Manila Standard - 2022 November 11 - Friday

‘Revenge spending’ lifts GDP

in ASEAN region

By Julito G. Rada and Maricel V. Cruz

THE economy grew 7.6 percent in the third quarter despite soaring inflation, spurred by an increase in household spending as people get back to a “pre-pandemic life.”

The growth in the gross domestic prod uct (GDP) beat expectations of 6.3 percent as well as the 7 percent growth posted in the same quarter last year, Socioeconom ic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan

said in a briefing Thursday.

The country’s third-quarter performance meant the Philippines had the second-highest growth in the region next to Vietnam’s 13.7 percent and

ahead of Indonesia’s 5.7 percent.

The surprising performance was driven by increased spending on restaurants, hotels, and travel, as well as investment, as schools restarted faceto-face classes and COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.

“This turnout signifies that Filipino families are close to returning to prepandemic life,” Balisacan said. “Having been deprived of mobility for two

PBBM meets Cambodian king, Vietnamese PM

By Maricel V. Cruz,

Barcelo

THE Philippines and Vietnam vowed to work toward balancing trade between them, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed elation over the warm

welcome he received from Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday.

Cambodia is hosting regional leaders for the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Phnom Penh, where Mr. Marcos also held bilat

Experts notes worst over in Omicron strain cases

By Willie Casas

THE worst of the COVID-19 wave of infections in the Philippines brought about by the highly transmissible BA.5 and BA.4 Omicron subvariants is already over, an infectious diseases specialist said Thursday.

“We already passed the worst of the BA5 and BA4,” Dr. Ron tgene Solante said during a televised briefing, noting a decline in cases in the country.

“That means, we have passed what we call a wave. So the cases are going down. And because it has come down, we also developed some sort of population immunity, we get it from

No fare increase just yet on LRT1

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) on Thursday said there will be no fare increase at the LRT Line 1 despite the request of the rail system’s private operator.

Hernando T. Cabrera, LRTA adminis trator, said the Light Rail Manila Corp.

(LRMC) filed a request to increase the boarding fare by P5 and P1.50 addition al fare for every kilometer.

LRT-1 passengers are currently pay ing P30 on a trip going to Baclaran in Paranaque City from Roosevelt in Quezon City.

Cabrera, however, clarified that there

eral talks with the Vietnamese side led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Earlier, the President agreed with a group of Cambodian business leaders to enhance collaboration in digitization, low-cost housing, and other fields that can help accelerate post-pandemic eco-

DOLE reviews minimum wage for possible hike

AS PRICES of basic commodities continue to increase, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ordered a review for a possible minimum wage increase next year.

According to Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards are obligated to conduct a review to “keep pace with whatever developments in the work sector.”

The DOLE has started to pitch the idea to the private sector regarding the issue. However, he noted that minimum wage adjustments could be implemented only once a year.

The last wage hikes were granted in 14 regions in June this year.

Increasing the daily take-home pay of minimum wage earners will be a “very tough balancing act,” Laguesma told ABS-CBN News, as small businesses are still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DOLE chief said a possible wage increase may also have an adverse effect on the labor market.

Inflation hit 7.7 percent in October, which is the highest in nearly 14 years, largely due to higher food and transport

Iwahig prisoner tags BuCor exec in Lapid murder

By Rey Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

AN INMATE brought to the New Bilibid Prison from the penal colony in Palawan has pointed to Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Senior Superintendent Ricardo Zulueta as the person who delegated the order to kill broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

Denver Mayores, who was transferred from the Iwahig Penal Colony, said in a sworn statement that Zulueta asked him to find a person who could kill Mabasa.

Zulueta was named in the murder complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police this week along with suspended BuCor directorgeneral Gerald Bantag, and inmates linked to the death of Mabasa and Bili bid inmate Cristito Villamor Palaña or Jun Villamor.

PH economy grows by 7.6% in Q3, the second highest

BRISK TRADE. A market merchant of various food ingredients transacts with her custom er at Quinta market in Manila. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday the acceleration of the economy in the third quarter of the year by 7.6 percent. Danny Pata

Vince Lopez, and Vito

nomic recovery. While the Philippines considers Vietnam an “important partner” in ensuring food security, Mr. Marcos noted a significant trade imbalance between the two countries.

GOOD BUSINESS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. beams as he meets with leaders of various companies in Cambodia to encourage them to set up business in the Philippines on Thursday. Meanwhile, Speaker Martin G. Romualdez receives a token of appreciation from Vietnam National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue during the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentery Assembly at Shoka Hotel in Phnom Penh. Hue will also visit the Philippines on November 23 to 25. Ver Noveno

NUTRIBUN GIVEAWAY. Senator Imee Marcos, Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, and former Congressman Ricky Sandoval distribute nutribun bread to children during the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program held at Malabon Sports Complex on Thursday. Marcos will turn 67 on November 12. Andrew Rabulan

Scrap OEC paper, Imee asks DMW

By Macon Ramos Araneta

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) should either digitalize or scrap the requirement of Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning to the Philippines, Senator Imee Marcos said Thursday.

Marcos said this was the appeal made to her by Filipino migrant workers dur ing her visit to the United Kingdom, Amsterdam, Paris, and other places in Europe with other senators in the last fortnight.

“They’re encountering several suffer ings, especially in Paris wherein many Filipinos lost their jobs and yet, before entering the Philippines, they are still faced with difficulties over this OEC,” she related in a media briefing.

“Come to think of it, after losing their jobs, they opted to go back to the Philippines, but still, they are mandat ed to come up with this OEC,” noted the senator.

Marcos said she had already brought up this issue to DMW Secretary Susan Ople, requesting the possibility of digi talizing the form or signing it by the consulate.

The senator also said she will file a proposed measure to amend the dual citizenship law.

“In dual citizenship, a minor is only

quarters was in 2010.

up to 18 years old. As I said, Filipino citizenship is not lost after reaching be yond 18 years old. So why deprive Fili pinos abroad of a Philippine passport?” she asked.

“We are now drafting our proposals to amend the existing law to provide that regardless of the age of Filipinos abroad, they can apply for dual citizen ship.”

Marcos emphasized that the applica tion for dual citizenship should not be limited only to children of OFWs in other countries.

strong economic growth so far.

NDRRMC says damage due to ‘Paeng’ tops P11b

DAMAGE to agriculture and infra structure from Severe Tropical Storm Paeng has reached more than P11 bil lion, the National Disaster Risk Re duction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Thursday.

In its latest situation report, the agency placed damage to agriculture at P6.19 billion in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BAR MM), and the Cordillera regions.

costs. In September, around 2.5 million Filipinos are unemployed.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, mean while, said Malacanang should work more closely with lawmakers for new laws and policies to increase work ers’ wages and accelerate job creation across the country.

These moves, she said, will help Filipinos cope with runaway inflation.

While she welcomes the wage re view order of the DOLE, the opposi tion senator emphasized that new laws on raising workers’ pay and speeding up the creation of gainful livelihood should be part of the new Common Legislative Agenda (CLA).

CLA bills are measures identified by both Malacanang and members of Congress as priority legislation via the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Hontiveros said everyone is affected by inflation, but its worst effects are felt the most by low-wage earners, as well as freelance workers, or those who have lost their jobs or livelihood.

“The wages of workers should be increased. We must be more active in the creation of jobs in the entire coun try,” she also said.

Swift government response on those is sues, the senator stated, is needed, through new laws or executive issuances.

Hontiveros explained that including wage hikes and job creation as part of the priority legislative agenda of the LEDAC ensures that these policy is sues will receive immediate govern ment attention and action.

She pointed out that the existing list of around 30 priority bills, as identi fied in a LEDAC meeting last October, does not include any new proposed laws that will directly raise workers’ pay or foster job creation.

In addition, Hontiveros said that government should also study the im plications of proposed wage hikes on the situation of millions of workers in the micro, small and medium enter prises (MSMEs) sector, who are ex cluded by existing laws from the cov erage of minimum wage regulations.

The senator added that while the unemployment rate dropped to 5% in September, the latest labor force survey showed a higher underemployment rate of 15.4%. Macon Ramos-Araneta

years, you just want to go out and see the world again.”

But he warned the country faced a “considerable burden” from high infla tion and the impact of recent tropical storms that badly damaged crops.

Inflation hit 7.7 percent in October, the highest in nearly 14 years, due to surging food prices.

Like central banks around the world, Philippine monetary policymakers have said further interest rate hikes were needed to tame inflation.

“The economy could have been stronger (in the third quarter) if not for this inflation,” said Balisacan.

The country was on track to meet the government’s annual growth tar get of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for the entire year, he added.

But London-based Capital Econom ics expects Philippine growth to slow in the coming months as the higher cost of living and weaker global demand bite.

“We think economic growth will slow from 7 percent this year to just 5 percent in 2023,” said Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist.

In an online briefing, national statistician and civil registrar gen eral Dennis Mapa said the economy gained strength from the agriculture, industry, and services sectors. He said agriculture and forestry grew by 2.2 percent, industry by 5.8 percent, and services by 9.1 percent.

Mapa said the last time the economy grew by 7.7 percent in the first three

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort told the Manila Standard that GDP growth in the last quarter could still be at least 7 percent due to the continuous reopen ing of the economy. He said GDP for the whole year might average at least 7.6 percent.

Ricafort said the relatively stronger GDP and other economic data would still support further local policy rate hikes that help stabilize the peso ex change rate and overall inflation.

In a roundtable discussion with Asian chief executive officers in Cambodia, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the economy was headed in the right direc tion, but external forces posed a challenge.

“The important elements are in place, and you can feel that our economy is trying to grow but is really being pum meled by the forces outside [over] which we have no control,” the President said.

The President cited the recent eco nomic figures for the third quarter, with the country’s unemployment rate drop ping to 5 percent.

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday said the President’s efforts to revive the pandemic-stricken econ omy have begun to pay off, as evi denced by the 7.6 GDP growth for the third quarter.

“President Marcos’ silent hard work on uplifting the economy is beginning to work. The economic expansion in the months of July to September 2022 is proof of that,” Romualdez said.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chair man of the House committee on ways and means, highlighted the signs of

ness to work with the Philippines in ad dressing maritime issues, particularly illegal fishing, and balancing trade.

“OFW (overseas Filipino workers) remittance figures also jumped in Au gust, near the end of the quarter. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed cash remittances sent through banks stood at $2.72 billion in August, higher than the $2.60 billion a year earlier. The growth in remittanc es was the fastest since 4.4 percent in June,” Salceda said.

“There was also 24.79 percent yearon-year growth in tax collections in September, indicating that economic activity, the base of taxation, was get ting stronger,” Salceda said.

“The September jobs report also showed that the largest year-on-year jobs gainer was manufacturing, at 1.09 million more jobs. Manufacturing jobs growth tends to indicate positive mac roeconomic fundamentals. In total, 4 million jobs were created year-on-year by September,” Salceda noted.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangan daman attributed the robust economic performance to continuing efforts to push and open the economy, increased mobility with the reopening of face-toface classes of about 28 million learn ers, faster vaccination rollout, and ini tiatives to bring down unemployment and poverty.

The growth rate was also due in large part to faster growth in whole sale and retail services, financial and insurance activities, and the construc tion industry.

“The positive growth is consistent with the overall goal of the current ad ministration to reinvigorate job creation and poverty reduction,” she said.

Minister Hun Sen for the chance he had given to us, the ASEAN Heads of State and Government,” he added.

About 144,682 farmers and fisherfolk were affected by the tropical cyclone.

Meanwhile, infrastructure dam age was estimated at P5.05 billion in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mima ropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen, BARMM, and Cordillera.

Damaged houses were put at 53,906 -- 47,988 were classified as “partially damaged” and 5,108 were categorized as “totally damaged”.

The total number of verified deaths from the tropical cyclone stands at 127, while the number of those injured has reached 146, with 117 confirmed. A total of 19 out of 30 reported missing persons have been validated.

No fare...

would be no immediate fare increase as the government is still studying and evaluating the request for a fare increase of LRMC.

“The increase is not automatic, we’re still studying it and we have to evaluate everything,” he added.

Jacqueline Gorospe, head of LRMC corporate communications, said the company wrote the government last April for the request for a fare adjust ment this year as provided in the con cession agreement.

“LRMC has not received any offi cial notice yet from our government regulators about the additional fees. But we will implement whatever will be approved,” Gorospe said.

He expressed hope that Vietnam would help the Philippines address this problem, as the former accounts for 90 percent of Manila’s rice imports.

The President told PM Chinh that he looks forward to working closely with Vietnam and having greater engagement toward enhancing relations in agriculture and other areas, such as trade, investment, defense, and maritime security.

“As we have observed, the Philip pines and Vietnam since the beginning of our diplomatic relationship, have had a burgeoning, a growing relationship, both in the political and security side and of course, in terms of trade and in people-to-people exchanges,” Mr. Mar cos said.

He underscored the need for new ap proaches in addressing the present chal lenges and called for adherence to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The Vietnamese leader also lauded Mr. Marcos for the Philippine government’s effective COVID-19 response and for achieving one of the highest gross domes tic product (GDP) growth rates in Asia.

The Philippines has de-escalated quarantine protocols and posted a GDP growth of 7.6 percent despite a high in flation environment, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (see ban ner story – Editors).

Last August, Mr. Marcos vowed to improve the “enduring friendship” be tween the Philippines and Cambodia, which established formal diplomatic ties with Manila on Aug. 20, 1957.

During the roundtable meeting in Phnom Penh, the President touted the country’s improved investment climate after gradually easing COVID-19 pan demic restrictions.

He underscored the need for digi tization to ensure ease of doing busi ness, particularly addressing red tape in the bureaucracy.

“Our concession agreement allows for fare adjustment every two years. Our last request was made in April 2022,” she added.

The LRMC earlier filed a request for arbitration with the International Chamber of Commerce over its dis putes with the Department of Trans portation and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) for failure to grant a fare increase for 2016, 2018, and 2020.

The company was asking for about P2.67 billion in compensation due to the delays in the implementation of fare adjustments.

those who have been infected, who have developed antibodies against BA5,” he added.

“And for those who have completed the vaccine and been boosted, the pro tection is also continuous. And with that trend, with the number of cases, we see the [health care utilization rate] includ ing the ICU rate has also continuously decreased in hospitals,” Solante said.

The Philippines on Wednesday re ported that the number of active COV ID cases in the country is now down to 15,989, the lowest since July 13.

Meanwhile, the positivity rate from Nov. 6 to 8 is at 9.9 percent.

That means that from Oct. 31 to Nov. 6, an average of 907 daily infec tions were recorded in the country, which is 30 percent lower compared to the previous week.

That is the lowest number of cases logged in a single week in 19 weeks, or since the week of June 20-26 when the DOH logged 4,591.

The country also logged a total of 1,241 new cases, pushing the country’s total to 4,012,868 of whom 3,932,557 have recovered while 64,322 died, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

The National Capital Region re corded a 7.8 positivity rate in the past 7 days, lower than its previous 9.5 per cent. Of the day’s new infections, 310 were from Metro Manila.

The President welcomed the in creased total trade between the Philip pines and Vietnam as the government earlier reestablished the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Ho Chi Minh, which is expected to enhance the two nations’ economic relations.

Chinh, meanwhile, expressed eager

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos and his fel low Southeast Asian leaders paid a royal audience to Sihamoni before the formal opening of the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits that started yes terday and runs to Nov. 13.

“It is a privilege to visit the Royal Palace of Cambodia to meet with King Norodom Sihamoni,” the President said in a Facebook post.

“We are extremely grateful to Prime

those implicated in the murder of ra dio commentator Mabasa, Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento an nounced yesterday.

“Once we can digitalize and digi tize our operations, the bureaucracy, the national government, and the local government, then things will be much, much easier,” he said.

