Manila Standard - 2022 October 29 - Saturday

lifts face mask use

Wearing them indoors, outdoors now voluntary under EO 7

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday signed an

order (EO) allowing the voluntary wearing of face

in indoor settings.

killed as ‘Paeng’ thrashes south, rolls toward

By Francisco Tuyay, Nash B. Maulana, Ronald O. Reyes, and Joel E. Zurbano

Thousands stranded in terminals by storm ahead of hectic ‘Undas’

THOUSANDS were stranded in airports, seaports, and bus terminals across the country as Tropical Storm Paeng bore down on Luzon on Friday night.

At least 2,000 passengers, nearly 200 vessels, and scores of rolling cargoes were stranded in various seaports in Bi col Region, where the storm was head ing after brushing past Samar Island.

Thousands more were waiting for transportation to be cleared as the state weather bureau raised Storm Signal No. 2 over several areas in Luzon and Visayas when Paeng intensified.

This was as an aviation official said travelers passing through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

By Rio N. Araja

SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Friday as sured President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that the House of Representatives would speed up ple nary approval of bills seeking to digitalize the government’s voluminous records under the proposed E-Governance Act and E-Govern ment Act shortly after Congress resumes its session on Nov. 7.

Congress has started its own digitaliza tion project after a team of officers of the chamber led by Secretary General Reginald Velasco learned best practices in this area in a meeting with representatives of the Con gressional Research Service of the Library of the United States Congress in Washing ton D.C. recently.

“The House of Representatives has already initiated its digitalization pro gram and I assure the public that we are exerting all efforts to deliver faster service and eliminate red tape in government transac tions,” Romualdez said.

Elon Musk buys Twitter for $44b, fires company senior executives

SAN FRANCISCO—Elon Musk be gins on Friday (Saturday in Manila) his first full day leading Twitter, with critics and fans anxious to see how the planet’s richest man will run one of the

mandate has been recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) through its Resolu tion 3 (series 2022).

Mask-wearing is still encouraged for the elderly, individuals with comorbidi ties, immunocompromised persons, preg nant women, unvaccinated individuals,

DOJ to name brain in Lapid slay next week

By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Re mulla on Friday said the mastermind behind the killing of radio commentator Percival Mabasa, better known as Percy Lapid, may be identified next week

“The proper cases can be filed by the end of next week,” Remulla said, adding that it was “very possible” that the mastermind would be named.

The Justice secretary said he was satisfied with the joint investigation being conducted by the National Bu reau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the Oct. 3 murder.

“I think we have made a lot of pro gress. I’m guiding it through to make sure that this would get resolved,” Re mulla said in an interview.

Earlier, Joel Escorial, the gunman who surrendered and confessed to killing Mabasa, named his three ac complices and a middleman who was detained at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

Hours after Escorial was presented to the media, however, the inmate, Jun Globa Villamor, died in the NBP.

Several “persons of interest” in the death of Villamor are now under the custody of NBI and PNP and are

about

GMA

world’s leading social media platforms.

The mercurial Tesla chief’s tu multuous, $44 billion bid to buy the company concluded after months of

line prices by P0.35, diesel by P1.10, and P0.45 for

the year-to-date total adjustments to a net increase of P16.10 per liter for gasoline, P37.40 per liter for diesel, and P29.20 per liter for kerosene.

This

Data from the DOE’s price moni toring from October 25 to 27, showed

SPEAKER’S ASSURANCE.

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez on Friday assures President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the House would speed up the approval the proposed E-Governance Act shortly after Congress resumes its session on November 7. Ver Noveno

THE BIRD IS MINE. In this file photo illustration, a phone screen displays the Twitter account of Elon Musk with a photo of him shown in the background, in Washington, DC. AFP

MARIKINA HOUSING.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. talks to Marikina City Mayor

Marcy Teodoro (right) and Housing Secretary Jerry Acuzar (left) as he inspects the DHSUD Land Development and Housing Project in Barangay Nangka, Marikina City on Friday.

Presidential Photo

TB cases rise after years of decline

GENEVA—Tuberculosis case numbers increased last year for the first time in more than 20 years, fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted access to diagnosis and treatment, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday.

TB has rebounded after years of de cline, killing an estimated 1.6 million peo ple in 2021 -- up 14 percent in two years.

Eight countries accounted for more than two-thirds of the global total cas es: India, Indonesia, China, the Philip pines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Most of the estimated increase in TB deaths globally was accounted for by four countries: India, Indonesia, Myan mar, and the Philippines.

Overtaken by COVID-19 during the

worst of the pandemic as the world’s biggest infectious killer, TB claimed an estimated 1.5 million lives in 2020 and 1.4 million in 2019.

Tereza Kasaeva, the director of the UN health agency’s global TB program, said it was now a “pivotal moment” in the fight against the disease.

“For the first time in nearly two dec ades, WHO is reporting an increase in the number of people falling ill with TB and drug-resistant tuberculosis, alongside an increase in TB-related deaths,” she said.

An estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with TB in 2021 -- a 4.5 percent in crease in 2020, the WHO said in its an nual Global TB report.

Most people who developed TB last year were in southeast Asia (45 percent), Africa (23 percent), and the Western Pacific region (18 percent).

The WHO blamed the resurgence of the disease on COVID.

“The overarching finding of this re port is that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a damaging impact on access to TB diagnosis and treat ment and the burden of TB disease,” the WHO said.

“Progress made in the years up to 2019 has slowed, stalled, or reversed, and global TB targets are off track.

and booster coverage.

“Intensified efforts backed by in creased funding are urgently required to mitigate and reverse the negative im pacts of the pandemic on TB.”

The incidence rate -- new cases per 100,000 population per year -- in creased by 3.6 percent between 2020 and 2021, after declining by around two percent a year for most of the last two decades.

Tuberculosis is caused by a bacteria that most often affects the lungs. Like COVID, it is transmitted via the air by infected people, for example by cough ing. It is preventable and curable.

The WHO said conflicts around the world, the global energy crisis, and asso ciated risks to food security were likely to worsen the situation further. AFP

PH backs global pandemic treaty vs. next outbreak

THE Philippines backs the creation of a global accord on pandemic preven tion, preparedness, and response con sidering the impact of COVID-19, the Department of Health said Friday.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Ro sario Vergeire said the drafting of the pandemic treaty was among concerns highlighted during the 73rd session of the World Health Organization Re gional Committee for the Western Pa cific held in Manila.

“WHO director-general Dr. Tedros that it’s very important for the Philip pines to support pandemic treaty, for which we are really supporting,” she said in a press briefing.

“We have provided already our rec ommendations as additional to the resolution that we would want.”

being investigated.

A second autopsy on the remains of Villamor has been conducted by noted pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun, whose findings are expected to be disclosed on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Remulla has said Villamor’s death may have been a murder, just like Mabasa’s.

After Villamor’s death, his sister “Marisa” (not her real name), went to the Department of Justice and was placed under the government’s Wit ness Protection Program.

Marisa told investigators her broth er texted her hours before he died, say ing he feared for his life. She said her brother told her of three NBP detain ees involved in the Mabasa killing and asked her to divulge the information if he died.

Initially, the PNP filed a murder complaint against Escorial and the three accomplices he named as broth ers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan, and a third person identified only as “Orly” or “Orlando.”

The three are still at large.

The DOJ will resume the prelimi nary investigation of the PNP’s com plaint on Nov. 4.

While investigations were being conducted, Mabasa’s brother Roy, also a journalist, said members of his fam ily have been receiving threats.

Both the PNP and the Commission on Human Rights offered protection to the Mabasa family members.

and symptomatic individuals, according to the EO.

“A policy of voluntary wearing of face masks in both indoor and outdoor settings is a positive step towards nor malization, and a welcome development that would encourage activities and boost efforts toward the full reopening of the economy,” Marcos said.

The minimum public health stand ards (MPHS) will continue to be strictly enforced.

The EO also directs the Depart ment of Health to update the MPHS guidelines.

Marcos, meanwhile, encouraged provinces, highly-urbanized cities, independent component cities, and municipalities with low-risk classifi cation but Alert Level 2 status to meet vaccination targets to undertake ef forts in expanding their vaccination

In September, Marcos signed EO 3, allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks in outdoor settings, particularly in open spaces and non-crowded areas with good ventilation.

The latest order comes more than a month after Marcos Jr. allowed the voluntary use of face masks in out door settings.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Philippines has logged 3.99 million COVID-19 infections, of which 21,215 are considered active cases, latest data from the DOH showed. The tally in cludes over 63,000 fatalities.

So far, some 73.5 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against the disease. Those who have received the additional jab is at 20.5 million.

DESPITE the issuance Friday night by Malacanang of the executive order on the voluntary wearing of face masks, senators still prefer the public to con tinue wearing face masks, saying COV ID-19 is still here.

five were killed in Upi town.

Teams in rubber boats had to rescue some residents from rooftops, he added.

Senator Risa Hontiveros maintains it is better to continue wearing masks in indoor spaces as long as the coronavirus mutates.

While there are new variants emerg ing, Hontiveros said it is not bad to con tinue using face masks in indoor and airconditioned places.

She said face masks can also be used even outdoors if there are elderly mem bers or immunocompromised in a family.

The senator also cited the coming All Saints or “Undas” and Christmas sea sons, when there would be many family gatherings or reunions that could trans mit the virus.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, chair of the Senate health committee, also en couraged wearing of face masks if there are members of the family who are sick, elderly, and immunocompromised.

He said face mask should still be used outdoors in crowded areas.

If the use if face mask would not be a hindrance, Go said it would still be bet ter to wear it as added protection.

During the session, Vergeire said all member states in the Western Pacific agreed with having a global accord.

“Because of the current pandemic, all countries agreed that this treaty should be there,” she said.

“We should all be ready. We should all help each other in this situation. We need to exchange information if there is a situation like this.”

The WHO has said such instrument “could represent a global commitment to work together, as an international community, to help prevent disease outbreaks from impacting individuals, communities, countries and the world in the same way as the COVID-19 pandemic did.”

“At the heart of the proposed accord is the need to ensure equity in both access to the tools needed to prevent pandem ics (including technologies like vac cines, personal protective equipment, information and expertise) and access to health care for all people,” it said.

and other Luzon areas, the state weather bureau said.

In its 8 p.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astro nomical Services Administration (PA GASA) said the storm was 100 km East Northeast of Catarman, Northern Sa mar, moving west-northwestward at 25 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h near the center and gusti ness of up to 105 km/h.

Storm Signal No. 2 has been raised over 28 areas, including Metro Manila and provinces in Bicol Region and the Eastern Visayas, and is moving toward the Albay-Sorsogon area.

A landslide killed 11 persons in Ba rangay Kusiong of Datu Odin Sinsuat, where dozens of homes in the village were buried in mud, authorities added at 8 p.m. yesterday.

Kalibo, the capital of Aklan prov ince in the Visayas, experienced record flooding as three abaca farmers died when they were trapped by floodwaters in Libacao town.

Aklan Governor Jose Enrique M. Miraflores, in a report, said a total of four persons died in Libacao, where one was hurt while two others went missing following devastating floods caused by rain from the shear line and trough of Paeng.

efforts to bring relief goods for the af fected communities.

PLEAS FOR HELP

Residents trapped by high waters and impassable roads sent photos to media organizations and emergency Facebook pages, pleading for help.

A man in his mid-50s was reported missing. The man’s body, later identified as Nazario Lorenzo, 54, was found dead.

Nazario, along with his wife Helen Lorenzo, 56, and grandchild Juana Lor enzo, 4, were reported missing amid heavy torrential rains and massive floods in Sitio Lomboy Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao Norte.

In December 2021, WHO’s member states decided at a special session to establish an intergovernmental negoti ating body or INB to draft and nego tiate a WHO convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

uncertainty and speculation, and now users could start to see his plans.

Musk tweeted “the bird is freed” on Thursday, a jokey reference to the firm’s logo, shortly after he said he made the purchase “to help humanity, whom I love”.

the price per liter of gasoline ranging from P62.05 to P72.70 per liter in Qu ezon City, Metro Manila’s largest city.

Diesel prices ranged from P76.20 to P80.89 per liter in Makati City, the country’s top financial hub, while in the capital Manila, kerosene prices ranged from P79.71 to P88.80 per liter.

Meanwhile, Senator Win Gatchal ian wants to establish a national policy and framework for petroleum explora tion and development in the country.

He said this should be done by amending the charter of the govern ment-owned and controlled Philip pine National Oil Company (PNOC) to reduce the country’s dependence on oil imports.

In filing Senate Bill No. 380, Gatchal ian is adamant the PNOC should refocus its mandate exclusively on oil and gas exploration and development.

“PNOC must be empowered to invest in petroleum operation pro jects, both here and abroad, and should be allowed to retain 50% of its net earnings for local petroleum exploration and development,” he added. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Paeng was to make landfall or pass close to Northern Samar on Friday night before crossing Bicol. It could hit land for a second time on the east coast of Quezon province on Saturday, the state weather bureau said in its earlier bulletin.

On Sunday morning, Paeng could make a second landfall over the east coast of Quezon including Polillo Is lands or Aurora, PAGASA said.

In Mindanao, many residents were caught by surprise by the rapidly ris ing floodwaters, Naguib Sinarimbo, the spokesman and civil defense chief for the Bangsamoro regional government, said.

“The water started entering the hous es before dawn,” Sinarimbo said, con firming that the death toll in the stormhit areas had risen to 31, at least three of them children who either drowned or were recovered from a huge landslide mass in parts of Maguindanao Norte’s coastal villages. The storm has also left thousands homeless.

Sinarimbo said 27 died in the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat, including 11 from a mountain village buried in mud, while 10 died in Datu Blah Sinsuat town and

Governance Act of 2022.

He made the assurance in reaction to the President’s call for the swift pas sage by Congress of the measure to en able the country to catch up with other nations in the digital economy.

The Speaker said the House com mittee on information and communi cations technology chaired by Navo tas Rep. Tobias Tiangco has formed a technical working group to consolidate two related bills, the proposed E-Gov ernance Act and E-Government Act.

The group is headed by Davao Ori ental Rep. Cheeno Miguel Almario.

Romualdez is the principal author of House Bill No. 3 or the proposed E-

“I have asked the committee to sub mit a report as soon as possible so we could expedite plenary approval of the consolidated bill,” he said.

“We are one with President BBM and the Executive department in making government transactions and delivering services in a faster, more efficient, and more transparent way through the digital platform,” the Leyte solon added.

In filing HB No. 3, Romualdez said government policies “must be respon sive to the needs of our people, rather than burden them with totally avoid able restrictions.”

Digitalization “is evidently the most efficient solution to the gap in the delivery of government services,” he stressed.

Sinarimbo said search-and-rescue op erations went into full swing in the Bang samoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from dawn.

Hardest hit, Sinarimbo said, were Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sin suat, North Upi, Kabuntalan, Parang towns—all in Maguindanao Norte, and Libungan and Pigkawayan in Co tabato Province.

Eight persons, including four chil dren, were saved and successfully evac uated by the Disaster Response Task Unit of Tactical Operations Group 12 (Cotabato), Tactical Operations Wing Western Mindanao, the Philippine Air Force said in a statement.

They were among those trapped in the raging waters of Dimapatoy River at Brgy. Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, which overflowed early on October 28, said Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, Air Force Public Affairs chief.

PAF personnel from TOG 12 and volunteer reservists from the 73rd Air Force Group Reserve (AFGR) contin ued search, rescue, and retrieval opera tions and aided the local government’s

The Catholic-run dxMS in this city reported that Nacario’s body was found, as search-and-rescue operations contin ued in efforts to locate other residents who were reported missing.

Local authorities said at least five persons died in Datu Blah Sinsuat where a landslide was reported in Linek village, close to an old quarry site in Barangay Dimapatoy

Sinarimbo, who also heads BAR MM’s disaster operations office, said regional rescue operations were backed by military and police disaster person nel, mostly in Cotabato City and in af fected villages in Maguindanao Norte

He said the three municipalities were most affected by the nightlong heavy downpour, triggering both landslides and flash floods that also caused heavy damage to roads and bridges.

Sinarimbo said there were reported fatalities, including two minors in Ba rangay Tanuel in Datu Odin Sinsuat, and in Barangay Dimapatoy.

