Manila Standard - 2022 November 9 - Wednesday

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DOJ rules out other suspects Remulla says facts pointed to Bantag as behind Mabasa’s killing

By Rey E. Requejo, Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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HE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said they saw no evidence that anyone higher than suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag was responsible for the Oct. 3 murder of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

“We don't see anything else as of this time," Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said Tuesday after he was asked about a statement from the Mabasa family that they were unconvinced that Bantag was the mastermind.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), which filed murder charges against Bantag and BuCor Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta and several inmates Monday, offered to provide security for the two suspects who are still at large.

Remulla said they are waiting for the report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council to trace the money trail in the case.

The AMLC earlier confirmed that the bank account of self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial received P550,000, the same amount he was allegedly offered to kill the hard-hitting commentator.

"We are waiting for the AMLC report that's why we are at 95 percent of the case,” Remulla said. “We always follow Next page

VOL. XXXVI • NO. 266• 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PBBM to add NDRRMC under his wings

By Vito Barcelo, Vince Lopez and Maricel V. Cruz

national disaster response to operate under his office.

Mr. Marcos made this remark during his visit to Tacloban City for PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the 9th anniversary of Super Typhoon Tuesday he wants the government’s “Yolanda,” where he stressed the need

to bolster disaster response initiatives and rehabilitation projects.

“We will put the national disaster response team under the Office of the President. And I think that we are Next page

VITAL AIR ASSETS.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrives at the Basa Air Base in Pampanga for the blessing of the military's new ground-based air defense system (GBADS) and a C-295 medium lift aircraft – assets which the commander-inchief said are crucial to protecting the country's territory.

Revoli Cortez

PH acquires new air defense system PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed optimism that the newly acquired groundbased air defense system (GBADS) and a C-295 medium lift aircraft will help the Philippine Air Force (PAF) boost\ its capabilities in protecting Philippine territories.

During the formal acceptance, turnover, and blessing ceremony at the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, Mr. Marcos said the acquisition of the military hardware will make a "very big difference" in promoting the country's security from "aerial threats."

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President: Yolanda fatalities NGCP fined P5m for breach of DOE bid policy must always be remembered

By Alena Mae Flores

By Maricel V. Cruz THE uncounted fatalities from Super Typhoon Yolanda should never be forgotten, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday, as he marked the ninth yearly commemoration of the killer storm that left more than 6,000 people dead.

“I come here because I must commemorate those uncounted dead that up to now we do not know how many that number is,” Mr. Marcos said in Tacloban City, Leyte, which suffered the worst effects of the

super typhoon.

“If you remember, during the count of the casualties, the count was stopped and we knew that there were still thousands out there and for those thousands… those countless thousands… we come here, we commemorate. Because if we no longer commemorate, their memory dies and it is only up to us to keep that memory alive," he added.

Mr. Marcos said the commemoration was also a demonstration and a manifestation of the strength and courage of Filipinos.

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THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has slapped a P5.1-million fine against the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) for violating a Department of Energy circular on transparency.

In a statement posted on its website on Tuesday, the ERC said the NGCP violated DOE’s Department Circular No. DC2021-10-0031, entitled “Prescribing the Policy for the Transparent and Efficient Procurement of Ancillary Services by the System Operator” or ASCSP Policy.

Under Section 7.4 of the policy, the NGCP, as System Operator (SO), is required to submit the Terms of Reference (TOR) prior to its publication of the Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the DOE’s approval.

In its own statement, the NGCP expressed disappointment over the decision for its alleged failure to contract ancillary services.

"We were sorely disappointed at

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CELESTIAL SHOW. Despite cloudy skies in Metro Manila, the blood moon is still seen during a total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Danny Pata

approves Marcos sets Japan state visit House 11 bills on fruitful next year ahead of China trip Day One session HONORING THE DEAD. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center), Speaker Martin G. Romualdez (left) and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez (right) led the wreath-laying ceremony at the mass grave in Tacloban City where some 2,273 victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda were buried as the country marked yesterday the 9th anniversary of the deadly cyclone. Ver Noveno

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would make a state visit to Japan early in 2023 ahead of a similar visit to China, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin revealed in an interview with Kyodo News on Monday.

Mr. Marcos attaches "great importance" to visiting Japan, the biggest source of official development assistance for the Philippines, Lucas Bersamin told

the Tokyo-based news agency in his first interview with foreign media as the Cabinet’s “little President.”

The former Chief Justice said "there's no urgency to go to China" for the President as Manila continues to bolster its defense cooperation with Tokyo amid Beijing's growing maritime assertiveness.

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday night approved on third and final reading 11 national and local bills that seek to promote the safety of private and public buildings and infrastructure, protect the environment, and boost tourism in the Next page country.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022

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Groups seek continued masking among students in classrooms P

By Willie Casas

Both the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) emphasized that layers of protection, particularly the wearing of face mask, would limit transmission risk in school settings amid the circulating COVID-19 variants

and subvariants.

PIDSP president Dr. Fatima Gimenez said children aged four years old and below are not yet allowed to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

Currently, primary vaccine series could be administered to aged five and

above, while those 12 years old and above could receive the first booster dose.

“There are consequences to having your COVID-19 infection because you can transmit it whether you’re symptomatic or asymptomatic, and children can be asymptomatic,” Gimenez said.

“There is such a condition, a post-infectious COVID-19 infection called MIS-C or multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which can have dire consequences because we have seen children whose hearts have been affected, whose respiratory system has been affected as well,” she added.

The Department of Health on Friday reported 3,939 COVID-19 cases for ado-

DOJ...

listeners, Mabasa said Bantag was dubbed “Cinderella” in BuCor. Self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial said based on his conversation with alleged middleman of the kill order, Cristito Villamor Palaña, Bantag got hurt

by Percy’s radio commentary.

"He was bashed on radio—Bantag's house and vehicles. (As per Palaña) Bantag reportedly got hurt that is why he ordered the killing of Percy," Escorial said.

Palaña was suffocated with a plastic bag hours after Escorial surrendered and identified him as one of two middlemen.

In an earlier interview right after he was tagged as one of 160 persons of interest, Bantag said he is open to undergo a lifestyle check if asked of him.

“Even though my name was not mentioned, I know he was talking about me...The vehicles that were parked there were not all mine. I said six of those are owned by BuCor. Of course, I owned some and some of those vehicles were owned by my neighbors,” Bantag said.

He also blamed “powerful drug lords and syndicates” after he was linked to the murder case.

Two weeks ago, Mabasa said someone reached out to them saying that Bantag wanted to talk to the family to clarify the allegations against him.

Mabasa also said Bantag offered to perform a ritual at his brother’s grave.

“Bantag is from the Mountain Province, so he said he will perform a ritual at the grave of my brother,” he said.

Despite the filing of the murder harges, Remulla said the case was not yet closed.

“The investigation is still ongoing.

We are still getting some facts and a

lot of people are coming forward with information,” he said.

He said it was hard to speculate if anyone higher than Bantag was involved, but said they didn’t see anyone else based on the evidence they had.

“When you enter the realm of speculation, we're not doing the country a favor, so let's just stay true to ourselves,” he said.

Remulla said it is the sworn statements of the witnesses pointing to the commission of a crime and to Bantag as the alleged mastermind.

He said the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had no other agenda than to solve the case and unmask all those involved.

“We have no biases here. We are not here to oppress anybody. We are here to find out the truth. That’s our job,’” he said.

Remulla said he hopes that Bantag and Zulueta will cooperate with the authorities now that murder charges have been filed against them.

He added that the DOJ will seek the issuance of a hold departure order against Bantag and Zulueta.

The DOJ is expected to issue a subpoena against Bantag and other suspects requiring them to respond with a counter affidavit and appear before the DOJ’s preliminary investigation hearing.

After the DOJ conducts its preliminary investigation, prosecutors willdecide if there is probable cause to file a case against the respondents before a court.

He earlier said that Zulueta had gone into hiding four or five days ago, while the NBI is monitoring the movements and whereabouts of the suspended BuCor chief.

Bantag previously denied involvement in Mabasa’s killing saying he had nothing to gain from it.

He said he would rather die than be jailed for a crime he did not commit.

He also denied any illegal activities or owning numerous vehicles as Mabasa claimed on his radio program “Lapid Fire” on DWBL 1242.

Aside from Bantag and Zulueta, Denver Batungbakal Mayores, Alvin Cornista Labra, Aldrin Micosa Galicia, and Alfie Peñaredonda, all inmates, were also named as respondents.

Bantag and Zulueta were named principals by inducement while the others were principals by indispensable cooperation.

A second murder charge was for the death of an inmate who allegedly served as a middleman and who recruited the gunman Escorial, Cristito Villamor Palana alias Jun Villamor, Christam Ramac, Ricky Lamigo Salgado, Ronnie Pabustan Dela Cruz, and Joel Alog Reyes — all inmates—were charged as principals by direct participation.

Also on Tuesday, Senator Ronald dela Rosa said former President Rodrigo Duterte should be spared from speculation that he ordered the hit on Mabasa.

"You can speculate as much as you can, as much as you want, but the investigation pointed to that person," said Dela Rosa, referring to Bantag.

"Are you still looking for somebody whom you want to link (to the killing), the one who appointed Bantag?” Dela Rosa said, referring to Duterte.

Dela Rosa said he could see no reason for the former president to order Mabasa’s killing.

people of Tacloban that the government would continue to prioritize its recovery, especially the resettlement of the displaced families and the provision of support to affected businesses.

Since 2013, the government has been implementing the Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan and providing affected families with food assistance, cash-forwork programs, and Emergency Shelter Assistance.

Super Typhoon Yolanda, which hit the country on Nov. 8, 2013, claimed more than 6,300 lives, injured more than 30,000 people, and affected more than 3 million families.

Considered one of the most powerful and strongest tropical cyclones ever

recorded, it destroyed more than 1.1 million homes and properties and registered P90 billion in damage.

The President earlier led the distribution of various government assistance to families affected by Tropical Storm ‘Paeng’ in Antique, pledging to rehabilitate the province’s damaged infrastructure for immediate normalization.

The chief executive also held a situation briefing with selected regional line agency directors and local chief executives of Antique to assess the extent of damages caused by Paeng and address pressing concerns in the Western Visayas region.

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez supported the move to transfer the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) from

the Department of National DefenseOffice of Civil Defense (OCD) to the Office of the President (OP).

Romualdez said the proposed transfer gives the President a direct hand in managing government responses to natural calamities and in mitigating the impact of climate change-related issues and problems.

“It simplifies the flow of responsibility and directives to the more than 30 departments, agencies and organizations sitting in the council,” Romualdez said.

In supporting the President's position on the transfer of the NDRRMC to OP, Romualdez noted that climate changerelated issues and problems like extreme weather conditions are worsening. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

areas besides defense," he said.

Mr. Marcos said it is vital to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines to make it "ready for all eventualities."

"It is for this reason, that we strengthen our country’s capabilities in territorial defense, counter-terrorism, and internal security. In keeping our defense systems updated with the latest technology, we fortify our capabilities to provide humanitarian assistance to respond immediately in times of calamities and disasters," he said.

"With terrorism and external security threats brought by geopolitical tensions looming around us, around the Asia Pacific region, and around the world, it is imperative that we continue to equip and empower ourselves in whatever capacity we are able," Mr. Marcos added.

The GBADS consists of the Surfaceto-Air Python and Derby (SPYDER) air defense missile system developed by the Israeli defense technology firm, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, with assistance from Israel Aerospace Industries.

The new air defense system will be used to enhance the country’s air defense posture toward a credible and agile Air Force that is responsive to national security and development. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

NGCP... the recent turn of events. It seems that duplicity is still the name of the game, and we are still dealing with the same economically motivated political maneuvers," the transmission operator said.

The ERC also threatened to push for revoking the grid operator's congressional franchise should it continue to violate the DOE’s rules on procuring power reserves.

“The ERC finds that when NGCP proceeded to publish and post the ITB without the prior approval of the DOE, it committed a violation of the said provision of the AS-CSP Policy,” the regulator said.

In its decision dated October 24, the ERC said it considered NGCP’s failure to submit to the Energy Department its TOR and ITB as one violation and its failure to publish and maintain on its website the ITB without the prior DOE approval of the TOR and ITB as another violation.

The NGCP however said that appropriate submissions to the DOE were made hours after its meeting with the leadership of the department two months ago, during which the issue of the AS-CSP submission was raised.

But the ERC said no amount of monetary penalty could sufficiently

equate to or compensate for the "willful disregard by NGCP" of validly issued regulations of the government and its administrative agencies.

The regulator warned NGCP that its non-compliance with laws, rules, orders, and regulations issued by authorities might result in the cancellation of its certificate of public convenience and necessity and the endorsement by the ERC to Congress of the revocation of its legislative franchise.

But the company said: "The alleged willful disregard mentioned by the ERC… has to be put in the proper context, and our acts shouldn't be taken in isolation. We were wary and defensive, given the overtly biased and intrusive political atmosphere prevailing at the time."

NGCP said the relentless attacks the company suffered previously and the "faultfinding where there was no fault to be found was a clear indication to us that this, and other contemporaneous moves undertaken by certain players in the industry, were part of a larger, orchestrated plan to put their economic interests above ours, even at the expense of the consumers."

The company said it welcomed the new leadership and the fresh start it offered as it hoped for a more cooperative working relationship with the government energy agencies. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Bersamin said the President is looking to Japan for continued collaboration on clean energy, infrastructure, agriculture, food security, and maritime security in the South China Sea, to which China has sweeping and overlapping claims with the Philippines and other countries.

He said the President may ask for more help from Japan with regard to patrol boats, saying that "our coastlines will have to be defended."

The Philippines has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea in the waters within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

With only three large patrol ships in its fleet, including two provided from Japan between May and June, the Philippine coast guard remains outmatched by the better-equipped Chinese coast guard in the contested waters, Kyodo News noted.

Mr. Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister

Fumio Kishida first met in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, and arrangements have been underway for the Philippine leader's trip to Japan, it added.

The visit was initially scheduled for December but pushed back due to regional and international conferences taking place later this year, Bersamin said. Vince Lopez (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

EDIATRIC groups recommended Tuesday the continued wearing of face masks among children in indoor school facilities in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections and acquiring serious complications.

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the money when there is a criminal enterprise. . . We have suspects there already.”

Remulla said he initially considered other persons or groups could be behind the killing of Mabasa, but said the facts pointed to Bantag.

“I was hoping I could point to other groups, the drug lords, and not Bantag but these facts came out,” he said.

Despite Remulla’s statement, the NBI said it was still considering the possibility that there may be a more powerful mastermind than Bantag.

In a TV interview, NBI supervising agent Eugene Javier said others may still be implicated in Mabasa’s murder.

Javier said that they have been receiving intelligence reports about another supposed mastermind, but he said he cannot divulge this information which has yet to be verified.

In a separate interview on Unang Balita, Lapid’s brother Roy Mabasa said the evidence laid out by authorities in the investigation against Bantag is clear.

Quoting Remulla, Mabasa said the investigators are still working on the remaining 5 percent of the investigation.

“We don’t want the investigation to end on Bantag. If there is a remaining 5 percent, we hope that it would still be investigated and expose the people behind the killing,” he said in Filipino.

Mabasa said his brother called out Bantag on his online radio program for having a mansion and expensive cars.

Based on information from Lapid’s

PBBM...

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headed in that direction because of the weather that we are suffering from now from the effects of climate change,” Mr. Marcos said.

“I think that overall, we can say that the disaster response has been a good one. However, I believe that there are ways that we can make it even more streamlined,” the President said.

“As typhoons become much stronger and calamities more destructive, pursuing much-needed reforms to make the country more proactive and responsive to disasters becomes more imperative,” he said.

The chief executive assured the

PH...

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"This is a day that is a momentous event for all of us, especially of course the Philippine Air Force, as our reason for gathering is a significant stride to our ability to shield our territories from aerial threats of different kinds, whether from inside or outside thecountry," Mr. Marcos said in a keynote speech.

