Manila Standard - 2022 October 14 - Friday

De Lima appeals to PBBM

Asks for DOJ to stop blocking witness to testify over her drug case

DETAINED former Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to "order" the Department of Justice (DOJ) to "stop blocking the testimony" of a recanting witness in her ongoing drug-related trial.

"Mr. President, I will not and will never ask you to interfere with the courts. This is my earnest and most respectful plea to you, your Excellency: Order DOJ to stop blocking the testimony of the recanting prosecution witness Rafael Ragos and for them to stop presenting obviously perjured witnesses like Herbert Colangco," De Lima said in a tweet.

House sets 50-percent cut on remittance fees

By Maricel V. Cruz

A PANEL in the House of Representatives has recommended for plenary consideration several pieces of legislation that aim to protect the remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

This was as the House Committee

on Overseas Workers Affairs, chaired by Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo, on Thursday began deliberationson House Bills 185, 1190, 2944, 3020, 4170, 4257, 4343, 4397 and 4469.

These bills propose a 50-percent discount on remittance fees, which would eventually be granted as tax deductions

for the service providers.

The committee eventually consolidated and approved the nine bills and took note of position papers to be submitted by concerned agencies and organizations in crafting the substitute bill.

Citing a World Bank study, Deputy

Ragos appeared on Sept. 30 at the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court(RTC) supposedly to affirm his April 30 affidavit recanting his statements linking De Lima to the illegal drug trade, but was prevented by prosecution lawyers from affirming his retraction on the witness stand.

Ragos’ lawyer, Michael de Castro, then told reporters that the DOJ filed a motion for reconsideration (MR) on an earlier court order that would have allowed his client to take the stand.

In their six-page MR, the DOJ panel led by Provincial Prosecutor Ramoncito Bienvenido Ocampo Jr. argued that “recantations are typically viewed with suspicion and hardly given much weight.”

“Obviously, Mr. Ragos’ alleged recantation is nothing but an afterthought. The timeliness and circumstances of the alleged recantation is clearly suspect and even amounts to perjury,” they said.

According to De Lima, Mr. Marcos is in the position to undo the "wrongs" inflicted on her by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

"You can reverse the grievous wrongs inflicted on me by your predecessor. Please, Mr. President. Salamat po (thank you)," De Lima said.

"I have faith in our

system, but I

that the

Poll body strict with 25 age limit

CANDIDATES who are 25 years old by next year's Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections will be screened and will not be allowed to run for office, the Commis sion on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday.

Comelec Chairman George Er win Garcia said the poll body will refuse to accept certificates of can didacy (COCs) of over-aged SK aspirants to prevent the filing of numerous petitions for cancella tion and disqualification.

About 42,000 current youth council chairmen and over 293,000

COVID growth in NCR down, very high in 7 areas

By Willie Casas and Joel E. Zurbano

THE COVID-19 positivity rate has gone down in the National Capital Region (NCR) but is “very high” in several prov inces, independent monitoring OCTA Re search Group said Thursday. In a tweet, OCTA fellow Guido Da

vid said the positivity rate in the NCR dropped from 17.9 percent on Oct. 8 to 15 percent on Oct. 11.

However, David said the positiv ity rates are “very high” in Tarlac (51.8 percent), Camarines Sur (46.2 percent), Zambales (33.6 percent), South Cotabato (26.2 percent), Cavite (22.6 percent), La guna (22.2 percent), and Rizal (21.2 per cent) as of Oct. 11.

HEART MEDIA AWARD.

Manila Standard Advertising Manager Baldwin Felipe (right) receives the Platinum Heart Media Award from Philippine Heart Association president Dr. Jude Erric Cinco for the Standard being ‘a powerful vehicle and platform’ for the PHA’s flagship Healthy Lifestyle and CPR Advocacy programs’ on Thursday at the EDSA ShangriLa Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

The positivity rate refers to the per centage of people who were found posi tive for COVID-19 among the total num ber of individuals tested.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday noted an increase in CO VID-19 daily tally with 2,883 new cas es logged, while the active infections climbed to 25,293.

DOJ chief not interfering in son’s drug rap

THE son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla was arrested by members of the Philippine Drug En forcement Agency (PDEA) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thurs day for claiming a parcel that allegedly contained kush or high-grade marijuana worth P1.3 million.

Juanito Jose Remulla III, the Justice chief’s eldest son, was nabbed after getting the parcel from San Diego, California.

The Justice Secretary, in a handwrit ten statement, said he would "not inter vene in his son's predicament."

“I am both a father and the secretary of Justice, roles that I take very seriously. We all know about unconditional love, but at 38 years old, he will have to face

Gatchalian: Blacklisting issue only case of misappreciation

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

CHINESE Ambassador Huang Xilian did not directly say that the Philippines will be “blacklisted anytime soon” by China for hosting Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday.

His statement contradicted that of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

“Just to be fair, at least in my appre ciation, he never categorically said that: ‘Oh, the Philippines will be blacklisted anytime soon.’ He never said that,” Gatchalian said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.

DepEd

THE Department of Education on Thursday denied claims that it plans to rebrand the teaching of martial law as "Bagong Lipunan" (New Society) in the basic education curriculum.

Asked for confirmation, DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa told ABSCBN news the plan was "not true."

During the campaign period for this year's elections, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. denied spreading false in formation about the events under his father's administration.

Mr. Marcos’ running mate, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, is also

Earlier, Zubiri took exception when the Chinese embassy said the ambassa dor never said the Philippines would be blacklisted because itallowed the opera tion of POGOs, which target Chinese nationals with their online gambling operations.

Huang had paid a courtesy call to the Senate earlier this week, meeting with Zubiri, Gatchalian, and Senator Robin Padilla.

During the Senate hearing on the economic costs and benefits of POGOs, Zubiri said that based on their conver sations with Huang, the Philippines has

of

the concurrent Education Secretary.

The President’s sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, has said their family would not "revise history" but only share their side of the story.

According to reports from global human rights watchdog Amnesty In ternational, there were 100,000 vic tims of martial law from 1972 to 1981, with 3,000 killed, 34,000 tortured and 70,000 arrested.

A social media user recently alleged that their friend, whom they identified as a professor from the University of the

WATER WOES. Commuters become stranded while vehicles navigate through the flooded Taft Avenue corner UN Avenue in Manila on Thursday due to heavy rains. Tropical depression Neneng entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday and may reach tropical storm category by Saturday, the state weather bureau said (story on A2). Norman Cruz

Former

AFP is most trusted gov’t agency

By Vince Lopez

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Technical Education and Skills Authority (TESDA), and Department of Education (DepEd) led the 10 government agencies that garnered the highest “trust ratings” based on the results of the latest PUBLiCUS Asia survey.

Pahayag 2022 Third Quarter is an in dependent and non-commissioned sur vey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc between September 16 to 20, 2022.

Based on the survey results, the AFP posted the highest trust rating at 57%, closely followed by TESDA and DepEd

De Lima...

From A1

instruments of truth and justice this time around," added the ex-lawmaker, who endured being hostaged at the PNP headquarters last Sunday.

Earlier this year, Ragos, a former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Bureau of Corrections officerin-charge, recanted his allegations implicating De Lima in the illegal drugs trade.

Ragos accused former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II of coercing him into testifying against De Lima, which Aguirre denied.

On Tuesday, the Palace said Mr. Marcos "cannot and will not intervene" with the possible request of De Lima for home furlough, after a fellow detainee briefly took her hostage at the national police headquarters last Sunday.

Calls for the release of the former senator were made anew following the hostage-taking incident.

De Lima, a staunch critic of Duterte, was arrested on drug charges on February 24, 2017, after a long-drawnout public feud where the former leader accused her of immorality and collecting money from drug sources and vowed to destroy her.

The 63-year-old, who lost a Senate reelection bid in May, has always maintained her innocence, rejecting the cases against her as fabricated and a product of political persecution.

De Lima is a former Justice Secretary and chair of the Commission on Human Rights. Rey E. Requejo

COVID...

From A1

This was an increase from 1,623 new COVID-19 cases recorded on Wednes day and came after two days straight of less than 2,000 daily reported COVID-19 cases.

The DOH said the active cases also went up from 24,283 on Wednesday.

The nationwide COVID-19 tally is at 3,975,884, it added.

Meanwhile, the Department of Infor mation and Communications Technol ogy (DICT) said the release of digital COVID-19 vaccine certificates under VaxCertPH continues, even though the government’s contract with the software developer has expired.

DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said the contract expired on Sept. 30, but his de partment is looking for funds to keep it running.

Also on Thursday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged officials of the country's 42,046 barangays to take advantage of the barangay assembly days set for this month to encourage their constituents to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said barangay chiefs must take advantage of the village assembly to discuss the advantages of getting boosted and vac cinated against COVID-19 and invite the citizens to partake in government vacci nation campaigns such as PinasLakas.

He also said they must inform the pub lic that COVID-19 booster shots are now accessible in their workplace, transporta tion terminals and drug stores.

As of Oct. 11, 20,195,895 Filipinos have been administered withCOVID-19 booster shots while 73,342,216 have complete initial vaccination status and 70,756,003 have had their first dose.

In other developments:

• The DOH said the new Omicron subvariant, also known as XBB, has not yet been detected in the Philip pines. The XBB variant, a recombi nant of the BJ.1 and BM.1.1.1, is said to have a higher immune evasion abil ity, the DOH said. The XBB variant is driving new infections in some parts of the world, including Singapore.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Sin gapore reported this week an increase in local casesdriven by XBB, includ ing a post-weekend spike on Tuesday.

But the MOH in the same statement dismissed rumors circulating online that Singapore is experiencing a rapid and large increase in cases of severe illness and deaths due to the circu lating XBB strain. The ministry also noted there is no evidence that the XBB variant causes severe illness.

at 56 and 55% respectively.

The rest of the government agencies in the Top 10 are the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) with 53%; the Depart ment of Social Welfare and Develop ment (DSWD) with 49%; Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with 48%;

House...

From A1

Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said OFWs paid $3.44 billion in fees on the $31.4 billion they sent home to their families last year.

“Had the bill been enacted, it would have saved our workers $1.72 billion or P95.67 billion at the exchange rate of P55.70 to one US dollar,” he said.

“That is P95.67 billion in extra money going to OFW families, instead of that huge amount accruing to banks that are raking in tens of billions in profits. Let us choose to help our OFWs and their families, rather than make bank owners richer,” the Pampanga lawmaker noted.

He pointed out that if the P95.67 billion were divided equally among2.3 million OFW families, each would have received an additional P41,600. He added that banks would still have earned $1.72 billion.

The House had approved the bill on third and final in December 2020 during the 18th Congress, but the Senate failed to pass its version of the measure.

Gatchalian:...

From A1

been blacklisted for hosting online gam bling. Chinese tourists are also warned against going to the Philippines, citing threats to their safety and security due to the presence of POGOs.

The Chinese embassy later issued a statement saying China has not placed the Philippines on any blacklist, saying the report was “misinformation.”

Zubiri shot back at Huang, saying that the misinformation came from the Chinese envoy.

Gatchalian, however, said this was a simple case of misappreciation.

“I don’t think we should blow this up.

To be fair also, the courtesy call was very cordial. We were laughing, we were also serious at one point. It was very cordial.”

When they were discussing POGOs, Gatchalian said Huang explained that their law is very strict against betting, working, and investing in online gam bling businesses because of growing cases of suicide and people getting deep into debt.

“And then he (Huang) went to go on saying that in order to prevent their citizens

DOJ...

From A1

his predicament as a fully emancipated child,” Remulla said. “I will not intervene in nor influence my son’s predicament, and I have not done so in any way… A person should always face the consequence of their ac tions and I will let justice take its own course,” he added.

This developed as PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon said the Philippines is in a "good situation" in terms of fighting the illegal drug menace.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel, Carreon said more areas in the country are now drug-cleared as the gov ernment implements a holistic approach to curb illegal drugs.

"We hold to our belief that our (il legal drug) situation is still good and that right now if you will allow us to explain that, out of the 42,046 baran gays in the Philippines, drug-cleared barangays now number about 26,093 with drug-affected barangays only at 9,414,” he said.

“But again, as explained by (PDEA) Director General Wilkins Villanueva, rest assured that we are in a good situa tion where the government is on top of the situation,’’ Carreon added.

The Justice Secretary is in Geneva, where he spoke before the United Na tions Human Rights Committee.

DepEd...

From A1

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) garnering 47%; Department of Health (DOH) with 45%; Department of Tourism (DOT) with 44% and Depart ment of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with 44%.

Office of the Press Secretary officer-incharge Undersecretary Cheloy VelicariaGarafil noted that government agencies with high trust ratings are those who have direct contact with the people, especially in the delivery of basic social services.

Garafil said it is not surprising for the AFP to have the highest trust rating be cause it is directly involved in search and rescue operations in times of distress and calamities.

Under HB No. 185, banks and nonbank financial intermediaries could claim the 50-percent remittance discount for OFWs as an expense deductible from their gross income.

They would be prohibited from increasing their fees without prior consultation with the Department of Finance (DOF), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

These remittance establishments would also be required to post inconspicuous places on their premises the prevailing foreign exchange rate to be used in converting OFW remittances into Philippine pesos.

Tarlac Rep. Christian Tell Yap, author of HB 1190, lamented the lack of information among OFWs who are not informed by service providers about certain money-transfer fees and charges when sending money to their families.

Once enacted, Yap said his proposal shall require intermediary financial institutions to actively disclose their service fees, thereby ensuring compliance with proper and just practices under the law.

from engaging in the online gambling busi ness, whether working or investing, they implemented a blacklist, and he made an example of Cambodia,” he said.

Gatchalian remembered Huang saying that online gambling is a social problem in China and there were even those who committed suicide for being heavily in debted because of their gambling.

Padilla, meanwhile, recalled that Huang said that based on their assess ment, POGO owners and operators are connected with syndicates and illegal activities, which was why many of them are blacklisted or wanted in China.

He also remembered Huang in formed them that the Chinese govern ment is keeping tabs on possible crimes stemming from the POGO operations in the Philippines and has warned its na tionals visiting the Philippines.

The ambassador made it clear that China does not allow its citizens to gamble online, invest in online gam bling businesses, or work in online gaming businesses such as POGOs.

Under China's laws, it is a crime for Chinese nationals to gamble in their countries—and to open casinos attract ing Chinese as primary customers.

"Ambassador Huang pointed these out to illustrate why POGO operations

He admitted this was a “very difficult time” for him and his family and that he would “let justice take its course.”

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla also said he will not support his nephew, add ing that any family member who will influence the matter will be exposed im mediately,

“I personally feel that while he de serves all my empathy, there will be no support extended in terms of using my position in government.

While he is family, my oath as Cavite Governor and as a Public Servant is para mount above any of his alleged trans gressions,” he said in a statement.

Both the governor and Justice sec retary expressed their gratitude to the PDEA.

“I thank the PDEA for doing their job without fear or favor. I have no con flict with them. This is a very difficult time for me and my family. But this is nothing compared to what so many Filipinos are going through,” Boying Remulla said.

“We would like to thank the PDEA for doing their job. We were never informed of their operation, and they were correct in doing so. There should be no fear nor favor in the conduct of their duties,” Jon vic added.

Carreon said PDEA’s approach in cludes key strategies such as demand re duction, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

He said PDEA also continues to go after big-time targets and syndicates in

Philippines, "was invited by the DepEd to discuss changes that will happen in the new curriculum."

"Sa panahon ng Batas Militar, gusto nilang gawing 'Panitikan ng Aktibismo at Bagong Lipunan'. Bali irereplace nila yung term na 'Batas Militar' to 'Bagong Li punan' all over the curriculum kasi ayaw nilang may

“The AFP has the Army, Navy, and Air Force at its disposal during times of calamities and disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes.