Mr. Marcos also said his administra tion is keen on developing the domestic market considering its potential for both foreign and local investors.

“We are encouraging not only foreign investment. We are also encouraging local investment because we feel there is potential in the market,” he added.

The LRMC said the claims included the losses, costs, and expenses in curred by the company for the govern ment’s failure to deliver to the LRMC the required number of light rail vehi cles that meet the stipulated technical requirements under the contract.

It also cited the structural defects on the existing LRT 1 system, both of which are required to ensure that the LRMC can provide a safe, efficient, and reliable service to the public as required under the CA.

The NBP prisoners facing murder complaints were identified as Mario Alvarez, Joseph Georfo, Christam Ra mac, Ricky Salgado, Ronnie Dela Cruz, and Joel Reyes.

Meanwhile, the BuCor is considering cutting all communication lines inside Bilibid in the next 30 days, Justice Secre tary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday.

The Department of Justice also wants to immediately construct a “su permax” jail facility in Sablayan, Oc cidental Mindoro, which will house all convicted hard-line criminals, or those who need to be placed under maximum security arrangements, once completed.

The facility will be specifically de signed for the “drug players” and “the identified people who should not be within reach of anybody.” It will house up to 2,000 inmates, Remulla said.

This developed as a three-person prosecution panel has been formed to handle the murder cases filed against

Malcontento said the panel will be led by Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia I. Laroza-Torrevillas, with Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Charlie L. Guhit and Jo sie Christina T. Dugay as members.

In his statement, Mayores said Zu lueta called him last September, saying “pare, may trabaho” – meaning there was an order to kill someone.

When Mayores asked who was go ing to be killed, Zulueta gave the name “Lapid” and instructed the inmate to search for him on Facebook.

Mayores said he then talked to fel low inmate Alvin Labra and relayed the message. After 12 days, Mayores messaged three dots to Zulueta, which meant he was the one texting.

Zulueta then called him and said, “Pare Kamusta na? Naiinip na ang itaas” (How are you friend? The up stairs [bosses] are getting impatient.)

Asked who was upstairs, Mayores said it was Bantag.

As for Bilibid going silent, Remulla told reporters: “In all the correctional institutions in the world, phones are not allowed. it’s only in the Philippines that they can slip through. This is why we are working out a plan with (BuCor act ing chief) General (Gregorio) Catapang and you will see it in the next 30 days. We are planning to implement some thing for communications inside.”

The Justice chief mentioned the lat est seizure of computers, Wi-Fi hot spots, and telephones inside the na tional penitentiary.

“Everybody knows that the drug trade... is there in the Bilibid that’s why we’re doing something about it,” Re mulla said. “I was promised that before by the old leadership that there wouldn’t be phones, but I think that we were tak en for a ride.”

Remulla said that when authorities were investigating the killing of the broadcast journalist, they found out that the communications were being done through Facebook Messenger.

The BuCor has been in the spotlight over controversies cited in testimonies

that a prisoner from the NBP allegedly ordered the killing of Mabasa.

Meanwhile, Malcontento said the panel will consolidate the cases relat ed to the murder of Mabasa, who was killed by gunmen on Oct. 3, as well as the death of Bilibid inmate Jun Vil lamor, who was identified by the selfconfessed gunman Joel Escorial as a middleman for the murder contract.

“The cases will be consolidated (and) they will send summons ASAP,” Mal contento said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had earlier said all investigations into the Lapid case will proceed until he is satisfied with the conduct of the probe.

Lapid was shot dead in Las Piñas City while Villamor died inside the New Bilibid Prison.

An autopsy by forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun showed there were signs of “asphyxia by plastic bag suffocation.”

Remulla earlier this week said Bantag had a motive for wanting Mabasa killed, since the broadcaster had put together an expose on the prisons chief’s alleged ill-gotten wealth.

AFP, MILF ceasefire declared in Basilan town

ACEASEFIRE has been declared between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and government forces in Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan, B/ Gen. Arturo Rojas, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), confirmed.

The ceasefire was declared after the Joint Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) visited the province on Thursday.

There have been clashes between the MILF and government troops. Reports said the fatalities reached three on the government side and 12 wounded.

The military claims the MILF suffered five casualties, although this has yet to be verified.

The Wesmincom reported that govern-

ment troops were resupplying fellow soldiers when they were allegedly ambushed by armed men in Barangay Ulitan.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Abdurasad Sirajan said the three military fatalities were from the 18th Infantry Battalion (18IB).

Aside from the three fatalities, seven soldiers—six from the 64th Infantry Battalion (64IB) and one from 18IB — were

wounded in the clash, Sirajan said.

“They were about to resupply troops involved [in the initial fighting], especially the 64th IB. While on the way to the vicinity, they were ambushed,” said Sirajan, referring to the ambushed troops.

On Tuesday, Joint Task Force—Basilan commander Brigadier General Domingo Gobway said the clash started when the alleged MILF members and some of their cohorts fired at the troops when 64IB commander Lieutenant Colonel John Ferdinand Lazo tried to negotiate with them around noon on Tuesday.

According to Gobway, the MILF members asked the military to let them go to Barangay Ulitan. He said he allowed the MILF members to pass but told them not to bring their weapons.

Sirajan said a ceasefire was declared on Tuesday evening but “skirmishes” continued until Wednesday.

“Mula pa noong the night of Tuesday, ini-impose na ‘yung ceasefire pero meron pa ring skirmishes hanggang kahapon,” Sirajan said Thursday.

Despite the clash, Sirajan said the protection of the peace process is still being prioritized. He said MILF forces have already withdrawn from the area.

“Ang lesson learned dito is abide with the arrangement. Halimbawa, ang usapan dun is ‘yung balik barangay nila ay umaga o araw talaga ng Tuesday, ay dapat talaga sa araw ng Tuesday sila bumalik at hindi sa midnight ng Monday,” he said.

(The lesson learned here is to abide with the arrangement. For example, if the

arrangement for their return to the barangay is morning or daytime on Tuesday, they should return during the daytime on Tuesday, and not Monday midnight.)

In a statement, the government’s implementing panel for the peace accord with the MILF, a former secessionist group, called the incident an “unfortunate untoward encounter” that occurred “despite progress and headways gained by the GPH (government of the Philippines) and MILF parties in the peace process.”

“We ask the cooperation of our partners from the MILF to stay the course and work together with the ceasefire mechanisms and government forces to uphold the ceasefire agreement which has been a product of arduous efforts from both parties in the interest of the welfare of our people and the preservation of the peace agreement,” the panel said.

UP graduate tops physician licensure examination

A GRADUATE of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila College of Medicine topped the 2022 Physician Licensure Examination, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) reported.

Justin Adriel Zent Gautier Togonon led the list of passers with a rating of 89.00%, followed by another UP Manila graduate, Francesca Marie Aby Lagrosa, who scored 88.75%, an Inquirer.net report said.

Togonon graduated magna cum laude in his medical degree and class valedictorian in UP Manila College of Medicine, the report said.

A total of 3,826 examinees out of 5,958 passed the PLE held last month, the PRC said.

Below are the top ten passers of the PLE with their respective schools and ratings, according to the PRC:

1. Justin Adriel Zent Gautier Togonon, UP Manila – 89.00%

2. Francesca Marie Aby Lagrosa, UP Manila – 88.75 %

3. Karla Joyce Saavedra Badong – Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila – 88.00 %

4. Kim Zapatos Sia, University of Santo Tomas (UST) – 87.67 %

5. Gamaliel Pulpulaan Galigao – University of the East (UE) Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center – 87.58%

Mark Arlo Hernandez Segundo – West Visayas State University – La Paz – 87.58%

6. Christian Joseph Barrion Cruzado – Far Eastern University (FEU) Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation – 87.50%

House health committee approves virology measure

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House of Representatives committee on health on Thursday approved a substitute bill for the creation of the Virology and Vaccines Institute of the Philippines, which will be the country’s first public agency specializing in the research and commercialization of virus technology in the country.

The committee, chaired by Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato, approved the measure that was principally authored by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda—who welcomed the committee’s action on the measure.

In a statement following the approval, Salceda emphasized that “countries with serum institutes were able to gain access to vaccines quicker and were thus able to return to normalcy faster during the pandemic.”

Salceda added that “vaccines and virus-related technology is not merely restricted to human use. Agriculture requires virological study.”

“Tungro, the main threat to many rice farms in the country, is a virus. African Swine Fever is a virus. Our food security rests in large part on our grasp of viruses.”

Salceda cited how Vietnam’s own

virology institute was able to invent the first ASF vaccine in the world.

The institute would be under the Department of Science and Technology.

Under the measure, the institute “shall serve as the premier research and development institute in the field of virology, encompassing all areas in viruses and viral diseases in humans, plants, and animals.”

“It shall act as a venue for scientists, both here and abroad, to work collaboratively to study viruses of agricultural, industrial, clinical, and environmental importance,” Salceda said.

Also, the institute will work with international organizations and conduct innovative and pioneering research that will advance the frontiers of virology in the country.

Salceda also insisted that the tax exemptions and the funding provisions for the institute be retained, and assured the committee that the tax panel will approve the tax provisions.

“I would not depend on the commercialization of technologies as the primary funding source of the VVIP. It has to have its own dependable stream of funding from the government.”

Customs deploys four new x-ray machines in PH tourism hotspots

By Vito Barcelo

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has deployed four new mobile container X-ray machines to ports with high-volume scanning operations, at the Manila International Container Port, Port of Cebu, Boracay International Airport, and Port of Cagayan de Oro to ensure smooth trade facilitation while preventing the entry of illicit goods and other forms of contraband.

The BOC, which has 124 other X-ray machines deployed in all ports in the country, said the machines have high-performance scanning capability, allowing faster scanning through its pass-through mode feature, assuring precise inspection of all containerized cargoes.

The new machines—an Astrophysics fixed checked-in baggage scanner and two Astrophysics hand-carry baggage scanners—will be deployed at Boracay International Airport.

The machines will aid in detecting smuggled goods concealed in baggage in preparation for the opening of international flights in December.

In a statement, the bureau said the additional assets of the XIP have features that allow non-intrusive scans at a rate of 120 containers per hour and could produce clearer pictures of the items being scanned will significantly improve the capacity to identify smuggled commodities.

Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz said customs personnel will be trained to upgrade its intelligence and enforcement operations capabilities.

The additional Xray machines will enhance employee competence and strengthen security measures to stop smuggling and other customs fraud in the country, Ruiz added.

Sonny Cabahug Redula, Cebu Institute of Medicine – 87.50 %

7. Neill Steven Cainglet Cachuela, UST – 87.42 %

Trisha Marie Ramos Galapon, UP Manila – 87.42 %

8. Anna Patricia Anonuevo Bartolome, Our Lady of Fatima University – Valenzuela – 87.25 %

Christopher Tabora Pilarta, UP Manila – 87. 25 %

Keith Alexius Kim Wangkay, UE Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center – 87.25 %

9. Randy Franz Gubantes Selim, St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine – William H. Quasha Memorial – 87.17 %

Christian Jerell Salvacion Cosme, UST – 87.17

10. David Marco Abaya Bildan, UE Ramon Magsaysay Memorial MedicalCenter – 87.08 %

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

SAFETY ISSUES. The Baguio City city government shuts down the Igorot Stone Kingdom, the newest tourist attraction in the City of Pines due to permit and safety issues. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered the closure of the 6-hectare theme park. Danny Pata

A PRESTIGIOUS travel magazine based in Great Britain has ranked Pal awan as the “most desirable island” in the world, topping other famous tour ist destinations such as Tobago, St. Helena, Bali, and Zanzibar.

In a statement released Thursday, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco thanked Wanderlust Magazine for the awards.

Palawan bagged the accolade just days after it was included in Fodor’s “Go List” for 2023.

Wanderlust conferred the recogni tion to Palawan based on judgment by tens of thousands of readers of the publication, considered as one of the longest-running travel maga zines in the United Kingdom.

Palawan was adjudged one of the winners of the Wanderlust Travel Awards 2022.

“The Philippines is an archipelago with more than 2,000 inhabited is lands, yet Wanderlust readers have selected Palawan to be not just be the best in the country, but the best in the world,” read a post on Wan derlust’s website. “The scenery here is heaven on earth with sparkling waters and white sand beaches.”

At second place in the Most Desir able Island (Rest of World) category is Tobago, followed by Viti Levu, Cuba, St. Helena, Rapa Nui/Easter Island, St Lucia, Zanzibar, Bali, and Tasmania. Wanderlust Travel Awards 2022 has a separate category for the “most desir able” islands in Europe.

The UK travel magazine also rec ognized the “most desirable” coun tries, cities, regions, and emerging destinations, with separate cat egories for Europe and “rest of the world.”

Still no Traslacion for feast of Black Nazarene next year

THE annual feast of the Black Nazarene will be suspended anew in January next year, the third year in a row that the traditional event, also known as Traslacion, is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quiapo Church attached priest Fr. Earl Allyson Valdez, in a radio inter view, said all other activities related to the feast will proceed, including touch ing the image of the Black Nazarene in place of the “Pahalik,” which will be held at the Quirino Grandstand.

“Although there will be no traditional procession, all our usual activities re lated to the Feast of the Black Nazarene will continue,” the prelate said.

Hourly Masses at the Quiapo Church will also push through starting 12 a.m. on January 9, to be celebrated by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.

There will also be Masses in other churches in Metro Manila and other Luzon provinces for those who would not be able to go to Quiapo Church for the celebration.

“Our goal is that if people are unable to go to Quiapo Church for the Trasla cion, the Black Nazarene itself will go to their respective places and churches,” Fr. Valdez said.

He explained that the Quiapo Church

decided to suspend Traslacion anew to avoid the influx of people from various parts of the country to Quiapo as COV ID-19 is still prevalent.

He said they also consider the health and safety of the elderly and people with comorbidities who are more vul nerable to COVID-19.

The Traslacion is the procession that carries the image of the Black Naza rene from Quirino Grandstand back to Quiapo Church and is held annually on January 9.

As for the health protocols in the Quiapo Church, Valdez said churchgo ers are still advised to wear their face masks inside, and there will also be separate entry and exit points to main tain physical distance.

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court on Thursday said a total of 9,207 candidates out of the 10,006 applicants were able to com plete the first day of the 2022 Bar ex aminations on Wednesday.

Supreme Court Associate Justice and Bar Examinations Committee chairman Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa declared that the first day of the ex ams went “smoothly” with 92.01-per cent turnout, meaning 799 applicants failed to show up.

Caguioa supervised and monitored the exams from the Command Center in the National Capital Region. He also visited nearby testing sites.

“According to him, the first day of the 2022 Bar Examinations went well and smoothly. He was “very pleased and hopes for the same results in the remaining Bar exam days,” the SC said, in a statement.

The SC said Ateneo de Manila Uni versity had the largest number of ex aminees at 2,233, followed by Saint Louis University with 947, and De La Salle University with 762 examinees.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leo nen, Justice Ramon Hernando, Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, Justice Rodil Zalameda, Justice Jose Midas Mar quez, Justice Maria Filomena Singh, Associate Justice Antonio Kho, and Justice Japar Dimaampao also visited the testing sites.

The first day of the morning exam was on Political Law and Internation al Law (with related Tax Principles) while the afternoon exam was on La bor Law.

By Maricel V. Cruz

TEN municipal mayors in Albay took their oath as members of the ruling La kas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) on Wednesday before party president and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

The mayors, representing 10 of Al bay’s 15 municipalities, swore alle giance to the ruling party and pledged to support its plans and programs.

In brief remarks, Romualdez wel comed the mayors to the administra tion party. He said President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. was aware of the event and

was happy that the mayors decided to join Lakas.

The oath taking was witnessed by House leaders and Bicolano stalwarts Rep. Zaldy Co, the House appropriations committee chairman and Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda who is also chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means.

