THE Philippine peso sank to yet an other all-time low against the US dollar, closing at P57.48 versus the greenback on Tuesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philip
during operations against unlawful PO GOs in Luzon are set to be deported, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Tuesday.

By Rio N. Araja
In a press briefing Tuesday, DOH officer-incharge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Manage ment of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) would discuss the President’s directive to further open up the economy and relax border restrictions.
INVESTMENT PUSH. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rings the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. With him are (from left)

P RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. brought a message of optimism to the world’s largest stock exchange Tuesday—with an assurance that more American investments would be welcome in the Philippines, which recently enacted policies to further liberalize the economy.
COVID SITUATIONER. This photo taken on September 16, 2022 shows a nurse treating a COVID-19 patient inside an intensive care unit at a hospital in Manila. AFP

But the agency said it would issue a new order to ensure the carousel’s continuous operation, so commuters
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
Frames business policy in speech at NY Stock Exchange
JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remul
Remulla estimated that around 40,000 employees of the POGO companies may
By Vito Barcelo, Vince Lopez and Maricel Cruz
pines
(POGOs) that are not licensed.
THE Department of Health (DOH) is studying the possibility of recommending further easing of border restrictions due to COVID-19 for for eign travelers who wish to travel in the Philip pines, an official said Tuesday.
Several foreigners who were rescued
Forty-one foreign nationals who were rescued in Angeles, Pampanga over the weekend are currently at
DSWD, PAO unite in filing charges vs. fathers neglecting child support Next page Next page Next page Next page Next page NextNextpagepage
HABAGAT’S WAKE. Pupils from the Andres Bonifacio School in Pasay City wait for their parents and guardians to fetch them following the cancellation of classes due to intermittent rains brought by the southwest monsoon on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. Danny Pata
THE Public Attorney’s Office and the Department of Social Welfare and De velopment have joined forces to go af ter negligent fathers who refuse to give support to their children. PAO chief Persida Acosta and DSWD
be staying in the Philippines illegally.
The government could no longer give free rides on the EDSA Bus Carousel for 24 hours, thus allowing the fare box sys tem, the LTFRB said, adding there were fewer buses plying the route.
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has allowed the collection of bus fare at the EDSA Bus Carousel from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. daily.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Trade Sec. Alfredo Pascual, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Sandro Marcos, NYSE Vice Chairman and Chief Commercial Officer John Tuttle, Finance Sec. Benjamin Diokno, and PSAC Convenor and Aboitiz Group CEO Sabin Aboitiz. Inset photo shows Mr. Marcos in a one-on-one interview with Tuttle.
la on Tuesday said he will meet with the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines regarding the deportation of employees of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators
Secretary Erwin Tulfo on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement to assist neglected or abandoned children of men with estranged wives, partners, and even girlfriends.
DOH eyes relaxed border restrictions for foreign travelers
Theshowed.pesoweakened to a low of P57.50 in intraday trading, BAP data showed. The peso closed at P57.43 to a



According to the survey the DepEdNCR presented on Tuesday, 49,636 learners are classified as needing a “total full refresher” out of over 384,000 students from Grades 1 to 3 that took the comprehensive rapid lit erary assessment test before the cur rent school year.
VOL. XXXVI • NO. 218 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
am 50k
PH liberal
ALMOST 50,000 students from Grades 1 to 3 in Metro Manila find it hard to read, a survey and assessment the Department of Education made in the National Capital Region revealed.
By Willie Casas
During a budget hearing Tuesday, Remulla said there were 216 previously licensed POGO companies that have stopped paying their dues.
Peso at new low: P57.48 vs. $1
Deportation of POGO workers set, DOJ chief to meet China envoy
Before the President rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Monday (Tuesday, Sept. 20, Manila time), its vicechairman, John Tuttle, said Mr. Marcos’ presence provided a “re newed sense of optimism” about investment prospects and partner ship opportunities in the Philippines.

At the same time, Vergeire said the Philip pines has recorded an average of only three more free bus rides from 11 pm to 3 Grades 1-3 pupils in NCR can hardly read
PBBM makes investment pitch MlaStandardtwitter.com/ ManilaStandardPHfacebook.com/ manilastandard.net Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net WORLD / B2 ‘1 DYING OF HUNGER EVERY 4 NEWSSECONDS’ / A4 HOUSE OKS DELAY OF BRGY, SK POLLS

He said China had protocols that needed to be followed before accept ing the deportees, and that he would be meeting the Chinese ambassador to en sure that these rules were followed.
No

“We continue to look for the non-
numerates, non-literates in all of our schools,” DepEd-NCR Director Wil fredo Cabral said, adding that schools already have a learning recovery and continuity plan in place.
During the same year, she filed a res olution expressing the sense of the Sen ate to disallow the resumption of POGO operations due to the financial, social and human costs.
In July, President Ferdinand Mar cos Jr. extended the free rides at the EDSA Bus Carousel until yearend and approved free rides for students on Metro Manila’s trains and the Philip pine National Railways.
“We are saying that we have problems on shortage in classrooms, not necessarily in the absence of that pre-pandemic stage, but because there are schools undergoing retrofitting and major repair,” Cabral said.
Under the agreement, PAO would rep resent the aggrieved mothers in court. Tulfo is encouraging single mothers to surface and seek government help. Rio N. Araja
rooms across NCR.
The Philippines, he said, offers inves tors “high-quality labor, a large con sumer market, and a wide range of fis cal and non-fiscal incentives.”
Mr. Marcos said he sees the United States as a close partner in achieving these goals.
At Tuesday’s budget hearing, Gatchalian confronted Bureau of Immigration Com missioner Norman Tansingco about the en try in the country of POGO workers.
The first day will feature French President Emmanuel Macron and Ger man Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the lead ers of the two largest economies of the European Union, which has mobilized to impose tough sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“We have been transparent on this, we tell you that there are delays in our reporting of deaths because deaths are still being validated on the ground,” she“Oursaid.case fatality up until now is still 1.6 percent. It never went over 2 percent. We are able to keep the deaths in our country at that mini mum,” she added.
All Omicron variants tend to have a milder disease course as they settle less in the lungs and more in the up per nasal passages, causing symptoms like fever, tiredness, and loss of smell.
“I believe that the political, economic, diplomatic relations that we make, the partnerships that we forged and that we strengthen now are going to be extreme ly necessary for the simple reason that they provide stability in this highly un stable economic, political, geopolitical, and diplomatic environment,” he said.
After two years of pandemic restric tions and video addresses, the UN Gen eral Assembly is again asking leaders to come in person if they wish to speak -with a sole exception made for Ukrain ian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We really saw after the middle of August, third week of August, the mo bility patterns were higher in Metro Manila and even in the other regions,” sheShesaid.urged those yet to receive their primary series of COVID-19 jabs to get the vaccine and the fully vacci nated to receive their booster doses as higher mobility would mean a higher risk of transmission of infection.
The Philippines has reported some 814 additional cases of highly conta gious offshoots of the Omicron COV ID-19 variant, the DOH said Tuesday.
Of the new BA.5 cases, several were found in Metro Manila (126), Western Visayas (104), and Cagayan ValleyMost(75).of the new BA.4 cases, meanwhile, were reported in Soc csksargen (12).
The Philippines recorded 1,600 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, down from 3,119 the day before, DOH data
To further boost the police’s investi gative capacity in POGO-related inci dents, Azurin said the police force is seeking to forge a better coordination with concerned government agencies such as the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Philippine Amusement and Gam ingDespiteCorporation.growing calls to stop POGOs altogether, Senator Jinggoy Estrada said he wants those operating legally to stay.
would no longer endure long queues at its terminal area.
Almost 18.9 million have received their first booster dose and almost 2.7 million have received their second booster shot.
“With the crackdown, what we are doing with undocumented, overstay ing, expired visa or working permits of POGO workers, it will soon give our country a better business climate since part of the requirement for foreign workers are clearances that they are not wanted or facing any criminal charges in their country, and that they will be required to obtain national police clear ances and NBI clearances,” PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said.
Currentlyadded.headed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara DuterteCarpio, DepEd ordered the resumption of full face-to-face classes in all schools by November 2 to make up for the learn ing gaps caused by the two years of re mote learning owing to the pandemic.
“Strong, sustainable diplomatic en gagement is the best path for every one,” Blinken told them. AFP
The free train rides for students on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3), Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT2), and PNR would be from August 22 until November 4, 2022, the Department of Transportation said.
These are results of the latest se quencing run conducted from Sept. 16 to 19, the DOH said.
The BA.4 and BA.5 types have in particular helped to drive a wave of new cases of the disease in Europe and the United States in recent months.
Out of this figure, one case has been marked as cleared while seven other cases remain under investigation.
“There are many other problems, we know. But the war in Ukraine has been sending shock waves around the world.”
“The days of these irresponsible fathers are numbered. You shall face criminal charges,” Acosta said.
“Once a concerned mother ap proaches, we will write to the (neg ligent) father once and twice. If he ignores us, PAO has to step into the matter,” Tulfo stressed.
dollar last Friday. Markets and central banks glob ally are anticipating another interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve to tame inflation. The Fed is set to start its two-day meeting on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), with several analysts expecting another aggressive rate
Schools also have the LOG IN Plus framework, which stands for “loss, gaps, and gains in basic education,” apart from the good practices executed during the peak of distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of those schools, he said, will be completely repaired by November, but probably beyond the DepEd dead line of November 2, he said.
These incentives make the Philip pines a key destination for investments, Marcos said, adding that the country re mains committed to maintaining sound macroeconomic fundamentals.
“As we pursue our short-term agenda, we build the foundations for a stronger, more inclusive future. Our mediumterm agenda includes reducing the pov erty rate to single digits by 2028 and undergoing an industrial transforma tion through which science, technology, innovation, and sustainability will drive our industries,” Marcos said.
“I cannot overstate the role that the United States has played in the Philip pines in every aspect of our lives. And so this is just a continuing evolution and I believe, a strengthening of that rela tionship between the United States and the Philippines,” he said.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, mean while, said he will conduct a separate hearing Thursday on the economic im pact of POGOs.
The Transportation Department said the move would “ease the burden of ris ing living expenses on Filipino families and help them save money, especially with the return of face-to-face classes after more than two years.”
for the General Assembly to “end the spiralling global hunger crisis.”
“We will not just warn these kinds of fathers, but we will help the moth ers file cases,” he added.
Tuesday’sshowed. tally of newly reported cases was the lowest since September 13 (1,574). Active cases also decreased to 27,257 from 27,686 on Monday.
T
Tasingco said lately, they had issues with expired visas or POGO workers having transferred to other employers or POGO companies.
Marcos was set to deliver the Philip pine national statement at the 77th ses sion of the United Nations General As sembly on Sept. 20.
He will be the first leader of the As sociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to deliver a statement at this year’s high-level General Debate.
Noting that at present, 70 percent of their workers are Chinese, Estrada said these are jobs that should go to Filipinos.
COVID-19 deaths per day this month so far, lower than the 17 fatalities daily count in VergeireAugust.saidcurrent data may still show 200 confirmed deaths per day due to delays in reporting.
Marcos, who is on the second day of his six-day trip to the United States, said his engagement at the NYSE serves as an “in valuable opportunity” to share with busi ness leaders how the Philippines is ramp ing up efforts to open up the economy and accelerate post-pandemic recovery.
“But, just the same, within the year, all of us can go to full in-person class es,” Cabral
related crimes like kidnapping, abduc tion, illegal detention and sex slavery andHeprostitution.alsosaidPOGOs should be able to continue operating here as long as 70 percent of their workforce are Filipinos.
“[US] Inflation is still heading up wards. It’s very clear that the Fed will raise rates by at least 75 basis points and our expectation is that it will con tinue to raise rates by November, De cember and into next year,” Moody’s Analytics Chief APAC Economist Steven Cochrane told ANC.
He warned that the COVID-19 pan demic has had a devastating impact on learning, with poor students lacking technology at a particular disadvantage, and conflicts further disrupting schools.
“Bouncing back from the pandemic, the Philippine economy has seen robust growth since last year and has returned to its path toward upper-middle-income country status, achievable within the next few years,” Marcos said in his speech at the NYSE.
“POGO and other foreign nationals working here must have a monitoring mechanism to ensure that they are not vi olating our laws with impunity,” he said.
Meanwhile,hike. the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will hold a policy-setting meeting on Thursday.
The President will continue to meet with American business people and heads of US companies as part of his working visit to the United States.
HE United Nations’ massive annual summit returns in person Tuesday to a world divided by multiple crises starting with Ukraine.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock vowed to support countries hardest hit by the fallout from the war as she headed to the General Assembly on“TheTuesday.brutality of Russia’s war of ag gression and its threat to the peace order in Europe have not blinded us to the fact that its dramatic effects are also clearly being felt in many other regions of the world,” Baerbock said.
But UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been urging leaders not to forget other priorities such as edu cation, the topic of a special summit on“EducationMonday. is in a deep crisis. In stead of being the great enabler, educa tion is fast becoming the great divide,” Guterres told the summit.
The “Libreng Sakay” program for the EDSA Bus Carousel is only avail able from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. until De cember 2022.
The regional education office also as sured that it is ready for the mandated full in-person classes come November, despite the prevailing shortage of class
“It is not fair to kick out all POGOs to include companies who are legally op erating in the country and following our policies and laws,” Estrada said.
Citing a portion of its memorandum which Marcos approved, the DoTr said it considered the availability of the budget for Service Contracting under 2022 General Appropriations Act for the extension of the free bus rides.
Erdogan is also expected to meet in New York with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, a dramatic rebound in rela tions after the Turkish leader’s strident criticism of the Jewish state’s treatment of InPalestinians.thetypeof last-minute diplomacy common at previous UN sessions, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken convened a first meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia since a flare-up in fighting.
The President said that despite “ex ternal headwinds,” the Philippine economy’s resilience, reinforced by sound policies and decisive leadership,
Earlier, Romualdez said he has high hopes for the visit’s success, coming as it does after President Marcos’ recent suc cessful trips to Indonesia and Singapore that resulted in more than $14 billion in supply and investment pledges from Indo nesian and Singaporean businessmen.
No more... From A1 DOH... From A1 Deportation... From A1 PBBM... From A1 50k... From A1 Peso... From A1 DSWD,... From A1 mst.daydesk@gmail.comWEDNESDAY,SEPTEMBER 21, 2022A2
“I know I speak for many business leaders and investors in this room that they leave today not only with a re newed sense of optimism but a further enhanced and strengthened sense of optimism about the opportunities in the Philippines,” Tuttle said.
The country logged 688 new cases of the Omicron BA.5, 16 more cases of the BA.4 and 110 tagged as “other sublineages,” latest figures from the DOH showed.
He said expelling those operating il legally will eventually reduce POGO-
While this is low, she said, the DOH does not want any fatality due to Citinginfection.data from Google COVID-19 mobility trends, Vergeire said there was an increase in cases due to more people going out.
fundamentals,” Marcos said. Marcos said his administration is keen on implementing policies that enhance food security, reduce energy, transport, and logistics costs, strengthen social pro tection, and enhance the quality of educa tion and skills of workers.
“makes us confident about the future.”
He said President Marcos aims to sustain government efforts toward ef fectively responding to the crippling effects of the health crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing government spending on improving the country’s health care systems, ensuring food security, increasing investments in public and digital infrastructure, and helping communities cope with and prevail in these trying times.
In the past week, the Philippines logged 14,707 new COVID-19 cases, the DOH said.
While previous “variants of con cern” like Alpha and Delta eventually petered out, Omicron and its subline ages have dominated throughout 2022.
Azurin said the PNP Anti-Kidnap ping Group has solved nine of the 17 POGO-related kidnapping cases report ed since January this year.
Interest rate hikes by the US Fed cause the dollar to rally, which in turn leads to the depreciation of other cur rencies, including the peso.
Senator Risa Hontiveros said since 2020, she has been repeatedly calling on POGOs “to pay up and pack up.”
He will also participate in roundta bles designed to project the country as a vital emerging economy and investment destination in Asia.
PAO would help mothers of a ne glected child or children file a case against their fathers, who after being warned by the DSWD would remain unresponsive, Tulfo said.
“This year, Ukraine will be very high on the agenda. It will be unavoidable,” top EU diplomat Josep Borrell told re porters in New York.
As for its decision to not extend the free rides in MRT3, which was imple mented by the Duterte administration, the DOTr said the fares in the EDSA railway line were “already heavily subsidized.”Thiswasvital in its decision to rec ommend discontinuing the free rides for all MRT3 passengers, the Trans portation Department said.
As of Sept. 18, almost 72.9 million have been fully vaccinated. Of the tal ly, around 6.8 million are senior citi zens, 9.9 million are adolescents, and 4.9 million are children.
The country’s total caseload is now 3,925,326.
News
Other leaders to speak Tuesday in clude Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has staked out ground as a broker between Russia and Ukraine, including through a deal to ship out badly needed grain to the world.
the BI’s detention facility in Taguig awaiting deportation, said BI spokes person Dana Sandoval.
“You produce children, then you refuse to give support. What’s that? Even if you plant a plant, you have to nurture it,” she added.
UN summit returns in divided world
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday the crackdown on POGOs linked to illegal activities is part of the government’s efforts to preserve the coun try’s safe business climate, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Tuesday.
But the death of Queen Elizabeth II disrupted the summit anew. President Joe Biden of the United States, by tradi tion the second speaker on the first day, will instead speak on Wednesday.
“For investors, doing business in the Philippines is an opportunity to reap the benefits of a vibrant economy,” Marcos said, citing key legislation to open up the economy. These include measures to lower corporate income tax rates and rationalize fiscal incentives; reduce the minimum paid-up capital requirements for foreign retailers and startups bring ing in advanced technology; and allow ing full foreign ownership of companies providing public services.
“I cannot see the Philippines in the future without having the United States as a partner ... Many of the driv ers of our early economy were actually American corporations. Many of the strongest corporate benefactors to the government and to the rest of society in the Philippines were coming from the United States,” he said.
In a report earlier this month, the UN Development Programme said COVID has set back humanity’s progress by fiveWithyears.the Ukraine war leading to a global grain crisis, hunger could be another major issue on the agenda. On Tuesday, more than 200 NGOs called for urgent action from leaders gathered
Aside from sharing the country’s views on various global concerns at the UNGA, Marcos will meet with world leaders on the sidelines of the UN assembly.
While the government ended the free rides for passengers other than students on MRT3, the DOTr said it recommend ed free rides for students in MRT3, LRT2, and PNR in consideration of the students’ welfare, “whose learning out comes have been disproportionately af fected by the pandemic.”
The President said the Philippines has adjusted its ways of doing business at the urging of the United States and American businesses.
“In the near-term, our top priorities are protecting the purchasing power of families by managing inflation, reduc ing the scarring effects of the pandem ic, and ensuring sound macroeconomic
Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, who is part of the President’s official delega tion, said before attending the event at the NYSE, the President led a series of meetings with officials of big business firms to discuss potential investments in the “WePhilippines.needmore trading partners to realize President Marcos’ infrastruc ture modernization program, which is the best driver of economic growth,” Romualdez said.
This came as the PNP and other law enforcement agencies intensified opera tions amid reports of abductions of for eign POGO workers, mainly Chinese nationals, by their compatriots.
From Sept. 12 to 18, the country re corded an average of 2,101 daily infec tions, which is 4 percent lower com pared to the previous week.
Spoofing or the altering of the SIM card makes it appear that the message was sent by the registered user, the measure stated.
By Rey E. Requejo
Mayor Laarni Cayetano said the project, dubbed “3-in-1 Cleanup Drive,” was conceptualized to deal with one of the main causes of flood ings—garbage that gets stuck in wa terways.Cayetano formed Task Force on Flood Control and Management to ensure that the cleanup is not just a one-day event, but will become a major part of the local government’s long-term plan against flooding.
“The detention facility is really a chal lenge because, if I am not mistaken, it only has a capacity of 300,” she said in a radio interview.
the upcoming 2022-2026 Framework Arrangement Concerning Loans from the Economic Development Coopera tion Fund to finance the implementa tion of more development cooperation projects in the Philippines.
Four provinces in Southern TagalogCavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal - were also affected by the habagat, prompting lo cal officials in those areas to also cancel the afternoon classes.
On29.EDSA, the convoys may use the inner lane or the Busway Carousel from Guadalupe to the Ortigas area.
PAGASA said the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to overcast skies with isolated rain showers and thun derstorms.PAGASA said the wind speed forecast for extreme Northern Luzon will be mod erate to strong, while coastal water condi tions will be moderate to rough, ranging from 1.2 meters to 2.8 meters.
“Bida
LPA, habagat to bring rains—PAGASAmore
The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs has launched an inquiry into the reported spate of abduc tions attributed to foreigners linked to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).“Thisis how immigration works,” Tansingco said, adding that “we look at arrival trends and look for patterns. Our partnership with other law enforcement agencies allows us to see whether there is a need to tighten measures on certain types of Hetravelers.”saidthe BI’s endeavor to implement the advanced passenger information sys tem would allow the agency to better look at the trends and implement measures for border
In the National Capital Region, classes were suspended in the cities of Taguig, Las Pinas, Caloocan, Marikina, Manda luyong, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Paranaque, Malabon, Pasay, and Valenzuela.
Some 300 delegates from membernations of the ADB are expected to at tend the event at the ADB headquarters at the Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.“No roads will be closed for the fiveday meeting, but motorists may expect traffic disruptions at the Ortigas area and other affected routes,” Dimayuga said.He said occasional traffic disruptions might be experienced along Epifanio
PH reaffirms ties with S. Korea, Norway
Senator Pia Cayetano and Majority Leader Joel Villanueva agreed with Poe.
Local government officials in Calabar zon also declared no classes in the entire Rizal province, specifically Balete and Lian towns in Batangas; Bay, Los Banos and San Pedro City in Laguna.
ployed along the route of the convoys escorting the delegates. MMDA Road Emergency Group, in coordination with the Office of the Civil Defense, the Department of Health, and the Bu reau of Fire Protection, will also be on standby to provide emergency as sistance.Traffic personnel from the Philip pine National Police, Mandaluyong and Pasig local government units, and the security forces of the Ortigas Center will also assist in traffic management in the ADB area. Joel E. Zurbano
BUREAU of Immigration (BI) Commis sioner Norman Tansingco has ordered BI personnel detailed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and all internation al airports in the country to tighten their screening of foreigners from Cambodia andTansingco,Vietnam. who conducted on Tuesday ocular inspections at the BI’s frontline op erations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, instructed immigration officers to immediately refer for secondary inspec tion foreign nationals who have doubtful purpose of travel to the country.
Meanwhile,security.the BI expressed concern over the overcrowding of foreign detainees at the BI jail in Bicutan, Taguig.
“The project is further seen as part of the city’s compliance to the Su preme Court’s directive to clean Ma nila Bay and the waterways leading to it,” she said. Joel E. Zurbano
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has strengthened further its or ganizational structure with the appointment of two more under secretaries and two additional as sistantJusticesecretary.Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla made the announce ment on the new appointments through a social media post on Tuesday.Remulla identified the new DOJ undersecretaries as Raul T. Vasquez and Brigido J. Dulay who will complement the five existing undersecretaries name ly, Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres, Jose R. Cadiz, Deo L. Marco, Geronimo L. Sy, and Nicholas Felix L. Ty.
Flash floods and landslides may occur due to moderate to heavy rains.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com A3News
According to the DFA, South Ko rea will participate in the Philippines’ infrastructure development program, notably the construction of highways, railways, ports and airports.
Slight to moderate wind speeds will be experienced by the rest of the coun try, with slight to moderate coastal water conditions, ranging from 0.6 meters to 2.5 meters, it added.
The DFA also said the Philippines and Korea “envision a strategic part nership to include increased highlevel engagements, closer maritime cooperation, increased collabora tion in addressing common security challenges, expanded cooperation in trade and investments and in science and technology.”
DOJ gets 2 more Usecs, 2 additional Asecs
and vice versa, “at the least inconven ience to the general public.”
“In my opinion, it can be punishable under the existing laws already,” Pi mentel said, but Poe disagreed.
would be a detriment to the integrity of the registration system itself.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the bureau’s Bicutan Detention Center, which has a capacity of 300 detainees, now holds more than 200 arrested foreigners.
By Joel E. Zurbano
The two weather systems are expected to generate cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Met ro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, the Bicol Region, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Samar provinces.
Delos Santos Avenue from Magallanes to Ortigas, Julia Vargas, ADB Avenue, San Miguel Avenue, Guadix Drive, Bank Drive, and Saint Francis Street whenever delegates’ convoys from the airport to Ortigas area passes by.
MMDA traffic enforcers will be de
EXPECT more rains within the next 24 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, and Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.
SIM card bill bans ‘spoofing’ as a crime
Poe, who chairs the Committee on Public Services, said the spoofing pro vision was included in the previous bill ratified by both the House of Rep resentatives and the Senate, but was vetoed by then Rodrigo Duterte due to technicalities.Pimenteleventually agreed to retain spoofing in the measure.
SENATOR
THE Metropolitan Manila Develop ment Authority (MMDA) will deploy 500 personnel to manage traffic and as sist participants in the 55th Asian De velopment Bank (ADB) annual meeting on Sept. 26-30, 2022.
UNSIGHTLY GARBAGE AT SNOW-WHITE DOLOMITE BEACH. A volunteer lugs away a sack full of garbage that washed up onto the dolomite beach along Roxas Blvd. from scenic Manila Bay. Norman Cruz

