadelphia-born artist and producer was kind enough and gamely gave this author and a few others a chance to get a little bit up close and personal. Asked by if he wrote all of his songs, he “Yes!said: I wrote all of my songs – I wrote the entire lyrics, put the melody for each line and I also produced all of my songs.”
Regal Studio
• • •
PEOPLE
‘Pink Sweat$ Presents Pink Moon’ comes to Manila
“When I heard of the song, it was just a matter of time, which was a problem because both of us have completely different schedules. I left for the US for my concert tour. On her part, she had the song ready but she was also busy with other stuff like her Limitless musical trilogy. You can tell it’s an example of how much an artist like her put into what they believe in,” he carried on.
By Joba Botana
Abacan also shared that their collaboration with Regal Entertainment encouraged them to keep trying new things when producing new stories weekly. He shared that creating new content for the anthology is a gamble, but regardless of the uncertainty, he believes they get something out of their efforts to release content for Regal Studio Presents
…are talking about ...are not talking about
Rendon Labador
Yasmien has watched the original version of the series a couple of times already. She studied the character played by Kang Han-na “In our version, I’m Katrina ‘Ina’ Diaz. I learned a lot while doing the research for the part. Of course, I have preparations. First of all, I had to lose weight so that the clothes I’ll wear in the show will perfectly fit,” she said.
For the last Sunday of the month, September 25, Yasser Marta and Althea Ablan headline the final episode of the show’s anniversary special.Besides giving entertainment to viewers, Regal Studios Presents also paved the way for some actors and directors to jumpstart their careers in showbiz.Chief Operating Officer
As part of her preparation, Yasmien went to a speech class. She also observed various online TED talks to learn how to speak and act in front of many people.
REIGNING Mrs. Elite International Philippines Michelle V. Encarnacion has always made it a point to make her birthday celebration an affair that is of service to those in need, and this year is no different. The generous ladyentrepreneur, CEO and owner of Belemere Skin Care Centre beauty and wellness clinic, who turned 45, spent her natal day with the children cancer patients at Bahay Aruga, a Pediatric Cancer patients halfway house located in Ermita, Manila near the Philippine General Hospital.Bahay Aruga houses outpatient children of PGH who end up spending the night on the pavement or side street as the hospital does not have the facility to accommodate them. Encarnacion cannot wait to compete in the next Elite Mrs. International beauty pageant to be held finally in Singapore in early 2023 after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
“You know, when we talk about the artists at the level of Julie Anne, these are artists who don’t come up with songs just for the sake of coming up with ditties. They come up with something that stems from somewhere, and I found out that she’s going to write the song,” Gary said.
“It feels so amazing. There are really not a lot of changes, as I (feel like) married my best friend, so we do things together, we have fun together, we go on vacation and do activities that we like. So it’s really been amazing,” he enthused.Pink’s music is rooted in R&B and Soul, and is known for his melodic intricacy and lyrical prowess. He started making music at the age of 19 as a demo vocalist, and soon after found himself working at the legendary Sigma Sounds Studios where he began his career as a songwriter. After seven years of working behind the scenes, Pink Sweat$ launched as a solo artist in July of 2018. The rapid rise of his debut EP Volume 1 has earned him recognition from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Fader
Joshua Garcia
Gary didn’t want to say ‘Yes!’just because it’s something new for him to do. After presenting the material to Mon Faustino who did an initial arrangement, he asked Julie to listen to the song if there’s anything she wanted.
“It’s like making a huge office presentation. That’s what’s it like. I’ve learned so much especially when it comes to the appropriate posture, movements, and conversations.”
A beauty lounge for kings and queens Shimmy Beauty Lounge, a premium, StemCell & Glutathione ‘drip and go’ clinic, made an auspicious, return at its new location at CRM building, East Kamias Road, Quezon City. Shimmy Beauty Lounge, which treats its customers like King and Queen, offers limited services to be ‘beautiful, glamourized and shimminized.’ The clinic’s backto-business re-opening was graced by Mrs. Pacific Continental 2021 Michelle Lucas, Mrs. Universe Philippines Mindanao 2021 Mutya Pacis, and Ginang Angono 2022 Annievi Delos Santos
Xander didn’t have a clean slate with his previous partner, especially since he had assault charges in 2020, but maybe he learned his lesson and will treat the mother of his unborn child well. It’s too early to assume things now, but only time will tell.
Many Filipinos sometimes become emotional when it comes to their favorite sport. Such was the case for Rendon, an online influencer. While he conveyed strong feelings towards Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, local basketball player Marc Pingris wasn’t buying it. He challenged Rendon to a one-on-one game and still waits for a response from the influencer. Pingris isn’t the only one wanting to teach Rendon a lesson in humility. The question is, will Rendon put his money where his mouth is?
review the script and ensure that it has all the components to make a compelling story that viewers will enjoy.GMA First Vice President for Program Management Joey Abacan listens to her suggestions to address some parts of the script or production that may be lacking. It allows them to add different directors or cast other actors to add depth to the story.
Pink Sweat$ is set to perform in four cities, including Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, and Tokyo.
