THE government is capable of keeping Filipinos in China safe amid a surge of COVID-19 cases there, Philippine Ambassador to China Jame Florcruz said Wednesday.
“The government will continue to provide assistance to anyone in need,” he said in Filipino.
To date, there are an estimated 14,000 Filipinos in China, Florcruz said. Florcruz said the COVID-19 situation
Philippines and China on Wednesday vowed to resolve maritime disagreements through consultation during the second day of the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos amid heightened tensions over the disputed South China Sea.
Mr. Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping both called for “friendly consultation to appropriately resolve maritime issues and restart negotiations on oil and gas exploration,” during their bilateral meeting yesterday, China’s state-owned broadcaster CCTV said.
Xi told Mr. Marcos that China wished to “contribute more positive energy to regional peace and stability” and “promote cooperation on oil and gas development in non-disputed areas,” according to CCTV.
In response, Mr. Marcos said the continuing negotiation for the joint oil exploration is very important to the Philippines.
“I really hope—I would very much like, as you have suggested, Mr. President, to be able to announce that we are continuing negotiations and that we hope that these negotiations will bear fruit because the pressure upon not only China, not only the Philippines but the rest of the world to move away from the traditional fronts of power,” President Marcos said.
In a message after his meeting with Xi, Mr. Marcos said they discussed
INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Wednesday called for the courtesy resignation of police colonels and generals as part of the government’s efforts to cleanse the ranks and get rid of “bad eggs” within the Philippine National Police (PNP). The PNP said it would comply with the request.
At a press conference in police headquarters in Camp Crame, Abalos said he will create a special five-person team to investigate police officials
the President.
Mr. Marcos, through Executive Order No. 11, streamlined the administrative structure of the Office of the President as part of efforts “toward efficiency and responsiveness in the delivery of its critical mandates to the Filipino people.”
The Office of the President will now consist of five offices: the Executive Office, Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Private Office, Office of the Special Assistant to the President, and the Presidential Communications Office.
THE government is looking to revive its “Libreng Sakay” program for the EDSA Bus Carousel either within the first or second quarter of the year, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said yesterday.
“We’re looking at the second quarter.
Hopefully, if it can be done in the first quarter, the better. But in case, maybe in the second quarter,” LTFRB technical division head Joel Bolano said in a television interview.
He said this is because a budget has
already been allocated for the “Libreng Sakay” program.
Bolano’s statement was a departure from the earlier pronouncement of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista that the program will no longer continue even if Congress allocated a P2.16 billion budget for the service contracting scheme.
Bautista explained the program costs about P12 million a day or P4.38 billion a year – about double
Transport
PAG -IBIG Fund (Home Development Mutual Fund) has deferred its scheduled monthly premium hike this year to 2024.
“We affirm that Pag-IBIG Fund has
no proposed contribution hike this 2023,” Pag-IBIG said in a statement.
The announcement came days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered PhilHealth to suspend the in-
crease of its premium rate and income ceiling for 2023 “in light of prevailing socio-economic challenges” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, Pag-IBIG obtained the con-
currence of our stakeholders to implement a planned monthly contribution increase from P100 to P150 in 2021.
“This was continually deferred in
Finger-pointing heats up airport mess issue ahead of Jan. 12 Senate probe
DOTr looks into moral, if not legal, obligation to refund affected flyers
‘Libreng Sakay’ may yet resume in 1st or 2nd quarter—LTFRB
“what we can forward to avoid any possible mistakes, misunderstandings that could trigger a bigger problem than what we already have.”
“I was very clear in trying to talk about the plight of our fishermen, and President Xi promised that we would find a compromise and find a solution that will be beneficial so that our fishermen might be able to fish it again in their natural fishing grounds,” Mr. Marcos said.
Xi described Mr. Marcos’ state visit as “a trip to honor history... (and) to open up the future.”
“Together, let’s deepen cooperation and draw out a blueprint with ChinaPhilippines cooperation in the new era. This way, we will bring more benefits to our people and contribute to peace and stability in the region,” the Chinese leader said.
The two sides also discussed working together in fields including agriculture and medicine, CCTV reported, and signed a host of agreements for cooperation in infrastructure, fisheries, tourism and other areas.
In his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang earlier in the day, Mr. Marcos raised the importance of having a strong partnership with China.
“It is very important that these partnerships continue to be strong, continue to be encouraged. And I think that will be the way forward to the mutual benefit of our countries,” Mr. Marcos told Li.
“The opportunities that are available to China and the Philippines to further their relationship are great although there are some difficulties that they have to deal with,” the Philippine leader added.
China has been the Philippines’ major trading partner, posting a total trade of $29.1 billion as of January to September 2022, with exports amounting to $8.1 billion and imports at $21 billion.
Last year, the Philippines’ top exports to China included digital monolithic integrated circuits, semiconductor devices, nickel ore and concentrates, cathodes and sections of cathodes, refined copper and storage units.
In a separate meeting with Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Mr. Marcos underscored that “disagreements” should not define bilateral relations between ths Philippines and China.
“And I believe that although there may be some difficulties and there may be some disagreements as what happened between all… I believe that … we must not allow that [to be] the sum of our relationship,” the President said.
“It is part of our relationship. It is something that we must attend to. It is something that we should discuss as friends and try to resolve in the most peaceful [way],” he added.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez, for his part, said the high-level meeting with Li Zhanshu, “was a very positive engagement,” which he hoped would result in more engagements and exchanges between the legislative bodies
of China and the Philippines.
“He (Li) feels and believes that our relationship should be deepened and strengthened through our legislative bodies, acting in coordination and having more engagements and meetings. So, that’s why we will look forward to the invitations that have actually been extended in the previous years but due to COVID, it did not materialize,” Romualdez said.
“But now that China is opening up this year, we look forward to seeing these some engagements and these exchanges between the Congress of China, and the Congress and Senate of the Philippines come to fruition in the year 2023,” he added.
Aside from Speaker Romualdez, former President and now Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joined the presidential delegation, along with some 40 businessmen representing companies in mining, energy, agriculture and waste management sectors, among others.
A memorandum of understanding was signed yesterday with Bank of China for financial support to facilitate investments in China and the Philippines.
Philippine Trade undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo and Bank of China Manila Branch head Hu Xinquan signed the agreement during the sidelines of the state visit.
Mr. Marcos, who is set to arrive in Manila tonight (Thursday evening), also witnessed the signing of 14 bilateral agreements with China during his three-day state visit.
able to present a negative pre-departure test result are tested upon arrival at the airport,” the DOH said.
The Philippines and China signed a joint action plan for 2023-2025 on agricultural and fisheries cooperation between the Department of Agriculture and China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, as well as a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Both sides also agreed on the handover certificate of the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural TechnologyTechnological Cooperation Phase III (PHILSCAT-TCP III).
The two countries also inked an MOU between the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China and the Philippines’ Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on digital and information and communications technology cooperation.
An agreement was also forged on a protocol for “phytosanitary requirements” for the export of fresh durians from the Philippines to China between the DA and China’s General Administration of Customs.
Also signed was the the handover certificate of two China-aid bridge projects in Manila -- the Binondo-Intramuros bridge and the Estrella-Pantaleon bridge.
Both countries also agreed on a framework agreement for the Renminbi (RMB) portion of the loan financing for three priority projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways and further sealed four loan agreements for the mixed-credit financing (USD and RMB) of three priority bridge projects under the public works department. With Othel Campos, Maricel Cruz and AFP
boosted. Older Chinese who are more vulnerable to serious illness have been particularly resistant to boosters.
Bautista issued the statement after Albay Rep. Joey Salceda called on the government, particularly the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), to compensate the thousands of passengers whose flights were grounded due to a power outage of the country’s air traffic management system.
“First of all, the CAAP and DOTr do not have an arrangement with passengers, unlike with the airlines. When they buy a ticket, the airlines have an obligation to fly them or refund their fares if they are not able to fly them,” Bautista said in Filipino.
But he acknowledged that while the government is not contractually obliged to compensate passengers, the DOTr and CAAP “morally” could be obligated.
“Our lawyers should study this thoroughly for us to know what the government can shoulder,” he said. Salceda earlier asked Bautista “to look into how the CAAP can compensate passengers hassled by these delays.”
“Passengers pay a terminal fee, and airlines pay fees to the CAAP. They failed both sectors, in this case. And there’s real financial damage to both passengers and airlines as a result of this failure,” Salceda said.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI), meanwhile, gave foreign nationals who were affected by the flight cancellations on New Year’s Day a grace period to stay in the country.
in China “seems to be under control.”
involved in illegal drug trade.
Abalos made the call amid reports of the return of so-called “ninja cops” in the police force.
A ninja cop is a police officer involved in a money-making scheme through the resale of confiscated illegal drugs.
“I am appealing to our full colonels and generals in the PNP to submit a courtesy resignation because this is the only way that we can quickly cleanse the ranks of the PNP,” Abalos said.
He said there are about 300 full colonels and generals in the police force including PNP chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
“If you’re not doing anything bad, there’s nothing to worry about. Just keep working. We just want to start fresh with a clean slate,” he added.
It is not the first time such drastic measures have been used to clean up the police force.
Former president Fidel Ramos cracked down on police in the early 1990s, ordering all officers over 56 years of age or with more than 30 years of service to resign. The chief of the national police and nine other senior officers resigned as a result.
Abalos said there is a need to take a radical approach versus illegal drugs by cleansing the PNP because it is unfair to the majority of the police officers who are putting their lives on the line everyday to combat illegal drugs while some of their bosses in the organization are behind the illegal drug trade.
“Many policemen risk their own lives to suppress illegal drugs, but their boss is their enemy. It is very unfair to the majority of our police force who work honestly,” he said.
Despite this, he advised the Filipino community in China to stay cautious and follow health protocols.
“It’s still spreading to other parts of China, that’s why the people here remain careful. The advice to the public is to continue wearing masks, avoid large crowds, and live with COVID,” Florcruz said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday flew to China for a three-day state visit.
However, the COVID-19 situation in China prevented Mr. Marcos from meeting with the Filipino community there.
While some Filipinos were disappointed, they understood that the reason for not scheduling a meeting was valid, the ambassador said.
Mr. Marcos and the Philippine delegation traveled to China in a “bubble” to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
The Department of Health on Wednesday said eight unvaccinated Filipino travelers who recently arrived from China tested positive for COVID-19.
Citing reports from the Bureau of Quarantine, the DOH said the travelers arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Dec. 27, 2022 to Jan. 2, 2023 and tested positive for COVID-19 through antigen screening.
“Based on current protocols, non-fully vaccinated individuals who are un-
The antigen results were later confirmed positive through RT-PCR testing on Dec. 31, 2022, the Health department said, adding that the travelers are currently under isolation.
Meanwhile, former Health secretary and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin on Wednesday advised concerned government agencies not to make drastic decisions over plans to reintroduce mandatory COVID-19 tests for travelers arriving in the country.
Garin, a deputy majority leader, said “the most that we can request is a PCR test prior to departure.”
“Realistically speaking, we do not have the systems and processes in place, unlike other countries. Even our [system of] vaccination certificates and its corresponding IT system is chaotic,” she said.
Before coming up with a decision on the issue of mandatory testing for travelers from China, Garin said the Philippine government can first seek some clarification with the World Health Organization and the Chinese Embassy on the real situation.
To allay concerns of a new surge as a result of Chinese travelers, Garin said China has a 95 percent vaccination coverage, but the World Health Organization reported in December 2022 that 87 percent of Chinese people are vaccinated with two shots of the local homologous vaccines, Sinopharm and SinovacCoronavac, but only 55 percent are
P200 – equally shared by employers and employees.
A growing number of countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan and France, have insisted that all travelers from China provide negative COVID tests before arrival.
But the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Wednesday criticized these moves as “knee-jerk” reactions.
“It is extremely disappointing to see this knee-jerk reinstatement of measures that have proven ineffective over the last three years,” Willie Walsh, director general of the IATA said.
IATA, which represents 300 airlines accounting for 83 percent of total air traffic, argued that the coronavirus is already circulating widely within the borders of countries imposing the tests.
“Research undertaken around the arrival of the Omicron variant (in late 2021) concluded that putting barriers in the way of travel made no difference to the peak spread of infections,” Walsh said.
“We have the tools to manage COVID-19 without resorting to ineffective measures that cut off international connectivity, damage economies and destroy jobs,” he said.
Global passenger traffic, which was decimated by the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020, is expected to have reached 70.6 percent of its pre-crisis level in 2022 -- less than previously forecast as China had maintained strict travel restrictions. With AFP
Those whose visas and ECCs expired during the period are given a grace period extension until Jan. 12, to allow them to rebook their flights without added immigration penalties, said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.
“Considering what happened to many foreign nationals who were unable to leave during their scheduled flights, we issued this advisory to assist them in rescheduling, without having to worry about overstaying,” said Tansingco.
The Executive Office shall consist of the offices of the following: Executive Secretary, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary, Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration, Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs, Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration and Internal Audit Office.
