Manila Standard - 2022 December 20 - Tuesday

MAJORITY OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS FAVOR WEALTH FUND CREATION

By Maricel V. Cruz and Julito G. Rada

A MOBILE phone-based survey found that one in two of respondents who were aware of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) were in favor of the bill creating it, the market research company Tangere said Monday.

The survey of 2,400 respondents conducted between Dec. 8 and 10, found that 83.75 percent were aware of the MIF, which seeks to create a sovereign wealth fund to invest in key develop -

ment areas.

The bill creating the fund was recently passed on third and final reading in the House of Representatives.

While major business groups and academics said the creation of a sovereign wealth fund was untimely, the Philippine Stock Exchange this week said the MIF could create “a multiplier effect” that could attract more investments and grow the local capital market.

“The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc

PBBM calls for stronger AFP

Tells troops to gear up for borderless security threats amid peace

By Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT

BSP pushes cash gifts via digital transfer

By Julito Rada

DIGITAL “aguinaldo” for the

holidays?

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is urging Filipinos to give digital cash gifts not only to promote financial inclusion but also as a safety measure amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We encourage our countrymen to take advantage of the ease and safety provided by digital finance in sending their cash gifts during the holidays,” the BSP said.

The Central Bank said Filipinos who intend to give cash as “pamasko” as well as those who want to donate to charitable institutions can transmit money conveniently through a wide array of digital payment channels available in the country.

These include interbank fund transfers through InstaPay and PESONet, electronic money issuers that are more commonly known as e-wallets, and QR Ph, which entails code scanning and offers consumers faster, easier,

efforts

Diesel tops oil price hikes at P2.90 per liter

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE country’s oil firms implemented a hefty oil price hike of as much as P2.90 per liter for diesel effective today (Tuesday) to reflect the movement of prices in the world market.

The price hike ended four weeks of consecutive rollbacks across all oil products.

Oil companies also raised the price of kerosene by P1.65 per liter and gasoline by P0.70 per liter.

The increase for diesel was nearly double the projection of the Department of Energy on Friday.

The DOE forecasted an oil price

NEDA: GROWTH SEEN TO EXCEED TARGET OF 7.5%

Pinoys split on how to celebrate Xmas: more prosperous or same

By Maricel V. Cruz FILIPINOS were split on whether this

year’s Christmas celebration would be “more prosperous” or “same” as last year, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed. At least 52 percent of the respondents

of Pulse Asia’s “Ulat ng Bayan” survey said they will be celebrating Christmas this year the same way they did in 2021.

Of this number, 42 percent said the holiday celebration would be the same as last year while 43 percent said it

2 jail gang men claim drunk Bantag stabbed them

TWO gang leaders at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City are planning to sue suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag after months of silence, after he allegedly stabbed them while drunk inside the national penitentiary.

According to a 24 Oras TV report on Monday night, Bantag stabbed Ronald Usman and Jonathan Cañeta on their arms and legs after being summoned by the prisons chief to his office on February 1. Eleven other gang commanders were there, they said.

Upon their arrival, Usman and Canete said they noticed Bantag drinking with two other commanders, already intoxicated.

Cañete said Bantag approached them, then poked his

chest with a sharp object.

Hurt, Cañete said he parried the blade. He said this angered Bantag, who then stabbed him on the leg.

Usman also said he was assaulted by Bantag, who he said stabbed his hand.

Bantag is suspended from his post owing to his alleged involvement in the killing of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

Both prisoners said a certain “Zulueta” approached them the next day and paid them P50,000 each to remain silent. They did not clarify who the official was but said Deputy Bucor Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta is a close ally of Bantag (see related story on

would be more prosperous. Some 10 percent said the celebration last year was not prosperous and would -

remain the same this year. The remaining 6 percent of respondwould be poorer than last year.

ents said their Christmas celebrations

“Most Visayans (66%) will have a more prosperous holiday celebration this year while a small majority of Metro Manilans (58%) say their celebration this year will be just as prosperous as what they had last year,” Pulse Asia said.

By Peter Atencio

ATENEO de Manila University built a big lead early, kept it three-fourths of the way, then weathered a furious University of the Philippines comeback to score a 75-68 victory and claim its 12th crown in the 85th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball championship at the Araneta Coliseum on Monday night.

The Blue Eagles, through BJ Andrade, sank the deciding free throws in the dying seconds to quash a UP mutiny that ran out of time in front of a raucous Big Dome crowd of 21,814.

Ateneo thus dethroned the Fighting Maroons and reclaimed the UAAP title it had won in the past three seasons before.

To set up their fourth title in five seasons, the Eagles started strong and led

“My marching guidance has always remained constant: we commit to the cause of peace. The security and stability of the coun -

try remain the priority,” President Marcos said in a speech.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told troops Monday to continue exerting efforts to achieve the peace and security needed to sus tain economic prosperity on the 87th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

EAGLES REIGN. Ange Kouame holds up his Finals MVP trophy as his Ateneo de Manila University teammates celebrate after beating University of the Philippines in Game 3 to claim the Blue Eagles’ fourth UAAP crown in five years, while denying the Fighting Maroons back-to-back titles.

RALLYING THE TROOPS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his message during the 87th AFP Anniversary Monday afternoon at the Lapu Lapu Grandstand in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Looking on are Speaker Martin G. Romualdez and Department of National Defense OIC Jose Faustino Jr. Ver Noveno

DOJ to indict 3 cops on sabungeros

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has found sufficient basis to indict three police officers for robbery and kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of a cockfight enthusiast or “sabungero” in Laguna in August 2021.

The DOJ investigating panel found probable cause to indict police officers Police Staff Sgt. Daryl Paghangaan and patrolmen Roy Navarete and Rigel Brosas, after they were positively identified by the relatives of the victim, Ricardo Lasco.

Based on the complaint of Lasco’s relatives, a group of armed men suddenly entered their residence located at CG Brion Subdivision, Brgy. San Lu-

cas, San Pablo City, Laguna and arrested Lasco for the alleged crime of large scale estafa on Aug. 30, 2021.

The complainants further alleged that the armed men introduced themselves as operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The complainants also alleged that the policemen took several valuables owned by them while they were being held in the living room.

A complaint for kidnapping was initially filed against the armed men with the Office of the City Prosecutor of San Pablo City, but that complaint was dismissed for lack of evidence.

Later, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Special Investigation Task Group Sabungero (CIDG SITG Sabungero) took jurisdiction of the case and conducted further investigation and case build-up.

During its investigation, the CIDG SITG Sabungero managed to identify the armed men as members of the Philippine National Police and believed to be involved in the case of several missing cockfighting enthusiasts.

The armed men were identified as Paghangaan, Navarete, Brosas, Police Lt.

operation with its counterparts overseas.

Henry Sasaluya, Police Master Sgt. Michael Claveria and several John Does.

The CIDG SITG Sabungero then filed a complaint before the DOJ. However, the panel recommended only the filing of charges against Paghangaan, Navarete and Brosas as they were the ones identified by the complainants.

The complaints against the rest of the respondents were dismissed.

The DOJ said the case against the police officers will be filed with the Regional Trial Court of San Pablo City, Laguna.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla met with officials of the Department of Interior and Local Government, NBI and PNP together with the families of the victims of the missing sabungeros.

spoilers of peace and lawless elements.

Senate sets probe on food security, gov’t objectives

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATE Majority Leader Joel Villanueva yesterday filed a resolution seeking a legislative inquiry into the status of the country’s food security.

“A more strategic and comprehensive plan, containing measurable and time-bound objectives, is necessary to further strengthen and expedite the realization of our goal,” Villanueva said in his proposed Senate Resolution 385.

“Despite efforts made by the government agencies at the forefront of achieving food security in the Philippines, particularly the Department of Agriculture, hunger incidence and the rising food prices in the country are still on alarming levels,” he added.

Pulse Asia also noted that a huge majority of Filipinos said they would face the new year ahead with hope.

“Virtually all Filipino adults (92%) will face the year ahead with hope, a sentiment echoed by 89% to 99% across geographic areas and by 86% to 94% in the various socio-economic classes,” the survey firm said.

The survey was conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, with a sample of 1,200 adult respondent interviewed in person.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. renewed his commitment to provide overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with more quality jobs in their home country, saying it is the “best Christmas gift” the government could give them.

“The best gift we can give to our OFWs is to further improve the condition of our country to have more opportunities for every Filipino,” the President said in his weekly vlog.

“Now that the holiday season is approaching, let’s do everything to make our OFWs feel the warmth of the Filipino Christmas wherever they are in the world Let’s say hello, call and express our gratitude for their selfless contribution in supporting Filipino families, reviving our economy and waving our flag as a great race, respected by the whole world,” Mr. Marcos added.

As this developed, at the House of Representatives, a bill has been filed granting an additional year-end bonus for indigent senior citizens.

House Bill 6693, or the “Paskong Maligaya para kay Lolo’t Lola Bill,” authored by Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas, aims to provide an additional year-end bonus to qualified indigent elderly.

Under the proposed legislation, elderly pensioners shall receive an additional P1,000 apart from their monthly P1,000 allowance under the Social Pension for Indigent Seniors program, to be paid before the 25th of December every year.

“Our senior citizens have contributed so much to our country and most have remained capable of supporting their families and grandchildren. This holiday season, let us grant the wish of our lolos and lolas to be granted more benefits albeit through a year-end or Christmas bonus,” Vargas said.

“Institutionalizing year-end bonuses for our indigent Filipino elderly is a way of providing better social safety nets and protection for our senior citizens and their families. In the spirit of giving, we must extend help especially to our lolos and lolas who need it now more than ever,” he added.

“I call on you to continue performing your duties as you have had for many, many years... so that our country can achieve peace and security, and sustain economic prosperity,” the President said.

Mr. Marcos said his government remains committed to the AFP modernization and will partner with the military towards achieving the vision of a strong, credible, and world-class armed forces that is a source of national pride.

Honoring Filipino soldiers for their gallantry and dedication, Marcos praised them for keeping the peace, upholding democratic ideals, and defending the country for nearly a century.

“The Armed Forces had never failed the nation,” the President said, noting during the pandemic, it remained steadfast not just in the fulfillment of its duties, but also in assisting the government in fighting the unseen war.

The President also commended the AFP for its successful campaign against communist rebels and lawless elements who impede the delivery of government services, assistance, and infrastructure development.

The military also played a major role in responding to calamities through its humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts, he said.

He also lauded the AFP for sustaining its existing defense and security engagements while exploring new areas for co-

“New security challenges do not recognize borders and we must continue to work with our neighbors, our allies, partners, and friends to address mutual security concerns,” Mr. Marcos said.

“And aside from these partnerships, the Armed Forces needs to have in its arsenal the capabilities to effectively combat threats and to secure the country — all its more than 7,000 islands and all its features,” he added.

Also on Monday, AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said the military will report all Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) violations by foreign vessels to the proper diplomatic authorities.

The statement was issued after a Philippine Navy boat received a radio challenge from the Chinese Coast Guard while they were on a resupply mission to the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“As reported by the Western Command, we have seen many violations by foreign vessels in areas which are within our current exclusive economic zones. So, what we do is to monitor and report them to proper authorities because we are using diplomatic track in resolving issues or conflicts within the area,” Aguilar said in a televised public briefing.

On the domestic front, the AFP said its internal security operations are now closer to victory against “spoilers of peace and lawless elements.”

“Internal security operations are of prime importance to ensure the safety and security of our citizens against

Andrade added more free throws for Ateneo’s final tally.

On this front we can confidently state that we have achieved strategic victory and it is inching closer towards victory against terrorism,” AFP chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro said in his speech during the military’s 87th founding anniversary celebration at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Bacarro also said the government’s localized peace-building efforts with a multi-stakeholder and whole-of-nation approach also yielded positive results as it “encouraged enemies of the state” to return to the “fold of the law” and build goodwill with communities.

Data from the AFP showed that out of 89 guerilla fronts in existence in 2016, only 24 are left with only five active to date.

In other developments:

* The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines has filed 193 note verbales against China this year, 65 of which were filed during the Marcos administration. The Philippines on Dec. 12 filed a diplomatic protest over the Chinese Coast Guard’s illegal actions on Nov. 20, 2022, involving the rocket debris retrieval operations of the Philippine Navy.

* The Senate has adopted an unnumbered resolution on the “bullying” by a Chinese vessel against the Philippine Navy in the West Philippine Sea in November 2022. Meanwhile, Senator Loren Legarda said the government must again assert the 2016 Hague ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and declare China’s expansive maritime claims devoid of merit.

Rising prices of food is the biggest driver of inflation in the country, Villanueva said, noting the inflation rate of 8 percent in November 2022—the highest since November 2008.

Meanwhile, Agriculture officials underscored the need to balance rice imports and local production following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval of the extension of Executive Order 171 that modified tariff rates for some imported agricultural commodities.

At a press conference, agriculture officials said the move intends to prevent higher food inflation.

“The President signed and ordered last week containing the provisions of EO 171, and it would continue up to December 2023. I agree with that. But it has to be semestral in nature, and on that basis, sync to the harvesting. Beginning January, February, and March, we shall not be issuing any special permit to import,” Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said.

“We have to balance all of these with imports. We are trying to balance importation as well as production, so that we can stabilize the prices, lower the prices,” Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla added.

Contrary to several statements, the Department of Agriculture assured consumers there will be no supply shortage of rice next year despite the decrease in rice inventory.

by as much as 30-12 in the first quarter, before padding it to as much as 52-32, with 9:05 ticks left in the third.

But the Maroons simply would not yield, unleashing an 18-4 run highlighted by a James Spencer trey to come to within 56-50 with 3:01 left in the third.

UP’s assault continued in the fourth, as a split free throw and a quick triple from Harley Alarcon in the final 20.1 seconds allowed them to stay within range, 70-67, before Andrade came through with his freebies to move Ateneo to safer ground with 12.3 seconds left.

Injured UP star Zavier Lucero was allowed to score a technical free throw for the final count, owing to the Ateneo bench prematurely storming the court in celebration with still 0.7 seconds left in the game.

Lucero, who suffered a partial ACL tear on his left knee during the fourth quarter of Game 2 the Maroons lost last Wednesday, was not allowed to play in the decider.

Teammates dedicated the game to him and wore maroon shirts with his nickname, Zav, on it.

Angelo Kouame tallied a game-high 19 points for the Blue Eagles, who won Game 2, 65-56, after the Maroons took

hike of P1.50 to 1.60 per liter for diesel, kerosene by P1 to P1.10 per liter, and gasoline by P0.25 to P0.30 per liter based on a four-day trading cycle.

“Petron will implement the following price increases effective 6 a.m. on Dec

20: P0.70/li for gasoline, P2.90/li for diesel, and P1.65/li for kerosene. These reflect movements in the international oil market,” said Petron Corp., the country’s biggest oil player.

Aside from Petron, Seaoil Philippines, Cleanfuel, PetroGazz, Flying V, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, and PTT Philippines also raised pump prices.

DOE director for the Oil Industry Man-

tended to benefit future generations of Filipinos,” Romualdez said.

the opener, 72-66. Rence Padrigao and Gab Gomez provided 12 points each for Ateneo.

Spencer shot a game-high 14 points for UP, which missed out in its goal of a back-to-back championship.

“They (Maroons) never quit ever. We never expected them to quit. My words are insufficient compared to their performance,” said Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin.

“I think I could probably speak all day about the UP program and the UP faithful. You have an amazing team, (and) you have a phenomenal coach and coaching staff. They don’t quit ever. We know we never expected them to quit,” said Baldwin.

agement Bureau Rodela Romero attributed the increase in oil prices to “the EU oil embargo, G7 price cap for Russian oil crude, re-opening of China’s economy, rising hopes on China’s demand situation, and US data pointed to slowing inflation.”

On December 13, the oil companies implemented a per liter decrease in gasoline by P1.70, diesel by P3.40, and kerosene by P4.40.

