Manila Standard - 2022 December 12 - Monday

Cold storage listing to stem agri smuggling

By Rio N. Araja

PBBM to drum up PH interest at ASEAN-EU summit

By Vince Lopez

ERC holds electricity rate hikes

Issues freeze order until plea of big firms vs. higher charges is resolved

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy

Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued status quo orders that effectively prevent retail electricity suppliers from increasing their rates to large companies.

Several large companies had earlier asked the ERC to issue temporary restraining orders and cease-and-desist orders to prevent their retail electricity suppliers from disconnecting their supply.

The companies alleged that the retail electricity suppliers breached their supply contracts by imposing higher charges beyond what was agreed and wanted to impose fuel cost recovery adjustments due to the alleged extraordinary increases in fuel costs.

ERC chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said the status quo would hold until the commission decides on the motions filed before it.

"If consumers are disconnected, not only will the petitioner be affected, but its customers as well. With the disconnection, the supply chain will be disrupted, and a domino effect will ensue downstream," it said.

The companies said the retail electricity suppliers cited a change in circumstance due to "the unprecedented

By Peter Atencio

THE

limited the Ateneo

DOJ supports US sanctions vs. HR felons

By Rey E. Requejo

THE consortium of the Malampaya deep water-to-gas project, composed of Razon's Prime Energy Resources Development B.V., Dennis Uy's UC38 LL, and state-owned PNOC Exploration Corp., said Sunday there were not refusing to sell to the Malampaya banked gas to the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan power plant.

The consortium said in a joint statement there were no legal means by which the sale of banked gas to the Ilijan gas plant in Batangas, owned by SMC Global

Power Holdings Corp., could be made.

The banked gas is the accumulated unused gas of the Ilijan power plant, amounting to 108.6 petajoules, due to the underutilization of the plant's take-or-pay quantity within the period 2002 to 2007.

The consortium said there was no live contract for the supply of gas from Malampaya between SMCGP subsidiary South Premiere Power Corp. and Spex, now Prime Energy.

The

to just a point in the last two minutes to eke out a 72-66 win Sunday night in Game 1 of the 85th season bestof-three finals at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Zavier

Malampaya group says can’t sell banked gas to Ilijan plant

defending champion University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are close to something they haven’t achieved before—claim a second consecutive crown in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball wars.

Maroons

Blue Eagles

Lucero struck with a team-high 14 points and hauled 11 rebounds for the Fighting Maroons, who will be shooting

THE Department of Justice on Sunday offered a general statement of support for the US government move to sanction 40 human rights violators in nine countries but was noncommittal on the specific case against Filipino pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, who has been accused of the

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. flew to Brussels, Belgium on Sunday, set to push for the country's priorities on trade, maritime cooperation, and climate action

at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union (ASEAN-EU) Summit.

In his departure speech at the Maharlika Hall at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, President Marcos said this

would be the first meeting between ASEAN and EU member states' leaders at the European Union headquarters. "I am pleased to highlight the Philippines’ role as the country

SWIRL OF SPARKS

A fire dancer throws off sparks as he performs to a variety of music during a presentation at the Glorious Fantasy Complex on Sunset Boulevard in Dapitan City over the weekend.

Danny Pata

RED CARPET SALUTE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. salutes the troops as he and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Bartolome Bacarro march on the red carpet toward the presidential plane that will take Mr. Marcos to Belgium for the EU-ASEAN Summit starting Monday. Presidential Photo

Dengvaxia parents hit DOH anew

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

READ this medical bill.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Health has been accused of failing to renew its memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Medical Association, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, and Association of Hospital Administrators to establish an express lane for people injected with

ERC..

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increases in the global price of oil, coal and gas and other fuel sources to increase the rates.”

Most of the companies filed cases against MPower, Inc. and Vantage Energy Solutions Management Inc., the retail electricity suppliers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

They also filed cases against San Miguel Corp.-owned San Miguel Electric Corp. and SMC Consolidated Power Corp. for alleged breach of retail electricity supply agreements.

Companies who filed cases with the ERC include Winsome Development Corp., Taifini Copper & Conductor, Inc., Quanta Paper Corp., Air Liquide Pipeline Utilities Services Inc. – Balamban, Air

Cold...

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in Filipino, citing the current “shortage” of onions as an example.

The traders move them out of their warehouses when they are inspected, storing the produce in unhygienic cold storage facilities, where they often go bad, the DA official said.

Estoperez said a recent shipment of confiscated onions was found to be not fit for human consumption and could not be sold at government-run Kadiwa stalls for a cheaper price.

On Sunday, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it has confiscated more than P1 billion worth of smuggled agricultural products since the Marcos administration started.

BOC spokesperson Arnaldo dela Torre Jr. said the agency is continuously enforcing its campaign against agricultural smuggling, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Dela Torre said the BOC’s latest interception of smuggled agricultural products was in the Port of Subic wherein frozen carrots and red and white onions from China were found inside con-

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coordinator for ASEAN in its dialogue relations with the EU," Mr. Marcos said.

"And after the successful series of Summits hosted by ASEAN Chair Cambodia last month, I look forward to a productive and meaningful Summit that recognizes ASEAN and the EU’s four-and-a-half decades of long-standing relations," Mr. Marcos pointed out.

The President also said the summit is celebrating 45 years of ASEAN-EU relations with in-depth discussions on the most relevant issues concerning both regional organizations, such as global and regional security challenges, sustainable development, and economic cooperation, among other things.

Mr. Marcos will deliver his remarks at the C-Suite Luncheon and the ASEANEU business summit, saying the events serve as an opportunity to "drum up economic interests once again, and

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“systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11.”

“We would like to express our unity in their cause in the protection of human rights and in the eradication of corrupt practices,” DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano said, in a text message to reporters.

The statement was in reaction to the decision of the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to block all property and interests in property of the 40 persons identified as being human rights violators or corrupt — including Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name and the spiritual adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The OFAC announced the sanctions on Dec. 9 “in recognition of International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day.”

Clavano said, however, that the DOJ

Dengvaxia vaccine who would seek medical treatment.

The Samahan ng mga Magulang, Anak at Biktima ng Dengvaxia, along with the group’s president Sumachen Dominguez, volunteer-parent Rhea Lyn Jusayan raised concern over the vaccine’s adverse effects on more than 800,000 children, including her survivor child.

There was also the alleged non-renewal of hospital arrangement between the DOH and various medical facilities to treat children suffering from the ill effects of the anti-dengue vaccination in 2016 until 2017.

There was no immediately available reaction from the DOH.

Liquide Phils. Inc., Air Liquide Pipeline Utilities Services, Inc., Willin Sales, Inc., Waltermart Ventures Inc., WJ Global Inc., and California Garden Square Condominium Association Inc.

Meanwhile, an infrastructure-oriented think tank asked the ERC to ensure the least cost to consumers as the public braces for higher electricity rates next month due to the termination of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp.’s power supply agreement with Meralco.

“More expensive power in the new year is the direct consequence of the ERC’s rejection of the joint SMC Global-Meralco petition to temporarily raise power rates by at least P0.30," Infrawatch PH convenor and former House energy committee member Terry Ridon said.

"The commission, together with the energy department, should exhibit sec-

tainer shipments declared as something else.

He said when the BOC conducted an inspection, it found that half of the contents of the container contained the products that were declared.

“Unless we inspect 100 percent of the shipment, you would not find that there were agricultural products inserted in the other half,” he said.

Benguet Rep. Eric Yap on Sunday called on the BOC to file a case against the consignees of the container shipments with agricultural products believed to be smuggled that were intercepted at the Port of Subic and the Department of Agriculture.

He said this was P20.193 million worth of seized agricultural products that almost got out of the port and that would find their way into local markets, hurting Filipino farmers.

“We are urging the BOC to file a case against those involved in the entry of these container shipments…. Let us show the teeth of our law.

These are worth over P1 million. Its offense is non-bailable. Let’s name and prosecute them,” he said.

Yap said arresting the smugglers is not enough, when not even one has been con-

engagement for the Philippines in view of the presence of key business leaders in Europe at the event.”

The President will also call on King Philippe of Belgium, as well as hold bilateral meetings with some of his counterparts in Europe.

In a briefing on Friday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu said Mr. Marcos is expected to hold ten bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the ASEAN-EU summit.

The President is expected to meet with the King of Belgium, leaders of Estonia, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Finland, the Netherlands, and the EU.

Mr. Marcos will also meet with the business community and will have oneon-one meetings with corporations that will be expanding their presence in the Philippines.

The President is also expected to meet the Filipino community on the first day of his trip to Belgium.

“has yet to discuss the ins and outs of the sanctions” against Quiboloy.

“It is simply too premature for us to speak on the issue,” Clavano said, even though US prosecutors had indicted Quiboloy more than a year ago, in November 2021.

“Allow us to gather verified information and seek US legal experts’ advice. Then we can act accordingly,” the DOJ official said.

On Dec. 9, the US Treasury Department announced its sanctions.

“As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC,” the announcement read.

“In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons, individually or in the aggregate unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions

In related developments, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go lauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for directing the Department of Health to prioritize the fight against tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infections in addition to COVID-19.

“It is important to continue the fight against HIV and TB infections, even as we focus on the ongoing battle against COVID-19," said Go.

The parents appealed to President Marcos Jr. to investigate the plight of those inoculated with the Dengvaxia vaccine, saying the DOH had neglected them because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They anchored their fear on a Novem-

toral leadership and compel power generators to make competing price proposals no higher than the price proposal in the joint petition,” Ridon said.

He said the public would not accept price proposals higher than the proposal in the rejected petition.

“If the ERC entertains price proposals significantly higher than the price proposal in the rejected joint petition, it will have failed to ensure the least cost to consumers, which is one of the most fundamental principles in energy regulation," Ridon said.

He said the PSA termination resulted in Meralco procuring additional supply from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, which translates to prices that are at least 75 percent more expensive than the price in the terminated PSA.

“With unabated inflation and stunted incomes, energy regulators should ex-

victed.

“They (smugglers) are not even trying to conceal these shipments anymore. Why? Because no one gets jailed,” he said.

“We will wait for the BOC to file a case against Veneta Consumer GoodsTrading and Lalavy Aggregates Trading, the consignees of the shipments. Smuggling above P1 million is non-bailable. If these consignees, brokers, and others involved do not get imprisoned, what can happen? I will be filing a House resolution asking why there is no conviction for such case despite the evidence. We want to make sure that we hold these smugglers liable,” he said.

Yap vowed to raise this issue in the forthcoming technical working group meeting of the House committee on agriculture and food amid the discussion of House Bill No. 319 or the Increasing Penalties on Vegetable Smuggling, and House Resolution No. 108 or Investigating the Continued Smuggling of Agri Products.

On Monday, the Senate ways and means committee will conduct an inspection and walkthrough at the BOC in Port Area, Manila.

In a news release on Sunday, com-

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for a title sweep of the series in Game 2 on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Blue Eagles, who bungled four attempts and turned the ball over once in the last two minutes, got a game-high 16 points from Rence Padrigao.

“We started well defensively. The movement of the ball was there. I like the way the team looked for the open man,” said Fighting Maroons’ coach Goldwin Monteverde at the end of their showdown, known as the “Battle of Katipunan.”

With a total weekend crowd of 18,211 watching, the Fighting Maroons unleashed a 10-2 run at the 7:22 mark, highlighted by two triples from Harold Alarcon, to break away from a slim 58-56 lead into a 68-58 spread off Carl Tamayo’s driving shot in the final 4:39.

BJ Andade’s twinner, Joshua Laza-

by US persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

“The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.”

On Quiboloy, the US Treasury Department said:

“For more than a decade, Apollo Carreon Quiboloy engaged in serious human rights abuse, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, as well as other physical abuse.

“In 1985, Quiboloy founded The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name (KOJC) church in the Philippines. In 2021, a federal indictment alleged Quiboloy was involved in sex trafficking ‘pastorals’ — young women within the KOJC selected to work as personal assistants for Quiboloy.

“Pastorals were directed to have ‘night

ber 2017 official statement of Sanofi Pasteur Inc., the vaccine manufacturer, posted on its official website that the vaccine had four adverse side effects — severe dengue, anaphylactic reaction, viscerotropism and neurotropism — on a person who is inoculated without a prior dengue infection even years after the inoculation.

Another member, Angelica Dioquino, said her daughter died after receiving the jab due to severe dengue infection.

“As a volunteer-parent, there are parents still approaching me for help but what can we do? There is no more Dengvaxia express lanes,” Jusayan told reporters. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

plain to the public how these elevated rates constitute the least cost to consumers," Ridon said.

He said energy regulators should blame only themselves if the public experiences bill shock in January.

“This is certain: energy regulators will face a crisis as soon as the January power bills arrive at the doorsteps of ordinary households.

How will they explain to struggling families that they were ultimately responsible for the price hikes?” he said.

Ridon said regulatory rules allow PSA amendments due to extraordinary circumstances.

“This is a power which the ERC could have wielded during the joint petition deliberations if only to stop rates from spiking at the pace that we are currently seeing. They made their bed, but it is the public that will lie in it," he said.

mittee chairman Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said they will be with the officers and members of the Senate Tax Study and Research Office to assess the BOC’s modernization program, which covers the integration of the Ports of Manila, Cebu, and Davao and the Manila International Container Port to the Customs Operations Center in Port Area.

Last week, the government confiscated a shipment of 100,000 kilos of white onions which were undervalued and misdeclared as bread and pastries.

Also recently, BOC agents intercepted more than P63 million worth of frozen goods from Hong Kong and China.

A major component of the BOC modernization program focuses on transitioning from a largely manual and paperbased organization into a modernized agency compliant with global standards by 2024.

“The BOC’s revenue collection performance would improve if smuggling is effectively addressed. Higher budgetary allocations to finance the government’s projects can be realized if revenue-collecting agencies are able to meet their target,” Gatchalian said.

ro’s split, and Angelo Kouame’s driving attempt put the Eagles to within five, 65-70, but they were held to 4 out of 14 field goal attempts in the final two minutes, where they were only able to score on Dave Ildefonso’s lone free throw with 1:26 to, 66-70.

Lucero then kept the ball away from Ateneo as the clock winded down, by hauling three of UP’s four rebounds off the Eagles’ misses in the final 1:23.

The Maroons, with Joel Cagulangan making 12 points and eight rebounds, have never been known to claim backto-back titles since their first title conquest in 1986.

Ateneo, which is on its sixth consecutive finals appearance, got 15 points and 10 boards from Kouame.

“Tough game for us. They scored more points than we wanted them to.

They got on the boards, they rebounded well. Couple of big plays for them. We got to make sure that we will address this,” said Blue Eagles’ assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

duty,’ which required them to have sexual intercourse with Quiboloy on a determined schedule.

“Quiboloy kept pastorals in various countries, including the Philippines and the United States.

“Quiboloy exploited his role within the KOJC to rape his victims and subject them to other physical abuse, describing these acts as sacrifices required by the Bible and by God for the victims’ salvation. The pastorals, who were mostly minors when initially abused by Quiboloy, were told by him to ‘offer your body as a living sacrifice.’

“One female reported she lost count of the number of times she was forced to have sex with Quiboloy, as it was at least once a week even when she was a minor and in every country to which they traveled.

Another woman reported she was forced to perform night duty at least 1,000 times.”

It also reported that Quiboloy also subjected pastorals and other KOJC members to other forms of physical abuse.