The Office of the Special Assistant to the President shall have control and supervision over Presidential Assistants and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office.
The Private Office will provide direct services to the President and attend to personal functions and matters of the First Family.
recognition of the continuing effects of the pandemic to both the business community and our members,” Pag-IBIG said. “Currently, our rates remain unchanged since 1986.”
The current minimum monthly contribution of Pag-IBIG members is at
“As part of our efforts to improve the benefits of our members and with our country’s continued economic recovery, we shall be conducting consultations with employer and labor groups regarding plans to increase our contribution rates to take effect no earlier than 2024,” Pag-IBIG said.
The Social Security System, on the other hand, will push through with its scheduled contribution rate hike from 13% to 14% this year.
The SSS said this would result in a 22-year extension of the fund’s life.
For his part, PhilHealth spokesman Rey Baleña said the suspension of the premium rate hike and the raising of the income ceiling to P90,000 would not affect its operations.
The PCO shall be responsible for crafting, formulating, developing, enhancing and coordinating the messaging system of the executive branch of the government.
The Presidential Management Staff will be under the supervision of the Office of the Executive Secretary and will perform the functions of the Cabinet Secretariat in assisting the President for establishing agenda topics during Cabinet deliberations and meetings.
the allocated budget.
When asked if the department is allowed to use the programmed fund for another item, Bautista said: “The LTFRB will study where to spend the budget under the GAA so it can benefit more people.”
Bolano said the LTFRB will still have to determine the process and the date of the implementation of the “Libreng Sakay” given the budget allocation.
According to the DOTr, the EDSA Bus Carousel accommodates around 320,000 to 390,000 passengers daily.
The LTFRB said there were now 550 buses on the EDSA Busway line after the number increased to 758 because of the “Libreng Sakay” program.
The board said the number of buses returned to 550 as the busway now implements a “fare box” system to charge passengers based on a fare matrix that it had approved.
The LTFRB said several point-topoint buses would be replaced by public utility buses that qualified under the specifications set for the EDSA Busway route.
negligent in maintaining the equipment.
Ochie Tuazon, a former undersecretary for administration services, said the problem began when the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) failed to kick in following a power outage.
“To put it bluntly, it is more of negligence on the part of the people who are supposed to be maintaining the UPS. That’s a UPS. It’s supposed to kick in if power is lost. Why did it fail? Because they did not maintain it properly,” Tuazon said in a mix of English and Filipino.
The UPS failure effectively shut down the entire Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) System of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
CAAP, in a statement, said the loss of power in the CNS/ATM system was due to a problem in the system’s electrical network with its UPS.
The ATMS failed, triggering an almost 10-hour shutdown of Philippine airspace.
In a press conference on Jan. 1, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the system was already in its “mid-life” and would need an upgrade as soon as possible.
The CNS/ATM system was supposed to be installed in 2010 and turned over to the government by 2016. But the project completion was delayed for more than eight years, and it was only in 2018 that the Duterte administration inaugurated the system.
Full operation began in mid-2019.
CAAP Director General Manuel Tamayo, who worked as DOTr undersecretary for aviation during the Duterte administration, said the system was outdated.
But Tuazon twitted Tamayo for passing the buck when he was part of the previous Transportation department.
Tuazon said the system was working fine when they left office, and that it was up to the next administration to maintain it.
“I only have one recommendation for them. Do their jobs! Maintain the CNS/ATM system because it’s still OK,” he added.
Bautista on Wednesday vehemently denied all the allegations of Manila Times columnist Rigoberto Tiglao in his column titled “Marcos officials blame Duterte administration for colossal airport boo-boo.”
“These are all not true. I did not say those words. I personally talked to him and explained to him... He told me to issue a press statement instead,” Bautista told Manila Standard in a phone interview.
Bautista said he did not say that the country’s CNS/ATM system was “outdated and obsolete.”
“What I said was that the technology is in its midlife stage,” Bautista said. “I informed Malacanang last Oct. 11 during a Cabinet meeting that one of the priority programs of the DOTr is putting up a backup CNSATM to be constructed far away from the existing system.”
He denied blaming his predecessor Arthur Tugade for installing an “outdated and flawed” CNS-ATM.
The DOTr chief also denied the allegation of Tiglao that the technicians in charge of the CNS/ATM plugged it into Meralco’s 380-volt power line.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) earlier said the incident that resulted in the loss of power in the system was due to a problem in the system’s electrical network, with UPS, which is to be used as backup power supply, also failing.
The main cause of the power supply problem was still being determined and is subject for investigation. The CAAP’s Aerodrome and Air Navigation Safety Oversight Office (AANSOO) has been tasked to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, the Governance Commission for GOCCs, the central advisory, oversight, and monitoring body for government-owned and -controlled corporations, directed the CAAP to submit a report on the incident.
“CAAP is given three working days to submit its report to the GCG,” GCG chairperson Alex Quiroz said in a statement.
According to the GCG’s records, the CNS/ATM “was a strategic target in CAAP’s 2017 Performance Scorecard and its transition and implementation were the agency’s strategic target in its 2018 and 2019 scorecards.”
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ruled out the extension of voters’ registration beyond the January 31 deadline.
Comelec chairman George Garcia, in a statement, said the issue on extending the voters’ registration has not been discussed by the poll body en banc.
However, Garcia renewed his call for qualified voters to register to be able to participate in the October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
“Don’t rely on rumors that the Comelec will extend it. What if we don’t extend the registration? You will decide if you want to support or not the current officials in your barangay, but how can you do that if you are not a registered voter,” the Comelec chief said.
The voters’ registration which was suspended during the holiday break resumed on Tuesday and will end on Jan. 31.
The Comelec said the number of new registrants aged 15 to 17 has reached 60,491.
On the other hand, new registrants in the 18 to 30 years old bracket totaled 101,944, while regular registrants (21 years old and above) numbered 25,694.
The Comelec is targeting around 1.5 million to two million new voters by the end of the registration period.
To encourage more applicants to register, the poll body launched such programs as satellite registration, Register Anywhere Project (RAP) in participating malls in Metro Manila and several areas in Bicol and Visayas, and the quad-media presence (social media, television, radio and print).
Apart from the SM and Robinsons malls, the Comelec is also set to commence registration at the Senate and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), as well as two universities to encourage more voters to register.
Meanwhile, the poll body is preparing for the special polls in Cavite next month.
According to Comelec executive director Teopisto Elnas, Jr., the special polls in the seventh district of the province will be automated.
THE Department of Health (DOH) warns the public against giving inaccurate information about the Omicron XBB subvariant symptoms.
According to the DOH, the people should be careful about passing messages they receive through texts and social media, citing DOH Memorandum No. 2022-0578 intensifying surveillance activities amidst a fresh surge of coronavirus disease in China.
“The said document was issued to intensify surveillance activities amidst rising Covid-19 cases abroad,” the DOH said in an advisory.
The agency clarified that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) generally exhibits flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, headache, body pain and diarrhea among others.
The DOH also advised the public to consult a physician or go to the nearest health facility for the proper diagnosis of symptoms.
To help prevent the further transmission of COVID-19, the public is advised to continue observing proper sanitation, masking, distancing, good ventilation and getting vaccinated.
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In its updated report, the NDRRMC clarified however, that only 13 of the reported fatalities have so far been
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In a briefing on national television, LTFRB technical division chief Joel Bolano said they noticed during the previous holiday seasons that some travelers from the provinces returned to their home late.
“Minabuti po ng LTFRB para hindi magka-problema o magka-kulang sa provincial buses, minabuti po ng LTFRB na i-extend po ito hanggang January 15 para ma-accommodate pa yung late na pong babalik o uuwi sa kani-kanilang mga probinsya,” he said.
The LTFRB granted last month special permits to 639 additional provincial buses to cope with the expected influx of passengers during the holiday season.
Bolano said the LTFRB will issue more special permits if there is an urgent need for additional fleets.
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has expressed hopes that Congress will be able to amend the Universal Health Care (UHC) law by 2024 after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of the premium rate hike for this year.
During a public briefing, PhilHealth corporate communications senior
of premium rate and income ceiling during 2023.
“There is still no advisory or instruction as to whether this will still continue in 2024,” Baleña said.
“But we are hopeful that the pending bills in the Congress will be acted upon by then. This means that we hope there will be an amendment to the Universal Health
Care law, and we will see the wisdom of Congress on what will be good when it comes to this issue on the PhilHealth contribution moving forward,” he said.
The PhilHealth official however, stressed that they support and will abide by the directive of Marcos to suspend the premium rate increase to 4.5 percent this year from 4 percent, as well as the adjustment of the income ceiling to P90,000 from P80,000.
THE Ateneo de Manila University is the world’s top debater this year.
The Quezon City-based institutions debating team won the top prize in the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) held in Madrid, Spain.
The Ateneo debaters bested over 100 teams from all over the world, bringing the Philippines its first ever feat in the international debating tournament.
The Ateneo team, consisting of Applied Mathematics students David Africa and Toby Leung, prevailed over contenders from Bulgaria’s Sofia University, Israel’s Tel Aviv University, and Princeton University in the United States during the grand finals.
They argued over the philosophical
belief Ubuntu “that asserts that people’s identities should be shaped by, and their obligations should primarily owed to, their communities.”
The Ateneo team also beat other international institutions during the nine elimination rounds as well as in other break rounds.
In a Facebook post, Loyola Schools vice president Maria Luz Vilches congratulated the Ateneo Debate Society, particularly Africa and Leung, for winning the WUDC 2023.
“A great way to start the New Year!” she said.
This year’s WUDC was conducted from December 27, 2022 to January 4, 2023. Last year’s champions came from the BRAC University in Bangladesh.
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has started accepting applications for annual registration of foreigners residing in the country.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said all foreigners must personally report to the nearest BI office starting today until March 1.
Tansingco said foreign nationals in the country are required to comply with the 1950 Alien Registration Act, otherwise they would be fined.
BI-registered aliens are those who have been issued immigrant or non-immigrant visas. They are holders of the alien certificate of registration identity card (ACR ICard).
“The venue of the annual report has been transferred from the BI main office to two major malls—Robinsons Place Manila and SM Mall of Asia. The move aims to bring the service closer to the people, to provide convenience and accessibility,” Tansingco said.
Apart from the two malls, BI offices nationwide may also attend to the reporting foreigners.
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has found sufficient basis to indict four alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) before Batangas Regional Trial Court for murder and violation of Republic Act No. 11479, the AntiTerrorism Act of 2020.
The DOJ identified those who will be charged before the court as Isagani Isita, Junalice Arante-Isita, Mariano Bico, and Gilbert Orr.
“After evaluation of the evidence, the Panel of Prosecutors found sufficient evidence to hold respondents for trial,” the DOJ said, in a statement.
It said the four suspected NPA members were arrested on July 18, 2022 in Sitio Amatong, Barangay Ginhawa in Taysan, Batangas following an encounter with members of the Philippine Army (PA) assigned at Patrol Base San Marcelino of the Delta Company, 59th infantry Battalion.
“The attack resulted to injuries to one of the soldiers and led to the death of a civilian, a nine-year old child,” it said.
The DOJ stressed that the soldiers arrested the suspects and recovered from the site of the encounter various firearms, ammunition, explosives, and subversive materials.
“While it may appear that the murder victim was not the direct target of herein respondents and was just caught in the line of fire when the respondents fired upon the members of the Philippine Army, her death clearly was the result of the unlawful acts perpetrated by the respondents,” said the DOJ as it cited the resolution of the panel of prosecutors.
A REQUIEM Mass for former Pope Benedict XVI will be held on Jan. 6 at the Manila Cathedral Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula and Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Reverend Charles Brown will lead the Eucharistic Celebration at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Manila Metropolitan Cathedral at 5 p.m., according to an advisory from the cathedral, GMA News reported.
“Everyone is invited to join us in thanking the Lord for his life and ministry through the Holy Eucharist,” the cathedral said.
Benedict XVI died at the age of 95, the Vatican announced on December 31, almost a decade after he became the first pope to resign in six centuries.
The German pope emeritus, whose birth name was Joseph Ratzinger, had been living a quiet life in a former convent inside the Vatican grounds since his shock decision to step down in February 2013.
His health had been declining for a long time, but the Vatican revealed on Wednesday that his situation had worsened, while Pope Francis called for Catholics worldwide to pray for him, GMA News reported.
AROUND five million devotees are expected to participate in the Walk of Faith procession during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 8, the Manila Police District (MPD) said Wednesday.
“Like the tradition, we are still expecting that the usual 5 million devotees will participate in the activity,” MPD chief Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita.
Dizon said around 5,000 personnel will be deployed to different activities during the Nazareno 2023 festivities.
A send-off ceremony of designated personnel will be held on Thursday, he added.
The Walk of Faith procession, which served as an alternative to the traditional
Traslacion, will start from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church on January 8 from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.
Unlike in the Traslacion, the image of the Black Nazarene would not be exhibited during the Walk of Faith. Nazareno 2023 adviser Alex Irasga in December 2022 said traditional activities will be conducted except for pahalik (kissing of Black Nazarene image) and pasanan (carrying).