R&B and Soul artist Pink Sweat$
“It’s 50 percent guts and 50 percent research. But most of the time is not available, so the guts and the gambling is what we have been practicing,” Abacan said.
It’s been long since people last heard of Xander, formerly Marlou Arizala of the boy group Hasht5. He recently made waves with the news that he’s expecting his first child with his non-showbiz girlfriend.
The artist recently got married in August to his girlfriend Morgan “JL Bunny” and shared how he feels about this new change in his life.
• •
Pink Sweat$ Pink Moon in Manila will take place at the New Frontier Theater on September 27. Visit livenation.ph for more information.
Despite the gloomy weather recently, celebrity couple Jason and Vickie brought warmth to the public’s hearts with the news of their marriage. Both were beaming with joy as they tied the knot at San Antonio de Padua Parish Church in Nasugbu, Batangas. The couple faced several struggles in their relationship but managed to maintain the privacy of their personal lives. As they embark on a new chapter, fans remain curious to see what married life has in store for them.
As for his advice to up-and-coming musicians, especially the ones who look up to him, “Get to know yourself – what makes you smile? When you know what makes you smile, perfect it, perfect it, perfect it. And never be afraid to say ‘no.’ Sometimes, especially in the entertainment industry, things come so fast and it’s easy to say ‘yes.’ Never be afraid to say ‘no’ because ‘no’ is more powerful than ‘yes’ sometimes.”
“I feel like I’ve always wanted to be a musician. When I was younger I thought I wanted to be a drummer and then as I got older I realized that so many people are better at drums than I am. So I asked myself: do I try to get better at drums or do something else? I was around 15 when I knew for sure that (making) music is something I wanna do.”
MANY music lovers, especially those who favor R&B, soul, and pop, would know David Bowden professionally known as Pink Sweat$; the rest will most probably recognize some of his songs – “At My Worst,” for example.
everySundayafternoon,4:35p.m.,onGMA.
The role is something new for her, something that is out-of-the-box. She admitted that it’s her first time portraying a character that is different from the usual ones she does.
• • •
The gathering discusses the time-honored friendship between Philippines and France, which deepened in several areas including
To date, aside from local and regional brand ambassadors from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, Beautéderm is represented by public servants such as singer-actor Alex Castro, who is currently the Vice Governor of Bulacan; Kapamilya leading man Ejay Falcon who is Vice Governor of Oriental Mindoro; former San City 2nd District Councilor Jannah Ejercito; Councilors Kate Coseteng and Wency
Learning the art of chocolate meditation
Before attempting to write this piece, I made a quick trip to the convenience store and grabbed a medium-sized bag of milk chocolate candy. I had a plan in mind.
Education in PCCR with On-the-job Training and Internship, Agency Visits to enhance student experience on the agency’s function in law enforcement, as well as Seminars and Training where students learn firsthand the proper administration of and policies against illegal drugs. PDEA personnel will also be invited as PCCR Guest Lecturers to further enhance student learning, together with Research Collaboration and Undertaking that will benefit both institutions.
Life C4 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 Nickie Wang, Editor Joba Botana, Associate Editor Patricia Taculao Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com
The MOA between PCCR and PDEA is the first in a long line of partnership agreements with Law Enforcement Agencies to open the new academic year.
Lagumbay of the 3rd District of Quezon City; Attorney Kaye Revill; Councilor Janina Medina-Fariñas of the City of Vigan; Mayor Donya Tesoro of San Manuel, Tarlac; and dramatic actor Arjo Atayde, who is currently serving as Congressman of the 1st District of Quezon City.
O bserve. Using the piece of chocolate as the point of concentration, allow thoughts and memories to come and go. If there’s a sudden influx of thoughts in your head, try to get a grip and mentally organize them by redirecting every thought to the piece of chocolate. Be in the moment.
Philippines; and Ambassador Marilyn Alarilla, former Philippine Ambassador to Turkey and Azerbaijan.
FRAncoFIL is open to the general public via Zoom on October 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
FURTHER establishing its reputation as the bastion of Criminal Justice Education, Philippine College of Criminology (PCCR) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). The partnership aims to provide both institutions with mutual development and growth opportunities for their respective organizations, specifically in the areas of Internship, Student Career Placement and Experience, Curriculum Development, Research, Faculty Exchange and Development, and Scholarships and Discounts. The landmark event was attended by PCCR President Ma. Angelica Lei Bautista, together with Executive Vice President Karim Bangcola, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Noel Sergio, PDEA was represented by Undersecretary and Director General Dr. Wilkins Villianueva, who is a PCCR alumnus, Ph.D. Crim. 2022, together with Assistant Secretary Director Diosdado Carreon, Chief of Staff Director Charlene Magdurulan The mutually beneficial relationship aims to strengthen
and PDEA heads during the MOA signing between the two institutions PH-France diplomacy celebrates 75 years via hybrid forum
Chocolate meditation is a form of mindfulness activity that uses the treat as its main subject
WITH over 50 million followers across such platforms as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube, Zeinab Harake is regarded as one of today’s most influential personalities on social media.