The municipal mayors and other local officials who took their oath as Lakas CMD members were Adrian Salceda of Polangui, Paul Garcia of Guinobatan, Wilfredo Maronilla of Libon, Sharon Escoto of Oas, Alan Arandia of Pio Du ran, Carlos Irwin Baldo, Jr. of Camalig,

Carlwyn Baldo of Daraga, Dick Galicia of Rapu Rapu, and Joseling Aguas of Sto. Domingo.

The following Albay provincial board members also joined the oath taking: Jesus Salceda Jr., Juan Miguel Salceda, Dante Arandia, Victor Ziga, Jr., Melissa Abadeza, Eva Lopez Ribaya, Reynaldo Bragais, and Glenda Ong Bongao.

Several city and municipal coun cilors were also sworn in as Lakas members. They were Roberto Lucila, Luis Guitierez, and Sunshine Imperial of Legazpi City, and Caroline Ziga-So of Tabaco City.

Christmas comes early for Makati people this year

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Makati City government has started distributing gift bags to thou sands of families as early Christmas presents this year.

As of Nov. 8, the Makati Ac tion Center has given away a total of 6,298 Christmas bags to senior citizens who have already received their Pamaskong Handog tickets.

Mayor Abigail Binay said the early distribution of “Pamaskong Handog” bags was part of her ad ministration’s commitment to en sure that residents can enjoy a mean ingful and happy Christmas.

“We usually distribute the Pa maskong Handog bags during the first week of December. These bags that contain assorted food products for Noche Buena have become a much-anticipated tradition for proud Makatizens,” she said.

Binay said the local government moved up the distribution of the gift bags so that families need not worry about preparations for the traditional family meal at Christmas time.

“In light of the rising prices of goods, this is our way of helping Makati’s families enjoy a merrier Christmas this year,” she said.

The mayor said around 240,000 residents will receive the free bags. These include some 105,000 resi dents, 84,000 senior citizens, 12,000 differently-abled persons, 4,500 members of the Pantawid Pamily ang Pilipino Program (4Ps), 3,000 relocatees, 11,000 City Hall em ployees, 5,400 barangay employees, 3,300 DepEd-Makati public school teachers, 750 Makati police officers, 7,300 pedicab, tricycle, and jeepney drivers, and 1,300 vendors.

Aside from the Pamaskong Kubol at the City Hall quadrangle, the city has also started giving out Pam askong Handog tickets and gift bags through the Makati Action Center satellite offices in barangays.

MAKATI City Mayor Abigail Bi nay is proposing taking a holistic approach so people can “survive the worst outcomes of a changing cli mate.”

The method, according to the mayor, means the government en gages the private sector, community leaders, non-government organiza tions, the academe, the media, and other volunteer groups to strengthen the resilience of communities and society as a whole.

“I believe that in order to effec tively combat the impacts of climate change, we must take a whole-of-so ciety approach. This means working together across various sectors and levels of government to find innova tive solutions that will benefit our communities and protect our envi ronment for generations to come,” Binay said in a virtual message during the Adapt Asia 2022 held in Makati on Thursday.

Adapt Asia 2022, organized by data and environmental intelligence firm Komunidad, is a two-day fo rum that brings together leaders and practitioners from across Asia to ex plore the actions to take in advanc ing climate adaptation and resilience within their localities through inno vative solutions.

THE Anakalusugan party-list marked its first 100 days in Congress by conducting a medical mission and distributing food packs to victims of typhoons Karding and Paeng in the provinces of Bulacan, Batangas, and Antique.

The medical missions also covered dental, optical and laboratory services held during the congressional recess last month.

“The number of patients willing to avail these free services goes to show that PhilHealth needs to widen its coverage, and most importantly improve its case rate which hasn’t been updated for the past 20 years,” Rep. Ray Florence Reyes said.

“We could not have done this with out the support of the Speaker (Martin Romualdez) and the men and women of Rise Against Hunger-Philippines, who recognized the severity of the situation. They acted swiftly and our local net work of volunteers delivered the goods to the most affected families,” Reyes said.

“As public servants, our duty to the Filipino people does not begin and end in the halls of Congress. Being on the ground and listening to their needs is in deed a more proactive use of the break to discern what more laws and measures we should pass to respond to these necessi ties,” the solon said.

Binay said climate change is one of the greatest challenges the world is facing. She added rising global temperatures are leading to more intense natural disasters and chang ing weather patterns, which in turn impact human societies and ecosys tems around the world.

“Climate change is no longer just a distant threat. It is upon us. It is already affecting our planet, caus ing rising temperatures and extreme weather events that have made it more difficult for us to live and work safely,” she said. Joel E. Zurbano

British magazine: Palawan is the world’s ‘most desirable island’

Ten Albay mayors, other officials join ruling Lakas-CMD

Binay eyes holistic approach to fight climate change effects

AK party-list conducts medical mission in typhoon-hit Bulacan, Batangas, Antique

EARTHQUAKE DRILL. Students of the Rafael Palma Elementary School in San Andres, Manila take part in Thursday’s 4th Quarter Simultaneous Nationwide Earthquake Drill meant to instill safety protocols across the whole spectrum of society during earthquakes. Inset shows Manila policemen doing their part during the earthquake drill. Norman Cruz and Danny Pata

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TRAINING.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora presides over an earthquake drill in collaboration with the Philippine Navy in conjunction with the 4th quarter simultaneous national earthquake drill spearheaded by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The exercise covered the conduct of first-aid emergency assistance to a hypothetical victim of tremor.

Manny Palmero

MILITANT FISHERMEN IN ACTION. Leaders and members of the militant Katipunan ng mga Kilusang Artisanong Mangingisda sa Pilipinas stage a demonstration in Quezon City to urge the government to protect the West Philippine Sea from alleged illegal and unregulated fishing, as well as to seek government support for their sector. Norman Cruz

Opinion

EDITORIAL

Economic recovery gaining momentum

understand ...”), or his limited knowledge about the controversy itself (“All I know is ...”).

Next, the trustee punctuated his remarks with loud laughter, as if he was actually amused by his answers to the interviewer’s leading questions.

ANYBODY who speaks in a television interview and passes off his distorted views on an important political controversy as gospel truth does a big dis service to the general public.

When such an interview takes place and is dis seminated online to an unsuspecting public, it is the duty of the mainstream media to comment on the same, and to make sure that the distortion does not prevail over the facts.

Last October 18, a certain trustee of a non-gov ernment organization which professes to espouse media freedom and responsibility in the country was interviewed about his views on the arrest of the son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for possession of cannabis.

I watched the interview on a cable television news program identified with an erstwhile power ful broadcast network which, in 2020, failed to get a legislative franchise from Congress.

It was very obvious that from the start of the interview, the newscaster’s queries to the trustee consisted of leading questions. A leading question is one the answer to which is already mentioned in the question itself.

From the way the interview questions were asked, one does not need to be genius to see that the trustee was practically coached on how to answer them. The questions were manifestly designed to trigger the trustee into putting Remulla in bad light.

I was not surprised. The network responsible for that interview has an ax to grind against Remulla.

In May 2020, the legislative franchise of the net work expired. Although the network applied for a new franchise, the committee on legislative fran chises of the House of Representatives of Congress rejected the application.

The network brought its case to the Supreme Court but the latter ruled that the Constitution vests in Congress the unbridled discretion to reject an ap plication for the renewal of a legislative franchise.

At that time, Remulla was a member of the House of Representatives, and was a member as well of the House committee on legislative fran chises.

Citing the network’s numerous violations of the law and its own franchise, Remulla led the com mittee to reject the network’s application for a new franchise.

For the network, the controversy about Remul la’s son created an opportunity for it to get back at Remulla. That ought to explain the leading ques tions.

Be that as it may, the interview was a total farce.

First, the trustee had a serious credibility prob lem.

Although he said many unflattering things about Remulla, the trustee virtually admitted that his remarks were either speculative or hearsay (“I heard ...”), or based on his failure to understand the essential facts of the controversy (“I cannot quite

Third, the trustee made sweeping accusations that Remulla’s position is untenable; that Remulla lost his credibility and moral right to continue head ing the Department of Justice; and that Remulla should resign from office because a criminal case is now pending against his son.

Those accusations have been belied by Remulla himself, who told the media that he will not inter vene in his son’s criminal case.

Equally revolting is the trustee’s sweeping but non sequitur allegation that Remulla allowed himself to be interviewed by Quiboloy only because Remulla’s son and Quiboloy are both in trouble with the law

They are also belied by the fact that, as every lawyer knows, a criminal case filed in court cannot be withdrawn by the Department of Justice without the consent of the court.

Evidently, and contrary to the sweeping insinua tions of the trustee, the fate of Remulla’s son’s crimi nal case is with the judiciary, and not with the DOJ.

The trustee also conveniently failed to mention that the DOJ prosecutors have recommended that the court should deny bail for Remulla’s son.

I was further appalled to hear the trustee criticize Remulla for limiting his press statements to those he made in a television interview by evangelist-pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

As every sound-minded journalist knows, no body, government official or otherwise, has a legal obligation to grant an interview to every journalist who seeks one.

The highly-opinionated trustee also made de famatory statements against Quiboloy. He said Quiboloy pretends to be a pastor and journalist, but he did not provide proof for his libelous remarks.

Equally revolting is the trustee’s sweeping but non sequitur allegation that Remulla allowed him self to be interviewed by Quiboloy only because Remulla’s son and Quiboloy are both in trouble with the law.

A trustee of an organization that supposedly ad vocates media freedom and responsibility should not be making such unfounded and irresponsible statements.

I believe that if Quiboloy learns about the nasty remarks the trustee said against him, Quiboloy will take legal action against him.

There should be a limit to what irresponsible per sonalities like the trustee, who pretend to be knowl edgeable about everything, should be allowed to get away with.

AFTER four months in office, the Marcos administration appears to have made big strides in resuscitating the economy.

The National Economic and Development Authority has reported that the Philippine economy grew by 7.6 percent in Q3 2022, faster than the 7.5 percent expansion in Q2 2022 and the 7.0 percent growth rate in Q3 2021.

Among the major emerging economies in the Southeast Asian region, the Philippines ranked second to Vietnam (13.7 percent).

The economy therefore remains on track in achieving the government’s growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for this year.

Given the 7.7 percent growth rate for the first three quarters, the economy needs to grow by 3.3 to 6.9 percent in Q4 2022 to meet this year’s target.

Another encouraging sign of economic re covery is that all sectors have sustained their expansion.

The services and industry sectors grew by 9.1 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively. The agriculture sector also grew by 2.2

percent, up from a 1.7 percent decline in the same period last year. Most sectors have already returned to their pre-pandemic output levels.

Cesspool of corruption

general Gerald Bantag, is in hot water for his alleged role as mastermind in the October 3 murder of hardhitting broadcaster Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid.

Bantag has been formally charged by the DOJ and the NBI for the murder.

This is not the first time that BuCor has been in the crosshairs of anti-corruption advocates.

Not too long ago, rich inmates were found to have been allowed to put up luxurious quarters within the penitentiary.

We

Ah, the beer. The confiscated beer is said to be sold outside for only P50 each.

But inside, it commands a princely sum of P1,000, certainly a price not affordable by the pau per prisoners, but only by the very rich.

And the very rich prisoners, it seems, are those who are still able to continue their illegal trade – of tentimes it’s trafficking in illegal drugs, if we’re not mistaken – before they were arrested and locked up in the penitentiary, some, if not all, for life.

The raid, according to news reports, was con ducted as part of BuCor’s “Oplan Paglilinis” (or Oplan Cleansing).

That’s what’s ironic about this whole episode, as it appears that it should be the bureau itself that should be cleaned up, not just the nooks and cran nies of the quarters of the inmates.

But wait, there’s more.

It’s not just prohibited items that should be the object of periodic sweeps of inmates’ quarters.

More important, from where we sit, is that the BuCor itself has been corrupted to the core by the money that apparently could be easily made by allowing such contraband to be brought into the premises of the penitentiary.

That seems to be small change, or peanuts, as some would say, compared to the moolah that could be made by giving rich convicts free rein in con ducting illegal activities right within prison walls.

No less than the now-suspended Director Gen eral of the Bureau of Corrections, former police

One convict whose hold-up gang robbed a bank and killed more than 10 or 11 people in the process was even able to put up a music performance and recording facility inside his quarters.

Some of the convicts given extraordinary privi leges by prison guards recruited by BuCor now claim to have been coerced by no less than the Department of Justice to pin down former Com mission on Human Rights chair and ex-Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on trumped-up charges of conspiracy in a drug trafficking scheme to raise funds for her senatorial bid in 2016.

Even a former BuCor head also claims to have been intimidated by the former DOJ leadership into implicating de Lima in the false charges against her.

The allegations of corruption do not end there.

BuCor also got enmeshed in the implementation of the Good Conduct and Time Allowance (GCTA) law that allowed convicts who had exhibited good behavior during their prison term to be released ear lier.

We recall that amid allegations of widespread corruption in BuCor and the New Bilibid Prison in the past, prison guards were even replaced whole sale for sometime by an elite team of Special Weap ons and Tactics personnel.

The SWAT personnel were forbidden from frat ernizing with inmates and visitors and to maintain strict enforcement of prison rules, including the en

NEDA also said domestic demand re mained robust with a 9.5 percent growth, driven by the accelerated growth in house hold consumption (8.0 percent in Q3 2022 from 7.1 percent in Q3 2021) and invest ments (21.7 percent from 20.8 percent).

Earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority also reported a modest 5 percent increase in the number of employed Filipinos as of the end of September.

The resumption of economic activities al lowed an additional 2.2 million Filipinos to join the workforce, raising the country’s labor force participation rate to 65.2 percent in Sep

tember 2022 from 63.3 percent year-on-year.

This accelerated the employment rate to 95 percent in September this year, the highest recorded rate since January 2020.

The lifting of quarantine restrictions trans lated to employment creation of 4 million year-on-year, bringing the total employment to 47.6 million as of the third quarter.

Amid high inflation, the Department of Labor and Employment has ordered the re gional wage boards to determine whether another round of increase for the country’s 4 million minimum wage earners could be imposed next year to cushion the impact of soaring prices of food and other basic com modities.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma noted that wage adjustments could be made only once a year, but said the Regional Tri partite Wages and Productivity Boards were already assessing the factors, such as the re cent typhoons, the ongoing pandemic and high inflation that could merit another pay increase for workers.

All this shows that efforts by the national government to accelerate economic recovery are gaining ground.

If this trend continues, then Filipinos can look forward to much improved living condi tions in the coming months.

Attachment as a provisional remedy

Rule 57).

While the Supreme Court has “time and again held that the rules on the issuance of a writ of at tachment must be construed strictly against the ap plicants,” it must be granted if the grounds for its issuance are present.

Absent the grounds, the court issuing it will be acting in excess of its jurisdiction (G.R. 193572, April 4, 2018).

the vessel in September 2006 while MIS signed the Agreement only in November 2006.

Hence, Tsuneishi’s release of the vessel even before MIS signed the document was not the act which induced the former to turn over the vessel to the latter (G.R. No. 193572, April 4, 2018).

A WRIT of preliminary attachment is a provisional remedy issued by the court where an action is pend ing.

“[It]… allows the levy of a property which shall then be held by the sheriff… as security for the sat isfaction of the judgment that the court may render in favor of the attaching party” (Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu), Inc. (Tsuneishi) v. MIS Maritime Corporation, G.R. 193572, April 4, 2018).

The intention is to “seize [the] property of an al leged debtor in advance of final judgment and holds it subject to appropriation, thereby preventing the loss or dissipation of the property through fraud or other means.

This is also availed of to prevent the properties from “being removed beyond the jurisdiction [of the court], or improperly disposed of or concealed” (G.R. 193572, April 4, 2018).