"As we accept and bless the new Ground Based Air Defense Systems and the C-295 Aircraft, I call upon our Philippine Air Force personnel to continue performing their duties. May you remain as the bastions of freedom that our ancestors have fought for and of the peace that we unceasingly have worked hard for generations to gain," he added.

Mr. Marcos also thanked Israel and Spain for helping his administration bolster the Philippine troops' defense capabilities to protect the country's sovereignty.

"We must of course extend our deepest gratitude to Israel and to Spain for helping us bolster our defense systems to safeguard our sovereignty. I believe that this is a clear testament of our strong defense relations—one that we can develop in — as their Excellencies mentioned, in other

Marcos...

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Mr. Marcos has already accepted China's invitation for a state visit, Bersamin noted. When asked if the President’s trips to the two countries will occur at the same time, he said he expects the Japan trip to take place "early next year" and "ahead of China."

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lescents aged 12 to 17 from September 1 to November 3. The department, however, clarified that these were not specific to school children.

Aside from COVID-19, the pediatric groups said that face masks may prevent children from getting influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and rhinovirus.

They also recommended optimizing ventilation, maintaining at least three feet of physical distance between students in classrooms, handwashing and respiratory etiquette, staying home when sick and getting tested, cleaning and disinfections, and management of cases and higher-risk activities in schools.

NCRPO all set to secure five venues for Bar

By Rey E. Requejo THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday said it is all set to enforce tight security around the five venues of this year's Bar examinations which would start today.

More than 9,800 law graduates are expected to take the first day of the 2022 online and regionalized Bar examinations in 14 local testing centers (LTCs) nationwide, five of which are in Metro Manila.

NCRPO chief, Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo said some 500 police personnel would be deployed in the vicinities of De La Salle University-Manila, San Beda University, Manila Adventist College, University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City Campus, and the Ateneo de Manila University.

"Through the efforts and dedication of our personnel, we can envision the success of this. To the examinees, we wish you all success.

Guaranteed that our police officers are seen, felt, appreciated and perform tasks extraordinarily in order for us to ensure your safety and protection while you take the exam," Estomo said.

In a media briefer, the Supreme Court through the Office of the Bar Confidant said there were 10,074 approved applications but only 10,006 participated in the venue selection. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

President:...

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“To remind ourselves that Filipinos are brave, that Filipinos are kind, and that Filipinos will conquer all especially if it is for their community, and for their families, and for the land that they love,” he said.

Mr. Marcos questioned the official number of fatalities as tallied by the government after the catastrophe.

He said that it is unbelievable that only over 6,000 people died when the typhoon struck Eastern Visayas in 2013.

“I have questioned it from day one, 6,000 plus is what they said. It’s not 6,000 plus… It’s too late to determine the actual number,” Mr. Marcos told reporters.

In Tacloban City alone, the official count was over 2,200 but Mayor Alfred Romualdez, the President’s cousin said on Tuesday the number could be as high as 5,000.

Years after the destruction of Yolanda, the President said that Tacloban City had been rebuilt. He noted that even in times of calamities, Filipinos will surely recover.

"And it is a wondrous sight to see.

And it always gives us hope that even if there are tragedies and disasters in other places, we know the Filipino spirit will never be quelled. The Filipino spirit will always burn bright and bring back normal life to their communities. That is what we commemorate," Mr. Marcos said.

In 2013, Yolanda unleashed its wrath in the central Philippines, killing an estimated 6,300 people and leaving over 4.4 million people displaced and homeless.

Tacloban City, the regional hub of the Eastern Visayas region, was considered ground zero for Yolanda. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

House...

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“We immediately buckled down to work on the first day of our resumption of session. It was a productive day,” Romualdez said.

He said Mondays are usually devoted to House members’ privilege speeches on their concerns, aside from referral of numerous bills, resolutions, and communications to the various committees and tackling unfinished business.

“But yesterday (Monday), we managed to pass bills of national and local importance, thanks to the cooperation of every House member,” Romualdez said.

The House also approved on second reading several tax bills that were principally authored and sponsored by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda.

These bills were House Bill 4102, or the Single-use Plastic Bags Tax Act, HB 4122, or the VAT on Nonresident Digital Service Providers, and HB 4339, or Package 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

“With this, the House wraps up with all the priority tax measures of the Duterte-era Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, and is ready to move on to tax collection reforms, as prioritized by the Marcos administration,” Salceda said.

One national measure approved was HB 5087. Authored principally by Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., it seeks to include the National Building Code as a subject in engineering and architecture courses and as part of licensure examinations for these professions. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NCR shopping malls reset business hours starting Nov. 14 to ease traffic

By Joel E. Zurbano

M

ALLS and commercial centers in Metro Manila will adjust their business hours in compliance with a proposal by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to help ease traffic congestion during the holiday season.

Starting November 14 until January 6, these establishments will open at 11 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. for a 12-hour operating window.

It has been an annual agreement the MMDA makes with the mall operators to somehow decongest traffic where these commercial establishments are located during the day time and night time Christmas rush.

The agreement was made during the MMDA’s meeting on Tuesday with major stakeholders at the agency’s new building in Pasig City.

MMDA acting chair Romando Artes said the agency asked the mall operators to adjust the mall hours to address the expected heavy traffic jams during the holiday shopping rush.

“We have to implement remedial measures to reduce traffic congestion. Mall wide sales will be only allowed during weekends. Also, deliveries will be during 11 p.m. to 5 p.m. only. Exempted from the regulation are deliveries of perishable goods, restaurants serving breakfast, and groceries,” Artes said.

Artes also said shopping mall operators are directed to submit theirrespective traffic management plans, and indicate their mall sales and promotional events two weeks before the schedule of such events.

“We will make a further study on their traffic management plan. We will deploy necessary number of traffic enforcers to man the traffic,” he said.

Artes also hinted at the possibility of lifting the restriction on mall operating hours earlier than January 6, depending on the

post-Christmas traffic situation.

“We will observe the traffic situation in the metropolis on December 26. If the traffic is normal and manageable, we will immediately lift the restrictions and announce it to the public,” he said.

Present during the meeting were representatives from SM Malls, Robinson’s, Araneta Center, Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Shopping Center, Trinoma Vertis, among others.

Meanwhile, the MMDA announced the temporary suspension of all excavation activities in Metro Manila’s national roads effective midnight of November 14, 2022 up to midnight of January 6, 2023 which include road reblocking works, pipe laying, road upgrading, and all other excavation works.

Group pushes telco infra code for wider internet connectivity A CONSUMER advocacy group pushes the crafting of a telecommunication infrastructure code, saying internet connectivity is a basic utility that must be made available to as many residential and commercial areas as possible.

“We appeal to developers of residential and commercial properties, both horizontal and vertical developments, to treat telecommunication as they would power and water,” said lawyer Tim Abejo, coconvenor of CitizenWatch Philippines.

“They should factor in provisions for the establishment of telco equipment as early as the planning stages of their developments.”

Abejo said the telco infra code would supplement the existing Building Code and would apply to various types of real estate development.

“The current Building Code is applicable to construction, and since it has been in place for a long time, it does not factor

in connectivity needs,” he added.

Among the suggestions to property developers is the laying down of fiber optic cables that can be used by any telecommunication provider in accordance with telco standards.

“To be truly consumer-centric, developments must have 100 percent coverage and avoid hallway-only installations,” Abejo said.

He also called for “fiberization” in existing developments instead of mere fiber overlays, and said developers must integrate connectivity with the aesthetics of their properties. For new developments, the use of fiber should be the default mode instead of copper cabling, and property developers/ homeowner associations should execute the fiber overlays using agnostic fiber.

“This will future proof developments and is critical toward digitalization,” Abejo said.

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IN BRIEF HK OFWs seek release of COVID-19 ‘ayuda’ OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong have appealed to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople to facilitate the release of their COVID assistance which was due since last August.

Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, chairperson of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong Cooperative, made the appeal during a broadcast interview.

“We have identified 90 claimants who have submitted their petitions to the Mission for Migrant Workers who were denied of the COVID assistance.

These are Filipinos who tested positive here in Hong Kong,” Pelaez said.

She added that Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnel Ignacio has promised to address their concern.

“There are also those who claim that they have been denied financial help because they lack some of the documents the administration requires to qualify for the financial aid program,” Pelaez added. Gabriellea Parino

Taguig gov’t. calls for restraint vs. false alarm

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC COUNTER-MEASURE. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority acting chair Romando Artes meets with representatives of shopping malls and commercial centers who acceded to adjusting their business hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. to help ease the usual traffic congestion following the onset of the holiday season. Manny Palmero

THE Taguig City government has called on netizens to refrain from sharing false information which tends to cause panic and alarm in the community.

The call came after a Facebook post of an alleged bomb threat went viral, triggering fear and alarm among residents residents, particularly parents and relatives of students and personnel of Signal Village National High School.

“The Philippine National Police, Special Weapons and Tactics team, and the bomb squad deployed personnel to the school. They secured the premises and checked the buildings and their vicinity for any explosive device,” the city’s Public Information Office stated.

“No bomb or explosive was found during the sweeping operation, contrary to information spreading online,” it added.

The local government appealed for calm and sobriety. “Together with the Philippine National Police, the city government will continue ensuring the safety of everyone.” Joel E. Zurbano

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022

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Maynilad offers rebates to flood victims due to typhoon Paeng

By Alena Mae S. Flores and Rio N. Araja MAYNILAD Water Services, Inc. said Tuesday that around 35,000 customers whose homes were severely flooded during the recent onslaught of Tropical Storm Paeng will receive a rebate of around P50 in their December 2022 water bill.

Maynilad is releasing P1.7-million assistance to cover for the average cost of the 2-cubic meter consumption of these customers in portions of Muntinlupa and Pasay in Metro Manila; and Bacoor, Imus, Kawit, and Noveleta in Cavite Province.

The rebate will offset the cost of the water that these customers consumed for their clean-up activities after their homes were inundated by flood.

“We hope that this assistance, however small, will be of some help to our customers as they recover and rebuild their homes that were affected by floods at the height of Typhoon Paeng,” Maynilad president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez said.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System – Regulatory Office chief regulator lawyer Patrick Lester Ty commended Maynilad’s move to grant a rebate.

“We welcome the initiative of Maynilad to assist typhoon-stricken families in their time of need,” he said.

Maynilad provides water and wastewater services to 17 cities and municipalities that comprise the West Zone of the Greater Metro Manila area.

It is the private concessionaire of the MWSS for the West Zone and is Manila managed

by Maynilad Water HoldStandard ings Company, TODAY Inc. —a joint venture between Metro Pacific Investments Corp., DMCI Holdings, Inc. and Marubeni Corp.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENT President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA), for its consent to the nomination and for confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the following officials, respectively: DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA) Nomination: 1. MYLENE J. GARCIA-ALBANO NON-RESIDENT AMBASSADOR to the REPUBLIC OF PALAU, FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA, and the REPUBLIC OF MARSHALL ISLANDS, in addition to being AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY TO JAPAN, with the salary and emoluments of a CHIEF OF MISSION, CLASS I Ad Interim Appointments: 2. CONRADO BATARA DEMDEM JR. 3. PAMELA F. DURIAN-BAILON 4. RUEL URMENETA GUBABE 5. GREG MARIE CONCHA MARIÑO 6. SUSANA MARIA LOPEZ MENDIOLA 7. JOHN GUMAPOS REYES 8. ANDRE PETER CABUAY ESTANISLAO 9. SHIRLEY LIWANAG FLORES 10. KRISTINE BAUTISTA LAGUROS 11. CECILLE JOYCE YAP LAO 12. ANDREA BOONGALING LEYCANO 13. MONIKA KAMILLE BACANI LIMPO 14. ROWENA R. PANGILINAN-DAQUIPIL 15. FATIMA GUZMAN QUINTIN 16. ROBERT DICLAS QUINTIN 17. LUNINGNING CAMOYING VALDEZ 18. MYLHYN MARQUESES ACOSTA 19. CATHERINE FLORES ALPAY 20. JACQUELINE JOAN SANTIAGO ARQUIZA 21. MARC THEODORE PALACIOS BENIGNO 22. MARIANNE INTAL BRINGAS 23. CHRISTIANSEN DICOLEN CABAHUG 24. ANDREA CHRISTINA Q. CAYMO-KAUHANEN 25. BENJAMIN ALEGADO CELEDIO JR. 26. JONATHAN ANDREW DYCHINGCO CHUA 27. STEPHANIE ALEXIS AREJOLA CRUZ 28. FLAUREEN DAMASEN DACANAY 29. JONELLE JOHN SANTOS DOMINGO 30. VON RYAN SALTIN FERRERA 31. JAN MICHAEL BANSIL GOMEZ 32. ANNA MARIE MAE RAMOS GUERRA 33. CHARLESON CAROLINO HERMOSURA 34. MIGUEL CARLO NARZO HORNILLA 35. ANWAR MACATEMBEL ITO 36. ELAINE MAE V. LARUAN-HERNANDEZ 37. ANDREA LYNN NICOLAS LAZARO 38. LEMUEL CUSI LOPEZ 39. NADINE ROSARIO MIÑEQUE MORALES 40. JET CERA OLFATO 41. VON RYAN GASMEÑA PANGWI 42. MARY GRACE LUZA PERPETUA 43. MAJELLA CRISTY U. PUA-DIEZMOS 44. ELIZABETH PICAR RAMOS 45. JUDY BOYDON RAZON 46. NOEL LORETO RODRIGUEZ 47. JOHN PAUL TAPIA SAMONTE 48. LYZA MARIA SALAZAR VIEJO 49. JOHAIRA C. WAHAB-MANANTAN

Career Minister Career Minister Career Minister Career Minister Career Minister Career Minister Foreign Service Officer, Class I Foreign Service Officer, Class I Foreign Service Officer, Class I Foreign Service Officer, Class I Foreign Service Officer, Class I Foreign Service Officer, Class I Foreign Service Officer, Class I Foreign Service Officer, Class I Foreign Service Officer, Class I Foreign Service Officer, Class I Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II Foreign Service Officer, Class II

ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (AFP) 50. MOISES M. NAYVE

to the rank of BRIGADIER GENERAL

The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/ notarized complaints or oppositions to the above nomination and ad interim appointments in seven (7) copies to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila.

For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 8832-9830, 8834-2706 and 8551-1989.

08 November 2022.

MYRA MARIE D. VILLARICA Secretary MS (Nov. 9, 2022)

Angara says gov’t spending to reach P14.4b daily in 2023 S

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ENATOR Sonny Angara, Senate finance committee chairperson on Tuesday said the government will be spending P14.4 billion on a daily basis next year

He noted that only P10 billion of this amount can be supported by revenues to be raised by the different agencies of the government.

The P4.4 billion, Angara noted, is the deficit that must be financed by debt.

“Yan ang patak ng metro natin kada 24 oras. Before the sun sets, we need to collect P7.2 billion.

And before the sun rises, we need to collect again P7.2 billion,” Angara, in his sponsorship speech of the P5.268 trillion budget in 2023, said.

He also said it is much better to review the budget

on a daily basis.

“How much the government will spend–and borrow–every day next year gives a much clearer picture of the huge funding gap which must be plugged by borrowings,” he said.

Angara sponsored the committee report on the 2023 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

According to Angara, these easy-to-memorize numbers should be a sobering reminder that the government has no ‘unli’ resources to fund daily costs.

Due to this, he noted it is very crucial to boost the economy, adding that the budget is an instrument to provide jobs and taxes.

“All of the above calls for smart budgeting, where nothing is wasted or delayed,” he said.

As maiden budgets of new administrations go, he said the said budget was expedited, and “delivered to us in an impressive seven weeks after inauguration day.”

“But it will be wrong to say that its components were mostly salvaged from the fiscal workshop of

the past administration,” Angara said.

