fare of P2.29 and distance fare of 21 centavos for every kilometer on both LRT lines.
In a report on GMA News, the LTFRB okayed an additional boarding
Once approved, the boarding fare will go up to P13.29 while the distance
NEWLY appointed Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. ordered ranking officials who offered to resign following the abrupt departure of his predecessor to stay put as he called on officials of his department to remain united.
Galvez issued the directive as at least nine top DND officials submitted their courtesy resignations after former Defense acting chief Jose Faustino Jr. quit his post.
DND Undersecretary for Capability Assessment and Development Angelito de Leon said all senior officials have decided to stay on.
“We all agreed that we stay, the sen-
ior leaders and assistant secretaries,” De Leon said in a press briefing shortly after the traditional New Year’s Call held at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“In the case of Secretary Galvez, while we are ready with our courtesy resignation in accordance with customs, there is nothing extraordinary about it. He immediately gave the order, everybody stays put and hence no -
body would resign or get out of DND, as manifested, we are intact,” he added.
De Leon also said that there is no need for a loyalty check in the DND or the AFP, where AFP chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino replaced Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro on Jan. 6.
“Tthere is no need for a loyalty check. The AFP remains steadfast and loyal to the Constitution, the flag and the duly
By Vito Barcelo, Vince Lopez and Ronald O. ReyesPRESIDENT Ferdinand. Marcos Jr. has directed the National Housing Authority (NHA) to find a resettlement area for Misamis Occidental residents whose houses were destroyed by the recent flooding.
“We are coordinating with the National Housing Authority. The houses that were totally destroyed,
THE Senate aims to pass a bill limiting the coverage of the three-year fixed terms in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to only four key officials within the first quarter of this year, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday.
Under the proposed measure, only the AFP chief of staff, the commanding generals of the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force, and the Flag-officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy will be given fixed terms, unless sooner terminated by the President.
The bill would exclude from the coverage of the three-year tenure the vice chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, unified command commanders,
THE US Federal Aviation Authority ordered a temporary halt to all domestic flight departures Wednesday, after a major system outage that disrupted air traffic across the country.
Airlines and airports were left scrambling with news of the nationwide pause, as the White House said there was no immediate evidence of a cyberattack.
The FAA, which paused flights until 9:00 am (1400 GMT), said a key process had been “impaired” after a problem with its Notice to Air Missions system (NOTAM), which provides information to flight crews
THE World Health Organization (WHO) sees the declaration of the COVID-19 disease as a public health emergency being lifted this year, the body’s technical lead for the coronavirus illness said Wednesday in a live question-andanswer session on social media.
“I do think this is the year, the fourth year of this pandemic, where we can really end this as an emergency everywhere. We’re on track for that,” Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove said.
Even then, countries should consider recommending that passengers wear masks on long-haul flights, given the rapid spread of the latest Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 in the United
out of Manila to be canceled, diverted or delayed, should be fired for embarrassing the entire country.
“It is unforgivable, what happened to us. Why? First it was embarrassing. The whole world got the news that no planes could enter Philippine airspace… If it
A GROUP of farmers in Nueva Ecija joined Senator Risa Hontiveros in opposing and expressing concern over the government’s move to import 21,060 metric tons of onions as the price of the commodity continues to soar in the Philippines.
But Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has no choice but to allow the importation of agricultural products amid the high prices of local produce to control inflation in the country.
Eric Alvarez, who sits on the board of directors of a producers’ cooperative in Vega Village, Nueva Ecija, told ANC’s Rundown the importation might hurt local farmers.
“I think our timing is late. The DA (Department of Agriculture) said they will import until January 27. So, there
MORE EXPENSIVE THAN MEAT. A woman buys onions at a market in Manila on January 11, 2023. AFP
was incompetence, then people should be fired,” Zubiri said at a media forum.
Zubiri said he was vacationing in Japan when he heard the news of the incident, which affected about 65,000 passengers.
The Senate committee on public ser-
vices is set to investigate the incident today, Thursday.
Zubiri said he wants to find out if the fiasco was caused by mere incompetence or sabotage, given that similar incidents “only happened three times in
RESIDENT
Aguinaldo, a lawyer by profession, will serve for a term expiring on Jan. 7, 2030
The President also reappointed former Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pa-
mintuan as acting chairman of the Clark Development Corporation.
Pamintuan was first appointed as CDC chairman by then President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2021.
Mr. Marcos also appointed Robert Rayo Bioco as acting Administrator and member of the National Food Authority.
Other appointees are as follows:
- Gloria Jacinto Balboa as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health, Johanna Solon Banzon as Director IV, and Rodley Desmond Daniel Muñoz Carza as Director III;
- Jocelyn De Guzman Cabreza and Alan Rio Luga as acting members of the GSIS, representing the Banking,
by Galvez and Centino.
Finance, Investment and Insurance sectors, and as Board of Trustees of the GSIS;
- Faith Baranda De Guia as Director III of the Presidential Communications Office;
- Genesis Rivero Abot as Deputy Director General of ARTA; and
- Robert Joseph Montes de Claro as acting member, representing the Employer’s Group of the Social Security Commission.
and inspector general.
“We are now hell-bent on amending the law,” Zubiri said of Republic Act (RA) 11709 during a media forum. “We are looking at passing it this first quarter of this year.”
“I think the amendment will help with the stability in the military establishment and will remove the sulking of the junior officers,” Zubiri said, amid rumors of unrest among AFP personnel Zubiri said he already discussed this with Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation, and already set up a technical working group to study measures amending RA 11709.
Meanwhile, former Senator Panfilo Lacson yesterday said he doesn’t see the wisdom or logic to amend the new law, RA 11709, “which has not been tested yet.”
Lacson, also a former national police chief, noted that the final version of the law is “generally the same as the original legislative proposal submitted by the AFP and Department of National Defense (DND), with some amendments of course.”
Furthermore, he said the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 11709 crafted by former DND officials led by former officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. does not conform with the rules and provisions of the law.
“Having said that, Congress has the power to amend any law so, it is up to them,” said the defeated presidential candidate in the 2022 elections.
constituted authorities,” De Leon said.
Galvez, for his part, emphasized the importance of employee morale in the department and professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
During a transition briefing Tuesday, Galvez was presented with a report highlighting the department’s plans, as well as the 10-point agenda initiated by Faustino.
Faustino earlier said he quit after he was kept in the dark about the appointment of Centino.
Galvez also met with senior officials and heads of bureaus and held a discussion with members of the executive committee.
Meanwhile, a command conference set on Thursday will be presided over
During the AFP New Year’s Call that was held jointly with the DND, Centino led the traditional toast and enjoined every officer, enlisted personnel, and civilian human resource professional to be unified in embodying only the highest standards of excellence across all of the AFP’s mission areas.
“The new leadership in the AFP and the DND shall represent a renewed commitment to unity. In ensuring the cohesiveness and professionalism of our institutions while serving as role models to the subordinates following us, we fortify the relationship of our soldiers to their units and enhance the formidable foundation upon which the legacy of the AFP is built upon,” he said.
Also on Wednesday, Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman welcomed the appointment of Galvez, who used to be the presidential adviser on the peace process.
ers were already established across the region, taking care of 2,767 families or 11,158 individuals, as of noon Wednesday.
“We believe that the solid and long experience of Secretary Galvez on peace matters will be of great help in the pursuit of his new task, mandate and responsibility,” Hataman said in a statement.
Hataman also vouched for the new DND chief even as he recalled working with Galvez “to fight for, and maintain, peace in the Bangsamoro region,” specifically during the stint of Hataman as the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor.
He said Galvez was instrumental in the peace that BARMM and the whole of Mindanao is now enjoying.
He described Galvez as “a fine soldier who knows that the key to achieve peace is neither by the use of strong force nor through violence, but by genuine cooperation between communities and local government units.”
Maricel V. Cruzsevere flooding in many barangays.
THE Department of Foreign Affairs said the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and China will not be affected despite the Supreme Court’s decision declaring as unconstitutional a tripartite 2005 joint oil exploration pact of the two countries with Vietnam in the South China Sea.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo stressed that oil and gas is only “basically one aspect” of the Philippines’ relationship with China even as he admitted the DFA will have to “see how this pans out” Manalo said the DFA has not yet received an official communication from the Supreme Court regarding its decision to nullify the oil exploration pact.
“So we will have to see how this pans out with respect to oil and gas development,” he said in an interview with CNBC.
“I think this is an issue which has been there for some time. In fact, when the President visited China last week, there was a general understanding that we would resume talks on oil and gas development. But of course, there were no details.”
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the government must “tread carefully” in these exploration talks with China because it might also be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
we will look for their resettlement area so they could have a place to live,” President Marcos said during the distribution of government assistance at The Working Congressman Sports Complex in the Municipality of Tudela.
“So, that will be our task,” Mr. Marcos said.
Once a relocation area is identified, the government will send rebuilding materials so people can start constructing new homes, he said.
The President also sought to improve flood-control structures, which serve as the first line of defense against floods and overflowing rivers.
The President assured the residents of Misamis Occidental that the government would continue providing assistance such as relief, potable water, clothing, and temporary shelter for the evacuees.
There were 168 areas that were flooded—102 of them without electricity.
On Tuesday, a 34-year-old army personnel drowned after he and his companion onboard a motorcycle were carried away by a strong current that overflowed the concrete bridge while monitoring the area along Barangay Happy Village in San Isidro, Northern Samar.
The victim was identified as Corporal Jerry Palacio, a resident of Mondragon, Northern Samar and an active member of the 43rd Infantry Battalion.
In Maydolong, Eastern Samar, a victim, identified as Winefreda Grafil, was found dead after the boat she was riding towards Sitio Bagong Barrio from Barangay Pinanag-an, Borongan City capsized due to a strong current brought by heavy rainfall on Tuesday.
Another passenger, identified as Carlito Dagumay, remained missing as of Wednesday.
In the photos he shared on social media, Basey municipal councilor Vic Labuac said the local government brought a power generator and provided free Wi-Fi to help affected residents at the Barangay Mabini evacuation center.
Severe flooding along national highways was also recorded in Sta. Rita, Samar.
Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan announced the suspension of classes at all levels in the province on Tuesday, Jan. 10, due to heavy rains and floods.
Authorities in Mondragon, Northern Samar, headed by Mayor Lerma Madera also launched a joint monitoring, rescue, and relief response for the affected residents in the town.
The local government unit suspended work in government offices and classes at all levels on Wednesday.
“There are questions there. One question: Are we now barred from doing joint exploration with other claimant countries such as China and Vietnam under this ruling?” Zubiri said.
Although he cautioned the government on the negotiations with China regarding the joint oil and gas exploration, Zubiri expressed confidence that Mr. Marcos will be advised well on its legality, as former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin serves as his Executive Secretary.
On the other hand, Zubiri urged the government to study possible explorations in other areas such as the Sulu Sea and Benham Rise.
“We are talking about oil exploration... We are an archipelago. I do not believe there is no oil in the Sulu Sea, between Mindanao and Palawan,” he said.
fare will increase to P1.21 per kilometer for both lines
“Wr agree with the P2 increase. We also checked on the needs of the riding public,” LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista needs to approve the fare increases for them to take effect, Guadiz said.
“We are just one of the ten signatories. The final go-signal will come from the Secretary of the Department of Transportation,” Guadiz said.
Aside from the DOTr, approval is needed from several board members, including the Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, National Economic and Development Authority, and Department of Public Works and Highways.
Once approved, the boarding fare will become P13.29, while the distance fare will increase to P1.21 per kilometer both in LRT-1 and LRT-2.
Local officials said more than 16,000 families were affected by the flooding.
In some areas in Eastern Visayas, roof-level floods prompted authorities in Tacloban City to evacuate residents on Wednesday.
The Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas (PRO 8) said a total of 357 cent-
about hazards, changes to airport facilities and other essential information.
The pause, it said, would allow “the agency to validate the integrity of flight and safety information.”
Speaking to reporters, President Joe Biden said that he had been briefed by the transportation secretary and that “aircraft can still land safely, just not
In Basey, Samar, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) head and Mayor Luz Ponferrada passed a resolution to the Sangguniang Bayan recommending that the Municipality of Basey be placed under a state of calamity due to
take off right now.”
“They don’t know what the cause of it is, they expect in a couple of hours they’ll have a good sense of what caused it and will respond at that time,” Biden said.
“The FAA is still working to fully restore the Notice to Air Missions system following an outage,” the agency said in a statement, adding that while “some functions are beginning to come back on line, National Airspace System operations remain limited.”
White House Press Secretary Karine
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone issued an executive order suspending work in government offices and classes at all levels from Jan. 11 to 12.
“I called on the Department of Agriculture to provide certified rice seeds for the farmers because almost all the crops here in Eastern Samar were damaged due to severe floods,” Evardone said. With AFP
Jean-Pierre tweeted that “there is no evidence of a cyberattack at this point.”
“The President directed DOT to conduct a full investigation into the causes. The FAA will provide regular updates,” she said, referring to the Department of Transportation.
There were at least 3,500 flights delayed in the United States by 8:00 am US Eastern time (1300 GMT), flight tracking website Flight Aware data showed.
American Airlines said that it was “closely monitoring the situation, which
“We have other opportunities. I do not know why we are always concentrating on the West Philippine Sea, and South China Sea area. We can continue to explore down south,” he added.
Sen. Francis Tolentino also said he agrees that Philippine laws will have to apply in areas “where we have jurisdiction pursuant to existing laws and UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea).”
impacts all airlines, and working with the FAA to minimize disruption to our operation and customers.”
