Manila Standard - 2022 December 14 - Wednesday

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MIF gains 200 House backers

New bill version ‘much better’ but Enrile cautions rushing its passage

By Maricel V. Cruz

OVER 200 congressmen are supporting the bill seeking to create the Maharlika Investment Fund, two senior lawmakers said Tuesday, even as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to carefully review the bill creating the sovereign wealth fund.

Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, one of the authors of the House Bill 6608, put the number of co-authors at 216, while Manila 5th District Rep. Ir-

OFWs cited for positive job reputation

By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday praised Filipino workers in Europe for their dedication, generosity, and kindness, all of which contribute to the positive reputation that their compatriots enjoy abroad.

His administration is also looking at adding more labor attaches to protect the rights of Filipino migrant workers, a Cabinet member traveling with the President said.

In a meeting with the Filipino community in Belgium, Mr. Marcos vowed to strengthen the country’s economic institutions and create more jobs, so Filipinos do not have to leave their families behind for greener pastures abroad.

“The Filipino community organizations here in Europe continue to maintain deep and growing friendships with people of different nations.

Filipinos in this part of the world will continue to be highly regarded because of your jolly and high-spirited manner, hard work, your dedication,” the President said.

“You are being admired here by the locals, all your co-workers, friends, they always commend the Filipinos,” he added.

Mr. Marcos said his administration

By Rio N. Araja and Joel E. Zurbano

THE

win Tieng, chair of the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries Chair, estimated the pro-Maharlika

PBBM meets Belgium’s King Philippe, pushes strategic partnership

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday met King Philippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace in Brussels, as he said he looks forward to pursuing a strategic partnership with Belgium in various fields.

The President also said they are poised to sign a Philippines-Belgium Joint Plan of Action for 2023 to 2027 that could enhance their bilateral cooperation.

Marcos made this remark during his meeting with the Filipino community at the Event Lounge in Brussels ahead of his participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-European Union (EU) Commemorative Summit.

DOH allays fear of COVID cases uptick, says all regions still low risk

Health told a media forum Tuesday. DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said all regions remained under low-risk case classification -

ued to be manageable.

“We don’t need to panic. We don’t need to panic,” Vergeire told reporters.

“We already know that expected cases... might increase. But as long as our hospitals

are manageable... nothing is too severe and critical, we don’t need to panic,” she said. From December 5 to 11, the Philippines tallied 8,292 new COVID-19 cases, which

Bautista, Acuzar get CA approval as Transport, Housing secretaries

AFTER two hearings, the powerful Commission on Appointments endorsed Tuesday the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of Jaime Bautista

Last

a Facebook post against former agriculture chief Manny Piñol.

QC RTC Branch 93 Judge Evangeline Cabochan-Santos sentenced Cimatu to six months and one day to five years

and five months in prison. She also directed Cimatu to pay Piñol P300,000 in moral damages.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros pushed to decriminalize libel, saying

the present libel laws have been used and abused to suppress the freedom of the press in the country.

“Our libel laws have been weaponized

A DEPARTMENT of Agriculture official claims a crime syndicate could be hoarding red onions, the price of which stayed high two weeks ahead of Christmas, with authorities checking cold storage facilities for hoarded supplies.

DA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said he received information that some onions were bought way below the cost of production during the harvest season and have not yet been released in public markets.

At the same time, Estoperez, in a Super Radyo dzBB interview, warned those selling smuggled onions online or in markets they might face charges.

Estoperez explained they did not issue a permit to import white onions, thus those found selling this agricultural product would have their permits automatically canceled.

tista’s appointment due to time constraints. At the same time, another panel also approved the ad interim appointment of Jose Rizalino Acuzar as secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

The CA Committee on Human Settlements and Urban Development endorsed the confirmation of Acuzar’s appointment to the plenary in less than one hour, as the CA members from the House of Representatives did not raise

Frenzied sendoff for military duty for BTS star Jin

YEONCHEON—BTS star Jin starts his mandatory South Korean military duty on Tuesday, the band’s first member to enlist since a hiatus announcement this year left fans heartbroken over the Kpop juggernaut’s uncertain future.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court has convicted Baguio City-based journalist Frank Cimatu for cyber libel over

By Willie Casas

as secretary of the Department of Transportation.

week, the CA committee on transportation suspended the hearing on Bau-

BULBOUS HAUL. A police truck holds some sacks of white onions in a total haul worth P1.95 million seized by a composite team of government agents at a warehouse in Tondo, Manila last Friday. BOC photo

KINGLY STRIDE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. walks with Belgium’s King Philippe (left) at the Royal Palace in Brussels on Tuesday. This topped a day where he also met with international maritime employers and various shipowners to assure the European Union’s transport officials that his government is addressing certification issues concerning Filipino seafarers. On Monday, Mr. Marcos also received a warm welcome from Filipinos across Europe in Brussels (inset photos). OPS Photos

‘Crime ring behind red onion hoarding’

COMMANDERS ALL. Philippine Army Commanding General LTG Romeo S. Brawner Jr. and Philippine Marine Corps

Commandant MG Charlton Sean M. Gaerlan (second from right and right) put their fists together with (from left) US Marine Corps Forces Commander LTG William M. Jurney, US Army Pacific Commanding General GEN Charles A. Flynn, and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Chief of Staff GEN Yoshida Yoshihide on Dec. 11 in Asaka Station, Japan. The first JapanPhilippines-United States Land Forces Chiefs Meeting was held to discuss their opinions concerning strategic assessment and maintaining and enhancing

open Indo-Pacific.’ Japanese Embassy photo

P&G pulls Sangobion Kids product

P&G Philippines is voluntarily recalling its Sangobion Kids 100 ml (Iron + Vitamin B-Complex) in the country due to the “potential presence of ethylene glycol” after consultation with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Upon learning of the potential presence of ethylene glycol above the allowable limits in raw material, we decided to take precautionary measures including the voluntary recall of all batches of Sangobion® Kids 100 ml. Though the issue only impacted some batches, we are recalling all batches out of an abundance of caution,” P&G said in a statement.

“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our consumers and the quality of our products. The potential presence of ethylene glycol in the product may result in adverse drug re -

actions. That is why even though our inspections and tests are still ongoing, we have decided to proactively recall all batches still in circulation to ensure our consumers only get products that meet P&G’s quality promise,” it added.

According to P&G, Sangobion Kids 100 ml is used for the treatment and prevention of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children, latent insufficiency of iron and vitamin B during the growth period, and iron deficiency after the loss of blood.

It said the medicine is also used as a

supplement during conditions of chronic illnesses and convalescence.

P&G Philippines advised the public to discontinue using the product. It said that it also requested retailers, pharmacies, and health professionals to stop the distribution, sale, and use of the product.

It also encouraged those who purchased the product to contact its management for guidance to return and refund the supplement.

The P&G Philippines said those children who consumed the product and experienced adverse reactions may contact the National Poison Management and Control Center at (02) 8524 1078, FDA: www.fda.gov.ph, or at the P&G Consumer Care contacts.

These adverse reactions include

vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, altered mental state, symptoms of acute kidney injury like inability to pass or reduced urine, lower back pain, or additional symptoms of irritability, lethargy, pale appearance, decreased muscle tone, and loss of appetite in younger kids.

“As one of the leading consumer health companies in the world, P&G will always comply with the law and regulations where our business operates. We continue to work with the FDA, our customers, and consumers in taking the necessary actions on this matter,” it said.

The public may also contact P&G at (02) 8894 3955 (Metro Manila) or 1800 1888 8008 (Outside Metro Manila) for any additional questions.

‘Fuel subsidy to 600k trike drivers done by January’

THE Department of Transportation will finish paying the government’s fuel subsidy to around 600,000 tricycle drivers by mid-January 2023, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Tuesday.

At a Commission on Appointments hearing, Bautista said the DOTr had already instructed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to coordinate with local government units to complete the distribution of the fuel subsidy.

“We are expecting that we will be able to pay around 60% by end of the year and we will endeavor to complete the full payment by middle of January 2023,” he said.

Mr. Marcos also met Brussels Airport Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arnaud Feist at the sidelines of ASEAN-EU Union Commemorative Summit in Belgium.

According to the Office of the Press Secretary, the President and Feist discussed the possible opening of direct flights from Belgium to Manila to support the development of the economy and tourism of the Philippines, Western Europe, as well as countries in Southeast Asia.

In his speech, he told Filipinos in Brussels about his scheduled meeting with Belgium’s King Philippe and how they would discuss the recent commemoration of 76 years of bilateral relationships between the Philippines and Belgium.

He also thanked the Filipino community for playing a huge part in strengthening Philippine-Belgian ties.

Aside from King Philippe, Marcos is also set to hold 10 bilateral meetings with leaders from Belgium, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Finland, the Netherlands, and the European Union.

Other Filipinos who attended the Filipino community event came all the way from Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos ordered the creation of an advisory board with government agencies, international shipowners, and other stakeholders to address the concerns about the deployment of Filipino seafarers. Vince Lopez

solons at 200.

But Enrile warned the President before he left for Belgium on Sunday that he may eventually be blamed should the MIF be abused, and said he was unsure of the direction of the proposed sovereign wealth fund, and whether it would receive funding even after Mr. Marcos’ six-year term.

“I told the President, Mr. President, let’s study it carefully because [the law will] be written during your time. But maybe your successor would not understand your good aspirations and squander the fund, then you would be blamed because you signed the law,” Enrile said in Filipino.

The former Senate President said he is not against the proposed MIF but noted that he wanted to make sure that the creation of a sovereign wealth fund would not harm the President’s reputation.

Instead of creating the MIF, Enrile said it is “safer” to use funds from the P5.268-trillion proposed national budget for 2023.

“Why not take it from the general fund and let it be a responsibility of the government and tighten the responsibility of the directors?” he said.

Enrile said while he trusts Mr. Marcos’ current Cabinet members, he doubted if he could give the same trust for Cabinet members of the next administrations.

In the latest iteration of the proposed bill creating the MIF, its initial capitaliza-

tion was cut by more than half to just P110 billion from P275 billion after the House dropped the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the national budget from its mandatory fund sources.

The President of the Philippines was also replaced by the Secretary of Finance as head of the MIF Corporation’s governing board.

On Monday, the House committee on banks chaired by Tieng approved a provision on jail time for those who will violate the bill’s stipulations. It also approved reverting the name to MIF from the previous Maharlika Wealth Fund or MWF.

House Bill 6398, introduced on Nov. 28, seeks to establish a Philippine sovereign wealth fund patterned after successful sovereign wealth funds all over the world.

On Tuesday, Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza gave credit to House leaders for addressing all his concerns about the proposed sovereign wealth fund.

He said the current version of the bill was “a much, much better version” than the original because House leaders listened to their colleagues, the public and stakeholders.

Daza said he intended to vote “yes” to the measure once it is considered for second reading.

“I think it’s something that I can support,” he said.

Tieng said the sovereign fund measure has undergone multiple revisions and has around 200 authors already.

“Based on the advice of my committee secretary, it is around 200. The last

cus on his job,” Zubiri said.

He added during a public hearing: “The prices are not moving even though we are encouraging those hiding red onions to release them. In some markets, there is a slight price movement, but this is too small.

“They have a responsibility to our countrymen and our monitoring team... If anything happens to the consumers, do they pay for them? Even though you bought the onions for a cheap price, the hospital bills are more expensive.”

The DA said Monday the smuggled onions intercepted by authorities were not fit for consumption after they were found with traces of bacteria.

Estoperez said the first batch of onions seized by authorities were about 100,000 kilos, which would all be burned or buried to be turned into compost.

He reminded those who would buy these onions that the government would not be held accountable for what would happen to them if they consumed them.

any questions to the Housing secretary.

Only Senators Risa Hontiveros and Nancy Binay asked Acuzar about the updates on the housing projects in war-torn Marawi City and along the railroads.

Before moving for the approval of the appointment of Bautista at the committee level, CA chairman and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri vouched for the Transportation chief’s competence.

“Here’s a fellow that doesn’t need to go through the learning curve. Even when he is sleeping, he thinks of the transport problem of the country and we need him right now because of the traffic jams, because of the traffic congestion because of the Christmas season. We need him to fo-

“If I may, majority leader, do the honor of moving for the approval [at the] committee level for the ad interim appointment of our distinguished gentleman from the transport sector, Secretary Jimmy Bautista,” he added.

The motion was duly seconded by other members of the panel.

During the hearing, Bautista was asked by the members of the CA panel about the DOTr’s direction on the distribution of fuel subsidies and plans for the country’s airports and ports, among others (see related story on A2 – Editors).

Bautista, former president and chief operating officer of Philippine Airlines, was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to head the DoTr last June.

“The 12-member House contingent honored our commitment not to ask

Cimatu conviction.

A libel case was filed against Cimatu for his Facebook post “Agri Sec got rich by 21M in 6 months. Bird flu pa more.”

time I checked, it was 80... but as of yesterday, it was around 200,” he said in an ANC interview.

Responding to criticisms from retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio and economist Solita “Winnie” Monsod that the MIF should not be pursued because the Philippines does not have surplus funds, Tieng said it is within the mandate of state-run financial institutions to invest their investible funds.

“They are investible funds. We will not say they are surplus funds, but they are investible funds. It can be called an investment fund. It is the money of the Filipino people,” he said.

Daza’s top concerns regarding the original bill was the designation of pension agencies GSIS and SSS as fund sources for the MIF, as well as the naming of the President as the chairman of the board of the would-be Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC).

“Two weeks ago, when I voiced out my concerns and in fact my objections on some of the provisions, it appears... all my concerns have been addressed,” Daza said.

Tieng said he understands the concerns of Enrile and they always take into consideration his comments.

He added they will await Enrile’s comments and suggestions, and they will discuss it in the plenary.