“We warmly welcome Zeinab to the family as she is an absolutely welcome addition as we spread Beautéderm’s message of love to her 50 million fans online. I am so grateful for the love and support of all my ambassadors who remained loyal to Beautéderm after all these years and I am excited to be with our new ambassadors and have an exciting adventure with them in the years to come.”
education, development, trade, culture, and defense.
THE
Ambassador Marilyn Alarilla, former Philippine Ambassador to Turkey and Azerbaijan and current educator for Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance (SDG)
PCCR inks partnership with PDEA
PDEA Employees and their respective dependents will also be provided with education discounts and scholarships in PCCR, as part of this agreement. Dir. Gen. Villanueva himself was given a full scholarship for ten nominees from PDEA to complete their Bachelor’s Degree in PCCR.
Chocolate meditation is a form of mindfulness activity that uses the treat as its main subject. Chocolate and its different parts that appeal to the senses become the focal point of the mindfulness act.
FRANCOFIL, a hybrid forum celebrating the 75 years of PhilippineFrench diplomatic relations, will be conducted on October 5.
H.E. Michèle Boccoz, Ambassador of the French Republic to the Republic of the Philippines
O pen. With much care and attention, unwrap the chocolate. Pay attention to the crinkling sounds, aroma, and the little treat’s appearance. Take note of its color and fully engage your senses of sight, smell, and sound.
In partnership with the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia and the Alliance Française de Manille, the event is organized by the School of Diplomacy and Governance (SDG) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLSCSB).
Beautéderm President and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan (left) with social media star Zeinab Harake
past week left me feeling overwhelmed. I just survived my first week of graduate school while managing my business and a seemingly endless to-do list at work.
Note: This meditation is best matched with journaling or doing a brain dump on paper to detoxify yourself of overwhelming thoughts or concerns. In case of health problems, using the meditation process using sugar-free or savory food items also works wonders. Please let the author know if the meditation also works for you. Please your thoughts by dropping her a note at randomrepublika@gmail.com. and Criminology
Twelve years ago, around the same time I discovered the art of mindfulness, I also learned the perfect excuse to consume sweets – chocolate meditation.
improve the quality of
Ambassador Cristina G. Ortega, President of Alliance Française de Manille
Polymer clay art by the author (Instagram: @kate.adajar)
While there are many ways of performing meditation, this indulgent kind is like hitting two birds with one stone. One can claim the health benefits of chocolate (depending on the type you will get!) and meditation simultaneously. Here are the steps I developed through years of merging different ones taught by an acquaintance and online tutorials. I made up this guide using the acronym CHOCO.
Corporation recognizes Zeinab’s social media clout, which is why the beauty and lifestyle formally welcomes her as brand ambassador of its oral care products such as Koreisu Family Toothpaste, Koreisu Whitening Toothpaste, Etré Clair Refreshing Mouthwash, and Etré Clair Mouth Spray.
“Our Beautéderm family is really growing and we are such a fun, beautéful bunch,” said Anicoche-Tan.
C – omfort Find a comfortable spot like a chair or a mat. Situate yourself in a place of relaxation, away from all possible distractions. You may close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and consciously relax and release all tension from your head to your toes. H old. Take a piece of your preferred
C elebrate. Create a party inside your mouth by tasting the chocolate. Feel a piece of the sweet treat by taking a bite. Be mindful of how it touches your tongue and introduces different flavors. Indulge. Savor the taste and let the melted piece travel down your throat.
More information on this unique partnership and other PCCR academic offerings is available at https://www.pccr.edu.ph or through marketing. pccr@pccr.edu.ph
days, social media personalities like her are very effective ambassadors,” said Beautéderm President and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan Zeinab is another stellar addition to Beautéderm’s constellation of stars who continue to promote the brand’s unique products that include skincare essentials, health boosters, home fragrances, and a wide variety of soaps to mention just a few.
They will highlight the rich history between the two countries, which was established with the signing of the Treaty of Amity in Paris on June 26, 1947 by then-Philippine Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Elpidio Quirino and former French Minister for Foreign Affairs Georges Bidault
The discussion aims to raise awareness and appreciation of the diverse opportunities made possible by the good ties between the two nations.Among the featured speakers are Ambassador Cristina G. Ortega, former Philippine Ambassador to France and the present President of Alliance Française de Manille; H.E. Michèle Boccoz, Ambassador of the French Republic to the Republic of the
PCCF
“We believe in her power to encourage her followers to buy the product. These
In case you missed it, mindfulness means getting into a state of complete focus and awareness of one’s present moment. It also means welcoming the different sensations, thoughts, and sounds as they occur, allowing free flow and releasing any judgment.
chocolate (a tiny one like a piece of the classic Pinoy peanut milk chocolate will do!) and place it on your hand. Take a moment to feel its weight, inspect the packaging, read the label, and appreciate the design.
Interested participants may register through https://tinyurl.com/ FRAncoFIL75
A social media star’s touch
The 23-year-old Zeinab is known for her lifestyle vlogs and challenge videos, which attract netizens not only in the Philippines but around the world as Beautédermwell.
I repeat the steps as needed to enjoy the calming benefits of the activity. An essential part of the challenge is also being mindful of the amount of chocolate you will consume. Wink, wink.