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he was in contact with the FAA.
“I have been in touch with FAA this morning about an outage affecting a key system for providing safety information to pilots,” he tweeted.
“FAA is working to resolve this issue swiftly and safely so that air traffic can resume normal operations, and will continue to provide updates.” AFP
the world.”
“If there was sabotage, hacking, they should disclose that. If it was their fault, they should admit it,” he said.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the problem started when the air traffic management center, which controls inbound and outbound flights, suffered a power outage that led to the loss of communication, radio, radar and internet. A backup power system failed to kick in.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said a secondary problem was the power surge due to the power outage that affected the equipment.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last week apologized to the passengers affected by the air traffic mess.
But an opposition lawmaker in the House of Representatives said that wasn’t enough.
“Apology without compensation is insufficient,” House Deputy Minority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette
Herrera said as Congress began its inquiry into the incident on Tuesday.
Herrera said that while the President’s apology was “appreciated,” it would be more appropriate if the government considers compensating the affected air travelers.
“The government can devise a system to compensate the passengers for the inconvenience they suffered,” Herrera said.
She added: “There is actually no amount of financial compensation that can fully make up for passengers who missed moments with their families that they can never get back—New Year’s Day, birthdays, weddings, and other special events.”
Herrera said compensation is in order, considering that the shortcomings of the airport do not appear to be caused by any “force majeure” situations.
Herrera also urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the CAAP to conduct a comprehensive preventive maintenance inspection of vital facilities and equipment at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other airports to ensure the New Year’s Day fiasco will not happen again.
will be onions that will be sold from that date onwards. But that is the time when our local farmers start harvesting. So local and imported onions will be in the market at the same time,” he said in Filipino.
“If they arrive on January 27, they will be sold by February. That’s harvest season. So, prices of local onions will drop,” he explained.
States, another WHO official added.
In Europe, the XBB.1.5 subvariant was detected in small but growing numbers, WHO and Europe officials said at a press briefing.
Passengers should thus be advised to wear masks in high-risk settings such
Hontiveros noted it may be best for the authorities to observe local farmers’ onion harvests next week before making any drastic moves and encouraged the DA and the Bureau of Plant Industry to be cautious about the volume of onions the country will import.
The senator recommended a twostep process: import some, then “wait and see,” adding: “The harvest (of onions) of our farmers is already near. It will continue until April. If the harvest will be good just like last year, we
as long-haul flights, said the WHO’s senior emergency officer for Europe, Catherine Smallwood.
“This should be a recommendation issued to passengers arriving from anywhere where there is widespread COVID-19 transmission,” Smallwood added.
In the Philippines, the country has logged some 128 new cases of Omicron COVID-19 subvariants, the Depart-
might no longer need to import 22,000 metric tons of onions.”
She raised the possibility that only half of the amount of importation authorized by the President can be imported, especially if there will be good harvests in Nueva Ecija and Mindoro.
Alvarez said the importation of onions will only benefit importers.
“Our consumers will not benefit because importers will just sell their produce close to local prices. So they will earn. But smugglers can enter the picture too,” he noted. Macon
Ramos-Aranetament of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.
Based on the DOH’s latest biosurveillance report, 52 were classified as BA.2.3.20, 1 case as BN.1, 10 cases as BA.5, 28 as XBB, 13 as XBC, and 24 as other Omicron subvariants.
The new BA.5 cases include 3 cases of BF.7 and 1 BQ.1, and the report also showed that one additional case was classified as delta, with a collection date in mid-December 2022.
MAKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay has presented the city’s accomplishments over the past year, highlighting its success in providing basic services to its citizens, including improved access to healthcare and education.
In her 7th state of the city address, Binay said thousands of residents benefited from the city’s free medicine program and online consultations.
The city government is currently rushing the construction of a modern hospital meant to decongest the existing Ospital ng Makati.
The upcoming Makati Life Medical Center, a project in partnership with Life Nurture Inc. (LNI), will have 360 beds, 192 clinics, and multiple specialty centers, including a 24/7 primary and urgent care facility. It is expected to open next month.
Makati and LNI also bagged the private-public partnership (PPP) of the Year Award at the Healthcare Asia Awards for their project.
Binay said Makati was one of the first cities in the country to achieve a 100-percent vaccination rate. As of Dec. 29, 2022, the city has over 558,000 fully vaccinated Makatizens and more than 300,000 boostered individuals, including children, she said.
Makati was also recognized by the Department of Health for ensuring that all babies and children are fully immunized against vaccinepreventable diseases.
Besides providing quality healthcare, Mayor Binay said the city continued to distribute cash gifts and incentives to senior citizens, students, City Hall employees, and residents via GCash.
The local government also provided free birthday cakes to over 65,000 senior citizens, Pamaskong Handog bags to more than 205,000 residents and City Hall employees, and food carts to 41 vendors.
THE Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc, (PCAFI) has underscored the urgency of assigning a “capable man” to head the Department of Agriculture (DA) who will avoid making the wrong calls and effectively implement programs beneficial to the agricultural sector particularly now that the agency’s budget has been increased by 40 percent.
Conversely, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri lauded the performance of Department of Health (DOH) officerin-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, saying he wants her to be officially appointed as health secretary.
FOR the fifth year in a row, Japan retained its top ranking as the “world’s most powerful passport,” beating 198 other countries for the honor.
According to Henley Global Passport Index (HGPI) released in the first quarter of 2023, Japan has a visa-free score of 193 out of 227 travel destinations.
Afghanistan was at the tail end of the list with a score of 27.
The Philippines was 78th along with Uganda with identical scores of 76, the index showed. The Philippine passport ranked 80th in 2022, 77th in 2021, and 74th in 2020, based on the same HGPI.
The ranking is based on the total number of destinations a holder can visit visa-free as well as their Henley Passport Power (HPP), which indicates the percentage of global GDP each passport provides, Henley& Partners said in a report.
Each visa-free destination is equivalent to a score of 1, based on the report that uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as well as the World Bank.
Tied in the second spot were Singapore and South Korea with similar scores of 192, data showed.
Completing the top five were Germany and Spain at the third spot with a score of 190, Finland, Italy and Luxembourg in the fourth spot with a score of 189, and Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, and Sweden at the fifth spot with a score of 188, the global passport index showed “Afghanistan remained firmly at the bottom of the index, with a score of just 27 — 166 fewer visa free destinations than Japan, which represents the widest global mobility gap in the index’s 18-year history,” the report said.
“The President is holding on to a huge problem that is agriculture and the entire nation. While the con-
cerns are numerous and critical, he is always away from the country, either on multilateral meetings or state visits. I guess it’s high time that the President assigns an Agriculture secretary who will be responsible for the sector,” said PCAFI director Gregorio Sandiego in Wednesday’s monthly PCAFI forum “Usapang Pagkain”.
He noted that the President visited the DA only twice in the first six months since assuming the DA leadership in concurrent capacity.
“We need an Agriculture secretary who has genuine concern for the farmers, one who understands fully well what the sector needs and how to provide for those needs. This way, farmers will have the desire to continue planting,” Sandiego added.
The PCAFI leader noticed that the President intends to cling on to steering the DA his own way.
“I don’t think he is willing to let go of Agriculture, for now. It is possible that he will wait for May 1 (2023) to assign a new DA chief. That is what has been going around,” PCAFI director Elias Jose Inciong said.
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has called on all agencies involved in airport operations to work together to resolve long lines and flight delays at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued the call amid reports of long lines at the immigration area, following the post-new year glitch at the country’s airports.
“All counters were manned, but the lines remained long. While passengers were processed expeditiously, more can be done to improve this,” he added.
Tansingco said the BI supports the decongestion of the NAIA and opening of new airports.
“As we open our borders, we should innovate in anticipation of the rebound of international tourism,” said Tansingco.
He bared that they have reached the maximum capacity of counters at the airport, and have even assigned two to four immigration officers in counters in certain terminals. Vito Barcelo
THE Quezon City government projects a revenue surplus of almost P1 billion for 2022.
In an interview, city treasurer Edgar Villanueva said “the ways things are on a day-to-day collection, I can foresee a surplus of P982,” he told the Manila Standard.
“I hope it soars to P1 billion,” he said.
The Department of Finance (DoF) cited the Quezon City government for being the top revenue collector after raking in P22.9 billion in taxes in 2021, beating all provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide.
The city made it to the list of the DoF’s Hall of Fame for leading all local government units.
CEBU Pacific (CEB)
P199
Travelers can book their flights starting on Jan. until Jan. 15 and schedule their trips up until May 31, 2023.
“We know everyJuan is as thrilled
AIR Asia Philippines has been recognized as among the top 20 safest low-cost airlines in the world for 2023.
Airlineratings.com, an international aviation rating organization, also gave the airline a perfect 7 out of 7 rating for both travel safety and COVID-19 compliance.
Air Asia bested other local and international low-cost airlines in terms of incident records over the past two years, positive results of audits conducted by the governing body of aviation, and fleet age.
“In Air Asia, we live and breathe safety. From the challenges brought by the pandemic to the most recent incident impairing the country’s communications and navigation
facilities, our Allstar employees have demonstrated professionalism, tenacity, and resilience,” said Air Asia chief executive officer Ricky Isla.
“This recognition from Airlineratings.com is both a reminder and a motivation for all of us to raise the bar even more in the service of all our dear guests,” he added.
Isla said the airline is already on its way to a strong recovery, opening the new year with an overall load factor of 75 percent which was achieved in the first 10 days of January. He added Caticlan (Boracay) topped the list of most booked domestic destinations with an 85 percent load factor, followed by Tacloban (75 percent), and Cebu (70 percent).
Joel E. Zurbano
According to Villanueva, the city government has a budget allocation of P35 billion in 2023.
Amid the tax payment of 65,000 to 70,000 business establishments in the city from January to April, he said he has tasked select evaluators and assessors to stay until 11 p.m. during weekdays to attend to tax payments filed via the Quezon City e-services portal.
A MEMBER of the Social Security Commission, the highest policymaking body of the Social Security System (SSS) has formally taken over as the 20th head of SSS vice outgoing president and chief executive officer Michael Regino.
Rolando Macasaet, who was president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in the last four years of the Duterte administration, was appointed by President Marcos Jr. to head the SSS.
He assured the SSS officials and employees that under his stewardship, the agency would continue with the reforms and innovations initiated by Regino to provide better social services to workers and pensioners.
on Wednesday launched its Sinulog Festival promo, offering air travelers a one way base fare flight to and from Cebu. as we are to be resuming the Sinulog Festival after a two-year break. We want our passengers to experience Sinulog and we are happy to launch this special seat sale for everyJuan,” said Carmina Romero, Cebu Pacific corporate communications director. Romero said CEB clients with existing travel funds may use these to pay for flights and add- ons during seat sales. Apart from Travel Fund, other payment options may also be used, such as payment centers, credit/debit cards, and e-wallets. “CEB is also excited to join in the festivities in its hometown this weekend with a float and a lot more surprises as it participates as the festival’s only airline sponsor,” Romero said. Joel E. ZurbanoJapan is world’s ‘most powerful’ passport—HGPI
SEN. Cynthia Villar rebuked officials of the Department of AgricultureNational Corn Program (DA-NCP) over the importation of corn seedlings. Villar is the chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Food committee.
During yesterday’s hearing of the Yellow Corn Industry Development Act of 2022 (Senate Bill No. 120), Villar cited Philippine Institute Development Studies (PIDS) data showing that 80 percent of the country’s corn seedlings are imported.
In the hearing, she confronted DANCP Director Nicolas Manalo for allowing corn seedlings to be imported, saying “somebody could be making money from this importation.”\
If the country develops its own corn seedlings, Villar believes local farmers would prefer them since they are “cheaper.” Villar also said local seeds are more adaptable to the country’s climate.
Manalo however answered that imported corn seedlings are more resistant to pests. But Villar further questioned Manalo on why they did not do something about it.
Manalo told the Senate panel that he has been in his post as Program Director for only two months, but Villar did not buy the reasoning and pressed the official on his appointment in his current position and asked for Manalo’s background.
Manalo said he is also from another office of the DA. The senator reiterated that the DA’s job is to develop good corn seeds for local farmers.
The senator also quizzed DA Technical Consultant Candido Damo on why they focussed on white corn and not yellow corn. He simply replied that white corn is for food.
GOVERNMENT employees can look forward to receiving higher pay as the fourth and last tranche of mandated salary hikes takes effect on January 1, 2023.
The fourth tranche is the last phase of the pay increase mandated by Republic Act (RA) 11466 (“Salary Standardization Law of 2019” or “SSL V), series of 2020.
The first tranche took effect on 01 January 2020.
Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman underscored the value to state workers of the salary increase.
“The government recognizes the indispensable role of its dedicated personnel in serving our beloved country. We are firmly committed to help them amidst rising prices of goods and services. We hope this latest salary increase will cushion the impact of inflation,” Pangandaman said.
National and local budget circular guidelines signed Pangandaman recently signed two separate Budget Circulars on the implementation of the fourth tranche of Salary Schedule for civilian personnel and local government unit (LGU) workers.
RA 11466 covers all positions for civilian personnel, whether regular, casual, or contractual in nature, appointive or elective, full-time or parttime, now existing or thereafter created in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches; constitutional commissions and other constitutional offices; state universities and colleges (SUCs); and government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) not covered by RA 10149.