“There will be a lot of rice in the country. A lot of importation by the private sector which is not authorized by the department has been confiscated quite recently, and on that aspect, we shall not be importing rice up to next year or the first quarter of next year,” Panganiban said.

and cheaper payment options.

QR Ph is based on the EuropayMastercard-VISA (EMV) standard, the global standard for secure payments.

The giving of “e-aguinaldo” supports the BSP’s broader thrust to foster the wider adoption of digital payments, which promotes financial inclusion and the efficient flow of funds in the economy.

The BSP pursues this under its Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap, which aims to convert at least half of the total volume of retail payments into digital form and to onboard at least 70 percent of Filipino adults to the financial system through transaction account ownership by 2023.

A3 – Editors).

“They told us that if we won’t accept it (money) then there will be more problems for us. I told them we won’t say anything. I am about to finish my jail time, so I endured it. I accepted the P50,000 while crying,” Cañete said in FIlipino.

Meanwhile, BuCor officer-incharge Gregorio Catapang Jr. said the BuCor was willing to help the victims file their case.

“We will forward their complaints to the CHR (Commission on Human Rights) and they will document it. We want reform in the BuCor. Detainees have rights too,” Catapang said.

GMA News reached out to Bantag for a statement but had yet to respond as of press time.

supports the recently approved House Bill No.6607 establishing the Maharlika Investment Fund,” said PSE president Ramon Monzon on Monday.

“Since the MIF seeks to attract and invest capital for big-ticket infrastructure projects, sustainable green and blue infrastructures and countryside developments, we believe these investments will create a multiplier effect that would attract more fund-raising activities and portfolio investments and in turn contribute to the growth and development of our capital markets,” he said.

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez on Monday welcomed the results of the Tangere survey.

“We are happy with the survey, which to us means that we are on the right track in advocating the establishment of this sovereign wealth fund, which is in-

“It shows that our advocacy has the support not just of major business g roups but of the general population as well,” Romualdez said.

Martin Peñaflor, CEO and founder of Tangere, said of those aware of the bill, 54.08 percent either strongly support (21.84 percent) or somewhat support (32.24 percent) its passage into law, while 21.34 percent are neutral and 24.58 percent either somewhat or strongly oppose it.

Almost half of those aware of the MIF bill either strongly believe (22.39 percent) or somewhat believe (27.01 percent) that the establishment of funds can be safeguarded from corruption.

More than half or 56.67 percent either strongly or somewhat believe that the MIF would be helpful in growing the economy, and 57.86 percent strongly or somewhat believe that it could help fuel crucial government projects.

With a margin of error of 2.191 per-

cent, the survey had respondents from Metro Manila (12 percent), North and Central Luzon (23 percent), South Luzon (22 percent), the Visayas (20 percent) and Mindanao (23 percent).

Romualdez, the principal author of House Bill (HB) 6608, which proposes to establish the MIF, said enough safeguards, including transparency, have been written into the bill to ensure proper use of the planned sovereign fund and prevent abuse and corruption.

“During the lengthy and exhaustive plenary deliberations on the MIF bill, we have adopted various safeguards to ensure we can achieve the objectives of the Maharlika Investment Fund, and one of such is a provision to ensure transparency on relevant financial matters pertaining to the MIF,” Romualdez said.

He referred to a particular provision stating that the public can exercise the right to freedom of information regarding MIF financial issues.

Another provision states that all docu-

ments of the MIF and the Maharlika Investment Corp. - the independent body created to manage the fund - shall be open, available, and accessible to the public.

Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, meanwhile, pushed for the early approval into law of the proposed MIF bill because it will complement the strategies and hasten the attainment of goals set in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

During the #AskNEDA year-end media briefing held Monday, Balisacan said the Maharlika would be another source of funds that will support the government’s investment priorities.

“So, we see the Maharlika as another vehicle for sources of funds for investments… just like PPP [Public-Private Partnership]. ODA [Official Development Assistance], and GA [General Appropriations]. So the more vehicles we have, the better….so that we can ramp up not only the infrastructure projects and even other priorities of the government,” Balisacan said.

DOH hopeful health emergency on COVID, Mpox will end next year

By Willie Casas

THE Department of Health (DOH on Monday expressed optimism that the state of public health emergency in the country over the COVID-19 and Mpox will end next year.

Meanwhile, the seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate had decreased in several areas in the country, with that of the National Capital Region (NCR) now down to 13.9 percent, based on the data shown by independent monitoring OCTA Research Group.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire made the remark following a World Health Organization (WHO) statement saying it hoped that COVID would no longer be a global health emergency sometime in 2023.

WHO also urged China to share information that could pinpoint how the pandemic started.

“We are very hopeful because WHO gave this declaration. But the public also needs to understand that we still need to be very cautious because as the WHO said, we still have to see that critical cases and deaths due to COVID-19 continue to decrease,” Vergeire said in a radio interview.

“Hopefully by next year, we can already see that this public health emergency will be lifted,” she said.

The state of public health emergency in the Philippines was declared in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, by then President Rodrigo Duterte.

Under Proclamation 922, the state of a public health emergency would remain in force until lifted or withdrawn by the President.

The country is also currently under a state of calamity due to the coronavirus outbreak after President Ferdinand Marcos extended it until December 31, 2022.

DOJ dares Zulueta to face murder charges, file his counter-a idavit

By Rey E. Requejo

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday dared Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta to face the murder complaints filed against him for the deaths of broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and Cristito Villamor Palana.

“I hope he faces the murder complaints filed against him. He has not gone to the DOJ to face the charges,” Remulla said, in an interview.

“He should file a counter-affidavit,” Remulla added.

The Justice Secretary made the statement following a social media posted by lawyer Lauro Gacayan who said he has

been hired as legal counsel of Zulueta.

Zulueta is a co-respondent of suspended BuCor director general Gerald Bantag in the murder complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) before the DOJ last Nov. 7 on the deaths of Percy Lapid and Palana, the alleged middleman in the killing

of the radio broadcaster.

Prior the filing of the murder complaints, Remulla said the investigators learned that Zulueta has apparently gone into hiding as he has been absent without leave (AWOL) from the BuCor and could not be located.

A DOJ panel of prosecutors has started conducting the preliminary investigation on the complaints filed by the PNP and the NBI, and the charge lodged earlier by the PNP against self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial and his alleged accomplices.

Despite the issuance of subpoenas, neither Zulueta nor his lawyer has heeded the summons to appear and file the counteraffidavit.

Instead of filing a counter-affidavit, Bantag sought the inhibition of the DOJ panel

in the investigation of the murder charges filed against him.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Charlie Guhit, a panel member, said the complainants, including the Mabasa family and the NBI and PNP, have submitted comments on Bantag’s motion.

“On 16 December 2022, the Panel issued an order granting the request of respondent Bantag to file a reply within five days from receipt of the order. In the same order, the complainants were given the same period to file their respective rejoinders upon receipt of the reply from respondent Bantag,” Guhit said.

“After the lapse of the period, with or without the rejoinder, the motion for inhibition shall be deemed submitted for resolution,” he added

DOJ releases 361 PDLs in time for X’mas; more to follow suit

EXACTLY 361 prisoners are going to have a very merry Christmas with their families; they have just regained their freedom.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and other prison officials led the ceremonies for the release of 361 persons deprive of liberty (PDLs) under the “Paskong Kay Saya ang Pagbabalik sa Pamilya” program of the BuCor, held at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City.

The inmates were set free pursuant to the government’s program to decongest all BuCor’s correction facilities nationwide.

SAF leader receives QC heroism award

By Rio N. Araja

THE Quezon City’s People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) has conferred its first-ever Bayani ng Bayan award to the ground commander of the 2015 Special Action Force-led Mamasapano operation that resulted in the death of international terrorist Bin Hir, also known as Marwan.

Mayor Joy Belmonte and PLEB executive officer Rafael Calinisan bestowed the award to Lt. Col.

Raymund Train for his acts of “conspicuous courage and gallantry at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty during the said operation.”

Marwan was wanted in four countries—the United States, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia—and had a $5 million bounty on his head from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and P7.4 million from the Philippine government.

The operation led to the death of 44 SAF members, known as the Gallant 44.

Train kept a low profile since the operation and this was the first time he went public to receive the PLEB award during the Quezon City government’s flag-raising ceremony.

“I admire Col. Train for his extraordinary strength and bravery for so many years just to serve our country. We are truly proud of him We should strive to be like Lt. Col. Train: selfless service beyond the call of duty. I am one with the Citizens of Quezon City in conferring this award to this most deserving QCitizen, Lt. Col. Train. This award is given so that his heroism will never be forgotten,” she added.

Those coming home for Christmas included convicts acquitted of the charges against them, those granted probation, allowed to post cash bond, given parole, returnees, and those whose maximum sentences have already expired.

Thirty-three elderly PDLs were released due to old age.

Remulla has implemented a series of releases of PDLS since he assumed his post

as chief of the Department of Justice (DOJ), which has direct supervision over the BuCor.

Last September, the DOJ and the BuCor processed the release of 371 PDLs in time for the birthday celebration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

On November 24, a total of 234 others was released, followed by another batch of 357 last October 26.

The DOJ chief said he hopes that a monthly average of 700 to 800 prisoners would also be eventually released in the very near future.

The DOJ secretary said he is in constant communication with Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta on what other measures could be taken to further reduce the number of PDLs.

“Actually, there are a lot of people who are not supposed to be in jail and they are being given pardon just to shorten the process (for their release),” Remulla said. Rey E. Requejo

Bato wants Oplan Tokhang revived

FORMER Philippine National Police (PNP) chief turned senator Ronald Dela Rosa said the PNP should consider reviving the controversial anti-drug campaign Oplan Tokhang following the amid the apparent return of drug syndicates in the country.

“Yes, kung pupuwede. But then again, I cannot impose to them. They have their own program. We have to support them,” Dela Rosa told ANC’s “Headstart”.

Dela Rosa said Oplan Tokhang, a police anti-drug drive involving knocking on the doors of suspected criminals, was “effective” in reducing criminality.

“Matagumpay ‘yun. Our crime volume went down to almost 50 percent because of Oplan Tokhang,” he noted. “Kaya tayo nagwage ng war (against drugs) in order to make our environment safe and we achieved a lot.”

The President Rodrigo Duterte had issued a shoot-to-kill order if the officers’ lives were in danger.

Official records indicated that some 6,200 people died in the anti-drug campaign, human rights groups estimated the true figure was in the tens of thousands.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who succeeded Duterte, has vowed to continue the drug war, focused more on prevention and rehabilitation.

Dela Rosa also rejected the petition of an International Criminal Court prosecutor to resume its investigation on the drug war and Davao Death Squad killings in the Philippines.

Supporting ICC’s drug war probe will mean disrespecting the local courts, Dela Rosa said. He is one of the personalities included in the charge sheet.

“Ang ating sistema gumagana naman. Bakit tayo magsu-surrender sa kanila? Get out, get out of this country! You are (not) needed here,” Dela Rosa stressed.

The senator admitted he feared the outcome of an ICC inquiry because the war tribunal is composed of foreign judges. With AFP report

DILG launches information campaign on SIM Card Registration Law

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday launched its information dissemination campaign on the newly-enacted SIM Card Registration Act which will take effect on Dec. 27, 2022.

The law, according to the DILG, will help combat cybercrimes and other illegal online activities.

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos,

Jr. said with millions of Filipino mobile subscribers, an intensive information drive must be carried out at the grassroots level and the local government units (LGUs) should step up in educating the public on the requirements and importance of the law.

“As we seek to ensure public safety even in the online space, I encourage LGUs to exert all efforts to promote responsible use of SIM cards, educate their stakeholders on the benefits of mandatory SIM card

Villa lauds, awards Las Piñas parol makers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Cynthia Villar has lauded the lantern makers of Las Piñas City as she handed out cash prizes for the winners of this year’s “Parol Festival.”

“I commend all our participants who, despite the challenging circumstances brought about by COVID-19, have continued to pursue their passion in creating unique and environment-friendly “parols” that make Las Piñas lanterns stand out among the rest,” Villar said.

“I am truly proud that we have once again risen up to the challenge of honoring our annual tradition and spread holiday cheer and hope this season.”

The senator presided at the virtual awarding ceremonies held at the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) hall.

Winners of this year’s competition were: grand prize, Bryan Flores, who received P20,000 cash prize; 1st runner, Glecy Dela Cruz who got P15,000; and 2nd runner up, Fercival Santos who pocketed P10,000.

The competition was part of Senator Villar’s advocacy to promote garbage recycling and efficient solid waste management.

Entries from the Samahang Magpaparol ng Las Piñas used recyclable materials such as shampoo sachets, soap cartons, straws, pet bottles, cans, used cds, and corrugated cartons, as well organic items like clam and mussel shells.

“Now on its 15th year, this Parol Festival is our way of raising awareness on the importance of recycling. Participants made use of trash and other recyclable items, so they don’t end up clogging our waterways that result to flooding especially during the rainy season,” Villar added.

registration and guide them through the whole registration process,” Abalos said.

He said the SIM Card Registration Act would help the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement authorities in curbing rising electronic communication-aided criminal activities in the Philippines such as mobile phishing, text spams, online scams, bank frauds and identity theft.

The new law, the first to be enacted by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.,

aims to regulate the registration and use of SIMs by mandating all end-users to register their SIMs with their respective telecommunications networks before their activation.

Abalos said its implementation would not only prompt accountability from all sides—the mobile users, the telcos, the government and authorities—but will also help the PNP to quickly locate offenders of crimes committed in anonymity through the use of electronic devices.

BURNHAM PARK. It’s not summer yet, but tourists are ocking to Baguio City, dubbed the Summer Capital of the Philippines to relish the highland city’s cool temperature (around 14.1 degrees Celcius) and escape the sweltering heat of the metropolis. Photo shows a portion of Baguio’s famous Burnham Park. Dave Leprozo

FREEDOM REGAINED. The Bureau of Corrections sets free Persons Deprive of Liberty (PDLs) or prisoners who either completed their sentence or received executive clemency from National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla says the prisoners’ release is part of the government’s jail decongestion program. Danny Pata

FOOD WASTES TO WATER. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman and administrator Rolen Paulino (center) is briefed by Rieda Ibabao, general manager of Dunbrae Philippines Inc., on the conversion of food wastes into water using a Canada made state-ofthe-art machine, thereby doing away with trash for the land lls that emits harmful carbon dioxide and methane. At right is SBMA spokesperson Armie Llamas. Joseph Muego

Solon hails Romualdez on enactment of 2023 budget

By Maricel V. Cruz

A FIRST-TERM lawmaker has commended the leadership of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez for the record-breaking early enactment of the 2023 national budget.

Bulacan Rep. Salvador Pleyto said he couldn’t help but feel proud over the achievement, which is directly attributable to Congress.

“I am very proud to be a member of Congress as neophyte congressman, that our budget was signed by the President [Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.], the fastest ever in our history,” Pleyto, vice chair of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways, told reporters, said.

“I did my humble little share in the early passage of our budget, as member of our Appropriations

‘Gov’t needs to act swiftly to avert education woes’

GIVEN suboptimal performance and persisting inequitable access, the Philippine education system needs swift action to address the current education crisis.

This was according to a study published by state think-tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), authored by PIDS president Aniceto Orbeta Jr. and Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow Vicente Paqueo, that explored the current condition of the country’s trifocal education system.

According to Orbeta and Paqueo, the Philippines has the same level of school attendance as wealthier nations, yet the education system continues to struggle from producing high-quality outcomes.

BI expects massive influx of passengers as rules ease

By Vito Barcelo

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) expects an influx of tourist arrivals and returning Filipinos this holiday season compared to the same period last year, due to the easing of travel restrictions as COVID-19 cases continue to decline.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the bureau is expecting an average of up to 35,000 passengers daily arrival this holiday season, saying the daily arrival and outbound passengers at the country’s premiere international airport, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have already reached 29,000 on the first week of December this year.

“The number of arrivals and even departures are slowly on the rise. This is the result of the lifting of travel restrictions,” Sandoval said. “We expect that to increase this December up to January which we consider as peak season for travelers.”

