Manila Standard - 2022 October 7 - Friday

People’s wish: Check inflation

Pulse Asia: Gov't gets high marks in all nat'l issues but for rising prices

By Julito G. Rada, Othel V. Campos and Maricel V. Cruz

MOST Filipinos see the need to control inflation as the most urgent issue that requires the government’s immediate attention, a recent Pulse Asia survey shows.

workers’ pay at 44 percent; creating more jobs at 35 percent and reducing poverty at 34 percent.

The administration of President Ferdi nand Marcos Jr. received mostly positive ratings in addressing various national is sues, except in controlling the increasing prices of basic commodities.

The administration got high net ap proval ratings in 12 out of 13 national is sues, with its highest net rating at +75 for

responding in calamity-hit areas.

However, the national government re ceived a -11 rating for its performance in addressing inflation.

Other national concerns were: fighting graft and corruption (22 percent), fighting criminality (19 percent), addressing in voluntary hunger (17 percent), enforcing the law on influential or ordinary people (12 percent), providing support to micro, small and medium businesses (9 percent)

and stopping environmental destruction and abuse (9 percent).

Controlling the spread of COVID-19 and defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners were both at only 5 percent.

On Wednesday, the Philippine Statis tics Authority reported that inflation rose to a four-year high of 6.9 percent in Sep tember from 6.3 percent a month ago,

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Speaker lauds President for steady recovery path

By Maricel V. Cruz

WITH President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. marking his first 100 days in office to day, House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Thursday lauded him for steering the country in the right direction “of robust economic growth” and gaining steady progress toward full recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Philippines is right on track, and is sprinting steadily during the first 100 days of the administration of Presi dent Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Our econo my has bounced back from the ravages brought by the global pandemic and has already reached the first stage to full re covery,” Romualdez said.

“The future indeed looks brighter un der the Marcos administration.

PBBM vows to boost agri sector, fight hunger

By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thurs day vowed to strengthen the agricultural sector and continue to fight hunger across the country as he cited several government programs de signed to help farmers and fishermen, which

includes fuel discounts.

Speaking at the opening of Agrilink/Foodlink/ Aqualink Trade Fairs 2022 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Mr. Marcos assured the public he has been prioritizing the agriculture sector ever since the beginning of his term.

By Vito Barcelo, Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he would announce his next press secretary next week from a shortlist of three, saying he would pick one that is a friend of the press and an experienced media practitioner.

The President also reappointed

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)

Secretary Ivan John Uy and Commission on Elections commissioner Nelson Celis after they were bypassed by the Commission on Appointments.

Mr. Marcos also tapped lawyer Ernesto Maceda Jr. as Comelec commissioner for a term that will expire on Feb. 2, 2029.

COVID-19 has dealt the "biggest set back" to global poverty reduction efforts in decades, and the World Bank warned Wednesday that the goal to eradicate ex treme poverty by 2030 likely remains out of reach.

Poverty rose sharply during the pan demic, and the development lender es timates about 70 million people were pushed into extreme poverty in 2020, the biggest one-year spike since monitoring began in 1990.

The report offers the first tally of those struggling to live on less than $2.15 (P126.25) a day, the new global definition of extreme poverty, but fol lows many warnings from the global development lender that poorer nations are being left behind.

Earlier this year the institution warned

By Vito Barcelo

POLICE

footage

identify his killers, adding that they already have a lead on the case.

Wednesday said the dash

the car of slain broadcaster Percival Mabasa could help

The footage, which was released Wednesday, showed the motorcycle that the gunmen used in the ambush

in Las Piñas City. It also showed the gunmen going to Mabasa’s side of his vehicle before gunshots were heard. The killers were seen fleeing the scene.

ATTACK.

INVESTIGATION BUREAU

BANGKOK – A former police officer shot dead at least 35 people, including 23 children, when he stormed a nurs ery in Thailand on Thursday in one of the kingdom's deadliest mass killings.

Following the attack, gunman Pan ya Khamrab went home and killed his

wife and child before taking his own life, police said.

Armed with a shotgun, pistol and knife, Khamrab opened fire on the childcare center in northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province at about 12:30 p.m. (0530 GMT).

‘4 Sino vessels in Bajo de Masinloc’

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday it spotted four Chinese coast guard vessels in the waters off Bajo De Masinloc, also known as Panatag Shoal, during a recent aerial surveillance mission.

Two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were spotted inside the shoal, which is about 124 nautical miles west of Zambales, the PCG said in a state ment.

“Two Chinese militia vessels were also observed outside the said vicinity waters,” it added after its fly-over using its Cessna 208 Caravan.

No challenges were made by either

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driven mainly by faster increases in the price of food and non-alcoholic bever ages.

The 66 percent who regarded control ling inflation as the most urgent concern was nine percentage points higher than last June's 57 percent, Pulse Asia said.

The Pulse Asia survey had a ± 2.8% er ror margin at 95 percent confidence level.

Economists on Thursday said mini mum wage earners are expected to tight en their belts further because they are the ones most affected by the soaring inflation rate, which reduces their ability to spend for basic necessities and services.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said higher inflation would result in higher costs but lower profits for companies that may trigger job losses and layoffs.

“The inflation at a new four-year high of 6.9 percent would fundamentally re duce the purchasing power of Filipinos, especially the poor with limited incomes or budgets, as more of the income and savings would be allocated to paying for higher prices instead of increased spend ing on consumption, which account for about 68 percent of the economy,” he said.

“This is a global problem, as other de veloped countries have higher inflation rates of around 8 percent to 10 percent,” Ricafort said.

“Thus, the immediate response is to be conservative in spending by avoiding unnecessary expenditure, save more, and buy lower-priced alternative products and services,” he said.

Ricafort said that while minimum wages were increased by more than 6 percent in the middle of the year, prices

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Businesses now ramping up activity, new jobs are created, and lost jobs are restored, and economic activities have turned dynamic once again,” he added in a statement.

Meanwhile, the President believes he has successfully assembled a “functional” government composed of the best and the brightest Cabinet members as he marks his first 100 days in office on October 8.

“I think what we have managed to do in the first 100 days is put together a gov ernment that is functional and which has a very, very good idea of what we are tar geting in terms of strict economic targets for example, in terms of the numbers of growth, the numbers of our different mea sures, the different metrics that we are us

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that as many as 95 million people would fall back into extreme poverty by the end of this year.

War in Ukraine, rising inflation, and slowing global growth have put further pressure on the bank's mission to lift people out of poverty.

"Inflation, currency depreciations, and broader overlapping crises" point to a grim outlook, World Bank President David Malpass said in a statement.

"Progress in reducing extreme pov erty has essentially halted in tandem with subdued global economic growth," he said.

Global extreme poverty had fallen to 8.4 percent by 2019 from 38 percent in 1990, but the pandemic triggered the first rise in more than two decades.

Amid the setbacks, the report proj ects the global extreme poverty rate for

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Police Colonel Jakkapat Vijitraithaya from the province where the attack hap pened told AFP that the gunman killed 35 people, including 23 children, and wounded 12 others.

The 34-year-old former police lieuten ant colonel had been dismissed from the force last year for drug use, Vijitraithaya added.

group during the aerial surveillance, the local Coast Guard noted.

The Department of Defense and the National Task Force on the West Phil ippine Sea have yet to comment on the presence of Chinese vessels as of press time.

The BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV8301) and BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406) were also seen near Bajo De Masinloc’s

of other goods and services posted bigger increases. “Thus, given limited incomes/ budgets especially by the poor, they may have to tighten their belts further or could even borrow due to higher prices/infla tion,” he said.

"The hardest hit sectors by higher in flation are the poor, in view of the limited incomes and budgets and skewed more on basic necessities such as food, shel ter, utilities, transportation," Ricafort told Manila Standard.

He said considering that the economy has just recovered from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lock downs in terms of reduced employment, business and livelihood, higher prices would offset the gains as the economy opened further towards greater normalcy.

"Businesses and industries that are subject to higher competition from lowerpriced alternatives locally and globally [such as competition from cheaper im ports and other substitutes or alternatives] are at risk of absorbing the higher costs of operations to maintain competitiveness of their product offering that could lead to narrower or tighter profit margins, lower income, or could even lead to losses," Ricafort said.

Ricafort said the resulting cost-cutting and austerity measures "could potentially lead to layoffs and job losses."

Robert Dan Roces, chief economist of Security Bank Corp., said the 6.9-percent inflation will diminish the purchasing power of Filipinos.

In June, 14 regional wage boards is sued their respective wage orders grant ing pay hikes ranging between P30 and P110. For instance, in the National Capi tal Region, the minimum wage was in creased by P33 to P570 for workers in the non-agriculture sector and P533 for those in the agriculture sector.

In Central Luzon, the minimum wage

ing for the economy,” he said Wednesday night in a press conference.

Mr. Marcos, who became the country’s 17th Chief Executive on June 30, was the guest of honor during the President’s Night organized by the Manila Overseas Press Club held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City on Wednesday.

He said he was very grateful to his Cabinet members, particularly his eco nomic managers, for their efforts to put in place plans to “transform” the post-pan demic economy.

As President, he admitted he was con cerned about being regarded as only doing the bare minimum, but instead managed to “galvanize” the government by reminding them of the urgency of working for the bet terment of the nation and country.

“I think all of those at least in the higher positions in government and even slowly it's filtering down to the rank and file are

2030 will only fall to seven percent or nearly 600 million people.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 60 percent of all people in extreme pov erty, according to the bank, and historydefying growth rates for the rest of the decade would be needed to hit poverty reduction targets.

While wealthy countries generally had the resources to cushion the eco nomic blow from the pandemic, this was not the case for developing economies.

Income losses of the world's poorest countries were twice as high as in their richer counterparts, causing global in equality to rise for the first time in de cades, the report said.

"Over the next decade, investing in bet ter health and education will be crucial for developing economies," said World Bank Chief Economist Indermit Gill.

Governments should favor targeted cash transfers over broad subsidies to support poor and vulnerable groups, the World Bank added. AFP

Eyewitness Paweena Purichan, 31, was riding her motorcycle to her shop when she encountered the fleeing Panya driving erratically.

"He intended to crash into others on the road," she told AFP.

"The attacker rammed a motorbike and two people were injured. I sped off to get away from him."

"There was blood everywhere."

Paweena said the attacker was well known in the area as a drug addict.

Video footage after the incident showed

mouth to ensure the safety and security of Filipino fishermen.

Some 30 to 40 Filipino fishing boats were also observed during the over flight, the PCG said.

PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said personnel onboard the capital ships regularly distribute relief supplies to the fishermen.

Medical teams also provide free health check-ups to those who need them during operations, he added.

China gained control of the shoal after a standoff between Chinese and Philippine vessels in 2012. Since then, several Chinese Coast Guard ships have guarded the shoal as China seeks

ranges from P414 to P460, while that in Aurora province ranges from P344 to P409.

Despite these minimum wage in creases, the poor will have to tighten their belts further or could even borrow due to higher inflation.

Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chairman of the House ways and means committee, recommended that President Marcos issue a string of execu tive actions to ensure that price increases are contained.

“The problem is primarily in food, feed, especially corn, and fuel. These are the most essential components of the bas ket of goods. And they are vulnerable, to some extent, to global price volatility due to imports," Salceda said.

The peso’s weakness against the US dollar, global demand, and the high costs of fertilizer and fuel are threats to both the availability and affordability of the coun try’s food, feed and fuel supply, Salceda warned.

Salceda also warned that higher prices could lead to smuggling, and pointed out the need for better inter-island transport linkages.

Salceda said there was a need to ensure the domestic food supply, lower the costs of imported feeds and input products such as sugar, and optimize the use and supply of indigenous energy sources to lower de pendence on imported oil.

He said a number of executive and administrative orders could address these needs.

These include orders to release all available financial and material resources for agriculture, to ensure that all supply bottlenecks for food and other farm pro ducers are eased, and to direct local gov ernment units to lift all hindrances across farm-to-market routes.

He also recommended lowering tariffs

beginning to feel that there is a point to government, there is something that we need to be doing,” Mr. Marcos said.

The President has also done "very well" in engaging the international busi ness community, and this was evident in the latter's most recent trip to Singapore, the Speaker added in a chance interview with reporters Thursday.

"I think he’s done very well. They now know—our friends in the region know— that the Philippines is open for business and that the Marcos administration, his administration is ushering in a whole new environment for business and invest ments and that would augur well for the economy, especially during these times," Romualdez said.

The President flew to Singapore last Saturday at the invitation of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who invited the Filipino leader to watch the

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“I want someone who knows messaging well to get important information across,” Marcos said, after Trixie Cruz-Angeles resigned from the post early this week citing health issues.

“We are down to a shortlist of three. So, we’re trimming it down,” he said but declined to name the three people on the shortlist.

Speculation on social media focused on several candidates for the job, including Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. director Gilbert Remulla, lawyer Michael Toledo, and filmmaker Paul Soriano.

Of the four, Toledo, Remulla and Chavez were former media practitioners.

Remulla was a former reporter of ABS-CBN, Toledo was a former news anchor of TV-5, while Chavez was a

distraught parents weeping in a shelter out side the nursery, a yellow-walled singlestorey building set in a garden.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-OCha said he had ordered the national po lice chief to "fast-track an investigation."

"Concerning this horrifying incident... I would like to express my deepest sor row and condolences to the families of the dead and injured," Prayut wrote on his of ficial Facebook page.

Thailand forms part of Southeast Asia's so-called Golden Triangle which

to strengthen its grip over the vast wa terway.

The Philippine government sued China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2013, and the court ruled in favor of the country in July 2016 when it junked China's ninedash claim over the South China Sea.

In the same ruling, the PCA also ruled that the Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and Recto (Reed) Bank are within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The court also deemed Panatag Shoal as a common fishing ground and out lawed China's aggression toward Fili pino fishermen there.

on imported corn to 5 percent, or raising the minimum access volume, and increas ing the current 150,000 MT import pro gram for refined sugar under an auction system to generate revenues that can sup port domestic sugar production.

Also on Thursday, Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. filed a House resolution urging the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to retain the existing limits on cred it card charges to help Filipino consumers cope with rampant inflation.

In House Resolution No. 459, Campos pressed the banking regulator to preserve the 2 percent maximum monthly interest rate on unpaid outstanding credit card bal ances.

“We want the BSP to keep credit card pricing reasonable and within reach of consumers that are now reeling from the soaring cost of goods and services,” Cam pos said in a statement on Thursday.

“Salaried Filipinos are struggling to make ends meet. They are increasingly relying on their credit cards to make es sential purchases and to pay bills, includ ing the tuition fees of their children,” Campos said.

In his resolution, Campos also prod ded the BSP to maintain the maximum 1 percent monthly add-on rate on credit card installment loans and a P200 per transaction ceiling on cash advance pro cessing fees.

The BSP is set to review all three thresholds next month. In three prior semi-annual reviews, the banking regula tor decided to keep the caps.

“The lifting of the ceilings would only aggravate the financial burden of consum ers,” Campos said.

More than 10.3 million Filipinos have been issued credit cards. The banking system’s credit card receivables stood at P478.4 billion as of June 30, 2022, ac cording to the BSP.

Formula One Grand Prix race in the city.

Romualdez and other government of ficials accompanied Mr. Marcos, who made a state visit to Singapore last Sep tember 4 to 7, on the weekend trip.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III told the Chief Ex ecutive to “keep his eyes on the ball” con sidering his overwhelming mandate from Filipinos, 31 million of whom voted him into power in the May 9 elections.

While he believes that the President is trying his best as a leader, Pimentel ad vised Mr. Marcos to focus on the coun try’s battles with rising inflation, the high cost of fuel, and joblessness.

“I believe he’s trying his best, but he has to minimize his movements and ac tivities, which give us a hint of some in sensitivity to what our people are going through right now,” he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

former station manager of dzRH. Toledo and Remulla seemed willing to join the Cabinet while Chavez and Soriano said there were better candidates than them.