Army soldiers are responsible for conducting rescue and relief missions in far-flung areas in the provinces. Navy personnel are engaged in seaborne search and rescue operations,” she said.

TESDA and DepEd occupying the 2nd and 3rd spots is an indication of how people value basic education, and the continuity through TESDA that provides skills training for high school graduates who want immediate employment, Ga rafil pointed out. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Citing the OFWs’ high contribution to the Philippine economy through remittances, Yap said the bill would help protect the financial welfare of OFWs, as well as sustain the country’s economic growth.

For his part, Rep. Antonio Legarda Jr. of the lone district of Antique, author of HB 3020, said his proposal prohibit any fees imposed without prior consultation with the Department of Finance and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Meanwhile, the Salo committee also tackled HBs 365, 1188, and 3378, establishing a credit assistance program for OFWs.

In her sponsorship speech for HB 3378, Cavite Rep. Lani MercadoRevilla noted that the measure would allow prospective OFWs with a valid contract certified by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to apply for a loan of up to PHP50,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

This is to cover the living expenses of their families at the start of employment, and other expenses incurred during preemployment, she added.

should not be allowed in our country, citing the crimes and other problems as sociated with them,” Padilla said.

Gatchalian said he believes POGO operations should be stopped.

Aside from the crimes perpetrated by those belonging to the industry, he cit ed the billions of pesos the Philippines stands to lose if Chinese tourists would be prevented from visiting the country.

Also on Thursday, Quezon City 4th District Rep. Marvin Rillo welcomed the Chinese embassy’s statement deny ing the backlisting of the Philippines as a tourist destination for its citizens.

Rillo said the county needs some 1.7 million visitors from China every year for the country’s tourism sector to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Criminal syndicates, mostly run by fugitives from China, have been known to target Chinese citizens in the Philip pines. These gangs have been linked to kidnapping, sex trafficking, extortion, and corruption around POGOs that are populated by Chinese workers.

Citing statistics from the Department of Tourism (DOT), Rillo said China was the Philippines’ fastest-growing supplier of foreign visitors before the pandemic.

compliance with the directive of Presi dent Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Citing its latest operations, Carreon said PDEA had two successful opera tions on July 3 -- one in Banawe St., Quezon City, which yielded 40 kilos of shabu with an estimated street value of P272 million.

Another operation in Cavite province resulted in the confiscation of 220 kilos of shabu worth P1.496 billion.

On Aug. 12, PDEA together with other law enforcement agencies seized 40 kilos of shabu worth P272 million. This was followed by the seizure of 360 kilos of shabu in another buy-bust operation in Sunshine Village in Poz zorubio, Pangasinan.

Carreon said these operations dis prove allegations of a resurgence in the proliferation of illegal drugs.

“We are thankful that again, we were able to intercept these huge volumes of dangerous drugs but then if we look at the daily reports that are coming in or be ing turned in by our operating units, it's not just us but even the PNP (Philippine National Police) because we also monitor their operations,” he said.

“If you would peruse from the ground during the implementation of daily op erations, there are no volumes amounting to no more than 200 grams arising from daily operations of our units as well as that of the PNP,’’ Carreon pointed out.

Rey E. Requejo

kahit anong 'offensive' kay BBM sa curriculum," the post read.

(During the martial law era, they wanted to make litera ture on activism and the New Society. They would replace the term “martial law” with “new society” all over the cur riculum because they don’t want anything offensive to BBM in the curriculum.)

BBM refers to President "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the former chief executive who declared martial law in the Philippines in 1972.

Storm ‘Neneng’ aims for extreme Northern Luzon

THE tropical depression east of Northern Luzon has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and is now called Neneng, the state weather bureau said Thursday.

In a Facebook post, the Philippine At mospheric, Geophysical and Astronomi cal Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Depression Neneng en tered PAR at noon.

In an earlier bulletin, PAGASA said after it enters PAR, the cyclone will track west southwestward to westward begin ning Friday through Saturday, before turning west northwestward towards Ex treme Northern Luzon.

It may also intensify while moving over the Philippine Sea and may reach the tropical storm category by Saturday.

Because of this, there is a high likeli hood that Tropical Cyclone WindSignals will be hoisted over Batanes and several provinces in Northern Luzon, PAGASA said.

Neneng's passage over Extreme Northern Luzon may bring heavy rain fall over the area beginning Saturday, Oct. 15.

Meanwhile, the former Tropical De pression Maymay has so far affected 1,857 families in three regions in the country. (See full story online at ma nilastandard.net)

Poll...

From A1 councilors have already served for five years since they were first elected to the SK in 2018.

Garcia stressed an SK candidate can not run for election if they are 25 years and one day old on the actual date of the elections—October23, 2023—according to Republic Act No. 10742.

“If they are 24 this December but (turning) 25 next year, or 24 now but 25 past one day on the actual day of the elections on October 23, they cannot run anymore. They should be exactly 24 years old on the election day itself next year,” he said in a press briefing.

This is based on a recent Supreme Court ruling, wherein it was held that an aspirant who is more than 24 years old, even for a day, is not qualified to run for any position in the SK elections.

With this, there will no longer be a need to file thousands of motu proprio petitions to cancel/deny due course to COC for overage aspirants and save the young applicants from the trauma of fac ing suits, the Comelec said.

During the last SK elections held on May 14, 2018, Comelec received more than 6,000 petitions for cancellation and disqualification related to over-aged can didates.

The winning SK officials elected in 2018 were originally to serve until June 30, 2020, but since the 2020 elections were postponed to 2022 in 2019, their terms were also extended to January 1, 2023.

Republic Act No. 11935, signed Oct. 10 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., postpones the 2022 Barangay and SK elections to the last Monday of Octo ber next year – effectively doubling the term of 41,995 current SK Chairmen and 293,365 Councilors.

RA 11935 states the BSKE elections will be held every 3 years thereafter. It said the term of office of elected baran gay and SK officials shall start at noon on Nov. 30 after their election.

Before the May 2018 elections, ba rangay and SK elections had been post poned twice – first from October 2016 to October 2017, then from October 2017 to May 2018.

With the latest postponement, con tinuing voter registration, a bigger bud get, and a redesign of the ballot template are some of the Comelec’s new concerns.

Garcia said the poll body might need to stop the printing of ballots for at least a week to reflect the new date of the elec tions.

The new ballots will bear the new election date of October 2023 instead of Dec. 5, 2022. A total of six million bal lots have already been printed ahead of the December polls.

The Comelec is also set to issue a res olution stating that printed ballots bear ing the December 2022 date can still be used in next year's manual elections.

Another effect of the postponed elec tions is an expected uptick in the number of registered voters.

Garcia said Comelec would resume registration of voters from November 2022 to May 2023, with the additional registrants to be included in the final count of total ballots that need to be printed.

Local poll offices will be instructed not to print the list of voters for now due to the continuing registration.

The Comelec chief said the filing of certificates of candidacy on Oct. 23-29, 2022 would not push through due to the postponement. The election gun ban and campaign period are also expected to be deferred.

Vito Barcelo (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

IN BRIEF

DOH vows to pursue PH universal health care

THE Department of Health (DOH), through the leadership of Officer-inCharge Maria Rosario Singh-Ver geire, has highlighted Primary Care as its flagship reform toward real izing Universal Health Care (UHC).

Armed with lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOH aims to shiftthe country’s health system from the current high-cost, special ist-centric system to a preventive, promotive, and integrated primary healthcare service delivery system that detects and manages diseases early and addresses its root causes.

To do so, the OIC has identified pri ority initiatives that, when successful ly implemented, will allow Filipinos to experience the benefits of Primary Care and UHC. Willie Casas

Customs forms new unit vs. illegal firearms

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has formed a new unit that will scrutinize and monitor the importation of fire arms and explosives into the country to prevent violence and criminality us ing illegally purchased guns.

Customs commissioner Yogi Fi lemon Ruis issued a customs mem orandum order creating the Cus toms Firearms and Explosives Unit (CFEU) that would supervise, ex amine and monitor the importation and exportation of small and light firearms and ammunition.

“The CMO No. 27-2022 states that the unit will be responsible for policies and procedures in line with Republic Act No. 10591 or the “Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions and Providing Penalties for Violation Thereof.” The BOC said. Vito Barcelo

AGAP cites DILG for outstanding reporting

THE Association of Government Ac countants of the Philippines (AGAP) has recognized the Department of the Inte rior and Local Government (DILG) as one of the Outstanding Accounting Of fices in 2021 for its good and stringent policy on financial reporting.

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. thanked AGAP for bestowing the said award, which he said, a testament of the agency’s commitment to quality, timeliness, and accuracy in its financ es from the central office down to the regional and field offices.

“Our sincere appreciation to AGAP for this award. Rest assured that the DILG will continue to promote trans parent, sound and excellent fiscal management in the department from the Central Office down to the field offices,” he said. Joel E. Zurbano

DICT to issue guidelines on SIM registration law

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will release the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the SIM Registration Law in 60 days after the measure becomes effective.

DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said that even though the new measure becomes effective 15 days after its publication, an IRR would still be needed as its blueprint, ABS-CBN News reported.

A section of the law, Republic Act 11934, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., states that the National Telecommunications Commission in coordination with the DICT and other agencies and groups will craft and promulgate the law’s guidelines.

“The IRR must outline the offenses that will fall under the law and the reg istration process, including whether on line or offline,” Uy said.

Uy, quoted by the ABS-CBN News report said the registration of new and existing SIMs will be done online, as well as the submission of governmentissued IDs with a photo for verification of the registrant’s identity.

Those who do not have any govern ment-issued IDs must apply to get one, the official said. “Onsite registration is

difficult because people will flock to the location. There are between 144 and 150 million prepaid SIM cards al ready issued,” he said.

The DICT chief said he is suggesting that individuals get a PhilHealth, SSS, or PhilPost ID, if they do not have a driver’s license or a passport.

A person can register multiple SIM cards, but these would need to be prop erly identified, he said.

Under the measure, new SIM cards must be activated only upon the reg istration of the user through a public telecommunications entity (PTE). Ex isting SIM subscribers, however, must register within 180 days of the effectiv ity of the law.

The DICT though can extend registration up to 120 days.

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PNP info chief is new top cop for C. Visayas

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has named Public Information Office (PIO) chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba as the new director of the Police Region al Office 7 (Central Visayas).

Alba replaced Brig. Gen. Roque Ed uardo de Vega who reached the manda tory retirement age of 56 on Thursday.

Col. Redrico Maranan, meanwhile, was named acting chief of the PNP-PIO.

“For more than a year, we had es tablished a good and professional working relationship. I thank you for all your support, cooperation, and pa tience. I hope I have helped you in ac complishing your tasks as a journalist and member of the media,” Alba said in a message posted in the Viber group of members of the PNP Press Corps and PNP-PIO officials.

Alba is a member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) class of 1992.

Before being assigned as PNPPIO chief, Alba was the deputy director for the administration of the PNP Information Technology Management Service.

He also served as the officer-incharge of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, provin cial director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, chief of the Re gional Operations and Plans Divi sion of the Police Regional Office 6, and other commands, staff, and training assignments as a senior PNP officer.

Meanwhile, Maranan is a member of PNPA Class of 1995. He formerly served as chief of the Marikina City police and director of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office.

Pitlo said Chinese President Xi Jinping is “likely to retain the power triumvirate, meaning that he will be able to keep his position as general secretary of the party the president of China as a country, and the chairmanship of the powerful Central Military Commission.”

Pitlo also discussed the foreign poli cy implications of the said assessment. These implications will include continu ity, institutionalization, and expansion of Chinese initiatives and involvements in organizations that China helped.

Joshua Vittorio M. Garong

‘CANCEL

ILLEGITIMATE DEBTS.’

Debt justice campaigners hold a rally in front of the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on October 13. The protest calls for the cancellation of unsustainable and illegitimate debts as the

Monetary Fund and the World Bank hold their annual meetings

CHR launches probe on killing of two soldiers in Eastern Samar

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday said it has launched a motu proprio probe on the recent killing of two soldiers and the wound ing of three others during a clash with suspected communist rebels in Jipapad, Eastern Samar.

The CHR said that “no ideology nor circumstance” can justify the atrocious attacks and led to harm in nocent civilians.

The soldiers killed in action were identified as Staff Sergeant John Claire Flores and Private First Class Mark Edupancho Siscar, the Army’s 8th Infantry Division said last Oc tober 8.

Among those wounded were Ser geant Allan Tallania and Private First Class Lou Mark Mengote. They were all from the 52nd Infantry Battalion of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division. A

10-year-old girl identified as Princess Norcio was also reported to have been wounded during the incident.

Government forces meanwhile have recovered a firearm and bombmaking materials from a New Peo ple’s Army (NPA) hideout following a brief firefight in the South Cota bato town of Lake Sebu, a military official said Thursday.

Lt. Col. Zandro Alvez, commander

of the Philippine Army’s 5th Special Forces Battalion, said the soldiers clashed with about 20 NPA rebels in Sitio Uhay, Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu, on Wednesday.

“Our troops encountered NPA rebels under the Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR) led by Manuel Fernandez alias Bobo or Ampog,” Alvez said. Fernan dez is the current secretary of the NPA’s FSMR, he said.

PCG sets no-sail zones in Negros

BACOLOD CITY—A “no sail zone” has been declared in the seawaters of the south ernmost localities in Negros Island due to the eight-day joint naval military exercises between the Philippines, United States, and Australia until Oct. 18.

Affected areas are Basay City in Negros Oriental as well as Hinoba-an town and Sipa lay City in Negros Occidental.

On Thursday, the Coast Guard Station Southern Negros Occidental issued an advi sory, after Mayor Daph Anthony Reliquias of Hinoba-an also informed residents about the activities on Wednesday.

“All fishermen are advised to take precau tionary measures for the activities that will be held six nautical miles southwest of Sipa

lay,” the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

According to the Regional Maritime UnitCentral Visayas, live fire activities will be per formed within a total of 62 square miles, and it also advised communities to obey the “no sail zone” area during the simulation exercises.

In a report, the Armed Forces of the Philip pines (AFP) said chief of staff Lt. Gen. Bar tolome Vicente Bacarro led the opening cer emony of the first-ever simultaneous Maritime Training Activity (MTA) “SAMA-SAMA” and “LUMBAS”, at the Naval Forces Central in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Tuesday.

MTA “SAMA-SAMA” is between the Philippines and the United States while “LUMBAS” is between the Philippines and Australia.

‘Xi Jinping is likely to remain as China’s leader’

AN ASSESSMENT of the 20th Con gress of the Communist Party of China was delivered by Prof. Lucio Pitlo III of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies at the recent Pandesal Forum.

SARA PRAISES PAO. Vice President Sara Duterte speaks at the 7th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Convention for Public Attorneys held at the Philippine International Convention Center on Thursday where she commended the staff of the Public Attorney’s Office for their service to the public. Inset shows PAO chief Persida Acosta and Guest of honor Speaker and awardee Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. Joey Razon

News

Speaker Martin Romualdez, assisted by Tingog party-list Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez, Jude Acidre, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez DOLE Region 8 Director Henry John Jalbuena, Sta Fe Mayor Amparo Monteza and EVSU Officer In Charge Dr. Analyn Spaño, hands over TUPAD pay-out and Nego Kart to 515 grantees in ceremony at the Eastern Visayas State University Auditorium Thursday in Tacloban City. Ver Noveno

(Inset) AIRPORT PROJECT INSPECTION. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) officials brief Speaker Martin Romualdez on the status of the construction of new Daniel Z. Romualdez (Tacloban) airport in Tacloban City. Ver Noveno

DPWH chief grilled at Senate hearing

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Robin Padilla on Thursday told the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to go after private contractors who delivered substandard school buildings and other government infrastructure projects.