To ensure the smooth flow of arriving and departing passengers, the BI has deployed a rapid response team to augment manpower at immigration counters in NAIA and other international airports in the country.

Sandoval said this will ease the long queues for arriving and departing passengers while also cutting immigration processing time from the usual 45 seconds to just eight seconds.

Immigration personnel are not allowed to file leaves during the holiday season for maximum deployment.

Meanwhile, airport authorities have assured travelers they are doing what they can to address the congestion in the country’s main gateway.

The Manila International Airport Authorities said they recently implemented terminal reassignments for some airlines to accommodate the influx of passengers this holiday season.

BI deputy spokesperson Melvin Mabulac meanwhile said long lines cannot be avoided with the influx passengers.

“The country’s performance in international large-scale assessments confirms we have been in a learning crisis for a while now. A vast proportion of our students are below minimum proficiency levels in reading, science, and mathematics,” they said.

“While it has been denied that automatic promotion is the official policy, the test results showing a huge proportion of students not having the required competence of the school level they are in is a piece of compelling evidence that this may not be the case,” they added.

Based on World Bank’s Human Capital Index, the learning gap estimated for the Philippines is about 5.5 years, which is larger than its Asian neighbors. “This means an average Filipino student spends more time in school but is less productive than his/her counterparts in other countries,” the authors said.

Moreover, the quality of higher education in the country is “uneven”, which Orbeta and Paqueo said can be traced to the low quality of basic education. Only a few Philippines universities are on the list of top universities in the world rankings.

“Inequitable access [also] persists” in higher education. “In 2019, while 49 percent of the richest decile attend higher education, only 17 percent from the poorest decile can do so.

The poor are underrepresented even in public higher education institutions. It remains to be seen whether the free tuition in public universities and colleges will increase the participation of students from poorer households,” the authors said.

Orbeta and Paqueo also examined the challenges of remote learning during the pandemic. Based on Department of Education (DepEd) data, most basic education public schools used printed modules, while private schools used online learning. According to them, the schools’ chosen learning modes not only reflect the country’s connectivity issues and the differences in clientele but also “highlight the disparity in access to the internet, access devices, and home support required by remote learning”.

Committee. We really participated in the deliberations of budget bill at the committee level and in the plenary,” he added.

On Friday afternoon, Dec. 16, President Marcos affixed his signature to the P5.268-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget for 2023–the biggest ever in the country’s history.

Romualdez has said that the 2023 GAA is the only budget in recent memory to have been signed in mid-December.

Romualdez earlier said the House of Representatives and the Senate deliberated on and approved the President’s first fullyear budget proposal “in record time.”

“As far as I can remember, the 2023 budget is one of the few spending bills signed into law in mid-December, way before the start of its implementation on New Year’s Day,” he added.

IN BRIEF

CAAP announces resumption of Borongan flights

THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Monday announced the resumption of commercial flights at Borongan Airport in Eastern Samar.

Philippine Airlines’s De Havilland Dash 8 - 400 launched its maiden flight, successfully landed at the airport from Mactan despite the rainfall.

CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said the aircraft was utilized for the maiden flight which carried 73 passengers in its arrival to Borongan. PAL will fly to and from Borongan Airport twice a week, every Monday and Friday. He said the flights were added to provide easier air travel from Eastern Samar to Manila, where passengers used to travel by land for three to four hours to the nearest airport in Tacloban City.

The maiden flight, which arrived at 11:59 a.m. was joined and welcomed by Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, PAL Vice President for Sales Salvador Britanico, PAL AVP for Network and Fleet Planning Bryan Ang, and CAAP Area 8 Manager Danilo Abareta. Joel E. Zurbano

DAR awards land to former rebels

AT least 10 rebel returnees are among farmers who have received land titles in Leyte from the Department of Agrarian Reform.

Some 31 agricultural tenants in the hacienda here have received their early Christmas gifts individual certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) covering 39.9 hectares of farm lot in Barangat Enage.

Municipal agrarian reform program officer Maximo Castañeda Jr. spearheaded the distribution of CLOAs, citing 10 of the 31 agrarian reform beneficiaries were former rebels.

The effort is part of DAR’s contribution to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) under Executive Order No. 70 of 2018.

“Providing lands to the landless gives these former rebels the support they need as they start over a new life,” he said.

‘Up to Joma’s kin if remains will be returned to PH’

(AFP)

be up to his immediate family

“We cannot speculate yet on what the decision of the immediate family… Maybe we should ask them first where they want to bury the remains of Professor Sison,” Aguilar, quoted by a GMA News report, said.

Meanwhile, the CPP said Monday it

will not be declaring a ceasefire during the holiday season this year, GMA News also reported.

In a statement, the CPP central committee said there is “absolutely no reason to declare a ceasefire” to mark the holidays, its upcoming 54th anniversary, and mourn the death of Sison.

Last week, the AFP said it ruled out declaring a ceasefire with the CPP-NPA for the Christmas season.

“Ceasefire is ruled out because of leadership vacuum within the CPP after the neutralization of many of its top

“Prior to the death of Joma Sison, CPP-NPA-NDF, yung insurgency [sa] ating bansa brought about by the CPP-NPA-NDF was already dying and the more it will going to its extinction kapag namatay na si Joma Sison,” Dela Rosa said in an ANC interview.

Albay to cancel classes, work due to inclement weather

CLASSES and work in government offices in Albay will be suspend due to the inclement weather prevailing over the province.

In an advisory, Governor Edcel Greco Lagman said classes and school activities are suspended at all levels for schools both in public and private, GMA News reported.

Not covered by the suspension of government work are “agencies whose functions are related to public safety, disaster risk reduction, health and related services,” the advisory said.

Suspension of work in private offices, on the other hand, will be at the discretion of their respective heads.

“Exempted from the suspension of work in private institutions are banks, money transfer/remittance agencies, malls, groceries, delivery services, distributors of commodities/supplies and drug stores,” the advisory said.

There’s a new supergroup to shake up your social media feed! Lagman, who also heads the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Council (PDRRMC), cited “adverse effects of continuous rainfall and expected thunderstorms” as reasons for the suspension of classes and government work.

The awarded lots are part of the 58-hectare hacienda owned by Caridad Enage covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Castañeda said under EO No. 4 of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., land amortization payments are suspended for one year, and that a priority bill of the Marcos administration would allow the farmer-beneficiaries to receive their lands for free and that they would no longer need to pay amortizations and interest payments. Rio N. Araja

Bill seeks 20% cut on toll for seniors

QUEZON City Rep. Marvin Rillo wants to expand the transportation and road use privileges of the country’s senior citizens by granting them a 20 percent discount on the toll fees levied by expressway and skyway operators.

“Senior citizens who own motor vehicles deserve special access to skyways and expressways, including a 20 percent reduction in toll charges,” Rillo said in filing House Bill No. 5277.

Under his proposal, senior citizens would enjoy 20 percent off all toll fees payable via radio frequency identification (RFID) or similar devices.

To avail of the discount, the motor vehicle must be registered in the name of the senior citizen, who must submit a copy of his or her ID card to the expressway or skyway operator when applying for RFID installation.

“Our measure seeks to give more meaning to the mandate of the 1987 Constitution for the State to prioritize the rights and welfare of the elderly,” Rillo said.

Rillo’s bill requires the Department of Transportation’s Toll Regulatory Board and other agencies to enforce the discount . Maricel V. Cruz

ARMED Forces of the Philippines

spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said the decision to return the remains of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairperson Jose Maria “Joma” Sison to the country will

leaders,” Aguilar told GMA News Online.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa has earlier expressed belief that the death of Sison will lead to the communist rebel’s extinction.

MEDAL OF VALOR AWARDEES. House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez (3rd left) and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Vicente

Bartolome Bacarro (2nd left) pose for a picture with Medal of Valor Awardees during the 87th AFP Anniversary on Monday at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. Ver Noveno

Transportation

The bridge, which will be completed in five years by 2027, would cut travel time down from 50 minutes to four and a half minutes. The project is the last of the Duterte administration’s “Build Build Build” projects.

Prior to the groundbreaking and even more now, environmentalists from Davao have been voicing their concerns over the approved placement of the SIDC.

Of all possible options, they question the approved plan as the alignment of the four-lane bridge project would pass through the Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape.

The Save Samal Reefs Alliance (SSRA), a group organized to express their concerns over the environmental costs of the project to Paradise Reef and other marine protected areas on the Davao side, has been actively conducting their own studies and organizing awareness campaigns about these alignment concerns.

According to the SSRA, the approved alignment would destroy or at the very least significantly impact Paradise Reef, a 300-meter contiguous reef along the IGaCos side of the project.

The reef is situated near the Costa Marina Beach Resort and the Paradise Island Park & Beach Resort.

It should be emphasized that the bridge itself is welcomed as a needed development for the area, but what is being raised are concerns regarding the balancing of environmental costs, financial considerations, and social benefits of the proposed alignment.

It would be ideal if the conflicting claims and findings of these groups were harmonized before the project pushes through, but boring activities have already started

The alignment passes through the Southern Corridor of the Pakiputan Strait with the Davao landing point within Barangay Hizon at the R-Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction and the Samal landing point is within Barangay Limao.

The landing point is near two popular tourist resorts as it would be on the coast of Costa Marina Beach Resort, which is adjacent to Paradise Island Part & Beach Resort.

The resorts are operated by the Rodriguez and Lucas families.

Both have expressed strong opposition to the bridge alignment and question the alleged lack of genuine consultation with the community before the government proceeded with the implementation of the project.

However, in an early October consultation with the National Economic and Development Authority, 43 out of 46 barangay leaders from IGaCoS allegedly

gave their full support for the project, citing the economic benefits that the project would bring to the entire island.

The project was issued an ECC by the Department of Environment and Natural ResourceEnvironmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in December 2020.

The bridge alignment was approved by Davao’s Regional Development Council back in 2019 during the Duterte administration.

According to the ECC, the project’s expected impacts on the marine environment are seagrass loss, disturbance of natural sedimentary and fish habitats, and changes to the strait bed which may affect the movement patterns of marine animals.

However, Davao environmentalists argue that the actual impacts of the project go far beyond what was assessed in the EIA.

Not only would Paradise Reef be affected by the increased siltration due to the boring activities, but the biodiversity of the Davao Gulf area itself may be irreversibly altered.

The Gulf is a key biodiversity area where at least 15 cetacean species have been found, according to a 2018 study by the World Wildlife Fund.

Thus, on top of calling for the realignment of the bridge to stop the direct impact to Paradise Reef, environmentalists are calling for an increase in the project’s allocation for its environmental costs as a whole due to these possible wider impacts on the Gulf’s ecosystem.

Controversy also exists as to whether the bridge project is within a protected area and whether the project on its face is allowable.

The DPWH asserts that the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) has given clearance and expressed support for the project through an October 2020 resolution, but the owners of the two most-affected resorts assert that the environmental clearance certificate (ECC) for the project was issued without PAMB clearance.

Further, they assert that under Proclamation 2152, S. 1981, the entirety of Samal Island is a protected area and a Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve.

If so, then an act of Congress would be needed to disestablish a protected area or modify its boundary.

It would be ideal if the conflicting claims and findings of these groups were harmonized before the project pushes through, but boring activities have already started.

The impacts of the project on the environment may be minimal if the EIA metrics are to be followed, or they may be significant and irreversible if the scope is widened to consider the ecology of the bay as a whole system.

On this project, the precautionary principle is applicable.

According to the Environmental Rule of Procedure issued by the Suprme Court: “When there is a lack of full scientific certainty in establishing a causal link between human activity and environmental effect, the court shall apply the precautionary principle in resolving the case before it.

“The constitutional right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology shall be given the benefit of the doubt.”

Website: tonylavina.com. Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

By Emmanuel Peuchot

LOOKING pale and exhausted, a dozen of the few remaining residents of Ukraine’s frontline town of Avdiivka briefly come out of their shelters to pick up food parcels distributed by volunteers.

They barely flinch at the sound of the constant shelling that echoes across the town just 13 kilometers from the pro-Russian rebel stronghold of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

Carrying boxes with stamps of the World Food Program, they slowly retreat to the relative safety of their basements, where they have been sheltering without power, gas or water.

“It’s very hard... (Volunteers) have offered for us to leave, to evacuate, but where can we go? We are too old,” says 74-year-old Svitlana, who shares a cold basement with five women and two men of a similar age who used to occupy the building above it.

In their basic shelter, thick blankets and sleeping bags donated by volunteers are sprawled across eight beds.

A flashlight secured to the wall emits a pale white gleam – their only source of light.

“Basements are all the same, but this is our basement. It would be cold now wherever we go,” Svitlana tells AFP, wearing a hat and wrapped in a thick winter coat.

“Here, at least, we can go upstairs and grab an extra jacket,” she adds.

Just over 2,000 of Avdiivka’s 30,000 residents remain in the town nearly 10 months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Frequent shelling

The head of the town’s military administration, Vitali Barabash, says Avdiivka is under frequent shelling from pro-Russian forces.

“From 7:15 am they started bombarding the old part of town with Grad rockets. At 9:30 there was a strike on the central part using artillery,” he says.

“Just seven minutes ago, they started a massive artillery strike, the central part of town again, apartment blocks,” he tells AFP in the middle of a cold winter day in mid-December.

Many of Avdiivka’s buildings have been damaged, their walls blackened, their windows blown out by the impact.

To the north of the city, a large coke plant which used to employ 4,000 people has been the target of numerous strikes.

Back in the basement of Svitlana’s home, a fire crackles inside a wood-fired stove in a small adjoining room.

Mikola pulls out twigs and branches from a small pile of wood to fuel the fire. Two explosions ring out in the distance.

“Who knows what it was. It looked like artillery or maybe mortars,” he says.

“Here we keep food, potatoes... If it gets too cold, we will move in here”, Mikola adds, referring to the heated room.

For Svitlana, “hope is all we have.”

“Most of us are sick, like everyone here -strokes, the flu, some people get injured,” she says.

Located in Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region, Avdiivka was briefly captured by Russian-backed separatists in spring 2014 before coming back under Kyiv’s control some months later.

It has remained a hotspot of fighting ever since.

‘All civilians threatened’

The town has witnessed fierce battles over the past few months, as Russia’s forces attempt to advance around Avdiivka and the nearby town of Bakhmut.

Clarifications needed

HOPEFULLY, during the Christmas break, our national legislators will find the space to address stalking questions about the Maharlika Investment Fund, which has been refined by the House of Representatives before it adjourned its sessions.

Many have put on the brakes, even after the House of Representatives had rushed to complete its version and before the Senate convenes next month to tackle the issues from both sides.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has raised the bill as another priority bill, among more than a dozen so certified, with the appearingly valid fear that the MIF would be passed before long but not thoroughly discussed and therefore harebrained.

The rider here is the MIF would go at full speed, given the President’s admission that the MIF was all along his idea, if there were no valid substitutes that had been there prior to crafting of the bill.

Some have raised the thought that the government should continue with the tried and tested public-private partnership scheme although proponents admit there are limitations for this option.

There have also been suggestions in some sectors to widen the tax base, which would run parallel to efforts to improve and make more efficient tax collection by the government.

Now here comes the Philippine Stock

What can the MIF do better than the public-private partnership scheme in tax collections?

Exchange, operator of the country’s stock market, throwing its support to the MIF, underlining its persuasion this would deepen the capital markets.

PSE President Ramon Monzon has said the proposed MIF could create a “multiplier effect,” attract more investments, and result in growth in the country’s capital markets.

The MIF issue has become controversial due to the initial inclusion of the pension funds Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System as funding sources.

But the proposal has since been revised to appease the concerns of the public as

well as financial experts.

The MIF will draw funds from the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines, PAGCOR and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, among others.

Proponents have said the MIF will support economic growth and support government projects.

“The PSE’s primary mission is to facilitate the flow of capital into more productive and beneficial channels and as a result contribute to efficient capital formation for the country,” Monzon said.