A preliminary attachment may be applied either ex parte (as part of the complaint or initiatory plead ing) or upon motion with notice and hearing in the court where the action is pending.

An order of attachment shall be granted only when the applicant or a person who personally knows the facts submits an affidavit and a bond cor responding to an amount fixed by the court (Sec tions 2 and 3, Rule 57, Rules of Civil Procedure).

The affidavit supporting the application for preliminary attachment must show that: (a) a suf ficient cause of action exists; (b) the case is one of those mentioned in Section 1, Rule 57; (c) there is no other sufficient security for the claim sought to be enforced by the action; and (d) the amount due to the applicant, or the value of the property he is entitled to recover, is as much as the sum for which the order is granted above all legal counterclaims (Section 3, Rule 57).

Essentially, the property levied on attachment is placed in the custody of the court. However, the na ture of the court’s custody would vary depending on the property sought to be attached.

A real property is placed in the custody of the court, by filing with the registry of deeds a copy of the order, together with a description of the property attached, and a notice that it is attached (Section 7(a), Rule 57).

On the other hand, a personal property is placed in the court’s custody by “taking and safely keeping it in his [sheriff’s] custody, after issuing the corre sponding receipt thereof” (Section 7(b), Rule 57). Stocks or shares are placed in the court’s custody “by leaving with the president or managing agent [of the company], a copy of the writ, and a notice [of attachment]” (Section 7 (c), Rule 57).

Custody over “debts and credits, including bank deposits, financial interest, royalties, commissions and other personal property not capable of manual delivery, [is transferred to the courts] by leaving with the person owing such debts, or having in his possession or under his control, such credits or other personal property, or with his agent, a copy of the writ, and notice [of attachment]” (Section 7 (d),

try of contraband.

But it seems that the elite troops also succumbed to the lure of easy money and were soon replaced by another prison leadership.

President Bongbong Marcos has designated Gregorio Catapang, a former Armed Forces Chief of Staff, as officer-in-charge of BuCor.

Catapang, a retired military general, has already ordered the superintendents of the six other BuCor prisons and penal farms nationwide to initiate a dia logue with the different gangs for a peaceful surren

An examination of the grounds under Section 1, Rule 57 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, will reveal that except for one, all of the grounds require some element of fraud.

The refusal of MIS to pay is rooted on its claim that its obligation should be set off against Tsunei shi’s liability for the losses that the former incurred for the unwarranted delay in the turn-over of the vessel.

“MIS insists that Tsuneishi is liable for the dam age on the vessel… [which] is not an act of fraud” (G.R. No. 193572, April 4, 2018).

attachment

A preliminary attachment may be applied either ex parte (as part of the complaint or initiatory pleading) or upon motion with notice and hearing in the court where the action is pending

For example, “an action for the recovery of a specified amount of money or damages… [can be made] against a party who is about to depart from the Philippines with intent to defraud his creditors” (Section 1(a), Rule 57).

There are also such grounds as: “[an] action for money or property embezzled or fraudulently misapplied or converted,” or “an action to recov er the possession of property unjustly or fraudu lently taken… when the property…has been concealed, removed, or disposed of to prevent its being found or taken by the applicant” (Section 1(b)(c), Rule 57).

The significance of fraud as grounds for prelimi nary attachment is made even more evident when “an action [is] against a party who has been guilty of a fraud in contracting the debt or incurring the ob ligation upon which the action is brought, or in the performance thereof,” or “an action against a party who has removed or disposed of his property, or is about to do so, with intent to defraud his creditors” (Section 1(d)(e), Rule 57).

Hence, “[w]hen fraud is invoked as a ground for the issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment… there must be evidence clearly showing the factual circumstances of the alleged fraud. Fraud cannot be presumed from a party’s mere failure to comply with his or her obligation” (G.R. 193572, April 4, 2018).

The Rules of Court require that in all averments of fraud, the circumstances constituting them must be stated with particularity.

“[F]raud is… anything calculated to deceive — including all acts and omission… involving a breach of legal or equitable duty, trust, or confi dence justly reposed — resulting in damage to or in undue advantage over another” (G.R. 193572, April 4, 2018).

In the case of Tsuneishi v. MIS Maritime Cor poration, the record shows that Tsuneishi released

der of contraband following the raid in the Muntin lupa penitentiary.

Can the former military official hack it as the head of the Bureau of Corrections? That remains to be seen.

While at this, it is also proper to ask: can Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla change the culture of corruption in the Bureau of Corrections?

We certainly hope so.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

According to the Supreme Court, “[e]ven as suming that MIS is wrong in refusing to pay Tsunei shi, this is nevertheless not the fraud contemplated in Section 1(d), Rule 57 of the Rules of Court.

Civil law grants Tsuneishi various remedies in the event that the trial court rules in its favor such as the payment of the obligation, damages and legal interest.

The issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment is not one of those remedies” (G.R. 193572, April 4, 2018).

In the case of Wee v. Tankiansee, “the affidavit merely states that respondent [Tankiansee], an offi cer and director of Wincorp, connived with the other defendants in the civil case to defraud petitioner [Wee] of his money placements.”

There were no other factual averments detailing how Tankiansee committed fraud or how he con nived with the rest of the defendants to commit it (G.R. 171124, February 13, 2008).

“In other words, petitioner [Wee] has not shown any specific act or deed to support the allegation that respondent [Tankiansee] is guilty of fraud. The affi davit, being the foundation of the writ, must contain such particulars as to how the fraud imputed to re spondent [Tankiansee] was committed for the court to decide whether or not to issue the writ” (G.R. 171124, February 13, 2008).

Absent the statements in the affidavit showing that the respondent (Tankiansee), at the time of contracting the obligation, had a preconceived plan not to pay or that he committed the alleged fraud -- the general allegation of him being an officer and director of Wincorp who allegedly connived with the other defendants -- is insufficient to support the issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment (G.R. 171124, February 13, 2008).

Rolando

ISN’T it about time the Bureau of Corrections (Bu Cor) be renamed – and appropriately so – as the Bureau of Corruption?

ask this question following the recent raid by authorities in the New Bilibid Prison, the national penitentiary, that led to the discovery of a huge stash of contraband that included mobile phones; packets of the illegal drug methamphetamine hydrochlo ride, also known as shabu; improvised weapons; firearms; household appliances; and even 7,500 cans of beer.

Can the former military official hack it as the head of the Bureau of Corrections? That remains to be seen

The economy therefore remains on track in achieving the government’s growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for this year

Biden seeks to measure US ‘red lines’ vs. China with Xi

President Joe Biden said Wednesday he would ask Chinese President Xi Jinping about his “red lines” to reduce the potential for conflict after soaring tensions over Taiwan when they gather next week in Bali.

A day before flying to Asia, Biden indirectly confirmed plans to meet Xi on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in what would be their first encounter since they became presidents of the world’s two largest economies.

“What I want to do with him when we talk is lay out what kind of -- what each of our red lines are,” Biden told a news conference following the US midterm elections.

Biden said he sought to know “what he be lieves to be in the critical national interests of China, what I know to be the critical interests of the United States, and to determine whether or not they conflict with one another.”

If there are conflicts, Biden said he hoped to work together on “how to work it out.”

Biden and Xi have spoken virtually as presi dents but have not met in person, with the Chi

WASHINGTON—USnese leader until recently putting off international travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Xi heads to the Indonesian resort island fresh from securing a historic third term from his Com munist Party, while Biden is flying out following a surprisingly strong showing by his Democrats in midterm elections.

The two leaders know each other unusually well for two presidents, with Biden in 2011 trav eling to China to spend time with Xi when they were both vice presidents.

Eleven years later, tension has risen sharply over Taiwan with the Biden administration warn ing that China has stepped up its timeline to seize the self-governing democracy that it claims as part of its territory.

Biden support on Taiwan

Biden on three occasions has indicated that he is ready to commit the US military to defend Tai wan, a break with longstanding policy that was walked back each time by the White House.

Biden insisted Wednesday there was no change in the historic US stance of strategic ambiguity on whether Washington would use force in the event of a Chinese invasion.

“The Taiwan doctrine has not changed at all from the very beginning,” Biden said, adding that he would discuss Taiwan but also trade and Chi na’s relationship with other countries. AFP

Moscow: Putin will not go to G20 summit in Bali

JAKARTA—Russian President Vladi mir Putin will not attend the G20 lead ers’ summit in Indonesia next week, Moscow’s embassy in Jakarta told AFP on Thursday.

It was the first Russian confirmation that Putin will not travel to the resort island of Bali for the summit, which would have put him in the same room as US President Joe Biden for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine in February.

Biden has called Putin a “war crimi nal” and ruled out meeting him in Bali if he went unless the conversation in volved the release of Americans held in Russia.

dent Putin’s programme is still being worked out, he could participate vir tually,” said Yulia Tomskaya, the em bassy’s chief of protocol.

The decision follows months of speculation about Putin’s participation at the November 15-16 summit.

The Kremlin is expected to try and shield itself from Western condemna tion over the war, in which its forces are suffering setbacks in the face of a Ukrainian counter-offensive.

Another source with knowledge of Russia’s G20 planning confirmed that Putin would be replaced by Lavrov.

The person said it was unclear if the Russian leader would attend virtually as “the issue has not been finalised”.

officials roundly condemned Russia over Ukraine.

Host Indonesia pursues a neutral foreign policy and has rebuffed West ern calls to disinvite Russia from the summit.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo had invited Putin despite the invasion, prompting a flurry of Western criti cism. In August, he said Putin had ac cepted that invitation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend virtu ally. He had threatened to boycott the summit if Putin attended.

Ukraine is not a G20 member.

IN BRIEF

‘100k

Russian troops killed or wounded’

WASHINGTON—More than 100,000 Russian military personnel have been killed or wounded in Ukraine, with Ky iv’s forces likely suffering similar casu alties, top US General Mark Milley said Wednesday.

“You’re looking at well over 100,000 Russian soldiers killed and wounded,” Milley said in remarks at the Economic Club of New York. “Same thing prob ably on the Ukrainian side.”

The figures provided by Milley— which could not be independently con firmed—are the most precise to date from the United States government more than eight months into the war.

Milley also said there is a chance for talks on ending the war, and that military victory may not be possible for either Russia or Ukraine.

“There has to be a mutual recognition that military victory is probably in the true sense of the word maybe not achiev able through military means, and there fore you need to turn to other means,” Milley said.

“There’s... an opportunity here, a window of opportunity for negotiation.”

Milley’s comments came after Rus sia ordered its troops to withdraw from the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine —a major blow to Moscow’s military campaign.

But officials in Kyiv reacted with caution, saying the Russian army was unlikely to leave the strategic city with out a fight, while US President Joe Biden suggested the retreat was evidence Mos cow has “real problems” on the battle field. AFP

Hackers demand $10m for stolen health records

SYDNEY—Hackers on Thursday de manded US$10 million to stop leaking highly sensitive records stolen from a major Australian healthcare company, as they uploaded yet more intimate details about customers.

Medibank, Australia’s largest private health insurer, confirmed this week that hackers had accessed the information of 9.7 million current and former clients, in cluding Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The hackers on Thursday uploaded a second batch of files to a dark web fo rum, with more sensitive details about hundreds of Medibank customers.

The petition alleges that he is the

Rudica Tandiama

and respondent Lucia “Luz” Nuñez Artajo {now Lucia A, Zulkefli}; that his father, Mr. Rolando R. Tandiama Sr. (“(Rolando Sr.) passed away last April 29, 2009; and that his parents never got married.

The petition alleges that he is the eldest child of Mr. Rolando Rudica Tandiama Sr. and respondent Lucia “Luz” Nuñez Artajo {now Lucia A, Zulkefli}; that his father, Mr. Rolando R. Tandiama Sr. (“(Rolando Sr.) passed away last April 29, 2009; and that his parents never got married.

“I can confirm that (foreign minis ter) Sergei Lavrov will lead the Rus sian delegation to the G20. Presi

Lavrov walked out of a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Bali in July after

Experts said Putin’s absence would hurt the summit, with no progress like ly to be made on the Ukraine war and its global economic fallout. AFP

The first leaks appear to have been selected to cause maximum harm: tar geting those who received treatment re lated to drug abuse, sexually transmitted infections, or pregnancy terminations.

“Added one more file abortions.csv,” the anonymous hackers wrote on the fo rum, before detailing their ransom threat.

Petitioner further alleges that his parents met each other sometime in 1988; that they became couple and decided to live together; that thereafter, they separated briefly sometime in April 1989; that subsequently, respondent Lucia gave birth to him on May 17, 1989; that respondent Lucia as the “informant” belatedly registered his birth with the name “Rolando Artajo” on July 8, 1989 before the Local Civil Registry of Quezon City; and that thereafter, the Local Civil Registry of Quezon City forwarded the registration to the National Statistics Office.

Petitioner further alleges that his parents met each other sometime in 1988; that they became couple and decided to live together; that thereafter, they separated briefly sometime in April 1989; that subsequently, respondent Lucia gave birth to him on May 17, 1989; that respondent Lucia as the “informant” belatedly registered his birth with the name “Rolando Artajo” on July 8, 1989 before the Local Civil Registry of Quezon City; and that thereafter, the Local Civil Registry of Quezon City forwarded the registration to the National Statistics Office.

“Society ask us about ransom, it’s 10 million USD. We can make discount... $1 = 1 customer.”

Medibank has repeatedly refused to pay the ransom.

Petitioner also claims that on March 7, 1984, Rolando Sr. filed his registration of birth before the Local Civil Registrar of Meycauayan Bulacan; that a perusal of his Second Birth Certificate would show that his name is registered as “Rolando Artajo Tandiama Jr.” and the informant is Rolando Tandiama Sr. who is indicated therein as is “father” that additionally, attached in his Second Birth Certificate is an Affidavit for Delayed Registration of Birth wherein Rolando Sr. acknowledged the petitioner as his “son” and signed as affiant thereof.

Petitioner also claims that on March 7, 1984, Rolando Sr. filed his registration of birth before the Local Civil Registrar of Meycauayan Bulacan; that a perusal of his Second Birth Certificate would show that his name is registered as “Rolando Artajo Tandiama Jr.” and the informant is Rolando Tandiama Sr. who is indicated therein as is “father” that additionally, attached in his Second Birth Certificate is an Affidavit for Delayed Registration of Birth wherein Rolando Sr. acknowledged the petitioner as his “son” and signed as affiant thereof.

The Medibank hack—and an earlier data breach impacting nine million cus tomers at telecom company Optus -- has raised questions about Australia’s ability to repel cyber criminals.

Dennis Desmond, a former FBI agent and US Defense Intelligence Agency officer, said Australia was no worse “than any other high-value target or Western country”.