Grace Poe aims to strengthen further her pro posed SIM (subscriber identification module) Card Regis tration Law by including spoofing as a criminal infraction.
“It’s not just a one-day cleanup. The task force will determine the ar eas to be cleaned on a daily basis,” the mayor Cayetano,said.who made the an nouncement during the celebration of National Cleanup Day 2022, said the project was also compliant with a Supreme Court ruling on the clean ing of Manila Bay.
The newly appointed assistant secretaries are Jose Dominic f. Clavano IV, who also acts as DOJ spokesperson, and Randolph A. Pascasio.Thetwo other assistant secre taries earlier appointed were Ma jken Anika S. Gran-Ong and Jose Arturo R. Malvar. Rey E. Requejo
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary En rique Manalo will meet with his coun terparts in New York at the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly to boost the Philip pines’ international diplomatic rela tions.In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Manalo met on September 19 with the foreign ministers of South Korea and Nor way.During the meeting, Manalo and Korean Foreign Minister Park commit ted to elevate their countries’ bilateral relations, which has spanned for about 70 years, to a strategic partnership. Manalo expressed his anticipation of
She quoted the National Telecommu nications Commission (NTC) as say ing spoofing was being done by using a device that alters the sender’s number such that it would appear that a message came from a different caller.
The move follows reports from local law enforcement agencies of an uptick in kidnapping and extortion activities by syndicates coming from the two countries.
was already a crime under existing laws, thus should be deleted from SB 1310.
Manny Palmero
Meanwhile, 11 Metro Manila cities and the town of Pateros have suspended classes in all levels, both in public and pri vate schools, on Tuesday due to inclement weather brought by the southwest mon soon.The weather agency said a low pressure area (LPA) was located 715 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora and 3 p.m. Tuesday, while the southwest monsoon also called haba gat will bring rainshowers over central and southern Luzon, as well as the Visayas.
MMDA to deploy 500 traffic enforcers for ADB meeting
IN BRIEF
“It circumvents the very purpose of registration which is to tie up a name into a number so that criminal activity can be decreased,” Poe said, stressing that if spoofing will not be penalized, it
“The intent of this proposed measure is to strengthen our cybercrime laws,” PoeSenateexplained.Minority Leader Aquilino Pi mentel III argued however, that spoofing
Senate Bill 1310 filed by the lady lawmaker defined spoofing as an “act of transmitting misleading or inaccu rate information about the source of the phone call or text message, with the in tent to defraud, cause harm, or wrong fully obtain anything of value.”
BI gets tougher on VietnamCambodia,arrivals
ADB special lane along Saint Francis and Bank Drive will be set up to give way to the convoys on September 28 and
The bill, already approved by the Sen ate on second reading, seeks mandatory registration of SIM cards and curb mobile phone and electronic communication-aid ed crimes from texts scams and terrorist activities by requiring mobile phone users to present valid government identification and documents for registration.
THE Taguig city government has launched a new project designed to address its flooding problem and protect the residents from dengue.
Taguig City rolls out 3-in-1 Cleanup Drive

FRAGRANT PROMO. Students of the Pasig Elementary School get their hygiene kits courtesy of Johnson’s Baby Philippines in support of the Department of Education’s Eskwela Angat ang Batang Preskong-bango Caravan.” Manny Palmero
HEAVY ARTILLERIES.DUTY Israel-made rockets codenamed Atmos 2000 which partwayQuezonEDSAtransportedaspedestriansmotoriststhesystempropelled155mm-self-areartillerycaptureattentionofandalikethesearealonginCubao,CityonthetothesouthernofMetroManila.

By Vito Barcelo
MMDA acting chairman Carlo Di mayuga III tapped the agency’s Task Force Traffic Management to provide the needed traffic enforcers and equip ment along the ADB-dedicated route for the seamless movement of delegates from the airport to the billeting hotels, venues, and other engagement areas,
deliberationsbeginLawmakersinitial
She
House Majority Leader and Zam boanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dal ipe earlier said Speaker Martin G. Romualdez is supportive of the pro posal because this would allow the Commission and Election and the Lo cal Government Units to better pre pare for clean and orderly barangay
THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) is eye ing to “widen” and update its jurisdic tion to cover popular international video streaming services, including Netflix andTheAmazon.MTRCB board’s authority is lim ited only to television and movies, based on the Presidential Decree signed into law by former President Ferdinand Mar cos Sr, MTRCB chairperson Diorella Maria Sotto-Antonio said during the de liberation of the agency’s 2023 budget, ABS CBN News report.
AGREEMENT. Comelec chair George M. Garcia (right) and National Printing Office (NPO) director Carlos A. Bathan, shake hands during a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing at the NPO Headquarters in Quezon City on September 20. The MOA is for the provision of printing services for official ballots in a plebiscite in Ormoc. Manny Palmero