He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has made it clear in his message that every peso that he seeks to spend in 2023 is aligned with his administration’s thrusts.

“And what are these? Boost growth. Cut poverty.

Trim the deficit. Pare debt. And catapult us to the league of upper middle-income nations,” he said.

The conventional way of introducing the national budget, he said, is to trot out its macroeconomic assumptions, upon which expenditures are anchored. He said GDP growth, forecast oil prices, inflation, peso-dollar exchange, and interest rates do shape the contours of the budget.

However, he said macropolitical and other exigent conditions can also cause “tectonic shifts” in the government’s fiscal position.

Some like calamities, manmade and natural, often come in during the middle of the budget season unannounced, leaving bills which put a squeeze into an already tight budget.

DepEd in Bicol gets early-grade reading materials from US govt THE United States government has provided P23 million ($392,000) worth of early-grade reading materials to the Department of Education (DepEd) in Bicol, the US Embassy in Manila said Tuesday.

In a news release, the Embassy said the handover was led by visiting US Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Assistant Administrator LeAnna Marr as part of her visit to the Philippines from Oct. 17 to 21 to strengthen US-Philippine partnerships in the education sector.

Since 2019, USAID has trained more than 8,000 educators and distributed more than YELLOW 6.62 million early-grade CYAN MAGENTA BLACK reading materials in the Bicol region.

Marr, who serves as Acting Senior Coordinator of US International Basic COLORFUL PAROL. Colorful lanterns made by persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are displayed at the Manila City Jail. The Education Assistance, also met benefilanterns will be sold for P150 each to churches in Manila and to nongovernment organizations. Danny Pata ciaries of USAID-sponsored programs focused on youth development and outof-school youth (OSY) education and employment.

In addition to Bicol, Marr also visited Sorsogon and Manila where US governfrom P100,000 to P300,000.

P6,000 a month, which is equivaBy Maricel V. Cruz ment programs support enhancing the First-time offenders may be granted lent to P200 a day. The combined quality of education for Filipino chilmonthly net incomes of both pardren.

DAVAO City Rep. Paolo Duterte has probation under the measure.

In Sorsogon, she visited a USAIDNoting that most negligent parents ents shall be used in determining filed a measure that seeks to send to supported inclusive education commujail “deadbeat” parents found to have withholding child support are men, the amount of child support, which nity resource center and participated in deliberately and repeatedly neglected Duterte said these “deadbeat” fathers shall be divided proportionately bea storytelling session for blind children should be made to own up to their retween the two based on their respectheir obligation of providing child that was also translated into Filipino sponsibilities by imposing stringent tive net incomes. support.

Sign Language for deaf children.

Along with Reps. Eric Yap of BenUnder House Bill (HB) 4807, Du- penalties on them.

To support inclusive education for He also pointed out that under Reguet and Edvic Yap and Jeffrey Soriterte proposed that parents with recurchildren of all abilities, USAID has rent offenses of failing to send finan- public Act (RA) 9262 or the “Anti- ano of ACT-CIS, Duterte also sought trained teachers in inclusive education cial support to their child or children Violence Against Women and Chil- the establishment of a National Child strategies, developed inclusive educabe punished with imprisonment of dren Act,” withholding child support Support Program (NCSP) under the tion materials, and helped establish a disability screening and referral system two to four years, depending on the is classified as “economic abuse” and bill to assist in enforcing child support claims, which include locating that has more than tripled the enrolldiscretion of the courts. They should considered a crime.

The amount of child support un- absent parents and expediting the colment of children with disabilities in proalso be made to pay a fine ranging ject areas. der HB 4807 shall not be lower than lection of the financial aid from them.

Bill to charge ‘deadbeat’ parents neglecting child support

DOLE: Wage boards are monitoring inflation, looking at possible pay hike

By Vito Barcelo REGIONAL Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) are monitoring the factors that drive inflation and will study if there is a need for another wage increase due to the continuing rise in the cost of basic commodities, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said.

Laguesma made the remarks after Partido Manggagawa demanded a P100 across-the-board wage increase citing the 14-year high inflation re-

LIGHTING CEREMONY.

San Jose Del Monte City Mayor Arthur Robes and his wife Rep. Florida Robes led city hall officials and employees in the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony Monday night to signal the start of the holiday season. Manny Palmero

EXPENSIVE VEGGIES.

A vendor arranges assorted vegetables at the Paco and Arranque Market in Manila. According to the Philippine Statistics Agency, inflation in October further accelerated on the back of higher food prices including vegetables and meat.

The consumer price index rose 7.7 percent, from 6.9 percent in September.

Norman Cruz

corded in the past months.

However, Laguesma explained that “based on the existing law, there should only be one wage adjustment in a year.”

He said the RTWPBs just approved an increase in the minimum wage in several regions earlier this year, and these wage orders have only been effective for the past five months.

As a general rule, any wage order issued by the regional wage boards may not be disturbed for a period of 12 months from its effectivity, with no wage petitions to be entertained within the period.

LRTA posts P30m in foregone revenues due to ‘Libreng Sakay’ program for students

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said it posted P30 million in foregone revenues in the first quarter of the school year under the government’s Student Libreng Sakay Program.

The agency said the amount could have been used to fund upgrading and rehabilitation projects for the LRT2 System.

“The continued free ride would deprive LRTA of needed funds for its rehab and upgrading projects,” the LRTA said.

The LRTA, however, said the Student Libreng Sakay Program benefited a total of 1,623,473 students by the end of the free ride program last November 5, 2022.

The Student Libreng Sakay Program is intentionally designed to cover only the first quarter of the current school year, and thereafter, the usual 20-percent Student Fare Discount will be implemented.

The program was designed to provide some form of assistance to families suffering financial constraints due to the pandemic and with the start of face-to-face classes on August 22.

To ensure the continuous delivery of transport financial assistance for our students, LRTA on November 6, has started giving them a 20-percent fare discount, which they could avail of, by presenting their IDs or filling out the registration form at the Passenger Assistance Office or Ticket Booth.

Opinion Are the days of the NPA numbered?

LAST September, the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) declared strategic victory against the communist-led rebellion by the New People’s Army (NPA).

The basis of this declaration, according to Acting DND Secretary Jose Faustino Jr., was the dismantling of more than 75 percent of guerrilla fronts nationwide. He said that from 89 in July 2016, there were now only five active NPA guerrilla fronts remaining.

The NPA’s capabilities, he added, have significantly diminished in the last few years due to the concerted efforts of the security sector.

For his part, DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong reported that as of September 20, a total 2,890 conflict-affected villages had been cleared through the AFP’s development support and security plan “Kapayapaan” and the DND’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

Citing AFP data, Andolong said from July 1, 2016 to Sept. 26, 2022, a total 10,608 regular NPA members were neutralized, and more than 41,000 underground members, mass supporters and sympathizers withdrew their support from the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF).

The DND said a total 4,644 NPA members were neutralized during the same period while a total 1,386 cities/municipalities and 31,254 villages nationwide had declared the CPP-NPA persona non grata.

Faustino gave credit to the contribution of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict to the government’s campaign against armed groups: “This victory, of course, cannot be credited only to the DND and AFP. We are inching closer to total victory, and the defense organization is hopeful for the continued support of the Filipino people.”

The defense and military establishment’s optimistic assessment of the national security situation is also based on battlefield successes by the AFP. The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), for instance, claims to have dismantled a total 26 guerrilla fronts of the NPA from 2017 to August 2022.

The Eastmincom chief reported that out of 56 guerrilla fronts destroyed, 18 were dismantled during his incumbency, or 50 percent of the total NPA units dissolved in Eastern Mindanao for the past six years.

Eastmincom said its joint task forces would be able to dismantle the few remaining guerrilla fronts and NPA vertical units in its coverage area through focused military operations, intensified stakeholder engagements, and support from former rebels.

So far, Eastmincom claims it has neutralized a total 4,797 NPA members since 2016, with 3,579 surrendered, 524 captured and 403 killed. The com-

mand also neutralized a total 101 top-ranking leaders, including national-level personalities.

Eastmincom troops also captured 1,388 anti-personnel mines and 4,607 assorted firearms composed of 2,732 high-powered and 1,875 low-powered weapons during combat operations, and facilitated the surrender of NPA members.

These battlefield accomplishments reflect the accelerated pace of counter-insurgency operations by the military.

In March this year, then Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana “there is more to be done” to put an end to the communist insurgency.

Lorenzana lamented that over the years, the NPA had committed lawless activities such as extortion and destruction of civilian-owned properties.

But he also pointed out that thousands of former rebels have been given the chance to become productive members of the society when they returned to the fold of the law.

The days of the NPA may be numbered, but ‘strategic victory’ for the government may not really translate into lasting peace in the near-term While saying that a number of rebels have given up their firearms in exchange for a more peaceful life, “still, more efforts have to be exerted to end the armed conflict...Even as we enjoy the dividends of peace, we continue our mission to secure our communities, encourage the rebels to avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program and finally put a stop to the decades-long communist armed conflict in the country.”

More recently, the DND assessed the NPA strength at only 2,000 regulars.

If this is true, this represents a significant decline from the 25,000 regulars that the military itself said was the peak of the rebels’ armed strength in the 1980s.

What the numbers suggest is that the military wants to declare all-out war against the communistled rebels rather than accede to the stand of National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos for the Marcos Jr. administration to resume peace talks with the NDF. We recall that that military had vowed to crush the NPA before the end of the Duterte administration.

That hasn’t happened, with occasional skirmishes between government troops and NPA guerrillas still taking place in various areas in the country.

To answer our own question, therefore, the days of the NPA may be numbered, but “strategic victory” for the government may not really translate into lasting peace in the near-term.

REPORTERS Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières or RSF) has released the 20th World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) that shows the Philippines plummeting to 147th place out of 180, from 138 in 2021.

Further, the country’s global score this year is 41.84 compared to last year’s 54.36.

This means that the Philippines is considered a “difficult” area for journalists to work in. The range for this classification is 40 to 55 points, so in this sense nothing has changed.

Looking at the regional situation, the RSF analysis shows that Asia-Pacific is marked by “absolute and autocratic control of information,” particularly in Myanmar, where last year’s military coup led to “an extremely harsh repression of journalists” and led to an index score of 176.

The country “has become one of the world’s largest prisons for media professionals.” Afghanistan is ranked 156th because “the Taliban’s seizure of power has further worsened conditions for reporters and news organizations, who are the targets of all forms of intimidation and violence.”

The Philippines at 147 is only nine places away from Afghanistan. Let that sink in.

RSF says in the Philippines, “the media face pressure from increasingly authoritarian and/or nationalist governments,” with some “critical journalists [the] targets of intense harassment campaigns, such as the one aimed at Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa.”

The RSF, in compiling the WPFI, looks at five contextual indicators to inform its evaluation criteria: political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and safety.

(The full methodology is explained on the RSF website).

The Philippines ranks lowest in the economic context at 169 with a global score of 23.13 and second lowest in safety/security at 159 (24.83). These global scores are in the ‘very serious’ range (0-40 points).

Among the questions evaluated in the economic context are “economic constraints linked to governmental policies (including the difficulty of creating a news media outlet, favoritism in the allocation of state subsidies, and corruption); economic constraints linked to non-state actors (advertisers and commercial partners); economic constraints linked to media owners seeking to promote or defend their business interests.”

The questions tackled in the safety context relate to journalists’ “ability to identify, gather, and disseminate news and information in accordance with journalistic methods and ethics, without unnecessary risk of: bodily harm (including murder, violence, arrest, detention, and abduction); psycho-

logical or emotional distress that could result from intimidation, coercion, harassment, surveillance, doxxing (publication of personal information with malicious intent), degrading or hateful speech, smears and other threats targeting journalists or their loved-ones; professional harm resulting from, for example, the loss of one’s job, the confiscation or professional equipment, or the ransacking of installations.”

Show these lists of questions to a Filipino journalist and they’ll tick off all these boxes as constraints and chilling effects on their reportage.

The recent cold-blooded murder of radioman Percy “Lapid” Mabasa is only one of the many, many abuses perpetrated upon journalists in this country.

RSF notes that the Philippines “is one of the world’s deadliest countries for journalists – as seen most shockingly when 32 reporters were massacred in the southern province of Maguindanao in 2009 – and impunity for these crimes is almost total.”

We can only hope that the investigation into Lapid/Mabasa’s slaying and its probe into the involvement and culpability of highlyconnected and -placed individuals will result in justice being served without fear or favor We can only hope that the investigation into Lapid/Mabasa’s slaying and its probe into the involvement and culpability of highly-connected and -placed individuals will result in justice being served without fear or favor.

The intimidation and killing of journalists who expose corruption in government only goes to show that corruption is the rot permeating all levels of the structure that is supposed to protect Filipinos and defend its rights.

Corruption is not about altruism but selfish agendas. Impunity results from the desire of greedy and evil individuals to hold on at all costs to what they have gained – power, influence, money – all the things that they can’t take with them to the grave.

The new administration should take note of the country’s stats in the WPFI and make serious, tangible efforts to improve them by ensuring better, safer conditions for the Filipino journalists.

As RSF noted, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security established in 2016 failed to “stem the vicious cycle of violence against journalists.”

The shame of being a country that is one of the worst for journalists, who provide a necessary

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Honor Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Standing on Yolanda’s lessons

A

S THE country marked Tuesday the ninth anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda, we stand up once more to the challenges our disaster-prone country faces every year, particularly from ruthless weather disturbances.

As from the latest typhoons that hit the country – Typhoons Karding and Paeng – we continue to bring muscle to our determination to rise in hope and solidarity with the others in our community, high in the persuasion we will always bounce back.

Thousands of people have died from these typhoons, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of affected families, including children and the elderly, and billions of pesos in agricultural and infrastructure damage which make ugly figures on the nation’s bulletin boards.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. flew to Leyte for the anniversary, in what is seen as a confirmation of presidential fellow-feeling with survivors, who lost kin and property when Yolanda stormed ashore on Nov 8, 2013, trying to rebuild their lives and hack a future for themselves after the tragedy.

It is good to hear House Speaker Martin Romualdez, himself a Yolanda victim, that Filipinos, particularly those in Eastern Visayas, have recovered fully from Yolanda, which undeniably is a testament to the Filipinos’ resiliency in face of any calamity.

The House leader has said there will be other calamities in the future but raised the thought that we will over-

come because of this resiliency and our compassion for fellow countrymen.

(House Speaker Romualdez) has said there will be other calamities in the future but raised the thought that we will overcome because of this resiliency and our compassion for fellow countrymen “As we commemorate the ninth an anniversary of Yolanda that battered the country, most especially Eastern Visayas, we honor and offer prayers to those who perished during this unfortunate event, as we raise our glasses to the brave souls, our first responders, who put the lives of others above their own during the onslaught of the super typhoon,” Romualdez said.

As we stand beside our Yolanda memory bank, we sift through pages and review what lessons we may have learned to help mitigate the catastrophic

impact of typhoons, given that the Philippines averages at least 20 such a year.

We raise the guesswork that we have seen the importance of energy and access to a better source as perhaps the most important lesson we have learned from Yolanda.

We must admit that knowledge and understanding of typhoons can save lives, minimize economic/infrastructure and agricultural losses – as such the relevant government agencies can prepare in advance and evacuate areas to be affected along the typhoons’ track.

Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters.

As the Philippines is particularly prone to typhoons – with thousands living in coastal communities or lowlying areas or congested urban areas as well as along river banks – and other disasters, emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction initiatives will remain essential for the resilience of the Filipinos.

The Philippines should also step up efforts to devoting considerable resource to the construction and provision of disaster reduction facilities like river dikes and sea walls, as well as nonstructural measures such as warning systems for typhoons, floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruption and lahar flows.

We believe that education for disaster preparedness can also provide lifesaving and life-sustaining information and skills that protect in particular children and young people during and after emergencies..

Disasters and pollution

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

PH rank plummets in 2022 World Press Freedom Index

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022

THE Philippines is not ready for disasters.