Under the bill, the MIF will be sourced from the investible funds of the state-run Land Bank of the Philippines (P50 billion), Development Bank of the Philippines (P25 billion), and the dividends and profits of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

questions despite the fact that everyone is raring to ask questions and [has] prepared questions,” CA Majority Leader Luis Raymund Villafuerte manifested before he raised a motion to approve Azucar’s appointment.

He said the deliberations on Azucar’s appointment were the “fastest” the 19th Congress has ever seen, adding that “with great power comes great responsibility.”

“I would like to emphasize the swiftness [with which] we deliberated on the nomination of Secretary Acuzar. We expect the same swiftness in the implementation of the housing program of the President,” he said.

Meanwhile, business groups were rallying behind and endorsing the confirmation of Alfredo Pascual as secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Joel Zurbano

time the Facebook post was published, the secretary of DA, committed corrupt acts and gained P21 million in six months,” it added.

Divided into two tranches, the government’s P5-billion fuel subsidy program aims to extend P6,500 cash grants to beneficiaries to help them recover from the high prices of fuel.

Bautista said they had encountered some problems in getting more information but currently, they were able to pay more than 20,000 tricycle drivers.

Meanwhile, the DoTr wants to create designated bus lanes akin to the EDSA Carousel in major thoroughfares in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Metro Manila, such as Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Bautista made this remark when Senator Risa Hontiveros asked at the CA hearing why EDSA is the only thoroughfare that has a dedicated bus lane.

“I think we need to have more dedicated bus lanes. We in the road sector are now discussing the possibility of having dedicated bus lanes in major thoroughfares like Quezon Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, and other areas in Metro Manila with wide roads so we can provide faster transportation,” the DoTr secretary said.

development, infrastructure, and the digital economy.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople said her newly created department would be in a better position to help migrant workers next year.

“Next year we’ll have a budget. We can now assist all of you further. It will also help us in the office of the labor attaché. So, we’ll study here in Europe where we can add [attaches],” she said.

Ople said the government has also laid out initiatives to help overseas Filipinos looking to go back to the country for good.

Those who want to pursue their own businesses would get help from various departments, including the Department of Trade and Industry, she said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will provide opportunities for returning OFWs who want to venture into agriculture and agribusiness enterprises.

In addition, the Department of Information of Communications Technology (DICT) will also support the upskilling of Filipino workers to stay competitive in the workforce.

and that he did not present any evidence to prove his claim against Piñol.

to stifle very basic fundamental rights. These laws have been used to constantly attack many of our freedoms, particularly the freedom of the press. We need to decriminalize libel if we are to truly defend press freedom,” said Hontiveros, who filed Senate Bill No. 1593 on Tuesday.

The filing came on the heels of the

jin -- will begin five weeks of training on Tuesday, the military said.

“A cursory reading of the Facebook post would show the intention of the writer, herein accused Cimatu, to injure the reputation, credit, and virtue of Piñol and expose him to public hatred, discredit, contempt and ridicule,” the decision read.

“Accused made it appear that during the bird flu outbreak, Piñol, who, at the

py but also sad but also proud,” she said.

“Taking into consideration the words used by Cimatu and the subject Facebook post, which appears to be an imputation of a crime, the same is defamatory and, thus, satisfies the first element of the crime of cyber libel,” it stated.

The lower court said the social media post was made with reckless disregard for whether what Cimatu said was true

“Accused failed to show any proof that his post was done in good faith, this notwithstanding, being afforded with all the opportunity to ventilate his defenses and pieces of evidence in the present action. In view of his option to waive the presentation of evidence, the accused failed to prove that he made further research on the matter before making the Facebook post,’ the court cited.

The septet is widely considered the country’s biggest-ever cultural phenomenon -- selling out stadiums around the world and dominating the charts while raking in billions and building a global legion of fans known as ARMYs.

But all able-bodied men in South Korea must serve at least 18 months in the military, and while there was a years-long debate about whether BTS deserved an exemption, they confirmed in October that all members will enlist.

Jin -- whose full name is Kim Seok-

Hundreds of media personnel and BTS fans packed an intersection in front of the boot camp’s main gate in Yeoncheon, where a sign reads “A cradle for top class combat soldiers”, awaiting Jin’s expected arrival at 2:00 pm (GMT 0500).

“We have mixed feelings today because on one hand, it’s normal that he does this enlistment because it’s an obligation anyway for any Korean men,” said Veronique, a 32-year-old fan from Indonesia.

“But on the other hand we cannot see him for a minimum of 18 months ... Hap-

The location of Jin’s boot camp close to the border with North Korea, with which the South remains technically at war, has sparked local media speculation that he is expected to be deployed to a “frontline unit” after training.

Fans were stunned in June when BTS revealed they were going on hiatus, citing exhaustion and pressure as well as the desire to pursue solo careers.

But analysts said the announcement was strategically timed because of the compulsory military duty.

The group will reunite around 2025, when its seven members have completed their service.

is 7 percent higher compared to the previous week.

In the same period, the country recorded an average of 1,185 daily coronavirus infections.

In the briefing, Vergeire reiterated that an area’s positivity rate was not an accurate way to measure the virus spread.

Vergeire stressed that most people were now using antigen tests. The country’s confirmed COVID-19 cases are those that tested RT-PCR positive by a DOH-RITM certified laboratory.

As of December 12, the Philippines had 18,355 active COVID-19 cases, DOH figures show.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said her appointment as the DOH’s officer-incharge was not affected by the memorandum circular issued by the Office of the President in July.

In the memorandum circular, it stated that “all OICs of departments, agencies, bureau and office, non-CES (Career Executive Service) officials occupying CES positions and contractual or casual employees covered shall continue to perform their duties and discharge their functions until 31 December 2022.”

SHOULD the Philippines adopt nuclear power as one more option for the country’s energy requirements?

No less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raised the possibility during his State of the Nation Address last July when he said now was the right time to reexamine the country’s approach and policy toward using nuclear energy, noting that with modern technology, safeguards have been placed against possible accidents.

In September, during his official visit to the US, Marcos had also met with executives of NuScale Power, an American energy company offering advanced nuclear technology such as small modular reactors (SMRs).

In fact, the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) is looking into possible nuclear deals with South Korea, France, and China.

PNRI Director Carlo Arcilla recently said there was a “revival” on the use of nuclear power plants because the whole world was concerned with carbon dioxide reduction.

The nuclear power plant has no emission, so it is important in the climate change moves of various countries.

During her recent visit to the Philippines, US Vice President Kamala Harris said Manila and Washington were in negotiations on possible nuclear energy cooperation, citing the need for the so-called 123 Agreement to provide the legal basis for the United States to export nuclear equipment and materials to the country.

Other countries, such as South Korea, France and China, are also interested in concluding nuclear deals with the Philippines

Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act requires the conclusion of a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement before any transfer of nuclear material or equipment from the United States to another country.

For the Philippines to enter into a 123 Agreement with the United States, it must adhere to a set of stringent nuclear nonproliferation requirements.

As of November 2, 2022, the United States had 24 such agreements in force with such countries as China and Russia.

Other countries, such as South Korea, France and China, are also interested in concluding nuclear deals with the Philippines.

South Korea had earlier offered to rehabilitate the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) for $1 billion.

Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corp., conducted a prefeasibility study on the rehabilitation of the BNPP in 2017 upon the request of the Department of Energy (DOE).

This updated an earlier pre-feasibility study in 2008 which the Korean company conducted together with stateowned National Power Corp.

The $2.3-billion 620-megawatt BNPP, built by Westinghouse Electric of the United States in the mid-1970s during the Marcos Sr. administration, was mothballed due to corruption allegations and safety concerns.

By Diana Simeonova

WHEN Ukrainian Elena Bondarenko fled to Bulgaria after Russia invaded, she never imagined she would be taken in by a Russian there.

But that is exactly what happened to the bank clerk from Zaporizhzhia, one of many refugees fleeing the war who have been quietly sheltered by members of the country’s 17,500-strong Russian community.

Bondarenko and her mother and two small children were welcomed by a Russian who runs a children’s holiday camp near the Black Sea city of Burgas.

At first “it was a shock”, Bondarenko, 36, admitted. But “I am happy that not all Russians are aggressors.”

“When you are without a roof, and you need to save your children, it does not matter who helps you,” said another refugee, 34-year-old Anaida Petrushenko, who fled from Pavlohrad in eastern Ukraine with her three children.

“I never hid the fact that I am Russian because people saw that I wanted to

Arcilla allayed public fears on the possible revival of the BNPP, saying South Korea had the exact model of the power plant that had been operating for 40 years now.

“They have an offer for us to revive the plant, they say they can operate our plant within five years. That is the fastest way to have nuclear power in the country even if it is only 620 megawatts,” he said.

Electricity cost in South Korea is actually only half that of the Philippines.

As for France, it has extensive experience in nuclear power production.

About 67 percent of its power production comes from nuclear energy.

The European nation, which has 56 nuclear power plants, is Europe’s biggest net exporter of electricity.

Some lawmakers are open to the idea of acquiring nuclear power.

Senator JV Ejercito believes that “we really need to reconsider nuclear power. We need to bring down cost of energy for our economy to be able to fully develop and at same time address the issue of climate change and global warming, which will be both addressed by shift [to] nuclear power.”

But Senator Risa Hontiveros believes otherwise.

“Insisting on nuclear energy use in the Philippines will be taking a step backwards into the past, and not into a sustainable and peaceful future,” she said.

“Nuclear energy entails the generation of radioactive waste, which will pose a long-term and difficult problem for Filipinos. Even now, advocates of nuclear energy cannot fully answer the question of how and where we will safely store radioactive waste whose half-lives will outlive us, our children and our grandchildren,” she explained.

The opposition senator said there was no guarantee the country would dodge nuclear accidents, should it push through with nuclear energy.

Instead, Hontiveros said the government should focus on alternative and renewable energy sources as these have potential to take up a bigger share of our energy mix without the health, economic and environmental dangers posed by nuclear energy.

Sen. Joel Villanueva says he has reservations on the proposed nuclear energy use due to its harmful effects.

“Although I am open to these discussions, I have reservations about this proposal. We are all aware that nuclear power plants contain radioactive material that is extremely harmful to humans and the environment,” he said.

A thorough evaluation of potential sites for the power plant and waste storage, he emphasized, must be conducted.

Villanueva said he was more inclined to adopting small modular reactors (SMRs) as these could prove to be an affordable option and manageable in size and scale for the country.

In fact, SMRs could be a good alternative source of power in off-grid areas, according to the Department of Energy, as they can be built in a factory and then transported to a site for installation.

ernhil@yahoo.com)

(Email:

EDITORIAL

‘Your CP is busy, email me here...’

READ ye, read ye.

A day before Holy Innocents Day – which marks the execution of the innocent, male children in Bethlehem – this month, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the SIM Card Registration Law will start rolling.

Under the government-crafted IRR, telco subscribers who will not comply with the rules will have their SIM cards deactivated.

But a good light is they are given 180 days from the effectivity of the law to register their SIM cards.

Far more severe is that those who will falsify information or fake their identities to register subscriber identity module shall be penalized with up to two years jail and fine of as much as P300,000 under the IRR.

A SIM is the Subscriber Identity/ Identification Module, a removable card inside a cell phone that stores data unique to the user, as an identification number, passwords, phone numbers, and messages.

The National Telecommunications Commission said those who would sell or transfer a registered SIM card without

complying with the procedure could end up behind bars for six years and fined P300,000, the penalty applicable as well to sellers of stolen SIM cards.

A SIM card used to send fraudulent texts or calls will be deactivated ‘upon due investigation’

Telco providers who fail or refuse to register SIM card shall be slapped with up to P300,000 on first offense, P500,000 on second offense, and P1 million on third and subsequent offenses.

They will also be liable if their agents engage in the sale of stolen SIM cards.

To minimize the frequency of scams, the NTC also imposed six years jail and P200,000 in sanction for anyone who would spread inaccurate information about the source of a call or message.

These acts can only be committed when authorized by law enforcement

authorities or in compliance with a court order.

Foreign nationals who will register their SIM cards are required to present their passport and address in the Philippines.

On the other hand, business establishments are required to provide their business name,. address and the full name of the authorized signatory.

Wireless broadband modems, machine-to-machine communications and IoT or Internet of Things devices should also be registered.

A SIM card used to send fraudulent texts or calls will be deactivated “upon due investigation.”

Telco players who will disclose any data or any information gathered from a user obtained during the registration will be penalized with as much as P4 million for breach of confidentiality.

According to the IRR, all covered SIMs, including embedded SIMs, other variations or technologies and other future technologies thereof, which are provisioned by any public telecommunications entity to provide short messaging services or the socalled SMS, voice or data services are subject for registration.

On fuel subsidies and stopping the excuse train

EvEryman

By Arturo Lim

LET’S get one thing straight: the government has the capacity to help Filipinos who are in dire need right now due to the rising cost of basic goods and fuel prices.

It has aid programs worth billions of pesos, spread across different agencies, that cater to specific sectors that have been reeling from the effects of persistently high inflation. One of the sectors worst affected by the skyrocketing fuel prices is transportation, with tricycle drivers feeling the pinch more acutely than most other transport workers.

Tricycle drivers rake in modest earnings even during the best of times, and even this has been decimated by record inflation this year.

This is why news of the Department of Transportation’s fuel subsidy program –worth around P2.5 billion – was a bright spot during an otherwise very dark and challenging time for transport sector workers in general, and tricycle drivers in particular.

However, while most jeepney and taxi drivers have received their fuel subsidies, only 6,000 tricycle drivers nationwide have received theirs.

That number definitely does not make a dent on the hundreds of thousands of tricycles plying the streets all across the country.

This was an issue that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano raised during the Commision on Appointments hearing on December 7, 2022 on the appointment

of DOTr ad interim Secretary Jaime Bautista.

When asked why the fuel subsidy program has not reached most tricycle drivers, Sec. Bautista explained that many tricycle drivers did not have e-wallet applications – which was crucial because the DOTr was disbursing the fuel subsidies electronically.

