started to be used. It’s really an agreement that China will not stop our fishermen from fishing,” Mr. Marcos said in an interview on a plane en route to Switzerland.
“That’s it, very simple. They will allow our fishermen to fish, in the fishing
“I don’t know how the word ‘partnership’
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday said the government had no choice but to import thousands of tons of onions to bring down local prices, given the gap between local production and demand.
But for the long term, the President said his administration is looking for ways to increase the production of onions and other agricultural products to avoid having to import them, as he discussed his plans to combat the smuggling of farm products with reporters on his flight to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.
“Given the production and demand we have in the Philippines, it’s impossible to avoid imports. We’ve tried to get [seized] products from smuggling, but the need was still not met. We had no choice but to import, so that’s what we’re doing,” said Mr. Marcos.
Groups: Rice prices rising by P2/kilo too
RICE prices are joining the inflation trend this month amid the country’s low rice output and the growing global demand for imported rice, farmers’ group Samahan ng Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said.
In a GMA News report, SINAG President Rosendo So said prices would rise by a total of P2 per kilo -one peso this week, another peso the
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended his decision to reappoint Gen. Andres Centino as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, saying he had to “rationalize” the senior military leadership to prevent “chaos” in the lower ranks.
In a briefing en route to Switzerland, Mr. Marcos said he had to address the unusual situation where Centino still had the military’s four stars even as Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro, with only three stars, was AFP chief.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said he would tell government and business leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) that the sovereign wealth fund he seeks to create will make investments in the key areas of agriculture, energy, digitalization and climate change.
“Now we have something to talk about—the sovereign wealth fund,” Marcos, speaking in Filipino, told reporters on board a
to Switzerland. “I will tell them that we are forming a sovereign wealth fund for investments—for big in-
By Othel V. Campos
The “Survival of the Richest” report also said that in the Philippines, the poor are unable to recover from the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the high prices of commodities such as red onions.
This developed as the House of Representatives committee on ways and
A SOVEREIGN wealth fund will help attract more investors and support economic growth in the Philippines, according to British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines
THE government will no longer continue its subsidy for households hit by high fuel prices during the pandemic as it
shifts its focus toward food security, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said.
Diokno said the government has released a total of P18.3 billion in targeted cash transfers (TCT) that benefitted at least 9.2 mil-
lion affected most vulnerable households. “The TCT program intended to alleviate the initial shocks caused by high fuel prices on the most vulnerable households.
INEQUALITY has grown starker in the Philippines, with nine of the richest Filipinos having more wealth than 55 million others—or half the entire Philippine population, OxFam International reported recently.CHINA has committed not to stop Filipino fishermen from fishing in the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Sunday, as he belied reports of a proposed “partnership” between Manila and Beijing’s fishing villages.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is ready to talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss bilateral cooperation amid the latter’s ongoing conflict with Russia.
Mr. Marcos, however, said the socalled 10-point peace formula to end the conflict in Ukraine being pushed by Zelensky is “not for us to decide.”
“Should there be talks between Ukraine and Russia, they must be the ones who must talk about it. We support any effort towards peace, anything as long as the deaths, the war
grounds that they have used for many generations,” he added as he headed for the five-day World Economic Forum in Davos.
Former National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos on Friday said the government was studying China’s proposal for a “partnership between fishing villages.”
Beijing is claiming sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea despite an international court ruling in favor of the Philippines, junking China’s claim.
The same 2016 ruling also declared that Panatag Shoal is a common fishing ground for countries and outlawed China’s aggression against Philippine vessels, including preventing Filipino fishermen from accessing Panatag.
China, however, has refused to recognize the ruling.
But during Mr. Marcos’ three-day visit to China earlier this month, he raised the plight of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea in his bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Mr. Marcos said Xi “promised that we would find a compromise and find a solution that will be beneficial so that our fishermen might be able to fish again in their natural fishing grounds.”