A former Press Secretary for thenPresident Joseph Estrada, Toledo said he was not aware of any shortlist for the position “but if I am indeed in the shortlist, then I consider it to be an honor in itself.”

He is the current Government and Public Affairs head of the Manny Pangilinan-led MPIC.

Remulla at present is a director of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR).

"I'm in a process of deep discernment. I did not apply. However, I am at PAGCOR, enjoying and concentrating on my role here as a director. I'm flattered that I'm being considered, and I serve at the pleasure of the President," he said.

Chavez, in a phone interview with reporters, admitted he was “being considered” as Press Secretary but refused to give further details.

has long been an infamous hotspot for the trafficking and abuse of drugs.

Surging supplies of methamphetamine have sent street prices crashing in Thai land to all-time lows, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

The mass killing comes less than a month after a serving army officer shot dead two colleagues at a military training base in the capital Bangkok.

While Thailand has high rates of gun ownership, mass shootings are extremely rare.

French author Annie Ernaux wins Nobel for literature

FRENCH author Annie Ernaux, known for her deceptively simple novels draw ing on personal experience of class and gender, won the Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday, the jury announced.

Ernaux, 82, was honored "for the cour age and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory," the jury said.

Interviewed on Swedish television immediately after the announcement, Er naux called it a "very great honor" and "a great responsibility."

Her more than 20 books, many of which have been school texts in France for decades, offer one of the most subtle, insightful windows into the social life of modern France.

Above all Ernaux's crystalline prose has excavated her own passage from working-class girl to the literary elite, casting a critical eye on social structures and her own complicated emotions.

Her legacy is the grit in the French lit erary oyster, or as she puts it, to offer an alternative to the "unconditional admira tion for the pretty phrase."

"In her writing, Ernaux consistently and from different angles, examines a life marked by strong disparities regarding gender, language and class," the Swedish Academy noted. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

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“The strengthening of the agricultural sector is the strengthening of survival, the strengthening of life. And that is how important we have always considered the agricultural sector. And that is why I took on the portfolio,” Mr. Marcos, who cur rently sits as Agriculture Secretary, said.

“We will build ourselves back bet ter together with the people who have been our bedrock of strength and of sus tenance, even in the most challenging times,” he said.

“But the work to improve our agricul tural sector and improve the plight of our farmers and fisherfolk has only just be gun. We need to continue to open more opportunities to improve their well-be ing,” the President said.

The Agrilink, Foodlink, Aqualink 2022, held at the World Trade Center, is the coun try’s premier international trade exhibition in agriculture, food, and aquaculture.

The Department of Agriculture cur rently distributes P5,000 each to farm ers under the Rice Competitiveness En hancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) and P3,000 each under the Fuel Discount Program for Corn Farmers and Fisherfolk.

Mr. Marcos noted that as soon as he took office as President, he decided to take on the portfolio of the Secretary of Agriculture, not only to highlight the im portance his administration puts on the agricultural sector but also to accelerate the development of the value chain.

“The strengthening of all our services that we give to our people in terms of food production, in terms of food supply, and our efforts to keep all our food prod ucts, all our agricultural commodities at a price that ordinary citizens can afford,” the President continued. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

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Mabasa’s car hit the vehicle in front of it after the gunshots were heard.

Police said they were reviewing CCTV footage showing the gunmen following Mabasa into a residential village in Las Piñas.

Meanwhile, the Palace said the government is ready to help the family of Mabasa, popularly known as Percy Lapid.

“We are ready to help. The President wants to send that message,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told Mabasa’s widow and son.

He said the President has ordered Palace officials to keep an eye on the investigation into the journalist’s killing.

He assured Mabasa’s family that everything would be done to get to the bottom of his killing.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos earlier offered a P500,000 reward for any information that will lead to the arrest of those responsible for Mabasa’s murder.

"I'm taking this on my own as a family friend. I'm offering P500,000 of my own money for any information that can help us," he said.

Mabasa's brother, Roy, who is also a journalist, welcomed the reward offer.

"It is good they are offering a reward because that will help to hasten the processes of investigation," he said.

Mabasa was the host of the online broadcast program “Lapid Fire” at DWBL 1242 and a columnist for Hataw.

He was critical of the policies of the Duterte and Marcos administrations.

SSS condones penalties on delinquent loans

By Rio N. Araja

THE Social Security System (SSS) has launched a new penalty condonation program meant to help members settle their delinquent loans.

SSS president and chief executive officer Michael Regino urged mem bers with unpaid short-term loans to take advantage of the penalty condo nation scheme.

SSS members who may avail them selves of the penalty condonation pro gram are those with outstanding salary loans, including salary loan early re newal program, calamity loan, emer gency loan, and restructured loan.

“We continuously offer loan penalty condonation programs to help our mem

bers settle their loan balances without penalties and regain their good standing with the SSS,” Regino explained.

Under the program, SSS will com bine the principal and interest of a member’s past-due short-term loans into one consolidated loan, while all unpaid penalties will be consolidated and condoned upon full payment of the consolidated loan.

Interested members must meet the re quirements to qualify for the program. They must have a past-due short-term

member loan at the time of their ap plication, have not been granted any final benefit such as permanent total disability or retirement, have not been disqualified due to fraud committed against the SSS, and have an active My.SSS account.

Regino said members may pay their consolidated loan through a one-time payment within 30 calendar days after receiving the approval notice or they may also opt to pay through installment.

Under the installment scheme, the members must pay a down payment equivalent to at least 10 percent of the consolidated loan within 30 calendar days after receiving the approval notice.

T hey could pay the remaining bal ance for up to 60 months, depending on the amount.

USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks and Palawan Governor Victorino Dennis Socrates presented the awards.

Cited were the Siete Pecados Marine Park as best managed MPA, followed by San Jose MPA as best emerging MPA, while the Balisugan and Bulalaco MPS were recognized as best community managed and best locally managed MPAs, respectively.The Calamianes MPA network, an inter-local government unit alliance of Busuanga, Coron, Culion and Linapacan, received a special award.

BI: Beware of online scam by fake agency personnel

By Vito Barcelo

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) warns the public against the proliferation of fake social media accounts on Facebook using the photos and information of its employees, as well as the of ficial seal of the agency to trick their prospective victims into transacting with them.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued the warning amid reports that the scammer use social media accounts to introduce themselves as BI personnel.

“These scammers disguise themselves as immigration lawyers and legal officers. They create profiles using photos of our employ ees, their badges, and even the logo of the bureau,” Tansingco said.

He reiterated that BI employees are not authorized to coordinate and make transactions outside BI facilities and after office hours.

“There have been reports in the past where fake social media profiles have fueled scams and have gotten people duped out of money,” Tansingco said.

Tansingco expressed dismay over the increasing number of fake social media posts , saying “it is illegal to assume the iden tity of others, more so to demand money from anyone using the government’s name.”

“The BI strongly also admonish the public against internet ac quaintances. Remain keen to avoid being victimized,” he added.

The bureau has coordinated with the Cybercrime Investiga tion and Coordinating Center (CICC) with a view of address ing such challenges.

IN BRIEF

CAAP, Baguio City gear up to reopen Loakan airport

THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the local government of Baguio City are mapping out plans for the reopening of the Loakan Airport to boost the city’s tourism industry.

CAAP officials led by acting director general Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo on Wednesday met with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Philippine Airlines president and chief officer Stanley Ng, and representatives from the city tourism office to discuss the launching of commercial flights between Loakan and Mactan, Cebu.

T he CAAP has allocated funds for the rehabilitation of the Loakan airport’s passenger terminal building, to include the improvement of its instrument landing system (ILS) and run way extension by 100 meters.

Local officials said the CAAP will shoulder the expenses for the overall improvement of the facilities of the airport and the procurement of the required aviation equipment.

T he CAAP and the Baguio City government expect to re sume the airport’s operations by the end of the year. PAL will conduct the test flights prior to the resumption of full com mercial operations.

“We are ready for the resumption before the end of the year, but it is up to the local government when will be the exact date,” said CAAP chief information officer Eric Apolonio.

According to Apolonio, year 2012 was the last flight opera tion of commercial aircraft Sky Pasada at the airport but it never closed for general aviation. Joel E. Zurbano

Research set on journalist’s energy conversion invention

A FOUR-MAN team of professionals has joined hands with a research group to conduct extensive studies on a Philippine patented energy conversion model (ECM) developed by a journalist covering the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

A private institution has offered to bankroll the year-long study on the 8.66 kVA ECM developed by journalist Nash B. Maulana, a columnist of The Mindanao Cross in Cotabato City, and a news correspondent for the Manila Standard.

The collaboration involves three engineers and a social scientist from Manila to study Maulana’s model, by considering a full-scale development, among others, and to explain its social impact.

Chemical engineer Mc Erschad Pabillan from the Univer sity of the Philippines in Diliman said he will be assigned to study the sizing, rating, chemical makeup and reactions in an energy storage when used in Maulana’s Electricity Conver sion Program (ECP) on an industrial scale. He said the two other members of his team are one electrical engineer and a mechanical engineer from Mindanao.

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS OF PALAWAN. The United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has recognized and granted awards to four of Palawan’s best marine protected areas (MPAs).

News

‘Pork barrel funds anti-terror plans’

DEPARTMENT of Budget (DBM) Undersecretary Tina Rose Canda disclosed that P19.24 billion was released to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict NTF-ELCAC, including P16.4 billion for special purpose funds (SPF).

In a Senate Finance Committee hear ing, the official also disclosed that the projects of the government’s anti-in surgency task force are identified only during its implementation, prompting Senator Sonny Angara to call the funds for these projects “pork barrel,” GMA News reported.

Pork barrel is declared unconstitu tional by the Supreme Court. It refers to lumpsum and discretionary funds

DOJ has list of 301 PDLs set for release

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Office of the President has re turned to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the list of 301 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who have been rec ommended for executive clemency.

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO)

Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta said on Thursday that more PDLs will be freed starting October 25, despite the delay due to established processes.

Acosta said the returned list of PDLs was earlier approved by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and submitted to Malacanang during the Sept. 13 birthday of President Ferdi nand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“We are reviewing the recommen dation that we previously sent to the Palace. The paper was returned to le gal),” Acosta said in a media briefing.

The PAO chief earlier appealed to the Office of the President to approve those recommended for release most of whom are elderly and ailing PDLs.

According to her, the DOJ and concerned agencies are preparing to release a large number of PDLs this month of October similar to the 371 inmates freed last Sept. 13.

“On Oct. 25, we are set to release more PDLs and the ceremony will be led by Secretary Remulla,” she said.

earmarked for lawmakers in the nation al budget for their pet projects.

During the Senate hearing on the DBM’s proposed 2023 budget, Senator Nancy Binay asked for updates on the implementation of projects requested by NTF-ELCAC for 2020 and 2021. The task force is reportedly seeking P10 bil lion as special purpose funds in 2023.

Canda said for 2021, P19.24 billion was released to NTF-ELCAC, including

P16.4 billion for the said SPF.

The DBM was not able to submit the updates on the P16.4 billion SPF for NTFELCAC, prompting Binay to read a docu ment containing the completion status of the projects, GMA News also reported.

“Based on this document, out of the 2021 release, total amount P16 billion, ‘yung ongoing is P2.9 [billion], com pleted is P3.2 [billion],” Binay said.

Angara, who chairs the committee, then asked the details of the P3.2 billion completed projects of the NTF-ELCAC, pointing out that there were doubts cast on its efforts in the previous years.

“There’s no report. You’re the budg etary experts, how do you judge that?” Angara said.

Binay backed Angara’s question and asked the DBM, which is defending the SPFs, on how it would justify the addi tional P10 billion for next year “when you don’t even know what’s going on with these project(s)?” the GMA News report said.

Canda said the DBM only allocates funds based on the number of cleared barangays as declared by the NTF-EL CAC. She added the DBM is also vet ting the projects that the NTF-ELCAC has proposed similar to what they are doing to other agencies.

“We were saying that perhaps you (NTF-ELCAC) have to concentrate on the ongoing projects under the cleared barangays that have been recently iden tified,” Canda said.

DBM will look for funds for COVID workers

THE Department of Budget and Man agement (DBM) on Thursday promised to look for new funding sources for the disbursement of benefits and allow ances for health workers involved in the country’s COVID-19 response.

This was after Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman acknowledged the difficulty of approving the De partment of Health’s (DOH) future re quests for additional funds for health care workers (HCWs) and non-HCWs’ emergency allowances, considering that the government currently has a “small budget.”

“We will try to allocate funding,” Pangandaman said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart, when asked if the govern ment has enough funds to grant the DOH’s possible requests to release additional budget for medical frontlin ers’ benefits.

“W e somehow have a negative bal ance) but we will try. We will try to get from our unprogrammed appropria tions.

I think I will have to check with the DOF (Department of Finance) and our Treasury if there are additional revenues po from the national govern ment,” she added.

The DBM on Wednesday approved the release of about P11.5 billion for the distribution of One Covid-19 Al lowance (OCA) or Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) claims to more than 1.6 million eligible recipients from public and private health facilities.

On Monday, the DBM also granted the DOH’s request to release P1.04 bil lion, which will be earmarked for the distribution of the special risk allow ance (SRA) of 55,211 public and pri vate health workers.

However, the DOH still needs about P64 billion in back pay for health work ers, covering June to December 2021.

Pangandaman said the DBM has yet to receive the DOH’s request for the release of the P64 billion budget.

“What we released are the only re quests that we have gotten from the Department of Health. We don’t have the request yet from the Department of Health ‘yung P64 billion po na si nasabi nila (with regard to the P64 bil lion it is saying),” she said.

Pimentel files bill to probe lotto 6/55 draw

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATE Minority Leader Sen. Aquili no “Koko” Pimentel filed Senate Reso lution 253 to investigate the controver sial PCSO Grand Lotto 6/55 draw result on October 1 wherein 433 bettors won the P236 million jackpot prize.

Pimentel’s three-page resolution di rects the appropriate Senate commit tee to undertake an inquiry in aid of legislation to determine and maintain the integrity and worthiness of the PCSO lotto games.

Pimentel admitted he was baffled over the lotto results which he called “strange and unusual.”

Romualdez cites importance of mind wellness

By Maricel V. Cruz

HOUSE Speaker Martin G. Romual dez on Thursday cited the importance of mind and body wellness among em ployees of the House of Representatives during the opening of HRep Month held at the grounds of the Batasan Complex. Romualdez, who spoke as the keynote speaker during the opener, said he puts a premium in making sure that “our most

valuable asset – our people – are provided with a conducive work environment.”

“To address the holistic wellness and development needs of our people, we have a number of sports, health, and wellness activities lined up, not only for our anni versary but also in the days and months to come,” Romualdez said of the activities included in this year’s HRep Month.

“We have great plans for you, our dear House employees, and we are determined

Bill seeks 20% senior discount on traffic violations

By Maricel V. Cruz

A BILL has been filed in the House of Representatives extending the 20 per cent discount privilege granted to senior citizens on fines imposed on them for violating traffic rules and regulations.

House Bill 5402, authored by Sta. Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez seeks to amend

Republic Act 7432 or the Senior Citizens Act to grant the 20-percent discount to senior citizen drivers on traffic fines for which they will be found liable. Fernandez, chairman of the House Committee on Public Order and Safe ty, filed the bill Tuesday in time for the celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week from October 1 to 7, 2022.

“In furtherance of the laudable Filipino consciousness that our elder lies still have much to contribute to nation-building, this bill further ac cords our senior citizen-drivers the privilege of enjoying a discount of 20 percent on traffic fines that may be imposed upon them,” said Fernandez in the bill’s explanatory note.

Villar cites huge potential of Mindanao for agri dev’t

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar has stressed that agriculture in Mindanao brings hope and opportunities for the region’s inclusive growth.

The chairperson of the Senate Agri culture and Food committee says Mind

anao has the biggest potential for agri culture development in the country.