Flash floods also swept away coastal houses made of light materials in Ba rangay Kurintem, in Datu Blah Sinsuat.

In Barangay Pinansaran, Datu Blah Sinsuat in Maguindanao Norte, five persons were also reported killed.

EDSA-Cubao bus terminal, which serves northbound passengers.

Yet the idea of Musk running Twit ter has alarmed activists who fear a surge in harassment and misinforma tion, with Musk himself known for trolling other Twitter users.

European politicians were quick to warn him that the continent had regu lations for social media companies.

“In Europe, the bird will fly by our rules,” tweeted Thierry Breton, the EU internal market commission er, in response on Friday to Musk’s “bird” message.

Among Musk’s first acts in power on Thursday were the reported firing of chief executive Parag Agrawal and other senior officials -- though the company did not reply to AFP’s request for com ment and Agrawal still listed himself as CEO on his Twitter profile.

Agrawal previously went to court to hold Musk to the terms of the deal, and the takeover came just before a dead line imposed by the judge.

Musk, who is using a combination of his own money, funds from wealthy investors and bank loans to finance the deal, has conceded he is overpay ing for a company that has regularly posted eye-watering losses. AFP

in preparation for the All Saints Day weekend or “Undas” could exceed pre-pandemic levels.

Travel could pick up again as soon as the weather clears, NAIA Terminal 3 OIC Lauro Francisco told reporters.

On Friday, several passengers said they were informed of flight cancella tions at the boarding gate.

The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, the nexus of buses going south of Metro Manila, also announced the cancellation and suspension of trips due to the tropical storm, stranding many passengers.

A similar situation played out at the

At least 16 domestic flights were canceled due to bad weather, the Ma nila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Friday.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines suspended work in its offices in Marinduque, Catandu anes, Masbate, and Tacloban due to the bad weather.

“The CAAP suspended administra tive office work in accordance with the executive order issued by their re spective local government units due to the tropical storm. However, airport personnel on operations duty remain in their respective posts,” said CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio.

Masbate Airport halted two Cebu

Pacific (CEB) flight operations to and from Manila on Friday, affecting a total of 305 passengers.

Two other CEB flights in Naga were also canceled due to bad weather. A to tal of 140 passengers were affected.

In Dipolog airport, CEB flight 5J 704 bound for Manila was also suspended, affecting 119 passengers.

Philippine Airlines flight PR 2905 (Manila-Antique-Manila) and CEB flight 5J 373 (Manila-Roxas-Manila) were also canceled on Friday.

Apolonio said airports located within the path of Paeng, including Bicol In ternational Airport (BIA), have already conducted pre-typhoon coordination meetings and assessments to gear up for the expected weather disturbance.

Joel E. Zurbano and Ronald Reyes

DepEd: Follow latest rules on classes suspension

THE Department of Education (DepEd) maintained that local government units (LGUs) must implement the latest class suspension guidelines in times of typhoon and other calamities issued last month.

DepEd spokesman Michael Poa reminded the LGUs of the department’s objective of maximizing learning recovery in light of the resumption of faceto-face classes. Public schools across the country are set to will implement full face-to-face classes by November 2 while private institutions may resort to hybrid arrangement.

DepEd remains steadfast in its goal to provide accessible and quality basic education for all but enjoined the LGUs’ cooperation, Poa said.

Physicians eye 911 Emergency Hotline across the country

By Willie Casas

A GROUP of medical experts and emergency responders on Wednesday strongly recommended the setting up of a centralized 911 Emergency Hotline for quick response to emergency situations anywhere in the country.

The physicians raised the suggested in conjunction with the observance of the “World Restart a Heart Day.

The proponents represented the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), the Philippine College of Emergency Medicine (PCEM), and the Philippine Heart Rhythm Society (PHRS). They said the Philippines needed a “high-functioning, nationwide centralized 911” to improve its cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) response services.

“Hindi pa rin talaga siya na-centralized in essence. Nagkaroon ng 911 number pero hindi pa rin nawala ang dating existing number is still not really centralized in essence. There is a 911 number but the previously existing numbers are still there,” PCEM president Richard Henry Santos said during a PHA forum.

“You can see that somehow, the delivery of services is also quite political... there is a bit of blocking or a limit to the provision of services,” he also said.

The group also urged lawmakers to pass the Emergency Medical Services System (EMSS) Act and the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Act, saying that reinforcing the country’s EMS and CPR readiness is timely, considering that many people are now traveling.

PHA Council on CPR chairman Dr. Don Robespierre Reyes said they were conducting Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) trainings in a bid to establish a CPR-Ready Philippines.

Reyes said that amid the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the 5Cs of CPR or the “Check, Call, Cover, Compress, and Connect” still have to be applied, if necessary.

House committee okays 8 bills on new tourism sites

THE 73-member House of Representatives Committee on Tourism chaired by Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona has approved eight bills seeking to declare Baclaran Church and seven other significant places in the country as new tourist destinations.

Committee vice chairman Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo identified the locations lined up for declaration as new tourist attractions as;

• The immediate vicinity of Baclaran Church, also known as the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City, under House Bill (HB) No. 5168;

• Mount Arayat, along the borders of the municipalities of Arayat and Magalang in Pampanga, under HB No. 5169;

• Luzon Datum in Barangay Hinanggayon, Mogpog in Marinduque, under HB No. 5170;

• Cebu Safari and Adventure Park in Barangay Corte, Carmen town in Cebu, under HB No. 5171;

• Guinsaugon Eco-Adventure Park in Barangay Guinsaugon, St. Bernard in Southern Leyte, under HB No. 5173;

• Tugonan Waterfalls in Barangay San Lorenzo, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, under HB No. 5167;

• Dao Heritage Tree in Barangay Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City, under HB No. 5172; and

• Passig Islet in Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, under HB No. 5174.

Rio N. Araja

“Help our learners recover from learning losses and suspend classes only during public emergencies, severe weather disturbances, and calamities,” he said.

Poa appealed to LGUs to support DepEd efforts to provide continuous learning the children even as Tropical Storm Paeng lashed across Luzon and the Visayas on Friday, and a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that jolted Abra on Tuesday, resulted in class suspension in the affected areas.

“DepEd is against the unnecessary cancellation of classes and the use of our schools as billeting areas for events that are not related to the curriculum,” Poa said in a statement.

“Your support affords uninterrupted class sessions for our learners, and helps our teachers avoid unnecessary make-up classes, which pose an additional burden to their teaching load,” he added, DepEd issued last Department Order 37 or the Guidelines on the Cancellation or Suspension of Classes and Work in Schools in the Event of Natural Disasters, Power Outages/Power Interruptions, and other calamities.

The guidelines state that in-person and online classes from kindergarten to Grade 12 and work are automatically suspended

in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Nos. 1 to 5; or when the weather bureau issues orange (intense) and red (torrential) rainfall warnings, or flood warning.

During earthquakes, in-person, online classes, and work from kindergarten to Grade 12 and Alternative Learning Systems are automatically canceled in schools situated in LGUs with Intensity Scale 5 (strong) or above declared by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Local chief executives may decide on the cancellation of classes when there are strong winds, but no TCWS was issued, when there are torrential rains in specific areas or when there is flooding even if no warning has been issued.

Quake leaves 84 hurt in CAR, Ilocos Region, says NDRRMC

AT least 84 people were confirmed injured in the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that shook Abra and adjacent provinces on Tuesday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

There were no reports of death or missing person, the agency said. Twelve of the casualties were reported from Ilocos Region and 72 from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The NDRRMC also said that 44,447 families or 147,378 individuals residing in 334 barangays in the three north Luzon regions were affected by the earthquake.

Twenty families sought shelter in three evacuation centers, while the rest have either returned home, or staying with relatives and friends.=

The NDRRMC also said a total of 4,684 were partially damaged while 14 others were totally destroyed by the tremors.

Damage to infrastructure was estimated at P81.9 million.

Meanwhile, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Undersecretary Raymundo Ferrer extended condolences to the families of the two Army soldiers of the 24th Infantry Battalion who were killed in ambush by New People’s Army (NPA) at Barangay Gacab, Malibcong, Abra on Thursday.

The fatalities troops were part of a disaster response team deployed to assist the quake victims in Abra when attacked by the communist rebels.

Salceda to BIR: Observe process to avoid litigation

By Rio N. Araja

ALBAY Rep. Joey Salceda on Friday reminded the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) “to always ensure due process in favor of the taxpayer” so that tax cases would not be dismissed in the courts of law.

Salceda issued the statement following a Court of Tax Appeals’ (CTA) decision on a tax deficiency case against a condominium corporation that effectively erased P50 million in alleged tax deficiencies for failure of the BIR to “personally inform” representatives of the firm.

“Not following due process to the very extreme leads tax cases open to litigation. When tax dues are litigated, we don’t get to collect immediately. The government already loses, even when it wins

the case in the end,” he said.

The CTA decision was in connection with a 2008 deficiency case against a Quezon City-based condominium firm.

The CTA en banc sustained the resolution of its Second Division that the IBM Plaza Condominium Association Inc. of Bagumbayan in Quezon City was not liable to pay the P50-million tax as the bureau did not send notice of informal conference (NIC) to the firm.

The court said the notice was part of due process required by Revenue Regulations 22 44 in relation to Section 228 of the Tax Code.

“SoIstronglyremindtheofficialsoftheBureauofInternal Revenue to make sure every process is according to law, regulations and standards of due process. Nothing

16 senators leave for Belgium, France for events before Halloween weekend

FOUR senators have flown to Belgium to attend conferences of the European Parliament on Oct. 25-28, while eight others are currently in France upon invitation by the French Senate.

Those who went to Brussels, Belgium were Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Imee Marcos, She win Gatchalian, and Mark Villar.

On the other hand, those who flew to Paris were Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Christopher Go, Lito Lapid, and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito. Their Oct. 24-27 trip was ostensibly for information exchanges with their French counterparts on such topics are energy, food security, security and defense, and climate change.

Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino are also in Thailand from Oct. 26 to 29 for the 30th Annual

meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum led by the National Parliament of Thailand. The Philippine is a founding member of the NPT.

The Senate Secretariat said the meetings of Philippine senators with their counterparts in Europe and Asia would “bolster ties and cooperation among nations of the world.”

Meanwhile, in his speech before the Thai parliamentarians, Dela Rosa cited the importance of diplomacy “as we craft pieces of legislation to effectively secure and lead our countries and the region.”

“By recognizing that our duties as parliamentarians affect not only our home country but our region and the world in a broader range, we have a more significant role in ensuring regional peace and security,” he said. Dela Rosa noted they cannot disregard the changing global situation concerning security challenges such as terrorism and transnational crime including drug trafficking.

“The OCD is terribly saddened by this attack of the Communist Terrorist Group on our soldiers during the humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations in Abra. Remember, our soldiers were not there as combatants but as relief workers, extending the aid of the government to disasterstricken communities,” Ferrer said in a message posted on the OCD Facebook page on Thursday night.

should be left to chance,” Salceda said.

He said he wanted the BIR to “undertake an effort of codifying its own revenue regulations” so that “old or obscure RRs are not set aside, only to be invoked later by an erring taxpayer.”

“It will be good for both the government and the taxpayers if we were following just one codified set of rules,” he added.

Efforts to simplify the payment of taxes all align with the goals of the Ease of Paying Taxes Act authored by Salceda, and approved on third and final reading by the House.

“I think the Senate will take it up by November. We could have it by end of the year, at least in bicam if not yet as enacted law,” he said.

Imee calls for X’mas truce between AFP, NPA

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Imee Marcos on Friday urged the National Democratic Front and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to observe a Christmas truce following the ambush-slay of two soldiers in Abra.

Marcos noted that a ceasefire would ensure a a peaceful celebration of the forthcoming holiday season.

She deplored the enemies of government for showing “no conscience, no mercy, no heart, no humanity in carrying out these dastardly acts in calamitous circumstances.”

“I strongly condemn the killing of two soldiers in Abra perpetrated by NPA terrorists amid the new calamity that struck the

province,” she said.

Killed in the ambush last Thursday in Barangay Gacab, Malicbong, Abra were Pfc. Ariz Bautista, 26, and Pfc. Jimmy Viernes, 25,both members of the Army’s 24th Infantry “Wildcat” Battalion. Pfc. Reymond Galo and Pfc. Randy Cinco survived the attack.

The soldiers were on their way to LicuanBaay for humanitarian assistance and disaster response mission to help residents after the magnitude 6.4 earthquake last Monday, Oct. 25, 2022.

“I also extend my sincere sympathies to the families of our two new heroes, as well as my wish for the speedy recovery of the wounded,” Marcos added.

NOT SO WARM WELCOME FOR NEW DOH USEC. Department of Health workers stage a protest action to denounce the appointment of former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan on his very first day as Health Undersecretary. Danny Pata

CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER. Pretty little ballerinas all bundled up in tutus are having the time of their life at the launch of “Christmas Symphony,” a musical presentation at the SM City in Angono, Rizal. Manny Palmero

GETTING READY FOR UNDAS HEAVY TRAFFIC. Metro Paci c Tollways South, operator of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, reactivates its “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko” traveler assistance project in anticipation of the unusually very heavy tra c during the observance of All Saints’ Day (Undas). Roy Tomandao

Imee backs reforms for nursing profession

SENATOR Imee Marcos has urged fellow lawmakers to support proposed reforms for the nursing profession.

She noted that this is in anticipation of “inseparable public health and economic challenges” in the months to come.

A global nursing shortage, which the In ternational Council of Nurses put at 17% , has created higher-income opportunities abroad for Filipino nurses.

However, Marcos said their departure will weaken the country’s ability to cope with public health emergencies during pandemics and natural calamities.

Citing the September 30 data of the De partment of Health (DOH), she said Philip pines itself is short by about 106,000 nurses.

The Hamburg-based survey and statistics firm Statista also reported that the country only had 8.03 nurses for every 10,000 Filipinos, which is only 29% of the ideal nurse-to-patient ratio of 27.5: 10,000 as stated in the United Na tions’ Sustainable Development Goals.

“Our own shortage of nurses and the fear of an unforeseen pandemic or widespread natural calamity like an earthquake call for their presence here.

On the other hand, she said they are breadwinners helping their families cope with the ever-rising cost of living.

With the peso forecast to weaken further against the dollar in coming months, Marcos acknowledged that nurses’ remittances will help shore up the country’s foreign currency reserves. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Agents nab tourist carrying

P56.7m worth of shabu

GOVERNMENT agents have intercepted a Norwegian tourist caught with a baggage containing more than 8 kilos of shabu worth P56.7 million at the Ninoy Aquino Interna tional Airport.

A composite team from the Bureau of Customs - Port of NAIA, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and NAIAInter Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (IADITG) arrested the foreigner upon her arrival at Terminal 3.

Customs officials did not identify the sus pect. They, however, said she brought in the baggage from Dubai via Emirates Airlines EK334 and the point of origin was Johannes burg, South Africa.

Prior to the arrest, a Customs x-ray scan ning agent alerted Port of NAIA and PDEA personnel of a screened baggage believed to contain illegal drugs at the terminal.

The authorities then placed the luggage under physical examination and discovered the contraband.

The foreigner will be charged with violat ing Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehen sive Drug Act, and RA 10863, the Customs Modernization And Tariff Act (CMTA) be fore the Pasay City prosecutor’s office.

In August this year, authorities also ar rested a passenger from South Africa, also for trying to smuggle P144.3 million worth of shabu.

Airport authorities have heightened vigi lance in the campaign against illegal drug trafficking in a bid to discourage interna tional drug syndicates from using the Phil ippines as a transshipment point for illegal substances.

Port officials said their campaign against illegal drugs is in full support to Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz’ border control initiatives. Joel E. Zurbano

Lagman is UP most distinguished alumni

THE University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) has chosen Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman as its most distinguished alumnus for 2022.

The award is the highest honor that is bestowed on a graduate of the University of the Philippines.

The UPAA announced in its website that “heading the elite group of University of the Philippines graduates is Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman (AB, 1962 cum laude; Bachelor of Laws, 1966) who has been named the year’s UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus.”

Under its guidelines, the UPAA Most Distinguished Alumni Award is conferred on alumni “who have demonstrated, in their chosen field of endeavor, exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions that bring about substantial benefits to soci ety and distinct honor to the university.