For his part, Sen. Francis Tolentino noted the Gapan school cited by Padilla may not be an isolated case as he saw many damaged infrastructures in Gen. Tinio and San Leonardo in Nueva Ecija a week after the typhoon hit. He advised the DPWH to inspect these areas.

During the Senate hearing on the pro posed P718.360 billion 2023 budget for

the DPWH, Secretary Manuel Bonoan gave assurance to address the flooding problem in Bulacan province which was heavily inundated at the height of the recent typhoon Karding.

Padilla cited in particular the dismal state of a public school in Gapan, Nueva Ecija which was heavily damaged by Karding. He noted that nearby houses were not

Jinggoy seeks Senate inquiry on Oct. 9 Camp Crame hostage drama

SENATOR Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has urged his colleagues to look into the October 9 hostage-taking drama right inside the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City as part of the chamber’s oversight powers in reviewing security and safety measures.

“While our police officers demon strated swift and decisive action during a crisis situation, the incident nonetheless reflects poorly on our police organiza tion’s capacity to perform their mandate of preventing crimes, enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and ensuring public safety,” Estrada emphasized.

The senator filed Senate Resolution No. 258 urging the appropriate com mittee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the attempted escape

of three detainees and the subsequent hostage-taking incident inside the Cus todial Center of the PNP headquarters, with detained former Sen. Leila de Lima taken as one of the hostages.

Estrada, in citing the necessity of the investigation, underscored the preven tion of any untoward and violent inci dents within Camp Crame’s premises.

In the aftermath of the incident, the sena tor expressed concern over allegations of maltreatment of detainees and the claims made by detainee Feliciano Sulayao Jr. when he held De Lima as a hostage.

“Marami kaming reklamo sa gina gawa sa amin dito, para kaming hay op itrato at ang mga pagkain ay may baboy,” De Lima said in an affidavit recalling the complaints relayed to her by Sulayao. Macon Ramos-Araneta

as affected by the typhoon.

“Do we have any way to know if the ma terials used were substandard? It is impos sible that nearby houses were not as affected as the school, which was supposed to have been designed by the best. Is there anyone checking them?” he asked.

“Look at the school’s roof, it’s as if Su perman blew it off - it’s gone,” he added.

Bonoan said public projects have a one-year warranty whereby erring contractors may be blacklisted. Padilla asked: “If we find anomalies, can we slap the wrongdoers?”

Bonoan agreed such cases must be in vestigated because it is baffling that only one school was destroyed in the area.

“We cannot tolerate the use of sub standard materials,” he said.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo said the DPWH should require contractors P1 million liability insurance for accidental death and injury of workers.

He said the amount of insurance cov erage should be increased as the value of project increases.

Bonoan committed to look into ways to incorporate said P1-million liability insurance to the current policy.

Tulfo also asked Bonoan to stop the current practice of sub-contracting infrastructure projects which often results to substandard roads that are prone to accidents.

Hectic Thursday visit by Speaker Romualdez in Leyte

By Maricel V. Cruz

SPEAKER Martin Romualdez held on Thursday a series of province-wide ac tivities in Leyte Thursday that included the inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects and overseeing the distribution of cash aid to qualified constituents.

Romualdez, who represents the first district of Leyte, arrived early morning Thursday at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, also known as the Tacloban City Airport.

Romualdez took the opportunity to inspect the construction of the new airport terminal building together with CAAP acting director Gen. Manuel An tonio Lara Tamayo and other officials.

Romualdez then proceeded to the East ern Visayas State University (EVSU) auditorium to witness the payout and dis tribution of cash aid to 515 grantees under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Dis advantaged/Displaced Workers or TU PAD program and Negosyo Karts, both projects under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“Nagta-trabaho po kami nina Cong. Jude (Acidre) at Cong. Yedda (Marie K. Romualdez) ng Tingog party-list sa Kongreso araw-araw para makahanap ng maayos na programa para sa inyo. Iyun po ang trabaho natin, pagkagis ing sa umaga nag-iisip at naghahanap tayo kung ano ang puwedeng maibi gay at madala sa ating constituents sa First District, sa probinsiya at buong rehiyon,” Romualdez told his constitu ents during the distribution of P2.562million for 515 TUPAD beneficiaries.

“Hangarin ng representatives sa Tingog party-list na magdala ng maay os na programa at proyekto. Tuloytuloy ang pagdating ng mga programa sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Pangu long Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.,” Speaker Romualdez added.

A total of 110 people benefitted from TUPAD program in Tacloban City, 205 beneficiaries from Alang-alang town, and 100 people each from the munici palities of Babatngon and Sta. Fe.

SC disbars military lawyer for faking court order nullifying marriage

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court has ordered the disbarment of a legal officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for coming out with a fake decision in a nullity of marriage case in order to convince his client to pay the balance of their agreed amount representing his professional and filing fees and other expenses.

CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Thursday said lawyers’ services will always stay relevant and needed despite the dawn of the digital age that affects all human activities including court processes and proceedings.

In his speech before the Joint Regional Convention of the Eastern and Western Visayas Regions of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Cebu City, Gesmundo exhorted the lawyers to “confront devel opments in information technology that particularly impact on traditional rou tine legal tasks and activities.”

Gesmundo stressed that since the digital age has dawned on the legal profession, there is now a trend to wards new models of legal service de livery that are more technology-driv en than “labor-intensive,” such as in drafting contracts, gathering data, and procuring license from administrative bodies, among others.

However, Gesmundo emphasized that the practice of law will still be important even if traditional tasks be come fully automated.

“Conflicts never cease in human so ciety and courts exist to resolve them in the light of particular facts and laws in force at the time….

For as long as gov ernments cannot function without a ju dicial system, the legal profession stays since counsels and advocates have an indispensable role in the administration of justice,” he said. Rey E. Requejo

In a 10-page en banc decision, the SC unanimously upheld the recommendation of the Integrated Bar of

the Philippines, which found lawyer Edgardo Abad guilty of gross misconduct, malpractice, and deceit.

Court records showed that Abad misrepresented to Maria Felicisima Gonzaga, his colleague in the AFP and the complainant in the case, that he filed a peti tion for nullity of marriage on the ground of psycho logical incapacity before the Regional Trial Court of Pasig City on her behalf.

Abad, then a legal officer of the AFP’s Office of the Ethical Standard and Public Accountability

SIMULTANEOUS WEDDINGS.

Paranaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez (in background) congratulates six couples who exchanged “I do’s during a simultaneous wedding ceremony.

(AFP-OESPA), offered to act as Gonzaga’s counsel after being told by the complainant that she was having mari tal problems with her husband.

Abad also received an initial payment from Gonza ga representing the professional and filing fees as well as the expenses for psychological evaluation amount ing to P37,000.

The SC also noted that Abad assured Gonzaga that there would be no court hearings, suggesting that he can influence the trial court judge handling the case.

On February 5, 2010, the SC said the complainant re ceived a text message from the respondent informing her that the judge has nullified her marriage and the decree of nullity must be recorded.

The lawyer also asked for P50,000 to register the deci sion with the local civil registrar.

Drug abuse, vices waning among youth—UP study

By Gabriellea Parino, Chelsea Din, and Louise Gallardo

SUBSTANCE use and vices have primarily declined in the youth in the year 2021 compared to consumption in earlier years.

This was indicated in a study conducted by the Uni versity of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI).

DFA: More passport appointment slots up to yearend

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has opened more passport appointment slots starting this week up to December 2022.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Wednes day said at least 803,000 slots were made available as part of DFA’s efforts to improve current consular services.

The DFA also mulls opening some 300,000 more slots before the end of the year, he added.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Consu lar Affairs Henry Bensurto Jr. said slots were only good for two weeks prior to the opening of more than 800,000 appointment slots.

“I think it was very important to stretch, streamline and tinker the process, the system itself to allow us to open the slots all the way to December. So that’s how we were able to do it essentially,” he told reporters.

Key findings by the 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS5) identified drinking, smok ing, and using illegal drugs as the main vices seen in the youth of today. Three out of 10 young adult Filipinos are currently drinking, one out of 10 are smoking, and nearly none are engaging in illegal drug use.

“From 1994 to 2013, close to four in 10 youth were drinking, but the percentage declined to 29% in 2021. Some 45% of drinkers said they were drinking less dur ing the pandemic, while 65% said they want to stop drinking,” The press release by UPPI stated.

MEDAL OF VALOR, MEDAL OF BRAVERY. Sen. Robin Padilla and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. confer a Medal of Valor and a Medal of Bravery to police Cpl. Roger Agustin for heroic acts manifested during the Oct. 9 hostage drama right inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

CASH AID DISTRIBUTION

Opinion

transport

ment expressing gratitude to the former LTFRB chair.

Here’s their statement: “We express our gratitude to Atty. Cheloy Garafil for her meaningful service as the chairperson-designate of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

“We note that under previous LTFRB leaderships, the public transport sector had been ignored and ne glected.

WHAT can be reasonably done in an important gov ernment agency within a short span of three months?

Plenty, it would seem, if you have ample leader ship qualities.

The office we’re referring to is the Land Transpor tation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that oversees the operations of various public trans portation modes: buses, jeepneys, UV Express, and even tricycles and pedicabs.

We all know that even before the COVID-19 pan demic hit the country in March 2020, public transport services particularly in Metro Manila had been sorely inadequate and messy, if not chaotic.

The pandemic brought nearly all public transport to a virtual standstill as the government imposed lock downs to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.

With Metro Manila streets virtually empty be cause of the lockdowns, many jeepney drivers, for one, had resorted to begging for loose change from private motorists to feed their families.

Some of the displaced jeepney drivers in Caloocan City who had carried handwritten appeals for finan cial help from passing motorists were even rounded up by authorities and spent a week in jail in 2020 for “disorderly conduct” and “resisting arrest” -- if we’re not mistaken.

With the COVID-19 situation now slowly eas ing up after more than two years, public transport is also returning to pre-pandemic levels, and with it the need to rationalize their operations under the new normal.

Among the first moves by President Bongbong Marcos after taking office on June 30 was to appoint a new head for the LTFRB who could help untangle the Gordian knot that Metro traffic had become in past years, and to ease the ordeal of commuters who had to deal with the public transportation crisis.

Atty. Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil was designated as the LTFRB chairperson in July and hit the ground running, holding dialogues and consultations with drivers’ groups to ask them what their problems were and how the agency could help them.

Barely three months in her job as LTFRB chair, however, Garafil was designated by the Chief Execu tive as the new Press Secretary.

Quite possibly, this was partly in recognition of her previous stint as a journalist and also for holding other positions in government, including as prosecutor un der the Department of Justice and serving as head of an internal committee in the House of Representa tives.

How she will perform in her new job remains to be seen, but the trust and confidence of the president in her capabilities will no doubt serve to prod her to prove more than equal to the task of leading the Of fice of the Press Secretary in the coming months.

For now, it’s Garafil’s brief tenure as LTFRB chair that shows her mettle as a public servant, if we’re to believe public transport groups.

Four public transport groups and mobility advo cates: Move as One, Move Metro Manila, Manibela, and Komyut (Commuters Unite) have issued a state

“With Garafil at the helm, transport groups and mobility advocates were finally heard; policies were reviewed and rectified; reasonable fare adjustments for different public transport modes were authorized to enable public transport operators to remain finan cially viable given the massive public transport short age; the Service Contracting Program was supported as a means to augment and introduce performance monitoring; and public transport supply increased albeit still insufficient.

How (Atty. Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil) will perform in her new job remains to be seen, but the trust and confidence of the president in her capabilities will no doubt serve to prod her to prove more than equal to the task of leading the Office of the Press Secretary in the coming months

“The Board under Garafil’s leadership took the bold step to reopen pre-pandemic routes which were discontinued under the guise of route rationalization, as follows: 133 pre-pandemic, non-EDSA public utility vehicle (PUV) routes in Metro Manila and in nearby provinces for 11,000 buses, jeepneys and UV Express Vehicles (MC 2022-067); 43 pre-pandemic routes plied by 3,513 buses jeepneys and UV Ex press units (MC2022-067); and 56 pre-pandemic routes (MC 2022-074).

“These memorandum circulars released 16,025 pub lic transport vehicles previously kept idle, and now pro vide additional transport service to thousands of com muters in Metro Manila and provinces daily.

“While only serving for three months as the LT FRB Chairperson-designate, Garafil was able to pro vide clear leadership anchored on commuter welfare in the transport regulatory body. Thank you and good luck on your new journey, Atty. Cheloy!

“We look forward to supporting and working with the new (LTFRB) leadership.

”The question now is: Will the new LTFRB lead ership be able to further streamline public transport in Metro Manila and other urban areas with growing populations in the coming months? We really hope it does, not only to ease the burden on the backs of ordinary Filipino commuters, but also to help the economy move forward with giant strides.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

No legal grounds exist to cite Badoy in indirect contempt

It seems that they want Badoy cited in indirect contempt because of her alleged “improper conduct tending, directly or indirectly, to impede, obstruct, or degrade the administration of justice.”

With all due respect to the Supreme Court, I be lieve that the petition is untenable.

of the National Task Force to

Conflict, did not commit any crime or punishable act when she

Court

a

who rendered

that the

and its

of the

the

People’s Army (CPP-NPA), are not terrorist organi zations.

Reacting to that decision, Badoy purportedly post ed in her social media account that, “If I kill this judge and I do so out of my political belief that all allies of the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) must be killed because there is no difference in my mind between a member of the CPP-NPA-NDF and their friends, then please be lenient with me.”

Many publicity seekers slammed Badoy for that alleged statement.

I stressed in my article that the remark attributed to Badoy is an obvious hyperbole which nobody in his right mind will take seriously. It is a satirical remark which, according to jurisprudence on Constitutional Law, is duly protected free speech.

Likewise, I maintained that Badoy’s remark also smacks of a fair comment made by a citizen on a matter of public interest and discourse. According to jurisprudence, a fair comment under such circum stances is not an actionable wrong.

Just recently, a group of lawyers and law school teachers filed a petition in the Supreme Court pray ing that Badoy be cited in indirect contempt for the remark attributed to her.

Although the aforesaid lawyers and academics are virtually unheard of and are not exactly in the legal limelight as the term is understood by journalists, an online news story nevertheless referred to them as “a group of legal luminaries, lawyers and law school deans.”

In my opinion, the members of the group are bask ing in the free publicity their petition has attracted for themselves, as seen in the way they joyfully posed for a newspaper photograph outside the main building of the Supreme Court in Manila.

First, a court ruling should be open to public scru tiny, analysis and commentary, like what Badoy sup posedly did. To rule otherwise is to undermine the very essence of free speech and freedom of expres sion. On that ground alone, the remark attributed to Badoy can hardly be considered “improper conduct.”

What should be unsettling is when citizens are prohibited from commenting on judicial rulings which, by their nature, are imbued with a very high degree of public interest

Second, Badoy’s alleged statement cannot possi bly “impede, obstruct or degrade the administration of justice.” It is an obvious exaggeration, a satirical statement even, which nobody in his right trend of thought will take seriously.

If the administration of justice in the Philippines can easily get compromised by a hyperbolic remark from just one individual like Badoy, then something is wrong not with Badoy, but with the justice system itself.

Third, since Badoy’s critics seem to suggest that Badoy is not worthy of any credence, then that sug gestion is the best defense available to Badoy.

How can the remarks of a person who, according to that person’s critics, has no credibility, actually tend to “impede, obstruct or degrade the administration of justice” in the Philippines?

From the way Badoy’s critics sound, it seems like they believe that the vast majority of the Filipino peo ple are stupid and very gullible, and are, therefore, un able to comprehend with even minimal discernment what Badoy purportedly said.

Fourth, the judge concerned seems to have quite a number of vocal defenders already. The judge’s defenders ought to provide enough protection against

EDITORIAL

Health for all

WHAT does our fundamental law say about health?