During her speech at the 24th Davao Agri Trade Expo (DATE) held in Davao City, Villar acknowledged the Mind anao business community has always been at the forefront of the region’s an nual trade expo.

The expo, Villar said, helps boost the country’s economic recovery amidst the pandemic.

“I am happy that Davao City Chamber of Commerce is our partner focusing on the agriculture industry in accelerating the development of the agriculture sec tor in Mindanao,” said Villar.

to look after your welfare. I will not make promises but one thing is sure: You will have a listening Speaker, who is willing to hear you out with regard to employees’ issues and concerns,” Romualdez told HRep employees.

This Thursday (Oct. 6) kicked off the start of a month-long celebration to commemorate the anniversary of the House of Representatives with the theme “One House, One Voice.”

“That result was very surprising- 433 won...supposed to be chances there is 1 in how many millions. So it means, it’s that difficult to hit that, and then to say that 433 won, there is something suspi cious,” Pimentel stressed.

He related that many were surprised with the results because statistically speaking, this is a very rare event. in his resolution, Pimented under scored the need to ensure that the processes involved in the conduct of PCSO lotto games are honest and free from any kind of fraud.

YOUNG LEARNERS. DILG secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. joins Mandaluyong Mayor   Benjamin  Abalos Sr.; Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte; Mandaluyong Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos; and Dr. Ali Ibrahim Al-Malki Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Philippines during the ceremonial turnover of educational materials to daycare children held at Mandaluyong City hall on October 6. Manny Palmero

AMBUSH INTERVIEW. House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez answers questions from the media during an ambush interview at the House of Representatives. Ver Noveno

SANITIZED. Motorists step out of their vehicles at the boundary of Cagayan De Oro and Bukidnon and are requested to step on a footbath at the animal quarantine checkpoint to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease and African Swine Fever. Danny Pata

Opinion

Lorraine Badoy committed no crime or punishable act

ings, arson and extortion, among others.

It has been said that freedom of speech is free dom not only for the thoughts that others like, but also for the thoughts which others do not like.

As long as the words and phrases used are not libelous or obscene, the utterance is not legally actionable.

I do not find anything libelous or obscene in the statement attributed to Badoy.

“IF I kill this judge and I do so out of my political belief that all allies of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Com munist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) must be killed because there is no difference in my mind be tween a member of the CPP-NPA-NDF and their friends, then please be lenient with me.”

That, in essence, is what Lorraine Badoy, the former spokesman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, sup posedly posted on her social media account soon after a Manila Regional Trial Court judge ruled that the CPP-NPA are not terrorist organizations but mere rebels.

The decision emanated from a petition filed in 2018 by the Department of Justice which asked the court for a declaration that the CPP-NPA are terrorist organizations.

Many communist sympathizers, radical trou blemakers, publicity seekers, opinionated charac ters with dubious credentials, anti-establishment elements, hollow-minded politicians, and judges and lawyers groups denounced Badoy.

Their collective knee jerk reaction gave the judge a lot of free publicity in mainstream and social media.

A closer study of what is attributed to Badoy will show that she committed no crime or punish able act to warrant her public vilification.

In the first place, what Badoy said is permis sive satire which, according to jurisprudence, is not legally actionable. After all, who in his right mind will even believe that Badoy will really kill the judge, and publicly announce her plan to do so?

If Badoy really intended to kill the judge, an nouncing her plan on social media is the last thing she would want to do because the public warning will give the judge a chance to take precautionary measures.

There is also the doctrine of fair comment, which is a legal doctrine that goes back to 1918 in the leading case of United States versus Bustos.

That doctrine allows the public and the press to comment on matters involving public interest.

To my mind, a decision of a trial court falls under that category.

What is involved in this controversy is Ba doy’s Constitutional right of free speech. Thus, why should Badoy be condemned or penalized for what is essentially the public manifestation of her opinion about a matter of public interest?

Upon ultimate reckoning, the undeniable fact is that nobody forced the judge to obtain employ ment in the judiciary, and that the judge must have expected that in the course of her adjudica tion work, there will be people who will not agree with her pronouncements.

To be perfectly frank, the decision of the judge is not even completely tenable, legally speaking, because the historical record confirms that the CPP-NPA have been, since the late 1960s, en gaged in terrorist acts, including murder, bomb

Does Badoy’s statement constitute inciting at tacks against judges in general?

I don’t think so, because the words Badoy used are in the subjunctive, which means that what Ba doy said is a big if.

It is a mere supposition, and a supposition can hardly be considered as incite ment to inflicting physical harm on another.

What Badoy said is permissive satire which, according to jurisprudence, is not legally actionable. After all, who in his right mind will even believe that Badoy will really kill the judge, and publicly announce her plan to do so?

Also for the same reason, what Badoy said does not amount to the crime of grave threats punishable under the Revised Penal Code.

If it were otherwise, and with opinion leaders worldwide embroiled in conjectures and specula tions, anybody who says anything controversial but harmless, may be held liable for grave threats.

By golly, even a past president of a lawyers organization who loves to make press statements about almost anything under the sun even con ceded that Badoy’s use of subjunctive words ac quits her of any accusation that she threatened to attack the judge.

In all likelihood, had the judge ruled against the CPP-NPA, the radicals who have been quick to denounce Badoy would have probably been the ones criticizing the judge.

Badoy should take solace in the knowledge that her critics are not exactly beyond criticism themselves.

At least two of Badoy’s critics have repeat edly lost in senatorial elections; another critic is a cantankerous, scandalous former election com missioner; and two others have been at the receiv ing end of a disbarment suit filed against them for conduct unbecoming of lawyers.

If Badoy’s detractors really have the goods on her, then they should put their money where their mouths are and file charges against her. Other wise, they should shut up and refrain from mak ing unfounded accusations against Badoy.

Meanwhile, Badoy should continue her val iant crusade as the nation’s most vocal sentinel against communism and communists.

Playing ping-pong on political bets

in an Ilocos province but was disqualified by the election body.

The TRO also directed Comelec to annul the proclamation of the female candidate declared as mayor on Tuesday afternoon.

Comelec earlier canceled her certificate of candidacy over residency issues.

The tribunal also ordered Comelec to submit its comment to the court within a non-extendable period of 10 days from notice.

The lady mayoral bet had received 21,364 votes against her rival’s 16,603 votes.

The

cal

Consider the following cases:

A special board of canvassers proclaimed a candidate as the duly-elected governor of a Vi sayan province at the Comelec central office in Manila on Monday after the votes of a nuisance candidate were transferred and counted in his fa vor. The proclamation booted out the previously proclaimed winner.

After the final recount, the candidate got 331,726 votes, including those transferred from another with the same last name, while another bet had 301,319. The re-electionist governor got 281,773 votes during the May 9 polls.

On September 27, the Comelec en banc ruled that another candidate for governor whose identi cal last name appeared on the official ballot was a nuisance bet.

The Comelec also annulled the proclamation of the candidate previously hailed as the winner.

A Certificate of Canvass of Votes and Proclama tion of Winning Candidate were handed over to the new winner.

Over the weekend, the unseated official said in a radio program he would step down if the De partment of the Interior and Local Government and the SC ask him to do so. His only request is for them to review the merits of the case.

The SC on Wednesday also issued a temporary restraining order against the Comelec in favor of a candidate who won in May as mayor of a town

No law makes it a requirement for persons to be members in a political party before being allowed to run as candidates, the SC said

A Comelec spokesperson told reporters that she was proclaimed mayor on Tuesday at the Comelec office in Manila before the clerk of the commission had received any notice or order of the TRO.

Earlier, the SC also nullified a Comelec rul ing that canceled a senatorial hopeful’s certificate of candidacy in the May 9 elections for being a nuisance.

It reminded the Comelec that “bona fide in tent” to run as a candidate “cannot be negated by unsubstantial claims that he (a candidate) is an unknown, or that he lacks the capacity to mount a nationwide campaign” and that “neither is his (a candidate’s) non-membership in a political party sufficient to declare him a nuisance candidate.”

Although now moot, the 20-page decision was another victory for the declared ‘nuisance bet’ by the poll body in December 2021.

The candidate, who said he is an animal wel fare advocate, won a similar case against the agency in 2019.

“Declaring one a nuisance candidate simply because he or she is not known to the entire country reduces the electoral process—a sa cred instrument of democracy—to a mere popularity contest.

The matter of the candidate being known (or

EDITORIAL

Murder most foul

brazen murder of radio commentator–vlogger Percy Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid, deserves utmost condemnation as it appears to have brought impunity to a new and higher level.

THE

That’s because it happened right in the city, the country’s political and economic center, whereas many similar cases in the past had been confined to the provinces, targeting mostly provincial broadcasters, reporters and editors who had stepped on the toes either of public officials and/or criminals.

The killer(s) – and quite possibly the mastermind(s) wanted to deliver a chill ing message: “We can go after you and kill you wherever you are.”

Then there’s the fact that Lapid had been a hard-hitting commentator who had been critical of the previous administra tion and even the current one.

The knee-jerk reaction by some quarters has been to suggest that the blame should be laid squarely on the Duterte and Marcos administrations for Lapid’s murder. But this

is unfair and uncalled for pending the start of any police investigation.

The Philippine National Police has vowed to get to the bottom of the Lapid case and to bring the perpetrator(s) to jus tice. They should be given enough time to do their job.

We have had too many journalists killed in the line of duty for as long as we can remember. And how many of the killers have been brought to justice and punished for murder most foul?

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos has condemned the killing and likewise urged the police to exhaust all angles as to who could have had the motive and the means to silence Lapid.

Lapid’s killing is the second to take place in the first three months of the Mar cos Jr. administration.

It’s not something that government can simply dismiss as an isolated incident and therefore treat it as a purely police matter because it concerns press freedom, which is guaranteed by our Constitution and is

among the cornerstones of a democratic system.

We can understand therefore that even several foreign embassies have expressed grave concern over the Lapid killing and urged authorities to bring those respon sible to justice.

The strong reaction from seven coun tries, including the US, Canada and Brit ain, along with the European delegation in Manila, should send a strong signal to the Marcos administration on the impor tance of protecting press freedom in the country.

We have had too many journalists killed in the line of duty for as long as we can remember. And how many of the killers have been brought to justice and punished for murder most foul?

While justice has been served in the biggest single case involving press free dom—the mass murder of 58 journalists in the infamous Ampatuan massacre in November 2009, with long prison sen tences imposed on the masterminds— we’re not sure if the other cases have been solved at all or simply ended up as “deaths under investigation” because of lack of witnesses or witnesses too scared to testify for fear of their own lives.

The Marcos administration should see to it that the investigation of this latest killing of a journalist is thorough, and gets the priority it deserves.

Email as evidence

MORE than two decades ago in a case I was han dling, the opposing counsel on direct examina tion of his witness asked the witness to identify an email.

I immediately raised an objection because the witness was neither the sender nor the addressee of the email. The judge sustained my objection. However, the opposing counsel rephrased and insisted on his question being answered. Simi larly, I objected; but this time the judge overruled my objection. The lawyer then proceeded to ask him questions regarding an email that he neither prepared nor received.

I raised continuing objections to the line of questioning of the lawyer. This was my first en counter with an email as evidence.

Apparently, the judge and lawyers were then still unsure on how to authenticate an email as there were yet no rules governing this type of communication.

In 2000, the Philippine Congress passed Re public Act 8792, also known as the Electronic Commerce Act.

The authentication procedures outlined in RA 8792 will have to be followed until such time when the Supreme Court will have provided the appropriate rules for authenticating and validat ing electronic documents, data messages, and signatures (see Section 11, RA 8792).

On July 17, 2001, the Philippine Supreme Court approved the “Rules on Electronic Evi dence,” which took effect on August 1, 2001. The Rules stated that it shall apply in all civil actions and proceedings, as well as quasi-judicial and administrative cases (Rule 1, Section 2, A.M. 017-01-SC).

The succeeding year, the coverage of the Rules on Electronic Evidence was expanded to include criminal cases (A.M. 01-7-01 dated September 24, 2002).

An electronic document is admissible in evi dence if it complies with the rules on admissibil ity prescribed by the Rules of Court and related laws (Rule 3, Section 2, A.M. 01-7-01-SC).

Electronic documents shall include “writing, document, record, instrument, memorandum or any other form of writing” (Rule 3, Section 1, A.M. 01-7-01-SC).

An electronic document shall be regarded as the equivalent of an original document if it is a printout or output readable by sight or other means, shown to reflect the data accurately (Rule 4, Section 1, A.M. 01-7-01-SC).

“When a document is in two or more copies executed at or about the same time with identi

unknown) should not be taken against the can didate but is best left to the electorate,” the SC added.

The Comelec Law department had ruled that the candidate filed his COC to put the election process in mockery or disrepute.

It also said he has no bona fide intention to run, is virtually not known to the entire country, had not been nominated by any political party, and does not appear to be personally capable of per suading a substantial number of voters.

The poll body said allowing nuisance can didates would further complicate the election process and added that “even without consider ing financial capacity, Marquez’ circumstances “show that he has no capabilities to run a viable campaign’”

Citing its earlier ruling in a similar case filed by the same bet in 2019, the SC said the Come lec “cannot conflate the bona fide intention to run (of a candidate) with a financial capacity require

cal contents, or is a counterpart produced by the same impression as the original, or from the same matrix, or by mechanical or electronic re-record ing, or by chemical reproduction, or by other equivalent techniques… accurately reproduces the original, such copies or duplicates shall be re garded as the equivalent of the original.” (Rule 4, Section 2, A.M. 01-7-01-SC)

Copies or duplicates of electronic documents shall not be admissible to the same extent as the original if: (a) a genuine question is raised re garding the authenticity of the original; or (b) in the current circumstances it would be unjust or inequitable to admit a copy in lieu of the original (Rule 4, Section 2, A.M. 01-7-01-SC).

The authenticity of the electronic document or email must be established by an affidavit of the person having direct personal knowledge of the facts or knowledge based on authentic records

The fact that an electronic document is in two or more copies, executed at or about the same time with identical contents, or is a counterpart of its original does not in itself prove its authenticity.

Separately, it will have to be authenticated by: (a) evidence that it has been digitally signed; (b) appropriate security procedures as may be autho rized by the Supreme Court or by law; or (c) evi dence showing its integrity and reliability (Rule 5, Section 2, A.M. 01-7-01-SC).

In the 2019 Amendments to the Rules on Evi dence, the Supreme Court fine-tuned the Rules on Evidence to capture the definition of an “origi nal” and “counterpart” under the Rules on Elec tronic Evidence: (a) [I]f data is stored in a computer or similar device, any printout or other output readable by sight or other means, shown to reflect the data ac curately, is an “original.”

(b) A “duplicate” is a counterpart produced by the same impression as the original, or from the same matrix … by mechanical or electronic re-recording, or by chemical reproduction, or by other equivalent techniques which accurately reproduce the original (Rule 130, Section 4, 2019 Rules on Evidence) .

ment” and that the Comelec’s property require ment standards for candidates “fall short of what is constitutionally permissible.”

The court said the grounds for the disquali fication in the latest case he filed “are in truth shrouded property qualifications employed by the Comelec to disqualify an otherwise qualified candidate”.

No law makes it a requirement for persons to be members in a political party before being al lowed to run as candidates, the SC said.

The animal rights campaigner was first de clared a nuisance candidate for the May 2019 polls because he was “virtually unknown to the entire country” and had “absent clear proof of fi nancial capability.”

In a Sept. 3, 2019 decision, the SC found Comelec “committed grave abuse of discretion” on the same grounds as the recent ruling.

Full column on www.manilastandard.net

The interest in electronic documents and emails heightened during the COVID-19 pan demic.

Lawyers, clients, and other court users were not able to personally file and make official dealings in courts. Fortunately, the Supreme Court anticipated this when it provided in the Rules that email fil ing and service will be allowed “as the parties may agree on, or upon direction of the court” (Rule 13, Section 9, 2019 Rules on Civil Procedure).

