Manila Standard - 2022 October 21 - Friday

By Othel V. Campos, Darwin Amojelar, and Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday invited the private sector to in vest in 74 public-private partnership (PPP) projects worth a combined P2.25 trillion that are in the government’s pipeline, as he

called for more collaboration to spur his administration’s efforts for a quicker and more sustainable growth.

“The challenge over the last few years was striking a delicate balance between the economy and public health, but always putting an important premium on keeping our communities safe from another out break,” he addressed the delegates of the

48th Philippine Business Conference & Expo (PBC&E), organized by the Philip pine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

Mr. Marcos highlighted the need for the government and the private sector to work together on more projects for infra structure, energy, and agriculture, and

‘Middleman’ in Lapid slay dead

Cause of death unknown, police reveal another 'middleman' in custody

By Joel Zurbano, Rey Requejo, Francisco Tuyay and Maricel Cruz

THE alleged "middle man" who sup posedly facilitated the murder of broadcaster Percival Mabasa, known as "Percy Lapid," has died at the national penitentiary.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Re mulla made the announcement Thursday, hours after Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, of ficer in charge of the Philippine National Police Office of the Deputy Chief for Ad ministration, said the PNP is working to ensure the safety of the "middleman."

The PNP would later explain there were two "middlemen"—Crisanto Villa mor who died inside the New Bilibid Pris on at around 3 p.m. Tuesday, and another one who is detained inside the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The BJMP is under the Department of Interior and Local Government, while the NBP is supervised by the Bureau of

Senate sees ‘conspiracy’ in P2.4b laptop purchase

plicated as the hearing went on.

insists on deal

THE Philippines will no longer buy mili tary helicopters from Russia despite a call by its ambassador to honor the P12.7 bil lion contract signed by the Duterte admin istration, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday.

Mr. Marcos said Thursday the country

has found an alternative source of military helicopters in the United States, and was negotiating with Russia to get back a portion of the P1.9 billion down payment the Philippines has already made on the deal.

“I think it has already been determined.

WHO: Too early to lift global emergency status of COVID

By Joel E. Zurbano, Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE World Health Organization said it is too early to lift the highest-level alert for the COVID-19 crisis, with the pandemic remaining a global health emergency despite recent progress.

emergency

committee on COVID-19 met last week and concluded that the pandemic still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), a status it declared back in January 2020.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters Wednesday that he agreed with the committee's advice.

"The committee emphasized the need to strengthen surveillance and expand

It was already determined by the previous administration that the deal will not carry through,” Mr. Marcos said.

In July 2022, then Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana said President Rodrigo Duterte had decided to terminate the

Speaker cites America’s aid in COVID fight

By Maricel V. Cruz

HOUSE Speaker Martin G. Romualdez has expressed the Philippine govern ment’s deep gratitude to the United States for helping the country fight the coronavi rus disease.

Romualdez conveyed the country’s sincere appreciation and thanks during Next page

President won't give up DA post just yet

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday he would only appoint a Health Secretary if the country's situation had al ready returned to normal in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

He also said he will only leave his concurrent post as Agriculture Secretary when structural changes to the department have been made.

The Chief Executive also made his first appointments to the judiciary, naming

two trial court judges as associate justices of the Court of Appeals, and the head of the Supreme Court’s Fiscal Management and Budget Office as an associate justice of the Court of Tax Appeals.

On the sidelines of the Philippine Business Conference at the Manila Ho tel, Marcos was asked when he planned to appoint a Department of Health (DOH) secretary amid the continuing threat of the pandemic.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

A "CONSPIRACY among conspirators" was established in the procurement of overpriced yet outdated laptops worth a total of P2.4 billion by the Department of Education intended for teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sen. Francis Tolentino said Thursday.

On the fifth day of the Senate bon committee into the matter, no stressed the went deeper got more

"It was definitely planned, the conspir acy angle is still there, but we cannot say yet the role of conspirators" in the con troversial purchase made by the DepEd through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management

bon committee will come out with its report on the probe about a month later or

THRIVING BUSINESS CLIMATE.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commits to ensure a sound environment where businesses can flourish during the 48th Philippine Business Conference and Exposition (PBC&E) of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) at the Manila Hotel Thursday evening. Office of the Press Secretary

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'MIDDLEMAN'

DOWN. Self-confessed hitman Joel Escorial (left) positively identifies the photo of deceased inmate Crisanto 'Jun' Villamor, the alleged 'middleman' who hired the team to kill broadcast journalist Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid. Inset photo (top) shows Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos in a press briefing at Camp Crame Thursday evening. CIDG-NCR

FOUR-EYE MEETING.

Speaker Martin Romualdez (left) and Assistant Secretary of State Department for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink hold talks in Washington D.C. Wednesday (Manila time). Ryan Ponce Pacpaco

Next

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‘Chinese workers want to stay in PH’

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz

JUSTICESecretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said some of the Chinese nationals deported last October 19 said they preferred to be charged in the Philippines so they could prolong their stay in the country.

In a radio interview on Thursday, Re mulla said foreigners facing charges can not be deported under our law since they have to face their cases in court.

“There are many genius lawyers who have been doing that for a long time whenever their clients who are illegal

‘Middleman’...

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Corrections, which is under the Depart ment of Justice.

The police also released a photo of the gunman, Joel Escorial, pointing at a sup posed photo of Villamor and positively identifying the deceased as the "middle man" who hired his team.

"For everyone's information, if you can recall, the gunman said there were six of them who worked on this. Two middle men contacted them. One is here at the BJMP," said Brig. Gen. Kirby Kraft, chief of the Southern Police District and head of the Special Investigation Task Group on Mabasa’s case.

A report on TV Patrol showed a death certificate that indicated Villamor died of "undetermined cause" inside the NBP

PBBM...

From A1 work for micro, small and medium enter prises (MSMEs).

The government pipeline counts 74 PPP projects as of August 2022, as the President pledged to foster a sound en vironment where businesses can flourish and continue to be a driver of economic growth.

“I reiterate my vision of improving our business climate and elevating the status of the Philippines as a top investment des tination through various endeavors,” he said.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bau tista echoed the Chief Executive’s call, as his department will push for PPP schemes to complete big-ticket transportation infra structure projects throughout the country amid a limited government budget.

Senate...

From A1 Tolentino added.

During the hearing, the Commission on Audit (COA) presented “significant” audit findings that showed the price of each laptop provided to DepEd was 100% higher than its actual price.

COA State Auditor Job Aguirre re leased a comparison chart where it ap peared that the laptop bought by DepEd through PS-DBM was 159 percent more expensive compared to the prevailing market price.

The laptop of the same model is also 133% higher than the price in the online market, COA added.

With the DepEd paying P58,500 per laptop, “it will appear that the market price of each laptop is only P22,000 to P25,000 per unit (or the price of) the en try-level laptop,” state auditors said.

COA considers the laptops overpriced because based on its circular, any item which is more than 10% higher in price compared to the existing units in the mar ket is excessive.

As of August 17, 2022, the Education

President...

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“We will wait for it to get there (normal situation), and then we will normalize also the reorganization of government,” Mr. Marcos told reporters. "When that hap pens, when what I just explained happens. The same as DA (Department of Agricul ture), when it’s fixed, and (the situation is) normalized.”

"The reason (for this) is I want people to understand that this is the government's work, not everything is a crisis, so let’s normalize the work of the government,” he added.

“That is what I am trying to do, so that everyday functions are fulfilled, every day without fuss, without bother, without gulo (mess), without fixers, without paying, that’s what I’m fixing. So that is what I am hoping to get to that point, especially in the DOH and DA," the President said.

At present, Undersecretary Maria Ro sario Vergeire is the Health department’s officer-in-charge.

In September, Mr. Marcos extended the state of calamity throughout the Phil ippines due to COVID-19 until December 31, 2022.

aliens don’t want to be deported,” he said.

“A foreigner who is facing charges under our laws cannot be deported,” Remulla said.

“The foreigners who can be deported are those with no pending cases in the Philippines and their only offense is over staying,” he said.

Hospital at 2:05 p.m. on October 18.

Mabasa's brother, Roy, said his family is "deeply troubled" by Villamor's death.

"This shows there is a wide-reaching conspiracy that led to the killing of my brother. This (Villamor's death) will be a stumbling block to the progress of the case. How far can the go if there is no longer a middleman who will point to the mastermind?" Roy said.

"For days now, we have been appeal ing to authorities to secure and protect all those who are involved in this case," he added.

Interior Sec. Benhur Abalos said he is dismayed with the death of the alleged gunman, and vowed to hold people ac countable if foul play is proven.

"We are really dismayed with what happened. We are waiting for the au topsy result. And once it is proven there is foul play, we will really be angry. We

The private sector’s participation in completing such projects will be “crucial,” Bautista said, as other Department of Transportation projects encountered lim ited budget allocations.

Bautista said the DOTr would invite private sector participation in privatiz ing projects such as the EDSA Busway, Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, regional air ports in Bohol, Laguindingan, Bicol, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Davao, Bacolod, Kalibo, Busuanga and Siargao, and sea ports.

The government would also build four new regional airports in Dumaguete, Siar gao, Zamboanga, and Masbate, as Bau tista said completing these projects would increase the efficiency and productivity of Filipinos.

Meanwhile, addressing challenges to food security topped the resolutions passed by the PCCI during its two-day business conference at the Manila Hotel,

department already bought 2,378 laptop units, but 1,678 or 70 percent of the units remained unused, kept at the DepEd’s As set Management Division stock room.

These were never used by the intended teacher-beneficiaries, COA also added.

Aside from their “slow processor,” there is no certification and no standard materials used in the laptops, state audi tors said after running a simulation test of the DepEd laptop against a different brand but with the same market price.

Before ending the Senate probe, To lentino sought an apology for the teachers and students affected by the controversy.

This “laptop fracas,” he said, “in volved a hefty amount of money and many persons, especially those who were deprived of the use of this gadget during the period of the pandemic.”

“We hope to have something that would amend existing laws. We hope to have something that would pin liability or ac countability [on] persons that led to this situ ation. Though a hard fact, a hard reality to confront, we have to do it,” said Tolentino.

He also issued an order allowing the Senate resource persons’ lawyers to file a memorandum containing statements that were not raised during the panel hearing.

The President also told reporters that problems within the Department of Ag riculture are so difficult that "it will take a president to change and turn it around."

"So, I think when we are able to say that the DA’s functions are properly institutionalized and the structural changes that we need to make in the DA have been made and the appointments in the DA have already been made, then saka ako bibitaw [I will let go]," he said.

"Because then they don’t need me any more, they don’t need the President head ing the department," Mr. Marcos added.

Meanwhile, in a transmittal letter to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, the President appointed as CA associate jus tices Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judges Selma Palacio Alaras and Wilhelmina B. Jorge Wagan.

Alaras and Wagan took over the posts vacated by retired CA Associate Justices Gabriel T. Ingles and Edgardo A. Cam ello, respectively.

Appointed CTA associate justice was SC-FBMO Chief Corazon G. FerrerFlores who took over the post vacated by Associate Justice Juanito C. Castaneda.

Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo (See full story online at manilastandard. net)

Six Chinese nationals deported last Wednesday were identified in the report to Remulla as Yu Min, Nie Zhengbiao, Gan Xueliang, Xu Yuangang, Qian Jie, and Yang Bin.

Remulla said those deported would be facing charges in their own country.

“I don’t know what charges will be filed against them because it will be done under the Chinese legal system,” he said.

During the same radio interview, Re mulla said more foreigners who worked with the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) whose licenses had been canceled or who were operating illegally will be de ported.

will be very, very angry. We are demand ing, should that be proven, that those re sponsible should be held accountable," he said.

Abalos also assured that Escorial is safe.

“The gunman is with the Philippine National Police. He's in very safe hands," hr said.

Remulla, for his part, urged indepen dent forensic experts to check the autopsy.

Escorial earlier said that he and three others—siblings Edmon and Israel Di maculangan, and a certain "Orly" or "Or lando"—participated in the ambush on orders from an unnamed person in Bilibid, and later split the P550,000 reward among themselves.

Escorial said he was the one who shot Mabasa while Orly was tasked to give them instructions in the ambush. He added there were six of them in the actual plan to

which the group presented to the Marcos administration.

Among the solutions proposed by the country’s largest business group are amending the Agrarian Reform Law that will increase the land retention limit from five hectares to 24 hectares; implementing a debt condonation program for unpaid amortizations of agrarian reform ben eficiaries, and converting Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) into fee simple titles.

Under resolutions on health issues, the PCCI urged the President to reform the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. into a science-based and transparent healthcare system. It is also pushing for a public-pri vate partnership model in rolling out the Universal Healthcare Law.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Hotel Own ers Association (PHOA) said the sector should find creative ways to innovate PH travel to increase traffic, particularly the

PH...

From A1 contract for 16 military Mi-17 heavy-lift helicopters over the possible impact of sanctions imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian embassy in Manila on Wednesday said it is using the P1.9 billion deposited by the Philippines in January 2022 to start the assembly of the helicopters, and urged Manila to honor the contract.

In an interview at his residence in Makati City on Wednesday, Russian Ambassador Marat Pavlov said the Philippines has yet to formally communicate its decision to terminate the P12.7 billion contract signed during the Duterte administration to purchase 16 Mi-17 helicopters, with an additional unit to be included at no extra cost.

"I'd like to reaffirm that the Russian side is continuing to fulfill all the obligations regarding this contract and we consider it valid until now," Pavlov told reporters. "The down payment was made for the start of the assembly operation, so we continue to assemble. Because we received the amount of the money therefore (we're) fulfilling all the contractual obligations.

WHO:...

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access to tests, treatments and vaccines for those most at risk," he said, speaking from the UN health agency's headquarters in Geneva.

Since the start of the COVID pandemic, more than 622 million confirmed COVID cases have been reported to WHO and more than 6.5 million deaths, although those numbers are believed to be significant underestimates.

Tedros acknowledged Wednesday that "the global situation has obviously improved since the pandemic began," but he warned that "the virus continues to change and there remain many risks and uncertainties."

As this developed, all travelers to the Philippines will now have to secure an electronic arrival card, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

The department said the eArrival Card will replace the One Health Pass that travelers have complained about. Preregistration on the eArrival platform will be mandatory starting Nov. 1, 2022, the DOH said.

"Through the eArrival Card, we want to make processing easier and faster

The Justice Secretary said there are about 400 foreigners who are in the cus tody of the government law enforcement agencies. Their identities are being veri fied and authenticated with the govern ments of their countries of origin.