In terms of over-all policy, it is to “protect and promote the right to health of the people and in still health consciousness among them.”

Based on this, the government is mandated to “adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and others social services available to all the people at affordable cost.”

And more: “There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, dis able, women and children. The State shall en deavor to provide free medical care to paupers.”

That’s clear enough.

But it appears that given the paltry budget provided to the Department of Health every year compared to other frontline services, Con gress does not consider the health sector deserv ing of the priority that the Constitution gives it in no uncertain terms.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth is supposed to implement univer sal health care in the country.

But recent reports that Filipinos shoulder up to 44.7 percent of medical costs even with Phil

Health indicates that much remains to be done to really provide adequate health care to our growing population.

Out-of-pocket expenditures are expenses paid by an individual not covered by PhilHealth.

PhilHealth should step up its education campaign to inform Filipinos that under the Universal Healthcare law, they are considered automatically part of PhilHealth, and therefore entitled to health insurance benefits

In a recent hearing of Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enter prises, a PhilHealth official said that based on their records, the out-of-pocket percentage is 34 percent, meaning for every P1 spending, the out-of-pocket is 34 centavos.

Sen. Joel Villanueva asked if the figure had improved since the World Health Organiza tion’s global health expenditure report, which

showed that the out-of-pocket expenditure in the country was at 48.56 percent.

He pointed out that the government should lower the high out-of-pocket expenses within acceptable limits.

In the same briefing, Sen. Alan Peter Cayeta no said the government should help PhilHealth in providing universal health care coverage to all Filipinos.

He proposed that the Senate look into the rev enue generated by excise taxation and use it to assist PhilHealth.

It is only proper to ask, as the lawmaker did, as to how many Filipinos are really members of PhilHealth, after he cited an OCTA Research survey that showed 57 percent of Filipinos said they were either lapsed members or not mem bers of PhilHealth.

Indeed, under the Universal Healthcare Law, all Filipinos, including those working abroad, are automatically part of PhilHealth.

But as things now stand, only 90 percent of Filipinos are registered with PhilHealth, with about 10 to 12 million Filipinos not registered.

If that’s the case, then the agency should step up its education campaign to inform Filipinos that under the Universal Healthcare law, they are considered automatically part of PhilHealth, and therefore entitled to health insurance ben efits.

Quantum of proof in criminal cases

can be overthrown only by proof beyond reasonable doubt.

It is this presumption of innocence that lays such a burden upon the prosecution. Should the prosecution fail to discharge its burden then an accused must be acquitted (G.R. 175842, March 18, 2015).

23, 2020).

EVERY so often we read a piece of news describing how a crime was committed and by whom.

The data used are obtained mostly from crime scene observers, netizen videos, or law enforcement officers (who responded to a crime report), all of which are second-hand sources.

We hear radio commentators giving opinions and observations of crimes they have not witnessed, and other spectators making conclusions based on inter views with scene of the crime reporters, suspects, or government officials having supervision over the investigation.

There are also stories circulated in chat groups, coffee shops, or offices about the so called “real sto ry.” always prefaced by the revelation of the identity of the true perpetrators, and punctuated by the alleged reliability of the source of their information.

All these are not yet authenticated evidence be cause their verity has not been tested in court.

Sadly, the public may have, at this point, formed conclusions regarding the guilt of the suspects and the penalties that must be imposed on them.

This is a prime example of how the public’s per ception is framed even before a case is tried in court and the suspects given the opportunity to tell their stories.

How will the court determine the guilt of an ac cused in a criminal case? It will be based on the collective evidence presented by the parties, such as testimonies of witnesses, documentary, or object evidence.

Once authenticated, the judge will weigh the evi dence and render a judgment.

The accused is entitled to an acquittal, unless his guilt is shown beyond reasonable doubt.

The quantum of proof is that degree of proof which excludes the possibility of error and that pro duces absolute certainty (Rule 133, Section 2, 2019 Rules on Evidence).

Only moral certainty is required, or that degree of proof which produces a conviction in an unprejudiced mind (Rule 133, Section 2, 2019 Rules on Evidence).

The prosecution must rely “on the strength of its own evidence, and not banking on the weakness of the defense of an accused” (Macayan v. People, G.R. 175842, March 18, 2015).

“[T]he overriding consideration is not whether the court doubts the innocence of the accused, but wheth er it entertains a reasonable doubt as to their guilt.

Where there is no moral certainty as to their guilt, they [accused] must be acquitted even though their innocence may be questionable” (G.R. 175842, March 18, 2015).

Every accused charged of a crime is presumed to be innocent unless the contrary is proven.

This right is given to the accused because the state has “unlimited command of means; with counsel usually of authority and capacity, who are regarded as public officers… with an attitude of tranquil maj esty…” (Evidence, Francisco citing Wharton’s Crim inal Evidence [11th ed.], Sec. 1).

As was said prior, the presumption of innocence

any possibility that Badoy’s alleged statements will “impede, obstruct or degrade the administration of justice.”

Fifth, under the clear and present danger test used by the courts to determine whether speech can be the subject of curtailment and censure, the statement at tributed to Badoy can hardly be considered censur able, much less the basis for citing her for indirect contempt.

That’s because the purported “danger” Badoy’s al leged remarks pose to the administration of justice as imagined by Badoy’s detractors does not even exist.

Thus, there is no legal ground for asking the Su

“In discharging this burden, the prosecution’s duty is to prove each and every element of the crime charged in the information, to warrant a finding of guilt for that crime or for any other crime necessarily included therein. The prosecution must further prove the participation of the accused in the commission of the offense” (People v. Claro, G.R. No. 199894, April 5, 2017 citing Patula v. People).

How will the court determine the guilt of an accused in a criminal case? It will be based on the collective evidence presented by the parties, such as testimonies of witnesses, documentary, or object evidence

“Requiring proof of guilt beyond reasonable doubt necessarily means that mere suspicion of the guilt of the accused, no matter how strong, should not sway judgment against him. It further means that the courts should duly consider every evidence favoring him, and that in the process the courts should persis tently insist that accusation is not synonymous with guilt…” (G.R. No. 199894, April 5, 2017).

“It is critical that the moral force of the criminal law not be diluted by a standard of proof that leaves people in doubt whether innocent men are being con demned. It is also important in our free society that every individual going about his ordinary affairs has confidence that his government cannot adjudge him guilty of a criminal offense without convincing a proper factfinder of his guilt with utmost certainty” (G.R. No. 199894, April 5, 2017).

To guard against injustice, the guilt of the accused must be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Since the State shall “take a person from the ordi nary avocations of life, brand him as a felon, and de prive him of his liberty…” there should be no doubt in the guilt of the accused (Evidence, Francisco citing Binkley v. State, 34 Neb. 757, 52 N.W. Rep 708).

The Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that “for evidence to be believed,… it must not only pro ceed from the mouth of a credible witness but must be credible in itself such as the common experience and observation of mankind can approve under the circumstances… [w]hatever is repugnant to these… lies outside of judicial cognizance” (G.R. 175842, March 18, 2015).

In the case of People v. Lumikid, the trial court concluded that Lumikid committed the killing of De siderio “Jessie” Camangan because of the testimony of a lone eyewitness. Furthermore, it elucidated that the accused failed to destroy the credibility of the lone witness (People v. Lumikid, G.R. No. 242695, June

preme Court to cite Badoy in indirect contempt.

Sixth, between upholding Badoy’s constitutional right to free speech, and entertaining the manifestly speculative basis for the petition to cite her in indirect contempt, logic and reason dictate that the issue must be resolved in Badoy’s favor.In conclusion, all Filipi nos, the members of the judiciary in particular, should not be unsettled when a citizen like Lorraine Badoy speaks her mind about a court decision.

What should be unsettling is when citizens are pro hibited from commenting on judicial rulings which, by their nature, are imbued with a very high degree of public interest.

In justifying its conclusion, the trial court said that “[h]er eyewitness account… is credible compared to the unreliable alibi of the accused [which] conve niently stat[es] that he was in a drinking session with his three close friends… after the rain poured heav ily,” precluding immediate travel (G.R. No. 242695, June 23, 2020).

The trial court relied on the superiority of positive identification over alibi.

In reversing the conviction and acquitting Lu mikid, the Supreme Court commented on the state ment of the trial court that “the accused has absolutely no solid evidence to rely on for his acquittal” (G.R. No. 242695, June 23, 2020).

The Supreme Court explained that the statement is contrary to the fundamental precept of criminal law, which is to presume the innocence of the accused un til proven guilty.

The burden is on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, and not for the accused to prove his innocence (G.R. No. 242695, June 23, 2020).

In the Lumikid case, the trial court brought it upon Lumikid to produce evidence to prove his innocence rather than for the prosecution to do so.

Moreover, the prosecution has not completely ruled out the probability that other persons may have committed the crime (G.R. No. 242695, June 23, 2020).

In another case, an accused Carlito Claro was ac quitted by the Supreme Court when it appreciated the accused’s defense of consensual sexual intercourse. It said that “he (accused) and AAA (victim) were adults capable of consenting to the sexual intercourse” (G.R. No. 199894, April 5, 2017).

The established circumstances supporting consen sual intercourse between the parties were: (a) agree ing to go on a lovers’ date; (b) travelling together a long way from their meeting place on board the jeepney; (c) alighting on Rizal Avenue to take a meal together; (d) walking to and checking in together to the motel without the complainant manifesting resis tance; and (e) entering the designated room without protest from her (G.R. No. 199894, April 5, 2017).

A judge has a great responsibility to determine the true facts, appreciate evidence, and weigh them col lectively to dispense a fair and reasonable judgment.

Hence, it is incumbent upon the public to re frain from trying to cloud their judgment, cultivate prejudices, put pressure on them, or to threaten to or commit personal harm against them and their families.

UNGA condemns Russia’s ‘illegal annexation’ of land

THEUnited Nations General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russia’s annexation of parts of Ukraine, a move US President Joe Biden said sent a “clear message” to Moscow.

The General Assembly approved the resolution with 143 in favor and five against, but 35 nations abstained including China, India, South Africa, and Pakistan despite a major US diplomatic effort to seek clearer condemnation of Moscow.

The resolution “condemns the or ganization by the Russian Federation

of so-called referendums within the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine” and “the attempted illegal annexation” announced last month of four regions by President Vladimir Putin.

It calls on all UN and international agencies not to recognize any changes

announced by Russia to borders and de mands that Moscow “immediately and unconditionally reverse” its decisions.

The vote showed Russia that it “can not erase a sovereign state from the map,” Biden said in a White House statement.

“By attacking the core tenets of the UN Charter, Russia is tearing at the very foundations of international peace and security,” the statement said. “The stakes of this conflict are clear to all— and the world has sent a clear message in response.”

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, had

urged all nations to send a message that the world “will not tolerate seizing a neighbor’s land by force.”

“Today it is Russia invading Ukraine. But tomorrow it could be another na tion whose territory is violated. It could be you. You could be next. What would you expect from this chamber?” she said.

The United States had put special energy into seeking to persuade South Africa and especially India, a growing US partner that has a historically close relationship with Russia and abstained in the Security Council, where it holds a non-permanent seat. AFP

IN BRIEF

Kyiv claims territory gains, eyes pledges

KYIV—Ukraine said Wednesday it had reclaimed more territory in the south and welcomed a Western pledge to deliver air defense systems to Kyiv “as fast as we can” after days of intense Russian missile strikes.

A US-led group of around 50 countries held talks at the NATO headquarters in Brussels and vowed to deliver new antimissile systems to Kyiv.

Ukraine is reeling from Russian attacks that have left scores dead and wounded as well as villages and towns without power and hot water across the country.

“The systems will be provided, as fast as we can physically get them there,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said after the meeting, without giving details.

In a further show of Western solidar ity, the G7 vowed to “stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes”, while International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgie va pledged financial help for the sake of “moving with you in the direction of a strong Ukraine”.

THE NATION.

Nokor says it tested ‘tactical nuke’ cruise missiles

SEOUL—Kim Jong Un supervised the launch of two long-range cruise mis siles, state media said Thursday, add ing that the weapons had already been deployed to “tactical nuke” units of the North Korean army.

The Wednesday test of the two cruise missiles aimed at “enhancing the combat efficiency” of the weapons, which were “deployed at the units of the Korean People’s Army for the operation of tacti cal nukes,” KCNA reported.

News Agency said.

Kim expressed “great satisfaction” with the tests, which he said showed the country’s nuclear combat forces were at “full preparedness for actual war” and sent a “clear warning to the enemies,” KCNA said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelen sky, who has described the Russian missile attacks as an act of terrorism and has pressed the West for an “air shield”, welcomed the promised anti-missile systems. AFP

Pakistan fire kills 18 flood victims

KARACHI—At least 18 Pakistanis, in cluding 12 children, were killed in a bus fire as they journeyed home after fleeing catastrophic monsoon flooding, officials and rescue workers said Thursday.

LEGAL NOTICE

Kim has overseen a blitz of ballistic missile launches in recent weeks, which Pyongyang has described as tactical nu clear drills that simulated taking out air ports and military facilities across South Korea.

JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE TESTATE ESTATE OF GLORIA M. SANTILLAN

LEGAL NOTICE JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE TESTATE ESTATE OF GLORIA M. SANTILLAN

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

AFFIDAVIT OF SELFADJUDICATION

OF SELFADJUDICATION

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

and Lydia Santillan

(the

TO THE PUBLIC

The cruise missiles—which travel at lower altitudes than ballistic mis siles, making them harder to detect and intercept—flew 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) over the sea before hit ting their targets, the Korean Central

OF SELF ADJUDICATION OF SOLE HEIR OF THE LATE OFELIA DELOS SANTOS

estates,

T.M.

of

LEGAL NOTICE AFFIDAVIT OF SELFADJUDICATION

LEGAL NOTICE

AFFIDAVIT OF SELFADJUDICATION

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

AFFIDAVIT OF SELFADJUDICATION

AFFIDAVIT OF SELFADJUDICATION

for the

on

ERRATUM

of

the

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.

MS OCT. 7, 14 & 21, 2022

WITHDRAWAL

WITHDRAWAL

With talks long stalled, and Ukrainelinked gridlock at the United Nations sty mying the chance of fresh sanctions, Kim has doubled down on developing and test ing his banned nuclear arsenal. AFP

Alex Jones to pay nearly $1 billion for Sandy Hook shooting ‘hoax’ tag

WASHINGTON—A US jury ordered far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Wednesday to pay nearly $1 billion in damages for falsely claiming that the deadly 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school shooting was a “hoax.”

The jury in Connecticut, where the massacre took place, awarded $965 million to the families of eight Sandy Hook victims and an FBI agent who brought the defamation case against Jones.

Several family members who were in the courtroom broke down in sobs as the damage awards were read out by a clerk of the court. Jones was not present.

“It shows that the internet is not the wild, wild west and that your ac tions have consequences,” said Bill Sherlach, whose wife, Mary, died at Sandy Hook. “People like Alex Jones will have to rethink what they say and how they say it.”

Jones, founder of the website InfoWars and host of a popular radio show, has been found liable in multiple defamation lawsuits brought by relatives of the victims of the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, which left 20 children and six teachers dead.

The 48-year-old Jones claimed for years on his show that the Sandy Hook shooting was “staged” by gun control activists and that the parents were “crisis actors,” but has since acknowledged it was “100 percent real.”

Sandy Hook families maintained that his lies and denialism, coupled with his ability to influence the beliefs of thousands of followers, caused real emotional trauma.

Pakistan has been hit by unprecedent ed monsoon rains this year, putting a third of the nation underwater, displacing eight million people, and causing $28 billion worth of devastation.

As the waters slowly recede, thou sands of the displaced—many living in ramshackle tent cities—are travelling back to their sodden homes to remake their lives.