To be able to present, identify, mark, and au thenticate an email, the proponent or presenting party must understand the mechanics of an email.

The email would normally have lines for the re cipient, sender, the other recipients (copy furnished), the subject of the email, and the body of the email.

The email address indicates the username and the hostname (username@hostname), the latter of which includes providers such as Gmail, Ya hoo, Hotmail, official hostnames for government, companies, and institutions, among others.

If an email printout is identified, marked, and authenticated by a competent witness with no question raised regarding its integrity, then the email printout may be admitted in evidence.

If there are issues about: (a) another person logging in to the sender’s email and using it him self; (b) hacking or hijacking of another person’s account through spyware, viruses, or other mali cious software; or (c) different recipients or par ties to email communications receiving different or altered messages, then further authentication may be required by the judge.

In case the source of the email cannot be de termined or if it was forwarded from unknown or bogus senders, verification of the chain of cus tody in handling the email may be resorted to by the judge.

In other foreign jurisdictions, cryptography is employed in email communications, where “the parties use a key which encrypts or scrambles the message” (Evidentiary Foundations, Edward J. Imwinkelried).

The authenticity of the electronic document or email must be established by an affidavit of the person having direct personal knowledge of the facts or knowledge based on authentic records.

The affidavit must also affirmatively show the com petence of the affiant to testify on the matters contained therein (Rule 9, Section 1, A.M. 01-7-01-SC).

16 dead in Greece migrant boat sinkings

AT LEAST 16 people died and another 30 are still missing as high winds sank two migrant vessels in Greece, the coastguard said Thursday.

A dinghy believed to be carrying around 40 people sank east of the island of Lesbos in high winds, coastguard spokesman Nikos Kokkalas told state TV ERT, adding that all the victims are women of apparent African origin.

There was no official toll yet from a second sinking near the island of Kythi ra, south of the Peloponnese peninsula.

Kokkalas said nine other women had been rescued in the Lesbos incident, but another 15 people were believed to be missing.

It was difficult to get more informa tion from the survivors as they were “ut terly panicked,” Kokkalas said.

A few hours earlier, the coastguard was alerted to a sailboat in distress near the island of Kythira, south of the Peloponnese peninsula. The sailboat be lieved to be carrying around 95 people ran aground and sank near the island port of Diakofti.

Some of the survivors made it to shore, and an operation involving ves sels at sea and the fire service and police on land managed to locate 80 asylum seekers from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.

The group includes seven women and 18 children, a coastguard spokeswoman told AFP.

Kokkalas said their sailboat had been “completely destroyed.”

Both operations were facing adverse weather. In the Kythira area, winds were as high as 102 kilometers (63 miles) per

hour, the coastguard said.

Greece has faced increased migra tion traffic this year, and accuses Turkey of failing to enforce a 2016 agreement with the EU to keep migrants from sail ing on to Europe.

Greece’s Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi on Thursday tweeted after the two incidents that Turkey should “take immediate action to prevent all irregular departures due to harsh weather condi tions”.

“Already today many lives lost in the Aegean, people are drowning in unsea worthy vessels. EU must act,” Mitarachi said.

Greece, Italy and Spain are among the countries used by people fleeing Africa and the Middle East in search of safety and bet ter lives in the European Union. AFP

Nokor fires 2 ballistic missiles, blames US drills for ‘escalation’

NORTH Korea fired two ballistic missiles Thursday as it claimed its recent blitz of sanctions-busting tests were necessary countermeasures against joint military drills by the United States and South Korea.

missile over Japan, North Korea blamed Washington for “escalating the military tensions on the Korean peninsula.”

The recent launches – six in less than two weeks – were “the just counterac tion measures of the Korean People’s Army on South Korea-US joint drills,” Pyongyang’s foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday.

Seoul, Tokyo and Washington have ramped up joint military drills in recent weeks, including large-scale naval ma neuvers and anti-submarine exercises.

North Korea’s foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official KCNA that this posed “a serious threat to the stability of the situation on the Korean peninsula.”

Early on Thursday, South Korea’s mili tary said it had detected two short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Sam sok area in Pyongyang towards the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.

an official from Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters.

He added that they look like a “dif ferent type of short-range ballistic mis siles” from previous launches.

Tokyo also confirmed the launches, with defence minister Yasukazu Hamada telling reporters that it was important not to “overlook the significant improvement of (North Korea’s) missile technology.”

Fake news sites pumping out pro-Russian disinformation

A BOY dies in a cycling accident in Berlin after street lights were turned off at night, as Germany faces an en ergy crunch following the shutdown of Russian gas supplies.

At first glance, the story appears to be a genuine article from the coun try’s top tabloid, Bild, and it was shared on Facebook.

As the United Nations Security Coun cil met to discuss Pyongyang’s Tuesday launch of an intermediaterange ballistic

LEGAL NOTICE

OF THE TESTATE ESTATE OF GLORIA M. SANTILLAN

Notice is hereby given that the Last Will and Testament of Gloria M. Santillan, who died on February 1, 2020, was approved and admitted into probate in a Decision dated May 24, 2022 by Hon. Maria Cherell L. De Castro-Sansaet of Branch 222 of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City. The Last Will and Testament of Gloria M. Santillan was notarized in Quezon City by Atty. Richard M. Baldueza on October 17, 2017, as Doc. No. 527;

No.

No.

The United States will redeploy the nucle ar-powered USS Ronald Reagan to waters east of South Korea for a second visit in less than a month, Seoul said Wednesday.

Myanmar jails Japanese filmmaker for 10 years

of

14 &

The first missile travelled 350 kilome ters (217 miles) at a maximum altitude of around 80 kilometres, according to their analysis, with the second flying 800 kilo metres at an altitude of 60 kilometers.

It appears to be the first time North Korea has fired missiles from Samsok,

Pyongyang’s Tuesday firing of what officials and analysts said was a Hwa song-12 that travelled likely the longest horizontal distance of any North Korean test, prompted the United States to call for the emergency Security Council meeting.

But investigations, including by AFP, found it was disinformation, part of a major campaign in which leading news sites – mainly in Germany but also other European countries – were imitated to spread pro-Moscow mes sages.

In late September, Facebook’s par ent company Meta took down what it called the “sprawling network” be hind the campaign, which it said orig inated in Russia and focused primar ily on Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

LEGAL NOTICE

AFFIDAVIT OF SELFADJUDICATION

Notice is hereby given that Paolo Santillan Inocencio, the only legal heir of the late Ricardo Samaniego

MYANMAR’S junta has jailed a Japanese filmmaker for 10 years for encouraging dissent against the military and violating an electronic communications law, a diplomatic source told AFP on Thursday.

The military has clamped down on press freedoms since its coup last year, arresting reporters and photographers as well as revoking broadcasting licences as the country plunged into chaos.

LEGAL NOTICE AFFIDAVIT OF SELFADJUDICATION

Notice is hereby given that Vincent S. Santillan, the only legal heir of the late Dante M. Santillan and Honoria S. Santillan (the “Decedents”), who died intestate on October 6, 2007 and July 10, 2014, respectively, at Quezon City, has executed an Affidavit of Self Adjudication for the Decedents’ estates, as per Doc. No. 209; Page No. 43; Book No. 150; Series of 2021 as notarized by Atty. Ruben T.M. Ramirez on May 3, 2021 in the City of Makati.

Toru Kubota was sentenced by the court in Yangon’s Insein prison on Wednesday, a diplomat at Japan’s embassy in Myanmar said, adding that the filmmaker’s trial for allegedly violating im migration law was “still continuing”.

Kubota, 26, was detained near an anti-government rally in Yan gon in July along with two Myanmar citizens.

The court sentenced Kubota to “seven years imprisonment” for breaching an electronic communications law, and three years for encouraging dissent, the source said.

More than 60 sites impersonated legitimate news organisations, in cluding in Britain, France, Italy and Ukraine, Meta said. According to re searchers, among the impersonated media were Britain’s Guardian, Ger many’s Der Spiegel and Italy’s ANSA news agency.

EU DisinfoLab – an NGO that also investigated the campaign – said the network’s aims were “depicting Ukraine as a failed, corrupt and Nazi state” as well as “promoting Kremlin narratives on the Ukraine war.”

The dissent charge carries a maximum three-year jail term and has been widely used in the crackdown on opposition to the coup.

7, 14 & 21, 2022

The networking, operating since May, was also intended to spread fear among Europeans “about how sanc tions against Russia will ruin their lives,” said the group, with whom AFP cooperated in its investigation.

LEGAL NOTICE AFFIDAVIT OF SELFADJUDICATION

The next hearing for the immigration charge would take place next Wednesday, the source added.

A junta spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.

Notice is hereby given that Elisa V. Santillan, the only legal heir of the late RUBEN SANTILLAN (the “Decedent”), who died intestate on July 24, 1995 in Quezon City, has executed an Affidavit of Self Adjudication for the Decedent’s estate, as per Doc. No. 208; Page No. 43; Book No. 150; Series of 2021 as notarized by Atty. Ruben T.M. Ramirez on May 3, 2021 in the City of Makati.

Kubota had arrived in Myanmar in July and was filming a “documentary featuring a Myanmar person,” his friend Yoshitaka Nitta told a press conference in Tokyo in August.

According to a profile on the FilmFreeway website, Kubota has previously made documentaries on Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya minority and “refugees and ethnic issues in Myanmar.”

Tokyo is a top donor to Myanmar and has long-standing rela tions with the country’s military.

Linking punitive measures against Moscow to the impact on people’s lives appeared to be the aim of the Bild article, which came online in August.

Russia’s move to slash gas supplies

OCT. 7, 14 & 21, 2022

After the coup, Japan announced it would halt all new aid, though it stopped short of imposing individual sanctions on mili tary and police commanders.

Kubota’s jailing is a “slap in the face” for Tokyo, said Phil Rob ertson of Human Rights Watch.

“It’s time for Japan to stop playing games, and move to support real international sanctions that will squeeze the junta’s revenue sources.” AFP

A HONG Kong court handed down the city’s first doxxing conviction on Thursday against a man who set up multiple fake profiles imperson ating a former lover and encourag ing others to harass her.

Ho Muk-wah, 27, was convicted by Shatin Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to seven doxxing charges, the city’s privacy commis sioner said in a statement.

Hong Kong introduced laws crimi nalising doxxing—the non-consensual disclosure of others’ personal data—in the aftermath of 2019’s huge and some times violent democracy protests.

Both police, officials and democ racy supporters had their personal details published online by oppo nents during the unrest.

Thursday’s precedent-setting conviction had no political element.

According to Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner, Ho doxxed his ex-girlfriend after the end of their “short relationship.”

He disclosed online her personal details—including telephone num bers and address—and opened up three accounts impersonating his victim on social media and “wel comed others to visit her.”

Lost Cubist painting found on back of another canvas

ART experts in the Netherlands said Thursday they had discovered an important painting by the French Cubist Fernand Leger that had been hidden for more than a century on the back of another canvas.

The unknown work “Smoke over the Rooftops,” believed to date from 1911-12, was on the flip-side of “Bastille Day,” made a year later, according to conser vation specialists Studio Redivivus.

Partially damaged and covered with a hard gluelike layer during its lost years, it has now been pains takingly restored and reveals a “turning point” in the work of Leger, a Paris contemporary of Picasso.

“It really is a discovery,” Gwendolyn Boeve-Jones, director of the Hague-based Studio Redivivus, told AFP.

The work is believed to be part of a series in which Leger painted the view from his studio of the Paris skyline towards Notre Dame, repeatedly focusing on the smoking chimneys.

Dutch art historian Sjraar van Heugten said only seven from the series were previously known to still exist, and the new work shows “hugely important” ad vances in Leger’s use of color and abstraction. AFP

“Many strangers later contacted the complainant and tried to get acquainted with her,” the privacy commissioner said.

Ho’s sentence will be handed down on December 15. He faces a maxi mum of two years in prison and a fine of up to HK$100,000 ($12,700).

When Hong Kong published its anti-doxxing law in September 2021, many leading tech companies – including Facebook, Google and Twitter—warned its wording was “disproportionate and unnecessary” and could be used to curtail free ex pression. AFP

Vengeful ex first to be convicted of doxxing in HK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

SENDING A MESSAGE. Greenpeace activists patrol with boats around a deployed inflatable replica of a pipeline which reads ‘Putin’s Bloody Gas’ as part of a protest demonstration against Russia’s gas pipeline, on the Vltava river near the Prague Castle where the opening of a European Summit is set to take place. AFP

WET WEATHER. People walk on a path while it rains in Sydney on

FOUND

Market retreats; Converge, ICTSI up

STOCKS fell Thursday on concerns about the impact of a huge oil output cut on inflation that tempered hopes that central banks could soon ease their rate hike campaigns.

The PSEi, the 30-company bench mark index of the Philippine Stock Ex change, lost 54 points, or 0.9 percent, to close at 5,934.27 as five of the six sub sectors declined.

The broader all-share index also fell 20 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 3,199.79

Oil prices climb as OPEC, allies announce major cut in production

NEW YORK, United States—Oil prices climbed Wednesday as OPEC and its Russia-led allies announced a major cut in output, while a stocks rally ran out of gas.

In Vienna, ministers from the 13-nation OPEC cartel and a group of 10 exporters led by Russia agreed to reduce production by two million barrels a day from November.

It is the biggest cut since the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and came despite concerns it could fuel inflation further and push central banks to hike interest rates even more.

Oil prices had slid in recent weeks back to the levels before the war in Ukraine on concerns of a global slowdown but have surged in recent days on expectations of the produc tion cut.

The main international crude con tract, Brent, jumped two percent fol lowing the decision before finishing at $93.37 a barrel, up 1.7 percent.

“Oil futures are expected to contin ue their rally in the short and medium term, but continued concerns over a global recession and rising inflation are likely to limit the long-term up side,” said Srijan Katyal of the inter national brokerage ADSS.

Swissquote analyst Ipek Ozkardes kaya warned that the big cut could “backfire” on OPEC+ if investors fear it will push inflation higher and force central banks to hike interest rates so much that it triggers a reces sion.

“The higher the energy prices, the sharper the central banks must kill demand to pull the prices lower,” she said before the decision was an nounced. AFP

concerned on ‘dramatic collapse’ of Afghan economy

UNITED Nations, United States—Af ghanistan’s formal economy has suffered a “catastrophic collapse” since the Tali ban came to power, wiping out in less than a year what had taken 10 years to build, the United Nations said in a report released Wednesday.

Before the Taliban took power in Au gust 2021, the Afghan economy was al ready very small, with a GDP of about $20 billion.

But in just one year it “lost about $5 billion,” Kanni Wignaraja, director of the United Nations Development Pro gram for Asia and the Pacific, told a news conference.

“That’s about 10 years’ worth of ac cumulated assets and wealth that just got lost in 10 months,” Wignaraja said. “That kind of dramatic collapse we’ve not seen anywhere in the world.”

While the price of a basic food basket has increased by 35 percent since August 2021, Afghans spend “60 to 70 percent, some of them even 80 percent, of their income, household income, on food and fuel,” she said.

Meanwhile, 95 to 97 percent of the population now lives below the poverty line, she said.

That figure is up from a little more than 70 percent just a year ago.

The report paints a bleak picture of the country’s economy, highlighting a collapse of the banking and financial systems, with 700,000 jobs lost by mid2022, mostly by women, and one in five children at risk of severe malnutrition, particularly in the south.

The collapse of the formal economy has also led to an increase in the impor tance of the informal economy, which represents 12 to 18 percent of gross do mestic product, compared to nine to 14 percent a year ago, the report said. AFP

on a value turnover of P4.2 billion.

Three of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Converge ICT Solutions Inc. which went up 3.3 percent to P12.40.