Recognition is given to achievements and contributions that impact the community in which the alumni are or have been active, whether this is at the local, national or inter national level.”

In its Sept. 20, the UPAA stated that “the UPAA Board of Directors is proud to announce that you are the recipient of the 2022 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumnus Award in recog nition of your leadership and achievements in your field, and contributions that create change to benefit the lives of many.”

Lagman is recognized as a conscientious, credible and articulate opposition leader in the House of Representatives where he was minor ity leader in the 13th Congress, the leader of the Magnificent-7 opposition group in the 17th Congress, and remains an independent opposi tion member in the current 19th Congress.

He principally authored landmark laws, such as Republic Act 6657 or the Comprehen sive Agrarian Reform Law, RA9346 abolishing the death penalty, RA 10868 or the Centenar ian Act, various labor statutes for the benefit of the workingman and a triumvirate of human rights legislation which included RA 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act, RA 10353 or the Crimi nalization of Enforced Disappearance Act and RA 10368 or the Compensation to Martial Law Victims Act. Rio N. Araja

BUILDINGS AND TOMBS. Highrise buildings at the Makati Commercial and Business District dwarf the graveyard plots of the dead at the Manila South Cemetery. The stacked tombs on top of each other make an eye-catching condominiumtype resting place.

Ragos affirms recanting allegations vs. De Lima

FORMER Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officerin-charge Rafael Ragos affirmed before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court the recantation of his allegations against detained former senator Leila de Lima, Atty. Boni Tacardon, de Lima’s legal counsel bared.

Tacarcdon, quoted by a GMA News report said “for the defense panel, it is very important that he was able to identify his affidavit of recantation and we were able to question him if what he said was true. And he con firmed that all he said were true.”

Ragos has recanted his allegations against De Lima in May, and accord ing to Tacardon, Ragos insisted that he was coerced from the start.

“He also insisted that he was coerced

from the start and the coercion was con tinuous so he just played along because he was concerned about his life, his ca reer, and his family,” Tacardon, quoted in the GMA News report, said. “That’s why he did not talk from 2016 to 2022. He said when he noticed that the power of the person coercing him was weak ening, he decided to come out.”

Reports said Ragos was initially ex pected to affirm his recantation during the September 30 hearing of one of De Lima’s drug cases. However, this was pushed back after the prosecution urged the court to reconsider letting Ragos testify.

Tacardon said De Lima was happy with the development. “Well, for sure senator Leila de Lima is happy. She said this was a chance for the court to evalu ate the testimony.”

De Lima’s request for a medical furlough was also approved, the legal counsel said. Tacardon said de Lima “was still feeling the effects from when she was taken hostage in early October.”

De Lima will also get a full checkup at the Manila Doctors Hospital. “Our request was three days but senator Leila said that she will return to the Custodial Center as soon as this is finished,” Ta cardon said

Comelec: local, overseas poll registration to start December

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will resume registra tion for local and overseas voters from December 9, 2022 to January 31, 2023.

Lanao del Norte lawmakers Sit tie Aminah Dimaporo and Khalid Dimaporo meanwhile are seeking to postpone the elections in the Bang samoro Autonomous Region in Mus lim Mindanao (BARMM). The Di maporo siblings earlier filed House Bill 4213 and House Bill 4220 seeking to amend the Bangsamoro Organic law that created the autonomous re gion in 2019.

Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudi angco added that for local voter regis tration, qualified citizens may submit their documentary requirements and have their biometrics data captured at the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) or at any satellite registration site having jurisdiction over their residence.

The official said apart from the filled-out form, applicants must pre sent and submit competent proof of identity as may be allowed by the Comelec or the appropriate affidavit of identification sworn under law.

For overseas voters who seek to participate in the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, the Comelec said they must transfer their registration record from overseas to local until January 31.

Further, the Comelec will conduct pi lot tests of the Register Anywhere Pro ject (RAP) in five select malls in Metro Manila, GMA News reported It will be held every Saturday and Sunday from December 10, 2022 until January 29, 2023 except for the following dates: De cember 24, 25, 31, and January 1, 2023, the report said.

On seeking to postpone the BAR MM polls, Sittie said her bill “aims to give the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) sufficient time to propose, prepare, and legislate sig nificantly measures and lay the foun dation to the development and pres ervation of long-lasting peace in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.”

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said mall hours in the National Capital Region will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. during weekdays start ing November 14, 2022, until January 6, 2023.

MMDA spokesperson Mel Carunun gan, in a public hearing, said “it was agreed upon that starting November 14 up to January 6, the adjusted mall hours in Metro Manila will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the weekdays,” GMA News reported.

The official said mall owners were ad vised to hold sales during weekends and inform the MMDA about such activities in order for the agency to help in traffic management.

Earlier, the MMDA said it expected 50,000 more vehicles on the road during

By Rio N. Araja

THE Quezon City government has rec ognized nine exemplary individuals and two institutions in its 20th MLQ Gawad Parangal for bringing honor and pride to the city as part of the city’s 83rd founding anniversary.

With the theme “Sama-samang Pagban gon sa Bagong Panahon,” this year’s Gawad Parangal recognized individuals and organ izations that exhibited excellence in their respective fields—empowering their fellow

the “ber” months.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has meanwhile partnered with the private sector to be able to serve the public, par ticularly foreigners who are staying in the country.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco and officials of Robinsons Land Cor poration (RLC) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Oct. 25, pro viding for the opening of its services to foreign nationals at Robinsons Place Manila for the upcoming 2023 annual report (AR).

“The off-site venue will be open from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. The space that we will be using in Robinsons mall will also be larger, so it will very much benefit the transacting public,” Tansingco said in a statement Friday.

QCitizens and contributing to the develop ment of the city.

Mayor Joy Belmonte spearheaded the awarding ceremony which was held at the EVM Convention Center on Thursday night.

This tribute is not only a recognition of the gem of our nation.

“I dare say that the accomplishments that we are celebrating today are real treasures of the human spirit,” Belmonte said.

The awardees were ex-Department of Interior and Local Government chief

THE Philippine Army (PA) on Friday said the newly donated Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Bo-105 helicopter to its Army Aviation Regi ment will greatly enhance its capabilities to respond to disaster relief missions.

“The donation of the cutting-edge Messer schmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Bo 105 will be an ad ditional mission-essential equipment for the Army Aviation that will support the Army units and other government agencies during disasters and calamities in the country,” PA spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement.

Meanwhile, PA chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the donated helicopter will catalyze the Army’s future rotary aviation and a springboard to improve the capacity of the Army Aviation Regiment.

He also added that the PA will continue to push for additional air assets to develop the Army Aviation Regiment’s capability of sup porting combined operations through the ac quisition of armed reconnaissance helicopters, medium-lift multipurpose helicopters, and special mission aircraft as well as the expan sion of its base support facilities.

“I vow to develop and enhance the capabil ity of Army Aviation,” Brawner stressed.

The aircraft was donated by Dornier Tech nology, Inc. to the Army Aviation Regiment during short ceremonies at Fort Ramon Mag saysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija last Oct. 26.

Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Jose C. Faustino, Jr., who was the guest-of-honor and speaker, emphasized the importance of the air

craft on equipment readiness and operations.

“To the PA, headed by Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., congratulations! This aircraft will beef up your equipment readiness with out any acquisition cost to the government. Operationally, it will hasten the response time for PA-directed flight missions since its opera tional use will be directly under your control,” he added.

As this developed, 13 Army aviators gradu ated under the Aviator Qualification Course “Paraluman” Class 19-2021 at the Army Avia tion Regiment headquarters also in Fort Ra mon Magsaysay on Oct. 26.

Faustino, who also served as the guest of honor and speaker, commended the dedication and strong will of the instructor pilots and the students. Francisco Tuyay

Eduardo Año for his tenacity as a retired general for the Philippine Army, as well as for being one of the leaders of the Na tional Task Force Against COVID-19; Dr. Prospero De Vera, Commission on Higher Education chairperson, for being an exemplary academician who cham pioned quality education by mobilizing stakeholders to give the Filipino Youth broader opportunities, and for lobbying for the enactment and implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Ter tiary Education; Ana Ros Almario, who

currently serves as the Vice President of the Adarna House and School Director of Raya School, a progressive Elementary School in QC, for being a staunch advo cate of progressive education, literature and of all things Filipino, and Ditta San dico-Ong, a visionary fashion designer who embraces sustainable and environ mentally-friendly production processes that creatively transform indigenous fib ers, such as banana, pineapple and abaca into fashion art forms, designing wraps that follow the movements of the body.

CEMETERY INSPECTION. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. visits the Manila North Cemetery and port in Manila to ensure that people are safe when visiting their deceased loved ones in the cemeteries. Police are also scattered inside and outside cemeteries, docks, and bus stations. Norman Cruz

‘BATANG MATIBAY.’ Russell Lipchin (third from right), CEO of Dairy Health and Nutrition Solutions, joins Brand Manager Regine Nario-Mendoza (third from left) as they pose with the winners of the 2022 Batang Matibay Awards (from left) Isabelle Miranda, Matt Jayrus Evangelista, Xoanne Kyle Ocampo, and Sean Geralyn Mara at Estancia Mall in Pasig City on Friday. The awards aim to honor grade school learners who have demonstrated resilience amidst adversities in life. Norman Cruz

Diana Noche

Ex-Sen. Leila de Lima

Rafael Ragos

Communism and politics are destroying

versity campus!

The same radical elements are opposed to al lowing the presence of policemen inside the UP campuses, on the hollow excuse that their pres ence there threatens academic freedom. In other words, the radicals insist that UP campuses are above the law!

The UP Diliman Chancellor boasts that the campus is free space for anyone and everyone who wishes to hold a protest activity there.

THESE are sad times for the University of the Philippines.

The recent Times Higher Education’s World University states that UP is no longer the number one university in the Philippines.

As a regular observer of developments in my alma mater, I believe that UP’s slide to second place in the Times list is a consequence of what UP’s administrative and academic personnel, and contemporary UP students, have been busy with.

The UP charter mandates that the state univer sity should educate its students, make them lead ers in their chosen disciplines, and produce out standing research.

Under ideal circumstances, therefore, UP should produce graduates imbued with impecca ble or nearly impeccable theoretical and practical skills and acumen, and generate research output which add to existing human knowledge.

That may have been true in the past decades, but it isn’t the reality today. Instead of academic pursuits, many UP faculty and students have taken the wrong path through internecine politics and communism.

Many of the current crop of UP faculty mem bers have been spending more time in politics than in academic undertakings.

They have been so obsessed with their hatred for then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that most of all classroom and online instruction is devoted to finding fault in the Duterte administration.

Many of the current UP administration officials and faculty have absolutely no tolerance for progovernment views, and harass those who refuse to toe the “anti-establishment” stance anointed by UP officialdom.

I remember the time in August 2018 when UP President Danilo Concepcion attended a party of the Marcos-era Kabataang Barangay hosted by now Senator Imee Marcos at the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman.

Concepcion is an “alumnus” of the KB and is a known ally of Imee Marcos, the older daughter of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

The next day, angry UP faculty members and radical students publicly demanded Concepcion’s resignation.

They insisted that the presence of pro-Marcos personalities in UP Diliman violated the “sanctity” of the campus and the memory of radical UP faculty and students who fought the Marcos government and martial law in the 1970s and the 1980s.

Those radicals conveniently forgot that UP is public space, and the KB event was held at a venue open for lease by any organization. They stopped badgering Concepcion only after the lat ter issued a public apology for attending the gath ering.

Imagine that! UP faculty members and stu dents dictated on the UP President what event he may and may not attend inside a state-owned uni

That propaganda, however, applies only to anti-administration protests. The Duterte Youth tried to hold a pro-government rally there, but they were repeatedly refused permission to do so by the UP Diliman Chancellor.

In 2014, UP Diliman students hurled projec tiles and insults at then President Noynoy Aqui no’s Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad after the latter delivered a speech at the UP School of Economics. Abad had been invited as a guest in a symposium, and his speech did not sit well with the radicals.

Anti-communism crusader Lorraine Badoy should help expose the communists in UP

Irene Marcos-Araneta was almost beaten up by radical UP students when she attempted to watch a play at Palma Hall in UP Diliman. The timely intercession of security guards saved her from the violent mob.

A Protestant preacher told his congregation during a Sunday service at the UP Film Center in Diliman (which they leased) that “the Bible con siders homosexuality a sin” was almost lynched by radical UP students.

Parents have been complaining about the spread of communism in the UP campuses.

As early as their first year in college, many UP students fall prey to cadres of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-Na tional Democratic Front troika who clandestinely poison their minds about the government.

Inevitably, the reds entice the gullible and ide alistic among the UP students to abandon their school work and attend communist meetings held in stealth.

After a brief period of communist indoctrina tion, the youngsters join the rebels in the coun tryside and take up arms against the military establishment. The waylaid kids are then forced to shoot it out with soldiers, and get killed in the fighting.

In the end, many of these UP students return home in a box to their grieving parents who were under the impression that their children have been all along studying to become UP graduates who can be of service to the nation.

Anti-communism crusader Lorraine Badoy should help expose the communists in UP.

Due process for the Remullas and everyone

MANY will be surprised about this but I do not support the call for the resignation of Justice Sec retary Boying Remulla because his son was ar rested and charged with allegedly importing high grade marijuana from the United States to the Philippines.

I know Secretary Remulla as we intersected in the University of the Philippines College of Law for a few years—but I would not claim any close professional and personal relationship with him.

I do know some of his in-laws and I have taught and mentored several of his nephews and nieces but that does not stop me from being objective about the situation involving his eldest son Juanito whom I personally do not know.

in itself that the good Secretary does not have as much power as we think he might have.

I am not going to humor the rumors (pun in tended – that President Duterte or a group iden tified with the former president’s drug campaign, now rejected by the Bong Bong Marcos adminis tration, went after Remulla’s son but clearly the Remullas did not stop the PDEA operatives to conduct their operation.

Additionally, the spotlight will be on this case while it undergoes investigation and trial. The de cisions of the assigned prosecutors and even the trial judge that will preside over the case will be strictly scrutinized by media, the legal community, the opposition, and even ordinary citizens.

Even if he wanted to, and I think he will not want to, Secretary Remulla will be helpless in helping (pun intended again) his son.

Finally, there is a broader argument why I do not support the call for Secretary Remulla’s res ignation.

And it is because I truly believe in the univer sality of due process and that justice is fairness as the American legal and political philosopher John Rawls had articulated it.

I know where the call for resignation comes from. One is delicadeza which in this context is guilt by association. Two is that Secretary Remulla will use his position to influence the criminal pro ceedings against his son. Both are fallacious and not convincing, Guilt by association is never a good thing and it does not matter whether we like the official in volved or not.

In this case particularly Juanito is in fact way above the age of minority and I do echo Secretary Remulla’s statement that his son is emancipated and must face the consequences of his actions.

The proposition that Secretary Remulla will use his power and position as head of the Justice De partment to get his son off the hook does not hold water upon close scrutiny.

In the first place, the fact that an operation was executed against his son by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is a big statement

According to Rawls: “The principles of jus tice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance. This ensures that no one is advantaged or disadvan taged in the choice of principles by the outcome of natural chance or the contingency of social cir cumstances . . .

“This explains the propriety of the name ‘jus tice as fairness’: it conveys the idea that the prin ciples of justice are agreed to in an initial situation that is fair.”

This means everyone must be accorded the same rights, the same assurances of fairness. This is why I protested against the unjustified detention of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. That is why I call for the release of political detainees Leila De Lima and Myles Albasin and many others.

Secretary Remulla, in the regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) early in October, said the Philippines aims to in

EDITORIAL

Sports: Boon to children’s mental health

IT’S been nearly three years since our children lost their “right” to play games, no thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the world to a standstill –with governments asking children and senior citizens to stay home to avoid the virus.

The World Health Organization said those 17 years old and below were the most susceptible to virus infection although the effects were far riskier for adults.

Study shows that more children are asymptom atic, but they can infect others, so they remain a threat to the household.

But the psychological effect of the pandemic on children due to long inactivity has become alarming.

Mental health problem has led to more signifi cant healthcare concerns.

Good thing the government is adamant about putting the lives of children and adolescents back to normal.