“We need to pass this law as soon as possible because time is of the essence. The barangay and SK elections is just a few months away so we are hoping that we can approve this in the House on or before October 1,” Dalipe earlier said.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the poll body also plans to adjust the date of the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC) for BSKE due to new features on the voting ballots.
By Maricel V. Cruz
THE House of Representatives on Tues day began its plenary discussions on the proposed P5.268 trillion national budg et for Ako2022.Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, maintained the House leadership’s commitment “to pass a timely, responsive and inclu sive budget for the Filipino people” as its passage wll help the economy recover from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to address urgent economic issues.
The DFA reportedly asked the board to re-evaluate and pull out Uncharted for containing an image of China’s ninedash line claim, which was invalidated by an international tribunal in 2016.
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division’s rul ing disqualifying Albay Governor Noel Rosal is not yet final and ex ecutory, Comelec chairman George Garcia said Tuesday.
Once enacted, incumbent barangay and SK officials will retain their position on hold over capacity “unless sooner re moved or suspended for cause.”
T
SENATOR Imee Marcos assured rice farmers that there is no need to import rice until next year, saying that the local supply will surpass consumer demand. also noted that importing rice would make the issuance of new import there is no rea for the Department of Agriculture
Garcia mentioned this after he ap pealed to Congress to temporarily hold the approval of bills that may require plebiscite as this may affect their preparations for the 2025 mid term polls, GMA News reported.
CONFIRMED. The Commission on Appointment led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri confirms the appointment of Department of Labor Secretary LaguesmaBienvenidoonTuesday. Avito Dalan
By Maricel V. Cruz
“Also, there are no remaining valid sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPS-ICs) to jus tify more rice imports this year,” Marcos added, citing the DA’s Rice Supply Outlook.
Dalipe maintained that the Senate has made a clear commitment that they would pass their counterpart measure to allow the postponement of the baran gayTheelections.Commission on Elections (Comelec) meanwhile said it will start printing 90 million ballots for the
HE House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on
(DA) to call for any more rice imports which will only push down farmgate prices of palay. She said farmers “are doing a great job producing more than ample domestic supply.
Even without the board’s jurisdiction over the streaming services, Netflix and Amazon Prime are reaching out to the board for coordination of their content, the MTRCB chairperson said.
In April 2022, reports said MTRCB removed the film “Uncharted” from the Philippine cinemas in response to a re quest from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The House, in a plenary session, ap proved House Bill 4673 that resched ules the December 5, 2022 elections to December 4, 2023.
“We are hoping to hold that in the early part of next year and of course we are going to spend money as re gards to the conduct of this election,” Garcia said in an interview on ANC.
Special polls eyed for Cavite 7th district
Co sponsored House Bill (HB) 4488, titled, “An Act appropriating funds for the operation of the govern ment of the Republic of the Philip pines from January one to December thirty-one, two thousand and twen ty-three (January 1 to December 31, 2023)” after weeks of holding hear ings on the specific budgets of the various government agencies
son
IN BRIEF
“The President’s budget (NEP) mes sage clearly underlines that the overall goal is to reinvigorate job creation and reduce poverty by steering the econo my back to its high-growth path in the near term and sustaining its high, in clusive, and resilient growth in the long term,” he added.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, one of the bill’s oppositors, meanwhile echoed the concern of Garcia that a postponement of the barangay elections to December 2023 will be a costly exercise because addi tional funds would be needed to the tune of P18.358 billion constituting the P7.5 billion savings as continuing appropria tion and an additional budget of P10.858 billion.
Imee: No need to import rice til 2023
Rosal has five days or until Sept. 24 to file a motion for reconsidera tion on the decision of the Commis sion on Elections (Comelec) First Di vision granting the disqualification case filed against him by Joseph San JuanActingArmogila.Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said Tuesday the re spondent on the disqualification case has five days upon receipt of the reso lution of the Division, promulgated on Sept. 19, to appeal the decision.
“We believe that all sectors must be heard. Our local food processors and manufacturers, which are mostly MSMEs have long been burdened with the high cost of refined sugar and sadly, they are not able to com pete with our counterparts in ASEAN, whose sugary-made products are sold way cheaper than ours,” Paul Cuyeg keng, PCCI head of agriculture com mittee,Specifically,said. the PCCI seeks the des ignation of a representative from the Philippine Food Exporters (Philfoo dex) to participate in the SRA Board consultativeCuyegkengmeeting.saidthat the proposal is essential to strike a balance between the needs of farmers, millers, and food manufacturers, which are composed largely of MSMEs.
House approves measure to postpone SK, brgy polls
Food firms sugarrepresentationseekinadminboard
LOCAL food manufacturers and ex porters are calling for representation of the business sector on the Sugar Regu latory Administration (SRA) board to ensure that the voice of the MSMEs is heard and considered.
want to include the online streamers,” Sotto-Antonio said, quoted by the report.
polls and provide the government ample time to apply corrective adjustments to the honoraria of poll workers.
“We’re hoping that in the mean time, there should be a pause for the creation of provinces, naming of the barangays, because the Comelec is preparing for not only the barangay and SK elections but likewise for the very big election of 2025,” Garcia, quoted in the report, said.
Marcos explained that the projected 5.13 million metric tons (mmt) of local ly grown rice in the third quarter will exceed domestic demand of 3.7mmt and provide a buffer stock of 1.43mmt by the end of September.
lec) chair George Garcia said the poll regulator is hoping to conduct the special elections in Cavite’s 7th Congressional District to fill the seat vacated by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla early next year,
A4 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 News
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
By Othel V. Campos
“It’s still subject to a motion for re consideration. And under the Come lec rules of procedure, the losing party has the right to file a motion for reconsideration within a period of five days from the receipt of such a decision,” Garcia said in an inter view on ANC.
of P5.26t budget
MTRCB says it needs to ‘widen’ its jurisdiction of video streaming
“With regards to online streamers, hindi pa siya nasasaklaw. Kaya kailan gan amyehndahan ang PD 1986, if we
clearancesAccordingunnecessary.toMarcos,

BSKE next week with new special fea tures similar to banknotes.
The Philippine Chamber of Com merce and Industry (PCCI) agreed to push for this proposal to the SRA, which is chaired by the President as concurrent head of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
She said in the fourth quarter, the local rice supply is expected to reach 6.24mmt against a demand of 4.02mmt, for an additional buffer stock of 2.22mmt by the end of December.
“Under Section 2 of Rule 19, Part IV of the Comelec Rules of Proce dure, a motion to reconsider a deci sion, resolution, order, or ruling of a Division may be filed within five days from the promulgation thereof,” he said in a
“It is now the responsibility of the House of Representatives through the Committee on Appropriations, where the General Appropriations Act origi nates, to pass a timely, responsive and inclusive budget for the Filipino peo ple,” Co said in his speech.
third and final reading the proposal to postpone for one year the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) by a 264-6-3 vote.
The National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by Malacanang, serves as the basis of the GAB, which, upon enactment by the President be comes the General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget.
DQ case vs. Albay gov not yet final: Comelec
REMEMBERING MARTIAL LAW. A member of Karapatan applies the finishing touches to the portraits of Martial Law martyrs to be used for the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law which will be held in UP Diliman in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

COMMISSIONstatement.onElections
(Come
At the same time, the Presi dent has tagged the infrastructure program as the “backbone of the Philippine economy” and his ad ministration must keep the mo mentum going.
The World Health Organization estimates that cancer deaths globally will more than double by 2030, to about 17 million deaths per year.
Breast cancer event to offer information, advice
The agency proposed a budget of P1.6 billion for 2023, but the Department of Budget and Man agement slashed this by nearly half to a measly P846
AS I write this, I am watching the live coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in London.
With the quarter growth of 8.2 percent and the latest at 7.4 per cent, the country’s GDP has ex panded by 7.8 percent in the first half.We heard the President loud
Some 70 percent of breast cancer cases occur among indigents, thus perhaps the high rates for late diagnosis and below 50 percent survivalExpertsrateon the Constitution point out that martial law is a last resort, one available exclusively to the President, to save the country from turmoil, chaos and collapse
(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
Other lawmakers, including Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, Ka bataan Rep. Raoul Manuel, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro and AKO Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon also support a big ger CHR purse.
Higher budget for CHR We’re concerned that the proposed national budget for next year includes a big cut in the bud get of the Commission on Human Rights.
While the queen, whose family is known for its longevity, passed away most likely of old age close to 100, there are many others who succumb to death when much younger, taken by disease, sometimes with much pain and suffering.
good opportunities to learn
Sustaining economic recovery
THERE is a bright light in the trip of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., following his meeting with Overseas Filipino Workers in New Jersey, the other day where he urged them to support tourism and invest in the country.Weknow that the sought out investment would help bring the Philippines to what he called “heights it has not reached be fore.”The President, speaking be fore the members of the Fili pino community at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, acknowledged OFWs for their sacrifices and contribution to the economy during the corona virus pandemic.
Breast cancer has ranked first among the can cers afflicting Filipino women since the 1980s.
We fully support the stand of these legislators and urge both chambers of Congress to increase rather than slash the CHR budget for next year.
Teng Hsiao-Ping (later spelled as Deng Xiaop ing), then a second-level official of the Chinese Communist Party, was in charge of supplying the communists in the Philippines with weapons, am munition and explosives.
One of the reasons for this is that some 70 per cent of breast cancer cases occur among indigents, thus perhaps the high rates for late diagnosis and below 50 percent survival rate.
Before the Filipino community, the President said the Philippines targets 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent gross domestic product growth this year.
and as a support mechanism to patients and their families [sic] must be shared, so we do not repeat mistakes and learn from already known and estab lished strategies and not waste time starting from step
They disclosed that Sison used the incident to destabilize the Marcos administration and to pave the way for a communist takeover of the govern ment.Senator Jovito Salonga, who was seriously injured at Plaza Miranda, also blamed President Marcos for the bombing. But upon learning of the truth behind the incident, Salonga publicly took back his accusation against President Marcos.
EDITORIAL
Thisworldwide.bringsme to my main topic today, which is not the late queen’s final sendoff but breast can cer.Statistics show that among Filipino women with cancer, 30 percent of the cases are breast can cer; about one in four females and one male for every 105 may be diagnosed with breast cancer in the Philippines.
more, and there’s one happening in a few days – the 6th Southeast Asia Breast Cancer Sympo sium (SEABCS), to be held online from Sept. 23 to Her25.Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, the mother of a cancer survivor, will de liver the opening address at the event. She served as president of the Union for International Cancer Control, a global organization, from 2018 to 2020.
For his part, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodri guez, laments that “every year the CHR is always neglected and not given the proper tools to imple ment its constitutional mandate” and the agency faces a budget cut at a time when the entire coun try’s budget has increased by 5 percent.

Let’s see how things develop from hereon.
Thehim.next time you encounter propaganda that demonizes President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and martial law, you ought to know that the commu nists are behind that garbage.
That is why it is vital for us to educate ourselves about this disease as much as we can. Science tells us that not all cases are hereditary – this can strike anyone at any
Today, therefore, is the 50th anniversary of that fatefulUnderannouncement.the1935Constitution, the charter in ef fect in 1972, the President of the Philippines has the power to place the entire country or any part of it under martial law. It is essentially an emergency measure, designed for the purpose of suppressing lawlessness and insurgency in the country.
The OPCOS shall have the primary function of supervising and ensuring the efficient and respon sive day-to-day operational support to the presi dency to enable the President to focus on strategic nationalRodriguezconcerns.will still enjoy the rank of a Cabinet member. But his office will have well-defined functions as news reports indicate that it was Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile who thumbed down his proposal to be the “presidential strategist, policy adviser, presidential advocate,” among others. Hmmm.
Retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin is rumored to be President ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s choice, but if he’s going to be the next ‘Little President’ that’s likely to be confirmed after BBM’s state visit to the US.
The Blue Ribbon Committee finished its probe of the controversial order after three hearings and charged four officials of the Agriculture depart ment and the SRA with violations of the AntiGraft Law, but cleared Rodriguez of any shenani gans related to the sugar import order.
And he asked members of the Filipino-American ommunity to follow in the footsteps of sev eral professional Filipinos across the United States who have been carrying out impactful projects for the benefit of Filipinos back home.Timely and aptly said.
What’s alarming for us is that, today, the Philip pines has the highest prevalence of breast cancer in Asia and the 9th highest in the world.
It includes relevant and helpful topics, from the medical (understanding treatment options, manag ing side effects) to the personal (how to tell your family and friends) and practical (how to finance cancerRegistrationtreatment).for the SEABCS is free. Register for the virtual conference at https://seabcsphilip pines.ph/While not every woman may live to be as old as the late queen was or enjoy a life like hers that was relatively illness-free, we can educate ourselves to care for ourselves and our loved ones better, espe cially in the face of rising cancer incidences in the Philippines and worldwide.
Rodriguez appeared before the Senate Blue Rib bon Committee hearing on the issue twice to explain his side and to clear his name of any wrongdoing.
Among the most insidious illnesses is cancer, and its variations are among the leading causes of death
Indeed, the objective of Sison and his commu nist cadres was to overthrow the duly constituted government of the Republic of the Philippines by violent means, and to replace it with a pro-Red China government, with Sison as the helmsman.
To be launched on the last day of the event is
Mr. Marcos was expressly forthright when he said “even though we are far away, we are watching you, our hearts are breaking when we see what you are doing to raise and high
BBM seeks US capital
OPINIONMOREONLINE (www.manilastandard.net)
Thecollection.President said the gov ernment has also formulated its medium-term fiscal strategy to achieve measurable mediumterm macroeconomic and fiscal objectives like a 6.5 percent to 8 percent real GDP growth annu ally between 2023 and 2028.
Experts on the Constitution point out that mar tial law is a last resort, one available exclusively to the President, to save the country from turmoil, chaos and collapse.
as well as during the 2022 presidential campaign. Hence, given their longstanding professional relationship, Rodriguez was among the first to be appointed to the Cabinet.
Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 B1Opinion
President Marcos cited the role of OFWs in pandemic recovery, especially the remittances that helped the domestic economy recover from the health crisis
But he had been in the news lately because of his role in the issuance of the controversial Sugar Order 4 (SO 4) of the Sugar Regulatory Agency that approved the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar in response to the shortage of the commodity in local markers.
ICANSERVE’s free downloadable e-manual for breast cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers, “from understanding their diagnosis to living be yond cancer.”
We fully support the stand of (some) legislators and urge both chambers of Congress to increase rather than slash the CHR budget for next year
We understand that Rodriguez will be trans ferred to a new position, the Office of the Presi dential Chief of Staff, which will be supervised by the Office of the President.
Conferencesage.are
All told, President Marcos saved the Philip pines from godless communism. It is the main reason why local communists remain hateful to wards
Who will be the next ‘Little President’?
In July 1972, Deng sent a shipload of firearms, bullets and explosives to CPP-NPA cadres in Isabela in northern Luzon. Military forces inter cepted the shipment at Digoyo Point in Palanan, Isabela, but the rebels escaped to the Sierra Madre andDengbeyond.tried to send another shipload to the reb els, but the ship sank before it could reach the Phil ippines.Thefoiled arms shipment in Isabela was one of the reasons which prompted President Marcos to resort to martial law.
We all thought that Rodriguez enjoyed the full trust and confidence of the president as he was the latter’s legal counsel and spokesperson in the course of the electoral protest against Leni Robre do’s victory in the 2016 vice-presidential election

Lack of knowledge and a low level of educa
tion has contributed to this outcome, along with low income (a 2021 Philippine Statistics Author ity study showed that nearly one in five Filipinos live below the poverty line), high costs of diagnos tic tests and hospital care, and lack of awareness about breast cancer.
The order was purportedly approved and signed by President Marcos Jr. himself as con current Agriculture Secretary, but has since been found to have been merely signed ‘in the name of the President’ and therefore invalid.
The position of Executive Secretary is a highly coveted one since it makes him ‘primus inter pares’ or first among equals in the Cabinet.
On the second day, the keynote speaker will be former Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial, who said: “All our efforts, new treatments, as well as support services to help breast cancer survivors and for the general public on how to prevent get ting breast cancer, be involved in early detection
Indeed, while COVID-19 has created unprecedented economic difficulties worldwide, President Marcos cited the role of OFWs in pandemic recovery, especially the remittances that helped the domestic economy recover from the health crisis.
ICANSERVE says among the topics to be dis cussed at the conference are “using positive peer pressure in Vietnam; measuring and improving happiness among patients in Malaysia; a breast cancer control program under local governments in the Philippines; managing unwelcome effects of breast cancer treatment; courage in facing ad vanced breast cancer; how the food you eat can influence cancer; using social media for advocacy; advanced technologies and artificial intelligence in healthcare; stories of hope, and many others.”
Note: Dr. Ortuoste is a cancer warrior and advocate for early screening and detection. She is a member of the Manila Critics Circle, which established the National Book Awards. Find her on FB and Twitter: @DrJenny)

Thattherein.denial notwithstanding, anti-Marcos ele ments conveniently used the incident in its arsenal of anti-Marcos propaganda. Almost two decades later, former CPP-NPA reb els, including Victor Corpus, the young lieutenant who raided the PMA armory in Baguio City and eventually became chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, revealed in different media interviews that Sison was the master mind of the Plaza Miranda bombing.
Honor
Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong has warned that the agency’s regular operations and many of its programs would suffer if given a paltry budget of P846 million.
and clear when he told the Filipi no community “the future looks bright (and) the economy we ex pect to grow by six-and-a-half to seven-and-a-half percent this year...we will implement tax re forms that will be responsive to the development of the digital economy and will increase rev enue
In theory, if the power of the President to resort to martial law is recognized by the Constitution, it cannot be unconstitutional, provided, however, that the grounds stated in the charter for resorting to this emergency measure are satisfied by the President.In1974, the validity of President Marcos’ proclamation of martial law was upheld by the Supreme Court. That ruling renders the issue of whether or not his resort to martial law was base less.At the time President Marcos resorted to mar tial law in September 1972, the Philippines was on the edge of Disorder,disintegration.mayhemand lawlessness had be come rampant, as seen in the seemingly endless violent rallies and demonstrations in parts of Manila, particularly in the districts proximate to Malacañang.Red-leaning student activists, teachers, union leaders and journalists were organized by Jose Ma. Sison’s Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to participate in those violent assemblies.
As such, he enjoys direct access to the Presi dent’s ear. The Executive Secretary is also called the “Little President” since he takes care of the nitty-gritty in Malacañang Palace, with documents for the President’s approval passing through his office.