International Container Terminal Ser vices Inc. advanced 2.9 percent to P176, while San Miguel Corp. gained 2 per cent to P101.00.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets rose Thursday. The mood on trading floors has been a little lighter this week, send ing equities surging and weighing on the dollar, after weak readings on US fac tory activity and job openings fed spec ulation that the Federal Reserve’s strict tightening drive was having an effect.

But confidence took a knock Wednes day from a better-than-expected read on private jobs hiring and a report showing the key services sector holding up more than expected.

The figures highlighted the resilience of the US economy in the face of multiple rate hikes and point to the long road ahead for the Fed in fighting decades-high inflation.

Fed officials have lined up for weeks to insist that they will not budge from lifting borrowing costs until prices are tempered—even at the cost of a reces sion—while some have warned traders not to expect any cuts next year.

“After an increase in expectations of an imminent Fed pivot given the softer

than expected US (factory data), the strength in the services (sector) not only eases concerns of an imminent US re cession, it also refutes any notion that the Fed will look to take its foot off the tighten pedal any time soon,” said Na tional Australia Bank’s Rodrigo Catril.

The latest US data came as OPEC and other major producers led by Rus sia decided to slash output by a massive two million barrels a day—the biggest reduction since the pandemic struck.

Moscow said a possible price cap by the European Union on Russian crude would have a “detrimental effect” on the global oil sector, saying Moscow would not sell to countries that introduced it. With AFP

TOP GAINERS

QUEUE FOR FUEL.

WTO reduces global trade forecast as recession looms

GENEVA, Switzerland—The World Trade Organization on Wednesday dramatically lowered its global trade forecast for 2023, as Russia’s war in Ukraine and other shocks take their toll on the world economy.

Presenting a revision of their annual trade forecast, WTO economists said they expected the volume of global mer chandise trade to grow 3.5 percent this year, which is slightly higher than their expectations in April.

But they forecast it would grow by only one percent in 2023—dramati cally down from their expectations of 3.4-percent growth six months ago.

“The picture for 2023 has darkened considerably,” WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told reporters in Geneva.

“Today the global economy faces multi-prong crises. Monetary tightening

is weighing on growth across much of the world.”

As for the global economy, WTO econ omists stuck with their April forecast of 2.8-percent GDP growth this year but said growth in 2023 was now expected to be just 2.3 percent -- down a full percentage point from the previous forecast.

By way of comparison, the Organi zation for Economic Co-operation and Development has maintained its 2022 forecast at three percent and expects 2.2 percent growth next year.

The International Monetary Fund meanwhile forecasts growth at 3.2 per cent this year and 2.9 percent in 2023.

The WTO pointed out that its April forecasts were presented only weeks into the start of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine, making them very uncertain.

The estimates for 2023 “now appear overly optimistic, as energy prices have

skyrocketed, inflation has become more broad-based, and the war shows no sign of letting up,” it said.

The WTO said surging energy pric es in Europe, stemming from the war in Ukraine, were expected to squeeze household spending and raise manufac turing costs on the continent.

Meanwhile, monetary policy tight ening in the United States was hitting the housing, motor vehicle, and fixed investment sectors, and China was still grappling with Covid-19 outbreaks and production disruptions.

Furthermore, the growing import bills for fuel, food, and fertilizer risked lead ing to more food insecurity and debt dis tress in developing countries, the WTO said.

If its new forecasts pan out, world trade will slow considerably next year, but will continue to grow. AFP

MOST ACTIVE

VALUE (PHP)

2,135,310 374,519,523

8,632,700 273,742,285

2,509,190 253,430,378

16,753,700 207,853,514

78,055 172,270,920

7,071,200 169,091,910

6,086,500 162,854,205

1,201,900 133,836,001

1,105,440 127,054,238

199,230 126,111,065

Inflation puts squeeze on Spain’s legendary lunch menu

MADRID, Spain—Dreamt up in the 1960s to attract tourists, Spain’s three-course “menu del dia”, or set lunch menu, has long been seen as the best deal in town.

But with inflation hovering around 10 percent, its affordability is under threat as restaurants seek ways to economize.

For a starter, main course and dessert or coffee (or both), bread and a drink, the average price is around 12.8 euros ($12.60), according to figures from Hosteleria de Espana, Spain’s main hostelry association representing the hotel and restaurant industry.

Offered by almost every Spanish restaurant, its price makes it a popular option in a country where people frequently eat out.

“Everyone chooses it,” says Sara Riballo, who is in her 30s, sitting on a terrace in central Madrid.

“We eat out several times a week and we usually go for the set menu because it’s better value for money, it’s quicker and it’s quite varied,” agrees her colleague Estefania Hervas.

Spanish restaurants serve up on average four million “menus del dia” every day in the country of 47 million people, the hostelry association says.

The idea was first cooked up nearly six decades ago when Spain was under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

A ministerial order was issued that all restaurants must offer a “tourist menu” to cater to the growing waves of foreign visitors to the Spanish coast.

decree was written into

Spain’s official state bulletin, stating that the menu must from August 1, 1964 include, as a “minimum”, a soup, a main course, a dessert, a glass of wine and some bread.

‘Extremely worried’

The tradition has lasted until today, where it acts as a sort of barometer for the Spanish economy, says Emilio Gallego, secretary-general of the hostelry association.

“It’s a very, very popular way of eating lunch with millions sold every day across the country. It’s something we are constantly tracking,” he said.

Describing itself as “extremely worried by the effects of inflation and the price rises of recent months,” the association found three-quarters of its restaurants had raised the price of their menu del dia between November 2021 and April 2022.

And that was before inflation peaked in July at 10.8 percent.

In recent months, the price of olive oil has risen by 42.5 percent alongside the cost of bread, milk, eggs, meat and pasta, not to mention the spiralling bills for electricity, refrigeration or gas for stoves and ovens.

With the industry “badly hit by rising energy and raw material costs at a time when it was still recovering from the health crisis”, it has had little choice but to raise prices, Gallego said.

In most cases, restaurants have raised the price of their menu del dia by 10 to 15 percent, an increase of between 1.0 and 1.5 euros.

‘We won’t survive’

At Cafe Gijon, a landmark restaurant on Madrid’s central Castellana boulevard, they serve up 250 set meals a day, priced at 15 euros each.

But manager Jose Manuel Escamilla said the prices are likely to rise in the coming weeks.

“Everything’s going up: the price of electricity and mortgage costs have shot through the roof. If things carry on like this, we won’t survive.”

“It’s difficult because it will affect our customers but at the end of the day, if we don’t do it, we won’t be able to function,” he said.

Many restaurants are searching for other ways to save money and protect their margins.

At a restaurant in one of Madrid’s chic neighborhoods, they are now ordering meat in bulk and whole fish rather than pre-cut portions because the price is lower, admitted one of its buyers, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Gallego believes other restaurants will adapt by creating other formats, such as a two-course option of a main course with either a starter or dessert.

At Valgame Dios in Madrid’s Chueca neighborhood, the number of dishes on offer has already been slimmed down.

“Instead of three or four starters, we have two,” explains waitress Laura Rubio, who says she’s just “waiting to see what will happen” and whether it will put off diners.

Like other customers, 47-year-old scriptwriter Helio Mira is putting a brave face on things.

“It’s not only the price of the menu del dia that is going up but the price of life in general but what can we do?” he said.

“We just have to ride out the storm.”

Spain’s traditional three-course ‘menu del dia’, or set lunch menu, is a highly popular option in a country where people eat out often. AFP

DOTr signs $1.87b worth of contracts for south railway

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Transportation on Thursday signed four civil works contracts amounting to $1.87 billion for the South Commuter Railway Proj ect funded by the Asian Development Bank.

The first four contract packages will include the construction of 31.5 kilo meters of railway viaducts, nine el evated stations and one railway depot covering the Muntinlupa to Calamba portion of SCRP. The project, which will lay nearly 55 kilometers of railway segment to connect Metro Manila with Laguna province, is being financed with $4.3 billion in loans approved by ADB.

It said it would award the remain ing civil works contract packages soon covering the Manila (Blumentritt) to Muntinlupa portion of SCRP.

The ADB is also financing the con struction of the Malolos–Clark Railway Project, which comprises the northern segment of the railway network.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bau tista said the ambitious $15.8-billion North-South Commuter Railway Proj ect “will bring back the culture of rail transport in the Philippines.”

“Today is the next significant step in that direction,” Bautista said, adding that the project would elevate the coun try’s transportation system to global standards.

Bautista said the massive project would bring benefits to Filipinos once the project was completed, including the 110,000 direct and indirect jobs it would create.

“This railway will offer safe, afford able, convenient and comfortable trans port to Filipinos, while accelerating the country’s economic rebound,” he said.

ADB deputy director general for Southeast Asia Winfried Wicklein said the project would open tremendous op portunities for economic integration across Metro Manila and neighboring provinces and create a significant posi tive impact on the local economy.

“It will strengthen the country’s economic recovery, create as many as 35,000 construction jobs and more than 3,000 permanent jobs during the rail way operation and improve access for residents of Laguna province to em ployment in Metro Manila,” he said.

Gov’t issues $2-b global bonds to augment budget

THE government on Thursday returned to the international capital markets for the third time this year with the issuance of benchmark three-tranche $2-billion global bonds to augment its budget.

The dollar bond offering was the first under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Data from the Treasury showed the new 5- ($500 million) and 10.5-year ($750 million) tranches were priced at U.S. Treasury plus 120 and 185 basis points with a coupon of 5.170 percent and 5.609 percent, respectively, or 35 bps tighter than an initial pricing guid ance of U.S. Treasury plus 155 and 220 bps, respectively.

The 25-year Sustainability tranche ($750 million) was priced at 6.100 per cent with a coupon of 5.950 percent, or 45 bps tighter than initial pricing guid ance of 6.550 percent.

The transaction is expected to settle on Oct. 13, 2022.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the strong demand for the first inter national bond offering under the Marcos’ administration demonstrated investor confidence in the new government and the administration’s six-year plan of eco nomic transformation to a more inclu sive, resilient and prosperous economy.

“The eight-point agenda of the new administration will improve real GDP growth, improve government finances, protect purchasing power, mitigate so cioeconomic scarring and create more quality jobs,” Diokno said.

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said the success of the transaction was an indication of the Philippines’ readi ness to “brave choppy waters” in pursuit of excellent results.

“Just as we were able to deftly capture a good execution window amid a daunt ing volatile market environment to at tain our financing objectives at favorable cost, we too shall rise above the present difficulties through our eight-point eco nomic blueprint toward differentiating ourselves as the prime destination of choice among quality-conscious inves tors,” she said.

Business

August unemployment rate fell to 5.3% as jobs grew 3.6m

By Julito G. Rada

UNEMPLOYMENT

rate eased to 5.3 percent in August from 8.1 percent a year ago as the number of jobs in the country went up by 3.6 million, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed Thursday.

The National Economic and Devel opment Authority said the ranks of the unemployed also went down by over a million to 2.7 million in August from 3.9 million in the same month last year even as the labor force expanded in line with the growth of the population.

“We are now reaping the gains of the safe and gradual full reopening of the economy. However, we must not rest on our laurels—we must harness the benefits of our key economic liberal ization laws such as the Public Service

Act, Foreign Investments Act, and Re tail Trade Liberalization Act. These reforms would attract high-value and innovation-driven investments which, in turn, could generate more and quality employment,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

The underemployment rate remained at 14.7 percent, referring to employed individuals seeking additional hours of work.

Meanwhile, the labor force participa tion rate picked up to 66.1 percent in August from 63.6 percent a year earlier. This was the highest recorded rate since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and translated into 2.4 million more Fil ipinos in the labor force relative to the previous year.

Total employment reached 47.9 mil lion in August or 3.6 million additional jobs year-on-year on account of stron ger growth in the services sector, specif ically in the wholesale and retail trade, accommodation and food services that benefitted from the continuous easing of mobility restrictions and resumption of face-to-face classes.

The agriculture sector, which account ed for 22.6 percent of total employment, shed around 265,000 jobs over the past 12 months on high fuel and fertilizer prices, African swine fever, bird flu and weather disturbances.

“We need to make sure that we are effectively implementing our disaster risk management measures, including social protection programs for communities affected by the recent calamities. Leveraging technology will improve preventive and responsive measures and mitigate possible labor market downturns in times of disasters,” Balisacan said.

Balisacan cited the strategies for a more efficient labor market that would be outlined in the upcoming Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which would include improving the quality of education, providing opportunities for life-long learning, in-demand skills development, options to obtain microcredentials, enhancing job facilitation programs and strengthening linkages among industries, businesses and train ing institutions.

BRIEF

Metrobank launches P10-b fixed-bond sale

METROPOLITAN Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest lender in terms of assets, plans to raise at least P10 billion from the of fering of peso-denominated fixed-rate bonds that started on Thursday.

Metrobank said in a statement the bond of fering is Securities and Exchange Commission registration exempt, with an option to upsize.

The bonds will have a tenor of one and a half years and an interest rate of 5.0 per cent per annum, payable quarterly, with the minimum investment amount at P500,000 and additional increments of P100,000. The offer period would run from Oct. 6 to 19, 2022.

“The bonds are intended to be issued and listed on the Philippine Dealing Exchange on Oct. 28, 2022. Proceeds will be used for gen eral working capital needs,” the bank said.

First Metro Investment Corp., ING Bank N.V., Manila branch and Standard Chartered Bank are the joint lead managers and joint bookrunners of the offer. Metrobank, togeth er with FMIC, ING, and SCB are the selling agents. Julito G. Rada

Move IT remains third motorcycle taxi operator

MOVE IT, a local transport solutions pro vider, said Thursday it remains the country’s third motorcycle taxi operator despite the acquisition by Grab Philippines.

“There are only three motorcycle taxi companies—Angkas, Joyride and Move It—and Grab, by acquiring Move IT, does not become a fourth player,” said Move IT chairman Francis Juan.

Juan said a “hidden hand” was trying to stop Move IT from becoming a bigger player and offering competition that would improve services and even lower fares to the riding public.

“If an individual buys a franchised tricy cle of another, the buyer does not become a second franchisee but only the owner of the tricycle,” he said.

Juan said Move IT has its own legal per sonality and owns accreditation as a motor cycle taxi business. This accreditation stays with it regardless of who owns the company, he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Maybank PH recognized ‘most innovative digital bank’ MAYBANK Philippines Inc. was recog nized as “Most Innovative Digital BankPhilippines” in the International Finance Awards 2022 for its financial inclusion ini tiatives.

PH registers world’s biggest rise in inequality during pandemic

THE Philippines registered the largest increase in income inequality during the pandemic, the World Bank said in its latest Poverty and Shared Prosper ity Report.

“The poorest countries were less likely to experience a meaningful de crease in inequality. The largest in crease in the Gini index was observed in the Philippines, while the largest decrease occurred in Armenia,” the World Bank said Thursday.

Gini index is a widely recognized measure of inequality. The Gini index was available from estimates based on actual survey data, tabulated income statistics from national statistical offic es, imputed values based on data from household surveys and phone surveys or estimates.

Globally, 34 of 78 countries included in the study had falling inequality, com pared with 13 with rising inequality. In

31 countries, the Gini index was essen tially unchanged, the World Bank said.

The World Bank said during the pandemic, large and unequal job and income losses were reported, contrib uting to concerns about rising inequal ity within countries.

It said the poorest people bore the steepest costs of the pandemic, with income losses averaging 4 percent for the poorest 40 percent, double the loss es of the wealthiest 20 percent of the income distribution. Global inequality rose, as a result, for the first time in de cades, it said.

“Within-country inequality in creased in as many countries as it declined, but after decades of con vergence, global inequality increased. The poorest have also suffered dispro portionate losses in health and educa tion with devastating consequences,” it said.

PSE penalizes eight firms for listing violations

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Philippine Stock Exchange said Thurs day it penalized eight listed companies in cluding conglomerate San Miguel Corp. for violating listing and disclosure rules.