The Batang Pinoy program should serve as an impetus for local government executives to sustain the country’s drive to combat and finally defeat the fear of the COVID-19 virus

First, the Department of Education pushed the face-to-face classes through.

Although it is still a hybrid combination of on-line and actual physical classes, teachers have become more creative in dealing with the proce dure to at least evade if not combat the persisting COVID virus.

Now the Philippine Sports Commission is tak ing the lead in boosting the physical activities of the children at the forthcoming launch of the Batang Pinoy 2022 to be hosted by the provincial government of Ilocos Sur on Dec. 17-22, 2022.

It’s going to be the first multi-sports event after the COVID-19 outbreak.

This will be the first time the Batang Pinoy Na tional Youth Games will be back in action after the COVID-19 pandemic. It will cater to studentathletes and out-of-school youth aged 10-15 years old from 81 provinces and 144 cities.

There are 17 sports to be played in total. Nine sports will be contested in face-to-face competi tions: archery, athletics, badminton, chess, cy cling, table tennis, swimming, weightlifting and obstacle course racing (demonstration sport).

Conducted as virtual contests are eight dis ciplines such as arnis, dancesport, judo, karate, muay, pencak silat, taekwondo, and wushu.

A total 1995 medals -- 600 gold, 600 silver and 795 bronzes -- will be at stake in the 6-day sports fest.

Around 7,000 participants representing ath letes, coaches and officials are expected to take part in the Batang Pinoy 2022 National Champi onships.

“I know that it will be a very exciting time for our young athletes and we certainly hope that this will finally give them an opportunity to compete, interact and be part of the community of young athletes that will be part of their holistic develop ment as healthy citizens of this country,” said PSC chairman Nolie Eala.

We need more activities like this, especially at the local level -- from the barangay up to the mu nicipality and province.

The Batang Pinoy program should serve as an impetus for local government executives to sus tain the country’s drive to combat and finally de feat the fear of the COVID-19 virus.

No evidence to our claim in the South China Sea

meridian of longitude east of Greenwich to the point of beginning.

“The United States will pay to Spain the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) within three months after the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty.”

Any provision not specifically stated in the Treaty after the ratification is assumed not includ ed in this agreement.

This gives that pro-American quisling the rea son that it was the Philippines that instigated the US to come to our defense.

SINCE our alleged conflict with China began in 2014, never has the Philippines presented any evi dence in support of our claim to South China Sea.

All we are saying is that South China Sea is part of our territory based on geographical loca tion. We have not done anything to present evi dence in support of our claim.

There are three reasons why the unanimous de cision of the Permanent Arbitration Court (PAC) is favorable to the Philippines.

First, China refused to participate, and claimed PAC’s lack of jurisdiction to decide the issue.

Second, the Philippines filed a petition without the consent of China.

Third, the PAC is not part of the UN agency, and, as a principle, no state can be sued without its consent.

China has every right to ignore our petition for lack of jurisdiction.

The decision of the PAC is more of the fact that the Philippines presented no evidence in support of its claim.

This explains why China to this day insists that our citation of the PAC’s decision rendered on July 12, 2016 has not been enforced, and neither has it the mechanism to enforce its rules, notwith standing that the Philippines refused to submit evidence in support of the country’s claim of a large area in the South China Sea.

Instead, we failed and/or ignored to present the Treaty of Paris that was signed on December 10, 1898 which provision virtually defined the limits and extend the country’s archipelago under Ar ticle III of the treaty, to quote:

“Spain cedes to the United States the archi pelago known as the Philippine Islands, and com prehending the islands lying within the following line:

“A line running from west to east along or near the twentieth parallel of north latitude, and through the middle of the navigable chan nel of Bachi, from the one hundred and eigh teenth (118th) to the one hundred and twenty seventh (127th) degrees meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, thence along the one hun dred and twenty seventh (127th) degree merid ian of longitude east of Greenwich to the paral lel of four degree and forty five minutes (4°45′) north latitude, thence along the parallel of four degrees and forty five minutes (4°45′) north latitude to its intersection with the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty five minutes (119°35′) east of Green wich, thence along the meridian of longitude one hundred and nineteen degrees and thirty five minutes (119°35′) east of Greenwich to the parallel of latitude seven degrees and forty min utes (7°40′) north, thence along the parallel of latitude seven degrees and forty minutes (7°40′) north to its intersection with the one hundred and sixteenth (116th) degree meridian of lon gitude east of Greenwich, thence by a direct line to the intersection of the tenth (10th) de gree parallel of north latitude with the one hun dred and eighteenth (118th) degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, and thence along the one hundred and eighteenth (118th) degree

corporate human rights into law enforcement and judicial processes.

According to Remulla, “It makes for a solid foun dation of a civilized, democratic society, which is at the heart of Filipino culture, identity, and history. We are reforming our system to deliver what our people deserve – real justice in real time.”

Understandably, international and national hu man rights organziations were skeptical about these promises and were disappointed that the UNHRC failed to remind the Philippines about its human rights responsibilities and duties.

Many were particularly incensed about the comment Secretary Remulla made about redtag ging being “part of democracy.”

But in this case, the Philippines intentionally did not submit this piece of evidence probably be cause it would expose the falsity of our claim to an area outside of Article II of the Treaty.

The decision of the PAC is more of the fact that the Philippines presented no evidence in support of its claim

Yet, we insist we have evidence in support of our claim which is rather not specific but an in choate claim over an area which the Philippines could not exactly point its location, except to state that this area is ours.

Those islets signed in the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898 constitute our territories.

An area located outside of that demarcated boundary is presumed outside of our jurisdic tion. This now becomes crucial to our claim in the South China Sea.

For all the US braggadocio of coming to our defense in the event of conflict with China, the US has refused to express their support to our claim in the disputed area in the South China Sea.

As far as the US is concerned, it can only cite that provision in the Treaty it signed on December 10, 1898.

Many are asking why the US has remained si lent or has failed to clarify its position with regard to the disputed boundaries in the South China Sea.

The US, being a signatory to the Treaty of Paris, should come forward and clarify the issue with the Philippines, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan, it having an obligation to explain this matter instead of urging the Philippines to enter into an alliance with them against China.

There is no unsettling issue that currently di vides the Philippines and China nor there is an urgent necessity for the Philippines to enter into duplicitous military alliance with the US like our signing of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the Enhanced Dense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and demand for the expansion of its mili tary bases here including the possible return of its naval bases.

All these were signed by us in anticipation of possible conflict with China.

The US has conditioned the mind of our people about the possibility of a conflict with China.

US policy makers insist in referring to our past historical ties to bolster such alliance.

This now appears that this country is the one seeking an alliance with the US, and not the other way around, thereby making the country forever beholden to the US.

This now serves to bolster the bargaining le verage of the US for the stay of their bases in our country.

I have been redtagged several times by Lorraine Badoy and the NTF-ELCAC several times for be ing a human rights lawyer, a defender of student activists, a climate justice advocate, an indig enous peoples’ advocate, and a defender of Lumad schools, administrators, and students. Badoy herself admits that she has no evidence against me yet she repeated several times in her SMNI show that I am a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philip pines.

Many of Secretary Remulla’s colleagues— some are classmates and others fellow professors from UP Law – would find such an accusation ridiculous but the reality is that Badoy’s attacks

The US never raised a voice that the US was a signatory to that Treaty indicating the exact lati tude and longitude that would now comprise the Philippine archipelago they grabbed from Spain, and even paid 20 million dollars for their occupa tion of the islands through sale and not by imperi alistic domination.

They occupied the country for more than 50 years and placed its people under tutelage called “com monwealth” and not a single protest was heard from them about the inequities in the boundaries it signed with Spain, with China now emerging as a power to reckon with in this part of the globe.

All that China did was to define and assert what historically belongs to it.

If there appears to be inequities in the treaty because our westward boundaries were too close to our border that they practically removed the boundary line of 12-mile limit extension under international law.

Nonetheless, the US as signatory to the treaty has not done anything to protest this matter and continue to insinuate that China is encroaching into our territory in the South China Sea.

The only revision to the Treaty of Paris which the US made was to assure the British of a pas sageway for its ships passing to Australia from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and to the Brit ish colony in Malaysia.

Many believe that the revision to the treaty was instigated by the British to secure their free pas sage in the Sibutu Strait.

Thus, the existing treaty and/or alliances we later entered into with the US today dates back to the issue of the Cold war in the ˊ50s that give more leeway for the US to reassert its dominance in the region.

The prepositioning of the US forces is already an advantage application of their “rules-based” principle against China or against any other power in the area.

The so-called “Freedom Land” in the Spratly islands discovered by Tomas Cloma in the ˊ50s actually remains a part of China, mistakenly claimed to have been discovered by him only to appropriate the islets as Cloma’s private domin ion.

To recall, our claim in the South China Sea was filed by an American citizen who was appointed by the Noynoy Aquino government as our secre tary of foreign affairs.

Yet, never in any of the proceedings did this government request the US to clarify its position like raising our claim of ownership in the South China Sea.

The US has interest in securing and protecting our interest in the South China Sea, a boundary that the US bequeathed to the Philippines similar to its defense of NATO against Russian aggres sion.

Political analysts believe that BBM is likely to continue the country’s friendly ties with the US.

But what friendly ties have the Philippines to cherish when it was the US that broke many of its promises by including the destruction of our democracy?

They even went to the extent of concocting for us the necessity that it is this country that seeks an alliance to thwart the anticipated aggression likely to be initiated by China.

But historical betrayal and treachery are things that people would seldom forget.

(rpkapunan@gmail.com)

have endangered me. Under no country or universe would that kind of accusation be considered part of democracy. If I am killed, it should be clear why and who insti gated it.

But I will not stop what I am doing as a human rights, climate justice, and Lumad and indigenous peoples rights advocate.

Justice is fairness. Due process is for all, for Senator De Lima and the UP student leader and my fellow Cagayanon Myles, for my clients who are the best Filipinos I know, and yes for the Re mullas.

Website: tonylavina.com. Facebook: deanto nylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Honor Blanco

I truly believe in the universality of due process and that justice is fairness as the American legal and political philosopher John Rawls had articulated it

Nokor fires ballistic missiles ahead of US-Sokor air drills

SEOUL—North Korea fired two shortrange ballistic missiles on Friday, the South’s military said, the latest in a blitz of launches that Washington and Seoul have warned could culminate in another nuclear test.

The launch comes as the South wraps up 12 days of amphibious naval mili tary exercises, involving key security ally America, and ahead of the Monday start of major combined air drills that will involve more than 200 US and South Korean fighter jets.

Such exercises infuriate Pyongyang, which sees them as rehearsals for in vasion and has repeatedly justified its blitz of missile launches as necessary “countermeasures” to what it deems US aggression.

South Korea’s military said it had “detected two ballistic missiles fired from the Tongchon area in Kangwon between 1159 (0259 GMT) and 1218,” it said, referring to a province on North

Korea’s east coast.

“Our military has increased monitor ing and surveillance and is maintaining a full readiness posture in close coor dination with the US,” Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The missiles flew approximately 230 kilometres (143 miles) at an altitude of 24 kilometres and speeds of Mach 5, the statement said, calling the launch “a serious provocation” that violated UN sanctions.

The US military’s Indo-Pacific Com mand also condemned the launch, say ing it highlighted “the destabilizing im pact” of North Korea’s banned weapons programmes.

With talks long-stalled, tensions on the peninsula are at their highest point in years, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month declaring his coun try an “irreversible” nuclear power, ef fectively ending negotiations over his banned weapons programmes. AFP

AS RUSSIA FIGHTS ‘WESTERN DOMINATION’

Putin warns of ‘most dangerous decade’

MOSCOW—President

Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the war in Ukraine was part of Russia’s wider struggle against Western domination and warned that the world is probably entering the “most dangerous” decade since the end of World War II.

The Russian leader showed no sign of backpedaling on the eight-monthold invasion of Ukraine, and indeed painted the current situation as part of the decline of Western dominance in global affairs.

Putin’s comments on the global situ

ation at the annual Valdai Discussion Club meeting were answered indirectly by the US Defense Department’s re lease of its formal National Defense strategy, in which it painted Moscow as an “acute threat” to Western values.

“Putin’s reckless war of choice

European Union inks deal to ban combustion-engine cars by

BRUSSELS—The European Union on Thursday struck an agreement on leg islation to phase out new CO2-emit ting vehicles by 2035, negotiators an nounced.

The talks between representatives of the European Council, fronting the 27 member states, and the European Par liament started Thursday and underpin the bloc’s transition towards a carbonneutral future.

“We have just finished the nego tiations on CO2 standards for cars,” tweeted French MEP Pascal Canfin, who heads the European parliament’s environment commission.

“Historic (EU) decision for the cli mate which definitively confirms the target of 100 percent zero emission ve hicles in 2035 with intermediary phases between 2025 and 2030.”

Cars currently account for about 15 percent of all CO2 emissions in the EU,

Netanyahu eyes return to power as Israel votes

JERUSALEM—Israel’s Benjamin Ne

tanyahu is eyeing a return to power when the country holds its fifth election in four years Tuesday, his chances potentially boosted by the rise of the extreme-right.

The longest-serving leader in Israeli history, the 73-year-old right-winger and security hawk is for the first time in years campaigning from the opposition.

He is up against the centrist caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who last year maneuvered a motley alliance of eight parties into a coalition that managed to oust Netanyahu from power.

Lapid sails into the November 1 election just days after a diplomatic breakthrough —finalizing a landmark maritime border deal with foe Lebanon that unlocks off shore gas riches for both sides.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, is hoping that his record 15 years in power can con vince the electorate that only he has the necessary experience to lead the country, despite his ongoing corruption trial.

The polls have Netanyahu’s Likud emerging as the largest party in parlia ment, the Knesset—but in a political sys tem dominated by coalitions, his path to the premiership is far from certain.

Even while the ballots are still being counted, both leaders are likely to enter intense negotiations with smaller parties as they seek to reach the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority.

For Netanyahu that means rekindling his longstanding ties to the ultra-Ortho dox, while he has also courted the ex treme-right alliance of Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. AFP

while transportation overall accounts for around a quarter.

The agreed text, based on a proposal by the EU executive in July 2021, calls for reducing CO2 emissions from new cars in Europe to zero by 2035.

This means a de facto halt to sales of new petrol and diesel cars, light com mercial vehicles, and hybrids in the bloc by that date, in favor of all-electric vehicles.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen praised the agreement as “a crucial milestone to reach our 2030 climate target”.

There is a waiver for “niche” manu facturers, or those producing fewer than 10,000 vehicles per year.

Sometimes called the “Ferrari amend ment” as it will benefit luxury brands in particular, these vehicles are allowed to be equipped with a combustion engine until the end of 2035. AFP

against Ukraine -- the worst threat to Eu ropean security since the end of World War Two -- has made that very clear for the whole world,” said US Defense Sec retary Lloyd Austin.

The heady rhetoric took place as fighting ground on in Ukraine’s east and south, with neither side claiming signifi cant gains.

“The historical period of undivided dominance of the West in world affairs is coming to an end,” said Putin. “The unipolar world is becoming a thing of the past.

While the West was still “desperate ly” trying to govern humanity, it was

not able to. “Most peoples of the world no longer want to put up with it,” Putin said.

The Ukraine offensive, he said, was simply part of the “tectonic shifts of the entire world order.”

“Russia is not challenging the elites of the West, Russia is just trying to defend its right to exist,” he said.

Putin said using nuclear weapons in Ukraine would “make no sense at all to us —either in political or military terms.”

But Moscow again raised the allega tion that Ukraine planned to use a “dirty bomb”—a crude, small nuclear weapon —in the war. AFP

Climate pledges still ‘nowhere near enough’

PARIS—The world’s current climate pledges are far off track to limit tem perature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius and will steer a world already wracked by increasing floods, heatwaves, and storms towards “catastrophic” warm ing, the UN said Wednesday.

In a report released just over a week before high-stakes climate ne gotiations, the United Nation’s cli mate change organisation, said com bined commitments from nearly 200 nations put Earth on track to warm around 2.5C compared to pre-indus trial levels by the century’s end.