Reports indicate Quiboloy personally

‘Rosal’ retains strength, pulls away from PH

TROPICAL depression Rosal maintained its strength while moving northeastward over the Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Sunday.

It is forecast to move generally in that direction until Tuesday morning before turning generally south southeastward, it said, adding in the near term, it may still intensify into a low-end tropical storm within 24 hours.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the weather bureau said the eye of the center of Rosal was estimated 330 kilometers East of Casiguran, Aurora.

It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph and moving north northeastward at 20 kph.

Mimaropa, Bicol, Calabarzon and Western Visayas regions as well as the provinces of Aurora and Isasbela will cloudy skies with scattered rain shows and thunderstorms due to Rosal and shearline.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to trough of Rosal and localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA warned that possible flash floods or landslide may occur due to moderate to heavy with at times intense rains. Rio N. Araja (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

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The group said the Ilijan's gas sale purchase agreement ended in June.

"Without a live contract, Malampaya gas cannot be sold legally to SPPC," they said.

SMCGP earlier said the Ilijan facility is on extended outage following the refusal of Spex, now Prime Energy, to supply the 70 petajoules of banked gas from the Malampaya gas project, which SPPC acquired from Philippine National Oil Co. in June.

Meanwhile, the consortium also questioned plans to divert Malampaya gas supply to the Ilijan plant, saying it would be "irregular and illegal without a contract."

It said the move would deprive other power producers with active contracts in the Luzon grid of natural gas.

SMCGP offered Manila Electric Co. supply from the Ilijan plant at a minimal capital recovery fee of only P1 per kWh on the condition that it looks for gas for the plant. Meralco negotiated with First Gen Corp., but talks are ongoing.

"All natural gas being used for the Luzon grid comes from the Malampaya field and is supplied to other power generators with live and approved contracts," the consortium said.

"The volume of gas from the Malampaya field, as everyone knows and as verified by the Department of Energy, is nearing maximum reserve drawdown, so the supply covered by Service Contract 38 needs to be fairly distributed," they said.

They said claims that the Luzon power grid would be affected if the Ilijan power plant was not given priority in Malampaya’s banked gas allocation has no basis.

"If gas is supplied to Ilijan, the sum is the same. This will actually mean less supply to the other power plant customers," the consortium said.

The consortium also said diverting the gas supply to Ilijan would siphon supply from other power producers and could worsen the power supply situation.

"Supply for the Ilijan power plant is under consideration as additional gas volume is extracted, if possible, following the extension of SC38’s license. Alena Mae S. Flores (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

beat victims and knew where to hit them so there would be no visible bruising. Pastorals and KOJC members who angered Quiboloy were at times sent to ‘Upper Six,’ a walled compound used solely for punishment.”

“Quiboloy is designated pursuant to E.O. 13818 for being a foreign person who is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse. As noted above,"

Quiboloy was indicted in November 2021 and is currently on the FBI’s Wanted List.

Quiboloy's lawyer dismissed the OFAC allegations.

At a press conference, Manny Medrano said the US Treasury Department's statement was “outrageous grandstanding and utter politics by the US government.”

“This document presents an act as if the pastor has been convicted.

They are mere allegations that we submit are false and they are not true. The pastor has not been convicted of anything and that is why this is so outrageous, based on mere allegations,” Medrano said.

IN BRIEF

8 killed as flash floods hit Tanay, Rizal

TANAY police reported that eight passengers of a jeepney were killed in Barangay Sta. Ines in Tanay, Rizal due to a flash flood on Saturday night.

The fatalities were seven senior citizens and a five-year-old child, police reported.

Rizal Provincial Police Office (PPO) identified the victims as Teresita Quinto, Maylard Keith Fernandez, Leonida Doroteo, Salvacion Delgado, Carmen dela Cruz, Esmena Doroteo, Avelino Buera and Teodora Buera.

Solon seeks support for BHW magna carta

BHW party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co on Sunday said to secure senators’ support for the Magna Carta for Barangay Health Workers (BHW) is crucial.

The greater challenge now in the path ahead of the proposed magna carta is to ensure full support among the senators, she stressed.

“Once the proposed BHW Magna Carta is approved on the third and final reading in the House of Representatives, I will lobby each and every Senator to integrate the BHW partylist’s flagship bill into the Senate version yet to be developed in their chamber,” she said. Rio N. Araja

DAR distributes land in SOCCSKSARGEN

DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform

(DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III has distributed 3,524 certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) in a 6,103-hectare land to 3,273 agrarian reform beneficiaries of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani (SOCCSKSARGEN).

Out of the 6,103 hectares distributed, 3,692 hectares were subdivided into 2,166 electronic land titles (etitles) and awarded to 1,871 beneficiaries under the agency’s support to parcelization of lands for individual titling (SPLIT) project.

The project subdivides collective certificates of land ownership award (CCLOAs) that were previously issued by the DAR. Rio N. Araja

Lawmakers form TWG on creative, artistic industry

By Rio N. Araja

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Lray Villafuerte on Sunday said a technical working group (TWG) has already been formed by the House special committee on the creative industry and performing arts to consolidate three measures aiming to grant cash incentives plus other non-monetary benefits to filmmakers, literary writers, and performing artists who have given honor to the Philippines via their creative works that have won formal international acclaim.

The TWG has started working on a substitute bill to combine the provisions of House Bill 1281 or the Creative Philippines Act, HB 4540 or An Act Protecting the Rights and Welfare of Filipino Artists, Providing Benefits and for Other Purposes and HB 1934 or The Artists’ Incentives Act.”l

HB 1934, for one, has proposed a tax-free cash award of P500,000 to P1 million to Filipino creative artists who have won top awards in international film festivals or award-giving institutions, said Villafuerte, who is one of the four authors of this bill.

‘Earnings from Malampaya must go to Maharlika fund’

By Rio N. Araja

SURIGAO del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel wants all future national government royalties from forthcoming offshore natural gas projects in the West Philippine Sea to be put in the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), the proposed statesponsored social wealth savings plan.

“We would highly recommend that all potential government earnings from prospective undersea gas development projects – excluding those from Malampaya – should accrue to the MIF,” he said.

The commercial development of another gas field comparable in size to Malampaya could easily yield a windfall of more than P500 billion in government royalties over a 20-year period, he said.

“Right now, the Malampaya royalties accrue to the national treasury every year and help fund the national budget. This is okay since the project’s gas deposits are nearing depletion anyway,” he said.

“However, once the Sampaguita gas discovery is eventually developed, we would want 100 percent of the royalties to be invested in the MIF for the long-term benefit of the Filipino people,” he added.

Under House Bill No. 6398, the pro -

posed Maharlika Investment Fund would be invested in an array of both real and financial assets to create a nest egg for the country and to further spur national economic development.

Pimentel welcomed the decision of the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries to abandon plans to involve the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System in the MIF.

“We cannot include the SSS and GSIS in the MIF. It would be untenable. The national government itself should put in all the money for the MIF,” he said.

Nearly 50 countries around the world have established sovereign wealth funds, many of which are funded by surplus government revenues or reserves.

Advocacy group backs PBBM call on digitalization

A CONSUMER advocacy group said heeding the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to embrace digitalization entails encouraging investments in digital infrastructure and upgrading the digital skills of Filipinos, and that only these parallel efforts will ensure a digital transformation across the board.

“There is no more argument that digital is the way to go,” said Orlando Oxales, coconvenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, in a statement made after Mr.Marcos’ speech during the Telco Summit 2022 held this week in Pasay City.

“One of the best examples of how financial transactions have gone digital especially for millions of ordinary and unbanked consumers who are now using payment platforms such as GCash as their default mode of payment for everyday purchases,” he added.

According to mobile data and analytics firm App Annie, the GCash app was the most downloaded for in the first nine months of 2020 which was the height of lockdowns.

In the Dec 2022 report by Statista stated that, “GCash had an average of 60 million users as of March 2022, accounting for about 83 percent of the adult population in the Philippines.”

“What we need to plan carefully and execute effectively is how we can achieve real digital transformation not only in select sectors or geographic locations, but across the archipelago. Collaborating with the private sector, providing more incentives, and instituting a digital skills improvement program are key steps to achieve this,” Oxales added.

The President had earlier said that the landscape change accelerates faster, compelling the country “to be even smarter, even bolder in finding digital solutions to many problems.”

Cayetano, Bautista agree to work on fuel subsidies for trike drivers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

TWO

sands of tricycle drivers nationwide.

Cayetano

ing Bautista’s confirmation hearing before the CA on Wednesday.

Cayetano said he and Bautista discussed how the subsidies could be implemented more quickly in order to benefit the tricycle driver sector which is still reeling from high fuel prices, inflation, and the still ongoing pandemic.

Cayetano

The senator said Bautista agreed that the distribution could be done by the local government units (LGUs) since these have the experience and capacity to hand out the assistance.

The LGUs also have the list of tricycle drivers in their respective areas, he added.

DOH slammed on dengvaxia lane

By Rio N. Araja

AMID the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Health (DOH) has failed to renew its memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Medical Association, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines and Association of Hospital Administrators to establish express lane for people injected with Dengvaxia vaccine who would seek medical treatment, the Samahan ng mga Magulang, Anak at Biktima ng Dengvaxia on Sunday said.

Along with the group’s president, Sumachen Dominguez, volunteer-parent Rea Lyn Jusayan raised concern over the vaccine’s adverse effects on more than 800,000 children, including her child, and the non-renewal of hospital arrangements

between the DOH and various medical facilities to treat children suffering from the ill effects of the anti-dengue vaccination in 2016 until 2017.

The parents appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to look into the plight of those inoculated with the Dengvaxia vaccine, saying the DOH has neglected them because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They anchored their fear on a November 2017 official statement of Sanofi Pasteur Inc., the vaccine manufacturer, posted on its official website that the vaccine had four adverse side effects — severe dengue, anaphylactic reaction, viscerotropism and neurotropism — on a person who is inoculated without a prior dengue infection even years after the inoculation.

days after a tense exchange at the Commission on Appointments (CA), Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista have agreed to help each other expedite the distribution of fuel subsidies to thou-

and Bautista met on Friday, December 9, to discuss the problem of thousands of tricycle drivers who have yet to receive their share of the P2.5 billion that the government had earmarked for fuel subsidies.

had raised the matter dur-

GONDOLA CRUISE. Visitors ride a gondola at the Venice Grand Canal Mall in Taguig City on Sunday. Local businesses continue to open, as the Department of Health recorded 1,158 new COVID-19 infections as of Saturday. Danny Pata

HILIGAYNON

Arnold Almacen

SCAVENGING.

A couple with their child ang dog riding on a wooden cart walks along P. Tuazon Avenue in Cubao Quezon City collecting plastic bottles ang other valuables to sell.

Manny Marcelo

CJ: Being a lawyer is not entitlement

By Rey E. Requejo

CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmundo has reminded law graduates of the Ateneo de Manila University that “lawyering does not give entitlement and is not a license to feel superior.”

“Your degree and your title do not make you know better than everyone, and should not make you think you are always right,” Gesmundo said, in his speech during the graduation ceremony of law students at AdMU School of Law last Saturday (Dec. 10).

The SC top magistrate exhorted all law graduates “to be lawyers with the

highest standards of legal proficiency, morality, honesty, integrity, and fair dealing” and “with a burning passion for justice and a fervent desire to serve.”

Gesmundo, an alumnus of AdMU, was finally able to address his fellow Ateneans after the cancellation of the Oct. 24, 2022 graduation ceremony when a gunman sneaked into the AdMU cam-

S. Leyte solon lauds Speaker’s, allies’ support for his dev’t bills

By Ronald O. Reyes

TACLOBAN City—Southern Leyte Rep. Christopherson Yap has expressed deep gratitude for House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other allies in Congress for being his “partners” in bringing the government closer to his constituents through the legislative district’s flagship program “Serbisyong Tinuoray”.

“As the main co-author of House Bill No. 2715, which would improve the Sogod District Hospital, Speaker Romualdez’s support and those of other House members like Cong. Gloria MacapagalArroyo will be key to getting it passed into law,” Yap said during a recent gathering of the Lakas -CMD members for their annual holiday celebration.

“In the same way, we have always had hope because Vice President Sara

Duterte has always stood by us in our efforts to help the people of Southern Leyte, especially during times of disasters and calamities,” he added.

As a neophyte lawmaker, Yap looked up to the leadership of Romualdez and the support of his colleagues while hoping that “these people continue to be a gift to the province, especially the people of the Second District of Southern Leyte.”

Yap recalled his partnership with Romualdez, along with Tingog partylist Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, starting way back before he became a solon when the latter was able to provide wheelchairs and extended various forms of assistance to the province.

“With their support, we will be able to provide more support services to our district,” Yap said.

pus and killed three persons before the start of the graduation program.

Multiple murder charges have been filed before the court against the suspect, Chao Tiao Yumol, who pleaded not guilty.

“My prayers go the families of all the victims. And if you will allow me to say this to you now, please value your parents, your family, friends, and loved ones, for seeing them and being with the….” Gesmundo said.

He then paid tribute to his alma mater. “Having studied in an institution with the best campus for learning, the best facilities and the best professors, easily you can get lost in the comfort, convenience, and excellence of every-

thing that surrounds you. . .”

“But lest you forget, while these may be the familiar trappings of an Ateneo education, it is not its hallmark. Because the hallmark of an Ateneo education is service to others, it is using what you have learned for the service of others,” he stressed.

According to the Chief Justice, being an Atenean lawyer “comes with prestige, with comfort, with success—but it also comes with responsibility.”

“At its core, to be an Atenean lawyer is to be a lawyer for others—just as we are taught here in the Ateneo to be, first and foremost, men and women for others,” he said.

GMA delighted as CA confirms Luli’s nomination

By Rio N. Araja

FORMER President-now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is congratulating her second child and only daughter, Evangelina Lourdes “Luli” Arroyo-Bernas, for her confirmation as Philippine ambassador to Austria and thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the appointment and the members of the Commission on Appointments for the confirmation.

“I thank President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for appointing Luli as ambassador to Austria and the Commission on Appointments for confirming the appointment. My husband and I are proud of what our three children have achieved,” she noted.

Arroyo-Bernas was appointed midOctober by the President as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Philippines to the Republic of Austria.

The post has concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Croatia, Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic. The Commission on Appointments confirmed the nomination of Arroyo-Bernas last December 7th.

Arroyo also thanked the members of media who mentioned Ambassador Arroyo-Bernas’ qualifications and stressed that her daughter hurdled the difficult exams for Foreign Service Officer in 2000.

“Some reporters mentioned Luli’s qualifications, and I thank them for reminding the public that she is highly qualified on her own,” she said.

Bill raises tax exemptions for OFWs’ duty-free purchases to $6k

4PS party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan wants to raise to $6,000 the aggregate taxexempt purchases that returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other balikbayans may make at duty-free shops operated by the Department of Tourism.

OPERATIVES of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Region 7 have arrested a total of 283 people over the past six days as they stepped up their campaign against the illegal operations of e-sabong in compliance with an order by PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.

Region 7 police commander Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba, in a statement, said they also intensified their intelligence gathering and information sharing with the local communities to run after the bettors and e-sabong operators.

Police said the illegal online sabong also targeted overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Alba said some P156,000 in bets was seized during the six-day operation from Dec. 5 to 10.

The Cebu City police made the most arrests with 106, followed by the Cebu Police Provincial Office with 42, and the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group with 40.