Police said the passengers died when flames broke out overnight on a north bound bus outside the city of Karachi, where they settled after fleeing one of the worst flood-hit areas.

“They were going back to their village when they were overtaken by this acci dent,” Vinod Kumar, a district health of ficial present at the scene, told AFP.

“Apparently, the fire broke out in the air-conditioning system of the bus but investigations will reveal the real cause,” said police officer Hashim Brohi, who was also present.

Pakistan has a dismal record of fatal traffic accidents due to badly maintained vehicles, poor roads, reckless driving and poorly trained emergency services.

The historic floods across the nation —which have killed 1,700—have been linked to climate change. AFP

Google lets Trump’s Truth Social in store

SAN FRANCISCO—Google on Wednes day said it has allowed Donald Trump’s Truth Social app in its Play Store for An droid devices -- after receiving assurances the app would meet the platform’s stan dards for moderating harmful content.

The app -- which Trump launched after being barred from Twitter over the 2021 Capitol riot -- had been kept out of Google’s store over its lack of moderation tools, including for violent threats.

Google said Truth Social has since been updated to comply with its poli cies barring objectionable posts and has built-in effective systems for reporting and removing unwanted content as well as blocking abusers.

“Apps may be distributed on Google Play provided they comply with our de veloper guidelines, including the require ment to effectively moderate user-gener ated content and remove objectionable posts such as those that incite violence,” a Google spokesperson said in response to an AFP inquiry.

Developers can make Android apps available elsewhere on the internet, but the Play Store is the main source of con tent for users. AFP

FATHER

October 12 and released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News

leader Kim Jong Un taking part in a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversaries of the founding of Mangyongdae Revolutionary School and Kang Pan Sok Revolutionary School in Pyongyang. AFP

US-NATO MEET.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (left) shakes hands

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a press conference

of the

Ministers at the

in

AGRIVOLTAIC

SITE. A farmer drives a combine harvester to collect soybeans under hanging solar panels on an agrivoltaic site in Amance, eastern France, on Oct. 12, 2022. The experimental project is equipped with an ‘agricultural canopy’—a large shade house equipped with rotating solar panels fixed on cables 5 meters above the fields, with tracking algorithms also developed to orient the photovoltaic modules according to climatic conditions. By optimizing this tracking algorithm, the manufacturer hopes to increase production between 10 percent and 20 percent compared to a conventional photovoltaic power plant. AFP

TOP GAINERS

TOP LOSERS

-0.37

-0.03

-0.14 -8.38%

1.36 -0.12 -8.11%

-0.19 -7.48%

MOST ACTIVE

G20 meets amid multiple crises led by Ukraine war and inflation

WASHINGTON D.C., United States— A divided G20 holds talks on Thursday under the shadow of multiple crises, from Russia’s war in Ukraine to a glob al economic slowdown, on top of soar ing inflation and climate change.

Finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 major economies are gathering in Washington during annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank this week that have underscored the multiple challenges the world is facing.

The list of threats ranges from ris ing interest rates to soaring food prices, along with growing poverty and natural disasters blamed on climate change.

The IMF lowered its growth fore cast for the world economy for next year earlier this week, warning that the

“worst is yet to come.”

But the G20, which includes Russia, is expected to close its meeting without a joint communique, as in its previous gatherings presided by Indonesia this year.

“It may be difficult to have a joint communique,” said a source in the French economy ministry.

While Western nations have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia, other countries have maintained eco nomic ties with Moscow, with India and China stepping up their purchases of Russian oil.

The Group of Seven wealthy democ racies is now looking to cap the prices of Russian crude exports, a move aimed at stripping the country of a major source of funding for its war effort. AFP

Stocks rise, peso falls as traders brace for key US inflation data

STOCKS

advanced Thursday, but the peso retreated again to a record-low of 59 against the US dollar ahead of the release of US inflation data that could determine the pace of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, rose 42 points, or 0.7 percent to close at 5,895.64 as five of the six subsectors ended in the green.

The broader all-share index also increased 9 points, or 0.3 percent, to settle at 3,164.75 on a value turnover of P3.6 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 101 to 71, while 41 issues were unchanged.

Seven of the 10 most active stocks posted gains, led by SM Investments Corp. which

went up 3.2 percent to P788.50 and BDO Unibank Inc. which picked up 1.7 percent to P118.00.

The peso for the third time this month tumbled to 59 a dollar on trading volume of $524 million as financial markets anticipate another huge interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve in November.

Data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines website showed the local currency fell from 58.965 at the close on Wednesday.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla had said monetary authorities would not allow excessive movements in the pesodollar exchange rate. He confirmed the BSP was “very active” in the foreign exchange market.

Medalla’s statement came a few days after he asked individuals “who have the means” to

avoid taking advantage of the trend in the foreign exchange market. “We will not allow excessive changes in the exchange rate...,” he said. “There are so many other things happening right now... It is very fluid but we hope the dollar will weaken.”

Meanwhile, most Asian markets traded lower Thursday. Investors are growing increasingly worried that the strict monetary tightening campaign—including three bumper rate hikes in succession—will plunge the United States into recession.

While there are hopes for signs of a slowdown, traders have taken to the sidelines in case of more volatility. On Wednesday, figures showed wholesale inflation rose a forecast-beating 0.4 percent. With AFP

LONDON, United Kingdom—Technology gi ant Microsoft has avoided billions in taxes in Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, all coun tries where it has lucrative public sector con tracts, because of its complex corporate struc ture, a study published Thursday claimed.

The company, which insists it respects local laws and regulations everywhere it operates, was starving the public purse of much-needed revenue while receiving taxpayer cash, the Center for Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (Cictar) said.

“In many cases, Microsoft has paid zero tax in recent years by moving profits to compa nies tax-domiciled in Bermuda and other wellknown tax havens,” Cictar said in a statement.

According to the study, Microsoft Global Finance—an Irish subsidiary that has tax resi dent status in Bermuda—consolidated more than $100 billion in investments and, despite

GENEVA, Switzerland—Climate change risks undermining global energy security unless the use of renewables is dramatical ly scaled up, the UN warned Tuesday, sug gesting the Ukraine conflict’s ripple effects could speed up the green transition.

Not only is the energy sector a major source of the carbon emissions that drive climate change, it is also increasingly vul nerable to the shifts that come with a heat ing planet, the UN’s World Meteorological Organization stressed.

In its State of Climate Services annual report, the WMO warned that increasingly intense extreme weather events, droughts, floods, and sea-level rise—all linked to cli mate change—were already making energy supply less reliable.

It pointed, for instance, to a historic heat wave that sparked massive power outages in Buenos Aires in January, while experts

mentioned recently disrupted electricity production amid heatwaves and shrinking reservoirs in Europe and China.

WMO Secretary-General Petteri Ta alas warned that “in the future these kinds of events will become more and more frequent”, pointing out that much of the world’s energy infrastructure is today in areas vulnerable to climate change.

In 2020, a massive 87 percent of global electricity generated by thermal, nuclear, and hydroelectric power plants directly de pended on having freshwater for cooling, the WMO said.

‘Changing before our eyes’

But a third of power plants running on fossil fuels are in areas of high water stress, as are 15 percent of existing nuclear power plants—a share expected to swell to 25 per cent in the next 20 years.

an operating profit of $2.4 billion, paid no tax in 2020.

In another example, Microsoft Singapore Holdings posted profits from dividends of $22.4 billion in 2020 but announced a tax li ability of just $15.

“Microsoft boasts of profit margins of over 30 percent to its shareholders. Yet, in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, filings show re turns of three to four percent,” said Jason Ward, an analyst with the organization.

“It does not seem credible that these wealthy markets are underperforming so dramatically,” he said, calling “this type of discrepancy... a huge red flag for tax avoidance”.

“Microsoft starves the public sector of muchneeded revenues” while it “makes billions as a government contractor, with contracts at all levels of government and in virtually every country”, Cictar said. AFP

Eleven percent of hydroelectric dams are also located in highly water-stressed areas, while more than a quarter of hydropower plants are in river basins struggling with water scarcity, the WMO said.

“Time is not on our side and our climate is changing before our eyes,” Taalas said.

“We need a complete transformation of the global energy system.”

Taalas pointed out that the energy sector is itself a part of the problem since it is the source of around three quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions that are changing the climate.

“Switching to clean forms of energy gen eration... and improving energy efficiency is vital,” he said.

But he cautioned that reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 would only be possible “if we double the supply of low-emissions elec tricity within the next eight years.”

IMF FALL MEETINGS. DC Police guard the entrance to Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall where International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Annual Meeting members are having dinner, as climate change protesters on bicycles gather outside the building in Washington DC on Oct. 12, 2022. The activists are gathering during the International Monetary Fund annual Fall meetings to protest the funding of fossil fuels worldwide. AFP

Diokno expects real estate sector to pick up soon

By Julito G. Rada

FINANCE Secretary Benjamin Dio kno expects the demand for real es tate services to increase following the easing of mobility restrictions im posed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our economic prospects are promising. Real estate services, such as rentals, are expected to pick up now that employees are reporting back to the office,” Diokno said at the 62nd National Convention and Elec tion of the Philippine Association of Real Estate Boards.

Real estate is a significant player in the Philippine economy, but commer cial spaces, home rentals and sales took a downturn during the pandem ic. The government calls for support from the private sector as it strives to exceed pre-pandemic macroeconom ic targets.

Diokno said the revival of the tour ism sector would also propel the real estate industry’s growth as travel re strictions become less stringent.

Diokno assured the real estate sec tor that the Marcos administration was committed to supporting the pri vate sector’s growth by modernizing industries, creating more job and in vestment opportunities and improv ing overall quality of life.

He said the government held a se ries of Philippine economic briefings to attract investors.

He said the government would harness the private sector’s potential through the Public-Private Partner ship mechanism to implement im pactful projects consistent with the country’s development goals.

“This administration is more than ready to implement game-changing reforms to cultivate a favorable en vironment for potential investors,” Diokno said.

Trade imposes safeguard duties on HDPE imports

THE Department of Trade and Indus try imposed safeguard duties on im ported high-density polyethylene pel lets after the Tariff Commission ruled a possible injury to local manufacturer JG Summit Olefins Corp.

The DTI issued Department Admin istrative Order No. 22-13 on Sept. 30, imposing safeguard duties on import ed HDPE resins for three consecutive years.

HDPE is a strong, multipurpose resin, used in consumer and industrial goods, such as tanks, pipes, industrial packaging, containers, bottles, health care articles, toys, tapes, films and fi bers.

The agency said that for the first year of imposition, safeguard duties would amount to P1,338 per metric ton, P1,271/MT for the second year and P1,208/MT for the third year. The du ties will be applied on HDPE classified under AHTN 2017 Code 3901.20.00.

The petrochemical industry lauded the decision, saying this would con tribute to the government’s drive of en suring long-term economic recovery.

“The DTI supporting the TC’s rec ommendation to apply safeguard du ties on HDPE imports is an important step to protect the local petrochemical industry against the surge of cheap for eign resins entering the country. This decision shows the support of the gov ernment for the local manufacturing industries to ensure long-term viability especially in these challenging times,” said JGSOC president and chief exec utive Patrick Henry Go.

The TC said within the span of safeguards timeline, it expected the domestic petrochemical industry to deliver efficiency measures in line with the industry’s adjustment plans to enhance international competi tiveness.

The plan includes adjustment to sell ing prices to absorb production costs and operating expenses and generate reasonable margins. Othel V. Campos

Business

PH tourism posts recovery as visitor arrivals top 1.7m

By Othel V. Campos

INTERNATIONAL visitor arrivals hit 1.7 million as of Oct. 10, breaching the full-year target and representing a huge jump from 163,879 registered in 2021, data from the Department of Tourism show.

“I bring with me the good news that tourism is now in the process of recovery. Because as of Oct. 10, we have already exceeded 1.7 million arrivals to the Philippines,” Tourism Secretary Kristina Frasco said at the general membership meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines Thursday.

Visitor arrivals started to rise in February when the government reopened the main gateways to foreign tourists and lifted most mobility restrictions implemented at the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Data from the DOT showed that

total arrivals plunged to 163,879 in 2021 from 1.48 million in 2020 which included strong numbers in the first quarter just before a lockdown was imposed nationwide.

International tourism picked up to more than 200,000 each month from May to September this year, as popular destinations such as Boracay, Cebu and Palawan attracted hordes of foreign and domestic visitors again.

The top tourism markets this year are the United States, South Korea, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, according to the DOT.

Frasco said the sector’s greatest challenge is not only the recovery of the tourism industry, but also how to strengthen the industry from the ground up “to be able to improve the enabling mechanisms which would allow us to address the long standing challenges faced by the industry and to finally take our well-deserved spot not only in the ASEAN but on the global stage.”

She said to support this goal, the DOT crafted seven objectives that include improvements in tourism infrastructure and accessibility by building roads, bridges, improving water systems in

key and emerging destinations and working closely with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to ensure connectivity and accessibility in emerging destinations.

The DOT will also improve and enhance the overall tourist experience in the Philippines and enhance marketing and promotion.

Frasco said the other goals are diversification of portfolio through multi-dimensional tourism, full maximization of domestic tourism and strengthening of tourism governance.

The seven objectives of the DOT are anchored in the three key strategies of connectivity, convenience and equality, she said.

The DOT would also address unemployment within the sector through tourism job fairs in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment.

The job fairs provided at least 8,000 job opportunities to unemployed tourism workers.

Data from DOLE showed some 12,000 displaced tourism workers were waiting to be absorbed again by hotels, resorts and other accommodation facilities.

BRIEF

TC orders lifting of safeguard duties on Vietnam cement

THE Tariff Commission ordered the lifting of anti-dumping tariffs imposed on imported ce ment from Vietnam as it rejected a petition by local cement manufacturers for an extension of the safeguard measures.

The Cement Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines said it was saddened by the recommendation of the agency to discontinue the implementation of the safeguard measure upon its expiry on Oct. 22, 2022.

“The requested Safeguard Measure Extension was necessary for adjustment plans to be completed in order for the local industry to be ready for global competition. The threat of injury to the local ce ment manufacturing industry remains imminent from neighboring exporting countries, who con tinue to this day to flood the domestic market with imported cement products even with the safeguard measure enforced,” the group said.

It said local cement manufacturers had dili gently made investments necessary to adjust. “Most have been completed while others are earmarked for implementation, in-process, or are nearing completion. Moreover, additional new measures have been identified and are in the pipeline,” it said.

“Terminating the safeguard measure prema turely jeopardizes these efforts and undermines the painstaking work of the local cement indus try to stay operational during the very difficult months of the still ongoing pandemic, wherein it continued implementing adjustment plan proj ects, employing jobs and allying with govern ment and economic stakeholders to jumpstart na tional recovery,” CeMAP said. Othel V. Campos

Figaro reports 11% growth in net income

FIGARO Coffee Group Inc., a leading coffee chain, reported a 111-percent increase in net income in its fiscal year ending June 2022 amid strong store roll-out.

Figaro said in a disclosure to the stock ex change Thursday net income in its first full fiscal year reached P198.2 million as revenues climbed 80 percent to P2.43 billion.

“We are very pleased to report that coming out of the pandemic and our initial public offering early this year, we have continued our excellent growth and positive momentum. We are seeing dine-in sales increasing on our Figaro Coffee and Tien Ma’s brands while delivery continues to be strong for Angel’s Pizza,” Figaro chairman Justin Liu said.

The company said gross margins improved to 49 percent from 44 percent through economies of scale and cost synergies. Operating income went up by 64 percent, while return on equity ex panded 13.5 percent. Jenniffer B. Austria

BDO Unibank helps drive electric mobility

Consumer group asks gov’t to check other power supply deals

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE National Association of Electric ity Consumers for Reforms Inc. asked the Marcos administration to look into the contracts of Manila Electric Co.’s other power suppliers.