Meanwhile, a key official of the De partment of Labor and Employment has told legislators that Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have indeed provided livelihood to Filipino workers, echoing the appeal of an organization of Filipinos working at the industry and their service providers not to abolish the online gaming platform. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

kill Mabasa.

Mabasa was shot dead in a Las Piñas suburb on Oct. 3 as he drove to his studio.

Police said it was highly probable the kill ing is related to his work.

He was the second journalist to be killed since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office on June 30, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.

House of Representatives Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan on Thursday urged the PNP “to spare no effort” in running after the mas termind.

“We welcome the break in the case... However, as far as we’re concerned, the case is unsolved as long as the mastermind is scot free,” Libanan said.

“No effort should be spared to single out, apprehend, prosecute and put behind bars the mastermind who supposedly paid for the contract killing,” he added.

void Chinese tourists might create after China’s government reportedly encour aged its travelers to avoid the Philippines.

PHOA executive director Benito Beng zon said hotel occupancy is recovering slowly but has not yet reached pre-pan demic rates.

“But for us to go back to pre-pandem ic levels, we're gonna have to find out how to compensate for the reduction in the movement of key markets, particu larly China. We attracted about 1.7 mil lion Chinese travelers in 2019, and right now you practically shut off the tap,” he said in a plenary discussion during the 48th PBC.

Right now, Bengzon said hotel oc cupancy rates varied from 60 percent to 80 percent, while tourism arrivals were at 1.77 million from January to October 2022, down significantly from 8.3 million in 2019. (See full story online at manil astandard.net)

“We are ready to fulfill all our obligations as a reliable partner of the Philippine side in the field of technical and military cooperation and we consider that it will also be done by the Philippines," he said.

He said one unit was in fact ready to be delivered in June 2022.

At a September 2022 Senate hearing, Defense Officer-in-Charge and Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. admitted that the project "has not been officially canceled" but a contract termination review committee has already been formed to process it.

He said the government is also working to negotiate a refund of the P1.9 billion that was given as advance payment through diplomatic channels.

Pavlov, for his part, said the Russian embassy would wait for an official communication or a diplomatic note but hopes that the new administration could still reconsider based on its "independent foreign policy".

"Officially speaking, the embassy didn't receive any official communication through the very known channel, for example the diplomatic note. We didn't receive any note," he said. "We are waiting." (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

while maintaining health regulation and monitoring," the DOH said in a statement.

The DOH said Filipino and foreign inbound travelers can fill out the eArrival Card within 72 hours before departure to avoid inconveniences upon arrival.

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. urged local government units to address the backlog in the encoding of 1.4 million VaxCertPH certificates, under the government’s official digital vaccination certificate program.

“This has long been an issue in our LGUs as we try to improve the inventory of Filipino citizens who have registered for VaxcertPH. We implore our LGUs to work double time in addressing their backlogs in the VIMS (Vaccination Information Management System),” Abalos said.

As of Sept. 22, the VIMS, VaxCertPH’s official central database, had a backlog of 1,460,582 vaccination records of citizens.

Of this number, Abalos said, 334,317 were due to missing records; 308,386 were not recorded for lack of manpower; 243,300 were due to late submission; 122,897 were due to incomplete data; 109,806 were due to missing data fields; 94,575 were due to operational and procedural (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

PM Truss quits as UK’s Tories now in chaos

BRITISH Prime Minister Liz Truss on Thursday dramatically announced her resignation just six weeks after taking of fice.

Truss bowed to the inevitable after her right-wing platform of tax cuts disinte grated and as many MPs among the rul ing Conservatives revolted.

Speaking in Downing Street, Truss said she would stay on as prime minis ter until a successor is chosen to serve as Tory leader.

"We've agreed that there will be a leadership election to be completed with in the next week," she said, after senior backbench MP Graham Brady told her the game was up.

"This will ensure that we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plan and maintain our country's economic stability and nation al security. I will remain as prime minister until a successor has been chosen."

Labour leader Keir Starmer, whose opposition party has surged in opinion polls on the back of Truss's short, crisisplagued tenure, demanded a general elec tion "now."

The end for Truss came after a key minister resigned and many Tory MPs rebelled over an important vote in chaotic scenes at the House of Commons late Wednesday.

By Thursday morning, more than a doz en Conservative MPs had publicly urged Truss to resign, after her tax-cutting plans caused a market meltdown during an al ready severe cost-of-living crisis. AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

‘Obet’ intensifies strength, 3 areas under Signal 1

By Rio N. Araja

TROPICAL Depression “Obet” continued to move westward while maintaining its strength, as it is forecast to gradually intensify and may reach the tropical storm category by Friday or Saturday.

Meanwhile, several towns in the province of Cagayan have been placed under a state of calamity in the wake of Tropical Storm “Neneng,” the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said Thursday.

Santa Ana, Sanchez-Mira, and Santa Praxedes towns declared a calamity state, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

“They did this so they could use their (disaster) funds,” Cagayan provincial disaster council officer-in-charge Ruelie Rapsing said at a public briefing.

Meanwhile, “Obet” is likely to intensify once it reaches the West Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said.

The center of “Obet” was estimated at 650 km east of Basco, Batanes. It was moving westward at 15 km/h, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 was raised over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan.

Speaker... From A1

a meeting with Daniel Kritenbrink, the US State Department’s Assistant Secre tary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, in Washington DC on Tuesday.

“We are thankful that our alliance has remained robust, and I believe that an en hanced dialogue between the US and the Philippines would help cement the bond of friendship that we have forged through out the years,” Romualdez said.

"As we both affirm the strengthening of the Philippine-US partnership today, we would like to seize this occasion also to extend our gratitude for the continued cooperation to our country as well as your valuable assistance in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” Romualdez said.

He assured Kritenbrink that the Philip pine House of Representatives “remains committed to supporting measures that would help deepen cooperation with the United States, particularly in the areas of the supply chain, health and security, environment and climate change, energy security, and interconnectivity.”

“I am confident that our meeting today would further lead to stronger relations between our countries and would help attain peace and prosperity in the entire Asia-Pacific region,” the Speaker said.

Romualdez said he met with the US official to broaden and strengthen the engagement between the two countries, and bolster ongoing and future bilateral initiatives, particularly in economic co operation.

PH needs holistic approach to develop air, sea logistics industry—law firm

By Rey E. Requejo

THE administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should adopt a “whole nation approach” to prepare the Philippines’ air and sea freight industry as the country expects business to flourish for aviation and engineering.

In an interview during the 25th anniversary of the Ocampo and Manalo Law firm, lawyer Manolito Manalo said more businesses await aviation and engineering companies in the Philippines during the administration of President Marcos.

Manalo stressed the need for a ”whole of nation approach” to prepare the air and sea freight industry for the foreseen growth in business activity, citing the imperative to put up new airports to supplement the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.

Lawyer Carlos Ocampo, for his part, said while it is difficult to specify how much growth awaits the aviation industry, a number of foreign firms and entities continue to express interest.

“We continue to have numerous inquiries from foreign businesses asking how to set up in the Philippines,” he said, adding that at no time during the pandemic, was there a contraction of their business.”

Ocampo added that a resurgence of leisure travel in the country will be among the primary fuel for airlines businesses.

Another counsel, Juan Victor Valdez, noted that the present airport in Manila is limited to a single runway with limited potential to extend it due to developments in the surrounding areas.

Manalo said “the shipments are brought into Manila but end up having to travel the length of Manila” to get to their final destination outside the metropolis.

He added that there is a need for a reworked transport system which would integrate railways, seaports and airports to accommodate the anticipated growth of business activity in the next few years.

The lawyers pointed out that they also see large potential for flight training schools and allied businesses in the country”

“The job creation is fantastic,” Manalo said, adding that Filipino ground crews are presently in demand much like our seamen.

Ocampo said innovations and the efficiency of local arms of international airlines in aircraft maintenance is fast gaining ground.

Eye experts urge gov’t to adopt blindness prevention program

CONCERNED experts on eyes care have asked the government to implement a prevention of blindness program (PBP) in conjunction with the observance of World Sight Day this month.

The PBP is a comprehensive eye and visual program of the DOH designed to reduce visual impairment by ensuring equitable access to quality eye care services. World Sight Day is held annually to focus attention on the global issue of eye health.

“We can all come together in helping people living with visual impairment or visual problems by ensuring that the PBP has adequate funding, especially for outpatient services, and consistently implemented at the national level and across the different local government units,” said Dr. Diana Edralin, general manager

of Roche Philippines and president of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines.

In the Philippines, according to the Philippine Eye Disease Study by the Philippine Eye Research Institute, more than two million Filipinos had visual impairments as of 2018.

Dr. Jubaida Aquino, a vitreo-retina specialist at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City and East Avenue Medical Center where the DOH Eye Center is located, said it is important that everyone gets screened for eye problems.

“According to the DOH, 80 percent of blindness is avoidable. But in 2011 there were an estimated 600,000 blind persons in the Philippines, and about half of them went blind because of cataracts,” she said.

DAR to review leases on 165-ha. Nueva Ecija estate

By Rio N. Araja

THE Department of Agrarian Reform wants a review of all the lease contracts within a 165-hectare property in Neva Ecija donated by the late Fr. Gregorio Crisostomo to the government for redistribution to landless farmers in the province.

Agrarian Secretary Conrado Estrella III has tasked Undersecretary for Finance Management and Administration Jeffrey Galan to look into the commercial, residential and agricultural lease contracts at the Padre Crisostomo Estate to immediately fully resolve the issues and concerns related to the existing lease contracts involving the landholding.

He created Task Force Crisostomo Estate and directed it to formulate and recommend new guidelines on the lease of lots within the property, determine the reasonable rates of lease rentals, submit an inventory of actual occupants, and identify the area being occupied by lessees or occupants.

The estate consisted of 110 hectares of rice field in Sta. Rosa town, and seven separate residential and commercial landholdings in Cabanatuan City with a total area of 55 hectares.

Based on a 2021 DAR inventory, there were 2,218 individuals occupying the property, and that 58 of them are tilling the lot in Santa Rosa town, while the rest were occupants of residential homes and commercial establishments in Cabanatuan City.

US grants P228m for Filipino youth job training

By Nash B Maulana

THE United States government has provided an additional P228 million to provide free skills-based and workbased training to unemployed and outof-school Filipino youth.

The assistance package will be implemented through a private sector-driven partnership among the YouthWorks PH, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd).

The additional funding extends the

YouthWorks PH program for another three years, to be completed in 2026.

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Heather Variava made the announcement during YouthWorks PH’s first-ever Skills Partnerships Summit held in Taguig City on October 8.

With the theme “Back on Track: Paving the Path to Prosperity with a Skilled Young Workforce,” the summit gathered the Philippines’ top business leaders and national and local government officials to discuss partnership strategies for the skills development of the Filipino youth,

a statement from the U.S. Embassy said.

Variava commended the commitment and creativity of the Philippine government and private sector partners in spearheading initiatives to further enhance technical-vocational skills training in the country.

“The U.S. government is proud to invest in the Filipino youth. Together with PBEd, we are providing training opportunities that will lead them to employment so they can provide for themselves and contribute positively to society,” said Variava.

SC identifies 14 testing centers for 2022 Bar exams

THE Supreme Court (SC) has designated 14 local testing centers (LTCs) nationwide for the 2022 online and regionalized Bar examinations to be held on Nov. 9, 13, 16 and 20.

In a Bar Bulletin issued for the SC by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, chairman of the 2022 bar examinations committee, the SC identified the LTCs as follows:

National Capital Region (NCR)

1. San Beda University, 638 Mendiola Street, San Miguel, Manila

2. De la Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, 1004 Manila

3. Manila Adventist College, 1975 Corner San Juan & Donada Streets, Pasay City

4. Ateneo Junior and High School Complex, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, 1108 Quezon City

5. University of the Philippines –Bonifacio Global City, 14th Drive, University Parkway District, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Highway,

IN BRIEF

Ladies club gives cash aid to Laguna cops

CAMP Vicente Lim--PRO4A Officer’s

Ladies Club headed by its adviser, Mrs. Mary Rose Nartatez conducted a Community Outreach Program in Laguna Police Provincial Office and the Balian National High School, in Pangil, Laguna.

The women distributed financial assistance to Laguna policemen headed by Laguna police provincial director Col. Glen, Silvio, as well as and the non-uniformed personnel and their dependents.

Students of the Balian National High School also received gift packages.

Nartatez said the financial assistance was a simple form of recognition for their hard work and untiring efforts in service to their communities in Laguna province. “Kami po ay naghahandog ng simpleng ayuda bilang pagkilala sa sakripisyo at serbisyo ng kapulisan sa mamamayan ng Lalawigan ng Laguna, “ she said. Roy Tomandao

BI nabs 3 aliens with dubious travel papers

BUREAU of Immigration (BI) officers have arrested two Indians and a Taiwanese for allegedly using fake immigration stamps at the Clark International Airport (CIA).

BI Intelligence division chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr. identified the Taiwanese as Lai Po Ving, and the Indian nationals as Amritpal and Pritpal Singh who all attempted to board a Tiger Air flight bound to Singapore.

According to Manahan, Lai initially presented his Turkish passport bearing the name Lai Bulut along with his Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) card. After further verification of his travel history and documents, it was learned that Lai was the subject of a summary deportation order issued last April 2021 for violation of the terms and conditions of his stay under the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.

Vito Barcelo

PAL passes US transport security inspection

FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has passed the United States-Transportation Security Administration (US-TSA) inspection in its passenger and baggage handling, as well as catering capabilities.

“Our airline remains compliant with all requirements for our flights between Manila and the United States, as with other routes. The men and women of our flag carrier shall continue to uphold the highest standards of safety and security to protect the flying public,” said PAL president and chief operating officer Capt. Ng in a statement.

PAL stated it will continue cooperating with the Office for Transportation Security, the Manila International Airport Authority, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to enhance the security and safety posture of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Philippines’ premier gateway.

“We continue to liaise with local and foreign regulators to invariably manage and prepare for risks arising from identified vulnerabilities and evolving and emerging threats,” Ng said. Joel E. Zurbano

WAWA BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN. The Carlos P. Garcia Bridge in Wawa, Bayambang, Pangasinan collapses for still unknown reason, and with it goes at least two cargo trucks and their drivers. Rescue operations are ongoing as of press time. Dave Leprozo

HARBINGER OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON. A social sta er of the Grace Park Parish in Caloocan City has her hands full making lanterns out of bamboo sticks and colored papers with a view to the Holiday Season. Andrew Rabulan

PREPARING FOR HALLOWEEN. A worker of an antique store on Kamuning Road in Quezon City sets up a petrifying mask but not exactly to scare away customers, but merely in preparation for the traditional Halloween on the eve of All Saints’ Day on November 1st. Manny Palmero

Comelec cuts down addt’l budget, seeks P2.7 billion

By Vito Barcelo

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) revised its proposed budget for the Oct. 30, 2023, Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) elections from P10 billion to P2.7 billion.