Also, during the President’s state visit, the two countries signed an agreement to establish a communication mechanism on maritime issues between the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
However, an international affairs analyst, De La Salle University professor Renato De Castro, said the Chinese commitment was “a very condescending approach.”
“This is a very condescending view on the Chinese [to] allow Filipino fishermen to fish in their country’s own exclusive economic zone,” he said.
Vince Lopez
must end,” he said in an interview on board the presidential plane en route to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.
“On how they will do it, what will they do with the territories that have changed stance, etc., that is really clearly between the two countries.” the President added.
From
“We have to go back to the onion growers and help them so we can have enough production. That’s where we got into trouble. We got so used to importing that we didn’t address the production side,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Mr. Marcos also said the government would now maintain a two-month buffer stock of sugar as part of measures to ensure a sufficient supply of sugar.
The President and his official delegation arrived at the Zurich-Kloten International Airport at 4:27 p.m., Zurich time (9:47 p.m., Philippine time) via Philippine Airlines Flight PR001, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said.
But the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) Philippines warned the Marcos government that plans to bring in imported onion may backfire, as the local harvest has been trickling in this month onward to the full harvest season by February to May.
Also, Senator Imee Marcos said she believes the soaring retail price of onions in the country is a result of poor planning on the part of the Department of Agriculture (DA), which her brother the President heads concurrently.
During the hybrid hearing of the Senate committee on agriculture, food, and agrarian reform Monday, Senator Marcos pointed out that the shortage of onions could have been averted had the
He said he was surprised when Ukrainian Charge d’Affaires to Malaysia Denys Mykhailiuk made public his claim that the Philippines has yet to respond to Zelensky’s request for a dialog.
“I have no problem with talking to President Zelensky, especially now that the war is raging. Of course, we are on the side of peace, and that remains the same,” Mr. Marcos said.
“There was talk of it a few months ago, but it just was not discussed. That’s why we’re surprised that the special envoy came out and said we were not responding. We responded, but we didn’t get it scheduled.”
DA made timely and “well-projected” minimal importation.
She also suspected that there seemed to be “a level of treachery and manipulation involved” on the issue because the retail prices were inexplicable.
“The price of onions had taken us on this mad roller coaster ride during the last few months. It is apparent that there is an abject lack of planning (on the part of DA),” Senator Marcos said.
Senator Cynthia A. Villar also asked the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to throw identified smugglers of agricultural products in jail, as senators scored the bureau for arresting 10 flight attendants of Philippine Airlines (PAL) for bringing into the country onions from Dubai and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (see related story on A2 – Editors).
In a report published on January 12, 2023 by the Office of Agricultural Affairs Manila, USDA-FAS noted that the Philippine government has expressly mentioned, in a DA memorandum, that all importation should arrive not later than January 27, 2023, lest late arrivals will not be allowed entry into the local supply chain.
“The extreme conditions attached to the unscheduled quota all but guarantee that it will not be filled and likely will not come close to filling. For the trade that does flow, the government’s conditions greatly favor Chinese supplies despite China not being importers’ favored supplier,” the report read.
The DA intends to bring in a maximum of 3,960 metric tons (MT) of fresh
to P22,” said So. “Imported rice (also rose) from P1,800 per bag, it became P2,000 per bag.”
“Any expressions of support that [Zelensky] might feel is needed, we are happy to provide it,” Marcos added.
Zelensky earlier laid out a 10-point peace plan for peace, which included the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and cessation of hostilities, confirmation of the end of the war, and the release of prisoners and deportees, among others.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Carlos Sorreta earlier chided Mykhailiuk, saying his action was “not a good diplomatic practice.”
The envoy has since apologized for the supposed “misunderstanding.”
yellow onions and 17,100 MT of red onions for a potential total of 21,060 MT.
The planned importation is expected to subdue prices, which have peaked at P750 per kilogram in select supermarkets and groceries, and at P700/kg in wet markets.
Onions still retail at P350 to P500, thrice to four times more, compared to first quarter 2022 prices.
Retailers are hoping to bring down the price to a range of P200 to P250 by end-February or early March this year.