The secretary also mentioned that even up to now, the transportation department does not have a comprehensive list

The task at hand for the DOTr is deadsimple: get the fuel subsidy money to the drivers who need it

of registered tricycle drivers as it was waiting on the Land Transportation Office and the Department of Interior and Local Government to supply the information.

The task at hand for the DOTr is deadsimple: get the fuel subsidy money to the drivers who need it.

Any district representative could have accomplished this within their respective areas the moment they received the funds, because of the deep knowledge they have of their own territories.

Senator Cayetano minced no words when he said to Secretary Bautista that the Filipino people are tired of excuses – and quite frankly, in this season of record inflation, excuses for delays mean greater suffering for millions of

The Russians helping Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria

help,” said the camp’s co-owner, who did not want to be named.

He has taken in about 160 Ukrainian refugees, some of whom were shown the door at nearby hotels when the tourist season started.

While a number of Russians in Bulgaria are helping refugees, a large swathe of the Balkan nation remains resolutely pro-Russian.

And the Bulgarian government has often been less than welcoming when it comes to providing accommodation and support, forcing many Ukrainians to leave.

Of the some 932,000, who fled to Bulgaria since the invasion, only some 51,000 remain with less than 10,000 put up by the state, according to official data.

Indeed, the Russian who runs the holiday camp only gets a daily allowance of 7.50 euros ($7.90) per refugee from the Bulgarian government, and even these meager payments are often delayed.

With some 60 children and 50 elderly

people to look after, the Russian and his Bulgarian partner are having to cover the extra costs themselves.

While they lambast the Bulgarian government for failing to provide language courses or help the refugees find work, with winter closing in they say they cannot close the camp.

‘Ashamed’

Volunteers have been the main driving force behind relief efforts for refugees, with Bulgaria woefully unprepared for

the influx of Ukrainians following the Russian invasion in late February.

Despite their efforts, some of the Russians helping Ukrainians are uncomfortable about admitting who they are.

“I came up with this phrase, ‘I was born in Russia,’” a 47-year-old Russian translator, who lives in nearby Varna, told AFP.

“It was less painful for me to put it this way. I can’t describe this feeling of being ashamed of your own motherland,” she told AFP, fearing giving her name in case it got her mother back home into trouble.

Having driven hundreds of kilometers to fetch people from the border with Romania, she is still putting up several families in her and her sister’s Airbnb apartments in Varna.

‘Collective responsibility’

Another Russian in Varna, Viktor Bakurevich, told AFP that he had “decided to take some responsibility for these people who have suffered from the war.”

families out there.

Practical steps that the DOTr can take to resolve this issue, as suggested by Senator Cayetano, include getting the list of registered tricycle drivers from the local government units (which collect that information anyway as they are directly in charge of regulating trike operators in their respective jurisdictions).

And instead of disbursing the subsidies electronically because tricycle drivers are either unwilling or unable to use e-wallet applications, the DOTr can simply choose to distribute the fuel subsidy manually, leveraging the tricycle operators-and-drivers associations or TODAs under which almost all trike drivers are organized.

The DOTr said it still has P100 million in undistributed fuel subsidies left.

A quick back-of-the-envelope calculation reveals that this money could still reach as many as 100,000 tricycle drivers.

However small the subsidy ends up being, it would still be a huge gesture for all the trike drivers buckling under the pressure of high gas prices.

Again, the government has billions set aside for crucial aid packages benefiting sectors that are affected by the country’s emerging cost of living crisis.

But it seems this aid is being held up not because of corruption but by some pretty amateur-hour excuses.

We challenge the DOTr: Let’s stop the excuse train now, and give the people the solutions they need.

“I do not believe in collective guilt but I do believe in collective responsibility,” said the father-of-three, who moved to Bulgaria 14 years ago and founded his Russian grocery chain Berezka.

Feeling “immense shame”, he publicly declared his opposition to the war from the outset and has hired about 50 Ukrainian refugees in addition to dozens of Ukrainians who already worked in his stores across Bulgaria.

Bakurevich is still providing daily food supplies and hot meals to support 100 refugees sheltered in a government recreation centre near Varna.

One of his Ukrainian refugee employees, Oksana Shurdova, 48, said the salary that provided for her family mattered more than the “Russian grocery” sign at the door.

“My relatives know that not all Russians support the policy of the Russian government... They don’t generalize,” she said as a communist-era monument honoring Bulgarian-Soviet friendship looked down on the city from a nearby hill. AFP

(The author is a public transport operator. He advocates the improvement of the public transportation system and safe commuters’ rights.)

While a number of Russians in Bulgaria are helping refugees, a large swathe of the Balkan nation remains resolutely pro-Russian

No ceasefire proposal yet, but SOMO to be enforced—AFP

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it has not received any recommendation to observe a unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels during the Christmas season.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. placed the Special Action Force (SAF) and all 17 Regional Mobile Force Battalions (RMFB) on high alert against possible attacks by communist rebels in light of the 54th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Azurin said however, that there would be no muzzling of police firearms this year, saying he is confident that they would not fire these during the holiday revelry.

“I am not aware of the recommendation. The most that we can do is to declare SOMO (suspension offensive military operation) and move to active defense, especially in areas where the insurgents

are already weak,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar told reporters.

However, Aguilar expressed optimism that the New People’s Army (NPA) leaders would allow their men to go home and spend the holidays with their families.

Aguilar also said the furlough would give the insurgents time to ponder their future and their families living in peace.

“We pray that the insurgents will also be allowed to go to their families and think about their future,” Aguilar said.

“We hope that come New Year, their resolution will be to abandon armed struggle and all forms of violence that destroy human lives and properties,” he said.

AFP chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro honored fallen troops of the 5th Infantry Division (5ID) during his visit to the unit’s headquarters in Camp Melchor Dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela on Monday.

Makati set to inaugurate P9.77-b, 360-bed modern medical center

By Joel E. Zurbano

MAKATI City will open early next year a P9.77billion, 360-bed medical center with state-ofthe-art health care facilities constructed under a private-public sector partnership.

Mayor Abigail Binay on Monday made an ocular inspection of the “game-changer” Makati Life Medical Center in Barangay Bel-Air, the city’s second hospital to serve Yellow Card holders for free, in preparation for its inauguration for its forthcoming inauguration.

“I wanted to see how construction

and preparation at Makati Life Medical Center are progressing. We’ll be opening the 24/7 primary care clinic soon, and I consider this a big milestone for Makati. We’re proud to be at the forefront in bringing modern, affordable, and accessible healthcare services to the public,” said Binay who visited the facility in conjunction with her birth-

day celebration.

Makati Life Medical Center is a public-private partnership (PPP) joint venture between Life Nurture Incorporated and the city government.

It will offer a complete range of primary care services, including preventive health screenings, diagnosis and treatment of common medical conditions, laboratory tests, RT-PCR tests, nutrition consultations, 24/7 pharmacy services, and more.

As a PPP project, Binay has high expectations for Makati Life. She stresses that the hospital will be a game-changer for healthcare services in Makati, providing top-notch medical care to ordinary citizens and the underserved.

“We are committed to providing the people of Makati better access to quality healthcare. I am confident that Makati Life Medical Center will be the cornerstone in this endeavor. We envision an efficient, inclusive, and patient-centered healthcare system that will benefit all Makatizens,” the city chief executive said.

The new hospital is more accessible to city hall employees and residents of the first district.

In July, the Makati Life project won the Public-Private Healthcare Partnership of the Year trophy at the Healthcare Asia Awards due to its vision to become a transformative healthcare collaboration between the local government and the private sector.

BIR files P1.2-b tax raps against five illegal vape traders

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Tuesday filed before the Department of Justice P1.2 billion tax evasion charges against five illegal vape traders who were caught selling smuggled and untaxed vape products.

The BIR identified the respondents as Wei Feng Bao, Christina Poa, Sandoval Severino Briones, Jimmy Go and Bibiano Lesaca.

They were also facing preliminary investigation for violations of Republic Act No. 111346 or An Act Increasing the Excise Tax on Tobacco Products, Imposing Excise Tax on Heated Tobacco Products and Vapor Products and Increasing the Penalties for Violations of Provisions on Articles Subject to Excise Tax, as well as the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Maguindanao del Sur gov to answer charges

By Nash B. Maulana

office of

del Sur Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki Mangudadatu said she will respond to an administrative complaint filed by the vice-mayor of Pandag town before the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Lawyer Israelito Torreon, representing complainant Vice-Mayor Bai Zihan Mamalinta Mangudadatu, said the complaint stemmed from a video clip posted on social media showing an apparent commotion inside a room, following a brief confrontational between the two women.

Reporters sought SangkiMangudadatu’s reaction following an exclusive video interview with Torreon over the KutangBato Vlog through which the lawyer disclosed an administrative complaint of “several counts” was filed against the governor before the BARMM.

The BARMM chief minister will then constitute an arbitral forum to hear the complaint, sources said.

Reporters said security guards stationed at the gates of the provincial capitol would only allow visitors with prior approved appointments to get in, citing what they said were the busy schedules of the governor.

Though, one clear outward signal from inside was that the governor’s office would answer once it received an official copy of the complaint.

Torreon said an administrative complaint cites Gov. Mangudadatu for allegedly “implementing a court order” before the appeal period prescribed or expired, allowing the assumption of Mohajeran “Odjie” Balayman as the mayoral candidate garnering a “plurality of votes,” according to a decision issued by Presiding Judge Annabelle Piang of the 12th Regional Trial Court.

Bato

warns vs. criminals in uniform; urges purge of law enforcement units

FORMER Philippine National Police (PNP) chief-now Senator Ronaldo Dela Rosa on Tuesday warned law enforcers to be wary of colleagues involved in criminal activities, saying antidrug units in particular were prone to temptations.

Meanwhile, the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are working together to purge their ranks of rogue cops and agents who are involved in illegal activities.

“I am encouraging not only the PNP, lahat ng law enforcement agency pati na ang PDEA at NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to embark on a thorough internal cleansing process,” Dela Rosa said.

The former PNP chief delivered a privilege speech on Monday about the arrest of a PDEA supervisor and two agents in a buy-bust operation in Taguig City on Dec. 6.

The PDEA personnel yielded 1.35 kilos of shabu worth P9.18 million, buybust money, four firearms and a digital weighing scale.

Dela Rosa also talked about the

involvement of Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., an active member of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group Special Operation Unit, in a drug den that stored some 990 kilograms of shabu worth P6.7 billion.

He likewise cited the two cops who were killed in an ambush by members of a syndicate after an anti-illegal drug operation in Pampanga.

Dela Rosa said law enforcers should stay active and vigilant as traitors within their ranks will pounce on opportunities to conduct their illegal activities.

“They are not stopping so should we. We should continue what we have started and use what we have learned from our experiences from the last administration,” he said, referring to the Duterte administration’s relentless fight against illegal drugs.

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chaired by Dela Rosa will invite law enforcers during an inquiry next year on the status of their internal cleansing and the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. Joel E. Zurbano

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., who personally led the filing of the complaint, said the government is very serious in its crackdown against illegal vape traders not paying the correct taxes.

It is the first tax evasion filed under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,

“I hope this serves yet another warning to those who think that they can continue to evade the payment of their taxes. We are hands-on and focused in our job, and we take this very seriously,” Lumagui stressed.

He also called on those who are planning to sell vape products and cigarettes to register, otherwise, they will be considered illegal and subject to confiscation and filing of appropriate charges,

The filing of the complaint stemmed from a raid conducted by a specialized team on the onsite and online business operations of the accused in Binondo, Manila last month.

The operation led to the seizure of approximately 50,000 to 100,000 units of vapes, 899 boxes of untaxed excisable articles composed of 175,050 pieces of pods, and 61,400 pieces of bottled flavored juice.

Truck driver, helper die in 4-vehicle collision in Atimonan, Quezon

Local

The

There

Red Cross warns versus spread of HFMD

By Willie Casas

THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has advised its barangay-based volunteers to be on alert against the threat of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

The PRC said HFMD is a highly contagious viral infection that is common among infants and children.

“PRC’s Health Services Team has alerted all our 100+ chapters—and our RC143 volunteers—to be vigilant and report to our Operations Center information from the barangays on HFMD cases,” PRC chairman and chief executive officer Richard Gordon said in a statement.

The Department of Health (DOH) warned the public last week that cases of the viral illness are rising in the capital region.

Some 155 cases of HFMD were

recorded from October to Dec. 6 in Metro Manila, according to the DOH.

Majority of the cases involved children, but no death was recorded during the period.

The PRC noted that those infected by HFMD are most contagious during the first week of their illness. Its incubation period is two to 14 days.

Among its symptoms are fever, sore throat, malaise, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums, and the inside of the cheeks, irritability in infants and toddlers, and loss of appetite.

HFMD is transmitted through contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva of infected persons, and contaminated objects, the PRC said.

The PRC said sanitary practices such as proper hand-washing could decrease the risk of spreading the disease.

Investigations

A TRUCK driver and his helper reportedly died in a four-vehicle collision along the Maharlika Highway Monday night in Barangay Malinao Ilaya, Atimonan, Quezon province.

They were declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Police identified the fatalities as truck driver Romeo Dela Cruz Nazar, 60, of Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, and his helper,

Bernardo Baynado Diolta, 43, of Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte.

A physician of the Doña Martha Memorial District Hospital said the victims sustained acquired fatal injuries to the head and lower extremities after they were pinned inside their truck.

The collision also involved an Isuzu Dropside (NGK 277) with three occupants; an Isuzu Drop Highside

(ABB 5251) with two passengers, and an Isuzu Truck.