“Since the MIF seeks to attract and invest capital for big-ticket infrastructure projects, sustainable green and blue infrastructures and countryside developments, we believe these investments will create a multiplier effect that would attract more fund-raising activities and portfolio investments and in turn contribute to the growth and development of our capital markets,” he added.

We are inclined to listen to impassioned arguments, which put us on a higher level of serious thought that indeed there is need to clarify the MIF role and its benefits.

For instance, what can the MIF do better than the public-private partnership scheme in tax collections? Among other questions high on the minds of financeoriented executives.

The Christmas break should provide the space.

Tulfo should be disqualified as Secretary of DSWD

committee in order not to discriminate in favor of any member of the Senate.

THE deferment of the confirmation by the Commission on Appointments in the case of Erwin Tulfo as secretary of Social Welfare and Development, now in limbo, brings into focus a myriad of legal and moral questions in the case of both elective and appointive officials.

Tulfo has been questioned on his citizenship when he became an American citizen when he entered the military service of the US military.

Likewise, his conviction for the crime of libel was also questioned since, Santa Banana, this carries the element of turpitude, a cause for disqualification for both elective and appointive officials.

When a Filipino enters the United States’ military service, he must renounce his Filipino citizenship which was given to him upon birth under the theory of “jus sanguinis” – which holds that the country of citizenship of a child is the same as that of his/ her parents.

And when Tulfo returned to the Philippines and got back his Filipino citizenship when the dual citizenship law took effect, did he renounce his US citizenship before the US Embassy?

Tulfo must prove that.

Otherwise, he would have dual citizenship, a factor that disqualifies him to an elective position.

Recall that the late Perfecto Yasay, my gulay, was disqualified by the Commission on Appointments when it was found out that he had dual citizenship!

On Tulfo’s conviction of libel, which carries the element of turpitude, which has since become final and executory, Santa Banana, comes the question of moral turpitude.

While some lawyers claim that this can only apply to elective officials, it can also apply to appointive officials.

As the President’s executive secretary, retired Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, should have his say. Personally I think this qualification should apply to appointive officials.

Thus, Santa Banana, it is my belief that Tulfo’s appointment as DSWD secretary should not only be deferred but rejected.

On the question of conviction of libel, comes the case of Senator Raffy Tulfo who was also convicted of libel. In fact, his case of having been convicted of libel, which became final and executory, can disqualify him as a senator.

This was brought up when he ran for senator during the last election, but was forgotten!

It is very clear that among the disqualifications to run for an elective official is conviction of libel, which carries the element of turpitude.

My gulay, this is a case for the Senate legal ethics

Was it true that the former legal wife had complained that Tulfo was living with another?

Santa Banana, whatever happened to that complaint, if it was true? Raffy Tulfo was a former broadcaster, now senator.

Please correct me if I am wrong, since I am depending on news reports. I could be wrong, my gulay!

*** *** ***

I had predicted that after President Marcos Jr. came out that the Sovereign Wealth Fund was his idea that soon he would have it certified as “urgent.”

and-Controlled Corporations (GOCC) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas profits.

A colleague of mine who writes in another newspaper said it correctly, Santa Banana, that the MIF is Marcos Jr.’s first laudable initiative since it was his idea all along.

The Senate must now enact a similar bill, which earlier had been opposed by many, Santa Banana.

While the total amount as approved by the House, now totaling P210 billion, much smaller than the initial amount of P275 billion the SWF sought, it is likely that the Senate will scrutinize the House approved bill.

With the two contentions of the opposition now out of the question, the participation of the GSIS and the SSS and the question of accounting also removed, the Senate approval of the Maharlika Investment Fund is also assured.

Moscow has recently redeployed regular troops near Avdiivka that are ‘better trained’ than separatist forces but morale is ‘high’ among Kyiv’s soldiers

against

illegal drugs is humane, no longer the ‘kill, kill, kill’ war of Duterte that gave rise to extrajudicial killings and promoted the culture of impunity

Only six of the more than 300 members of the House of Representatives crossed party lines and voted for the Maharlika Investment Fund, with only six voting against the MIF from members of the Makabayan bloc and from Rep. Edcel Lagman as president of the Liberal Party on its third and final reading.

Santa Banana, creating the P2 billion MIF would now allow the government to invest in high-yielding investments like infrastructure and other economic activities to secure high-yielding profits in line with Marcos Jr.’s socio and economic programs.

The earlier SWF bill filed by no less than Speaker Martin Romualdez and other administration allies had earlier sough P275 billion from the Government Service Insurance Service and the Social Security System.

But strong opposition forced the Hose to discontinue with the GSIS and SSS participation for the MIF, and rely mainly on the Land Bank, the DBP and dividends of Government-Owned-

North of Avdiivka, Moscow’s troops in June cut off one of the two main supply routes to the town.

Russian forces are also positioned to the east and to the south, where they have recently pushed back Ukrainian forces.

“Our troops withdrew from (the village) of Vodyane. They crossed the river because it was absolutely impossible to hold the previous positions which were completely destroyed,” Barabash says.

According to him, Moscow has recently redeployed regular troops near Avdiivka that are “better trained” than separatist forces but morale is “high” among Kyiv’s soldiers.

“They do not even think of leaving the

As for accountability, with the administration’s economic manager headed by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, the problem of accountability is now assured.

It will now surely be a corruption- free investment fund.

Business leaders who earlier opposed the MIF because of the likelihood of corruption, I am sure, will now back the House-approved MIF. *** *** ***

I can only laugh at the comment of Senator Bato dela Rosa that President Marcos Jr. is too soft in his campaign against illegal drugs with less than 100 having been killed during the first six months of the Marcos Jr. administration.

Bato dela Rosa, former President Duterte’s police chief when the latter ordered the police to kill all those involved in illegal drugs with Bato’s Operation Tokhang and Double Barreled war on illegal drugs, which even included killing of drug users and addicts who were mere victims of the illegal drugs trade, developed the culture of impunity and so many extra-judicial killings.

Now under the illegal drug war of BBM, the targets are more the drug lords, syndicates and those who have laboratories and homes manufacturing shabu, not drug users and addicts.

BBM’s campaign is also aimed at putting up rehabilitation centers, since the high incidence of drug addicts and users in the country is a matter of supply and demand.

For so long as there are drug users and addicts, the cartels and syndicates will be there to supply the demand.

In other words, BBM’s campaign against illegal drugs is humane, no longer the “kill, kill, kill” war of Duterte that gave rise to extrajudicial killings and promoted the culture of impunity.

town,” Barabash says. But Avdiivka police officer Rasim Rustamov says the situation remains “really difficult.”

“We are suffering from repeated shelling of the town and surrounding areas. All civilians here are threatened,” he tells AFP inside a police station.

Living in the darkness of their basement, Svitlana and her neighbors keep busy by decorating the walls with large colorful collages.

“There was nothing but old brick walls here. Now, you see, step by step, we are decorating the boring grey backdrop,” Svitlana says.

“We know how to make it feel like home,” she adds. AFP

OCTOBER 27 saw the groundbreaking for the Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Connector project, which would link by bridge the city of Davao to the neighboring Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS).

between the two cities has always been by barges which ferry cars, buses, and pedestrians across Pakiputan Strait.

BBM’s campaign against

EAGLE YES TONY LA VIÑA

In Ukraine’s Avdiivka, ‘hope is all we have’

Drones attack Kyiv with ‘Shaheds’

KYIV—Drones attacked the Ukrainian capital early Monday morning, the Kyiv city military administration said, urging people to heed air alerts.

“The enemy is attacking the capital,” the administration posted on Telegram.

“At the moment, 9 enemy UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) have already been shot down in the airspace of Kyiv.”

It added that the Russian forces were using barrage ammunition from “Shaheds”, Iran-made weapons that have pummelled the capital in recent weeks.

The city’s civil administration an -

nounced an initial air alert at 1:56 am (2356 GMT) which lasted for just over three hours. A second siren at 5:24 am (0324 GMT) was called off within a half hour.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed on Monday that “explosions” had occurred in the capital.

“Several explosions were heard in the Solomianskyi and Shevchenkivs-

FUND OUTFLOWS CAPEX Payment for the pending application (ERC Case No. 2022-035 RC Force Majeure CapEx), Php

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING

1,134,000.00387,500.001,015,000.002,536,500.00

5,798,410.005,113,500.003,087,000.0013,998,910.00

58,593,107.50

18,208,829.0418,271,661.30 36,480,490.34

154,245,682.46103,463,869.11128,366,922.7798,987,182.1793,579,033.86110,359,206.77413,208,790.241,102,210,687.38

157,669,067.41202,455,513.57187,566,368.05175,449,096.06166,145,588.83166,219,280.25499,663,278.681,105,634,072.33

kyi districts of the capital,” he said. “All services work on the ground. More details later.”

Ukraine has been subjected to frequent and deadly aerial attacks in the 10 months since Russia’s invasion in February.

After a series of key battlefield setbacks and lost territory this summer and autumn, Moscow pivoted strategies and stepped up its aerial campaign. AFP

485,423.5254,322,429.6054,807,853.12

CAPEX Payment for the Subject Case (2016-2019 Regular CapEx), Php 6,998,000.0015,153,923.2316,724,235.5319,716,948.74 0.00 0.00 0.00 58,593,107.50

CAPEX Payment for the pending application (20202022 Regular CapEx),Php 18,208,829.0418,271,661.30202,632,627.68239,113,118.02

CAPEX Payment for the previous approved application/s (ERC Case No. 2013-129 RC, Interim & Regular CapEx), Php 12,891,213.0873,666,007.8614,831,513.3717,584,225.4219,878,606.002,048,000.0012,669,000.00153,568,565.73

CAPEX Payment for the pending application (ERC Case No. 2018-044RC, Emergency CapEx), Php 0.00435,000.00 5,593,017.777,633,333.327,633,333.323,180,555.5924,475,240.00

CAPEX Payment for the pending application (ERC Case No. 2021-033RC, Emergency CapEx), Php 0.00 679,540.00679,540.00 0.00 1,950,000.00992,700.00 0.00 4,301,780.00

Annual Loan Amortization Payment for the pending application (2020-2022 Regular CapEx), Php 6,071,901.616,071,901.61

Annual Loan Amortization Payment for the previous approved application/s (ERC Case No. 2013-129 RC, Interim &Regular CapEx), Php11,216,490.7518,115,458.0822,979,852.1417,314,731.6520,917,244.9117,912,505.2919,902,598.92128,358,881.74

439,448.31439,448.31

1,793,348.391,793,348.39

11,814.3011,814.30

@ Php 0.75/Php 100 for the pending application (ERC Case No. 2021-033 RC, Emergency CapEx), Php 32,263.3532,263.35

Replenishment of General Fund of the approved application including Motion for Reconsideration (ERC Case No. 2013-129 RC, Interim & Regular CapEx), Php 1,750,000.001,983,152.00 1,690,293.135,423,445.13

Replenishment of the General Fund for the pending application (ERC Case No. 2022-035 RC Force Majeure CapEx), Php 54,807,853.1254,807,853.12

Replenishment of the General Fund for the Subject Case (2016-2019 Regular CapEx), Php 58,593,107.5058,593,107.50

Replenishment of the General Fund for the pending application (2020-2022 Regular CapEx), Php 36,480,490.3436,480,490.34

Replenishment of the General Fund for the pending application (ERC Case No. 2018-044 RC, Emergency CapEx), Php 1,575,240.001,575,240.00

Replenishment of the General Fund for the pending application (ERC Case No. 2021-033 RC, Emergency CapEx), Php 4,301,780.004,301,780.00

Total Cash Outflows, Php 58,677,422.95143,256,068.29111,104,454.16102,882,541.10110,285,515.3479,764,791.81490,479,471.841,096,450,265.50

Cash Balance Ending, Php, Excess/(Shortfall) 98,991,644.4659,199,445.2876,461,913.8972,566,554.9655,860,073.4886,454,488.449,183,806.849,183,806.84 Excess/ (Shortfall) on RFSC, Php/kWh 0.3179 0.18350.21630.19300.15450.22010.0217 0.0036

11. Finally, in compliance with the documentary as well as pre-filing requirements for the instant application, Applicant is submitting herewith the following documents which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit:

Annex Markings

Nature of Document

A Capital Expenditure Plan for Years 2016 to 2019

BAffidavit of Posting of the Notice on the Proposed Projects B-1Notice on the Proposed Projects C Affidavit of Undertaking that the corresponding application for approval of concerned agencies shall be filed, when required D and series Proof of furnishing of copies of the Application to the Office of the Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Agusan del Norte, as well as the Office of the Mayor and the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Butuan City E and series Proof of publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation covering ANECO’s franchise area or where it principally operates PRAYER

WHEREFORE, premises considered, applicant Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ANECO) respectfully prays of this Honorable Commission that after due notice and hearing, ANECO’s Capital Expenditure Program for Years 2016 to 2019 be approved and confirmed.

Other reliefs as may be appropriate under the circumstances are likewise prayed for The Commission has set the instant Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference and presentation of evidence on the following dates and online platform for the conduct thereof, pursuant to Resolution 09, Series of 20201 and Resolution No. 01, Series of 20212 (ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure):

Date and Time Platform Activity 27 January 2023 (Friday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 PM) Microsoft Teams or Zoom Application

Determination of compliance with jurisdictional requirements and Expository presentation 03 February 2023 (Friday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 PM)

Pre-trial Conference and presentation of evidence

ANECO was directed to host the virtual hearings at ANECO’s principal office at Km. 2 J.C. Aquino Avenue, Butuan City, as the designated venue for the conduct thereof, and ensure that the same is open to the public and the community quarantine guidelines are observed at all times. ANECO shall also guarantee that, during the conduct of the expository presentation, the participation of the public shall not be impaired.

Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled virtual hearing, via electronic mail (e-mail) at docket@erc. ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation.

Moreover, all persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission via e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following:

1) The petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address;

2) The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3) A statement of the relief desired.

Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file through e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, their Opposition or Comment thereon at least five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following:

1) The name, mailing address, and e-mail address of such person;

2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3) The grounds relied upon. Any of the persons mentioned in the preceding paragraphs may access the copy of the Application on the Commission’s official website at www.erc.gov.ph

Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the scheduled virtual hearings by providing the Commission, through legal.virtualhearings@erc.ph. with their respective e-mail addresses and indicating therein the case number of the instant Application. The Commission will send the access link/s to the aforementioned hearing platform within five (5) working days prior to the scheduled hearings.

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson and CEO MONALISA C. DIMALANTA, and the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA and MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 7 day of December 2022 in Pasig City.

Commissioner for the Legal Service

SYDNEY—Australia’s top diplomat will visit China on Tuesday, the first such trip by an Australian foreign minister in four years and a sign of further thawing ties.

Canberra said Penny Wong will visit Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and meet Chinese state councilor and minister of foreign affairs, Wang Yi.

“Australia seeks a stable relationship with China; we will cooperate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in the national interest,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said announcing the visit.

The last official visit to Beijing by an Australian foreign minister was in 2018. Since then, once-excellent relations have nosedived.

The two countries have sparred over political and moral issues -- notably Chinese influence operations overseas; widespread rights abuses in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet; and America’s role in the Asia-Pacific region.

China’s Communist leaders were incensed by Australia’s decision to effectively ban state-sanctioned firm Huawei from operating the country’s 5G network, and by calls from Canberra to investigate the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In retaliation, China quietly slapped sanctions on a range of Australian goods and instituted a freeze on high-level contacts. The frosty relations only ended when Albanese met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali in November.

But the economic sanctions remain, and while Australia has made clear it would like to see them lifted, experts are doubtful that ties will improve quickly or dramatically.

Canberra has embarked on wide-ranging military reforms to better deter threats from overseas -- including acquiring and developing long-range nuclear-powered submarines and strike capabilities that could hurt a much more powerful enemy if needed.

Although rarely stated explicitly, the shift has almost entirely been driven by China’s rapid military growth and more assertive posture overseas under President Xi. AFP

Top Australian envoy to visit China, fix ties IN BRIEF

Nokor

on ‘final-stage test’ for spy satellite

SEOUL—North Korea carried out an “important final-stage test” for the development of a spy satellite, which it will complete by April next year, state media said on Monday.