The DA has resumed issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSICs) from January 9 to 13 in preparation for the January 27 arrival of imports.
“Meanwhile, the Philippines has no scheduled or notified exception for a quota or quantitative restriction on onions in the WTO. Regardless of the limited volume and tight window of opportunity to apply for import permits, several other conditions also apply and reduce the likelihood that the quota will be realized or achieve its intended result of providing price relief to consumers,” FAS said.
At the Senate, Villar, chairperson of the agriculture and food committee, told Customs to set an example. She said all smugglers should be held liable and sent to jail.
The senator recalled that since 2013, they have already identified in the past Senate hearings a certain “Leah Cruz” as a big-time smuggler of onions in the country.
“She should have been arrested,” Villar said.
stocks to release to the markets,” said Bantay Bigas Spokesperson Cathy Estavillo in Filipino.
THE Bureau of Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday reiterated that travelers may not bring in vegetables, regardless of quantity, into the Philippines without the required import permits and clearances.
The importation of such requires Plant Quarantine Clearance (for personal use) or Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (for commercial use) from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
“Any person/company intending to import plants/plant products shall file an application for Plant Quarantine Clearance (personal purposes) or Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (commercial purposes) with the National Plant Quarantine Services Division prior to importation. This is to safeguard and prevent the spread of plant pests in the Philippines,” the Port of NAIA stated in its advisory.
The port came up with the reminder after 10 flight crew of Philippine Airlines were intercepted for carrying more than 20 kilos of onions from Dubai and Riyadh.
PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said Philippine Airlines does not condone any violation of Customs regulations.
“We are investigating the incident involving ten crew members who were found to be carrying undeclared vegetables and fruits in their baggage after flying in from Riyadh and Dubai. We will impose the appropriate disciplinary sanctions subject to the results of the investigations,” she said.
means on Monday said the panel is studying the imposition of taxes on non-essential goods or on several lines of luxury items.
Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, the panel’s chairperson, made the announcement in response to calls from international organizations such as Oxfam for the government to impose taxes on the country’s super-rich.
next week, as farmgate prices have increased by P40 to P50 per sack, equivalent to P0.80 to P1 per kilo increase for consumers.
“Factor is the farm gate price, from P21, it rose to P21.50, and even went up
Early drafts of the bill also came under heavy fire for seeking to channel funds from state-run pension funds into the MIF.
The group Bantay Bigas, for its part, said it had been expecting the price hike since last year.
“We know that the rise in rice is dictated by the importers. Retailers can’t do anything. Government can’t do anything because they don’t have rice
vestments in the basic areas such as agriculture, energy, digitalization [and] climate change.”
In December, the House of Representatives speedily approved on final reading House Bill 6608, which creates the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), after the President certified the measure as urgent.
The Senate, however, has yet to begin discussions on the controversial wealth fund, which has been criticized as untimely.
Mr. Marcos also said he was looking forward to “expanding and expounding” the significant strides achieved by his administration during a questionand-answer event at the 2023 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
He said this kind of forum would give him a better opportunity to expand and expound on the things that the government is doing in the Philippines.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday expressed con-
British companies and investors. And I think a well-managed, properly-studied sovereign wealth fund can assist that, along with other actions,” he said.
fidence that the President would be able to successfully articulate his administration’s gains, introduce the country’s sovereign wealth fund and promote the Philippines as an investment hub at the WEF.
Romualdez was instrumental in arranging the meeting between President Marcos and WEF founder Dr. Klaus Schwab at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits held in Cambodia, where the latter invited the President to the Davos meeting.
The meeting at Davos will see over 50 heads of state taking part, along with global business leaders, celebrities, and
chairman Chris Nelson.
Nelson, former president of Philip Morris International-Philippines and now chair of Pasig City-based Domuschola International School, said a long-term wealth fund would help in the development of infrastructure projects and attract more foreign investments.
“The proposed sovereign wealth fund will help President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. keep the country on the high-growth path. We want to assure the public that the management of the fund will follow best practices and the principles of transparency and accountability,” he said in an interview.