The vehicles were reportedly moving in a row in an uphill part towards Lucena City, while a Wing Van truck (MGQ 388), driven by Nazar, was going downhill toward Atimonan town proper.

indicated that the wing van blocked the path of the first vehicle,

triggering the massive collision.

residents had a field day gathering packs of cigarettes that littered the accident site.

other trucks were reportedly loaded with soft drink bottles and steel.

are reports that three occupants got minor injuries and all vehicles incurred undetermined amount of damages.Benjie Antioguia

THE

Maguindanao

PHILATELIST. A stamp collector shows off a sheet postal stamps bearing the iconic image of the late President Fidel V. Ramos Stamps at the lobby of the historic Manila Central Post Office building in Liwasang Bonifacio, Ermita, Manila. The stamps, souvenir sheets, and official first-day covers are now available at the Philatelic Counter in Manila for P12 each stamp. Danny Pata

VAPE TRADERS CHARGED. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lamagui shows the charge sheets he filed before the Department of Justice against four traders caught selling untaxed vapor products. The assessed taxes, fines and penalties exceed P1.2 billion, the BIR said. Danny Pata

ROAD SMASH-UP. A truck driver and his helper are reported killed in a fourvehicle collision on Maharlika Highway in Barangay Malinao Ilaya, Atimonan, Quezon province. Photo shows one of the trucks that sustained heavy damage and spilled its cargo on the pavement. Benjie Antioguia

Lawmakers unanimously approve measure creating eCommerce Bureau

ABILL creating an Electronic Commerce Bureau (eCommerce Bureau) which will regulate internet transactions has been approved on its third and final reading at the House of Representatives.

Lawmakers unanimously approved House Bill (HB) 4, with 245 affirmative votes. HB 4 provides that the eCommerce Bureau will be the virtual central authority which will receive and address consumer complaints on internet transactions.

Likewise, the bill mandates the said eCommerce Bureau to develop an online dispute resolution platform which

IN BRIEF

will be the single point of entry for consumers and online merchants seeking out-of-court resolution of disputes, GMA News reported.

HB 4 also tasks the eCommerce Bureau to establish, manage, and maintain a Registry of Online Business which will provide consumers access to data and information of

registered online business entities for purposes of verifying the validity, existence of and other relevant information pertaining to business entities.

A code of conduct for all businesses engaged in e-commerce which stipulates the obligations of e-commerce platform operators and specifies the responsibilities of online merchants of goods is also provided by the bill, since merchants are expected to act responsibly to build trust in internet transactions and to protect and uphold the interest of consumers at all times.

As to the specific limited liability of

online platforms, the bill provides: online platforms will be solidarily liable with an online merchant to the consumer only to the extent of civil damages suffered by the consumer as a direct result of the transaction and online platforms will be liable for civil and administrative; indemnity with online merchants only under the following instances: (1) failure to exercise ordinary diligence; (2) failure to remove goods or services not compliant with law; and permission to an online merchant not authorized to do business in the Philippines. Maricel V. Cruz

Public urged to register SIMs ahead of deadline

THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is urging the public to register their SIMs before the deadline to avoid losing their mobile numbers.

NTC consultant Edgardo Cabarrios said failure to register within the given period will result in the deactivation of their SIM cards. The government earlier announced that SIM registration is set to begin on Dec. 27.

“They’re waiting for the deadline before registering. That’s why we’re asking the public to register when it opens on Dec. 27. If we have nothing important to do, let’s register, let’s not wait for the deadline,” Cabarrios, quoted by an ABS-CBN News report, said. The telco regulator on Monday released the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) governing the SIM registration law.

THE Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) announced on Tuesday that it will implement shorter operating hours on LRT2 on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Year’s Eve), The LRT said the schedules are as follows: December 24—Last trip to Recto - 8 p.m., Last trip to Antipolo - 8:30 p.m; December 31—Last trip to Recto - 7 p.m., Last trip to Antipolo7:30 p.m.

All stations will open at 5 a.m.

“Since there will likely be fewer passengers on these days, the operating hours will be shortened. It also aims to give the LRT2 frontline personnel an opportunity to celebrate with their families this holiday season,” the LRTA said.

Meanwhile, regular operating hours (5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.) will be followed on December 25 (Christmas Day), December 30 (Rizal Day), and January 1, 2023 (New Year’s Day).

The “No Inspection, No Entry” policy will still be enforced by the LRTA with regard to all passengers’ belongings, including those packaged as gifts.

Bill providing legal aid to military approved

VOTING 248 against three, the House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the measure that would provide free legal aid to members of the military and uniformed personnel who are charged with crimes done in relation to the performance of their duties.

Covered under House Bill 6509 are officers or uniformed personnel ofthe Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police who are facing charges before the Prosecutor’s Office, Courts or any competent body arising from an incident related to their official duties

“It is the declared policy of the State to protect the dignity and rights of its citizens, including those responsible for upholding the Constitution, defending the sovereignty of the country and its territory against all enemies, enforcing the laws of the land, preventing crimes, and maintaining peace and order,” the HB 6509, to be known as “Free Legal Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel Act,” read.

“To this end, the State shall provide free legal assistance to military and uniformed personnel (MUP),” it continued, enumerating the list of uniformed personnel covered by the free legal aid for any “criminal, civil or administrative charge or case involving service-related incidents.”

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, Majority Leader Manuel Jose M. Dalipe, Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, Jude A. Acidre, were among the authors of the bill. Maricel V. Cruz

DAR joins fight to end violence against women

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has joined the government’s campaign to end violence against women nationwide.

Through its Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System, the agency conducted an 18-day campaign from Nov. 25 and until Dec. 12 with a theme “United for a VAW-free Philippines.”

“The campaign aims to highlight the gains and milestones achieved in the efforts to prevent VAW in the country. It also seeks to address and assess the implementation and strengthening of VAW-related laws in the country,” Secretary Conrado Estrella III said.

He is the chairperson of the GAD steering committee.

“The DAR is joining this nationwide campaign to gain the support of the general public to make a personal commitment to end violence against women and children,” he cited. The campaign specifically aims to promote awareness on the forms of violence women and young girls experience, provide information on laws protecting women and girls, and feature VAW-related services that people can access and avail. Rio N. Araja

Sara wants to replicate San Juan school’s fiber access

VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte wants to replicate San Juan City, which achieved a 1:1 teacher and student-gadget ratio in public schools.

The city has also installed fiber internet connection for all of its 13 public schools —another project that Duterte wants to adopt, ABS-CBN News reported.

But Duterte also admitted that the Department of Education (DepEd) was still leaning toward a “mixed” method of learning that both employs the traditional in-person learning and online classes because some areas do not have internet access.

“That’s the Department of Education’s dream for all our schools. But for now, our direction is mixed. There are schools whose locations do not have the capacity to access internet connection.,” Duterte, quoted by the ABS-CBN News report said.

The Vice President visited the Pinaglabanan Elementary School with San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora recently. The school, on the same day of Duterte’s visit, launched its fiber internet connection.

Asked if the DepEd will plan its own application for blended learning, Duterte said it “depends on our technical working group on the institutionalization of blended learning. What we will get is the best for our learners.”

Zamora, meanwhile, said the city utilized its special education fund (SEF) to provide gadgets and internet for all public school students and teachers.

He explained this was part of San Juan’s transition to being a “smart city”, which he said can be done in other parts of the country, ABS-CBN News further reported.

Zamora added he wanted San Juan to be a “leader in terms of digitalization.”

According to the IRR, all SIMs must be registered 180 days following the effectivity of the law. But Cabarrios said the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) could extend the deadline if necessary.

Senator Grace Poe meanwhile commended the NTC for meeting the deadline of publication for the IRR of the SIM Registration Act.

“However, we note with grave concern the vague verification process under the said IRR. The importance of having a verification process cannot be emphasized enough--it serves as the first line of defense against the misuse of our mobile telecommunication systems to perpetrate national security threats and identity theft in the case of end-users,” Poe said.

She said a strong and definite verification process like what the public see in standard Know-Your-Customer (KYC) procedures is a proactive guard against possible abuses in the system.

“In order to facilitate the immediate implementation of the law, we are constrained to trust the assurances given by the Technical Working Group who drafted the IRR that the NTC will continuously issue the necessary guidelines to guide the telcos in the performance of their duties under the law, particularly specifying the processes for verifying submitted information,” the senator added. With Joel E. Zurbano

Power coops back ERC probe on electricity rate hike

is an unfortunate event that has been happening for the last few months due to high fuel costs. It said the biggest chunk of a consumer’s bill is the generation charge (about 61 percent).

Philreca said ECs are being vilified, crucified, and even tried in the court of public opinion for levying rising electricity rates in recent months.

The group said they are collectors or collecting agents only of the payments due to generation companies, the transmission system operator, and even the taxes due to the government.

Philreca said the rising cost of electricity

“The increases that the consumer’s experience are brought about by increase in charges in the other component of our electricity bills—mainly, the generation charge and the resulting increase in government taxes because taxes are expressed in terms of percentages,” the group said.

Philreca said the EPIRA law allows generation companies to pass these costs to the consumers.

It said the only fees the ECs have control of - —the distribution, supply, and metering or DSM charges—remained unchanged and did not change in the last ten years.

Philreca said that proposed that power generation must be regulated. “Continuing a deregulated generation sector will only result in imbalance in the power industry, the opportunities of each to bring down the electricity cost being impeded,” it said. The group called for reintroducing a provision allowing the government (both LGU and national) to generate power “and not leave the matter only to the private sector.”

Maynilad sets replacement of leaky pipes

By Rio N. Araja

WEST zone Maynilad Water Services Inc. is targeting to replace 639 kilometers of old, leaky pipes in various locations within its concession area over the next five years to upgrade the distribution system and reduce water losses.

“We are committed to investing in our infrastructure to continuously improve our services. Our goal is to provide 100% of our concession area with 24hour supply at appropriate water pressure,” Randolph Estrellado, Maynilad chief operating officer said.

The water fi rm has allocated P9.9 billion for the replacement of the deteriorated pipelines in several portions of the cities of Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Muntinlupa and

Las Piñas.

The project is part of Maynilad’s P219.8 billion total spending plan for 2023 to 2027.

Once completed, these pipe replacements —along with Maynilad’s leak repair and network diagnostic activities—would allow for the recovery of some 66 MLD (million liters per day) of water, which is enough to supply the water needs of almost 340,000 residents.

Since its re-privatization in 2007, Maynilad has replaced 2,974 kms of old pipelines, which is as long as the distance between Manila, Philippines, and Beijing, China.

Maynilad has already renewed around 64 percent of the pipe network it inherited from the government in 2007, some segments of which were installed as far back as World War II.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc., the association of electric cooperatives operating nationwide, expressed support for the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) investigation of all private utilities and electric cooperatives and their power suppliers regarding overpriced generation rates.

The organization and our member-ECs have been pushing for this for a long time already. Some electric cooperatives have tried to talk to generation companies and insisted

on a renegotiation of their rates because at the end of the day, it is our memberconsumer owners, the ordinary Filipino, who are suffering the brunt of this unfortunate power hikes,” the group said.

FACE-TO-FACE. Persons deprived of Liberty (PDLs) talk with the visitors as the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) started the resumption of face-to-face visits in jails at the Manila City Jail in Sta. Cruz. Danny Pata

AFTER THE BLAZE. A resident looks for usable materials in the aftermath of a re in Barangay Don Bosco, Parañaque City on December 13. The Bureau of Fire Protection said it has yet to verify how many families and homes were a ected by the re. Norman Cruz

LRT sets shorter holiday operating hours

CONNECTED CLASSROOM. Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora visit the Pinaglabanan Elementary School to inspect the school’s facilities, especially the free ber optic internet connection and smart TVs in the classrooms provided by the local government. Manny Palmero

AIRPORT BLOCKED.

Protestors take over the Alfredo Rodriguez Ballon international airport following the announcement by Peruvian new President Dina Boluarte of her intention of presenting a bill to parliament to advance the scheduled general elections from April 2026 to April 2024 in Arequipa, Peru, on December 12. Hundreds of protesters on Monday used burning tires, wood, and rocks to block the airport runway in Peru’s second-largest city, Arequipa, demonstrating against the ousting of former president Pedro Castillo. AFP

‘Ukraine needs extra gas, weapons’

KYIV—President Volodymyr Zelensky urged G7 nations on Monday to provide extra gas and weapons to help Ukraine survive a brutal winter that threatens to bring further suffering to millions in the war-torn country.

With snow on the ground and Ukraine’s energy grid battered by Russian strikes, many are facing freezing temperatures without power or heating.

During a video conference with the G7 club of wealthy nations on Monday, Zelensky said Ukraine needs “about two billion cubic metres” of additional gas to get through the winter.

He also urged the G7 to send more arms to Ukraine, including “modern

tanks” as well as “rocket artillery and more long-range missiles”.

Western-supplied weapons have helped turn the tide in the war, and a senior US military official said Monday that Russia is likely turning to older, less reliable artillery and rocket ammunition as its newer stocks run low.

But Zelensky said “Russia still has the advantage in artillery and missiles.”

“This is a fact,” he told the G7. “These

capabilities of the occupying army are the ones to fuel the Kremlin’s arrogance”.

‘We will survive’

Meanwhile, in the strategic Ukrainian port of Ochakiv, officials are hoping the Black Sea naval base can serve to consolidate Kyiv’s gains in the southern Kherson region. After failing to seize the port, Russian troops have been pummelling Ochakiv from the nearby Kinburn peninsula.

In the fog at the local market, 62-yearold Oleg Klyutshko said: “I am not afraid of winter... but I would like the strikes to stop. We will survive anything else.”

Kyiv says 40 percent of Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure has been

Crypto tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried arrested

WASHINGTON—Disgraced cryptocurrency tycoon Sam BankmanFried was arrested Monday in the Bahamas at the request of the United States, according to US officials seeking to charge him after the spectacular collapse of his FTX platform.

The arrest comes on the eve of Bankman-Fried’s scheduled appearance at a US Congress hearing in which he was to testify under oath about the crypto exchange’s overnight demise.

The 30-year-old had in recent weeks defied legal advice and multiplied media appearances offering his version of his company’s sudden failure, usually by video link from the Bahamas where his company is headquartered.