The report comes a day after Seoul’s military said it had detected launches by Pyongyang of two medium-range ballistic missiles, the North’s latest in a year of unprecedented weapons tests.

Analysts say developing such a satellite would provide North Korea with cover for testing banned intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), as they share much of the same technology.

The launches were “an important final-stage test for the development of (a) reconnaissance satellite”, a spokesperson with the North’s National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency on Monday.

Conducted from Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Tongchang-ri, Sunday’s test confirmed “important technical indices” including camera operation in space, and data processing and transmission capabilities of communication devices. AFP

Historic deal to protect nature poised for inking

MONTREAL—Countries closed in on a historic deal to reverse decades of environmental destruction threatening the world’s species and ecosystems at a marathon UN biodiversity summit on Sunday.

After four years of fraught negotiations, more than 190 states were called on to rally behind a Chinese-brokered accord aimed at saving the lands, oceans and species from pollution, degradation, and the climate crisis.

China tabled a plan to secure 30 percent of the planet as a protected zone by 2030 and to stump up $30 billion in yearly conservation aid for the developing world.

A plenary session was scheduled late Sunday at which the countries would be called upon to approve the deal.

Environmentalists have compared the accord to the landmark plan to limit global warming to 1.5C under the Paris agreement, though some conservationists commenting on an earlier draft of the plan Sunday warned that it did not go far enough.

Brian O’Donnell with the Campaign for Nature, remarked that if the draft were enacted, it would be “the largest commitment to ocean and land conservation in history.”

FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL

PLDT pulls down market; SM Prime up

STOCKS fell Monday, pulled down by the more than 19-percent decline of index heavyweight PLDT Inc. and as traders weighed the prospect of a global recession caused by central bank moves to fight inflation.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, shed 82 points, or 1.3 percent,

to close at 6,414.27, as five of the six subsectors retreated.

The broader all-share index also fell 32 points, or 1 percent, to settle at 3,367.31 on a value turnover of P18.7 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 123 to 55, while 45 issues were unchanged.

Four of the 10 most actives stocks ended in the green, led by Alliance Global Group Inc. which climbed 2.8 percent to P11.00 and SM Prime Holdings Inc. which advanced 2.2 percent to P34.05.

PLDT Inc. plunged 19.4 percent to P1,192.00, as investors digested reports the country’s largest telecom company

incurred P48 billion in budget overrun over a five-year period.

Most Asian markets also traded lower. Equities took a turn south last week after monetary policymakers around the world signaled that while price rises appeared to be stabilising, more work would be needed to get them under control.

All three main indexes on Wall Street ended sharply lower Friday after the Federal Reserve warned that it would continue tightening monetary policy into 2023.

That was followed by similar warnings from the European Central Bank and Bank of England, while data sug-

gested economies were feeling the pinch, dealing a blow to sentiment heading into the Christmas break.

“With no shortage of economic headwinds, investors struggle to find something cheerful about this holiday week after the two most dominant central banks cast a pall over the proceedings,” said SPI Asset Management’s Stephen Innes.

The sell-off in New York fed through to Asia, where Tokyo shed more than one percent, while Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Manila, Jakarta and Wellington were all in negative territory.

However, Singapore, Mumbai and Bangkok edged up. With AFP

TOP GAINERS

1 NOW 1.78 0.22 14.10%

2 EURO 0.93 0.08 9.41%

3 2GO 7 0.4 6.06%

4 AC 699 39 5.91%

5 SMC2K 72 3.95 5.80%

6 T 0.57 0.03 5.56%

7 ROX 0.63 0.03 5.00%

8 GLO 2150 80 3.86%

9 APL 0.027 0.001 3.85%

10 BLOOM 7.37 0.27 3.80%

TOP LOSERS

LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE

1 TEL 1192 -286 -19.35%

2 VVT 12.86 -2.36 -15.51%

3 PNX4 599 -100.5 -14.37%

4 PNX3B 79.95 -9.8 -10.92%

5 CNVRG 12.36 -1.38 -10.04%

6 OPM 0.01 -0.001 -9.09%

7 MVC 5.5 -0.47 -7.87%

8 WEB 2.62 -0.22 -7.75%

9 HOUSE 9.21 -0.74 -7.44%

10 BKR 1.41 -0.09 -6.00%

MOST ACTIVE

VOLUME VALUE (PHP)

1 TEL 1,182,890 1,479,981,445

2 AGI 87,334,100 959,502,278

3 GTCAP 1,229,410 485,081,828

4 MPI 82,914,000 269,273,350

5 BDO 2,361,710 254,896,641

6 SM 225,790 205,150,510

7 JFC 849,110 197,080,920

8 SMPH 5,449,900 184,211,440

9 DMC 17,685,400 184,166,678

10 CNVRG 13,957,400 178,344,390

Musk polls Twitter users on his future as CEO

SAN FRANCISCO, United States— Elon Musk appeared to put his future in charge of Twitter on the line, posting a poll asking whether he should step down and vowing to abide by the results.

“Should I step down as head of Twitter?” he tweeted, asking the site’s users to click yes or no.

“I will abide by the results of this poll.”

With four hours until the end of the poll on Monday, 56.7 percent of nearly 14 million respondents had voted yes.

In Twitter exchanges with followers, Musk said he did not have a replacement lined up.

“No one wants the job who can actually keep Twitter alive. There is no successor,” he said.

Making a “fun suggestion” to Musk, MIT research scientist Lex Fridman offered to run the platform for a bit for no salary.

In a downbeat response, Musk said Twitter was “in the fast lane to bankruptcy.”

“You must like pain a lot. One catch: you have to invest your life savings in Twitter, and it has been in the fast lane to bankruptcy since May. Still want the job?” Musk asked.

The unpredictable billionaire posted the poll shortly after apparently acknowledging he had made a mistake banning Twitter users from promoting their accounts on rival social media platforms.

“Going forward, there will be a vote for major policy changes. My apologies. Won’t happen again,” he tweeted.

The sudden shift in the rules was the latest in a series of controversial changes made by Musk since he took over the company in October—upheaval that has led a growing number of users to encourage followers to view their posts on other sites.

Twitter had announced that the company would “no longer allow free promotion of specific social media platforms.”

Users would thus be barred, for example, from posting “Follow me @ username on Instagram,” Twitter said.

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey questioned the new policy with a one-word tweet: “Why?”

After some notable accounts were suspended under the new policy, including tech investor Paul Graham, Musk tweeted that instead of considering individual tweets, the policy would be limited to “suspending accounts only when that account’s *primary* purpose is promotion of competitors.”

Series of controversies

Musk has generated a series of controversies in his short tenure at the helm of Twitter, including layoffs, reinstatement of some far-right accounts and the suspension of several journalists.

Shortly after taking over the platform, he announced the site would charge $8 per month to verify account holders’ identities, but had to suspend the “Twitter Blue” plan after an embarrassing rash of fake accounts. It has since been relaunched.

On November 4, with Musk say-

ing the company was losing $4 million a day, Twitter laid off half its 7,500-strong staff.

Musk also reinstated the account of former president Donald Trump and said Twitter would no longer work to combat Covid-19 disinformation.

In recent days, he suspended the accounts of several journalists—most recently, Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz—after complaining some had divulged details about the movements of his private jet that could endanger his family.

The suspension of the journalists—employees of CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post were among those affected— has drawn sharp criticism, including from the European Union and the United Nations.

The US Federal Trade Commission said it was tracking developments at Twitter “with deep concern.”

The Washington Post’s executive editor Sally Buzbee said the suspension of Lorenz’s account “further undermines Elon Musk’s claim that he intends to run Twitter as a platform dedicated to free speech.” AFP

French growth to slow down to 0.3% in 2023 on energy crisis

PARIS, France—French economic growth will slow considerably in 2023 due to the energy crisis and inflation before bouncing back in 2024 and 2025, the central bank forecast on Saturday.

GDP growth will slow from 2.6 percent in 2022 to 0.3% in 2023, according to the Bank of France’s “most probable” macroeconomic scenario for the next three years.

The slowdown in growth will be followed by a 1.2-percent rebound in 2024.

That is lower than the 1.8 percent previously anticipated because “the winter of 2023-24 could still be a bit complicated due to the energy crisis”, director-general Olivier Garnier said.

The rebound will continue in 2025 when growth is expected to reach 1.8 percent, the bank said.

The forecasts remain highly uncertain, though.

This is because of extremely volatile energy prices, geopolitical tensions—particularly the war in Ukraine-- and uncertainty as to the evolution of Covid-19 in China.

The Bank of France’s outlook is less optimistic than that of the government, which forecasts 2.7 percent growth in 2022 and 1.0 percent in 2023.

“We can’t rule out a recession, but if there is one, it will be limited and short-lived,” Garnier said.

Oil and gas prices are expected to fall back from the peaks seen this year but remain high and continue to feed inflation, as will food prices.

Prices will have risen 7.3 percent by the end of 2022. AFP

rtc1qzn081@judiciary.gov.ph

TikTok denies setting up ‘illegal operations’ in Taiwan amid investigation

TAIPE, Taiwan—TikTok’s Chinese owner denied on Monday setting up a subsidiary company in Taiwan after the island’s authorities said they were investigating the social media app for running “illegal operations”.

The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan’s top China policy-making body, said the cabinet had requested a multi-agency investigation during a meeting on security issues posed by TikTok earlier this month.

The case was also forwarded to prosecutors for investigation after a local company allegedly engaged in business activities in Taiwan on behalf

of ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent firm, MAC said without elaborating.

Chinese internet and social media platforms are banned from operating businesses in Taiwan under local laws.

ByteDance said on Monday it had no presence in Taiwan.

“The recent reports suggesting ByteDance has set up a subsidiary in Taiwan are incorrect,” a spokesperson told AFP.

“The company has not established any legal entities in Taiwan.”

TikTok is available in Taiwan but is not especially popular.

The Taiwanese newspaper Liberty Times reported on Monday that the subsidiary under investigation was a company set up in 2018 that changed its name to ByteDance Taiwan Ltd Co in November.

Taiwan has long warned that it is on the receiving end of huge Chinese disinformation and espionage campaigns.

It has ramped up scrutiny of Chinese businesses in recent years and imposed investment rules on various key sectors, including the island’s state-of-the-art semiconductor industry.

MAC described TikTok as a security risk.

“In recent years, China has used TikTok and other short videos to conduct cognitive operations to infiltrate other countries,” it said in a statement late on Sunday.

“There is also a high risk of users’ personal information being collected for the Chinese government,” it said.

China’s authoritarian Communist Party claims democratic and selfruled Taiwan and has vowed to one day seize it.

Relations between Beijing and Taipei are at their worst in years. AFP

In his petition, petitioner allege among other things, that he is of legal age, Filipino citizen, married and a resident of 39 1st St., New Manila, Quezon City; that he is the legitimate brother of full blood of the late Michael S. Sy (“Decedent Michael S. Sy”) who died on 30 August 2021 in Quezon City and at the time of his death, he was a resident of 38 1st St., New Manila, Quezon City. A copy of his death certificate is thereto attached as Annex “A”; that Decedent Michael S. Sy’s wife, Rosa L. So (the “Decedent So”), predeceased her husband by about four (4) months as she died on 06 April 2021 also in Quezon City. A copy of her death certificate is thereto attached as Annex “B”; that Decedent Michael Sy and Decedent So had no issue or children; that to the best of Petitioner’s knowledge, the Decedent left the following personal properties estimated to have a gross value of Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php4,500,000.00).

Petitioner further alleged that as neither of the Decedents left any will, this Petition is being filed to judicially settle their intestate estates pursuant to Section 1, Rule 73 of the Revised Rules of Court; that as stated, Decedent So predeceased her husband. Decedent Michael S. Sy, and died without a will, and thus the latter succeeded to the entire estate of the former, the spouses having had no children during their marriage; thus, in turn Decedent Michael Sy’s siblings shall succeed to his entire estate pursuant to Article 1003 of the Civil Code; that Decedent Michael

survived by his eight (8) siblings,

- Dec. 20, 27, 2022 & Jan. 3, 2023)

THE ABOVE-NAMED HEIRS: BETTY SY DY LILIAN SY

FRED KAWBOON SYLING MARGARET SY FREGIL CAROLINA SAINZ SY PHILIP KAWBOON SYLING RICHARD KAWBOON SYLING PERRY KAWBOON SYLING

This photo illustration taken on Dec. 18, 2022 in Los Angeles shows a phone displaying Elon Musk’s Twitter page, where he is conducting a survey about his future as the head of the company. AFP

GOOGLE EVENT. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google Inc., speaks during an event in New Delhi on Dec. 19, 2022. AFP

Ray S. Eñano (on leave), Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Monday, December 19, 2022 -82.23

United States Dollar 1.00000055.7090

Japan Yen 0.0073590.4100

UKPound1.21510067.6920

Hong KongDollar0.1284777.1573

SwitzerlandFranc1.07238659.7416

CanadaDollar0.73099440.7229

SingaporeDollar0.73605241.0047

AustraliaDollar0.67010037.3306

BahrainDinar2.652731147.7810

Saudi Arabia Rial 0.26590814.8135

BruneiDollar0.73335340.8544

IndonesiaRupiah0.0000640.0036

Thailand Baht 0.0286081.5937

UAE Dirham0.27231615.1705

EuroEuro 1.05920059.0070

Korea Won 0.0007640.0426

ChinaYuan0.1433697.9869 IndiaRupee0.0120910.6736 MalaysiaRinggit0.22614212.5981 New Zealand Dollar 0.63770035.5256 TaiwanDollar0.0324881.8099

Malampaya gas output falls 20% to 96,804 mmcsf

By Alena Mae S. Flores

GAS production from the Malampaya deepwater gas-to-power project in northwest Palawan fell 20 percent this year to 96,804 million standard cubic feet from 121,089 mmcsf in 2021.

Data from the Department of Energy showed that Malampaya production had been steadily declining in the past years. Production reached 141,732 mmcsf in 2020.

The bulk of production went to the power sector at 84,192 mmscf this year.

Energy officials earlier said the depletion of the Malampaya reserves and decreasing reservoir pressure caused the decline.

Malampaya’s natural gas production is expected to decrease continually until the end of Malampaya field life in 2027.

The DOE issued DC 2017-110012, or the “Rules and Regulations Governing the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry,” that would facilitate the entry of LNG terminals in the country to address the decline in natural gas from the Malampaya field.

It approved the permits of six proposed LNG regasification terminal projects, and two of them are expected to begin operations next year.

Total investment from these proposed LNG regasification projects is estimated at P51.2 billion.

The LNG facilities will provide the country with an aggregate capacity of 21.66 million tons per annum when completed.

Energy officials recently visited the Malampaya platform to assess its operations to ensure 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.

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

GDP growth seen exceeding target on strong Q4 expansion

By Julito G. Rada

The National Economic and Development Authority said Monday economic growth this year may exceed the government’s growth target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent on the back of robust expansion in the fourth quarter.

NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said given the recent economic indicators, “we expect to see robust growth in the fourth quarter.”

Balisacan said in a news briefing the 2022 growth would likely exceed the upper limit of the target range because of the expected fourth-quarter expansion.

He said the economy posted growth of at least 7 percent for six consecutive quarters, following five quarters of contraction at the start of the pandemic in the first quarter of 2020.

“In 2022...we have thus far been able to attain an average GDP growth of 7.7 percent, which puts us on track to meet the annual 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent growth target,” he said.

He said growth in 2023 would remain strong at 6 percent to 7 percent. “Despite the headwinds we face, the economic team of the Marcos administration remains confident of our prospects in the near term. A robust domestic economy, propelled by sustained consumption and investment, will be key to attaining the 6 percent to 7 percent growth target for 2023,” he said.