Nelson said House Bill No. 6608 in its present form was designed to insulate the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund from political influence.
He said the wealth fund could help draw more interest to the Philippines as an investment destination.
“Let me just reiterate that we want the Philippines to be a very high focus for
“I think we agree the overall aim is to invest longer term in key areas of the country, which, as announced by the administration, is infrastructure, power, and agriculture. We clearly support [these] investments to assist the overall efforts for recovery. So, I think longterm investment is good. Clearly what is important is transparency,” Nelson said.
Nelson said the government could study and look at best practices in other countries that manage their own sovereign funds. Among these countries are France, Norway, and Singapore.
He said UK companies were eager to hear more updates on the progress of the fund.
“We are waiting for further details. However, in general, there is significant interest in the Philippines. The chamber, in partnership with the UK Embassy, works very hard on promoting trade and investment opportunities to UK companies,” Nelson said.
The President, however, did not explain why Bacarro was appointed in the first place in August 2022 when Centino was still in active service.
Bacarro was supposed to be the first AFP chief of staff to serve a fixed term of three years under the new Republic Act 11709.
“We rationalized the seniority. Because General Andy Centino has four stars. And Bob Bacarro has three stars. We had to fix that or there will be chaos
Groups have called on the government to support farmers and provide additional subsidies for fuel and seeds. They also staged a rally in front of the Department of Agriculture offices to protest against the rising prices of basic commodities.
prominent social activists.
“In his previous participation in various global fora, President Marcos has displayed an excellent ability to articulate the interests of the Philippines as well as the significant gains achieved under his administration and the country’s direction for future growth,” Romualdez said.
“I’m confident he would do the same in the WEF, particularly in introducing the Maharlika Wealth Fund to the global stage and in helping our local business leaders explore investment opportunities for the Philippines.”
Romualdez, who is the principal author of the MIF bill, said it includes
in the lower ranks,” Mr. Marcos said.
“There were some comments that were mentioned: How about us [in the lower ranks]? If they keep on extending [terms] we in the lower ranks have no more hope [for a promotion]”
“That is not right. Our troops would have low morale. So, we looked at the situation and asked, ‘What do you want us to do?’ We asked the military. [The solution was] to fix seniority. That’s what we did,” the commander-in-chief added.
As for his two other key appointees in the security cluster following the resignation of their predecessors, Mr. Marcos expressed confidence that De -
aid of P500 per month to poor households identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Oxfam is a British-founded confederation of 21 independent charitable organizations focusing on the alleviation of global poverty, founded in 1942 and led by Oxfam International. The calls were made as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. heads off to the World Economic Forum, where he will address the world’s richest individuals and countries.
In the Senate, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he sees higher takehome pay this year for most middleincome taxpayers due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
Gatchalian, who helped draft the law, said that starting 2023, taxpayers earning more than P250,000 a year but not over P8 million will be subject to lower income tax rates ranging from 15 percent to 30 percent from 20 percent to 32 percent previously.
But Oxfam Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Geronimo said: “Inequality experienced in the Philippines is starker with the nine richest Filipinos having more wealth than the bottom half or 55 million of the population.”
Galvez’s appointment came after Defense OIC Jose Faustino Jr. quit his post. Año, on the other hand, replaced Secretary Clarita Carlos who also resigned, saying “it is no longer politic” to stay on.
“Why Secretary Ed Ano? He has a long, long, long experience in intelligence. Before he became Chief of Staff, before he became commander, he was [head of] ISAFP [Intelligence Service
Now that our economy is recovering strongly and world oil prices are gradually stabilizing, we are shifting our focus toward ensuring food security to control inflation,” he said.
The program, which was started by the Duterte administration, granted a cash
It has since expired on Dec. 31, with the last payout distributed between Jan. 4 to 14 this year.
Meanwhile, the country’s oil firms increased the price of gasoline by P0.95 per liter and diesel by P0.50 per liter effective 6 a.m. today (Tuesday) to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.