Those assemblies were violent because the par ticipants hurled pillboxes and molotov cocktails at the law enforcers guarding Malacañang and the vicinity. Law enforcers had no choice but to disperse the violent mobs through crowd-dispersal paraphernalia.Thecommon chant in those rallies and demon strations was the mantra of the CPP-NPA, namely, “Mabuhay si Mao Tse-tung!,” the founder of Red China (whose name was eventually spelled by Chinese propagandists as Mao Zedong, in keep ing with the pinyin spelling).
Rodriguez’s resignation was not unexpected. He was even scheduled to face the Commission on Appointments this week.
AFTER the resignation of lawyer Victor Rodri guez as Executive Secretary last week, the talk of the town is who will take his place.
Whatmillion.thebudget cut means is that the DBM does not appreciate the important work that the CHR does, as spelled out in the fundamental law. The 1987 Constitution, in fact, directs the State to guarantee “full respect for human rights” and for the CHR to “investigate, or its own or on com plaint by any party, all forms of rights violations involving civil and political rights” and to put in place legal measures for the protection of human rights of We’reFilipinos.glad,however, that some members of the House of Representatives are taking up the cud gels for the CHR and urging support for its pro posed P1.6 billion budget for next year.
Another reason was the 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing.Onthe evening of August 21, 1971, two gre nades exploded at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Ma nila during the proclamation rally of senatorial and local government candidates of the opposition po litical party of the period, the Liberal Party.
To state the obvious, the communist govern ment Sison had in mind for the Philippines was exactly like that of Red China. There would have been no fundamental freedoms such as press free dom, free speech, free expression, free assembly and religious freedom.
As expected, the political opposition and their sympathizers blamed President Marcos for the bombing. Marcos adamantly denied any involve ment
Though some 75 percent of cancer patients are above 50, the disease can occur at any age.
Theone.”Philippines-based ICANSERVE Founda tion, Inc. and US-based Global Focus on Cancer will host the SEABCSevent.willdiscuss a range of topics that ap peal to various stakeholders, including patients, caregivers, doctors, advocates, and cancer warriors at any stage of their journey.
FIFTY years ago, then President Ferdinand Edra lin Marcos Sr. issued Proclamation 1081 which placed the entire country under martial law. Although the said proclamation was dated September 21, 1972, its enforcement began only in the early morning hours of September 23. This account is supported by the fact that the proclama tion was announced in the September 24, 1972 is sue of the Philippines Sunday Express.
(Editor’s
Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 8-5646225 and 8-5646229 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.manilastandard.net MEMBER Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine NewspapersPPI can be accessed at: manilastandard.net Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager 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
The 50th anniversay of martial law circa 1972
light the name of the Philippines around the world.”
Under martial law, the Armed Forces of the Philippines arrested the rebels and their confeder ates. A number of them fled abroad or hid in the countryside. The imminent communist takeover of the country was nipped in the bud.
ti-coup fighters and the military, entire villages have been burned down.
Now “we live on whatever God gives us,” the wid owed mother-of-six said.
He reduced hotel quarantine from seven to three days but has faced a growing chorus of criticism from residents, business organisations and health experts saying he should go further.Over the past week multiple Hong Kong media outlets have reported, cit ing sources, that the government has already agreed to lift quarantine.
Save the Children Asia Regional Di rector Hassan Noor expressed condo lences to the families and said schools should be off limits and the safety of students protected.
Pointing out that as many as 19,700 people are estimated to be dying of hunger every day, the NGOs said that this translates to one person dying of hunger every four seconds.
“This is the first time in more than a de cade that Uganda is recording the Ebola Sudan strain,” WHO Africa Director Mat shidiso Moeti said.
LEAST 11 schoolchildren died in an air strike and firing on a Myanmar village, the UN children’s agency said, an attack the country’s junta said targeted rebels hiding in the area.
“We used to farm and get vegetables to feed our chil dren before the drought affected us,” Fadumo Ibrahim Hassan, 35, told AFP.
A mother of 10, Nuunay Adan Durow fled her home and travelled 300 kilometers (200 miles) to find medi cal help for her three-year-old son Hassan Mohamed, his limbs swollen due to severe malnutrition.
The crisis has not spared even traditionally fertile regions such as Lower Shabelle, where drought-stricken communities would seek refuge in the past, hoping to find sustenance there.
“Despite promises from world leaders to never allow famine again in the 21st century, famine is once more imminent in Somalia. Around the world, 50 million people are on the brink of starvation in 45 coun tries,” they said.
UNICEF SAYS 15 MORE SCHOOL KIDS MISSING
The junta confirmed they had sent troops in helicopters to the village after receiving a tip-off that fighters from the Kachin Independence Army – an ethnic rebel group – and from a local anti-coup militia were moving
“How many more incidents like this need to take place before action is tak en?” Noor said, urging the UN Security Council and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take swift action. AFP
That would leave just China and Tai wan still maintaining mandatory quar antine for arrivals. AFP
The drought has also affected parts of Kenya and Ethiopia but the risks for Somalia are particularly grave, with 200,000 people in danger of starvation and around 1.5 million chil dren facing acute malnutrition by next month, the UN says.
IN BRIEF
she said, with their numbers trebling from a maximum of 13 a day in May to 40 now.
In recent years, climate disasters have increasingly be come the main driver of migration in Somalia, which is also grappling with a brutal 15-year Islamist insurgency.
UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said the situa tion was worse than the 2011 famine when 260,000 peo ple died in the country, more than half of them children under the age of six.
Weighing just 5.8 kilograms (12.8 pounds)—half that of a healthy girl the same age—Yusro was dangerously mal nourished, according to the IRC medical team, who told AFP she urgently needed to be admitted to a hospital.
AT
The UN children’s agency UNICEF condemned Friday’s incident in Depey in township in Sagaing.
SOUTH Korean prosecutors have asked Interpol to issue a red notice for Do Kwon, the founder of failed cryptocur rency Terra, saying he was refusing to cooperate with their probe into its $40 bil lion collapse.
gathering in public.
ONE person is estimated to be dying of hunger every four seconds, over 200 NGOs warned Tuesday, urging deci sive international action to “end the spiralling global hunger crisis.”
HONG KONG’S leader on Tuesday said he will soon make a decision on further relaxing coronavirus restric tions, as residents and businesses de cry quarantine rules that have kept the finance hub cut off for more than two years.“We will make a decision soon and announce it to the public,” chief execu tive John Lee told reporters.

Interpol red flag for Terra founder
Eight other suspected patients were un dergoing treatment, WHO said.
Lee, a Beijing-anointed former se curity chief, took office in July and vowed to reopen the city while keep ing cases low.
Kwon, who has remained active on Twitter, on Sunday denied that he was on the run, but did not reveal his exact whereabouts.“Foranyagency that has shown inter est to communicate, we are in full coop eration and we don’t have anything to hide,” he tweeted. AFP
Aid is slowly making its way to Somalia following delays caused by the war in Ukraine, which also sent the cost of transport and emergency supplies soaring.
“The ones we are receiving here are the worst cases with complications,” she said.
In an open letter addressing world leaders gathering in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, 238 organisations from 75 countries, in cluding Oxfam, Save the Children and Plan International expressed outrage at skyrocketing hunger levels.
AFP
“We must not wait a moment longer to focus both on providing immediate lifesaving food and longer-term sup port so people can take charge of their futures and provide for themselves and their families.” AFP
WorldWEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022B2 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Myanmar has been in chaos since the military seized power in a coup in February last year, with nearly 2,300 civilians killed in a crackdown on dis sent according to a local monitoring group.The Sagaing region in the country’s northwest has seen some of the fiercest fighting, and amid clashes between an
The military accused the rebel fighters of using civilians as human shields, and said it had seized mines and explosives from the village.
The DRC last month recorded a new case in its violence-wracked east, less than six weeks after an epidemic in the country’s northwest was declared over.
“We want to be connected with dif ferent places in the world. We would like to have an orderly opening up,” he added.Hong Kong has adhered to a version of China’s strict zero-COVID rules throughout the pandemic, battering the economy and deepening the city’s brain drain as rival business hubs re open.Itmaintains mandatory hotel quar antine for international arrivals— currently at three days—widespread masking, business operating limits and bans on more than four people
One person dying of hunger every four seconds—NGOs
Uganda—which shares a porous border with the Democratic Republic of Congo –has experienced several Ebola outbreaks in the past, most recently in 2019, when at least five people died.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
STRONG QUAKE. People remain in the street after an earthquake in Mexico City on September 19, 2022. The powerful tremor shook buildings hundreds of miles away in Mexico City on the anniversary of two major tremors in 1985 and 2017, seismologists said. The national seismological agency reported the quake was of magnitude 7.4, while the United States Geological Survey estimated it at 7.6. AFP
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) non-profit runs seven health and nutrition centres in and around the capital, but their resources are sharply stretched with the crisis showing no signs of abating.
Uganda: 1st Ebola death since 2019
“We are working closely with the na tional health authorities to investigate the source of this outbreak while supporting the efforts to quickly roll out effective control measures.”
But many fear the help will arrive too late for the country’s youngest victims like
Lee would not confirm that decision or commit to a firm timeline on Tuesday.Buthis comments were the stron gest indication yet that Hong Kong is planning to join much of the rest of the world in accepting endemicity.
Too weak to cry: Famine looms over Somalia’s children
“It is abysmal that with all the tech nology in agriculture and harvesting techniques today we are still talking about famine in the 21st century,” Mo hanna Ahmed Ali Eljabaly from the Yemen Family Care Association, one of the letter’s signatories, said in the statement.“Thisis not about one country or one continent and hunger never only has one cause. This is about the injustice of the whole of humanity,” he said.
It said schools must be safe and never targeted.“Atleast 15 children from the same school are still missing,” UNICEF said, calling for their immediate safe release.
“We faced a terrible situation,” the 35-year-old said, cradling Hassan in her arms as they awaited medical at tention at an IRC center on the outskirts of Mogadishu.
UGANDA’S health ministry on Tuesday announced the country’s first fatality from the highly contagious Ebola virus since 2019, declaring an outbreak in the central district of Mubende.
At De Martino Hospital in the capital Mogadishu, Sa dak’s anxious mother Fadumo Daud sat vigil by the tod dler’s bedside, a feeding tube dangling from his face, as she prayed for a miracle.
At De Martino Hospital, doctor Fahmo Ali told AFP that each day brought more sick, malnourished children into her care.
AS FLIES buzz over his tiny body, two-year-old Sadak Ibrahim barely whimpers, too weak to cry or shoo them away – a heartbreaking glimpse of the hunger crisis grip pingTheSomalia.Hornof Africa nation is on the brink of a second famine in just over a decade, enduring its worst drought in 40 years after failed rainy seasons since late 2020 wiped out crops and livestock.
Manila Standard TODAY (MS-SEPT. 7/14/21, 2022) NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ESTATE OF THE LATE EMILIA. B. ALAYA-AY WAS SIQUIJORJR.PUBLICOF20;PERSETTLEDEXTRAJUDICIALLYBYHEIRSASDOC.NO.96;PAGEBOOKNO.39;SERIES2022BEFORENOTARYAtty.ORLANDOFUAOFTHEPROVINCEOF(MS-SEPT.7/14/21,2022) LEGAL DIVISIONAGREEMENTNOTICEONOFINHERITANCE Notice is hereby given that the legal heirs of the late AKIHIKO TERADA (the “Decedent”) who died intestate on September 28, 2019, in Japan, have executed an AGREEMENT ON DIVISION OF INHERITANCE. The parties, being all of legal age, hereby adjudicate unto themselves the properties left by the decedent. The Agreement was notarized as per Notarial Certificate Registration No. ’220142 by ASAKA Kikuo, a Notary under Kyobashi Notary Office and Apostilled in Tokyo, Japan by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hamamoto Hiroki with Doc. No. 22-003114. DEADLY HUNGER. File photo taken in Baidoa, one of the epicenters of the hunger crisis in Somalia. AFP
11 pupils killed in Myanmar air strike
A recent arrival in Mogadishu, her twoyear-old daughter Yusro’s condition had deteriorated to the point that the IRC staff could no longer care for her.
“On 16 September, at least 11 chil dren died in an air strike and indiscrimi nate fire in civilian areas,” UNICEF said in a statement.
END OF AN ERA. Tower Bridge is reflected on a picture of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in London. Inset shows the Queen’s corgis, Muick and Sandy, inside Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022 as their human was laid to rest at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. AFP

Every day, dozens of people stream into camps set up for displaced families in Mogadishu.