Nasecore president Pete Ilagan said in a letter to President Ferdinand Mar cos Jr. the Energy Regulatory Com mission denied the motions of Meralco and San Miguel Corp.’s subsidiaries for a price adjustment under their con tract.

Ilagan said the parties sought ap proval to adjust their provisionallyapproved rate of P4.045 per kilowatthour to an average of P5.41 per kWh, representing a 32-percent increase.

He said the ERC denied the motions based on the “non-escalation nature” of the PSA and “purportedly to protect con sumers from the proposed generation rate adjustment of about P5.41 per kWh.

Ilagan said while the move is “well and good”, it does not explain why Meralco’s average or blended rates reached P6.9393 per KWh in Septem ber.

“The reason is SPPC [South Pre miere Power Corp.] and SMEC [San Miguel Energy Corp.] are only two of the 12 Meralco suppliers, with the rest continuing to charge sky-high rates without any kind of restraint,” he said.

Ilagan said these other suppliers have pass-through provisions in their PSAs that allow for automatic price

HOME loan releases of Pag-IBIG Fund posted a double-digit growth to reach a record P83.31 billion in the first nine months, top executives said Wednes day.

Data showed that from January to September, the amount of home loans released by the agency climbed 27 percent or P17.83 billion from P65.48 billion released in the same period last year. The number of financed homes also grew 17 percent year-on-year to 74,708.

“Pag-IBIG Fund’s performance in the first nine months of 2022 now stands as the best in our his tory. Higher loan releases and an increasing num ber of borrowers mean that more and more Filipino workers are being helped by Pag-IBIG Fund to have their own homes. All these are part of our efforts to achieve the goal of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program, as we continue our pursuit of provid ing each Filipino family an opportunity to own a home,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees.

Acuzar said of the total home loans, P5.72 bil lion represented socialized home loans benefitting 13,131 Pag-IBIG Fund members and belonging to

adjustments/escalation.

He said Quezon Power Phil. Ltd. charges the highest rate at P13.34 per kWh, or more than double what SPPC and SMEC are charging. He said that in September, SMEC and SPPC were the second to third suppliers with the least cost supply at P3.74 per kWh and P4.27 per kWh.

“If the consumers can be afforded reliefs on the proposed price adjust ments, public interest dictates that these other suppliers taking advantage of the pass-thru provision must be reined in as well by the ERC,” he said.

Ilagan said the regulator also failed to consider the generation rates of electric cooperatives, which went up to as high as P12.86 per kWh.

the minimum-wage and low-income sectors.

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive Marilene Acos ta said the record-high amount of home loans was driven by a strong third quarter, with the agency releasing a record-high P31.35 billion in the pe riod.

Acosta said with the record-setting third quarter, the agency expected to again surpass the P100-bil lion mark in home loans this year.

“With our home loan releases amounting to P83.31 billion in the last nine months, we have nearly surpassed the amount released for the entire year in 2019, which was one of our best perform ing years. By the end of 2022, home loan releases may reach P110 billion, surpassing yet again the P100 billion housing loan takeout level for a single year. We shall do our best to achieve this, as this figure will translate to over 100,000 Filipino work ers who shall fulfill their dreams of homeownership. This is one of our many ways of delivering Lingkod Pag-IBIG: Tapat na Serbisyo, Mula sa Puso to our members,” said Acosta.

Acosta said the strong demand for the agency’s home loans could be attributed to its interest rates which remain low despite the current market trend, high loan-to-appraised value ratio, long repayment period and much-improved insurance terms.

BDO Unibank Inc. said it strengthens its com mitment to a sustainable future as it continues to finance projects that benefit the environment and present opportunities for economic growth.

The bank said it realizes the significance of supporting eco-friendly initiatives such as re newable energy, clean transportation, pollution prevention and control and electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

PGA Cars, the sole importer and dealer of luxury brands Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini and Bentley in the Philippines, takes the lead in in troducing sustainable and cleaner transport solu tions in the country by bringing in the fully elec tric Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron range.

“Within five years, we expect that half of our new car sales will be fully electric as the technol ogy improves further and consumers gain even more confidence in our products. PGA Cars’ transition to electromobility will spur more EVrelated infrastructure from both the private and public sectors,” said PGA Cars chairman Ro berto Coyiuto III.

BDO said it continues to provide needed sup port to sustainable companies as it enhances its relationship to help the business and protect the planet. The bank said it is committed in creating a positive impact and making a difference in the community, and the bank’s financial support to green vehicles helps drive progress, create jobs and achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

ISUZU DONATION. Isuzu Philippines Corp., the country’s leading truck manufacturer and distributor, turns over P250,000 donation to Irosin District Hospital in line with the Road To Progress vision announced in its 25th anniversary celebration. Attending the turnover ceremony are (from left) Isuzu Legazpi service supervisor Erwin Lozada, Isuzu Legazpi operations manager Michelle Rabulan, Isuzu Legazpi sales manager Susan Reyes, IPC assistant vice president for administration Imelda Bernas, IDH chief of hospital Dr. Sherwin Amisola and IDH administrative officer Anecia Bojorque

BSP RECEPTION. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla (sixth from left) thanks the banking sector for their collective effort and long-standing collaboration with the BSP during the ‘Annual Reception for the Banking Community’ hosted by the central bank at its head office in Manila. With Medalla are (from left) BSP deputy governors Mamerto Tangonan and Bernadette Romulo-Puyat; Monetary Board members Anita Linda Aquino, Antonio Abacan Jr., Benjamin Diokno, Peter Favila, V. Bruce Tolentino and Eli Remolona; and deputy governors Francisco Dakila Jr., Chuchi Fonacier and Eduardo Bobier.

Sport

PSC set to launch programs for grassroots, elite athletes

By Peter Atencio

TWO programs involving elite athletes and grassroots development will soon be unravelled by the Philippine Sports Commission.

These activities will be an offshoot of the Project: Gintong Alay, an elite level national sports program, which the Philippine government implemented under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos from 1979 until 1986.

Set to be launched under the names, “Duyan ng Magiting” and “Gintong Laban”, PSC chairman Noli Eala said the two undertakings are now in their planning stages and will soon be presented to the national sports associations and other stakeholders in sports.

“After our strat planning next week, we hope to roll these out, so we can brief our stakeholders and our partners,” said Eala, who introduced the programs to

2 Bombers

positive for COVID-19; games reset

AT least two players of the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers tested positive for COVID-19, compelling organizers to reschedule their remaining games in the 98th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The Heavy Bombers’ remaining encounters with the San Sebastian Stags on Sunday and today’s supposed meeting with the College of St. Benilde Blazers have been reset for other days.

Members of the Heavy Bombers are reportedly undergoing weeklong isolation protocols before resuming their activities.

Under the NCAA’s health and safety protocols, if two or more players are affected, there will be an automatic postponement of game(s) in the next seven days.

Meanwhile, the San Sebastian Stags who have returned from a weeklong quarantine last Sunday, will seek to arrest a four-game losing streak when they play Emilio Aguinaldo College at 3 p.m. today.

The Stags, whose players have recovered from COVID-19, seek to bounce back from their 79-82 overtime loss to Lyceum of the Philippines University last Sunday, “I’m hoping we could have a better end game execution and decision makings. That’s our main concern right now,” said Stags coach Egay Macaraya.

The Stags have a 2-5 record and are three games behind San Beda and Letran, which both have 6-3 slates and are in contention in the race for the last Final Four berth.

officials of national sports associations, who attended a consultative meeting with the PSC at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.

Duyan ng Magiting (Cradle of the Brave) will be the first component of the PSC program, with Eala describing it as a whole range of programs, composed of entry level events that lead to the Philippine National Games.

Gintong Laban (Golden Fight) covers the high-performance aspect of elite athletes, a tweak of Gintong Alay.

The welfare of Filipino athletes competing at the elite level is also being worked on by the PSC in this undertaking.

“This is a high-performance program

for elite athletes, and in this particular program, we are hoping to tweak Project: Gintong Alay, wherein we take care of the elite athletes, and prepare them for the highest level of competition by raising enough funds,” added Eala.

Support through infrastructure, equipment, services through the medical and sports sciences are also part of the two programs.

Sixty-eight officials of the 74 invited NSAs showed up for the daylong meeting, which also discussed the PSC’s view on respecting the autonomy of Philippine Olympic Committee-recognized sports organizations.

At the same, the PSC urged the NSAs to liquidate financial assistance that were granted them, and responsibly account for them.

With many NSAs still faced with liquidation issues with the PSC, Eala told NSA officials to practice responsible autonomy, wherein the agency will respect the each organization’s ability to run their affairs, while concerned sports bodies take re-

Creamline starts grand slam bid on winning note

CREAMLINE went to its middle in the absence of its top outside hitter as the Cool Smashers held off a rallying PLDT to pound out a 25-22, 25-18, 26-28, 25-22 victory in a scrambling launch to its grand slam bid in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Thursday.

Unable to put away a hard-fighting PLDT side, the Cool Smashers counted on the very player that helped anchor their romp in the Invitational finals as Ced Domingo, doing what she does best, banged in back-to-back quick attacks to foil the High Speed Hitters’ bid to send the match to a decider.

“I need to contribute, step up and do the role of the middle blocker/hitter,” said Domingo, who clinched the Finals MVP honors in the league’s mid-season conference.

She played her role to the hilt again with Tots Carlos sidelined by back issues, finishing with 18 points on 12 attacks while coming through with three kill blocks and three aces in a match graced by world No. 3 pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

Creamline thus joined early leaders Cignal, Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz while PLDT slipped to 1-1.

The High Speed Hitters earlier frustrated the Cool Smashers’ sweep bid as import Elena Samoilenko rattled off three straight points, including a block touch that shoved PLDT back in the lead and at set point in the third, 24-23, after blowing three- and four-point leads, the last at 13-9.

The Cool Smashers, however, kept digging in, saving three set points but Jovie Prado fired a kill and Creamline fumbled in its offense after a PLDT assault, the ball failing to clear the net, thus giving the High Speed Hitters a chance to equalize.

But the many-time champions wrested control late in the fourth with Alyssa Valdez coming through with a blast off a broken play after a long exchange of tough angled shots and superb digging for a 23-20 Creamline lead.

Albay ‘Bulkans’ erupt at Globe 7s Series Luzon leg 3

CAVITE—The Albay ‘Bulkans’ clinched the 2022 Globe 7s Series Luzon - National Development Division leg 3 title on Saturday at Philippine Rugby’s home

ground, the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite.

The Bulkans finished their domestic 7s season with a thrilling golden try finals,

19-14 win against a fierce La Liga 1 side.

This spirited Albay side aimed to finish strong this season after their fifth-place finish in leg 1 and a fourth-place finish in the following leg.

Bannered by a number of players from their u19s program, mixed with a couple of Philippine Rising Stars players, the team finally found the winning formula for their long-awaited championship in the Luzon league.

It was a collective team effort for the win, with a lot of the younger players stepping up.

Club founder and player-coach, Ric Raymond Bellen, got injured prior to the finals. However, it served as an additional motivation for his young teammates, who already had to endure a 12-hour overnight van ride from Albay to Cavite just to compete on the day.

Tournament MVP and former Tuloy sa Don Bosco standout, John Frits Copino,

Eala leads September PSA sports achievers

IN a month brimming with outstanding triumphs by Filipino athletes overseas, tennis star Alex Eala’s accomplishment at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows New York on Sept. 10 (Sept. 11 in Manila) was heads and shoulders above the rest.

Without dropping a set, Eala captured the 142nd US Open junior girls singles’ championship, capping her remarkable run with a rousing 6-2, 6-4 victory over Czech Lucie Havlickova in the finals of the blue-ribbon tournament.

In her latest milestone, the pretty southpaw became the first Filipino player to bag a junior singles’ grand slam crown, adding to her glittering haul after clinching the 2019 Australian Open and 2021 French Open junior doubles girls’ plums, respectively, with different partners.

Halfway around the globe a day later, the powerhouse troika of Rubilen Amit,

Carlo Biado, and Johann Chua also made sports history in securing the Predator World 10-Ball Teams Championship in Klangenfurt, Austria with a 3-0 shutout of a crack British squad.

In the race-to-four sets series, Amit started the PH juggernaut rolling in nipping The World Games women’s 9-ball champion Kelly Fisher 4-3, with Biado sustaining the momentum with a 4-3 thriller over veteran Jayson Shaw.

Amit and Johann Chua completed the whitewash win with a 3-0 lacing of Fisher and Darren Appleton, a former world 9-ball and 10-ball champion, in the mixed doubles finale.

Pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena shared the limelight in securing his first win in the prestigious Wanda Diamond League series, ruling the Allianz Memorial Van Damme meet with a jump of 5.91 meters in front of a banner crowd at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.

The sweet triumph came at the expense of top Swedish favorite Armand Duplantis, the reigning world and Olympic champion, who was relegated to runner-up honors with a lackluster jump of 5.81 meters for his first and only loss of the European outdoor season.

Another local cue ace, Chezka Centeno, was also in the headlines with her gutsy come-from-behind 11-7 win over South Korean Seo Seoa in pocketing the APF Asian 9-ball women’s crown at the Aspire Recreation Centre in Singapore.

Centeno dug herself out of a 0-4 hole from the fifth frame onwards in clinching nine of the next 10 racks on the way to adding another feather to her cap.

On the local front, the San Miguel Beermen reclaimed the PBA Philippine Cup championship with a masterful 119-97 conquest of the TNT Tropang Giga in the do-or-die Game 7 of the finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

led the team with his playmaking skills and vision.

Joeben Belda’s defensive pressure during the extra time led to the Erwin Manjares’ golden try which secured the championship for the team.

“It was a fitting finale to the National Development Division as two very strong teams with great development programs squared off in the finals. Hats off to both teams, their coaching and management staff, players, and supporters. It was great to see a lot of our homegrown players competing at this level,” said Acee San Juan, General Manager of Philippine Rugby.

The next round of games for Luzon is scheduled this weekend for the Colts and Juniors Festival at British School Manila in BGC, Taguig City.

The third and final leg of the Open & Women’s Divisions will be at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite on October 22.

Alex Eala

her

trophy.

PSC chairman Noli Eala sponsibility on funds entrusted to them. Eala also told the NSAs that the PSC is aligning its framework of cooperation with the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Agenda 2020.

The

Bulkans

Game

Creamline’s Alyssa Valdez lauds Kyla Atienza after a scored point in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena.

Games

(Philsports Arena)

– Akari vs UAI-Armi

Cignal vs Chery Tiggo

Sports

Kerr says Green-Poole scu le is ‘biggest crisis’ for Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO—Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr says the bust-up between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole has been the “biggest crisis” of his time in charge at the NBA champions.

Speaking after the Warriors’ pre-season game against Portland late Tuesday, Kerr confirmed that Green had received an undisclosed fine following last week’s altercation with Poole.

Dramatic video footage of the incident showed Green punching Poole in the face after tempers flared during a practice.

However Green has escaped a suspension for the incident, with Kerr saying the four-time NBA champion would return to practice on Thursday and play in a pre-season game against Denver on Friday.

Kerr said the decision not to suspend Green—who was given a one-game suspension by the club for a 2018 altercation with Kevin Durant—was taken after wide-ranging discussion with players and team officials.

“I can tell you there’s been a lot of conversations—individual, oneon-one discussions, players-only discussions,” Kerr said. “It’s been an exhaustive process.

“After assessing everything, we feel like this is the best way for us to move forward. It’s never easy, no matter what decision you make, it’s never perfect.

“This is the biggest crisis that we’ve

had since I’ve been coach here. It’s really serious stuff. We’re not perfect. Our team isn’t perfect. (General manager) Bob (Myers) and I have definitely made our share of mistakes over the years.

“But we’re going to lean on the experience that we have together over the last nine years and trust that this is the best decision for our team.