“Petron will implement the following price adjustments effective 6 a.m. on Jan 17: P0.95 per liter increase for gasoline, P0.50 per liter increase for diesel, and P0.15/li rollback for kerosene,” Petron Corp. said in its advisory.
Flying V, PTT Philippines, Chevron Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, and PetroGazz issued separate advisories of the latest oil price movement.
‘DISTURBING” social media posts of several lawyers have prompted the Supreme Court (SC) to push for the amendment of the code of ethics for lawyers, Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh said on Monday.
Singh, who is the vice-chair of the subcommittee for the review of the 34-yearold Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR), stressed that lawyers’ actions, whether personal or professional, are covered by the code.
But the SC magistrate did not elaborate on the particular posts or identify the lawyers who made the disturbing posts.
“So this is something that we want to emphasize to our lawyers, to keep
TACLOBAN CITY—At least six people were hurt when a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck a town in Leyte Sunday night, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported.
The police identified those injured as Leah Delima, 36; Jean Rosa Abilar, 12; Flora Mae Lugo, 22; Ma. Elena Quir, 64; Luciano Quir, 64; and Althea Sofia Abarca, 7, all residents of Leyte town in Leyte province. They suffered minor injuries.
It was not immediately disclosed how the six victims were hurt.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the tremor struck 3 kilometers southeast of Leyte town around 8:28 p.m.
Mayor Arnold James Ysidoro declared on Monday a suspension of work and classes at all levels in the town to ensure the safety of workers and learners.
“We have deployed five groups composed of department heads and personnel from different offices to assess the damage caused by the earthquake,” Ysidoro said.
The mayor also urged residents to report visible cracks to their village officials or the local disaster risk reduction management office.
Phivolcs said Intensity III was felt in the towns of Alangalang, Carigara, Babatngon, Barugo, Tacloban City, and Ormoc City, all in Leyte province.
Magnitude measures the energy released from the source of the quake, while intensity measures the strength of shaking produced by the earthquake at a certain location.
on reminding them that not just because you’re posting something personal, the code stops, stops its application to whatever action you have taken,” Singh said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.
“To be very candid, it was actually several posts that came out on social media that promoted and really pushed the court to finally constitute a sub-committee for the revision of the code. These posts
were very disturbing and of grave concern to the court particularly because of certain accusations and statements, which were at the very least irresponsible,” she added.
According to the magistrate, it is now the “perfect time” to update the code, especially with the prevalent use of social media even among lawyers. ‘
“We know that for the longest time there have been no set of rules or body of rules governing the use of social media and social media has been around for a while,” she noted.
Under the proposed amended Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA), lawyers are mandated to “ensure that his or her online posts uphold the dignity of the legal profession and shield it from disrepute, as well as maintain respect for the law.”
The code also prohibits lawyers from posting, sharing, uploading and or disseminating false or unverified statements on social media.
Lawyers are also not allowed to reveal, “directly or indirectly, in his or her online posts confidential information obtained from a client or in the course of, or emanating from, the representation, except when allowed by law or this Code.”
It also mandates that lawyers should uphold the dignity of the legal profession in all social media interactions in a manner that enhances the confidence of the public in the legal system, as well as promote its responsible use.
It also prohibits lawyers from creating, maintaining or operating accounts in social media for the purpose of hiding his or her identity to circumvent the law or the provisions of the CPRA.
A FORMER regional director of the Department of Agriculture (DA)Region IV has been cleared of a graft case filed against him in connection with an alleged unliquidated amount of the fertilizer fund that was given to the region.
The anti-graft court, in a 43-page decision promulgated on January 13, cleared former regional director Dennis Araullo of violation of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act “for failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”
“All things considered, the court is of the view that accused’s guilt was not proven beyond reasonable doubt in order for him to be convicted of the offense charged,” the Sandiganbayan said.
“The prosecution failed to prove the existence of a corrupt intent, dishonest design, and unethical interest which goes to the very nature of the offense charged,” the anti-graft court added.