Comelec chair George Garcia said the poll body has already submitted the documents to the Senate for the re duced budget.

The Comelier had asked for a P10 billion additional budget but Sena tor Imee Marcos found the amount ‘’outrageous.’’ Garcia said that the additional budget would cover other expenses including longer voters’ reg istration, additional polling precincts, and additional honoraria for election personnel.

The P2.76-billion will be added to the original estimate of P8.5 billion. The poll body sought the additional budget based on the argument that postponing the election would mean more voters that would have to be served by more voting precincts with more election workers.

The Comelec meanwhile said it can not conduct the BSKE on December 5 if the Supreme Court (SC) will favor the petition of election lawyer Romu lo Macalintal.

During the Senate hearing on the Comelec budget, Garcia also said the poll body has to slow down prepa rations for the supposed December BSKE after President Ferdinand Mar cos Jr. signed the law postponing the polls.

Garcia also said in the same hear ing that the P500 million given to the Comelec by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would not be enough to even build a foundation for the building that the Comelec is eye ing.

The Comelec budget deliberations were deferred Monday due to the lack of documents and other information

PH seen ratifying economic treaty end-2022

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA — Asso ciation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASE AN) Secretary General Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi remains confident that the Phil ippines will ratify the Regional Compre hensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by the end of this year.

Speaking during the 11th Editors’ Roundtable organized by Economic Re search Institute for ASEAN and East Asia and Khmer Times, Lim noted that except for the Philippines, all the other memberstates of ASEAN have ratified RCEP.

“All of us have ratified it except…we have to wait for the Philippines to ratify the agreement. We are very confident that

the Philippines will ratify the agreement by the end of this year,” Lim said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is yet to make a decision on the ratification of the RCEP as he wants to ensure the trade agreement will not be detrimental to local industries.

Mr. Marcos cited the need for an as sessment of the country’s competitive ness first before pursuing the trade agreement’s ratification.

“The RCEP will be difficult to pass if the Executive branch doesn’t show full support for it,” the President said.

However, he noted that the state of the country’s competitiveness could be a stum bling block to the effectiveness of RCEP.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino

“Koko” Pimentel III, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, admitted it will be difficult to pass the RCEP if the Execu tive branch would not show support for it.

Meanwhile, Lim also said RCEP has been negotiated for the last eight years, and “we are very happy that we com pleted the negotiation in 2020 and 2021.

“We have seen that RCEP was imple mented January 1 this year,” further stated Lim.

RCEP is a free trade agreement that in volves the 10 ASEAN members along with China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The RCEP negotiations in tend to achieve a modern, comprehensive, high-quality, and a mutually beneficial eco nomic partnership agreement.

Sandigan junks graft charges against ex-mayor Echiverri GRAFT and falsification charges against former Caloocan City mayor Recom Echiverri and two other former city of ficials have been junked due to lack of evidence.

The Sandiganbayan, in a 71-page decision dated October 14, granted the demurrer to evidence — or the plead ing seeking the dismissal of the case due to weak prosecution evidence and without the defense presenting its own —filed by Echiverri and former Calo ocan City accountant Edna Centeno and City Budget Officer Jesusa Garcia because of “insufficiency of the pros ecution evidence to sustain a judgment of conviction.”

Reports said the case was in con nection with the P1.5-million path walk and drainage repair project in 2012, in which the three were charged with 13 counts of graft and 13 counts of falsification of public documents.

“Jurisprudence teaches that in every criminal conviction, the prosecution is required to prove two things beyond reasonable doubt: the fact of the com mission of the crime charged, or the presence of all the elements of the offense; and the fact that the accused was the perpetrator of the crime. Un less these standards are unequivocally proven by the evidence submitted by the prosecution, the accused is entitled to an acquittal because he/she has in his/her favor the presumption of inno cence which the Bill of Rights guaran tees,” the Sandiganbayan, quoted by a GMA News report, said.

“In these cases, the Court finds that the prosecution has failed to discharge the said burden. Thus, the Court is con strained to grant the accused’s demur rer to evidence for lack of sufficient evidence to warrant their conviction of the crimes charged against them,” it added.

Palace announces parol contest for LGUs

THE Office of the President (OP) togeth er with the Department of Interior and Local government (DILG) will spear head the first yuletide season program for provincial and local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines.

The program titled “Isang Bituin, Isang Mithiin,” is a nationwide “parol” or lantern-making contest that aims to promote the culture and ingenuity of various localities in the country.

According to the mechanics of the contest, the contest is open to all Filipino individuals or groups with a maximum number of four members per group.

The lanterns must be made of at least 70 percent of endemic materials from the Philippines and must have lights. Also, the Christmas lantern must be 2 meters in diameter must withstand natural weather and climate of the country.

LGUs must submit their selected en tries to Malacañang on or before Novem ber 14. The winners will be announced on November 22.

The 3rd placer shall receive P50,000, 2nd placer shall receive P75,000 and the 1st placer shall receive P100,000. All winners will also receive a Laptop showcase, and the winning entries shall be featured in the Palace Christmas tree and it will also be featured in Presiden tial Broadcast Staff Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM). Vince Lopez

World War II veterans honored; PBBM vows support for Pinoy vets Study notes

By Ronald O. Reyes

PALO, Leyte—President Ferdinand Mar cos Jr. on Thursday led the commemorative ceremony to honor the bravery and heroism demonstrated by the Filipino war veterans, ordinary Filipinos, along with allied forces, and even the Japanese forces “who offered their lives in a quest to attain peace and free dom that we now enjoy.”

“They who have fought and died in and for this land will have their names forever etched in the pages of history. We express our most profound gratitude for the sac rifices that they had made in reclaiming our freedom and for ushering in a new age of peace for our people and for the world,” Mr. Marcos said during the 78th Leyte Gulf Landings ceremony at the MacArthur Land ing Memorial National Park in Palo, Leyte.

The President also vowed to promote the welfare of the country’s war veterans as he thanked the war veterans and allied forces for sacrificing their lives to liberate the Phil ippines during World War II.

“This government will always continue to look after the welfare of our war veterans. For as we commemorate on this hallowed ground, sanctified by the blood, the life, and the sacrifices of our brave veterans, we can not allow our memories to lapse. We must always remember that this was the best of Filipinos,” he said.

The Chief Executive also pledged to continue supporting initiatives that will not only preserve the country’s historical and cultural sites, but will also deepen the Filipino people’s sense of national identity.

Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla and Palo Mayor Remedio Petilla also acknowledge the presence and participation of various dignitaries, members of the Veterans Fed eration of the Philippines -Eastern Visayas, Sons and Daughters Associations, Inc. of the Veterans of World War 2, and local of ficials during the return of the face-to-face commemorative activity two years after the height of the coronavirus disease pandemic.

With Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez

PH language education not effective

SENATOR Win Gatchalian has raised the alarm that nearly 10 years after the K to 12 Law institutionalized MotherTongue Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE), only 9 percent of the country’s schools are ready to effec tively implement the program.

Gatchalian said while the Depart ment of Education (DepEd) is yet to conduct its own impact study on MTB-MLE, a 2019 survey by the state think tank Philippine Institute for De velopment Studies (PIDS) revealed that only 9 percent out of 16,287 schools surveyed conducted four ac tivities needed to successfully imple ment MTB-MLE.

These activities, he said, are the writing of big books on language, litera ture, and culture; documentation of the orthography of the language; documen tation of grammar; and documentation of a dictionary of the language.

The same study by PIDS also iden tified schools’ reasons for not im plementing the MTB-MLE, which included teachers’ lack of relevant teaching materials, schools’ lack of dictionary of the language, students’ lack of textbooks, and teachers’ lack of expertise in the school’s medium of instruction, Gatchalian said.

An assessment of the DepEd also showed that out of the 305,099 educa tors the department targeted to train, only 72,872 underwent training, in cluding supervisors, school heads, and teachers from kindergarten to Grade 3.

“Our schools are not ready and our teachers are also not ready because based on DepEd’s information, only 23% have been trained and that’s not a good sign also in terms of making sure that the mother tongue is successfully implemented on the ground,” Gatchal ian, chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

GRAVE VISITS. People have started visiting cemeteries, particularly the Manila South Cemetery, to clean, paint and arrange the graves of their deceased loved ones. The local government has given the public until October 25 to do the said activities after cemeteries in Manila have reopened after 2 years due to the pandemic. Norman Cruz

LEYTE LANDING RITES. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (second from left) is flanked by (from left) US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, and AFP Visayas Command Chief Lt. Gen. Robert Dauz as they attend the 78th Leyte Landings anniversary rites in Palo, Leyte on Thursday. US Embassy photo

Opinion

This may be Secretary Remulla’s finest hour

his duty to see to it that justice is properly carried out without fear or favor, even if the accused hap pens to be the son of the justice secretary.

Soon after he returned from abroad, Secretary Remulla himself informed the public in a televi sion interview that his son is old enough to face the possible legal consequences of what happened, and that he will not intervene in his son’s case.

THE past week must have been a grueling time for Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla of the Depart ment of Justice.

Last week, his son Juanito Remulla III was arrested by operatives of the Philippine Drug En forcement Agency (PDEA) for possession of can nabis, or marijuana.

Secretary Remulla learned of his son’s arrest when the former was in Switzerland where he represented the Philippines in a forum on human rights. There, he defended the anti-narcotics pro gram of the country before a panel of the United Nations.

News of Remulla’s son’s arrest came out more than a day after the arrest was made. Understand ably, the PDEA had to ascertain the real identity of the person they arrested before they could make any announcement linking that person to the jus tice secretary.

Mindless, opportunistic politicians such as the publicity-seeking Representatives Edcel Lagman and France Castro questioned the “delay” in the release of the news.

Their protests underscored their inability to un derstand that the PDEA has a policy of verifying any information they have regarding any arrests they make, before releasing the information to the public.

Lagman took one foolish step further by de manding that the Remulla family must explain why it took the family more than a day to make the announcement that Secretary Remulla’s son had, indeed, been arrested.

The surreal Lagman seems unaware that the Remulla family has no legal obligation to make press statements.

A certain Athena Charanne Presto, who claims to be a sociologist, demanded Secretary Remulla’s resignation. Presto probably needs to read up on her Sociology because Remulla said he will not resign inasmuch as his son’s case has nothing to do with his job as justice secretary.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agrees, and re jected any call for Remulla’s resignation.

A certain Atty. Kristina Conti from the National Union of People’s Lawyers, known for its anti-ad ministration bias, publicly said she doubts if Sec retary Remulla will keep his vow not to intervene in his son’s case.

Atty. Conti does not speak like a lawyer should.

As a lawyer, Conti ought to know that since she has no prima facie evidence to support her suspi cion, she has to give Secretary Remulla the benefit of the doubt.

Conti was probably absent in law school when her classmates were taught that suspicion is not synonymous to guilt.

Being a father, it certainly pains Secretary Re mulla to see his son in trouble with the law.

As the Secretary of Justice, he knows that it is

“Let the axe fall where it may be,” is essentially the message Secretary Remulla conveyed to ev eryone, including his son.

True to what Secretary Remulla said, and con trary to what his detractors have been peddling, prosecutors from the Department of Justice im mediately filed in the appropriate court the corre sponding drug raps against his son.

(Atty Kristina) Conti was probably absent in law school when her classmates were taught that suspicion is not synonymous to guilt

Since the prosecutors recommended no bail for Remulla’s son, it is very unlikely that the court which will try the son’s case will grant provisional liberty to the younger Remulla. If convicted, the son may serve a life sentence.

Evidently, the fact that the prosecutors filed the corresponding criminal case against Remulla’s son, and that they did not recommend any bail for him, is an early indication that Secretary Remulla intends to keep his word that he will not intervene in his son’s legal problem.

Former Senator Vicente Sotto III, a political rival of the current administration that includes Remulla, believes that the justice secretary will not intervene in his son’s case. Senator JV Ejercito has also spoken in defense of the justice secretary.

Therefore, from all available indications, it looks like Secretary Remulla will keep his promise not to meddle in his son’s case.

Secretary Remulla’s situation appears to be a case of first impression.

There is nothing in the historical record of the Philippines about a justice secretary who inter vened in a criminal case against his son or daugh ter.

That fact should be enough incentive for Secre tary Remulla to keep his word and let the historical record stay unblemished.

When British Prime Minister Winston Churchill rallied his people against Nazi Ger many’s aggression in World War II, he promised that when historians of the future review the re cord, they will say that the British resistance to the Nazis against all odds will be Britain’s “fin est hour.”

By keeping his distance from his son’s legal predicament, this unfortunate incident can prove to be Secretary Remulla’s “finest hour.”

China’s future directions

According to Xi, the central task of the CPC will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in an effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

The CPC seeks to accelerate socialist modernization from 2020 through 2035 and “build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, demo cratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful from 2035 through the middle of this century.”

as

could have gone to

with a delegation of writers to reciprocate an earlier

here by a group of Chinese writers, but were unable to do so as two of us were denied that op portunity since we were considered security risks, but that’s another story.

Those visits have allowed us to observe changes in China from up close, through briefings by gov ernment officials and entrepreneurs as well as tours of historical and cultural sites.

We were therefore interested in what Chinese President Xi Jinping had to say during the 20th Chi nese Communist Party (CPC) National Congress.

On this occasion, as the CPC’s General Secretary, Xi reviewed the key developments in the country during the past 10 years of his rule.

The theme of the 20th National Congress was quite comprehensive: “to hold high the great ban ner of socialism with Chinese Characteristics, fully implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party, stay confident and build strength, uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, forge ahead with enterprise and fortitude, and strive in unity to build a modern so cialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts.”

Xi cited three major events in the past 10 years that had “great immediate importance and profound historical significance” for China: the centenary of the Communist Party of China, the new era of socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the eradica tion of absolute poverty and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thus completing the First Centenary Goal.

We can now see that China has become an eco nomic superpower in the past decade.

Its GDP has grown to 114 trillion yuan (about $16 trillion) from 54 trillion yuan in the past decade and it now accounts for 18.5 percent of the world economy, up by 7.2 percentage points.

It has remained the world’s second largest econ omy and its per capita GDP has risen from 39,800 yuan to 81,000 yuan.

It ranks first in the world in terms of grain out put, and its manufacturing sector is the largest in the world, as are its foreign exchange reserves.