VICE President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte said parents and guardians need to force their children to go to school because education can prevent students from being “exploited” and from being recruited by terrorism groups.
Duterte, who spoke during Koronadal City’s 83rd founding anniversary and the 23rd Hinugyaw Festival Tuesday night, Duterte emphasized how quality education, coupled with the guidance of parents, could keep the children from being vulnerable to terrorism, GMA News reported.
“Our goal is to equip our children and youth with conflict transformation skills and the strength and discernment to resist recruitment into radical and terror groups,” Duterte, quoted by GMA News,
said.
She reiterated that the DepEd is working on a national peace curriculum which is the agency’s “long-term solution to insurgency and conflict in our country.”
“Education is a liberating force. I cannot overemphasize to all the adults here in Koronadal— we must force our children to go to school. The Department of Education is implementing a stronger child protection mechanism in our school communities—another layer of defense against the recruitment
and exploitation of children and youth,” she added Duterte earlier said that DepEd has been developing a program in the basic education curriculum that would teach Kinder to Grade 12 students to become peace builders in communities.
Malacañang press briefer Daphne Oseña-Paez earlier said the DepEd is expected to present a revised Kinder to Grade 12 (K-12) curriculum by Jan. 30, beating a July deadline set by the Palace.
“The Department of Education, the Secretary VP [Vice President] Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio presented the plans for inclusive learning, support for teachers, and improving the curriculum. The DepEd will be presenting a revised K-12 curriculum for basic ed on January 30th,” she said in a Palace press briefing.
AT LEAST 6,000 job order and contract service employees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have received P5,000 yearend cash bonus as part of the Marcos administration’s program to boost their working morale.
“Contract of service and job order workers are an important component in the success of daily operations of the entire government machinery particularly in DSWD’s delivery of social protection services to disadvantaged populations and hard-toreach areas,” Alan Tanjusay, Undersecretary to the Department of Social Service and Development (DSWD) and chairperson of DSWD’s Association-Management Consultative Committee (AMCC) said.
“So, this cash incentive is a recognition of their contribution and definitely a boost to the morale of public sector job orders and contract of service workers who daily face the risks and who brave the far-flung and difficult to reach areas to render quality services to Filipinos in crisis and in need,” the official added. Vito Barcelo
LAWMAKERS have pushed for the passage of a bill strengthening barangays and improve the compensation and benefits received by barangay workers.
Reps. Inno Dy of Isabela and Geraldine Roman of Bataan made the appeal to the House leadership led by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, noting that it is high time that such barangay officials will be compensated by passing a measure that upholds their rights and privileges.
“I hope that when Congress resumes in January, we can also pass the Magna Carta for Barangays,” Dy said.
he
A total of 355,184 ballots will be printed, the same number of registered voters in four areas in the province.
Comelec
“The
These are the capital Trece Martires City with 29,171 voters, and the municipalities of Amadeo, 29,172; Indang, 46,552; and Tanza, 159,950.
The district has 116 barangays and 75 voting centers. The special
THE Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday revealed that GCash and GrabPay have been added as modes of payment to the Judiciary ePayment System (JePS), a platform that allows the assessment and payment of legal fees and other collections by the judiciary.
The High Court said the JePS platform may be accessed through https://epayment.judiciary.gov.ph.
“Users simply need to click the ‘Go to Assessment Calculator’ button and fill in the necessary details. After filling in the details, users will be directed to the Payment Options page, where they will
be able to choose their preferred payment channel,” the SC said, in a statement released by the SC Public Information Office.
The public may choose between UnionBank Online, FortunePay, GCash, GrabPay, InstaPay, and PesoNet.
The court said an official receipt would be generated immediately after the payment.
According to the SC, the JePS platform is currently deployed in all first-level courts and 44 second-level pilot courts.
The court said individuals with concerns or information regarding the platform may email jeps.support@ judiciary.gov.ph.
House Bill 1204, authored by Dy, aims to make barangay officials regular government employees, which would entitle them to fixed salaries, insurance, and retirement benefits, among others.
Maricel V. Cruz
A RECENT ruling by the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) holding an online food delivery company liable for illegally dismissing its riders has underscored the urgency of passing a law protecting the rights and welfare of freelance workers.
Thus said Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, stressing that the legal dispute between the company and the delivery riders would not have reached this far had there been a law safeguarding the rights of freelancers from abuse and exploitation.
“We won’t be commenting on the details of the case as this is still a continuing legal battle between the two parties. What we would like to point out, though, is that this issue has highlighted the lack of protection and benefits for freelancers.
could be corrected by passing a pending measure in Congress that
addresses this
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday started printing over 350,000 official ballots at the National Printing Office in Quezon City for the special polls in the seventh legislative district of Cavite on Feb. 25. chairperson George Erwin Garcia said they are looking to finish the process including verification among others in over a week. printing process including the verification will be done in 10 days,” said at the press briefing before the kick-off ceremony of the printing of the ballots in Quezon City. polls will be automated as they will be using vote counting machines (VCMs) numbering 852, including backup machines. Four aspirants are vying for the position to represent the district in the House of Representatives— Jose Angelito Domingo Aguinaldo, Melencio Loyola De Sagun Jr., Michael Angelo Santos and Crispin Diego Diaz Remulla, who is running under the National Unity Party.6,000 DSWD workers get P5K year-end bonus
Solons want more benefits for barangay staffThis squarely longstanding concern in our fast-growing gig economy,” Duterte said. Maricel V. Cruz RANDOM TEST. Manila Police District Director (MPD) PBGEN Andre Dizon led members of the Police Community Precinct (PCP) Station 10 in a random drug testing in Pandacan, Manila on Wednesday. Norman Cruz. NEW CHR MEMBER. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez administers the Oath of Office to Atty. Faydah M. Dumarpa as a member of the Commission on Human Rights during a ceremony in Makati City on Wednesday. Dumarpa is from Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur. Ver Noveno ONION ALTERNATIVE. A vendor sells “sakurab” (a popular alternative to onion) for P70 a bundle along Globo de Oro Street in Quiapo, Manila. Prices of onions remain high. Norman Cruz.
MANY observers could borrow the words from a song monologued by Yul Brynner in the cinematic version of Rodger and Hammerstein’s musical, The King and I, in describing the many dizzying events that have transpired in the last six months and 12 days of the Marcos Junior administration.
First among the most memorable was the handling of the sugar importation to augment a clear shortage of the commodity.
The president was informed about the increased and increasing retail price of sugar, with the current inventory as well as projected milled sugar output and its timeline described by the Sugar Regulatory Administration.
The expert recommendation was for us to import 300,000 metric tons, half of which was for the consumers, and the other for industrial users. No objection was raised by the president.
Forthwith the SRA prepared an import plan for 300,000 tons, and the board, presided by a very able and upright senior undersecretary as COO in the person of Leocadio Sebastian, passed approval.
But some highly influential sugar bloc politicos supposedly whispered to the president that the SRA move was objectionable, because the milling season was about to start.
Heeding them, the president asked his then executive secretary to stop the SRA order.
Shit hit the fan particularly in the Senate, and the “usurpers” of presidential authority were haled, there to face inquisition that robbed them of reputation.
Importation was halved to 150,000 tons. Sugar prices from then until now have not decreased, hovering from 90 to 100 pesos per kilo.
One hopes and prays that we shall see clear directions and less puzzlements in the next few weeks, even as the President travels yet again, to Davos and then Tokyo, after Jakarta, Singapore, New York, Phnom Penh, Bangkok and Beijing
In an effort to stop the inflationary wave, the “king” ordered a MAV importation of 64,000 tons just before the year ended. But that will arrive, assuming letters of credit are drawn now, some 40 days hereafter. And as expected, the sugar planters are raising a howl. They never had it so good with domestic prices reaching the roof.
As a postscript to the bitter and unsweet episode, USec Sebastian and the SRA officials were “exonerated” from any culpability by the new Executive Secretary last week, because they were in good faith, a confirmation post facto that they acted well within authority and rightly at that.
***
On the defense front, a retired CSAFP was designated OIC with the title of senior undersecretary at the start of the president’s term.
Since the law stipulated that one had to hibernate for a year before being appointed to a civilian office, it was expected that Jose Faustino would be named defense secretary by November when the one-year ban would end.
In the meantime, a new CSAFP was appointed, in the person of Medal of Valor awardee Bartolome Bacarro.
The appointment was done in the early days of August for one who would reach retirement age in September 18 last year, but because RA 11709 signed by PRRD on April 2022 provided for a three-year stay, it was expected by many that Bacarro was to be CSAFP for the next three years.
He succeeded his PMA classmate Andres Centino who as CSAFP under PRRD had four stars on his epaulet, which Bacarro could not get as yet since Centino would reach 56 years only in February 2023.
Meanwhile, the replaced Centino was nominated to be our next ambassador to New Delhi, and was awaiting imprimatur from the Commission on Appointments.
But puzzlement of puzzlements, on January 6, Centino was returned to his post as CSAFP, replacing Bacarro, in a sudden decision where the acting defense secretary was out of the loop, prompting him to resign along with several undersecretaries on the day of the turnover where the commander-in-chief chose to be absent.
Of course, all these are part and parcel of the president’s appointing power, where all appointees serve at his sole pleasure.
Yet logic asks: why not wait for Centino to reach 56 on February 4, or a month from his re-assignment, give Bacarro who after all was past retirement age his fourth star, and then retire him later, say after a few months of continued service, to be subsequently replaced by a younger two or three-star general who would thereinafter serve the RA 11709’s mandated three full years?
Eeez a puzzlement! ***
Relatively minor officials have been
appointed, then replaced without any announced reason or even the courtesy of civil parting.
Remember NIA Administrator Benny Antiporda, who the Ombudsman suspended for six months without any hearing, and then replaced a month later through media?
Or Noli Eala of the Philippine Sports Commission, who served for less than four months, who found out he was jobless also through media?
Of course they all held ad interim appointments, per the memorandum orders of an executive secretary who was primus inter pares in the Cabinet for just 77 days.
Since both Antiporda and Eala were given their designation while Rodriguez was still the ES, many speculate that there is an ongoing “cleansing” of all Rodriguez-tainted officials, such as the 81-day press secretary Trixie Angeles.
Jose Art Tugade, son of PRRD’s transport secretary, was appointed NAIA General Manager apparently without consulting DoTr Sec. Jaime Bautista, and then transferred to head the Land Transportation Office when the latter balked, so the previously appointed LTO chief was shunted off to the DoTr as an ASec, before being re-appointed as chair of the LTFRB weeks later.
Which ad interim appointees are next on the chopping block? Watch the evening news or get it from social media.
***
While variants of the pandemic still mutate, the health department is still headed by an OIC, a highly respected career undersecretary.
Given the in-and-out goings on in the present government, I doubt if she would ever want to lose her career entitlements to be appointed to a position which serves at the pleasure of the president.
And so we all speculate as to who will be appointed as DOH secretary, likely after the one-year ban on 2022 election losers expires on May.
Just as many predict that senatorial candidate Gilbert Teodoro will be the next defense secretary, and Carlito Galvez is only a stand-in.
Malacanang was in the dark about Erwin Tulfo’s citizenship when he was appointed DSWD secretary, and only when he faced the Commission on Appointments did we discover that he took up American citizenship and renounced the same only when he was appointed to the Cabinet.
Who will be the next DSWD secretary, while OIC Edu Punay, a journalist, warms the seat? Another election wannabee who lost last May?
***
On the bright side though, Atty. Cheloy Garafil, who has handled the press office very well in acting capacity in the last hundred days or so, finally took her oath as the press secretary and head of the newly re-named Presidential Communications Office, a most important position in these times.
***
The administration is already six and a half months old, way past the hundred-day milestone.
One hopes and prays that we shall see clear directions and less puzzlements in the next few weeks, even as the president travels yet again, to Davos and then Tokyo, after Jakarta, Singapore, New York, Phnom Penh, Bangkok and Beijing.
Critics called the PNoy government a “student council” administration. Later, the yellows retorted that PRRD led a “barangay” administration.
How will pinklawans and the boys from Davao describe the present?
NO, WE’RE not talking about political activists taking the big plunge into fulltime organizing and doing propaganda work in the city or the countryside and constantly trying to elude the police and the military under an assumed name.
We’re talking, quite literally, of boring a tunnel underground so that trains can zip along at a relatively fast pace and bring passengers to their destinations in the metropolis without breaking a sweat.
That enticing prospect of ditching your own private vehicle and avoiding hellish Metro Manila traffic above ground is what the P488.5 billion Metro Manila Subway Project offers.
But here’s the catch: You won’t get to step into any of the train coaches running along the planned stretch of the subway from Valenzuela City to Pasay City anytime soon, or within this year or the next.
After all, infrastructure projects of this scale take many years to finish. This particular project will be completed only in 2027.
An effective and efficient mass transportation system will in fact have multiplier effects on employment and boost the economy as a whole
The Metro Manila subway will have 17 stations connecting Valenzuela City to Pasay City and is expected to serve approximately 519,000 passengers daily once it becomes operational.
Six units of Tunnel Boring Machines will be utilized for the first phase of the project, which is the excavation for the tunnels.
Mr. Marcos Jr. said the event was a “testament to the administration’s commitment to continue the projects initiated by the previous administration… (and) build better and more infrastructure.”
“We will continue to invest and improve on our transportation systems as well as pursue more projects in the years to come so that Filipinos can gain greater access to places of work, commerce, recreation, and other vital areas,” he said.