The Quiapo Church has been adjusting some activities for the Black Nazarene feast in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, some roads will be closed to traffic on January 6 and 8 in light of the Nazarene 2023 activities, according to the MPD.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) meanwhile said it will deploy at least 730 personnel during the activities related to the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
The MMDA said at least 730 personnel will be deployed to assist the Traffic Management and Clearing Operations from January 6 to 9, GMA News reported.
“The deployed personnel will come from the Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group (SCOG), who will be assigned for crowd control, Western Traffic Enforcement (WTED) who will assist in traffic management, and Metro Parkways Clearing Group (MPCG) who will deploy street sweepers to maintain the cleanliness of the area,” the agency said.
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has asked the Supreme Court (SC) Wednesday to reconsider its decision affirming a Commission on Audit (COA) ruling that disallowed the issuance of P83 million benefits to former’s officials and employees in 2014.
According to PhilHealth corporate communications senior manager Rey Baleña, the PhilHealth f iled the motion for reconsideration in December 2022, months after the High Court dismissed the petition of the state health insurer seeking to overturn the 2018 ruling of COA for lack of merit.
“We’re exhausting all legal remedies because these benefits have enough legal basis and these were given in good faith and in recognition of the efforts of our officers and employees,” he said in an ANC interview.
In 2014, PhilHealth paid an educational assistance allowance and birthday gifts to officials and employees in the head office and regional office without the approval of then President Benigno Aquino III.
The SC said that PhilHealth revoked the concepts of fiscal autonomy, institutional authority to fix personnel compensation, and good faith. The SC further said it is already settled that PhilHealth does not have absolute discretion in determining the compensation of its officials.
Baleña, however, maintained that PhilHealth has the authority to do so, citing Republic Act 7875 or the National Health Insurance Act (NHI).
“We stand by our position that we have enough authority according to Republic Act 7875, as amended. It is basically one of the points that we have included in our motion for reconsideration,” he said.
“Since the time that our attention was called by the COA, these benefits were immediately stopped and we have complied with all the stipulations of the Salary Standardization Law,” he added, pointing out that the P83 million refers to the benefits given, and not the salary.
The PhilHealth official also said that they will comply accordingly and mandate all their employees who received the said benefits to return the amount should the decision be ruled out with finality.
THE Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the conviction of a male physician for lascivious conduct perpetrated against a 15-year-old girl who consulted him for her ear problem in 2015.
In a decision, the SC’s Third Division sustained the guilty verdict handed down by both the trial court and the Court of Appeals against Dr. Ulysses M. Trocio, an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist, for violation of Republic Act No. 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
“Wherefore, the petition is denied. The Decision dated Dec. 2, 2019 and Resolution dated June 25, 2020 of the Court of Appeals . . . are affirmed with modification,” the SC ruled.
THE House of Representatives committee on dangerous drugs is poised to approve a consolidated bill amending Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act 0f 2002,” with the goal of strengthening the government’s hand in its sustained war on the highly lucrative illegal drugs trade.
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) will conduct Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) conventions this year for its lawyers nationwide.
The MCLE is mandatory to all lawyers so “they keep abreast with law and jurisprudence, maintain the ethics of the profession, and enhance the standards of the
practice of law,” the DOJ said. The implementing rules on MCLE were approved by the Supreme Court (SC) in 2001. The reconstitution of the DOJ’s MCLE was announced by Justice Secretary Crispin C. Remulla last Tuesday, Jan. 3. Remulla said that 2023 “is a very challenging year,” and said he expects everybody, “no matter what the challenges are, to stay the course.”
“Petitioner Dr. Ulysses M. Trocio is found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Lascivious Conduct under Section 5(b), Article III of Republic Act No. 7610. He is sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of ten (10) years and one (1) day of prison mayor, as minimum, to seventeen (17) years, four (4) months, and one (1) day of reclusion temporal, as maximum,” it declared.
The High Court also ordered Trocio to pay the 15-year-old victim girl the amounts of P50,000 as civil indemnity, P50,000 as moral damages, and P50,000 as exemplary damages, and a fine of Pl5,000.
“The monetary awards shall earn legal interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum from the date of finality of this Decision until fully paid. So ordered,” said the decision penned by Associate Justice
FORMER Senator Orly Mercado used to say that the problem with most Filipinos is that we can see things only up to the tips of our noses. In short, no foresight; we think and plan only for the moment.
His punchline was, “ang sama mo niyan, pango pa ang mga ilong natin.”
The New Year fiasco caused by a “technical glitch” in our airport landing systems is symptomatic of Orly’s observation. We think for the moment, and bahala na si Batman.
When there is a problem, “remedyo” is our solution. Pwede na ‘yan. Then follows the fingerpointing.
Someone once quipped that a statesman visualizes in terms of 50 years (think Lee Kuan Yew and his Singapore), while a politician thinks only of his re-election.
Politicians win their election by spending far too much. On the first year of his elected term, his focus is on recovering his money.
2023 started on the wrong foot, by accident of happenstance and the result of bureaucratic neglect and indifference
On the second year, a bit of sound governance comes up. Just a bit, because on the third year, all energies are on his re-election, and generating the funds to buy votes once again.
That is the sad story of Philippine politics. Sorry, sad for the governed, but always “winwin” for the governors, mayors, congressmen, and the like.
No amount of explaining after the airport fiasco can repair the damage done.
The most recent revelation that surfaced is that the back-up power system failed, which is plain and simple negligence on the part of CAAP maintenance, even as the agency says they need new equipment.
Every airline that services us, and there are fewer and fewer, with all European airlines shunning the NAIA, will take note of what happened on the first day of 2023.
***
Errata: There were quite a few in my first column for the year, from wrong spelling to wrong choice of adjectives -- call them New Year blues, when you dash an article after a long night of merriment to beat a deadline.
Mea culpa.
has become a template.
***
The first president to win a majority of votes in a pluralistic contest of 10 (including the nuisance candidates that Comelec still allowed) should have his work defined for him.
He should be a transformational president.
His pink and yellow enemies said this cannot be done by one who is not even apologetic for his family’s sins against the people.
But then again, when it was their turn at the bat, they too failed to correct the situation.
They wrote a vaguely worded and ineffective Constitution, shortened terms of office, and virtually perpetuated governance by the rich taking advantage of the poor and middle class.
President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., by the grace of God and the choice of the sovereign people, should realize that this is not only his historic chance at familial redemption.
It ought to be his mission in the next six years to transform the politics of this nation if he wants a better economy for his people.
2023 started on the wrong foot, by accident of happenstance and the result of bureaucratic neglect and indifference.
What if it happened on January 5, when the president and his party would be traveling back from China, and his plane is unable to land?
Senator Grace Poe was right, when she said the “glitch” is a matter of national security.
***
“Carowninbgbusrider” wrote a suggestion in the comments section after our article last Monday. His wish, and I fully agree, is for our metropolis to have more parks and greenery amidst the concrete urban jungle.
There are talks about selling off the Veterans Memorial Hospital in QC, just as government privatized the adjacent areas for Trinoma and Seda. Best to create another green park for our harried urban residents instead.
I have always frowned on a golf course surrounding the historic walls of Intramuros.
But when I got appointed by President Erap to head the Philippine Tourism Authority, the agency had just redesigned and renovated what used to be the Muni Golf Links of the City of Manila, at a huge multi-million cost.
I could not waste that sunk investment and spend more to create a people’s park. Insiders at the now named TIEZA tell me the golf course hardly churns out a profit.
For me, it would be better to transform that into a people’s park, recreating the old Spanishtime moat, and adding open spaces with plenty of foliage, as a foil to the now mostly concrete Luneta.
***
We define democracy in terms of frequent elections.
The substance of democracy is equal opportunity in a land which respects individual choice and freedom. Our democracy is all form and little substance.
What substance there is in our government system goes to the elite, whether political or economic. Only the scraps are left for the common man.
“Mumo, ” the late Senate President Neptali Gonzales Sr. called these. Like slaves scrounging scraps of meat from the king’s table after the feast is ended.
***
A forest despoiler turned politician in a Mindanao province used to tell his sidekicks that it is better to keep progress out of his province.
Keeping the people poor was his formula for political longevity. Then he would buy votes every election, with money from contractors and his logging empire.
He would shift political colors every time a new president was elected, and, these days, vote buying as election strategy is the rule almost everywhere in this benighted land.
It all started in a Mindanao province. Success, no matter how despicably reached,
By Amber WangThat is why I think Manila officialdom should have a bigger say on the way the Intramuros Administration and the NPDC is run.
Long have I been advocating for the transformation of the present NAIA, once Bulacan and Sangley or either one is up and about, into a huge well-designed green park, something like New York’s Central Park or London’s St. James, or the Tuileries or Jardins Luxembourg in Paris.
If tiny Singapore (Laguna de Bay is bigger) can do it, why can’t we?
One more wish to my long list for 2023. ***
Then again, we began 2023 with another holiday, celebrating the “morning after” the first of the year.
Popular though that may be, it sends the wrong message.
Work inertia will be sacrificed for holiday inertia.
The legendary Lee Iacocca, Ford Motors CEO, used to advise friends not to buy a car that was assembled on a Monday or Friday. Monday the workers are still sluggish; Fridays they are looking forward to the weekend break.
Kung sabagay, this is the Year of the Rabbit. Rabbits are not known to work hard. They just laze, and multiply.
IF YOU were one of those who failed to fly out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on New Year’s Day, do not blame yourself, because it was not due to your own fault, and neither to the other 53,000 airline passengers who suffered the same sad and shocking situation.
So near and yet so far, you must have felt —and you could be forgiven for thinking of an unhappy ending for those you thought were responsible for a bad start to a new year.
The culprit, it turns out, was an outdated air traffic management system.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the technology behind the Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) of the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center was planned in the late 1990s, but completed only in 2019.
By today’s standards, therefore, the system is already outdated, the agency said.
But former senator Panfilo Lacson does not want to wait for an investigation and lays the blame squarely on the DOTr...
The CNS/ATM is the system used by air traffic controllers to direct air traffic within the country’s airspace.
The system, worth a whopping P10.8 billion, was completed in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and was intended to boost the safety within the Manila flight information region.
Here’s what happened, according to news reports.
That Sunday morning, one of the cooling blowers of the CNS/ATM failed, leading to the shutdown of the uninterruptible power supply.
Switching to the use of backup power through a generator also failed after the second UPS malfunctioned.
Engineers tried to override the power supply by installing an automatic voltage regulator instead, but the system suffered an overvoltage.
As a result, several key components, including the very small aperture terminal, a set of satellite dishes used for communication, navigation, and data computation, also went kaput.
If the system was already outdated, the power outage and loss of communication that affected all operations at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center was not totally unexpected; in fact it was inevitable.
But should the blame fall on the previous leadership of the Department of Transportation that had jurisdiction over the matter during its time? That’s what some senators want to find out by asking for an investigation in aid of legislation on the unforeseen power outage in the country’s air traffic control system.
A former CAAP chief is also quoted in news reports as saying that the agency had “unqualified personnel.”
But former senator Panfilo Lacson does not want to wait for an investigation and lays the blame squarely on the DOTr: “Stupidity or greed? If reports are accurate that the budget appropriated by Congress for the setup of redundancies in the air traffic control system was diverted to some beautification projects at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, those responsible should spend their next holiday season in jail.”
same without him setting the direction and leadership.
It is for this reason the government should aggressively pursue a peace deal.
The dividend that will accrue to the country if a peace deal can be signed would be enormous.
Militarily, economically and socially.
AFTER two years of subdued Christmas celebrations, the nation celebrated this year’s Christmas with a vengeance.
Unfortunately, the revelry must end so that people can go back to work to face the many challenges of the New Year.
First is a looming world economic recession accompanied by a persistent high inflation which is eroding the purchasing power of fixed income earners.
There is no other country on earth where one can find a kilo of onions worth P600 except here in our country.
Sometimes, it is during times like this that brings out the worst in some of us.
Although 2022 saw the country perform extremely well in the economic arena, 2023 might not be all that smooth sailing.
In fact we are starting the year on the wrong foot with tens of thousands of air travelers being stranded due to antiquated equipment and power glitches.
Let us hope that this is not a sign of things to come for the rest of the year.
Second is what to do with the opportunity presented by the passing of CPP/NPA founder Jose Maria Sison.
The insurgency that has bedeviled the country for the last 53 years must now end.
Will the government make an offer that the new CPP/NPA leadership cannot refuse for a peace deal or will the AFP be tempted to pursue a military solution until the government will be victorious?
A news item recently came out about the surrender of about 54 CPP/NPA members which at face value was a huge number. Will this establish a trend for more surrenders? I wonder.
The AFP is right in its assessment that it is hard for anyone to fill the shoes left by Joma and that the CPP/NPA will never be the
The AFP, for one, can devote its time and meager resources in restructuring the military for external defense due to the prevailing geopolitical situation in the region.
We are starting the year on the wrong foot with tens of thousands of air travelers being stranded due to antiquated equipment and power glitches
The third challenge is how best to protect our national interests because of the big power tensions in the South China Sea.