It said in a notice posted on its website San Miguel, Del Monte Pacific Ltd., F&J Prince Holdings Corp., Manila Broadcast ing Co., Medilines Distributors Inc., Pan asonic Manufacturing Philippines Corp., Pryce Corp. and SOCResources Inc. were assessed penalties under the rules of the exchange.

These firms violated Section 7 and 17.11 of the listing and disclosure rules of the local bourse, it said.

Section 7 provides that listed firms hold ing any stockholders meeting should give the exchange a written notice at least ten days before the record date of the meeting.

Section 17.11 also provides that listed firms should submit to the exchange the list of stockholders entitled to vote at a regular or special stockholders meeting no later than five trading days after the re cord date fixed by the issuer for the hold

ing of such meeting.

The PSE did not disclose the amount of penalty imposed against the firms.

Meanwhile, the PSE said it continued to promote financial literacy amid market volatility.

“The current situation in global finan cial markets highlights the importance of investor education and the need for inves tors to understand the investment they are getting into, including the risks in investing and how to manage such risks,” said PSE chief operating office Roel Refran during the bell-ringing ceremony for the Financial Literacy program of the World Federation of Exchanges.

“Investor education, however, is not only for those who are preparing to put in their hard money into investment instru ments. It is equally important for the gen eral public to know what the legitimate investment instruments are and the proper channels to tap for investments. We say this because investment scams continue to proliferate, and the perpetrators of these scams are more prepared and sophisticat ed,” Refran said.

The world would also unlikely meet the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030 absent history-defying rates of economic growth over the remainder of this decade, according to the World Bank report. It said COVID-19 dealt the biggest setback to global povertyreduction efforts since 1990 and the war in Ukraine threatens to make mat ters worse.

It estimates that the pandemic pushed about 70 million people into extreme poverty in 2020, the largest one-year increase since global poverty monitoring began in 1990. As a result, an estimated 719 million people sub sisted on less than $2.15 a day by the end of 2020.

“Progress in reducing extreme poverty has essentially halted in tan dem with subdued global economic growth,” said World Bank Group pres ident David Malpass.

Joining a select circle of international winners in the banking sector, the award is a demonstration of MPI’s hard work, perse verance, dedication and commitment to in novation at work.

The annual International Finance Awards recognizes industry talent, leadership skills, industry net worth and capability on an in ternational platform. After careful consider ation of nominations, winners are declared on the strength of their application and ac complishments.

Among the digital innovations launched successfully by MPI are iSAVE, an alldigital savings account that customers, even new-to-bank clients, can open fully online from one’s mobile phone or tablet, without going to the branch.

All forms and documentary requirements are submitted via the Maybank2U PH App. iSAVE requires no initial deposit and zero maintaining balance to open, yet earns inter est on additional deposits maintained.

Maybank Philippines is also set to launch a new digital account product soon to be made available in a leading digital platform this month, and will offer a more seamless, hassle-free and convenient experience to customers.

W.MALL IN MUNTINLUPA. The second W.Mall opens in Muntinlupa City, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of WalterMart Supermarket. Conveniently located along West Service Road, W.Mall Muntinlupa is positioned to be a premium, one-stop destination offering a wide selection of anchor stores, food choices, services and wellness. Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony are W.Mall executives with Muntinlupa vice mayor Temy Simundac (fifth from left), other Muntinlupa officials, W.Mall executives and Rev. Fr. Carmelo Estores.

CYBERSECURITY TIEUP. The United States Agency for

Malixi rises again, tops ICTSI Riviera by 2 strokes

Sports

Sotto, 36ers to prove showing against Phoenix Suns no fluke

By Randy Caluag

NATIONAL Basketball Association hopeful Kai Sotto and his Adelaide 36ers set out against Oklahoma Thunders on Friday (PH Time), eager to dish out a worthy performance against another top-notch professional team in an NBA preseason game.

The 7’3” Filipino center drew praises from Filipino basketball fans in his first outing against an NBA squad as he helped his team beat the Phoenix Suns, 134-124, at the Footprint Center in Arizona on Monday.

Sotto had 11 points on 3-of-6 field goals, including a pull-up trey and perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the free throw line.

Despite obviously lacking in muscle and agility, he made up for these with his sheer height as he de-

PBA looking to adapt sked for EASL Champs Week

THE PBA continues to throw its support to the East Asia Super League as it tries to find ways to adjust its schedule and pave the way for the staging of the regional league’s inaugural season featuring a new format.

Commissioner Willie Marcial believes right planning and scheduling will allow the EASL ‘Champions Week’ to proceed without disrupting the PBA calendar.

The EASL is looking at March 1-5 as possible playdates to hold its inaugural season that will bring together the top eight teams of the PBA, Japan B League, Korean Basketball League, and P. League+ and compete against each other, with Manila being eyed as the likely host.

During the same stretch, the seasonending Governors’ Cup will be ongoing.

Following a virtual meeting with EASL CEO Matt Beyer and league CFO Henry Kerins, Marcial gave the assurance of the PBA’s commitment to the regional meet where Philippine Cup reigning champion San Miguel and TNT will represent the country.

“I think doable,” said Marcial. “Adjust lang natin ang schedule ng San Miguel at TNT.”

Similar talks with the different leagues and team officials from the other participating countries had been made by Beyer.

“Our goal is to bring everyone together in a path of least disruption to the domestic leagues,” Beyer said.

“The format is different from what we initially conceptualized, but we believe it’s the responsible way. Our mission remains to create the premier basketball league and entertainment experience in Asia. Controlling variables and operating our season in the most responsible manner reduces uncertainty for all our stakeholders as international travel throughout the region rebounds incrementally.”

fended well against Suns’ center DeAndre Ayton. He came off the bench and just played for 18 minutes.

“This is just the beginning,” Sotto said in a social media post as he is again out to prove that his performance against the Suns was no fluke.

Adelaide 36ers guard Mitchell McCarron played his role to the hilt with four points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and a block and 16 assists.

And he made Sotto look so good on the court with his inside passes to the Filipino youngster who converted them into highlight reels.

Adelaide coach CJ Bruton took pride in putting together a team made of players from native Australia and other countries, including Sotto from the Philippines.

Bruton is preparing his 36ers ahead of a long season in Australia’s National Basketball League.

Sotto is not just flexing for the NBL, but is also trying to boost his stock as a restricted free agent after not getting selected in the recent NBA 2022 draft.

Unlike against the Suns, Sotto should do better against Oklahoma which has no dominating center but with more agile, power forwards like Ousmane Dieng.

SILANG, Cavite—Rianne Malixi pulled off another victory so unlike in her Valley leg romp that had kept her in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour conversation, blowing a three-stroke lead in the heat and wind but rebounding with a solid backside charge to foil Kim Seoyun with yet another 73 and remain the talking point of the ICTSI Riviera Championship here on Thursday.

Malixi spiked her two-stroke victory with back-to-back birdies from No. 10 and a pair of clutch par-saving bids on Nos. 16 and 18, the last from long range on Langer’s tough finishing par-4 hole after stroking her first putt from the fringe two-and-a-half pin past the cup. But she returned it with great resolve, dashing whatever hopes the hot-finishing Kim had had for a playoff after the Korean rolled in her own par-bid from 16 feet to cap a tournament-best 68 in a flight ahead.

“It was super hectic in the first nine. It was really off – my drives, irons, short game and putting. But then I told myself to like calm down and drink a lot of water. Then I hit back-to-back birdies from No. 10 and didn’t concede consecutive putts and saved up-and-downs,” said Malixi, whose closing 39-34 matched her first two cards at the dreaded, undulating par-71 course, which yielded just a single under-par card through all three days of unforgiving test of shotmaking, mental toughness and endurance.

“I was just glad that I was able to hold my head high and I was really patient today (yesterday) and I think that’s the key,” added Malixi.

She totaled 219 and tied absentee Chanelle Avaricio’s three-title run (Hallow Ridge, Caliraya Springs and Pradera Verde) in the season she sparked with a surprise win over fancied Princess Superal in the kickoff leg at Luisita last March.

Kim fought back from seven shots down after 36 holes and a two-over 37 frontside card with an eagle on the par5 No. 10 and three birdies in the next five holes to threaten with two strokes off Malixi, who also closed out the 2021 season with a victory at Midlands. But the Korean ran out of holes in her bid to mark her LPGT debut with a victory although she gained one last crack at a playoff after Malixi’s first putt on the closing hole went past the hole.

Local gymnasts, coach to train with Yulo in Japan

By Peter Atencio

THERE are plans to have national coach Reyland Capellan and two gymnasts undergo a training camp in Japan and join Tokyo Olympics veteran Carlos Yulo in his ongoing preparations for several international meets. Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion said this as they get ready to have Capellan train as a coach under the guidance of famed Japanese mentor Munehiro Kugimiya, Yulo’s longtime mentor.

“Coach Mune has been asking me about this for a long time. I think Reyland is the best choice,” said Carrion during Thursday’s weekly “Peoples’ Conversation” hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission on Facebook Live.

If plans push through, the 29-year-old Capellan, a twotime Southeast Asian Games gold medallist in the floor exercises, will be joined by Yulo’s younger brother Eldrew and a senior member of the national men’s team, Justine Ac e de Leon.

The GAP discussed its plans after holding a three-day Legends Performance Camp at the GAP Training Center in Intramuros recently.

The camp focused on the current training for the national women’s team.

Five world-class Olympic coaches showed to share lessons and experiences to over 100 female gymnasts and coaches during the sessions.

One of the five coaches included Cliff Parks, head

coach at Leading Edge Gymnastic Academy in Georgia.

They also had University of Utah coach and floor exercise expert Mary Wright, balanced beam specialist Terrin Humphrey, former Bulgarian national gymnast George Kostadinov and former US floor exercise champion Kerry Huston as speakers.

“Men’s artistics gymnastics has a lot of potential. I hope to have more medallists with women’s artistics gymnastics, rhythmic and aero. So, we’re working on it, and giving more attention to them,” said Carrion.

The GAP also hooked up with a group called Flip It Forward to have the five coaches fly in from the US. Philippine Sports Commission chairman Noli Eala also paid the camp a visit.

Birthday boy Daquigan rewards self with back-to-back MORAC wins

PROVING that he is one of the country’s best young racers on two wheels, Team Sharp Philippines/Honda Philippines Inc.’s Alfonsi Rei Santos-Daquigan pulled off back-to-back wins in Round 5 of

the 2022 Petron National Motorcycle Racing Championships’ (MORAC) SuperSport 155 category at the Batangas Racing Circuit right on his 13th birthday on Oct 2.

Coming off a similar winning romp in

Round 4, Daquigan continued his hot streak in the fifth leg as he emerged overall backto-back champion of Races 1 and 2 following impressive wins over eventual runner-up Joseph Dominique Purino and third placer Justine Bethany Tolentino.

“This Round 5 win was very special for me because it was my birthday. It was another big boost for me and I would say this was my favorite out of all of the past wins, ” said the Golden Values School-Novaliches student, whose best lap time was 2:01.095.

Daquigan, who is backed by Sharp Philippines, Honda Philippines Inc., Gulf Oil Philippines, KCT sprockets, Pocari Sweat PH, Zeneos PH, Don’t Blame the Kids Apparel Co. and Light Vision Films, is a living proof that most of racing champions are born.

Son of a former racer and nephew of Asian Filipino vintage car racing titlist, Daquigan actually was in front of the grid with four laps to go, but committed a mistake that cost him two seconds.

“But I managed to get the fastest lap of the race trying to catch up to the leading pack with two laps to go. Entering the last lap, I closed the gap and at the last lap’s turn 3, I overtook both of them (Purino and Tolentino), but on to the backstretch they got me again. But entering the last turn, I got them back and then got the win,” narrated Daquigan, whose father Dannie, a former racer, is the twin brother

of Dexter, a multi-titled Classic Aspirated Cup Series champion.

It was practically the same script in Race 2, where his rivals got at him exiting the chicane.

“Entering the last turn, I was still second, but then I got a very good exit at the last turn which gave me enough speed for the straight, where I managed to get him for the win,” excitedly said Daquigan

The four-time TRS champion Daquigan was already a many-time champion at a young age.

In 2017, an 8-year-old Daquigan displayed his motorsports genes when he emerged champion of the Daijiro Cup West Japan Minibike Championship’s Novice Class at the Ikoma Racing Circuit in Osaka Japan in the Bambino Class, a feat he will repeat the following year, this time in the Intermediate Class.

His motorsports journey has led to the MORAC, the next round of which is on Nov. 12 and 13, and the TRS, which will have its next stop on Oct. 22 and 23 in Tarlac.

“Hopefully, we will stay like this (winning) and I am more than confident that I will win this next upcoming rounds,” said Daquigan, who thanked his parents, sponsors and team members. “Please know, your support has helped me not to give up. I will continue to be persistent and eventually do what I set out to do.”

Rianne Malixi gets the traditional douse from Mafy Singson (right). Manny Marcelo

Kai Sotto AFP

Alfonsi Rei Santos-Daquigan celebrates his back-to-back wins in the National Motorcycle Racing Championships’ (MORAC) SuperSport 155 category. Inset shows Daquigan hoisting his trophy.

Pirates, Chiefs clash in battle of NCAA’s hottest teams

Concepcion regains control as rivals falter

SILANG,

LYCEUM of the Philippines University and Jose Rizal University clash in a duel of the two hottest teams in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre Friday.

The Pirates are on a league-best five-game winning run, while the Bombers are on a four-game roll.

Game time at 3 p.m.

San Beda seeks to get back on the winning track as it plays Arellano University in the first game at 12 noon.

A win by the Pirates over the Bombers will give them a piece of the lead.

College of Saint Benilde, which has a pair of three-game winning streaks in the tournament, is on top of the standings with a 6-1 record.

LPU is coming off its biggest win of the season, a 82-75 conquest of defending champion Letran. The Pirates have yet to drop a game since opening their campaign with a 69-86 loss to the Blazers.

After a 0-2 start, JRU went on a tear and zoomed in the top four.

The Bombers are fresh from a 83-80 conquest of the Red Lions, tying their victims at 4-2 in third place.

With a talented mix of young guns in Mac Guadaña, John Barba and Gyle Montaño and veterans in Renzo Navarro and Enoch Valdez, JRU is bracing for a tough battle with LPU.

“The defense is there already. It is just really what we need to work on yung iba’t ibang combinations ko sa loob. Dito ko makikita iyon, who will be the next man up,” said Bombers coach Louie Gonzalez.

Agem Miranda, Joshua Guiab, John Amores, William Sy and Ry dela Rosa are doing their respective roles for JRU, as Gonzalez is looking for other contributors aside from his usual rotation to keep the streak going.

Cavite—Fidel Concepcion fought Guido

Van der Valk shot-for-shot and putt-for-putt and traded miscues-for-miscues in a highly-charged battle for control in another blustery day here at Langer then regained the lead as the Dutch fumbled with two closing bogeys in the third round of the ICTSI Riviera Championship yesterday.

Concepcion failed to shake off a steady Van der Valk majority of the way and even fell by as many as three shots down before finding his touch and rhythm in the stretch, birdying Nos. 13 and 15 for a 71 then parlaying Van der Valk’s bogeys on Nos. 17 and 18 and a 73 into a one-stroke lead at 214.

It was an unlikely foldup for Van der Valk, who rose from every stumble in a day of changing fortunes that saw him churn out a four-birdie card to negate the same number of miscues after 15 holes.

But his late meltdown enabled the first round leader to zero in on his first Philippine Golf Tour championship.

Van der Valk slipped to second at 215 but still within sight of a second PGT win this year after rallying from behind and nipping Miguel Tabuena in sudden death

Priorities make us sink or swim

THE Philippine Football Federation is one of the few national sports associations in the country that have a sound grassroots program. When I say sound, it simply means that it has an ongoing grassroots program not only in Metro Manila, when it is convenient, and there is a need to mag-pabibo.

In the case of the PFF, its program involves almost all active football federations all over the country. While the PFF has concerns, like any normal NSA, things will hopefully get even better.