An effective and efficient mass transportation system will in fact have multiplier effects on employment and boost the economy as a whole.
We owe it to the government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for helping the country with this subway project.
Japan, after all, has the technology, knowhow and experience in building and maintaining extensive rail systems, including “bullet trains” capable of speeds up to 300 kph.
Our PNR trains at present run at a snailpaced 60 to 90 kph, if we’re not mistaken.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista described the start of tunneling work as marking “the point of no return” as his department will be going full speed ahead to complete subway project. We agree completely, and hope that this project will be the start of “better days ahead,” as the President said, for the public transportation system in the country, particularly in Metro Manila.
accelerating the promotion of many officers.
This time around, the reason is to weed out PNP officials who are suspected of being involved in the illegal drug trade.
When interviewed, Secretary Abalos admitted that this initiative is a short cut to get rid of bad eggs in the organization without having to go thru the lengthy process of charging them in court.
He said further that extraordinary situations call for extraordinary measures.
That there are police personnel involved in the illegal drug trade is beyond question
without a court fight.
The more that this DILG effort will be talked about, there will be questions about due process and the doctrine of presumption of innocence. Right now, what the public is getting are mostly media reports which cannot be treated officially.
There is a need, therefore, for the DILG to release more official details about this process like what to expect and what are the protocols.
These letters of resignations will then be evaluated by a board composed of five members who are supposed to be of impeccable character and record and then decide on who should stay and who should be separated from the service.
In the interest of fairness because we are dealing with the guilt or innocence of officers who have families with more than 20 years of service, the protocols of the process must be written before the deliberations will begin.
Biases must be eliminated entirely and the evaluation process must be objective and fair.
For this, the best people who should compose the committee are retired judges or justices.
No retired PNP personnel should be included to eliminate bias judgment.
All these will not satisfy everyone but it will at least eliminate bias and provide a semblance of objectivity.
From the original target of 300, this number is now down to about 38.
With such a small number, some are wondering why the PNP does not simply charge them administratively and then separate them from the service if found guilty and spare the PNP and its leadership a stressful exercise.
Why indeed?
This initiative has a precedent because it is similar to what happened to the PNP when President Fidel V. Ramos assumed office in 1992 but for different reasons.
That 1992 exercise resulted in about 63 senior officers being retired from the service with the unintended consequence of
The question is whether this process is fair, legal and the best solution to solve the problem without creating other problems.
Biases must be eliminated entirely and the evaluation process must be objective and fair
We have to remember that the police is only one part of the whole judicial process. There is the prosecution and those who sit in judgment, not to mention local government officials.
The initial reaction from the Police General Headquarters is that all those concerned officials will abide as many already did.
I suspect, however, that there will be grumblings like what happened in 1992 when the PNP senior officers were asked to resign.
The majority did submit their resignations but many also did not.
We do not know, therefore, whether this will be the case this time or what will happen to those who will not submit courtesy resignations.
For one, times have changed. Those who will be separated might not be so docile and simply accept a guilty decision
For instance, will the decision be final or can it be appealed? If so, to whom? What happens if someone who will not agree with the decision goes to court for an injunction?
What role will the so-called summary of information play in the evaluation process?
It is important that this exercise will be perceived as fair by the PNP, otherwise, there might be demoralization and restiveness in the Officer Corps which will affect the PNP’s ability to enforce laws effectively.
Demoralization means low morale and disenchantment which is bad for any uniformed organization whether military or police.
My experience in matters involving committee deliberations in the PNP is that other considerations like service reputation has a nasty habit of always creeping into the picture.
This is due to the over reliance in the use of the summary of information.
The parameters in the use of this tool must, therefore, be spelled out before anything else.
Fairness demands it.
And with all the perils surrounding an unprecedented exercise such as this, it would be interesting to see how the DILG will navigate this thru and come out of it unscathed. Let us hope that it does.
I understand why the DILG is taking this extraordinary effort.
Although the intention may be good, it is important that a more thorough study be made so that all tracks are covered.
My advice is not to take things for granted and assume that since everyone seems to be outwardly complying and endorsing the initiative that everything will be alright.
Plans after all do not always turn out the way we want it.
WHEN Ukrainian Elena Bondarenko fled to Bulgaria after Russia invaded, she never imagined she would be taken in by a Russian there. But that is exactly what happened to the bank clerk from Zaporizhzhia, one of many refugees fleeing the war who have been quietly sheltered by members of the country’s 17,500-strong Russian community. Bondarenko and her mother and two small children were welcomed by a Russian who runs a children’s holiday camp near the Black Sea city of Burgas.
At first “it was a shock”, Bondarenko, 36, admitted. But “I am happy that not all Russians are aggressors.”
“When you are without a roof, and you need to save your children, it does not matter who helps you,” said another refugee, 34-year-old Anaida Petrushenko, who fled from Pavlohrad in eastern Ukraine with her three children.
“I never hid the fact that I am Russian because people saw that I wanted to help,” said the camp’s co-owner, who did not want to be named.
He has taken in about 160 Ukrainian refugees, some of whom were shown the door at nearby hotels when the tourist season started.
While a number of Russians in Bulgaria are helping refugees, a large swathe of the Balkan nation remains resolutely pro-Russian.
Volunteers have been the main driving force behind relief efforts for refugees, with Bulgaria woefully unprepared for the influx of Ukrainians following the Russian invasion in late February
And the Bulgarian government has often been less than welcoming when it comes to providing accommodation and support, forcing many Ukrainians to leave.
Of the some 932,000, who fled to Bulgaria since the invasion, only some 51,000 remain with less than 10,000 put up by the state, according to official data.
Indeed, the Russian who runs the holiday camp only gets a daily allowance of 7.50 euros ($7.90) per refugee from the Bulgarian government, and even these meager payments are often delayed. With some 60 children and 50 elderly people to look after, the Russian and his Bulgarian partner are having to cover the extra costs themselves. While they lambast the Bulgarian government for failing to provide language courses or help the refugees find work, with winter closing in they say they cannot close the camp.
‘Ashamed’
Volunteers have been the main driving force behind relief efforts for refugees, with Bulgaria woefully unprepared for the influx of Ukrainians following the Russian invasion in late February.
Despite their efforts, some of the Russians helping Ukrainians are uncomfortable about admitting who they are.
“I came up with this phrase, ‘I was born in Russia,’” a 47-year-old Russian translator, who lives in nearby Varna, told AFP.
“It was less painful for me to put it this way.
I can’t describe this feeling of being ashamed of your own motherland,” she told AFP, fearing giving her name in case it got her mother back home into trouble.
Having driven hundreds of kilometers to fetch people from the border with Romania, she is still
putting up several families in her and her sister’s Airbnb apartments in Varna.
‘Collective responsibility’
Another Russian in Varna, Viktor Bakurevich, told AFP that he had “decided to take some responsibility for these people who have suffered from the war.”
“I do not believe in collective guilt but I do believe in collective responsibility,” said the father-of-three, who moved to Bulgaria 14 years ago and founded his Russian grocery chain Berezka.
Feeling “immense shame”, he publicly declared his opposition to the war from the outset and has hired about 50 Ukrainian refugees in addition to dozens of Ukrainians who already worked in his stores across Bulgaria.
Bakurevich is still providing daily food supplies and hot meals to support 100 refugees sheltered in a government recreation center near Varna.
One of his Ukrainian refugee employees, Oksana Shurdova, 48, said the salary that provided for her family mattered more than the “Russian grocery” sign at the door.
“My relatives know that not all Russians support the policy of the Russian government... They don’t generalise,” she said as a communistera monument honouring Bulgarian-Soviet friendship looked down on the city from a nearby hill. AFP
IN AN attempt to fast track the removal of PNP personnel suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade, DILG Secretary BenHur Abalos asked all PNP senior officers from full colonels up to submit their courtesy resignations.TOKYO on Wednesday criticized China’s move to stop issuing visas to Japanese citizens, saying it had protested the measure and demanded that Beijing reverse the decision.
China on Tuesday said it would suspend the issuing of visas for Japanese and South Korean citizens in response to measures imposed by Tokyo and Seoul on arrivals from the mainland, where Covid cases are surging.
China’s apparently retaliatory move was “extremely regrettable,” Japan’s top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said.
He pointed out that Japan’s measures, which require arrivals from mainland China and Macau to test before travel and on landing, do not prevent Chinese travellers from entering the country.
“We protested to China through diplomatic channels and demanded the removal of the measure,” he said.
Matsuno declined to detail how China responded to Japan’s protest or whether there would be further discussions with Beijing on the issue.
“Japan will take appropriate steps while monitoring the infection situation in China and the status of China’s information disclosure,” Matsuno said.
EXHAUSTED doctors working overtime, tests and treatments nowhere to be found, and under-resourced clinics inundated with patients – in Anhui, one of east China’s poorest provinces, COVID hit hard.
Since China reversed its zero-COVID policy last month, a whirlwind of cases has crammed hospitals with elderly patients and sparked a free-for-all over limited supplies of medicine.
And the country’s wide wealth gap has fuelled healthcare disparities between cities and rural areas, with underdeveloped regions seeing a chronic lack of doctors, equipment and expertise.
When the Covid wave hit in the second half of December, doctors in Anhui rapidly ran out of diagnostic kits and treatments.
“Nobody tested for it, so we didn’t know if we
were positive or not,” said Shao from a village near Bengbu, a city of 3.3 million people.
“It’s been a total mess,” he told AFP as he pulled on a cigarette. “Things were better when the government kept us all locked down.”
One doctor told AFP he was forced to work 14-hour days in December, when his two-room village clinic was inundated with up to 10 times more patients than usual.
The sick, he said, “had to line up outside” the building as the tiny waiting room was full.
And in a nearby town, the head of a small health center said medicine supplies became “so badly de -
pleted that we had to suspend prescriptions.”
Overloaded clinics were ordered to send elderly patients with severe symptoms to larger city hospitals for better care, he said.
In a back room of the health centre, a handful of patients on drips huddled at the end of a damp and dimly lit walkway, the empty seats between them signalling that the pressure had eased – for now at least.
The crisis was more acute in the county town of Fengyang, where AFP saw dozens of patients in an observation room.
“Don’t leave things to chance. Protect yourself properly against (the virus),” a red-and-white banner on one wall proclaimed.
Several countryside interviewees said older people were dying in higher numbers than usual after showing symptoms. AFP
THE British and Japanese prime ministers will sign a “hugely significant” new defense deal allowing UK troops to deploy in Japan when the pair meet in London on Wednesday, Downing Street said.
The agreement is the latest sign of London’s growing interest in the AsiaPacific region, and Tokyo’s efforts to strengthen its alliances to face the challenges posed by China.
The deal creates a legal basis for the deployment of British and Japanese troops on each others’ territory for training and other operations.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office called it “the most significant defence agreement between the two countries in more than a century.”
“His incarceration on charges that the High Court ultimately scathingly dismissed was a modern form of crucifixion,” Abbott said Wednesday.
“In the past 12 months, we have written the next chapter of the relationship between the UK and Japan –accelerating, building and deepening our ties,” said Sunak.
“This Reciprocal Access Agreement is hugely significant for both our nations – it cements our commitment to the Indo-Pacific and underlines our joint efforts to bolster economic security.”
From humble beginnings in regional Australia, Pell climbed the ranks to become one of Pope Francis’s most trusted advisers inside the Vatican.
He was also the highest-ranking Catholic to be imprisoned for child sexual abuse, before his convictions were quashed on appeal.
While supporters praised Pell on Wednesday as a modern-day “saint,” victims of Church abuse said his death dredged up painful memories.
Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher confirmed Pell died in Rome in the early hours of Wednesday.
Former conservative Australian prime minister Tony Abbott said his friend’s name had been tainted by a “monstrous allegation.”
“He strikes me as a saint for our times.” But Donald McLeish, from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Pell embodied the Church’s neglect of sexual abuse victims.
“His name is known (by) survivors across the world,” he told AFP.
“Not just for his inaction, but the coldness that he put towards victims and survivors.
“He’s gone but the battle continues.”
Pell’s body will be returned to Australia and buried in the crypt of St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, church officials said.
Australian lawyers, meanwhile, confirmed Wednesday they would plough ahead with a civil case listing Pell as a co-defendant. AFP
INDONESIAN President Joko Widodo on Wednesday expressed regret over mass human rights violations committed in the country’s past, including a violent anti-communist purge in the 1960s and the disappearance of student protesters in the late 1990s.
More than half a million leftists were massacred across the Southeast Asian nation in the mid-1960s, a bloody spectacle that ushered in the long rule of dictator Suharto, whose fervent anticommunist stance remains decades on.
The killings led to the collapse of the now-banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), once among the biggest in the world behind those of China and the Soviet Union.
“With a clear mind and a sincere heart, I, as the leader of this country, admit that gross human rights violations have happened in several incidents and I regret they happened very much,” Widodo said in a speech at the state palace in the capital Jakarta.
“I have sympathy and empathy for the victims and their families.”
He said the government was trying to “rehabilitate” the victims’ rights “without negating the judicial resolution,” without specifying how it would do that. AFP
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, April 25, 2022.
(signed) FERNANDO T. SAGUN, JR. Presiding Judge
Negotiations on the deal, to be signed at the historic Tower of London, began in 2021.
Japan last January signed a similar accord with Australia, and Tokyo has recently overhauled its defence and security policy to address growing pressure from China.