This issue has become the most important foreign policy problem awaiting resolution for the country.
The last two administrations had contrasting approaches on how to deal with the problem.
One tried to strengthen our MDT with our traditional ally, the United States but was reversed by the last administration.
Instead, it made a pivot and brought the country closer to China, the country that is now occupying part of our exclusive economic zone backed by a strong military presence.
PBBM, our new leader, has just gone to China to meet Chinese President Xi to ink various agreements but, more importantly, try to find if a resolution is possible direct from the
Chinese leader.
The WPS, however, is no longer the only issue. The Taiwan matter looms large in the horizon.
It is very near us and if China will make good its intention to incorporate Taiwan by force of arms, we, as PBBM himself stated, will get involved because of our MDT with the United States.
The WPS issue is, therefore, not only complicated but also volatile and must be handled responsibly.
This is perhaps why there is talk about a hotline with Beijing to avoid any untoward incidents which makes sense.
The WPS issue is one that cannot be resolved with one trip.
But it can start a process in which an acceptable solution can be found.
We have to wait and see. We have to remember that PBBM will also be making an official trip to Washington in a couple of months after which he and his team will weigh what course of action to pursue.
The fourth is the ongoing pandemic which everyone seems to be ignoring already.
It is, however, still killing a lot of Filipinos which, according to last week’s figure, was 172 deaths in one week.
That is equivalent to 8,944 a year.
Although the number of infections appear to be decreasing, I suspect that many who are getting the infection are no longer reporting.
With infections in China surging and travel restrictions lifted let us hope the government will make the right and timely decisions.
A lot of countries are now requiring travelers from China to have a negative test before entering while we are still observing and sticking with current health protocols.
Maybe we do not want to hurt the feelings of our Chinese friends by requiring them to test.
But how about the Filipinos who will be infected and die due to newer, deadlier and vaccine resistant sub-variants?
Sometimes, it is hard to fathom where our priorities should be at times.
With these and all the other challenges, let us hope that we can ride them thru as we always do and that this year will be better than the last.
Last year
Military analysts say China has used the incursions to probe Taiwan’s defenses, exhaust its aging air force and voice displeasure over Western support for Taipei, especially the United States.
Self-ruled Taiwan lives under constant threat
invasion. Communist Party rulers claim the island as part of China’s territory and have vowed to seize it one day.
Relations have been icy for years under President Xi Jinping, China’s most assertive leader in a generation.
But 2022 saw a deeper deterioration, as Xi’s military ramped up incursions and launched the largest war games in decades to protest against a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August.
China sent 1,727 planes into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in 2022, according to an AFP database based on daily updates released by Taipei’s defense ministry. That compares with around 960 incursions in 2021 and 380 in 2020.
Fighter jet sorties more than doubled from 538 in 2021 to 1,241 while incursions by bombers, including the nuclear-capable H6, went from 60 to 101.
“They want to show their determination, their will and to coerce the United States: don’t get too close to their red lines, don’t cross their red lines,” Lee Hsi-min, Taiwan’s former chief of general staff, told AFP.
Strategic ambiguity?
The United States recognizes China over Taiwan diplomatically, but remains Taipei’s most important ally.
It opposes any forced change to Taiwan’s status and is bound by an act of Congress to supply the island with the means to defend itself.
Support for Taiwan is a rare issue of bipartisan consensus in Washington and there has been growing alarm over whether China might resort to a military solution, a fear heightened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Washington has maintained a policy of “strategic ambiguity” towards Taiwan, deliberately making no firm commitment on
whether it would come to its defense.
That strategy was aimed at making Beijing think twice about the costs of any invasion, and also to deter Taiwan from formally declaring independence.
US President Joe Biden has been mercurial on the issue of strategic ambiguity.
He has repeatedly said US troops would come to Taiwan’s aid in the event of a Chinese invasion, only for the White House to walk back his comments.
China has used warplane incursions to voice its displeasure against specific events.
It sent 71 warplanes to conduct a “strike exercise” on December 25 in response to what it described as “escalating collusion and provocations” by Washington and Taipei.
That came days after Biden signed off on
up to $10 billion in military aid to Taiwan.
August saw a record 440 sorties by Chinese warplanes, the same month Pelosi became the highest-ranking US lawmaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
‘Grey-zone’ pressure
“The more frequent sorties are worrying and compel the Taiwanese side to be in a perpetual state of alert to ensure that the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) does not use them as cover for an attack against Taiwan,” Taipei-based political and military analyst J Michael Cole told AFP.
However, he also said a rise in incursions “does not signify that (China) is ready to use force at an earlier date against Taiwan – at least not an invasion scenario, which would require months of mobilization”.
Many nations maintain air defense identification zones, including the United States, Canada, South Korea, Japan and China, which are not the same as a country’s airspace.
They instead encompass a much wider area in which any foreign aircraft is expected to announce itself to local aviation authorities.
Analysts say China’s increased probing of Taiwan’s defense zone is part of wider “greyzone” tactics that keep the island pressured.
“The PRC (People’s Republic of China) is launching a war of attrition on the Taiwanese military,” said Richard Hu, deputy director of National Chengchi University’s Taiwan Center for Security Studies.
While China intends to collect crucial intelligence and “readiness parameters”, such as how quickly and from where Taiwan’s interceptions take place, an invasion remains a hugely risky and costly endeavor.
The mountainous island would be a formidable challenge for any military to conquer.
“In terms of taking Taiwan by force, PRC is still confronting a number of vital challenges such as sending hundreds of thousands of troops across the Taiwan Strait,” said Hu, a retired Army major general. AFP
CHINA’S warplane incursions into Taiwan’s air defense zone nearly doubled in 2022, with a surge in fighter jet and bomber sorties as Beijing intensified threats towards the island democracy. of also witnessed the first incursions by drones, with all 71 reported by Taiwan’s military coming after Pelosi’s visit.A rainbow appears as the sun rises in Berlin on January 4, 2023. The German capital has experienced unseasonably mild weather at the start of the year but temperatures are forecast to come down later in the week. AFP
JAPANESE Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday he would hold talks with US President Joe Biden at the White House on January 13, and would also visit other G7 allies this month.
The visit will be Kishida’s first trip to the US capital since taking office in October 2021, though he has held talks with Biden several times, including in Japan.
Japan is assuming the presidency of the G7 grouping and Kishida said he also planned to visit members France, Italy, Canada and Britain this month. He said the meeting with Biden would be “extremely important” and demonstrate “the strengthening Japan-US alliance.”
The White House said in an earlier statement the trip would “further deepen ties between our governments, economies, and our people.”
The two leaders are expected to discuss regional security challenges, including North Korea and China, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ways to address climate change.
Kishida said he would also raise Japan’s bolstered defence policy.
Japan’s government approved a major defense policy overhaul last month, including a significant spending hike, as it warned China posed the “greatest strategic challenge ever” to its security.
In its largest defence shake-up in decades, Japan vowed to increase security spending to two percent of GDP by 2027, reshape its military command, and acquire new missiles that can strike far-flung enemy launch sites.
Before arriving in Washington, Kishida will start his diplomatic journey in Paris on January 9, followed by stops in Rome, London and Ottawa. AFP
VOTING for a new leader of the US House of Representatives is expected to resume on Wednesday, a day after Congress was plunged into disarray when renegade right-wing Republicans blocked favorite Kevin McCarthy from becoming speaker in a series of humiliating votes.
The California congressman needed a simple majority to be elected as Washington’s top legislator, who presides over House business and is second in line to the presidency, after the vice-president.
But for the first time in a century, Republicans failed to elect a speaker in a nail-biting first three rounds of voting – given blanket coverage across US television networks.
Rather than celebrating their new control of the House, the party instead faces a drawn-out fight to elect a speaker that could further deepen internal divisions – and put
McCarthy’s political career on the line.
The 57-year-old needed 218 votes in the lower chamber, which flipped to a narrow 222-212 Republican majority after last year’s midterm elections.
But he failed to bring into line the party rebels, including several high-profile allies of former president Donald Trump, and he was shocked by 19 “no” votes from his own side in each of the first two rounds, rising to 20 in the third.
His performance was so weak that he lost out to the Democratic minority
McCarthy has long coveted the role, having withdrawn from the race in 2015 amid a number of blunders and a right-wing revolt.
This time he was once again tripped up by far-right rebels, despite bowing to their calls to push aggressive investigations of Democrats including President Joe Biden after taking over the House.
Lawmakers agreed to adjourn until Wednesday amid steadily building momentum among the Republicans to regroup overnight, lick their wounds and formulate a strategy to turn catastrophic defeat into an unlikely facesaving victory. AFP
AT LEAST nine people were killed and several others wounded in simultaneous car bomb attacks in a town in central Somalia on Wednesday, security officials and witnesses said.
“The terrorists attacked Mahas town this morning using vehicles loaded with explosives,” local security official Abdullahi Adan told AFP by phone.
“They have targeted a civilian area and we have confirmed that nine people, all of them civilians, died in the two explosions.”
The attack, blamed on Al-Shabaab jihadist fighters, took place in the Hiran region of central Somalia, where a major offensive was launched last year against the Al-Qaeda-linked group.
“The terrorists, after having (been) defeated, resorted to desperately targeting civilians, but this will not stop the will of the people to continue defeating them,” said Osman Nur, a police commander in Mahas.
“They have killed innocent civilians in the explosions,” he added.
Witnesses said the blasts occurred near a restaurant not far from a district administration building in Mahas. AFP
RETAIL pharmacies in the United States will be permitted to sell abortion pills, health officials said Tuesday, a move that could significantly expand access to the procedure after last year’s landmark Supreme Court ruling that overturned federal abortion rights.
Regulatory changes announced by the Food and Drug Administration mean that mifepristone, which is the first of two drugs used to terminate a pregnancy, will be available in local drug stores in states where abortion is permitted.
A doctor’s prescription will be needed to obtain the pills, which were previously only available from a few mail-order pharmacies or certified doctors and clinics.
Demand for abortion pills has risen since the conservative-dominated Supreme Court made a landmark ruling last June that overturned Roe v. Wade, a 1973 case that had guaranteed women’s right to an abortion for half a century. AFP
SOUTH Korean President Yoon Sukyeol said Wednesday he would consider suspending a 2018 agreement that created maritime buffer zones with the North should Pyongyang “violate” Seoul’s territory again.
The deal, struck during a period of high-profile diplomacy at a summit in Pyongyang, aimed to reduce military tensions along the heavily fortified border.
WITH the death of Benedict XVI, Pope Francis enters a new phase of his papacy free from the constraints of co-existing with a predecessor, but conservative criticism of his reforms may not end.
For the first time since his 2013 election, the Argentine pontiff is squarely at the helm of the Catholic Church and
its 1.3 billion faithful without another man in white – former pope Benedict XVI – also at the Vatican.
From Benedict’s surprise resignation a decade ago until his death Saturday at the age of 95, the German theologian’s lingering presence at the Vatican had caused confusion within the Church, fuelling a “two popes” dynamic some -
times exploited by Francis’s critics.
Benedict’s death “ends a misunderstanding, a situation of ambiguity, in which (Joseph) Ratzinger could be used as a standard by Francis’s opponents,” Vatican expert Marco Politi told AFP, using the former pope’s birth name.
Although promising to carry out a
THOUGH it is a pariah on the world stage and battling fierce domestic opposition to its rule, Myanmar’s junta has found grounds for optimism –the birth of a rare albino elephant.
Since seizing power, the junta has crushed democracy protests, jailed ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and been accused of committing war crimes in its bid to quell dissent.
But the birth of the elephant – more milky-grey than white – in western Rahkine state last year is being portrayed by junta-controlled media as fortuitous.
Ancient rulers regarded white elephants as extremely auspicious, and their appearance was taken as a symbol of righteous political power.
The pale pachyderm will feature on a special postage stamp released this week to mark the 75th anniversary of Myanmar’s independence from
Britain, state media said on Tuesday.
A set of gold commemorative coins bearing the animal’s image is also already being cast for the occasion, another report said.
The tusker tot’s highest-profile engagement so far was a meeting with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in October, when the senior general bestowed it a name at a televised ceremony.
“Rattha Nandaka” comes from the ancient Pali words for “country” and “happiness.”
To bolster the credentials of its newfound good omen, state media has insisted the beast has an almost impeccable pedigree.
According to the experts quoted, it possesses seven of the eight standard characteristics for an albino elephant, including “pearl-coloured eyes” and a “plantain branch-shaped back.” AFP
post-papacy life of quiet contemplation and study following his resignation, Benedict XVI later weighed in on the explosive issues of clerical sex abuse and the possibility of married priests.
His contribution to a book in January 2020 on celibacy was viewed as a bid to boost the cause of the Church’s ultra-conservative wing. AFP
At the time, the two sides agreed to “cease various military exercises aimed at each other along the military demarcation line,” but Pyongyang began repeatedly violating the deal last year.
North Korea fired artillery shots into the agreement’s designated maritime buffer zones multiple times in 2022, and last week sent five drones across the border into South Korean airspace.