PFF President Nonong Araneta shared to The Designated Kit Man that their recent courtesy call with Noli Eala, the new Philippine Sports Commission Chief, went well. One of the bright mo-

GM Niemann defends reputation after cheating claims

PARIS—American international grandmaster Hans Niemann said Wednesday he “won’t back down,” after the chess platform chess.com reported he has “probably cheated more than 100 times” in online games.

Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen last week accused 19-year-old Niemann of cheating.

“Overall, we have found that Hans (Niemann) has likely cheated in more than 100 online chess games, including several prize money events,” the world’s leading online chess platform wrote in a Tuesday evening report that ran 20 pages, with 50 additional appendices. Chess.com banned Niemann on September 5, shortly after the first accusations were made, but the platform is defending itself against suggestions that it is under pressure from Carlsen, whose Play Magnus company it is in the process of buying.

to snare the Splendido Taal crown last May.

“It’s pretty simple golf. It’s easy to make bogeys here at Langer, so it’s important to stay to my strengths,” said Concepcion, who moved 18 holes away from joining the elite circle of winners in the Pilipinas Golf Tourmaments. Inc.organized circuit.

Like Concepcion, Van der Valk concedes that making bogeys at the treacherous layout is quite like a norm, saying: “I played good until the end, bogeying the last two.”

But he remains upbeat of his title chances, adding: “I’ll just try to hit as many good shots so you get easy pars because they’re not easy on this course.”

Rico Depilo, however, could be the week’s biggest surprise as the journeyman turned in one of the day’s three best scores of 70 to seize solo third at 216, just two strokes off Concepcion, guaranteeing a wild, fierce chase for the top P360,000 purse in this penultimate leg of this year’s six-stage Philippine Golf Tour.

Zanieboy Gialon and Ira Alido also put in a pair of stirring finishes to fan their respective title bids with the duo standing just three strokes off Concepcion.

After a victory in the US Chess Championship Wednesday, Niemann said the game he had just won “spoke for itself and showed the chess player that I am”.

He added, “It also showed that I’m not going to back down and I’m going to play my best chess here regardless of the pressure that I’m under,” but declined to comment further.

Chess.com says it is “extremely confident” in its means of detecting cheating, which includes using grandmasters—the highest rank of chess players —as well as an analysis of moves made by computer programmes.

‘Statistically extraordinary’ The suspicions of the platform go beyond the framework of the internet. It also devotes part of its report to Niemann’s spectacular and rapid progress on the chessboard.

“While we do not doubt that Hans is a talented player, we note that his results are statistically extraordinary,” said the report which illustrated the American’s rise with a dramatic graph. However, chess.com said it had no evidence that Niemann had cheated in “over-the-board” (OTB) games when players are physically present. AFP

Historic bareknuckle exhibition fights highlight latest URCC card

THE first-ever bareknuckle exhibition bouts are set to hit the Philippine fight scene as Universal Reality Combat Championship announced it is staging its “Bare Madness” card on October 27 at the Xylo in The Palace in BGC, Taguig.

URCC founder Alvin Aguilar said the time to hold and appreciate bareknuckle fights has come.

“When we pioneered the MMA fight concept back in 2002, people thought it was too violent, too risky. But look at MMA now,” Aguilar said during a press conference at the Xylo bar. “In the same way, it’s worth noting that BKF (Bareknuckle Fight) is steadily gaining popularity in the U.S. and Europe, so it’s only a matter of time before it enjoys mainstream acceptance here.“

Aguilar also said the Games and Amusement Board has already approved the URCC’s new concept, adding also that the health and safety of the fighters will always be the priority.

URCC Global Chairman Arnold Vegafria believes that the sport holds much promise for a new breed fighters, whose speed and cunning can more than make up for the lack of brawn.

“With the success of Filipino athletes in recent global competitions, we believe that Filipino fighters are meant for global domination, particularly for this more adrenaline-inducing sport,” Vegafria said.

ments of the meeting was when Comm. Noli expressed his desire to make football, among many sports, available to more kids or students in the country.

“Gusto kasi ng PSC makaroon sila ng grassroots for all the NSAs. Susuportahan namin ‘yan for sure at mas magiging maganda kasi in tandem with our own. The PSC would like to see more children play various sports. Gusto nila iroll out ang mga grassroots programs nila,” Araneta said.

Araneta said aside from the PFF’s own resources, more funding will come from the PSC, which in turn, will be distributed to regional associations of the federation.

Araneta bared, too, that after the friendlies in Costa Rica, the PFF is working on a nother tune up game for the Philippine National Women’s Football Team.

“May inaayos pa kami. Another friendly in November which we are currently working on pero no final details yet,” Araneta revealed.

The Filipinas are now in Costa Rica and will play the host for a pair of tune up games. The first game will be tomorrow at the Estadio Alejandro Soto in San Jose, Costa Rica. Kick off will be at 9 a.m., Manila time. The second game will be on October 11. Time and venue will be

confirmed soon by the hosts.

Regarding the Philippine Azkals and preparations for the 2022 Mitsubishi Electric Cup, Araneta gave an update.

“I’m just waiting for the cue from Dan (Palami). Sabi niya sa October 18, may ipapakita siya na plano at pag-uusapan namin.”

Which brings us to former Azkals El Capitan Stephan Schrock. The skipper and part of the coaching staff of the Azkals Development Team said during a recent interview with 3PTS-Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports aired over DZME 1530 kHz that he is available to play for the Azkals in the Mitsubishi Cup.

“I will never turn my back on the team. I will play if they call me up,” Schrock said.

While it is true the Azkals’ camp has been silent in the past few weeks, Schrock said this is partly due to the fact that the team is in a transition. He explained that age has become a factor, with many Azkals not getting any younger, and there are discussions on how to best handle the Azkals’ campaign in the regional tournament that will run from mid-December until the early part of January next year.

“I think they will come up with a game plan for the next two years in the next three weeks so based on whatever will happen, it will be long vision rather than just shooting

for winning the (Mitsubishi Electric) Cup and everything unfolds,” Schrock said

He added that government support to the sport will come a long way for the Azkals not only in the Mitsubishi Cup but in forthcoming international tournaments as well such as the SEA Games, Asian Cup and even the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“We need a little luck. A little help. We are not demanding too much. And the 2026 World Cup is still a very realistic goal,” Schrock added.

Speaking of being real, noted player agent Danny Espiritu or Boss Danny to his players and friends revealed that he doesn’t believe much in written contracts. He said that in his more than 35 years in handling players, he never put a contract before his players in handling their careers. He only demanded respect and courtesy from his wards. He also made it clear that anyone can approach him.

“I don’t offer my services to anybody but I will never reject the request of any player whether he is class A, B, C or even D, E, F. Puwede nila sabihin, Boss Danny puwede po patulong? Ayos na ‘yun,” Espiritu said.

And if a player is not happy with the way Espiritu is handling his career, he can leave anytime without fuss or drama. It is no wonder that until now, Boss Danny remains one of the more popular agents not

only the Philippine Basketball Association but also in other leagues as well. He, however, has a simple thing to ask from his players, which I think should be the priority too of every athlete or aspiring professional player out there searching for his or her place under the sun.

“I really push for the education first for my players. Ngayon kung if you don’t follow me, hanap ka na lang ng ibang agent mo,” Espiritu added.

Like what Boss Danny said, priorities do matter. Whether in basketball, football or life. And we need to make our priorities straight and felt. Because at the end of the day, our priorities will either make us sink or swim against the many challenges we face day in and day out.

Please watch the 3PTS-Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports on Sunday, October 9, 2022, 2 to 3 p.m. at DZME 1530 kHz and the station’s FB page with The Designated Kit Man, Dennis Principe and Rommel Miranda. Featured guests include representatives of the Blackwater Bossing and ONE Warrior Series.

Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_ cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat

TYR AMBASSADORS. TYR Brand Director Kring Marquez (far right) and TYR Coordinator Keith Medina (far left) link arms with swimming protégés (from left) Saira Janelle Pabellon, Evenezir Polancos, Jenn Sermonia, Shinloah San Diego, Seb Rafael Santos and Albert Sermonia, with SLP o cer Fred Ancheta as a show of unity and prosperity after the six young swimmers singed a contract as the newest ambassadors of TYR Brand.

Fidel Concepcion Manny Marcelo

Shown here during the “URCC: Bare Madness” press conference are (from left) Elias Duran, Janedie Bernardo, Kimbert Alintozio, Rocky Vergara, Map Soberano, Arnold Vegafria, Alvin Aguilar, George Royeca, Marvin Delacruz, Ruel Catalan and John Ornido.

“Also, we at URCC feel that Filipino fight fans are clamoring for something more exciting, and this could very well what we’ve all been waiting for,“ he added.

Pre-event matches feature today’s top-ranked Filipino mixed martial artists like John Ornido battling Janedie Bernardo in the 135-pound class, Ruel Catalan facing Edrion

Macatangay in the 125-pound category, and Rex de Lara clashing with Jayson Margallo in the 125-pound class. The Bareknuckle Fights, on the other hand, feature Rocky Vergara against Marvin dela Cruz; Kimbert Alintozon against JV Baldonasa; and Mark Alcoba against Zarco Gales.

‘On the Job’ gets 2022 International Emmys nod

CRITICALLY acclaimed series

On the Job has been nominated for Best TV Movie/Mini-Series in this year’s International Emmy Awards.

On The Job: The Series, adapted from the 2013 full-length film of the same name and its sequel On the Job: The Missing 8 is in the running against three other nominees: “Help” (United Kingdom), “Il Est Elle” (France), and La Historia Íntima De La Escritora Isabel Allende (Chile).

“We are very proud of this nomination for On the Job, which is a testament to world-class Filipino talent. To be shortlisted among four nominees is, in itself, a huge honor. Through ANIMA, we hope to bring more films and other content to the global stage,” said KROMA CEO Ian Monsod

“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this. It is surprising and impressive at the same time to be recognized amongst everything that was produced in the past year,” said director Erik Matti

“The TV Movie/Mini-series category is one of the most difficult categories to be nominated in. Years ago, it was already tough, but in the age of streaming, it’s even tougher because any other country and any other streaming services are doing their own limited series with a bigger production budget, and equally strong themes and stories. The Philippines is just emerging in this format, and to be nominated is already an achievement, whether we win or not. So with that, we are all just happy and we hope that Filipinos would equally be as

proud,” he said.

Reality MM Studios cofounder and On The Job executive producer Ronald “Dondon” Monteverde said the recognition is reassuring for the industry.

“The journey of making it to the International Emmys shows the ingenuity of the Filipino.

Without the scale of budgets of our international counterparts, we were able to produce quality work - something that Erik and I have been advocating for so long,” he said.

On The Job (OTJ) reflects real-life social ills including corruption and media censorship.

Inspired by true events, it tells the story of prisoners hired as contract killers for government officials, and the journey of media man Narciso “Sisoy” Salas, who

is forced to start an investigation following the disappearance of his colleagues.

It boasts of a powerhouse cast led by Joel Torre, John Arcilla, Piolo Pascual, Dennis Trillo, Gerald Anderson, Joey Marquez, Dante Rivero, Christopher de Leon, and Lotlot de Leon.

On the Job: The Missing 8 premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where it entered the Main Competition for the Golden Lion. It also won the prestigious Volpi Cup Best Actor Award for Arcilla.

On The Job is an HBO Asia Original Series co-produced by Reality MM Studios and Globe Studios (now known as ANIMA Studios) under entertainment company KROMA Entertainment.

Elevating series-making in the Philippines

THE local adaptation of Flower of Evil, which stars Piolo Pascual, Lovi Poe, and Paulo Avelino, already had it from the time it premiered in June. People were raving about the performance of the leads down to the supporting cast for having a good understanding of their characters, and strong writing and direction that make the series coherent and even at par with the original version.

At the finale press conference for the series –attended by Pascual, Avelino, Edu Manzano, JC de Vera, and Poe (via Zoom) – the common feedback received from the members of the entertainment press, including the blogging community, is that the series, albeit a local adaptation, is able to showcase the level of creativity of the local team behind the production. Some even commented that it has surpassed their expectations in making the series very Filipino yet with global appeal.

“It’s more like making it your own. I was so glad for the guidance of our director. They led us to make it our own version,” Poe, who plays Castillodel Rosario, shared.

One of the hardest parts of making this show is how to make it as Filipino as possible so it wouldn’t feel like an adaptation,” Avelino, who believes that the series is a good model to show the capability of local production to come up with world-class content, added.

For Pascual, coming into the show, there was a conscious effort to make the adaptation of the hit Korean series more Filipino.

“There was too much pressure because it’s gonna be an adaptation. There are expectations. There’s gonna be bashing. There’s gonna be judgments from a lot of people. But the best thing about this is knowing the story — how it’s gonna start and how it’s gonna end. So we had a reference. We kinda had a manual as to how to do it differently,” said Pascual.

From a Viu executive, the only secret to creating a Filipino worldclass series is to get the best people to do the job.

…are talking about

Zen Hernandez

As a news anchor, Zen deals with current events daily. But this time, she made the news because of a birthday greeting from her colleague Atom Araullo . The greeting wasn’t fancy or colorful since Atom went straight to the point, but their involvement made people speculate about a budding romance between them. Neither Atom nor Zen announced their relationship status. Nonetheless, they both deserve a healthy relationship.

Kelsey Merritt

Starring alongside James Reid in his new music video is one thing, but sharing steamy scenes with the singer-actor is something else. Kelsey and James cozied to each other for the music video for “u & i.” It’s been years since James became single, and although fans continue to pine for him, is it Kelsey who will finally put an end to the queue?

“When we embarked on this project, our vision was to elevate Filipino content not just for the local audience but also for the viewers across the globe. And we were able to achieve this by having a director like Darnel and Richard, by having a creative team that’s on top of everything, and by having an exceptional cast,” said Viu PH’s Garlic Garcia “It’s everyone together. It’s really a team effort in bringing this excellent production,” the executive went on.

Plot thickens leading to finale Daniel (Pascual) and Iris (Poe) are putting their lives on the line for the sake of keeping their family together as they attempt to expose Jacob’s (Avelino) dark secrets in the thrilling last two episodes of Flower of Evil.

The couple is closer than ever in proving Daniel’s innocence and having Jacob arrested after uncovering that Jacob, not Daniel, is the real accomplice of Daniel’s father, the notorious serial killer Abel (Gardo Versoza).

But Daniel may also get into major trouble as well if he pursues his plan on killing Jacob. Daniel has gone berserk and is dead set on killing Jacob after Jacob led him to believe that he had killed Iris, not knowing that she was actually able to survive Jacob’s attack.

Daniel’s anger towards Jacob’s twisted acts also intensified after he found out that Jacob stabbed Grace (Denise Laurel), Daniel’s only sister, and also murdered Abel.

Now that Daniel has become insane, Iris will have to do her best to convince him that he is not capable of killing so that she can clear Daniel’s name once and for all.

Things will get even more intense when Daniel’s master plan of setting up Jacob turns into a bloody altercation that will leave both of them fighting for their lives as Iris and the police race against time to rescue Daniel.

Will Daniel and Jacob make it out alive? Will Iris succeed in proving Daniel’s innocence so that they can start anew as a family?

These will be answered as Flower of Evil ends this Saturday (October 8) and Sunday (October 9) at 9:00 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, and Jeepney TV.

Directed by Darnel Villaflor and Richard Arellano Flower of Evil also stars Joross Gamboa, Joem Bascon, Epy Quizon, Rita Avila, Jett Pangan, Pinky Amador, and Joko Diaz

...are not talking about

Anthony Taberna

Toni Gonzaga landed on the trending list for her Shopee endorsement, but it also earned her some flak and several Filipinos calling to boycott the e-commerce platform. The veteran broadcast journalist tried to defend his fellow ALLTV colleague and Shoppee from Filipinos, but the public didn’t mind him. While Ka Tunying is right about the toxicity of the boycott culture, he should also be careful with how he uses his platform, especially since he’s a known broadcast journalist.