Nor for the impending global warming changes.

So the effect is one disaster after disaster in the coming years.

One of the deadliest typhoons is Paeng which visited the Philippines for four days, from Oct. 30, 2022 to Nov. 2, 2022.

Its speed was only 160 kms per hour but it was more than 900 kms wide, from Mindanao to northern Luzon.

It killed 158, injured 142, affected 4.661 million people in 817 cities and towns, 74 provinces, and 17 regions. In other words, the entire country.

Paeng damaged 53,000 houses, 92.25 million hectares of crops, and P3 billion worth of agriculture.

Power was lost in 523 cities and towns; water service was gone in 27 cities and towns.

The typhoon shut down 9 airports (including the MIA) and 121 seaports.

President Marcos Jr was on top of the situation – virtually. He presided over a disaster emergency meeting with his Cabinet and key officials – in absentia. Was he in Japan? Nobody knew.

Paeng is only an augury of worst things to come.

The Philippines will endure a never ending series of disasters.

But to me the biggest disasters are our politicians.

The Philippine alphabet has 31 letters after whom local typhoons could be named. As for our bad politicians? Well, the words in the dictionary may not be enough for the nomenclature of disaster politicians.

It seems ironic that the Philippine should suffer so much from disasters and bad weather which experts routinely blame on global warming effect. The Philippines is not all a polluter.

Global warming is the earth temperature rising – ideally-- by not more than 1.5 degrees Celsius since the 17th century.

The 1.5 is the ideal but it looks like we will hit more than 2 degrees Celsius (a total disaster) – thanks to unabated pollution and emissions of carbon dioxide.

By today, the world has produced 34.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Of that, 10.66 billion has been produced by China, the world’s No. 1 polluter (it feels the least guilty for the honor).

China’s share of total pollution is 30.63 percent .

No. 2 is the United States with 4.7 billion tons or 13.54 percent; No. 3 is India with 2.44 billion tons or 7 percent. Fourth is Russia, 1.58 billion or 4.5 percent. After them is Africa 1.3 billion or 3.7 check-and-balance to the State and other societal institutions, is something that should no longer be borne.

In addressing the situation to bring about positive change, the new government has a chance to create a substantial and significant legacy.

••• The Cultural Center of the Philippines will host online and onsite book activities for children in line with the CCP’s Children’s Biennale 2022: Balangaw event this month.

Co-organized by the CCP Intertextual Division under Beverly Wico Sy, the Rainbow Readers: Batang Mambabasa para sa Kultura, Kalikasan, at Kalinga event is a multi-arts festival for children that will run from October to November at the CCP and online. ‘Balangaw’ is an archaic Tagalog and Hiligaynon word that means ‘rainbow.’

The festival will showcase indigenous arts and

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

percent; Japan with 1.03 billion tons of 2.9 percent.

Vietnam and Thailand each contributes 0.7 percent.

The Philippine contribution? Just 0.39 percent.

To reach the emerging industrialized country status of Vietnam and Thailand, the Philippines must burn 1.8 times as much as Vietnam and Thailand.

To reach the level of wealth of Japan’s wealth, Filipinos must create 7.5 times the Japanese’s current emissions.

We should pollute the environment some more.

Otherwise, Filipinos will remain poor forever.

At the land of the pyramids, the United Nations chief Antonio Guterres opened Monday’s session warning that the world was ‘on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator’ At this writing in Egypt, world leaders and en environmentalists are gathered for what is called the COP27 – the 27th Conference of Parties or nations who are signatories to the UN framework convention on climate change.

The UNFCCC entered into force on March 21, 1994. Today, it has near-universal membership.

The 198 countries ratified the Convention are called Parties to the Convention. Preventing “dangerous” human interference with the climate system is the ultimate aim of the UNFCCC. The ultimate objective of the Convention is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations “at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human induced) interference with the climate system.”

It states that “such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened, and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.”

At the land of the pyramids, the United Nations chief Antonio Guterres opened Monday’s session culture that honor Philippine heritage, show the value of preserving and respecting nature, and bridge cultural gaps among Filipino children from various communities through live or virtual performances, discussions, workshops, installations, exhibitions, and film screenings.

On November 11, two activities will be held: a storytelling event by AHA! Stories titled “AHA! Narito Na Kami!” at 4:00 p.m. at the CCP Little Theater Lobby featuring storyteller Steve Manzano who will read the book Ang Mga Alon sa Amin, written by Rainey Dolatre, Coleen Ramirez-Panahon, and Gina Alfonso, and illustrated by Ianthe Pimentel.

At 5:00 p.m., award-winning book creator Adrian Panadero will give an online talk organized by Tahanan Books.

In the presentation Bahay: A Tour of Traditional Filipino Homes, Panadero will share how his love

warning that the world was “on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.”

The world faces three major threats – the RussiaUkraine war, global warming, and a global economic crisis.

The Ukraine has brought about a severe energy shortage and an unusual spike in energy prices.

Coal, for instance, has risen per ton from $50 to as high as $470.

Coal provides 60 percent of Philippine energy supplies. It also remains the cheapest source of energy, although it is possibly the dirtiest.

“We are in the fight of our lives, and we are losing,” Guterres said in his opening remarks.

Newly minted British prime minister Rishi Sunak, told participants in Egypt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine should prompt countries to invest more heavily in renewable energy.

“Putin’s abhorrent war in Ukraine, and rising energy prices across the world, are not a reason to go slow on climate change. They are a reason to act faster,” said the former-banker-turned-politician.

The world is not doing enough to mitigate global warming.

The World Meteorological Organization has noted a warming of the planet at its hottest in eight years, including every year since 2015 when countries signed the landmark Paris agreement aimed to cut global emissions dramatically.

Reported the New York Times: “The biggest fault line of this year’s talks is the question of what rich, industrialized countries that account for the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions owe to those bearing the brunt of climate hazards. On that there was a small breakthrough on Sunday – progress on the contentious issue of who will pay for the irreversible damage that climate change is wreaking on the world’s most vulnerable.”

On Monday, environmental groups called for a “fossil fuel nonproliferation treaty” that would ultimately put an end to all new oil, gas and coal projects.

NYT noted that the talks come at the end of a year that saw extraordinary heat waves across the northern hemisphere, catastrophic flooding in Pakistan and Nigeria, and a punishing drought in China.

Per the United Nations, 110 heads of state and government are addressing the COP27 conference, a larger number than at many previous climate conferences. Of those, just seven are women.

Originally, President Marcos Jr. had wanted to attend the conference. The invitation was extended in June by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and by the UN secretary general. biznewsasia@gmail.com for Philippine culture and architecture led to his career in children’s book publishing.

He will also show a preview of his brand-new cut-and-build scale model book featuring six traditional Filipino houses. The talk will be streamed on the Facebook pages of the CCP and CCP Intertextual Division.

The event is free and open to all.

Free copies of Dr. Rose Torres-Yu’s latest children’s book will be given away to lucky onsite participants.

Books from Southern Voices, Aklat Mirasol, and AHA! Stories will also be available for purchase at the CCP Little Theater Lobby from November 11 to 13. * * * Dr. Ortuoste is a board member of PEN Philippines, member of the Manila Critics Circle, and judge of the National Book Awards. FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Jimbo Owen Gulle

Associate Editors News Editor City Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Opinion Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

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World

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

UN CHIEF WARNS CLIMATE SUMMIT

Take action or risk ‘collective suicide’

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HE UN’s chief warned Monday that nations must cooperate or face “collective suicide” in the fight against climate change, at a summit where developing countries reeling from global warming demanded more action from rich polluters.

Nearly 100 heads of state and government are meeting for two days in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, facing calls to deepen emissions cuts and financially back developing countries already devastated by the effects of rising temperatures.

“Humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish,” Guterres told the UN COP27 summit.

“It is either a Climate Solidarity Pact or a Collective Suicide Pact,” he added.

Guterres urged the world to ramp up the transition to renewable energy, and for richer polluting nations to come to the aid of poorer countries least responsible for heat-trapping emissions.

He said the target should be to provide renewable and affordable energy for all, calling on the United States and China in particular to lead the way.

US-Sino Manila tensions, however, have prompted BeiStandard jing to freeze climate cooperation with Washington.

TODAY President Xi Jinping is absent from the summit, while President Joe Biden will attend it later this

week after US midterm elections.

Nations worldwide are coping with increasingly intense natural disasters that have taken thousands of lives this year and cost billions of dollars.

They range from devastating floods in Nigeria and Pakistan to droughts in the United States and several African nations, as well as unprecedented heatwaves across three continents.

“We have seen one catastrophe after another,” said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. “Is it not high time to put an end to all this suffering?”

Money has emerged as a major issue at COP27, with wealthy countries scolded for failing to fulfil their pledge to provide $100 billion per year to help developing countries green their economies.

This is a “major cause for persisting distrust, and neither is there any sound reason for the continuing pollution,” said Kenyan President William Ruto, who announced an African climate summit for next year. AFP

PRACTICE DROP.

Indonesian military personnel parachute during a security drill ahead of the G20 Summit at Serangan island in Denpasar on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on November 8, 2022. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

US votes with future of Biden, Trump at stake AMERICANS vote Tuesday in crucial midterm elections that could decide the political future of both President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump—who has all but announced he will seek the White House again in 2024.

Biden’s Democrats are facing a gargantuan struggle to hang on to Congress, after a race the president has cast as a “defining” moment for US democracy – while Trump’s Republicans campaigned hard on kitchentable issues like inflation and crime.

Trump – who has been heavily hinting at a new run – grabbed the election eve spotlight to flag “a big announcement” a week from now on November 15, while Biden made a final appeal to Democrats to turn out en

Department Administrative Order No. 22-14 Series of 2022 IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR EXTENSION OF GENERAL SAFEGUARD MEASURE ON IMPORTATIONS OF ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENT TYPE 1 (AHTN 2017 NO. 2523.29.90) AND BLENDED CEMENT TYPE 1P (AHTN 2017 NO. 2523.90.00) FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES (TCI (SG) No. SG-2022-EX1Cement) (DTI Safeguard Measures Case No. 01-2018) x------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

masse at the polls.

“The power’s in your hands,” Biden told a rally near the capital. “We know in our bones that our democracy is at risk and we know that this is your moment to defend it.”

With polls showing Republicans in line to seize the House of Representatives, the increasingly far-right party eyed snarling the rest of Biden’s first term in aggressive investigations and opposition to spending plans.

Returning to the White House Monday night, Biden told reporters he believed Democrats would win the Senate – though conceding “it’s going to be tough” to retain the House and that his life in Washington may become “more difficult.”

If both the House and Senate flip, Biden would be left as little more than a lame duck.

With Congress out of Democrats’ hands, he would see his legislative agenda collapse.

That would raise questions over everything from climate crisis policies, which the president will be laying out at the COP27 conference in Egypt this week; to Ukraine, where Republicans are reluctant to maintain the current rate of US financial and military support.

An influx of far-right Trump backers in Congress would also accelerate the shift that has been taking place inside the Republican Party ever since the former real estate tycoon stunned the world by defeating Hillary Clinton for the presidency in 2016. AFP

On 05 October 2022, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) received the Tariff Commission’s (Commission) Formal Investigation Report on the Petition for Extension of general safeguard measures on importations of Ordinary Portland Cement Type 1 (classified under AHTN 2017 Subheading No. 2523.29.90) and Blended Cement Type 1P (classified underAHTN 2017 Subheading No. 2523.90.00), from various countries. The period covered by the review are the years 2019 to 2021.

Musk’s Twitter raises fears of climate misinfo

The Commission, in accordance with the Safeguard Measures Act (RA 8800), its Implementing Rules and Regulations (JAO No. 03, Series of 2000), and the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, concluded that: 1. The production output of the petitioner representing the domestic industry constituted a major proportion of the total domestic production of Ordinary Portland Cement Type 1 and Blended Cement Type 1P and thus satisfies the requirement under Section 4(f) of RA No. 8800.

2. The domestic cement industry has undertaken, and continues to undertake considerable efforts to comply with its adjustment plans and is thus making positive adjustment to import competition. During the period under review (2019-2021), the domestic industry maintained its market standing, increased its Manila mill capacities, stabilized its manufacturing costs, and improved its profitability.

TODAY

Standard

3. During the period under review, there was no significant overall impairment in the position of the domestic cement industry that constituted serious injury.

4. There is no existence of an imminent threat of serious injury and significant overall impairment to the position of the domestic cement industry in the near future.

The Commission thus, recommends that the imposition of the definitive general safeguard measure on importations of Ordinary Portland Cement Type 1 (classified under AHTN 2017/2022 Code 2523.29.90) and Blended Cement Type 1P (classified under AHTN 2017/2022 Code 2523.90.00), no longer be extended.

The non-confidential version of the final report of the formal investigation by the Commission on the petition for extension of the safeguard measure against importations of Ordinary Portland Cement Type 1 and Blended Cement Type 1P from various countries, can be accessed at the Commission’s website https://tariffcommission.gov.ph/.

IN VIEW THEREOF, the petition for extension of general safeguard measure on importations of Ordinary Portland Cement Type 1 (classified under AHTN 2017/2022 Code 2523.29.90) and Blended Cement Type 1P (classified under AHTN 2017/2022 Code 2523.90.00), is hereby dismissed. Accordingly, the definitive safeguard measure imposed for a period of three (3) years commencing on 22 October 2019 shall expire on 22 October 2022.

The DTI Order can be accessed at the DTI website: bit.ly/extensionGSM-cement Let this Order be published in two (2) newspapers of general circulation and let individual notices be sent to all interested parties including the country members concerned.

This Order shall take effect upon the issuance of the relevant Customs Memorandum Order by the Bureau of Customs.

SO ORDERED. 24 October 2022

(MS-NOV. 9, 2022)

Manila

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TODAY

DANGEROUS JOB. A worker installs scaffolding in central Hanoi on November 8, 2022. AFP

Ukraine’s star novelist Kurkov tours world BRUTAL reality has stopped Ukraine’s internationally renowned novelist Andrey Kurkov from writing fiction, so instead he is telling the story of the Russian invasion to the world.

The 61-year-old, famed for his satirical Russian-language novel “Death and the Penguin,” has become a kind of travelling cultural spokesman for Ukraine’s war effort.

His ready smile belies the tiredness resulting from criss-crossing European and US literary festivals to discuss his new non-fiction work, NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Notice is hereby given that the Valle Ve r d e C o u n t r y Club, Inc. PMFC No. 5059 owned

by PRODUCERS RURAL BANKING CORPORATION was declared lost.

MS OCT 26, 2022 / Nov. 2 & 9, 2022

LEGAL NOTICE EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED TAN HUAT KUA Notice is hereby given that the legal heirs of the late TAN HUAT KUA (the “Decedent”), who died intestate on January 23, 2019 at Makati Medical Center, have executed an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED TAN HUAT KUA. The parties, being all of legal age, hereby adjudicate unto themselves the properties left by the decedent. As per Doc No. 393; Page No. 80; Book No. VI; Series of 2022 as notarized by Atty. Nestor M. Mejia.

(MS-NOV. 9, 16 & 23, 2022)

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF THE LATE SOFIA M. VILLEGAS (with accompanying SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY in favor of ADELINA V. SYDIONGCO and AKELA JESKA V. SYDIONGCO

ADDENDUM to the EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF THE LATE VICENTE C. VILLEGAS SR. (with accompanying SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY in favor of ADELINA V. SYDIONGCO and AKELA JESKA V. SYDIONGCO

Notice is hereby given to the public that the Addendum to the Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate of the Late Sofia M. Villegas, has been executed by and among his heirs, namely, Adelfa V. Garcia, Corazon V. Espano, Adelina V. Sydiongco, Josefina V. Potestas, Vicente M. Villegas, Jr., Tracy M. Villegas, Bernardo M. Villegas, and the Estate of the Vicente C. Villegas Sr. as per Doc. No. 148, Page No. 30, Book No. XIV, Series of 2022 of the Notarial Register of Atty. Irish S. Precion, Notary Public for and in the City of Taguig.