In a statement released earlier on Tues day, the World Health Organization said a 24-year-old man in Mubende had tested positive for “the relatively rare Sudan strain” of the virus.
With a fifth monsoon forecast to fail, the United Nations warned this month that time was running out to save lives as it urged donors to contribute more to the relief effort.
“The number of new arrivals has increased dramati cally starting from June this year,” IRC nutrition officer Faisa Ali told AFP.
“The confirmed case is a 24 year old male... (who) presented with EVD symp toms and later succumbed,” the ministry said on Twitter, using an abbreviation for Ebola virus disease.
weapons in the area.
Hong Kong to further relax COVID restrictions ‘soon’
Ebola is an often fatal viral haemor rhagic fever.
“He is the only child I have, and he is very sick as you can see,” the young woman told AFP, recounting the three-day journey that brought her to Mogadishu from Baidoa—one of the epicenters of the crisis.
“Sometimes those we have treated come back to the hospital after getting sick again.”
Video footage obtained from a local community group shows a classroom with blood on the floor, damage to the roof and a mother crying over her son’s dead body.
An official from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office told AFP Tuesday that they had asked authorities to cancel Kwon’s South Korean passport, saying that he was clearly “on the run” from the law.
“We have begun the procedure to place him on the Interpol red notice list and revoke his passport,” the official said, adding that Kwon had told investigators through his lawyer that he would not co operate.Thecollapse of Terraform Labs earlier this year wiped out about $40 billion of investors’ money and shook global crypto markets.ASouth Korean court last week issued an arrest warrant for Kwon, 31, who flew from South Korea to Singapore ahead of theQuestionscrash. about his whereabouts intensi fied after the Singapore Police Force said this weekend that he was not in the country.
“A staggering 345 million people are now experiencing acute hunger, a num ber that has more than doubled since 2019,” they said in a statement.
“This follows an investigation by the National Rapid Response team of six sus picious deaths that have occurred in the district this month,” WHO said.
Sadak, with around 730 children already reported dead in nutrition centres between January and July this year, according to UNICEF.
First identified in 1976 in the DRC (then Zaire), the virus, whose natural host is the bat, has since set off a series of epidemics in Africa, killing around 15,000 people. AFP
“For the last three years, we have not harvested any thing due to lack of rain,” Durow told AFP, describing how she was forced to trek for two hours daily to find water for her family.
“We see him as being ‘on the run’ from the moment when he left for Singapore,” the official said, adding: “We are aware that he has no will to cooperate with all investigations since then.”
Hong Kong rose more than one percent with tourismlinked firms boosted by news that the city’s government was considering bringing an end to the hotel quarantine rules that have helped hammer the local economy. Sydney and Mumbai were also up more than one percent, while Tokyo returned from a long weekend to post healthy gains. Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Wellington, Bangkok and Jakarta were also higher.
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 11.04 points, or 0.2 percent, to 6,448.46 on a value turnover of P4.7 billion. Gainers beat losers, 94 to 82, with 55 issuesBDOunchanged.Unibank Inc. of the Sy Group, the biggest lender in terms of assets, rose 2.2 percent to P123.10, while sister firm SM Prime Holdings Inc. climbed 1.1 percent to SynergyP35.60.Grid& Development Inc., operator of the country’s power grid, however, slumped 6.8 percent to P12.32, while Puregold Price Club Inc. of retail tycoon Lucio Co fell 3.7 percent to P30.20.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned in July that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had combined with the lingering trade impacts of COVID-19 to create an “un precedented global hunger crisis.”
5 SMPH
over a billion tons of additional carbon dioxide equivalent added to the atmosphere, according to the study published in Nature Food.
(PHP)
Were all grain exports from Ukraine to cease, Australia would need to expand its wheat area by 1 percent, China by 1.5 per cent, the European Union by 1.9 percent and India by 1.2 percent, according to the model.
The Fed’s decision, however, is the main focus after figures last week showed prices are still rising at rates not seen since the early 1980s.
Ukraine conflict may hike long-term grain prices 7%—study
TEL.“Before the eruption, we struggled to make the island known,” ASHOTEL’s vice president Carlos Garcia Sicilia told AFP.
Business WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 || B3 extrastory2000@gmail.com
pointAndmove.there is speculation that the rises will not stop until the rate is above four percent, still some way from the current 2.25-2.75 percent.
Nicknamed “La Isla Bonita” or “The Beau tiful Island,” La Palma is a UNESCO-recog nized biosphere reserve replete with verdant forests, rocky peaks and desert.
1
Since the volcano erupted on Septem ber 19, 2021, spewing rivers of molten rock and ash plumes into the air, inter est in visiting La Palma is booming.
This time, he’s here to see the vol cano closer up now it has quieted down.
Graja-Tours owner and guide, Lotte von Lignau (right), talks to hikers as they take part in a tour to visit the Tajogaite volcano, previously known as Cumbre Vieja for the ridge on which it sits, in Los Llanos de Aridane, on the Canary Island of La Palma, on September 12, 2022.

3 ALI 10,913,100 304,828,910
MJIC 1.1 0.36 48.65% 2 GPH 13.5 3.48 34.73% 3 MBC 8.31 1.33 19.05% 4 STR 3.5 0.34 10.76% 5 FEU 584 53.5 10.08% 6 OPM 0.011 0.001 10.00% 7 ZHI 0.164 0.011 7.19% 8 PBC 16.2 0.92 6.02% 9 BALAI 0.72 0.04 5.88% 10 PMPC 5.78 0.32 5.86%
7 ICT
By Daniel Silva
8 TEL
Global equities have taken a severe body blow in
recent weeks as central banks struggle to rein in stub bornly high inflation, Russia continues its war in Ukraine and China’s economic woes darken the mood across trading floors.
1 -0.009 -4.35%
The island is normally one of the less visited ones of Spain’s tourism-depen dent Canary Islands off Africa’s north western coast.
‘As close as possible’
4 SMC 3,075,740 302,943,987 8,144,600 289,641,975 2,290,020 281,444,129 1,191,270 218,888,929 112,030 185,016,415 5,879,300 178,678,200 1,778,270 172,223,417 LASTGAINERS
TOPPRICELASTLOSERS%CHANGECHANGE
On a recent weekday, small groups of tour ists could often be seen snapping pictures of excavators removing giant chunks of solidi fied lava from the center of La Laguna, a town where the molten rock swallowed up a gas sta tion and a supermarket. AFP
In August, the average hotel occu pancy on the island hit 90.9 percent, well above expectations, with visitors from the rest of Spain accounting for the bulk of the overnight stays, accord ing to local hotel lobby group ASHO
“It’s like walking on the surface of a new planet,” said the 54-year-old nurse from the nearby island of Tenerife while hiking through a lush pine forest carpet ed with black ash to reach the site.
10 BPI
TOP
While the images beamed around the world during the 85-day eruption focused on the de struction caused by the volcano, news reports also highlighted the tiny island’s charms— which has helped whet the appetite for travel to La Palma.
island’s economy. On the other, I think half the planet has now heard of La Palma.”
6 BDO
“The cropland expansion resulting from the war in Ukraine is occurring at the ex pense of more carbon emissions,” said lead author Jerome Dumortier, a researcher at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Indianapolis, US.
“We expect central bank tightening and a fading of supply chain pressures to moderate job growth and core inflation,” JPMorgan Chase & Co said, tipping it to end at 4.25 percent by early next year.
Business is also booming for tour compa nies offering day trips by ferry from Tenerife, the largest and most visited island of the Ca naries.Excursiones Jesus, based in Tenerife, runs its 135-euro ($135) 11-hour tour of La Palma three days a week now, up from just one be fore the “Peopleeruption.want to get as close as possible to where the eruption happened,” company founder Jesus Molina told AFP.
Russia and Ukraine are global breadbas kets, together exporting about 28 percent of the world’s wheat supply.
stock market edged slightly higher Tuesday tracking Wall Street’s late rally as investors gird themselves for another big Federal Reserve interest rate hike this week, though fears of a recession remain elevated.
This land-use change would lead to just
They said the price increase would persist as long as exports remained restricted.
To close the supply gap, the study found that other major producers would need to ex pand their grain growing areas significantly.
The ash and rivers of lava spewing from the volcano swallowed up more than 1,000 homes, cut off highways and suffocated lush banana plantations.
ARGENTINA-IMF DEAL. Handout picture released by Argentina’s Presidency showing President Alberto Fernandez (center, right) meeting with the International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva (center, left ) in New York, United States, on September 19, 2022. The IMF on Monday welcomed the ‘decisive political advances’ made by Argentina during the second review of the country’s economic program under the institution’s aid plan, paving the way for disbursement of $3.9 billion. AFP

Market rises slightly ahead of Fed meeting; SM Prime, BDO advance
‘Like a new planet’: Volcano draws visitors to Spanish isle
Most observers expect the bank to announce a third successive 75-basispoint lift, though there are some who have flagged a possible one-percentage-


AFP
PARIS, France—Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may cause long-term grain prices to rise seven percent, according to a study on Monday showing how expanded produc tion elsewhere to compensate would lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions.
THE
In a sign of expectations that rates will continue up for some time, the two-year Treasury yield is on course to break four percent for the first time since 2007. With AFP
Russia’s blockade of Black Sea ports and sanctions on Moscow have caused shortterm price surges and triggered fears of an acute hunger Researcherscrisis.inthe United States and Uru guay modeled the likely impact of the con flict on wheat and maize prices over the coming 12 months, looking at a variety of scenarios.
MOSTVOLUMEACTIVEVALUE
2 SM 394,560 329,583,935
Figures from the UN’s Food and Agricul ture Organization show food prices are cur rently more than 10 percent higher than they were a year ago. AFP
“In turn, we anticipate this will allow the Fed and other central banks to pause” in the first half of 2023, said strategists including Marko Kolanovic and Niko laos Panigirtzoglou.
One model found that if Russian grain exports were halved and Ukrainian exports significantly reduced during that time, maize would be 4.6 percent more expensive and wheat 7.2 percent more expensive—even as suming that other exporters could step in and fill the shortfall.
The rest of Asian markets also enjoyed a muchneeded bounce Tuesday.
9 PGOLD
With the main concern being that sharp increases in borrowing costs will cause recessions in major econ omies, this week will be a minefield for traders with several countries, including Britain, tipped to announce more tightening.
Since the eruption, the number of cruise ships stopping at the island has increased, as has the number of direct flights from mainland Spain and elsewhere in Europe.
“Visiting a volcano which recently erupted is an opportunity that only aris es once in a lifetime,” he told AFP.
1 SGP 27,742,200 343,471,772
LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE, Spain—When the volcano erupted in La Palma last year, Teodoro Gonzalez Perez rushed to the Spanish island to see the lava flows with his own eyes— now he’s back for another look.
DIZ 3.51 -1.36 -27.93% 2 SGP 12.32 -0.9 -6.81% 3 APC 0.192 -0.012 -5.88% 4 FOOD 0.52 -0.03 -5.45% 5 TFHI 104 -5.9 -5.37% 6 TECHW 0.57 -0.03 -5.00% 7 2GO 6.96 -0.34 -4.66% 8 BRNP 100 -4.8 -4.58% 9 ACR 0.88 -0.04 -4.35% 10 MRC 0.198
“On the one hand, the volcano has been a misfortune, a huge blow to the
Irish low-cost airline Ryanair opened its first base in La Palma in March and offers several direct flights per week to three Spanish cities as well as Milan.
PSEi September 20, 2022
Manila Standard TODAY (MS-SEPT. 20 &21, 2022) (MS-SEPT. 20 &21, 2022)
% PRICE CHANGE CHANGE
PFA president Chris Lim confirmed the Philippines is now the 7th biggest market for franchising, after South Ko
president Ramon Ang said earlier.
0.7198 Malaysia Ringgit
The New England Solar farm, the first of these projects, is expected to be in operation by 2023.
Meralco warned that consumers would be burdened by as much as P25.8 billion if it was forced to secure new PSAs to replace those of SMC.
Pascual said the country’s retail and service franchises shared 7.8 percent to the gross domestic product and created 2 million direct and indirect jobs.

THE commission en banc of the Energy Regulatory Commission started deliberations on the temporary relief filed by San Miguel Corp. and Manila Electric Co. on their 2019 power supply agreements.SMC,through South Premiere Power Corp. and San Miguel Energy Corp., administrators of the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas and 1,200-MW Sual coal-fired power plants, along with Meralco, filed their respective petitions for a temporary rate hike of P0.30 per kilowatt-hour over six months.
By Julito G. Rada
By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE Volunteers Against Crime and Cor ruption said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a politically correct decision by ap pointing lawyer Norman Tansingco as com missioner of the Bureau of Immigration.
Meralco said it might be forced to im mediately procure power from the Whole sale Electricity Spot Market if the PSAs were terminated, or the petitions of SMC would not be approved by Oct. 4.
China 0.142759 0.012548 0.219877
The Philippines also retains funda mental strengths in terms of the sta bility of the banking system and the capacity to meet external debt repay ments, despite cyclical pressures on the balance of payments and conse quent exchange rate depreciation.
“Pandemic or not, the Philippine food service sector is growing as de mand for convenience grows. The lib eralized retail trade landscape and, to some extent, the reduction of import duties have contributed to the growth of the food service sector,” Pascual said.
The EWC gas-fired power plant was 80-percent done by 2021 but the company decided hold off further construction to await the completion of the NGCP project completion of its switchyard, to which the EWC would interconnect to get online with the Luzon grid. The NGCP expected four power plants around it to interconnect to the Luzon Grid.
metrics resulting from the pandemic.
Moody’s cited the Marcos admin istration’s introduction of a mediumterm fiscal framework as an assurance of gradual fiscal consolidation and debt
It includes several solar, wind, bat tery, pumped hydro and energy stor age projects across New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and South Austra lia in development and construction.
The Philippine Franchise Association expects the local franchising sector to be the 5th biggest in the world in the next five years.
SMC asked the ERC for a fair and objec tive assessment of its petition in the wake of the record rise in global fuel prices driven by economic and geopolitical forces.
Evangelistascam”. said Tansingco “cannot be alien with the problems besetting the bureau because he has been with it for some 10 years or so, having assumed such sensitive positions as chief of staff of the commissioner.”
12.6128
34.1826 Taiwan Dollar
CITY OF DREAMS ADVOCACY. City of Dreams Manila imbibes the spirit of bayanihan as it joins the Brigada Eskwela drive at Dr. Arcadio Santos National High School in Parañaque City in support of the local government’s educational thrust. The integrated resort’s executives and team members kicked off the project in August, with a target to refurbish 20 classrooms by the end of September. Working in teams, the volunteers took to cleaning, repainting and carpentry of classrooms and hallways to ensure a conducive space for learning. The property also donated cabinets to augment the school’s facilities.
Darwin G. Amojelar
New 0.595900 0.031936
PH now 7th
GCash vice president and head of wealth management Jong Layug said during the partnership launch more than a million GCash users now invest in GInvest, an investment product in the GCash app.
Yuan
“Using that as a barometer, we see more than a million who are ready to invest right now. The key to grow ing this number is further education around this new asset class that they will have access to,” Layug said.
Pagbilao LNG plant
TRADE Secretary Alfredo Pascual said Tuesday the Philippines is now the seventh largest franchise market in the world as he underscored the contribu tion of the sector to the local economy.
THE Energy World Corp., a listed company in Australia, said it expects to complete the construction of the final phase of its two projects in Quezon province—the Pagbilao gas-fired power plant and its liquefied natu ral gas terminal hub soon.
Arsenio Evangelista, president of the anti-crime and corruption watchdog, said Tansingco could implement “much-needed reforms” in the BI which had been hounded through the years by controversies involving its frontline personnel.
PSE president Ramon Monzon said the partnership with AB Capital and GCash is a “game changer” for the Philippine stock market as this could boost investor base.
“We welcome Moody’s reaffirma tion of its favorable rating and outlook for the Philippines. The Marcos ad ministration will continue to exercise fiscal prudence to ensure sufficient funding for our programs, while meet ing our financial obligations,” Diokno said.Moody’s rating action was driven
ERC commissioner Floresinda Digal confirmed the case was submitted for resolution on Tuesday “but deliberations may take not just one deliberation.”
“This has the potential to double, triple or even quadruple the stock mar ket’s investor base in a very short pe riod of time,” Monzon said.
HYDROPONIC
ACEN, the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group, has about 4,000 megawatts of attributable capacity in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Australia, with a renewable share of 87 percent, which is among the highest in the region.
“Airlines wishing to impose or collect fuel surcharge must file its application with CAB on or before the effectivity period, with fuel surcharge rates not exceeding the above-stated level,” Arcilla said.
The company aspires to be the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia, aiming to reach 20 gigawatts in renewable capacity by 2030. Alena Mae S. Flores
FINANCE Secretary Benjamin Dio kno said Tuesday the government will maintain its fiscal prudence to meet its financial obligations, following Moody’s Investors Service action re affirming the Philippines’ investment grade rating of “Baa2”, with a stable outlook.
SMC said the temporary rate hike would allow the Sual and Ilijan facili ties to recover some P5 billion in losses, ensure their fixed-rate PSAs are main tained over the longer term and continue to mitigate the soaring cost of electricity for consumers.
ACEN unit gets long-term green loan worth $94m