The Chinese president also pledged to improve the people’s well-being and quality of life.

“This country is its people; the people are the country. As the CPC has led the people in fighting to establish and develop the People’s Republic, it has really been fighting for their support.”

China will also strive to improve the system of income distribution. by ensuring more pay for more work and encouraging people to achieve prosperity through hard work.

Xi said the government will promote equality of op portunity, increase the incomes of low-income earners and expand the size of the middle-income group.

Apart from these, China will do more to help those in difficulty find employment and meet their basic needs, and improve the social security system with ex panded coverage of social insurance programs.

But what many observers were interested in was a key point in Xi’s speech that the CPC wanted to resolve the Taiwan question and “unswervingly ad vance the cause of national reunification.”

He said: “Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, a matter that must be re solved by the Chinese…We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary.

“This is directed solely at interference by outside forces and the few separatists seeking ‘Taiwan inde pendence’ and their separatist activities; it is by no means targeted at our Taiwan compatriots.”

EDITORIAL

Infrastructure push

THE Marcos Jr. administration’s pronouncement that it is pursuing major infrastructure projects should serve to reassure Filipinos that it is serious in rebuilding the economy in the years ahead.

Ample proof that the government has begun to make good on this pledge is the recent signing of contracts for the South Commuter Railway Project in Laguna, the largest infrastructure project to be funded by the Asian Development Bank.

The railway project is expected to cut travel time from Manila to Laguna from three hours to just one hour. It can accom modate up to 340,000 commuters a day.

Already being rushed to completion is the first phase of the railway project from Manila to Malolos, Bulacan and eventu ally to Clark in Pampanga.

The previous administration had planned to build an extensive railway system that

would connect major cities in Mindanao, but it appears that the project has been in definitely shelved since the expected fund ing from China did not materialize.

Apart from railways, the country needs to build more transportation-related infra structure, such as roads and bridges that would connect the various islands.

Obviously, we cannot rely solely on domestic revenue generation or local banks to build major infrastructure projects

More farm-to-market roads in remote municipalities would benefit not only the agricultural sector but also the travel and tourism industry.

Also in the initial stages of construction is the multibillion-peso Manila Interna tional Airport in Bulacan province that will address the limited capacity of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

A conglomerate appears to have al ready secured approval for the construc tion of the Sangley International Airport

in Cavite province. With three interna tional airports in the Greater Manila area alone, the economy stands to benefit im mensely in the coming years.

As the country is archipelagic in char acter, the government needs to build more seaports to stimulate inter-regional trade and commerce as well as tourism.

What is also needed now is a com prehensive infrastructure development plan covering all the major sectors of the economy.

After all, one of the factors hindering the entry of more foreign investments into the country is our poor infrastructure.

But the big problem is where to get the resources needed to build more infrastruc ture. Obviously, we cannot rely solely on domestic revenue generation or local banks to build major infrastructure projects.

We have to tap other sources, includ ing multilateral financial institutions as the World Bank and the ADB, as well as government-to-government arrange ments, so that we can build more roads and bridges and other infrastructure that will propel the economy forward, create more jobs and improve standards of liv ing, especially of those living on the mar gins of society.

Death of an accused

WHAT happens if an accused dies before judgment is rendered in a criminal case?

The criminal case will be dismissed and all the penalties that could have been imposed against the accused will be totally extinguished.

It must be noted that when a criminal action is instituted, the civil action for the recovery of civil liability arising from the crime shall be deemed in stituted.

With this, the dismissal of the criminal case will also result in the extinction of the civil liabil ity arising from the offense, if the accused dies after arraignment (Rule 111, Section 4 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure).

Arraignment is when the judge or clerk furnishes the accused with a copy of the complaint or infor mation, reading the same in the language or dialect known to him, and asking him whether he pleads guilty or not guilty.

The arraignment must be conducted before the court where the complaint or information was filed (Rule 116, Section 1, Rules on Criminal Procedure).

If the accused dies before arraignment, the case shall be dismissed without prejudice to any civil action that the offended party may file against the estate of the deceased (Rule 111, Section 4, last paragraph, Rules on Criminal Procedure).

For this author, the same procedure will apply if the respondent dies during the pendency of a crimi nal complaint against him or her with the Office of the Prosecutor.

However, an independent civil action to recover damages for such offenses as defamation, fraud, physical injuries, refusal or failure of a member of the police force to render aid or protection to any person, or any act or omission causing damage to another either by fault or negligence are by their na ture civil actions (Articles 33, 34, and 2176, Civil Code).

These civil actions may be filed by the offended party separate from the criminal action.

A deceased defendant in an independent civil action, or those civil actions instituted to enforce liability arising from other sources of obligation such as the law, contracts, quasi-contracts, or quasidelicts may be continued against the estate or legal representative of the deceased after proper substi tution is complied with, as the case may be (Rule 111, Section 4, last paragraph, Rules on Criminal Procedure).

The heirs of the deceased (accused) may be named substitutes without the appointment of an executor or administrator (Rule 111, Section 4 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure).

This provision is similar to Rule 3, Section 16 of the Rules of Civil Procedure.

Comparing the two provisions, the most signifi cant difference between them is the provision in the Rules of Civil Procedure which states that the coun sel of the deceased party must inform the court of the death of his client within thirty days from the fact thereof (Rule 3, Section 16).

In actual practice, if the legal representative of the deceased defendant fails to inform the court of his desire to apply Rule 111, Section 4, then Rule 3, Section 16 will apply; the reason being that those civil actions based on other sources of obligation are in reality civil cases, similar to independent civil ac tions, and are docketed in court as such.

Nonetheless, if an independent civil action or a civil action based on sources other than delict have not yet been filed, the offended party (victim) may file it against the estate or legal representative of the deceased accused, as may be warranted by law and procedural rules (People v. Culas, G.R. No. 211166, July 5, 2017).

We’re sure that the Chinese president’s speech was closely followed by other countries, particularly the US, Japan and the members of the European Union and ASEAN as they do brisk business with the world’s second largest economy, and are interest ed in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Monitoring leadership and policy changes in Bei

In the case of People v. Culas, accused Porferio Culas was convicted with statutory rape by the Su preme Court. Before an entry of judgment could be issued, the Supreme Court received a letter from the Bureau of Corrections informing the former that the accused Culas had died on February 8, 2014, as evidenced by the Certificate of Death (G.R. No. 211166, July 5, 2017).

As a result, the Supreme Court reconsidered and set aside its Resolution dated July 18, 2014 and en tered a new one dismissing the criminal case against accused Culas.

A deceased defendant in an independent civil action, or those civil actions instituted to enforce liability arising from other sources of obligation such as the law, contracts, quasi-contracts, or quasidelicts may be continued against the estate or legal representative of the deceased after proper substitution is complied with, as the case may be

Under prevailing law and jurisprudence, accused Culas’ death prior to his final conviction pending appeal renders dismissible the criminal case against him (G.R. No. 211166, July 5, 2017).

Furthermore, Article 89 (1) of the Revised Penal Code provides that criminal liability is totally extin guished by the death of the accused. Specifically, the “personal penalties; and… [the] pecuniary pen alties… shall be extinguished when the death of the offender occurs before final judgment” (G.R. No. 211166, July 5, 2017).

In the case of Bernardo v. People, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) found Paz Bernardo guilty of five counts of violation of B.P. 22 because she failed to substantiate her claim of payment.

She was sentenced to suffer imprisonment of one year for each count of the offense and or dered her to pay Bumanglag (victim) the amount of P460,000.00, plus interest and penalty charges (G.R. No. 182210, October 05, 2015).

The Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction against Bernardo by retaining the pecuniary penal ties but deleted the penalty of imprisonment against her.

The CA also did not recognize Bernardo’s claim that she had been denied due process due to the RTC’s order to waive her right to present additional evidence (G.R. No. 182210, October 05, 2015).

Bernardo further appealed to the Supreme Court.

While pending resolution, Bernardo’s counsel in formed the Court of her death on February 3, 2011, and provided the names of her heirs and their ad dress.

In due course, Bernardo’s heirs were ordered to appear as substitutes for her for purposes of deter mining Bernardo’s civil liability (G.R. No. 182210, October 05, 2015).

Bernardo’s heirs moved for reconsideration, ar guing that Bernardo’s death extinguished her civil liability.

jing is not only the business of independent China watchers but also government think-tanks. That’s because the indubitable fact is that when China sneezes, world capitals invariably sit up and instinctively take notice.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

Alternatively, they contended that any civil liabil ity should be settled in a separate civil case. The Su preme Court denied the reconsideration (G.R. No. 182210, October 05, 2015).

The Supreme Court explained that Bernardo’s civil liability survived her death as it is based on contract.

Moreover, they said that it would be costly, burdensome, and time-consuming to dismiss the present case and require the Bumanglags to file a separate civil action (G.R. No. 182210, October 05, 2015).

It said: “Thus, it is entirely possible for one to be free from civil ability directly arising from a vio lation of the penal law and to still be liable civilly based on contract or by laws other than the criminal law. Such civil actions may proceed independently of the criminal proceedings and regardless of the re sult of the criminal action… [but] the offended party cannot recover damages twice for the same act or omission” (G.R. No. 182210, October 05, 2015).

“As a general rule, the death of an accused pend ing appeal extinguishes her criminal liability and the corresponding civil liability based solely on the of fense (delict).

“The death amounts to an acquittal of the ac cused based on the constitutionally mandated pre sumption of innocence in her favor, which can be overcome only by a finding of guilt -- something that death prevents the court from making” (G.R. No. 182210, October 05, 2015).

In BP 22 cases, the criminal action shall be deemed to include the corresponding civil actions. Instead of instituting two separate cases, only a single suit is filed and tried.

This rule was enacted to help declog court dock ets, which had been packed with BP 22 violations because creditors used the courts as collectors (G.R. No. 182210, October 05, 2015 citing Hyatt v. Asia Dynamic Electrix Corp.).

As a necessary consequence of this special rule, the civil liabilities arising from the issuance of a worthless check are deemed instituted in a case for violation of BP 22; the death of Bernardo did not automatically extinguish the action.

“The independent civil liability based on con tract… may still be enforced against her [Bernar do’s] estate” (G.R. No. 182210, October 05, 2015).

“[D]eath absolves the accused from any earthly responsibility arising from the offense – a divine act that no human court can reverse, qualify, much less disregard. The intervention of death of the ac cused… is an injunction by fate itself so that no criminal liability and… civil liability arising from the offense should be imposed on him” (G.R. No. 182210, October 05, 2015).

Climate justice as a human right

ManilaStandard

Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor

M. Santos Chief Photographer

Global headwinds

Honor

Cabie,

Monitoring leadership and policy changes in Beijing is not only the business of independent China watchers but also government think-tanks

TOP GAINERS

TOP LOSERS

Equities tumble; DMCI, Globe lead advancers

STOCKS tumbled Thursday, tracking a sell-off on Wall Street, while the peso stayed near a record low against the US dollar as surging inflation, interest rate hikes and recession fears returned to the fore.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Ex change, lost 92 points, or 1.5 percent, to close at 6,055.99, as five of the six sub sectors ended in the red.

The heavier all-share index also shed 43 points, or 1.3 percent, to settle at 3,223.61, on a value turnover of P8.2 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 107 to 58, while 51 issues were un changed.

Four of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Globe Tele com Inc. which climbed 3.2 percent to P2,478.00 and DMCI Holdings Inc.

which gained 1.9 percent to P10.50. Bank of the Philippine Islands went up 1.5 percent to P93.40, while Interna tional Container Terminal Services Inc. rose 0.9 percent to P175.00.

The peso closed flat at 58.94 against the US dollar on trading volume of $707 million, as the government said it would defend the peso against further depre ciation that could stoke inflation.

Meanwhile, markets in Europe opened with all eyes on Westminster a day after Prime Minister Liz Truss’s government was plunged into a fresh crisis and facing collapse following the resignation of Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

That came days after the sacking of fi nance minister Kwasi Kwarteng and has left Truss’s premiership on a knife-edge. The positive start to the week, helped by forecast-beating earnings and a ma jor UK government policy U-turn, gave way to the downbeat mood that has characterized markets all year as trad ers contemplated an extended period of uncertainty.

ACTIVE

News that UK inflation bounced back above 10 percent in September high lighted the struggle central banks have in bringing prices down, despite lifting borrowing costs in recent months.

That followed a similarly glum read ing out of New Zealand earlier in the week and helped push up government bond yields around the world, indicat ing higher interest rates.

The unease on trading floors, and con cerns that prices are showing no sign of easing, also sent investors back into the safety of the dollar, adding more in flationary pressure outside the United States and dragging on stock markets.

“As is often the case, rising US yields and the strong US dollar are the sledge hammers pounding global equities lower,” said SPI Asset Management’s Stephen Innes.

After Wall Street’s drop, markets across Asia were deep in the red, with selling also fueled by concerns about the Chi nese economy as Covid cases spike in the country and leaders stick to their zero-Co vid lockdown strategies. With AFP

US INFLATION.

People shop for bread at a supermarket in Monterey Park, California on Oct. 19, 2022. Food prices in September rose 13 percent over last year, according to data released by the US government, as inflation raises prices to its highest levels in decades. AFP

US economic prospects bleak amid high rates

WASHINGTON, United States—Eco nomic prospects are becoming “more pessimistic” in the United States on growing worries of weaker demand, the Federal Reserve said in a report Wednesday, citing heightened inflation and rising interest rates.

The Fed’s latest “beige book” sur vey of economic conditions comes on the back of its aggressive interest rate hikes to cool surging consumer prices, all while trying to avoid tipping the world’s biggest economy into a reces sion.

Economic activity has been sluggish in many areas in the United States, with “slowing or weak demand” due to higher interest rates, inflation and sup ply disruptions, the report said.

The central bank has hiked the benchmark lending rate five times this year for a total of three percentage points, saying that more increases are on the way.

“Recession fears” have also spread in several districts, said the report, which surveys firms and other contacts throughout the Fed’s 12 districts.

Households have been grappling with soaring costs worsened by supply chain snarls, snap lockdowns in China and rocketing energy prices sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

And consumer prices remain elevat ed, fueling expectations of a further rate hike by the Fed at its policy meet ing next month.

For now, retail spending has been relatively flat with consumers spend ing more on essentials, said the report on Wednesday.

Auto dealers also saw slower sales due to limited inventories, higher ve hicle costs, as well as rising interest rates. AFP

NOTICE OF SPECIAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

at 2:00

Tesla 3Q profit up to $3.3b but sales fail to meet targets

NEW YORK, United States—Tesla reported Wednesday another quarter of sparkling earnings growth, but shares fell amid questions over the resilience of electric vehicle demand, chief ex ecutive Elon Musk’s embattled Twitter transaction and other issues.