“Earlier this evening, Bahamian authorities arrested Samuel Bankman-Fried at the request of the US Government, based on a sealed indictment filed by the southern dis-

trict of New York,” said a tweeted statement from Damian Williams, lead prosecutor for the district.

“We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time,” he added.

According to a press release from the attorney general’s office in the Bahamas, Bankman-Fried was to be held in custody before an expected request for his extradition by the United States.

The Bahamas prime minister’s office shared news of the arrest, as well as a police statement saying Bankman-Fried was arrested in the early evening at his apartment complex in the capital Nassau.

He was taken into custody without incident, the statement said, and was to appear in court in Nassau

IN BRIEF

Biden to sign same-sex marriage protections into American law

WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden will on Tuesday sign into law a bill granting federal protections to same-sex marriage -- gathering thousands of guests at the White House to celebrate the legislative milestone.

It comes 12 years after Biden -- then Barack Obama’s vice president -- took a public stand in favor of same-sex unions, well before they became legal in the entire United States through a 2015 US Supreme Court decision.

After the Supreme Court—now significantly more conservative—overturned longstanding abortion rights last June, lawmakers from the left and right came together to prevent any subsequent move to curb same-sex marriage rights, feared by some.

The legislation’s final adoption by Congress last week marked a rare show of bipartisanship in deeply divided Washington.

In celebration, Biden will be gathering a group of Republican and Democratic lawmakers on the White House grounds, along with advocates and plaintiffs in marriage equality cases across the country, his spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. AFP

US rolls out red carpet, pledges $55b to nearly 50 African leaders

WASHINGTON—The United States on Tuesday is rolling out the red carpet to leaders across Africa with plans to unveil $55 billion in support as part of a renewed bid to win back influence in the continent.

Nearly 50 African heads of state or government have descended on Washington in the midst of a pre-Christmas cold snap for three days of courtship by President Joe Biden after years of inroads in the continent by China and Russia.

Previewing the summit, Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, said the administration would seek $55 billion for Africa over the next three years “across a wide range of sectors to tackle the core challenges of our time.”

He said the blueprint would be the African Union’s own Agenda 2063, its plan for sustainable development.

“We are lifting up African voices and African priorities in what we are doing in this summit,” Sullivan told reporters.

The Biden administration, which has identified China as its top global competitor, hopes to show a subtle contrast from Beijing during the summit rather than hammering home criticism. AFP

on Tuesday.

As much as anyone, Bankman-Fried had embodied the apparent emergence of cryptocurrency as an above-board investment and no longer a frowned on get-rich-quick scheme shunned by the banking establishment. AFP

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late HERMINIO R. POBLETE was extrajudicially settled by heirs as per Doc. No. 10; Page 3; Book No. 2; Series of 2022 Before

Notary Public Hazel Delos Santos Reyes of the Province of Cavite. MS-(NOV. 30, 2022 - DEC. 7 & 14, 2022)

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late REYNALDO MANLAPIG was extrajudicially settled by heirs as per Doc. No. 12; Page 3; Book No. 2; Series of 2022 Before Notary Public Hazel Delos Santos Reyes of the Province of Cavite. MS-(NOV. 30, 2022 - DEC. 7 & 14, 2022)

damaged, with wave after wave of targeted Russian attacks.

The Ukrainian energy ministry said in a statement that Russian missiles had hit all of the country’s thermal power plants, while 44 overhead high-voltage power lines had also been affected.

Power company YASNO said supply limitations in Kyiv were “significant” with some 40 percent of supplies diverted to critical infrastructure.

Oil and gas company DTEK said its specialists were “constantly looking for equipment to restore the energy infrastructure destroyed by Russia” and had agreed on contracts with European suppliers ABB and Siemens. AFP

China sends wave of bombers into Taiwan airspace

TAIPEI—China sent a record 18 nuclear-capable bombers into Taiwan’s air defence zone, Taipei said Tuesday, just days after Beijing banned more Taiwanese imports in the latest sign of deteriorating ties.

Democratic Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which sees the self-ruled island as part of its territory to be seized one day.

Meanwhile, a senior US delegation visiting China discussed ways to improve ties and the issue of Taiwan, Beijing said Monday, as the two sides laid the groundwork for a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The talks -- involving top US diplomat for East Asia Daniel Kritenbrink, National Security Council Senior Director for China and Taiwan Laura Rosenberger and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng -- took place on Sunday and Monday in the northern province of Hebei, Beijing said.

The visit comes after Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden pledged to repair frayed relations at a summit in Bali, Indonesia last month.

Beijing has ramped up military, diplomatic and economic pressure since the 2016 election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who rejects its stance that the island is part of China.

In a daily update on Tuesday morning Taiwan’s defense ministry said 21 aircraft entered the island’s southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the last 24 hours, including 18 nuclear-capable H-6 bombers.

That represents by far the largest daily sortie by H-6 bombers since Taipei first began releasing daily incursion data in September 2020, according to a database maintained by AFP. AFP

Madam MAE B. PILLO, the Social Worker of the Court is ordered to

CHILD & HOME STUDY REPORTS pertaining to the herein petitioners, the adoptee and their family; and

likewise with the Civil Registry the

The

two (2) public places in the city where the decedent-spouse last resided.

Within ten (10) days after the notice has been published and posted, the appointed regular administrator is directed to file before this Court a printed copy of the notice accomplished with an affidavit setting forth the dates of the first and last publication thereof and the name of the newspaper in which the same is printed.

Let herein notice be posted for the same period at the Bulletin Boards of this court, the Office of the Clerk of Court, RTC, Quezon City, and City Assessor’s Office, main entrance of the Quezon City Hall Building and at the Barangay Hall of the the barangay where the decedent-spouse resided immediately prior to their demise.

The appointed regular administrator is required to render a true and just account to the Court within one (1) year from the appointment, and at any time when so required by the Court pursuant to Section 8 Rule 85 of the Rules of Court.

SO ORDERED.

August 30, 2022, Quezon City, Metro Manila

(Sgd.) MARIA LUISA LESLE G. GONZALES-BETIC

Presiding Judge

Copy Furnished:

Atty. Portia Flores-Diesta/Atty. Eliseo S. Calma, Jr. –Padilla Adaza Diesta Calma & Associates (PADCA) Law Office, AFPIC Padilla Bldg., G/F No. 77 Anahaw St., Veterans Village, 1105 Quezon City (tonike77@yahoo.com) Atty. Maria Karla Soleil Rosal-Jacosalem – No. 5030 Hernandez Ave., San Antonio Valley 5, Parañaque City (rosaliacosalemlawoffice@gmail.com)

identity and registered name of the adoptee ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE FILING OF THE AMENDED PETITION. The same Social Worker shall establish that the child is legally available for adoption and the documents submitted in support thereof are all valid and authentic; that the petitioners has sincere intention and the adoption shall inure to the best interest of the child. In the preparation of Child and Home Study Reports, Ms Mae B Pillo is required to have this properly coordinated with the then Social Worker of the Court Madam Mariebec Cariaga considering that Ms Cariaga made initial study and examination of the subject, the petitioners and their family in the original petition.

If after the conduct of the case studies, the social worker finds that there are grounds to deny the petition, she shall make the proper recommendation to the court furnishing a copy thereof to the petitioners.

The counsel for the petitioner is given ten (10) days from receipt of a copy of this ORDER to furnish the Office of the Solicitor General, the City Prosecutor of Quezon City, DSWD, NSO, the City Civil Registrar of Quezon City and the Philippine Statistics Authority copies of the Amended Petition complete with annexes and to show compliance thereof soonest time possible.

Let copies of this Order be furnished the Office of the Solicitor General, the City Prosecutor of Quezon City, Assistant City Prosecutor Arnel F. Pabellar, DSWD, the NSO, the City Civil Registrar of Quezon City, the Philippine Statistics Authority and the petitioners/counsel for their perusal and immediate reference.

The City Civil Registrar of Quezon City, whereby the proposed adoptee is registered, and any one/offices who wishes to oppose instant petition including the Civil Registrar General are likewise ordered to appear on the above mentioned scheduled hearing to show cause why this petition should not be granted.

The petitioners and the proposed adoptee must personally appear and they must testify before the undersigned presiding Judge of this Court.

SO ORDERED. Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines 10th day of October, 2022.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BSP expected to raise policy rate by 50 basis points Thursday Business

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is expected to raise interest rates by another 50 basis points on Thursday to control the elevated inflation rate, a top executive of Sun Life Investment Management and Trust Corp. said Tuesday.

SLIMTC president and chief investment officer Mike Enriquez said in an online briefing the BSP would likely hike the interest rates to match the pace of adjustment by the US Federal Reserve.

“We expect the BSP to hike rates by 50 bps, matching the Fed rate hike. It is unlikely for a 75 bp hike for now, at least until first quarter of 2023,” Enriquez said.

“A 50-bp hike is expected for this month. Two meetings will follow in first quarter of 2023, with the same expected hike [50bps] for each meeting,” he said.

Enriquez said the BSP was caught in a tough place as domestic inflation began stabilizing while US inflation continued to be persistent.

He said the elevated inflation this year was due to surging oil prices early in the year and the adjustments of both food and non-food prices such as transport costs.

He said that because of the impact of typhoon Karding on rice-growing provinces, “we should expect December and January inflation to remain high.”

“We expect inflation to trend lower and decelerate faster than the US in 2023 due to transitory [weather impact] and commodity-heavy nature of our domestic CPI,” he said.

Enriquez said he expected inflation to average 5.8 percent in 2022 and 4.5 percent in 2023.

The interagency Development Budget Coordinating Committee raised the average inflation rate assumption for 2022 to 5.8 percent from the previous estimate of 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent, given the persistent high prices of food and transport costs. Julito G. Rada

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

6,582.38

DollarPeso United States Dollar 1.00000055.5500 Japan Yen 0.0072640.4035 UKPound1.22740068.1821 Hong KongDollar0.1285967.1435 SwitzerlandFranc1.06837659.3483 CanadaDollar0.73340740.7408 SingaporeDollar0.73822541.0084 AustraliaDollar0.67450037.4685 BahrainDinar2.652801147.3631 Saudi Arabia Rial 0.26592214.7720 BruneiDollar0.73551040.8576 IndonesiaRupiah0.0000640.0036 Thailand Baht 0.0287561.5974 UAE Dirham0.27227915.1251 EuroEuro 1.05380058.5386 Korea Won 0.0007660.0426

ChinaYuan0.1433107.9609 IndiaRupee0.0121020.6723 MalaysiaRinggit0.22655212.5850 New Zealand Dollar 0.63810035.4465 TaiwanDollar0.0325711.8093

October exports surged 20% to $7.7b; 10-month trade deficit hit nearly $50b

By Julito G. Rada

MERCHANDISE exports jumped 20 percent year-on-year in October to a record $7.7 billion, but the trade deficit continued to swell to nearly $50 billion in the first 10 months, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.

The PSA said the trade deficit amounted to $3.31 billion in

October, the narrowest since May 2021, as exports grew by 20 percent, faster than the 7.5-percent expansion of imports.

Total trade deficit from January to October reached $49.9 billion, wider than the $32.4-billion gap in the same period last year.

Exports hit $7.70 billion in October, reflecting an annual increase of 20 percent, faster than the increment of 7.1 percent in September. In October 2021, export sales grew 2.0 percent.

This brought the total export earnings in the first 10 months to $66.01 billion, up 6.3 percent from $62.10 billion a year ago.

Electronic products continued to be the country’s top export in October with total earnings of $5.10 billion. This accounted for 66.3 percent of the total exports during the month. This was followed by other mineral products with an export value of $294.00 million (3.8 percent); and other manufactured goods, which amounted to $273.61 million (3.6 percent).

Total imported goods in October amounted to $11 billion, up 7.5 percent year-on-year.

“The annual growth in the value of imported goods in October 2022 was mainly due to the increases in the values of five of the top 10 major commodity groups, with metalliferous ores and metal scrap having the fastest annual growth rate of 462.7 percent. This was followed by transport equipment, which rose by 46.3 percent annually; and other food and live animals by 40.3 percent,” the PSA said.

Total imports from January to October reached $115.99 billion, 22.7 percent from a year earlier.

Most of the imported goods were electronic products with an import value of $2.88 billion or a share of 26.2 percent to the total imports in October. This was followed by mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, valued at $1.88 billion (17.1 percent); and transport equipment, which amounted to $840.83 million (7.6 percent).

Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said the easing of trade deficit in October was largely brought about by the record exports on a monthly basis.

DOE assesses continued operations of Malampaya

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy is assessing the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project shallow water platform to ensure continued operations and sustainability amid the power undersupply the country is facing.

The DOE visit to Malampaya on Dec. 8 was spearheaded by businessman Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. on behalf of the consortium and in partnership with the government as the new operator of Malampaya.

“The Malampaya project signaled the birth of the Philippine natural gas industry. It has not only become a symbol of the country’s journey towards energy self-sufficiency, but it has also become a symbol of national pride,” Prime Infra president and chief executive Guillaume Lucci said.

“Given the urgency to sustain the operations of Malampaya at a time of great energy insecurity, this visit by the DOE officials with the Prime Infra Group to the shallow water platform is timely and necessary.” Lucci said.

Prime Infra recently acquired a 45-percent operating stake in Malampaya through one of its subsidiaries, Prime Energy.

Prime Infra assumed full ownership and control of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. on Nov. 1, 2022, after a successful transition process for a safe and seamless handover of operations.

The move marks the initial foray of Prime Infra into the upstream energy market.

Prime Infra committed to delivering outstanding operational performance and further the potential of Service Contract 38 covering the Malampaya

of

IN BRIEF

Emperador Properties to list in Spanish bourse

BILLIONAIRE Andrew Tan is set to list on Monday his privately-owned real estate firm Emperador Properties in the Spanish Stock Exchange.

Emperador Properties said in a statement Tuesday the company, which is structured as a real estate investment trust, will list in Spain’s BME Growth Stock Exchange on Dec. 19 with “YEPSA” as trading symbol.