With the planet already battered by weather extremes after 1.2C of warm ing, experts say the world is failing to act with sufficient urgency to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are still nowhere near the scale and pace of emission reductions re quired to put us on track toward a 1.5 degrees Celsius world,” said UN Cli mate Change chief Simon Stiell.

“To keep this goal alive, national governments need to strengthen their climate action plans now and imple ment them in the next eight years.”

The UN’s climate experts have said emissions -- compared to 2010 levels -- need to fall 45 percent by 2030 to meet the 2015 Paris climate deal’s more ambitious 1.5C goal.

Myanmar junta tips ASEAN vs. peace plan ‘pressure’

YANGON—Myanmar’s junta has warned a regional bloc working to defuse its political crisis that setting a timeframe for a peace plan could lead to “negative implications”.

Myanmar has been in chaos since a coup in February last year, with more than 2,300 killed in the military’s bru tal crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has led so far fruit less efforts to solve the bloody im passe.

The bloc’s foreign ministers met in Jakarta on Thursday to discuss the cri

sis. The junta was not represented after it declined an invitation to send a nonpolitical figure.

A peace plan agreed by Myanmar and ASEAN last year—which the former has largely ignored—was a “process”, the junta’s foreign af fairs ministry said in a statement late Thursday.

“Inserting additional pressure by setting a timeframe will create more negative implications than positive ones.”

It also accused ASEAN of “discrim ination” for not inviting the junta-ap pointed foreign minister to the Jakarta

meeting.

ASEAN has said it is “gravely con cerned” over escalating human rights abuses, including the execution of four prisoners in July.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has not been invited to an ASEAN leaders’ summit next month—for the second year in a row—and Myanmar’s top diplomat Wunna Maung Lwin was ex cluded from ministerial talks in Febru ary and August.

The ASEAN policy of “constructive engagement is no longer on the table”, a junta-controlled newspaper said ear lier this month.

Current commitments from gov ernments around the world will in fact increase emissions from the 2010 benchmark by 10.6 percent by 2030, the UN said. This was a slight im provement from a similar analysis a year ago.

UN chief Antonio Guterres stressed that the goal of limiting warming to 1.5C was still within reach but warned that the current trajectory of countries’ climate commitments was “catastrophic”.

“We must absolutely start reducing emissions now,” he said in an inter view with the BBC.

When nations met for landmark cli mate talks in Glasgow last year, they agreed to speed up national climate pledges to cut carbon pollution and increase financial flows to vulnerable developing nations. AFP

Brazil on edge; Polarizing runoff goes down to wire with Lula vs. Bolsonaro

RIO DE JANEIRO—After a bitterly divisive campaign and inconclusive first-round vote, Brazil will elect its next president Sunday in a cliffhanger runoff between far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and veteran leftist Luiz Ina cio Lula da Silva.

The sprawling South American gi ant of 215 million people has been bracing for this moment for 18 months, since the Supreme Court an nulled the controversial corruption convictions that sent Lula to jail—a decision that cleared the way for the once wildly popular former presi dent (2003-2010) to make a political comeback.

It has been the charismatic-but-tar nished ex-metalworker’s race to lose ever since. And, though Lula remains the front-runner with two tense days to go, pundits say it is entirely possible he could do just that.

Bolsonaro, the vitriolic hardline conservative dubbed the “Tropical Trump,” trails by a score of 47 percent to 53 percent, according to a poll pub lished Thursday by the Datafolha insti tute—down from a 21-point lead for Lula in May.

Lula, who turned 77 Thursday, and Bolsonaro, 67, will go head-to-head in a final debate Friday night, likely to be a brutal last-ditch brawl. AFP

ANOTHER ROCKET. People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on October 28, after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles according to South Korea’s military. AFP

PREXY SELFIE. US President Joe Biden takes pictures with attendees during an event on Micron’s plan to invest in CHIPS manufacturing, at the SRC Arena in Syracuse, New York, on October 27. AFP

PYRAMID STOP. A woman tourist rides a horse near the Pyramid of Menkaure (Menkheres) at the Giza pyramids necropolis on the outskirts of the twin city of Egypt’s capital on October 27. AFP

Stocks retreat; peso hits 57.97 a dollar

STOCKS fell Friday to snap a four-day rally on profit-taking, while the peso sustained its advance against the US dollar on speculations central banks could begin slowing their interest rate hike campaign.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Ex change, shed 77 points, or 1.2 percent, to close at 6,153.43 as five of the six subsectors ended in the red.

COVID curbs slow iPhone production at biggest factory

BEJING, China—Millions of people in China were under tight Covid re strictions on Wednesday as sporadic outbreaks across the country prompt ed business closures and disruption at the world’s largest iPhone factory.

China is the last major economy welded to a zero-Covid strategy, per sisting with snap lockdowns, mass testing, and lengthy quarantines in a bid to keep infections to a minimum.

But fast-spreading virus variants have challenged that approach in recent months, with shutdowns and an ever-shifting patchwork of curbs sparking public exasperation and rare pockets of protest.

The world’s most populous nation recorded just 1,241 new local cases on Wednesday, the majority of which displayed no symptoms, according to the National Health Commission.

But they include an outbreak at a factory in the central city of Zheng zhou that employs around 300,000 people and is known as the largest producer of iPhones in the world.

Foxconn Technology Group, which runs the facility, acknowl edged the flare-up on Wednesday but said, “operation and production... is relatively stable”.

“Health and safety measures for employees (are) being maintained,” the Taiwanese electronics maker said, adding that it was “providing the necessary guarantees for liveli hoods, including material supplies, psychological comfort, and respon sive feedback”.

The company did not specify how many staff were affected by the outbreak but said it was a “small number” and that unsub stantiated online rumors of tens of thousands of infections were “pa tently false”.

“At present, the epidemic preven tion work in Zhengzhou is progress ing steadily, and the impact... is con trollable,” the statement said. AFP

Japan to approve $200-b extra budget to tackle inflation

cabinet was expect ed to approve an extra budget worth $200 billion Friday to cushion the economy from the weak yen and infla tion, though the central bank refused to budge from the ultra-loose policy that has hammered the currency.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the government would “seek swift ap proval” of a 29.1 trillion yen budget aimed at encouraging wage growth and supporting households with soar ing energy bills.

Total fiscal spending on the stimulus measures could be as high as 39 tril lion yen, according to the Nikkei busi ness daily and other major Japanese media.

That figure could rise to 71.6 trillion yen when private-sector investments that ministers hope will also be made are taken into account, the reports said.

Prices are rising in Japan at their fastest rate in eight years, although the three-percent inflation rate remains well below the sky-high levels seen in the United States and elsewhere.

The yen has also lost more than a fifth of its value against the dollar this year, with one dollar fetching 146 yen on Friday.

Japan spent nearly $20 billion in September in an effort to curb the yen’s slide, and further expensive gov ernment interventions have reportedly taken place in recent days.

The broader all-share index also lost 25 points, or 0.8 percent, to settle at 3,257.20 on a value turnover of P4.2 bil lion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 95 to 70, while 58 issues were unchanged.

Four of the 10 most active stocks end ed in the green, led by Bank of the Phil ippine Islands which rose 1.8 percent to P96.00 and PLDT Inc. which gained 1 percent to P1,634.00.

Meanwhile, the peso reached its stron gest level in more than a month against the greenback, on the back of the sea sonal jump in remittances from overseas Filipino workers in the fourth quarter.

The peso gained P0.25 to close at 57.97 dollar from 58.22 on Thursday. It was its strongest level since settling at 57.48 on Sept. 20, 2022. Total volume

reached $912.35 million, down $1.077 billion a day earlier.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort told Manila Standard the stronger peso was brought about by the expected seasonal increase in remittances and conversion to pesos that were needed to finance travel and other holiday-related expens es ahead of the long holiday weekend.

“More Filipinos travel [to] their prov inces, have reunions or take vacations during the long holiday weekend break, considering the pent-up demand after the restrictions have been finally eased after more than two years of restric tions since the pandemic started in early 2020,” Ricafort said.

Latest BSP data showed that remit

tances grew 4.3 percent in August to $2.72 billion from $2.61 billion in the same month last year on sustained de mand for Filipino workers overseas.

This brought cash remittances in the first eight months to $20.99 billion, up 3.0 percent from $20.38 billion a year ago.

Ricafort also said the US dollar cor rected lower against major global cur rencies to one-month lows on improved global market risk appetite as global stock markets recovered to one-month highs.

“Global crude oil prices are still near nine-month lows recently and other ma jor global commodity prices have al ready corrected lower in recent weeks/ months amid risks of recession in the US,” he said. With AFP

IEA expects global energy emissions to peak by 2025

PARIS, France—The International En ergy Agency said Thursday it believes global energy emissions will peak in 2025 as surging prices due to the Rus sian invasion of Ukraine propel invest ment in renewables.

Only last year, the IEA said there was “no clear peak in sight” in energy emis sions, but the new higher investment in wind and solar is setting up demand for all fossil fuels to peak or plateau, lead ing to a drop in emissions.

“The global energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing profound and long-lasting changes that have the potential to hasten the transition to a more sustainable and secure energy system,” the IEA said as it released its lat est annual World Energy Outlook report.

Based on the latest measures and poli cies announced by governments in the face of soaring energy prices, the IEA

forecasts global clean energy invest ment to rise by more than 50 percent from today’s levels to $2 trillion per year by 2030.

Those measures will propel sustained gains in renewables and nuclear power.

“As a result, a high point for global emis sions is reached in 2025,” the IEA said.

Global energy-related CO2 emissions are then set to fall back slowly from a high point of 37 billion tons per year to 32 billion tons by 2050, it added.

The Paris-based organization, which advises energy-consuming nations, said that its forecast sees demand for all types of fossil fuels peaking or hitting a plateau.

Coal use, which has seen a temporary bump higher, will drop back in the next few years as more renewables come online.

Natural gas hits a plateau in the end of the decade, instead of the previous fore

cast of a steady rise. Oil demand levels off in the mid2030s and then gradually declines to wards mid-century due to the uptake of electric vehicles, instead of the earlier estimate of a steady increase.

Overall, the share of fossil fuels in the global energy mix in the IEA’s stated poli cies scenario falls from around 80 percent to just above 60 percent by 2050.

Changed markets

“Energy markets and policies have changed as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, not just for the time being, but for decades to come,” said IEA Ex ecutive Director Fatih Birol in a state ment as the report was released. But that will still leave the world on track for a rise in global temperatures of around 2.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, which would likely trigger severe climate change impacts. AFP

China economic slowdown to drag on Asia growth

BEIJING—China’s “sharp and un characteristic” economic slowdown is expected to drag on growth across Asia through the end of next year, the International Monetary Fund warned Friday, darkening an already gloomy global outlook.

Worldwide economic prospects have dimmed this year as countries have faced higher living costs, tighter financial conditions, and increased un certainty following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The crises have dulled the rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic, even as Asia has remained a “relative bright spot” compared with other parts of the globe, the IMF said in its Regional Economic Outlook.

But growth in the region faces headwinds from a Chinese economy weighed down by a hardline zero-Co vid policy and a crisis in the property sector, the organization said.

Earlier this month, the IMF an nounced it had cut its growth forecast for China to 3.2 percent in 2022, which would be the smallest expansion of the world’s second-largest economy in around four decades, excluding the first year of the pandemic.

The new report downgrades the growth forecast for Asia to four percent this year, down 0.9 percentage points from a previous outlook in April.

It noted that the region may also face other “persistent” headwinds in the form of tighter global monetary policy and Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which has caused commodities prices to spike.

Few infections

He warned that economic fragmen tation, driven by geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in trade policy, “poses a significant risk to the region” and could “have adverse macroeconomic conse quences in the short term”.

3,543,170 450,142,180

13,844,500 439,449,930

8,714,600 309,490,685

259,662,925

191,531,160

179,963,240

176,632,170

raise cash.

“Asia’s strong economic rebound early this year is losing momentum, with a weaker-than-expected second quarter,” said Krishna Srinivasan, the director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department.

AFP

The yen’s steep falls have been driv en by the widening gap between the monetary policies of the US and Japa nese central banks -- with the Bank of Japan keeping rates ultra-low to en courage sustainable growth, while the Federal Reserve ramps them up.

The organization said it expects Chi na’s growth to rise to 4.4 percent and Asia’s to increase to 4.3 percent next year, still “well below” the average of about 5.5 percent over the past two de cades.

China’s “broad-based” slowdown “is estimated to have important spill overs to the rest of Asia through trade and financial links”, according to the IMF.

Much of the growth shortfall “can be explained by lower levels of invest ment following the pandemic”, he said, adding that many countries should act to ease overhanging corporate debt and human capital losses.

China is the last major economy wedded to a zero-Covid policy, impos ing snap lockdowns, mandatory testing and lengthy quarantines in an effort to tamp down any outbreaks as they arise.

Around 208 million people in the country are under some form of enhanced virus restrictions, Japanese bank Nomura estimated in a note on Monday.

Further issues have plagued the massive property sector as a series of debt-laden developers have defaulted on loans while others have struggled to

Official data on Monday showed China’s economy grew 3.9 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, a stronger-than-expected performance that was announced after Beijing an nounced a delay in releasing the figures during a Communist Party congress earlier this month.

Analysts still expect the country to fall well below its stated annual growth target of about 5.5 percent.

Investors fled Chinese stocks earlier this week after President Xi Jinping broke long-standing precedent to seal a third term in power, fueling fears that virus lockdowns and other measures harmful to the economy would con tinue. AFP

In this file photo taken on May 25, 2020 a woman walks past a shop for Chinese telecoms giant Huawei in Beijing. Revenue at Chinese telecom giant Huawei fell by 2.2 percent in the first three quarters of 2022, company data showed Oct. 27, 2022, as Covid-19 and US sanctions dragged down sales. AFP

HONG KONG REOPENING. Pedestrians walk past a Hang Seng branch in Hong Kong on Oct. 28, 2022. Hundreds of top bankers will take part in a summit in Hong Kong next week as the city prepares to reopen for business after the pandemic. AFP

PCC exempts SMC-Eagle deal from evaluation

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said it will proceed with the planned acquisition of Eagle Cement Corp. after the Philippine Competi tion Commission ruled that the deal is not subject for review.

San Miguel said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday the antitrust body issued a notice on Oct. 27 which stated that the proposed P97.4billion takeover deal would not be subject for notification.

“While the proposed transaction breaches the thresholds prescribed by the Philippine Competition Act and its implementing rules and regula tions, the commission has ruled that based on the documents and infor mation submitted with the form, the proposed transaction is not subject to the notification requirement under the IRR,” the PCC said.

San Miguel said with the PCC de cision, it would proceed with the ac quisition and the mandatory tender offer for minority shareholders.

San Miguel disclosed early this month plans to acquire a controlling 88.5-percent interest in Eagle Cement to strengthen its foothold in the ce ment business.

The family of San Miguel presi dent and chief executive Ramon Ang owns Eagle Cement. Under the plan, San Miguel will acquire 4.425 billion Eagle Cement shares owned by Far East Hldings Inc., Ramon Ang, Paul Ang and Monica Ang-Mercado at P22.02 apiece.

It will also conduct a tender offer to acquire 574.88 million Eagle Cement shares owned by the public.

The share price of Eagle Cement climbed 9.5 percent on Friday to close at P20.80, while San Miguel declined 0.46 percent to P98.

San Miguel owns North Cement Corp. which operates a cement plant in Sison, Pangasinan and Southern Concrete Industries Corp., formerly Oro Cemento Industries Corp., which has a production plant in Davao.

Eagle Cement operates a cement facility in San IIdefonso, Bulacan which has an annual production ca pacity of 8.6 million metric tons.

BDO registered 23% growth in nine-month profit to P40b

By Julito G. Rada

Globe gets warm reception on P17-b stock rights offering

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GLOBE Telecom said Friday it re ceived an overwhelming support from shareholders for its P17-billion stock rights offering despite market headwinds.

The telecom unit of the Ayala Group listed 10,119,047 common shares issued to shareholders that par ticipated in the recently-concluded rights offer on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The common shares were sold at P1,680.00 apiece, allowing the com pany to raise about P17 billion.

“We are overwhelmed by the sup port shown by Globe’s shareholders for this offer. This support reflects trust in the capability of Globe to exe cute our core business and digital ser vice platform initiatives. We are truly appreciative of their continued part nership with us to create and enable the digital life of the Philippines,” Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said.