“We have already filed 109 cases in connection with our aggressive drive against online sabong. The operation of online sabong is already illegal because of a presidential order early this year. I am warning those who are continuously defying this order to stop, otherwise, we will relentlessly run after you,” Alba said.

Libanan filed House Bill No. 6472 seeking to upgrade the benefits and privileges enjoyed by homecoming Fili-

pinos under a 33-year-old law that established the Balikbayan Program.

“Once enacted, we expect our measure to encourage a greater number of balikbayans to make their purchases here at home in DOT duty-free shops shortly after arrival, rather than in foreign stores, and help the Philippine economy generate more dollars,” he said.

A returning OFW is currently entitled to make only up to $3,500 in tax-exempt purchases at DOT duty-free shops.

The $3,500 ceiling is broken into $1,500 worth of discretionary consumer goods, plus up to $2,000 worth of livelihood tools under the exclusive kabuhayan shopping privilege.

Under Libanan’s bill, both categories

of purchases at the DOT-run duty free shops would be raised to $3,000 each.

“The upward adjustments in the allowable tax-exempt purchases are needed to account for decades of cumulative price inflation, and to ensure that the shopping privileges remain substantial for the benefit of the balikbayans,” the lawmaker said. Rio N. Araja

Army’s 6th ID destroys 307 seized weapons

ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro on Friday presided at the destruction of 307 firearms mustered by the Army in Maguindanao.

The destruction of the weapons, referred to by the military as “demilitarization,” highlighted Bacarro’s visit at the 6th Infantry Division (ID) headquarters in Datu Odin Sinsuat town to celebrate Christmas, AFP public affairs chief Col. Jorry Baclor said in a statement Sunday.

Xmas gifts

THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) reminds government workers to refrain from soliciting gifts during the holiday season.

The CSC cited Section 7(d) of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which provides that “public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or

anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.”

Further, Section 3 of Republic Act No. 3109, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, mandates that the following, among other acts or omissions, are declared to be unlawful:

The visit, Baclor said, was meant to boost the morale of the troops, especially those who would not be able to go home and be with their families on Christmas day.

Baclor said the 307 assorted firearms placed under “demilitarization” were either confiscated or recovered during operations of the unit from January to early December this year, while and some were voluntarily surrendered to the 6th ID.

“Demilitarization” is the military’s term for the destruction of firearms to make them unusable, cutting them into pieces and burning the parts to ensure that they are completely destroyed.

PRESIDENTIAL PRE-CHRISTMAS MESSAGE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with some of his die-hard supporters and tells them; “An early gift was brought to us this Christmas when we were reunited with some of our supporters today. We are very grateful for your endless love, from then until now. May you continue to be the way to spread our message of unity and love to the people for our continuous rise.”

Presidential Photo

GIFT-GIVING GOES ON. The Paranaque City government led by Mayor Eric Olivarez continues to distribute Noche Buena goodies as part of its annual Christmas giftgiving program to spread holiday cheers to the grassroots. Sunday’s activity is held at the Landscape covered court, Barangay Marcelo Green with the cooperation of barangay chairman Chris Aguilar and his deputies.

HASTE makes waste is the trite lesson from the fate of the proposal to legislate a Maharlika Wealth Fund.

That is what happens when a handful of congressmen fail to scrutinize proposed bills, especially when it is “mahirap intindihin,” as in this rather arcane subject of sovereign wealth funds, likewise supposedly authored by our economic managers.

For all intents and purposes, after a barrage of opposition from so many quarters, not limited to the “usual suspects” of pinks and reds, but including those who want to give the Marcos administration a chance to succeed, the MWF, per national scientist and economist Raul Fabella, is “beyond repair.”

Remember Humpty Dumpty? “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, could not put Humpty together again,” said the nursery rhyme. Fabella and a chorus of economists, mostly from the same UP School of Economics as Ben Diokno and Stella Quimbo, have similarly declared.

Like a slow striptease, proponents have been removing the funding sources, starting from the hefty pension funds of the GSIS and SSS, followed by the P25 billion from the national government, which would require a supplemental budget as the GAA has already been “speedily” passed by Congress.

The idea of a professionally managed wealth fund is not necessarily objectionable, but please do complete staff work first, from the funding sources to the basic definition of intent, surplus if any, as well as transparency and fund management parameters

Thereafter, the amendment by one man TWG, Rep.Joey Salceda, to make the president the chair of the board to oversee the funds has likewise been stripped off, with the Secretary of Finance as his replacement.

So what happens now to the term “sovereign” and the solid guarantees of good financial housekeeping that brilliant economists like former Pres. GMA and Salceda touted?

Still, Sec. Diokno, as good a guarantee of professional management one can get in these benighted isles, with the rather muted support of NEDA’s Arsi Balisacan and BSP’s Philip Medalla, tells us that the pension funds of private and government workers can yet prospectively invest in Maharlika once their respective boards decide to join the gravy train it promises.

All this brouhaha in the space of one week began and tumbled since the House Committee on Banks chaired by my congressman and neighbor Irwin Tieng approved the proposal “in principle.”.

The House Majority Floor Leader’s assurance that the chamber would pass Maharlika on second reading by today is now kaput. As we wrote last Thursday, back to the drawing board, and please sharpen your pencils this time.

As we have maintained in this space, the idea of a professionally managed wealth fund is not necessarily objectionable, but please do complete staff work first, from the funding sources to the basic definition of intent, surplus if any, as well as transparency and fund management parameters. And arm yourselves with a well-prepared communications plan, properly implemented.

No wonder Joey Salceda has stopped defending the bill and left it to fellow Leni supporter and the other HOR economist, Stella Quimbo, to defend the indefensible draft legislation.

First blood may have been stanched for now, but let’s see in the coming new year how the “trust” levels have been damaged. ***

Reading historian-columnist Ambeth Ocampo is always insightful.

He wrote last Wednesday, Dec. 7, in his PDI column aptly titled “Déjà vu” about how Emilio Aguinaldo, upon the advice of his ilustrado cronies, authorized the issuance of a 20-millionpeso bond float (likely the equivalent of 200 billion now, maybe more) a few months after the proclamation of the First Republic in Kawit.

Wrote Ocampo: “On Nov. 26, 1898, Aguinaldo issued a decree stating his agreement with Congress for the Republic to take on an interior loan of 20 million pesos, to be redeemed 40 years from the date of issue. Subscribers … were promised 6 percent interest payable annually… and if the Treasury saw fit … interest could be paid every three months.”

Apolinario Mabini, the “Brains of the Revolution,” opposed the bond, and if you read his reasons for objecting to it, they are eerily similar to what many of us now find objectionable with the Maharlika proposal.

The bond issuance did not materialize, and so did the First Republic, when the Spanish conquistadores and the American imperialists negotiated the fate of the islands and our

continuously “enslaved” people in the Treaty of Paris.

Still and all, there are ways and means to revive a fund that would hopefully spur development. Unfortunately, it’s too late in the day to alter the GAA, or the charters of some of our GOCC’s and their “earmarks.”

***

Eyebrows were raised from among the business community, particularly the apolitical PEZA investors, when the Commission on Appointments grilled DTI Sec. Fred Pascual on the appointment as OIC of Tereso “Teo” Panga, a long-time career official of the agency who was drafted into government service by the highly respected steward of our ecozones, Lilia de Lima, who served Cory, FVR, Erap, GMA and PNoy until she retired in 2016.

To the Duterte administration’s credit, it wanted to retain De Lima despite her being the aunt of Senator Leila, but the lady preferred graceful retirement.

Our friend and fellow Caraganon, Cong. Johnny Pimentel, brought out alleged unfair treatment of four sub-alterns by OIC Panga.

The Surigao representative is understandably sympathetic to our common friend, former Butuan City congresswoman Ching Plaza, who was appointed by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, but removed through Memorandum Order Circular 1, series of 2022 issued by the Office of the President.

The same has been sustained by a DOJ Opinion, which stated that the assumption of the most senior official, in this case Panga, was valid.

PEZA employees and ecozone investorcompanies, such as the Semi-Conductor and Electronic Industries, now headed by Dan Lachica, which is one of the most important industry-locators in our ecozones, has written in support of Panga, who has been quietly instituting reforms in the agency, sans any political motive.

Comadre Ching Plaza should realize when “time is up” for political appointees in government, and allow career officials with a clean and competent record to professionally steer this all-too-important agency. ***

Blissfully, another Caraganon, Atty. Angelo “Jijil” Jimenez of my adopted hometown of Butuan, has been elected to steer the University of the Philippines for the next six years.

Jijil, who has served with utmost distinction as labor official, assigned to the Middle East and Japan, and later within OWWA, is one career official and barrister who has never lost the idealism of his student days at the premier state university.

Congratulations and Godspeed! ***

The president is off to Brussels for the EUASEAN conference, and will be back in time for the Malacanang Christmas party as the week ends.

The announcement coming from the DFA states that he will be meeting with a prospective investor, the Semaris Group, which operates the vast Rungis “bagsakan” near Orly in the suburbs of Paris.

Years back, the same group expressed interest in coming to the Philippines, specifically to the Clark Ecozone, then supervised by CDC, a subsidiary of BCDA, or the Bases Conversion Development Authority headed by Sec. Vince Dizon.

Rungis is a huge produce and food equipment distribution center where farm products from Spain, Portugal, Italy, provincial France and other parts, are brought in daily, by rail and container vans, processed or re-packed, and sold to wholesalers and the restaurants of Paris.

Complete with state-of-the-art cold storage and other facilities, Rungis is the modern and sophisticated version of the Filipino “bagsakan.”

While time does not permit the president to visit Rungis this time, he should be fascinated by this sprawling wholesale market operated by the Semaris group, an idea which no less than the great Frenchman Charles de Gaulle himself conceptualized, after seeing how Les Halles in the center of Paris had become too congested and obsolete.

Rungis replicated here, albeit on a limited scale given the present state of our agriculture, would be a big boost to the economy.

Fact is, with parallel visioning, Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. started it in his time, through the NFAoperated Food Terminal in Taguig.

But like other “Marcosian” initiatives, successors neglected the project, and by the time PNoy took over, he ordered part of the real estate sold.

Will Maharlika get off the ground?

SOMETIMES the noblest intentions do not necessarily end up with spectacular results. Or even just popular acceptance.

But maybe we shouldn’t even be making hasty conclusions at this point.

We’re referring to House Bill 6398, or the Maharlika Investment Fund, filed last week by Speaker Martin Romualdez and five other lawmakers, which seeks to establish a P275billion sovereign wealth fund that can be tapped for investments here and abroad to support economic development projects.

As originally conceived, the fund would have come from the Government Service Insurance System (P125 billion), Social Security System (P50 billion), Land Bank of the Philippines (P50 billion), Development Bank of the Philippines (P25 billion), and the General Appropriations Act (P25 billion).

Romualdez said the creation of wealth fund would provide an “opportunity to ensure their respective funds’ optimal asset allocation as well as ensure that resources are efficiently channeled to investments that will provide the most value not only to the participating GFIs but also to the country.”

He noted that having the Maharlika fund

But the Maharlika investment fund did not find favor with critics who began to raise serious questions

would help achieve the objectives of the Marcos administration’s “Agenda for Prosperity” and its eight-point socio-economic roadmap.

He also cited Singapore and Indonesia as countries that have successfully used their sovereign wealth funds.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the proposed sovereign fund was conceptualized when he was still governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to take care of future generations of Filipinos.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, one of the authors of the measure, indicated that President Marcos Jr. has committed full support, describing the bill as “utos ng pangulo” (an order of the President).

But the Maharlika investment fund did not find favor with critics who began to raise serious questions.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the proposed measure to create Maharlika should

undergo thorough scrutiny: “Overwhelming issues beset the Maharlika proposal like its fiscal propriety, economic timeliness, legal constraints, protection of pensioners’ and depositors’ benefits, excessive emoluments and allowances of officials, precipitate investments, tax exemptions, and magnet for corruption.”

The country’s biggest business organization, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while initially voicing approval of the measure, later retracted its stand, saying that drawing funds from government financial institutions such as the GSIS and SSS might negatively impact the sustainability of the country’s welfare system and adversely affect the country’s financial standing among international creditors.

Last week, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, senior vice chair of the House appropriations committee and a co-author of HB 6893, announced that the lawmakers behind the Maharlika sovereign wealth proposal had decided to drop the GSIS and the SSS as mandatory contributors to the sovereign wealth fund in the wake of mounting opposition from other legislators, business groups, and civil society.

If that’s the case, the plan to rush the approval of HB 6893 before Congress takes a break before year-end would have to be adjusted, thus leaving the early passage of the bill uncertain at this point.

Positioning in the community of nations

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global emergency that mobilized an unprecedented level of international cooperation to confront a global existential threat

Vice President Kamala Harris launched several initiatives among them are the allocation of US$ 82 million for the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, US$ 7.5 million in additional assistance to enhance the capabilities of Philippine maritime law enforcement agencies, and support for the Philippine Coast Guard in upgrading and expanding its vessel traffic management system to enable improved maritime safety and environmental monitoring.

This directive emphasizes an urgency to go beyond the traditional duties of foreign relations and puts more focus on economic diplomacy to boost our country’s economic recovery thru trade, foreign direct investments, bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, and developmental collaborations while tackling ongoing geopolitical challenges.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global emergency that mobilized an unprecedented level of international cooperation to confront a global existential threat.

All countries regardless of economic level or political ideology were forced to go beyond conflicting interests to fight the deadly virus as a united community of nations.

After more than two years, the world survived and has learned to live with COVID-19 and its milder variants that will hopefully become an endemic virus like the common cold.

However, recovering from the economic scars from the pandemic crisis is becoming more difficult because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which has radiated a chain of economic shock waves across the globe, again showing how unavoidably connected the world has become.

In the Indo-Pacific region, experts are warning of peace and stability being undermined by traditional and non-traditional threats with China’s continuing gray zone operations such as the persistent swarming of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, compounded by environmental degradation and transnational crimes.

In this scenario where the Philippines is in the middle of strategic competition between powerful states, bolstering alliances with like-minded states to uphold a rules-based international order is the peaceful course to preserve the security of the critical maritime corridors of the region, especially during these times of economic stresses sparked by the Ukraine war.

Fortunately, we do have powerful allies ready to stand with us amidst the maritime security challenges confronting the Indo-Pacific.

In a statement during the recent Pilipinas Conference 2022, Mr. Richard Sisson, Acting Ambassador of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines, reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to abide by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and “will continue to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight, and to support the rights of others to do the same, and strengthen relationships with regional partners.”

The 6th Philippines-Australia Strategic Dialogue will further sustain maritime cooperation activities, such as capacity building, training, logistics support, and joint exercises.

In the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultation last week, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the US-Australia alliance is vital to regional security and are stepping up its cooperation to support a rules-based international order.

During her recent visit to the Philippines, US

Xmas pitch is high

anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ.

MaryKay Carlson, Ambassador of the US Embassy in the Philippines, during the Pilipinas Conference stated that a rules-based international order is the heart of US foreign policy priorities and the foundation of its bilateral alliance and partnership with the Philippines and reiterated that the US values the Philippines as its friend, partner, and ally in championing the rules and principles that help every nation to thrive and prosper, regardless of their size or power.

Amb. Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, Philippine Ambassador to the US, noted that diplomatic relations between the two countries have been further strengthened by the Visiting Forces Agreement and the EDCA and sees more opportunities to explore new areas of cooperation that will boost the alliance and solidify their positions relative to the Indo-Pacific.