Notice is hereby given to the public that the Addendum to the Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate of the Late Vicente C. Villegas, Sr. has been executed by and among his heirs, namely, Adelfa V. Garcia, Corazon V. Espano, Adelina V. Sydiongco, Josefina V. Potestas, Vicente M. Villegas, Jr., Tracy M. Villegas, Bernardo M. Villegas, and the Estate of the Late Sofia M. Villegas, as per Doc. No. 64, Page No. 13, Book No. IX, Series of 2022 of the Notarial Register of Atty. Irish S. Precion, Notary Public for and in the City of Taguig.

MS (OCT. 21, 2022 and NOV. 4 & 9 2022)

MS (OCT. 21, 2022 and NOV. 4 & 9 2022)

“Diary of an Invasion.”

“It’s my contribution, it’s actually my duty,” Kurkov tells AFP in an interview at the Crossing Border festival in the Dutch city of The Hague, fresh off the plane from Germany.

“I’m on the western front, not on the eastern front. The eastern front is very dangerous, the western front is less dangerous – but I think it is also important.”

As Kyiv’s troops make gains in the east and south, Kurkov says his job is to “explain to Western audiences what they don’t know and don’t understand about Ukraine.”

Exempt by age from the travel ban for Ukrainian men from 18-60, Kurkov has had an “exhausting” travel schedule to promote the book.

His vivid and heart-breaking diary paints a picture of life in Ukraine from December, when war was looming, until July. AFP

CLIMATE deniers looking to block action and “greenwashing” companies could have free rein on Twitter after Elon Musk’s takeover, analysts warned as leaders pursued anti-warming efforts at the COP27 summit.

The Tesla billionaire and self-declared free-speech absolutist has fired thousands of staff – with sustainability executives Sean Boyle and Casey Junod among those signing off fromMAGEN CYAN the platform last week.

Musk has promised to reduce Twitter’s content restrictions and after the takeover announced plans to create a “content moderation council” to review policies.

“It’s not clear what Mr Musk really plans to do. However... if he removes all attempts at content moderation, we can expect a surge of disinformation, as well as increases in misleading and greenwashing advertisements,” said Naomi Oreskes, a professor of the history of science at Harvard University who has authored leading studies on climate misinformation.

“Greenwashing” means companies misleading the public about their impact on the planet through messages and token gestures.

“We may also see an increase in hateful comments directed towards climate scientists and advocates, particularly women,” Oreskes said.

Following the buyout, one climate journalist tweeted that he had received death threats on the platform.

He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AFP

China playing ‘aggressive games’—Trudeau CHINA is playing “aggressive games” with democracies and Canadian institutions, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned on Monday following a report of foreign interference in its elections.

His comments came after local broadcaster Global News reported that Beijing had funded a “clandestine network” of candidates in a recent ballot, and days after authorities began investigating illegal Chinese police stations in the Toronto area.

“We have taken significant measures to strengthen the integrity of our elections processes and our systems, and will continue to invest in the fight against election interference, against foreign interference of

our democracies and institutions,” Trudeau told reporters.

“Unfortunately, we’re seeing countries, state actors from around the world, whether it’s China or others, are continuing to play aggressive games with our institutions, with our democracies,” he said.

Citing unnamed sources, Global News said intelligence officials told the Trudeau government China was seeking to influence or subvert its democratic process.

The report alleges Beijing directed transfers of funds through an Ontario lawmaker and others to at least 11 federal election candidates and Chinese operatives who worked as their campaign staffers. AFP

Sports

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022

A7

Ancajas’ redemption tour begins in February

Sunshine Baraquiel

Top bets try to vary plans in ICTSI golf WHILE all look to rousing head-to-head duels, two of the leading contenders in the women’s side of the ICTSI Villamor Match Play Invitational will opt for different approaches when the novel event is fired off Tuesday (Nov. 15) at the Villamor Golf Club in Pasay.

“Unlike in regular tournaments, my mindset for the match play will be more on attack and attack to net more birdies,” said Chihiro Ikeda, the Order of Merit winner in the just-concluded Ladies Philippine Golf Tour with victories at Mount Malarayat and Eagle Ridge-Aoki.

But she elects to downplay her chances in such kind of an unpredictable setup, saying: “No expectations, no pressure. But I would just like to enjoy the game since it will surely be an exciting match play.”

It surely will. With 16 of the top finishers after 11 legs of this LPGT all driven to emerge on top on Nov. 18 in a format so distinct in medal play, no one indeed holds an edge over the other in the upcoming event also spread over four days.

“I’ve always enjoyed this format since anything can happen,” said Sunshine Baraquiel, who scored a career breakthrough in wicked conditions at Highlands last year but whose game somewhat took a downswing in the season about to end.

“My performance this year wasn’t great,” she added. “Golf is really a long game and each players journey is different. There are improvements from last year but the results aren’t there yet.”

The lady pilot, however, hopes to end it in triumphant fashion.

“What’s great about match play is you get to re-start on each hole. Strategies will change depending on my opponent and the way I’m hitting the ball for the day,” said Baraquiel. “The approach is different just because the total score doesn’t count.

The decision to play conservatively will really depend on match standing and opponent shots.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks battles for a loose ball against Clint Capela of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP

Hawks send Bucks back to earth; Curry lifts Dubs OS ANGELES—Rookie A.J. Griffin scored 24 points from the bench as the Atlanta Hawks ended the Milwaukee Bucks’ unbeaten start to the NBA season on Monday, while Stephen Curry produced a 47-point masterpiece to snap the Golden State Warriors’ five-game losing streak.

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Griffin was one of six Hawks players to make double digits as Atlanta shrugged off the absence of star playmaker Trae Young to hand the Bucks their first defeat of the 2022-2023 campaign.

The Bucks went into the game seeking a 10th straight win after a 9-0 start left them as the NBA’s only unbeaten team.

But Atlanta recovered superbly after being outscored 36-25 in the first quarter before trailing by six points at half-time.

The game swung decisively in Atlanta’s favor in the third period as the Hawks’ scoring erupted with 37 points.

Atlanta wrapped up a 117-98 victory with a 28-18 fourth quarter that saw the Hawks improve to 7-3 for the season.

Dejounte Murray led the Hawks’ scorers with 25 points, eight rebounds

and 11 assists.

But the real stars of the show for Atlanta came from a potent bench led by teenage rookie Griffin, who combined for 59 points to set up the win. Justin Holiday drained four three-pointers in a 14-point contribution, while Onyeka Okongwu added 12.

“Before the game started, the coach said ‘Believe’. I feel the whole team wanted more,” 19-year-old Griffin said.

“It was a great win. We knew the gameplan—just pitch in and make sure we had each other’s back.”

Milwaukee’s scoring was led by Giannis Antetokounmpo with 25 points, while Jrue Holiday added 16 points.

Curry ‘lights the fire’ In other games on Monday, Golden State ended their five-game losing

streak but only after a brilliant fourthquarter performance from Curry against Sacramento.

Curry scored 17 of his 47 points in the final frame as the Warriors outscored the Kings 37-25 to sneak a 116-113 win.

“Whatever it takes to get a win at this point,” Curry said.

“There was a sense of desperation coming off that road trip struggling like we did... we still can show that championship kind of grit and competitiveness to pull out a game like that.

“We know how to do it -- I just needed to light the fire a little bit.”

In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid drained a perfect 16-of-16 from the free throw line in a 33-point display as the 76ers outgunned the Phoenix Suns 100-88.

Embiid’s shooting accuracy was backed with a red-hot contribution off the bench from Georges Niang, who sank seven three-pointers in a 21-point contribution. Tobias Harris also scored 21 points for the Sixers.

Devin Booker led the Phoenix scoring with 28 points, while veteran playmaker Chris Paul hobbled off with a sore right heel. The Suns said Paul was removed from the game as a precaution. AFP

JERWIN Ancajas, whose six-year reign as IBF super-flyweight champion ended with back-to-back losses to Fernando Martinez of Argentina this year, will launch his redemption tour at bantamweight in February.

The 30-year-old Ancajas is determined to move forward after losing the crown to Martinez last February then in a rematch last October, and aired his confidence of becoming world champion once more.

“Marunong naman ako tumanggap ng pagkatalo. Ganyan ang sports. Kaya mangangarap ka na naman na maging champion” said Ancajas in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“Pagsisikapan ko ulit. Sa 118 maraming magandang laban,” added Ancajas (33-3-2 with 22 knockouts), who was joined at the forum by his longtime trainer and life coach Joven Jimenez.

The pride of Panabo in Davao del Norte is looking at February as the beginning of his campaign in the 118-pound division. The fight Jerwin Ancajas will be staged in the Philippines.

“Isa yan sa nagpapa-excite sa akin,” added Ancajas, who last fought on local soil in 2016 when he snatched the IBF 115-pound title from McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico in Taguig City.

Nine successful title defenses followed before Ancajas bowed to Martinez, and felt it was time to move up in weight.

Jimenez said they’re waiting for word from MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons regarding Ancajas’ next fight. “‘Yung 118 (pounds) ang napili namin kasi mas maraming opportunities. And baka one or two fights lang title fight na. ‘Yan ang pangako ni sir Sean,” said Jimenez.

“Wala pang kalaban pero first week of February. MP Promotions pa rin. Siguro Mexicano and dito sa Pilipinas ang laban,” added Jimenez during the face-to-face forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Poblete’s 7 golds help carry Megakraken to overall title JULIA Jewels Poblete proved to be the most precious swimmer in the Visayas leg as she sparkled with a seven-gold medal haul to lead the Iloilo Megakraken Swim Team to the overall team title in the recent FINIS National Long Course Championship at the Iloilo Sports Complex Swimming pool in La Paz, Iloilo City.

The eight-year-old tanker swept her seven events in the girls’ 7-8 class of the 200m Individual Medley (4:01.73), 100m butterfly (2:01.81), 50m backstroke (50.96), 50m fly (55.36), 100m back (1:50.36), 50m breaststroke (58.57) and 100m freestyle (1:37.34) to help her team claim the overall team title (1,432.5 points).

“We’re very proud not just of our medalists, but of all the swimmers and their coaches for their enormous effort just to be able to join the competition. I wanted Champions of the FINIS National Long Course Championship’s Visayas leg are to make special mention of the three- shown here.

man Binirayan Tadpoles Swim Club (Princess Maria Galindo, Johnny Quimpang, and coach Patricia Anne Galindo).

The recent typhoon ‘Paeng’ washed away the bridge in Antique and it was very hard for their whole swim team to get across,” said FINIS Managing Director Vince Garcia.

“So majority of their teammates gave up and just chose not to join the swim meet anymore. But this trio made a headstrong decision to still participate. They had to use a zip line to cross the water to get to the other side so they can compete in swimming this weekend. Hearts made of these are surely bound to become champions. We are so glad to have you in our swim meet. Thank you for gracing our swim event,” added Garcia.

Garcia said he is hoping to get the same energy and excitement from young

Tite’s long career missing just one title SAO PAULO—A smooth operator with the dedication of a monk and a philosophical mind, Tite has brought back Brazil’s aura as the Selecao begin their quest for a sixth World Cup crown in Qatar.

The 61-year-old Adenor Leonardo Bacchi—to use Tite’s real name—was a virtual unknown outside of Brazil and specialist football circles when appointed national team boss in 2016.

His record since then has been hugely impressive, winning three-quarters of his matches in charge and guiding Brazil to an unbeaten World Cup qualifying record with a historic 45 points from 17 games.

Only one thing remains for Tite to achieve.

“I’ve won everything in my career, all that’s missing is the World Cup,” he said in February when announcing he would leave his post following the Qatar extravaganza.

It is 20 years since a Brazil inspired by the sumptuous attacking triumvirate of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho last lifted the greatest prize in football.

Despite his formidable record, not everyone at

home is impressed with Tite.

Many fans and former stars have branded the team’s style as ultra-defensive, despite 166 goals scored in 76 matches —with just 27 conceded in 57 wins, 14 draws and five defeats.

Two of those losses were particularly painful ones, though.

Under Tite, Brazil fell 2-1 to Belgium in the World Cup quarter-finals in Russia four years ago, and then lost 1-0 to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the Copa America final at their Maracana fortress last year.

But many others have real faith in Tite.

In a coaching career spent almost exclusively in his homeland—barring two brief stints in the United Arab Emirates—Tite won the FIFA Club World Cup, Copa Libertadores and two Brazilian titles with Corinthians, a Copa Sudamericana with Internacional, and a Brazilian Cup with Gremio, before guiding Brazil to Copa America victory on home soil in 2019.

“He’s one of the best coaches in Brazil, without a doubt,” former Brazil international Dirceu Lopes (1967-75) told AFP. “Although the national team is not like it once

HAPPY TITE. Brazil’s coach Tite is proud to announce the list of players for the upcoming Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament, at the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

swimmers as the series shifts with the holding of the Mindanao leg on November 12 and 13 at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex Swimming Pool in Zamboanga City.

The series culminates with the Luzon Leg on November 26 and 27 at the New Clark City Aquatic Center in Capas, Tarlac.

Top swimmers after the series will clash in a swim-off for the coveted National Championship on December 17 and 18, also in Clark.

“Just like our previous short course meet, nag-start din kami ng Long Course record holders. Lahat ng gold medalists ‘yun na ang start of the record holders for Visayas. We will do the same for Mindanao and Luzon.

And finally, the Finis Long Course National Records after the finals,” said Garcia, an active triathlete and ‘Godfather’ to the TODO Para Triathletes team.

was, it is respected and one of the favorites to win the title.”

Tite the ‘wizard’ Tite took over the Brazil reins following a pair of miserable failures.

First, Brazil were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the semi-final of their home World Cup in 2014, precipitating the demise of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

And two years later, Dunga bit the dust after the Selecao failed to get out of their modest group at the Centenario Copa America in the United States following a 1-0 defeat to Peru.

Tite set out finding the balance between defence and attack that had served him so well as a club coach, while presiding over a generational change.

For the last two friendlies in September, comprehensive victories over Tunisia and Ghana, Tite picked only nine of the squad from the last World Cup. This team is built around Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar, who despite several controversies has repaid the coach with goals and assists aplenty.

“I’ve never seen anyone with the ability to get the most out of each player like (Tite),” Brazil stalwart Dani Alves told UOL Esportes website.

“It’s pure magic, the guy is a wizard.” AFP

Sports Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

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WEDNESDAY,

NOVEMBER 9, 2022

Converge’s Aljun Melecio set a career-high 24 points as Converge drubbed NLEX with a resounding 108-84 win.

PH boxing chief decries ‘robbery’ in Asian tourney

By Randy Caluag

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LLIANCE of Boxing Associations of the Philippines chief Ed Picson has decried how a Filipino boxer was “robbed” of victory in the ongoing Asian Boxing Championships at Amman, Jordan.

“Philippine national boxer Julyfer Bascon was robbed in the Asian Championships…He slipped in the first round, was unfairly given the 8-count, then the fight was stopped by the referee. It’s clear from the tape that he was barely hit and was obviously not hurt,” Picson wrote in a social media post.

“This is a travesty!,” added Picson, who also shared an article of a foreign boxing news site chronicling the story.

Bascon is among 13 Filipino boxers sent by Team Philippines to the tourna- Julyfer Bascon

ment, including Tokyo Olympics veterans Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Irish Magno.

In the video shared by local and international boxing personalities, the 25-year-old Bascon was in a tooth-andnail battle against Uzbekistan’s Adkhamjon Mukhiddinov in the opening round of their lightweight bout.

Bascon lost his balance after he stepped in for an attack to the body with a right straight. His opponent likewise countered with a left hook that hit nothing but air.