“To be listed in the Spanish Stock Exchange is, for any company, an important milestone. We are looking forward to seeing how Emperador Properties evolves in this new stage. Our commitments to our employees, tenants and partners remain as present as always in our day-to-day life,” said Joan Cortés Vilardell, chief executive of Emperador Properties.

Emperador Properties, which will not raise fresh capital from the listing, wholly owns three assets in Spain, including the 57-story Torre Emperador Castellana and the 35-story Torre Caleido Shopping Center in Madrid and the 23-story Torre Diagonal One in Barcelona. Jenniffer B. Austria

PEZA approves P57-b investment pledges

INVESTMENT pledges approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority fell 11.5 percent in the first 11 months to P57.07 billion from P64.46 billion in the same period last year.

Acting PEZA director-general Tereso Panga said the agency expected to approve more investment commitments in December.

“With two more board meetings scheduled this December, we are confident that we can achieve our target of 6 to 7 percent increase in 2022 approved investments compared to last year’s,” he said.

The number of approved projects went down by 21 percent in the 11-month period to 181 from 229 a year ago. Employment and exports grew by 4.62 percent and 4.68 percent, respectively.

Exports from economic zones from January to November went up to $54.23 billion from $51.81 billion, while employment expanded to 1,850,842 from 1,768,986 workers. Othel V. Campos

PLDT, Smart

from Maybank

receive awards for excellence

MAYBANK Philippines Inc., which recently commemorated its 25th year, recognized PLDT Inc. and wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. for excellence and efficiency through innovation and customerfocused solutions.

PLDT and Smart received two of three awards under the Excellence and Efficiency category, which recognized companies that “achieved pioneering accomplishments that define the superior productivity of the Filipino talent.”

“As the country’s largest fully integrated telecommunications company, PLDT Group has shown excellence and efficiency through its culture of innovation and by bringing focused solutions to the changing digital lifestyle of the Filipinos,” the citation read.

The award is a validation of PLDT’s group-wide transformation efforts, with industry-leading operational excellence as one of the key pillars.

PLDT’s overall transformation initiative is supported by the country’s widest, fastest, and most reliable network and nextgeneration digital infrastructure. Improved quality of customer experience is one of the key transformational goals in PLDT’s aspirational 2025 vision and strategy, under which the company is also establishing new ways of working and a much higher pace of executing plans.

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

project to ensure the continuity

gas production as long as the reserves can accommodate it.

LANDBANK-DICT TIEUP. Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy (fourth from right) and Land Bank of the Philippines president and chief executive Cecilia Borromeo (secone from right) sign the Inter-Government Agency Memorandum of Understanding for E-Governance on Dec. 2, 2022 at the Marriot Hotel in Pasay City, Manila. With them are (from left) Mindanao Development Authority chairperson Maria Belen Acosta, Government Service Insurance System president and general manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso, Trade Undersecretary Herminio Bagro III, Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Lord Villanueva and Social Security System president Michael Regino.

Anthology of short memoirs redefines ‘old’

FOR the second time, Sunshine Place has published a book written by members and participants of its writing classes. The first was Finding the Sun, launched in 2020, and recently, Reflections in Light and Shadow, An Anthology of Short Memoirs

The memoir pieces were written by 18 participants of Sunshine Place Memoir Writing Class conducted by Professor Oscar Peñaranda. The collection consists of 57 essays and 14 poems that showcase the newly-discovered writing skills and talents of the authors, many of them already in their retirement age. In each of their literary pieces, the writers blaze a new path toward meaning and healing.

“All writings were so strong on theme, such as coping with loss and disaster, especially with life under this pandemic. How to look back so that one can move forward,” Professor Peñaranda said.

The writers are Linda Atayde, Suzie Benitez (+), Catherine Mijares Chua, Len Ferandnez, Adelaida Lim, Victoria Lopez, Dina D. Lucenario, Ma. Dolores Matias, Gloria Pe, Carminda Regala, Neny Regino, Mariquit Reventar, Winifred Samson (+), Flora Timoteo Sebastian, Mario Torrento, Jr., Dada C. Trillo, Ma. Susana Yap, and J’net B. Zulueta Also included are works by Professor Peñaranda.

In Pamana: For Love of a Home, Victoria Lopez wrote about her memoirs

at Casa Grande on Antorcha Street in Balayan, Batangas. “To me, the house on Antorcha Street is a pamana, steeped as it is in history and memories of the wonder days of my early childhood, and I hope to pass on this rich legacy to the next generation.”

One of Ma. Susana Yap’s pieces is A Tribute to Winnie. The title says it all— it is a tribute to Winifred Samson, one of the workshop participants who passed on before the book saw print. “We would never have met Winnie Samson had it not been for the Memoir Writing Workshop offered by Sunshine Place,” she wrote.

In her essay Friendship from the Heart, Neny Regino who was among those who read excerpts from their pieces, wrote: “It dawned upon her that Armand had been her guiding light during her stay abroad. … he would forever be a part of his life as the truest friend she ever had.”

Excerpts from their pieces were also read by Flora Timoteo Sebastian (Mother and Son), Catherine Mijares Chua (It’s not you, it’s Life), Mariquit Reventar (My Home Quarantine), Linda Atayde (Educating Nanay), Dolores Matias (Balangiga), Dada Trillo (A Woman of Substance), and Mario Torrento Jr. ( Someday I Will Come to Love My Name).

Pianist Rex Reventar and violinist Gerard Secillano rendered special numbers.

lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

Nights of happiness

THERE is no greater happiness than having good food, paired with the best wine, devoured with good company. In a country where food is omnipresent, a celebration is never complete without preparing the well-loved Filipino favorite dishes that often grace our Media Noche spread.

When Taal Vista Hotel welcomed the holiday season, they served the most exquisite five-course dinner, curated by the culinary team led by its executive chef Jayme Natividad.

The feast took place at the Grand Ballroom, elegantly adorned with Christmas lights and fresh flower centerpieces created by Amante Fleurs florist Julius Villamante.

The delicious fun began with the first course. For appetizer, the waiters brought in an amuse bouche of Trio of Tagaytay mushroom crepes with parmigiana cream and topped with caviar. These little appetizers brought a big punch, especially when paired with a glass of Hahn Estate Chardonnay 2020, USA.

Salad came next, with mixed greens of arugula, romaine, and barley with cinnamon-roasted squash, dressed in citrus vinaigrette. Also paired with Hahn Estate Chardonnay 2020, USA.

To cleanse our palate, we were served with sorbet made from ginger, chamomile, and mint. Watching the choreographed way that the waiters brought the food to the table was in itself a treat.

Deuxieme entrée was fillet of beef roulade sous vide with gratin potatoes and drizzled with sauce au poivre. The

entree was best eaten with Maxwell Silver Hammer Shiraz 2018, Australia.

Of course, there should always be a space for dessert. The panna cotta with pineapple-mango compote sweetened with Don Papa rum. We just love how the La Gioiosa Moscato NV, Italy brought out the flavors.

I would like to give salutations to Nestor Jardin for curating and pairing the scrumptious food with the perfect wine.

Prior to that delicious dinner, the guests witnessed the lighting of the handmade Christmas tree in the hotel lobby. Inspired by the “Season of Lights,” the Christmas tree was made specially by Pampanga craftsmen for Taal Vista Hotel by Pampanga craftsmen.

SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation president Elizabeth Sy, SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation

Season

GLAZING LIFE

BY GLAIZA LEE

vice-president

angelic voices. Proceeds of this year’s celebration would benefit the children of Augustinian Sisters Servants of Jesus

Read full story on manilas

and Mary. manilastandard.net

Christmas Always Finds Its Way

Coca-Cola

celebrates the unstoppable force of bringing families together in this year’s holiday campaign

MANILA, Philippines—Holidays are indeed coming, and CocaCola is celebrating the moment with the launch of its new campaign–“Christmas Always Finds Its Way”–which celebrates the unstoppable, magical force of Christmas in navigating all obstacles to bring people together.

In 2021, Coca-Cola launched Real Magic®, its new global brand platform and philosophy that invites everyone, everywhere to celebrate the magic of humanity. Central to the philosophy is the belief that we find magic when we come together and share experiences.

In this year’s multi-channel, digital, and experiential campaign, Coca-Cola is set to create a series of memorable and distinct moments across the Philippines, designed to celebrate and create that festive magic across the country, while observing the special role that gatherings, meals, and traditions play in bringing families, friends, and communities together. After all, Coca-Cola has always been part of every Filipino celebration.

“December is the peak of holiday celebrations in the Philippines, when families and loved ones come together to share stories, exchange laughter, and bond over meals and drinks,” said Cesar Gangoso, East Region Frontline Marketing Director of Coca-Cola ASEAN and South Pacific. “We are delighted to hear stories of Filipinos who always celebrate Christmas with a bottle or two of Coca-Cola, so with this year’s campaign, we want to better enrich the festivities through a series of activities in the Philippines that can bring a truly magical experience.”

The campaign starts with a film, “Just Like Mama Used to Make,” directed by German filmmakers Dorian and Daniel and created by Grey Global. The film tells the heart-warming story of how a son’s memory of his mother is kept close through the preparation of a treasured family recipe, continuing to bring his family and new generations together for moments of magic at Christmas.

“The long association of Coca-Cola with Christmas is something we treasure and, this year, we’re back with a new campaign that we hope people all over the world will love,” shared Selman Careaga, president of CocaCola trademark. “It celebrates families and friends, past and present, as well as those shared recipes, memories, and traditions that bind generations together over the Christmas meal.”

In wider plans to mark the festive season, the brand’s iconic Caravans will

return. For almost three decades, since they first lit up the small screen in a TV ad in the mid-1990s, Coca-Cola has built its Caravans truck asset as a powerful and tangible icon of Christmas across the globe. This year, CocaCola Caravans are back, and the brand will be curating a truly magical, festive experience centered around sharing meals with an icecold Coca-Cola drink. Reimagined as ‘The Coca-Cola Care-A-Van’ in the Philippines, Coca-Cola aims to takeover over forty food fests in different parts of the country, with the goal of bringing communities around the Philippines together for festive cheer.

The first Coca-Cola Care-A-Van Community Takeover was in Pasig City’s Greenfield District on December 3, 2022.

With a jolly Santa Claus holding a bottle of Coca-Cola painted on its body, the iconic truck welcomed guests and served as a photo wall for taking festive photos. Food tents surrounding the venue also provided meals and Coca-Cola products to be enjoyed during the program. A dynamic performance by Coke Studio artist and rising P-Pop group ALAMAT, raffle draws, games, and other activities also contributed to the lively atmosphere.

Coca-Cola continues to not only refresh people with delicious drinks, but to also refresh communities. In partnership with the Ronald McDonald House of Charities Philippines, the Coca-Cola Care-A-Van Community Takeover will make a stop at Sitio Pintor, Rizal to host a Christmas party and give away meals and Coca-Cola products

message from Santa. With the Philippines being one of the largest diasporas globally, the platform is a welcome initiative, especially for those who are out of the country.

“We all know how special Christmas is to Filipinos, but we also recognize that there are many out there who can’t be home during the holiday season due to various circumstances or obligations, even as they yearn to be among their loved ones to celebrate a Christmas meal,” said Tony del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines and Vice President for the East Franchise Operations of Coca-Cola ASEAN and South Pacific. “Since they cannot be with their family and friends, we at Coca-Cola want to find a way to help them enjoy Christmas and experience the magic of the season.”

Indeed, Christmas this year will still be festive, especially for those with impossible journeys, as Coca-Cola helps find ways to bring Filipinos together and remind us that the festivities lie in the moments we share with our loved ones.

To learn more about Coca-Cola, visit us at coca-cola.com.ph or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.

More about the ‘Christmas Always Finds Its Way’ 2022 campaign of CocaCola:

“Just like Mama Used to Make” Christmas Ad:

For more than 100 years, Coca-Cola has celebrated the magic of Christmas through iconic ads. This year’s new campaign film, “Just Like Mama Used to Make,” is imagined and developed by Grey global under OpenX and directed by award-winning German filmmakers Dorian and Daniel.

The ad, which has launched across linear TV and VOD, tells the heartwarming story of how a family recipe for a Christmas dish brings a mother’s memory to life:

One sip of Coca-Cola inspires a man to recreate his mother’s recipe. Over the course of the film, we see the protagonist going to great lengths to make a pie, guided by his mother’s discerning and passionate instruction—from selecting the perfect ingredients, to completing the dish to his mother’s satisfaction—“Just Like Mama Used to Make”. As he sets the meal on the table to his family’s delight, we realize that his mother was only a memory, brought to life by this recipe. Even though she wasn’t there, Christmas found its way to bring mom and her son together.

Peggy Angeles, and Taal Vista Hotel general manager Ramon Makilan led the tree lighting, with the special participation of DOT IV-A regional director-OIC Marites Castro DLSU Dasmariñas Chorale filled the air with holiday music with their

Nickie

The Christmas Always Finds Its Way campaign of Coca-Cola is headlined by the film ”Just Like Mama Used to Make,” directed by German filmmakers Dorian and Daniel and created by Grey Global. As part of the Real Magic® global brand platform, the film celebrates families and friends, past and present, as well as those shared recipes, memories, and traditions that bind generations together over a Christmas meal.

to 100 underserved families—bringing the spirit of Christmas to whoever needs it. Lastly, the digital experience will continue as Coca-Cola launches “Call from Santa” web platform that will be available

on iOS, Android, Win, and Mac. Filipinos can also access the platform by scanning a QR code in select Coca-Cola bottles. Anyone who wishes to send a surprise to their loved ones can request a personalized video

Coca-Cola Philippines officially kicked off this year’s campaign Christmas Always Finds Its Way, a campaign that celebrates the power of Christmas to find its way no matter what, in helping us navigate all obstacles to get together and share meals and stories during the festive season. The campaign is centered around the Care-A-Van Community Takeovers, which was launched at Greenfield District last December 3, 2022, headlined by Coke Studio Artist ALAMAT, games, and Coca-Cola products. The Care-A-Van will hold stops at 41 other food fests nationwide to bring the magic of Christmas closer to communities.