The violations have prompted growing calls from ruling-party parliamentarians for the hawkish Yoon administration to scrap the four-year-old deal, inked under thenpresident Moon Jae-in. AFP
1 HOME 1.96 0.32 19.51%
2 I 0.88 0.14 18.92%
3 FERRO 2.82 0.41 17.01%
4 KPPI 1.7 0.17 11.11%
5 WPI 0.45 0.045 11.11%
6 CNVRG 16.8 1.34 8.67%
7 HLCM 4.2 0.32 8.25%
8 TECH 3.02 0.23 8.24%
9 SUN 0.99 0.07 7.61%
10 SBS 4.18 0.28 7.18%
LAST % PRICE CHANGE CHANGE
1 VVT 12.8 -3.1 -19.50%
2 MJC 1.23 -0.25 -16.89%
3 TCB2C 45 -7.8 -14.77%
4 ROX 0.71 -0.06 -7.79%
5 RCB 22 -1.15 -4.97%
6 8990B 93.2 -4.8 -4.90%
7 INFRA 0.88 -0.04 -4.35%
8 ANS 9 -0.4 -4.26%
9 HTI 0.96 -0.04 -4.00%
10 ORE 0.72 -0.03 -4.00%
VOLUME VALUE (PHP)
1 TEL 435,620 617,407,760
2 ALI 15,226,400 474,926,935
3 ACEN 43,583,200 360,871,833
4 BDO 2,920,670 324,829,288
5 SM 322,840 297,127,735
6 SMPH 7,624,900 278,876,895
7 CNVRG 16,764,800 275,349,160
8 DMC 21,533,600 252,725,558
9 BLOOM 27,201,800 226,937,192
10 ICT 1,010,440 201,040,784
WASHINGTON—US bank regulators warned Tuesday that crypto assets and exposure present risks to lenders, urging organizations to ensure they manage the dangers.
The joint statement comes after the sudden collapse of cryptocurrency platform FTX—worth $32 billion before it filed for bankruptcy in November—which sent chills across the sector.
FTX’s disgraced founder Sam Bankman-Fried has since been accused of committing one of the biggest financial frauds in US history, sparking calls for greater oversight.
“It is important that risks related to the crypto-asset sector that cannot be mitigated or controlled do not migrate to the banking system,” said the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
They added in a joint statement that events of the past year “have been marked by significant volatility and the exposure of vulnerabilities in the crypto-asset sector.”
Banking organizations should be aware of risks such as fraud and scams, along with inaccurate or misleading disclosures, the agencies said.
There is also “significant volatility” in crypto-asset markets and contagion risk in the sector due to connections between parties -- including through opaque lending, investing, or funding.
The watchdogs said they continue to take a “careful and cautious approach” with crypto activities and exposure at banking organizations.
Meanwhile, lenders should “ensure appropriate risk management” such as board oversight and guardrails to identify and manage threats, the statement said.
FTX’s implosion was swift following a November 2 media report on ties between it and Alameda, a trading company also controlled by Bankman-Fried. AFP
STOCKS rose Wednesday, extending a solid start to the New Year on growing optimism about 2023 local growth prospects despite the external headwinds.
The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, jumped 132 points, or 2.01 percent, to close at 6,718.59, as all six subsectors advanced. It was also up 2.32 percent since the start of this year’s trading.
The broader all-share index gained 60 points, or 1.74 percent, to settle at 3,537.07 on a value turnover of nearly P7 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 122 to 72, while 47 issues were unchanged.
Nine of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Converge ICT Inc. which climbed 8.67 percent to P16.80 and PLDT Inc. which picked up 6.86 percent to P1,448.00.
Meanwhile, Asian markets were mixed Wednesday as investors weighed China’s reopening moves against its surging Covid cases, while recession concerns and a drop on Wall Street kept sentiment grounded.
China’s shift out of almost three years of zero-Covid has been widely welcomed but the breakneck speed at which
authorities have lifted restrictions has led to an explosion of cases across the country, dealing another battering to economic activity.
However, analysts said concerns about the impact of the mass outbreak were playing off against optimism that the long-term outlook was positive as infections eventually come down and businesses restart.
Hong Kong led gainers and rose more than two percent -building on Tuesday’s big jump -- with tech firms and market heavyweight Alibaba soaring on news that Ant Group, in which it is a shareholder, was given the go-ahead to raise $1.5 billion for its consumer unit.
The news raised hopes that a long-running crackdown on the firm could be nearing an endgame, putting it closer to a possible revival of its cancelled initial public offering in Hong Kong.
Shanghai also enjoyed a second straight day of gains.
Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management said: “With growing expectations for more back-loaded positive ‘reopening impulse’ in the second quarter, this could be a classic case of investors needing to wear some short-term pain for longerterm gain.
“Hence, we suspect any dips in China’s stock market sentiment will be shallow.” With AFP
SEOUL—South Korea’s antitrust regulator said Tuesday it will fine Tesla 2.85 billion won ($2.2 million) for neglecting to inform customers that the driving range of its electric vehicles could be halved in cold weather.
Online, the company had exaggerated and made false claims about the range and charging speed of its electric vehicles, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said.
The American automaker also made deceptive claims about the cost-effectiveness of fuel savings compared to gasoline vehicles, it added.
According to the KFTC, the driving range of Tesla’s electric vehicles drops by up to 50.5 percent in cold weather compared to how they were advertised on the local, Korean-language website.
Tesla also failed to inform buyers that “charging performance varies greatly depending on the type of supercharger, external temperature, and the state of charge of the battery,” the regulator said in a statement.
The fueling saving estimates were also skewed by the failure to disclose how the charging cost of an electric vehicle is affected by various factors, such as charging speed and the government’s policy on price discounts, it added.
The regulator imposed an additional 1 million won fine for failing to provide enough information on the canceling policy, among other issues.
Tesla could not immediately be reached for comment.
On Monday, Tesla said it had delivered 1.31 million electric vehicles in 2022 -- a record for the Elon- Musk-led automaker and a 40 percent jump from a year before, but still short of its own and Wall Street’s expectations.
After soaring on Wall Street in 2020 and 2021, the company’s shares plummeted 65 percent in 2022. AFP
By Adam Plowright
PARIS, France—Recently described as “250 grams of magic and perfection” by President Emmanuel Macron, the French baguette is at risk from surging energy prices, with some bakers warning they can no longer afford to fire up their ovens.
Already struggling with sharp hikes in the price of butter, flour, and sugar over the last year and a half, the prized industry is now alarmed by astronomical electricity bills looming in 2023.
“It was absolutely inconceivable to me that a power bill could make me close my shop and stop my life here,” Julien Bernard-Regnard, a distraught baker in the village of Bourgaltroff in eastern France, told AFP by phone.
He is still coming to terms with closing his doors for the final time in early December, having decided that continuing his business, built up over the last five years, was impossible given the cost of electricity.
“I had to renew my contract at the beginning of September, and it increased by three and half times,” he said.
His monthly power costs rose from around 400 euros ($420) a month to nearly 1,500, while shopping around for an alternative supplier brought no relief.
“I’m in lots of online groups with other bakers and on social media. There are bakeries closing every day. Some have bills that are multiplied by 10 or 12.
There’s someone else 40 kilometers (25 miles) from me who’s just shut down,” he added.
In a country where the availability of crusty daily bread is a political issue
fraught with danger for any government, Macron’s cabinet is keen to show it is doing everything possible to safeguard the nation’s 35,000 bread and croissant makers.
State aid
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced Tuesday that bakers with a cashflow problem could ask to delay the payment of their taxes and social charges, while Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire welcomed the national bakers’ federation for talks at his offices.
Le Maire acknowledged that the nation’s breadmakers were “worried” and some were “in complete despair” just a month after the sector was honored with UNESCO world heritage status.
“At the moment when the French baguette has been given world heritage status by UNESCO, there would be a real paradox in not giving everything possible to support our bakers who are struggling with the price of electricity and energy in general,” he told reporters.
Existing schemes to help the industry, including direct state aid and a mechanism enabling them to demand a reduction in their electricity bill from suppliers, could help reduce the power costs for many businesses by around 40 percent, Le Maire said.
“At the moment, unfortunately, this is not widely known,” he added at a press conference in which he also criticized energy suppliers for not playing their part.
Although France has capped electricity prices for consumers, limiting rises to four percent in 2022 and 15 percent in 2023, no such protection exists for businesses.
Meanwhile, cut-throat competition from supermarkets means bakeries are unable to pass on major price increases to customers.
Loss to community
Bernard-Regnard was dismissive of government pledges and said he was “fed up with the propaganda”, saying that red tape and the complicated application procedure for aid meant he had been entitled to “zero” help.
“I’m furious. The life of a baker is hard. We don’t have a life, no Sundays, no holidays, you don’t see your children grow up, but we do it with passion. At some point, though, you have to stop taking us for idiots,” he said.
His biggest regret is letting down his regular clients in Bourgaltroff, who now face a drive of 12-15 kilometers to fetch their daily bread.
“What makes me most sad is the old people. A lot of them don’t have a driving license and live on their own. They told me that coming to the shop was the ray of sunlight in their day because they didn’t see anyone else,” he told AFP.
Large parts of the French countryside have been in decline for the last halfcentury, with shrinking and aging populations leading to the progressive closure of shops and local public services.
In many villages like Bourgaltroff, the local bakery is the last surviving business, also selling cigarettes and lottery tickets as well as serving as a meeting place.AFP
WASHINGTON—Two World Bank entities provided a record $75 billion in financing last year, said a letter by its president, as developing countries faced crises like climate change and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The aid comes as countries emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic were hit by fallout from the war in Ukraine and surging inflation, while climate change brought further devastation, said World Bank President David Malpass in a let-
ter seen by AFP.
The assistance last year was 35 percent above the past four years’ average, he said.
The World Bank’s assistance also came as part of a global crisis response package involving up to $170 billion in financing over 15 months.
This helps to address issues ranging from food insecurity to restoring growth, Malpass said in the letter to the bank’s governors—typically countries’
finance ministers or other officials.
In particular, the World Bank delivered $31.7 billion in climate finance last year and channeled another $18 billion toward Ukraine since the start of the war.
The bank had worked to fund essential Ukrainian government services while preparing a new series of operations to address urgent needs and repairs in key sectors like health and energy.
Overall, the record funds came
through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as the International Development Association.
“Looking ahead to 2023, the world is facing equally daunting challenges,” said Malpass.
He added that “it is vital to reduce unsustainable debt burdens, promote debt transparency, and boost investment to increase jobs, productivity, and production.” AFP
PSE INDEX CLOSING
Wednesday, January 4, 2023 132.49 PTS. 6,718.50
TOTAL VOLUME 1,381,483,366 TOTAL TRADES 87,428 TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP)
0.127990 7.1349
1.068604 59.5704
0.731582 40.7828
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THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the merger of AXA Philippines and Charter Ping An Insurance Corp., the insurance units of the Metrobank Group.GT Capital Holdings Inc. said Wednesday in a stock exchange filing the SEC approved on Dec. 28, 2022 the merger, with AXA Philippines as the surviving entity.
GTCAP said the merger would enable AXA Philippines to become one of the first big local insurance companies to offer both life and non-life insurance under a single brand.
AXA Philippines is one of the country’s leading insurance companies and a joint venture between the Metrobank Group, GT Capital and the Paris-based AXA Group, while Charter Ping An is its general insurance subsidiary.
GTCAP said customers of Charter Ping An would not be affected by the merger, and all current policies would remain valid, active and in force, subject to the relevant terms and conditions of their insurance policies.
Other existing contracts with Charter Ping An that had not previously expired would remain valid as well, it said.
GTCAP said the merger would allow AXA Philippines to better protect customers by providing them with an enhanced and an array of insurance products from life, health, savings and investments to car and home insurance products.
“Recent times have highlighted the importance of protecting what matters to us. Since we offer different types of insurance that cater to the varied protection needs of our customers, it will be much more convenient for our customers to find solutions for their insurance needs under the single AXA brand,” AXA Philippines president and chief executive Bernardo Serrano Lopez said.
GTCAP said while the merger was initiated years ahead of the pandemic and other global issues, the need for easier and more convenient methods to acquire insurance became more urgent amid the current volatile conditions.
BANK lending sustained its doubledigit growth in November despite the rising interest rates and elevated inflation, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed Wednesday.
The BSP said outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks, net of reverse repurchase placements with the BSP, rose 13.7 percent yearon-year in November, following a 13.9-percent increase in October.
“On a month-on-month seasonallyadjusted basis, outstanding universal and commercial bank loans, net of RRPs, rose by 0.3 percent,” the BSP said.
“[The] sustained growth in credit and domestic liquidity will continue to support economic activity and domestic demand. Looking ahead, the BSP will ensure that liquidity and lending dynamics remain consistent with its primary mandate of promoting price and financial stability,” the BSP said in a statement.
Outstanding loans to residents, net of RRPs, went up by 13.4 percent in November after increasing by a revised 13.3 percent in the previous month.