The Philippines also has many friends in the European community who are seeing encouraging developments in policies that attract more investments.

Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines Luc Véron underscored the importance of collaboration among states and how open, rules-based trade and investment will create jobs and push economic growth towards a sustainable economic recovery for future generations.

These powerful commitments of support from Australia, the United States, and the European Union, all very powerful allies, are indeed most encouraging amidst these unstable times of simultaneous and interlinked crises of the pandemic, the environment, the Ukraine war, and the volatile global economy.

I hope the President will further strengthen this position as he continues his tour of foreign visits to the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Brussels, and more interesting, his visit to China in January.

By Honor Blanco Cabie

THE beat, rhythm and colors in the run up to the Night Mass—known as Simbang Gabi in the National Capital Region and Miatinis in the Ilocos —are getting their notes on the higher octave in the metropolis as well as north and south of it.

On the fifth night from tonight will begin the series of nine Masses traditionally celebrated in the pre-dawn hours each day from December 16 to December 24, the custom which began as a way of accompanying Mary symbolically in prayer through the nine months of her pregnancy.

At the Plaza Independencia of Lipa City, 82 kms southeast of the capital, Jane Recede told the Manila Standard there is a nearly 20-meter high Christmas tree, courtesy of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, lighted for 12 hours until 5am as from November.

There is another giant Christmas tree at the Lipa Cathedral, where the nine pre-dawn masses start on Friday at 4 am, with those attending Masses overwhelmed on their way out with the native puto bumbong, the Filipino purple rice cake steamed in bamboo tubes – a sight seen in many other areas of this country like Samar, Quezon, Rizal and Albay as well as Tarlac, Pampanga and

Pangasinan which received the Christian Cross in the 16th century.

There is also the native bibingka, the fluffy cake made of glutinous galapong or rice dough, which is as well relished in the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley.

In Minglanilla, Cebu, Marivic Rosal talks of praying the Rosary followed by the 4 am Mass, with vendors of puto maya, a sticky rice cake made of steamed glutinous rice, fresh ginger juice and sweetened coconut milk, ready with their accompanying sikwate, the Cebuano version of hot chocolate or the tsokolate de batirol prepared by adding cocoa tablets.

In Paoay, Ilocos Norte, where the UN Heritage Lister Roman Catholic Church is, known for its colonial earthquake baroque architecture, Dr. Wilma Natividad talks of dancing lights that accompany a wave of rhythmic music and a giant Christmas tree in front of the town hall near the church.

In Cagayan, known for its breathtaking rolling hills, the Sierra Madre mountain, great beaches, and amazing caves, the first class town of Gonzaga is also setting up a Christmas tree. But the town of Pamplona, according to Zena Gail, has a Christmas village called Disneyland, where the young and old prepare for the

This tradition of Midnight Mass was chronicled initially by Egeria, a Galician woman who went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land between 381384. Egeria had observed how, in Bethlehem, the early Catholics of Jerusalem celebrated the Christmas mystery with a vigil during midnight.

The tradition reached the Western world in the year 430 under Pope Sixtus III in the Basilica of St Mary Major.

This special Mass is known as Missa do Gallo in Portuguese, which means “Rooster’s Mass” or Misa de los Pastores in Spain or Shepherds’ Mass, and continues to be celebrated in many former Spanish colonies on Christmas Eve and in other areas as from December 16 for the nine-day Masses.

Following the liturgical celebration, many friends and families join together to exchange gifts in many Christian homes of this land of 114 million, where nearly 87 percent are Catholics.

Theologians say, as a result, one of the main themes of the series of Masses is religion— specifically the tenets of the Roman Catholic faith—with episodes full of references to passages and verses in the Bible; some more well-known than others.

During Midnight Mass, many Christians will take sacrament or the Holy Supper, pray and sing

religious carols and hymns.

Candles are often lit to represent Jesus, often referred to as being the Light of the World, being born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. The book of Revelation, from which Midnight Mass’ final episode takes its name, foretells not just about the Apocalypse and Final Judgment, but about the events that ultimately will lead to it.

That includes, according to theologians, the story from Revelation , when the angel Lucifer waged war against God and lost.

IN HIS marching orders to the newly appointed Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary during their meeting last Thursday in Malacañang, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged the envoys “to be very, very conscientious about finding opportunities for the Philippines” by strengthening partnerships with other countries and to bring in foreign investments that would help the Philippine economy.

Chin

Editor

Following the liturgical celebration, many friends and families join together to exchange gifts in many Christian homes of this land of 114 million, where nearly 87 percent are Catholics

Nobel winners rip Putin’s ‘insane’ war

OSLO—A trio from the three nations at the centre of the war in Ukraine accepted their Nobel Peace Prize on Saturday, calling for an unabated fight against Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s “insane and criminal” invasion.

Jailed Belarusian rights advocate Ales Bialiatski, Russian organisation Memorial and Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties (CCL) were honoured by the Nobel committee for their struggle for “human rights, democracy and peaceful co-existence” in the face of authoritarianism.

“The people of Ukraine want peace more than anyone else in the world,” the head of the CCL, Oleksandra Matviichuk, said. “But peace cannot be reached by a country under attack laying down its arms.”

Founded in 2007, the CCL has documented war crimes allegedly committed by Russian troops in Ukraine.

These include shelling residential buildings, churches, schools and hospitals, bombing evacuation corridors, the forced displacement of people, and torture.

Due to the Russian bombing of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Matviichuk had to write her Nobel acceptance speech by candlelight, she told AFP. In the nine months since the start of the Russian invasion, the CCL has documented more than 27,000 cases of alleged war crimes, which she said were “only the tip of the iceberg”.

“War turns people into numbers. We have to reclaim the names of all victims of war crimes,” she said in her speech,

her voice overcome with emotion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Matviichuk, the CCL “and all human rights defenders”, noting that the ceremony took place on International Human Rights Day.

- Putin’s ‘imperial ambitions’In Oslo’s City Hall decorated with red Siberian flowers, Matviichuk reiterated her appeal for an international tribunal to judge Putin, his ally Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and “other war criminals”.

Her Russian co-laureate Yan Rachinsky, the chairman of human rights organisation Memorial, meanwhile denounced Russia’s “imperial ambitions” inherited from the ex-Soviet Union “that still thrive today”.

Putin and his “ideological servants” have hijacked the anti-fascist struggle “for their own political interests”, he

said.

Now, “resistance to Russia is called ‘fascism’”, and has become “the ideological justification for the insane and criminal war of aggression against Ukraine”, he said, using harsh language considering the stiff penalties Moscow imposes on those who publicly criticise the invasion.

Founded in 1989, Memorial has for decades shed light on crimes committed by Joseph Stalin’s totalitarian regime, worked to preserve the memory of the victims, and documented human rights violations in Russia.

Amid crackdowns on the opposition and media, Russia’s Supreme Court ordered Memorial dissolved at the end of 2021.

It then ordered a raid of its Moscow offices on October 7 -- the very day it was announced as co-winner of this year’s Peace Prize.

High-level US envoys, execs to visit China in effort to repair ties

WASHINGTON—The US government is sending its first high-level delegation to China since a pledge made last month by Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden to repair frayed relations.

Assistant Secretary of State for

East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink will join National Security Council Senior Director for China and Taiwan Laura Rosenberger on the December 11-14 trip.

The two will visit China, South Korea, and Japan.

REVOCATION OF POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

WHEREAS, under date of April 11, 2021, I, RODRIGO DIZON CARNALES executed a General Power of Attorney naming and appointing RICHELLE CARNALES as my true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the purposes set forth in the instrument, which was ratified before Atty. Jerry S. Dela Cruz, Notary public in and for the City of Mandaluyong, as Doc. No. 336, Page 67, Book 03, Series of 2021, of his Notarial Register; and

WHEREAS, I now desire to revoke and terminate the said General Power of Attorney and render it without further force and effect;

NOW THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO DIZON CARNALES have revoked, countermanded, annulled and made void, and by these presents do revoke, countermand, annul and make void the said General Power of Attorney, and all powers and authorities therein granted and conferred upon said attorney-infact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand at Mandaluyong City, Philippines on this 8th day of December 2022.

(Sgd.) RODRIGO DIZON CARNALES Principal

SIGNED IN THE PRESENCE OF: JOHN JESTER C. ESPINO ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Republic of the Philippines) Mandaluyong City……….) S.S.

BEFORE ME, a Notary Public in the City of Mandaluyong, Philippines this 8th day of December, 2022 personally appeared:

Name Senior Citizen Date/ ID No. Place Issued RODRIGO DIZON Passport Expiry date CARNALES No. P8256134 Aug. 6, 2028

Known to me to be the same persons who executed the foregoing instrument and they acknowledged to me that the same is their free and voluntary act and deed.

This instrument consisting of two (2) pages, including

(Sgd.) ATTY. JERRY S. DELA CRUZ NOTARY PUBLIC Commission Appointment No. 0405-19 Jan. 8, 2019 until December 31, 2022 PTR No. 4768144/08/24/2021/Mandaluyong City Roll No. 42531 IBP No. 178824/01/04/22/Catanduanes MCLE Compliance No. VII-00232331 Valid until April 14, 2025 Doc. No. 461; Page No. 92; Book No. 03; Series of 2022.

In China, Kritenbrink will follow up on Biden’s meeting in Bali last month with Xi in which the pair pledged “to continue responsibly managing the competition between our two countries and to explore potential areas of cooperation”, the State Department said.

Kritenbrink will also prepare for Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China in early 2023, the first visit by the top US diplomat in four years, it added.

The United States and China are the two largest economies in the world,

spend more than any other nations on their militaries and are locked in fierce strategic competition.

In their Bali meeting, the two leaders discussed contentious issues, including Taiwan’s future, US restrictions on Chinese high-tech imports and China’s moves to expand its influence around the world.

Biden left his meeting with Xi proclaiming that there need not be a new Cold War, while Xi told Biden the two countries “share more, not less, common interests”.

Meanwhile, when Barack Obama welcomed African leaders to Washington in 2014, many viewed the summit as historic, not just due to the US president’s background but for the pledges to make the partnership deeper and such events routine.

The sequel took eight years—the equivalent of two presidential terms —but on Tuesday, Joe Biden will host a second US-Africa summit. AFP

World-first treatment for resistant leukemia lauded by British medics

LONDON -- Doctors in Britain have hailed a pioneering treatment for an aggressive form of leukemia, after a teenager became the first patient to be given a new therapy and went into remission.

The 13-year-old girl, identified only as Alyssa, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2021.

But her blood cancer did not respond to conventional treatment, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

She was enrolled on a clinical trial of a new treatment at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) using genetically engineered immune cells from a healthy volunteer.

In 28 days her cancer was in remission, allowing her to receive a second bone marrow transplant to restore her immune system.

Six months on, she is “doing well” back home in Leicester, central England, and receiving follow-up care.

“Without this experimental treatment, Alyssa’s only option was palliative care,” the hospital said in a statement on Sunday.

Robert Chiesa, a GOSH consultant, said her turnaround had been “quite remarkable”, although the results still needed to be monitored and confirmed in the next few months.

Cutting edge

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common kind of cancer in children and affects cells in the immune system, known as B cells and T cells, which fight and protect against viruses.

GOSH said Alyssa was the first patient known to have been given base-edited T cells, which involves chemically converting single nucleotide bases—letters of the DNA code—which carry instructions for a specific protein.

Researchers at GOSH and University College London helped develop the use of genome-edited T cells to treat Bcell leukemia in 2015. AFP

Greek MEP loses VP powers over Qatar graft probe

BRUSSELS—A Greek Member of European Parliament (MEP) had her powers as a vice president of the regional body suspended Saturday over a corruption probe implicating World Cup hosts Qatar that has ensnared four others and sparked calls for “root and branch reform” in the EU institution.

European Parliament president Roberta Metsola “has decided to suspend with immediate effect all powers, duties and tasks that were delegated to Eva Kaili in her capacity as Vice-President of the European Parliament,” a spokesperson said.

Earlier Saturday, Metsola said on Twitter that the parliament “stands firmly against corruption”, adding they would do everything they could to “assist the course of justice”.

Socialist MEP Kaili was arrested on Friday hours after four others were detained for questioning.

The arrests followed raids in Brussels which prosecutors said turned up 600,000 euros ($630,000) in cash. Police also seized computers and mobile phones.

Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office said the investigation concerned suspected “corruption” and “money laundering” and an unnamed Gulf country.

A legal source close to the case confirmed to AFP Belgian press reports that the country was Qatar.

News of the arrests sparked outrage and calls for action to tackle corruption inside the European Parliament.

“Over many decades, the Parliament has allowed a culture of impunity to develop, with a combination of lax financial rules and controls and a complete lack of independent (or indeed any) ethics oversight,” Transparency International’s director Michiel van Hulten said.

The European Parliament’s Greens group called for a full investigation into allegations of bribery by Qatar.

“We will not accept business as usual...,” the group said. “We must strengthen our rules so this cannot happen again.”

The European Parliament had “become a law unto itself”, said Van Hulten. “It is time for root and branch reform.” AFP

Japanese startup launches historic moon mission

WASHINGTON—A Japanese startup’s spacecraft was launched to the Moon on Sunday in the country’s first-ever lunar mission and the first of its kind by a private company.

The launch was carried out by Elon Musk’s SpaceX in Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida after two postponements for additional pre-flight checks.

The spacecraft, produced by Tokyobased startup ispace, blasted off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket at 2:38 am (0738 GMT), live footage of the launch showed.

“Our first mission will lay the groundwork for unleashing the moon’s potential and transforming it into a robust and vibrant economic system,” the startup’s CEO, Takeshi Hakamada, said in a statement.

So far only the United States, Russia and China have managed to put a robot on the lunar surface.

The ispace mission is the first of a program called Hakuto-R, which means “white rabbit” in Japanese.

The company said its lunar lander was expected to touch down on the visible side of the Moon in April 2023 -- the year of the rabbit in Japan.

Measuring just over 2 by 2.5 meters, the spacecraft has a payload that includes a 10-kilogram rover built by the United Arab Emirates.

The Gulf country is a newcomer to the space race but recently sent a probe into Mars’ orbit last year. If the rover, named Rashid, successfully lands, it will be the Arab world’s first Moon mission.

Hakuto was one of five finalists in Google’s Lunar XPrize competition to land a rover on the Moon before a 2018 deadline, which ended without a winner.

The ispace lunar lander is also carrying two robots produced by Japan’s space agency and a disc with the song “SORATO” by Japanese rock band Sakanaction, which was originally written in support of the Google competition.

Israeli organization SpaceIL, another finalist in the contest, failed in April 2019 to become the first privately-funded mission to land on the Moon, after its lander crashed into the surface while attempting to land.

AFP

NOBEL WINNERS. Co-winners of the Nobel Peace Prize 2022 (from left) Yan Rachinsky on behalf of Russian rights group Memorial, Natalia Pinchuk on behalf of her husband, jailed Belarusian activist Ales Bialiatski, and Oleksandra Matviychuk on behalf of Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties, greet the crowd from the balcony of the Grand Hotel in Oslo on December 10 following the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony. AFP

Analysts see volatile trading this week

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ANALYSTS expect volatile trading this week ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on Wednesday.

The rising interest rate will remain as the top concern of investors over the short to medium terms amid high inflation rate environment, they said.

The government reported last week that inflation hit a 14-year high of 8 percent in November, up from 7.7 percent in October on faster increases in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages.