October airfares to stay unchanged
rea, the US, India, Taiwan, Brazil and France.Pascual said food makes up 43 per cent of the estimated 1,800 franchise brands in the Philippines. Citing indus try data, he said food franchises have an aggregate value of P538 billion or $10.8 billion.“The non-food service and retail sub sectors each serve close to one-third of franchise brands in the country―ser vice accounts for 29 percent of fran chise brands in the Philippines, and re tail, for 28 percent,” he said.
Moody’s said the rebound in eco nomic activity since mid-2021 has been strong and would be resilient to the chal lenges posed by the turn in global credit conditions over the near-term.
IN BRIEF vows to maintain fiscal prudence to meet debt obligations largest franchise market in the world
“We know any price increase is un popular, and normally we never ask for one―which is what we did for all of last year when we absorbed expanding costs that we do not pass on to consumers. The war in Ukraine has taken prices far be yond what we and Meralco could have even imagined in 2019 when we signed the PSAs. At the time, the forecast for coal was only $65 per metric ton for ten years. Now it is already at $400 per MT,” SMC
The bureau has been embroiled in contro versies in the past years over the so-called “pastillas” scheme, where officers allegedly received grease money for seamless entry of Chinese nationals into the country. At least 43 personnel of the bureau were indicted re cently by the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan for suspected complicity in the so-called “pastillas
It said consumers might have to shoulder an additional P1.6 billion for one month if the PSAs with SMC was terminated and forced to purchase from the spot Meralcomarket.said consumers would also have to shell out an additional P12.6 billion if it would conduct a competitive selection process for a one-year replace ment contract and P25.8 billion if the contract would be until 2029.
GCash president Martha Sazon said the partnership would also democra tize access to financial services and make it easier for people to invest in local stocks.
“The Philippines is the 7th largest franchise market in the world. With a growing middle class, our country is considered one of the largest franchise markets in the Southeast Asian region,” said Pascual at the opening of Franchise Asia Philippines 2022.
GCash expects 1m customers to invest in stocks
GCASH, the country’s leading e-wal let system, said Tuesday more than 1 million customers are ready to invest in the stock market through its partner ship with AB Capital Securities Inc. and the Philippine Stock Exchange.
MUFG is the sole arranger and green loan coordinator for the Au$140-million green long-term loan facility, providing capital financ ing for ACEN’s eligible green assets in ACENAustralia.said this is the second loan facility following the signing of an Au$100-million facility with DBS Bank to support the ACEN Australia development portfolio in Australia.
CAB executive-director Carmelo Arcilla said jet fuel prices averagedP47.27 per liter from Aug. 10 to Sept. 9, slightly up from P46.73 per liter a month earlier. The latest figures correspond to Level 9 of the pas senger and cargo fuel surcharge matrix in October.Under Level 9 of the new passenger fuel surcharge matrix, airlines are allowed to col lect fuel surcharge of P287 to P839 for do mestic flights and P947.39 to P7,044.27 for international flights.
The CAB said for cargo fuel surcharge, airlines are allowed to charge P1.47 to P4.31 per kilogram for domestic flights under Lev el 9 and P4.87 to P36.21 per kg for interna tional flights.
By Othel V. Campos
EWC set to finish
The EWC said its power plant would churn up 650 megawatts while the LNG terminal would supply the LNG need of the power plant while serving as loading and storage area for LNG supply from the Phil ippines and Asia.
PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, September 20, 2022 11.046,448.46PTS. F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 Currency Unit US Dollar Peso United States Dollar 1.000000 57.3630 Japan Yen 0.006981 0.4005 UK Pound 1.143800 65.6118 Hong Kong Dollar 0.127408 7.3085 Switzerland Franc 1.037237 59.4990 Canada Dollar 0.754774 43.2961 Singapore Dollar 0.710581 40.7611 Australia Dollar 0.672700 38.5881 Bahrain Dinar 2.652661 152.1646 Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266028 15.2602 Brunei Dollar 0.708065 40.6167 Indonesia Rupiah 0.000067 0.0038 Thailand Baht 0.027104 1.5548 UAE Dirham 0.272279 15.6187 Euro Euro 1.002900 57.5294 Korea Won 0.000720 0.0413
8.1891 India Rupee
THE Civil Aeronautics Board said Tuesday airfares will stay at the same level in October despite the slight increase in jet fuel prices.
ERC chairperson Monalisa Dima lanta said following the deadline for the submission of comments on Monday, the regulator would start deliberations.
FARM. Embarking on a path to support the development of the country’s agriculture, Denso Philippines Corp. unveils a newly-established hydroponic farm in Ibaan, Batangas. The project, which was registered with the Board of Investments, is part of the company’s vision for a food secure and resilient Philippines with prosperous farmers, contributing to environmental protection and balanced growth. Attending the inauguration of the farm are (from left) Denso Philippines Corp. president Yuji Torii, Denso International Asia Thailand president and chief executive Naoto Inuzuka, BOI Investments Assistance Service director Ernesto Delos Reyes Jr. and Danela Bautista.
ACEN Australia and MUFG Sydney Branch executed a facility agreement and an accession letter for a Au$140million (US$94 million) green longterm loan facility.
It said it would be completing projects soon to catch up with the construction works at the New Pagbilao Substation Project of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines in the province.
Zealand Dollar
“While online trading has been instru mental in expanding the investors base, admittedly there is a need for catalyst to further accelerate this growth mo mentum. That catalyst hopefully will be GCash working together with PSE and AB Capital Securities,” Monzon said.
By Jenniffer B. Austria
Thestabilization.framework, which aims to re duce the fiscal deficit, promote fiscal sustainability, and enable robust eco nomic growth, emphasizes broadening revenue generation and maintaining high infrastructure spending.
GCash has 69 million customers.
ERC starts deliberations on SMC rate hike petition
1.8319 Source: BSP TOTAL VOLUME 401,194,728 TOTAL TRADES 63,059 TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) 4,747,936,212.53 ADVANCES 94
by the view that the challenging global credit conditions would not derail the country’s recovery from the pandemic.
The DTI encouraged investors to set up franchises in the Philippines because of the healthy business environment.
Dimalanta said the commission would come out with its decision before Oct. 4, the date indicated by SMC in its letter to Meralco seeking to terminate the supply Dimalantadeals.assured a “fair and trans parent” evaluation of SMC and Meral co’s application for temporary relief on the supply agreements.
Monzon said the PSE was lagging behind regional peers in terms of in vestor count. There were only 1.62 million stock market accounts, of which 1.16 million were online ac counts as of end-2021.
The Philippine economy was not also significantly exposed to Russia and was less dependent on external de mand, compared to Asia-Pacific peers given its relatively large domestic market.Moody’s also said that the govern ment’s commitment to policy reforms would help assure gradual fiscal repair, following a reversal of the strengthen ing of the government’s fiscal and debt
BusinessRay S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor extrastory2000@gmail.combusiness@manilastandard.net B4 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 Gov’t
ACEN Corp. said the facility is part of its target to raise over Au$600 million (US$402 million) to support the development of ACEN’s projects in Australia, which was announced earlier this year.
“MUFG has been steadfast in le veraging its unrivaled global network and its expertise in financing the re newable energy sector. ACEN’s as piration towards becoming a leading renewable energy provider in Asia is aligned with MUFG’s sustainabil ity mission, and we are privileged to partner with the company in its commitment towards building a sus tainable future,” said Manoj Bhatia, MUFG Bank’s global head of subsid iaryACENbanking.Australia is the platform representing ACEN’s renewable en ergy assets in Australia.
VACC rallies behind new Immigration chief
Blazers stretch perfect NCAA run to 3 games
His foremost advice?
The only unbeaten team in the tournament, the Blazers wanted to remain consistent in every game.
And most importantly, Sta. Maria said players must get to know the people they are transacting with.
SBP executive director and spokesman Sonny Barrios explained that the 6’6” Navarro has to honor an existing contract with Gilas Pilipinas and a commitment with a PBA team NorthPort Batang Pier that picked him second overall in the 2021 PBA Draft.
Know the people with whom you are contracting with and also know league officials whether here or abroad.

COLLEGE of Saint Benilde pulled away in the second half to turn back University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 81-64, and extend its perfect run to three games in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre Tuesday.


Jaber Zayani when the deal was presented to him by his longtime trainer Nonoy“That’sNeri.going to be a December Samgyup party for the senator, but once he meets me inside the right, he’s going to get French-toasted,” said the Frenchman.
Will Gozum came through with 16 points and 12 rebounds to go with two blocks and two assists, Miggy Corteza added 15 points, seven boards and three blocks while Rob Nayve scored 12 points.
“Humuhugot po ako ng lakas ng loob sa mga Pilipino na matagal din nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa para sa kanilang mga pamilya,” said Rivero.Rivero recently skipped the Philippine Basketball Association rookie draft to accept an offer to turn pro in Taiwan.
will
“Call it an exhibition or something, but when the senator signed the deal, I told him to prepare well because I’m going to give him a real fight. He then told me, ‘you better be prepared’,” said Zayani.
Lawyer tells PH cagers not to jump into PBA Draft immediately
Mel Sta. Maria
Forum.Aside from basketball, which includes 3x3 and the boys’ side, also on tap are badminton, chess, table tennis, beach volley, swimming, athletics, cheer dance, judo, taekwondo, football, volleyball, fencing, softball, baseball, football, tennis and street dance.

By Peter Atencio
“It feels nice to be winning but we cannot look at the record, hindi ba? It’s such a long season right now, you know anything can happen in the next few games,” he added.
The Altas dropped to 1-2.
Games today (Filoil EcoOil Centre) 12 noon – SSC-R vs San Beda 3 p.m. – Arellano vs JRU Sports
Amid strict protocols, the UAAP staged Season 84 last March with only a handful events, including men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s 3x3, men’s and women’s chess, poomsae and beach volleyball.
eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao is set to make a ring return in an attempt to rekindle his glory days inside the ring and perhaps remain relevant as a sporting and political icon.
Former senator and eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao (left) and unbeaten lightweight contender Jaber Zayani (right) proudly display their signed agreements that see them ght each in an 8-round exhibition match in February 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“I personally negotiated with the senator together with my team and after months of talks, we finally agreed to a face off next year. He already signed the contract so it is a go,” said Zayani who was accompanied by Filipino business manager NicoZayaniRojas.said Pacquiao, through the help of Luis “Chavit” Singson, agreed to a non-sanctioned 8-round bout using the regular 8-ounce gloves for the fight that is tentatively set mid-February at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh.
Zayani, who signed a five-year multi-million promotional deal with Saudi Prince Al-Walid Ben Talal, is an unbeaten lightweight contender with a record of 18-0, 11 knockouts. Talal has assigned Abdullah Al Murad, through their entity Elite Sports Athletes, to be at the forefront of the momentous event.
THE UAAP Season 85 comes off the wraps on Oct. 1 with a traditional double-header in men’s basketball featuring reigning champion University of the Philippines against La Salle at the Mall of Asia Arena.
THE recent issues in basketball have caught the interest of some of the noted legal minds in the country, including celebrity lawyer Mel Sta. Maria, who came out with pieces of advice to rising Filipino basketball stars.
“Do not immediately jump into the PBA draft. There are other better leagues in Asia and Australia wanting to engage Filipino Players. Make PBA your second, third or even fourth choice,” said Sta. Maria in his Facebook post.
Pacquiao faces ex-sparmate in Saudi Arabia boxing show
FORMER
The other game pitting host Adamson against Santo Tomas will usher in the season where the UAAP finally returns to a full calendar more than two years into the pandemic.
The P. League+ is the first fully professional basketball league in Taiwan after the Chinese Basketball Alliance ended in 2000. The Pilots joined two years ago.
“Getting immediately into the PBA draft after college will not be for your paramount interest, financially, emotionally and physically,” added Sta. Maria.
Barrios said the move was not meant to deny Filipino players of opportunities abroad, but to prevent illegal recruitment of players, who have existing contracts.
Sta. Maria added that contracts should have no clauses that “prohibit you from playing with any other team for a period of time after you disengage from your present team. That will be prejudicial to your interest and that of your family as well.”
Ricci Rivero (center) is sent o by his brothers at the airport.
“But the protocols will still be there (like weekly testing). Every venue will have their own requirements,” said Saguisag, adding that basketball venues like the MOA Arena and Araneta Coliseum will still impose certain restrictions.
R ICCI Rivero is looking forward to a great playing experience as the first Asian to play as an import in Taiwan’s P.League+ for the Taoyuan Pilots.The former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons standout said this following his departure to Taiwan on Monday via China Air.
Thurman in July 2019.
“I was honest with the senator that I’m looking at this as my biggest break which I will surely maximize. I aim to create a buzz and become a household name. Sure, the organizers are calling this an exhibition but for me, it’s a chance to exhibit my talent as a future world champion,”added Zayani.
Rivero to draw strength from Filipinos in Taiwan

Basketball games on Oct. 2 will feature University of the East vs National University and Ateneo vs Far Eastern University.
“The patron section will be opened pero hindi pa todo. The area behind the bench will remain restricted. Cordoned off pa din para there is no contact with the players. The health of student athletes is still paramount,” he said.
The 43-year-old Pacquiao will battle French superstar Jaber Zayani in a ring showdown that was formally signed early last week at the former senator’s house in Makati City.
“We are happy to win. Sabi ko, tsamba tsamba minsan, but it’s nice to win. We are thankful. We thank the Lord for our victory,” said Benilde mentor Charles Tiu.
Just last month, Pacquiao signed up for a six-round exhibition match against Korean youtuber DK Yoo which is scheduled to happen on December 10 in Seoul, South Korea. Pacquiao then agreed to take on Zayani

The Blazers outscored the Altas, 32-10, in the third period to erect a 65-42 advantage and never looked back.
; Assistant Editor

“Now, we are back and full of life,” Fr. Suan said during Tuesday’s online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA)
A native of Saint-Martin-d’Hères, Isère, France, the 31-year-old Zayani once served as Pacquiao’s sparmate when the Filipino boxing icon trained for his 12-round world welterweight bout opposite Keith
Rey Barcuma paced Perpetual with 14 points, Kim Aurin had 13 points and Marcus Nitura added 12 points and five boards.
versity, was prompted to post his legal advice in sports following the issue concerning William Raniel Navarro of not being able to join the Korean Basketball League after the world body, FIBA, prevented him for failing to get clearance from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Sta. Maria, TV host, professor and Dean of the College of Law at Far Eastern Uni-