In addition, petitioner avers that he is known and acknowleged to be the child of Rolando Sr., not only by his father, but also by the latter’s family as evidenced by the photos of the petitioner with Rolando Sr. and the members of the Tandiama Family; that he has been using the name “Rolando A. Tandiama Jr” since his infant years; that in fact, he was baptized on September 10, 1989 at San Isidro – San Roque Parish in Mathacan, Meycauayan, Bulacan as “Rolando A. Tandiama Jr.” as the child of Rolando R. Tandiama Sr. and Luz Artajo; that his school records likewise shows that he was used the name “Rolando A. Tandiama Jr” from Elementary to College; that a perusal of his School Permanent Record issued by Lawa Elementary School also indicates that his parent or guardian is Rolando Tandiama Sr.; that to date, he has constantly used the name Rolando A. Tandiama Jr.” as evidenced by his Company ID No. 243 issued by Celebrity Sports Plaza, Inc., Driver’s License No. G06-002650 and Pag-Ibig Card M/D No. 1211-5095-3524; that upon requesting a Birth Certificate from the PSA, he was issued the first Birth Certificate with name “Rolando Artajo;” that considering the discrepancies in his

In addition, petitioner avers that he is known and acknowleged to be the child of Rolando Sr., not only by his father, but also by the latter’s family as evidenced by the photos of the petitioner with Rolando Sr. and the members of the Tandiama Family; that he has been using the name “Rolando A. Tandiama Jr” since his infant years; that in fact, he was baptized on September 10, 1989 at San Isidro – San Roque Parish in Mathacan, Meycauayan, Bulacan as “Rolando A. Tandiama Jr.” as the child of Rolando R. Tandiama Sr. and Luz Artajo; that his school records likewise shows that he was used the name “Rolando A. Tandiama Jr” from Elementary to College; that a perusal of his School Permanent Record issued by Lawa Elementary School also indicates that his parent or guardian is Rolando Tandiama Sr.; that to date, he has constantly used the name Rolando A. Tandiama Jr.” as evidenced by his Company ID No. 243 issued by Celebrity Sports Plaza, Inc., Driver’s License No. G06-002650 and Pag-Ibig Card M/D No. 1211-5095-3524; that upon requesting a Birth Certificate

“It’s very unfortunate, but I don’t think Australia is any more vulnerable than any other Western developed na tion,” he told AFP.

Desmond said profit-driven hackers were unlikely to single out a specific country—and were typically more in terested in targeting companies holding valuable data. AFP

Taliban ban women from parks, funfairs in

The

Schools for teenage girls have also been shut for over a year across most of the country.

“For the past 15 months, we tried our best to arrange and sort it out— and even specified the days,” said

“But still, in some places—in fact, we must say in many places—the rules were violated,” he told AFP late Wednesday.

“There was mixing (of men and women), hijab was not observed, that’s why the decision has been tak en for now.”

The news was met with dismay by women and park operators—who invested heavily in developing the facilities.

“There are no schools, no work... we should at least have a place to have fun,” said one mother, who

capital

asked to be identified only as Wahi da, as she watched her children play in a park

“We are just bored and fed up with being at home all day, our minds are tired,” she told AFP.

At the next table, Raihana, 21, who is studying Islamic law at uni versity, shared her disappointment after arriving at the park to spend the day with her sisters.

“We were very excited... we are tired of staying at home,” she said.

“Obviously, in Islam, it is allowed to go out and visit parks. When you have no freedom in your own coun try, then what does it mean to live here?” AFP

KABUL—The Taliban have banned Afghan women from entering the capital’s public parks and funfairs, just months after ordering access to be segregated by gender.

new rule, introduced this week, further squeezes women out of an ever-shrinking pub lic space that already sees them banned from traveling without a male escort and forced to wear a hijab or burqa whenever out of the home.

Mohammad Akif Sadeq Mohajir, spokesman for the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue.

through the window of an adjoining restaurant.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

DESTROYED. A resident cries in front of a destroyed building on the outskirts of Kharkiv after heavy shelling on November 5 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP

INDEPENDENCE COLORS. Balloons are released at the Independence Monument during a ceremony marking Cambodia’s 69th Independence Day in Phnom Penh on November 9. AFP

DROWNED. US Border Patrol agents look at the body of a dead migrant, allegedly from Russia, who appeared on the beach in the US after drowning while trying to cross the US-Mexico border, seen from Playas de Tijuana, Mexico, on November 9. AFP

Musk scraps Twitter badge after launch

The blue tick has been a mark of an account’s authenticity and doubts emerged that public figures or media outlets would pay for it. The official gray tag was seen by observers as a workaround to solve that problem.

The social media platform unveiled its long-awaited Twitter Blue subscription service, which allows users to pay $7.99 per month for a coveted blue tick, as well as a separate gray “official” badge for some high-profile accounts.

But the new gray label was almost immediately scrapped, overshadowing the launch of Twitter Blue, which is currently only available on the mobile app on iPhones and in the United States.

“I just killed it,” Musk tweeted hours after the new tag was added to government accounts, big companies, and major media outlets.

“Please note that Twitter will do lots of dumb things in the coming months. We will keep what works & change what doesn’t,” the world’s richest man added.

The U-turn invited further scrutiny of Musk’s plans for Twitter a week after he laid off thousands of workers and drew a massive drop in spending by advertisers, who are wary of the site’s direction.

The launch of the new official label began Wednesday and was on the accounts of companies such as Apple and BMW, as well as public ones such as the White House and major media outlets.

But only hours later, it was gone for many of them.

Accounts that had received the “official” badge—including Agence France-Presse, BBC News, Pope Francis and Kanye West—saw the mention disappear.

‘A lot of work’

Esther Crawford, an executive who announced the gray tick on Tuesday, insisted that the official label was still going to be part of the relaunch but that “we are just focusing on government and commercial entities to begin with.”

“There are no sacred cows in product at Twitter anymore. Elon is willing to try lots of things—many will fail, some will succeed,” she tweeted Wednesday.

“The goal is to find the right mix of successful changes to ensure the long-term health and growth of the business.”AFP

PSEi November 10, 2022

Stock market declines; Converge leads gainers

4 HOUSE 10.3 0.9 9.57%

5 CNVRG 12 0.9 8.11%

6 FB 37.8 2.6 7.39%

7 VITA 0.59 0.04 7.27%

8 LAND 0.76 0.04 5.56%

9 RRHI 55.8 2.35 4.40%

10 ALCO 0.5 0.02 4.17%

TOP LOSERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 LR 2.26 -0.52 -18.71%

2 OM 0.325 -0.055 -14.47%

3 ACE 1.4 -0.21 -13.04%

4 PRMX 2.1 -0.29 -12.13%

5 CAT 9.38 -1.26 -11.84%

6 PPC 5.01 -0.48 -8.74%

7 I 0.65 -0.06 -8.45%

8 DMC 8.45 -0.76 -8.25%

9 NRCP 0.56 -0.05 -8.20%

10 ATI 12.92 -0.96 -6.92%

PARIS, France—ArcelorMittal, the world’s number-two steel maker, saw its net profit tumble by 78 percent in the third quarter of 2022, as metal prices fell from “exceptional” levels during the post-Covid recovery and energy prices soared.

The global steel market is suffering both from the slowdown in China’s economic growth—the world’s largest user of steel—and from the fallout of the war in Ukraine and the surge in energy prices in Europe.

From July to September, ArcelorMittal said in a statement that it made a net profit of $993 million compared to $4.6 billion in the same quarter last year, bringing the profit for the first nine months of the year to $9 billion compared to $10.9 last year.

“The strong market conditions enjoyed for much of the past two years deteriorated in the third quarter as seasonally lower shipments, a reduction in exceptional price levels, destocking, and higher energy costs combined to put profits under pressure,” said Aditya Mittal, ArcelorMittal CEO.

While expressing confidence in his group’s resilience, he warned that the “short-term outlook for the industry remains uncertain, and caution is appropriate.”

In September, ArcelorMittal said it would shut down two of its blast furnaces in Europe over high energy prices and lower demand. AFP

STOCKS

fell for a third day despite the release of strong third-quarter gross domestic product growth and positive corporate earnings as the local market tracked the slump in US and Asian equities amid uncertainty on American midterm election results.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, tumbled 74 points, or 1.2 percent, to close at 6,167.57 Thursday as three of the six subsectors ended in the red.

The broader all-share index also went down 15 points, or 0.5 percent, to settle at 3,277.66 on a value turnover of P4.6 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 106 to 66, while 44 shares were unchanged.

Six of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Converge ICT Inc. which climbed 8.1 percent to P12.00 and SM Prime Holdings Inc. which rose 1.8 percent to P33.90.

Meanwhile, Asian stocks fell on Thursday after inconclusive US midterm election results and a cryptocurrency market in shambles left Wall Street and European markets in a sea of red.

The uncertainty, especially about how the midterm results would impact inflation, transferred to Asia overnight.

Tokyo ended down one percent and Shanghai also closed lower. Hong Kong, Seoul, Sydney, Jakarta and Taipei were all trading down.

“A purple dilemma might be the best way to describe the red-blue tangle that emerged Wednesday. It’ll be gridlock, that’s for sure,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said of the US midterms.

“Perhaps not the friendliest kind for market participants, many of whom were hoping for

a more resounding rebuke of Democrats given inflation realities.”

All eyes are expected to turn to US inflation data, due later Thursday, to gauge the speed of future rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

“US growth looks still too strong to bring inflation down,” Tapas Strickland of National Australia Bank said in a note.

“The ongoing resilience in the (consumer prices) data and stickiness in inflation continue to point to the Fed hiking rates closer to 5.0 percent or higher.”

Fed officials have raised their policy rate to a range of between 3.75 to 4.0 percent.

‘Crypto tumult’

Markets in Asia were already grappling with the impact of strict zero-Covid measures in China, with supply chains and activity slowed by harsh lockdowns and testing policies.

“China’s domestic demand is weak and their key trading partners are entering recession territory,” said Edward Moya from Oanda.

“China is also continuing to struggle with COVID as Guangzhou has to return to mass testing.”

The crypto world was also rocked by a surprise decision from Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency platform, to scrap a possible acquisition of rival FTX.com a day after disclosing it had signed a non-binding letter of intent to buy it.

The near-collapse of FTX has plunged bitcoin to a two-year low.

“FTX’s slump from over a $32 billion valuation to zero in less than a few days raises numerous issues,” said Stephen Innes.

“This is far from fringe buyers taking a hit on the back of support from stimulus-check and crypto enthusiasts. Prominent investors are wearing eggs on their faces after diving in head first.”

He added that gold and silver will be the biggest beneficiaries of the crypto fallout with investors looking to the trusted precious metals for stability. With AFP

of the 2021 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statement.

Board of Directors, Corporate Officers and Management from December 28, 2021 to December 15, 2022. 6. Election of the Board of Directors and Independent Directors. 7. Appointment of Independent Auditors. 8. Other business as may properly be brought the meeting and open forum. 9. Adjournment.

The record date for stockholders entitled to notice and vote at the Annual Stockholders Meeting was set on October 15, 2022.

For the safety and convenience of participants, the 2022 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Lodestar will be conducted virtually. Stockholders of Record may attend/participate via proxy, remote communication, or vote in absentia. For the detailed registration and voting procedures, please visit https://www.lodestarholdings. com.ph and refer to the “Guidelines for Participation via Remote Communication and Voting in Absentia and through Proxy.”

Stockholders who wish to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to vote in absentia should notify the Office of the Corporate Secretary through a Letter of Intent to be sent via e-mail to ilodestar@yahoo.com on or before December 12, 2022. Validated stockholders will be provided access to the live streaming of the meeting and can cast their votes in absentia on or before December 9, 2022 through Lodestar’s secure online voting facility. All votes cast shall be subject to validation.

Lodestar is not soliciting for proxies. Stockholders who are unable to join the meeting but wish to vote on items in the Agenda by proxy must submit their duly accomplished proxy forms via email to ilodestar@yahoo.com, not later than December 9, 2022.

Stockholders of Record may send their inquiries and comments to the Management Report and other items in the Agenda to ilodestar@yahoo.com on or before December 9, 2022.

The Definitive Information Statement containing the attendance/ voting (via remote communication) and election procedures, along with the Notice, Agenda, Proxy, Management Report, SEC Form 17-A, and other information related to the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting can be accessed at https://www.lodestarholdings.com.ph

ArcelorMittal profit plunged 78% in Q3

SAN FRANCISCO, United States—

Twitter launched two new verification tools Wednesday but “killed” one of them hours later in a messy start to owner Elon Musk’s campaign to revamp the influential platform following his $44-billion buyout.

PARIS METRO STRIKE. Commuters wait on a platform at Saint-Lazare Metro station in Paris on Nov. 10, 2022 during a strike. Seven lines of the Paris metro are closed, and seven others only open during rush hour due to the strike to demand wage increases and improved working conditions, the RATP said. European workers squeezed by the soaring cost of living went on strike in Belgium and Greece on Nov. 9, with stoppages threatening to paralyze parts of Britain, France and Spain in the coming days. AFP

JG Summit cut 9-month net loss to P859m

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CONGLOMERATE

JG Summit Holdings Inc. said Thursday core net income grew more than tenfold in the first nine months to P6.5 billion from P600 million in the same period last year.

JG Summit said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the robust ninemonth financial performance was driven by better operating results from core businesses and one-time gain from the partial sale of its stake in Manila Electric Co.

It said including the impact of the peso depreciation on the company’s US dollar-denominated debt and other mark-to-market adjustments on the company’s bottom line, JG Summit posted a net loss of P859 million in the first nine months, still narrower than P2.4-billion net loss in the same period last year.

JG Summit president and chief exec utive Lance Gokongwei said the group had implemented strategies, from grad ual pricing actions and cost manage ment initiatives, to cushion the impact of higher inflationary environment on bottom line and margins.

“While we anticipate to finish the year stronger with topline momentum continuing into the 4Q, our stance on margin recovery remains cautious,” Gokongwei said.

Gokongwei said the company’s core businesses in food, airline, real estate and banking continued to benefit from the sustained strong demand brought about by the increase in economic activity and mobility.

Food manufacturing unit Universal Robina Corp. booked an 11-percent decline in nine-month net income to P9.3 billion even as revenues grew 26 percent to P107.9 billion.

Property firm Robinsons Land Corp. delivered P6.7 billion in net income, up 6 percent year-on-year as revenues climbed 14 percent to P34.4 billion.

Cebu Air Inc. narrowed its net loss to P12 billion in the first nine months as revenues surged 310 percent to P35.7 billion amid continuous easing of travel requirements, which boosted strong travel demand.

Business

Prime Infra starts operations of Wawa water supply project

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PRIMEInfrastructure Capital Inc.’s subsidiary WawaJVCo Inc. said Thursday it started the commercial operations of Bulk Water Supply Project Phase 1 in Rizal province that would deliver an initial 80 million liters per day of raw water to offtaker Manila Water Co. and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

WawaJVCo is a joint venture of Prime Infra and San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers Group Inc. The Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project is one of the government’s flagship infrastructure projects and is designed to deliver at least 518 MLD which can provide water

supply to over 500,000 households in the East Zone concession area once the two phases are completed.

“Prime Infra fulfilled its promise to the government to deliver on time a vital water infrastructure, which will help ensure the reliability of raw water supply to customers of Manila Water at a cost-effective manner,” said Prime Infra chairman Enrique Razon Jr.

“This milestone demonstrates Prime Infra’s strong track record in delivering critical infrastructure projects in challenging situations,” Razon said.

He said Phase 1 of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project was constructed and finished in the middle of a pandemic ahead of schedule. WawaJVCo said it started commercial operations of the project on Oct. 25.

Phase 1 consists of three parts: the weir where water is impounded, the pumping station that brings the bulk water to the water treatment plant and the buried water pipeline where the bulk water passes to get to the water treatment plant.

Prime Infra president and chief exec-

utive Guillaume Lucci said WawaJVCo adhered to social and environmental sustainability which allowed the project to establish close relations with local stakeholders, making it possible to fast-track the project’s completion and subsequent commencement of commercial operations.

“The development of the bulk water project would not have been achieved without the full support of our stakeholders. We will continue to build on this momentum as we progress in the construction of Phase 2 with the vision of creating shared value for both the offtaker and the host communities,” he said.

Construction of the project’s Phase 2, or the Upper Wawa Dam, is on track, with the river diversion milestone achieved this week.

The river diversion will minimize the risk of construction execution as it allows WawaJVCo to start construc tion of the main dam body by Decem ber 2022, enable work through the wet season, and complete the project on schedule.