The electric vehicle maker scored a more than doubling of profits in the third quarter to $3.3 billion on in creased auto deliveries

But shares retreated in after-hours trading after the company reported revenues of $21.5 billion, a 56 percent increase over the year-ago period, but about $500 million below analyst fore casts.

The company flagged battery supply chain bottlenecks as a constraint on EV growth and noted that logistics volatil ity was an “improving” challenge.

“Knock on wood, it looks like we’ll have an epic end-of-year,” Musk said during an earnings call.

“The factories are running at full speed and we’re delivering every call we make.”

The results follow Tesla’s disclosure earlier this month that deliveries and production grew solidly in the third quarter after diving in the prior period due to a coronavirus-related factory closure at the company’s Shanghai plant.

The automaker has avoided setting specific annual delivery targets, but analysts have benchmarked a target of about 1.4 million for all of 2022.

Tesla is on pace for a 50 percent increase in production this year, but could fall shy of that goal when it comes to getting the cars to buyers, chief financial officer Zach Kirkhorn said on the call.

Tesla is working on smoothing out a “crazy delivery wave” at the end of each quarter, Musk told analysts.

“There weren’t enough boats; there weren’t enough trains; there weren’t enough car carriers to actually sup port the wave, because it got too big,” Musk said.

Tesla watchers are expecting a strong fourth quarter with a restored Shanghai factory and the ramp-up of plants in Texas and Germany. AFP

Smartphone sales slump on delayed buying

SAN FRANCISCO, United States—Global

smartphone sales have slumped this year amid a “gloomy economic outlook,” prompting peo ple to spend money on essentials instead of the latest gadgets, according to a market tracker.

Smartphone sales in the recently ended quar ter were nine percent less than in the same pe riod a year earlier, hitting a low not seen since 2014, according to research firm Canalys.

Worldwide smartphone sales in each quarter have fallen short in comparison to those in the same periods last year, it said in a release.

“The gloomy economic outlook has led con sumers to delay purchasing electronic hard ware and prioritize other essential spending,” the market tracker said.

Canalys expected that situation to continue to dampen smartphone sales into next year.

“For most vendors, the priority is to reduce the risk of inventory building up given deterio rating demand,” said Canalys analyst Amber Liu.

“The pricing strategy of new products is cau tiously crafted, even for Apple, to avoid signif icant pushback from consumers who now tend

to be very sensitive to any price hike.”

Apple’s share of the global smartphone market climbed to 18 percent in the recent quarter, compared with 15 percent in the same period a year ago, while the share of leading smartphone maker Samsung rose one percentage point to 22 percent, Canalys reported.

Apple meanwhile has dialed back produc tion of its recently launched iPhone+ model while it evaluates demand, news website The Information reported, citing sources.

CFRA analyst Angelo Zino agreed that broad economic woes have caused smartphone demand to erode, but expected Apple to fare better than the competition.

Sales of smartphones improved in Septem ber due to “aggressive” discounts and promo tions, according to Canalys.

Heading into the year-end holiday shopping season, “consumers who have been delaying purchases will expect steep discounts and bun dling promotions as well as significant price reductions on older generation devices,” said Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia. AFP

The

Thursday, 24

conducted

(the

Zoom Teleconference with the following details: Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/824091045

QT09 Meeting ID: 824 0910 4553

Password: 394076

of the

of Incorporation for

of name to “DigiPlus Interactive

Taguig

For the purpose of the meeting, only stockholders of record at the close of business on October 24, 2022 will be entitled to notice and vote thereat.

In light of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Company will not be conducting a physical SSM. The conduct of the SSM will be via Zoom Teleconference, and stockholders may attend the meeting by registering on or before 1:00 p.m. on 24 November 2022. Due to the limitations of available technology, voting will not be possible during the Teleconference, but participants may send in questions or remarks via Zoom chat, and vote through the submission of their respective signed proxy forms with the specific votes per item in the agenda that is subject to the shareholders’ approval.

If you wish to cast your votes as a stockholder, you may vote remotely or in absentia, or through proxy. Voting by remote communication or in absentia, may be done by sending your respective votes by e-mail to investorrelations@LRWC.com. ph on or before 12:00 p.m. on November 22, 2022. The procedures for attendance and voting during the SSM will be posted in the Company’s website at https://lrwc.com.ph/ stockholders-meeting/.

Stockholders who cannot attend the meeting in person may designate their authorized representative by submitting a Proxy instrument in accordance with Sec. 57 of the Revised Corporation Code. Validation of the proxies shall be held on November 16, 2022 at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent, Stock Transfer Services, Inc., Unit 34-D Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. WE ARE NOT SOLICITING PROXIES.

To facilitate your registration of attendance, please have available some form of government-issued identification such as passport or driver’s license.

Thank you.

Pasig City. 23 September 2022.

ANIMAL EMISSIONS TAX. The picture shows a sign in a vehicle during a protest against the government’s plans to tax emissions from farm animals in Wellington, New Zealand on Oct. 20, 2022. AFP

DOE issues 40 offshore wind service contracts

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy said Thurs day it issued 40 offshore wind service contracts with a potential capacity of 30,000 megawatts.

“We have issued the offshore wind service contracts to about 20 offshore wind developers, and this involves around 40 offshore wind contracts with an equivalent of about 30 GW of poten tial capacity, only for offshore wind,” Energy assistant secretary Mylene Ca pongcol said.

Capongcol said the agency was studying the cost per megawatt of de veloping offshore wind projects, as it is a new technology for the Philippines.

“We cannot quote the other experi ences or costings in other countries like the UK, [or] even the European Union because their offshore wind [industry] is already mature, so it is cheaper,” she said.

“We will still determine because we have different frameworks because we are purely private sector-driven,” Ca pongcol said.

Capongcol said the fixed-foun dation offshore wind turbines have different costs compared to floating turbines.

Among the awarded offshore wind contracts are the 2,000-MW Northern Luzon Offshore WPP of PetroGreen Energy Corp. in Ilocos Norte, the 1,600-MW Ilocos Norte Claveria Off shore WPP of Domhain Earth Corp., the 500-MW Bagay Bay Offshore WPP of Earth Sol Power Corp. and the 600MW Aurora Offshore WPP of Barra cuda Energy Corp.

The DOE also granted contracts to the 1,024-MW Calatagan Offshore WPP of Giga Ace 7 Inc., the 495-MW Cavite Offshore WPP of Vind Energy Corp., the 1,000-MW Calavite Passage Offshore WPP of Pililla AVPC Corp. and the 1,200-MW Bulalacao Bay Off shore WPP of CleanTech Global Re newables Inc.

Other approved projects are Dom hain Earth’s 1,400-MW Calatagan Offshore WPP, Earth Sol’s 593-MW San Lorenzo Bank Offshore WPP, the 300-MW GS1 Offshore WPP of Vind Energy Corp., 500-MW Negros Off shore WPP of WPD Philippines Inc., the 500-MW East Panay Offshore WPP of PetroGreen Energy, the 510-MW Oton Bank Offshore WPP of Earth Sol and the 1,000-MW Iloilo-Guimaras Offshore WPP of Energy Development Corp.

Business

BPI’s net income jumped 74% to P30.5b in first nine months

By Julito G. Rada

BANK of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest lender in terms of assets, said Thursday net income jumped 74.28 percent in the first nine months to P30.5 billion from P17.5 billion a year ago on higher revenues and lower provisions.

The bank said in a statement the re turn on equity and return on assets reached 13.73 percent and 1.66 percent, respectively.

“Excluding the impact of the one-off gain from sale of property in the sec ond quarter and adjustments due to the CREATE [Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises] Law, net in come would have been P26.8 billion for an ROE of 12.05 percent and ROA of 1.46 percent,” it said.

Revenues grew 22.1 percent yearon-year to P87.5 billion, boosted by the 20.5-percent growth in net interest income to P61.6 billion on the back of continued loan growth and sustained expansion in average net interest mar gin by 23 basis points to 3.53 percent.

Non-interest income also improved 26.2 percent to P25.8 billion, driven by the one- off gain in asset sale, gains in foreign exchange transactions and fees from the credit cards business.

BPI said operating expenses rose 9.9 percent to P40.1 billion, on higher regulatory, technology and transactionrelated costs. Cost-to-income ratio was 45.8 percent. Excluding the impact of the asset sale, cost-to-income ratio was at 48.6 percent.

BPI booked provisions of P7.5 bil lion, a 26.8-percent reduction from last year. Asset quality continued to im prove with non-performing loan ratio at 1.94 percent and NPL coverage ratio at 176.9 percent as of September. Taxes paid and accrued rose to P17.2 billion.

BPI said third-quarter net income reached P10.1 billion, driven by 26.8-percent revenue growth to P29.8 billion, on double-digit growth from net interest income and non-interest income and growth in the customer base to over 9 million.

Loans went up 15.4 percent to P1.6 trillion as of Sept. 30, led by growth in the credit card, corporate/SME and auto portfolios of 29.1 percent, 16.4 percent and 12.1 percent, respectively.

Deposits expanded by 13.2 percent year-on-year to P2.0 trillion, while CASA (current and savings accounts) increased 7.5 percent. CASA ratio stood at 76.1 percent and loan-to-deposit ratio at 78.7 percent as of end-September.

Total assets grew 11.8 percent year-onyear to P2.5 trillion. Total equity stood at P313.4 billion, with an indicative com mon equity tier 1 ratio of 15.9 percent and a capital adequacy ratio of 16.8 percent, both above regulatory requirements.

BPI announced on Sept. 30 merger plans with Robinsons Bank Corp. with BPI emerging as the surviving entity, subject to shareholders and regulatory approvals.

MICT gets ‘green port seal’ from APEC port network

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. said Thursday said its flagship Manila Inter national Container Terminal secured a “green port seal” from the Asia-Pacific Economic Coopera tion Port Services Network.

The Green Port Award System program is an evaluation system for ports in the APEC region. It is developed by APSN with the endorsement of the APEC Forum. It recognizes the high caliber and excellent environmental actions and leader ship demonstrated by ports in the Asia-Pacific region. The award is valid for three years.

“Our work as a port operator demands that we maintain efficient operations all the time while contributing to continued sustainability of resources and decreasing adverse impact on the environment,” ICTSI executive vice president and chief sustainability officer Christian Gonzalez said.

“We thank the APSN, with the support of our regulator, the Philippine Ports Authority, for rec ognizing our efforts in championing environmen tally sustainable port activities at the Manila Inter national Container Terminal,” he said.

MICT outlined its green strategy of integrating climate change management into its day-to-day operations, with the goal of becoming the most sustainable terminal in the Philippines. Aligned with the commitment to operate in an environ mentally responsible and sustainable manner, MICT has implemented several environmental programs and activities, including improving waste and water management, circular economy initiatives, ecological protection and biodiversity programs and decarbonation efforts.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Ovialand eyes P2.3-b sales from San Pablo project

DEVELOPER Ovialand Inc., said Thursday it expects to generate P2.3 billion in revenues from a newly-launched premium affordable house-andlot project in San Pablo, Laguna.

Ovialand said in a statement Santevi, the com pany’s third housing development in San Pablo, offers 707 units, consisting of single-attached, duplex and townhouse units. This will increase the company’s total inventory in the area to over 2,100 units.

Ovialand president and chief executive Pammy Olivares-Vital said the company offers unique selling proposition under the “Instant Homes, In stant Financing” program. She said that by using precast technology and personal account officers who assist clients in their housing loan applica tions, homebuyers could move into their units in three to six months.

“We have completed and turned over more than 1,000 housing units in the area of San Pablo, Laguna, and the demand for our premium houseand-lot products continues to rise. This is because young families are able to envision their lives with the conveniences of city living but with the relax ing landscape of this city,” Olivares-Vital said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Globe’s market capitalization reached P321.25b on Oct. 11

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Thursday it kept its dominance as the country’s largest telecom com pany with a market capitalization of P321.25 bil lion as of Oct. 11, reflecting investors’ confidence amid volatile financial markets.

It said despite the global headwinds arising from elevated inflation and aggressive rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve, it managed to lead the competition in terms of market capitalization at the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The company exhibited remarkable growth as it transforms into a technology-based solutions provider from a telco operator.

“Globe is starting to reap gains as it pivots to becoming a digital solutions platform to address the day-to-day pain points of Filipinos. The way inves tors are valuing us is very encouraging and that we have taken the right strategy for growth,” Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said. Globe has grown its portfolio with ventures into financial technology, healthcare, edutech, entertainment, adtech, e-commerce, manpower, information technology services and investments. Darwin G. Amojelar

Manila’s Magsaysay Flyover to make way for NLEX Connector

By Darwin G. Amojelar

NLEX Corp. will start the rehabilita tion of Magsaysay Boulevard next month as part of the construction of the NLEX Connector Sta. Mesa Section, a top executive said Thursday.

The redevelopment will involve the rehabilitation of the eastbound and westbound service roads, improve ment of Philippine National Railways railroad crossing, relocation of elec tric posts and decommissioning of the Magsaysay Flyover, according to the company.

It will implement the improvement project until the first quarter of 2023 with the decommissioning of the Mag saysay Flyover seen to be completed by December 2022 or before the Christmas holidays.

“The redevelopment project and the NLEX Connector both aim to ease traffic in the metro and improve the

flow of vehicles in its surrounding ar eas,” said NLEX Corp. president and General Manager J. Luigi Bautista.

Bautista said being an alternative and truck ban-free route, the elevated expressway would also reduce traffic on roads where trucks traversed be fore.

Works will be done in phases, with temporary lane closures commenc ing at the road going to Legarda, then at the road going to Cubao, Quezon City.

A minimum of three lanes per direc tion will remain open during daytime, while two lanes per direction will be available at nighttime. NLEX said it would post more information on the road closures in various communica tion platforms

Once completed, the traffic flow at Magsaysay Boulevard is expected to greatly improve as it will have new configuration of five lanes per direc

tion and will be wider with 3.5 meters per lane, at par with the standards of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Magsaysay Boulevard at pres ent has six lanes per direction, with narrow lanes measuring 2.5 meters. With the decommissioning of the Magsaysay Flyover, the connector mainline will be at the second level rather than at the fourth level, thus ensuring safer and faster travel of all classes of vehicles particularly, Class 3 vehicles coming to and from the port areas.

The eight-kilometer NLEX Connec tor is divided into two sections: the Es paña and Sta Mesa sections. The fivekilometer España section runs from Caloocan Interchange on C3 Road, España Blvd. The three-kilometer Sta Mesa section runs from España Blvd. to R. Magsaysay Blvd., all the way to Sta. Mesa, Manila.