Euan Graham, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, described the deal as “quite a significant step up for both countries in terms of their bilateral defence relationship.” AFP
US PROSECUTORS have filed federal charges against a man who allegedly carried out a “jihad-inspired attack” against police officers near New York City’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve, the US Justice Department said Tuesday.
The four federal charges – all for attempted murder – against Trevor Bickford, 19, add to a slew of New York state charges, some terrorism-related.
Bickford, a resident of the northern state of Maine, allegedly traveled to Times Square on New Year’s Eve “to carry out a brazen act of violence and hatred in the name of jihad,” US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.
At a security checkpoint outside the gathering, Bickford stabbed and hit three
New York police officers with a machete before being shot in the shoulder, the complaint says, adding that all three officers were hospitalized.
The four federal charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to the statement.
“We are deeply grateful for the bravery of the officers who were injured in this horrible attack,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland, who described the assault as “jihad-inspired.”
The criminal complaint alleges Bickford began “accessing and consuming materials espousing radical Islamic ideology” in the summer of 2022 and later was interested in traveling to the Middle East and Afghanistan “to support the Taliban.” AFP
1 LSC 0.83 0.2 31.75%
2 MED 0.21 0.046 28.05%
3 VMC 2.96 0.31 11.70%
4 TFC 48 4.75 10.98%
5 MWIDE 3.34 0.29 9.51%
6 LOTO 1.7 0.14 8.97%
7 DIZ 4 0.32 8.70%
8 LR 2.68 0.18 7.20%
9 FCG 0.77 0.05 6.94%
10 BALAI 0.66 0.04 6.45%
LAST
1 JOH 4.5 -1.61 -26.35%
2 ECP 3.8 -0.6 -13.64%
3 PXP 6.5 -0.86 -11.68%
4 NOW 2.33 -0.29 -11.07%
5 OPM 0.01 -0.001 -9.09%
6 HOME 2.02 -0.16 -7.34%
7 BRN 0.72 -0.05 -6.49%
8 BSC 0.31 -0.02 -6.06%
9 ALLHC 3 -0.14 -4.46%
10 COAL 0.202 -0.009 -4.27%
VOLUME VALUE (PHP)
1 SM 700,020 630,697,845
2 ICT 2,594,950 516,305,128
3 GLO 208,760 432,934,240
4 BDO 3,866,680 428,363,113
5 TEL 268,295 382,206,110
6 MPI 80,157,000 316,491,460
7 BPI 3,009,530 304,704,658
8 CNVRG 15,852,900 287,927,756
9 JFC 1,151,060 275,553,212
10 ACEN 34,137,300 243,506,518
WASHINGTON—US unemployment has stayed low despite rising interest rates and easing inflation, representing a “hopeful sign” that consumer prices can come down without a significant downturn, a Federal Reserve official said Tuesday.
The central bank has raised interest rates multiple times last year to rein in decades-high inflation, working to cool the world’s biggest economy while trying not to tip it into recession.
Slowing the economy typically means that job creation also decelerates as borrowing becomes more expensive.
But Fed governor Michelle Bowman said Tuesday that “unemployment has remained low as we have tightened monetary policy and made progress in lowering inflation” in a prepared speech to an event in Florida.
“I take this as a hopeful sign that we can succeed in lowering inflation without a significant economic downturn,” she added.
Last week, Labor Department figures showed that job gains remained robust in December while the unemployment rate dipped to 3.5 percent.
This comes despite an aggressive campaign by the Fed, which has raised interest rates rapidly from close to zero to 4.25-4.50 percent.
Bowman said she is encouraged by the strength of the job market, along with low debt levels among households.
“Low debt and strong balance sheets together with the strong labor market mean that consumers and businesses can continue to spend even as economic growth slows,” she said.
But she warned that the Fed’s policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee will continue raising interest rates as there remains much work to do to lower inflation.
The benchmark lending rate will likely have to remain at a “sufficiently restrictive” level for some time to restore price stability, she said. AFP
STOCKS fell for a second day on lingering worries over inflation that may force monetary authorities to adjust the interest rates higher and following the World Bank’s reduction in 2023 global growth forecast.
The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark, dropped 47 points, or 0.70 percent, to close at 6,709.34 on Wednesday, as four of the six subsectors declined.
The broader all-share index went down by 19 points, or 0.56 percent, to settle at 3,539.46, on a value turnover of P7.87 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 101 to 89, while 48 issues were unchanged.
Two of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Converge ICT Inc. which rose 1.11 percent to P18.20 and Jollibee Foods Corp. which pick up 0.25 percent to P241.60.
Meanwhile, the peso sustained its strength as it gained 0.13 percent to close at 54.80 against the US dollar Wednesday from 54.87 on Tuesday.
Most Asian equities pushed higher Wednesday as investors were buoyed by China’s reopening and optimism that key data due this week will signal a further slowdown in US inflation.
Traders tracked a Wall Street advance as they brushed off fresh warnings that Federal Reserve rates would continue to rise and a World Bank decision to slash its global growth forecast.
After a stumble Tuesday, regional markets resumed the upward push that has characterised the start of the year thanks to China’s emergence from nearly three years of zero-Covid isolation.
The reopening, easing of Beijing’s tech crackdown and moves to help the property sector have raised hopes for the world’s number-two economy, a crucial driver of world growth.
SPI Asset Management’s Stephen Innes said: “Despite a solid start to the year, there should be a lot more upside to China’s stocks, with earnings upgrades to drive further outperformance.
“Although we are not pitching a tent in that camp just yet, many investors are starting to believe China’s reopening could be faster than expected on pent-up demand, a robust economic rebound and fewer supply constraints.”
Hong Kong rose again, having already added about eight percent so far in 2023. Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Mumbai and Singapore were also in the ascendancy, though there were losses in Shanghai, Wellington, Taipei and Manila.
London, Paris and Frankfurt opened higher. With AFP
SAN FRANCISCO—Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, on Tuesday said it will stop allowing advertisers to target ads at teens based on gender as it fights accusations that its platforms are harmful to young users.
Beginning in February, the social media giant said advertisers, the source of the company’s massive revenues, would only be able to use age and location when targeting ads at teens globally.
In another break with practice, a teen’s previous activity on Meta-owned apps will no longer inform the ads they see, the company said.
In a blog post, Meta said that the changes came because it recognizes “that teens aren’t necessarily as equipped as adults to make decisions about how their online data is used for advertising.”
Meta said that the changes reflected feedback from parents and experts and would comply with new rules in several countries on content geared at young people.
The company formerly known as Facebook is facing increasing pressure and fi nes to curb its practice of delivering narrowly targeted ads to its users, a practice that brings in billions of dollars in revenue from advertisers every year.
After a long legal tussle, the Silicon Valley titan was handed a 390-millioneuro ($413 million) fine last week as part of a years-long tussle with the European Union over advertising.
More worryingly for the firm founded by Mark Zuckerberg, European regulators also rejected the legal basis Meta used to justify gathering users’ personal data for use in targeted advertising.
Google and Apple have also faced investigations and fines by regulators for breaching privacy laws through targeted ads.
In the US, Meta and other social media giants have mostly faced scrutiny from local authorities, with nationwide laws blocked due to intense lobbying by tech giants and a politically divided Congress in Washington.
The public school district in the US city of Seattle last week fi led a lawsuit against tech giants, including Meta, for allegedly causing mental harm, depression and anxiety among students. AFP
By Marchio Gorbiano with Dessy Sagita in Jakarta
BALIKPAPAN—The twisting road that leads to Indonesia’s future capital is lined with dense rainforest and pockets of plantations, punctuated every so often with monkeys enjoying a laze out on the tarmac.
Located in eastern Borneo—the world’s third-largest island—Nusantara is set to replace sinking and polluted Jakarta as Indonesia’s political center by late 2024.
But the two-hour drive from Balikpapan city to the sweeping green expanse of Nusantara’s “Point Zero” reveals the scale of the new capital’s potential impact on a biodiverse area that is home to thousands of animal and plant species.
With construction set to ramp up this year, environmentalists warn building a metropolis will speed up deforestation in one of the world’s largest and oldest stretches of tropical rainforest, estimated to be more than 100 million years old.
“It’s going to be a massive ecological disaster,” Uli Arta Siagian, forest campaigner for environmental group Walhi, told AFP.
The island that Indonesians call the “lungs of the world”—shared with Malaysia and Brunei—is home to longnosed monkeys, clouded leopards, pigtailed macaques, flying fox-bats and the smallest rhinos on the planet.
But by 2045, the Indonesian government says Nusantara will host 1.9 million residents, more than twice Balikpapan’s population, importing a wave of human and industrial activity into the heart of Borneo.
The relocation to the 2,560-square-kilo-
metre (990-square-mile) area follows capital moves by Brazil to Brasilia —considered an urban utopia failure —and Myanmar to the ghost town of Naypyidaw.
Drastic changes to the land’s topography and the man-made disasters that could follow “will be severe and far more difficult to mitigate compared to natural disasters,” said Siagian.
Indonesia also has one of the world’s highest rates of deforestation linked to mining, farming and logging and is accused of allowing firms to operate in Borneo with little oversight.
The government, however, says it wants to spread economic development —long centered on densely populated Java—around the vast archipelago na-
tion and to move away from Jakarta before the city sinks due to excessive groundwater extraction.
‘Working with nature’ Indonesian President Joko Widodo has pitched a utopian vision of a “green” city four times the size of Jakarta where residents would commute on electric buses.
His city authority chief, Bambang Susantono, presented the initial plan to journalists in mid-December, pledging carbon neutrality by 2045 in what he dubbed the world’s first-ever sustainable forest city.
Architect Sofian Sibarani is in charge of creating a master plan for the new city, outlining everything from road
maps to a transit system. He insisted that his plan envisaged “minimum changes to the environment”.
Sibarani spoke of a metropolis that appears out of the jungle, rather than replaces it.
“We are trying to create (a city that is) working with nature instead of working against it,” he said.
Initial projects include a parliament, workers’ homes, a dam, a grand mosque and a presidential palace shaped as the towering mythical bird Garuda.
Experts, including Sibarani, however have warned authorities against breakneck building.
“My concern is if you rush this, we may compromise,” he said.
‘Erased our traces’
Nusantara could also displace generations-old Indigenous communities.
Sibukdin, a local Indigenous Balik tribe leader who goes by one name, sat in a wooden house on land marked for the city as he expressed fears the development will drive away his people.
Like other Indigenous groups in Borneo, thousands of Balik tribe members rely on the forest to meet their daily needs.
More than 90 percent of the forest the tribe uses for hunting and foraging has already been lost to commercial activity since the 1970s, Sibukdin said.
A nearby tribal cemetery was demolished because of the dam project, leaving him “heartbroken”.
“It erased our traces,” he said.
While officials have vowed to respect Indigenous rights and compensate those affected by Nusantara, provincial officials said they would verify all land claims and only accept ownership proof. AFP
TOKYO—Uniqlo’s parent company said Wednesday it would raise the wages of thousands of its employees in Japan by up to 40 percent to help it become more competitive globally.
The salary bump will apply to around 8,400 fulltime employees out of the 56,000 working for parent company Fast Retailing in Japan.
The increases will vary across staff categories, with newly arrived employees likely to see a bump of
less than 20 percent, while those in managerial roles or with more experience could earn up to 40 percent more a year.
In a statement, Fast Retailing said it hoped the increased pay packets would lead to the “growth of individuals” and, in turn, “even greater global competitiveness.”
The pay rises, along with other adjustments to the salaries of part-time workers announced last year, will see Fast Retailing’s personnel costs in Japan rise
about 15 percent.
The move comes with Japanese inflation at 3.7 percent in November, the highest figure since 1981, and follows calls from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for higher wages.
But Fast Retailing did not cite the Japanese economic situation in announcing the pay rises, saying instead that salaries would now be based on “globally aligned” criteria. AFP
PSE INDEX CLOSING Wednesday, January
11, 2023 -47.35 PTS.
TOTAL VOLUME 1,552,769,107 TOTAL TRADES 94,569 TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) 7,866,418,049.14 ADVANCES 89
F
Saudi Arabia Rial 0.26653914.6218 BruneiDollar0.74839141.0552 IndonesiaRupiah0.0000640.0035 Thailand Baht 0.0299041.6405 UAE Dirham0.27230114.9379
THE Department of Energy approved a gas-swapping arrangement to address the projected electricity supply shortage especially during the dry months this year.The agreement focuses on using Malampaya gas intended for First Gas power plants to run the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas plant in Batangas owned by South Premiere Power Corp. Government and industry sources confirmed that the DOE called a meeting on Dec. 27, 2022, with power industry representatives to create a contingency plan to ensure sufficient power supply amid forecasts of yellow alerts this year.
A DOE official said the gas-swapping arrangement is a “win-win solution where no one loses but everyone benefits” and “ease worries about power supply when demand rises in March to July.”
The agency forecasts yellow alerts or thin power supply on March 12 to 18, March 26 to April 1, April 23 to 29, the entire May, June 1 to June 10, Aug. 17 to Sept. 2, Oct. 15 to 21 and Nov. 19 to 25.
“Given DOE’s main objective to lower electricity prices, it commits to help with all government processes required to implement the gas swapping arrangement, including endorsement to ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission],” the DOE said in the minutes of the meeting, Energy officials and representatives from Manila Electric Co., First Gas, Prime Energy and SPPC attended the meeting.
Energy Undersecretaries Sharon Garin and Rowena Guevara, together with director Irma Exconde, were present during the meeting.