From left: Dina Lucenario, Flora Timoteo Sebastian, and Lizanne Uychaco

of Lights at Taal Vista Hotel, featuring a handmade Christmas tree by Pampanga artisans

‘Geraldine Romantik’ honors Orani celebration

CATHOLICS in the Philippines celebrate every December 8 the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The day is extra special among the faithful in Orani, Bataan and neighboring towns where a long and winding procession takes place in the early evening in honor of the Blessed Mother.

In the run-up to Christmas Day, Bataan District 1 Representative Geraldine Roman pays homage to the colorful religious celebration, complete with church music and fireworks, on the third edition of her YouTube vlog, Geraldine Romantik, set to drop today, December 14 at 7:00 p.m.

The Roman family keeps a precious collection of saints, including a 200-year old image of the Immaculate Conception which has 12 stars on its crown.

Rep. Roman says she maintains a personal devotion to the Blessed Mother in keeping a family tradition.

Bataan itself takes pride in being home to the Nuestra Senora del Rosario del Orani, believed to be 400 years old. Known for being miraculous (many favors are attributed to her), the Virgin of Orani attracts visitors from everywhere around the country and abroad.

Showbiz newbie Kimson Tan

lands lead role in international film in Singapore

By Marron Joshua F. Mendoza

IN A recent online junket, young actor Kimson Tan shared his thoughts on being tapped as the lead star in the film King of Hawkers, which will begin production in Singapore next year.

In this international project, the 23-year-old Sparkle artist will work with Singaporean director Kelvin Sng and will train with Singaporean chef John See, who is known for his work as the food stylist in the hit 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians.

Kimson said he feels both the pressure and excitement for the project as he will fulfill his lifelong

dream of being recognized worldwide. He will represent both GMA Network and the Philippines with his upcoming endeavor.

“To be honest, medyo nakakapressure, at the same time, excited. Pressured kasi I’ll be the fi rst in the Philippines, with GMA, to be collaborating with AOR Global, so kumbaga, ako ‘yung una . I have to really give my best in everything that I do right now, lalo na I’ll not only represent myself, but I’ll also be representing GMA Network and the Philippines in Singapore,” he said.

“Excited kasi , this has been my dream to go international, and it’s happening right now. It’s really happening right now, and nagsi -sink in na siya unti-unti because I’m working with a multi-million dollar director in Singapore, Direk Kelvin Sng. Sobrang laking privilege sa akin. I’m really honored to work with Direk Kelvin,” he added.

Kimson also shared how he knew about the project and how the important role landed on his lap.

“Actually, the fi rst time na nalaman ko about this project was my handler asking me if I could speak Mandarin or Hokkien. That’s the requirement of the fi lm, tapos sabi ko naman , ‘I can do it.’ I just sent a video with me speaking in Chinese, introducing myself in Chinese din . After that, right after a few days, we had a meeting with Miss Priscilla , the head of AOR Global,” he said.

Kimson also said that his knowledge of the Mandarin language, which came from growing up in a Chinese-Filipino family and attending a Chinese school in elementary and high school, became crucial in helping him secure the role.

He also described his character in the film, which will focus on Singaporean food and culture, as well as family. He said that he could relate the film’s story to his grandparents.

Jake Cuenca goes all out in ‘My Father, Myself’

DURING his recent solo press conference for the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival entry My Father, Myself under 3:16 Media Network and Mentorique Production, Jake Cuenca revealed that he is willing to have a full frontal nudity scene in his future projects but he has conditions.

“Well, it really depends,” he averred. “Actually, I don’t have limitations but most certainly, I will choose the project. I’m not going to do that for something. If it’s a Hollywood movie, I will consent to it.”

“Or if it’s a project that will be fielded to the Cannes or Venice International Film Festivals or Oscars, then, why not? I will not hold back. But if it’s something that will not reach that point, then maybe I won’t do it,” he went on.

Many predict that he has a very strong chance in the Best Actor category during the MMFF awarding ceremonies for his sterling performance in the movie where his love interest is newbie actor Sean de Guzman. It can be remembered that the latter was convinced to do a frontal nudity scene in his launching project Anak ng Macho Dancer.

Jake points out the difference between him and

Sean in which he said that even if he hasn’t done a frontal nudity scene yet in any of his projects, he has already experienced doing daring scenes.

“Yes, that’s our difference! Compared to Sean, I’ve been doing this for a long time already. I have shown a lot. So, I will just save that for the big movie.”

Jake is excited about his movie directorial debut which will happen next year. He will also top-bill a stage play titled, Dick Talk

“In Dick Talk, I will be with another promising new actor in the person of Gold Aceron. A bignamed actor whose identity I can’t divulge as of now will also join us. Dick Talk is like Vagina Monologues. We will talk about the male’s private part in the play,” Jake ended.

* * *

Ruffa Gutierrez, Mariel Padilla, and Ciara Sotto are the newest triumvirate in the morning talk show scene as they headline All TV’s M.O.M.S Mhies on a Mission. According to AMBS President Maribeth Tolentino, they are perfect choices because apart from being excellent hosts, they are friends of the Villar Group of Companies.

“Actually, the program came in at a perfect time when I really want to do a ‘’mommy’ show where I can share my personal experiences being a mom myself. Also, working with Ruffa and Ciara for the first time is exciting,” says Mariel.

“On my part, I’m just grateful for the show as I consider it a huge blessing. During these times when not everybody gets the chance to have income, I’m simply thankful that I was picked to be one of the show’s hosts. Am also certain that Mariel, Ciara, and I will enjoy the experience. We relish each taping day because we create instant bonding moments with one another,” Ruffa states.

“I’m looking forward to doing the show for a long time with my two fellow hosts whom I both look up to as my older sisters. I’m sure as days go by, we’ll become closer,” Ciara muses.

What can they bring to the table as hosts of M.O.M.S Mhies on a Mission?

“I guess, it’s my authenticity and originality, Mariel her energy, and Ciara, her always being trustworthy,” Ruffa avers.

It’s always exciting to see fresh team-ups or combinations on the screen. The three promised that viewers will enjoy their offering which serves as a platform for self-discovery as they do various missions in each episode.

“When I got the character sketch, the first thing that came to my mind was parang , ‘This was written for me talaga .’ It was close to me kasi yung sa story neto, may kinalaman din siya sa grandfather nya , and ako , I grew up with my grandparents so sobrang lapit ng role sa akin talaga ,” Kimson said.

In preparation for his upcoming international film debut, Kimson has been learning to cook from home, feeling his way around the kitchen, and training to improve his craft.

A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, Kimson is a talent of Sparkle GMA Artist Center wherein he appears in some projects from the Kapuso Network, such as Mano Po Legacy: The Flower Sisters and the upcoming and much-awaited Voltes V: Legacy. Before working with GMA, he appeared in the 2020 Pinoy boys’ love (BL) series In Between (Sa Pagitan ng Kamusta at Paalam).

Newly-minted lawmaker supports opening of trending cake shop

ACTOR-TURNED-CONGRESSMAN

Arjo Atayde was on hand for the ribboncutting ceremony of the latest Remilly’s Yema Cake shop on Banawe Street, Quezon City last November 27.

At the opening of Remilly and Richard Co’s new pastry shop Atayde said that it coincided with his intention to go back to his district and work for its constituents, “siyempre kasama sa trabaho ang pakikisama sa mga tao and kasama ang pagbaba sa distrito.”

Atayde also mentioned that his work at Congress was complete for the time being and that “budget deliberations are done,” adding that his work as a first-time representative of Quezon City’s 1st district is “a big responsibility.”

“Everything’s hard. I’m taking it day by day,” he stated, and was humble to admit that he is a “work in progress.”

“Every day I’m learning more and I’m actually applying it in the 19th Congress.”

Congressman Atayde agrees that it’s always good to see businesses like Remilly’s Yema Cake shop prosper and that SMEs (small-medium enterprises) success is a good indicator that a city district’s economy and its citizen’s entrepreneurial spirit are thriving.

“Rem and Richard (Co) are kind people, I might just have met them but they’re very transparent,” commented Atayde about the young enterprising couple behind the shop.

“For all their small businesses and enterprises which are the SMEs, were here to help each and every way we can. May mga bills that are under study (to help SMEs further), so I am of supporting all SMEs, even if it’s not my committee,” said Atayde.

Meanwhile, Remilly Maniti Co, the namesake of the famous Yema Cake, shared the beginnings of her business. “Actually, unforeseen business namin itong pag bake ng yema cake. It started as a hobby, then I

posted it on social media, then it trended. We started with a small tiange sa isang fiesta sa Malabon, then it was also successful, so dun kami na-inspire ng husband ko. I said, ok let’s start with four branches.”

“This 18th branch is special because it coincides with our rebranding. Before it’s just yema cake, but we did our survey for our market potential, and we found out people give our cakes as a gift. We found out that may market din pala kami with the upper market such as professionals that we know now that they buy our product to give as a gift.”

Remilly’s Yema Cake shop also has branches in Visayas Avenue, Kamias, Mayon, Roosevelt, Holy Spirit Drive, Victory Mall Caloocan, Malabon Bayan, Lapu lapu Ave. in Malabon, SM Marilao, Malabon Citisquare, SM Pasig, Ever Commonwealth, Ever Covered Walk, Binangonan Rizal, Malinta Intersection, Plaza Leon Manila, and E. Rodriguez.

Nickie Wang,

Congressman Arjo Atayde (second from left) with Remilly’s Yema Cake shop service crew at the opening of Banawe street store

It has been Kimson Tan’s dream to go international as an actor

Jake Cuenca shares he’s ready to go nude in front of the camera for the right role—and if it meets his conditions

Batangas District 1

Representative Geraldine Roman

PH fencers join Coupe de Monde in Bangkok

By Peter Atencio

Prince John “Tipoy” Felipe and Shawn Nicollei “Kulay” Felipe, top men’s fencers of the University of the East, will join the junior edition of the men’s foil.

This will get the Felipes ready for the coming fencing meet of the 85th University Athletic Association of the Philippines, when it returns in February 2023, following a three-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

UE coach Rolando “Amat” Canlas Jr. said that the tournament is a tough competition at par with some of the best in the world.

Canlas added that the presence of fencers from France, Great Britain, Australia, South Korea and the United States makes the competition challenging and difficult.

“It’s a strong competition because world champions (in cadet and junior) are joining the event. It’s going to be a great experience for our fencers,” said Canlas.

Also going to Bangkok are UE standouts Robert Caber and Eytria Olarte, who will participate in the women’s foil.

With them are Canlas Fencing athletes, including Dustin Tan of University of the Philippines, Keonn Davies, Clyde Guinto and Antonio Manuel,

“We hope they make it to the next stage, and from there we’ll see what will happen,” added Canlas, a former national team head coach.

Manuel is fresh from winning two gold medals (individual and team) in the 1st Malaysian Minime event in Kuala Lumpur last week.

In the women’s side, also seeing action are Janna Catantan of University of Santo Tomas, Marina Carbonel of UP and Kaijinsei dela Serna of CF.

France faces tough test vs. giant-killer Morocco

DOHA—Defending world champions and title favourites France face African history-makers Morocco on Wednesday in what is sure to be a high-octane World Cup semi-final at the Al Bayt stadium.

France, who defeated England on Saturday, are looking to become the first team in 60 years to retain the trophy but they can expect fierce resistance from the surprise package of the tournament.

Morocco’s giant-killing run to the last four, the first time an African nation has made it this far, has electrified fans at home and delighted the Moroccan diaspora in Europe and beyond.

The Atlas Lions will again be roared on by thousands of passionate supporters in the stadium on the desert outskirts of Doha and can count on local Qatari support too as the first Arab team ever to make it to the last four.

“It’s not over yet, our ambition is to go to the final,” former Morocco international Aziz Bouderbala, part of the 1986 World Cup team that reached the last 16, told AFP.

“We are living a historic moment. We are among the four best teams in the world but it’s fabulous, it’s delirium.”

The game will have added spice given France was Morocco’s colonial power and hundreds of thousands of people with Moroccan roots live and

work in the country.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui, who was born near Paris and spent most of his playing career in the French league, believes his team have become the neutral’s favourite.

“We’ve become the team people feel positive towards at this World Cup,” said Regragui.

“We’re showing the world what’s possible with less talent, less quality, less money, and what you can achieve with desire, hard work and belief.”

France will have fewer fans in the stadium but will be supported in person by President Emmanuel Macron.

On paper Didier Deschamps’ team, packed with talent and experience, should progress with some comfort.

But if the France coach, a World Cup winner as a player in 1998, is worried about complacency undoing his team, he need only remind his players how Morocco got to this stage.

In the round of 16, playing aggressive, hard-running football, Regragui’s team knocked out 2010 winners Spain on penalties before eliminating highly

rated Portugal, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo in tears.

Morocco had earlier served notice of their intent by topping Group F, beating Belgium and Canada and drawing with 2018 runners-up Croatia.

The have only conceded one goal in the entire competition but it will require another night of heroic defending if they are to keep out a potent France attack.

Mbappe threat

Kylian Mbappe, the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, attacks from the left while Olivier Giroud, level with Lionel Messi on four goals, occupies the traditional centre-forward role.

Antoine Griezmann has been outstanding in a deeper, creative role.

France defeated Poland and England in their two knockout games and pre-tournament concerns about their injury losses—Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema—have dissipated.

But the French will also have to be alert themselves to Morocco’s swift counter-attacks, with Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech on the right flank and Sevilla forward Youssef En-Nesyri looking to exploit weaknesses in Deschamps’ back line.