“We have a lot of work to do. All of us.”

Kerr did not disclose the amount of the fine imposed on Green, and called on fans to back the team’s decision not to suspend the 32-year-old power forward.

“I’m not going to talk about the fine other than to say he has been fined,” Kerr said.

“Every situation is totally different. We don’t look at everything in a vacuum and say ‘We did that here, so we’ve got to do that there’.

“We would hope we’ve developed enough equity that people can trust us when we say we’ve put a lot of thought into this decision.”

The Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers next Tuesday in the opening round of fixtures of the 2022-2023 NBA season. AFP

IRONMAN wannabes gird up for Alveo 5150

LOCAL and foreign pro triathletes, along with top racers and age-groupers, get the chance to hone up and make strides in endurance racing as they gear up for a spirited chase for top honors in the Alveo 5150 Subic Bay set to fire off Oct. 23.

The 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run Olympic distance race serves as the answer to athletes who love to do short-distance but challenging races in a world-class set-up and at the same time reach the IRONMAN level. It also marks the 5150 return to the country’s triathlon capital with a new title sponsor in Alveo Land.

“The two-year break only makes these triathlon wannabes hungry for recognition and success,” said Fred Uytengsu, founder and president of the organizing The IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events, Inc. “Putting up this 5150 racing is also our way of motivating people to adopt a healthier lifestyle, particularly after the health crisis.”

Registration is ongoing. For details, log on to www.ironman.com.

Aside from the individual honors, other titles up for grabs are the relay all-male and all-female, the relay mixed

Respect begets respect

OUR little “barangay” has issued letters to certain teams as it prepares for a tournament which will unfold two months from now. The letters were actually call-ups to teams, requesting to make their players available for practice for the inter-barangay tournament.

Problem is, one of the letters was addressed to the coach. The other letter was addressed to the team manager. Why write to the coach of a particular team and not to the manager, like what they did to the other team? Why not extend the same respect or courtesy to all? There is probably nothing wrong with this. I heard that they want to save money and start the preparations for the inter-barangay tilt right now. Which is good actually. Very rightly so. After all, the competition is no joke and preparations are no laughing matter especially if you have people who make things difficult for the team just to go to the venue of the tournament. Unlike their current “apple of the eye” squad.

The “barangay” officials probably had their reasons. It could be a simple

oversight, a miscommunication or The Designated Kit Man is just being overzealous over some things beyond his concerns.

I just hope it is not because they do not know a thing or two about respect.

The letters are not simply letters. They tell a lot. They tell how people value other people. They tell also how people easily forget things or even the history on how the “barangay” came to be what it is right now. The letters also represent how these officials now see and regard the people who are part of the team that they probably care less now. The people probably mean less to them now so it was better to write the coach. “‘Wag na natin sulatan ang team manager, ok na si coach.”

How could they easily forget?

It is because of these individuals who started to build and believed in the team or the ones who supported it when no one gave a damn about it and the supporters who stayed regardless whether the team is winning or losing—you just can’t simply forget those things just because it is no longer convenient or in demand.

If you can’t do this from the start, then what more can the ordinary residents of our little place expect when the basic and expected can’t even be given to all. It is not just fair but the correct and proper way to do.

Whatever we do, it should always start with something that is basic but important. Because the bottomline is so simple: Respect begets respect.

On a more positive note, the Philippine National Women’s Football Team

capped their two-game friendlies in Costa Rica with a 2-1 loss against the host after drawing their first game 1-1. Despite the loss, head coach Alen Stajcic had this to say.

“It’s great experience to come to a beautiful country and football-loving culture like Costa Rica. It was tough for us on the pitch with 8-9 injuries and illness in the squad. We showed some flexibility in our squad with different combinations and players playing in different roles.”

The Filipinas took the lead after the first half, 1-0, at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma in San Jose, but the Las Ticas came back with goals from Racquel Rodriguez and Gloriana Villabos in the final half to get the win. Carleigh Frilles gave the lead to the Philippines off an assist by Isabella Flanigan before the end of the first half.

“I believe we competed well against an experienced World Cup opponent. However, it’s clear we need to improve the technical part of our game. The team showed great heart, commitment and discipline which we are pleased with excellent experience overall playing a Latin American country for the first time ever (away from home) and proving once again that we are constantly working hard and improving for the upcoming World Cup,” Stajcic added.

In the first friendly, Katrina Guillou rifled home a last second strike in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw for the Filipinas. The game showed once more the Filipinas’ resilience and great character fighting until the final minute.

of all participants and personnel, SEI general manager Princess Galura said they have lin ed up new protocols and measures for the blue-ribbon event, sponsored by Alveo, SBMA, Finis, Rudy Project, Sante Barley, Lalamove, Active, Manila Bulletin and Tempo.

“We have seen triathlon enjoyed tremendous boom and popularity for years before the pandemic. And we take pride to be playing a key role in support to triathlon community by way of helping put up this 5150 as well as the recent IronKids in Vermosa, Cavite,” said Aries Cajucom, Alveo Land’s head of Sales and Marketing Group.

The SEI, now part of the IRONMAN group, has been staging over a dozen races per year with exclusive rights to the IRONMAN, 5150, 70.3, IronGirl and IronKids events, drawing veteran and rising triathletes from the local front and overseas before the outbreak in late 2019.

“All those aspiring to compete in IRONMAN or 70.3 someday or those wanting to go into endurance racing need to start somewhere and 5150 offers a challenging distance for these novice triathletes,” said Galura.

Great job ladies and to the coaching staff as well.

Next event for the Filipinas will be the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 draw on October 23, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Heard also that a major announcement will be made soon regarding the Philippine Azkals. Hopefully, it will address not only the preparations for the forthcoming Mitsubishi Cup, but also the direction that the team is set to take in the coming years.

I know I’ve been saying all these things over and over again. But ever the eternal optimist when it comes to my favorite team, I hope this one is really true and will happen soon.

Not just to calm the nerves of the long suffering Azkals fans, but more importantly, to shut down those who have been bashing the team for several months now, the know-it-alls and the so-called fair-weather fans.

Please watch the 3PTS-Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports this Sunday, October 16, 2022, 2-3 p.m. at DZME 1530 kHz and the station’s FB page with The Designated Kit Man, Dennis Principe and Rommel Miranda. Guests include Rafael Renzo Cahilig and Christine Erine Alejandro of the Powerlifting Association of the Philippines; downhill skateboarder Tom Romualdez; and basketball coach and trainer Erick Butler.

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

Vietnam’s F1 hopes fade for debut grand prix

HANO—Fenced off to the public and dotted with plastic waste, Hanoi’s motor race circuit lies largely abandoned while hopes fade that Vietnam’s capital will ever host a Formula One grand prix.

The city was set to make its F1 debut in 2020 but the inaugural Vietnamese Grand Prix was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Hanoi has not appeared on the race calendar since.

Now, the spectator stands have been removed and most of the circuit sits empty—save a few hobby cyclists who sneak in, lured by the open space in the traffic-clogged city.

They race past yellowing grass, weeds and trash blown in by the wind, but the track itself appears like new, with “Vietnam” still clearly visible where it was painted on the tarmac.

Outside the surrounding metal fence, Hanoi’s ubiquitous motorbikes have already reclaimed the roads once earmarked to form part of the 5.6-kilometre (3.5-mile) track.

Gloomy future Vietnam inked a 10-year deal with Formula One in 2018, betting that the glamour of the sport could reshape Hanoi’s staid image, and reflect the country’s economic liftoff.

Costing Vietnam $60 million a year, the fee was to be picked up in full by the country’s largest private conglomerate, VinGroup, which had been hoping to dazzle with a night race.

But after the 2020 cancellation, the race was dropped from the 2021 global calendar when city mayor Nguyen Duc Chung, a major supporter of the grand prix, was arrested.

Chung was sentenced to 10 years in jail on corruption charges.

“Without Chung, the future of the race in Hanoi is gloomy,” a source close to the race told AFP on condition of anonymity in 2020.

State media said city authorities in June last year ruled out hosting the race between 2022 and 2029.

Authorities, however, refused to confirm the news to AFP.

Hanoi was absent again from the 2023 race schedule announced last month. AFP

McDowell demands world rankings for LIV golf

McDowell, one of the stars lured by LIV’s $25 million purses, said the body could not be called “official” if it shunned the invitation-only tour.

“All we want is to have a fair court, if you like, to recognise exactly what it is that we are doing out here,” he said in Jeddah, ahead of the nascent tour’s first event in Saudi Arabia.

“I feel like LIV tried to do everything they possibly can to be legitimate in the eyes of the OWGR (Official World Golf Ranking).”

“The word ‘official’ has to go away from OWGR if they don’t take care of the players out here,” McDowell added.

LIV Golf is not recognised by the rankings body, whose review of the case is expected to take more than a year. Without points LIV’s players are falling down the rankings, jeopardising their qualification for the majors.

LIV applied for rankings points through a partnership with the MENA Tour but its tournaments, played over 54 holes with no cut, do not fit all the usual criteria.

“The longer this goes on, we have a huge amount of deterioration in the current world ranking points for the guys out here,” McDowell said.

“And if that doesn’t retrospectively... get taken care of, by the time that we do get ranking points, our strength of field is going to be relatively much less than it needs to be.

“So we just get hurt the longer this game gets played, and it needs to be taken care of ASAP.”

McDowell has plunged to 419th in the rankings and former world number one Dustin Johnson, a two-time major-winner, is currently 24th. AFP

JEDDAH—Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell said players on the Saudi-funded LIV Golf tour needed world ranking points “ASAP” as he aimed a jab at the official ranking body on Wednesday.

Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr says the bust-up between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole has been the “biggest crisis” of his time in charge at the NBA champions. AFP

Participants dash for the bike event after the swim part.

and the Go For Gold Sunrise Sprint.

The youngsters, meanwhile, take center stage before the Alveo 5150 as they

clash in their side of the triathlon in the IronKids on Oct. 22.

To guarantee the health and safety

Annual star-studded concert pays tribute to teachers

IN

A media conference held yesterday, Gabay Guro Chairperson Chaye Cabal-Revilla explained why the annual concert that pays tribute to modern-day heroes is not holding a live and in-person show this year.

For the third time since 2020, the starstudded tribute that goes by the theme “The Filipino Teacher: Our Pride, Our Purpose, Our Passion” will be streamed live via Gabay Guro’s Facebook page and Youtube Channel starting at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow, October 15.

“We wanted a physical event this s year, but we have to consider that we are still in the middle of the pandemic. We used to gather around 24 thousand teachers before all in one venue, we wouldn’t want to put their health at risk,” Cabal-Revilla told the press.

“But the good thing about it is more teachers can watch and participate since it’s a virtual concert. We can reach more audience, too,” she went on.

Despite the continuing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gabay Guro remains steadfast in its avowed commitment to upholding the Filipino teachers and their noble mission of empowering the mind of the youth as it holds another tribute event for the modern-day heroes of our time via PLDT-Smart Foundation’s annual Gabay Guro Grand Gathering.

Just like the first two events were presented by the Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), with PLDT Home and PLDT-Smart Foundation and powered on the digital landscape, Gabay Guro 2022 is expected to reach out to an even larger audience of teachers across the country

and abroad as it showcases a barrage of world-class talents that include Gabay Guro’s long-time assembly of celebrity advocates including the megastar Sharon Cuneta, the songbird Regine VelasquezAlcasid, concert king Martin Nievera balladeer Basil Valdez, and pop diva Kuh Ledesma. Musical director Louie Ocampo also renders his genius to the event with production numbers that will surely thrill our teachers.

The 2022 Grand Gathering will be hosted by Pops Fernandez Sam Concepcion Dominic Roque, and Jolina Magdangal “I’ve been with the foundation for the last three years. And it’s a nice feeling being involved in this kind of effort as it gives back to teachers who are known as our second parents,” actor Dominic Roque told Manila Standard Entertainment Headlining the bevy of performers are the country’s finest musical artists including AC Bonifacio, Sheena Belarmino, Angela Ken, Jeremy Glinoga, Darren Espanto, Nicole Asensio, Aicelle Santos, Jed Madela, Jett Pangan, Alamat, Angela Ken, CLR, MC Einstein, Janine Tenoso, Jason Dy, Heaven Paralejo, Christian Bautista, Jolina, Sam, Tippy Dos Santos, Neo Rivera, Kayla Rivera, Mark Bautista, Klarisse de Guzman, Erik Santos, Jona, Elha Nympha, Lara Maigue, Fana, Janine Berdin, and The

Company

The event is expected to draw in over 500,000 teachers, who can partake in the once-everyyear experience by downloading the Gabay Guro Super App. By registering, teachers will have a chance to win exciting prizes at stake, including the grand prizes – a Chery Tiggo Pro car and P500,000 cash prizes to be won by three lucky teachers.

And because Gabay Guro cares deeply for the teachers’ health and welfare, mWell.ph, the Philippines’ first fully integrated health app with robust telemedicine service, is giving away mWellness gift boxes which entitles our teachers to free doctor check-up, their very own oxymeter, thermal scanner and vouchers for vitamins to keep them strong and healthy.

Cabal-Revilla who is also the Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) said that with the support of MPIC Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan “all of us working behind Gabay Guro over the last 15 years – the core team of volunteers, artists, and celebrity-advocates, our loyal

A GLAM, fancy-ball dubbed “The Philippine Pageant Ball,” in honor of luminaries in the Philippine pageant scene, was held at Pandanggo-Polkabal, Manila Hotel, Friday night. The glittering event, presented by Prime Event Productions Philippines (PEPPs), was a gathering of the bright names in the pageant industry.

sponsors – everyone remains united for the purpose of giving our teachers the honor that they deserve. The difficult times of the pandemic failed to stop us in the pursuit of this purpose. The seven pillars of Gabay Guro serve as our guide to encourage and uplift the teachers because we believe that changing the life of one teacher has a positive multiplier effect on her students.”

The Gabay Guro Grand Gathering 2022 is supported by Chery Auto Philippines, Fitbit, Huawei, Devant, mWell.ph, Smart, Pascual Laboratories, PLDT Home, and 555 Tuna/Sardines, among many others.

Since 2007, Gabay Guro has been empowering teachers across the country through its seven (7) core pillars: Classroom Donations, Connectivity and Computerization, Scholarships, Teachers’ Trainings, Livelihood Projects, Digital Innovation, and the Teacher’s Tribute.

Gabay Guro has built and donated over 55 double classrooms in 21 cities and municipalities nationwide. It has provided 2,174 scholarship grants where 1,767 have graduated, of which 24% graduated with honors. There are also 840 passers of the Licensure Exams for Teachers from

them. Gabay Guro has 57 partner state universities so far. It has also distributed more than 600 computers/ laptops and printers and internet connectivity to 49 partner schools from 21 municipalities benefiting 38,587 students, teaching, and admin staff. There are also more than 5,000 teachers who were given extra livelihood opportunities and access to micro-financing through Gabay Guro’s assistance.

Over the years, more than 50,000 teachers have trained face-to-face in 90 cities and provinces, and more than 1,000,000 teachers have trained digitally thru Gabay Guro’s Teachers’ Training’s “Learning Never Stops” digital series. In the last quarter of 2020, through Gabay Guro’s new Digital Innovation pillar, the Gabay Guro Super App was launched to empower teachers as they lead the way for digital transformation in education. Within its first 2 days of launch, the Gabay Guro Super App had over 100,000 downloads, catapulting it as one of the Top 5 education apps during its introduction phase. Since then, it has stayed popular among users with a steady 4.9 app satisfaction rating.

Gabay Guro has also brought more smiles to the faces of educators through the Grand Gathering, an annual celebration of Teachers’ Month, honoring them thru song, dance, and raffle prizes. Gabay Guro also has a series of localized tribute programs for teachers, thru regional Teacherfest events, which have already honored more than 500,000 teachers in Metro Manila and in 13 regional areas, including Ilocos Norte, Bulacan, Cebu, Butuan, Bataan, Navotas, Davao and others.