Garin said the DOE supports the gasswapping arrangement if it helps the economy.
The meeting ended with several agreements, such as First Gas proposing to run two units of the Santa Rita power plant on liquid fuel, making available to Meralco around 80 million standard cubic feet per day of Malampaya gas under the Santa Rita gas supply and purchase agreement.
AIRASIA Philippines said Wednesday it is on a path to strong recovery this year as it recorded an overall load factor of 75 percent in the first 10 days of January.
The Philippine unit of Malaysia’s AirAsia said Caticlan (Boracay) topped the list of most booked domestic destinations, with an 85-percent load factor, followed by Tacloban (75 percent) and Cebu (70 percent).
Incheon, South Korea was the most preferred international destination among Filipino travelers, with its flight originating from Cebu and Manila achieving a 97-percent and 95-percnt load factor respectively.
Osaka, Japan, another preferred travel destination, is now at 75-percent load factor.
AirAsia said it is also set to open its Tokyo (via Narita International Airport) route next month.
AirAsia is offering P71 one-way base fare to domestic and international destinations such as Osaka, Tokyo, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Incheon. The seat sale is available for booking until Jan. 15 for travels from Jan. 9 to July 31, 2023.
AirAsia Philippines said it received a perfect seven out of seven rating for both safety and COVID-19 compliance.
Airlineratings.com, an international aviation rating organization, named AirAsia Philippines as among the 20 safest lowcost airlines in the world in 2023.
AirAsia also bested other local and international low-cost airlines in terms of incident records over the past two years, positive results of audits conducted by the governing body of aviation and fleet age.
“In AirAsia, we live and breathe safety. From the challenges brought by the pandemic to the most recent incident impairing the country’s communications and navigation facilities, our Allstar employees have demonstrated professionalism, tenacity, and resilience,” AirAsia Philippines chief executive Ricky Isla said.
VEHICLE sales grew 31.3 percent last year to 352,596 units from 268,488 in 2021 on the recovery of the domestic economy and the reopening of business activities.
The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report that sales increased across all segments and categories, except for category V for trucks and buses last year.
December car sales accelerated 33.8 percent to 37,259 units from 27,846 a year ago.
“The new motor vehicle sales of 37,259 units in December was the highest monthly performance recorded, which contributed in achieving its full-
year sales of 352,596 units,” said CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez.
“It is worth mentioning that the 37,000-level figure was recorded back in 2017. Achieving it again brings us renewed optimism for a better year ahead for the auto industry,” Gutierrez said.
“With this, CAMPI-TMA sales alone has exceeded the total industry sales forecast of 336,000 units—strong evidence that the industry has recovered from the impact of the pandemic and other external challenges,” he said.
The bulk of the growth came from sales of commercial vehicles which grew 45.6 percent to 266,699 units from 183,228 units in 2021.
Passenger car sales also grew, although at a much slower pace than the commercial care segment. Sales for the passenger car segment rose 0.7 percent to 85,897 units from 85,260 units.
Among the commercial car segment, sales of category V trucks and buses dipped 21.1 percent to 889 units from 1,127 units.
Passenger car sales went up 2 percent in December to 8,614 units from 8,447,
while commercial car sales jumped 47.7 percent to 28,645 from 19,339.
Sales in December also improved by 6.7 percent from 35,037 units delivered in November. Passenger car sales slowed 3.55 percent to 8,614 units in December from 8,931 in November.
Commercial vehicle sales rose 9.7 percent to 28,645 units from 26,106 units.
Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. remained the market leader with 46.37-market share, followed by Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. with 15.37 percent.
Ford Motor Company Philippines Inc. accounted for 9.2-percent market share, while Nissan Philippines Inc. placed fourth, with 6.86 percent and Isuzu Philippines Corp. ranked fifth with 6.61 percent.
“The continued expansion of the economy, creation of new jobs and opportunities is just as important as ensuring that no pandemic disruption occurs anew this year. Nonetheless, the industry will continue to capitalize on the growing market demand for new motor vehicles,” Gutierrez said.
NET inflows of foreign direct investments rose 6.3 percent in October 2022 to $923 million from $868 million a year ago on investors’ sustained confidence in the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.
This brought the net inflows from January to October 2022 to $7.6 billion, down 8.3 percent from $8.3 billion in the same period in 2021.
“Despite the global economic headwinds, FDI net inflow rose [in October 2022] on account of the increase in nonresidents’ net investments in debt instruments and equity capital of their local affiliates,” the BSP said in a statement.
It said that by country source, equity
capital placements came largely from Japan, the United States and Singapore. The investments were channeled mainly to financial and insurance, manufacturing and real estate sectors.
The BSP revised lower the FDI net inflow projection for 2022 to $8.5 billion from the previous estimate of $10.5 billion, taking into account the uncertain global trade environment. These headwinds include the more subdued global growth projection, higher inflation, continuing war between Russia and Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic.
FDIs hit an all-time high of $12.4 billion in 2021, breaching the previous record of $10.3 billion in 2017.
The BSP statistics on FDI are compiled based on the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position
Manual, 6th Edition.
FDIs include investment by a non-resident direct investor in a resident enterprise, whose equity capital in the latter is at least 10 percent, and investment made by a non-resident subsidiary/associate in its resident direct investor. They are in the forms of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings and borrowings.
The BSP FDI statistics are distinct from the investment data of other government sources. BSP’s FDI covers actual investment inflows, while the approved foreign investments data published by the Philippine Statistics Authority are sourced from investment promotion agencies and represent investment commitments, which may not necessarily be realized fully, in a given period.
STATE-RUN National Electrification Administration ordered the removal of Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc.’s board of directors for alleged “longstanding irregularities.”
NEA said the BENECO directors allegedly availed of and mismanaged substantial loans to the detriment of the electric cooperative and amended the terms of payment for several service providers without the required approval of NEA.
It said the removed BENECO directors were disqualifi ed for reinstatement or reemployment in any electric cooperative, to run as candidates for a board position in any cooperative, with their other monetary benefi ts forfeited. It also ordered them to refund to BENECO the disallowed amounts they received.
NEA approved the creation of Task Force BENECO to act as the board of directors in the interim. It will be composed of representatives from various
BSP
First Metro sees GDP growing 6% this year
First Metro president Jose Patricio Dumlao said in an online economic and capital markets briefing on Wednesday the economy would grow at a slower rate than in 2022.
“Amidst the unexpected challenges in the global economy in the past year, the Philippines pulled through and grew 7.7 percent [in the first nine months] driven by strong domestic demand,” Dumlao said.
“This year, we continue to anticipate external headwinds—slower global growth, interest rates and inflation will remain elevated and volatility will persist – which will temper growth. In the face of all this, the economy will remain resilient and is expected to expand by 6.0 percent,” Dumlao said.
He said the GDP growth would be fueled by robust domestic demand. The reopening of the economy, removal of restrictions on people’s mobility and business operations are expected to push household consumption, employment, services and government spending. Julito G. Rada
Megawide plans P1.5-b preferred share o ering
Megawide filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission the preliminary prospectus for the offering of 15 million preferred shares at P100 apiece. The preferred shares, which are cumulative, nonvoting, non-participating, non-convertible and redeemable, will be offered to investors from March 13 to 21, subject to approval by the corporate regulators.
The preferred shares will be listed on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange on March 31.
Megawide said it would use the proceeds from the fund raising activity to redeem its outstanding Series 2A perpetual preferred shares issued in 2020, which would be due for step-up in May.
The company hired RCBC Capital as the sole issue manager, lead underwriter and book runner for the transaction. Jenniffer B. Austria
USAID donating P1b to help 30,000 MSMEs
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Calson said the five-year cooperation aimed to “strengthen Philippine private enterprises through coordinated efforts across all e-commerce segments and with all digital partners.”
sectors such as the business, academe/ education, consumer/professional, agricultural and religious sectors.
The agency also recalled the probationary employment of BENECO’s general manager effective immediately.
It said BENECO’s rating as an electric cooperative regressed to category C from AAA category in the 2019 NEA EC overall performance assessment.
The Department of Energy directed NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda to act as BENECO’s project supervisor for six months, which was ratified by the NEA board of administrators.
Almeda will supervise the management and operation of the electric coop to ensure the delivery of electric service to the member-consumer-owners.
BENECO network systems manager Ramel Rifani will act as acting general manager for six months.
Alena Mae S. FloresNEA orders removal of BENECO directors
By Alena Mae S. Flores
SURPASSING the Philippines’ performance in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games will be the mission of the national team in 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary general Edward Kho said this following talks with the coaches, who are now headed by Jojo Poadas.
“That’s the bare minimum na puwedeng makuha ng Philippines in terms of medals. And we can do this with the athletes that we have,” said Kho.
The Philippines collected five golds, seven silvers and 14 bronze medals in the last SEA Games.
Veteran coach Posadas is taking over from Dario de Rosas, who remains with the coaching staff with Sean Guevarra.
Posadas talked in detail with Kho of his action plans, along with former Gintong Alay standout Isidro del Prado, a two-time 400-meters’ Olympian, who recently returned to the Philippines after spending years in Brunei. He replaces Julius Nierras.
Making up the rest of the 11-man coaching staff are Geoffrey Chua, John Lozada and Ed Buenavista in sprint, middle- and long-distance running, Emerson Obiena in pole vault, Joebert Delicano in jumping and Danilo Fresnido and Arnel Ferrera in throw events.
For now, Filipino tracksters are preparing for the National Open in Isabela this March, before competing in the SEA Games in May, and the Asian Indoor Championships, Asian Championships, World Championships and the Asian Games later this year.
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.
They are preparing for the 10th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships slated from Feb. 10 to 12 in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan. Peter Atencio
THE Philippine national women’s football team is all set to join qualifying matches for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The world no. 53-ranked Filipinas will get to find out who they are up against when the official draw is held Thursday at the Asian Football Confederation House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Filipinas have been placed in Pot 1 in the draw together with Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and India.
The first round of the qualifiers will have 26 teams that will be divided into five groups of four.
There will also be two of groups of three that will be in a one-round league format that will be done in a centralized venue from April 3 to 11.
“We’ve raised the expectations of the country, which is fantastic. We’ve raised the expectations of the playing group, which is even better now. It’s about the players competing not just for the country, but competing for spots, increasing the depth and the flexibility,” said Filipinas’ coach Allen Stajcic.
Only the top teams from the seven groups will advance to the next round.
The advancing squads will join the five highest-seeded teams composed of North Korea, Japan, Australia, China PR, and Korea Republic.
From the 12 teams in the second round, only the three group winners and the best second placer will move on to the home-and-away playoff matches for the two spots to the Olympics.
The seeds for the first-round draw are based on the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking released on December 9, 2022.
The last time around, the Philippines made it to the second round of qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
But the Filipinas, known before as the Malditas then, fell out of contention with their loss to Chinese Taipei.
The Filipinas are supported by team manager Jefferson Cheng, the Philippine Sports Commission and the MVP Sports Foundation.
Peter AtencioTHE return of Myles Powell was a blessing for the Bay Area Dragons and a big problem for the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings on Wednesday night as the Dragons took Game 6 of the 2022-2023 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
With a record number of 22,361 fans in attendance watching, Powell provided the answers to the Dragons’ offensive needs, including two of four free throw shots he sinked in the last 5.4 seconds carrying the Dragons to an 87-84 triumph over the Gin Kings.
The 25-year-old Powell went on to finish with 29 points and seven rebounds for the Dragons, who tied their best-of-seven series with the Kings at 3-all.
Hayden Blankley added 20 points for the Dragons, who will engage the Gin Kings in a deciding Game 7 on Sunday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Powell, who was brought back into the Dragons’ roster to replace injured import Andrew Nicholson, scored a charity apiece in the seven-second and five-second marks on fouls by Nards Pinto and Scottie Thompson for the final count.
The Gin Kings, who missed a chance
to take the crown outright, had chances to force an overtime.
But Japeth Aguilar bungled a threepoint attempt at the buzzer.
“It’s totally will. We showed it with his spirit. And our guys know that. We put the ball in his (Powell’s) hands in the last five minutes when we were down by seven. And he took us to the promised land. And now, we got another one,” said Bay Area coach Brian Goorjian.
Justin Brownlee topscored for the Gin Kings with 37 points, but the Dragons’ defensive touches limited him to just five in the last period.
The Gin Kings kept matters close in the last 2:24 off Brownlee’s layup, 84-85.
They tried overtaking the Dragons in the remaining time, but Brownlee and Stanley Pringle missed their triples, and Thompson turned the ball over on a bad pass in the final 29 seconds.
At the same time, Blankley and Powell misfired on their triples as well.
The turnout was the highest attendance in a finals’ game, eclipsing the 23,711 fans, who came to watch the 2019 season opening of the Philippine Cup at the Philippine Arena in a contest involving Ginebra and the TNT Tropang Giga.
It was also the largest since 22,528 went to see the title-clinching Game 6 of 2016 Governor’s Cup between Ginebra and Meralco.
The Scores:
BAY AREA 87 – Powell 29, Blankley 23, Yang 10, Zhu 10, Lam 9, Liu 4, Reid 2, Zheng 0, Ju 0
GINEBRA 84 – Brownlee 37, J.Aguilar 12, Standhardinger 12, Thompson 8, Pringle 8, Malonzo 4, Pinto 3, Tenorio 0, Gray 0,
QUARTERS: 25-20, 50-42, 66-64, 87-84
CHINGIZ “Chinga” Allazov urged ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon Singha Mawynn to stand and trade with him when they meet in their long-awaited World Title showdown.