“We aim to accompany this expansion with headline and food inflation rates of 2.5 percent to 4.5 percent and an unemployment rate of 5.3 percent to 6.4 percent. We expect poverty incidence to fall to about 16.2 percent in 2023 from its 2021 level of 18.1 percent,” he said.

Balisacan said consumption on the demand side and services on the supply

side would continue to fuel the economy next year. “The lifting of restrictions on establishments for food and leisure, transportation facilities and tourist destinations and educational institutions supported strong spending and broadened employment opportunities,” he said.

Balisacan also shared some details of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as chair of the NEDA board approved on Dec. 16.

Balisacan said NEDA would work closely with the implementing agencies, Congress and other stakeholders for the implementation of PDP which would serve as the country’s roadmap for the reinvigoration of job creation and acceleration of poverty reduction in the medium term.

“The timely adoption of the PDP as the country’s development roadmap shall ensure the alignment of government resources, programs, projects, and activities along with the identified strategies that will enable us to achieve our desired socioeconomic objectives,” Balisacan said.

Meralco asks CA to lift

TRO on SPPC supply deal

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. asked the Court of Appeals to lift the temporary restraining order it issued in favor of South Premiere Power Corp. and deny the generation company’s application for a writ of preliminary injunction.

Meralco, in a motion filed on Dec. 19, cited the disruption of basic and essential services being rendered by SPPC, contrary to the objective of the TRO and to the detriment of millions of Filipinos served by the power distributor. “With due respect, the grant of the TRO was not in furtherance of the ‘interest of the general public,” Meralco said.

The TRO led to the cessation of 670 megawatts of supply that SPPC was obligated to deliver under its power supply agreement, which has a lower rate compared to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and the emergency power supply agreement where Meralco sources the replacement power.

“Honorable Court should lift the TRO and direct for the parties to continuously implement the PSA in order to bring back the scenario that would serve and protect the public from the unnecessary burden of increased electricity costs,” Meralco said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Gov’t vows to invest in digital technologies

FINANCE Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the Marcos administration is committed to investing in the digital economy because technology plays a key role in finance.

“Technology has a well-defined role in the world of finance. It facilitates a more inclusive and efficient financial system. [T]he Philippine government is committed to making foundational investments in the digital economy. We will need the best technologies, ideas and people to ensure that Filipinos have access to vast opportunities at their fingertips,” Diokno said during the Digital Banking Asia Conference.

The Digital Banking Asia Conference connects leading banking experts across the globe to collaborate on new ideas and address the industry’s most pressing issues.

Diokno said the government supports the rapid adoption of fintech, recognizing that the digital transformation of the country’s financial systems would lead to greater financial inclusion and opportunities. He said the Department of Finance was closely monitoring the digitalization of its main revenue generating agencies. Julito G. Rada

DOTr seeks to train more railway personnel

THE Department of Transportation said Monday it is pushing for the development of the country’s railway sector by focusing on the training and human resource development of railway personnel through the Philippine Railways Institute.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the DOTr would continue to team up with other countries with established and renowned railway systems, including Japan to “invigorate” the Philippine railway system.

“In collaboration with our partners, we must remain committed in developing our railway sector and provide convenient, safe, and reliable travel service in keeping with the expectations of our riding public,” Bautista said.

Bautista cited the government of Japan’s role in the country’s railway sector progress, including the PRI Technical Assistance that would continue the effective transfer of technical expertise by the Japan International Cooperation Agency to the country’s railway personnel.

The first state-of-the-art train and desktop simulators from Japan will also help train operators, said Bautista. Darwin G. Amojelar

SEC seeks probe on PLDT trading ahead of disclosure

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday asked the Philippine Stock Exchange and Capital Markets Integrity Corp. to probe the stock transactions of PLDT Inc. ahead of the public disclosure on P48-billion budget overrun Friday.

The SEC said in a statement it ordered the PSE and CMIC to submit initial reports on their investigation into the trading activities that resulted in the sudden and sharp decline in the share prices of PLDT before the official disclosure of the “budget overruns.”

It said the reported budget overrun and selloff in PLDT shares before the official disclosure was made “are areas of concern” for the corporate regulator.

“In this light, the SEC has immediately commenced an inquiry into the matter,” the SEC said.

PLDT reported Friday it was undertaking management reorganization amid a P48-billion budget overrun incurred over the past four years. The disclosure was made after the trading hours, but the company’s share price was already declining significantly before the close of trading.

PLDT shares fell 4.1 percent Friday to close at P1,478. The stock plunged by another 19.35 percent on Monday to settle at P1,197.

Meanwhile, the SEC said it also ordered PLDT to clarify its disclosures in relation to statements on the nature of the P48-billion expenditure overrun.

The SEC said its Markets and

Securities Regulation Department would also closely monitor the investigation and would continue to conduct a parallel, independent inquiry into the matter to safeguard the interest of the investing public.

CMIC acts as the independent audit, surveillance and compliance arm of PSE in line with its mandate to reinforce the confidence of the investing public in capital market institutions. As a self-regulatory organization, it is tasked to enforce Republic Act No. 8799 or the Securities Regulation Code and the pertinent rules and regulations.

Among its powers and functions is to investigate and resolve violations by trading participants of the securities law and trading-related irregularities and unusual trading activities involving issuers.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GLOBE said Monday it received P1.9 billion from MIESCOR Infrastructure Development Corp. for the sale of 159 telecom towers.

The company said with the latest closing, it turned over 860 of 2,180 towers to MIDC. The recently-turned over tower assets included 120 groundbased towers and 39 rooftop towers.

The total transaction with MIDC amounted P26 billion for the 2,180 telecom towers. The towers will be leased back to Globe for an initial period of 15 years.

The telecom unit of the Ayala Group said proceeds from the sale of the towers would be used to pay down debt and capital expenditures to support the ongoing network expansion.

Globe already completed 34 percent of the sale or 2,410 towers of the total 7,059 transferred to the tower companies. Subsequent closings will happen as and when closing conditions are met but Globe expects the final closing for all the three portfolios to happen within next year, it said.

By Othel V. Campos

THE Philippines generated P149 billion in tourism receipts in the first 11 months from 2.46 million tourists who visited the country.

Data showed the international visitor arrivals exceeded the 1.7 million target set by the Department of Tourism for 2022.

“We are optimistic that we will reach 2.5 million by end of the year. If this happens, then we would have about 30 percent of our pre-pandemic arrivals. A far cry from the 164,000 international visitors that we received in 2021,” Tourism Secretary Kristina Frasco said in a yearend briefing Monday.

Frasco said the Philippines recorded

significant improvements in visitor arrivals from the country’s top ten source markets. The US continued to lead the country’s source of international visitors with 461,967, followed by South Korea with 387,780 arrivals.

Australia placed third with 122,971 arrivals; Canada, 112,015; United Kingdom, 93,440; Japan 91,557; Singapore, 50,964; India, 49,330; Malaysia, 44,357; and Vietnam, 37,028.

“If these numbers are any indication, it just signifies that the country is back in business. With the vision and leadership of President Marcos for the tourism industry, we have laid out a sevenpoint agenda to carry out in the next few years that will address the issues and concerns of the tourism industry,” Frasco said.

“This marks our last closing for year 2022, and as we prepare to complete the rest next year, we are pleased to see that this milestone transaction has been progressing as scheduled and has already raised nearly P30 billion,” said Globe chief finance officer Rizza Maniego-Eala.

“Monetizing our tower assets is very timely because it has allowed us to keep our balance sheet healthy amid a rising interest rate environment,” she said.

Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said the partnerships with the tower companies would help enhance the company’s capital expenditures and tower builds.

“This latest milestone in our collaboration with Globe brings us closer to realizing our shared mission of improved internet connectivity which is essential in our post-pandemic economic recovery,” MIDC president Helen Grace Marquez said.

PH generates P149-b tourism receipts as international visitor arrivals hit 2.46m

Globe gets P1.9b from MIESCOR for sale of 159 towers

SB-KSERVICO TIEUP. SB Finance signs a partnership with KServico, the largest network retailer in Luzon, to offer payment installment options through its Pay Hooloogan service. KServico offers a wide array of electronic equipment, furniture, motorcycle accessories and three-wheeled vehicles in Luzon. Under the partnership, customers who use Pay Hooloogan can avail of financing options with no down payment required. Signing the agreement are (from left) Elmar Caranguian, assistant vice president for supply chain of Kservico; Jennie Felisilda, controller of Kservico; Mary Grace Balingit, senior vice president for store operations of Kservico; Lolita Mercado, president of Kservico; Abbie Casanova, president and chief executive of SB Finance; Mikal Rallonza, head of consumer finance of SB Finance; Anna Liza Disini, product and marketing head of SB Finance; and Skeeter Roman Megia, merchant management lead of SB Finance.

MAPÚA UNIVERSITY EXPANSION. Mapúa University, a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, continues its expansion of international partnerships and offering of comprehensive courses designed to elevate the global competency of its students. It proceeds with strategic partnerships with international universities and the direction to go global so that students can experience innovative teaching methods and allow them to explore an expanded network of learning. This adheres to YGC’s core mission of continuously pioneering and innovating methods to future-proof the lives of Filipinos.

World hails Messi the greatest

DOHA—Legendary, greatest, immortal: News media across the planet ran out of superlatives after Lionel Messi led Argentina to victory in one of the most dramatic World Cup finals ever.

The thrilling penalty-shootout win over France gave La Albiceleste their first World Cup since national hero Diego Maradona guided them to the 1986 title.

And it sparked an explosion of joy in Argentina, where the media saluted the nation’s latest generation of World Cup heroes, and their talisman Messi.

Images of him holding the trophy aloft and the team’s celebrations adorned news websites and social media feeds in Argentina.

Messi’s Argentina had won “the greatest final in history”, said the daily La Nacion, while Clarin described it as an “unforgettable” match.

The sports daily Ole’s homepage was splashed with “We are world champions!”

The final was billed as a titanic showdown between Messi and French superstar Kylian Mbappe, and it did not disappoint the neutrals.

While Messi scored from the spot twice to put Argentina in the lead, Mbappe inspired the French fightback with a hat-trick to take the final to penalties.

“Head held high,” read the headline on the front page of French sports daily L’Equipe, the text imposed

on an image of Mbappe holding his Golden Boot prize as he walked past the World Cup trophy.

“Legendary,” said the front page of the daily Liberation, with photos of both Messi and Mbappe, while Le Figaro described the French star’s efforts as “heroic”.

‘In the Hand of God’

Messi had cemented his place long ago among the greatest of all time, but the football world was abuzz ahead of the final with the prospect of the fleet-footed magician crowning his glittering career with the World Cup—the one major trophy he had never won.

And with Argentina’s win on Sunday, the debate about his stature in the history of the sport was settled for most.

In Britain, The Times said on its front page that Messi had won the “battle of modern maestros in greatest final”. On the front page of its sports section, it described him as, simply, “The Greatest”.

The Mirror called him the GOAT—“greatest of all time”—while The Sun said the World Cup was “In the Hand of God”, a cheeky reference to Maradona’s infamous goal against England in the 1986 tournament.

In Germany, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung also played on that reference with the headline “The foot of God” for Messi.

It called the Argentina-France showdown “the most exciting final” in World Cup history, while the daily Tagesspiegel said it showcased “two exceptional talents”.

Even in Brazil—an intense rival—the O Globo newspaper paid tribute to Messi, saying football had “paid its debt” to its biggest star.

Su ering Argentines explode with joy after epic World Cup win

Fireworks cracked, car horns sounded and

in the national blue and white colors

An estimated two million people converged around the iconic Obelisk in central Buenos Aires as the party raged long into the warm night on the shores of the River Plate.

Messi scored two goals against France as the game ended 3-3 after extra-time, with Kylian Mbappe bagging a hat-trick for the

“This is happiness for everyone, for all these people. Today it was our turn and the joy is ours,” said hotel receptionist Julio Berdun, 50, from the capital’s Plaza de Mayo square.

“I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it,” repeated Joel Ciarallo, 31, over and again before the final had even finished.

The final was a torturous affair for many fans as Argentina lost a 2-0 half-time lead to be forced into extra-time. AFP

In the United States, which will host the next World Cup with Canada and Mexico, a report in The Washington Post said Messi was finally rewarded in an “immortal” final.

Spain’s El Pais newspaper said Messi had been “crowned in the final of finals”.

And in Asia, where Messi has legions of fans, Indian newspaper The Hindu said his Argentina team had kept their “date with destiny”, while South Korean daily Hankook Ilbo called him a “god of football”. AFP

AND TOLENTINO AT WORLD CUP.

France president Emmanuel Macron (right) expresses his gratitude to Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino for cheering for France during its World Cup nal against Argentina at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Monday. Tolentino also wished Macron the best of luck on Paris hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics. Unfortunately for Macron, his side lost in a penalty shootout, 4-2, after a 3-3 draw.

From limited to major minutes, Caralipio delivers for Knights

By Peter Atencio

HARD work has paid off for King Caralipio.

And his effort has drawn praise from his coach Bonnie Tan after the Knights captured their third straight title in the 98th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

After the Knights came off with an 81-67 Game 3 triumph over the College of Saint Benilde Blazers at the Ynares center in Antipolo, Tan said Carilipio’s performance has gone a long way since the days that he played with limited

time in the past.

“King’s (playing) time was limited from the start. Pero nagtiyaga ito. Alam namin kung ano ang binibigay nito sa loob is because of his hard work,” said Tan.

Caralipio finished with 20 points on 70% field-goal shooting in Game 3, to go with 10 rebounds and two assists.

And this gave Carilipio an average of 18.0 points per game on 67% on field goals, five rebounds and two assists.

Tan said the team almost lost its composure in the second quarter, when the Blazers stayed close.

But when the Knights focused on their defense, everything shifted in their favor.

In the end, Letran ended with a 50% field goal percentage, a showing which tied their best shooting game of the season.

They went on to outscore CSB, 4420, in the paint, with the Blazers’ 20 points in the paint considered as a season low.

Carilipio dedicated his performance to teammate Fran Yu, who was suspended in Game 3.

With Yu out, Brent Paraiso stepped up, contributing 16 points, three boards, two blocks, and one steal.

Scola named FIBA global World Cup ambassador

MIES, Switzerland Argentina hero Luis Scola has been named global ambassador for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, which tips off on August 25 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. As a global ambassador, Scola will help promote the World Cup and take part in activities in the lead up to FIBA’s flagship men’s competition, including the Draw ceremony next year.

Scola, the World Cup’s second alltime top scorer with 716 points, is one of the true legends of the competition. He appeared in five editions, and his mark of 41 games played is tied for first in the men’s competition’s history with Brazilian great Ubiratan Pereira Maciel.

Scola was there when Argentina came within a whisker of winning the title at the 2002 World Cup in Indianapolis, but fell in overtime.

At the 2006 World Cup in Japan, Scola’s role had grown more important. He shot 55.3 percent from the field and averaged 14.3 points and seven rebounds as Argentina made it to the Semi-Finals before suffering a 7574 heartbreak to Spain.

The 2010 World Cup in Turkey saw Scola turn in some of his finest performances. His 27.1 points per game scoring average was the highest in the tournament. One of his efforts was unforgettable, and it came in the Round of 16 against Brazil. Scola poured in 37 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Argentina prevailed in a 93-89 thriller.

To the very end, Scola was a leading light for Argentina. At 40, he dominated the 2019 event in China, with his 28-point, 13-rebound performance in an 80-66 Semi-Final triumph over France helping clinch a spot in the World Cup title game for the second time in his career. Scola was named to the TISSOT AllStar Five.

Scola didn’t just shine at World Cups but also in five Olympic tournaments.

In 2004, Scola played an integral role as his country won the Olympic gold medal in Athens. He captured a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games and was a Semi-Finalist at the 2012 Olympics in London. At the next Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016, Scola served as Argentina’s flagbearer during the Opening Ceremony. He became a five-time Olympian at the Tokyo Games, which were played in 2021.

Scola also played in numerous FIBA AmeriCups, reaching the podium nine times. In 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2015, Scola was MVP at the event.

Vosotros helps TNT capture PBA 3x3 title

TNT proved it remains the team to beat in the PBA 3x3, and Almond Vosotros still the most lethal player of the halfcourt game.

The Tropang Giga rallied from a late three-point deficit, and then leaned on a clutch Vosotros deuce to frustrate Cavitex Braves in overtime, 19-17, and claim the championship of the Second Conference Season 2 grand finals Saturday night at Robinson’s Town Hall in Malabon.

Big man Lervin Flores had seven points and seven rebounds, while Samboy De Leon added five as TNT won its second straight grand finals this season and bagged the top purse worth P750,000.

Vosotros, the undisputed scoring champion of the standalone tournament, was held to just three points, but delivered when it mattered most, hitting the game-winning basket after the Tropang Giga rallied from a 14-17 deficit to forge the extra period.

Ping Exciminiano added four points to close out the scoring for the telecommunication franchise coached by Mau Belen.

The Tropang Giga have now won the last three grand finals dating back from the Third Conference of Season 1.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Braves, who were in control for most of the match, and led by three with 1:19 left in regulation after Bong Galanza hit a 2.

But Exciminiano and Flores scored the next three points for the Tropang Giga to send the game into overtime.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—Watching football icon Lionel Messi inspire Argentina to World Cup glory on Sunday made the economic suffering engulfing the country “worth it,” according to ecstatic fans.

fans draped

sang, danced and waved flags.

reigning champions.

Messi also netted in the shoot-out with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez saving one penalty before Gonzalo Montiel banged in the winning spot-kick to send Argentine players and fans into raptures.

Riera

Randy M. Caluag,

Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi lifts the FIFA World Cup Trophy as he celebrates with supporters winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup final football match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha. AFP

MACRON

Big Lagoon is Gold Cup champion

THE Melanie Habla-owned and bred Big Lagoon, with his rider John Alvin Guce, simply waited for the perfect moment in making their charge and in the process bagged the richest and most prestigious race in the Philippine horseracing calendar, the P10-million 2022 Philracom-PCSO Presidential Gold Cup last Sunday at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas.

Being the off-the-pace runner that he is, the bay 5YO by Havana out of Blue Catch was nicely settled in fourth at the early portion of the lung-busting 2000m journey behind the fast stepping Sky Shot, Ambisioso and Silver Cup champ Boss Emong.

It was the same order for most of the race until the last 600 meters, when Big Lagoon made its move to the prodding of Guce. Big Lagoon responded and picked off Boss Emong and went toe-to-toe with Sky Shot.

However,the distance of the journey was just too much for the front runner eventually giving way to the charge of the Ruben Tupas-trained galloper. But, Big Lagoon was not out of the woods yet. A fast approaching threat was looming in the form of Leonardo “Sandy” Javier Jr.’s Super Swerte which made his own charge for the win.

Sadly though, Super Swerte was just too far off the pace and ran out of real estate as Big Lagoon held him off by 1 1/2 lengths to bag the PGC.

Time of race was 2:04 with clips of 24’-23-25-24-27’.

The win gave Big Lagoon’s connections the top prize of P6-million while Super Swerte’s had to settle for a not so bad P2-million for the runner-up effort.

Boss Emong still finished third worth P1-million, Sky Shot mustered enough to grab fourth (P500 thousand) and Victorious Colt fifth (P300,000).

A sidelight came after the second race of the day where former PGC champion Pangalusian Island bid farewell to the track with a ceremonial gallop befitting a true-blue champ, much to the delight of the thousands of fans who were in attendance and was accorded a thunderous applause.

Lucena claims 8th gold in Batang Pinoy games

By Peter Atencio

VIGAN Ilocos Sur—Peter Cyrus Dean splashed his way to a fourth podium finish for his second gold, handing Lucena City its eighth gold medal on Monday in Day 3 of the Philippine Sports Commission’s Batang Pinoy swimming competitions at the Quirino Stadium pool here.

The 15-year-old Dean, who has a personal total of four podium finishes after three days of competition, took the 13-15 year old boys’, 200-meter backstroke mint in two minutes, 17.34 seconds, beating Taytay, Rizal’s Kristoff David.

David, an incoming student at the Colegio San Juan Letran and a prospect for Season 97 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, settled for the silver in 2:19.31.

Another rival, Marco Sayson of Negros Oriental, bagged the bronze in 2:25.63.

Dean, a 10th grader from Manuel S. Enverga University, said he just focused on improving his personal best, which used to be in the 2:18 range.

“Inisip ko lang po basagin iyung best time ko,” said Dean, who felt that most of his rivals were his equal in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

Lucena emerged as among the best performers of the seven-day sportsfest after it amassed a total of eight golds, five silvers and a bronze in swimming alone.

Meanwhile, young archers Jathniel Caleb Fernandez of Baguio City and Adrianna Jessie Magbojos of Sta. Rosa City shot their way to a five-gold medal efforts at the San Ildefonso Central School.

Fernandez, a nine-year-old Baguio Pines Family Learning Center thirdgrader came up with a five-gold sweep when he ruled the 10 meters (304), 15m (243), 20m (260), 30m (257) and a final result of 1064.

Magbojos had the same feat in the girls’ side, by taking the top finishes in the 10m, 15m, 20m, 30m and the total.

“Gusto niya talaga manalo,” said Randy Fernandez referring to his son Jathniel Caleb, who has trained

under University of Baguio coach Alexis Requipo for more than a year.

Masbate became the most prolific podium finishers in athletics after coming up with four golds and five silvers at the Quirino Stadium.

Most of their top finishes came from Jireh Rance (boys 800-meters), the 1-2 finish of former Palaro elementary standout Leonelyn Compuesto and Realyn Lanuza in the 200-meter girls’ sprints, Courtney Trangia in girls’ discus throw, and Prince Branzuela in the boys’ discus throw in Day 1.

The following day, ninth grader Alessandra Capellan settled for second place to Pangasinan’s Marjorie Ragudos in the girls’ high jump, with Ragudos clearing 1.30 meters, and Capellan leaping to 1.25 meters.

Mico Villaran of Bacolod City, made the most out of his first and last stint in the country’s centerpiece grassroots development program as he captured two golds in the 110m and 200m hurdles.

The 15-year-old Romanito Maravilla, ninth-grader, was just a class of his own in reigning supreme in the 110m hurdles (15.17 seconds) and 200m hurdles (23.18).

Judge record Major League home run ball sells for $1.5m

NEW YORK—A baseball hit by New York Yankees star Aaron Judge to break one of Major League Baseball’s most noted records has sold for $1.5 million, according to Goldin Auctions.

Bidding closed Saturday night on the ball smashed by Judge for his 62nd home run of the 2022 season to break the one-season American League homer record set by former Yankee Roger Maris in 1961.

The unidentified buyer made a winning bid of $1.25 million with a $250,000 buyer’s premium to purchase the ball caught by fan Cory Youmans in the stands on October 4 at Arlington, Texas.

Judge, last season’s American League Most Valuable Player, has agreed a nine-year free agent deal worth $360 million to remain with the Yankees.

He smashed a 391-foot blast over the le ft-field wall off Texas Rangers pitcher Jesus Tinoco to set the new mark.

It was the second-highest price ever paid for a baseball, trailing the $3 million for what was then the MLB one-season homer record ball, the 70th home run ball hit by Mark McGwire in 1998. The record is 73 set by Barry Bonds playing for the San Francisco Giants in the National League in 2001.

Tiger will rest and work on walking after family outing

MIAMI—Tiger Woods isn’t sure when he will play competitive golf again, but the 15-time major winner intends to rest and improve his walking ability in the coming weeks.

Woods and his son Charlie settled for a share of eighth on Sunday at the PNC Championship family golf tournament won by Fiji’s Vijay Singh and son Qass Singh.

Woods, aided by carts at the weekend event, plans to strengthen his legs as he recovers from severe leg injuries suffered in a February 2021 car crash and nagging plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

“Plantar fascitis is no fun and now I get to truly recover and heal and progress forward on this,” Woods said Sunday.

“There are so many good things that I’ve been able to do physically -- be able to hit the golf ball and practice and do everything in a standstill.

“But I haven’t been able to get from

A holistic approach to learning

By Lito Cinco

IT all started in 2018, when the Aspire Football Academy was established as a learning center for young football players.

Since then, the academy, which is based in UP-Diliman as all of its coaches come from the State University, has grown to around 500 students, with 85 already at the elite level.

Students are divided in four age-groups, U-7, U-9 , U-11, and U-13. Recently, the academy sent two teams, a mixed U-11 team under Vince Aguilar, and an all-boys’ U-9, mentored by Steven Aguilar, to the recent 2022 Bangkok Supercup football tournament, where it competed against Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Singapore and even a team from Australia.

The result on the playing field was unexpected as both teams finished in the middle

pack, winning 4 of 9 games, good for 14th out of the 28 competing teams in their respective age groups.

“Most of our players played abroad for the very first time and even as we have been training since April, we were not expecting anything. They overachieved as far as we are concerned,” said Aguilar.

But as far as how the kids played, regardless of the result, they played to expectations.

Aspire Football Academy does not focus on the winning side, though.

“What we are after is the holistic development of our students, covering both skills and attitude sides. From the very start, this is what we tell them and what is good is that their parents have embraced their roles in developing their kids outside the playing field,” said Rivera.

Just like their kids, the parents have rules to follow and responsibilities to carry out.

point A to point B and we’re obviously going to work on this.”

Woods, whose 82 PGA Tour titles is level with Sam Snead for the career record, reflected on the progress he made from last year’s event, when his recovery and future were unclear.

“A lot,” he said. “Last year I played with a broken leg. This year nothing was broken, but it was good that all the pieces are there again all lined up.”

Woods only managed nine competitive rounds in 2022, finishing 47th at the Masters, withdrawing with leg pain after three rounds of the PGA Championship and missing the cut at the British Open at St. Andrews.

“It was a tough year but also one of the more rewarding years I’ve had in a while,” Woods said.

Woods reflected on his emotions on playing at St. Andrews, saying that while he plans to play again at the Open, he might no longer be

playing the next time the event is played on the famed Scottish course, with Opens scheduled elsewhere through 2025.

“I don’t know if I ever get back to playing St Andrews in a British Open but to be able to experience that maybe one last time at this level was very special to me,” Woods said.

‘Walking penguins’

The Singhs, three-time runners-up, opened with seven straight birdies on the way to firing a 13-under 59 Sunday to capture the light-hearted 36-hole scramble at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida.

Singh, a 59-year-old former Masters champion, sank a five-foot birdie putt at the par-5 18th to give Team Singh a second 59 in a row, making them the first duo in the event’s history to break 60 twice in the same year.

Their record total of 26-under par 118 was enough for a two-stroke victory over John Daly and son John and Justin Thomas and his father, Mike. AFP

And so far, it has been a perfect partnership for both parties. They are not allowed to jeer their opponents for one as the kids are taught to respect their rivals.

Lissa-Lesaca Moti, a multi-titled sports climbing champion and a national team member from 1998 to 2009, confirmed the results as she has a nine-year-old son, who was with the U-9 team in Bangkok.

“My husband and I chaperoned our son and it was a heartfelt experience for me seeing those kids playing all out. No matter what happens or what the score was, they pick themselves up after a fall, and even help out opposing players, who accidentally fell, I was happy our kids playing as a team and applying the values their coaches gave taught them,” said Moti, presently a professor at UP-Diliman with the College of Human Kinetics.

And that is how learning should be.

Eagle-eyed archers Jathniel Caleb Fernandez (right) of Baguio City and Adrianna Jessie Magbojos (left) of Sta. Rosa City shot their way to a ve-gold medal e ort to emerge the best performers thus far in the Philippine Sports Commission’s Batang Pinoy at the San Ildefonso Central School.

Tiger Woods of the United States lines up a putt on the third hole during the nal round of the 2022 PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. AFP

Young players of the Aspire Football Academy

By Patricia Taculao

ICONIC OPM band

Eraserheads won’t be the only ones reuniting on the local concert scene this December. Although it took years, their highlyanticipated performance with the late legendary Filipino rapper Francis Magalona will become a reality.

Thanks to a production partnered with modern technology, the Eraserheads can perform alongside a hologram of Francis M., bringing a different experience for concert-goers who appreciate their music.

“We are going to revive Francis M., and you will see him perform with the Eheads with the technology of hologram,” WEU President Francis Lumen said during the press conference for the Huling El Bimbo reunion concert, held on December 7, Wednesday.

He added that it would be the first item on the set, so concert-goers shouldn’t come late unless they want to miss one hell of an opening.

Besides a hologram performance with the late rapper, the concert will feature an 18-piece orchestra to make the night memorable.

The Huling El Bimbo reunion concert comes more than a decade after the Eraserheads’ last performance in the country. It is the band’s final reunion show after disbanding in 2002. Directing the show is Paolo Valenciano, who expressed his excitement about working with the band.

Contrary to the rock star image, which people associate with most successful and iconic bands, Paolo shared it wasn’t the case with the band.

Meanwhile, the Eraserheads are also enthusiastic about getting back on stage.

“I thought I’d be sick of the journey by now. But so far, it’s been so full of surprises, like the orchestra,” said the band’s frontman and lead singer, Ely Buendia.

To

It was confirmed

E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022 C3

Eraserheads to perform with Francis M at reunion concert

in a long time.

They describe it as riding a bike, where they’ll soon get the hang of it after several more tries. The band began rehearsals as early as October, with the orchestra joining them later.

Fans can expect a tight set from the OPM band as they revisit some of their favorite songs from their albums. Still, the band members hope to find another opportunity to feature some of their other songs in their underrated albums.

While the Eraserheads will bring a wave of nostalgia to their audience, they also long for a chance to watch themselves perform live, especially now that their concert has the proper equipment and a professional team to take their show to the next level.

Joining the Eraserheads in their reunion concert are other musicians, including Audry Dionisio, Mikey Amistoso, and Jazz Nicolas.

The Huling El Bimbo reunion concert will happen on December 22 at the SMDC Festival Grounds in Parañaque City.

“First time naming tumugtog with a full blown orchestra. Parang wow, hininaan ko nang todo gitara ko para

marining ko sila,” he said. Yet before taking to the stage, the band rehearsed with the orchestra and each other, something Raymund Marasigan, the Eraserheads’ drummer, found weird. It’s not due to personal conflicts or other factors. It’s simply because the band hasn’t played together

Coco Martin to do another TV reboot of FPJ classic

2022 which was held in Singapore.

The Kapamilya star won for her portrayal in The Broken Marriage Vow, the ABS-CBN adaptation of the renowned BBC series Doctor Foster. In the soap opera, she breathed life to the character of Dr. Jill Ilustre, a betrayed and vengeful wife where she exhibited a wide gamut of emotions.

On her road to victory, Jodi edged out four equally fine actresses from Asia namely, Rebecca Lim of Singapore, Kim Hye-soo of South Korea, Cheryl Yang of Taiwan, and Sakshi Tanwar of India.

Uplift the Christmas spirit with holiday-themed titles

Some of the stars who are part of the main cast and will give strong support include Christopher de Leon, John Estrada, Lito Lapid, Cherry Pie Picache, Alan Paule, Pen Medina, Mark Lapid, Mercedes Cabral, and Tommy Abuel

The plot of the original film centers around Baldo (FPJ), a pickpocket who was just recently released from prison and is determined to start a new life.

Along the way, he meets Maria (Maricel) who herself is a young pickpocket, and leads her to the right path.

* * *

Jodi Sta. Maria adds another feather to her hat as she nabbed the Best Actress in a Leading Role trophy at the recent Asian Academy Creative Awards

Dreamscape Entertainment, which produced The Broken Marriage Vow congratulated Jodi for achieving another milestone in her career and posted her acceptance speech on its Instagram page. It’s good that the award-winning actress was present in the prestigious event and personally accepted her trophy.

In her speech, Jodi stated: “This was so unexpected. Thank you to the Asian Academy, ABS-CBN, Dreamscape, BBC for allowing us to do the Philippine adaptation of ‘Doctor Foster. Our directors, my co-actors, the production team. I would always say that it takes a village to be able to produce a wonderful series,” “I’m just at a loss for words. But again, thank you. This is the highlight of my year. Thank you, thank you, God. I will give back all the glory and praise,” she ended.

THE Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has recently launched its “Usapang Responsableng Panonood (RP) at Parental Controls” Seminar at the Luxent Hotel, Timog Avenue, Quezon City. The event is under the RP (Responsible Viewership) Program which is the brainchild of MTRCB Chairperson Diorella Maria “Lala” Sotto-Antonio and a result of the Board’s continued advocacy toward Filipino viewer empowerment through Media and Digital literacy.

MTRCB Vice Chairman Nathaniel De Mesa opened the event, giving thanks to the agency’s partners from the government, private sector, film and TV industry, media practitioners, and most especially, Parent Teacher Associations who attended to show their support to the board’s advocacy.

MTRCB Chairperson Lala SottoAntonio, in her presentation on Responsableng Panonood, highlighted the role of parents in rearing the children, impressing that MTRCB exists to provide necessary guidance through fair warnings through MTRCB ratings and classification, however, ultimately, the parents are the ones who have the responsibility to guide the children.

One of the event’s highlights is the discussion of Mr. Ruben Hattari

more about Tony’s (Mario Lopez) familyowned Christmas decor shop.

Apart from watching all the specials from these five captivating channels on free preview, you can also amp up the holiday energy with the 15-day free preview of live sports events on Premier Sports and Eurosport or the adrenaline-pumped flicks in the new action movie channel, Rock Action.

When you have a SKY Fiber Unli Broadband + HD Cable TV Plan, you can even switch conveniently between cable TV to streaming apps with the SKY Evo digibox included in the plan. Choose from the 40Mbps (P1,699/month), 80Mbps (P2,499/ month), and 150Mbps (P2,999/month) cable bundle plans which have free boosted speeds of up to 100Mbps, 170Mbps, and 200Mbps respectively until May 31, 2023.

#PIEmaskongSaya

The

Aside

activity of the PIE Jocks, fun mall shows, Pinoy Christmas-themed episodes, performances, and segments, and so much more.

Watch the PIE Jocks on TV and online until Christmas day when they stage surprise visits in bus/jeepney terminals, stores, waiting sheds, grocery counters, eateries, and many other places to hand out exciting prizes guaranteed to make the lucky bystanders’ Christmas extra special.

There will also be a three-part Christmas series entitled Buo ang Pasko starring Anji Salvacion, Kaila Estrada, Mel Kimura, Soliman Cruz, and Melai Cantiveros

You can find the PIE Channel by scanning your digibox. You can also watch PIE on Cablelink Channel 100, SkyCable Channel 21, YouTube, and its official website. If you have the GCash app, you can even tune in LIVE on GLife.

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant

WHEN the slew of Christmas parties starts to take over, put on some Christmas-themed movies and shows to get everyone in the festive mood. Select cable channels will also be on free preview until December 28 so that families can celebrate with a complete entertainment experience.

Starting today, design-savvy viewers can sit back and watch the heartwarming surprise home makeovers featured on The Great Giveback with actress-comedienne Melissa McCarthy and stylish actress Jenna Perusich every Wednesday at 10 PM on HGTV.

Cooking and baking lovers, on the other hand, can tune in to the third season of TLC’s Holiday Wars from 7:10 p.m. until December 24. It’s going to be an even bigger and tastier dessert feast as new teams showcase their best cake and sugar masterpieces for the yuletide season.

Kids and those young at heart will certainly enjoy the marvelous episode Bugs Bunny Builders: Looneyburg Lights on

Cartoon Network. You can watch the fun and wondrous Looneyburgers lights festival on December 24 at 8:45 p.m. and December 25 at 1:45 p.m.. Another show to watch out for when Christmas Eve rolls over is the classic holiday flick Love, Actually on Tap Movies on December 24 at 9:00 p.m. Avid fans and new viewers alike will fall in love with the complex intertwined romantic stories featuring the starstudded cast composed of Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, and many more. On Christmas Day, December 25, let love flow with another heart-fluttering film, Holiday in Santa Fe, which will air at 9:55 p.m. on Lifetime. This 2021 movie is a holiday must-watch as Belinda (Emeraude Toubia) realizes there’s something

AFTER the astronomical success of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, Coco Martin is set to star in Batang Quiapo, the 1986 hit movie that paired the late King of Philippine Movies Fernando Poe, Jr. with Diamond Star Maricel Soriano

be directed by Martin and Malu Sevilla, the boob tube adaptation of Batang Quiapo is scheduled to be released in 2023 as announced by Dreamscape Entertainment.

that Lovi Poe who happens to be the late FPJ’s daughter will be Coco’s love interest in the TV version while Charo Santos-Concio will play his grandmother.

“Isang FPJ classic ang muling

bibigyang-buhay ni Coco Martin kasama

ang anak ng nag-iisang Da King, Lovi Poe,” Dreamscape shared in its official social media post noting that the adaptation of Batang Quiapo coincide with FPJ’s 18th death anniversary commemoration.

Marcus Adoro , the lead guitarist of the Eraserheads, shares the same excitement as Ely, especially with the inclusion of an orchestra during the show.

PIE Channel is in high gear to bring the season’s festive vibe. As a way to give back to its viewers for their continued support, PIE has doubled the fun and surprises for its audience this Christmas season.

kicked off with the launching of the first-ever PIE Channel Station ID. The music was composed by Marcus Davis, the same composer of some of the most loved Station ID songs of ABS-CBN. The song was written by Paolo Ramos and sung by Pie Jock and Pinoy Big Brother Season 10 Big Winner, Anji Salvacion. The station ID was directed by Josh Dizon and Paolo Ramos who also directed some of the popular Kapamilya Station IDs.

PIE Channel Christmas Station ID relives the memorable stories of fun, laughter, and surprises that transpired over the last 7 months of broadcast. Viewers can catch it on the PIE Channel and on its YouTube and Facebook accounts.

from the station ID and the non-stop giving away of daily cash prizes, viewers also get to experience #PIEmaskongSaya through the caroling

MTRCB Board Member Maria

Carmen Musngi discussed the guidelines and considerations behind the MTRCB Television (TV) ratings, while BM Federico Moreno shared with the participants the parameters and process behind the MTRCB Film ratings, BM Moreno also unveiled the MTRCB’s newest infomercial for Philippine cinemas/theaters which will hit the big screen starting December 2022.

Iconic OPM band Eraserheads

From left: WEU President Francis Lumen, Eraserheads frontman, and Director Paolo Valenciano during the media conference

MTRCB Chairperson Diorella Maria “Lala” SottoAntonio

Bringing friends and family together with delicious, comforting food

MAGICAL and special can best describe what Christmas is all about to people from all over the world.

Celebrations, parties, and reunions bring families and friends together, feasting on delicious and comforting food.

One such cuisine that ties people together is that of Spain’s – it’s rich, soulful, and familiar to us Filipinos.

The Spanish concepts of The Bistro Group are happy to share their “Holiday Especiales” for a more festive Christmas dining and drinking:

At Las Flores & Rambla, the Holiday specials are Lamb Shank with mashed potatoes and Huevos Rotos (gulas, shrimp, broken eggs, potatoes, garlic oil). Meanwhile, BCN and Tomatito offer Roast Beef with mashed potatoes and gravy and Baked Lapu Lapu with Bilbaina sauce and patatas panaderas while Rumba is proud to serve their Mussels in Marinara with fries and Herb Roasted Porchetta.

These Cócteles de Navidad (Holiday Cocktails) are perfect accompaniment to a Spanish meal: Eggsy Bitsy (Sherry wine, Bailey’s, Vanilla, Cream, Cinnamon, Egg White); Santa’s Spritz Aperol (Watermelon, Mixed Berries Compote, Cava) and Citrus Lantern Gin (Limoncello, Passionfruit, Citrus, Egg White).

Guests can also bring home a taste of Spain by ordering their Charcuterie ToGo, a selection of quesos and embutidos that comes with pan con tomate, grapes, walnuts, and mango jam.

Paskong Pinoy-inspired sweets and treats

THIS season of celebration, Chef Lovely Jiao of Sugarplum Pastries has whipped up the most delightful Paskong Pinoyinspired desserts.

Dubbed as 12 Sweet Advent-Ure Awaits, the holiday series features an eye-catching Meringue Krismastri that promises to be a delightful centerpiece in any Christmas spread. Approximately 15 inches, this delectable tower of meringue is adorned by toothsome truffle ornaments, cinnamon cookies, and chocolate bars.

The all-edible Cri-smash Cake are in shapes of Santa and the Snowman. In true Chef Lovely fashion, this chocolate dessert comes with a candy smash head and a wooden mallet for a fun surprise.

Those who opt for more traditional confections can never go wrong with the quintessential Tres Leches Cake A mouthwatering sponge cake soaked in three kinds of specialty milk, this proven crowd-favorite bursts with fresh peaches and mangoes in every bite.

Chef Lovely likewise combined two best-loved desserts into a fiveinch Bro-ho-ho-wnie Cheesecake

Specially curated for the festivities, the Merry-Do Kit encourages family members and friends to be creative as they decorate their own naked cinnamon cookies. A perfect interactive activity for intimate gatherings, the package is inclusive of sugar cookies

inspired by a Christmas tree, the traditional parol (Christmas lantern), and a gift. It also comes with three generous icing packs in red, green, and yellow, as well as Christmas smash balls.

Those who are looking for holiday tokens or simply additions to their get-togethers may opt for the Apple Medley, a chocolate-coated apple topped with local childhood favorites, or the seasonal Giveawayay, a dainty gift box of Christmas-themed chocolate chip cookies and customized sugar biscuits.

Completing the collection are some of the all-time favorites made extra magical by the dessert innovator: Binge Cookies, Sugarplum Pastries’ version of chocolate chunk cookies; cheesy, buttery, and fluffy Ensaimada; Banana Loaf filled with dark chocolates and topped with walnuts; Holiday Trio, a box full of Panettone Christmas

Merry mocha beverages and delightful baked goods for the holidays

THE much-anticipated holiday menu featuring festive seasonal beverages and baked goods finds its way to you this season.

Homegrown favorites make way as the holiday special handcrafted beverages and holiday baked menu take center stage at Bo’s Coffee online and in stores nationwide.

A holiday of Merry Mocha Beverages like no other

Getting a cup of coffee during the cooler holiday months is always the best, and Bo’s Coffee makes it even better with its season’s best fusion of coffee and cocoa. With mocha as a classic beloved holiday treat, it features five Bo’s Coffee Merry Mocha beverages all made only with the best of Philippine Coffee.

Dark Mocha Macadamia Froccino is a blended coffee beverage with coffee and chocolate, flavored with Macadamia syrup, and finished with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and crushed Macadamia nuts.

Chewy Caramel Mocha Froccino is the blended coffee beverage that’s got a chewy caramel bar on top. Made with

Slices of the quintessential banana bread made with fresh ingredients

coffee, chocolate, and caramel topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

Cinnamon Mocha Froccino has twice the smell of the holidays with coffee, chocolate, and a dash of cinnamon powder. The classic mocha blended beverage is spiced with cinnamon and wrapped up in whipped cream and ribboned with a chocolate-coated pretzel.

Iced Cinnamon Mocha makes for an exciting holiday beverage with its espresso mixed with fresh milk, chocolate, sugar, and cinnamon powder, finished with whipped cream, a dash of cinnamon powder and chocolate coated pretzel, served over ice.

Hot Cinnamon Mocha makes walking at night all warm and fuzzy with espresso, steamed milk, chocolate, sugar, and cinnamon powder in this hot beverage perfected with whipped cream, a dash of cinnamon powder, and chocolate coated pretzel.

No time like the holidays for some indulgent Bo’s Coffee baked goods

Bo’s Coffee surely makes Merry Mocha holidays even more delightful when you bring a Salted Caramel Mocha Cake to every holiday party this season. Love the contrast of the

earthy rich dark chocolate mocha cake covered in creamy, salty & sweet mocha buttercream icing, drizzled with caramel sauce, and smothered with dark chocolate curls. This is Bo’s Coffee’s best salted caramel mocha flavor fest you’ll ever have – in a cake.

Thinking of gifting? Bo’s Coffee Holiday Box which comes in 4s, 12s, and 20s of your chosen baked bars is boxed up for gifting or for bringing to a quick potluck party. Choose the bars that take you on a holiday baking nostalgia. Red Velvet bars’ moist, decadent bitesized bars blended with swirls of tangy cream cheese. Classic Fudge Brownies bring back many merry memories with its chewy, chocolatey, dark chocolate bite-sized brownie bars, loaded with walnuts on their crackled crust. The Revel Bars, is a divine combination of oatmeal and chocolate ganache packed in a cookie bar.

Finally, the quintessential banana bread, the moistest sweet bread made out of mashed bananas, tangy-sweet raisins, and toasted walnuts. Take a bite of a slice and bring a whole one home.

Make Bo’s Coffee a part of your holiday celebrations

During the holidays, many look for food and drinks that evoke a sense of nostalgia, for a sense of companionship, and Filipino family ties and holiday traditions. Whether it takes the form of a familiar aroma, a particular flavor, a flashback of a good memory - mocha, red velvet, earthy dark chocolate, and of course, the smell of coffee and cocoa on cold Christmas nights.

Relive the simpler times, recreate fond memories, and take part in new ways of celebrating the holidays. Have a cup of Bo’s Coffee’s Merry Mocha beverage for an after-party nightcap, or take the array of merry baked treats for meet-ups with family and friends. Only available until January 15.

bread, chocolate chip cookies, and banana loaf; and Cheesecups made from their family heirloom recipe.

A culinary major graduate from the De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management, Chef Lovely decided to be hands-on with her growing son and launched a home-based brand instead of climbing the corporate ladder.

She has since stayed faithful and true to her philosophy “no to boring desserts!” and promised to only create the most decadent pastries to commemorate each family’s time.

For inquiries, contact sugarplum_pastries@ yahoo.com or +63927 128 3876 or visit the social media channels on Facebook (@ sugarplumpastriesph) and Instagram (@ sugarplumpastries).

Level up your Noche Buena feast with holiday recipes

FOOD is one of Filipinos’ love languages, that’s why you always want your Noche Buena feast to be special. This year, how about making it more exciting by elevating your holiday menu with mouthwatering, one-of-a-kind recipes? If you’re looking for recipe ideas, look no further than the ones featured in Eats by Robina Farms

The online cooking show, hosted by Chef Rolando “Lau” and Chef Jacqueline “Jac” Laudico, will soon air its year-ender episode — and it’s going to be all about Noche Buena cooking. The two will teach viewers how to whip not one, not two, but three holiday recipes: Christmas Paella, Belly Lechon, and Special Egg Salad

Aside from learning these delicious recipes, you can also get invaluable cooking tips from the renowned chefs that will be helpful for your own Noche

Buena prep. One crucial tip you can follow right away is to use high-quality ingredients, such as the ones the chefs will be using in the holiday episode: Robina Farms Classic Hungarian Sausage, Robina Farms Pork Cubes, and Robina Farms Thick-Sliced Bacon for the Christmas Paella; Robina Farms Belly Lechon; and Robina Farms Fresh Eggs for the special Egg Salad.

As Chef Lau and Chef Jac said on the show, high-quality ingredients from a brand you can trust make a world of difference when cooking delicious food for your loved ones. And for the two chefs, Robina Farms – a brand that prioritizes quality, food security, food safety, and sustainability in food production – is it.

Join The Breakfast Lovers Club Facebook group to catch the yearender of Eats Robina Farms, as well as previous episodes.

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

Learn new holiday recipes from ‘Eats by Robina Farms’

Apple Medley by Benilde Culinary Arts alumna Pastry Chef Lovely Jiao of Sugarplum Pastries

Chef Lovely Jiao of Sugarplum Pastries creates some of the most delightful Paskong Pinoy-inspired desserts

Cri-smash Cake by Lovely Jiao