Outstanding loans for production activities grew by 12.4 percent in November or at the same pace in October on sustained expansion in loans to key sectors including real estate activities (12.2 percent); manufacturing (15.6 percent); financial and insurance activities (13.1 percent); and information and communication (24.3 percent).
Consumer loans to residents climbed 24.1 percent in November, faster than the 22.6-percent rise in the previous month, driven by the year-on-year increase in credit card, motor vehicle and salary-based general purpose consumption loans.
Outstanding loans to non-residents grew by 24.8 percent in November after expanding by 33.0 percent in the previous month. Julito G. Rada
MERALCO’S AWARD. Representatives of One Meralco Foundation, Meralco’s Facilities, Safety and Security Management and Ateneo Center for Education prepare food packs for distribution at Ateneo de Manila University. Manila Electric Company emerged as the champion in an inter-company competition that aims to promote responsible waste management in the country. The power distributor bested 12 other Philippine companies in the X-Trash Challenge organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress and Basic Environmental Systems and Technology Inc. The competition, which ran from April to September 2022, involved the collection and donation of recyclable waste materials such as paper, metals and plastics—all of which had equivalent environmental points that were converted into cash.
THE
Bangko Sentralng Pilipinas said Wednesday it ordered Bank of the Philippine Islands to submit a timeline and updates on the reversal of double-debit transactions that affected accountholders on Dec. 30 and 31, 2022.
It said in a statement it was closely coordinating with BPI on the matter.
“The bank already identified the root cause of the operational error and committed to reverse the erroneous transactions and restore mobile and internet banking services the soonest possible,” the BSP said.
It said it instructed “BPI to submit a timeline and updates on the reversal of its erroneous transactions.”
BPI clients said in social media posts they lost money in their accounts, and they failed to access the bank’s website and mobile app.
The bank said in an advisory on Facebook Wednesday morning that it was expecting a reversal of the double transactions as soon as possible.
“Following the double posting of ATM, CAM deposits, POS and e-commerce debit transactions from Dec. 30 to 31, 2022, please be informed that we expect correction of the duplicate transactions within the day,” BPI said.
It said given the high volume of inquiries on online banking channels, “you may experience intermittent access to our web and mobile app platforms.”
The bank also assured depositors, “your account is safe and secure.”
A bank depositor complained that both mobile app and website of BPI were down, and there was a known double debit glitch. “Who is doing crisis management and change management in this God forsaken bank?” he asked.
Another Facebook user also asked BPI to also address “the double posting around Jan. 1 onwards?”
The Bangko Sentral said it was working to strengthen banks’ cyber resilience through industry-wide initiatives to protect consumers amid increasing digital payments. It completed the Advanced SupTech Engine for Risk-Based Compliance, which will be deployed among selected BSP-supervised financial institutions.
ASTERisC* is a unified regulatory and supervisory technology solution that streamlines and automates
regulatory supervision, reporting, and compliance assessment of financial institutions’ cybersecurity risk management.
The plan is seen to improve the regulatory and supervisory environment for cybersecurity. It will also serve as the primary framework for policies and strategies to strengthen cyber defense in the financial services industry.
The regulator said it was planning to issue stronger regulations on banks’ cyber defense after hacking incidents in December 2021.
The BSP announced it also teamed up with the Bankers Association of the Philippines and the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines to roll out the “Check-Protect-Report” information drive to combat online scams.
“Check” is about being careful when sharing information as legitimate banks and financial institutions will only ask for personal data when they are contacted by their clients. “Protect” means safeguarding and not sharing personal data to senders of random text messages or emails, while “Report” enjoins financial consumers to urgently inform their banks or financial institutions about suspicious transactions.
The communication campaign aims to equip Filipino financial consumers with the information needed to protect themselves against online scams.
ELECTRICITY prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market went up slightly in December because of thin supply despite the lower demand.
Preliminary effective spot settlement price at the WESM, the trading floor of electricity, reached P8.796 per kilowatt-hour in December, up from P8.62 per kWh in November.
ESSP refers to the effective rate paid by customers for WESM transactions for each billing month.
Data from the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the
Philippines showed that the average power supply in December declined to 12,855 megawatts from 13,691 MW in November.
Power demand was also lower in December at 10,167 MW, compared to 10,355 MW in November.
This indicated that the average supply margin was lower in December at 2,717 MW than 3,336 MW in November.
Grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines declared yellow and, in some instances, red alerts on Dec. 1, 5 and 6 because of lower generating capacity.
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority expects investment pledges to rise 10 percent in 2023 to about P155 billion from P140.7 billion in 2022.
Last year’s biggest investments came from 29 economic zone developments with combined value of P96.21 billion.
PEZA said 11 of the ecozone projects were registered in the first six months of the Marcos administration (July to December), with investments of P90.65 billion and accounting for 94 percent of the total ecozone investments in 2022.
The largest committed investment is the P81.6-billion mixed-used special economic zone for manufacturing and tourism which will rise in Pangasinan province.
PEZA officer-in-charge Tereso Panga said the agency was looking forward to doing its part in developing the country’s export potential after its inclusion in the new Philippine Development Plan.
“This solidifies the strategic role of economic zones in the country’s economic progress as mentioned in the first State of the Nation Address of the President. PEZA is preparing more initiatives and synergy with other government agencies to strengthen the country’s economic zones in line with the 2023 to 2028 PDP,” he said Wednesday.
Panga said the inclusion of PEZA in the economic development program will enable more ecozones to be approved and created in the countryside. He said PEZA had lobbied for the inclusion of economic zones in the new PDP through the National Economic Development Authority.
“Ecozones can be shields to soften the landing of the headwinds, the external constraints and all these global disruptions happening especially during this time. The other side to this is that ecozones can be economic drivers to accelerate economic recovery and growth,” he said.
IEMOP earlier said that electricity demand in 2022 saw “normalcy in terms of its growth as compared to its previous levels in 2020 and 2021, where the effect/s of the pandemic is extremely felt.”
“On average, it has grown by 3.6 percent versus the 2019 levels. In terms of peak demand values, the demand has grown by 8 percent from the recorded peak demand in 2019,” it said.
IEMOP said WESM prices in 2022 also recorded a significant increase brought about by the soaring prices of imported fuel in the global market.
Euro
Malaysia Ringgit 0.227169 12.6638
MARINA: No
BSP
MARINA National Capital Region regional director Marc Anthony Pascua said no complaints were filed against the alleged operations of Chinese vessels in Manila Bay reclamation projects. He said MARINA would look into the matter once it received the official complaints. The Samahan ng Nagkaka-isang Marinong Pilipino said in a letter dated Dec. 18 to Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople that majority of the crew members of foreign vessels operating in Manila Bay are not Filipinos. The letter was received by DOLE on Dec. 22.
SNMP asked the Philippine Coast Guard, MARINA and the Department of Labor and to inspect the foreign vessels that were being used in a reclamation project in Manila Bay.
Pascua confirmed the agency issued the required permits to the vessels of China Harbour Engineering Corp. operating in Manila Bay. “There are vessels of China Harbour issued with special permits or bareboat charter operating in Manila Bay,” he said. Pascua said, however, that employment of Chinese crew under a BBC arrangement is not allowed. Darwin G. Amojelar
Samsung PH asks P252-m reimbursement from Meralco
SEMPHIL filed a petition for dispute resolution with the Energy Regulation Commission against MPower in relation to their retail electricity supply agreement.
SEMPHIL is seeking the recovery of the FCRA, which it paid under protest to MPower on the ground that said charge is unwarranted under the parties’ RESA.
It said Section 43(u) of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 grants the ERC the original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases involving disputes between and among participants or players in the energy sector. SEMPHIL signed an RESA with MPower on April 24, 2019. The contract is for a period of three years, starting May 26, 2019, and ending on May 25, 2022. The offer sheet provided a “fixed pricing product” at P3.18 per kilowatthour. Alena Mae S. Flores
Lending companies told to register with NPC
NPC commissioner John Henry Naga said the amended NPC Circular No. 2020-02 and the corresponding guidelines on the processing of personal data for loan-related transactions aimed to address the data privacy concerns due to the prevalence of online lending.
“NPC Circular No. 2022–02 provides amendments that will serve as an added protection to both borrowers and lending companies. The NPC aims for smooth transactions between the two parties, where borrowers are afforded their data privacy rights and lending companies are given the opportunity to ethically conduct their business and establish trust among their customers,” Naga said.
By Jenniffer B. Austria
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—Cristiano Ronaldo described himself as a “unique player” and insisted his career was not over as he received a thunderous welcome at his new club in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The Portuguese superstar, 37, said he had done all he could in Europe and was hungry for a new challenge as he was greeted by fireworks and deafening roars at Al Nassr’s Mrsool Park stadium.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, with five Champions League titles to his name, signed for an estimated 200 million euros to June 2025 not long after his acrimonious split with Manchester United.
“It’s not the end of my career to come to Saudi Arabia. This is why I change and, to be honest, I’m really not worried about what people say,” Ronaldo said.
“In Europe my work is done... I had many offers in Europe, many in Brazil, Australia, the US, even in Portugal,” he added. “Many clubs tried to sign me but I gave my word to this club.”
The packed, 25,000-capacity stadium erupted when Ronaldo, dressed in Al Nassr’s yellow and blue kit, walked on the pitch, saluting the crowd as fireworks and floodlights flashed around him.
His girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez, wearing the traditional black abaya or all-covering robe worn by most Saudi women, followed at a distance along with Ronaldo’s children.
“I’m a unique player. It’s good to come here, I broke all the records there (in Europe) and I want to break a few records here,” Ronaldo said earlier.
“I’m coming here to win, to play, to enjoy, to be part of the success of the country and culture of the country,” he added.
Ronaldo joins the nine-time Saudi champions just weeks after his departure from United following a TV interview where he slammed the club and coach Erik ten Hag.
‘Sportswashing’
Al Nassr, the nine-time Saudi league champions, represent a significant drop in standard for the Portuguese forward who spearheaded title-laden campaigns with United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
Oil-rich monarchy Saudi Arabia, which has been snapping up sports assets as part of a drive to soften its austere image, is often accused of “sportswashing”, or using sport to distract attention from human rights controversies.
Ronaldo arrives just weeks after the World Cup in neighbouring Qatar, and as Saudi Arabia considers a joint AsiaAfrica-Europe bid to host football’s biggest tournament with Egypt and Greece.
Well before his arrival, supporters carrying yellow “Ronaldo 7” flags and blue-and-yellow Al Nassr scarves turned up at the stadium, some of them looking for tickets. AFP
RIANNE Malixi seeks to snap back-to-back runner-up finishes as she sets out for the Women’s Orlando International Amateur firing off Wednesday at the Orange Country National Golf Center and Lodge in Florida.
Malixi launches her title bid at 7:48 a.m. on the first hole of the Crooked Cat course with American Jackie Rogowicz and Zixin Ni of China with the half of the huge 180-player field clashing at the Panther Lake layout of the vast golf complex.
Despite her failed bids in the Malaysian Amateur Open and the Citrus Golf Trail 15-year-old young Filipina star has enjoyed a tremendous season, winning six, including two on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tour, three on the local pro circuit (Ladies Philippine Golf Tour) and the last in the Thailand Junior World as she moved to No. 158 in the world amateur rankings.
But it will be a tough climb for Malixi, who targets to break into the Top 30 at the end of the new season with a slew of top ranking overseas tournaments lined up for the leading ICTSIbacked shotmaker.
She will next compete in the Annika Invitational on Jan. 15-17 at the Eagle Creek Golf Club, also in Orlando.
Aside from Malixi, No. 5 in the Rolex AJGA Rankings, the other top AJGA campaigners in this week’s event are No. 3 Yana Wilson and No. 8 Bailey Shoemaker, both of the US, last year’s fourth placer Caroline Craig and a slew of world-ranked amateurs, led by No. 39 Jenny Bae, No. 45 Megan Schofill, No. 73 Yana Wilson and No. 99 Kendall Griffin.
THE Philippine Sports Commission will have its hands full, as the new board led by newly appointed chairman Richard Bachmann, buckles down to work just four months before the country takes part in its first international multi-sport meet—the 32nd Southeast Asian Games set in Cambodia in May.
Bachmann officially took his oath of office on Wednesday before Presidential executive secretary Lucas Bersamin in Malacañang shortly after reporting for his first day of work.
The former Alaska executive in the Philippine Basketball Association believes that his years of experience and philosophy learned from mentor Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, owner of the Alaska organization, will serve him in good stead.
“I bring with me nearly three decades of experience in organized sports, as well as the Alaska Aces’ philosophy I have learned and valued over the years, which is to win with integrity while helping our athletes to become better
individuals off the court,” Bachmann said in a statement.
“I am deeply humbled to have the opportunity to serve our Philippine athletes in this capacity. I look forward to working with the NSAs, together with our PSC team members and Commissioners, in order to help our athletes, prepare for this year’s sporting events,” said the 54-year-old Bachmann, who replaced the shorttenured Noli Eala.
Eala was appointed in August last year.