6,167.57

Japan Yen 0.0069160.4054 UKPound1.13240066.3858 Hong KongDollar0.1273937.4683 SwitzerlandFranc1.01729459.6378 CanadaDollar0.73453843.0616 SingaporeDollar0.70224741.1685 AustraliaDollar0.64890038.0411 BahrainDinar2.651113155.4188

Saudi Arabia Rial 0.26595715.5915 BruneiDollar0.69979041.0245 IndonesiaRupiah0.0000660.0039 Thailand Baht 0.0267021.5654 UAE Dirham0.27227915.9621

EuroEuro 0.98860057.9557 Korea Won 0.0007060.0414

ChinaYuan0.1404308.2326 IndiaRupee0.0122500.7181 MalaysiaRinggit0.21602912.6645 New Zealand Dollar 0.57440033.6736

TaiwanDollar0.0317801.8631

Source: BSP

8990 Holdings’ income surged 34% in 3rd quarter

PROPERTY developer 8990 Holdings Inc. said Thursday it benefited from the continued easing of restrictions and the reopening of the economy as it registered a 30-percent increase in revenues and 34-percent growth in net income in the third quarter.

Unaudited total revenues jumped 30.68 percent to P6.98 billion from P 5.34 billion in the same quarter last year. Net income also rose 34 percent to P 2.645 billion from P1.972 billion. Earnings per share improved 48.9 percent to P1.34 from P0.90.

Total revenues in the first nine months grew 10.93 percent to P17.03 billion from P15.35 billion, while net income jumped 15.93 percent to P6.294 billion from P5.43 billion.

“Our margins reflect our healthy financial position with gross margin at 53 percent by the end of September and net margin at 37 percent. These again were an improvement from the 50-percent gross margin and 35-percent net margin for the first nine months of 2021,” 8990 president and chief executive Anthony Vincent Sotto said.

Nickel

Asia nets

P6.9b

on higher metal prices

NICKEL Asia Corp. said Thursday attributable net income (net of minority interest) rose 12 percent in the first three quarters to P6.90 billion from P6.17 billion in the same period last year.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization amounted to P11.10 billion, up from P11.01 billion in the prior year.

It said that despite the lower ore sales volume in the period, revenues rose by 2 percent to P21.51 billion from P21.03 billion on higher nickel ore prices and favorable exchange rates.

The company’s five operating mines sold a combined 12.44 million wet metric tons of nickel ore in the first nine months, a decrease of 14 percent from 14.44 million WMT in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Nickel Asia said its board approved the issuance of a guarantee for the P2-billion loan facility of subsidiary Emerging Power Inc. from Security Bank Corp. “The proceeds of the loan will be used to finance the Phase 4A (68 megawatts) Subic solar power plant expansion of EPI’s solar power subsidiary, Jobin-SQM Inc.,” Nickel Asia said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. Alena Mae S. Flores

2GO swung to P240-m profit in nine months

Converge’s income improved 17.5% to P6.1b in first 3 quarters

By Darwin G. Amojelar

NET inflows of foreign direct investments fell 19.2 percent in August to $797 million from $987 million a year ago as global uncertainties and rising interest rates affected investors’ sentiments, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday.

This brought the net FDIs in the first eight months to $5.9 billion, or 13 percent lower than $6.8 billion registered in the same period in 2021.

“The slowdown in FDI may be attributed to concerns over weakening global growth prospects, particularly with the moderating demand and policy tightening in major economies,” the BSP said in a statement.

FDI net inflows decreased in August as all major FDI components posted lower net inflows, particularly nonresidents’ net investments in debt instruments of local affiliates.

Equity capital placements in August came mostly from Japan and the United States and were channeled largely to manufacturing, real estate and information and communication industries.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said higher inflation, weaker peso exchange rate and the sharp increase in global and local interest rates that led to higher borrowing costs dragged new investments.

He said the continuing RussiaUkraine conflict that led to relatively higher global commodity prices and inflation also dampened investments.

“Net FDIs which just came among the highest since the pandemic started and also came from near record highs on a monthly basis recently could still remain a bright spot for the economy despite the recent soft patch for June to August 2022, as these would still lead to more business/economic activities, as well as leading the creation of more jobs/employment as the economy reopened further towards greater normalcy,” Ricafort said. Julito G. Rada

CONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc. said Thursday net income went up 17.5 percent in the first nine months from a year ago on the reacceleration of subscriber base despite the macroeconomic challenges.

The company said net income amounted to P6.1 billion from January to September, up from P5.19 billion in the same period last year.

Consolidated revenues grew 30 percent to P24.48 billion in the ninemonth period from P18.83 billion a year earlier in line with manage ment’s revised full-year annual guid ance of 25 percent to 30 percent this year.

Converge ICT chief financial advisor Matthias Vukovich attributed the solid growth in revenues to the “re-

acceleration” of subscriber base and lower churn rate.

Converge ended with 1.85 million residential subscribers, mostly from Visayas and Mindano as of end-September as it continues to expand in key regions.

The company said that in the third quarter, 15.8 percent of gross ads came from the Visayas and Mindanao, compared to only 5 percent in the second quarter.

The company’s average churn rates also improved from the second quarter’s 2.5 percent to less than 2 percent in the third quarter as it reinstated advance payment requirements for new residential subscribers starting June.

Vukovich said the company expected monthly churn rates to gradually trend back to around 1.5 percent levels.

NGCP plans to appeal ERC-imposed P5-m fine

TRANSMISSION operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines plans to file a motion for reconsideration with the Energy Regulatory Commission over the imposition of a P5-million fine for the former’s alleged failure to con tract ancillary services, its parent com pany said Thursday.

Synergy Grid and Development Philippines Inc., whose sole operat ing asset is NGCP, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it was informed of NGCP’s intention to file the motion “within the period allowed by the rules and regulations.”

SGP said it received a notice from NGCP on Wednesday that the ERC, in a decision promulgated on Oct. 27, imposed a penalty of P5.1 million for alleged noncompliance with Department of Energy Circular DC2021-10-0031 requiring the procurement of ancillary services or reserves.

The ERC directed NGCP to submit the terms of reference and Instructions to bid-

ders to the Department of Energy in compliance with Sections 7.4 and 7.5 of the AS-CSP Policy within 30 days from the receipt of the decision.

NGCP said in a separate statement it was disappointed at 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,” NGCP said.

NGCP reacted to the ERC statement that no amount of monetary penalty could suf ficiently equate to or compensate for the “willful disregard by NGCP” of validly is sued regulations of the Philippine govern ment and its administrative agencies.

“The alleged willful disregard mentioned by the ERC, this 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,” the company said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Revenues from residential business grew by 30.5 percent to P21.36 billion from P16.37 billion, driven by a 16-percent year-on-year growth in subscriber base.

Enterprise revenue growth continued to accelerate, growing by 26.9 percent to P3.11 billion from P2.45 billion last year, with solid growth across all enterprise segments such as small and medium enterprise, large enterprise and wholesale.

“Amid these challenges, we remained focused in our mission to reach the unserved and underserved areas i the country. Thus, we continued to pursue our expansion strategy, with our extensive infrastructure network now reaching 600,000 fiber kilometers as of September 2022,” said Converge chief executive and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy.

TRANSPORTATION and logistics service provider 2GO Group Inc., a subsidiary of SM Investments Corp., said Thursday it swung to a P240-million net profit in the first nine months from a P939-million net loss last year.

The company also delivered back-to-back profitable quarters with a strong third-quarter net income of P166 million, a 52-percent increase over the second quarter.

It said the strong performance was driven by continued growth across major business lines with a focus on the quality of revenue and customers combined with efficiencies in operations and controlled costs.

Revenues grew 20 percent to P14 billion in nine months from the same period last year. Ship ping revenues rose 68 percent as freight grew 47 percent and travel increased 259 percent.

Shipping saw continued volume momentum in the shipment of goods, while the passenger business continued to improve as Filipinos travel interisland.

“The normalization of economic activity in the Philippines is fueling a demand for more transportation and logistics services to move goods and people across the country,” 2GO president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio said. Darwin G. Amojelar

TRUST’S

Foreign investments reached $5.9b in first eight months, says BSP

LAZADA SALE. Lazada Philippines chief executive Carlos Otermin Barrera (second from left) leads thousands of brands and sellers in the kickoff event of Lazada’s biggest sale during Beyond Limits 11.11 Seller Conference on Oct. 24 to 25 at City of Dreams’ Grand Ballroom in Pasay City. With Barerra are (from left) program emcee Sam YG, Lazada head of seller engagement Rishi Miyata, head of branding Kitty Calderon, head of human resources Johanna Jacob, head of communications Mia Colborne, category director of electronics for LazMall Arnold Balao, chief business officer Angel Ramiro and emcee Jaz Reyes.

BDO

AWARD. BDO Trust and Investments Group senior vice president and head Rafael Ayuste Jr. holds The Asset Management Company of the Year Award. This marks the fifth straight time BDO Trust received the recognition at The Asset Triple A Sustainable Investing Awards. The Asset Triple A Awards recognize companies that have established a comprehensive platform for investing across various asset classes and servicing the needs of institutional, corporate and retail clients.

BDO Trust continues to demonstrate leadership in product and service innovation through constant improvements on investment offerings such as the BDO Pension 360 and BDO Money Manager.

Chot forms ‘Dream Team’ of coaches for Gilas PH 5

Cotabato, Imus win in Champions League

NORTH Cotabato AMC swept One Balagtas Bulacan, 25-21, 25-18, 25-15, to claim the No. 2 ranking in men’s Pool B of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League at the Philsports Arena Thursday.

Jao Umandal scored 12 points, Fauzi Ismail added 10 points, including two service aces, while Lloyd Josafat, who was fielded in the second set, contributed eight points for the G-Spikers.

With a 3-1 record, North Cotabato made it to Friday’s knockout quarterfinals of the tournament supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Rebisco, PLDT, Philippine Olympic Committee, Cignal HD, One Sports, Cignal Play, F2 Logistics and Amigo Segurado.

National University-Pasay City became Pool B winners via 4-0 sweep, capping its domination with a 25-13, 25-16, 25-15 romp of Aklan Wednesday night.

The Republicans were very much in the match in the first two sets, but ran out of steam in the third, as Umandal, Ismail and Wewe Medina delivered the goods, while Cian Silang fired two of his four points from the service zone in the third set.

Also in the quarters are Pool A’s PGJC-Navy and Cignal and Pool C’s TARAG-Lolek Bacolod and Army Taguig City.

GILAS

Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes has assembled a “Dream Team” of a coaching staff.

The national team’s battery of coaches, led by Tim Cone and Jong Uichico, boast of a total of 42 championships and are adept at the international game.

Cone, the winningest coach in PBA history with 24 titles to his name and the only mentor to win a Grand Slam with two different ballclubs, has reunited with Reyes after working together nearly a decade ago.

An upcoming coach in the pros back then, Cone hired as one of his early assistants a young tactician named Chot Reyes, his former rival in inter-Village basketball tournaments in Dasmarinas, Makati.

Together, Cone and Reyes steered Alaska to its first PBA championship in 1991.

In 1993, Reyes earned his first head coaching job at Purefoods and had, since then, forged some kind of friendly rivalry with Cone, culminating in half a dozen title clashes with their head-to-head at 3-3.

Amid the competition, however, was born a strong bond between the two coaches, on and off the court.

When Cone was named head coach of the Centennial Team in 1998, he brought in Reyes to become his assistant coach. Reyes, in turn, placed a call posthaste to Cone when the national team came calling soon after.

“Chot and I worked together for many years, with Alaska and the Centennial Team together and then back when he was national coach in the mid-2000s. Our wives are best friends and they work together in their own business. The connection is really strong between Chot and I,” said Cone.

The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel coach is also thrilled to work with Uichico, who led the Kings to a couple of championships in the mid-2000s.

Six years removed from coaching in

the PBA, Uichico spent the past few years working as head of the Basketball Coaches Commission of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas.

He spearheads the group that educates aspiring coaches, referees and technical officials in the grassroots level. He, however, has always made himself available for flag and country once summoned.

Cone has fond memories of working

with Uichico not too long ago.

“I got the opportunity to work with Jong during the Southeast Asian Games three years ago. I’ve always watched Jong from afar and he’s a Ron Jacobs protege and Ron was the absolute legend. He’s almost like a God in basketball. Getting to know Jong kinda lets me see what Ron used to do. I’m really fortunate to know both of them,” said Cone.

Imus City kept its hopes alive as one of the top two best third-place finishers to advance in the quarterfinals following a 25-20, 25-10, 25-15 win over Aklan in the other Pool B match.

The Cavite-based side ended up at 2-2. Santa Rosa, which finished at No. 3 in Pool C with a 2-2 card, and VNS Quezon City, which defeated AIP Baguio, 25-15, 25-17, 25-14, to wound up third in Pool A at 2-2, still have a shot of making it.

Hero Austria came through with 12 points, including two service aces, while Madz Gampong and Ronniel Rosales had 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Led by Imus native setter Ish Polvorosa, decorated coach Sammy Acaylar is happy to handle the team.

“Actually, we had one week of preparations for this,” said Acaylar. “Of course, it is a good exposure for the players. We get players from Imus itself to develop our own product.”

With the short tournament, Acaylar had to work hard in jelling the team.

By Peter Atencio

rushed to the Blazers’ bench and knocked out two of four CSB players he assaulted.

Lascuña upbeat but wary in ICTSI Villamor golf Benilde appeals suspension of players

FOILED in the last three regular Philippine Golf Tour events, Tony Lascuña seeks to snap the spell and end the season in a triumphant mode when the ICTSI Villamor Match Play Invitational is unwrapped Tuesday (Nov. 15) at the Villamor Golf Club.

But like the general mood at the upcoming tournament, the multi-titled campaigner is setting out for the four-day event with guarded optimism given the sheer unpredictability of the one-on-one format and the depth of the competing field.

“Match play is far different from medal. In head-to-head, every shot counts since you can’t predict what your rival would shoot on a particular hole. So you have to make the most of your chances. There’s little or no room at all for errors,” said Lascuña in Filipino.

The winningest on Tour with four Order of Merit titles, Lascuña is hard-pressed to come up with a top podium finish after ending up second in the last three PGT legs closing out out the season at Eagle Ridge-Aoki, Riviera and Pradera Verde, “Most frustrating was my playoff loss to Juvic (Pagunsan) at Riviera. I was leading going to the final hole but still lost. But that’s golf, you just have to learn from your mistakes and try to get better.”

But he has to churn out his best in all four days next week as the rest of the 32-player field are also all primed up for a crack at the championship and the bragging rights as the first match play champion in the country’s premier circuit put up by ICTSI.

APPEALS have been sent out following a bench-clearing incident involving members of the College of St. Benilde Blazers and the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers on the eve of their next game in the 98th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

Olympic taekwondo bronze medallist and now CSB sports development director Stephen Fernandez said this as they dealt with the sanctions handed down by the NCAA management committee following Tuesday’s commotion at the FilOil-EcoOil Arena in San Juan.

“We are appealing our case before the management committee,” said Fernandez, who was present and nearby when Heavy Bomber guard John Amores

Fernandez said they have asked the mancom to ease the penalties that were given to two of the three CSB players penalized since they did not participate in the fight, were just defending themselves and did not retaliate.

Slapped with two-game suspensions were Blazers Mark Sangco and CJ Flores, who the mancom said, were part of the brawl. Their teammate Ladis Lepalam was slapped a one-game suspension for entering the playing court.

“At least, from two games (suspension) to one. Or sana wala na, which is impossible,” added Fernandez, referring to the cases of Sangco and Flores.

In a fit of rage, Amores punched and knocked down Taine Davis and

The incident took place while Fernandez, a legend in taekwondo in the 58kg class during his time stood by, kept his cool and made effort to pacify personnel at the bench.

Amores was later suspended indefinitely by the mancom, along with 11 other JRU players. He will no longer play for the remainder of the season, nor participate in team practices following additional penalties imposed on him by the university.