The opening ceremony will be pre-recorded and will be aired by Cignal TV along with the rest of the games.Under the “better normal” as described by UAAP president Fr. Aldrin Suan of the host school and executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag, the UAAP will “Rise as One” by staging 60 events in 21 sports.
Sta. Maria said young players should be more careful before signing any contract.
“My goal naman with this team has been to improve every game, no matter where we play. Hopefully, we learned our mistakes from the past,” said Tiu.
other
Season 85 of startsUAAPOct.1
“The essence for the need for a letter of clearance is FIBA’s policy of upholding the sanctity of an existing legally binding contract whenever the issue of the player transfer comes about so that proper order is maintained among all stakeholders,” Barrios said.
“If you are to join the PBA or any other league, read your contracts very well. Be sure there is no exclusivity clause that will prohibit you from playing in other
Asian/Australian leagues. Better still, provide a clause that will allow you to play abroad during times that you are not playing here in an official tournament,” the lawyer said.
Perpetual Help’s Lean Martel (left) tries to defend against CSB’s Miguel Gozum, who went on to score 16 points for the Blazers.
By Randy Caluag
The 24-year-old Rivero said he is getting ready to begin his professional journey.
While on the campaign trail for the Philippine presidency late last year, which he eventually lost, Pacquiao announced his retirement from boxing, one month after bowing to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas.
“I know that the adjustment of moving away from my home country will be difficult but with the support of over 150,000 Filipinos working and living there, I believe I won’t feel alone,” said Rivero in a statement to the ManilaRiveroStandard.will go into training once he’s done with the mandatory seven-day quarantine period, upon arrival in Taoyuan. Due the COVID19 restrictions on his tourist visa, Rivero’s family won’t be able to accompany him.
Philippine Football Fedation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said he welcomes the Aranetadevelopment.addedthatthese are the types of matches that the national squad need in their“Webuildup.arepleased that the Filipinas are getting these type of matches as they continue their preparations for the World Cup,” said Araneta.TheFilipinas are coming off twoweek camp in California, which was held from the last week of August until September 6.
2022 in Manila) at the Alejandro Morera Soto “What’sStadium.important for us is to learn and build on these experiences which will be a huge factor in our World Cup campaign next year,” StajcicThen,added.they will clash once more on October 11, 2022 near the end of their 11dayCostacamp.Rica qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, after finishing in fourth place in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship in Mexico last July.
On the following day, Bacolod and QC faced each other off, with both trying to recover from their respective losses. The former came out victorious in a convincing 79- 64 finish.
we know how hard it is to keep climbing so we’re working hard trying to reset our goals to keep striving for more success,” saidLaStajcic.Seleis at no. 37 in the FIFA rankings, 16 spots ahead of the Filipinas.
“I want to encourage my teammates to continue fighting, carry on and welcome everyLaurioopportunity.”hadatough road in the first episode losing to JM Guntayon in his Bultong match, an Igorot-style wrestling martial art.
from ONE Warrior
Greg Dolor matched Umandal’s output while Jemmy Entig and Peter Quiel each pumped in eight points as the Sealions unloaded 43 attack points, more than doubling the City Lions’ 23-hit effort.
OKBet brings MPBL action to GenSan and Sarangani.MPBL founder, boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao, pictured next to GenSan City Mayor Lorelie Geronimo-Pacquiao (right), initiated the ceremonial toss before the GenSan vs Bacolod game last September 5 at the Lagao Gymnasium in General Santos City. Roy Tomandao
WHILE his run was cut short, Christian Paul Laurio’s time at the ONE Warrior Series Philippines will be an experience he’d carry on for a lifetime.
The Filipinas are organizing a camp in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose once they arrive there.
Allen Stajcic
Team Lakay
The first part of the event was held on September 5 to 6 at the Lagao Gymnasium in General Santos City, just in time to coincide with the city’s Tuna Festival celebration. Among the teams that played were the Bacoor City Strikers, Quezon City MG Cars, Bacolod Bingo Plus, and the home team GenSan Warriors OKBet.
Laurio, a former member of the Philip-
Laurio carries lessons after exit Series
The 18 teams are divided into four groups with Pool A composed of University of the Philippines, University of the East, Mapua, San Beda University and University of Perpetual Help.
“We’re13. happy with the win. We really prepared hard for this and it primed us for the semis battle,” said Navy coach Cecil Cruzad, whose wards brace for a grind against the unbeaten National U-Sta. Elena and Cignal HD in the next round, also a round robin phase.
The OKBet-MPBL action continued at the Sarangani Provincial Capital Gymnasium in Alabel, Sarangani on September 9. Riding the momentum from their last game, Bacolod bagged another win against the Muntinlupa Cagers, 93-83.
CSB is joined by De La Salle University, Far Eastern University and Letran in Pool D.
A pair of friendly matches awaits the Filipinas against the Costa Rica national“Theteam.friendly matches against Costa Rica in October give us a chance to experience different styles of play after taking on New Zealand early this month,” said Stajcic in statement.
Weekly replays will also be broadcast on Tap Go, ONE Championship Philippines on Facebook, and ONE Championship’s official YouTube channel.
By Peter Atencio
This will be the first time that a tournament will feature all eight teams from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and 10 from the National Collegiate Athletic Association.“We’revery
THE


pine National Muay Thai Team, was aggressive at the start of the match but his fast-paced attack led to a scramble on the mat—an area that Lauron had the advantageSangiao,on. who’s guided five ONE world champions, was honest in his assessment of Laurio. The Team Lakay founder, however, still offered valuable encouragement for the 24-year-old striker.
All eyes will be on UAAP champion National University and NCAA titleist College of St. Benilde as both squads are looking to reign supreme in the SSL following their unbeaten championship runs in their respective collegiate leagues.
Adamson University, University of Santo Tomas, San Sebastian College, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Lyceum of the Philippines University are in Pool B while NU, Ateneo de Manila University, Jose Rizal University and Arellano University are in Pool C.
Members of the PGJC-Navy team celebrate their win over Sta. Rosa City in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Tuesday.

But it will be a tough feat to achieve as 16 other squads are equally hungry for glory in the season-opening conference organized in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education.
The victory thus closed out Navy’s campaign in the single round robin qualifier with a 5-1 (win-loss card) anchored on a four-win run capped by its four-set reversal over Cignal HD last Sept.
After a two-day break, the basketball action continued at the Sarangani Provincial
EXPECT79-77.
OKBet-MPBL delivers ‘proudly Pinoy’ brand of basketball to Mindanao fans
OKBet-sponsored Sarangani Marlins did not let their home crowd down, coming out triumphant with a huge lead against QC, 90-67.
“It’s just continued growth for us. We’re heading down the right track, but definitely we’re not getting complacent on thinking this is enough. We want more.”
LOCAL gaming platform OKBet delivered its “proudly Pinoy” brand of sports entertainment to thousands of basketball fans in Soccsksargen, through its partnership with the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball“OKBetLeague.Goes to GenSan and Sarangani” is part of the sportsbook’s nationwide campaign to promote the MPBL’s ongoing fourth regular season, while celebrating the cultural identities of different provinces.
Capitol Gymnasium in Alabel, Sarangani, taking place from September 9 to 10. The second part featured games among the returning teams of Bacolod and QC, the Muntinlupa Cagers, and the province’s very own Sarangani Marlins OKBet.
The Sarangani Marlins OKBet channeled their home court advantage against the Quezon City MG Cars last September 9 at the Sarangani Provincial Capital Gymnasium in Alabel, Sarangani.

Filipinas expect different kind of play vs. Costa Rica
Back-to-back basketball action Games kicked off on September 5 at the Lagao Gymnasium in GenSan, with the Bacoor City Strikers dominating the Quezon City MG Cars in the opening match, 96-77.
PH
“We always believe our team is strong, and the players affirmed this by helping each other to achieve their goal,” added Cruzad.
Winners from the previous night also squared off, with GenSan still capitalizing on their home court advantage and beating Bacoor by a single point in a nailbiting conclusion, 75-74.
Philippine women’s national team is looking forward to a different kind of game when it plays a series of friendlies next month.
In their first game, they play La Sele at 7 p.m. on October 7,2022 (9 a.m. October 8
SportsWEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022C2
Despite his exit, Laurio knows that he will bounce back and work on becoming a better mixed martial artist along the way.
Laurio was the first fighter eliminated from the show following a tough elimination process that Team Lakay patriarch Mark Sangiao did along with coaches Joshua Pacio and Geje Eustaquio of Team Passion and Team Gravity, respectively. Former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin Belingon, who was a guest coach in the first episode, also helped in the deliberation.

EJ Casana produced 23 excellent sets, feeding his middles to a string of points that spiked their romp in the first two frames.“It’sa big morale boost as we head to the semis,” said Umandal. “It’s a big motivation for us to finish at 5-1. But it’s a step-by-step process, there’s no time to relax, and we have to work doubly hard in Navytraining.”also finished with five kill blocks against Santa Rosa’s two while pouncing on the City Lions’ miscues to score 24 points while yielding 17 of their own errors.
PGJC-Navy imposed its will in the middle early then went to Jao Umandal in the third as the Sealions ended the Santa Rosa City Lions’ semis playoff hopes with a 25-12, 25-11, 25-22 victory in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the close of the elims at the Paco Arena in ManilaUmandalyesterday.drilled in the bulk of his 12-point output in the stretch where the Sealions had to dig deeper to thwart their young rivals’ last-ditch attempt to extend the match the latter virtually yielded in the face of the Sealions’ commanding performance in the first two sets.
inCitybundleSealionsoutLions3sets
The GenSan Warriors, meanwhile, clinched a very crucial victory against fellow South Division team Bacolod Bingo Plus, 76-73.
His lackluster performance against Lauron in the sparring match also exposed his weakness on the ground.
nothing but thrilling battles when the country’s leading college and university teams vie for the crown in the inaugural staging of the Shakey’s Super League 2022 Collegiate Pre-season Championship set to unwrap on 24 September at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Stajcic said their goal is to continue improving with the team, while waiting for the outcome of the official draw of the FIFA Women’s World Cup next month.

The next day, QC finally got a muchneeded win to regain their morale, defeating the embattled Muntinlupa in a close fight,
National coach Allen Stajcic said this as the Filipinas prepare to leave for Costa Rica in the next FIFA international window in October.
ACES chairman and CEO Philip Ella Juico, Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI) president and CEO Vicente Gregorio, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Noli Eala, coaches and team captains of participating teams were also present during the media launch.
By Roy Tomandao
Boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquaio, founder of the MPBL, was present at the event, initiating t he ceremonial toss in every game.
“We improved a lot, but there’s no doubt that expectations and goals are higher and
The win also crushed the City Lions’ bid for a crack at a playoff for the last Final Four seat, which is being disputed by VNS-One Alicia (2-3) and Army (14) at Santapresstime.Rosawound up with a 1-5 card for joint sixth with Ateneo-Fudgee Barr.
Explosive action at SuperShakey’sLeague
excited about this conference as we will be able to watch the best college and university teams compete before the start of their respective collegiate seasons,” said Dr. Ian Laurel, president of SSL organizer Athletic Events and Sports Management, Inc. (ACES), during the league’s press conference on Saturday at the Philippine Sports Commission Hall inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“So Christian, your elimination does not mean it’s over. Continue what you want to do. You have a good future and you will be successful,” said Sangiao. “We decided to eliminate Christian Paul. He’s very strong but for me, he lacks experience.”ONEWarrior Series Philippines continues every Sunday night on GTV, the ONE Super App, and watch.onefc.com.
The 24-year-old from Quezon City was pitted against Anacleto “L.A.” Lauron in a sparring match at the end of the first episode. A skilled striker, Laurio was eventually outdone on the ground tapping out to Lauron’s D’Arce choke in the first round.
“Of course, I’m sad first of all. I will miss my teammates,” said the Team Gravity fighter. “Coach [Geje] told me that my journey doesn’t end here, more opportunities will come. You have to keep on improving on what you started.”
“When I first moved to Atlanta, I was scared for myself. Sabi ko, ‘Kaya ko ba ‘to? Kaya ko ba yung hinahanap ko, yung gagawin ko?’ Syempre sa Pilipinas, andoon yung suporta ng mga kasama ko, my management, and everyone, my dad,” he said.
“I decided to go to Tita Karla because she treats me and Diego like her own children. When I went to their place, Daniel wasn’t there. It’s only her and Maggie. The Beks
As head of Synergy, he also leads the group that handles the Network’s sports partnerships including GMA’s coverage of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). GMA Synergy also produces local and international ticketed
“I just kept quiet when that rumor popped out. First of all, I became shy toward Kathryn Bernardo,” Barbie avers.
“That’s true! I’m glad that this was offered to me. Apart from working with Xi, I really missed acting. Lately, I am more into hosting and dancing guest appearances. So, this is simply a good development. I want to thank Viva for the opportunity they gave me,” she states.
AFP
GMA Network First Vice President for News Grace dela Peña Reyes likewise retired in June 2021 after over 33 years of service and is currently a Consultant for the GMA News Department.
“A lot of negative comments affected me throughout my life, but to be able to do something like this just feels good to be doing it not just for myself, but to be doing it
Stuck at home, she spends hours watching people through her window. She is still in her late 20s and just like most women her age, she also craves adventure. During one of her window escapades, she catches a beautiful woman having steamy sex in the apartment across the street. Because of her curiosity, Patricia becomes the other woman’s stalker.
for my family, for my dad, for my parents,” he said.
IN HER vlog, Barbie Imperial disproves the rumor linking her romantically with Daniel Padilla It all started when she was seen in the house of Daniel’s family last December. She was spotted in the video when the group Beks Battalion sang Christmas carols for the family.
Imperial clarifies that
by Paul Basinillo, is more than just a sexy feature. It’s fairly classy given the platform where it started streaming on September 16.
from an elite family and works as a doctor. The intimacy he should
control. The Escort Wife is written and produced by award-winning filmmaker Yam Laranas
her break-up with Diego Loyzaga
Like the monarch butterfly, Iñigo found the opportunity of a lifetime to break free from his cocoon and spread his wings. No longer will he be known only as the son of Piolo, but now for the steps he took to further his career and champion Filipino talent on a global platform.
Instead, boosted by a favorable critical reception — “Reviews are sensational,” said the FranchiseRe website — it exceeded analysts’ expectations, more than tripling the ticket sales of the next-highest finisher, 20th Century’s Barbarian
That woman is Chrissy, played by Ava
Concurrently, Amoros will continue to function as First Vice President and Head of Regional TV andAmorosoSynergy.is in charge of the operations, business development, and content and production –including local news, of GMA Network’s regional arm, GMA Regional TV.

out tunes to prove that he has what it takes to become a part of Hollywood’s entertainment industry.“
Lahat parang dream come true. I never thought I’d come to this point to be able to do a project like this,” Iñigo said. He also shared that his family supported his milestone and how surreal it felt watching the show’s first episode with them.
ABS-CBN’s efforts to continue to serve with entertaining and inspiring stories boost the company’s transition into being an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies, list of digital that appeal to a of audiences.
That horror film tells the story of a woman (Georgina Campbell) who checks into an AirBnB rental in a sketchy Detroit neighborhood only to find it has also been booked by an oh-so-creepy Bill Skarsgard Barbarian took in $6.3 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period.
fate
“I’m friends with both of them. I went there at the time when Diego (Loyzaga) and I just broke up. I needed their comfort and company since my mom wasn’t here at that time. As you all know, I’m close to Tita Karla as well and to Ms. Ara Mina because they both supported my relationship with Diego before so they’re my go-to people.”
Searchlight’s comic mystery See How They Run placed fourth in its opening weekend, at $3.1 million.
GMA Network appoints Oliver Victor B. Amoroso as Acting Head of the GMA News Group effective October 16. He will oversee the network’s News Group, which includes its onair programs as well as its digital platform, GMA News Online.

During times like this, Filipino fans offer their support to these celebrities as they represent the local showbiz industry on a global scale. Recently, Iñigo Pascual landed a lead role in Fox’s American musical drama television Monarch, where he works with a star-studded cast, including Susan Sarandon, Anna Friel, Trace Adkins, Beth Ditto, Joshua Sasse, and Meagan Holder
T HE WifeEscort , a originalVivamaxmoviedirected
Monarch features 11 episodes of country royalty, fame, and glamor built on secrets, lies, and deceit. It can be streamed exclusively on iWantTFC. New episodes drop every Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
In third place was a slasher film, Pearl, a new lowbudget release from A24, with ticket sales of just over $3.1 million. Mia Goth stars in a blood-soaked tale that involves the brutal use of both an axe and a pitchfork, on animals and humans.
The movie stars former beauty queen Janelle Tee (Kinsenas, Katapusan, Putahe, Secrets) who plays Patricia in the story. She is a pretty housewife who is also pretty bored.
Mendez (Pornstar 2: Pangalawang Putok, Ang Babaeng Nawawala Sa Sarili, Eva, Purificacion). Chrissy The sonhisthanheprovehopesactoryoungtothatismorejustfather’s ‘Woman King’ rules at the tills A scene from ‘The Woman King’ GMA Network names Amoroso as GMA News Group acting head GMA GroupofasAmorosoVictorHeadPresidentFirstandRegionalappointsNetworkGMATVSynergyViceandOliverB.ActingHeadGMANews ABS-CBNTikTokracksEntertainmentup1mfollowers ‘Mars Ravelo’s Darna’ is among theavailablecontent on Entertainment’sABS-CBNTikTokaccount



Always is the Philippine adaptation of the 2011 Korean film with the same title which was headlined by So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo. This is Kim’s maiden project under Viva and she’s very happy because the material is different from all the romantic comedies she and Xian have done in the past.
wants to quit being a prostitute, finish her
The new Sony release, loosely based on a true historical episode, stars Oscar-winner Viola Davis as the fierce general who leads an army known as the Agojie as it protects the 18th-century kingdom of Dahomey.Daysearlier, Davis told AFP that she felt “conflicted” because if the Black-led, womandominated film fell short, it would unfairly damage the prospects for future such endeavors.

out
She also confirms that her relationship with Diego ended in December and admits that she didn’t want to talk about the failed romance as she was still trying to wrap her head around the emotional state she was in.
studies, have a high-paying decent job, and become rich just like the men she goes to bed with. One of her clients happens to be Patricia’s husband, Roy (Raymond Bagatsing).

sharing with Patricia is diverted to Chrissy. When Patricia discovers their secret affair, her
By Patricia Taculao
The Kapamilya star is proud of the positive developments in her beau’s career.