Bachmann, according to PSC public communications office head Malyn Bamba, reported for work as early as 7:30 a.m. and inspected some facilities before heading to the Malacanang in
Manila to take his oath.
Assisted by some department heads, Bachmann visited the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Tennis Court, Baseball Stadium, Swimming Pool, Multi-Purpose Gym, and Squash Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Bachmann came back in the afternoon to the PSC administration building and met his board, which included commissioners Bong Coo, Walter Torres, and Edward Hayco. There’s still one more commissioner post that remained vacant although the board can now function as a whole.
The previous day, he resigned as operations manager of the Philippine Organizing Committee for the FIBA World Cup the country is lead hosting in August. He is set to vacate his post as basketball commissioner of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and as commissioner of the PBA 3x3 tournament.
“We’re thankful that finally we now have a PSC that can function properly. We are preparing for a busy year for Philippine sports,” said a sports association official.
The Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee has begun requiring Na-
tional Olympic Committee the “entry by numbers” from participating countries in 49 sports events to be played in the 32nd edition of the biennial meet.
The Philippines will send 814 athletes to Cambodia SEA Games slated May 5 to 16, according to Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who is “hoping to have a good and honest relationship with the new chairman.
Aside from the Cambodia SEA Games, the PSC and POC must work hand in hand for the country’s successful campaigns in other major competitions such as the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September, the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, and World Beach Games in November as well as dozens of qualifying tournaments for the 2023 Paris Olympics.
“We cannot deny the fact how important the support of the PSC is to all the athletes, especially now with the Olympic journey, we are very sensitive to the precious assistance and of course lessening the strenuous process of providing a contribution of the PSC to our NSAs [national sports associations],” Tolentino said. “That is our utmost concern.”
TWO Palarong Pambansa boxing champions, Mark Lester Durens and Aaron Jude Bado, will have more opportunities to show their potential this month.
Durens and Bado will be among the eight young boxers being sent to the Asian Boxing Confederation Asian under-23 championships slated from Jan. 16 to 27 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines secretary general Marcus Manalo confirmed that Du-
rens will fight in the 48-kg class, while Bado is listed in the 51-kg division.
Joining them are Flint Jara (54 kgs), Jericho Acaylar (57 kgs), Mervin Alcober (60 kgs) and Mark Ashley Fajardo (63.5 kgs).
Newcomers Althea Shine Flores (48kgs) and Mariel Talandrata are joining them in the distaff side.
Durens recently lost in the preliminaries of the 2022 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championship in Thailand to Mongolian Orkhontingalag Unubold.
Bado will have his first international exposure since his boys’ light flyweight (46-48 kg) finals’ triumph against James Vicera three years ago in the Palarong Pambansa.
Manalo added that Olympians Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam will compete in the Strandja Memorial Tournament from Feb. 18 to 27 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
As for Eumir Marcial, his stint in Bulgaria is still unclear because of a coming professional fight, according to Manalo. Peter Atencio
THE go-to guys of Philippine athletics, world’s no. 3 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena and sprinter Eric Cray will spearhead a 17-member Philippine national squad to its first international outing this year.
The two are expected to give their best performances in the 10th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships slated from Feb. 10 to 12 in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan.
“They’re our go-to guys. They will win medals and it’s almost a given. As for the Olympics, there’s no guarantee, they have to qualify,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano.
Fil-Americans Kristina Marie Knott (women’s 60-meter), Natalie Uy (women’s pole vault) and
William Edward Morrison III (men’s shot put) will join them.
PATAFA secretary general Edward Kho named the five, along with local bets Hockett Delos Santos (men’s pole vault), Mark Harry Diones (men’s triple jump), Leonard Grospe (men’s high jump) and Janry Ubas (men’s long jump and heptathlon).
There will be new faces in the mix like John Cabang (men’s 60-meter hurdles), Mariano Masano and Edwin Giron Jr. (men’s 800-meter) and Michael Carlo Del Prado (men’s 400-meter).
Also included in the roster are Jelly Dianne Paragile and Melissa Escoton (women’s 60-meter hurdles), and Alexie Mae Caimoso and Sarah Dequinan (women’s pentathlon).
Cray, Del Prado, Giron and Masano will team up in the 4x400m relays.
Kho said that the meet they will join early this year will give them the highest possible World Athletics’ points in their quest to make it to the Olympics.
Obiena remained at no. 3 in the world rankings with 1394 points behind Swedish Armand Duplantis (1601) and American Christopher Nilsen (1430).
The national athletics team is preparing for three major tournaments this year, namely the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia from May 5 to 17, the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China (Sept. 23 to Oct. 8), and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok-Chonburi, Thailand (Nov. 17 to 26).
Peter Atencio
THE top and rising players from four age group categories seek to come out strong from the holiday break as they clash in the Masters Top 8, which got under way Wednesday at the SRJI Center Mall courts in San Carlos, Negros Occide ntal.
Ivan Manila from San Jose, Nueva Ecija, Butuan’s Vince Serna, and local bets Kirby Ramacho and Herman Illusorio head the boys’ cast in the 18-and-under class while Judy Anne Padilla from Ozamiz, La Carlota’s Alexa Milliam, AJ Acabo from Zamboanga Sibugay and Claire Nocos from Lapu-Lapu, Cebu lead the chase in the girls’ premier side of the event presented by Dunlop.
The tournament, sponsored by Mayor Rene Gustilo and Vice Mayor Criston Carmona and which offers ranking points, features the Top 8 in various age categories as part of the PPS-PEPP’s incentive for those who did well in last year’s edition of the country’s longest talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
It also serves as the kickoff leg of another full calendar, busy season not just for the youngsters but also for the country’s top men’s and women’s players (Open) and veterans (Legends) to be highlighted by championships that coincide with the host province’s festival celebrations.
The year’s second event on Jan. 11-17 will be the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City to be followed by the Gov. Fredenil Castro tournament on Jan. 19-24 in Roxas City, Capiz, the Mayor Alfredo Benitez juniors on Jan. 26-31 in Bacolod City and the Mayor Luigi Marcel Goni tilt on Feb. 2-7 in Bais City, Negros Oriental.
Meanwhile, Bacolod, Lanao’s Mcleen Gomera and Sta. Rosa City’s Frank and France Dilao banner the boys’ 16-U field with Ormoc’s Kimi Brodeth and Alexi Jarata from La Union spearheading the title chase in the girls’ side of the event backed by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, the Unified Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating).
Completing the elite cast are Hans Cabellon, Cyril Paster, Thomas Gabuat and Alfonso Infante; Christine Gulagula, Julianna Carvajal, Sanshena Francisco and Jufe Ann Cocoy (180-U); Kurt Barrera, Gio Manito, Ariel Cabaral, Cyd Villamar and Reign Maravilla; Daveaine Gauran, Chloe Mercado, Dea Cua, Ma. Hannah Divinagracia, Chelsea Bernaldez and Nathalie Carmona (16-U);
NEW YORK—Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest during an NFL game, remained hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday while the league said the suspended contest would not resume this week.
¥The 24-year-old defensive back collapsed Monday night after receiving a hard hit in the chest while tackling receiver Tee Higgins during the first quarter of the Bills’ game at Cincinnati.
Medical workers restored Hamlin’s heartbeat on the field while working for 30 minutes as players from both teams wept and worried, the horrific scene viewed by a national television audience and a stadium crowd stunned into silence.
Hamlin was taken from the stadium in an ambulance and the pivotal contest between playoff-bound NFL clubs, led 7-3 by Cincinnati, was halted.
“Damar Hamlin spent last night in the intensive care unit and remains there today in critical condition at the University
of Cincinnati Medical Center,” the Bills said in a statement.
“We are grateful and thankful for the outpouring of support we have received thus far.”
The NFL announced the Bills-Bengals game would not be completed this week, with no guarantee it would be finished, and said next weekend’s final regularseason games remain as scheduled.
“The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date,” an NFL statement said. “The league has not made any changes to the week 18 regular-season schedule.”
That means the NFL expects the Bills (12-3) to play host to New England
(8-8) on Sunday in a game with playoff qualifying and seeding implications.
Dorrian Glenn, identified by several US media outlets as Hamlin’s uncle, said his nephew had to be resuscitated twice, once on the field and again after arriving at the hospital.
“It’s just heartbreaking seeing him like that,” Glenn said. “We were all in tears. I never cried so hard in my life just to know that my nephew basically died on the field and they brought him back to life... It really was a gut punch.”
Buffalo television station WIVB reported Glenn said doctors had reduced Hamlin’s oxygen levels from 100 percent to 50 percent, a sign his breathing was stronger.
“I know he’s fighting,” Glenn said.
The NFL Players Association tweeted mental health and counseling information to all players in America’s most violent and most popular sport.
“We continue to be in touch with the clubs and NFL to ensure that Bills and Bengals players have every resource
available to aid and support them during this time,” an NFLPA statement said.
NFL players and supporters, including US President Joe Biden, hoped Hamlin, who remains sedated, will fully recover.
“The President has seen the horrific news. We hope his condition and his health improves quickly,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.
‘I was shook up’
Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, the 45-year-old quarterback who ended a brief retirement to play this season, tweeted: “Moments like this put into perspective what it means to play this game we love.” AFP
CARMEL Coromina Romero Sniffen passed away on Dec. 15, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland at the age of 82.
Born in Cebu City, Philippines to Juan and Anita Coromina, she was a lifelong golf aficionado, who won numerous tournaments and titles including the Philippine Women’s Amateur Champion in 1971 and almost won it again in 1987, but lost by sudden death.
She was also part of the Philippine team in a few international tournaments. Carmel also enjoyed scuba diving and worked as Guest Relations Officer at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati.
After immigrating to the United States in the 1970s, she lived in Missouri, Hawaii, Germany, then mostly California and Florida.
After 14 years of civil service, she retired from Solano County Health and Social Services.
Carmel is survived by her children Roxanne Romero Asuncion, Annette Romero, Bettina Romero Jones and Chad Sniffen; grandchildren, Miguel & Xiao Hui, Nicholas, Dominic, and Daniel; great-grandchildren Sophia and Isabel; sons-in-law Alfredo Asuncion, Jr. and Damon Jones, and her partner David Bell.
Memorial services will be held in Baltimore and Florida.
She will be laid to rest in Cebu City, Philippines.
ADELAIDE—Former world number one Daniil Medvedev locked in an all-Russian Adelaide International quarter-final with Karen Khachanov Wednesday, while Aryna Sabalenka stormed back to book her place in the last eight.
Medvedev, runner-up at the last two Australian Opens, blew away the new year cobwebs with a 6-0, 6-3 romp over Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.
It came a day after the 2021 US Open champion had to save nine set points against first-round opponent Lorenzo Sonego before the Italian retired hurt.
“I think it was a great match. Miomir is a tough opponent, a high-ranked player so there are no easy guys left in Adelaide,” third seed Medvedev said of the 29th-ranked Serb.
“I’m not sure there were any (easy opponents) from the first round, so really happy to be through, happy with my level.”
Next up is eighth seed Khachanov, who eased past Britain’s Jack Draper 6-4, 6-2.
Rising Japanese star Yoshihito Nishioka also went through. Having dispatched fifth seed Holger Rune in the first round, he backed up to beat American Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-3.
His reward is a last eight clash with either Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin, who stunned second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime on Monday, or American Marcos Giron.
World number five Sabalenka came back from 1-5 down in the first set to fight past dogged Russian Liudmila Samsonova 7-6 (10/8), 7-6 (7/3) and make the quarter-finals.
She will meet Marketa Vondrousova for a place in the last four after the Czech player’s dominant 6-0, 6-4 dismissal of Estonian Kaia Kanepi.
In Brisbane, world number one Iga Swiatek outlasted Martina Trevisan to level
Poland’s United Cup city final Wednesday after rising star Lorenzo Musetti produced an almost flawless display of serving to put Italy in front.
Musetti lost only three points on serve to beat Poland’s Daniel Michalski 6-1, 6-1 in just 57 minutes in the best-of-fivematch Brisbane city final.
The winners of the city finals in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth progress to the semi-finals of the inaugural mixed teams tournament along with the best-performing losing finalist.
The 20-year-old Musetti, who climbed to 23 in the world in 2022, had far too much firepower for his opponent, blasting 17 winners past the 260th-ranked Michalski.
“I was so focused today on the match and the serve was really good,” he said. “But with every shot I had a great feeling for the ball so I think I played the best match so f ar.” AFP
PLDT has tapped Rald Ricafort as the new head coach of the High Speed Hitters for the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Season.
Ricafort spent the last four years with Petro Gazz, steering the Angels to the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference crown despite entering the final round as the third seed.
He is also the head coach of University of the Philippines’ men’s volleyball team and an assistant coach of the university’s women’s volleyball team.
“We at PLDT are excited to work with a young champion coach in Coach Rald,” said PLDT/ SMART Head of Sports Jude Turcuato. “We know he can guide our players to the next level.
“We are always looking to improve and get the best out of our team,” he continued.