EU’s Russian oil embargo, $60 cap disrupt maritime transport sector

LONDON—The European Union embargo on Russia’s oil and an international cap on the price of the country’s crude is disrupting the maritime transport sector.

The EU on Monday enforced an embargo on Russian crude shipments, the bloc’s latest sanction in retaliation for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

This week also saw the start of a $60 cap on a barrel of Russian crude, agreed by Western nations.

Tanker traffic jam

Aimed at depriving Russia of key income, the measures have also slowed transportation of its oil by sea.

This is because Turkey has started to request proof of insurance from tankers loaded with Russian crude, slowing their passage through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits and onto international markets.

The Financial Times has reported that Russia has assembled a “shadow fleet” of more than 100 vessels seeking to circumnavigate the Western sanctions regime.

These ships are reportedly using non-Western insurers and selling oil at higher prices to countries that have not subscribed to the new sanctions.

A 1936 treaty guarantees the freedom of navigation to merchant vessels passing through Turkey’s two straits.

But it also gives Turkey the right to regulate security—a provision it is now using to make sure the oil ships are insured against spillage and other accidents.

The London P&I Club, a leading provider of maritime protection and indemnity insurance, claims “the Turkish government’s requirements go well beyond the general information that is contained in a confirmation of entry letter. AFP

Online brokerage firm Utrade.ph research analyst Neil Andrew Madaraje said while inflation rate showed signs of peaking, the market was expecting the Monetary Board to raise the benchmark interest rates on a lower magnitude.

Madaraje said the market’s sideways movement is a healthy correction from a recent run-up that started in October.

Meanwhile, online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said volatile trading sessions would also continue as investors test the market’s staying power above the 6,500 level.

The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 1.4 percent last week to close at 6,580.12, up 1.4 percent from previous week’s finish amid slug-

gish trading.

The broader all-share index also inched by 0.52 percent to end the week at 3,437.40.

Meanwhile, US stocks tumbled Friday as stronger-than-expected wholesale prices triggered renewed jitters that the Federal Reserve would press on with an aggressive stance to counter inflation.

The market has been buffeted by lingering recession fears, and concern that the US central bank would keep up its steep rate hikes to cool the world’s biggest economy.

While consumer and wholesale inflation show signs of easing, data released Friday showed that producer prices still remained elevated.

The S&P 500 shed 0.7 percent, finish-

ing at 3,934.38, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.9 percent to end at 33,476.46.

The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.7 percent as well to 11,004.62.

“Wall Street had a somewhat mixed day of economic data,” said Edward Moya of the OANDA trading platform.

“A hot [producer price index] report was then countered by a University of Michigan report that showed inflation expectations are coming down quickly,” he said in a note.

For now, investors are keeping a close eye on economic data next week, with Tuesday’s closely-watched consumer price index to indicate whether inflation is easing. With AFP

TOP GAINERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 LBC 18.96 2.36 14.22%

2 OPM 0.011 0.001 10.00%

3 EVER 0.28 0.025 9.80%

4 BKR 1.51 0.11 7.86%

5 PX 2.94 0.2 7.30%

6 ICT 203 13 6.84%

7 PXP 6.8 0.38 5.92%

8 UPM 0.0055 0.0003 5.77%

9 ABSP 8.46 0.46 5.75%

10 MFIN 2.55 0.12 4.94%

TOP LOSERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 MJC 1.46 -0.38 -20.65%

2 CAB 32.4 -7.6 -19.00%

3 ZHI 0.134 -0.02 -12.99%

4 ALHI 5.2 -0.73 -12.31%

5 SSI 1.49 -0.14 -8.59%

6 FEU 547 -46 -7.76%

7 VMC 2.58 -0.21 -7.53%

8 PRIM 2.1 -0.15 -6.67%

9 LR 2.67 -0.15 -5.32%

COVID rules stifled China’s exports, imports in November

BEIJING—China’s imports and exports plunged in November to levels not seen since early 2020, official figures showed Wednesday, as severe Covid restrictions hit the economy hard.

The last major economy still wedded to a zero-tolerance virus policy, Beijing’s snap lockdowns, travel curbs and mass testing have stifled business activity, disrupted supply chains, and dampened consumption.

Imports in November fell 10.6 percent year-on-year, the biggest drop since May 2020, according to the General Administration of Customs.

Meanwhile, exports fell 8.7 percent over the same period -- the steepest decline since February 2020, when the country was mired in the early stages of the pandemic.

“Weakening domestic and foreign demand, Covid disruptions, and a rising comparison base lead to a perfect but

Cash crops: Dutch use bitcoin mining to grow tulips in Amsterdam greenhouse

well-expected storm to China’s exports and imports,” Bruce Pang, chief economist at Jones Lang LaSalle, told Bloomberg News.

The figures are the latest in a string of gloomy economic indicators as the world’s number two economy charts a faltering path out of zero-Covid.

Official data last week showed China’s factory activity shrank for a second straight month in November, as large swathes of the country were hit by lockdowns and transport disruptions.

The Purchasing Managers’ Index— a key gauge of manufacturing—fell to 48.0 from 49.2 the month prior, well below the 50-point mark separating growth from contraction, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

“In November, the pandemic had a negative impact on the production and operation of some enterprises, produc-

tion somewhat slowed, and product order volumes decreased,” the bureau’s senior statistician Zhao Qinghe said.

Some suppliers had complained of transport and logistics problems while demand from both the domestic and overseas markets fell, he added.

‘Bumpy reopening’

China’s ruling Communist Party has signaled a shift in Covid messaging since the country’s largest protests in decades took aim last week at lockdowns and other measures.

Local authorities have begun easing testing requirements and other restrictions, but travel between provinces remains complicated, and health measures continue to vary from place to place.

“The zero-Covid policy has been loosened, but mobility has not recovered much on the national level,” said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist of Pinpoint Asset Management. AFP

A tale of two museums

THERE were instances in my teen years when I sought out museums and art galleries as a refuge from my daily routine. My everyday life back then had been composed of less variety than it does now.

Between studying, family and friendships, there was a little opportunity to be alone and silent that would not require me to be a chaperone―the perks of growing into a traditional Filipino family.

By Danny Kemp

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands–Tulips and bitcoin have both been associated with financial bubbles in their time, but in a giant greenhouse near Amsterdam the Dutch are trying to make them work together.

Engineer Bert de Groot inspects the six bitcoin miners as they perform complex sums to earn cryptocurrency, filling the air with a noisy whine along with a blast of warmth.

That warmth is now heating the hothouse where rows of tulips grow, cutting the farmers’ reliance on gas, whose price has soared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The servers in turn, are powered by solar energy from the roof, reducing the normally huge electricity costs for mining, and cutting the impact on the environment.

Meanwhile, both the farmers and de Groot’s company, Bitcoin Brabant, are earning crypto, which is still attracting investors despite a recent crash in the market.

“We think with this way of heating our greenhouse but also earning some bitcoin, we have a win-win situation,” flower farmer Danielle Koning, 37, told AFP.

The Netherlands’ love of tulips caused the first stock market crash in the 17th century when speculation bulb prices

caused prices to soar, only to later collapse.

Now the Netherlands is the world’s biggest tulip producer and also the second biggest agricultural exporter overall after the United States, with much grown in greenhouses.

Improving the environment’

But the low-lying country is keenly aware of the effect of the agricultural industry on climate change, while farmers are struggling with high energy prices.

Mining for cryptocurrency meanwhile requires huge amounts of electricity to power computers, leading to an environmental impact amid global efforts to tackle climate change.

De Groot, 35, who only started his business earlier this year and now has 17 clients including restaurants and warehouses, says this makes bitcoin and tulips a perfect fit.

“This operation is actually carbon negative, as are all the operations I basically build,” says the long-haired de Groot, sporting an orange polo shirt with his firm’s logo.

“We’re actually improving the environment.”

He is also selling tulips online for bitcoin via a business called Bitcoinbloem.

The collaboration started when Koning saw a Twitter video de Groot had made about bitcoin mining, and called him up. AFP

Galleries were the closest and most accessible places I could go to that will not require me to speak to people, and thus I went. My slight interest in art and all things expressive then pushed me toward a Bachelor’s degree in architecture.

Even younger still, my family had a well-stocked shelf of books with several publications on history, particularly Philippine History. My father and sisters allowed me to read through them. I loved sitting on the floor listening to their stories: on Martial Law, the 1986 Revolution, the elections of 1992 and the EDSA 2 revolt, the latter of which I had been too young to be brought out to the streets. I reveled in knowing that we were part of something big, something life-changing.

I memorized dates and famous figureheads’ names in school. The significance of this was black and white in my childish eyes. As I grew up and learned how to think for myself, I realized how significant each date was as a Filipino.

Recently, I have had the opportunity to visit the Pinto Art

Museum and the Ayala Museum. None of it was a deliberate attempt to have a quiet afternoon to myself (although I welcomed it when it presented itself). It brought me back to those days when I would sit in front of a piece in an art gallery and try to make sense of art or read vociferously on history even if I could hardly understand its meaning. I am older now, with a better understanding and eyes to appreciate art and history and everything that it entails, good and bad.

I had a boss who once commented that history sides with the victor, and while he was not a mentor type of boss, these words stuck with me. Victories are won in bloody and sometimes deceptive methods (like The Treaty of Paris), and art springs out in the darkest mind states (like Van Gogh’s). Time proves that incalculable as they may be, they lead to unexpectedly beautiful and better things. There are times when I look at the displays in history and wonder whether we could have avoided so much suffering if people were more mindful of its consequences. Then again, we are human, and we hardly know what is bound to happen to us the next day. Like art, history has its way of meshing horror into something striking and magnificent, but only when we finish the piece and only when we walk through it and see the past.

This thought makes me realize that our growth will never be whole if we do not embrace this

10 HOUSE 9.22 -0.51 -5.24%

MOST ACTIVE

VOLUME VALUE (PHP)

11 SMPH 18,731,000 650,630,175

2 BDO 4,372,900 560,779,273

3 ICT 2,812,130 549,401,260

4 SM 338,250 314,138,920

5 ALI 10,260,200 299,715,980

6 JFC 1,102,240 259,624,156

7 TEL 150,575 256,163,510

8 URC 1,667,150 226,877,052

9 GLO 91,750 198,514,730

10 ACEN 25,381,600 184,376,962

complexity. Leaders are creators, whether willing or reluctant, whether they know of it or not. Our efforts to create a legacy are wasted if it is not meaningful in cultivating each significant area for ourselves and others.

This reflection is my appreciation for my Integral Human Development class, which encouraged me to enrich my life further to give more. I stopped going to museums as I became busier, but not in the least because my life is more balanced.

An insignificant dot ― this is what seeing new art pieces, contemplating their meaning, and recalling history reminded me of obsessing over trifling everyday things. Ironically, these experiences encourage me to think even more deeply about daily decision-making. I am learning to appreciate how the decisions I make could impact myself and others. I must consider every interaction with other people important because they seek value and significance in their work.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. She can be reached at alyssa_cabanero@dlsu. edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

This photograph taken on Dec. 7, 2022 shows Bert De Groot, 35, bitcoin engineer and owner of Bitcoin Brabant, wearing a t-shirt with the bitcoin logo among growing tulips in a greenhouse heated with bitcoin miners near Amsterdam.

AFP

NOBEL PRIZE. Laureate of The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2022 Ben Bernanke speaks during the royal banquet to honor the laureates of the Nobel Prize 2022, following the award ceremony on Dec. 10, 2022. AFP

6,580.12

United

IN BRIEF

Globe seeks permanent rules on permit release

GLOBE Telecom is pushing for the institutionalization of a streamlined permitting process for ICT infrastructure to allow faster network builds.

Globe vice president for site lifecycle management services Michelle Ora reiterated the company’s call for telecom services to be regarded as a utility in developments, similar to water and power.

The government eased the permitting process for telecom infrastructure under the Bayanihan to Recover As One law, which was enacted at the height of the pandemic, to expand the country’s capacity for connectivity as demand soared.

Globe is pushing for the permanency of these provisions to sustain the infrastructure builds, aligned with the government’s aspiration for nationwide digital adoption and digital transformation in the country. Once a permanent aspect of doing business, local government units will be compelled to issue local ordinances requiring compliance to telco infrastructure standards, it said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Group pushes bamboo industry development bill

BAMBOO industry stakeholders asked the government to certify as urgent the proposed Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Act or House Bill 9576 to raise the country’s competitive edge in the natural bamboo market in transport, construction, furniture and fabric sectors.

“House Bill 9576 should be approved under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos. It will substantially help advance our industrial development. We already have the clumps in our inventory. We just need the support for production, training, processing,” said private sector lead for the bamboo industry Deogracias Victor Savellano.

The House of Representatives approved approved the bill on final reading in August 2021. It will be refiled by Bohol Representative Edgardo Chatto, for endorsement in the Senate.

Savellano leads private sector advocates of bamboo in raising the awareness on the plant’s multi-functional abilities as a nature-friendly, climate-smart industrial material through the 5K (Kawayan: Kalikasan, Kabuhayan, Kaunlaran, Kinabukasan) Foundation Inc.

The bill which envisions to seize part of a global market placed in 2010 at $8 billion aims institutionalize the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council.

Arthaland plans to issue P3b worth of green bonds

BOUTIQUE property developer Arthaland Corp. plans to raise up to P3 billion from the issuance of ASEAN Green Bonds to fund residential projects.

Arthaland said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would offer up to P2.4 billion in fixed-rate bonds with an oversubscription option for another P600 million.

The bonds will have a term of five and seven years with respective coupon rate of 8 percent and 8.7557 percent per annum.

The latest bond offering is the remaining portion of Arthaland’s P6-billion shelfregistered debt program approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2020.

Arthaland said it would use the proceeds from the fund-raising activity to partially fund the construction of its first residential project in the Makati central business district. It will also use a portion of the proceeds to invest in companies that will develop other residential projects across the country. Jenniffer B. Austria

WOMEN

ENTREPRENEURS.

The Manila Angel Investors Network holds the latest Gender Lens Investing Series—

The Bottom Line: Why Investing in Women is Good Business. In the Philippines, only one of four small and medium enterprises are owned by women, according to the report of MAIN’s partner, Investing in Women—an Australian government initiative

Diokno: Strong labor market to boost Q4 domestic demand

By Julito G. Rada

FINANCE Secretary

Benjamin Diokno said over the weekend the improving labor market will drive economic growth in the fourth quarter.

Diokno issued the statement after latest data showed that the October 2022 Labor Force Survey recorded the lowest unemployment rate since 2005 at 4.5 percent. This is remarkably lower than the 7.4 percent outturn a year ago and 5.3 percent in January 2020 or prepandemic.

The latest Philippine Statistics Authority figures estimate that 2.2 million individuals were unemployed in October 2022, a 36-percent decline or around

1.3 million fewer unemployed individuals compared to the 3.5 million unemployed in October 2021.

Moreover, the country’s employment rate remains on an uptrend at 95.5 percent, or 47.1 million individuals, from 92.6 percent in the same period last year. Employment growth was mainly contributed by wage and salary workers (7.7 percent), particularly in private establishments (8.8 percent).

“We expect the strong labor market to further boost domestic demand in the last quarter of the year and help us attain our economic growth targets,” Diokno said.

“The economic team has intensified its efforts to maintain a sound macroeconomic environment amid high inflation and other external risks,” he said.

The labor force participation rate also improved to 64.2 percent from 62.6 percent a year ago, which is a 2.0 million

increase in individuals resulting in 49.3 million in the labor force.