Gabay Guro’s efforts have also been recognized by various award-giving bodies in the Philippines and abroad, including the Gawad Tanglaw, Anvil Awards, Philippine Quill Awards, Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) Awards, and the CMO Asia Awards in Singapore.

For more details about the PLDT-Smart Foundation’s Gabay Guro program, please visit gabayguro.com For updates, please follow, like, and share Gabay Guro on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

ABS-CBN Film Restoration continuously makes Filipino cinematic classics accessible through various platforms for today’s audiences as it brings forth some of its digitally restored and remastered titles streaming on-demand via Netflix.

Up until the end of 2022, ABS-CBN Film Restoration and its Sagip Pelikula initiative will introduce an array of restored Pinoy films of all genres on Netflix – from drama, romance, comedy, and horror.

The first title introduced is the digitally restored version of the revered 1982 war-drama classic Oro, Plata, Mata directed by Peque Gallaga and written by Jose Javier Reyes, starring Sandy Andolong, Liza Lorena, Ronnie Lazaro, Joel Torre, and the late Cherie Gil

More award-winning Filipino classics will make their way to the on-demand streaming platform, among them are Nora Aunor’s cinematic masterpiece Himala and one of Dolphy’s iconic films of all time, Markova: Comfort Gay Viewers can also watch the restored versions of Star Cinema’s all-time romantic hits, such as One More Chance Now That I Have You Dubai, and Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit Comedy fans are also in for a treat with Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo! and the Judy Ann Santos-Ryan Agoncillo starrer Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo, while thrill-seekers can watch the digitally restored horror blockbuster Feng Shui

Today’s audiences can watch all these remastered classics from ABS-CBN Film Restoration ondemand via Netflix for subscribers in the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asian territories.

The auspicious gathering featured the dashing candidates of Misters of Filipinas 2022 who modeled in their elegant, princely suits. The highlight of the event was the presentation of several awards, led by Kagandahang Flores head Rodgil Flores, named “Best Beauty Pageant Camp.” Miss Philippines Earth 2022 Jenny Ramp and Jojo Bragais were named “Female Star of the Night and Male Star of the Night.” Bragais Shoes won “Best Pageant Shoe Brand” while Pegarro Swim/ Clothing of Julius Pegarro Jaguio won the “Best Pageant Swimwear Brand.”

Members of local media were also recognized including this writer who was named Best Newspaper Pageant Correspondent (co-winner with Inquirer’s Armin Adina) and Male Media Star of the

A different side to Gladys Reyes

By Patricia Taculao

WHEN it comes to being a kontrabida in Philippine television and movies, Gladys Reyes is widely known for her awardwinning performances. Her sharp tongue, intense emotions, and convincing on-screen slaps cemented her presence in the industry.

Yet there’s more to Gladys than being an antagonist. Unknown to most of the audience, the actress is talkative and energetic, making her an ideal talk show host. Fortunately, Gladys has a platform to show her bubbly side.

During the weekends, she hosts the celebrity talk show MOMents. Net 25 allowed her to debut as a talk show host and rebranded her image from a cold kontrabida

Night, which I’m happy to share with my editor and Manila Standard team.

PEPPs is the organizer of Misters of Filipinas headed by Carlo Morris Galang.

• • •

Riza Oben Dormiendo receives lifetime achievement award

Mrs. Philippines Face of Beauty International 2019 Riza Oben Dormiendo, a businesswoman, philanthropist, dance sport champion, and mountain climber, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award and led other awardees, during the recent 2nd Diamond Excellence Awards 2022 held at Okada Manila.

Mrs. Universe Asia (Official) 2022 Monique Cantalejo Rivera and Mr. National Universe 2022 Viet Hoang were named Woman of the Year and Man of the Year, respectively.

Movie celebrities awardees included Yasmin Kurdi and Derrick Monasterio, Outstanding TV Actress and Actor of the Year, while Ara Mina was named Outstanding Movie and TV Actress of the Year.

Oriental Mindoro Vice Governor EJ

to a warm and welcoming individual. She even goes by Gladys Reyes-Sommereux. The addition to her surname comes from her husband, Christopher Sommereux or Christopher Roxas in showbiz. She says it’s one way to distinguish between the authentic Gladys, who hosts the talk show, from the kontrabida Gladys.

Throughout the years, she had guests on her show, including her close friends Judy Ann Santos Carmi Martin, and Angelu de Leon. During the first few years, Gladys admitted to being the talent coordinator.

Until now, she remains hands-on with her show, especially who gets to appear on the show.

Natutuwa ako na marami na akong nai-guest in the show na talagang naging malaman ang aming kwentuhan and we got to know them up close and personal,” she said during a press conference.

Gladys also interviews public servants on her show. But instead of asking them about politics, the actress-host focuses on light topics that her audience finds relatable. One memorable interview she had on MOMents was with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in 2018.

Yun ‘yung natutuwa ako, ‘yung naikwento niya talaga ‘yung paano sila nagkakilala ni Ma’am Liza (AranetaMarcos). Rinig mo ‘yung pagiging genuine niyang tao,” Gladys shared.

That’s what Gladys loves best about her show, as she provides her guest with the opportunity to show a different side to them that only a few people know.

Another memorable interview for her on the show was with former Batangas governor Vilma Santos, who appeared on MOMents twice.

Gladys is looking forward to having her on the show for the third time.

Gladys doesn’t let having different networks keep her from interviewing celebrities.

For her, MOMents is a platform for viewers to learn more about their favorite celebrities’ personalities in a comfortable environment.

“Sa MOMents, parang kwentuhan lang sa sala.

Falcon was named Man of the Year 2022 while Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragosa were honored with the Man of the Year and Woman of the Year OPM Icon Award. The Male Artist of the Year Award went to Kris Lawrence while BGYO and BINI were named Outstanding Boy Group and Female Group of the Year.

The 2nd Diamond Excellence Awards, presented by 3Stars Productions for the benefit of the Mrs. Philippines International and Diamond Excellence Awards Charities, seeks to recognize outstanding individuals, groups and companies in different fields for their valuable contributions to the community.

Parang walang camera, walang pressure kaya napapalabas ang totoong sila,” she said.

In the future, she hopes to invite former senator Manny Pacquiao and his wife, Jinkee, to the show. Viewers can also expect to see Claudin Barretto as her guest, marking her first appearance on the show. returned for another season in September. It also marked the show’s 16th year on air.

Viewers can expect segments like “Chikat” or Chikahan , where Gladys talks about anything and everything under the sun with celebrities, “Moment ko ‘to,” where guests can challenge Gladys, and “Kusina Moments,” which offers kitchen hacks.

MOMents

Sunday, 4:00

Nickie Wang

Taculao,

From left: Dominic Roque, Pops Fernandez, Gabay Guro chairperson Chaye Cabal-Revilla, and event host Ogie Diaz

‘Gabay Guro Grand Gathering 2022’ hosts Dominic Roque (left) and Pops Fernandez

The roster of talented celebrities who will grace the online concert of Gabay Guro

A

Gallaga

Mrs.

Pageant

Celebrity couple reveals secrets to their YouTube success

FAN favorite couple Luis Manzano and Jessy Mendiola-Manzano aren’t just two of the most popular personalities in Philippine showbiz. Millions of Filipinos also enjoy them on YouTube as incredibly relatable video creators that consistently produce highly entertaining content.

Across their individual channels, the Manzanos have a combined 2.78 million subscribers on the platform. It’s a whopping amount that proves that their fans love to keep coming back for their bright and bubbly personalities, while discussing a wide variety of engaging topics, and must-see guests.

When he’s not documenting trips and adventures together with Jessy, Luis likes to talk to his many friends and fellow showbiz personalities in his “Luis Listens” series. Luis’ natural knack for comedy and good vibes pulls in hundreds of thousands of views for every video.

Meanwhile, Jessy loves giving fans glimpses and looks into her everyday life, as well as making fun videos with her friends. From unboxing videos, travel vlogs, fashion hauls and fits, and self-reflections, Jessy provides positivity and cheerfulness that have proven to be really popular, raking in views by the hundreds of thousands.

Jessy shares, “I want my channel to reach so many people. I want to inspire them by sharing my life and personal stories with them. I’m really grateful that I get to share a part of myself with my subscribers. It is through my YouTube channel that they get to know and appreciate the real Jessy.”

One of Jessy’s most popular videos titled “Wifey vs Momski: Who knows Lucky better?” shows not only her trademark cheer but also highlights how close she is with her mother-in-law, the one and only Star for All Seasons, Vilma Santos. The lighthearted quiz revealed how Luis got his nickname (Lucky) and showed how the family enjoy making each other laugh.

“I started my Youtube channel in November 2018. I wasn’t really active until I married Luis. I started producing more content when I finally found my niche and genuine happiness.” Jessy further reveals, “My vlogs changed my perspective in a lot of ways. My YouTube channel inspired me to show the real me and be more open to the world. It helped me go back to my core and be true to myself.”

“I promised myself to always put out real and authentic content because my subscribers and viewers appreciated me more when I started showing my true self,” she continued.

A trusted partner behind the camera Luis and Jessy work with a trusted creative team that helps them produce their content. Jessy shares, “My team has been with me for four years. They’ve been with me since I started my YouTube channel. They pushed me and encouraged me to try exploring this space of digital content creation. It opened a lot of new opportunities for me. And I’m very grateful to them for staying with me through these years.”

For Jessy, having a reliable and collaborative production team has helped her grow her channel.

“It’s a collaborative work between my editor and me. It’s so important to get along with your team. They make sure to put my personal touch on my YouTube videos,” she says.

Aside from their prolific production team behind the camera, the Manzanos credit their YouTube success to another reliable partner: a fast and strong internet connection. PLDT Home, the country’s fastest network, allows them to keep putting up videos whenever they want, as much as they want–and also to do it better at home and in life.

“[Content creation] is not easy. We live in an age where everything has to be quick and instant. Having a fast and efficient connection gives you more chances to do more for yourself and others in a day whatever hat you have on,” said Luis.

It’s this reliability and performance for the alwaysonline YouTube power couple that led them to become the newest ambassadors for PLDT Home and their Do It Better campaign.

“I’ve been a user of PLDT for the longest time, so to be an ambassador is a big thing for me and I get to be part of it with my wife! I wouldn’t endorse a product I don’t fully trust or support so I’m in this for the long run,” added Luis.

Learn how Luis and Jessy do things better at home.

Triumph’s Flex Smart collection of coordinating pieces is centered around an innovative concept that supports and adapts to women’s bodies.

How to flex the real you Media practitioner and content creator Bea Fabregas

weight loss journey. She said, “When I’m at the gym and I work on myself and I’m literally flexing, I’m proud! I’m working on myself to be healthy for my family. That’s when I’m most confident.”

the modern term flexing which has gained the negative connotation of showing off.

AUTHENTICITY is

hard to find in this age of short-form video reels and filtered photos. The available applications make it all too easy to present ideal versions of ourselves. Others can piece together the carefully curated images of our lives we make available.

The impact on clueless followers can be unhealthy as they may unconsciously compare their lives to an illusion. The same happens when we question what we have based on what we see on our feeds.

In an intimate (pun intended) gathering for lingerie brand Triumph, media practitioner and content creator Bea Fabregas weighed in on keeping the balance between being authentic and showcasing her real self and personal triumphs. Her weight loss and motherhood journey are recurring themes in her social media posts.

Here are the things I picked up from her Q&A session with the event’s host Issa Litton: Empowerment . Knowing she has developed the right skills and mindset, Bea is confident about sharing her postpartum

Putting in the work gives Bea confidence and she feels responsible as a content creator to empower others and make them realize their capability and that they can achieve the same goals too. The same goes for her work as a host and disc jockey. She said, “Being in the radio industry for ten years, I am confident when I’m about to turn on that mic because I know there’s time and effort that has gone into this art and craft.”

Vulnerability . Inspiring other women in the room, Bea gamely talked about how high school was a difficult time for her as a shy girl who battled image issues. She radiated with confidence as she spoke of the past and made herself relatable by being vulnerable. When asked to share her insecurities, Bea laughed and said, “I love talking about insecurities. I like talking about it now because you can see your personal growth.”

Self-love . “All of us will have insecurities creeping in every once in a while, but how were you able to keep them at bay?” Issa asked Bea. “I think it’s trying to understand what matters the most. I think, for me, when I became pregnant, I realized that this body was literally housing another human. It’s a miracle!”

She recalled having to affirm her changing beauty, “I remember even when I was getting bigger and my skin was expanding, I never had to do this before, but I had to look in the mirror and fight with the body changes. I had to tell myself, ‘I look beautiful! I have a baby in my belly. I look great!’”

Motherhood helped Bea deal with selfdoubt and postpartum and she highly encourages other women to be kind to themselves and more positive. “I would say it in front of the mirror. You guys should try it. You have to speak good things to yourself.”

In the end, Bea gave her interpretation of

Superstore opens seventh branch in UP Town Center

“Flexing is being passionate about what you have done and achieved. There isn’t arrogance to it. It’s just like saying, ‘Hey, look, I put time, effort, and love into this, be it your work, family, or friendship,” she explained.

Bea, who wins against life’s challenges with the right amount of confidence, later defined what it means to “flex the real you.”

She emphasized, “That’s what flexing means to me, being authentic and true.”

Triumph launched its Flex Smart collection – a collection of coordinating pieces centered around an innovative new bra concept that supports and adapts to women’s bodies.

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

To Bea, “flexing the real you” means being authentic and true to one’s self.

(Image courtesy of Bea Fabregas’ IG account @beafabregas)

Landers opens shop in UP Town Center

LANDERS Superstore, the fastest growing membership shopping establishment in the country has recently opened its seventh branch in UP Town Center, along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, making it the first Landers Superstore in an Ayala Mall.

The newly opened Landers branch is now ready to give residents and families in the area access to premium membership shopping, exclusive deals, awesome items, discounts, and so much more.

Former President of the Philippines and Senior Deputy Speaker of the House Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the guest of honor, leading the grand unveiling of the newest Landers branch in the city.

Joining PGMA in the opening rites were SoutheastAsia Retail Inc. chairman Attorney Lowell Yu and president Gwen Lim

The exclusive opening celebration was graced by top celebrities who gamely trooped to UP Town Center to experience premium membership shopping in Quezon City. Spotted filling their Landers shopping carts were power couple Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guiducelli Jericho Rosales, Ruffa Gutierrez, Dimples Romana, Karla Estrada, Daniel Matsunaga, couple Camille Pratts-Yambao and John Yambao, JC De Vera,

For more information, visit the Landers Superstore Facebook Page.

Manzano

Jessy Mendiola- Manzano

From left: Actress Karla Estrada, couple John Yambao and Camille Pratts-Yambao with their daughter, and actress Dimples Romana

Power couple Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guiducelli

Actor

Lowell Yu

journalist couple Julius Babao and Christine Bersola-Babao

Marjorie Barretto with her children Leon and Dani Barretto, TV journalist couple Julius and Christine Bersola-Babao, Phoemela Baranda, Beauty Gonzalez, Jugs Jugeta and couple Chef Gino Gonzales and China Cojuangco

Situated right at the heart of a dynamic and thriving community in Quezon City, Landers 7th store offers members the convenience of shopping within a mall setting, complemented by fresh, elegant and instagrammable interiors, an expansive retail area, a relaxing dining space, and a vast array of imported and local merchandise that include a wide array of treasure finds, fresh and produce, exclusive products, and in-house food specialties.

Members may also enjoy delicious food options from Landers Central and Doppio, as well as low-priced medicines from Capital Care Pharmacy, and free haircut or blow dry from Federal Barbers.