Ayala Corp. and Singapore Tele com International Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Singtel, Globe’s principal shareholders, supported the offer by exercising their pre-emptive rights to subscribe to their respective pro-rata share in the offer.

It marked the triumphant return of Globe to equity capital markets after more than two decades since it last raised equity from shareholders.

Globe said the warm reception of the investing public to its rights of fer was achieved despite tumultuous financial market conditions, solidify ing the status of the company as an outperformer despite market head winds.

BDO

Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender controlled by the Sy family, said Friday net income jumped 23 percent in the first nine months to P40 billion from P32.4 billion a year ago on solid results across core businesses.

BDO said in a statement this trans lated into a return on average common equity of 12.4 percent, higher than 10.7 percent it booked a year-ago.

Gross customer loans went up by 10 percent year-on-year, largely funded by low-cost current account and savings account deposits. This pushed net inter est income to P108.1 billion.

Non-interest income amounted to P53.2 billion in the first three quarters, led by a 20-percent expansion in fees and insurance premiums, while trading

and forex gains were broadly in line with expectation and primarily gener ated by flow-related business. Gross op erating income reached P161.3 billion.

“Despite the bank’s strong performance year to date, management is conscious of external headwinds brought about by slowing global growth, persistent inflation and lingering uncertainties related to the Covid-19 pandemic,” the bank said.

“BDO nonetheless believes that its established business franchise and strong balance sheet allows the bank to overcome near-term risks and achieve long-term sustainable growth,” it said.

Operating expenses rose to P98.1 billion, as the bank continued branch expansion activities in underserved markets in rural areas and sustained in formation technology spend to support digital initiatives.

Asset quality improved as the nonperforming loan ratio went down to 2.23 percent. The bank maintained its conservative provisioning policy by set ting aside provisions of P12.2 billion, resulting in a higher NPL coverage of 152 percent.

Total capital increased to P444.6 bil lion, with capital adequacy ratio and common equity tier 1 ratio both above regulatory minimum at 14.4 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively.

BDO opened 64 branches this year, mostly in rural areas covered by sub sidiary BDO Network Bank Inc. This brought the total branches to 1,608 as of Sept. 30, 2022.

BDO is a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail services such as traditional loan and deposit products, treasury, trust bank ing, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, cash cards, credit cards and online and nononline brokerage services.

The bank has more than 4,500 ATMs nationwide. It also has 16 international offices, including full-service branches in Hong Kong and Singapore.

BDO ranked as the largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits and trust funds under management based on published statements of condition as of June 30, 2022.

Meralco’s core income grew 9% to P19.60b in 3 quarters

By Alena Mae S. Flores

MANILA Electric Co., the country’s largest power retailer, said Friday con solidated core net income grew 9 per cent in the first three quarters to P19.6 billion from P18.1 billion a year earlier on higher energy sales and increased earnings of its power generation busi ness.

The power retailer said reported net income also went up by 20 percent to P19.8 billion from P16.5 billion.

Meralco chairman Manuel Pang ilinan said power demand was expect ed to continue to grow despite several challenges, including elevated food and energy prices.

“As we anticipate robust pandemic recovery efforts, there is a good indi cation that Meralco will surpass our

Metrobank raises P23.7b from fixed-rate bond offering on overwhelming demand

METROPOLITAN Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest lender in the country, said Friday it listed on the Philippine Dealings and Exchange Corp. the P23.7 billion it raised from a fixed-rate bond offering.

The bank raised the bond offering by more than two times the intended issue size of P10 billion amid strong demand and shortened the offer period for the 1.5-year bonds.

“The overwhelming response to our bond offering affirms that despite the uncertainties, there is still strong demand for high-quality issuers like Metrobank. Thank you to our loyal customers for sixty years of trust,” Me trobank senior executive vice president and head of financial markets sector Fernand Antonio Tansingco said in a statement. Metrobank celebrated its 60th anniversary this year.

Tansingco said the funds raised would be used for general capital re quirements, including refinancing of some maturing issuances.

PDEx president and chief executive Antonino Nakpil said Metrobank which pioneered bond issuance pushed the level of annual bond listings above the P400-billion milestone.

“The primary market is the bright spot for 2022 with the issuer community re ally showing that it is back with a ven geance after a lackluster 2021. Corporate and bank issuers have kept the wheels of public financing rolling and domestic in vestors have reciprocated with more than ample funds,” Nakpil said.

“Today’s issue was 2.37-times larger than the original P10 billion planned, again reflecting the continuous confi dence of Metrobank’s bondholders,” Nakpil said.Julito G. Rada

2021 CCNI,” Pangilinan said, refer ring to consolidated core net income.

Meralco’s CCNI reached P24.6 bil lion in 2021, up 13 percent from P21.7 billion in 2020, on the back of a 6-per cent increase in sales.

“Meralco remains one with the gov ernment and the private sector in en suring long-term energy security while fully supporting the government’s push to advance the country’s lowcarbon energy transition,” Pangilinan said.

“Meralco reiterates its commitment to develop more renewable energy projects, explore opportunities to ex pand our services, and contribute to the country’s inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” he said.

Consolidated energy sales surpassed the pre-pandemic levels as sales vol

ume went up by 6 percent to 36,553 gigawatt-hours from 34,398 GWh in the same nine months last year.

“Surpassing pre-pandemic levels in our consolidated sales volumes signi fies that demand for power, particular ly from the commercial segment, will continue to grow as we recover and move forward from the pandemic,” Meralco president and chief executive Ray Espinosa said.

“However, we recognize that elevat ed fuel prices coupled with the depre ciation of the peso, which is already nearing P60 to a dollar, continued to put upward pressure on Meralco’s re tail rates,” he said

Monthly sales volumes stayed above the 4,000-GWh level in the third quarter, resulting in a 7-percent growth compared to last year.

The offer was oversubscribed, and all the Shares were fully allocated to shareholders. It said the achievement, despite challenging market condi tions, was a testament of sharehold ers’ confidence in the company’s strong fundamentals and growth op portunities.

ACEN’s Australian unit secures $75-m assistance

ACEN Corp. said Friday Clean Energy Fi nance Corp. agreed to provide a $75-million loan to ACEN Australia for the development of an 8-gigawatt clean energy portfolio that in cludes solar, wind, battery and pumped hydro projects.

“CEFC plays a critical role in helping us enable renewable developments in Australia. The world is geared towards net zero, and col laboration across industries and the society is vital in this journey. ACEN is at the forefront of this decarbonization movement and aim to deliver 20 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030,”ACEN International chief operating officer Patrice Clause said.

The CEFC finance is part of an ACEN Aus tralia debt raise targeting Au$600 million and follows an Au$$140 million long-term green loan agreement with Japanese lender MUFG and an Au$100-million facility agreement with DBS Bank.

ACEN Australia will use the loan to further develop its portfolio of Australian clean energy assets. Alena Mae S. Flores

Ford Territory achieves 15,000 sales milestone

SALES of Ford Territory reached the 15,000th customer in the Philippines, Ford Motor Phil ippines Corp. said Friday.

“We are very happy to achieve another mile stone for the Ford Territory in the Philippines [with] over 15,000 happy and proud owners all over the country. It is truly a representation of the trust that we receive from our custom ers and the great support from our dealers to enhance the ownership experience,” said Ford Motor Philippines managing director Mike Breen.

The company said Ford Territory’s sales reached 15,236 units as of September since it launched in August 2020.

It said that over the last three years, sales of the small SUV grew from 1,925 units in 2020, 6,881 units in 2021 and 6,430 units in the first nine months of 2022. The nine-month sales this year represented an increase of 29 percent from the same period in 2021.

The Ford Territory shook up the small SUV segment in the country and accounted for 52-percent market share in the first nine months.

Othel V. Campos

Shell Energy, LT Group

sign renewable power deal

SHELL Energy Philippines Inc. said Friday it forged partnerships with various compa nies within the Lucio Tan Group of Compa nies to power their operations with renew able energy.

SEPH said the collaborations with PMFTC Inc., Asia Brewery Inc., and Lufthansa Tech nik Philippines, a joint venture with Lufthansa Technik AG, signal its expansion in supplying alternative sources of energy to major indus tries.

“Establishing strategic partnerships with the Lucio Tan Group of Companies is an oppor tunity for both our organizations to be on the frontline in building up the renewable power business on a national and global scale,” SEPH general manager and president Bernd Kruke nberg said.

SEPH is a retail electricity supplier under the Shell companies in the Philippines that offer competitive and environment-friendly energy solutions to industrial and commercial customers.

The company will supply 15 megawatts of RE to ABI’s manufacturing facilities in Luzon aimed at reducing the beverage firm’s carbon footprint. Alena Mae S. Flores

SCHOOL ELECTRIFICATION. One Meralco Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Manila Electric Company, energizes three schools in Concepcion and Janiuay, Iloilo. Meralco installed a 1-kilowatt peak solar photovoltaic system in Baliguian Elementary School and Polopiña Elementary School in Concepcion and Canauillan Elementary School in Janiuay to light up multimedia learning equipment and other useful appliances on top of lighting and ventilation. A total of 475 total students and 24 teachers will benefit from these initiatives.

GBF ANNIVERSARY. The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation kicks off its 30th anniversary celebration, highlighting its thrust of promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education in the Philippines to help build the future. GBF general manager Lisa Gokongwei says while much has been achieved, more work remains to be done, as challenges in education abound, especially post-pandemic.

our common goal of making lives better, GBF creates meaningful breakthroughs in the field of education,’ she says.

Dutch stuns Davaoeno aces, claims Pradera title

LUBAO, Pampanga—Reduced to a virtual spectator in the championship flight, Guido Van der Valk rewrote the script and took the stellar role in the end, snatching the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship crown from the clutches of Jhonnel Ababa and Tony Lascuna with a brilliant backside charge in overcast skies here yesterday.

Van der Valk battled back from as far as four shots down after 10 holes, eagled the par-5 No. 12 to get back into the thick of things then rode on a clutch two-shot swing on No. 14 to wrest the lead he kept with a brave run of pars to the finish.

He closed out with a solid 69 for an eight-under 280 total, edging Ababa and Lascuna by one after the third round leader fumbled with a 72 and the latter finishing with a 70 for identical 281s.

Van der Valk banked another P360,000 and clinched the crown in fitting fashion as he emerged the lone player to have shot under-par in all four days here at the 7,262-yard well-kept championship layout at the sprawling Pradera complex.

“It’s a bit of struggle, actually all week,” said Van der Valk, who fired 71 in the opening round then put himself in contention with back-to-back 70s. “I didn’t hit the ball well but my short game has been really, really good this week.”

“So that got me through and I started to hit the ball better in the last nine holes, which is kind of good timing because that’s when it was needed,” added the Manila-based Dutchman, whose latest feat, his fifth, including the The Country Club Invitational in 2020, made him the only player to win two titles in this year’s six-leg Philippine Golf Tour following his playoff triumph over Luisita leg winner Miguel Tabuena at Splendido Taal last May.

With a streak of 11 pars in the final round, Van der Valk thought he would never had a chance to get a crack at the crown. He was so frustrated he would lose his cool in one stretch, cursing himself for a missed chip on No. 11.

But all changed when he chipped in for eagle on No. 12 as he pulled within one off the Davaoeno aces, who slugged it out for the coveted diadem from No. 5 all the way to the 12th.

“I couldn’t get a birdie in the first 11 holes. But on No. 12, I hit a good drive and tried to hit a 5-wood high so it would stop. But it landed off the green but rolled that one in. It was really nice,” he said.

Converge smashes scoring records in mauling of TNT 5

By Peter Atencio

THE Converge FiberXers

torched the hoop with their impeccable shooting and played their best game of the season, setting several league records following a 130117 mauling of the Talk N Text Tropang Giga in the 2022-2023 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Converge’s fourth straight win in seven games installed the FiberXers at third place.

Their total points scored is the season’s second biggest output in a game, after the Bay Area Dragons’ 133-87 crushing over Blackwater.

In all, Converge sank 21 three-pointers of the 40 they attempted, matching the seventh all-time high in a game.

wins

KENJHONS “Mr. Mainit” Serrano overcame a sluggish start to beat Map Soberano via unanimous decision on Thursday in the first Universal Reality Combat Championship bareknuckle super fight main event at the Xylo at the Palace in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The YouTube rapper sensation Kenjhons and Soberano fought foe toe-to-toe in the third and last round, with the the 39-year-old Angkas driver scoring with some big shots in the face to get the nod of the judges during URCC 80’s “Bare Madness.”

“I salute all the fighters who participated in this bout and fans who watched the first ever URCC bareknuckle fight. It was a great pleasure fighting in front of you people,” Kenjhons said.

“Very important win for us. It’s about how we play. Sabi ko sa kanila, kahit gaano kalaki ang lamang, we have to hold on,” said FiberXers’ coach Aldin Ayo, who reminded the team of its tendency to relax whenever they have a big lead.

The FiberXErs converted eight of 12 three-point attempts in the first period, with three coming from import Quincy Miller during a six-minute span as they widened an 11-10 edge to 36-20 in the remaining 2:20 of the quarter. They eventually grabbed a 43-24 lead at the end of the first canto, a season and franchise-high, while their 73-47 halftime advantage is the year’s second best.

Miller ended the game with 38 points, to go with 20 rebounds, five assists and a steal, which Jeric Teng ably backed up with 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The most points scored for a 24-minute half took place when NLEX made 74 in the second half of their 105-102 triumph over Terrafirma last June 8.

The 6’10” Miller also banged in 12 points in the third as Converge established a 113-85 spread, aside from making nine of his 14 threepoint attempts, the most by an import in a game in more than seven years.

bare-knuckle fight

Despite losing, Soberano was able to inflict some damage on Kenjhons, who suffered a bloody cut on his right face in the first round after being hit by his rival’s combinations.

But Kenjohns proved to be a solid competitor as he retaliated very well with accurate strikes in the second round.

Kenjhons stayed consistent in the third and last round to come out victorious in URCC event presented by Angkas and supported by Unique Water, Bench and Winzir.

URCC founder and president Alvin Aguilar and URCC Global chairman Arnold Vegafria gave their two thumbs’ up to the bare-knuckle PH debut, saying all the fights have “lived up to the people’s expectations.”

“We exceeded all expectations,”

Army Navy Club200 Endurance Race set in February ‘23

THE Philippines’ ultimate endurance motorcycle race that blasts off at the track in February next year was launched on Thursday at the City Club in Alphaland, Buendia, Makati.

Going by the name Army Navy Club200 200/50 Endurance Race, the novel motorcycle spectacle is the first of its kind in the Philippines, an adventure bike endurance relay race to be held on the track, specifically at the Clark International Speedway.

“It’s going to be an ultimate race, a battle of strategies and stamina among the participants,” said Bobby Unson, President of the organizing Army Navy/Club 200. “This will test the riders’ stamina, strength and skill, challenges that we believe the participants will fully embrace.”

Each team will be composed of three riders sharing one transponder and riding duties in 50 adrenaline-pumping laps of approximately 200 kilometers.

Registration in the Endurance Race presented by SMAC BMW, Pirelli, KTM, Ducati, Angkas, Evo Helmets, APRILIA, Juan Life, Hotel 101 and Merry Mart begins in November, with the race proper happening on Feb. 11, 2023.

A free practice race at the Clark International Speedway will also be held on Dec. 11 for the registered participants.

“Motorcycle enthusiasts may wonder why the early registration. The reason is because this is such a first-of-its-kind Endurance Race, we will give participants ample time to prepare and be adept at our rules and system, which was jointly developed by race officials of Clark

International Speedway and the Pirelli Technical Team, with utmost safety as our paramount consideration. We will even host a free practice run for registered participants in December,” said Red Romero, VP and Founding Member of Army Navy/Club 200.

The organizer, Club 200, is planning to exclude competitive racers currently riding in the National Superbike Series to level the playing field among regular everyday riders and weekend enthusiasts in this Endurance Event also powered by Wheeltek, Triumph, Harley Davidson of Manila and Motoworld, with Manila Bulletin and C! Magazine as media partners.

said Aguilar, who thanked the 1,000 crowd in attendance. “I’m so happy about what happened, the way they fought and showed showmanship. It is very awesome and I can’t wait for the next one.”