Fernandez said Samahang Basketbol ng

games

SMART brings Gilas Pilipinas action vs Jordan and Saudi Arabia this week via the GigaPlay App as our men’s national team fights for flag and country during the fifth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers 2023.

Gilas is set to battle Jordan in Amman on Nov. 11 12AMPHT, Friday (with replay at 10:30AMPHT), before making the trip to Jeddah to play the Saudi Arabian national team on Nov. 14 12AMPHT, Monday (with replay at 8:30AMPHT).

Gilas Pilipinas coaches announced the 13man roster that will make the trip to compete in the two matches overseas. Back in the fold for Gilas Pilipinas are members of the current pool led by 7-foot-2 Adelaide 36ers center Kai Sotto, together with Japan B.League imports Dwight Ramos, Thirdy Ravena, and Bobby Ray Parks.

Meanwhile, the PBA takes a short break to loan key players led by reigning league MVP Scottie Thompson alongside Barangay Ginebra teammates Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo. Also answering the Gilas call-back are CJ Perez of San Miguel Beermen and TNT’s Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, and Poy Erram.

De La Salle University’s Kevin Quiambao and

Ateneo de Manila University’s Ange Kouame occupy the last two slots.

Missing games for this window due to various injuries are six-time PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Junemar Fajardo of San Miguel, Meralco’s Chris Newsome, University of the Philippines’ Carl Tamayo, and Kiefer Ravena of the Shiga Lakestars in the Japan B.League.

Currently carrying a 3-3 win-loss slate, Gilas Pilipinas has already qualified for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup by virtue of the Philippines being one of the host countries. Despite this, the team continues to go all out during the remaining games of the qualifiers as it prepares to face even bigger competition on the world stage

As FIBA global partner, Smart enables customers to immerse in world-class basketball action powered by the Philippines’ Fastest and Best Mobile Network as recognized by Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence.

Know more about how Smart is bringing epic live sports to Filipinos via the GigaPlay App at https://smart.com.ph/Pages/ gigaplay and by downloading it on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Barrios talked to the two NCAA officials about “the shared view of condemning on-court violence, adoption of preventive measures to avoid a repetition of the deplorable incident, including a review of security protocols, and meting out the necessary sanctions in a fair manner. “

SBP president Al Panlilio has also condemned the acts of violence in the ongoing season.

In a statement, Panlilio said, “the SBP strongly condemns acts of on-court violence in basketball, whether it is directed towards a player, an official, or a fan.”

“We in SBP are one with NCAA in its direction to proactively take the appropriate steps to move the league forward in a professional manner and positively address the issues at hand for the benefit of NCAA and the sport of Basketball.”

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

Jimboy Pasturan, while Mark Sangco and Migz Oczon remained unscathed from the attack.

Pilipinas Executive Director Sonny Barrios has also reached out on Thursday morning to board member Dax Castellano of CSB and JRU’s mancom representative Paul Supan, and discussed the incident with them.

North Cotabato’s Jao Umandal smashes past Bulacan’s Lerry Francisco during their PNVF Champions League men’s pool match Thursday. PNVF Photo

Tony Lascuña

Dwight Ramos joins Gilas for FIBA 5th window games

Chot Reyes Tim Cone Jong Uichico

FIRST INVITATION TO SUBMIT PRICE QUOTATION BAC SB 22-001

(Pursuant to Section VI of NEA

Woods to return to golf at Hero World Challenge

WASHINGTON—

Tiger Woods said Wednesday he would be returning to action at the Hero World Challenge in what will be the golf great’s first tournament since the British Open in July.

The 15-time major champion posted a Twitter message confirming his involvement in the 20-man tournament, where he is the host, at the Albany course in the Bahamas, from December 1-4.

Woods, a five-time winner of the event, is joined by American compatriot Kevin Kisner and England’s Tommy Fleetwood in completing the field.

“I am excited to announce that I will be in the field for this year’s #HeroWorldChallenge,” Woods said. “A big welcome to @K_ Kisner and @TommyFleetwood1 for joining us as well. See you soon at Albany!”

This week has seen Woods caddying for son Charlie this week and he recently said he intended to take part in ‘The Match’, a 12-hole exhibition, with Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas on December 10 in what could be a busy finish to a restricted 2022 schedule following his recovery from a career-

threatening car crash.

The exhibition is set for the weekend before the PNC Championship in Orlando where Woods has previously played alongside Charlie.

Woods missed the cut at this year’s British Open at St Andrews, having twice won the sport’s oldest major at the Scottish course in 2000 and 2005.

The 46-year-old has appeared in just three professional tournaments this year, all of them majors.

Woods, who needed screws and metal rods to hold together his shattered right leg, made his return to competition 14 months after the accident at this year’s Masters.

He finished 47th at Augusta but achieved a victory of sorts simply by walking 72 holes over the difficult layout.

He then withdrew from the PGA Championship after 54 holes, struggling with stamina issues after making the cut.

Meanwhile, Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari were named Tuesday as playing captains for the Hero Cup, a new team matchplay competition aimed at boosting Europe’s bid to regain the Ryder Cup.

The Hero Cup will take place in Abu Dhabi from January 13-15 between two teams of 10, with England’s Fleetwood leading Great Britain and Ireland against a Continental Europe side skippered by Italy’s 2018 British Open champion Molinari.

The tournament will feature foursomes, fourballs and singles matches, with all 20 players taking part in each session in an event overseen by Luke Donald, the captain of the Europe team at next year’s Ryder Cup in Italy.

Molinari and Fleetwood won all four of their matches together in the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris as Europe won the trophy.

But the most recent edition of the biennial event, the Covid-delayed 2021 competition, saw the United States thrash Europe 19 points to nine at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

The Hero Cup effectively replaces the Seve Cup, a similar competition, which was held eight times from 2000-2013. AFP

Cabral, Divinagracia dominate PPS Tayasan

ARIEL Cabral and Hannah Divinagracia upended a couple of top seeded rivals in their respective sides to bag the MVP honors in the PPS-PEPP Tayasan national tennis championship at the Tayasan Municipal courts in Negros Oriental last weekend.

Cabral, from Bais City, repulsed local bet Kurl Barrera and Ayeen Pantaran from Pagadian City via the same 6-4, 6-4 scoreline to clinch the boys’ 16- and 18-and-under plums, respectively, while Divinagracia foiled Shara Paliwag, 7-6(2), 6-0, in the girls’ 16-U finals of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.

the Approved Budget Cost. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open to all interested parties; however, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents may participate in the discussion at said conference.

The Pre-Bid Conference, Submission and Opening of Bids shall be held at BISELCO Office, Conference Room, Mabentangen Road, Brgy. Poblacion 6, Coron, Palawan. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the Bid opening. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184 otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Interested bidders may obtain further information from BISELCO BAC Secretariat with CP # 09666394668 during office hours. BISELCO reserves the right to waive any formality in the responses to the eligibility requirements and to this invitation. BISELCO further reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, or declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract, and makes no assurance that contract shall

Divinagracia, from Bacolod City, later trounced top local entry Therese Gauran, 6-2, 6-1, in the premier division of the upsetmarred event which served as part of the country’s longest talentsearch put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Divinagracia likewise rode on her masterful 6-1, 6-2 romp over Gauran in the 16-U semis then wore down Paliwag in the first set of the finals before shutting down the Valencia, Negros Oriental bet in the second frame.

Barrera, meanwhile, lived up to his top billing in 14-U class, beating David Sepulveda, 6-1, 6-3, while Armik Serillo from Dumaguete added to Sepulveda’s woes when he hacked out a tough 5-7, 6-4, 13-11 escape over the 12-U top ranked bet in the event backed by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, the Unified Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating).

Paliwag, meanwhile, made up for her setback in 16-U finals by besting top seed Gauran, 6-4, 6-2, for the 14-U diadem while Alexa Cruspero delivered the second win for the hosts with a come-frombehind 5-7, 6-2, 10-4 win over Jan Dagoon from Olongapo City in the girls’ 12-U finals.

PH Azkals’ shortlist for new head coach down to 2 names

camp. I’ve been talking also to Dan kung sinu-sino ang mga foreign players at may tinitingnan pa siya,” Araneta said.

ASIDE from the names of those who will be called for the national training pool, one of the bigger concerns of Azkals fans is who will coach the national men’s football team in the upcoming 2022 Mitsubishi Electric Cup next month.

There were several names being mentioned before, but after the Azkals failed to advance in the final round of the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers in Mongolia, nothing has come out on who will lead the team in the tournament formerly known as the Suzuki Cup.

Dan Palami, the Azkals’ team manager, earlier said they are vetting at least three to four possible choices.

From that shortlist, the choice is now down to two names.

Philippine Football Federation President Nonong Araneta exclusively said to The Designated Kit Man that Palami, the Azkals’ team manager, along with the management staff, will decide who among the two coaches will lead the team in the 2022 Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

“Tinanong ko nga sila, sino na? Sabi nila may dalawang coaches naman na ina-eye sina Dan at okay naman sila pareho,” Araneta said. He also said one of the initial coaches on the list is keeping in touch with him but Araneta said it is up to Palami to decide.

Araneta said the upcoming Mitsubishi Electric Cup will be the start of the transition for the national men’s team with new faces expected to show up in the training camp.

“May mga na-scout at nakausap na silang mga bagong players. I guess there will be new players and we can get some from our local players. The Philippines Football League will run until November 12 before taking a break, so we can have players from the domestic league,” he said.

Araneta said the Azkals will have enough time to prepare for the Mitsubishi Electric Cup. Aside from the camp, the PFF is eyeing to have two international friendlies before the start of the competitions.

“May friendly tayo sa Vietnam sa December 14. I-clear ko rin kay Dan kung gusto nila dumaan sa Laos for another friendly so that we can go to Laos from Vietnam. Magkakalapit lang kasi ang mga ito at hindi masyadong mapapagod ang mga players sa biyahe. After Laos, then we can go to Cambodia,” he explained.

that’s why we are looking for sponsors for the national teams. Kaya si Dan naghahanap din ng sponsors,” Araneta explained.

Araneta also addressed reactions to Stephan Schrock’s Azkals Development Academy, which is set to kick off on November 22, 2022 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“Ang sa akin lang naman, he has to discuss it with Dan (Palami). Si Dan kasi nagpapatent ng pangalan na Azkals. Si Dan kasi ang national teams committee chairman so he has to take that up to him. So kailangan magpaalam siya kay Dan,” he said.

But more on this matter next Friday.

The indefinite suspension meted on Jose Rizal Heavy Bomber John Amores only shows that the National Collegiate Athletic Association is not consistent when it comes to punishing erring players. Amores, despite literally moving down the entire College of St. Benilde players, was still given a chance despite the gravity of his offense which was recorded in full, seen live and going on viral for a few days now. Which can’t be said about another player who was immediately banned for life in the NCAA for enrolling in two schools.

Bid opening. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184 otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from BISELCO BAC Secretariat with CP # 09666394668 during office hours.

BISELCO reserves the right to waive any formality in the responses to the eligibility requirements and to this invitation. BISELCO further reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, or declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract, and makes no assurance that contract shall be entered into as a result of this invitation without thereby incurring any liability in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

ALLEIN C. CRUZ(Sgd.) BAC Chairman Approved by

Araneta, however, refused to comment if former Azkals’ coach Thomas Dooley is in the shortlist. He likewise made it clear that Stewart John Hall, the PFF technical director, is only assisting Palami in preparing the players for the Mitsubishi Electric Cup, while waiting for the appointment of the new coach. Araneta said the Azkals’ line-up will be decided by the new coach.

“They have been calling up players. Sinubmit muna namin ‘yung list ng mga players na kailangan. At least 40 names ‘yung sinama namin sa list. Sina Dan at Stewart ang naguusap para sa mga players na kasama sa

Araneta says he is hoping that Palami will get more sponsors to help the Azkals prepare for the biggest football event in South East Asia next month until early January next year. Which brings us to the delicate question if the PFF is financially okay after a social media post by someone who is formerly with the team claiming that the federation is struggling financially. Araneta gamely answered these issues and made some clarifications.

“Mahirap naman magsabi sila na walang pera ang PFF. Tingnan niyo na lang ang deposit ng PFF. May mga expenses kasi ang PFF for the national teams. Sa women’s team natin may binigay na ang FIFA for our preparations for the World Cup. Right now nasa Chile sila. May pera naman ang PFF, but we spend all for the national teams. We have a lot of programs

Moral lesson: Manapak ka na nang ilang beses on live TV, ‘wag ka lang mag-enroll sa dalawang eskuwelahan.

For more updates on the Philippine Azkals’ preparations for the 2022 Mitsubishi Electric Cup, please tune in to the next episode of the 3PTS–Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports this coming Sund ay, November 13, from 2 to 3 p.m. at DZME 1530 khz with The Designated K it M an and my partner Rommel Miranda. We will have no other than Dan Palami, yup the Azkals team manager, and Josef Malinay, the team manager of the Azkals Development Team, as special guests. A discussion on what direction the Azkals will take in the next few years is expected to be tackled, among many things about the team, during the program.

Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

Tiger Woods

Ariel Cabral (left) and Hannah Divinagracia hold their trophies after stamping their class in the PPS-Tayasan netfest with two victories each.

P-POP

The electro-pop dance album features the key track “PNGNP” performed by BGYO members Gelo, Akira, JL, Mikki, and Nate, composed by Brian Barbaso and Theo Martel, and produced by Kidwolf. Its music video was simultaneously released along with the album.

Be: Us immediately topped iTunes’ album chart not only in the Philippines but also in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates.

Before the Be: Us album release, BGYO dropped “Tumitigil Ang Mundo” and “Magnet,” which have both hit the top spot on iTunes Philippines and Singapore.

Other original tracks in the album are “Game On,” “Be Us,” “Panahon,” “Extraordinary,” and the track “Laro” written by BGYO member Mikki.

BGYO’s collaboration single with Moophs, “Be Us,” is currently part of Spotify’s “New Music Friday Philippines” and the no. 1 track on its “P-pop On The Rise” playlist. The group, dubbed by fans as Aces of P-pop, is currently in the US for a promo tour as part of the group’s album campaign.

Taylor Swift look-alike early favorite in Miss Earth 2022

Mortlock,

Mortlock, who hails from Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, is a Taylor Swift She won Miss Earth Australia on her third attempt at the title.

“Part of my advocacy for Miss Earth is ‘Education’ and this is something that I firmly stand behind. When we heal the Earth, we heal ourselves. I believe that it is now time to look at the silver linings in our climate change battle. We can still turn over a new leaf and work together to save mother earth and all her beauty,” said Mortlock who believes that Miss Earth provides an excellent platform to amplify our voices and action for the protection of mother earth.

The Coronation Night of Miss Earth 2022 is set at Okada Manila on November 29.

Dormiendo

Lany’s Paul Klein

describes Manila concert as astronomical

LANY is making up for a lost time as the group stages a concert in Manila, which is the last pitstop for its A November To Remember Tour

Lany beats its three-night 2019 Manila show with its residency at the Mall of Asia Arena happening tonight, and on November 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16.

Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment during an interview arranged by concert promoter Live Nation Philippines, Paul Klein said that their Manila show is very special on many different levels. Klein, who is a former model, is the lead singer and guitarist of the indie-pop band.

“It’s no secret that Filipino fans are some of the best fans in the whole world. No matter where I go, whether South or North America or Australia, the crowds that I really like to play for are the ones who get involved, people who sing along and get involved, and no one sings louder than the way Filipino fans do,” Klein said enthusiastically.

“Three nights in Manila was the most number of shows we did in one city. In other cities, we are just doing two nights so five [days] is astronomical,” he went on.

Klein gives credit to the band’s Filipino fans for completely embracing their music. He is humbled by the fact that throughout the years, the support they’re getting from the Philippines has not dwindled, fuelling their intention to go back and perform their fits before them.