Allazov and Superbon are set to throw down in the main event of ONE Fight Night 6 this Saturday, January 14, at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
The challenger hopes to have a fight to remember against the top pound-for-pound kickboxer on the planet – if Superbon obliges.
Allazov reminded his Thai counterpart to remember the words he used against kickboxing great Giorgio Petrosyan, who Superbon urged to brawl with him.
“Before, Superbon said to Petrosyan that Petrosyan is not a fighter—that he was a player. I say the same now. For me, Superbon is not a fighter. He’s a player, you know?” Allazov said.
The Belarusian kickboxer expects the Thai superstar to keep his distance by utilizing his kicks and avoiding a direct fight. That approach, according to Allazov, will make for a very boring fight, something he wants to avoid.
“He doesn’t like punching. He doesn’t like real fights. He has this clever game plan. He has kicks, kicks, kicks, [but] after that, maybe he would like [to] fight,” he said.
“He doesn’t like a boxing fight. He doesn’t like a
power fight.”
Should Superbon decide to play by Allazov’s rules, the title challenger believes that the 32-yearold Singha Mawynn standout will have a rough time.
Allazov has seen Superbon make mistakes in the past, and if he slips against him, he promises to make him pay.
“I’m one of the biggest problems for [Superbon]. He knows this,” Allazov continued.
“He has good timing, he has a good universal style. I have kicks and power over him. He’s a very good fighter, but maybe he [will] make a little mistake, and it [will be] a big problem in his fight with me.”
AFTER
ment that gathers the top club teams in the Middle East.
“We all know JD (Cagulangan) can make big shots and lead a championship team he’s been doing it for a while now,” said Lao. “I’m just excited for him to showcase his talents as he gets the chance to represent the country.”
Apart from Lopez, team owner Jacob Lao announced the inclusion of UP’s Joel Cagulangan, Adamson’s Jerom Lastimosa and College of St. Benilde’s Miguel Oczon to the team that is out to keep the country’s dominance in the tourna-
Lao once expressed his gratitude to the Gilas management for allowing Lopez to suit up for the team that is determined to keep the crown to a Philippine club team.
Mighty Sports completed a grand sweep of the title three years ago to become the first club team outside of the Middle East to win the event.
“Great talent. Still raw but we are hopeful we can give him the opportunity to improve himself and gain some experience,” said Strong Group coach Charles Tiu.
Tiu is likewise convinced the team is already good enough but his main con-
cern for now is how to develop team chemistry with less than three weeks to prepare.
What excites Tiu is the presence of Cagulangan, Oczon and Lastimosa in the team, saying: “I love shooting guards and we are thankful they (their schools) allow them to play for us.
“Hopefully they will improve further playing with and against some great players,” Tiu added.
The team is reinforced by former NBA star Nick Young, ex-PBA import Shabazz Muhammad and Renaldo Balkman, the same player who helped Mighty Sports win the title the last time.
Also named in the lineup are Korean Basketball League-bound Justine Baltazar, NCAA MVP and College of St. Benilde forward Will Gozum, and former Ateneo Blue Eagles BJ Andrade and Inand Fornillos.
Bay Area’s Myles Powell is double-teamed by Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson in Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals won by the Dragons, 87-84.PARIS—Lionel Messi is expected to make his first appearance for Paris Saint-Germain since his World Cup triumph in a Ligue 1 clash at home against Angers on Wednesday, as the Qatar-owned club look to tie the Argentine down to a new contract.
The 35-year-old took part in training with his teammates on Tuesday, a little over three weeks after inspiring Argentina to victory over France on penalties in an epic World Cup final in Qatar.
He was granted a two-week holiday back in his home country following the tournament, before returning to Paris and being given a guard of honour at PSG’s training ground last Wednesday.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who scored 12 goals in 19 games this season for his club prior to the World Cup, did not take part in PSG’s win at third-tier side Chateauroux in the French Cup at the weekend.
But he could start as the Ligue 1 leaders play host to an Angers side who are bottom of the table and have lost their last nine league outings.
How Messi approaches the second half of the campaign in France after a career-defining World Cup will be closely observed, with his initial two-year deal in Paris coming to an end.
However, the Qatar-owned club are in talks to extend his contract with coach Christophe Galtier insisting the former Barcelona star is settled in the French capital.
“I know there are talks and that the club has spoken to Leo but I don’t know where they are at,” Galtier told reporters on Tuesday.
“Leo seems to me to be happy in Paris and I think there is a real desire on behalf of the club to extend Leo’s contract,” added Galtier, who said that Luis Campos, PSG’s football advisor, was in discussions with Messi’s representatives along with president Nasser al-Khelaifi.
Kylian Mbappe, scorer of a hattrick for France in the World Cup final, may again be rested for PSG’s midweek game after missing their French Cup victory as he took a holiday in New York along with teammate Achraf Hakimi. AFP
MELBOURNE—Novak Djokovic has won the Australian Open a record nine times but a 10th title in Melbourne this month will be the most satisfying of all after his humiliating ban a year ago.
Twelve months ago the Serbian superstar, one of the finest men’s tennis players of all time, was at the centre of a global firestorm as he fought deportation from Australia.
The 35-year-old’s refusal to get vaccinated against Covid sparked a highprofile legal battle which eventually saw him turfed out of the country on the eve of the Grand Slam.
In his absence his great rival Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open for a record 21st major crown.
Some people, including former world number one Jim Courier, felt Djokovic was the victim of politics in what was an election year in Australia.
Djokovic, who was held for a while in an immigration detention centre as the saga played out, now goes into next week’s showpiece as the red-hot favourite to win it.
If he does, it will be his 22nd Grand Slam title, tying him with Nadal at the top of the all-time men’s list.
Many in Australia were glad to see the back of Djokovic in January 2022, but there are indications that public sentiment has softened since.
He enjoyed strong support from the crowd as he blew away the rest of the field last week to win in Adelaide for the 92nd ATP title of his career -- level with the Spaniard Nadal.
“The support I have been getting in the last 10 days was something that I don’t think I’ve experienced too many times in my life,” Djokovic said after saving a match point in the final against Sebastian Korda on Sunday.
Last month, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a survey showed 30 percent of Australians now supported him being allowed into the country, up
from 14 percent in January last year.
Along with his ominous form, the cards look to have fallen Djokovic’s way this time.
There are indications that age and injury are catching up with Nadal. The 36-yearold has lost six of his past seven matches stretching back to the US Open, where he went out in the last 16 to Frances Tiafoe.
Roger Federer is no longer in the picture, having retired last year, and world number one Carlos Alcaraz—the new kid on the block—s out of Melbourne with injury.
Daniil Medvedev, the losing finalist in 2021 and 2022, is the most obvious threat aside from Nadal, having beaten Djokovic in the 2021 US Open final to win his lone major.
Djokovic though outclassed the Russian 6-3, 6-4 last week in the Adelaide semi-finals and Medvedev has dropped to eighth in the world.
‘Emotional baggage’ Mats Wilander, a former world number one who won seven Grand Slam titles, believes Djokovic is “pretty heavy favourite” in Melbourne and will be doubly motivated by what happened last year. AFP
PARIS—The president of France’s national audit office Pierre Moscovici said on Tuesday the cost to the public purse of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games could be around three billion euros.
In December, the organizing committee, which is running the games and is largely privately funded but is receiving some public money, increased its budget by 10% to 4.4 million euros (4.7 billion dollars).
That is the same as Solideo, a partly publically-funded company, responsible for building facilities and infrastructure has estimated its work will ultimately cost. It is receiving 1.87 billion euros from the public purse.
Moscovici told the French Senate’s Culture, Education and Sport commission that his estimate of a final public bill of “around three billion euros” included government expenditure on the Games and on security, health and transport.
He said currently the total was 2.4 billion euros with 1.3 billion euros from the national government and 1.1 billion euros from local authorities.
The Games often suffer budgetary drift which puts a strain on public trust,” Moscivici said as he presented a report on the Olympics. But, he added, for Paris “We have not seen any significant slippage.”
The Games begin on July 26 next year. AFP
The spectator was standing “behind a sand dune” on the rally track when the accident occurred, and died on the transfer by helicopter to hospital, race organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (AMO) said in a statement.
The 358km drive through wadis, canyons and dunes saw Toyata driver Al-Attiyah, 52, finish 11min 8sec adrift of the stage winner, nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb.
However, the pressure further eased on Al-Attiyah as his closest pursuer
overnight, the South African driver Henk Lategan, suffered a mechanical problem and lost 40 minutes.
Al-Attiyah holds a lead of 1hr 21min over another Toyota driver, Brazil’s Lucas Moraes, with Loeb a further 19min in arrears.
“Today we did a really good job without any mistakes, without any problems,” said Al-Attiyah, bidding to become the first back to back winner since ‘Mr Dakar’ Stephane Peterhansel in 2016/17.
“We need to take it day by day like this without any problems. We have a big gap now and I hope to finish and to win this Dakar.”
Three-time Dakar Rally car champion Carlos Sainz showed gritty determination in ordering a helicopter ambulance to turn around and return him to
his stricken car but the Spaniard was forced to pull out of the race.
The 60-year-old’s Audi came to grief just six kilometres into the stage and as a precaution he and his co-pilot Lucas Cruz were airlifted to hospital.
“The Spaniard wished to have a chance of resuming the race and demanded that the helicopter ambulance turn round and drop him back at his car,” ASO said in a statement.
The two-time world rally champion had lost all hope of a fourth title last Friday when a front wheel came off in an accident.
Despite suffering from chest pain as a result of the mishap he insisted on carrying on and started Tuesday’s stage languishing in 100th spot, over 29 hours in arrears of Al-Attiyah.
“Unfortunately, in today’s accident, the car was seriously damaged and cannot be repaired,” Sainz later posted on Twitter.
“It is with great regret that we have to abandon the Dakar, but the important thing is that nothing serious has happened.”
‘More and more challenges’
Earlier Argentinian rider Luciano Benavides, younger brother of title contender Kevin, won the stage in the motorcycling category.
The 27-year-old Husqvarna motorcyclist secured his second stage win of this year’s race as he timed 1min 2sec faster over the 358-kilometre special than Australian Toby Price on a KTM.
Overall leader Skyler Howes of the United States was third, 2min 57sec off the pace set by the stage winner.
Howes retains the overall lead for a fifth successive day but he enjoys a razor-thin advantage over Price of three seconds as the ultimate test of endurance enters its decisive stages with the climax on Sunday.
“It was a demanding stage, for sure, with lots of water,” said Howes.
“It was super crazy. We were going through giant rivers in the middle of the desert. AFP
THE Ryukyu Golden Kings have taken interest in University of the Philippines’ big man Carl Tamayo, who has accepted an offer to play for them in the Japan B.League.
The 6’7” Tamayo has already bid the Fighting Maroons goodbye, with still three more playing years left in University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.
“(Tamayo) is a promising player in the future. His nickname is “Tama-chan,” said the Golden Kings in their post on Twitter.
Officials of the Golden Kings said in a post that the big games played by Tamayo throughout Season 85 of the UAAP cagefest caught their fancy and convinced management to get a Filipino import to suit up for them.
Tamayo confirmed on Tuesday that he will soon join the Golden Kings, who are currently in fifth spot in Division 1 of the ongoing season of the B.League.
The Golden Lions have a new coach, Dai Oketani, who came from the Sendai 89ers.
“I would like to share with everyone that I have been invited to play in the Japanese B.League, and after consulting my family, coach Gold [Monteverde], my teammates, and the UPMBT management, I have decided to accept the offer to play professionally in Japan,” said Tamayo in a statement, and in a message to the UP community.
UP men’s basketball program Bo Perasol said they have accepted Tamayo’s decision to leave the Maroons at this time.
“Becoming a professional basketball player is a dream I have had ever since I started playing organized basketball. It will allow me to care of my family, while playing the game that I love,” added Tamayo.
The 21-year-old Tamayo played 36 games for UP and averaged 13.08 points and 7.36 rebounds, earning UAAP Mythical Team in both seasons played last year.
Tamayo was grateful for the time he spent playing for the Maroons.
“If there is one thing I learned as a member of the UP Maroons, it is that we can count on the UP community to support us through thick or thin. Ito ang sinasabi nila nu’ng hindi pa ako miyembro ng Maroons, at ito ang nakita ko nu’ng suot ko na ang maroon jersey ko, UP has the loudest, most supportive fans in the UAAP. Matatapang, matatalino, walang takot kahit kanino,” he said.
He is the third UP Fighting Maroon to find a team abroad, following the departure of Ricci Rivero and Javi Gomez de Liano.
BAD Bunny, Frank Ocean, and Blackpink will headline this April’s Coachella, the California desert festival that kicks off the summer concert circuit, organizers announced Tuesday.
It’s set to be a history-making weekend, with Bad Bunny – the world’s most-streamed artist – as the first Spanish-language and first Latin American artist to headline. And K-pop group Blackpink of South Korea is the first Asian act to receive a top billing at the festival.
Both acts debuted at Coachella in 2019 to great fanfare, teeing up an eventual headlining slot. Ocean was originally booked as a headliner for the 2020 edition, which organizers postponed and eventually scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reclusive R&B singer Ocean, who hasn’t released an album since 2016’s Blonde, is anticipated to debut new work at this year’s festival.