NGCP energizes Calamba 230-kilovolt substation to handle growing demand

TRANSMISSION network operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said Thursday it energized the new Calamba 230-kiloVolt substation and associated transmission lines.

NGCP said the P1.069-billion En ergy Regulatory Commission-approved project would address continuing load growth or the growing power demand in South Luzon.

“With many industrial and residential developments south of Metro Manila, NGCP’s new Calamba 230-kV substa tion is a critical facility for South Lu zon. The substation and its associated transmission lines will also serve as an other highway to prevent overloading and other reliability issues,” the com pany said.

The substation is located near industrial parks to accommodate demand in Laguna, Batangas and nearby provinces.

It will benefit mostly industrial cus tomers, particularly factories, manufac turing plants and other big businesses in the eco-zones and industrial parks.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority said there are 10 manufac turing eco-zones in Batangas and 14 in Laguna. These areas are seen to benefit from improved transmission services.

The project has three components, in cluding the Calamba 230kV Substation, Calamba-Bay 230kV Transmission Line 2 and the Calamba-Binan 230kV Transmission Line 2.

NGCP is a Filipino-led, privatelyowned company led by majority share holders and vice chairman of the board Henry Sy Jr. and co-vice chairman Rob ert Coyiuto Jr. It is the sole operating asset of Synergy Grid and Development Philippines Inc. Alena Mae S. Flores

SM Markets plans to open 7 stores in fourth quarter

By Jenniffer B. Austria

SM MARKETS, the food retailing arm of SM Retail Inc., said Thursday it plans to add seven stores before the end the year to boost its network to 330.

SM Markets said in a statement the new stores are located in Air Residences Makati, DECA Marilao, Tanza, EB Town Center in San Jose Del Monte, Sorsogon, Tuguegarao and Taytay. SM Markets serves as the mother brand of supermarket chains SM Supermarket, Savemore Market and SM Hypermarket.

“We are targeting to fill the need for better food shopping in develop ing communities. The rising income outside the National Capital Region is definitely a welcome factor in terms of growth in the provinces,” SM Su permarket president Jojo Tagbo said.

“We continue to expand and main tain our optimism on growth. Regard less of economic circumstances, our approach has always been to have a breadth of offerings that fits all wallet sizes,” Tagbo said.

SM Markets expects consumer spending to remain strong following the resumption of face-to-face classes and the onset of the holiday season.

The group saw a significant im provement in sales for fresh products, snacks, beverages and other schoolrelated commodities this year.

“We are optimistic about the con sistency of consumer spending. The return of face-to-face classes and the holiday season will push the business in the coming months,” Tagbo said.

SM Markets is also enhancing its assortment to better serve customers’ evolving preferences. It recently ex panded its imported offerings to in clude brands such as Coles from Aus tralia and El Corte Ingles from Spain.

It also continues to support mi cro, small and medium enterprises to boost the local economy by adding their products on the pasalubong (lo cally made) aisles on grocery shelves and prominently through its popular weekend markets.

SB-EMCOR PARTNERSHIP. SB Finance Company Inc. and Davao-based appliance and motorcycle dealer Engineering and Machinery Corp. sign a memorandum of agreement allowing the latter’s customers to buy various products on installment through Pay Hooloogan. Under the partnership, customers who use Pay Hooloogan by SB Finance can avail of financing options with no down payment required. Sealing the agreement are SB Finance head of consumer finance Mikal Rallonza (left) and EMCOR president and chief operating officer Nelson Aparejo.

NICKEL ASIA PROGRAM. Employees

Nickel

Corp. and

seminar.

Riera

Crossovers rally past Chargers, grab lead

DK Yoo soaks up world lessons in preparation for Pacman fight

By Randy Caluag

YOUTUBE martial arts sensation

DK Yoo is traveling to various countries as he soaks up all the lessons he could possibly get in preparation for his upcoming exhibition boxing match with eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.

Yoo, who enjoys a height and reach edge against Pacquiao, appears to be dead-serious in scoring a big upset win against the Filipino boxing icon in their six-round bout on Dec. 10 in South Korea.

Yoo, who is making his debut in boxing, has gone to Korea, the Philippines, the Netherlands, and Italy before proceeding to Los Angeles at the Wildcard Gym under Filipino coach Marvin Somodio.

Wildcard Gym is owned by Freddie Roach, the legendary boxing coach, who trained Pacquiao in many of his world championship tussles.

On paper, Pacquiao, who retired from boxing with a re-

PH women’s futsal team thankful for Guam friendlies

By Peter Atencio

THE newly-formed Philippine national women’s futsal team got great exposures during its first international friendlies against Guam over the weekend.

New national head coach Vic Hermans said this after a 15-member national under-23 squad was introduced and played two 5-a-side exhibition games at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“For me, this game is very attractive for everyone,” said Hermans after members of the squad got to know the highs and lows of their performances following a win and a loss to Guam.

Hermans added that by letting the members of the team play their first games against an international opponent has provided enough motivation for the players to get even better.

The team’s goalie Mykaela Abeto got the most out of the game since it helped build up Team Philippines’ defensive setups.

“This is their first international friendly. The motivation here is that they are able to play after so many years” said Hermans.

The team, known as the Pinay5, was assembled under Hermans’ guidance and played as a team more than two years after the country was placed into a series of lockdowns because of the C0VID-19 pandemic.

They started on Saturday with a 0-1 loss to Guam, which scored off Koharu Minato.

On Sunday, the Pinay5 scored on goals from Hannah Marie Muros, Aurea Coleen Reaso and Jaqueline Ballares, for a 3-1 triumph, sealing the country’s first international friendly win.

cord of 62 wins, 8 losses, and 2 draws, looks unbeatable against the taller South Korean opponent, who espouses the warfare combat system’s practical approach to fighting.

Pacquiao retired in September 2021 after losing by a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas.

Both fighters are 43 years old and southpaws.

Although it’s a charity event, Pacquiao and his longtime friend trainer Buboy Fernandez are dead-set on winning the fight via stoppage.

“Iba ito, pero paghahandaan namin ito ng seryoso,” said Fernandez.

Pacquiao is using this bout as the first step towards his return for a big-ticket fight. A return bout with Floyd Mayweather is still an option.

But in a recent press conference in LA where he appeared via Hologram, Pacquiao also expressed interest in facing the winner of the fight between Errol Spence and Terence Crawford.

But it will largely depend on how he will fare against Yoo.

“Why not? If that’s possible, but we’ll see the result first. I will watch,” Pacquiao told Fighthype.

CHERY Tiggo bucked the absence of Dindin Manabat and a couple of set deficits as it subdued Akari, 23-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 15-6, yesterday to regain the solo lead in the Premier Volleyball Reinforced Conference elims at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The Crossovers relied on their chemistry and bench depth to rally from 1-2 set down then parlayed the Chargers’ wobbly stints in the last two frames into a resounding triumph, their third straight as they broke off a tie with the idle Creamline Cool Smashers to wrest solo control in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

The inaugural pro league champions last year took all but one of the first six points in the decider and never looked back, scoring heavily on drop balls and blocking as the Chargers struggled on their floor defense and coverage while getting foiled on their attacks a number of times.

Chery Tiggo also drew some luck in the fifth, scoring two aces on serves that both seemed flawed but hit the net, the ball dropping on unguarded spots which the Chargers had failed to keep in play.

“We really had a slow start, so we had to boost their morale by telling them to stay positive and do what they are supposed to do,” said Chery Tiggo coach Clarence Esteban in Filipino.

Import Jelena Cvijovic was far from being impressive in the first four sets but scored four of Chery Tiggo’s first six points in the fifth before the locals, led by skipper Mylene Paat, Cza Carandang, EJ Laure, Alina Bicar and Shay Adorador took over and finished off the Chargers in two hours and 11 minutes.

“Nag-exert talaga siya (Cvijovic) ng effort, gusto nyang makabawi,” added Esteban of his reinforcement, who struggled with six points against F2 Logistics before doubling her output against Cignal.

Manabat, the team leader, didn’t suit up because of an injury but the locals stepped up big to help stretch their win run to three in a solid start so unlike in their pair of eighth place finishes in the Open Conference and Invitationals following their breakthrough run in Ilocos Norte.

FIVE Filipino karatekas of the International Karate Organization, Kyokushin Karate Nakamura Philippines will represent the country in the 2022 International Friendship Tournament Championships slated November 11 to 14 in Osaka, Japan.

Considered one of the country’s most active martial arts organizations, Kyokushin Karate Nakamura Philippines will be represented during the competition by Diony Zolina, who will be competing in the kumite—senior’s category; Jolly Ver Calle, kumite—women’s category; Ma. Eloisa Padios, kata

—women’s category; Jeff Kevin Rey Valino, kumite—teenage boys’ category; and Regina Victoria Santiago, kumite—girls’ category.

Zolina and Calle are former four-time champions in their respective categories, while Valino is a twotime champion in the teenage boys’ category.

International Karate Organization (IKO) Nakamura Philippines’ Branch Chief Sensei Victor Canon is optimistic that the Filipino fighters, all trained under his wings, will bring honor to the country given their vast exposure in numerous local and in-

ternational competitions.

Canon, a well-known Kyokushin instructor in the Philippine martial arts community, continues to produce excellent instructors and fighters.

Defying the odds of the pandemic, IKO Nakamura Philippines expanded its operations in malls, villages, and schools.

To date, IKO Nakamura Philippines, which is affiliated with Japan-based IKO Nakamura, has about 19 branches spread over key parts of the country.

Smart empowers your all-out NBA experience

AS the NBA ushers in a new season of nonstop hardcourt action, Smart—the Philippines’ fastest and best mobile network as recognized by Ookla—is empowering millions of Filipino basketball fans with the complete digital NBA experience: access to NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service; NBA TV Philippines, a localized version of the NBA’s dedicated 24/7 channel livestreamed on Smart’s GigaPlay App; and NBA.com/ Philippines the league’s official digital destination in the country.

Downloadable on the App Store and the Google Play Store, the Smart GigaPlay App lets Smart subscribers watch live NBA games and programing anytime, anywhere.

Fans will be able to watch the league’s tentpole events throughout the 2022-23 season—including tip-off, Christmas Day games, NBA All-Star, playoffs and finals—for an all-out, 24/7 basketball viewing experience on this side of the world through NBA TV Philippines.

Complete NBA experience for Filipino fans

“We know how passionate Filipinos are when it comes to supporting their

seven days for only P99. In addition to PowerAll promos, Smart subscribers may access NBA games by subscribing to Giga Video, Giga Power, Magic Data, and Unli 5G promo options.

Alternatively, Smart customers can subscribe to NBA League Pass, which provides livestreams with higher video quality, lower streaming latency and a seamless user experience for consuming live N BA content. Postpaid subscribers can get NBA League Pass by opting to pay with their Smart mobile plan, while prepaid users can subscribe via their prepaid load.

Finally, NBA.com/Philippines will offer Filipino fans access to game highlights, stats, standings, scores, schedules and localized content, including a video series titled “Bente Uno,” which will feature discussions hosted by sports reporters and basketball personalities about relevant league news and topics. Smart subscribers can also access editorial content on NBA.com/Philippines without incurring data charges.

Know more at https://smart.com. ph/Pages/gigaplay and experience the complete NBA experience through Smart’s digital offerings.

DK Yoo (right) with UFC ghter Tony Ferguson at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles DK Yoo FB

favorite NBA teams and superstars. This is the reason we are giving Smart subscribers the power and flexibility to witness the most complete NBA experience so they can enjoy hardcourt action whenever they want, through the power of Smart,” says Francis E. Flores, SVP

and Head of Consumer Business Group - Individual at Smart.

Smart Prepaid subscribers can enjoy NBA action on the GigaPlay App with PowerAll 99, which comes with 8 GB for all sites and apps, Unli TikTok, and Unli Texts to All Networks valid for

The Chery Tiggo Crossovers celebrate their win over the Akari Chargers.

Games

Petro Gazz

Creamline vs Cignal

Alveo 5150 bidders prime up for IM 70.3

A SLEW of campaigners in the Alveo 5150 Subic Bay which gets going Sunday (Oct. 23) are using the upcoming endurance race held under the Olympic-style setup as part of their buildup for the tougher IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Princesa next month.

Bea Quiambao, a top bet both in the overall individual championship and in the 20-24 age category, is one of the bidders priming up for the premier triathlon race, set over a punishing 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run, on Nov. 13 which will feature a number of foreign and local aces.

Quiambao is actually seeking a second victory in the 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run event after topping the 5150 Bohol last July but while the Next Step Tri stalwart is upbeat, she remains wary of her chances with a host of talented triathlete s also coming into the event brimming with confidence and in top form.

They include Jacquelyn Cruz of Chery Auto PH and Charlotte Jackson of Fit PH, who are also both vying in the 2529 division, Trifam’s Ma.

Klarissa Daly, who is also competing in the 3034 class with Kath Lagunsad of Sante Barley Tri Team and 45-49 age group campaigner Annalie Marfil of Jumpstart Tri Club, headed by coach Patrick Joson.

Meanwhile, the 5150 Subic serves not only as a venue for athletes wanting to do short-distance but challenging races in a world-class set-up but it also highlights Alveo Land’s continuing effort to help promote a healthy lifestyle among Filipinos.

“Alveo is truly proud to continue being part of these IRONMAN events. For over 20 years, we continuously strive to build a strong sense of community in our multiple developments all over the country. It has been our main thrust to create spaces and communities that build multiple opportunities for a better lifestyle and promote overall health and well-being,” said Alveo Land president Meann Dy.

“It is an honor to share our vision with this community of athletes.

Each and every one has been able to successfully go beyond their limits of strength through determination, passion and dedication to the sport,” she added.

Other titles to be disputed in the event, sponsored by Alveo, SBMA, Finis, Rudy Project, Sante Barley, Lalamove, Active, Manila Bulletin and Tempo, are the relay all-male and all-female, the relay mixed and the Go For Gold Sunrise Sprint.

Deadline for listup is tomorrow (Saturday). For details, log on to www.ironman.com. For the Sunrise Sprint, log on to www.goforgold. sunrisesprint.com

Pelicans pummel Nets; Suns, Grizzlies prevail

LOS ANGELES — Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans opened their NBA season with a punishing 130-108 victory over the star-studded Nets in Brooklyn on Wednesday.

Brandon Ingram scored 28 points and Williamson—playing his first regularseason game in more than 17 months— scored 25 as he returns from the foot injury that sidelined him for a season.