Bascon immediately got back on his feet, but to his surprise, Bosnian referee Tina Poletan signalled a knockdown and began to count as the Filipino continued to gesture that he was all right, even looking over to his corner from time to time for further instructions.

The lady referee continued to count

and waived the fight off, giving a stoppage win to Mukhiddinov.

The video was shared thousands of times, including Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial.

“What happened? @aiba_official @ asbc_official Very disappointing,” Marcial wrote in the caption accompanying the video clip.

“How can a country scout or look for a rising boxing star with this kind of system? Paul Julyfer Bascon from the Philippines lost the fight against Uzbekistan just like that and just like that the effort and hard work of a boxer were just wasted. You should evaluate each judge and referee or give them a seminar because it looks like some haven’t done any.”

Picson said their hands are tied because of the International Boxing Association’s no-protest policy on referees’ stoppage decisions.

JRU Bomber explodes, ‘KOs’ 2 Blazers in a fit of rage

By Peter Atencio A BENCH-CLEARING incident in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter forced organizers to declare the College of St. Benilde Blazers as the winner of their unfinished game with the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers on Tuesday in the 98th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil-EcoOil Arena in San Juan.

The decision was reached by the management committee and commissioner Tonichi Pujante almost an hour after Heavy Bomber cager John Amores ran amuck and rushed to the CSB bench, sending of two of

the three players he punched, down on the floor.

The score stood at 71-51, with 3:22 left when the referee whistled a foul on Amores for tripping Blazers’ cager Chris Flores during a play.

The foul call sent Amores in fit of rage, charging the Benilde bench swinging, and then dropping James Pasturan and Taine Davis to floor.

Their teammate Miguel Oczon also received a blow, but looked unhurt.

Pasturan, who top-scored for 18 points, sustained a left black eye, while Davis’ jaw was slightly swollen.

“I didn’t know that we were beating that team badly. There’s no way we’d do anything (physical) like that, we’re

just playing basketball,” said CSB coach Charles Tiu, The mancom, through Arellano University’s Peter Cayco and Letran’s Fr. Vic Calvo, made a decision with Pujante, to stop the game and prevent the incident from escalating further.

“We were already comfortably ahead when things started to flare up.

As an athlete, you got to show a high level of respect in any sport,” said CSB sports director Stephen Fernandez moments after all players retreated to their respective dugouts as event security watched the players sing the school anthems while standing in James Pasturan being attended to on the floor after the middle of the court. being floored by a punch by JRU’s John Amores

Bulldogs improve to 2-0, halt G-Spikers’ 2-game run

A pair of NU-Pasay defenders foils an attempt from a North Cotabato player in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League at the Philsports Arena. The Bulldogs won, 25-16, 25-22, 25-20.

NATIONAL UniversiNot only the tournaGames today (Philsports Arena) ty-Pasay City posted anment supported by the other straight-sets vic- 8 a.m. – Quezon City vs Imus City (Women) Philippine Sports Com10 a.m. – ICC Caloocan vs UB tory—a 25-16, 25-22, mission, Rebisco, PLDT, Batangas (Women) 25-20 sweep of North 1 p.m. – Bacolod City vs UE Manila (Men) Philippine Olympic Cotabato in the Philip- 3 p.m. – Santa Rosa vs Baguio City (Men) Committee, Cignal HD, 5 p.m. – PGJC-Navy vs Cignal (Men) pine National Volleyball One Sports, Cignal Play, 7 p.m. – Aklan vs NU Pasay City (Men) Federation Champions F2 Logistics and Ami9 p.m. – Army Taguig City vs League at the Philsports go Segurado will help Santa Rosa (Men) Arena Tuesday.

Alinsunurin tune up the Mike Buddin hamBulldogs as part of their mered 17 kills while Nico Almendras added UAAP build-up, but also to look around for 12 points on 10-of-18 attacks for the Bulldogs. potential national team talents for future interCongo’s Obed Mukaba was at her usual national competitions. best in defending the net, tallying four of “It is very important for me because it is the NU-Pasay City’s eight blocks, matching its second year the PNVF is holding this league. foes’ output.

Important because teams from the entire PhilThe Bulldogs improved to 2-0 in Pool B, while ippines are participating in this league. That’s ending the G-Spikers’ two-game winning streak why I’m very thankful for the PNVF to stage to drop to second place. this league,” said Alinsunurin, who steered NU-Pasay City has another match to play the Philippines to a silver medal in the 2019 against Imus City in the nightcap.

Southeast Asian Games.

“We are trying to manage everything. The “Of course, I have to look around on who important thing is for the players to get enough I can get. The PNVF said, I’ll try to see who rest, so when we play again, we will be at our among these players can be part of the selecbest,” said coach Dante Alinsunurin. tion for the national team,” he added.

Converge’s Melecio stands tall as top cager ANOTHER player heeded the call and went on line from downtown as hotshooting Converge further extended its blazing streak in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. With the FiberXers flaunting a patented attack from all fronts anew, it was the smallest man in Aljun Melecio who stood the tallest as they notched their fifth straight win and sixth overall against only two losses in the import-spiced tourney.

Coach Aldin Ayo and the FiberXers are now at joint second place with guest team Bay Area and just razorthin behind league-leader Magnolia (6-1) -- thanks to the heroics of Melecio, who was reunited with his former college coach at Converge.

Melecio, in his first conference with the franchise after being traded from Phoenix in the offseason, set a career-high 24 points as Converge drubbed NLEX with a resounding 108-84 win.

The former La Salle stalwart, who served as Ayo’s floor general back in their UAAP heydays, poured 14 of his total points in the fourth quarter on top of five rebounds and six assists to become the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period Nov. 4-6.

Melecio was a close choice over Meralco’s Raymond Almazan and Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson for the weekly honor being handed out by the men and women regularly covering the PBA beat.

The impressive play of Melecio included a sizzling 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc to spearhead Converge’s big win as he is slowly but surely getting on the same page with the FiberXers.

“Mas loose lang ako this game because I know kahit magkamali ako, may tiwala si coach sa akin. Malaking factor ‘yun,” beamed Melecio.

The 24-year-old Melecio, indeed, let it loose all game long that compensated for import Quincy Miller’s early ejection in the first half for the unstoppable FiberXers.

PSC Commissioner Bong Coo

PSC to hold 1st Women’s Martial Arts tilt THE one-year countdown to the country’s campaign in the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games begins this week as the Philippine Sports Commission spearheads the staging of the first ever Women’s Martial Arts Festival at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Nine events and two demonstration sports will comprise the Nov. 12 to 17 meet to be held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Commissioner Bong Coo mentioned in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday that events to be played in the six-day meet include pencak silat, wrestling, sambo, karate, muaythai, kickboxing, taekwondo, juijitsu, and kurash, with judo and arnis – the country’s national sports – serving as demonstration sports.

“Since the country will be participating in the AIMAG in 2023, our theme will be 365 days countdown before (the event). So that’s one year before,” said the legendary Filipina bowler and now sports commissioner on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex ground floor.

“So ang mga sports na included sa (Martial Arts) festival ay ‘yung mga lalaruin sa AIMAG in 2023.”

The sixth edition of the AIMAG kicks off on Nov. 17 next year in the capital city of Bangkok and province of Chonburi. It was twice postponed in 2021 and 2022, respectively, due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Martial Arts Festival is set to open at 10 a.m. on Nov. 12 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, with PSC Chairman Noli Eala gracing the affair to deliver an inspirational talk.

Part of the program is a demonstration performance by the Philippine arnis team.

“We hope we can get Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (for the awarding ceremony). We’ve already sent an invitation for him to grace the occasion,” said Coo of Zubiri, who is chairman and president of the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation.

Business

Ray S. Eñano (on leave), Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022

B1

IN BRIEF

Manufacturing’s growth decelerated in September THE manufacturing sector posted slower growth in terms of volume and value in September on base effects and higher inflation.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the value of production index rose 10 percent in September, slower than the August annual growth of 11.8 percent.

In September 2021, the VaPI accelerated 124.6 percent.

The volume of production Index grew 2.4 percent in September, smaller than the previous month’s 4.4 percent. In September 2021, VoPI expanded at an annual growth rate of 124.3 percent.

“The continued growth in manufacturing, though slower year-on-year amid some normalization of denominator/base effects, may be largely attributed to the further reopening of the economy towards greater normalcy,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort told Manila Standard through an SMS. He said the offsetting factors that slowed the growth of manufacturing were higher inflation rate, weaker peso that increased import and input costs and rising interest rates.

Julito G. Rada

SPNEC changes name to SP New Energy Corp.

SOLAR Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp. said Tuesday it changed its corporate name to SP New Energy Corp.

SPNEC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the change in corporate name was reflected on the systems of the Philippine Stock Exchange starting Nov. 8.

“This change reflects the company’s expansion from a single project in Nueva Ecija to a portfolio of projects, in support of its goal of completing the development of 10 GW by 2025,” SPNEC said.

The company aims to complete the development of 10 gigawatts by 2025.

SPNEC said it formed Terra Nueva Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, to hold P2.7 billion in funds raised from a recent stock rights offering.

SPNEC will use the proceeds from the SRO for project development, including the acquisition of land in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan. “We have been working to use the SRO proceeds to create value from the development of our projects. We plan to give an update on the progress as we reach the two-month mark since our SRO,” Solar Philippines founder Leandro Leviste said. Jenniffer B. Austria

BDO promotes PERA for better-off retirement MOST Filipinos remain unresponsive to retirement planning even when its importance has been highlighted by experts. The lack or insufficient understanding of its benefits remains the primary reason, followed by personal choices, life situations and mindsets.

Results of the 2019/2020 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey conducted by Willis Towers Watson showed that in terms of retirement readiness, more than 50 percent of surveyed employees bared they were not heading in the right direction when it comes to retirement savings.

“Employers can further help their employees augment their retirement savings by considering the Personal Equity and Retirement Account. Retirement life is meant to be enjoyed even after employees stop earning. And PERA is a means for the retirees to relish their desired lifestyle, as well as provide financial security to their dependents,” said Marissa Romero, vice president for programmed investments, retail accounts of BDO Unibank’s Trust and Investments Group.

PERA is a voluntary retirement savings plan that encourages individuals to save and invest for their retirement while enjoying tax incentives both from contributions and income from investments.

BDO, an accredited PERA administrator, can help employers set-up and establish PERA for their employees. The bank will also guide the employee-contributors on financial wellness, how to open the PERA in their name and how they can invest and reinvest PERA contributions in qualified PERA investment products.

BLOOD INITIATIVE. SM employees patiently wait in line for SM Foundation Inc.’s second blood initiative. Joining hands for social good, SMFI, Philippine Red Cross and the Philippine Blood Center team up for bloodletting activities in SM malls nationwide.

The second blood donation campaign led by SMFI logged over 3,000 successful donors―with volunteers coming from more than 70 malls and SM Corporate Offices.

September unemployment rate fell to 3-year low of 5%

By Julito G. Rada

U

NEMPLOYMENT rate in September fell to a threeyear low of 5 percent from 5.3 percent in August and 8.9 percent a year ago, as more Filipinos found jobs with the further reopening of the economy, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

National statistician and civil registrar general Dennis Mapa said in an online briefing the September jobless rate “was the lowest since the 4.5 percent in October 2019”, or two months before the outset of the global health crisis.

Mapa said that in terms of magnitude, 47.58 million Filipinos were employed in September, higher than 43.59 million a year ago.

Data showed that with the vibrant resumption of economic activities, an additional 2.2 million Filipinos joined the workforce, raising the country’s labor force participation rate to 65.2 percent in September from 63.3 percent in the same month last year.

“There were about 2.5 million unemployed individuals [out of 50.08 million Filipinos who were in the labor force] in September 2022, but this was lower compared to the 2.68 million in August 2022,” Mapa said. The unemployment rate in September 2021 reached 8.9 percent.

Data, however, showed that the underemployment rate went up to 15.4 percent in September from 14.7 percent in August and 14.2 percent a year earlier.

Underemployed persons or those employed who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their current job, to have an additional job or to have a new job with longer hours of work was recorded at 7.33 million of the 47.58 million employed Filipinos in September.

Petron posted 64% growth in 9-month earnings

By Alena Mae S. Flores INDUSTRY leader Petron Corp. reported a 64-percent increase in nine-month net income to P8.2 billion from P4.99 billion in the same period last year on higher sales.

Combined sales volume from Petron’s Philippine and Malaysian operations and the group’s Singapore trading subsidiary grew 37 percent to 80.4 million barrels from 58.8 million barrels in the same period of 2021, reflecting higher fuel demand.

Total sales volume in the Philippines jumped by nearly 30 percent.

“Despite uncertainties from geopolitical conflicts affecting the industry, we are pleased to note that our recovery is still on track. We are working hard so we can end the year strong and remain committed to providing consumers and industries quality fuel products they need,”

said Petron president and chief executive Ramon Ang. Petron said the average price per barrel of Dubai crude dipped by $11 per barrel to $96.88 in the third quarter on recession fears.

Prices of finished fuel products remained elevated compared to last year despite the correction in the third quarter.

Petron reported consolidated revenues of P631.1 billion in the first nine months were more than double that of last year’s P291.6 billion amid the volume increase.

It said the demand recovery in most economies supported the continued strength of regional refining cracks or the difference between crude and refined petroleum products, resulting in the overall improvement in margins.

Petron’s operating income reached P16.5 billion, or 23 percent more than 2021’s P13.4 billion.

Ayala Land’s income grew 107% to P5.26b in Q3 AYALA Land Inc. said Tuesday third-quarter net income grew 107 percent to P5.26 billion from P2.54 billion in the same period last year as mall and residential businesses started to recover.

ALI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange third-quarter revenues rose 39 percent year-on-year to P33 billion with property development and commercial leasing growing by 21 percent and 84 percent, respectively.

ALI president and chief executive Bernard Vincent Dy said the acceleration in business and consumer activity enabled the company to generate significant earnings growth during the period.

“The demand for our residential products remained resilient and local consumption continues to be robust despite geopolitical

and macroeconomic challenges,” Dy said.

“We believe the strength of our local market will provide the backbone to sustain the growth of our diversified real estate portfolio for the rest of the year,” he said.

ALI’s nine-month consolidated net income also climbed 55 percent to P13.3 billion from P8.58 billion it registered last year.

Nine-month revenues were 19 percent higher at P86.3 billion than P72.6 billion in 2021.

Sales from property development increased 7 percent to P55.2 billion, led by commercial lot sales and construction progress in residential projects.

Revenues from commercial lots went up by 82 percent to P7.5 billion, while residential revenues improved 2 percent to P45.6 billion. Jenniffer B. Austria

Employment rate was estimated at 95.0 percent in September, up from 94.7 percent in the previous month.

It was the highest employment rate since January 2020. In September 2021, the employment rate was reported at 91.1 percent.

Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the labor market sustained its positive momentum with the unemployment rate dropping to a new record low

since the onset of the pandemic.

“The recent survey results show the gains of the full reopening of our economy. The government will leverage on this momentum by strengthening policy interventions and investing in innovation and technology systems geared toward generating higher-quality employment that provides adequate income for Filipino workers and their families,” Balisacan said.

DMCI’s profit soared by 104% in three quarters

By Jenniffer B. Austria DMCI Holdings Inc. said Tuesday nine-month consolidated net income soared by 104 percent to a record P27.6 billion from P13.5 billion booked in the same period last year as all business units delivered positive results.

The company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange without one-off items, consolidated core net income grew at a faster rate of 124 percent to P27.6 billion from P12.3 billion.

“All of our subsidiaries delivered robust results during the nine-month period, particularly Semirara Mining and Power Corp.,” DMCI chairman and president Isidro Consunji said.

Consunji said, however, he was expecting some profit weakness in the fourth quarter because of higher raw material costs and slowdown in construction.

DMCI is primarily engaged in coal mining, power generation, construction, property development and water services.

Consolidated core net income in the third quarter jumped 84 percent to P7.4 billion from P4 billion on the back of higher contributions from coal, power and real estate businesses.