In other results, veteran Ruel Catalan employed a rear-naked choke on Edrion Macatangay in the second round to win by a submission in their MMA 125-pound class, while Kimbert Alintozon scored a first-round knockout win over JV Baldonasa in bare-knuckle 125-pound class.

Rocky Vergara defeated Marvin Dela Cruz via unanimous decision in their 125-pound bare-knuckle showdown, while the 145-pound bare-knuckle faceoff between Elias Duran and Ronnel Esperas ended in a majority draw.

“That is the plan so that the regular motorcycle enthusiasts who ride for fun and not competing in any ongoing Race Series can join,” said Unson. “So we are casting a wide net and expecting a huge array of various participants. If you basically love riding and have not raced in a competition in the recent past, this is for you.”

Formed in 1994, Club 200 is a pioneer Motorcycle Club composed mostly of former superbike champions, preaching fun and safety riding.

“This coming endurance race came into fruition to advocate Club 200’s mission to create sustainable motorcycle days that our riding community can get together and promote friendship, advanced riding and safety,” said Romero.

Morning races will be the 50-Lap Endurance Relay Race for Adventure and Adventure Open Classes Open to 400cc1300cc Adventure Motorcycles with 2119 inch Front Wheels and 2/3 Cylinder Engines for the Adventure Class; and 19-17 Front Wheels with 4 Cyl for the Adventure Open/Sport Touring Class.

A Feature 5-Lap Race will be run Mid Day for the First Ever Boxer Cup.

Featuring the BMW R Ninety Motorcycles. The Sportbike/Sport Naked 50 Lap Endurance Race will ensue shortly after the Boxer Cup.

Capadocia nears 8th PCA Open tennis title

HEAVY favorite Marian Jade Capadocia overpowered seventh seed Alexa Joy Milliam, 6-2, 6-2, on Friday to move on the verge of claiming her eighth title in the 39th Philippine Columbian Association Open Tennis Championships at its Plaza Dilao indoor shell court in Paco.

Capadocia, a Manila native who made it through via 6-0, 6-1 rout of Kyle Emana in the semis the day before, didn’t waste time in disposing of Milliam and securing her spot in the finals set tomorrow (Sunday).

There, the 27-year-old, two-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist would face either second pick Jenaila Prulla or giant-slaying qualifier Alexa Santos, who were playing at press time.

If she beats anyone of the two, she would add to her growing legend in this tournament bankrolled by Smart/ PLDT, official ball Dunlop, Manila councilor Jong Isip, San Jose Salt, W. L. Food Products, Palawan Pawnshop and Pagcor.

“Of course, we always strive to win but I expect it to be tough whoever I face in the finals,” said Capadocia. Milliam, who scrambled to make the semis via a nail-biting 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 triumph over Justine Hannah Maneja the day before, tried to put up a brave front, but just didn’t have anything to stop Capadocia’s brilliant shotmaking and rock-solid baseline game.

Between the two, Capadocia appears to be a little wary of Prulla, who is stronger and more experienced now compared the leaner version in the title showdown the former easily won three years ago.

“I haven’t faced Santos but I saw her play and Prulla is a little bigger now and she’s obviously younger,” said Capadocia. “I hope to play extra careful who ever between them I face.”

Guido Van der Valk is doused with water by sponsors and peers during his title romp in the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship. Manny Marcelo

Kenjhons “Mr. Mainit” Serrano celebrates his win.

Shown here are (from left) Club 200 founding member Red Romero and other members Reghis Romero II, RG Romero, Club 200 president Bobby Unson and Miguel Bicharra during the media presentation of 200/50 Endurance Race.

Nicky Romero, one of the four founding members of Club 200

Converge import Quincy Miller scores in traffic.

French eats, cool Kapampangan vibes, swinging into 2022

Baker J Café Clark, Mimosa Golf clubhouse unveiled in Pampanga

NEW CLARK CITY, Pampanga -- French culinary experience was married with local fares at the recent opening of Baker J Café Clark, located at Quest Plus Clark’s spanking new Mimosa Plus Golf Clubhouse in Pampanga.

This is Baker J’s second restaurant for diners who hanker for some good, oldfashioned French food and joie de vivre, the first one being the popular outlet at Crimson Filinvest City Alabang, which started as a humble patisserie in 2020.

A MOVEABLE FEAST

The grand launch of the Mimosa Plus Golf clubhouse and Baker J Café Clark was attended by New Clark City bigwigs (Inset photo) : Filinvest Development Corp. president-CEO Josephine Gotianun Yap; Filinvest; senior vice president Francis Gotianun; Chroma Hospitality country manager James Montenegro; BCDA chairman Delfin N. Lorenzana; BCDA president-CEO Aileen Soza,;CDC presidentCEO Agnes VST Devanadera; LIPAD CEO Noel Manankil; and executives from Filinvest and Chroma Hospitality.

Aside from Baker J’s baked goods, featuring classique and nouveau French offers, and a belly-popping menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the other star of the show was the unveiling of the redesigned golf clubhouse and two legendary courses –36 holes of delightful golf that exploits the differences in terrain of the vast property.

The Acacia Course (closed at press time for renovations) is the easier of the two. It winds around most of the original layout through ancient trees from which the course gets its name. The holes are short for the most part and although there are a few lakes, the course is very playable for golfers of all handicaps.

The Mountain View course is, without a doubt, one of the best layouts in the country today. The undulating terrain and breathtaking vistas provide an ideal setting for golf and the Mountain View provides some of the best. This is the championship golf course that hosted Tiger Woods, and is a test for golfers of all skill levels.

At a monstrous 7,303 yards from the tips, the Mountain View is one of the longest in the Philippines. It straddles the new and old worlds of Philippine golf courses. On the one hand, it is of modern construction and, on the other, the century-old acacia trees and

expansive layout give it the feel of a much older golf course. The quality of the layout, the aesthetics and the challenge presented to the golfer are on par with the best golf courses in the country.

GREAT GOLFING GETAWAY; HACKER’S NIGHTMARE

It is a slightly unusual layout with three par-3s on the front and just one on the back nine. The first three holes take you around a hill that hosts the former communications tower of the old American air base. The golf course opens up after the almost claustrophobic opening holes and the golf becomes more enjoyable.

The Mountain View really comes into its own on the inward nine. Two of the longest par 4s and three par 5s are on this side, making it a formidable task for the weekend golfer. The 480-yard (from the green tees) 12th and the breathtakingly beautiful 458yard 15th will prove especially difficult. It is interesting that the hardest hole on the back is the 578-yard par-5 13th; water is in play after the tee shot and the green is set just up against the lake, which poses most of the problems for the golfer.

The par 3s are superb; six looks like it belongs on a postcard, while 16 offers the ultimate treat: an island green. It is not too long measuring just 153 yards from the gold tees and the green is generous. The course closes with a magnificent par 5 that requires maneuvering your ball around century-old acacia trees. The hole plays uphill toward the clubhouse and is well bunkered to frustrate all but the best approach shots.

There are beautiful views of the Zambales mountain range and Mount Arayat is never out of sight. This is a beautiful place for golf. Factor in the amazing cuisine of Baker J Café, and you have the makings of a great golfing

getaway that is more accessible than ever.

NATURE-INSPIRED METROPOLIS

Filinvest Development Corp., which purchased the rights to Mimosa from the BCDA several years ago, ostensibly turned things around in Clark. Rebranded as Filinvest Mimosa + Leisure City, it is envisioned as an integrated, balanced, and eco-centric community. Filinvest intends to capitalize on the 201-hectare property’s strengths and develop the key components of the new city—leisure, business, residential and nature.

“We plan a leisure metropolis that is very much nature-inspired,” Filinvest CEO and low handicapper “Joji” Gotianun-Yap told Manila Standard. “We want it to be the top-of-mind destination for tourism and commerce in Clark and in the North.”

Indeed, the changes since Filinvest took over have been sweeping. Most of the old cottages were demolished to make way for the new facilities. New office buildings have sprung up. To achieve the goal of

LAGUNA GETAWAY.

Ovialand, Inc. is set to start delivering on its latest development, Santeví, located along the National Highway in San Pablo, Laguna. The development is Ovialand’s third housing development in San Pablo, after Sannera and Savana. This development increases the company’s total inventory in the area to over 2,100 units. “Santeví’s house design was inspired by the modern American houses seen on social media,” said Pammy Olivares-Vital, president and CEO of Ovialand. “We chose a clean and classic design, blended with function and space.” Ovialand is eyeing P2.3 billion in sales from the 707 housing units it will sell in Santeví— consisting of single-attached, duplex, and townhouse units.

THE tranquil property of Chroma Hospitality in the North is bringing the best of the French culinary experience with the opening of Baker J Café.

“We launched Baker J online in the middle of the quarantine as we saw an opportunity to sell healthy bakes and other bread and pastries,” explained Chroma Hospitality country manager, Mr. James Montenegro. “We opened our first full scale restaurant soon after at Crimson Filinvest City Alabang. The success has been overwhelming which prompted management to expand. A second full-scale dining outlet and Quest Plus Clark’s Mimosa Plus Golf clubhouse is the perfect location.”

Known for their baked goods, featuring classique and nouveau French offers, Baker J Café also boasts of an extensive menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Inspired by the restaurant’s philosophy, the J in Baker J stands for “Je suis”, which means “I am” in French. The menu reflects the diners’ cravings and moods, like Je Suis Comblé (I Am Satisfied) for the French main dishes, and Je Suis Reveillé (I Am Awake) for the gourmet breakfast selections.

CHEF JEAN LOUISE LEON IN THE HOUSE

Opening as early as 6:00 a.m., diners can start the day right with Baker J’s allday breakfast menu such as eggs benedict, which one could enjoy with sautéed spinach (eggs Florentine) or with smoked salmon (smoked salmon eggs benedict); savory shakshuka, which is available in a vegetarianfriendly version and a meaty iteration featuring house-made spicy beef and lamb sausages; and French pastries: crisp and flaky Croissant, petite Madeleine (made traditionally using techniques from Northeastern France), and Kouign-Amann also known as “butter cake” from Douarnenez, France.

To wash down all the delectable food, diners can choose from a wide range of Baker J signature beverages — from refreshing summer drinks to detox options, espresso, frappé, and even mocktails and cocktails.

At the helm of Baker J Café Clark is Quest Plus Clark’s executive chef, Jean Louise Leon. The Brittany-born chef has given the best guidance to the team that is giving Kapampangans a casual French dining experience.

Baker J Cafe is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. It is located at the newly opened Mimosa Plus Golf clubhouse, just a short distance from Quest Plus Conference Center Clark, all within the Filinvest Estate in Clark, Pampanga.

making Filinvest Mimosa+ a premium lifestyle destination, Gotianun-Yap said the development of a hub for shopping, dining and events continues unabated. A lifestyle mall—Clark City Front Mall – will soon be home to some of the best retail stores and restaurants in a nature-inspired and al fresco setting. It will also have its own event grounds, a sprawling venue for some of the biggest events in the North.

A QUICK HOP FROM METRO MANILA The new north-bound Skyway extension project of San Miguel Corporation, connecting the south of Metro Manila to North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the

Subic-Clark-Tarlac Exchange (SCTEX) has meant that the once distant city of Angeles is now a mere two hours away from the Sucat interchange away, in normal traffic. Meanwhile, new facilities have mushroomed at New Clark City, aside from the newly-renovated Quest Plus Clark Hotel. There’s the Marriot, Midori, Hilton Sun Valley Resort, Radisson Park Inn, Swissotel Clark and others. Casinos, Korean, Filipino, Italian and Japanese restaurants/cafes are also everywhere. If you get bored on the base and its sprawling highways (one beef: inadequate street lights for night driving), there’s always the city of lights just outside

‘I am satisfied, I am

A TOWER IN SYNC. RLC Residences is offering a new development for millennials with its newly launched pre-selling development, the SYNC N-Tower. The development features studio, one-, and two-bedroom (Shown in photo) units with balcony options. Each one is furnished with home upgrades to improve quality of life and accommodate homeowners’ work needs. With fiber optic connectivity and a dedicated space for a work-from-home setup, residents can enjoy a productive home life and pursue their career goals in a space built for convenience. A rooftop jog trail, fitness center, game room, private theater, and indoor and outdoor leisure pools are just some of the facilities that residents can use at the property. Location is another major consideration for homebuyers. SYNC has direct access to C5 road. It is less than 5 km away from Bridgetowne, Ortigas and BGC; approximately 7 km from Makati; and 10 km from Eastwood.

Motoring

The Suzuki Avenis Dubbed as the country’s “first and only muscular sporty scooter,” the first motorcycle unveiled was the  Suzuki Avenis. It is powered by 125cc Suzuki Eco Performance engine with a tough, bold, and aerodynamic design. With its average fuel-efficiency record of 54km/L, it is the perfect mode of transportation, especially now that we all need to be more economical.

is made with comfort and convenience in mind, with many practical features, especially the external hinge fuel cap that makes gassing up a breeze.

With the current trend in the Philippines of developing one’s passion into a side hustle, such as a small business or a means to earn additional income, the Avenis has become a practical mode of commerce to transport people and

By Randy Caluag

ASA scooter lover myself, my first test ride was an adventure in itself.

I had the thrill of having to test this highly coveted model, the All-New Honda ADV160, along with a friendly bunch of moto vloggers at the Honda Safety Driving Center in Paranaque.

If its predecessor, ADV 150, was already the standard in urban ride adventure with its unique design and exemplary features, this latest model in the Honda ADV family has really pushed the excitement even further.

Well, I tried both models and experienced the difference between the two.

From its more sophisticated yet functional look, tires with dual purpose pattern, and upgraded features on all fronts, to the smoother and

Time to welcome the modern ‘muscle scooter’

more comfortable ride for city driving or long touring, the All-new ADV160 is better, bigger, and a must-own for its introductory price of P164,000.

Here’s what got me hyped for the ADV160:

1. That Grunt Let’s talk about the boosted engine displacement – 157cc, 4-Valve, LiquidCooled, eSP+ Engine that can deliver a maximum power of 11.8 kW @ 8,500 rpm and a top torque of 14.7 Nm @ 6,500 rpm. I thought I was riding an electric powerbike because of the smooth ride, due to the high-technology 4-valve mechanism and low friction technologies, and fuel efficiency.

2. Safety is a given Worry no more about wet, slippery roads, the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) works to balance the wheels’ rotation, preventing the rear

tires from slipping. It has more stability and prevents wheel locking during sudden braking, thanks to the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Wavy Disc Brakes. For better handling, the wide tubeless tires made it handy.

Its Anti-Theft Alarm and AnswerBack System via the Honda Smart Key System make it easier for the owner to locate the motorcycle in a parking area. The Idling Stop System reduces fuel consumption as the vehicle comes to a stop for three seconds and then goes back to action with a simple throttle operation.

3. A brute headturner

The aesthetics have always been an important matter for a rider, not to mention that it’s a Honda brand. The “muscular” ADV160 was designed to captivate and make heads turn. Rugged-look, yet so smooth in

performance. Then the functional windscreen with adjustable levels provides wind resistance depending on the kind of ride. The seat ride was made lower, and the ground clearance higher, making it safer and smoother on road curves.

The All-LED lighting system on headlights and brighter turn signals makes the night ride safer. Oh, and the “X” pattern of the LED taillight? It’s like a scene in futuristic movies. The future is now for ADV160 with its fulldigital LCD meter panel and a more spacious luggage box.

The All-New ADV160 can now be yours in three color variants: Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic, Matte Solar Red Metallic, and Matte Pearl Crater White. Personally, the Black Metallic finish just adds more macho into what is already a manly everyday scooter.

350 F Sport

MODIFICATIONS include a LimitedSlip Differential (LSD); 19in forged alloy wheels; Blind-Spot Monitor (BSM); and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Automatic Braking (RCTAB). The union between man and machine is the thrust of the Lexus Driving Signature (LDS). In its purest essence, it pursues linear operation faithful to the driver’s intentions with the goal to amplify confidence, comfort, and overall love of driving.

no greater satisfaction that can come from being one with a vehicle as it tackles the corners with aplomb. Thus, to enhance the driving experience even further, the Lexus IS 350 F Sport now comes standard with a Limited-Slip Differential (LSD).