Morocco’s willingness to run with the ball and then harry to retrieve should make for a high-energy game. AFP

Arcilla seeks 3rd straight crown in Naga Open

COMING off back-to-back victories in Cainta, Rizal and Apalit, Pampanga, Johnny Arcilla shifts his focus to Cebu as he tries to cap another prolific season in the Naga Open National Tennis Championships unfolding Friday at the City of Naga tennis courts.

Arcilla has dominated not only the last two Open singles of the annual circuit under the PPS-PEPP banner, but also the Puerto Princesa Open last October and the Pintaflores Festival Open in San Carlos, Negros Occidental last month, making the 42-year-old ace still the player to beat in the upcoming Group A tournament serving as part of the Dagitab Festival celebrations.

But a mix of young and seasoned campaigners go all-out to foil his bid, including second seed Jose Maria Pague, Vicente Anasta, Eric Jed Olivarez, Norman Enriquez, Maclean Barraquias, Stephen Guia and Charles Kinaadman, whom Arcilla beat in the Brookside and Zentro Open the past two weeks.

But Kinaadman, who upended Arcilla in the semis and went on to capture the Gov. Jubahib Cup Open in Davao del Norte last September, hopes to draw inspiration from his fellow Cebuanos with an eye on getting back at the veteran Davis Cupper and fuel his own title bid.

If the chart goes according to form, Arcilla and the fifth-ranked Kinaadman may meet again in the Final Four of the event put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro on top of the countrywide junior circuit.

Jeremiah Tomacruz, John Altiche, Christian Lopez, Nilo Ledama, Bryan Saarenas, Kristian Tesorio, Elvin Geluz, Jelic Amazona, Jan Seno and Israel Abarquez, Jr. are also vying in the tournament supported by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, the Unified Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating)

Meanwhile, 20 bidders slug it out for four berths in tomorrow’s (Thursday) qualifiers with the likes of Noel Salupado, Hakim Boloto, Pablo Gonzaga, Joseph Singson, Chat Conta, Hans Cabellon, Gio Manito and Vince Serna tipped to clash for spots into the 32-player main draw of the annual event presented by Dunlop.

has delighted Argentina, where the phrase has made its way onto mugs, shirts and other products.

In a viral video online, soccer superstar Messi is shown being interviewed after Friday’s stormy quarter-final clash with the Netherlands, when his eyes drift off camera.

He then launches his words in the direction of the Dutch substitute— whose two late goals pushed the two teams into penalties—while the reporter struggles to get his attention.

Argentina emerged victorious,

who gave Weghorst a free kick.

The sport’s world governing body FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against both teams after a World Cup record of 18 yellow cards and multiple mass confrontations during the game.

But in Argentina, a saltier Lionel Messi has drawn comparisons with Diego Maradona, a troubled genius known for fiery moments both on and off the field.

Businesses wasted no time plastering the slogan on a variety of products, with mugs selling for 1,600 pesos ($9), T-shirts for

2,900 pesos, and caps for 3,900 pesos.

“We made the T-shirts right away. The phrase went viral because in another stage, Messi had a calm, low profile. But people wanted him to have a bit of Diego (Maradona) spiciness,” said clothing designer Tony Molfese, 31.

For many in Argentina, the language Messi used is far milder than what can be heard on the streets.

“I thought the phrase was great, so innocent and tender” compared to what you usually hear in Argentina’s sporting world, said 67-year-old Graciela Squietino, who bought T-shirts for her three grandsons. AFP

NU jins overall UAAP poomsae champs

NATIONAL University captured its first-ever title in a tight-contested UAAP Season 85 Taekwondo Poomsae Championships Tuesday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

Ceanne Rosquillo, James Lopez, and Jed Tan, sealed the Bulldogs’ breakthrough title by ruling the men’s team event with 8.265.

NU’s other gold came from season MVP Laeia Soria, who ruled the women’s individual category with 8.250, besting Aidaine Laxa of University of Santo Tomas, who had 8.135 and Mikee Regala of De La Salle University, who had 7.880.

The Tiger Jins, who also won two golds, were hoping to get a favorable result in the men’s team event to claim

the back-to-back, but breaks were not in their way.

University of the Philippines’ Dominic Navarro, Joshua Cachero, and Datu Rayhan, who need to win the men’s team gold to hand UST the overall title, instead came in close second with 8.235.

Vincent Rodrigues, Kobe Macario, and Darius Venerable of UST finished third with 8.165.

“I’m still processing it, but it’s hard work basically,” NU coach Dustin Mella said. “We had to rethink our own approach to our lineup, to the events we want to emphasize. It was a lot of hard work and there were really so many factors.”

The Bulldogs finished with a 2-20 medal tally, while the Tiger Jins

amassed 2-1-1.

UST topped the mixed pair and women’s team events.

Rodriguez and Chelsea Tacay stunned La Salle’s Patrick Perez and Regala in the finals with a close finish for the pair gold, 8.230-8.215. Joaquin Tuzon and Elaine Borres got the bronze for the Blue Eagles with 7.895.

Last season’s MVP Laxa powered the UaST trio that also included Jade Carno and Stella Yape to the defense of their female team crown with a huge 8.350 final score. NU’s Soria, Abegail Pacificador, and Denise Alicias took the silver with 8.215, while La Salle’s Sofia Sarmiento, Zyka Santiago, and Daphne Ching plucked another bronze with 8.005.

BUENOS AIRES—“What are you looking at, fool? Get lost!” Lionel Messi’s World Cup taunt of Dutch player Wout Weghorst

but Messi fumed after the fractious match at the referee

AN 11-man Philippine fencing team, led by the Felipe brothers, is set to compete in the Coupe de Monde on December 16 and 17 at the Zeer Rungsit Shopping Center in Bangkok, Thailand.

Morocco’s players carry their coach Walid Regragui as they celebrate after winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter- nal football match between Morocco and Portugal at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha. AFP

A man holds a t-shirt with an image of Argentine forward Lionel Messi and a phrase reading “What are you looking at, you fool?” at a store in Buenos Aires. Argentine fans’ pride at finally seeing Lionel Messi in charismatic leader mode sparked a commercial furore by selling products with a quarrelsome phrase of his after defeating the Netherlands (4-3 on penalties) in the quarterfinals of the Qatar-2022 World Cup.

Golf gets short-format makeover in Australia

SYDNEY—A new short-format golf event modelled on cricket’s Indian Premier League will debut in Australia next year with 10 city-based teams, including the Bangkok Blades, Dubai Kings and New York Tigers, it was announced Tuesday.

The Ultra Golf Championship, designed to turbocharge the sport, is played over nine holes with fourplayer teams that include a marquee captain.

No names have been announced, although local reports said world number two Scottie Scheffler of the United States and Australian world number three Cameron Smith were being targeted.

The unique scoring system will reward risk-taking, with 10 points for a hole-in-one, eight for an albatross, six for an eagle, four for a birdie, and two for a par.

There will also be four feature hole opportunities that must be used, including a longest drive, power-play, alternate-shot and best-ball, where more points can be accumulated.

Teams will play seven rounds and a final series over four days.

The concept is the brainchild of Deke Smith, with the Australian PGA serving as a promoting partner and sanctioning body.

“For more than five years, we’ve been working on the UGC as a short-formed, strategic and tactical golf tournament,” Smith said in a statement released through the Australian PGA.

“We are appealing to a wider fan base, giving people a new way to consume their golf, sport and entertainment, and we think that it’s a great way to grow the game of golf.

“We see this concept appealing to a younger audience because we will see a result in two hours of golf. We see parochial sports fans getting behind their own city team.”

Along with Bangkok, Dubai and New York, others teams locked in will represent Delhi, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo.

“We know once this world-first format has some of the best players in the world showcasing it on TV next year, Ultra Golf Championship will become a part of all golf fans’ life,” said PGA Tour of Australia tournaments director Nick Dastey.

“This is an event we are passionate about, and it continues to align with our innovation in the game in Australia.” AFP

Desiderio, actor Anderson lead team aiming for Paris seats

FORMER Philippine Basketball Association hotshots Paul Desiderio and Jaypee Belencion were among seven players, who made the cut for the new set of national 3x3 team candidates.

With the help of Russian Federation coach Milan Isakov, coach Chico Lanete made up his mind on the seven players joining a new 3x3 squad, which will join qualifying competitions for the 2024 Paris Olympics next year.

“We are serious in coming up with a new lineup for the qualifiers, which is series of tournaments,” said Lanete at the end of the tryouts held by Chooksto-Go Pilipinas at Activate Hope Arena in Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong.

Joining Desiderio and Belencion are actor Gerald Anderson, Ralph Jeffrey Deles, Shaquille Alanes, Ian Pardo and Zaljun Cartagena.

Lanete hopes to deepen the talent pool with new players coming in.

Isakov said he will confer with Lanete on his expectations.

The former player of Liman of Serbia arrived Monday evening for the tryouts.

The countdown for qualification for both the Paris Olympics and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament started last month and will end on November 1, 2023.

Desiderio said he has recovered from an ACL injury he suffered seven months ago.

He quit Blackwater after his name was removed from a threeteam trade involving NLEX and TNT. Peter Atencio

Maroons seek 2nd straight title; Eagles try to stay alive

By Peter Atencio

The Fighting Maroons shoot for their first ever back-to-back crown in their 6 p.m. tussle against the Blue Eagles today at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Preparing for Ateneo, alam naman namin kung anong klaseng team ang Ateneo. Hindi naman tayo talaga puwede mag-relax,” said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde after they took Game 1 with a 72-66 win last Sunday.

The Maroons, who average 68.8 points per game, are close to retaining the crown for a second consecutive season, a feat which they have never done before.

But the Blue Eagles are hoping to bounce back and equalize in Game 2.

For Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin, solving the threat provided by UP’s six guards will help Ateneo get back on its feet.

“When they have those six guards, who are able to generate that kind of template for a game defensively, you’ve got to find counters,” said Baldwin.

Baldwin is crossing his fingers that his guard

Gainsan gains gold in jr. wushu world tourney

SANDREX Gainsan capped his stint as junior Taolu artist with aplomb— carting off with the gold medal in his signature event, qiangshu (spear play), at the recent 8th World Junior Wushu Championships 2022 in Tangerang, Indonesia.

Gainsan’s teammates, who both hail from Quezon City, Vincent Ventura, 18, and Zion Diaraliay, 14, grabbed a bronze each in nandao (southern broadsword), 15 years and under; and 42-step taijiquan,

12 to 14 years, to round out the remarkable output of the lean and mean six-strong Team Philippines.

With his squeaking past Singapore’s Shaoyang Ian Sim and Malaysia’s Waipeng Hew, Gainsan escalated his golden showing in the 10th Asian Junior Wushu Championships three years ago in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

Philippine Sports Commission underwrote Team Philippines’ participation in the biennial conclave.

“We are elated PH figures in the gold column of the medal table anew of the world junior championships after being absent since 2014,” said delegation head, Julian Camacho, Wushu Federation Philippines secretary general and International Wushu Federation executive board member.

For his part, WFP president Freddie Jalasco, stressed, “Gainsan’s mint was the country’s fifth in seven junior worlds engagements--a strong indica-

tion of the strength of the WFP’s junior development program.”

Sanda warriors, Baguio City’s Krisna Malecdan (56 kgs) and Rhomlaiza Dagson (48kgs) and Davao City’s Geoff Basto Bustamante (56 kgs) failed to advance to the medal phases.

Foreign coach Li Jian Fang and former Sanda world champion Jessie Aligaga mentored the PH squad under head coach Samson Co, a back-toback Taolu world champion.

Knights hope for best, brace for worst

LETRAN is gearing up for Sunday’s deciding Game 3 of the NCAA finals against St. Benilde with or without key player Fran Yu.

“Hopefully ma-lift ‘yung suspension. May appeal kami,” said Letran assistant coach Jarren Jarencio during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Yu, in his last playing year in the NCAA, was slapped a one-game suspension for a “disqualifying foul” on St. Benilde’s Mark Sangco in Game 2 which was won by the Blazers last Sunday.

The victory forced a rubber match on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo between the three-peat seeking Knights and the Blazers, eyeing their first NCAA title since 2000.

Jarencio said the Knights are hoping for the best and bracing for the worst.

“Kahapon nag-adjust na kami sa practice. Nag-meeting na kami kung sino ang

papalit kay Fran sa rotation sa offense at sa defense. Pero mas-okay kung makakabalik siya,” added Jarencio.

The Letran official, who is the son of NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio in the PBA, also believes that momentum had shifted in favor of the Blazers. But the one-week break heading to Game 3 may nullify it.

“Ang maganda lang is one week ang break. Mapipigil ang momentum. Ganu’n din ang nangyari sa amin after winning Game 1,” he told the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Jarencio said the Knights are preparing for the final game of the season the way they should and since the game will be played in Antipolo, the team will head to the province of Rizal way ahead of the game.

“Bubble na kami sa Antipolo. Baka one day ahead nandu’n na kami,” he said.

THE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons held the Ateneo Blue Eagles to their average score in Game 1 and they hope to do even better in the second match of the 85th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball fi nals.

SENATE GRANTS CITIZENSHIP TO BROW NLEE. Play your heart and soul out for our country. This, according to Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri, was his message to Philippine Basketball Association import Justin Donta Brownlee after the Senate approved House Bill No. 6224, granting him Filipino citizenship during a plenary session on Monday. Zubiri told Brownlee, he has full civil and political rights and could elect leaders in the future, who are good for the country. “All we ask Mr. Brownlee is for you to play your heart and soul for our country. You are now an adopted Filipino and you will be loved as a Filipino by each and every one of us. And hopefully, you will be able to promote our country all over the world,” Zubiri said.

Forthsky Padrigao recovers from an ankle sprain as they try to force a deciding Game 3. So far, the odds are stacked against the Blue Eagles, who have won 11 championships since 1987. Of its 17 finals’ appearances since 1993, the Blue Eagles lost the crown twice after bowing in Game 1 in 2001 and 2003.

Tab Baldwin

Goldwin Monteverde

Letran ready for battle with or without Fran Yu