SMPC’s net income contribution more than tripled to P20.4 billion from P6 billion due to elevated market prices, all-time high coal production and higher spot electricity sales volume.

Property arm DMCI Homes posted a 19- percent increase in net profit to P3.9 billion from P3.2 billion due to upward adjustment in selling prices.

Net income of DMCI Mining expanded by 11 percent year-on-year to P1.1 billion as higher selling price due to favorable exchange rates offset the lower shipment due to the depletion of its Berong mine.

Construction unit D.M. Consunji Inc. registered a 16-percent profit upswing to P676 million from P585 million following the completion of some building and infrastructure projects.

Business

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|| WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 extrastory2000@gmail.com

PSEi November 8, 2022

TOP GAINERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2 3 4

OM DD MFC CAT

0.38 7.3 989 10.66

0.06 1.02 109 1.06

18.75% 16.24% 12.39% 11.04%

5 6 7

PPC BKR ATI

5.49 1.39 13.88

0.49 0.12 0.96

9.80% 9.45% 7.43%

8 9 10

MAXS ACR X

4.78 0.84 0.27

0.33 0.05 0.015

7.42% 6.33% 5.88%

TOP LOSERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2 3 4

HOME APVI PRMX ION

2.4 11.7 2.27 0.465

-0.24 -1.16 -0.19 -0.04

-9.09% -9.02% -7.72% -7.00%

5 6 7 8

MG MEDIC HOUSE SCC

0.107 0.73 9.4 31.5

-0.006 -0.04 -0.49 -1.55

-5.31% -5.19% -4.95% -4.69%

9 10

CNVRG ORE

11.38 0.67

-0.52 -0.03

-4.37% -4.29%

Stock market declines; Peso rises to 58.2 vs $1 S

TOCKS retreated Tuesday as speculation about a rollback of China’s strict zero-Covid policies fueled market volatility in some Asian markets, even after the government vowed to stick with harsh lockdowns and testing regimes.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 6 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 6,289.10 as four of the six subsectors declined. The property and financials indices went up 1.4 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.

The boarder all-share index also fell 5 points, or 0.2 percent, to settle at 3,307.75 on a value turnover of P5.1 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 100 to 76, while 38 shares were unchanged.

Three of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by BDO Unibank Inc. which climbed 2.7 percent to P133.50 and SM Prime Holdings Inc. which gained 2.1 percent to P34.70.

Ayala Land Inc. added 1.2 percent to finish at P26.00.

Meanwhile, the peso climbed to a week-high against the US dollar following the release of favorable local economic data and on expectations that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will increase by 75 basis points the policy rate in its meeting next week.

The peso closed at 58.275, stronger than 58.58 per dollar on Monday. It was the local unit’s strongest level in a week since it settled at 57.97 on Oct. 28. Total volume reached $954.9 million, up from $574.2 million previously.

“The US dollar declined lately after the latest month-on-month increase in the GIR data, as well as stronger jobs data and continued growth in manufacturing,” Rizal Commercial Banking

Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort told Manila Standard in a text message.

Ricafort said the dollar also declined against major global currencies to a new one-month low after the financial markets priced in another, but smaller, 50bps Fed rate hike on Dec. 14.

“The relatively stable peso exchange rate [was] also brought about by signals recently on local policy rate hikes of as much as 0.75 on the next rate-setting meeting on Nov. 17,” Ricafort said.

He said the since the start of the year, the peso declined by P7.28 or 14.3 percent against the greenback from 50.999 in end-2021.

Asian markets were mixed Tuesday following an upbeat session on Wall Street as investors look to crucial midterm elections that polls show could upend power in Washington.

Tokyo stocks closed 1.3 percent higher, extending rallies in New York, where the dollar also retreated against the pound and the euro.With AFP

MOST ACTIVE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

BDO SM ICT ALI SCC BPI SMPH JFC MER MBT

VOLUME 7,672,900 465,070 1,975,170 11,936,800 8,161,100 1,999,880 4,869,000 725,610 418,940 2,124,220

VALUE (PHP) 1,021,897,532 389,146,990 368,355,111 312,703,095 263,380,360 189,757,155 168,181,185 166,700,228 128,669,074 111,021,768

Fuel imports hit S. Korea’s current account position SEOUL—South Korea’s current account surplus dropped in September due to soaring import costs, driven by higher energy prices, as well as export fall, central bank data showed Tuesday.

Current account balance, the broadest measure of cross-border trade, recorded a surplus of $1.61 billion in September, down from a surplus of $10.51 billion tallied in the same month of last year, according to the Bank of Korea.

Trade balance for goods logged a surplus of 490 million dollars in September, sharply down from a surplus of 9.55 billion dollars a year earlier.

Import costs jumped in recent months as the prolonged geopolitical risks in Europe propped up energy prices.

Imports advanced 18 percent from a year earlier to 56.59 billion dollars in September, while export shrank 0.7 percent to 57.09 billion dollars.

Energy imports expanded 25.3 percent in the cited month. Natural gas imports more than doubled, and imports for crude oil and coal grew by double figures.

Imports for capital goods increased 10.6 percent on solid demand for transport equipment and semiconductors, and consumer goods import jumped 13.0 percent on higher demand for grain and cars.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s domestic supply in the manufacturing industry grew in the third quarter due to higher import of manufacturing products, statistical office data showed Tuesday.

The index for domestic manufacturing supply, including production at home and imported manufacturing products, stood at 110.9 in the July-September quarter, up 5.3 percent from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea.

It continued to increase for the seventh consecutive quarter since the first quarter of 2021.

The products supplied by local manufacturers gained 2.1 percent in the third quarter, marking the first growth in five quarters. Xinhua

RENAULT’S STRATEGY. Renault Group’s chief executive Luca De Meo addresses a Capital Market Day in Paris on Nov. 8, 2022 to present an update on the group’s strategy and the mid-term financial outlook of ‘Renaulution’ plan. AFP

Twitter suspends blue tick accounts for impersonation LOS ANGELES, United States—Verified Twitter accounts with millions of followers have been suspended after their user name was changed to Elon Musk, as the platform’s users test the new owner’s commitment to free speech he does not like.

Comedian Kathy Griffin, whose blue-ticked account has two million followers, was among those who were locked out after crossing the mercurial CEO. Musk, who has previously described himself as a “free speech absolutist” tweeted Sunday that “any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended.”

The Twitter account for h3h3Productions, which also changed its user name to Elon Musk, was also banned, despite labeling itself a parody.

User @jephjacques changed their display name to Elon Musk, and posted a series of satirical tweets referencing Musk’s hands-on approach to his new company, including: “look can everyone just stop tweeting for a second? it’s too fast for me to moderate by myself.”

The account, which has over 80,000 followers was suspended a short time later.

Compounding the impression that he was personally involved in decisions to ban accounts that target him, Musk responded to a tweet announcing Griffin’s suspension from the service.

“Actually, she was suspended for impersonating a comedian,” he quipped, prompting a response apparently from Griffin, who said she was now using her dead mother’s account.

“I mean... you stole that joke, you asshole,” @TipItMaggieG -- whose username was also Elon Musk -tweeted. “People have been posting that joke for hours, you hack. Look, please do a better job running this company. It used to mean something.”

Other users, including “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill, joined the fray, with the hashtag #FreeKathy.

Since completing his $44 billion takeover of the social media company, Musk has publicly mused about how to turn a profit. AFP

Soaring utility bills a huge headache for small Hungarian businesses

By Geza Molnar BUDAPEST, Hungary—Soaring utility bills, mostly electricity and gas, make it even harder for small companies to make ends meet in Hungary.

Margit Kiss, 42, mother of two and owner of the Kiss Bakery in Urom, a suburb of Budapest, is very frustrated, to say the least.

Even if she uses gas only to heat water, Kiss’ latest gas bill jumped to 19,000 forints (45.6 U.S. dollars) a month from 3,000 forints, and her electricity bill more than doubled from 45,000 forints to 108,000 forints.

“I had to turn off the gas completely, fearing a price I would not be able to pay,” she said. She installed an electric heating panel in her apartment and uses the heat generated by the refrigerators to heat her bakery.

While she spoke to Xinhua, she received a delivery of “Gerbeaud” cakes at a price 20 percent higher than the week before.

“Five hundred forints for a slice of Gerbeaud? ... It was 400 last week, and you didn’t even put real nuts in it, just sugar and chestnuts,” she yelled at her supplier on the phone. “How am I supposed to sell this?”

She explained that in light of such a price hike, she would not order Gerbeaud cakes again as she won’t be able to sell them without a loss.

Gerbeaud cakes count among the best-known desserts in Hungary. It is a delicious layered yeast cake with an apricot walnut filling covered in a

thin chocolate glaze. Traditionally it is a holiday dessert made at Christmas or Easter time. They are becoming more and more expensive because food and energy prices are on a steady increase.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has sent raw material prices rocketing. Flour and bread prices have soared as a result of supply chain disruptions, and the cuts to Russian gas supplies have had the same effect on energy prices.

In August, the government removed the cap on energy prices, which means that now companies and institutions must pay market prices. Households consuming above the national average are also affected. For them, electricity prices have doubled, and the price of

gas has increased sevenfold.

And that is not much, as she keeps only the refrigerators for dairy products running. The ones for soft drinks are now unplugged and just used as shelves, which means customers can not enjoy ice-cold beverages anymore.

The prices of her products have also increased significantly: an average loaf of bread now costs 700 forints, up from 500 forints in the summer and around 350 forints back in February.

Bread prices in September in Hungary increased by 76.9 percent from a year ago, making the hike the highest in the European Union, Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, said.

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Develop-

ment, food price inflation in Hungary in August was 33.1 percent year-on-year, the second highest behind Türkiye.

A carton of 10 eggs, which used to cost 500 forints, now sells for 1,000 forints, and in just eight months, the price of 100 grams of unsalted butter has gone up from 450 forints to 850 forints.

Her customers are flabbergasted by the price tags. “I’d rather not repeat their comments... the prices go up weekly,” she complained.

Hungary’s inflation rate in September was 20.1 percent year-on-year, according to the latest official figures, and analysts predict a peak of 24-25 percent later this year before gradually falling back to lower double digits in 2023.Xinhua

Margit Kiss, owner of the Kiss Bakery, works in her shop in Urom, a suburb of Budapest, Hungary, on Oct. 19, 2022.

Xinhua

China shows off newly approved locally-produced passenger jet at air show BEIJING, China—China on Tuesday showed off its first domestically produced large passenger jet after the aircraft was approved by regulators, unveiling the C919 at a major airshow.

The sleek, narrow-body aircraft took to the runway at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, circling through cloudy skies over the southern city of Zhuhai before touching down in front of hundreds of onlookers.

Chinese authorities hope the C919— built by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp of China—will challenge

foreign models like the Boeing 737 MAX and the Airbus A320.

Beijing also hopes its first homegrown jetliner with mass commercial potential will cut the country’s reliance on foreign technology as ties with Western countries deteriorate -- though most of the plane’s parts are sourced from overseas.

Chinese regulators approved the C919 in September, with President Xi Jinping hailing the project’s “gratifying achievements” and calling it “an effort freighted with the will of the country.”

State carriers have enthusiastically

backed the jet despite it still not having received licenses from US and European regulators or the green light to enter mass production.

China Eastern Airlines, the country’s second-biggest carrier by passenger numbers, said in May it planned to incorporate four C919s into its fleet, with domestic media reporting that the aircraft would go into operation during the first quarter of 2023.

COMAC has said over 800 orders for the C919 have been placed by dozens of customers.

China formally announced longstanding deals for Airbus jets worth $17 billion during a visit last week by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The Boeing 737 MAX has been grounded in China since 2019 after two fatal crashes, though Boeing said in July that it may be approved for delivery by Chinese regulators this year.

However, lingering US-China trade tensions and China’s worst commercial air disaster earlier this year involving a Boeing 737-800 have slowed progress. AFP

Entertainment Global entertainment companies bring S. Korea’s most-watched YouTube reality show to PH SOUTH Korea’s mostwatched reality show, Nego King, will finally reach the Philippines as KROMA’s ANIMA Studios partners with one of the leading global entertainment content companies, A+E Networks Asia.

A Philippine version of the reality show is coming soon and will be made accessible to viewers in the Philippines for free on ANIMA Studios’ YouTube Channel.

Hosted by popular Filipino radio and TV personality Sam YG, the show will be produced in Taglish (Tagalog-English).

With a following of 453,000 on Instagram, 21,000 on Facebook, and 1.6 million followers on Twitter, the new Nego King PH host is sure to keep Sam YG is set to host the Philippine version the viewers engaged, of ‘Nego King’ laughing, and haggling through every episode.

Since the original South Korean Nego King premiered two years ago on YouTube, it has steadily gained fame. Now, the show, which has aired 60 episodes across four seasons, has amassed a total 135 million views, and the eyeballs keep coming.

In this popular web show, the host is “the king of negotiation,” interacting with ordinary customers through street interviews. The goal is to get to know the pulse of the people by asking for their opinion, critique, and wishes, especially on discounts and/or freebies on various “goods,” which may be an item or service such as beauty or cosmetic products, food, appliances or home items, and electronic gadgets, to name a few.

Later, the “Nego King” faces CEOs of the brands mentioned in each episode to leverage customer sentiment to get the best deals or discounts.

This makes for highly relatable content in an era of belt-tightening due to inflation, especially among Filipinos who love a good bargain.

Now, with ANIMA’s newest partnership with A+E Networks Asia, the best Nego Show (Negosyo) in South Korea will soon be entertaining Filipinos with a local version in Taglish, bringing excitement and better deals for the Philippine audience, from clothes to food and various accessories and services.

To learn more about the Philippine’s Nego Show and other works of ANIMA, visit its official website at www.anima.ph

Jimmy Kimmel to return as Oscars host LATE-NIGHT comedian Jimmy Kimmel will host the Oscars for a third time, organizers said Monday, as Hollywood’s biggest award show tries to leave behind the controversy still swirling around its most recent edition.

Kimmel is seen by the industry as a safe pair of hands for the 95th Academy Awards, after the last Oscars in March this year featured a shocking moment in which Will Smith slapped Chris Rock live on stage.

“Being invited to host the Oscars for a third time

is either a great honor or a trap,” said Kimmel in a statement.

“Either way, I am grateful to the Academy for asking me so quickly after everyone good said ‘no,’” joked the host, best known for ABC’s long-running late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Kimmel previously hosted the Oscars in 2017 and 2018. On the first of those occasions, La La Land was accidentally announced as the best picture winner, before Moonlight was awarded the night’s final prize.

He also drew near-universal praise for his hosting of television’s Emmys in 2020, when organizers scrambled to produce a socially distanced show from a near-empty Los Angeles theater early in the pandemic.

Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, producers of the next Oscars, said Kimmel “will be funny and ready for anything!”

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said Kimmel would be the “perfect host” for the ceremony, noting his “live TV expertise.”

ABC Entertainment president Craig Erwich said Kimmel “can handle anything with both heart and humor.”

Oscars television ratings have markedly declined in recent years – like nearly all award shows – although they rebounded to 16.6 million last year, from a recordlow 9.9 million for the previous edition.

While recent Oscars have been largely dominated by smaller, more arthouse-oriented films, many analysts predict crowd-pleasers such as Top Gun: Maverick and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could feature prominently next time.

The Oscars will be held on March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. AFP Late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022

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High gear Jomari Yllana back behind the wheel

R

ACING cars started off as a hobby for actor and politician Jomari Yllana. He found getting into racing could be an awesome hobby, but when he started to learn how to manipulate a car safely at high speeds, it gave him an absolutely different experience.

The 46-year-old Yllana recently went back behind the wheel, it’s a hobby he had parked for almost a decade before deciding to reignite his passion for speed and adrenaline rush.

He gets back into high gear as he roars anew into the racing circuit as the top gun behind rally/race event, the Paeng Nodalo Memorial Rally.