Also slated to play sets are Spanish phenomenon Rosalia, Iceland’s Bjork, and Nigeria’s Burna Boy. English virtual band Gorillaz will also perform, as will New Wave pioneers Blondie and the American indie rock supergroup boygenius which includes Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker
France’s Christine and the Queens, who has been performing under the name Redcar, will also return for the mammoth event, after wowing audiences there in 2019.
Domi and JD Beck, the rising jazz duo comprised of a French keyboardist and American drummer, will also take the stage, months after they’re slated to compete for a prestigious Best New Artist Grammy in early February.
Coachella will take place over two three-day weekends, from April 14 to 16 and 21 to 23. AFP
MANY years ago while watching My Chemical Romance perform in Manila, my good friend and colleague Mario Dumaual approached me and asked if I am an “emo.”
I had to say I belong to the teens of alternative rock ‘90s, and then admit I was really enjoying the show of a band largely identified with millennials. I was anticipating the moment when they would play their signature hit “Helena.”
Honestly, it took a long while before I got to dig into what was labeled as emo. By the time I was regularly listening to a number of emo songs, new genres were already emerging. But I expect that the emo thing will reappear in new forms as long as music fans or future generations of youth remain, well, emotional.
True enough, more than a decade later I heard about something called emo trap. It is a genre showcasing beats of rap and hip-hop music, with more lyricism and requiring extra vulnerability from the singer so as to really connect.
I encountered this four-piece emo trap group called Soultary. Their new song “Blocked” perfectly provides what the genre offers.
This new digital single is released January 13. Its timing, on the second Friday of the new year, and a month before Valentine’s Day, appears to be perfect. The listening public is looking for new tracks to groove along with. With the pandemic tapering off and the concert scene back, genres to give new flavors are welcome.
Driven by fast beats and slow, catchy melodies complimenting each other, “Blocked” is poised to push emo trap to
PARANORMAL
“Sudden death ng isang komedyante Isang beteranong aktor dapat magingat sa kanyang kinakain Si aktres G, mas dapat pag-ingatan na ang kanyang health,” she said in the 2023 Predictions ni Stargazer video uploaded on FYE Channel on YouTube.
“Isang pamosong singer ang kailangan ding mag-ingat sa kanyang kalusugan. Isang former songstress ay magiging kontrobersyal dahil sa bisyo,” she added.
Stargazer also encouraged viewers to be open about these predictions and consider them as warnings to make lives better.
Ang attitude natin is keep an open mind. Wala naman masama po na ikaw ay mag-iingat. Kaya po nabigyan ng gifts na ito is to warn ang make our lives better,” she said.
She likewise talked about her visions covering various parts of the world, mentioning the possibility of riots and strikes, calamities such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption, and tsunami, a mysterious new disease, and an animal species discovery in the Amazon.
Aside from detailing her 2023 predictions, the former DZMM anchor also shared the process she goes through in capturing her annual predictions which includes prayer,
focus, and meditation, and she revealed that sometimes, visions do come unexpectedly.
Hindi po lahat dumarating in one sitting. May mga pagkakataon na even in my dreams pupunta po yan at paggising ko maaaala ko at isusulat ko. Minsan nanahimik po ako dumadating ang vision. Or even pag may kausap ako nagko-cross po ang vision.”
new heights in this part of the music sphere.
Soultary’s latest single vividly depicts the frustration and feelings that come with blocking someone or being blocked on social media. Thanks to its simple but strong hook, and singable rap lines. It possesses quick, relatable, and heartfelt verses on the nature of romantic relationships.
Soultary was formed via social media. This collective force of aspiring musicians is composed of Mirikle, Keyaru, L Frost, and Liens – all seeing each other’s passion for making music. The more they got closer, the further they discovered how their interests truly align.
Penned by all four, “Blocked” is released under Bandido Rekords, a division of Widescope Entertainment. The recording definitely benefited from the talented troika of executive producer Vic de Vera, supervising producer Neil Gregorio, and producer Paulo Golding
Golding is known in the biz by his stage name King Promdi. As A&R executive, he has collaborated with the label’s top honchos to help enhance the popularity of emo trap.
“Blocked” justifies cutting someone off while also sympathizing with the unsolved feelings lingering after getting blocked.
In February 2022, the four new friends decided to venture out into the music scene under the name Soultary. Their love for nostalgia and natural sentimentality have weaved through their music, right from their debut hit song “Ayusin.” Their audiences are admiring them both for their lyricism and bold beats that sustain and hit right home.
While all four Soultary members grew up in separate areas in the Philippines, their bond emphasizes that music does bring people closer together. It is a bond founded on respect and similar taste in music.
Since the new year is a time for new songs to get ahead of the pack, “Blocked” promises to be a strong candidate for the next viral tune, and more significantly, a key track in empowering a fast-rising genre in the current local music scene.
ACADEMY Award-winner Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash) is taking things to a whole new level. Go behind the scenes and experience the movie magic of Babylon in a newly released featurette about the director.
Babylon is an original epic set in 1920s Los Angeles led by Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, and Diego Calva, with an ensemble cast including Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, and Li Jun Li. A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.
Babylon is the result of 15 years of research and world-building that started in Chazelle’s head long before he typed the first draft of the script and stepped behind the camera to bring his long-gestating epic to life.
“I wanted to look under the microscope at the early days of an art form and an industry, when both were still finding their footing,” says Chazelle, “and, on a deeper level, I liked the idea of looking at a society in change.”
“There was an incredibly diverse group of pioneers building an industry from scratch combined with a manic pace of creativity that created a strange brew of sex, drugs, and music that may never be duplicated,” Chazelle continues. “It’s that alchemy that attracted so many fascinating characters to the edge of the desert to create a new industry and turn motion pictures into a new art form that was still really in its infancy when the movie begins.”
“That’s what I wanted to explore — the
my lower back.
After my aqua treatment, I chanced upon Lem Senillo, The Farm’s Spa manager. He just finished entertaining a few guests and I was on my way to the reception area to meet my butler.
“How was your treatment?” the brighteyed Senillo asked me as soon as he saw me walking towards him.
“I feel like a renewed person,” I responded in jest but deep inside, that encapsulated my entire experience.
ON my way to Batangas to spend a weekend at The Farm at San Benito, while scrolling through my Instagram feed, watching reels, I chanced upon a video that talks about health not being “perfect” with food or exercise or herbs. The less than one-minute clip, with Harry Styles’s “As It Was” song playing in the background, points out that health is about balancing those things with your desires. It’s about nourishing your spirit as well as your body.
The message got stuck in my brain for a few minutes and a quick search on Google led me to a quote by Golda Poretsky, who according to her online profile, is an intuitive eating and body image coach.
Poretsky’s message, in a way, served as my mantra while spending three days at the eco-luxury holistic medical wellness resort. There, I learned that nourishing your spirit and body means exercising, getting plenty of sleep, eating more plantbased food, meditating, and being grateful and content.
The resort treated me to a three-day and two-night “Intro to Detox” program, which is designed to help guests boost their immune system, jump-start weight loss, promote clear, beautiful skin, regain youthful
energy, and achieve mental clarity.
The mild detox program is a medically supervised cleansing program to purge negative elements from the body and mind while providing optimum nutrition. This includes vegan diet, nutritional enrichment, colon cleansing, kidney cleansing, psycho-emotional clearing, daily mindful movement, and functional fitness activities.
Part of the program was Aqua Therapy, which uses the physical properties of water, like degrees of hotness and coldness, and pressure to help improve blood circulation and alleviate the myriad of symptoms that come with the disease. The three-hour session ended with myotherapy, which the resident doctor recommended when I discussed about the pain I occasionally feel in
My butler told me that he would be picking me up in 10 minutes’ time. So, I went ahead and sat down with Senillo. We talked about the treatment that I just had, and he asked me about my general experience at The Farm, and if there was a chance that I would go back for a longer stay.
“I can’t wait to come here again, and maybe, yes, for a longer stay,” I said.
Senillo told me that three days at The Farm is enough but if I’m seeking for an authentic transformative experience, I might consider staying for a few more days. In a short but meaningful chat, he said that The Farm’s operation is based on five pillars: diagnose, cleanse, nourish, repair, and sustain.
“We combine the latest in nature and science-based, evidence-guided integrated medical therapies from around the globe to make The Farm a true healing sanctuary,” said Senillo who has been with the resort from the time it was conceptualized and built.
“Our healing practices ensure that the body returns to its ideal, balanced state and achieves holistic optimum wellness,” he added.
Before being acquired by Delhi-based hotelier and entrepreneur Naresh Khattar’s Avalon Resorts, The Farm was operated by German nationals Eckard and Perla Rempe
HER name might be Small but she knows how to play it big as a Filipina socialite, entrepreneur, and celebrity vlogger. Despite her busy schedule, Small Laude was able to keep her body fit and healthy. Still wondering what’s her golden secret?
Small’s latest health discovery lies in the power of Merixin Turmeric, a dietary supplement and juice drink powered by Golden Spice Curcuma Turmeric that contains many scientifically-proven health benefits.
“I love Turmeric. Super healthy. I always include it in my curry recipe! Little did I know, pwede pala itong itake as capsule! Plus, pwede rin itong juice na pwedeng inumin anytime, anywhere! Thanks to Merixin, I’m more energetic, vi-
brant, fit, and healthy,” she said.
She added that her decision to promote Merixin to her friends and followers was because she fell in love with the impressive health benefits it brought to her health.
According to studies, Turmeric has an active ingredient called curcumin which has powerful biological properties. In fact, it can reduce inflammation, supports heart health, improves bone and joint health, possibly reduce the risk of cancer, improve liver function and digestion, helps with depression, and relieves osteoarthritis pain and itching.
German Panghulan, the Corbridge Group Phils Inc. president, also shared the inspiration behind Merixin.
“We are always inspired by
nature or anything natural and organic. When we learned the golden wonders of Turmeric, we immediately grabbed the opportunity,” Panghulan said. “We thought: what is the best and most convenient way to deliver the health benefits of Turmeric to the Filipinos. That’s where the idea of transforming Turmeric into dietary supplements and powdered juice come from.”
With the aim to improve and help Filipinos build a healthy lifestyle efficiently and effectively, its manufacturer Corbridge Group Philippines, Inc. expanded Merixins’ product line from capsules to powdered juice.
Small Laude is also the official endorser of the newest product of
“The original owner built The Farm with the concept of being one with nature. He recovered from an illness with the help of nature. Part of his healing process was putting his hands and feet in the dirt. He literally planted most of the visible trees here,” Senillo said explaining how communing with nature helped the original owner cure his chronic insomnia.
This explains why the resort has a Sleep Recovery Program that helps guests to return to a healthy circadian rhythm through holistic treatments. It is recommended for those who suffer from insomnia, disturbance in sleep patterns, and other symptoms of sleep deprivation.
“This program helps guests return to normal, healthy, restorative sleep patterns,” Senillo added.
The wellness manager believes that taking care of your physical health helps improve your mental health and well-being.
“I always tell people to have a balanced and healthy diet. And to sure to get enough sleep,” he shared.
As part of the “transformative experience,” The Farm also has a program that consists of a series of services tailored to one’s individual needs with this goal in mind: to bring you to a space of genuine mental well-being.
Fueled by the demand of modern times for “more” and “faster” work output, a lot of individuals nowadays find themselves gradually spiraling down to a life-draining existence. Others find themselves waking up having uncontrollable mood swings or unproductive thoughts. A lot of these challenges stem from mental and emotional levels and impact the physical body.
“Here, we don’t just focus on your physical health, we believe that your mental health is just as important,” Senillo said.
Known as a global leader in holistic and
Corbridge Group Philippines, Power Melo, a powdered juice drink with a refreshing burst of 100 percent Pomelo Extract.
With Pomelo as its main ingredient, Power Melo provides a lot of health benefits such as antiaging properties and antioxidants which protect the body against damage from free radicals. It is also rich in vitamin c for immunesystem boost, potassium, protein, and fiber.
“I always love Pomelo ever since I was a child! I know it’s good for our health kaya nung nadiscover ko ang Power Melo, I told my husband, we should definitely try this!” Small said, saying their family meals are incomplete without the pomelo juice drink.
medical wellness, The Farm at San Benito is a proud member of CG Hospitality, the hospitality arm of CG Corp Global. The eco-luxury holistic medical wellness resort located in Lipa, Batangas, is just a 90-minute drive away from Manila airport.
Resting on 51 hectares of lush green environment with life-sustaining microbiome ecology, fresh air, and strong positive life-giving energy radiating around the property, The Farm offers 60 exclusive suites and villas, world-class service, and the Filipinos’ nurturing touch.
The Farm has been honored with over 80 prestigious international awards including “Best Medical Wellness Resort in the World” from SENSES Germany which made its mark as one of the leading medical wellness destinations in the world.
The COVID-free safe haven and healing environment implements the highest standards in safety and sanitary protocols. Antigen nasal swab test administered by medical doctors and licensed health professionals is required prior to entry to ensure the safety of all its guests and employees. The Farm also offers ichroma II technology which can determine the level of your antibodies against COVID. All facilities at The Farm are sanitized by Sanivir Smoke Disinfectant, which is proven by international laboratories to effectively eliminate all types of viruses including coronavirus on surfaces and in the air.
The Farm is also the first in the country to use BetterAir solution that disperses environmental probiotics in all its enclosed spaces to create a clean, pathogen-and allergen-free healthy indoor environment.
The Farm at San Benito is located in Brgy. Tipacan, Lipa City, Batangas. For more information, visit www.thefarmatsanbenito.com