“Despite headwinds, vibrant economic activity has boosted job generation. Moving forward, the government will continue to improve the environment for business and attract investments that will create more jobs, quality jobs, and green jobs,” Diokno said.

The quality of employment has continued to improve year-on-year. The underemployment rate decreased to 14.2 percent in October 2022, relative to 16.1 percent in the same period a year ago, down to 6.67 million from 7.04 million underemployed persons in October 2021.

The youth unemployment rate, on the other hand, decreased to 11.2 percent from 15.1 percent a year ago, while youth underemployment rate improved to 11.2 percent from 14.6 percent last year.

Dollar 1.00000055.6110

Japan Yen 0.0073180.4070

UKPound1.22370068.0512 Hong KongDollar0.1284377.1425 SwitzerlandFranc1.06792059.3881 CanadaDollar0.73556540.9055 SingaporeDollar0.73898941.0959 AustraliaDollar0.67680037.6375 BahrainDinar2.652731147.5210 Saudi Arabia Rial 0.26597914.7914 BruneiDollar0.73626940.9447 IndonesiaRupiah0.0000640.0036 Thailand Baht 0.0288561.6047 UAE Dirham0.27227915.1417

EuroEuro 1.05580058.7141 Korea Won 0.0007600.0423 ChinaYuan0.1435757.9843 IndiaRupee0.0121540.6759 MalaysiaRinggit0.22753112.6532 New Zealand Dollar 0.63770035.4631 TaiwanDollar0.0326541.8159

Source: BSP

Lopez Group buys MSA-PH to expand healthcare business

By Othel V. Campos

FIRST Philippine Holdings Corp., a listed company under the Lopez Group, acquired the local subsidiary of Medical Services of America Inc., a provider of a comprehensive range of cardiopulmonary services and equipment for hospitals and homeserviced patients.

FPH president and chief operating officer Francis Giles Puno and MSAPhilippines general manager Aurora Dereja signed the agreement on Dec. 9, 2022.

“MSA-Philippines represents a great addition to FPH’s growing portfolio of healthcare businesses, which now include Asian Eye Institute and Philippine Impact Health. The services created from these various healthcare businesses aim to improve the ecosystem of healthcare providers in the country and, ultimately, the health and wellness of the Filipino population,” Puno said.

FPH senior vice president Joaquin Quintos IV who heads the conglomerate’s health service businesses said the acquisition would provide FPH a platform to add new service offerings to what MSA-Philippines offers in the healthcare industry.

FPH, one of the country’s oldest and largest conglomerates, also has interests in power generation, infrastructure, manufacturing and property development.

Court asked to expedite expropriation of Silang property for CALAX

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Public Works and Highways is asking the Office of the Court Administrator to expedite the expropriation proceedings filed before the Tagaytay Regional Trial Court over the right-of-way problems of the Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange as part of the P35.7-billion Cavite Laguna Expressway project.

Mayor Kevin Anarna of Silang, Cavite in a meeting with DPWH Public-Private Partnership Service director Alex Bote said Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan would request the OCA to speed up the expropriation proceedings filed before the local court.

“We’re preparing a letter to the Office of Court Administration to fast-track the acquisition process,” Bote said.

The director of PPP Service of DPWH also asked the assistance of the local government unit of Silang to settle the ROW deadlock so that the project would be operational by the first quarter of 2023.

“It will be a big help if the court will accept our deposit and issue a writ of possession,” Bote said, referring to their P5-million initial payment based on the rough estimate the agency’s engineers conducted as stipulated in Republic Act No. 10752 or the Road Right of Way Act.

Under the OCA Circular No. 113-

2019, the RTC should immediately issue a writ of possession within seven working days upon the deposit to the court of the amount equivalent to the sum of 100 percent of the value of the land based on the current relevant zonal valuation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue issued not more than three years prior to the filing of the expropriation complaint.

“What we are asking is that we are given the chance to deposit the check that we hold and issue and reinstate the power of writ of possession.

Anarna assured the DPWH and MPCALA of the town’s help in resolving the ROW issues of the CALAX Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange.

Latest data showed that

The increase in the debt level in the third quarter was due to net availments of $3.1 billion, partly offset by $1.2-billion negative foreign exchange revaluation; $893-million transfer of Philippine debt papers issued offshore (from non-

to residents); and $778-million negative prior periods’ adjustments.

Bulk of the recorded availments in the quarter were from the increase in the re-

MSA was originally organized in the US in 1973 as a provider of comprehensive health care services that include home and hospice care, distribution, rental and supply of medical equipment.

It started in the Philippines as a servicing company for four partnerhospitals in 1978, or five years after it opened in the US.

MSA-Philippines works with over 50 partner-hospitals and clinics around the country through its 200 highly trained employees.

The firm hopes to expand further its footprint in the Philippines and offer more health care solutions to partner-hospitals.

SGV & Co. and PwC Philippines and Puno Law and Cabrera & Co. acted as financial advisors to FPH and MSA, respectively.

ported short-term liabilities of banks as they sought the offshore market to meet its funding requirement for relending, investments and other FX

Public sector external debt declined to $64.8 billion as of end-September from $65.7 billion as of end-June. with share to total also decreasing to 60.0 percent from 61.0 percent.

About $56.8 billion (87.7 percent) of public sector obligations were government borrowings while the remaining $8.0 billion pertained to debt of government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions and the BSP.

Private sector debt grew from $42.0 billion as of end-June to $43.1 billion as of end-September, with share to total increasing from 39.0 percent to 40.0 percent. Julito G. Rada

Recovery

By Alena Mae S. Flores

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. expects a 6-percent sales growth in 2022 on the back of the strong rebound of the commercial segment from the pandemic, an executive said Sunday.

“We are looking at close to 6-percent gigawatt-hours sales growth for the year 2022 compared to 2021, and this is actually also 4-percent higher than 2019 num-

commercial sector expected

from 34,398 gWh a year ago.

6% growth in Meralco’s power sales this year

economic reopening.

Meralco’s consolidated energy sales already surpassed the pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter, as sales volume went up 6 percent to 36,553 gWh

Meralco posted a 9-percent increase in consolidated core net income in the first nine months from P18.1 billion on higher energy sales and increased earnings of its power generation business.

The power retailer’s net income grew 20 percent to P19.8 billion from P16.5 billion in 2021.

Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan said the full-year income was expected to be better than last year’s amid the

Pangilinan said power demand would continue to grow despite several challenges, including elevated food and energy prices.

“As we anticipate robust pandemic recovery efforts, there is a good indication that Meralco will surpass our 2021 CCNI,” Pangilinan said.

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

“Meralco remains one with the government and the private sector in ensuring long-term energy security while fully supporting the government’s push to advance the country’s low-carbon energy transition,” Pangilinan said.

Meralco said the resumption of faceto-face schooling, employment rate improvement and fewer mobility restrictions provided more leg room for businesses to recover and expand in the quarter.

bers [pre-pandemic year],” Meralco chief commercial officer and head of customer retail services Ferdinand Geluz said.

Geluz said the growth drivers this year are commercial establishments amid the more relaxed health protocols and restrictions and expanding industries such as plastics, food and beverage.

Foreign debt remained at prudent levels despite rising to $107.9b in third quarter

of the

to underpin

to catalyze women’s economic empowerment in Southeast Asia. In the current fiscal year, MAIN invested 50 percent of its capital to women-led startups. In the coming years, the network seeks to invest more than half of their startup investment portfolio to women entrepreneurs.

ASEAN PAYMENTS. Leaders of ASEAN central bank sign a memorandum of understanding on regional payment connectivity at the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit held on Nov. 14, 2022 in Bali, Indonesia. The MOU concretizes the collaborative approach to enhancing cross-border payments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan (right). With Tangonan are (from left) Bank of Thailand Deputy Governor Ronadol Numnonda, Monetary Authority of Singapore Managing Director Ravi Menon, Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo, Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus and Deputy Governor Tangonan.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said over the weekend the country’s external debt ratios remained at prudent levels despite a slight increase in the third quarter.

external debt, which refers to all types of borrowings by Philippine residents from non-residents, reached $107.9 billion as of end-September, up by $218 million or 0.2 percent from $107.7 billion in June 2022.

residents

transactions.

Blazers stun Knights, set deciding third game

By Peter Atencio

DISQUALIFIED point guard Fran Yu, a key figure in the Letran Knights’ championship showdowns over the last three years, sat out the last two quarters and watched from the dugout as the opposing College of St. Benilde Blazers took Game 2 with a 76-71 triumph on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

With Yu out of the action following a disqualifying foul in the second quarter, the Blazers relied on season MVP Will Gozum, Miguel Oczon and James Pasturan to deliver the final blows that allowed CSB to stretch its best-of-three finals series in the 98th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament to a deciding Game 3.

The Knights felt the absence of the 5’10” Yu for the rest of the game as the their top guard contented himself by watching the action, while sitting on a locker room bench, cooling himself down and wrapped in a blanket, as the Blazers equalized the series at 1-all.

Without Yu directing plays, backup guards Kurt Reyson and Tommy Olivario took over the backcourt chores for the rest of the game with Brent Paraiso.

Yu was ejected with 5:29 left in the second quarter with the Knights leading, 33-25, after he threw an elbow on Blazers’ cager Mark Sangco, and the Knights, who were already missing Kobe Monje and Kyle Tolentino due to suspensions, struggled to keep their lead afterwards.

The Blazers took advantage of Yu’s absence in the final quarter with Gozum attacking the board with a layup in the last 55 seconds to shatter at 71-all deadlock.

Reyson and Olivario could not stop Oczon from scoring a turnaround shot in the last 20.2 seconds, handing the Blazers a 75-71 edge.

After Andrey Guarino bungled a triple in the last 8.4 seconds, Pasturan sank a split charity three seconds later to finalize the count.

“They can beat us three times. But these last two games are all that matters,” said Blazers’ coach Charles Tiu after they finally pulled off their first triumph over the Knights in four tries this season.

Gozum went on to finish with 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Blazers, who will now have a chance to end a 20year title drought when Game 3 is held at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Lady Bulldogs queens of UAAP a 7th straight time

THE fabled winning streak may have ended, but the epic championship run of National University continues.

The Lady Bulldogs asserted their dominance over De La Salle University in Game 2, 76-64, to sweep the UAAP Season 85 women’s basketball Finals and collect their seventh straight title on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

NU won the two games with a whopping 22-point average after winning 9361 in Game 1.

The Lady Bulldogs have tied University of the East men’s team for most consecutive championships which they recorded back in Seasons 28 to 34. The Red Warriors were cochampions with University of Santo Tomas in Season 30.

“The credit goes to all our girls. From Day 1 they committed. I’m glad each and every one of us did our share and nanalo kami,” said first-year NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan.

Ameng Torres was on fire to start the match with nine straight points to trail by just three early, 9-12, but Lady Bulldogs Tin Cayabyab, Angel Surada, and Mikka Cacho joined hands to stretch their lead to 16 at the end of the first, 27-11.

And that was all NU needed to break away and deny all the Lady Archers’ attempts to claw back in the game.

Rookie Tin Cayabyab was hailed Finals MVP after averaging 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 assists in the series including 18 points and five rebounds in the clincher.

“Isa sa hindi ko makakalimutan na nangyari this season is ‘yung natalo kami against La Salle. Doon kami mas nagtulungan para makuha itong championship na ito. Mas naging together kami,” said Cayabyab.

It was a fitting end to Cacho and Annick Edimo Tiky’s run with the Lady Bulldogs.

Surada had 10 points and nine rebounds, while Edimo Tiky got nine points.

Rondina-Gonzaga duo wins crown in Subic beach volley

SUBIC—Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga whipped Genesa Jane “Jen” Eslapor and Floremel Rodriguez, 22-24, 21-12, 15-12, in a three-set women’s final of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures that didn’t only reveal a bright future for Philippine beach volleyball, but also the protagonists’ resiliency against injury.

Rondina felt cramps creeping from her right leg toward her thigh in the entire match and Eslapor needed a five-minute medical timeout in the second set to suppress cramps that rose from her thighs to her abdomen.

But both sides hung tough, with Espalor coming off the medical timeout with four consecutive service aces to push her PH Blue team closer to Rondina’s Blue squad, 10-12, in the decider.

But Rondina, who was often seen pulling the toes of her right foot upwards to avoid cramps, endured and nailed the match’s last three points for the title.

“We were tired … after having gone through the competition, the pressure

and the strong opposition,” said Rondina, the most decorated among the four finalists after he final that drew a jampacked crowd at the Subic Bay Sand Court.

“I could hardly jump, even during our pre-final training,” said the back-to-back Southeast Asian Games’ bronze medalist with Bernadeth Pons, who is under rehab for a shoulder injury.

Relief was written all over Rondina and Gonzaga, who, like their final victims, were in a hurry to head home later Sunday.

All four had flights booked—Rondina to Cebu, Rodriguez to Negros Occidental and Espolar to Cagayan de Oro—for Sunday night at Manila’s airport in anticipa-

tion of an early exit from the tournament organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

“Honestly, we never expected this one, all of us,” said Gonzaga, who’s returning to Manila to attend to personal matters— especially her obligations with the Philippine Army—also on Sunday night.

“No party for us,” both said.

A big crowd came to see the final, but which team they rooted for was hardly audible. They appreciated both sides who regaled their fans with exciting exchanges and daredevil dives for errant balls.

“Credit to them [Eslapor-Rodriguez pair], they are also good and strong,” said Gonzaga, adding she could now relax and get that deep sleep she was deprived off heading into the tournament.

Espolar and Rodriguez played with less pressure, too, and treated the final like a mere training session.

“It’s all-Filipino so we went out there playing as if we were just training,” Rodriguez said. “But yes, they gave us a

good fight and and we fought hard, too.” PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said the 1-2 finish in a Volleyball World event is the best performance by any Philippine team.

“The result augurs well for Philippine volleyball and for sure, the PNVF national team program will push toward getting better in the international arena,” Suzara said. Rondina and Gonzaga booted out Israel’s Yahli Ashush and Anita Dave, 20-22, 21-8, 17-15, while Eslapor and Rodriguez eliminated Japan’s Miyu Sakamoto and Mayu Sawame, 16-21, 28-26, 15-13, in the semifinals played Sunday morning.

Sakamoto and Sawame beat the Israelis, 21-15, 21-18, in the battle for the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Tipjan Pithak and Taovato Poravid beat Kaewsai Dunwinit and Techakijvorak Intuch, 21-15, 21-19, in the all-Thailand men’s final, while Latvia’s Martin Plavins and Mikhail Samoilov downed Thailand’s Jongklang Surin and Nakprakhong Banlue, 21-19, 21-17, to capture the bronze medal.

Pacquiao hints at ring return after exhibition bout

SEOUL—Philippine boxing great Manny Pacquia o returned to the ring Sunday for the first time since retiring from the sport last year, facing off a gainst a South Korean YouTuber in an exhibition match near Seoul.

The 43-year-old fighter turned politician stepped away from boxing to launch a bid for the Philippine presidency that failed. He also served as a senator between 2016 and May this year.

On Sunday Pacquiao fought D.K. Yoo in a showcase match on the outskirts of the South Korean capital to raise money for Ukraine and homeless Filipinos.

Dressed in a shiny red robe with gold trimming, Pacquiao emerged into the KINTEX arena in Goyang to roars of excitement from the crowd.