Tee plays Patricia, a bored housewife who craves adventure (From left) Ava Mendez, Raymond Bagatsing, and Janelle Tee star in the Vivamax original movie ‘The Escort Wife’ Kim Chiu (right) with her real and reel partner Xian Lim What’s the real score between Barbie Imperial and Daniel Padilla?
The actress explains that she was there because of Karla and Daniel’s sister Maggie
There was no explanation why she was with Daniel’s mother Karla Estrada on the occasion. But rumors started to spread like wildfire.
A story on wild curiosity and misplaced sense of adventure
THE Woman King, an epic about an all-female army of African warriors, easily topped the North American box office this weekend with an estimated take of $19 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
FILIPINO talent in showbiz is one that people shouldn’t look down on. In some instances, local celebrities break the global barrier and become part of international projects that propel them to the center of the limelight.
In the first episode, Iñigo did more than just showcase his acting skills. He also belted
This latest milestone strengthens ABSCBN’s digital presence where its ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel is still the most subscribed channel in all of Southeast Asia with over 41 million subscribers and 53.5 billion lifetime views.
• • • Kim Chiu praised the acting her boyfriend Xian Lim exhibited in their latest potboiler titled, Always which also serves as their reunion vehicle after seven years. Their last movie together was the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry All You Need is Pag-ibig “Xian is much deeper now. He’s very intense. He was very much into the character. In fact, he underwent a strict diet. You’ll really admire his topless scenes. He is really more loveable now,” says Kim.

There is also this rumor that Daniel allegedly comforted and hugged her when she was crying over her break-up with Diego, which Barbie immediately dismisses.
Barbie Karla Estrada after
Iñigo Pascual proves naysayers wrong with ‘Monarch’ role
type who will fall for a guy who’s already in a relationship.
Sam Rockwell stars as an often-inebriated Scotland Yard detective, Saoirse Ronan as his eager but hapless assistant, and Adrien Brody as a sleazy Hollywood director in London to make a film version of Agatha Christie classic The Mousetrap – until intervenes.
Nickie
ABS-CBN Entertainment’s Facebook page also remains the most followed page in the Philippines with over 34 million followers.
Barbie says she’s not the
Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant
Iñigo added that through it all, he’s just proud to represent the Philippines. Still, he felt nervous working with a different cast. He recalled that during his callback for the auditions, he was a little tense when he saw the participants of the Zoom meeting were notUnlikeFilipino.when conversing with his fellow Filipinos, Iñigo felt like he doesn’t have the legroom to make a mistake.
“I respect whatever Kath and Daniel have. They’re in their tenth year. I respect their relationship and that holds true for any couple. I will never become the third party.”
Janelle
is her go-to person
“Xi is really different now. We haven’t collaborated on a project for quite some time now so I was really surprised. During the shooting, there were moments when I just stayed in our director’s booth and watched his scenes. We got impressed because his acting is so intense.”
Roy comes be fury is of
Coming into the project, Iñigo added, he felt like starting from ground zero. Yet fear wasn’t the only emotion that gripped him. Eventually, he saw this fresh start as an opportunity to make a name for himself and show what else he could do as an artist.
Entertainment WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 C3 E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com


ABS-CBN Entertainment marks another digital milestone as its TikTok account has earned over one million followers and more than 18 million likes.InAugust alone, its TikTok account quickly gained over 488,900 new followers and 8.8 million likes, according to the analytics firm SocialABS-CBNBlade. Entertainment’s videos reach up to millions of views, where followers are treated to content all day such as trending highlights and teasers from TV series Mars Ravelo’s Darna 2 Good 2 Be True , A Family Affair , and Love in 40 Days Followers can also watch a compilation of viral scenes and some of the most iconic lines from currently airing shows, updates from the hottest showbiz news, and find out what’s new and hot on the video sharing platform with “Kapamilya TikTok of the Week.”
Meanwhile,events.after over 32 years of service in the Kapuso Network, Senior Vice President of GMA News and Public Affairs Marissa L. Flores retired in June and will end her consultancy with the company on October 15.
However, not everyone shared in wishing Iñigo well. He shared that he heard people tell him that he won’t make it as an artist in the Philippines or he won’t be as good as his dad, Piolo Pascual
FurnishingEthnicstatuesBuddhaSittingfromHome

THE Indonesia Trade Expo held recently at the Event Center of SM Megamall gave mall-goers the rare opportunity to get a glimpse of our Southeast Asian neighbor’s rich culture, food, and lifestyle.Ajoint project of the Indonesian Embassy in Manila and G20 Indonesia, in partnership with Bank Indonesia and SM, the event was held just in time for the celebration of the 77th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia.Theexpo aimed to introduce and strengthen the awareness of Indonesian products to Filipino consumers - fashion and personal care items, handicrafts, and food and beverage products.
While preparing for the CCP light and sound show, we sat down with the light designer to know his vision of light design in general.

Light designer John Batalla
Prepping the lights for Sinag 2022
The light show opens on September 22 (Thurs) and runs until September 25, with shows from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 30-minute intervals.
As a technical theater and management student at UP Diliman, he honed his craft under Tony Mabesa, who was then the artistic director of Dulaang UP. Doing light design for the theater company’s rigorous performance seasons, he was able to develop his own distinct style.
EdVenture offers high-quality, affordable, and inclusive one-on-one tutorials in Math, Science, English, Filipino, Reading, and Araling Panlipunan to students in preschool to Grade 10. It has packages that provide intensive tutoring sessions and access to free and exclusive learning materials.

Prepping
the lights for Sinag 2022
with upcycled accessories such as necklaces made from tires, as well as watches and home decors made from bamboo. Ethnic Home Furnishing was a favorite among home enthusiasts with its collection of teak furniture and exquisite Balinese décor from the islands of Indonesia.
GL: When designing light, what is your approach to creating the right feel and aesthetics for the audience?
GL: What is more helpful in light design –the knowledge of technology, experience, or is it intuition/creativity?

The spectacle opens with the first suite, dubbed Katotohanan / Truth, featuring the birth of Filipino culture amid the sounds of nature and various indigenous instrumentations. Gobo patterns of indigenous fabrics vis-à-vis broken leaf patterns give this segment a subdued feel.
H.E. Indonesian Ambassador Agus Widjojo (center) with SM’s Millie Dizon (3rd from right), President Steven Tan (2nd from right) and AVP for Operation Christian Mathay (leftmost), together with Indonesian Embassy in Manila Minister Counsellor Kusuma Pradopo, Charge d’affaires Widya Rahmanto, and Trade Attaché Martin Pandapotan

Life C4 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 Nickie Wang, Editor Joba Botana, Associate Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

JB: I think all (lighting) designers have their
own styles or trademarks that differentiate them from the rest and we can’t really put a finger on what these particular styles are. I personally design from a place of feeling, what mood a piece of music makes me feel, or how I want the audience to feel at a specific point in a piece – that’s how I judge if what I’m doing is effective, if it makes people see and therefore feel a certain way.
H.E. Indonesian Ambassador Agus Widjojo led the opening ceremony with a welcome remark. Indonesian Embassy Minister Counsellor Kusuma Pradopo Charge d’affaires Widya Rahmanto Trade Attache Martin Pandapotan SM representatives, and diplomats from other embassies were also present during the trade
JB: Time and money are always a challenge in any project, but Pinoys are great at making things with what they have, and this project is no different. We’re hoping for good weather because we all learned our lesson from Sinag 2019 when bad weather can ruin all the best plans. We’ve made changes and are using all weatherproof lighting (proprietary waterproof moving head luminaires) this time around so rain or shine, Sinag 2022 will go on.
Casting light on truth, goodness, and beauty
GL: For this specific project, what effects do you aim for? What emotions do you want to invoke?
The event also featured a cooking demo by Rodamas Inti Internasional using their signature seasoning products. The Indonesian Embassy staff also led cultural dances and promo games which the mallgoers enjoyed.

The series, to be hosted by Ate Michelle, started airing on September 19, with the rest of the episodes slated to come out on September 26, October 3, and 10 from 11 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Knowledge Channel’s Facebook, and the FYE channel on Kumu. It will also be aired on Knowledge Channel TV every Friday with replays every Saturday and Sunday at 6:40 a.m. and 6:40 p.m.
Wikaharian is a project of the Knowledge Channel to promote reading and numeracy through arts and culture. Knowledge Channel is the first and only curriculum-based educational television channel in the Philippines owned and operated by Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc.“EdVenture’s collaboration with Knowledge Channel is part of our advocacy to provide 21st-century quality education to Filipino learners while increasing the quality of life of Filipino teachers. Through Wikaharian, we hope to help develop an interest in reading among children and make learning fun for them,” said Cristina Gervasio, EdVenture Entrepreneur-in-Residence.Theplatformcontinues to integrate technology into the teaching-learning process of students and equip parents with what they need to catalyze educational transformation. At the same time, it provides additional income to hundreds of Filipino teachers.
Dr. Paskawani Magdalena Marpaung, wife of Indonesian Embassy Trade Attaché Martin Pandapotan; Mrs. Yulaida Pradopo, wife of Minister Counsellor Kusuma Pradopo; Mme. Ranny Agus Widjojo, wife of H.E. Indonesian Ambassador Agus Widjojo; Tri Ameiriana, Bank Indonesia – Singapore Deputy Director; and Trade Attaché Martin Pandapotan
and Marie Duo biscuits from Makarios Philippines were among the crowd favorites. Popular Indonesian coffee brand Kopiko and cereal mix Energen from PT. Mayora were highlighted, as well as Thai Milk Tea and Thai Milk Coffee of Ichitan Indonesia. Aice Ice Cream also got its following during theAlfamartexpo. Philippines, a joint venture between the SM Group and PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk (Alfamart Indonesia) likewise showcased its grocery items.
satay
A glimpse of Indonesia’s rich culture, food, and lifestyle

Duringfair.the three-day exposition, nearly 20 Indonesian companies featured their international and locally available products. Indonesian restaurant, Bakmi Nyonya, offered authentic Indonesian dishes such as nasi goreng and chicken
Dexa Medica PH, one of Indonesia’s largest pharmaceutical companies; food supplements like syrup Lola Remedios, Ellips Cologne and Ellips Hair Vitamin from Kino Consumer, and Diabetasol and Entrasol from PT Kalbe Farma Tbk.
Dubbed Sinag 2022: Light and Sound Spectacle Batalla experimented purely with lighting to evoke feelings, thoughts, and moods to celebrate the CCP anniversary post-pandemic. He partnered with sound designer Jethro Joaquin to curate the soundscape for the show, providing a cleaner and more nuanced bed for the light show.
The final suite (Kagandahan / Beauty) explores the idea of what “Filipino” is right now, a great melting pot of many things and unabashed and unapologetic.“Themusic is upbeat and driving and peppered with quotable quotes from many Filipinos that have now become part of the zeitgeist. The mood is hopeful and celebratory and the lighting reflects that, with movement and color all across the façade and fountain,” said Batalla.
EDVENTURE, the edutech startup of Globe’s corporate venture builder 917Ventures, has partnered with the Knowledge Channel to produce entertaining and educational episodes of Wikaharian, an animated series of Filipino lessons.The partnership seeks to teach Filipino students through reading with the Marungko method. This approach is designed to improve students’ reading skills by introducing letters based on sound instead of the traditional arrangement. The letters are then used in localized and contextualized songs and poems for the students to remember and learn them better.EdVenture tutor Lara Flores, an experienced public school teacher majoring in Filipino, will be the guest storyteller on Wikaharian Online World for four episodes.
GL: How challenging is it to create a light and sound show using the CCP façade? What are the limitations?
JB: Every time we try to teach lighting, the ethereal and intangible is always the hardest part to get through. Yes, with the tools of modern lighting things have gotten easier to some extent and equally more complicated with the digitization of all things. I think the creative aspect of light design comes from a full understanding of the technology involved as well as the designer’s personal experiences. A Filipino light designer’s sunset can look very different from a light designer from Europe or the US.
Milkita candies from United Family Food Phil., Inc., Richeese and Richoco Big Rolls wafer from Enerlife Philippines, Inc./Linkage Food,
“Lighting is visual but can only represent ideas never literally. Through a curated soundscape of music and Filipino soundscapes, we want people to feel and see a representation of what Pinoy culture has become,” shard Batalla.
IGHTING has always fascinated John Batalla. Its various facets such as colors, patterns, and movements have inspired the light designer to pursue this artistic path 28 years ago.
After graduating, he further enhanced his skills by working with various theater and dance companies, even crossing over to live events, TV productions, concerts, and what have you.
Known for creating vibrant onstage scenes using lights, Batalla received Gawad Buhay awards for outstanding lighting design in theater production for various productions produced by different theater and dance companies.
Synced with a musical bed of traditional Filipino folk songs modernized with beats, the second suite (Kabutihan / Goodness) is peppered with bits and pieces of indigenous instruments as it fades into an idyllic representation of the Filipino sound. The lighting imagery deals with colors and blocks as an artistic reimagining of the painting styles of Fernando Amorsolo, Hidalgo, and Juan Luna, among“Thereothers.areno literal images projected on the façade but rather a more romantic take on how colors and patterns evoke a Filipino Idea. The baybayin text for Kabutihan also ends up projected on the building at some point during the suite,” shared Batalla.
L
Batalla and Joaquin interpreted the three transcendentals of “Truth, Goodness, and Beauty” for Sinag 2022. Composed of three suites, the light show will last for 10 minutes.
Learn more about EdVenture by visiting https://edventure.ph/
This year, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, through the Production Design and Technical Services Division, tapped Batalla to create a light and sound show on the facade of the CCP Main Building to celebrate its 53rd anniversary.
Shoppers also got the chance to try Bawang Goreng or crispy fried shallots, Tempe (soybean) Chips, and Cassava Chips from One Food under Bank Indonesia, as well as took home varieties of Sasa Seasoned Flour and Sasa Coconut cream powder from Rodamas Inti Internasional. Meanwhile, PT. Indofood CBP. sold packs of its famous Indomie InstantTanivestNoodles.Group under Bank Indonesia also showed how style could be sustainable
Indonesian health and wellness and personal care products were also highlighted during the fair. These included beauty products from Chrizlyn Joy Beauty & Wellness, herbal supplements from Glorius
Improving
Filipinothroughreadingstudents’skillsmodernalphabet learnersFilipinoamongeducationqualitytoanChannelKnowledgewithcollaborationEdVenture’sisadvocacypromote
JB: Sinag 2022 is a celebration first and foremost. In an age of digital media and instant satisfaction, we want people to remember what it is to be Filipino, and how far we’ve come as a people. The past can seem so far removed from daily life but it still has brought us to today and changed us for the better. We want the audience to feel pride in their Filipino-ness, here and now especially after the pandemic.
GL: What makes light magical to you?
JB: What I find magical about lighting is that we are all drawn to it, like a moth to a flame, like that which is at the end of a tunnel, like ancient people’s fascination with the sun and moon. It is ingrained in all of us, we may not understand it fully but we are moved by light nonetheless.