Alexa Miro

Photographs of the actress-host during the Singapore Grand Prix surfaced just recently. Although she looks like she’s having the time of her life with the First Family, Filipinos can’t help but wonder how she became a part of the event. Alexa clarifies that she remains good friends with Congressman Sandro Marcos, but some are skeptical that there must be more between them to warrant an invite. Guess we’ll have to wait to see where they’ll go together.

racked

Presented

Love

Over the course of

Ne-Yo

worldwide. His first single, 2005’s “So Sick,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified quadruple-platinum. Since then, he has

He

Can Chelsea Fernandez do a back-to-back?

A RARE back-to-back win in an international pageant for the Philippines has been done only three times and Bb. Pilipinas-Globe Chelsea Fernandez, who is in Tirana, Albania for the Miss Globe 2022 pageant, is crossing her fingers to become the fourth Filipina to achieve the feat.

“I will do my best to give you a back-to-back win and make another history for our country, please pray for me,” said the 23-year-old mass communication graduate. Chelsea is competing against 80 plus candidates from around the world in the finals set on October 15 at the National Opera and Ballet Theater in Tirana.

Can Chelsea inherit Maureen Montagne’s crown and follow in the footsteps of back-to-back achievers Gloria Dimayacyac (Miss Asia Quest 1983), Angeli Dione Gomez (Miss Tourism International 2013), and Angelia Ong (Miss Earth 2015)?

• • • Mrs. Universe Philippines 2022 winners

MRS. Quezon City Veronica Yu bested 18 candidates and snagged the Mrs. Universe Philippines 2022 title during the coronation night held at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila on Sunday.

Yu, a mother and entrepreneur venturing into emerging businesses, will lead five other Philippine representatives, named during the night, in Mrs. Universe 2022 pageant to be held in South Korea in December.

“Unfaithful,”

“Russian Roulette,” and “Take a Bow,” along with Beyoncé’s 2006 breakup anthem “Irreplaceable” and songs for such artists as

Nickie Wang

They are Mrs. Universe Philippines FDN-North Pacific Asia 2022 Gines Shainnon Angeles, Mrs. Universe Philippines FDN Northeast Asia 2022 Lady Chatterly Alvaro, Mrs. Universe Philippines FDN West Pacific Asia 2022 Jeannie Jarina Mrs. Universe Philippines FDN Pacific Continental 2022 Jessa Macaraig, and Mrs. Universe Philippines FDN Continental Asia 2022 Michelle Solinap Mrs. Universe Philippines 2022 was produced and presented by the Mrs. Universe Philippine Foundation, headed by national director Maria Charo Calalo, in cooperation with 2xsist Events Productions.

• • • 9th Misters of Filipinas’ Festival Kings costume competition

THE Misters of Filipinas 2022 held its Festival Kings national costume competition, featuring creations by talented Filipino designers showcasing the traditional Philippine festivals around the country, held at Tanghalang Pasigueño in Pasay City on Saturday.

Presented by PEPPs Foundation Inc & Misters of Filipinas, Top 10 best costumes were named at the culmination of the contest, namely, Isaac Jonathan Barlao (City of Sta. Rosa), Zach Pracale (Laguna), Mark Joseph Cruz (Paranaque City), Gerald Fullante (Camarines Sur), James Reggie Vidal (Ormoc City), Red Pedro (Nueva Ecija), Chris Martines (Municipality of Santa Cruz), Joel Enriquez Alejandro (Malolos, Bulacan), Vincent Rinon (Pulong Sta. Cruz, Santa Rosa), and Kenneth Cruz (Pampanga).

Thirty-five candidates are vying for the titles at stake during the Grand Coronation Night set LIVE at Newport Performing Arts Theater, World October

Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Carrie Underwood, and Celine Dion among others. Beyond his artistry, Ne-Yo’s film and television credits include NBC’s World of Dance, Empire, Stomp the Yard, Save the Last Dance, Battle: Los Angeles, George Lucas’ Red Tails, The Wiz Live!, and Step Up: High Water.

Binibining PilipinasGlobe Chelsea Fernandez hopes to become the fourth Filipina to take home the Miss Globe 2022 crown

A

of Misters of Filipinas

in his Festival Kings national costume competition attire

Leading telco rewards loyal patrons

Pinky Tobiano displays whimsical and glamorous taste in latest tablescaping project

COLLABORATING with so many global brands to enhance the dining experience is what chemist and tablescaping queen Pinky Tobiano has been doing lately, with her widely-followed TableLove by Pinky, this time with Rustan’s Department Store.

There is the eco-sustainable tablescape Bahay Kubo, featuring recycled materials like the soft broom or walis tambo, fabrics accessories such as lampshades, and birdcages.

“That means you are a responsible citizen supporting climate change,” Pinky emphasized.

PLDT Home shows love to its loyal customers with the return of the Grand Giveaway promo. Running until December 31, over 200 new and existing PLDT Home customers can take home rewards and prizes during the monthly draws, and a chance to win Maya credits and P5 million cash (tax-free) in the grand draw. Winners for the grand draw will be announced on January 30, 2023.

Christmas sure came early because PLDT Home will be giving away P100,000 Philippine Airlines e-gift cards to five lucky winners, plus a host of exciting prizes including Apple iPads, Nintendo Switch OLED consoles, Samsung Galaxy A32 5G phones, TP Link Wifi 5 Mesh devices, and e-vouchers from Shopee and GrabFood.

To kick off the Grand Giveaway promo, PLDT Home Rewardslaunches a new video featuring actress, singer, model, and Home ambassador, Gigi De Lana

In the new video, Gigi shows how subscribers can do it better and get a shot at a grander life by simply being a member of the PLDT Home Rewards program.

You can watch the video here: https://youtu. be/9M5ko3llrP4

Since she loves entertaining friends, Pinky makes tablescaping very thematic. She presented three, unique tables as she also works with the country’s leading luxury retail destination, Rustan’s Department Store, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

Once again, Pinky displayed her creativity anew with her whimsical and glamorous taste in tablescaping using unique accessories and designs. She allowed her guests to enjoy a beautiful tablescaping experience.

Inspired by the popular local folk song, “Bahay Kubo” features renowned Filipino painter Anita Magsaysay Ho in Bernardaud plates exclusively available at Rustan’s Department Store Home Section. Pinky adorned the table with vegetables in “Bahay Kubo” like sitaw, mani, talong, luya

To honor the breast cancer warriors including her and her mom, Pinky especially decorated a second table, “Tickle Me Pink,” for strength as a tribute to ICan Serve Foundation and Bosom Buddies.

It is also a prelude to Pink October.

“My mom and I are both cancer survivors,” Pinky disclosed. “There is a table that is a tribute to all the women fighting breast cancer. I salute

Love lessons learned from country’s top love team

11 YEARS as a love team. 10 years as boyfriend and girlfriend. In an industry where onscreen pairs come and go, the portmanteau KathNiel has remained relevant for more than a decade.

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla have undoubtedly stood the test of time as a reel and real couple. And that deserves a celebration.

True enough, on September 26, while filming the hit ABS-CBN series 2 Good 2 Be True, Kathryn and Daniel squeezed in some time to give back to their long-time supporters. The power couple threw a grand celebration for their loyal fans at the Microtel by Wyndham in Quezon City. The two humbly attributed their success for more than a decade to those who lined up to watch their movies, purchased the products they endorse, and cheered at their mall shows.

Grateful was the night’s buzzword.

Aside from letting us into how they stayed together for more than a decade in entertainment, Kathryn and Daniel also let their guards down during a mini Q&A to give us a glimpse of their relationship. There were no cookie-cutter answers to make us swoon and sigh but kilig effortlessly came from the couple’s banter and candid responses.

Here are some love lessons Kathryn and Daniel unpacked during the conversation: Honor me-time and be each other’s safe space

“We may be public figures but we are also boyfriend and girlfriend like ordinary people,” Kathryn explained. “We plan trips, dinners, and movies to watch together.”

She emphasized the need for a sense of normalcy in the relationship and admitted that it is what they have been working on for years. “When we have time to do things that are unrelated to work, we do that. Then, he has time alone and I also have time alone.”

Both Kathryn and Daniel expressed how challenging being in a lockin taping is. While they love being with each other, the couple indirectly validated the saying that “Familiarity breeds contempt.”

“It gets to you,” Daniel talked about how mood swings are unavoidable

given the emotional demands of their acting jobs. “So, sometimes, we tell each other ‘Okay, Bal, let’s move away for a bit!’ when we clash. We already know that and we give each other space for a time.”

“It’s not fun and games every day. We also fight,” Daniel admitted. “That’s part of the package, and it’s a good ingredient in a relationship. Without conflicts, there will be no depth in the relationship and you won’t learn from each other.”

“Aside from adjusting to each other, communication is very important,”

have individual activities so we never reached the point to need a cool-off,” Daniel explained.

“We get to gauge each other’s feelings by now and give each other the necessary space when needed,” Kathryn added. Acknowledge each other’s shortcomings

When asked who says sorry first, Daniel volunteered, “There’s a balance.” To which Kathryn nodded in agreement. “There are days she is the tiger. On some days, I am the lion,” Daniel laughingly quipped. “It won’t work if I always get my way because she has her own mind. Sometimes, when I suggest something and she contradicts it, okay. Let’s see what happens. If things turn out okay, then very good. If not, then [I’ll tell her] ‘I told you so!’” The guests burst into laughter.

A little later in the conversation, Daniel revealed that it takes a little more for his girlfriend to apologize. “For her to say sorry, there has to be a specific reason for it,” he spilled. Kathryn sweetly asked, “But isn’t that right? Why am I going to say sorry if I don’t know the reason, right?” Daniel quickly yet carefully crafted his reply, “The main reason is, ‘I’m sorry because I made you feel bad,’ right? That’s just it.”

By Kyla Marie Victoriano

the courage and resilience of each woman. May that table inspire all the people undergoing the Big C to continue the fight with love, grace, and hope in the Lord.”

The third table, “La Dolce Vita,” signifies Rustan’s fruitful 70th year celebrating life, love, family, and excellence. Similar to Rustan’s that has undoubtedly redefined upscale, luxury retailing through the years, the tablescape evoked only the finest and stunning details that capture the eye and ultimately lead to a sweet life.

With the lifestyle of the Shangri-La Mall, Pinky was compelled to combine fresh, dried, and artificial flowers for her recent tablescaping. “There’s nothing wrong with using artificial flowers,” she pointed out. “What is important is that you satisfy what you want to execute.”

Even without the food, Pinky can dress up a sumptuous, yet festive table with her Tablelove by Pinky Bianca Valerio hosted the evening event.

Governor Chavit Singson led the line-up of prominent celebrity guests, with beauty queens Nicole Cordoves, Bianca Manalo and Roxie Baeyens, Tessa Prieto Valdes, Annabelle Rama, Becky Garcia and hubby Dr. George Sarakinis, Marga Nograles, Lana Faith Johnson, Michelle Takijima, Susan Joven and Joy Polloso , Executive Vice President Commercial and Retail Shang Properties, Inc. Also in attendance were Pinky’s hubby Juancho Robles and her daughter, Pianne Sinfuego Pinky’s TV show, TableLove by Pinky, airs on ETC every Sunday.

Kathryn chimed in. “When I am in a bad mood, who else will I run to to make me feel better? So, when he needs me, I also try to be there. It feels different to know you have someone you can run to without fear of being judged and you know will put you back in a good place.” Make room for each other’s growth

In ten years, there was not a time Kathryn and Daniel found themselves wanting to break up. They give credit to having time for themselves and their other relationships. “Take your time. Mama tells me that all the time. Tita Karla [Estrada] also reminds us of that,” Kathryn said. “We did not rush into things and always had something to look forward to as a couple.”

“She has her own trips with her friends, and I get to spend time with my family and friends during Christmas. We

For Daniel, addressing the problem on a macro level is more important. “The point is, you made me feel bad, and that’s why you say sorry. If you don’t know, now, you know,” he said, holding Kathryn’s shoulder to appease her jokingly. Kathryn told the crowd, “I think you’re about to witness the kind of fight we were talking about.” The room was filled with laughter once again. Choose the other person every single day

“We are just like others in a relationship. We fight, we have fun. Love is a choice every day,” Daniel stated. He shared, this was something he picked up from an interview with basketball player Doug Kramer. “Every time you wake up, you have the option to leave [a relationship] or stay.”

“As they say, love is always just fun at the start. But when you reach something like this, we’ve been together for ten years, oh my goodness, we’ve been through a lot. But still, we choose each other all the time,” Daniel ended.

That was our cue to go, “Aww!”

WATSONS Philippines conducted a cleanup drive at the coast of the Las PiñasParañaque Critical Habit and Ecotourism Area (LLPCHEA) in celebration of the International Coastal Clean-up Day on September 17. Watsons officials, employees, and partner suppliers collaborated with volunteer participants of CORA (Communities Organized for Resource Allocation) as they picked up nonbiodegradable trash at the coast of the Las PiñasParañaque Critical Habit Ecotourism Area. The area is also known as Las Piñas Parañaque Wetland Park.

The coastal clean-up activity of Watson’s “Do Good” efforts for the ocean hoped to raise awareness and inspire the volunteers to change their lifestyles.

“We learned that we cannot do this alone. That is why we have partnered with CORA, the local government, and we involved our employees and supplier-partners. We need to help each other to DO GOOD,” said Watsons’ Public Relations and Sustainability Director Viki Encarnacion

CORA (Communities Organized for Resource Allocation) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating sustainable programs to help solve global issues, including climate change and plastic pollution.

“We are very happy to see a retailer like Watsons be a responsible citizen of the planet and work with us on this clean-up drive. Plastic pollution and mismanaged waste are serious environmental concerns,” said CORA founder and executive director Antonette Taus

The #CORAcleanUps Program helps remove plastic pollution from our Philippine seas and provides a livelihood for the “Bakawan Warriors” waste workers that recover marine debris from Manila Bay and surrounding areas while maintaining the biodiversity of the LPPCHEA.

The Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habit and Ecotourism Area is a group of structures in Las Pinas that helps to communicate to the public the importance of conservation and wise use of the mangrove and other wetland areas in the 175 hectares that make up a protected area.

The clean-up activity that took place was a first-time experience for the company. Since they didn’t have any employee outings, Encarnacion said, “Ito ang ginawa naming outing. This is where we brought our employees to do their share of cleaning up the ocean.”

As they have been gearing toward sustainability, Encarnacion revealed that the company would open its first-ever refilling station at the SM North Edsa The Block branch.

“We will have our first-ever Refill Station, so you don’t need to buy a full product anymore. You can now just come to the store and refill your own,” she shared.

Watson’s Customer Director Jared De Guzman added that the company would refurbish the branch as it will be the “Store of the Watsons Future,” with an area full of sustainable choices.

In line with the upcoming project of Watsons, they will be starting the refill stations with “Naturals by Watsons.” De Guzman also noted that customers do not have to pay for a new package. By bringing reusable bottles, customers can save up to 20 to 30 percent on the product.

Furthermore, the company is also getting in touch with partner suppliers who could be interested in taking part in their refilling project as they continue to encourage other people to switch to more sustainable choices.

Event participants included members of media, bloggers, influencers, and Watsons employee-volunteers and trade suppliers. The participants enjoyed a dance fitness warm-up as part of Watsons’ Get Active program before cleaning up dozens of sacks with their collected trash. After that, the collected trash was weighed, and awards were given to the participants.

Marga Nograles, Chavit Singson and Pinky Tobiano

From left: Benedict Sy, Pinky Tobiano and Chris Cachuela

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla

Health and beauty care chain continues ‘Do Good’ efforts through coastal clean-up

Watsons volunteers celebrates the International Coastal Clean-up Day by cleaning & picking up trash at the Freedom Island in Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA)