VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for an end to the world, urging an end to the use of “food as a weapon.”
The head of the Catholic Church addressed thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square, some of them holding Ukrainian flags, before de -
THE Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has ordered its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), to “strengthen bonds” with the masses to boost “strategic and tactical attacks” ahead of its 54th anniversary today.
But at the same time, the CPP’s ruling Central Committee said all party cadres, revolutionary forces, and its friends and allies should “take stock of our strength and self-critically assess our errors and weaknesses” to set forth its plan “to advance and attain even bigger victories in the coming years.”
Previously, in anticipation of the CPP anniversary on December 26, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will stay in “active defense posture” until the New Year, a police spokesman
said on Saturday. Both the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines recently announced they will not have a ceasefire for the holidays, with the police force later saying there was “absolutely no reason” to do so.
In a message posted on its website, the CCP Central Committee continued to mourn the death of its founder, Jose Maria Sison, last week, giving him “extraordinary tribute” for his “masterly
TWO people died while six others were rescued in Southern Leyte after their fishing boat capsized on Sunday as several areas in Visayas and Mindanao were flooded on Christmas Day, with heavy rains and strong waves generated by the shear line and the
northeast monsoon or “amihan.”
Local police said the sea mishap in Barangay Manglit, Pintuyan, Southern Leyte happened past 3 a.m. on Sunday, claiming the lives of two fishermen.
This developed as the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) kicked off relief operations in areas in Visayas and Mindanao affected by flooding.
In a news release, Malacañang said the relief operations were ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
THE Department of Finance will begin rightsizing its bureaucracy next year “to streamline its organization and processes to maximize efficiency and use of public funds.”
This is aligned with the priority measures listed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his first State of the Nation Address in July where he underscored the need to “rightsize” the government bureaucracy.
The national government rightsizing program, which he described as a “reform mechanism that seeks to enhance the government’s institutional capacity to perform its mandate and provide better services, while ensuring optimal
and efficient use of resources,” was the first item cited by the President in his legislative wish list.
The DOF, in its year-end report, said it also intends to push key measures, including carrying out Package 3 and 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, an excise tax on single-use plastics, a value added tax on digital service providers, measures to ease the paying of taxes and establishing a mining fiscal regime.
It will also target private sector fund mobilization through public-private partnership (PPP) projects and will launch pioneering projects with Project Management
THE
demic-related disruptions.
DepEd
DepEd
BAGUIO City registered a low of 12.2°C Sunday morning as the northeast monsoon affected Luzon, the state weather bureau said.
In an interview over radio dzBB, weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said in Metro Manila, Quezon City logged the lowest temperature within the day so far at 23°C.
In Tagaytay, it was 20°C.
Ordinario said people living in the northern parts of the country should prepare for more cold weather ahead, as 17.8°C was already recorded in Tuguegarao City, and 13.2°C in Basco, Batanes.
grasp of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism (that) guided the Party from its inception, infancy and growth.”
“Ka Joma has bequeathed to us a treasure trove of Marxist-LeninistMaoist work in which his immortal revolutionary spirit will forever live to guide the next generation of Party cadres to greater heights,” it added.
They said the CPP is confronted “by a worsening crisis of the reactionary ruling system both domestically and internationally, marked by prolonged stagnation and economic decline, deteriorating social conditions, by the rise of fascism and state terrorism and increasing threats of inter-imperialist wars.”
“The crisis is generating extremely favorable conditions for the proletariat to lead the people and carry forward the
revolutionary movement in the Philippines and across the world,” it added.
Guided by their idealism, the CPP said it was “undaunted” by their recent setbacks, as authorities have placed their current numbers at less than a few thousand fighters scattered across the country, “It is determined to overcome all weaknesses, rectify errors, consolidate and strengthen, in order to serve as the leading core of the Filipino people in their struggle to overthrow imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism and attain national freedom and people’s democracy,” the Central Committee said.
That’s one reason why the PNP is maintaining its active defense posture until the New Year, spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo said in an interview on TeleRadyo.
“We will not pull out the security nationwide and that includes our prepara-
tion for the nearing anniversary of the CPP on December 26,” Fajardo added, noting the PNP has also deployed more personnel to far flung areas.
“We added forces in areas that are vulnerable to enemy attack, specially those police stations and attachments in far areas, we added personnel coming from mobile forces and special action forces,” she said.
AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar previously said the most military can do is to offer a suspension of operations in place of a ceasefire.
However, Fajardo said the PNP will likely continue operations following the directive of PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
“We are not inclined to recommend the suspension of police operations, and we would rather maintain our active defense posture so that we can somehow be ready in case there are possible enemy atrocities,” said Fajardo.
According to former police chief Dio -
nardo Carlos in a statement last year, the CPP and its armed wing are “known to stage armed offensive actions to drumbeat commemoration of significant dates in the underground communist organization.”
Meanwhile, the CPP paid “the highest tribute” to all the “heroes and martyrs of the Filipino people,” including members of its Central Committee, its Political Bureau and Executive Committee, and the cadres, Red fighters, and mass activists, “who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving the people and fighting for the national democratic cause.”
“At the same time, we extol the revolutionary masses, the activists of mass organizations, Red fighters, organizers and cadres of the Party who continue to persevere along the revolutionary path despite all the hardships and sacrifices, especially in the face of heightened campaign of fascist terrorism instigated by US imperialism,” it added.
livering the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing (“to the city and the world”).
He has repeatedly called for peace ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, condemning the war but seeking to maintain a delicate dialogue with Moscow.
In his address from the central balcony of St Peter’s, he recalled “our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are experiencing this Christmas in the dark and cold, far from their homes.”
“May the Lord inspire us to offer concrete gestures of solidarity to assist all those who are suffering, and may he enlighten the minds of those who have the power to silence the thunder of weapons and put an immediate end to this senseless war!”
“Tragically, we prefer to heed other counsels, dictated by worldly ways of thinking”, he added, recalling “with sorrow” that “the icy winds of war continue to buffet humanity.”
“Our time is experiencing a grave famine of peace also in other regions and other theatres of this third world war,” he said.
He referenced numerous countries in difficulty this Christmas, whether due to conflict or another crisis, from Afghanistan to Yemen, Syria, Myanmar, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Lebanon, and Haiti.
For the first time, he also called for “reconciliation” in Iran, rocked by women-led protests for the past three months.
The pope also urged those celebrating Christmas to remember all those “who go hungry while huge amounts of food daily go to waste, and resources are being spent on weapons.”
“The war in Ukraine has further aggravated this situation, putting entire peoples at risk of famine, especially in Afghanistan and in the countries of the Horn of Africa,” he said.
“We know that every war causes hunger and exploits food as a weapon, hindering its distribution to people already suffering.
“On this day, let us learn from the Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ) and, starting with those who hold political responsibilities, commit ourselves to making food solely an instrument of peace.” AFP
Cagayan
DepEd data showed that 15,331 teachers and school leaders received graduate scholarships while 17,636 were trained in early-grade language literacy.
Office (PMO)-led assets such as Basay Mining Rights, Tala Estate Property and Food Terminal Inc. property.
Tax administration reforms will be implemented to enhance tax efforts, maximize the government’s revenue potential, simplify taxpayer compliance and automate the processes of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.
The national government is also expected to secure next year nearly $40 billion in assistance and loans from development partners and bilateral lenders in 2023, even as the running debt stock rose to a record high as of end-October.
The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said the government is set to secure $19.1-billion worth of official development assistance (ODA) in 2023, following the $85.5 million worth of grants and technical assistance implemented this year.
The administration also eyes $9.2-billion worth of loans from multilateral development partners, and $9.8 billion in loans from bilateral lenders in the coming year.
The latest data available from the Bureau of the Treasury shows that the outstanding debt stock stood at P13.64 trillion as of end-October, up by 0.92 percent or P123.92 billion from the endSeptember level of P13.517 trillion.
Meanwhile, revenue collections from the BIR and the BOC have reached P3.2 trillion, surpassing the initial full year target set by the 2022 Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), the DOF said.
The DOF said it has also facilitated the implementation of grants and technical assistance worth $85.5 million.
learning spaces, conducting summer learning remediation and intervention programs, and hiring additional learning support aides.
In 2022, a total of 11,580 teachers were hired and a total of 5,000 administrative officer items were created to unburden teachers from administrative loads, DepEd said in its year-end report.
In addition, a total of 161,700 teachers completed the National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) subsidized teaching courses and 31,700 teachers underwent the Teacher Induction Program.
NEAP. an attached agency within DepEd, is responsible for the design, development, and delivery of profes-
The Gutierrez family from Barangay 1 in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte also two-foot-deep flooding as strong waves brought seawater into coastal villages.
sional development for teachers, school leaders and other teaching-related personnel.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has cited the importance of supporting teachers and not “scrimping on the amount” for the children’s education as the country’s future depends on them.
In a meeting with the Filipino community in New York in September, President Marcos said the DepEd had been actively working on strengthening the Philippines’ education system so
Camiguin and Bukidnon.
Of those affected, Jamen said 9,256 families or 45,242 individuals remained in evacuation centers as of 3 p.m. Sunday.
that Filipino children would be prepared wherever they go.
“Our children must be equipped with the best that we can possibly provide. We cannot scrimp on the amount. Whatever we can give, we will give it to them so that they get the best quality of education that we can afford without being wasteful,” Mr. Marcos said.
The Chief Executive has since reiterated that the Philippines must do better in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses.
rary shelter.
The CDRRMO also rescued a woman, a teenager and two dogs in Purok Sampaguita, Barangay Taft.
DSWD field offices in Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao started distributing family food packs on Sunday to flood-hit residents of Eastern Samar, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin and Bukidnon.
Eight fishermen, who are residents of San Antonio Village in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, were at sea when big waves capsized their boat despite being anchored just 100 meters away from the shore.
Six of the fishermen were safely rescued and brought to the Pintuyan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the police added.
Parts of Nasipit town in Agusan del Norte and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental were also flooded after heavy rains and rough coastal conditions.
Gladys Mae Yeke, a resident of Barangay 18-A in Gingoog City, told ABSCBN News they experienced knee-high floods on Saturday.
“For 35 years, first time to experience Christmas that our whole house was flooded. Still a Merry Christmas for the whole family,” she said.
“Our Noche Buena wasn’t OK because we had to mind the flood and the strong waves,” Rusty Mark Gutierrez shared.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had warned that the northeast monsoon will bring moderate to strong wind speeds moving northeast, and moderate to rough coastal water conditions in Luzon, Visayas, and the eastern section of Mindanao.
Grace Subon, DSWD regional director in Eastern Visayas, said 32,458 individuals were affected by flooding in six towns in Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Mercedes, Taft and Giporlos) over the holiday weekend.
She said they have been coordinating with the municipal governments for the distribution of 45,000 food packs and P10 million in standby funds.
Ramel Jamen, DSWD regional director in Northern Mindanao, said they have also started giving out food and non-food relief items to at least 9,342 families or 45,687 individuals in the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental,
Some parts of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte experienced heavy rains on Saturday night, the state weather bureau said.
Strong winds also forced the Philippine Coast Guard stations in Surigao del Norte and Siargao Island to temporarily suspend sea travels.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) dispatched personnel to Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte as families were rescued in the villages of Mahanub, Villaflor, Ipil, Cambo-ayon and Poniente with the help of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO).
“Rescue operation is still ongoing, and we are still determining the number of families affected by floods in these barangays,” BFP-Gigaquit said in a statement.
The Surigao City DRRMO conducted an emergency evacuation operation at around 2 a.m. Sunday in flooded areas of Sitio Dolong and Sitio Baybay Magallanes in Barangay Washington and transferred a senior citizen, two women and two children to a tempo -
In Agusan del Norte, BFP-Jabonga said it is still determining the number of affected families as of press time.
In Llorente, Eastern Samar, eight families had to spend Christmas Eve in evacuation centers because their houses were flooded, according to Shirley Valdez of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).
“There were families who spent Christmas Eve here in the evacuation centers, but others like those in Barangay Naubay, they spent Christmas in other houses,” she said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.
Valdez said their MDRRMO head ensured that all affected residents would be evacuated from their homes before the flood rose.
She said no one from their area was hurt or missing due to the flooding incidents.
“Yesterday, schools and churches in Barangay Naubay had neck-deep floods. Their national highway was also impassable for several hours,” she recalled.
BENNY Antiporda, NIA Administrator for a few months of the current administration, in an open letter said he was leaving NIA “with a heavy heart, not because of the unceremonious fashion that followed my replacement but because my official mission to help our farmers who face the specter of a food security crisis in the coming months will be for naught.”
Unceremonious indeed is the best way to describe how Antiporda was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman, left out in the cold by Malacanang thereafter, and then without any by your leave, replaced outright during the suspension period.
But that is the prerogative of the appointing authority. It appoints. It disappoints. As it pleases.
We wish Benny Antiporda well as he exits government and re-enters the private sector. Whatever his future endeavors will be, we are sure he would pursue the same with efficiency and purpose
Remember how President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. announced the replacement of officials at an official function in the Quirino Grandstand during the early martial law years? But that was martial law.
Or how FVR replaced PNP generals and colonels also in similar fashion?
I recall when PNoy used the anniversary of the agency to fire the NIA Administrator on the spot, after NEDA submitted to him the results of an audit they conducted which showed “over-performance” in terms of irrigation canals dug, which however turned out to have no source of water.
But as I said, the power to appoint carries with it the power to disappoint.
Some measure of respect for persons who a president appointed, and impliedly trusted therefor to discharge his functions properly, should have been accorded.
In the case of Antiporda, lower officials in that perennial cesspool of corruption called the NIA filed a case at the Office of the Ombudsman for misdemeanor and harassment. Knowing Benny’s sharp tongue and quick temper, that might have been true. But the guy also easily forgives and forgets.
Except, as he says, when it comes to corruption, which is part of the marching orders the president gave him.
“To set the record straight, the actions I took at NIA to fight the culture of corruption and lethargy was with the clear imprimatur of the president during our meeting last August in Malacanang,” he wrote in an open letter after his replacement was announced only through media by the Office of the Press Secretary.
A month or so ago, the Office of the Ombudsman slapped Antiporda with a six-month suspension without hearing his side on the complaints raised against him. Rules allow the OOO that prerogative, unfair though it may be to most of us.
And then his replacement was announced by the Office of the Press Secretary last week, without informing him despite his plea to be heard by the appointing authority. Anyone would have felt bad. But such is the lay of the land in this country.
Benny holds no rancor against the president, and pledges to continue supporting him and his replacement, former Piddig, Ilocos Norte Mayor Eddie Guillen, in making NIA effective in helping our farmers and minimizing the notorious corruption in the agency.
Irrigation is critical to the president’s avowed efforts to enhance agricultural production, especially since rice and other grasses guzzle water as much as an old V-8 engine does.
We wish Benny Antiporda well as he exits government and re-enters the private sector. Whatever his future endeavors will be, we are sure he would pursue the same with efficiency and purpose. ***
It’s that time of the year when we all thank the Lord for whatever good fortune He has given us and our loved ones, but for many of us, just being alive and healthy makes us thankful to our Creator.
I started the 2022 New Year with the Omicron, and was advised by Doc Willie Ong to get myself hospitalized.
Mercifully, my COVID was mild, which is why on my second day in the hospital, my fever and other symptoms had abated. There is much I have to thank God for.
The second half of the year which was also the first half of the new administration was marked by high inflation and the peso losing ground to the US dollar. Times have started being really difficult for the ordinary Filipino. Still and all, we look forward to the coming year, that of the gentle rabbit in the Chinese lunar calendar, for better times.
FIRST off. Let’s get it from the critic’s unedited opening statement: “Folk songs shows how creative and historical our ancestors established in the past. It runs through our superstitious beliefs and culture that even though we were developed by different technologies and innovation it is still present in some areas in the Philippines.”
The critic has been published as an English major from the Cagayan State University, Carig Campus in Tuguegarao City.
In fairness to her, she admitted, in part, she is “a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies at Cagayan State University -- Carig Campus. I am not yet a pro in terms of scholarly literature but, I still try my best to be good at this...” She adds: “The ‘Pamulinawen’ Ilocano folk song is originally written by Jose A. Bragado, a writer and a poet who was born at Sanata, (sic) Ilocos Sur.
“He took up several courses in college, including Journalism and English. He has worked as News & Comics Editor and Literary Editor. He has published in the Bannawag magazine 20 novels, 65 short stories, 50 poems, 170 feature articles and essays, translated 5 novels from Filipino to Iloko; he has a lot edited and co-authored several books.
“He has published short stories in the Liwayway magazine. He wrote the life of Gabriela and Diego Silang for Balintataw, a radio program of Cecille Gidote-Alvarez at the DZRH. The drama ran for one month (provided by Academia authors catalog).
“This analysis is made because of the need of wider dissemination and appreciation by the younger generations – if only for the message of patriotism, love for kin and what the songs say of the community, the aspirations of the people, their laughter, their grief, and their dreams.
“Ilocanos take pride in their folk song Pamulinawen, among others they have in their chests, a song addressed to, a euphemism, and by the unique melody it has that one could remember by just hearing its tune.”
Now, quick to the basics.
Literary criticism, essentially an opinion, supported by evidence, relating to theme, style, setting or historical or political context, usually includes discussion of the work’s content and integrates the critic’s ideas with other insights gained from research.
Characteristics of a good critic are articulateness, preferably having the ability to use language with a high level of appeal and skill, impeccable grammar not concealed.
Sympathy, sensitivity and insight are important too. Form, style and medium are all considered by the critic.
The purpose of literary criticism is to broaden a reader’s understanding of an author’s work by summarizing, interpreting, and exploring its value.
After giving the text a close reading, a critic formulates a comprehensive literary analysis that can inform or challenge another reader’s understanding of the text.
There are many1types of literary criticism: the more common are traditional criticism, sociological criticism, new criticism, reader-response criticism, Feminist criticism, Marxist criticism, and media criticism.
Despite its rather negative-sounding name, literary “criticism” is not necessarily negative! Literary criticism is simply an in-depth critique of an author’s work that helps a researcher understand the work’s meaning, symbolism and/or origin.
Which raises the question: Did Bragado, an 86-year-old Ilocos Sur-born writer who now lives in Caloocan City in Metro Manila, write the folk song ‘Pamulinawen’ as the critic wants her readers to believe.
Or did he write a book whose title is ‘Pamulinawen’ but has nothing to do with the folk song which the critic apparently conveniently ignored or gave a lie to?
Certainly the two are islands apart and in between them are centuries.
The elements that make up a literary work are closely examined for their meaning and significance. Some of these elements are theme, character, and plot.
In the literary piece purported to be critiqued, the theme is the central topic, subject, or message within a narrative.
Themes, which are the unifying ideas, can be divided into two categories: a work’s thematic concept which is what readers “think the work is about” and its thematic statement being “what the work says about the subject.”
We find in the critic’s attempt an attempt to deceive the readers, not to mention her clear lack of scholarly research with her background as an English major, given her assertion that the folk song was originally written by Bragado, who was born on August 25, 1936 – makes him only 86 at the time the supposed criticism was uploaded.
Raquiño’s identification that the folk song was written by Bragado is a gross misrepresentation and a rather nauseous exercise at death’s door.
The folk song antedates the birthdate of Bragado, a former president of GUMIL Filipinas. He could not have written the folk song before he was born. Simple as that.
And, unless corrected before much longer, the presented literary criticism may be believed as dogma by generations with blinders and whatever else.
Instance, to declare without proper authorities that Bragado was the author of the Ilokano –sometimes spelled out Ilocano -- folk song ‘Pamulinawen’ is deception at its highest rung.
WILL the recent passing of Jose Ma. Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, lead to the demise of the mainstream Left?
Sison passed away from heart failure at age 83 after a two-week confinement in a hospital in Utrecht, Netherlands.
He had spent nearly four decades in exile in the Netherlands after his release from 10 years in prison in 1986 after the People Power Revolt that sent Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. and family escorted by Americans into exile in Hawaii.
But the CPP gives us an inkling on what it thinks of Sison’s demise: “The entire Communist Party of the Philippines gives the highest possible tribute to its founding chairman, great MarxistLeninist-Maoist thinker, patriot, internationalist, and revolutionary leader… Even as we mourn, we vow to continue to give all our strength and determination to carry the revolution forward guided by the memory and teachings of the people’s beloved Ka Joma.”
Sison established the Maoist CPP on
December 26, 1968, or 54 years ago.
Three months later, on March 29, 1969, he presided over the establishment of the New People’s Army that vowed to wage ‘people’s war’ against ‘American imperialism, domestic feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism.’
The NPA remains a ragtag guerrilla force that can only launch limited ‘tactical offensives’ in certain areas but not really overrun big military camps
At its height in the late 1970s to the 1980s, the NPA, according to the Philippine military, reached a peak of 25,000 regular fighters.
But recently, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said NPA strength today has dwindled to no more than 2,100 guerrillas.
That means, it said, the rebel group can no longer launch large-scale attacks
against government troops and military bases, and therefore the government has already achieved ‘strategic victory’ against the Red insurgents.
Sison was the leading theoretician of the insurgent movement and laid down its guiding principles and basic tasks from 1968 onwards.
Other CPP-NPA leaders may have emerged during Sison’s long incarceration and after his release, but no one in the underground movement could have reached or even surpassed his level of understanding of Marxist theory and practice.
Hence, other CPP-NPA-NDF leaders may have long experience in the both the urban underground and in the battlefield in the countryside, but perhaps lack the deep understanding and application of Marxism in the concrete Philippine situation.
What is clear at this point, however, is that the NPA remains a ragtag guerrilla force that can only launch limited ‘tactical offensives’ in certain areas but not really overrun big military camps.
In other words, the rebel army is not likely to achieve its goal of encircling the cities from the countryside as what Mao Zedong did in China in the 1940s, nor be able to seize political power through the barrel of the gun within the decade or the next, if at all.
AFTER two long years of this life-changing pandemic crisis, people are back to face-toface interactions and are somewhat bringing in revenge from those difficult but necessary mobility and safety restrictions.
People are just happy to go out and are celebrating with friends and loved ones as much as their time and money can afford throughout the holiday season.
This is also the time when some retrospection of a pivotal year when the Filipino people elected a new set of leaders with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at the helm of a country that must navigate the complex risks and challenges of the evolving new normal.
At the start of the Marcos Jr. administration, the June survey of Pulse Asia revealed that Filipinos wanted the new government to prioritize on controlling the prices of goods and services and creating jobs for the poor.
Having lived through the rule of so many administrations since President Marcos Sr., these have been a recurring concern.
Respondents of the same survey said that their most urgent personal concern is to stay healthy and avoid illness (66 percent) which reflects how people fear the economic catastrophe that befalls a family when a member is hospitalized or stricken with a life-threatening illness, more so being infected by the COVID-19 virus.
The next most urgent concerns are to have a secure/well-paying job or source of income and to at least be able to have enough to eat every day (both at 47 percent) which echo the economic woes of a struggle of these hard times.
Findings of the Social Weather Stations survey of self-rated poverty showed a rising trend with 49 percent saying they are poor in Oct 2022 from 45 percent in March 2019. This is attributable to the economic crash caused by the pandemic.
On the other hand, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority say that unemployment rate in October 2022 fell to pre-pandemic levels at 4.5 percent which translates to 2.24 million jobless Filipinos and underemployment rate at 14.2 percent or 6.67 million Filipinos.
Gross Domestic Product data also show
encouraging figures in this year’s 3rd quarter performance at 7.6 percent from an all time low of -16.9 percent during the 2nd quarter of 2020 which was at the height of the lockdowns.
Another consequence of the pandemic crisis is the huge government spending to implement the many anti-COVID 19 and “ayuda” programs as well as the continuity of public services and infrastructure projects.
But still, despite all these problematic realities, the survey released last week by Pulse Asia bares the durable optimism of Filipinos with 9 out of 10 respondents looking forward to 2023 with high optimism
Bureau of Treasury data recorded the national government debt reaching a new record-high of P13.64 trillion at the end of October 2022. By the end of the 3rd quarter this was equivalent to 63.7 percent of GDP. A further illustration of how expensive these pandemic years is the huge budget deficit or the shortfall in government revenues versus its expenditures.
The national government’s full-year budget deficit for 2021 reached P1.67 trillion –or 21.78 percent higher year-on-year – which was equivalent to 8.61 percent of GDP (Bureau of Treasury).
From January to October 2022, the budget deficit stood at P1.11 trillion. These are the highest deficit figures compared to two prepandemic decades.
A folk song is a piece of music composed within the parameters of folk music.
The ongoing pressures consequent of the pandemic and ongoing war in Ukraine has seriously affected the business sector which is the driver of the economy.
The latest update of the Overall Business Outlook Index of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas saw a less optimistic business sentiment as the overall confidence index declined for the second consecutive quarter to 23.9 percent from 26.1 percent in the previous quarter.
Respondents pointed to higher inflation, the depreciating peso, the decline in dales and demand, rising cost of production inputs such as raw materials and fuel, and higher interest rates as the dampening factors.
BSP’s survey likewise showed weaker consumer outlook in the 4th quarter of 2022 with the Consumer Outlook Index declining to -14 percent from -12 percent in the previous quarter.
Consumers identified again attributed this sentiment to the abrupt increase the prices of goods and therefore higher expenses, low income, and family members unable to work because there are fewer jobs available.
But still, despite all these problematic realities, the survey released last week by Pulse Asia bares the durable optimism of Filipinos with 9 out of 10 respondents looking forward to 2023 with high optimism.
Pulse Asia reported that, “Virtually all Filipino adults (92 percent) will face the year ahead with hope, a sentiment echoed by 89 percent to 99 percent across geographic areas and by 86 percent to 94 percent in the various socio-economic classes.”
We have been battered by extremely challenging times that have hit the world with hard lessons that I hope will guide all of us and especially the leaders of all sectors of our society to boldly move forward, to innovate and to recreate a sustainably and inclusively prosperous post-pandemic ecosystem.
must underscore that the first principle of criticism is the pursuit of truth, as poetic truth is the truth of ideas, and experiences of a work of art
That Bragado has a book titled Pamulinawen cannot by any measure mean that he was the one who wrote the lyrics of the folk song.
Bragado’s 10-chapter ‘Pamulinawen’ book, which does not even touch on the folk song but on a topic that is something else, translated by his wife Dr. Crispina Bragado into Pilipino (total 167 pages including glossary and pen sketches about the author and the translator, published by GUMIL Metro Manila in 1995), does not suggest the socalled Ilokano folk song Pamulinawen lyrics were written by Bragado, scores after the folk song was being sung by Ilokanos four generations earlier, and possibly even more, before Bragado saw the light of Ilocos Sur’s sunrise.
These songs are usually about a particular group of people, an event, or an experience. They were traditionally performed on folk instruments, never written down, and had unknown origins Folk music takes its name from the German word volk, which essentially means ‘the people’ –came to be used derisively to refer to the music of the uncultured class of people.
We must underscore that the first principle of criticism is the pursuit of truth, as poetic truth is the truth of ideas, and experiences of a work of art. The definition of ‘truth’ must first be explained to further understand this question.
“Truth” is a fact or belief that is accepted as true. For something to be true, it has to be true for the public and individual, so this means it must be the same for everyone.
One must appreciate that literature, by its very nature, cannot perfectly resemble real life.
Literature, even strict nonfiction, is rarely a recounting of events as they actually happened. The author must see events and people through their own biased filter.
The literary analysis, if it may be called that, suffers from many green around the gills infirmities.
‘Pamulinawen’ is a simple modal melody and a lively song with a tempo of maximum 90 beats per minute and can be used double time at 180 BPM whose track runs three minutes and 26 seconds long with a time signature of four beats per bar.
The researcher could have asked Bragado (had the researcher been more sedulous, instead of just
relying on what Bragado studied based on unverified academic credentials) if indeed he wrote/composed the folk song. which is different from the book ‘Pamulinawen’ he published.
There is something very wrong in the paper, a blatant error of fact.
What makes it even more queasy, which raises the roof, is that the attempting critic is a northerner like Bragado.
In this age of cellphones and the internet, the critic could have easily contacted Bragado before submitting the effort to whatever platform that did not have as much space and acceptable diligence to fact-check the material.
For any scholarly research, critics should go beyond reading the biodata of people and, to lengthen the material, include in their presentation the lyrics of a song professed to be critiqued.
In fairness to Bragado, we don’t suppose he was ever interviewed for the paper being analyzed and submitted to Academia titled “A literary analysis from (sic) the Ilocano folk song: Pamulinawen.” And if he was, we don’t think he was indecorously impudent and had the barefaced amour propre to tell the “literary analyst” that he wrote the lyrics of the song sung by Ilocanos’ forefather – Bragado’s included..
(HBC was executive council member of the literary committee of the NCCA and former president of GUMIL Filipinas [1995-1999], taught World Literature, among other courses, in the university. An honor graduate of San Beda College, where he eventually became coach of the school’s College of Arts and Sciences Debate Team)
We
CLOSE to 32,000 arrivals were processed on Christmas Eve, the Bureau of Immigration reported on Sunday.
In a statement, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said immigration officers assigned at different international airports processed a total of 31,992 arrivals on Dec. 24.
Majority of the international passengers arrived via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), with Terminal 1 welcoming 10,047 passengers.
Arrivals at Terminals 2 and 3 totaled 4,646 and 12,615 passengers, respectively.
Meanwhile, BI reported
processing a total of 22,248 departures on Christmas Eve.
Tansingco assured the public that while lines are expected due to the worldwide increase in international travel, passengers are processed expeditiously.
“All counters are fully manned, our egates are being utilized, and we have a special team of officers ready to augment manpower as needed,” he said.
“The implementation of the eTravel system also significantly decreases the paper requirements of arriving passengers,” he added.
Tansingco said they see the increase in travelers as a positive sign that tourism is on the rebound.
PRIVATE homes in Quezon City are prohibited from using firecrackers as the local government began its crackdown on their unregulated and indiscriminate use ahead of the New Year revelries.
In a statement, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte noted the 47 percent increase in emergencies and injuries related to firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices in 2021.
“We want to minimize, if not totally eliminate, the number of firecrackerrelated injuries and casualties,” she
said.
“We also want to protect homes, commercial buildings, and other structures against incidental fires and to lessen the harmful effects of hazardous chemicals and pollutants,” she added.
Under Executive Order 54 S-2022, fireworks displays in Quezon City
should first secure a permission or authorization from the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS).
Sale of permissible firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices is almost limited within shopping malls with clearance from the DPOS, and a special permit from the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD).
“The sale of the same in places such as public sidewalks, tiangge, stores, and similar establishments shall be strictly prohibited,” Belmonte said.
“Selling, sharing, or giving firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices to minors is also not allowed,” she added.
Violators face fines of up to P5,000 or
a one-year imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court.
The Department of Trade and Industry last week released a list of certified fireworks and firecrackers with the Philippine Standard (PS) mark for guaranteed safety and quality.
“The purchase and use of uncertified fireworks and firecrackers may result in damage to properties and cause fatalities. Hence, the DTI is here to remind all consumers to only buy and support certified fireworks produced by licensed and authorized manufacturers with Philippine Standard (PS) License,” said DTI-Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth Castelo.
SENATOR Ramon Revilla Jr. wants every public swimming pool and other bathing facilities nationwide to have qualified lifeguards to ensure the safety of the swimmers and prevent possible contamination of diseases.
In filing Senate Bill No. 1581 requiring the employment of qualified lifeguards in all public swimming pools and bathing facilities, Revilla said his bill also mandates the Department of Health (DoH) to lead the program.
Revilla said the bill also supports Chapter 7 of Presidential Decree No. 856, or the Code of Sanitation of the Philippines promulgated on Dec. 23, 1975, which also mandates the DOH to protect the health and safety of persons who use public swimming or bathing places.
He said the lifeguards also seek to correct sanitary practices of persons swimming to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases, correct sanitary procedures of personnel working in those places and to maintain their adequate
sanitation and cleanliness of accessories used by customers.
The bill also required business establishments to provide adequate numbers of trained personnel and necessary equipment needed for lifesaving and rescue work and post conspicuous signs to warn the public of the presence of artificial or natural hazards.
“A competent lifeguard trained for lifesaving and artificial resuscitation shall always be present during all swimming periods in public natural bathing places, including beaches,” Revilla said in his explanatory note.
The lifeguard must be a holder of a nationally recognized lifesaving certificate and shall be assigned to every 100 bathers in a confined area, with another lifeguard in a tower for every 90 meters and another lifeguard in a boat for every 600 meters in the swimming area.
PRESIDENT
first six months in office saw pledges of billions of dollars in investments from his foreign travels, a clear sign that the country’s economy is on the right track.
In a radio interview, Senator Francis Tolentino said the diplomatic relations policy of the administration managed to convince foreign investors to do business in the country.
As reported by the Department of
THE Filipino community in the United States is advised to monitor and make necessary preparations as a powerful snowstorm sweeps through the central and eastern areas.
The fearsome winter storm continued to pummel parts of the United States with blizzard conditions Saturday evening (Sunday, Manila time) after powerful Arctic winds left over a million customers without power earlier in the day and caused Christmas travel nightmares.
At least 17 weather-related deaths have been confirmed across eight states as heavy snow, howling winds and dangerously frigid temperatures kept much of the nation, including the normally temperate south, in a frozen grip for a third straight day.
“The Philippine Embassy in Washington DC
Trade and Industry, the President managed to net at least USD23.6 billion from his visits to Indonesia, Singapore, the United States, Cambodia and Thailand.
The President’s recent visit to Brussels, Belgium also secured P9.8 billion in investment pledges.
“Our economy is doing well, especially the agriculture sector. The investment pledges secured by the President
advises Filipino communities on the massive winter storm to monitor the weather, undertake all necessary preparations, and heed the warnings of local officials,” the Embassy said in an advisory over the weekend.
The National Weather Service warned the wind chill would cover nearly half of the US population as a “once-in-a-generation” storm brings snow, wind, ice, and frigid temperatures through the holiday weekend.
Blizzard conditions could reduce visibility to zero and the public is advised to refrain from going out unless absolutely necessary.
For emergencies requiring Embassy assistance, distressed members of the Filipino community are urged to contact (202) 368-2767 or (202)769-8049.
were the result of a good diplomatic policy,” Tolentino said.
The report likewise showed that the Board of Investments and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority have a combined approved investment of P402 billion, which could generate around 54,217 jobs for Filipinos.
Tolentino said he expects 2023 to be an even more prosperous year for the Philippines.
JETTI Petroleum Inc.-Integrated Marketing Team and Upsilon Sigma Phi have partnered together for the latter’s “Kariton Klasrum” charity program to provide education to children who could not afford to go to school.
The program was established by Efren Peñaflorida, a Filipino teacher and development worker who was a victim of bullying during his childhood.
Peñaflorida grew up in an impoverished area and knew the difficulties of and studying in school.
Many Filipinos have adopted the program, including Upsilon Sigma Phi which named theirs as “Kariton ng Pag-asa.”
The Upsilon Sigma Phi (ΥΣΦ) is the oldest Greek-letter organization and fraternity in Asia.
Founded in 1918, it is also the oldest student organization in continuous existence in the University of the Philippines.
The fraternity organized 10 types of charity events, including the Kariton ng Pag-asa: Education on Wheels Outreach held at Pook Malinis in Barangay UP Campus in Diliman, Quezon City.
In partnership with the Kariton ng Maralita Network, the project will produce at least two Kariton Klasrums filled with books, art & sports materials, chairs, and other necessities for the school youth of Barangay UP Campus.
Community leader Bebang Quizon Alcan was the one who pushed for their place to be chosen for this project.
Since she grew up without a formal education, she wants to help her community to educate not only the children but also their mothers.
MORE than 21,000 Filipinos flocked to Malacañang this week to attend the Simbang Gabi and view the Palace Christmas tree and lantern displays at the Kalayaan grounds.
From December 17 to 24, 2,895 attended Simbang Gabi, with many churchgoers observing the tradition and asking for blessings after two years of intermittent lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a report from the Presi-
SENATOR Mark Villar has committed to help the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in its “Build, Better, More” infrastructure program.
Villar recently visited the NLEX Connector Project in Caloocan. The NLEX Connector is an 8-kilometer, four-lane, all-elevated expressway from C3 Road Caloocan Interchange through Manila traversing Blumentrit and España up to PUP, Sta Mesa.
“I’m glad that the NLEX Connector is almost finished,” said Villar who served as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary under the previous administration.
“Our dream is now a reality,” also said Villar, adding that this is a big help to the people.
He was invited by the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation for an update on the said project which started during his term as DPWH chief. “By first quarter of next year may mga sections na sila na bubuksan. This will alleviate traffic in the metro,” Villar said
Other key officials present during the visit was former “Build, Build, Build” chair and now Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Anna Mae Lamentillo and Luigi Bautista, senior executive of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation.
“The beauty of this is that we can see the continuation of projects from ‘Build, Build, Build,’ to ‘Build Better More,” he said.
He noted that continuity especially for major projects like this is very important.
“So that we give our all out suppport to the infrastructure drive of the current administration,” he guaranteed.
REUNITED.
A couple, who are both persons deprived of Liberty (PDLs), meet at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong.
PDLs from the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) are allowed to visit their spouses during an arranged visitation on Christmas eve.
dential Security Group (PSG), 14,988 Filipinos visited the “Pailaw sa Kalayaan” from December 18 to 24.
Monching, one of those who attended the last day of Simbang Gabi, said the event was special to him since it was his first time to attend the Holy
mass in Malacañang.
“This is the first time it happened in decades and many Presidents has passed,” Monching said in an interview with the People’s Television Network (PTV).
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a surprise visit after the mass ended on Christmas Eve, where he waved to visitors enjoying the free delicacies such as puto bumbong, bibingka and hot chocolate drink.
Malacañang also opened its doors to ordinary Filipinos who wanted to spend their Noche Buena. Some 3,200 visitors went to the Kalayaan grounds on Christmas Day, according to the PSG.
The chief executive earlier made a surprise visit while on his way to a gettogether with officials and personnel of the Radio and Television Malacañang (RTVM) on December 21.
The opening of the doors of Malacañang to the people is part of the= President’s goal to make sure that Filipino children, including those residing near the area, will have a joyful and meaningful Christmas.
In his Christmas message to the nation, President Marcos said it is imperative for everyone to emphasize the true essence of the holiday season, which is love.
VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte praised personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) for their dedication.
Duterte, in the video posted on Sunday, also greeted DepEd personnel all over the country, and wished them a prosperous New Year ahead.
She also emphasized DepEd’s role in nation-building and for forming and preparing the youth for their dreams, GMA News reported.
“Thank you very much for your dedication to your work and love of Filipino children. Despite the adversities we faced due to the pandemic and other disasters, you did not turn your back on the call of public service,” Duterte, quoted by GMA News, said. “You continued to guide and cultivate our young people’s minds so that they can reach their dreams in life.”
Earlier, Duterte extended her holiday greetings and expressed hope that Filipinos will have a meaningful celebration of the yuletide season despite the difficulties in life.
“Magkakaiba man ang ating prinsipyo, paniniwala, at pamumuhay, pinagkakaisa naman tayo ng pananampalataya, mithiin, at pangarap, at pagmamahal sa isa’t isa. (Although our principles, beliefs, and lifestyles are different, we are united by faith, ideals, dreams, and love for one another),” The Vice President, quoted by the GMA News report, said.
“Hangad ko na maging makabaluhan ang ating selebrasyon ng Pasko sa kabila ng mga pagsubok na dumadating sa ating buhay. At sana ay magpatuloy tayo sa pagiging matatag para sa ating mga sarili, at sa ating mga pamilya, at para sa ating bansa (“I hope that our Christmas celebration will be meaningful despite the adversities in our lives. May we continue to be strong for ourselves, our families, and for our country,” she continued.
SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian pitched his proposal anew to accelerate the installation of free public Wi-Fi in public schools nationwide.
Gatchalian earlier filed Senate Bill No. 383 or the Digital Transformation in Basic Education Act.
He previously flagged that five years after the enactment of the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act (Republic Act No. 10929), the Free Public Wi-Fi Dashboard revealed that only 860 or 1.8% of the country’s 47,421 public schools have free public Wi-Fi as of September 2, 2022.
Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education recalled how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a digital divide in the country, which mostly affected learners in poorer households.
Based on a 2021 survey by the World Bank on low-income households, only 40% have access to the internet.
The same survey also revealed that 95.5% of these households used paper-based learn-
ing modules and materials.
The Digital Transformation in Basic Education Act also seeks to escalate the building of the national infrastructure for information and communications technology (ICT).
The proposed measure will mandate the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to identify locations for the construction of telecommunications tower sites. Missionary areas that remain unconnected, unserved, or underserved will be prioritized.
The bill also seeks to enhance the capacity of all schools to enhance and strengthen their ICT capacity to implement distance learning. To boost the basic education sector towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will assist both Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on the use of science, technology, and innovation to improve traditional teaching and learning processes.
Macon Ramos-Araneta
AT LEAST three lawmakers are proposing reforms in Philippine basketball while congratulating the men’s basketball teams who competed in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship games.
“As an Atenean, I congratulate the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles Men’s Basketball Team while I also laud the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons for giving all of us an exciting UAAP Championship Game,” BHW party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co of ADMU Class of 2011.
UP alumna and Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera said “championship game pressure once again produced a set of victors and many memorable moments.”
In a separate statement, Manila Rep. Joel Chua said “championship game pressures test the composure and talent of any team and its athletes. Not to be overlooked is the sportsman-
ship of players and their coaches who resisted the temptations of unsportsmanlike conduct on and off the court.”
The lawmakers urged the UAAP, NCAA and other sports leagues to use lessons learned from the just-concluded college basketball season to craft new rules addressing unsportsmanlike conduct on and off the court and to address the new sports environment that has opened for Filipino players and coaches.
Co called on the UAAP to “take a hard look at the new and quickly evolving amateur and professional basketball environment, especially now that our best basketball athletes and even coaches now have foreign leagues are alternatives to the PBA and other local leagues.”
New international linkages, sports investments, and rules seem necessary now given the emerging challenges and circumstances, he said, urging the UAAP and all the amateur and professional leagues “to factor in compliance with our sports laws, including RA 10676 (Student-Athletes Protection Act) and RA 11180 (Athletic Programs Report Act).”
SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his commitment to help boost the country’s health sector and wished Filipinos a safe and healthy holiday season.
The senator also encouraged Filipinos to keep their optimism, remain cooperative and continue the bayanihan spirit to ensure that no one is left behind toward recovery.
“In exchanging gifts and giving time to our family, let us not forget our unfortunate countrymen,” Go, chairperson of the Senate health committee, said.
He exhorted everyone to give help to the needy,
through generous and small little ways. Go also also reaffirmed his commitment to make health services more accessible and affordable to all as he continues to advocate for the establishment of more Malasakit Centers and Super Health Centers (SHCs) nationwide.
“The establishment of the SHC is being funded by the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health (DOH) that we are pushing on Congress since last year,” he said.
The construction of 307 SHCs nationwide is included in the 2022 budget.
“We want to establish more SHCs in the next years
with the DOH and with the help of LGUs,” Go said.
The SHC is an upgraded version of the rural health unit. It offers health services including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.
Meanwhile, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop for the medical assistance programs offered by
the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. There are now 153 such centers that have helped millions of Filipinos nationwide.
He also reassured that he will keep on pushing for necessary programs and initiatives to help more Filipinos recover from the ongoing pandemic and other crisis situations, which will allow them to lead a more comfortable life. Macon Ramos-Araneta
KHERSON—Ukrainian
On the day marking 10 months since the start of the Russian invasion, shells rained around a busy market and started a fire in the southern port city which Kyiv’s forces recaptured in November.
AFP journalists at the scene saw several bodies lying on the street, including a man killed in his car.
Rescuers and police officers were seen comforting a man in tears next to a lifeless woman.
Severely injured residents lay on the
PARIS—A French man suspected of killing three people in a “racist” attack at a Kurdish cultural centre in Paris has been transferred to a psychiatric unit, prosecutors said, as police and demonstrators clashed in the French capital.
Prosecutors said the 69-year-old white suspect had been removed from custody for health reasons on Saturday and taken to a police psychiatric facility.
The shots at the cultural centre and a nearby hairdressing salon on Friday sparked panic in the city’s bustling 10th district, home to several shops and restaurants and a large Kurdish population.
Three others were wounded in the attack that the suspect told investigators was attributable to his being “racist”, a source close to the case said.
The Paris prosecutor said a doctor examined the suspect’s health on Saturday afternoon and deemed it “not compatible with the measure of custody”.
The man’s custody was lifted and he was taken to a police psychiatric unit pending an appearance before an investigation judge as the probe continues, the prosecutor added.
The shooting has revived the trauma of three unresolved murders of Kurds in 2013 that many blame on Turkey.
Many in the Kurdish community have expressed anger at the French security services, saying they had done too little to prevent the shooting.
ground, medics tending to them.
Standing next to her husband’s corpse and holding his blood-soaked jacket, a woman cried: “The medics tried (to save him), but there was no pulse.”
Despite Russia’s retreat from the city, Kherson remains within reach of Moscow’s weaponry and under constant threat.
Zelensky on Telegram called the attack “terror... killing for the sake of intimidation and pleasure”.
“It is the real life of Ukraine... The world must see and understand what absolute evil we are fighting against,” he said.
The Russian-installed head of the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said on Telegram that the shelling was “a disgusting provocation” by Ukraine used to blame Russia.
Regional governor Yaroslav Yanushevych reported in a Telegram post that 10 people had died and 55 were wounded in the attack on Kherson, with 18 in a serious condition.
Among the victims was a butcher named Lesha who had been working at the market for many years, according to 43-year-old resident Oleksandr
Kudryashov.
“He came out to have a smoke, he was standing right here. We pulled his body, he was already dead,” Kudryashov told AFP, pointing at a bloody staircase.
Sixty-six cars caught fire in a residential area of the city due to the shelling, the emergency services said.
The fires were put out after 40 minutes but the number of dead and injured was still being “established”, they said on Telegram.
“While families in Europe, North America, and beyond prepare festive dinners, spare a thought for Ukraine which is fighting evil right now,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter. AFP
KABUL—Top officials from the United Nations and dozens of NGOs operating in Afghanistan are meeting Sunday to discuss the way ahead after the Taliban authorities ordered all NGOs to stop women employees from working, aid officials said.
The hardline Islamists on Saturday threatened to suspend the operating licences of NGOs if they failed to implement the order.
The Ministry of Economy, which issues these licences, said it had received “serious complaints” that women working in NGOs were not observing a proper Islamic dress code.
“A meeting of Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) is scheduled later today to consult and discuss how to tackle this issue,” Tapiwa Gomo, public information officer for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told AFP.
The HCT comprises top UN officials and representatives of dozens of Afghan and international NGOs who coordinate distribution of aid across the country.
The meeting will discuss whether to suspend all aid work following the latest Taliban directive, some NGO officials said.
The United Nations, which said it would seek an explanation from the Taliban about the order, condemned the ministry’s directive.
It said the order excluding women “systematically from all aspects of public and political life takes the country backward, jeopardising efforts for any meaningful peace or stability in the country”. AFP
BEIJING—Rescuers were working Sunday to reach 18 people trapped underground after a cave-in at a gold mine in northwest China’s Xinjiang region, state media reported.
A total of 40 people were working underground at the mine in Yining county, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the border with Kazakhstan, at the time of the collapse Saturday afternoon.
Twenty-two miners were brought to the surface but 18 remain trapped.
“A rescue operation is underway to retrieve the remaining miners,” Xinhua news agency said late Saturday.
Mine safety has improved in recent decades, as has media coverage of major incidents, many of which were once overlooked.
But accidents still occur frequently in an industry where safety instructions are often lax, especially at the most rudimentary sites.
In September last year, 19 miners stranded underground after the collapse of a coal mine in the northwest province of Qinghai were found dead after a long search. AFP
NEW YORK—A fearsome winter storm continued to pummel parts of the United States with blizzard conditions Saturday evening after its powerful Arctic winds left over a million customers without power earlier in the day and caused Christmas travel nightmares.
At least 17 weather-related deaths
have been confirmed across eight states as heavy snow, howling winds and dangerously frigid temperatures kept much of the nation, including the normally temperate south, in a frozen grip for a third straight day.
In hard-hit New York state, Governor Kathy Hochul deployed the Na -
tional Guard to Erie County and its main city Buffalo, where authorities said emergency services have essentially collapsed in the face of extreme blizzard conditions.
The National Weather Service warned that blizzard conditions in the Great Lakes region caused by lake-ef-
fect snow will continue into Saturday night, including in Buffalo.
One couple in the lake-side city, which sits across the border from Canada, told AFP that with the roads completely impassible, they would not be making a 10-minute drive to see their family for Christmas. AFP
SAN SALVADOR—More than 2,000 soldiers and police surrounded two districts in El Salvador’s capital on Saturday as part of President Nayib Bukele’s war on gangs, the second such operation this month in the Central American country.
“As of this morning, the Tutunichapa district in San Salvador is totally surrounded,” Bukele posted on Twitter.
“More than 1,000 soldiers and 130 police officers will extract the criminals who still remain,” he added.
Bukele later tweeted that 1,000 more soldiers and 100 police officers had been dispatched to La Granjita, another neighborhood in the capital.
“After encircling Tutunichapa, a famous drug distribution center, we knew that many drug traffickers would take refuge in the neighborhood of La Granjita, another famous distribution center”, Bukele tweeted.
Images released Saturday by the office of the president showed heavily armed soldiers entering Tutunichapa, a populous district where small houses mostly constructed of concrete blocks stand alongside one of the many polluted streams that run through San Salvador.
Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro posted photos of members of an antinarcotics police unit with drug-sniffing dogs. AFP
JOHANNESBURG—Ten people died and around 40 others were injured when a fuel tanker exploded in Boksburg, a South African city east of Johannesburg, emergency services said Saturday.
The tanker, transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), was caught beneath a bridge close to a hospital and houses on Saturday morning.
“We received a call at 0750 telling us a gas tanker was stuck under a bridge. Firefighters were called to extinguish the flames. Unfortunately, the tanker exploded,” William Ntladi, spokesman for the emergency services in the region, told AFP.
One of those injured was the driver who has been taken to hospital, he added.
He said the death toll had risen to 10 from the nine reported earlier.
Of those injured, around half were in a serious condition while 15 others were seriously hurt but in a stable condition.
Six firefighters also suffered minor injuries, Ntladi said. Videos on social media showed a huge fireball under the bridge, which the tanker appeared to have been too
high to go under.
It was carrying 60,000 litres of LPG gas, which is used especially in cooking and gas stoves, and had come from the southeast of the country.
Witness Jean Marie Booysen described a “huge jolt” in the early hours of the morning, shortly after 6:30 am.
“Today is indeed a very sad day in our little suburb,” she said, standing near a forensics team combing the scene.
AFP
STATE pension fund Government Service Insurance System is offering a housing loan and restructuring program for housing loan borrowers and installment sale for buyers of its retail housing units. The two new programs aim to assist the national government’s housing efforts and provide better lives to Filipinos.
Qualified to avail of the installment sale program are active GSIS members who have paid at least three years of paid premiums; are not on leave of absence without pay at the time of application; have updated premium and loan payments; have no pending administrative or criminal case, and have no active housing loan account with GSIS.
GSIS said buyers under installment sale should not be under agencies tagged as suspended; have net take-home pay not lower than the amount required under the General Appropriations Act after all monthly obligations have been deducted; and not be older than 65 years old at the time of maturity of the obligation.
The pension fund opened last year the Lease with Option to Buy program. Under the program, informal occupants of GSIS housing units are given priority to lease the property to provide them the chance to legalize their stay and ultimately buy the property. Unoccupied GSIS properties for lease are also open to non-members under the program.
SUSTAINABLE real estate developer Arthaland Corp. listed its P3-billion ASEAN Green Bonds on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Friday.
Arthaland said the bonds were issued in two tenors. The five-year bonds carry a coupon rate of 8 percent per annum, while the seven-year bonds have a coupon rate of 8.7557 percent.
The offer comprises the second tranche of the company’s P6-billion ASEAN Green Bond Program.
Arthaland said a substantial portion of the proceeds from the offer would fund the necessary investment in new certified sustainable residential projects that would allow it the flexibility to develop and launch within the next 10 years or more.
“The ASEAN Green Bonds carry our commitment to use the proceeds only towards projects that meet minimum green building certifications and to be transparent in disclosing the environmental impact of these projects through energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. We believe that this offer gives institutions and the public a chance to participate in this noble cause”, said Arthaland director Christopher Po. Jenniffer B. Austria
THE global economic slowdown will not significantly impact the Philippine economy which relies more on domestic demand as the main driver of growth, economists from First Metro Investment Corp. and the University of Asia and the Pacific said in a joint report over the weekend.
“Domestic demand, which expanded by 9.5 percent year-on-year in Q3-2022, has continued recent economic gains. We don’t expect a deep slowdown in consumer spending, and we think investment spending, especially on infrastructures and capital goods should accelerate in 2023,” the economists said in the December issue of the Market Call.
Kristalina Georgieva earlier warned that the chance of global growth dropping below 2 percent, was one-in-four.
The IMF predicted that more than a third of the global economy would shrink in 2022 or 2023, with the United States, European Union and China stalling.
First Metro and UA&P economists said, however, that aside from strong consumer spending, the Philippines could benefit from recently-enacted economic
reforms, including the amendments to the Public Service Act that encourages foreign investors to go into power, airports and other infrastructures with 100-percent equity.
“The economic reopening will likely continue in the fourth quarter and in 2023 and coupled with the peso depreciation even at current levels [some 14 percent year-on-year in November], we do not expect a sharp slowdown in GDP growth. Manufacturing PMI for November still shows expansion,” they said.
Economists said the record employment levels would remain in the fourth quarter of 2022, but could ease seasonally after Christmas.
“Employment will likely slow down in January after the Christmas season ‘revenge’ spending, but will remain above the first half of 2022 levels, sufficient to keep consumer spending robust,” they said.
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Won 0.000774 0.0427
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0.032527
AN INDUSTRY group asked the government to strengthen the country’s surveillance of African Swine Fever and other animal diseases.
Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. president Danilo Fausto said improving biosecurity measures is crucial to develop the Philippine livestock, poultry and dairy industries.
Fausto, who spoke at a public webinar organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, provided a status of the local meat processing industry. He said only about 15 percent of total raw material requirements are supplied domestically due to issues with production cost and consistency of meat quality.
The 2016 National Gawad Saka Outstanding Agri-Entrepreneur awardee also made projections on the livestock and poultry industries.
One is that backyard production of swine will drop despite its low cost, creating a void and opportunity for commercial farms to grab. “Many small commercial farms will close [while some will be] acquired by larger farms to scale up—leading to further market concentration,” Fausto said.
Another is that “successful” farms will have better biosecurity, which small farms may find difficult to afford, he said.
ABOITIZ Power Corp. is studying the issuance of green bonds in late 2023 to finance renewable energy projects, an executive said.
“It’s going to be renewables for the next things that we’re going to do. I’m really planning that we get to do a green bond. I hope to be able to do it before the end of next year,” Aboitiz Power chief financial officer Liza Luv Montelibano said.
Montelibano said the planned green bond issue “will depend on how ripe the other things are.”
“The more projects that ripen, the bigger we will raise, because for now for the pipe that we have disclosed, I’m pretty much set with that one,” Montelibano said.
“The speed at which we’ll be able to do it will vary the amount we’ll do next year,” Montelibano said.
“Nowadays, when people do a maiden shelf, it’s about P3 billion. That’s the smallest. So, it can be P3 billion at first, which we can follow with a bigger one,” Montelibano said. Alena Mae S. Flores
Industry leaders, directors, managers and other employees in management positions attend the Leadership Innovation Forum 2022 organized by Globe Business to spark cultural change and inspire internal and external collaboration among industries and businesses for a greater shared future. With the theme ‘Synergy: Building Ecosystems from Within,’ the event encouraged openness among participants to evolve their mindset and embrace ecosystems within their businesses and with other companies. Leading the panel discussion during the forum are (from left) New York University professor Dr. Christian Busch, author of the bestseller ‘The Serendipity Mindset’, IBM Philippines president and country general manager Aileen Jiao (second from left) and Globe Business senior advisor Don Rae.
THE Department of Trade and Industry is undertaking a thorough assessment of pending petitions for price increases before issuing an updated suggested retail price bulletin.
The department adjusts the SRP list from time to time to reflect the true cost of commodities and the movement of supply and demand on a global scale and guide consumers and retailers in their purchase and sale of basic and prime goods.
“We discussed the pending petitions but we are yet to convene stakeholders. We are asking for more data,” said Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual who
added that he needed more convincing from the manufacturers as prices of some raw materials for the manufacture of basic necessities recently eased.
Pascual assured the public that all increases in the SRP bulletin would be kept to a bare minimum to provide consumers with reasonably-priced goods amid the high inflation.
He said prices of some ingredients used for the processing and manufacturing of basic needs were fluctuating and it would be hard for the DTI to justify the increase if costs of raw materials swung back and forth.
The DTI through the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau conducts weekly
monitoring of price and supply of basic necessities such as canned sardines, processed milk, powdered milk, coffee, bread, instant noodles, salt, detergent soap, bottled water, and candles; and prime commodities such as, but not limited to, canned meat, vinegar, patis, soy sauce, toilet soap, batteries, flour, cement, hollow blocks, construction nails, light bulbs, electrical supplies and steel wires.
The DTI said it would penalize retailers found to have overpriced products included in the general SRP and Noche Buena SRP list.
Under the Consumer Act, profiteering is punishable by imprisonment and/or fine of not less than P1,000 to P10,000.
STOCK market trading may see continued sideways movement in the last trading week of 2022 as expectations of further interest rate hikes may temper the seasonal year-end “window dressing”, analysts said over the weekend.
Analysts said the economic headwinds next year such as elevated interest and inflation rates which could slow down the growth of the global economy are among the lingering concerns among investors.
Luis Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development Corp., said investors were worried that over-tightening by central banks worldwide could force economies into a downturn.
The US Federal Reserve raised borrowing costs by 425 basis points since March,
A STUDY underscored the role of liquefied natural gas as a cleaner fuel for industrial facilities, but concluded that many special economic zone locators in the country were not yet keen on switching from the more expensive and less environment-friendly diesel and other fuel products.
Results of a research paper on the Market Profiling of Potential Natural Gas Users in Economic Zones found that many
were not yet ready
is
tive.
“Given the existing technologies among SEZ locators, an investigation on how they can adapt and switch to LNG is critical as the LNG industry is emerging,” it said. The study is meant to update the profile and activities of locators with energy-intensive operations in CALABARZON, Clark, Subic and Bataan.
It
to switching to LNG.
The study, authored by economists Majah-Leah Ravago, Raul Fabella, Karl Robert Jandoc and Renzi Frias, said electricity is the primary fuel the locator firms use in their production, followed by diesel and liquefied petroleum gas.
SEZ locators using specialized energyintensive production technology process-
es are good candidates for direct users of liquefied natural gas, it said. These locators at present use more expensive and less environment-friendly diesel fuel in their heating production process.
The report said while some export locators “are more open to switch to natural gas relative to those who cater to domestic markets only” in order to enhance their competitiveness by replacing more expensive fuels such as diesel in their production processes, others were hesitant because of several factors.
Fausto also forecast that pork imports would increase to meet the domestic demand. Cold chain operations will also improve to accommodate imported frozen meats, he said.
He said the consumption of chicken over pork would increase due to the low price of chicken and the high price of pork.
Fausto also provided insights on how to improve the competitiveness of the local livestock, poultry and dairy industries. He urged the government to solve the problem of ASF and other animal diseases, saying that swine repopulation is crucial to rebuilding the herd lost due to ASF.
There is also a need to develop the corn industry through the provision of post-harvest facilities and equipment, according to Fausto. Small farmers and backyard producers use corn as poultry feed. Feeds take up more than 50 percent of production cost in swine, poultry, and dairy farms.
Bargain hunting may also take place in the last trading week because of the traditional year-end window dressing as the accounting year comes to an end.
Online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said it expected the 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index to retest the 6,600 and 6,800 levels this week as domestic growth stories remained intact.
The bellwether inched up by 0.7 percent last week to close at 6,541.03 on Dec. 23, while the broader all-share index climbed 0.95 to 3,432.47.
Global stocks were mixed at the end of a meandering session Friday, characterized by light pre-Christmas trading volumes as oil prices were jolted higher by a Russian threat to curtail production.
After opening in the red, US indices bounced back and finished moderately higher following mixed economic data, while the US Congress reached final passage of a $1.7 trillion package to keep the government running.
“Ultimately, a late afternoon push higher left the main indices near their best level of the session, albeit with slim gains, to close out the first day of the so-called Santa Claus rally period,” said Briefing.com.
SEZ locators using specialized energy-intensive production technology processes for the switch to LNG which viewed as a cleaner fuel alterna found that more locators engaged in manufacturing, information technology, tourism, agro-industrial, medical tourism and logistics services ecozones were not openmarket likely to move sideways in final trading week of 2022—analysts
WASHINGTON—US basketball star Brittney Griner said recently in her first remarks since being released from a Russian prison that it was “so good to be home” and vowed to play again for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
The 32-year-old Griner, in an Instagram post, thanked a long list of people for securing her release with a “special thank you” to President Joe Biden.
“It feels so good to be home!” Griner said. “The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going.”
A two-time Olympic gold medalist, WNBA champion and LGBTQ trailblazer, Griner was arrested on drug charges at a Moscow airport in February, against a backdrop of soaring tensions over Ukraine.
Griner—who was swapped last week for Viktor Bout, a notorious Russian arms dealer—said she would do what she can to help secure the release of Paul Whelan, another American held in Russia.
“President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home too,” she said. “I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. Every family deserves to be whole.”
Griner also said she planned to be back on the court.
“I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season,” she said.
The 2023 WNBA season begins in May. Griner’s Mercury are scheduled to play their first game against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 19.
Griner was taken to a US Army base in Texas for a medical checkup after being swapped in Abu Dhabi for Bout, an arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death” who had been serving a 25-year sentence in a US prison.
It was not immediately clear from Griner’s Instagram if she had already left the mili-
CAIRO, Egypt—At least 27 people were injured on Saturday when part of a sports stadium south of Cairo collapsed during a basketball match, Egypt’s health ministry said.
Ministry spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said “27 people were injured, some with fractures and bleeding,” adding that “most were non-life-threatening injuries”.
The Egyptian basketball federation suspended the match between Alexandria’s Al Ittihad and Cairo’s Al Ahly as first responders rushed to the Hassan Mostafa Sports Hall in the October 6 suburb.
More than 20 ambulances were dispatched to take the injured fans to hospital from the sports venue, the ministry added.
Youth and Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhi has appointed a committee to look into the circumstances of the incident.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, China, rescuers were working Sunday to reach 18 people trapped underground after a cave-in at a gold mine in northwest China’s Xinjiang region, state media reported.
A total of 40 people were working underground at the mine in Yining county, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the border with Kazakhstan, at the time of the collapse Saturday afternoon.
Twenty-two miners were brought to the surface but 18 remain trapped.
“A rescue operation is underway to retrieve the remaining miners,” Xinhua news agency said late Saturday.
Mine safety has improved in recent decades, as has media coverage of major incidents, many of which were once overlooked.
But accidents still occur frequently in an industry where safety instructions are often lax, especially at the most rudimentary sites.
JUSTIN Brownlee fired 28 points as Barangay Ginebra gave its millions of Filipino fans a fitting Christmas gift in the form of a 96-81 win over the Bay Area Dragons Sunday night in Game 1 of the 2022-203 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The 6’6” Brownlee struck hardest in the last period, knocking in 10 points during a Christmas Day game witnessed by a crowd of 18,252.
Point guard LA Tenorio added 22 points in helping Ginebra score its second straight win over Dragons,
whom they beat, 111-93, during the eliminations.
“Playing on Christmas Day is a little overwhelming. Today’s game? It does not win us a championship and it does not lose a championship for Bay Area. But bottom line is, we got the first step.
And that’s the crucial point,” said Gin Kings’ coach Tim Cone.
The Kings banked on Tenorio, Brownlee, and Christian Standhardinger in turning the tables in the second period.
With the Kings trailing, 26-34, Tenorio unloaded two triples as he, Brownlee and Standhardinger conspired in a 15-0 run that gave Ginebra a 41-34 edge with 2:41 before the first half ended.
Brownlee and Scottie Thompson then combined for 16 points in the third period as Ginebra stayed on top, 72-64.
Brownlee, the 34-year-old, recently naturalized Filipino, banged in 10 points in the final canto, with his driving layup in the remaining 2:02 handing Ginebra their biggest edge at
15, 92-74.
Andrew Nicholson made 27 points for the Dragons, including nine points in the third, where the Kings continued to set the tempo.
It was the Dragons’ lowest output this conference after their 89-92 loss to the Meralco Bolts during the elims.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 96—Brownlee 28, Tenorio 22, Standhardinger 16, Thompson 14, J.Aguilar 6, Pringle 5, Malonzo 3, Gray 2, Pessumal 0, R.Aguilar 0, Mariano 0
BAY AREA 81—Nicholson 27 Ynag 12, Zhu 12, Lam 11, Ju 6, Song 5, Blankley 4, Liu 2, Zheng 2, Reid 0
QUARTERS: 22-25, 45-40, 72-64, 96-81
EIGHT kids created some noise at the close of the chess competitions of the Philippine Sports Commission-Batang Pinoy National Championships in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Leading the standouts were Mar Aviel Carredo of Quezon City, who won five golds and a silver medal, and Sumer Justine Oncita of Pasig City, who collected a fifth gold to become among the most bemedalled woodpushers.
Carredo shone bright in the standard individual category, the standard team category gold, the blitz individual category, the blitz team category,
and the rapid individual category, before settling for the silver in the rapid team event.
Oncita and Gabriel Ryan D. Paradero came up with a joint total of 7.5 points, to top the 13-under boys’ rapid team category, beating the pair of Gabriel M. Siano and Mark Gabriel Usman of Laguna.
Cagayan de Oro produced four gold medallists, led by 11-year-old Zhaoyu Capilitan, a sixth grader at the Father William Masterson Elementary School, Cagayan de Oro City, as she dominated the 11-yearand under girls’ class with a perfect five points for her first gold.
Capilitan then teamed up with Azhzley Aya Nicole Paquinol, who earned two golds in team blitz
and team standard events.
Fourteen-year-old Ruelle Canino also joined the gold medal hunt.
Fresh from leading the Far Eastern UniversityDiliman High School into a title finish in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 chess championships, Canino, who is from Barangay Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro, bagged the individual gold in the girls’ 14-under age category.
Mary Janelle Tan, Team Cagayan de Oro’s reinforcement from Jasaan town, Misamis Oriental, dominated the nine-year-old girls and younger bracket, bringing to five Cagayan de Oro’s chess gold medals.
VIGAN, Ilocos Sur—Beloved nutritious beverage brand MILO® Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) celebrated the success of its annual youth sports program Batang Pinoy Championship returning after 2 years of the pandemic.
The 6-day championship took place from December 17 to 21 in the Heritage City, Vigan, Ilocos Sur where thousands of student athletes joined different sports competitions and earned their respective medals.
The City of Baguio emerged victorious as the overall champion with 100 medals, followed by Pasig City and Quezon City with 48 and 46 wins respectively.
MILO® Philippines also presented the MILO® Batang Pursigido Awards to deserving athletes and Batang Pinoy teams who showed exemplary grit, perseverance and dedication to sports.
The recipients of the MILO® Batang Pinoy Pursigido Awards include Adrian Jessie Magbojos of City of Sta. Rosa (most bemedaled female athlete), Miguel Adrian Carlos of City of Puerto Princesa (most bemedaled male athlete), City Pangasinan (with the biggest delegation), six-year-olds Art Joe Cabatan of Davao de Oro and Hailey Bolico of Pasig City (youngest male and female athletes).
Batang
After being forced to a halt because of the pandemic, Batang Pinoy has finally returned to a hybrid of online and onground events.
There are a total of 9 on-ground events conducted in Vigan, Ilocos Sur with ath-
“The
dreams were offered through the Batang Pinoy platform,” said PSC Commissioner Emmanuel “Noli” Eala.
MILO® Ambassadors, Olympic medalist and world champion Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo were once participants of Batang Pinoy.
In order to make this happen, Batang Pinoy 2022 was also supported by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur.
“WOur province warmly welcomes our athletes, coaches, parents and guests to Vigan, and we are honored to be part of your sports journeys. One thing is for sure, we all are winners in our own ways, and may this triumph be the perpetual success of Batang Pinoy,” said Gov. Jerry Singson.
“We are very happy to be back on ground with kids from different parts of the country! We’ve worked hard with PSC over the last years to work on making sure that kids are continuously active throughout the pandemic and it’s amazing to see them in person again doing what they love in person and with their peers,” said Carlo Sampan, MILO® Sports Executive.
MILO® Philippines continues to show parents across the country that it is consistent in finding ways for kids to continue their Champion journey whether they are at home or outside adjusting back to face-to-face classes and activities.
SAN FRANCISCO—Four-time
NBA champion Stephen Curry, sidelined since suffering a partially dislocated left shoulder, will be out for at least another two weeks, the reigning champion Golden State Warriors said Saturday.
Curry, who suffered the injury December 14 at Indiana while trying to make a steal, has missed the team’s past four games.
The Warriors said Curry was recently reevaluated and the exam indicated Curry is “making good progress” in his recovery and “will be re-evaluated again in two weeks,” the team said in a statement.
The 34-year-old guard, a twotime NBA Most Valuable Player and last season’s NBA Finals MVP, will miss at least six games
in the next two weeks, starting with Golden State’s home showdown Sunday against Memphis.
That contest is part of the NBA’s annual Christmas Day NBA schedule, this year featuring five games involving most of the league’s best clubs and biggest stars.
In other holiday games, the Philadelphia 76ers will visit New York while Dallas plays host to the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee travels to Boston and Phoenix plays at Denver.
The Boston-Milwaukee contest pits the team’s with the NBA’s best records against each other, the Celtics leading the league at 23-10 with Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee on 22-10.
Denver and Memphis share the Western Conference lead at 20-11. AFP
Oats and LawConnect—among the 109-strong fleet.
They are predicted to get off to a flying start from Sydney harbour, with the winds propelling them down Australia’s east coast before they tackle the notorious Bass Strait towards the Tasmanian state capital Hobart.
With northerly winds forecast for one of the world’s most challenging ocean events, Comanche’s one day, 9 hours, 15min and 24sec record for the 628-nautical-mile (1,200-km) endurance test, set in 2017, is under threat.
“It’s a race that could definitely rack up a record, especially with Andoo Comanche (in the field),” Mark Richards, skipper of nine-time line honours-winning supermaxi Wild Oats, said on the event website.
“It all depends on the actual conditions. But if it’s dead the whole way, I’d say not, but then it only has to change a couple of degrees and all of a sudden, it’s all on.
“If there’s breeze in the Derwent (River), absolutely.”
The NSW Bureau of Meteorology has forecast north-easterly winds for Mon day’s start, which augurs well for the 100-foot supermaxis— Andoo Co manche, Black Jack, Wild
Black Jack skipper Mark Bradford, which won line honours last year, said he expected a nail-biting race right up to the run down Derwent River towards Hobart.
“The boats should technically get from A to B—B being Tasman Island —at roughly the same time, but the journey along the way will be very different directions,” he said.
“We’ll see everyone commit to their
boats and their modes. Then we’ll get to Tasman Light (house) within eyesight of each other.”
The northerly breezes could feasibly see the supermaxis make it to Hobart without any significant upwind sailing, w hile the rest of the slower, mid-to-small sized fleet, face two or more weather patterns with a forecast trough shifting winds to south-southeast and rain developing.
LawConnect navigator Chris Lewis said he was thrilled at the prospect of a high-speed race.
“It’s just going to be so incredibly exciting to see all the boats—not just us—ripping down the coast,” he said. “It’s going to be quite a sleigh ride.”
WASHINGTON—Dak Prescott threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns to spark the Dallas Cowboys over NFL-best Philadelphia 40-34 on Saturday, keeping the Eagles from clinching a top playoff seeding.
The Cowboys’ defensive unit forced four turnovers and seized command late in a deadlocked game to stun the visiting Eagles (13-2).
“This was a huge game, not only beating one of the best teams in the league, but the way we did it,” Prescott said. “We can use this and continue to build.”
The victory kept Dallas, 11-4 in the NFC East division title hunt and Minnesota, 12-3, moved closer in the fight for the NFC top seed and a first-round playoff bye.
The Baltimore Ravens clinched a playoff berth on a day when eight games were played in sub-freezing temperatures, the most in any NFL gameday in 26 years, while the New York Giants missed a chance to clinch a post-season spot on a last-play loss at Minnesota.
Prescott completed 27 of 35 passes and kept his poise after having an early interception returned for a touchdown.
“It was just about moving on,” said Prescott. “All I did is just keep my head down and keep playing. I focused in and we were able to come out with this one.”
In the last minutes, Dallas defender DaRon Bland intercepted a Gardner Minshew pass and Anthony Barr recovered a fumble by Philadelphia’s Miles Sanders to set up Brett Maher field goals of 48 and 26 yards for the decisive points.
“They gave us chance after chance,” Prescott said.
“With those four turnovers, they gave us short field position and we were able to capitalize on some. When they do that, we’re a tough team to beat.”
The Cowboys stopped Philadelphia’s final drive on downs at the Dallas 20 with 14 seconds remaining.
“I said if we want to be a championship team, a championship defense, this is for our lives,” Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons said. “In that last six minutes, we were able to get them stops and get the win.”
Buffalo clinched a third consecutive AFC East division title and stayed ahead of Kansas City in the fight for the AFC playoff top seeding with a 35-13 victory at Chicago.
Josh Allen threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns, Devin Singletary ran for 106 yards and a touchdown and James Cook rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown for the Bills (12-3).
Kansas City (12-3) stayed on Buffalo’s heels with a 2410 home triumph over Seattle. Patrick Mahomes threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another touchdown for the Chiefs.
At Baltimore, Tyler Huntley capped a 13-play, 70-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass and ran for a twopoint conversion for the decisive points in the Ravens’ 17-9 victory over Atlanta.
The Ravens (10-5) clinched a playoff berth when the New England Patriots lost to visiting Cincinnati 22-18.
Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow threw for 375 yards and three touchdowns for Cincinnati (11-4), which stayed a game
ahead of Baltimore in the AFC North.
Vikings edge Giants
Philadelphia, Minnesota, Dallas, San Francisco, Kansas City, Buffalo and Cincinnati had already secured playoff spots.
Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens with 46 seconds remaining to give the host Steelers a 13-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Steelers paid tribute to former running back Franco Harris, who died earlier this week at age 72, only days before the 50th anniversary of his “Immaculate Reception” playoff touchdown catch against the Raiders.
The outcome means the Los Angeles Chargers can clinch an AFC wildcard playoff spot with a victory Monday at Indianapolis.
Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns and Greg Joseph kicked a careerlongest 61-yard field goal on the final play to give the Vikings a 27-24 victory over the Giants.
The Giants, 8-6-1, moved to the brink of clinching a playoff berth with Seattle’s defeat at Kansas City and Detroit’s 37-23 loss at Carolina.
New York’s hopes were also aided by Washington’s 37-20 loss at San Francisco.
Tennessee’s playoff hopes suffered a blow with a 1914 home loss to Houston (2-12-1). The Titans (7-8) had a fifth consecutive loss to slide level with Jacksonville for the AFC South lead. AFP
SAO PAOLO—Family members visited the legendary Pele on Saturday at the Sao Paulo hospital where he is suffering from worsening cancer as well as kidney and heart problems, according to a social media post by his daughter.
Edinho, Pele’s son—who was recently appointed coach of Serie B football club Londrina, based in Parana in the north—arrived on Christmas Eve at the medical center, where he joined his sisters Flavia and Kely Nascimento.
He posted an Instagram photo of himself holding the football star’s hand, captioning it: “Father... my strength is yours.”
The ex-goalkeeper arrived a day after having explained his absence at his father’s side to local media.
“I would like to be present, but I am committed to my mission here. I’m not a doctor, I couldn’t really help much,” he said in an interview published on Friday by the daily Estadao. That same day, Kely shared a photo of herself hugging her 82-year-old father in the hospital with the caption “one more night together.”
On Wednesday, the Albert Einstein Hospital, where the three-time World Cup winner is staying, announced that his colon cancer was showing “progression” and he needed “more extensive care to treat kidney and heart failure.”
Earlier that day his daughters had announced he would not be home for Christmas.
The atmosphere was calm outside of the hospital on Saturday, according to AFP.
Pele is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time and has received several messages of support since his hospitalization, i ncluding from the French star Kylian Mbappe, who called on followers to “pray for the King.”
Pele was hospitalized in Sao Paulo on November 29 for what his medical team called a re-evaluation of his chemotherapy treatments, which he has been receiving since having surgery to remove a colon tumor in September 2021. AFP
months. Only then will Charlo begin rehabilitation of the injury, which he must complete before he can resume training for a fight.
The
Charlo broke his left hand in two places, between the pinkie and ring fingers and at the base of the thumb, on Tuesday after landing a punch in sparring at his gym in Houston.
The 32-year-old American visited two doctors and a hand specialist in Houston and his hand was placed in a cast, where it will stay for the next two
“I was sparring and I threw this nice punch and as soon as it landed, I knew something was wrong,” Charlo said. “I felt my hand throbbing right away.
“I had two X-rays and an MRI to see what was wrong. It showed it was broken in two places. I hate this feeling. My hand will be in a cast for two months. I’m as disappointed as the fans, maybe more, because this was my first chance to defend the undisputed title.”
Charlo, 35-1-1 with 19 knockouts, spoke confidently about being able to handle Tszyu, 21-0 with 15 knockouts, even with the injury.
“The way I am, I would have beaten Tim Tszyu with one hand, but the doctors and the boxing commission won’t allow that,” Charlo said.
“It’s even more dangerous when a lion faces adversity and has to come back to defend the pride. I’ve been training since July, and I’ve been hitting harder than ever, and these are the things that happen when you push yourself to the limits.
“After my hand heals, I’m coming back stronger than ever to defend my legacy.”
The 154-pound battle remains among the most anticipated fights of 2023, whenever it might happen.
Tszyu, the son of former light welterweight world champion Kostya Tszyu, indicated he would fight a mandatory rival while waiting for Charlo to become healthy once more.
“I’m very disappointed,” Tszyu said. “I felt like the stars aligned for undisputed... but we move on. I’m ready to take on the next mandatory challenger. I’ll be back for Charlo once he is ready and healed.” AFP
not live. As an audience, you woud no longer think about the technicalities of the scenes but as craftsmen, it’s quite hard to pull off and it’s a learning experience for everyone,” Red told Manila Standard Entertainment
Nadine Lustre
EFFORTLESS is the best word to describe Nadine Lustre’s performance in
Red’s horror fair Deleter. It’s her 15th film to date and her best by far.
With her natural flair, it’s highly
name
The film, which also stars Louise delos Reyes, McCoy de Leon, and Jeffrey Hidalgo, follows the story of Lyra (Lustre), who works shifts at a shadowy online content moderation office where employees, known as deleters, are tasked with the process of filtering graphic uploads from reaching social media platforms.
The responsibility of censorship proves bearable for Lyra, whom her co-workers, as well as her boss Simon, observe as a cold person unfazed by the disturbing imagery she sees on a
daily basis. What they do not know is that Lyra hides a deep trauma. Lyra’s attempt to erase and forget her past has forced her to do an apathetic face to the horrors of the world.
According to the director, casting is very crucial in achieving his vision for the film, which he describes as “very technical.”
“It’s really challenging because we’re dealing with monitors. By just changing the angles, maraming maaapektuhan even the compositing. She needs to react to a monitor that is
In a nutshell, the film depicts a modernday family, their bliss and dramas, sacred
and how these are uncovered, and how an emotion like love added not only confusion and chaos, but complicated the lives of Robert (Jake Cuenca), Amanda (Dimples Romana), their daughter Mica (Tiffany Grey) and adopted son Matthew (Sean de Guzman).
The main anchor of the narrative is the peeling and revealing of the layers of the complicated nature of the relationship that the major characters share. The once-happy family is shaken and shattered to its core by the fact of the matter is not for the fainthearted and that it can be judged instantly because it holds out against how things must stand in a society that puts the ultimate premium on the family.
The adroit direction of Lamangan allows you to understand the choices of the characters who are all fighting tooth and nail in the name of love. Because of this fact, our open minds and caring heart are unlocked, we then marvel at the emotionally committed and truthful manner that Cuenca, Romana, Grey, and De Guzman invested in the persons they portray on the silver screen.
Jake as the champion human rights lawyer and family man Robert, with a major flaw, is to love truly, madly, and deeply, and how he succumbed to the seduction of his feelings with dire consequences as a result.
A realistic and sensitive portrayal of Robert, was how Cuenca delivered the goods. As a father tested by his love for family and a different kind of love that makes him want and covet, and as a man who did his best to conceal the truth and
resist the allurement but failed, he shone in his moments of passion and the manner his character addressed the complications heart on.
Grey, as the daughter caught in the middle of a situation she did not expect, for a newcomer acquitted herself with upto-the-mark acting skills and feels. The question her character asked Matthew, was an unforgettable screen moment.
Sean, as Matthew, as the young man who
needed to choose between the deep blue sea and the deepest of feelings, the intoxicating combination of lust from the loins and romance from the heart, showed the level of competence this young actor has mastered. The diamond performer in this Lamangan-directed movie was Romana. Her Amanda, icy and fiery, definitely. Her love for Robert was beyond measure but when push comes to shove, she is queen, and the aces she pulled, the truths she kept at bay, exploded to Robert’s face and it hit him the hardest. Dimples showed to the audiences that a woman is more than capable to love unconditionally but that does not mean you can always mess with her. Romana carried her character with gravitas, emotional intelligence, and the purest of vulnerability that when she unleashed her wrath or displayed a heart of hers that is truly compassionate and understanding, you get her instantly you are an ally of Amanda.
Two quivers in the Carillo screenplay were the easy way out resolve of one of its major characters and secondly the happily ever after course of action which is meant to lighten and obviously soften the emotional wallop because of the solution. A braver and more dignified option should
best way out.
Network, through its flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV, recently opened its doors to the 15 delegates of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) last November 24 during their week-long immersion trip to the Philippines.
Welcoming them is GMA International First Vice President and Head of Operations Joseph Jerome T. Francia who accompanied them in their full Kapuso experience. "We are delighted to have the excellent delegates of this year's FYLPRO in GMA. We look forward to being able to contribute in developing their talents and we are excited for the great things that will surely come their way.”
The young leaders were able to step foot in the state-of-the-art Studio 2 of the GMA Integrated News and met Audio Visual Senior Manager Christina Pasual and AVP and Head of Studio and Remote Operations of GMA Network Inc. Jeff Evangelista Everybody got excited interacting with the AI technology and using the teleprompter. They also met one of the hosts of the variety show Tiktoclock, Kuya Kim Atienza, and talked with the Program Manager of the show Charles Koo regarding the concept of the show. After that, they visited the set of the Family Feud game show in Studio 7.
The participants were also able to have informative talks with Voltes V: Legacy director Mark Reyes regarding the future and challenges of Philippine Television. I-Witness host and documentarist Howie Severino gave
them a quick baybayin lesson. This is the third year that GMA Pinoy TV partnered with FYLPRO’s immersion program in the Philippines. The 2022 cohort includes Melissa Trota, a five-time Hugo award winner; Angelo Mathay, an administrative judge; Neil Wingkun, an emergency room physician; and Michelle Josue, Emmy awardwinning documentary filmmaker.
Joining them are Michelle Amor, a manager of a digital commercial real estate fintech startup; Grace Rodriguez, the Assistant Deputy Director of Legal Affairs at the California Department of Consumer Affairs; Josh de Leon, an organizational changemaker, local political leader, and community organizer; Daniel Galeon IV,
a Product Risk Strategist at a developeroriented commerce company; Genevieve Villafranca Jopanda; the first American born of Ilonggo and Karay-a parents and a leader executive of 20 years at a various business operations; Agnes Lopez, a Filipino-American editorial and commercial photographer; Jamille Nagtalon-Ramos, an assistant professor and an Engaged Civic Learning Faculty Fellow; Constancio Paranal III, a lawyer specializing in the field of cybersecurity law; Danicole Ramos, a law student and a Military Equal Opportunity Officer; Angelico Razon, an internist, pediatrician and public health professional; and John Victoria, founder of a digital marketing agency that focuses on
The young yet multi-awarded director pointed out that Lustre’s acting is very technical and not every actor can easily execute the task of reacting to a monitor.
“Sometimes hindi nabibigyan ng praise yung technical aspect na ginawa ng isang actor sa isang scene, knowing their marker, their eyeline, it’s another form of acting. And I’m proud to have worked with this cast because it made my work easier,” he said.
“As an actor, doing a genre film is very technical. You have to know the eyelines, the beats, and the timing. It’s very difficult from a craft’s perspective. It helps that I was working with experienced and intelligent actors,” he went on. Red’s vision was to create a techno horror but given their budget, they focused more on the internal monologue and mental struggle of the main character.
As a result, Red was able to craft a film with a relatively good and creative plot which slowly raises the tension culminating in a gripping yet scary climax. While Lustre shines in the film, Red is also the star of Deleter, noting it’s also his best.
TBA Studios has acquired the Philippine theatrical distribution rights to Nocebo, the Filipino-Irish suspense thriller starring Eva Green, Mark Strong, and Chai Fonacier.
Directed by Irish Film and Television Awards-winning filmmaker Lorcan Finnegan Nocebo centers on Christine (green), a fashion designer who suffers from a mysterious illness that confounds her doctors and frustrates her husband, Felix (Strong). Help arrives in the form of Diana, a Filipino nanny (Fonacier) who uses traditional folk healing to reveal a horrifying truth.
Nocebo was the opening film at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival and had limited runs at Sitges Film Festival, Cork International Film Festival, Singapore International Film Festival, and QCinema International Film Festival. It was the first recipient of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)'s International Co-production Fund (ICOF) in 2020.
Nocebo was produced by Brunella Cocchiglia and Emily Leo and co-produced by the Filipino production company, Epicmedia. It was executive produced by XYZ Films.
The film acquisition comes on the heels of the much-talked-about local releases of Cannes-winning films Triangle of Sadness, a cinematic masterpiece in which actress Dolly de Leon made history as the first Filipina to be nominated for Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting
PRIME
Ten
Mistresses (Sampung Mga
a widowed billionaire,
and his ten mistresses, fighting
become his new le-
nail
But when
suddenly turns up
all ten women end up being prime suspects. And so, the race to prove their innocence and unmask the real killer begins. The murder-mystery comedy film will be available on Prime Video in the Philippines and more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on February 15.
Director Jun Robles Lana envisioned the film to be the “biggest, wildest, campiest mistress movie to end all mistress movies”—fusing together the popular genres of comedy, drama, mystery, and mistresses in the Philippine entertainment
helping home service contractors.
FYLPRO is a joint initiative of the Philippine Embassy, Consulates General in the United States, and the Ayala Foundation, Inc. It was established in 2012 by Former Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States of America, Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Victoria J. Cuisia in cooperation with the Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI) to annually identify outstanding young professionals in the Filipino communities
industry. Paired with over-the-top costumes and larger-than-life personalities, the film provides audiences with a grand spectacle to look forward to.
Ten Little Mistresses (Sampung Mga Kerida) aims to showcase the creative talents of the Filipino filmmaking community to international audiences.
“Filipino audiences love entertainment. We’re excited to be a home for leading Filipino storytellers like Jun, and look forward to partnering with many more,” said David Simonsen, Director Prime Video, Southeast Asia. “Ten Little Mistresses is a uniquely local and highly enjoyable comedy and we are delighted to bring this movie to not just audiences in the Philippines but customers across the region and worldwide.”
Produced by Perci Intalan and the Idea First Company, Ten Little Mistresses joins the thousands of TV shows and movies in the Prime Video catalog, including exclusive local Filipino titles such as Drag Den with Manila Luzon, One Good Day, Whether the Weather Is Fine.
across the United States and provide the delegates with invaluable community, business, and government insights, access to distinguished network captains of industry and government, and a deeper understanding and experience of the Filipino culture.
The program also aims to provide young Filipino Americans the opportunity to meet and dialogue with high-level government officials, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs to forge closer Philippine-United States relations.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, dear readers! It’s such a joy to, finally, be able to hug and kiss the ones we love, and show our sparkling smiles to everyone. God is, indeed, good.
My long-time friend, Charles Lim, Founder and Chairman of the annual Philippine Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA), gave out a fresh set of trophies for this year’s winners, as a tribute to the handful of sports associations and sports tourism-related entities that kept the Industry and Sports alive even during the two-and-a-half years of varying quarantine restrictions due to the pandemic.
This year’s glittering event was held at the Quest Plus Hotel in Clark which is this year’s awardee as Sports Tourism Hotel of the Year, for delivering topclass hospitality services to hundreds of basketball game officials, players, and trainers during the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and Federation International Basketball Association (FIBA) Asian Cup Qualifiers Bubbles at the height of the pandemic.
Naturally, the Sports Tourism Tournament of the Year award was given to the 2020 Philippine Cup of the PBA’s 45th Season, certainly a gargantuan feat, considering the numerous overwhelming challenges that had to be hurdled dur-
ing the pandemic. Despite these “road bumps,” the PBA was still able to organize thrilling and entertaining basketball through the now iconic “PBA Bubble.”
This year’s National Sports Association is the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), for relentlessly pursuing every available way to stage very wellattended domestic and international tournaments. These uplift the spirit of basketball fans through “bubble” management, allowing events like the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, where teams from South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia competed with the Philippines last year.
The Airline of the Year is Cebu Pacific, for giving prizes to all Filipino Olympians and Paralympians of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics complimentary flight tickets, for the honor they brought to our country. These free tickets are also meant to celebrate the airline’s 25th anniversary.
Clark in Pampanga, through the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), was given the Sports Tourism Destination award, for staying true to its mission of becoming the favorite venue of Premier Sports Tourism events. The many marathons, triathlons, and motor racing events held there have made it a mustexperience destination for Sports Tourism.
Although this year’s event was a scaled-down version of how it was the preceding years, the honor and fame that go with the awards continue to be a source of pride for the entities that received them.
In his congratulatory speech, Charles Lim emphasized that the PSTA will continue to honor the men and women, players and officials who have made sacrifices, especially during the pandemic, to keep Sports Tourism alive. Lim was assisted by Caroline Uy, Regional Director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region III, in giving out the awards.
The 5th PSTA was sponsored by the Tourism Promotions Board and Smart Communications. More information on the PSTA may be obtained from Charles Lim at selrahcopr@gmail.com ----------O----------
YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE:
Three drunk guys rode a taxi. The driver knew they were drunk. So he started the engine, turned it off again, and declared, “We have reached our destination.” The first guy gave him money, the second guy said “Thank you.” But the third guy slapped him. “What was that for?” The third guy replied, “Control your speed next time, you almost killed us!” ----------O----------
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com
WHEN thirty-year-old single mom Maria Christine Ua-o first chanced upon Golden Haven’s Ambassador Program in her social media newsfeed, she had no idea that it would be her ticket to financial independence and a more comfortable life for her family.
Golden Haven’s Ambassador Program is a digital marketing campaign open to anyone of legal age who may want to explore the rich income-generating opportunities in promoting and selling Golden Haven’s memorial lots, columbariums, and mausoleums through online platforms.
Those who sign up for the program undergo four sessions of capacitybuilding training from the comfort of their home. “It was something new to me,” Maria Christine Ua-o, or Tin as she likes to be called, enthused. “But I have a baby to raise and the rest of my family to help provide for, so I was willing to try— and work hard to succeed at it.”
Golden Haven’s capacitybuilding training serves to hone each ambassador’s digital marketing skills, teaching them essential tips on how to tap potential clients and assist them in securing memorial properties as investments. As in any other marketing job, hard work and perseverance are a must, of course, but in Tin’s case, she was further driven by her aspirations for living the best life.
Fortunately for the ambitious young mother from Cagayan de Oro, Golden Haven is a highly trusted name in Philippine death care, gaining recognition through the years for its beautifully themed memorial parks across the country. Each Golden Haven development sprawls over a vast terrain made lush by verdant greenery—a wonderful complement to the park’s striking landscape design and elegant architectural motif.
Upon learning about Golden Haven Memorial Park’s award-winning features,
Tin affirmed why its more than thirty nationwide projects were easily deemed noteworthy investments. Her enthusiasm was contagious as she learned the valuable art of closing deals to help her esteemed clients avail of these. Tin was especially appreciative of the fact that digital marketing meant doing her job well from her little workstation at home, where she could keep an eye on her child as she managed her sales production.
Today, Tin is doing very well as one of the top-performing Golden Haven Ambassadors nationwide. She has transformed her life from one of the constant challenges into one of comfort and financial security. Her income allows her to provide for the needs of her baby— the financial rewards even enabled her to help her mother start a small business of her own.
“I’m very happy and super blessed,” Tin says of her life-uplifting experience as Golden Haven Ambassador. “I have a job I enjoy doing, something that makes me discover abilities I never knew I had. Now I want to be the very best version of myself as I chase after the rest of my dreams.”
Tin’s story should inspire her peers to seek their own life fulfillment. Never losing sight of her most important goal, which is to grant the best possible service to every client, Tin is keeping her eyes on the prize.
To date, Tin is happy to share with potential new ambassadors her most important advice: “Instead of working harder, try working smarter.” She also stresses cultivating an excellent work ethic and a strong relationship with customers, as they are the source of every Golden Haven Ambassador’s livelihood.
Those who wish to create their path to success can join the Golden Haven Ambassador Program today. To sign up, visit the Golden Haven Ambassador page on the company’s official website.
TO FOSTER the Christmas spirit of giving, Shopee has partnered with the Korean Government and Caritas Manila for the Win-Winter Festival to share the holiday joy with underserved communities in the Philippines.
Running until December 29, shoppers can check out affordable Korean deals at up to 50 percent off from Shopee’s exclusive collection. The collection includes authentic Korean beauty products, fashion finds, and more. With every purchase, shoppers make at the Win-Winter Festival, they will be able to help drive forward access to education and alleviate poverty in the Philippines as the Korean government will match the amount of their purchases in donations to Caritas Manila.
Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared “We are honored to have this opportunity to partner with the Korean Government for the Win-
Winter Festival campaign. With this partnership, we hope to support Caritas Manila’s advocacy of helping communities in need in the Philippines. This is in line with our mission of bettering the lives of the underserved through technology, and we look forward to supporting more initiatives that engage our shoppers and the Filipino community in the future.”
The Win-Winter Festival is an initiative under Shopee Bayanihan, Shopee’s umbrella CSR program that provides support for local communities through partnerships with various organizations, government agencies, brands, and other like-minded institutions. With Shopee Bayanihan, Shopee furthers its objective to make e-commerce for everyone by helping communities benefit from the power of digital transformation wherever they are in the Philippines.
On December 22, Smart set up stations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 where arriving Filipinos were able to choose a gift from under the Christmas tree or enter the Christmas raffle for special giveaways.
Returning Filipinos also enjoyed local delicacies that they may have missed – tasty bibingka, sapin-sapin, and hot chocolate to warmly welcome them home.
“We are excited to welcome our kababayans home, especially after the tough two years that we have experienced due to the global pandemic. Aside from providing the fastest mobile network for when they stay in the country during their vacation, we hope that through this simple gesture, we’re able to uplift their spirits this Christmas,” said Chito M. Franco III, VP & Head of National Key Accounts & Partnerships at PLDT and Smart.
Smart also gave away locally made parols to level up the holiday cheer, and care kits containing face masks, sanitizers, and pouches to help keep them safe as they spend their vacation with loved ones.
“Christmas celebrations become more meaningful when we are reconnected with our families and loved ones. We want to thank you for making us part of your lives all these years. We
commit
Aside from taking care of the overseas Filipino community, Smart also empowers the digital and connectivity needs of Filipinos with the fastest mobile network in the country.
Smart’s wireless network was recently recognized by Ookla as the Philippines’ Fastest and Best Mobile Network in its latest report covering Q1-Q2 2022. The Best Mobile Network citation has only been given by Ookla to approximately 20 mobile operators in the world, with Smart being the first and only Philippine mobile operator to clinch the award since Speedtest started in 2017. To earn this citation, a mobile operator must lead in two crucial Ookla Speedtest AwardsTM categories, namely Fastest Mobile Network and Best Mobile Coverage, within the same test period. Smart is also the fastest mobile network for Apple, Samsung, and Android devices, based on Ookla’s analysis of Speedtest Intelligence data for Q3 2022.
As of end-September, Smart had deployed 77,200 base stations nationwide, including 7,300 5G base stations and close to 40,000 4G/LTE base stations. Smart’s network covers about 97% of the population with 3G, LTE, and 5G.
Supporting Smart’s network is PLDT’s fiber network, the country’s most extensive fiber infrastructure. As of end-September, PLDT had expanded its total fiber footprint to about 1.09 million kilometers, consisting of over 231,000 kilometers of international fiber and almost 860,000 kilometers of domestic fiber.