“It’s crazy,” said Williamson, the 2019 top draft pick who at 22 has already battled a raft of injuries. “Simply playing the game I love, that I didn’t get to play for a long time, it was a breath of fresh air.

“There’s a lot of room for improvement,” Williamson added. “I’m still learning my

teammates... I’m just excited to go.”

Williamson helped the Pels build an 18-4 lead midway through the first quarter, easily outpacing Brooklyn’s Ben Simmons—another former top draft pick who has also battled injuries.

Australian Simmons made his debut for the Nets, who acquired him from Philadelphia last season as he battled a back injury for which he had surgery in May.

Nets star Kevin Durant, who stayed put in Brooklyn after rocking the league with

a trade demand in June, kept the hosts in touch, scoring 21 of his 32 points in the first half.

But the Pelicans out-scored the Nets 40-28 in the third quarter to take control for good. They never trailed and led by as many as 26 points, parlaying 21 offensive rebounds into 36 points.

Ingram was a model of efficiency, racking up his 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting.

In contrast, Kyrie Irving connected on just six of 19 shots for 15 points and Simmons scored just four points before fouling out.

The second night of the season saw a couple of nail-biters, as the Suns erased a 22-point third-quarter deficit to edge the Dallas Mavericks 107-105 in Phoenix.

In Memphis, the Grizzlies thwarted the New York Knicks’ comeback bid for a 115-112 overtime victory.

The Mavs, led by 35 points from Luka Doncic, appeared to be on cruise control against a Suns team they eliminated in last season’s playoffs.

Despite the struggles of star point guard Chris Paul, the Suns found a way back, slicing the deficit to one point with 1:25 left in the third quarter.

The Suns took the lead on Cameron Payne’s basket late in the fourth, and after Doncic tied it up at 105-105 with 32.8sec remaining, got the win thanks to Damion Lee’s off-balance jumper in the waning seconds.

Devin Booker’s 28 points led five Suns players in double figures, that included reserve Lee, who scored all 11 of his in the final period.

Gobert shines for T’Wolves Ja Morant scored 34 points and the Grizzlies held on against the determined Knicks, who erased a 19-point deficit and forced overtime on Cam Reddish’s three-pointer.

Memphis were up 115-112 late in the extra session when Tyus Jones missed two free throws and the Knicks got another chance, but Evan Fournier missed the three-point attempt.

“It was down to the team that was getting stops and coming down and executing,” Morant said. “I felt like we did that very well, even though the game was still close... we’re a resilient team and it showed.”

Familiar faces in new places included three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, who scored 23 points and pulled down 16 rebounds in his Minnesota debut to help the Timberwolves beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-108. AFP

Favored teams prevail in QCBL-Koen opener

FAVORED teams flexed their muscles early as they trounced their respective opponents in the recent opening of the 5th season of the Quezon City Basketball League-Koen Starter Draft division at Novadeci Convention Center in Novaliches.

Je Mateo X Tito Pogi opened the tournament with a masterful beating of GNG Construction, 71-55, with Kyle Nacianceno and Ralph Romero leading the charge with a game-high 20 points and 14, respectively.

Agnus Dei relied on the prolific, balanced scoring

of its main men to score a similarly lopsided win over MYCG, 86-68, in the second game.

Five Agnus Dei players logged double figures, led by Jeff Razon who had 24 points, followed by Robert Pascual (15), Mark Catacutan (12) and Jaypee Roman and Jon Perlas, who had 10 each.

In other games, Eva Eye beat Dream Snipers, 74-51; Henry Evalle Photography prevailed over Hustlin Bullies, 73-67; Hungry Bully feasted on Ihaw at Ako, 8968 and RVMC thumped Britanny Ballers, 65-58.

There will be also an All-Star game on November 26, alongside a charity event to be held in partnership with Koen, an AI Robot trading platform.

The tournament format is single-round elimination with the champion in Bracket A going up against the champion in Bracket B to determine the overall champion of this tournament also supported by Kaizen PH, Premiere Driving School, Hungry Bully, Razor’s Edge Cuts and Tatts, and HE Photography.

The championship match will be held on Dec. 16.

Velez-Gabuat face-o looms in PPS Baybay tennis tourney

JOHN David Velez and Thomas Gabuat gear up for a fierce showdown in the boys’ centerpiece division even as Kimi Brodeth seeks to extend her romp in girls’ play of the PPS-PEPP Baybay City National Juniors Tennis Championships, which got underway Thursday at Baybay courts in Leyte.

Velez has dominated the 18-U side in the Puerto Princesa and Ormoc legs of the

Ang tunay na mga fans: Giving credit where it is due

names of Filipino foreign soccer players all over the world for several years now. Their common purpose is to identify, scout and find future Azkals who can play for flag and country at the soonest possible time.

Group 2 tournament but the Ormoc City find braces for a tough outing this week, given a crack roster of rivals out to halt his romp in the country’s longest talentsearch, led by Zambo Sibugay’s Gabuat, Gerald Gemida and Randy Pausanos. The eight age-group category event drew six 32-player draws, underscoring the continuing solid support from both the players and the various LGUs that has

world. FilipinoFootballers specialises on foreign-born Filipino prospects all over the world while PHFutbolistas is the go-to guy on youth and homegrown prospects.

kept the Palawan Pawnshop tennis program buzzing and the youngsters busy in pursuit of honors and ranking points yearround.

Gabuat and Gemida, meanwhile, are tipped to dispute the 16-U trophy in the event sponsored by Baybay Mayor Jose Carlos Cari but a slew of others are out to spoil their projected clash, including Pausanos, Kenzo Brodeth, Ariel Semblantes,

Christian Laguna, Jay Laguna and Ruzzel Manlimos.

David Sepulveda top-bills the 14-U cast that also incudes Kenzo Brodeth, Urcisino Villa, Claudwin Tonacao, Edrielle dela Cruz, Michael Cari and the Laguna siblings.

Sepulveda and Villa also banners the big 12-U roster along with Cari and Prinz Canezo.

DURING the height of the pandemic, Filipino football fans based in several countries all over the world connected online to share their common passion and dream for the beautiful sport. More specifically, for the Philippines to win championships not only in the Southeast Asian region but in the whole continent as well. And if the football gods were kind enough, they would like to see the Philippine Azkals, the national men’s football team, reach the World Cup in this lifetime.

What was once an online session meant to rant and vent their frustrations become the spark that led them to come up with something more fruitful and translate their woes into a more substantial way of helping the Philippine Azkals.

One of these die-hard fans is Stephen Servita, an overseas Filipino worker based in Singapore for the last 14 years. He says the group, comprised of six other football aficionados who are based in the Philippines and Canada, has been compiling

“I mean accidental lang pagkakabuo namin ng grupo siguro dahil na rin sa kombinasyon ng pandemic lockdown at stagnant state ng Philippine football. So we have to divert our energy and enthusiasm to still contribute. Palagi kami nagpopost ng mga info sa mga football forum natin. That’s when the idea came up to create PositiveFutbol.Ph account in Instagram,” Servita recalled.

The account eventually became one of the best sources of information regarding football players based all over the world with either Filipino fathers or mothers, or both, which makes them eligible to play for the sun and the three stars.

While Servita chose to come out in the light, his other friends would rather remain anonymous for now. Their contributions, however, can be considered formidable in establishing a database of Filipino soccer players thriving in various leagues in the United States, Canada, and most countries in Europe. As of now, the individuals with Instagram handle FilipinoFootballers and PHfutbolistas are considered the top scouts for Filipino players all over the

“We have a comprehensive list of prospects, like country of birth, current club, age, height, position, which parent/s is/are Filipinos and more importantly Philippine passport status. They scour the internet of football forum, available data bases and most of the time though a bit shady, tracing lineage by stalking their instagram accounts. Ang galing nila maghanap, even those who seemed insignificant players to some people and their details, alam nila,” Servita said.

Servita added they desire nothing but to help the Philippine Football Federation, Dan Palami and the rest of the Azkals’ management team to find players to suit up for the team while they are still young and can represent the Philippines in international competitions.

“Wala kaming nakukuha rito. We are working pro-bono, in Tagalog, puro abono. Gusto lang namin makita o mapanood ‘yung mga nascout namin na maglaro sa Azkals. Iba ‘yung satisfaction na makita namin na mag-cap ‘yung mga nasa wish list namin. ‘Yun lang bawing-bawi na kami,” Servita explained.

Servita is no stranger to football. Football runs in his blood. He is the son of the late Felix Servita, the former coach of the Red Booters, the varsity footballl squad of the San Beda College and the Philippine Navy Team. While the Red Lions, the men’s basketball team of San Beda, were looking for a win and respectability in

the NCAA wars during the early 90’s, the Red Booters, under Coach Felix and Aris Caslib, yes the other Bedan football icon, were stringing championships after championships. Coach Felix’s teams -- the Navy and the Red Booters -- won titles in their respective leagues.

In 1992, in his rookie season, Coach Felix gave the Red Booters their first title in 10 years. It was the start of football glory once more for San Beda as the Red Booters won the NCAA title for four consecutive seasons before Coach Felix’s untimely demise. I should know. I was in San Beda during that time, struggling to reconcile Albert Camus, Jean Paul Sartre and the existentialists with Buddha and Jesus.

Coach Felix and Caslib eventually founded the Mendiola Football Club in 1991. Mendiola FC 1991 is currently the oldest professional football club in the Philippines Football League. Coach Felix died in 1995 while playing the game he loved the most. He collapsed while having a practice at the San Beda Football Field. He eventually passed away at the FEU Hospital.

“Ito na siguro ang contribution ko being one of the seniors and most vocal among our group. ‘Yung makatulong sa national team and our effort to bear fruit for the common goal of a successful Azkals team, and maybe an AFF trophy,” Servita said.

Servita said that among the notable names in their database for future and possible Azkals include Angelo Bruckner, Phoenix Patterson, Björn Martin Kristensen, Josef Baccay, Santi Rublico, Alex Monis, Zico Bailey, Owen Wolff, Nicholas Markanich, Anthony Markanich, Michael

Baldisimo, Aidan Daniels, Kadin Chung and Patrick Metcalfe. Randy Schneider and Raphael Obermair were previously called up but thet still have to make their appearance. He said these players are eligible to play for the Azkals if ever they decided and given the opportunity to do so. Servita and his friends say that they will continue to do their scouting and research as long as necessary. The group will continue their talent identification out of passion as the Azkals need all the help they can muster as they renew their bid for contention and relevance. And no matter what will happen, he assures they will either sink and swim with all our national teams both in men’s and women’s across all age groups.

Here is hoping that all Azkals fans will be like these fine gentlemen. Doing their “jobs” in silence while expecting nothing in return. These are the fans the team needs, unlike those fair weather ones who bash the team at the first sign of troubles and struggles.

Maybe they can also help scout for a possible coach for the team in the meantime while a good friend of mine is chasing his A-license. Hurry up El Capitan Schroecky!

On a personal note, please watch the next episode of 3PTS-Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports this Sunday, October 23, 2022, 2 to 3 p.m. at DZME 1530 kHz and the station’s FB page with The Designated Kit Man, Dennis Principe and Rommel Miranda. Guests include pingpong ace Aljay Villena, boxing promoter turned table tennis manager Ryan Gabriel and more. Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans goes to the basket as Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets defends. AFP

Disney+ will be available in PH, and here’s what you need to know

THE Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) Ltd. announced yesterday that it is expanding access to its highly anticipated streaming service, Disney+, to the Philippines starting November 17.

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and TV shows from Disney’s iconic brands including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic and Star.

With Disney+ available soon in the Philippines, consumers will be able to enjoy an ever-growing library of global, regional, and Asian language content such as blockbuster films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to award-winning Pixar animation, to Korean content featuring BTS and other top Asian stars, under the Star brand.

Star also features thousands of hours of general entertainment content produced by Disney Television Studios (ABC Signature and 20th Television), FX Productions, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, and more. Star offers renowned movies and shows such as Emmy awardwinning Grey’s Anatomy, Only Murders in The Building, Dopesick, The Bear, The Simpsons, and The Kardashians. In addition, Star will offer exclusive originals produced in collaboration with producers and directors in the Asia Pacific region.

“Through Disney+, we are opening new doors of entertainment to everyone with our heritage of unparalleled storytelling, creative excellence,

and cutting-edge content delivery,” said David Shin, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, The Walt Disney Company. “We are excited that consumers in the Philippines can soon connect with their beloved characters and brands and enjoy access to some of the world’s most original and iconic stories, told by the world’s most talented creators.”

From next month, consumers in the Philippines can join the Disney+ streaming service with the introduction of a new range of subscription plans. The expanded line-up of plans will offer viewers flexibility with different subscription options to suit their needs including Mobile Plan for P159 monthly or P1,150 annually; and Premium Plan for P369 monthly or P2,950 annually.

Disney+ will be accessible on a wide selection of mobile and televisions subject to users’ chosen subscription plans, including smartphones and tablets (Android or iOS), smart TVs such as Samsung and LG, and connected TV devices including Google TV and other Android TV OS, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, and Chromecast.

Based on their chosen subscription plans, consumers will be able to access high-quality viewing, with up to four concurrent streams available only with the premium plan, personalized recommendations, and the ability to create up to seven different user profiles per account.

‘Brigada’ turns 11, airs comprehensive report on sexual abuse among minors

TOMARK its 11th anniversary this Saturday (October 22), the investigative journalism program Brigada hosted by Kara David presents an in-depth report on the case of sexual abuse among minors. Joining David in this special episode is John Consulta

According to CAMELEON Association Philippines, an estimated seven million young people fall victim to sexual abuse in the country yearly.

Among them was the then 6-year-old “Lara” who endured six years of sexual assault from his father’s friend whom they

considered as family. There are also cases of foreigners entering the country with the alleged intention of molesting minors. Just last month, a British national was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for allegedly engaging in acts related to child pornography.

In Catanduanes, a Dutch national was arrested this month for overstaying. Apparently, he is also facing multiple cases related to allegedly molesting young men in Davao City where he used to stay.

David and Consulta will also investigate why sexual abuse happens despite our existing laws, and how victims can recover and find justice.

11 years of ‘Brigada’ David has been the host of Brigada since 2019. She was also part of the then Brigada Siete where she had her first break as a

Netizens clamor for another round of ‘Alyas Pogi Birthday Giveaway’

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. (right) and Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla (left) celebrate the former’s birthday with fun and games that benefited Filipinos

reporter.

“Nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon na maging junior reporter ng programa na kinabibilangan ng magagaling na reporter Ma’am Jessica Soho was our senior reporter. Kaya noon pa man, malaking karangalan na sa akin na mapabilang sa programang Brigada Siete,” David shared.