On November 5 and 6 at Subic Bay Freeport, the race paid tribute to Paeng Nodalo, one of the country’s pillars of motorsports, who was behind the legendary Mabuhay Rally. At the end of the racing event, Yllana hit podium finish, winning second runner-up at the Rally Sprint RS Open Category.

Yllana, currently a three-term councilor in Paranaque City, is the first Filipino to score a podium finish at Yeongam International F-1 circuit in South Korea in 2014. He was one of the top three winners in the Super Race Round 8 Championship, Accent One category that gathered top racers from all over the world. His racing team Yllana GTR is also the first Filipino racing team to win in the said event.

Upon winning, the veteran actor declared on Instagram: “Mabuhay ang Philippine Motorsport!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Para sa bawat Pilipino, saan man sa mundo.”

Yllana recalls having trained for an entire year before entering the Super Race championship.

“Joining it was a dream come true for me, winning in my event was a bonus,” he looks back.

His other racing credits include Philippine National Touring Car Champion Driver, 1996 won Rookie of the year (1st runner up, Toyota Corolla Cup) in 1996, Runner up and Champion driver, Philippine National Touring Car Championship for Toyota Team Toms, 1997-2001, Runner up, Philippine Grand Touring Car Championship, 2014-2015 (Yllana Racing Team).

Yllana’s exploits on the racetrack started when he joined Toyota Team Tom’s in the late ‘90s. The stint led to a thousand and one thrills as he maneuvered high-speed drives at Batangas Racing Circuit and Clark International Speedway.

The actor’s own motorsports outfit, Yllana Racing, with

himself as team principal, took part in Philippine Grand Touring Car Championship also in 2013.

Jomari’s eldest son, Andre, has similarly shown interest in the sport. “Hilig din n’ya. But, I tell him racing isn’t just a hobby. You have to be a professional to make it work.”

Jomari, whose full name is José María Garchitorena Yllana, rose to fame as one-third of the 1990s teen group Gwapings together with Mark Anthony Fernandez, Eric Fructuoso, and later with Jao Mapa.

In December, he’s set to stage an acting comeback, playing the part of a politician, in an Erik Matti series, set for international release.

Among his more memorable films as an actor of note in drama are The Healing, Ikaw ang Pag-ibig, Sigaw, Minsan Pa, Gatas... Sa Dibdib Ng Kaaway, Bulaklak ng Maynila, Sambahin Ang Ngalan Mo, Sa Pusod ng Dagat, and Diliryo.

Jomari Yllana is fond of racing cars as a hobby that gives into his passion for speed

Impact of disinformation in families discussed in hybrid play CARLOS Palanca Memorial They were supported by Awards for Literature Hall fellow student-artists from of Famer and multi-awarded the Music Production, playwright Layeta Bucoy tackles Digital Filmmaking, the impact of disinformation and Production Design in familial relationships in her Programs. latest full-length production Pamilya is open to the entitled Pamilya. public. It will be on view The two-act hybrid play live at at the 6/F Blackbox introduces a dysfunctional of Benilde Design and Arts Filipino family at the height Campus today (3:00 p.m. to of political disinformation 5:00 p.m.), November 16 ( campaigns in the Philippine 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and social media landscape. In a clash 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.) and of ideologies and beliefs, and November 23 (10:00 a.m. to with the head of the household 12:00 p.m.). working as a troll for the Mayor, The pre-recorded each of the members find performances will be themselves navigating through available via livestream the growing tension as fresh from Wednesday, issues and hidden sensibilities November 23, 12:00 a.m., slowly surface amid the pool of to Wednesday, November lies, distrust, and disconnection.

30, 11:59 p.m. It will be The two-hour production shown at https://ticket2me. net./. depicts how the influx of false net./ Tickets are available information, along with one’s ‘Pamilya,’ a two-hour production, introduces a dysfunctional excessive ambition and outright Filipino family at the height of political disinformation campaigns for P349 each for the live show at https://ticket2me. denial of the truth, can infiltrate in the Philippine social media landscape net/e/35911 and P250 for even the most personal spaces. It Awardee and De La Salle-College of likewise highlights the proliferation of Saint Benilde Theater Arts Program the livestream at https://ticket2me. false information in the current times, Chairperson Tuxqs Rutaquio, net/e/35918. its effects and manifestations in the Pamilya was produced by Sining For more information, visit the official daily lives of Filipinos, and how anyone LABinsiyam (SiLAB), a group of Facebook Pages of SiLAB (https://www. is susceptible to falling into the trap of budding thespians from the Theater facebook.com/SiLAB119) and Benilde troll farms.

Arts Program of Benilde School of Theater Arts (https://www.facebook.

Directed by Gawad Buhay Philstage Arts, Culture, and Performance (SACP). com/benildetheaterarts).

Life

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022

Going with the flow at Sunshine Place THE Sunshine Place recently showcased the works of its art students in Flow, an exhibit highlighting the beauty of accepting grace in starting over, peace in pausing, and growth in going with the flow. This also marks the fifth year of its Coloring Lives initiatives for its members.

The exhibit brings together the works of 30 artists in four of Sunshine Place’s art classes. These include works from the Acrylic and oil painting classes of Art Association of the Philippines President Fidel Sarmiento; the Porcelain painting class of Mee Lee Casey, a Malaysian expat wife, who has been teaching porcelain painting in the UK, Hong Kong, and Australia for more than 20 years; and Ikebana Sogetsu arrangements with Marc

Tomas.

Ongoing until November 15, it features 86 artworks in acrylic, oil, porcelain, and Ikebana-Sogetsu including the works of Sunshine Place’s newest young artists Isla Le Brun, Maria Helena Bernardo, Rafael Tomas Tanglao, Stephen Rey Destura, and Amanda Atayde who are exhibiting their works for the very first time.

The Sunshine Place offers art classes to seniors, as well as adults, teens, and kids. At the core of the workshops, are mentoring sessions in hands-on techniques, the application of different brushes and basic strokes, and color rendering. Participants get to explore different styles in creating landscape, seascape, still life, and portrait paintings. Just contact mobile number (0917) 515-5656 to enroll in Sunshine

Mel Elido’s Ikebana arrangements (left) Blooms in the Wood and (back) Pillar of Hope at the Sunshine Place’s Flow Exhibit

Place’s art class.

The Flow exhibit will be available for viewing in Sunshine Place and online at https://www.sunshineplaceph.com/ coloring-lives-online-exhibit. Proceeds will be given to Kanlungan Ni Maria Home for the Aged.

The Sunshine Place, a senior recreation

Fostering artistry from one generation to the next

By Patricia Taculao

T

HE family is the basic building block of society. It is where individuals discover their identity, hone their skills, and find the support they need to grow. It isn’t rare for some families to share a common interest for generations. After all, these activities often become a way for members to bond despite differences.

Lydia Velasco posing with her paintings at drybrush gallery

colors. And that’s my concept of picking colors. If it makes Modern contemporary artist Lydia me happy, yun yung feel ko, yun Velasco shares similar sentiments, lang kasi. I’d like to enjoy the as she spent several years painting process,” she said. with her family. Now, she shares the Isabella began painting at a spotlight with them in a visual art young age. She vividly recalls exhibit called Salinlahi IV. getting scolded because she “I love art. Gusto ko lahat ng would paint on the floor surface. family ko, tutal marunong din As she matured, she became naman sila, maging serious sila sa art kasi maganda ang ginagawa ng Paintings of Isabella dela Cruz, Tessie V. Pecaña, and more inclined to art inspired by anime, childhood things, and art sa tao. Maski na may problema Arlene Manalus on display storybook illustrations. ka, maligaya ka naman. Yun, yung Salinlahi IV for Isabella is ang naging motivation ko,” she children, Chie and Chigoe, are also part the fourth time she has joined a family told Manila Standard Lifestyle during of Salinlahi IV. exhibit. However, it was the first time the exhibit’s opening last November 3, Yet despite sharing the same interest, she was a conscious young adult, given Wednesday. their creative differences sometimes that she started as a child who produced Aside from Lydia, artworks from arise. paintings like her family.

Tessie Pecaña, Fely Reyes, Sarah “Input nila, input ko, pinagsasama The young artist also learned a thing or Doringo, Daisy Carlos, Isidora Duran, namin. ‘Pag tama o hindi, dun lang kami two about painting from her grandmother, Lon de Cruz, Isabella Dela Cruz, Chie nagkakaargue,” Lydia shared. She solves especially about how art should be a Cruz, Chigoe Cruz, Arlene Manalus, these conflicts by offering tips on how to medium of their self-expression.

Lex Picaña, Michelle Molo, Phoebe create a more visually appealing output. “‘Di naman dapat may meaning pero Carlos, Kim Carlos, and Kris Ian Eventually, Lydia’s influence on art what you give, ano yung maibibigay Carlos are also on display at the exhibit. has passed down from generation to mo sa painting, ano yung meaning The Velasco sisters, Lydia, Tesse, Fely, generation while her family members niya sa’yo.

Baka pwede naman hindi Daisy, and Sarah, share a fascination for developed their creative identities. One flowers and love, which often become prime example is her granddaughter, meaningful sa ibang tao pero sa’yo it’s meaningful, that’s what’s important,” the subject of their artworks. Vibrancy Isabella Dela Cruz. she said. is the vital element that makes the “‘Yung vibrancy nakuha ko kay Lola, Salinlahi IV will run until November family’s pieces a scene stealer. Lydia’s but my colors are more of my favorite 11 at drybrush Gallery on the 2nd floor of SM MOA Square at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.

It's truly a wonder to see the Velasco family share their talent and stories through art

From left: Joweeh Liao, Lydia Velasco, and Jojo Liao (The Liaos are the founders of drybrush Gallery)

SNAPSHOT ‘Pasilyo’ in Subic PASILYO, mga Obra ni Pedrong Masipag at ni Ligaya, an art exhibit of two young painters at the 3rd of Le Charme Hotels in Subic, is open to the public until November 12. Shown in the photo are Jho Foresca, CEO of Le Charme Hotels with SBMA Chairman Rolen Paulino Sr. cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Assisting them are (from left) painter Daniel Dumaguit, Councilor Rodel Cerezo, painter Neptalie Aunzo, and hotel’s sales and marketing manager Marlo Cagnayo.

Sunshine Place's porcelain artist Tess Colayco holding her ‘Gift of Nature,’ oil on ceramic

Rafael Tomas Tanglao, also with Loida ‘Laiyan’ Balubayan’s acrylic class with his artworks’ ‘Bloom and Blossom’

center under the Felicidad Tan Sy Foundation, is a venue for adults to live actively, through engaging in recreational classes and age-appropriate physical training programs. It is the venue to be entertained, socialize, and reflect; a place of happiness and wellness for one’s mind, body, and soul.

For more updates, like and subscribe to our Facebook Page @ SunshinePlace56Jupiter and YouTube channel, Sunshine Place: Senior Recreation Center. Or follow our Instagram account @sunshineplaceph.

You may also want to check our website at http://www.sunshineplaceph.com/

Artsy affairs in town “PARANG kailan lang...” and now we are already At onein the last quarter of the year. Who would have sixth scale of thought that we’d be back to almost normal at this the originals, time? The year started still filled with uncertainties each featured and anxieties, wondering when we would get to a furniture will better normal. be displayed And while there are still some worries about the virus, we have survived and managed to make it with information on the through the year. objective, the status quo With less than two months before during its creation, we welcome the new year, it seems and the public the live event industry, hospitality reception. industry, and arts community are Some of in full swing, with different events the notable filling up my calendar. pieces and Aside from the annual treetheir legendary lighting events, theaters, cinemas, designers and other performing arts venues i n c l u d e have something to offer. Just last Mies van der week, I was able to watch We Will Rohe and The Rock You at the Samsung Performing Barcelona Chair; Arts Theater in Circuit Makati. If you Marcel Breuer and are a fan of British rock band Queen, you The Wassily; Charles should catch this jukebox musical based on and Ray Eames and The a book by Ben Elton.

Lounge and Ottoman; The visual arts community is also quite George Nelson and The Filipino visual artist busy. In fact, several exhibits are happening Marshmallow Sofa; and Impy Pilapil simultaneously in the metro. Here are some Gaetano Pesce, and his La exhibits I recommend you visit this weekend (or Mamma. the next).

Spanish Sojourn Traces of Infinity Instituto Cervantes presents Fondly Just recently, Conrad Manila unveiled the 21st Remembering Spain, featuring Spanish paintings installment of its Gallery C’s Of Art and Wine by Phyllis Zaballero, on display at its Intramuros exhibit, featuring artworks by Filipino visual artist branch until January 22.

Impy Pilapil, on view until January 7, 2023.

The artworks were inspired by Zaballero’s Dubbed Traces of Infinity, it exhibits Pilapil’s years spent in Barcelona and memories of her trips personal collection of 17 mixed media works, around the Iberian Peninsula from 1957 to 1960. sculptures made of wood, steel, metal, stone and These life-changing trips made a strong impact on marble from 1994 to 2020. Each work showcases her as an artist. her mastery over the different elements, creative Zaballero belongs to what we can define as approaches, and compelling thematic messages. the postmodern generation of artists who were “My personal quest has always trained in the spirit of the still been to find new meaning and revolutionary avant-garde style purpose through art. Whether of the first half of the 20th the path begins from within the century. Her first artworks pages of a fantasy novel or the developed in an extraordinary wonders of the natural and higher period of Philippine painting, worlds, wherever it may lead, I from the ‘50s to the ‘80s. will always find traces,” shared A Battle with an Old Virus Pilapil.

Then, there’s the Lumayo Ka The exhibit also coincided Man Sa Akin: HIV, My Love with the launch of her book exhibit by artist Isola on view Saturn, which is part of a career until December 11, at the CCP autobiography. It is the first Bulwagang Carlos V. Francisco volume released in the series.

(Little Theater Lobby).

Gala, 1950, Franco Albini Educated at the UP Fine Arts, The project expands the the Accademia Italiana in Rome, discourse on the pandemic and and Pratt Graphics Center in New its intersections with gender York, Pilapil presents through identity and class through a her art a silent yet larger-than-life practice of engaged listening to persona, graced with technical voices of the unheard and the sophistication. She believes in unseen, often silenced by social living in harmony with nature structure. As the artist puts it, and knowing our place in the while the whole country focuses greater scheme of things. on COVID-19 virus, some Miniature Icons are fighting a different virus – See the miniature versions albeit an older one – the Human of the most iconic pieces of Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). furniture in 62 Icons: Milestones Last October 15, Isola in Furniture Design from the facilitated an online visual Vitra Design Museum at the poetry and body mapping Terra Scintilla I De La Salle-College of Saint workshop attended by HIVBenilde (DLS-CSB) Design and positive participants.

By Arts Campus, on display until mapping or locating the pain or December 17. wounds on a figurative drawing Featuring a selection from the that represents their body, it world-renowned Vitra Miniatures aimed to help participants heal Collection of the Vitra Design from their trauma, facilitated by Museum in Wheil am Rhein, artists and therapists.

Germany, the exhibit encompasses The exhibition shows how furniture design milestones through each day of their lives is made the centuries, from Historicism possible by antiretrovirals and and Art Nouveau, Bauhaus and how they struggle to find joy in New Objectivity, Radical Design such a harsh social environment. and Postmodernism to the most Womb Chair & Ottoman, 1948, It also reflects not just the Eero Saarinen contemporary design innovations. callousness of fate, and how people judge them harshly, but it celebrates life as well as the intimate and lifetime love affair with HIV. Isola, who is currently based in California for her MFA in Environmental Art and Social Practice, will be giving an online artist talk on December 1, at 6:30 p.m., for World AIDS Day. ••• These are just some of the must-see art exhibitions happening around the metro.

Do take time to visit them because you’ll definitely enjoy them, aside from learning The ribbon cutting ceremony at Conrad Manila’s unveiling of the 21st installment of its Gallery C’s 'Of Art and Wine' exhibit something new.