“You know, it’s been three years since we’ve been to the Philippines. So, it feels like we’re making up for lost time for sure. And I’m very humbled and very honored that the Filipino people still care about us,” Klein said.

The duo, composed of Klein and Jake Goss , is prepared to take over the Mall of Asia Arena and assured

their fans that they would give the same kind of energy from the beginning until the end of their residency. He also noted that they will perform an “even setlist” of fan favorites and personal choices culled from their albums including gg bb xx , which was released in June 2021.

“We’re going to get the energy from you guys. The energy exchange is always incredible from the time I step onstage, I could be so tired but the

second I get up there the fans give me a lot of energy and bring me to life. So I’m pretty sure that we’re going to get through five nights with ease.

Klein added that they wanted to give everyone an equally great show. They have prepared a set list that they believe “is our best show and our best setlist yet.”

Prior to coming to Manila, Lany has explored a couple of options to feature some special guests, which he said might surprise their Filipino fans.

“Maybe we can have a special guest for one night or two nights, so we’ll see if we can make that happen,” Klein teased.

The first time the band performed in the country was in March 2017. In 2018, the American pop-rock band had sold-out Manila shows at the Araneta Coliseum. The year after that, Lany again held back-toback sold-out shows at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Lany’s last visit to the country was in 2020 just before the world was hit with the COVID-19 pandemic when they performed in Cebu as part of the Plus63 Music & Arts Festival

For tickets and more information visit http://smtickets.com/ and https://www.livenation.ph/

…are talking about ...are not talking about

Bella Poarch

The TikTok star gained international popularity and earned the attention of fans globally. Despite her fame, Bella managed to keep her relationship private from prying eyes. It only came to light when she filed for divorce from her husband, Tyler Poarch. It’s rare for celebrities to escape the limelight, but Bella evaded public scrutiny effortlessly. Even though she’s a social media star, she exercised discipline in posting every bit of information online.

‘Heather’ singer to stage solo show in PH

Conan

Asa

Aldub Nation

Celebrities often inspire people through their on-screen performances and real-life interactions. While starting a fanbase is common, creating a cult-like community is beyond disturbing. Maine Mendoza handled them gracefully at first yet stopped after fans of AlDub, the loveteam composed of her and Alden Richards, persisted. Some people take things too far and turn a deaf ear to a voice of reason. If we were Maine dealing with the same people repeatedly, we’d be exhausted too.

With his sophomore album, Superache, Gray has emerged as one of the pre-eminent pop superstars of his generation.

Following the success of his debut album Kid Krow, which reached #5 on the Billboard 200, #1 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart and spawned international platinum hits “Maniac” and “Heather,” Gray’s Superache was released in June 2022.

Having recently completed his sold-out Conan Gray World Tour, and the sold-out North American leg of his Superache Tour, Conan is touring Superache internationally in 2023.

Live Nation Pre-sale begins on Thursday, November 17 from 10:00 a.m. till 11:59 p.m. Visit www.livenation.ph for membership signups and pre-sale access. General on-sale begins November 19 from 10:00 a.m. onwards. Visit www.smtickets.com for ticket details.

NO AUSTRALIAN beauty has ever won Miss Earth since its inception in 2001. It may happen this year with the stunning Miss Earth Australia 2022

Sheridan Mortlock

a 22-year-old model, and currently taking a double degree in Bachelor of Arts and International Relations / International Global Studies at University of Wollongong, Sydney, South Wales, member of the Australian Parliament made a strong impression with her winning personality during a meetheld by ProMedia Team at Luxent City recently.

LIVE Nation has announced that singer-songwriter Conan Gray is set to bring his Superache Tour to Asia. The tour will kick off in Osaka, followed by Yokohama, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Taipei, and Seoul in February next year.

Gray Superache Tour in Manila will take place at the SM Mall of

Arena on February 18 (Saturday).

group BGYO is ready to take a leap for love in their sophomore album Be: Us, which conveys the concept of love and courting in the modern generation.

Andrea Torres Speechless. That’s what everybody is toward the actress’s depiction of Sisa in Maria Clara at Ibarra. Sisa has always been seen as a laughing stock because some people saw mental illness as a taboo. But Andrea did her character justice through her acting, and everyone felt the pain, longing, and injustice done unto a mother who lost her children in the hands of cruel people. May her performance inspire people to think twice before brushing off a person’s suffering.

John Amores  Basketball is a physical sport, but Jose Rizal University’s (JRU) John Amores took it to another level. He proved that he has a nasty temper that clouds his judgment after he had tried to attack a fan and punched out three players from De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde (CSB) who got in his way. Two words aptly describe his actions: physical assault. If the NCAA officials don’t do anything about it, maybe the families of those he attacked will take matters into their own hands—preferably legally.

iTunes

Singersongwriter Conan Gray

Paul Klein and Jake Goss, otherwise known as Lany, arrive at the NAIA Thursday night ahead of their residency at MoA Arena. (Instagram Stories)

P-Pop group BGYO’s ‘Be: Us’ album conveys the concept of love and courting in the modern generation

Miss Earth Australia 2022 Sheridan Mortlock has made a strong impression on the pageant committee

Mrs.

Paul Klein (right) and Jake Goss are making up for lost time with a five-day concert in Manila

Power of An Icon’ at the Cannes

Anthony Brillantes ’s awardwinning short film The Power of An Icon will have its international debut at the 76th edition of the Festival de Cannes set from May 16 to 27, 2023.

The Power of An Icon , a film that deals with the importance of self-love, won for Riza Oben Dormiendo, Mrs. Philippines Face of Beauty International 2019, the Best ICon Performance by a Female honors at the recent first Manila International Fashion Film Competition.

may walk Cannes’ red carpet after her film received an official invitation to be shown at the Special Screening section of the prestigious film festival.

Dormiendo said that it will be an honor to be part of the Cannes and will take it as inspiration to do bigger roles.

Riza Oben Dormiendo receives her FAME Awards best actress trophy from GANAP International Magazine’s Bench Bello and John Guarnes

CHILDREN, just like grownups, also get stressed. And unlike adults who can come up with creative ways to battle stressors, kids can get stuck. These insights sparked a conversation about the value of children’s wellness with husband and wife Drs. Carl and Roselyne Balita during the opening of their Little Lamb’s Kiddie Spa-Salon-ClinicPlayland at Greenhills Shopping Center.

The power couple’s business venture is the first of its kind in the area and it is an improved version of the branches they began operating in 2006. Little Lamb’s Kiddie Playland is a spa, salon, and barbershop, clinic, and play place all in one. Who would have thought this brilliant idea came from a seven-year-old more than a decade ago?

Dr. Carl and Dr. Lyne’s daughter Lyca was just seven years old in 2006 when she tagged along to her parents’ wellness session. Then little Lyca threw her tantrums the moment she was told, “Kids are not allowed in the spa.” The girl was able to argue why she and other young ones also need the relaxing services and successfully nudged her entrepreneurial parents to act on the business idea. To better illustrate the time-lapse, Lyca is now a law school graduate and currently taking the bar exams.

The first branch of Little Lamb was in Tomas Morato in Quezon City. It has since been recognized as the first and only in the Philippines and was awarded twice as the Best Kids Spa in Asia by the Asia Spa Awards in 2010 and 2011. It helped a lot that Dr. Carl has long been business-minded, with his review centers located nationwide in his notable list of projects. According to the multihyphenate, Little Lamb’s Kiddie Playland is his show of support for his wife’s practice as a pediatrician. The registered nurse, midwife, and professional teacher, with a Master of Arts degree, and two doctoral degrees in Humanities and Education, believes that his wife’s expertise is the strong foundation of Little Lamb’s business model.

“We thought of putting her pediatric clinic in Little Lamb since she’s promoting wellness. We concentrated on preventive over curative [medical

A ‘touch’ of wellness for children

being massaged,” Dr. Carl enthused. He talked about how his wife eliminates the usual fear of doctors observed in kids by creating a relaxing atmosphere for the little ones.

care]. We started in Morato and ended up in Uptown [Bonifacio Global City, Taguig] until the pandemic hit,” Dr. Carl said.

He and Dr. Lyne believe now that they found a good place in Greenhills, San Juan to offer a venue for kids who are used to vertical living. They both acknowledged that the young ones today experience a lot of stress given the prolonged confinement at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than the feature of having a play place to drop off kids while parents or guardians go shopping, Dr. Carl and Dr. Lyne emphasized the value of touch therapy and the long-term benefits of reflexology and massage for kids. They take pride in having former child stars who are still active celebrities as patrons back in the day and employing well-trained caregivers, haircutters, and massage therapists who specialize in handling children.

Passion for advocacy emanates from Dr. Carl and Dr. Lyne as they talk about the unique business. Their love for what they do and concern for their clients-slash-patients were evident. “Dr. Lyne veers away from the usual scrubs or white suits. She can immunize the kids while they are playing or

Toward the end of our conversation, Dr. Lyne tied everything back to her advocacy to promote children’s wellness. It was obvious that she sees this as more than a business. Dr. Lyne is so hands-on that even the massage oil is a unique blend she creates herself. It is a mix of food-grade virgin coconut oil, grapeseed oil, and sunflower oil. “The tendency is, when the child accidentally licks the usual mineral oil, it can lead to vomiting. Mineral oil is a by-product of the distillation of petroleum. It is a mortal sin to massage the kids with that,” the passionate pediatrician said.

Dr. Lyne added that she and her therapists generously share and demonstrate massaging tips and techniques to parents and care providers so the touch therapy can be extended at home. “Touch alone can provide a lot of benefits like relaxation, growth because of deep sleep, and bonding,” she said. “The kids’ muscles do not need that much pressure like the adults’. Gentle strokes, while they are being bathed or breastfed, are already beneficial.”

While it should be easy for her to offer treatment to kids when they get sick and beneficial for her business-wise, Dr. Lyne stays genuine and adheres to the idea that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. She consistently pushed for children’s emotional and psychological well-being as this will deeply affect the other aspects of young lives. That, to me, is the most touching part.

Check out Little Lamb’s Kiddie Playland in its new home on the 2nd floor, Pb 211 A&B Connecticut Arcade, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan.

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

Celebrated female visual artist joins Philippine Navy as reservist

how they stood their ground without moving or complaining

“As soldiers, why would we? Others are experiencing far worse right now. I pray that soon I’ll be able to do more. I know I can do more,” she stated.

Currently officially ranked as CMO2 PN (Res) of the Philippine Navy Civil Military Operations Group, Lim is looking forward to going beyond her current comfort zone and seeing what she can still do to serve her family, loved ones, and fellow Filipinos better.

Raising the bar on the listening experience

Aside

By Patricia Taculao

MUSIC, or audio, is a vital element of everyday life.

KRISTINE Lim , otherwise known as the celebrated Artist on a Mission, is now part of the Philippine Navy as a reserve officer, assigned to the Civil Military Operations Group (CMOG).

The visual artist shared her latest “mission” on Facebook where she wrote an inspiring message.

“ Sundalo na ako !,” she said in her social media post. “Our morning started with heavy rain, but it got worse as our program commenced and proceeded. We all stood under the typhoon yesterday for our graduation at Marine Base’s General Gregorio Lim Camp, Ternate, Cavite.”

“It was the first time I experienced a ceremony where participants were drenched yet unfazed no matter how hard the wind blew. Still, it also proved that it was a special occasion for individuals who have just experienced another transformation in their lives and can now proudly say that they are no longer the same. Guests and even ourselves, the graduates, were reminded that no typhoon could put a good soldier down! It was like God’s poetic message for all of us.

Unforgettable. Meaningful,” she went on.

Lim narrated

BGEN Joseph S. Cuison PN (M), Commander, Naval Reserve Command, served as the presiding officer during the program. Participants included Capt. Teodoro A. Bolanio PN (GSC), CNRCenNCR, LCDR Reimon T. Retaga PN, DCNRcen-NCR, other officers, and members of the unit personnel of NRCen- NCR and NFR-NCR NGR’s reservists.

Among the known personalities who graduated alongside Lim were radio DJ Megan Sebastian-Du sports newscaster Patricia Hizon , actor Jason Abalos and his wife, beauty queen Vickie Rushton , and former basketball player and heartthrob Vince Hizon , who is part of the Philippine Navy Reserve.

It is how we perceive our immediate surroundings or communicate with the people around us. As for leisure, our sense of hearing allows us to listen to the sound of nature or appreciate the innate talent of other individuals.

Over the years, the listening experience developed to become more and more sophisticated. From the basic two-speaker and somewhat two-dimensional audio, the world learned the potential of different proportions and modern technology to increase sound quality.

In the Philippines, one sound production company went to various lengths to acquire the highest distinction in audio quality in hopes of raising the bar in the Philippine music industry.

Established as Waxified Sound Production (WSP), the company officially launched last November 5, Saturday. The company achieved the muchcoveted Home Entertainment Studio Certification, the highest certification Dolby Atmos issues to its partners.

WSP is the first and only sound production company in the Philippines to hold such a distinction.

Behind this venture are respective personalities in the music industry — acoustic and audio mastering engineers, event DJs, and sound consultants — who share the same dedication and passion for music and sound.

It began with the initiative of Waxie G. Joaquin, founder of Waxiefied Sound Productions and Executive Mastering Engineer. Eventually, he convinced Jiggs Hermano, Mccoy Navales, Peter Hager, and Vito Syquia to join him.

“The new threshold provided by Dolby Atmos Home Entertainment Studio opens more room and possibilities for cultivating, uncovering, and sharpening the creativity of artists with the help of this cutting-edge technology,” Joaquin shared.

He remains confident that their expertise at WSP can empower local artists, either affiliated with record labels, entertainment stations, or independent. They proudly produce immersive quality audio that provides a multidimensional approach to music.

WSP,

Dolby Atmos Music

as it prides itself on top-quality levels of

detail and depth.

Thanks to WSP’s implementation of the Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite facilities, musicians, singers, producers, and stakeholders in the local music industry no longer have to venture to similar studios abroad to acquire a Dolby certification, start quality control, and certify high-resolution lossless files and Apple Digital Masters sound for Apple Music.

It makes submitting music to digital platforms, such as Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, or Amazon, more simple and at a fraction of the cost of having it done abroad.

Some of the songs that WSP dabbled with and turned into Waxified Stereo and Dolby Atmos include tracks from James Reid Nicole Asensio New Game Plus Dan Gil, and Marga Jayy

Who knew listening to music could become more immersive? It goes to show that there’s much potential to unlock through technology. With WSP’s Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite, Filipino talents can show their artistry through music and showcase it internationally.

Visit www.waxiefiedsoundproduction.com for more information.

Nickie

from acquiring the necessary top-notch equipment from across the globe to create the suite, WSP painstakingly adjusted and calibrated each speaker, subwoofer, and other parts to meet the strict requirements of Dolby Atmos. They couldn’t miss an inch from these demands of Dolby Atmos since it won’t award the certification.

through Joaquin’s initiative, also developed the room to be sound-proof, allowing users to focus on the sound they’re producing.

allows songs to become more immersive

Drs. Carl and Lyne Balita (first and second from right) during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Little Lamb’s Kiddie SpaSalon-Clinic-Playland

Little Lamb’s Playland has various toys and fixtures to keep children entertained

The power couple believes that giving the young ones a safe space to manage their stress helps in their development

Kids can also develop their skills at Little Lamb’s Playland

Lyne Balita’s background as a pediatrician serves as a reliable foundation for the playplace

(From left) Vito Syquia, Jigs Hermano, Peter Hager, and Waxie Joaquin

The inside of the Waxified Sound Productions’ Dolby Atmos Master Suite

Proud members of the Philippine Navy

former basketball player and

Artist on a Mission Kristine Lim is grateful for the opportunity to join the Philippine Navy