The show was later on rebranded as Brigada “I’m very happy and very grateful na umabot ng 11 years ang Brigada. I also feel very humbled kasi si Ma’am Jessica Soho ang dating host ng show na ito. Someone who I look up to,” David shared. “Kaya nang ako ang maging host ng Brigada in 2019, sobrang laking karangalan. Somehow it gives me validation that I’m on the right path. I will be forever grateful sa Brigada kasi this is where I started at sila ang unang programang nagtiwala sa aking kakayahan.”

David also acknowledged the people behind the Brigada team.

“Thankful [ako] sa staff na bumubuo ng programa, grabe ang hirap na binubuhos nila with every segment. Hangga’t marami pang isyu

na kailangan talakayin, mga mata at isipan na dapat mulatin, mga problema na dapat mabigyan ng pansin, patuloy ang misyon ng programang Brigada,” she ends.

At the 2020 New York Festivals “World’s Best TV and Films” Competition, Brigada won a Bronze World Medal in the History & Society category for its “Aeta Squadron/Female Spies” episode.

This year, David was hailed as the “Best TV Program Host” at the UP Community Broadcasters’ Society’s Gandingan Awards.

Brigada’s “Millennial Vote” episode, likewise, won the “Most Development-oriented Magazine Program” award.

Brigada’s special report on sexual abuse among minors airs tomorrow night at 9:45 on GTV.

PEOPLE…are talking about ...are not talking about

‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’

THE “Alyas Pogi Birthday Giveaway” during the entire month of September to celebrate the 56th birthday of Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. was a success and was enjoyed by many Filipinos especially those who joined and won big prizes.

Now, more netizens are storming the social media accounts of the long-time lawmaker and celebrity, requesting a repeat of the fun games and raffles conducted during his birthday celebration including the “Relax ka lang, Grocery mo sagot ko” sponsored by the senator.

Participants were randomly selected to join the grocery shopping spree. Sen. Revilla, together with Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla personally and

their family, personally hosted the game at Robinson Main Square in Bacoor City.

Each player was initially given three minutes to get everything they could. But Revilla generously gave an additional minute to all that allowed them to take groceries worth P30,000 to P100,000 each.

Moreover, Revilla gifted all participants with P5,000 to cover their transportation expenses since many of them came from far provinces.

Due to the enjoyment brought by Revilla’s birthday, many have been requesting him through his Facebook account to sponsor another round of fun games in order to help more people and bring happiness to more Filipinos.

Many students, or Filipinos for that matter, struggle with history. But thanks to this creatively written show, people are finally learning to relate to the subject. The television series from GMA Network effectively helped its Filipino viewers understand Philippine history through a modern perspective, thus earning its public attention. Historical references don’t always mix well with latter-day elements. And that’s the charm of Maria Clara at Ibarra. It turned something distant into a recurring setting people face today.

Maxene Magalona

Break-ups are never easy, especially if a relationship has lasted for years. So, when Maxene admitted to being single, she also shared ways to move on. Unlike most recent celebrity separations, Maxene handled hers with grace even though she also highlighted feeling vulnerable in the process. She sets an example that there’s hope after the end of relationships. Sometimes, it’s also the best way for an individual to grow.

Cove

K-Drama has dominated cultures across the globe for years now with its unique and compelling stories, cinematography, casting, and script. But Senator Estrada has another thing in mind and called for a ban on the genre. He’s now on a collision course with K-Drama fans who oppose the initiative.

The jury’s still out on whether the effort will help local Filipino producers, directors, screenwriters, and actors create a globally competitive piece without the influence of K-Drama.

Joyce Pring

From a fan favorite, Joyce dropped to earning the ire of numerous Filipinos after sharing her ideas about faith in Wil Dasovich’s podcast. She believes that only people who have faith can have everlasting peace in heaven. The nuanced circumstance split Filipinos in the middle, with one group steadfast that faith is the key to heaven while the other arguing that salvation isn’t exclusive. Unfortunately, due to a lack of firsthand witness experience, people can’t find the truth yet.

FRESH and young faces to watch on TV, commercials, TV Ads, magazines, pageants, and Fashion Runway are highlighted at the Manila International Fashion Week 2022, which runs until October 28 at Okada Manila.

Manila International Fashion Week 2022, with this year’s theme, “Fashion for All,” is produced jointly by George Salon, headed by Larry Asistin; Ganap International Magazine, headed by John Guarnes and Bench Bello; and White Canvas Events, headed by Yen David. Promising to be a spectacle of talent and creativity, the fashion event is created with an in-depth understanding of the fashion industry that is in dire need of a reboot, now that the end to the pandemic is finally in sight.

Manila International Fashion Week 2022, held for the benefit of FAME Foundation and to support the fashion industry affected by

the pandemic, also features the 1st Manila Fashion Film Competition, and Catwalk Philippines modeling competition.

A bridal fashion show and exhibit happened from October 14 to 16. DCP grand showcase at Venice Grand Canal will be on October 22, and the Grand Event at the Cove Okada is slated for October 28.

• • •

Newly crowned Miss Philippines Face of Tourism 2022 wants to be an actress RIKKI Dela Peña, Miss Philippine Youth International 2019, was named Miss Philippines Face of Tourism 2022, during the Grand Coronation Night of Mr. and Ms. Philippine Youth 2022, held recently at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RBCB Plaza

Makati City.

Rikki was crowned by former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Frankie Russell along with Christian Luis Singson, who was named Philippine Youth Ambassador 2022.

Rikki, 24, a graduate of Business Management at the University of Asia and the Pacific, wants to become an actress taking inspiration from her relative Tommy Abuel. A successful businesswoman, Rikki advocates for educational programs and mental health awareness being the first ambassador of the Educational Research and Development Assistance (ERDA) Foundation which helps poor out-of-school youth.

Say hello to the candidates of Mr. and Ms. Chinatown 2022 AS THE global community recovers from the pandemic, the search continues for the new Mr. and Ms. Chinatown (MMCP). MMCP celebrates a new generation of Chinoys rising from all over the globe.

The next titleholders will strive to be the embodiment of the “Modern Chinoy” who embraces the values and traditions passed down by the previous generations while being open-minded and adaptable to the changing modern times.

Chinoy TV and Mr. & Ms. Chinatown Foundation headed by its President Alvin Kingson Tan will produce the pageant’s docuseries Chinese by Blood, Filipino by Heart to be aired on CNN Philippines. The documentaries will be directed by Michael Carandang, the Emmy award-winning FilAm who produced the hit shows Tyra Banks

Show and America’s Next Top Model. Mr. Chinatown-Philippines 2022 contestants are Vince Anthony T. Aseron, Adrian Villalon Cotoco, Zedric Raphael Gan, Khurt Hehgel Tan Go, Kevin Fredric L. Lao, Alvin Jon T. Lim, Miguel Matthew Aldric B. Lim, Darwyn Albert Tanya Mendoza, Adrian See, and Dane Weinbergh Sy.

Meanwhile, Ms. Chinatown-Philippines 2022 contestants are Berjayneth Gocong Chee, Karina Michaela Go Ching, Chenelle Fung Co, Jersey Mae Kwan, Nicole Trisha Sotamco Lao, Lovely Claire Caccam Lim, Christine Nicole Ong, Mercedes Pair, Trumaine K. Tia, and Man Fung Lorraine Y. Wong.

Nickie Wang

Taculao,

On November 17, Disney+ subscribers in the Philippines will also have access to Korean content, including BTS’s ‘Permission to Dance’ concert in LA

Jinggoy Estrada

Miss Philippines Face of Tourism 2022

Rikki Dela Peña (left) with Philippine Youth Ambassador 2022 Christian Luis Singson

Investigative journalist Kara David

Iconic beauty’s secret behind her brighter, radiant glow

COLLAGEN by Watsons introduces its first-ever Filipina celebrity endorser, Carla Abellana, through a media event on October 14 when the actress talked about how she takes care of her skin and how she’s able to look good and radiant despite her recent struggles.

Carla’s beauty and radiance represent Collagen Booster Essence’s benefits and what it stands for. She shared drops of wisdom about self-care with the attendees of the event and visited the nearest Watsons store to check out

A beginner’s guide to Japanese art of flower arrangement

SUNSHINE Place, together with Marc Tomas, former President of Ikebana International Manila Chapter 108 and member of Sogetsu Potential Manila Chapter, will conduct another workshop on Ikebana-Sogetsu-inspired flower arrangement at Sunshine Place next month.

Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. From the simple floral offerings dating back to the Heian period, the art of flower arrangement has evolved through the years and now has several schools. Ikebana has three pointed structures to represent humanity, earth, and heaven. It is guided by minimalism and graceful shapes.

The workshop is for beginners who will learn the basics of the Japanese art of flower arrangements such as upright Moribana style, basic slanting and variation with movements, basic Nagiri Style, and a combination of Moribana and Nagiri Arrangements.

Tomas who has been teaching Ikebana classes at Sunshine Place since 2017 will conduct the limited face-to-face workshop on November 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Starter kits are available at the venue. Each starter kit includes flowers for the four sessions, kenzan, and a vertical and horizontal base. Students are encouraged to bring their own gardening scissors for the class.

To enroll and for more information, please call M. (0917) 515-5656 or email: operations@ sunshineplaceph.com

more great finds.

While there are many products that claim to be effective in reviving your skin’s glow, achieving that K-Drama ‘dewy’ look (we know you’ve binge-watched on a lot since the pandemic), we’re all for those that are well worth their price points.

To help achieve the glow we want and deserve, Collagen Booster Essence by Collagen by Watsons brings together all your skin needs for that coveted youthful glow.

Collagen by Watsons is your full skincare solution for even younger-looking skin. Made in Korea, with nourishing

ingredients like tri-collagen which hold their own unique benefits: Green Collagen, which cleanses and detoxifies your skin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, which regenerates your skin cells, and Marine Collagen, which increases the suppleness of your skin, a fair, moisturized, and young complexion is sure to be seen after frequent use.

This product was Biodesigned in California and made in Korea – where gorgeous glass skin lives and thrives, so you just know it works.

The formula contains Collume® 2 percent solution by Geltor Inc., 2018 CEW Beauty’s “Innovation of the Year” Awardee.

This collagen type is proven to be 20x more potent than Marine Collagen, which is commonly used in other beauty products. Users of the product like Carla noticed the following results: improved skin elasticity; skin looks healthier and younger; moisture is locked in for 72 hours; and visibly improved skin quality

Collagen by Watsons Booster Essence’s versatile formula was made so that you use the product both during your daytime and nighttime skincare routines.

Collagen by Watsons’ Collagen Booster Essence is available at Watsons in-store and online via the Watsons app.

Five children’s books that teach life-changing lessons

OOKS were as appealing as toys to me when I was growing up. I remember feeling giddy going around the bookstore in my rubber shoes more than three decades ago, checking out book covers that would capture my attention. I was constantly searching for a piece that would intrigue me, whisk me off to a faraway land, or introduce me to characters I felt I could be friends with in real life.

While looking at books for children and young adults the other day, I couldn’t help but think of the ones that made an impact on my life, no matter how seemingly mundane they were for others. I have no idea if these still have space on today’s shelves but here are my top five favorite titles:

It’s A Small World

Back in the ‘90s, children’s books with cassette tapes as audio support were the thing. The sounds elevate the experience and tickle the imagination.

This particular title got me excited about Disneyland a few years before getting the chance to see it for the first time. The book paid particular attention to the classic ride, It’s a Small World. The story was about an orphan who didn’t know his roots but unraveled a mystery about himself at the theme park. The whole book was like a virtual ticket to a discovery retreat at what is tagged to be “the happiest place on earth.”

THE pandemic has made us more aware of the importance of health and wellness. And part of maintaining a good and healthy lifestyle is committing to exercise and staying active.

Whether you’re into lifting weights, attending yoga or pilates classes, cycling, or running outside, Surplus has everything you need to help keep you fit and fab at the same time.

Calm your mind with yoga and pilates, which are best with snug-fit sports bra paired with lightweight and breathable leggings for a good range of motion. You can also bring Surplus yoga mats into your classes.

Boost your energy by lifting weights or cardio training with sweat-wicking tees, athletic jackets, gym shorts, or sweatpants. If you’re into cycling – indoor or outdoor matching cycling outfits bring more style into your routine.

The Surplus active collection and other versatile fashionable pieces are available in Surplus stores located in most SM Supermalls nationwide.

For a more convenient shopping experience, you may check out Surplus at Lazada, SM Malls Online, and ShopSM.

Surplus Order to Deliver is also now available; join their Viber community and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @SurplusPH and @Surplus_ph for more details.

Si Monica Dalosdalos

BDalosdalos in English means more like reckless or careless, and the image it creates in my head is someone in a rush. This book reminds children to be careful and to think before they act. Being the clumsy kid I was, it was a cute and creative reminder of the consequences of clumsiness.

Care Bears

I believe that the Care Bears were my generation’s Peppa Pig, and I was one of the biggest fans of this group of cute and huggable-looking bears. And when the two things I love – food and the Care Bears – were combined, I knew I had to get the book.

This book, with easy-to-follow recipes and the loveliest illustrations, inspired me to form “The Little Bakers’ Club” with playmates and classmates who shared the same passion as members. The book evoked a lot of creativity for us to swap recipes and enough inspiration to rummage through our mothers’ pantries.

The Carrot Seed I didn’t get to read this book until I was an adult. One of my best friends in college, Cheerine, recommended it and the book gave me a lesson I still keep to this very day. It had a straightforward story about a boy who was told that the carrot seed he planted would not grow but still chose to water it every day. At any age you read, the book was a simple yet strong reminder that having focus and believing in yourself will bring out your best.

A quote by C.S. Lewis perfectly fits The Carrot Seed, ”A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”

What was your favorite read as a kid?

Jessica’s Cookie Disaster

Aside from this book being about the cookie disaster, it talked a lot about something I was interested in - baking. In case you missed it, Jessica, one of the Wakefield twins, forgot what she put into her accidental cookie batter. The cookies turned out amazing enough for a TV show to invite Jessica as a guest. The Sweet Valley Twins title was a light read and one that was hard to put down. It was also here where I first learned the word serendipity.

At a media event, Carla shares about self-care with the attendees and visited the nearest Watsons store to check out some great finds.

Carla (center) with the Watson’s team and some attendees of the event during the recently held media event

Actress Carla Abellana is Watson’s first-ever Filipina celebrity endorser

Ikebana evolved through the years and now has several schools

The author at 11 years old reading one of her favorite books