For his opponent Yoo, a martial artist and internet star, it was only the second time in a boxing ring—his previous encounter an exhibition match against former UFC fighter Bradley Scott.

Yoo, dubbed the “Korean Bruce Lee” in his homeland—was no match for Pacquiao despite being significantly taller and heavier.

The South Korean was visibly tired and winded after the second round as a speedy Pacquiao moved in with an explosion of rapid-fire punches. Pacquiao, who turns 44 next week, was the winner by unanimous decision and hinted that more appearances in the ring could lie ahead.

In a television interview, he said he would continue training to get back in shape. When asked about the prospect of a fight in 2023, he replied: “You’ll see.”

He had suggested prior to the match that he may not be done with fighting, calling Sunday’s bout a “very good stepping stone to come back”. AFP

“This is a great opportunity to come back in the ring,” he added. “I thought it was easy to retire... I really missed boxing.”

Arcilla rules Kinaadman, claims Zentro Open crown

It

years in pursuit of more titles against a slew of younger rivals and rising players in Group A tournaments of the circuit presented by Dunlop.

The 10-time PCA Open champion Arcilla also foiled Kinaadman, 6-2, 6-4, in last week’s finals of the Brookside Open with his latest romp bringing his title run to four this year following victories in Puerto Princesa and in Pintaflores Festival in San Carlos, Negros Occidental, which served as part of the PPS-PEPP circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

He actually broke Kinaadman twice in the opening set while holding serve thrice to threaten a rout. But the Gov. Jubahib Cup winner in Davao del Norte last September fought back with two breaks, the last in the ninth game, to pull within 4-5.

But the top-seeded Arcilla cut short his rally, breaking back in the 10th to seize control of their match. He went 5-0 again in the next frame but this time, Arcilla broke Kinaadman in the sixth in shutout fashion to complete another straight-set roll over the 24-year-old Cebuano worth P50,000.

On his way to the title faceoff, Arcilla trampled Joseph Tiamson, 6-2, 6-2, eased past Noel Damian Jr., 6-3, 6-0, then routed doubles partner Nilo Ledama, 6-0, 6-1, in the semis of the event sponsored by Newtech Mega Transport Solutions, Hacienda Galea, People’s General Insurance, Corp., Subic Truckboy International and Dingalan Fireworks.

Kinaadman, who received P25,000, repulsed Exequiel Jucutan, 7-6(3), 6-0, survived Eric Jed Olivarez, 4-6, 6-1, 10-7, and upended No. 2 Jose Maria Pague, winner of the Buglasan Open last Oct., 6-4, 6-0, in the tournament backed by Top 1 Movers Worldwide, IBX Cargo Corp., Cinco Enterprises, Inc., Gotobox Express Malolos and Amarab Int’l Travel and Tours.

Meanwhile, the Open singles action shifts to City of Naga, Cebu for the Dagitab Festival Open, supported

JOHNNY Arcilla re-asserted his mastery over Charles Kinaadman, pulling through in a wild first set skirmish then dominating the next for a 6-4, 6-0 victory in the Zentro Open National Open Championships at the Zentro Tennis and Recreational courts in Apalit, Pampanga yesterday.

was the veteran Davis Cupper’s fourth Open singles victory in the season about to end as he continued to roll back the

Riera

Randy M. Caluag,

Gold-medal winners Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga, silver medalists Genesa Jane “Jen” Eslapor and Floremel Rodriguez and bronze medalists Miyu Sakamoto and Mayu Sawame with Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

Manny Pacquiao (right) of the Philippines watches as DK Yoo of South Korea falls to the oor during their exhibition boxing match in Goyang, northwest of Seoul. AFP

Johnny Arcilla

by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, the Unified Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating), on Dec. 14-21. For details, c ontact event organizer Bobby Mangunay at 09154046464.

BAGUIO—Manila

Southwoods closed out the 72nd FilAm Men’s Invitational with a huge lead over its rivals to claim its ninth straight title in the Fil and Am Championship divisions on Sunday.

The Fil crew made 128 points at the Baguio Country Club as Carl Jano Corpus once again top scored with a one-under-par 60 for 37 points. He got solid support from Jeff Jung 34, Gabriel Manotoc 27 and Kristoffer Arevalo 26 for a 72-hole total of 541 in the premier division.

Aidric Chan did not play because he

Manila Southwoods golfers score twin-kill

had to go back to the US due to a school requirement.

“I don’t look at other teams. I just want to make sure that when we come to a tournament, we are 100 percent ready to play. Although it was unfortunate that Aidric had to fly out early because of exams in the US,” said Southwoods captain Thirdy Escaño.

Forest Hills finished runner up with 473 points after a 116 as Rodel Man-

Malixi all primed up for Malaysian Amateur Open

RIANNE Malixi exudes confidence as she leaves for Malaysia today (Monday), armed with a game she hopes would put her in equal footing with the top and rising players in the region in the Malaysian Amateur Open which unwraps Thursday in Johor Bahru.

“My preparations (for the Malaysian Am Open) went well. I have been practicing a lot more in my putting, which was my main focus the past few weeks,” said the 15-year-old Malixi, seeking to cap a prolific season that saw her post two victories on the AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) Tour, win the Thai Junior World Championship and sweep all her three stints on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

She, however, fell short of her bid for a

seventh crown in the recent ICTSI Villamor Match Play. But the ICTSI-backed shotmaker, who also missed nailing the Thailand Amateur Open crown in sudden death and finished joint third in the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship, expects to come out of that setback a lot tougher and stronger, making her a top contender in this week’s battle.

“I’ve been stretching more than I work out just to avoid stiff muscles but I’ve gotten stronger in distance, hitting it 5-10 yards more,” added Malixi, who also graced a junior golf tournament and provided inspiration to the youngsters in Pampanga recently.

“It will be a fun week,” said Malixi, who will be playing in Malaysia for the first time in three years.

gulabnan scored 30, Edison Tabalin and Iñigo Raymundo a pair of 29s and Joshua Buenaventura 28. Team SPES, a rookie team in the world’s largest amateur tournament, checked in at third (104-465).

Team SPES, a rookie team in the world’s largest amateur tournament, checked in at third (104-465) followed by Januarius Golf (99-445), Time Cargo Logistics (105-429) and X1R-Tipsy Pig-Mizuno (103-422).

The Am side also saw Southwoods (138-517) winning by a huge margin over a youthful squad of Royal Northwoods (128-446). Valley Golf (127-433) and Riviera-Batangas Barakos (114-421) were third and fourth.

Marc Lu and Shinichi Suzuki starred for Southwoods Am with 35 points apiece while Lanz Uy and Leandro Bagtas backstopped with 34s for the Carmona, Cavite-based team.

Nueva Ecija seeks clincher, Zamboanga eyes equalizer

NUEVA Ecija takes another crack at the Okbet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 4th Season Presented by Xtreme national title when it tangles with Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines Monday night at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City.

The Zamboanguenos foiled the Rice Vanguards’ sweep bid, 7565, at the same venue on Friday to force Game 4 in the best-of-five title playoffs.

Although Nueva Ecija, the North division champion, still lead the series, 2-1, following back-to-back victories in Games 1 (81-75) and 2 (75-74), the South division titlist, the Zamboanguenos, especially with the hometown crowd egging them on have proven they are at par with the Rice Vanguards.

In fact, the Zamboanguenos pulled away at 48-32, the biggest spread thus far in the series, before dropping their guards and allowing the Rice Vanguards to threaten at 59-62.

Jayvee Marcelino, named the Game 3 best player, and twin Jaycee, named the regular season MVP, however, connived with Chris Dumapig to seal the outcome at 69-59 going to the last two minutes.

Poor shooting hounded the starstudded Rice Vanguards, who made only 1 of 19 triple attempts and 14 of 24 charities.

Apart from Jayvee, who posted 22 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, and Jaycee, who tallied 9 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals, Zamboanga coach Vic Ycasiano got an unexpected lift from Ralph Tansingco, who contributed 15 points, all from triples, and Chris Dimpaig, who added 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Nueva Ecija got 15 points and 8 rebounds from Michael Mabulac and 14 points and 5 rebounds from John Villarias, but Game 1 hero and Mythical Team member Hesed Gabo wound up scoreless.

Nueva Ecija Coach Jerson Cabiltes is expected to make major adjustments and find a way to neutralize the Marcelino twins.13.3 points and 3 steals.

After three games, Jaycee is averaging 15.7 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals while Jayvee is norming 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists

If Zamboanga manages to win and level the series, the deciding Game 5 would be held at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City on Friday, December 15.

John Hay, Time Cargo win A division

CJH pooled in 100 points on the 30 of Emilio Curran, 24 each from George Punasan and Ranz Louie Balay-Odao and 22 from Melchor Rabanes and emerged as Fil-A champs with 423.

Time Cargo, on one hand, slowed down with 112 for 409 points but still won the Am-A title by 11 points over Forest Hills (116-398).

The host club pooled in 100 points on the 30 of Emilio Curran, 24 each from

Francisco

Summit Point slid to third after winding up with 97 and 414 aggregate. Abe Avena and Edsel Opulencia signed for 27s, Nelson Ventura 22 and Alan Alegre 21 for a closing 100 points.

Joseph Tambunting fired 30, actor Derek Ramsay and Rusty Bayani a pair of 28s and Theody Pascual added

Obebe completes sweep; Diamante falls short

Diamante

famous Hong Kong swimming family and head of the HK Stingray Swim Club already confirmed to send a dozen swim clubs for COPA’s tournament, tentatively set in March next year.

X1R-TipsyPig-Mizuno placed third after it collected 30 each from Marvin Caparros and John Baron Garcia. Neil Arce turned in 24 while Raymond Co contributed 22 for 106 and 375 total in four days.

The Fil and Am Championship flights, with Manila Southwoods in the lead in both premier divisions, are playing as of press time.

Obebe, the pride of Aqua Sprint Swim Club, closed out her four-event campaign with sterling performances in the girls’ 12-yrs-old 100m freestyle, clocking one minute and 06.76 seconds, putting an exclamation point to her Most Outstanding Swimmer

“Masayang-masaya po. Hopefully, next year mapababa ko pa ‘yung mga time sa event ko,” said Obebe, who also won the gold medal in the girls’ 12-yrs Class A 50m butterfly (31.18), 50m backstroke (34.83) and 50-m free (29.33).

The Grade 7 honor student of Augustinian Abbey School in Las Pinas was timed 1:11.77 behind the 1:08.79 clocking of Celso. The loss was Diamante’s first since the COPA event returned last August. She earlier was adjudged MOS in her event after winning the 50-meter freestyle (31.66), 50m backstroke (34.43) and 50m butterfly (34.43).

Overall, she amassed 24 gold medals.

“Pagbubutihan ko na lang po sa susunod.

Kung ano po ‘yung pagkukulang ko sa nakita ni coach, itatama ko po para sa susunod na mga tournaments,” said Diamante.

COPA board member and SMP president Chito Rivera said Rob Wright of the

“Nakausap ko si Rob Wright ng HK. Matagal na nating kaibigan ang pamilya nyan. He said he will send a team kahit isang dosena. ‘Yung isa pang kaibigan natin sa Malaysia ganoon din ang suporta sa atin. So, hindi na natin kailangang gumastos ng malaki para lumabas ng bansa, ‘yung foreign team ang papupuntahin natin dito,” said Rivera.

Aside from this, Rivera stressed that COPA plans to hold more tournaments and educational seminars for coaches and public school PE teachers, as well as continue the vision of COPA president and Batangas 1st District Rep. Eric Buhain in collaboration with other swim clubs and organizations as a united front in swimming’s grassroots program.

BAGUIO—Camp John Hay and Time Cargo Logistics won in their respective divisions in the A-Division of the 72nd Fil-Am Men’s Invitational Saturday.

George Punasan and Ranz Louie BalayOdao and 22 from Melchor Rabanes.

Uragun was the runner up at the Baguio Country Club for 405 points.

Santana Jr. came through with 28 and got support from Don Breganza 27, Dennis Nicomedes 24 and Joe Tenefrancia 21.

26 for Time Cargo.

Forest Hills mounted a final day attack but came up short. General manager Raymond Bunquin paced the Antipolo squad with 32, Ronnie Littaua 31, Joseph Oliver Uy 28 and Edgar Lee 25.

PAULENE Beatriz Obebe completed another sweep, while Nicola Queen Diamante fell short in her final event at the close of 1st COPA-SMP (Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc.-Samahang Manlalangoy ng Pilipinas) Christmas Friendship Swimfest over the weekend at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

award.

of the RSS Dolphins of coach Anthony Reyes, however, absorbed her first tournament loss as she settled for second to gold medal winner Maria Felisha Celso of the Bulacan Water Dragons in the 11-yrs old Class A 100m free.

SHARKS LEAGUE. The Games and Amusement Board will provide the promoter and players of the newly established Sharks Billiards League licenses. This was assured after the SBL met with the GAB o cials in Makati last Friday. Shown here are (from left) GAB O cer in Charge Atty.Emar U. Benitez, pro billiards player Nhadz Ramos, SLB tournament Director Hadley Mariano, Regulations O cer Nopp Moriles and Pro Sports Division chief Dr. Bong Garcia.

Nicola Queen Diamante in action

Shown here are Southwoods team captain Thirdy Escaño, Carl Corpus, Kristo er Arevalo, Je Jung, Gab Manotoc and assistant Jerome Delariarte.

CJH players Monet Garcia, Carl Rabanes, Ramz Balay-Odao, Emilio Curran, Shan Bedi, Captain George Punasen.

Controversial film rakes in major nods at 38th Star Awards for Movies

RECENTLY, the officers and board members of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) announced the nominees for the 38th PMPC Star Awards For Movies. And Katips, from PhilStagers Film, is nominated in Indie Movie of the Year category.

The Martial Law movie stars Vince Tanada . He wrote and directed fi lm making him earn three nominations including, Movie Actor of the Year, Indie Movie Screenwriter of the Year, and Indie Movie Director of the Year.

Other members of the cast nominated are Johnrey Rivas in Movie Supporting Actor of the Year category and singer-actress Nicole Laurel Asensio in the New Movie Actress of the Year race.

Katips , on the other hand, is nominated in the Indie Movie Ensemble Acting of the Year category.

Its other nominations include: Movie Cinematographer of the Year (Manuel Abanto); Indie Movie Editor of the Year ( Mark Jason Sugcang); Indie Movie Production Designer of the Year ( Roland Rubenecia); Indie Movie Sound of The Year (Dondon Mendoza Indie Movie Themesong of the Year: “Sa Gitna Ng Gulo” performed by Jerome Ponce, Asensio, Tanada, Adelle Ibarrientos Joshua Bulot, Vean Olmedo, Rivas, and Carla Lim , lyrics by Vince, composed by Pipo Cifra ; and Indie Movie Musical Scorer of the Year (Pipo Cifra).

The 38th PMPC Star awards night is to be held early next year.

Taylor Swift to make her film directing debut

POP megastar Taylor Swift is set to direct a feature-length fi lm, US media reported Friday. The singersongwriter behind hits like "Shake It Off" has written a script that will be produced by Searchlight Pictures, Variety and others reported.

"Taylor is a once-in-a-generation artist and storyteller," Searchlight presidents David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfi eld said.

"It is a genuine joy and privilege to collaborate with her as she embarks

on this exciting and new creative journey."

Details about the feature, including its plot and casting, were not made available.