The “youth movement” PLDT is about to embark on is what led Ricafort to sign on with the team.
“I’m very grateful tot Petro Gazz sa four years
we spent there dahil natulungan nila kami to be the coach that we are today,” expressed Ricafort. “Sa binanggit sa akin ng PLDT na they want to have a youth movement beginning with the coach, yun din nakita ko na direction na dapat itakbo ng career ko. Tinake ko siya as the perfect opportunity to have a new environment,” added Ricafort, adding that the negotiations he had with the High Speed Hitters management “happened so fast.”
Also brought in by PLDT is Arnold Laniog.
Laniog is a champion head coach, guiding College of Saint Benilde’s men’s volleyball team to the NCAA Season 92 crown and Petro Gazz to the 2019 Reinforced Conference title. He is also the De La Salle University Green Spikers head coach.
“Having Coach Arnold is definitely a big help sa akin as I move to this new environtment since kami rin naman yung magkasama all these
years. With him around, there won’t be much of an adjustment sa trainsition sa gusto nating mangyari sa team,” shared Ricafort.
“I’m very thankful na kasama ko siya rito.”
Ricafort replaced George Pascua, the head coach of PLDT during the 2022 season.
The High Speed Hitters finished fifth in the Open Conference, fourth in the Invitational Conference, and sixth in the Reinforced Conference.
Ricafort knows there is pressure in leading the flagship team of the MVP Group. And he is excited about what lies ahead.
“Siyempre, nandu’n ‘yung pressure lagi to compete pero sa akin, mae-enjoy ko ito. Knowing history namin sa Petro nu’n na for three years almost iba-iba yung lineup. I feel na nag-deliver naman kami noon,” he said.
“Dito naman ang challenge is to give the extra push to this PLDT team na malakas din naman at maging motivated sila to find their next level.”
MARVEL superhero actor Jeremy Renner said Tuesday he was “messed up” after being run over by his own snow plow as he tried to climb into the driver’s seat of the giant 14,000-lb (six-ton) vehicle.
Renner suffered severe injuries Sunday morning near his Nevada home while attempting to halt the PistenBully machine, which had begun rolling forward after he used it to help free a stranded family member’s vehicle from heavy snow.
“In an effort to stop the rolling
PistenBully, Mr. Renner attempts to get back into the driver’s seat,” Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam told a press conference.
“Based on our investigation, it’s at this point that Mr. Renner is run over by that PistenBully.”
Renner, who was taken by helicopter to nearby Reno, posted a selfie Tuesday from his hospital bed, showing heavy bruising on his face.
“Thank you all for your kind words. I’m
too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all,” wrote Renner on Instagram.
Renner’s publicist Sam Mast said the actor had undergone surgery and was “making positive progress and is awake, talking and in good spirits.”
“He remains in ICU in critical but stable condition. He is overwhelmed by the showing of love and support. The family asks for your continued thoughts while he heals with his close loved ones.”
Officials at Tuesday’s press conference
said there was no indication that drink or drugs were involved in the incident, which was being treated as a “tragic accident.”
Sheriff Balaam said an investigation was ongoing due to the “severe injuries” Renner suffered, including checks for any sign of mechanical failure.
The PistenBully, or snowcat, operated by Renner is a large specialized snow-plowing vehicle with giant, raised caterpillar tracks on each side of an enclosed cab.
FROM Marc Forster, director of Oscarnominated films (Finding Neverland, The Kite Runner) and blockbuster movies (Quantum of Solace,
Called
tells the story of Otto Anderson (Hanks), a grump who no longer sees purpose in his life following the loss of his wife. Otto is ready to end it all, but his plans are interrupted when a lively young family moves in next door, and he meets his match in quickwitted Marisol – she challenges him to see life differently, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world around.
A heartwarming and funny story about love, loss, and life, A Man Called Otto shows that family can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.
“Tom Hanks is a brilliant actor. He’s an icon,” says Marc Forster, who directs the film. “He’s extraordinary. Every role he plays, you believe him in it, because he has this incredible heart so you can relate to him. He comes from comedy and is very good in physical comedy, it’s brilliant how he moves and his timing –but at the same time he’s extraordinary as a dramatic actor. In this role, he merges these two skillsets, and that makes Otto unique. You feel him, you laugh at him, you laugh with him, and you cry for what he is going through.”
Executive producer Renée Wolfe, who is Marc Forster’s producing partner, says that it is that mix of comedy and big questions that appealed to the director, after previously helming such varied projects from Finding Neverland to the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace “Marc excels at working with actors to bring out the truth and the honesty of a scene,” says executive producer Renée Wolfe. “To watch him and Tom work together to continually evolve the character of Otto, both in a comedic and dramatic sense, was a pure joy. Tom and Marc shared a common creative language on set that was absolutely beautiful to witness.”
“It’s not easy to make a story that is both personal and at the same time speaks to a universal audience,” Wolfe continues. “In a sense, the character of Otto is a little bit like every one of us. Somewhat Chaplinlike, Otto resonates what much of the world is feeling today – a sense of wanting to connect to each other but not knowing where to start. That’s Marc’s special gift. He saw right away that even though A Man Called Otto is a character study at heart, it was also a story that would speak to audiences everywhere.”
“The comedic elements of the story resonate with all of us because they are so funny and so human,” concludes Forster. “We all get angry sometimes, and we can see that in Otto. How many people get road rage? That’s not so far from Otto himself.”
In Philippine cinemas on January 25, A Man Called Otto is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.
BY YUGEL LOSORATA TOUCHBASSNOW must not be the best time to be a music critic, considering how social media has given birth to venomous naysayers also known as netizens. That the public is still recovering from the mental strain of the pandemic makes the situation more volatile.
Thus, the updated Greatest Singers list of the globally renowned Rolling Stone magazine stands no chance against people not satisfied with it, in particular, because of the exclusion of some marquee names, including the likes of Madonna, Dionne Warwick, Nat King Cole, and the one whose angry fans triggered the news people to consider the matter worth writing about: Celine Dion
A quick look at the list may have shocked many. Patsy Cline is placed a notch higher than Freddie Mercury who was the singer behind what’s acknowledged as the greatest live gig after he led Queen at the Live Aid concert in 1985. Same as Mary J. Blige who is ranked higher than Sir Paul McCartney, or the Beatle singer who tracked the high-pitched rock ‘n’ roll “I’m Down,” the sprinting folk rock “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” and the sublime “Yesterday” on the same day.
For her fans and probably everyone who has seen James Cameron’s Titanic, Celine Dion is simply too much of a powerhouse to not make the cut. It may have been fine if she didn’t reach the top 10. But for her not to be anywhere among a bunch of 200 singers deemed greatest felt like, according to a Twitter user, “a crime against humanity.”
The fact there is a backlash shows the importance given by netizens to Rolling Stone. In an era where fans are too entitled to their opinions, not to see their idol on such a credible pool of GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) is a slap on the face and a below-the-belt hit at ego.
Rolling Stone actually pointed out the
rationale behind the new list. They noted it is not a Greatest Voices list. By that, it meant that while some singers’ abilities may be “impressive,” some are not necessarily “transcendent.”
The explanation was apparently not enough for fans to stop airing their aggressive thoughts on it. So how should we address the matter of satisfying everybody when coming up with a GOAT list?
If I am going to spearhead a list of the greatest Filipino singers of all time, I will make sure to include the hugely popular, legitimate icons of the masses. Artists who
are favored only by music purists should not be in the conversation, while the critics who can’t be objective must not dominate the voting panel.
How influential the singer is matters much. So does the number of major hits his or her voice has delivered, plus the singing’s technical prowess. In this regard, Regine Velasquez may top such a list. Names like Gary Valenciano, Jose Mari Chan, Sarah Geronimo, Lani Misalucha, Nina, Ely Buendia, Bamboo Manalac, Freddie Aguilar, and Danny Javier are shoo-ins. The list makers can’t do a Celine to national
THE Kapatid Network ended 2022 on a high note as TV5 ranked among the country’s top broadcast networks with numerous awards and nominations for its news, entertainment and sports programs, along with the network’s artists.
TV5 was named as the Best TV Station of the Year in the recent 10th Makatao Awards by the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP).
The award-giving body also honored Cheryl Cosim as Best News Program Host, Chinkee Tan as Best Television Public Affairs Program Host, and TV5’s news and public affairs programs
Frontline Pilipinas and The Chiefs for Best TV News Program and Best Television Public Affairs Program, respectively.
Ted Failon was also named
Outstanding Broadcaster by the Public Attorney’s Office for his contribution to news reporting and public service.
Hailed by the National Council for
Sing
TV5’s
Aside from the recognition received by its Station ID, TV5’s “Atin ang Paskong Ito, Kapatid: The Longest Network Christmas Campaign in TV5 History” was also honored by the 19th Philippine Quill Awards under Division 1: Communications Management, Category 8: Customer Relations.
TV5 also has ongoing nominations under the 5th Gawad Lasallianeta, the awarding ceremony of which is scheduled on January 30 at the De La Salle Araneta University Campus. The nominees include Randy Santiago (Most Outstanding Male Entertainment Show Host – Sing Galing), Aga Muhlach (Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series – Suntok Sa Buwan), Kalye Kweens and Oh My Korona (Most Outstanding Comedy Show), Sing Galing (Most Outstanding Entertainment Show), and Suntok Sa Buwan (Most Outstanding Teleserye).
All these awards and recognitions resonate TV5’s steadfast commitment to providing top-quality programs for Kapatid viewers all across the country and around the world. To keep updated on the latest news and offerings from TV5, like and follow the network’s official social media pages or visit https:// www.tv5.com.ph.
A DANISH premium brand for shoes and leather goods, ECCO has been in the footwear business for over 50 years with factories for leather operated in 6 locations across the globe. From design, development, production, and retail—ECCO takes responsibility all the way. Their work is based on quality, craftsmanship, and innovation while striving for
WHETHER it’s for a casual date, a quick trip outside the metro, or a relaxed day with family and friends, we also express ourselves through clothes. And what do we always look for in the clothes we wear? Perfect fit, light material, comfortable, and easy on the pocket.
On December 15, BOCU Lifestyle opened its first-ever store located at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City. First launched as an e-commerce brand in 2021, it is now ready to take on the retail scene with a collection that fits any occasion.
“BOCU is a brand that aims to solve the stress of dressing by introducing effortless, versatile pieces made to be worn through seasons and trends. We wanted to simplify our customers’ wardrobe and help them embrace a more intentional and minimalist mindset,” BOCU’s Merchandising Manager Mandy Liu said.
Along with the opening, BOCU introduced its newest collection—Gone Coastal, a collection inspired by nature’s calmness and effortless beauty. It features relaxed, refined day-to-night styles made in premium fabrics.
Previously, BOCU launched In Zen, a collection designed to help you find peace and confidence while elevating your style. This collection is made from a blend of natural and man-made threads, resulting in comfortable yet durable styles perfect for every occasion.
BOCU is also set to launch a new collection of redefined, elevated basics in the coming weeks.
The brand prides itself on size-inclusive garments with an accessible price tag. It also has a line dedicated to kids’ apparel.
“We understand that our customers’ needs are always evolving and we’re committed to meeting them. So, by opening our first-ever physical store, we’re introducing a new way for our customers to shop that provides convenience.
And with BOCU now ready to conquer not just the e-commerce but also the retail scene, we’d like to give them the best brand experience – which is why
we’re also proud to launch our Shop Online Pick-up in Store (SOPIS) feature,” Liu said.
SOPIS
VERSIONS Lifestyle Center CEO (chief executive officer) Maricor Monton Flores has long been one of the Philippines’ leading cosmetics toll manufacturers. Yet, her latest venture has seen the entrepreneur wade into newfound waters.
After years of planning and development, Versions Lifestyle Center has emerged with a fresh, new look and a business segment line that exceeded the founder’s expectations.
On December 14, Versions Lifestyle Center officially had a pre-launch attended by Cebu’s crème de la crème, includ-
ing brand ambassadress Steffi Aberasturi and Eva Patalinjug.
Guests were treated to a run-through of the lifestyle center wherein they got to appreciate the modern interiors of different business segments, great cocktail menu, lively discussion, and luxurious freebies.
Versions Lifestyle Center is deemed to be the newest one-stop beauty paradise of the south for those who want to experience overall glam and pampering.
Covering your needs for nails, brows, lashes, hair, spa, skincare, luxury shopping, and healthy food finds, all are now
ments
ECCO shoes are sold in 90 countries, one of which is the Philippines, with stores located all around the Metro in SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and the SM Store Mall of Asia, Makati, Megamall, and North Edsa. They offer a wide range of styles for men and women’s shoes from Formal, Athleisure, Casual, Outdoor to Golf, that are designed to follow the shape of your feet.
ECCO’s Scandinavian roots inspire all their timeless and refined styles and each collection is crafted to last and made to move like you.
Find shoe styles that are comfortable, durable, versatile, and lightweight perfect for every wear.
This
women’s hybrid golf shoe features GORE-TEX Technology for protection against the elements, while the lightweight E-DTS outsole has traction in all playing conditions