When paired with the 3.5-liter V6 motor that develops 315ps @ 6,600rpm and 380Nm @ 4,800 to 4,900rpm, the sophisticated LSD delivers power to the rear wheels in such a manner that

variants—Metallic Matte Black, Pearl Orange Blaze, and Pearl Mirage White. The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT

The next motorcycle launched was the  Suzuki GSX-S1000GT  - a big bike that offers comfort, control, connectivity, and eye-catching style combined with a commanding large displacement that promises a sports touring experience. It is equipped with Suzuki’s highperformance 999cm D.O.H.C. liquid-cooled inline-four engine –a common D.N.A. of the GSX-R1000 bike. It has a Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S.), a collection of advanced electronic systems that lets you optimize your riding experience to best suit your style and level of riding. It is designed to visually express what you expect of a grand tourer, from superbike performance potential to the sophistication of aerodynamic efficiency, advanced control systems, and smartphone connectivity. A Smart Sports Tourer that makes your destination just secondary to the fun of riding the bike itself! The GSX-S1000GT is available at an S.R.P. of Php 815,000 and comes in three colors – Metallic Triton Blue, Metallic Reflective Blue, and Glass Sparkle Black.

Hosted by Sanya Smith, Suzuki’s booth attracted attention from motorcycle enthusiasts who received freebies, including t-shirts, caps, and bags, and enjoyed trying their luck in the “Spin A Win,” roulette and the Suzuki Aveni’s Hour game where contestants were asked features of the Avenis in a “frequently asked question” format.

TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) teams up with leading food and beverage small footprint store operator, House of Fruitas, helping it further enhance its daily operations with the aid of the All-New Toyota Lite Ace FX.

The House of Fruitas, which houses over 30 brands and 700 profitable stores nationwide, has always been a customer of the auto brand because of the reliability and efficiency it brings to the company.

Today, both leading players in their respective industries, strengthen their game by coming together for a more efficient business process. TMP, through its dealer Toyota Makati Inc. (TMI), will be allotting 3 of its first batch of Lite Ace FX units to House of Fruitas. These 3 units will be utilized to mobilize people, equipment, and raw materials efficiently within Metro Manila and Metro Cebu.

With its capacity, size, and safety features, the All-New Toyota Lite Ace perfectly fits the business model of the House of Fruitas --- having to navigate through the busy streets of the metro and delivering to over 700 stores around the country. The size of the Lite Ace can easily maneuver throughout the city without any challenges while transporting goods and people with ease. The Lite Ace is also a budget friendly

vehicle while having low maintenance costs which makes it perfect to serve and assist the needs of budding businesses like the House of Fruitas.

“A lot of our customers rely on us to provide them with high quality products that are clean, convenient and served fresh daily while ensuring price affordability. In order to do this, we also need reliable partners like Toyota for us to operate smoothly on a daily basis.” says the Founder and CEO of the House of Fruitas Mr. Lester C. Yu.

Aside from the FX, which is perfect as a people transport vehicle, the AllNew Lite Ace is also available in Pickup, Panel Van and Cargo variants— perfect for various businesses’ specific mobility needs. Pickup is an open bed unit for fast and flexible loading; Panel Van comes with a sliding enclosure for a more secure cargo transport; while the Cargo best fits transportation of dry goods and other materials.

To know more about the AllNew Lite Ace and how it can help your growing business, visit toyota. com.ph/asenso. Follow Toyota Motor Philippines on Facebook and Instagram, ToyotaMotorPH on Twitter and be part of our Viber community at ToyotaPH for updates. Download the myTOYOTA app for your everyday Toyota needs.

The Lexus IS was born from the LDS philosophy - the very first model to be developed from the ground up to showcase it, to be exact. Along with being a car that is the foundation of Lexus driving performance, the IS has earned popularity through its high-level driving performance—and the fun of driving a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan. For the driving enthusiast, there is

will boost the confidence of every driver. Maximum acceleration out of a corner with full control are traits of an LSD tuned for enthusiasts. As such, the LSD is an integral part of any sport sedan’s arsenal and will bring a sense of enjoyment that cannot be readily found elsewhere.

Complementing this sporty and aggressive LSD is the availability of

stunning 19-inch forged alloy wheels. Lightweight with a high rigidity appearance, it is 10% lighter compared to the previous F-Sport alloy wheels. There’s more to performance than speed alone. It’s about feeling truly connected to your vehicle, the road, and your senses. When you’re behind the wheel, your senses are constantly working to keep you safe. But what if they were augmented by your car’s ‘senses’, too?

The Blind-Spot Monitor (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Automatic Braking (RCTAB) now come standard with the Lexus IS 350 F Sport. These safety features are an essential addition to Lexus Safety System +2, a suite of safety features which include a PreCollision System (PCS); Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) ; Automatic High Beam (AHB); Lane Tracing Assist (LTA); and Lane Departure Alert (LDA). Lexus’s advanced safety systems go beyond human perception, to care for you and your passengers, intuitively and intelligently.

After 30 years as a luxury automotive brand, it has established a unique Lexus identity, design language, and recognition in the overall luxury space. To continue reinforcing the Lexus brand identity, the company feels it is important to evolve its product development process to create vehicles that share dynamic behavior standards defined by Lexus Driving Signature. The Lexus IS 350 F Sport is a chief model among these.

The Lexus IS is available in 3 variants: the IS300h Executive (P3,038,000), IS300h Premier (P3,398,000) and the IS 350 F-Sport (P4,178,000).

A NEW FORMULA V1 KING TO BE CROWNED THIS WEEKEND. MS Motoring Editor Milo Rivera (inset) of Frontrow Racing Team - Edgesport is set to hit the race track once again as he heads the list of drivers gunning for the 2022 GITIFormula V1 Challenge title. One of the premier circuit championships in the country opens its 2022 season today with high-adrenaline, pivotal sprint races taking place up to tomorrow at the Clark International Speedway (CIS). Prior to the series’ endurance challenge this November 27 (also at CIS), an Overall Sprint Champion shall already be crowned after this weekend’s battles. This event, organized by Tuason Racing, is open to the public!

SUZUKI Philippines has made the bold move at the Makina Motoshow as the Japanese giant unveiled its latest motorcycles held at the S.M.X. Convention Center, Pasay City. More than 50,000 motorcycle enthusiasts trooped to the venue to see the vast array of motorcycle displays and accessories. Encouraging everyone to make their bold move by riding with passion; Suzuki introduced its brand new, muscular, sporty scooter and grand tourer big bike that was sure to captivate every rider’s attention with their design, technology, and value for money.

Suzuki’s bold move at Makina Motoshow

‘RUGGED SUPERIORITY’. MS Weekend Drive with the Mitsubishi Strada Athlete: What seemed like a brashly overpowering pickup from the outside, the Mitsubishi Strada Athlete turned out to be a subtle and nimble package as well once you hop in and give it a go. Prioritizing the essentials, the Strada stays true to its functions - providing a comfortable and purposeful travel, regardless of your route and its terrain. Personally, I love how it’s so light and easy to drive on city roads; the only pickup to provide me with a mini SUV sensation. As for engine power, well it definitely has that grunt - amazingly complements it’s macho livery finish. (The Mitsubishi Strada Athlete edition is exclusively distributed by The Autohub Group).

Kroll: 3 out of 4 PH businesses have suffered a cyberattack

KROLL, the leading independent provider of global risk and financial advisory solutions, today announced its report State of Incident Response: Asia Pacific. The report finds that businesses in Asia Pacific and the Philippines are feeling the impact of cyberattacks, but many are yet to build appropriate response plans or have regular access to relevant cyber expertise. One of the notable findings is that 3 out of 4 businesses in the Philippines have experienced a cyberattack, much higher than the APAC average of 59%.

Kroll launched the State of Incident Response: Asia Pacific report which sets out how the APAC market has been impacted by cyber vulnerabilities, highlights cyber incident patterns for the region and proposes actionable priorities for the businesses

Key Philippine Findings: 75% of organizations in the Philippines have experienced a cyber incident, coming second as most cybervulnerable market in the APAC region Malware (29%) and phishing (21%) rank top as the most common cause of cyber incidents in the Philippines.

The two most cited impacts of a cyber incident in the Philippines were business interruption (60%) and data loss (59%). Regulatory fines (29%) as a consequence of cyberattacks was also most cited for the Philippines when compared to the rest of markets.

The greatest concern among organizations in the Philippines is data loss (70%). Compared to other markets across APAC, however, respondents were also much more concerned about theft of intellectual property (60%).

Jay Gomez, Senior Vice President, Cyber Risk, Kroll, said: “Cyber attackers will seek out any country that has vulnerabilities, and we can see that all APAC markets are affected by this to an extent. 3 in 4 Philippine businesses have experienced a cyberattack, mostly because of malware and phishing scams. Despite the number of cyber incidents, many companies still do not have a response plan in place if an incident were to occur, which leaves companies at the risk of being unable to handle an incident effectively and of being vulnerable to further attacks. However, we are pleased to see a trend of businesses upgrading their software and training their employees as preventive measures, but businesses need to accelerate this further to better protect themselves, particularly on monitoring and detection.”

Ely Tingson, Senior Vice President for Cyber Threat Intelligence Philippines, Kroll, also shared: “As we become an increasingly more digital world, our regulatory landscape is understandably still evolving to better protect data of users. What is important now is that organizations in the Philippines are also able to evolve, for example, through a virtual chief information security officer (vCISO) program and through adopting a more proactive and resilient cyber security posture by engaging in cyber threat intelligence and incident response services to efficiently and effectively mitigate potential damage.”

Tech & Gadgets

Merging art, science with WIKO 10

SARABIA Optical, one of the leading optical brands in the Philippines, launched a new brand called ‘Blink, Sarabia Family Optical’ recently at SM Megamall.

The purpose of this new optical brand is to cater families who are in need vision care products and services suitable for their lifestyle, using advanced products and technology provided by the brand.

To give a brief about Blink, it is family concept optical shop dedicated for families equipped with advanced technology, mainly to improve vision of people for as young as 6 years old to 65 years old and above.

This new brand is under Sarabia Optical managed by the President, Jose Paolo Sarabia, Retail Director, Ritchie Sarabia, and Managing Optometrist Dr. Socorro Sarabia.

The brand assures affordability and quality of optical services and products, as the complete eyewear package starts at P1,285. Aside from offering packages, the brand also has premium brands

By Patricia Taculao

FIRSTimpressions are relevant and often lasting. The same is similar for users looking for the ideal smartphone to match their preferences. While some users take the time to research the technology and performance, others feel an immediate connection with some models that catch their eye.

That’s what French-origin technology brand WIKO invests on without sacrificing their smartphones’ quality. In the brand’s recently released digital series, users can expect to see a combination of aesthetics and technology. It all comes together with the brand’s recent model, WIKO 10.

Users can expect WIKO 10 to have sizeable fea-

By Charles Dantes

tures from the WIKO 10, including 6GB+128GB storage, a 6.74 inch super big display, and a 50MP AI triple camera (There is a 4GB model, but if you could spare some extra bucks, go for the 6GB). It serves as the inaugural smartphone of WIKO’s new digital series. It’s suitable for individuals who want to do more, see more, and save more through their devices.

Another primary concern among users who rely on smartphones for entertainment is battery life. After hours of watching videos, taking photos, or scrolling through social media, most models quickly run out of juice. The WIKO 10 solves this common dilemma with a 5000mAh battery. It also has a 22.5W WIKO SuperCharge and reverses charging to support intensive daily usage.

Moreover, WIKO 10 has a 50MP Triple AI camera with versatile functions to record relevant moments in life, encouraging users to keep capturing what they can on camera. The latest model from the brand also addresses the problem of space which many users worry about when saving photos, songs, and other files. With WIKO 10’s 128GB storage, their possibilities are endless.

Since numerous Filipinos consume various forms of entertainment through their smartphones, they also prefer models that will provide the optimal viewing experience. WIKO 10’s 6.74-inch large screen and 90.69 percent screen-to-body ratio allow them to admire the entire picture as it appears and enjoys an immersive viewing experience.

WIKO 10 aptly represents the fusion of aesthetic design and advanced technology. The brand dives into its French origins and translates them into the elegant design of language technology as the brand aims to become the smartphone for modern entertainment.

It comes in three distinct colors: Klein blue, black, and silver to match the consumers’ style, mood, or preference. It emphasizes some of the most dominant colors in European architecture to bring a taste of elegance to anyone’s palm.

Aside from the model itself, WIKO 10 also extends its dedication to combining art and science through its accessories. Through the WIKO Buds 10, users can immerse themselves in a seamless musical journey with its advanced Bluetooth 5.2 technology. It also boasts up to 30 hours of playback time and comes with a charging case.

Art and science are two elements that work well together if implemented well. WIKO, through the WIKO 10, offers consumers the best of both worlds. Its elegant, eye-catching exterior is only a preview of the phone’s quality with its competitive technology that allows users to do more with their smartphones.

And yes, owning something that originated from France, is quite a cool thing, too.

Mitigating your cloud risk with FortiCNP

security products such as FortiGateVM and FortiWeb, FortiCNP collects.

AS the pandemic revved up the digital transformation in the country, businesses in the country were forced to adapt to the changes.

Words like cloud, server, and cybersecurity became the norm in the industry, while businesses altered the course of their company and built around digital transformation.

The utilization of proper tools, equipment and software helped a lot of organizations to manage workloads efficiently, but the transition to the digital platform opened threats from cyberspace.

Fortinet’s newly launched FortiCNP (Fortinet Cloud-native Protection), a cloud-native protection product provides customers with an effective tool to manage cloud security. FortiCNP gathers and correlates data across multiple cloud-native security services to pinpoint risks and recommend an effective solution.

By integrating with native security services offered by cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform alongside Fortinet Cloud

ful accommodation area for parents, and interactive section where children can play. It is the brand’s passion to give overall quality vision care products and services to families, and Blink announced that they already have the newly launched product of Essilor, one of the largest retailer of the world’s leading ophthalmic products, called the new Crizal

During an event in Makati, Fortinet Philippines officially introduced FortiCNP to the digital market in the country.

“As you know a lot of companies are moving to a hybrid environment, the focus of the companies was on brand, but now it’s a hybrid with brand and cloud platform,” said Louie Castaneda, Country Manager of Fortinet Philippines.

“Based on the survey done by Fortinet, around 39% say that they have more than half of their workloads now in the cloud, while about 58 percent are planning to do so in the next 12 to 18 months,” he added.

FortiCNP will help businesses simplify the management of their data in the cloud, while blending the visibility from these tools with the visibility from their security tools for the cloud.

By using FortiCNP, organizations are empowered to maximize the value of their investments as they can now establish consistent, unified visibility and control while operating their cloud security lifecycle across their public cloud platforms.

Range, which is composed of Crizal Sapphire HR™, Crizal Rock ™, and Crizal Easy Pro®.

This highly innovative lens ensures the transparency of the lens to deflect harmful lights and avoid glare, it also defies smudges and scratches, and unlike other lenses, it’s super durable. Aside from frame and lenses, Blink also has contact lenses from Alcon, the global leader in eye care, providing Freshlook, Air Optix, and Dailies. These contact lenses give more moisture to the eyes to prevent dry eyes while wearing the products.

As expansion continues, Blink, Sarabia Family Optical assures people that the doors are always open to anyone who need vision care products and services because it is their mission and passion to let people see life clearly.

For more information visit www.sarabiaoptical.com.

‘Blink, Sarabia Family Optical’ launches Crizal Range

such as Timberland, Jill Stuart, Nike and nifty accessories from Baby Bug managed by Dr. Francesca Ong.

WIKO 10

Night Shot

Clear, lively colors

Shown here are (from left) Mark Cayubit, Cloud Business Development Manager, Fortinet Philippines; Nap Castillo, Manager, Systems Engineering, Fortinet PH; Louie R. Castañeda, Country Manager, Fortinet PH; and Jennifer Carreon, Senior Business Unit Manager for Fortinet, MEC Networks Corporation.

Crizal Range

President, Jose Paolo Sarabia, Leasing Manager of SM Megamall, Madeleine Del Rosario, Retail Director, Ritchie Sarabia, Managing Optometrist, Dr. Socorro Sarabia, and Katrina Sarabia