The American superstar last year wrote and directed the 15-minutelong short fi lm All Too Well , which served as the music video for the rerecorded and expanded version of her 2012 song and has behind-the-scenes credits on several other of her music videos. AFP

Vivamax bombshell gets first lead role in ‘Pamasahe’

By Patricia Taculao

EVERY actor dreams of landing a lead role in a project to show viewers their skills. Eventually, they fi nd the ideal character to portray and leave their audiences in awe. That’s what happened to Vivamax’s rising sexy actress Azi Acosta

Unlike her previous appearances in Vivamax movies, Azi took on a heavy role when it came to drama and maturity.

In Pamasahe, she plays Lineth, a refugee from Typhoon Odette, which ravaged Siargao. As she travels to Nueva Segovia from the Visayas with her baby in search of her husband, played by Felix Roco she encounters men who have less than

Viewers can expect tears and a range of emotions from Azi as she embarks on a long journey.

Since Pamasahe is her first lead role in a movie, Azi admitted that she poured her best into the film. But she didn’t do it without help from Director Roman Perez Jr.

Perez Jr. is known for guiding new Vivamax stars to fame, including some of the brand’s mavens, Angeli Khang and AJ Raval. It also helps that he sees Azi as an iyakin, which fits aptly into some of the film’s scenes.

“Every project, nae-excite ako pag may ibang girls. ‘Kapag may bago akong ilalaunch. Isa ‘yon sa pinakamagandang factor na binibigay sa akin ng Vivamax,” Roman said during the special media screening for Pamasahe

Azi also took acting workshops to guide her through the dramatic parts. As a result, they shot those parts first to keep her from losing momentum.

“ Nag -prepare kami dito Winorkshop kami ni Direk Roman, lalo na ako kasi fi rst time ko and sobrang kinabahan ako. Noong workshop pa lang, naramdaman ko na agad ‘yung bigat ng character ko ,” the rising sexy actress said.

“Hindi ko maisip kung saan ako nahirapan kasi sobrang alaga ni Direk Roman sa aming mga artista doon. Kung meron man, siguro ‘yung mga love scene,” Azi said.

Despite her previous roles in other Vivamax films, it’s Azi’s first experience shooting more intimate scenes with her male co-stars, prompting her to bare more skin. She also had some challenges with her expressions because she wasn’t familiar with them.

all

The MMFF also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with BingoPlus, an online bingo game platform, to be the film festival presenter.

The result will leave viewers in awe as the tears come almost naturally to Azi, making her character more compelling. Besides the dramatic scenes, Azi admitted to having trouble with the sexy scenes.

This year’s Parade of Stars, which signals the official start of the festival, will be hosted by the local government of Quezon City. The parade, featuring floats carrying celebrities of the film festival’s entries, will start from Welcome Rotonda-Quezon Avenue to Quezon Memorial Circle at 2:00 p.m. on December 21. The parade will run for seven kilometers, with an estimated travel time of two hours and 30 minutes.

Staging area for the floats of eight official entries and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be along E. Rodriguez to D. Tuazon. The agency’s traffic enforcers will assist on the sidelines of the parade route for crowd control.

Meanwhile, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) announced it will be providing funds worth P500,000 to help in marketing the films through CreatePHFilms, for each film producer whose entries made it to the MMFF 2022.

The FDCP’s CreatePHFilms Funding Program is designed to provide support to filmmakers, producers, and distributors in

“This year’s festival promises an exciting selection of films for all moviegoers. It offers a wide variety of genres that will complete the tradition of Filipinos going to the cinemas during the holiday season," said Atty. Romando Artes, MMDA, and MMFF Over-all Chairman during a recent meeting with the film producers, marketing team, and the parade committee.

The official eight entries to the MMFF 2022 are: Deleter by Viva Communications, Inc.; Family Matters by Cineko Productions, Inc.; Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told by Borracho Film Production; My Father, Myself by 3:16 Media Network and Mentorque Productions; Nanahimik ang Gabi by Rein Entertainment Productions; Partners in Crime by ABS-CBN Film Productions; Labyu with an Accent by ABS-CBN Film Production; and My Teacher by TEN17P.

The 48th MMFF will run in theaters nationwide from December 25 until January 7.

The Gabi ng Parangal (Awards Night) is set on December 27 at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao, Quezon City.

SET to collide with effects-heavy Hollywood motion picture this week is a whole new spectacle and wonder, Broken Blooms, written by Ralston Jover and directed by Louie Ignacio.

This artistic and cinematic collaboration of Jover and Ignacio, bankrolled by Bentria Productions, deserves your hard-earned pesos, and here are the reasons why.

The narrative weaved by the screenplay writer Jover is its biggest seducer and motivator. It showcases the life of a typical Filipino family who has to deal with extraordinary domestic scenarios and situations. Here, we get to see the characters and their strengths and weaknesses, courage and resolve, thoughts and processes, love and romances, and anything and everything that reveals the humanity and morality of men. Also, the pandemic state of affairs adds a dosage of reality that not only stings but bites and slaps.

There are current issues in Jover’s narrative that are harsh and painful but cannot be denied. The sacrificing and not asking for anything in return kind of one-sided love is a universal experience of most gay men who prefer straight men as lovers or partners. That a platonic friendship is not alien to two

Roman first worked with Azi in the Vivamax original Sitio Diablo. Her role was crucial, but the director found her off from her character. He thought that she needed more training in drama.

Hindi ko ine -expect na ganon pala siya iyakin. Noong nakita ko

A satisfying cinema

that all the actors gave to their respective characters, and Ignacio’s genius and direction plus the acting prowess of his cast equals career-defining and award’s worthy performances.

The film’s trio con brio are Jeric Gonzales, Therese Malvar, and Norman Balbuena. And as always, effortless in their acting competence are Royce Cabrera and the Philippine national actress, Jaclyn Jose

Gonzales’s level of acting is akin to that of the late great Jay Ilagan and Malvar’s is similar to that of Amy Austria. The dynamic acting duo shares a lot of moments that leave a lasting impression. Whether they are in a lovey-dovey thingy, confrontation, or ending what needs to be ended, the manner that Jeric and Therese out into goo use the playing truth card, is sublime.

And Balbuena, who is known as Boobay, I daresay, is a shoo-in grand slam winner for best supporting actor come awards night season. Boobay lords the screen and steals the thunder in one dramatic outburst scene that received instantaneous and electric applause from the premiere night audiences.

Kudos as well to Mimi Juareza and Lou Veloso who are proof that there is no such thing as a small role for superlative actors. Broken Blooms, showing in cinemas nationwide on December 14, is satisfying and riveting cinema from Ralston Jover and Louie Ignacio, and is without a doubt, one of the year’s best.

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift

Vince Tañada has several nominations for the 38th PMPC Star awards

Azi Acosta and Director Roman Perez Jr. (fourth and fth from left) with the other cast members of ‘Pamasahe’

na lang siya sa workshop, doon ko na -realize na, ‘Ah, ang dami pala niyang baon ,” he said.

Azi’s performance before the cameras rolled convinced Roman that it was her destiny to become Lineth in Pamasahe, marking the start of her journey as a lead actress.

Starring alongside Azi are actors Felix, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Alvaro Oteyza, Chad Solano, and Rash Flores Pamasahe now streams on Vivamax.

WITH this year's theme, "Balik Saya sa MMFF 2022," the 48th edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is bringing on new partners to make the event more thrilling for filmmakers and moviegoers.

stages of filmmaking to complement their efforts to produce quality Filipino films.

Azi admits to struggling in the intimate scenes despite her previous exposure to Vivamax

The Vivamax star wearing a daring dress during the premiere night

Azi (left) is grateful to have Roman Perez Jr. as the director for her first major film on Vivamax

reason why this is satisfying cinema is the emotional integrity and gravitas

The cast of ‘Broken Blooms’

Experience the charm of rural living and the convenience of city life

MANY people aspire for the perks of condo living in a bustling city where modern conveniences abound, while others prefer a quiet life in the countryside, far from the din and pollution of vehicular traffic.

These days, however, savvy home seekers know that there exists a happy medium: suburban neighborhoods that offer the best features of both—the charm of rural living and the convenience of city life

This is the concept behind Asterra, leading property developer Vista Land’s latest project in its fast-growing portfolio. Envisioned as a condominium development that will provide affordable urban living in the suburbs, Asterra was launched on November 28 with a grand event at Palazzo Verde.

The big to-do was understandably festive. After all, the brand Asterra was unveiled as the personal project of renowned real estate tycoon Manny B.

Villar, the richest man in the Philippines. Villar’s vision for Asterra is to rise in the outskirts of the metro, in select locales that tout the rapid appreciation of land values. This will, in turn, afford great long-term returns for its future homeowners and investors.

In all of its developments, Asterra will have multiple buildings with four to seven levels, where each unit will offer sleek, space-optimizing interiors that will serve as idyllic domiciles for young professionals and starting families.

Bearing the tagline “Built for you!”, Asterra will have fun and functional amenities meant to elevate its residents’ quality of life. These include a swimming pool, basketball court, walkable open spaces, ample parking areas, a fully equipped gym, and multiple function halls that will help forge friendly ties and generate fine community values. Such exciting details were revealed

Benilde launches

A MODERN Airbus A320 cabin installation, specially designed for the realistic training of its growing population of tourism management students, is the newest facility of the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Motivated by its mission of innovation and inclusive education, and preparing its students to be Real World Ready, the institution collaborated with SkyArt, the leading supplier for aviation-themed Cabin Service Trainer (CST), to build a mock-up aircraft that met internationally-recognized standards and product safety directives.

Located at the Angelo King International Center (AKIC), the genuine unit is in accordance with the original dimensions of an actual airbus and was built using genuine parts, including the panels, overhead cabins, and lavatory. It likewise includes models for several fixtures to ensure an authentic secure learning environment.

The aircraft can accommodate 24 passengers, with four rows of six abreast Sicma Triple Economy Class convertible seats, made from authentic and brand-new leather cushion covers, with functional seatbelts. It also includes Airbus Passenger Service Units (PSU) with active reading lights, ventilation nozzles, crew call buttons, speakers, passenger oxygen mask compartments, and “No Smoking” and “Fasten Seatbelt” signs.

The Service Area is comprised of two crew seats with four-point seat belts, storage compartments for demo kits and crew life jackets, plus an operative original intercom handset with Push-to-Talk feature for live announcements.

The A320 CST Sound System, which comes with high-quality speakers, works in conjunction with the Cabin Intercommunication Data System and allows both pre-recorded and real-time messages.

The installation is capped with illuminated exit signages, functional window blinds, aviation-grade floor carpet, safety placards, and an emergency stop button for crisis management. Warning and instruction notices are available in both English and Filipino.

For more information on Benilde’s Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management program, visit https://www. benilde.edu.ph/undergraduate-tourism-management/.

at the launch event where no less than Manny B. Villar, Chairman of Vista Land and Lifescapes and Chairman of Golden MV Holdings Inc., mingled with the guests and attendees from the Villar group. These included COO Estrellita Tan and the division heads that will oversee Asterra’s projects all over the

All showed great enthusiasm for the new property brand Asterra and enjoyed the grand launch’s bells and whistles: a fireworks display that lit up the night sky and an awesome drone show

For more information on Asterra, please check out its website: https:// www.asterraph.com/ or the official Asterra FB Page: https://www.facebook. com/AsterraOfficial

Summer never ends at this fun destination

IF YOU’RE itching to make up for whatever holiday gallivanting you lost due to more than two years of quarantine restrictions, here’s one destination you should fly to. The 820-room JPark Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu, spread over 20 hectares of beachfront on Mactan Island, has everything for everyone. The property is named after its founder Yong Jun Park and its new owner, the Cebuano businessman, “Mango King” Justin Uy

The resort has several pools, its own private beach, seven dining outlets, activity centers, a dive shop, and many other facilities that will make you want to extend your stay much longer than what you had originally planned. Of course, the resort’s piece de resistance is the giant waterslides, a pool with a beach-like shoreline, and a “lazy river” pool. Any or all of these could be the perfect way to keep you cool under the sun, whichever age bracket you belong to.

But this resort complex is not only for fun-seekers because it also has complete facilities for MICE events. In fact, it has the advantage of being able to offer indoor and outdoor function spaces for whatever number of attendees there may be in the event, whether it be at their Board Room that can seat 20 or at their ballroom that can fit 1000 guests.

And I hasten to add that the resort’s functionally designed guestrooms guarantee a restful stay. The contemporary design of the very spacious suite I was in had that relaxing feel, especially because it had all the essential comforts any weary traveler would look forward to. It had a separate bedroom, a kitchen, a dining area, and a sizable balcony overlooking the beach and the rest of the resort. It was the perfect cocoon for a de-stressing weekend.

I had a leisurely chat with the property’s ever-smiling Vice-President for Operations and General Manager Brian Connelly, and the amiable Director of Sales and Marketing Anita Kim who is now more of a Cebuana than her Korean origins. Brian, who I met several years ago when he was still General Manager of Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, is a 40-year veteran of the hotel industry, having taken up management positions in prominent hotels and resorts in the US, Middle East, and here in the Asia Pacific region. This solid past

experience in the industry has definitely made it easy for him to run this, our country’s premiere water park resort.

I could see that it’s no-big-deal for Brian to handle this massive property. He and Anita were very proud to

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE

SIGN OUTSIDE A CHURCH:

If you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.

say that, even during the pandemic, the resort never closed, and neither did it lay off any of its staff. Now that quarantine restrictions are almost nil, tour groups and families have been filling up the rooms of the

resort, especially on weekends. That time I was there, I could see that the room occupancy was high because the almost 400-seat Abalone Buffet Restaurant was overflowing with guests, nonstop. Such enviable success at this stage when our Industry is still recovering from the pandemic, could be the reason why the resort’s owner has asked Brian to handle also the JPark Island Resort and Waterpark in Panglao, Bohol.

At this hopeful stage of Tourism recovery, I asked Brian what he has envisioned for his property. He wants only one thing -- more direct flights to Cebu. When I told him that Philippine Airlines now has direct flights between Cebu and Bangkok, he said he would like to see these flights operating daily and not just from one city but from many other Asian cities. I totally agree.

Meantime, while we’re waiting for our national carrier and the other airlines to make Brian’s “wish” come true, let me reiterate my call for our countrymen to find time discovering our beautiful and IG-worthy attractions. Our country is filled with these destinations that could rival or even surpass those in other countries. JPark Island Resort and Waterpark Cebu is a good example. Its fun, water-based facilities assure you that, in there, summer never ends. For feedback, I’m at

Asterra will have multiple buildings with four to seven levels

From left: Eric Suarez, Alfred Maranan, Tessie Lanot, Margarita Romero, Arnaldo Lumague, Estrellita Tan, Manny B. Villar, Ed Aguilar, Neil Almonte, Armela Ruiz, Glenn Guacena, Rey Montoya, Ester Lomoya, and Economico Pedrosa III

Philippines Tessie Lanot, Glenn Guacena, Armela Vergara-Ruiz, Margarita Romero, Rey Montoya, Neil Almonte, Arnaldo Lumague, Eduardo T. Aguilar, and Ester Lomoya.

that proudly bannered the Asterra name for all to see. Surely, the spectacle of Asterra against the nightscape bodes well for its future success.

Manny B. Villar introduces the brand new Asterra project

A modern Airbus A320 cabin installation, specially designed for the realistic training of its growing population of tourism management students, is the newest facility of Benilde School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde collaborated with SkyArt, the leading supplier for aviation-themed Cabin Service Trainer (CST), to build a mock-up aircraft that met internationally-recognized standards