The anti-graft court also ruled that the hold-departure order against Araullo to be lifted and that his bond to be released.
Araullo’s case stemmed from the nationwide special audit conducted by state auditors on the P728 million
Farm Inputs/ Farm Implements Program (FIFIP) fund under the DA’s Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Program.
Araullo was accused of causing injury to the government in the amount of P5.6 million--an amount which represented the unliquidated portion of the FIFIP given to the DA-Region IV.
“[T]he funds for the program were already fully transferred and received by their respective LGUs as evidenced by the receipts issued by the said LGUs. Hence, as stated in their respective MOAs, it was the LGU who was bound to identify the projects to which the fund will be alloted to.
THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) defended the appointment of the new members of its commission in banc.
The CHR said it has taken note of the recent remark on the qualifications and background of the newly appointed members, which included the chairperson and two commissioners.
“We wish to assure that, while the President appointed its recent composition as mandated by the Philippine Constitution, the Commission en banc is committed to preserve and uphold the independence of the country’s national human rights institution (NHRI).
The present members of the Commission en banc also satisfy the criteria of pluralism, one of the standards under the Paris Principles that NHRIs should meet in order to be effective and efficient in their mandate,” it cited.
The CHR said chairperson Richard Palpal-
latoc joined the agency with his robust legal career practice and background.
He is a trial lawyer, once served as an assistant city prosecutor, and was previously deputy executive secretary for Legal Affairs under the Office of the President.
The CHR said upon his appointment, he signified a strong desire to expand and fortify CHR’s work with respect to economic, social and cultural rights.
Commissioner Beda Epres, a lawyer, is backed with a strong investigation background and expertise in conducting independent probes for having been previously part of the Office of the Ombudsman, the CHR said.
He has long been a civil servant as part of OMB, with his last position being director IV of the General Investigation BureauA of its Field Investigation Office I, which makes the promotion of good governance as a pillar of social justice and human rights as one of his strongest values.
BAGUIO City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the Panagbenga Festival to be held in the city will return on “full blast in February 2023.”
“This is the festival where we will go full blast. What we were doing pre-pandemic, all the features there will be included but we will also add more,” Magalong, quoted by a GMA News report, said.
Magalong said there will be performances and concerts from Filipino folk singer and composer Noel Cabangon and other local singers.
“We will add more, maybe, an additional three or four events to complete the events here for the entire month of February. At the same time, we will coordinate with the PNP and our health and emergency service so we can be sure that the celebration will be safe, secured, and orderly,” the official said.
Magalong also said that more tourists are expected to watch the festival and that to address possible traffic problems, he said the local government created new routes for vehicles, GMA News further reported.
Magalong further said tourists can both “help or cause problems in the city,” saying that Magalong said that it is “both… because we experience problems with traffic but at the same time it is a big help to our economy because our businessmen, our vendors, and our markets are benefiting from it. It makes a big difference.”
Magalong said traffic congestions also cause irritability among the local population.
“But we are a victim of our own successes. Every time we create a better Baguio, we make Baguio beautiful and clean. You cannot stop tourists from visiting,” he said.
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THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) was urged Monday to work closely with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the early restart of the Libreng Sakay or free bus ride program along Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare EDSA.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte made the appeal to provide another financial relief to commuters in the national capital grappling with the ever-increasing cost of living.
“The DOTr must see to it that the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) fast-tracks the documentation process, including the contractsigning with the two bus consortiums—ES Transport & Partners
Consortium and Mega Manila Consortium Corp.—participating in Libreng Sakay, so this project on free bus rides can be restarted soon enough for the benefit of ordinary commuters in Metro Manila,” Villafuerte
The former Camarines Sur governor made this call after DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman confirmed recently that there is a P1.285-billion budget in the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the DOTr’s SCP (Service Contracting Program) for Libreng Sakay, which had, till endDecember, provided free bus rides on the EDSA Carousel route from MCU (Manila Central University) in Caloocan City to PITX (Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange) in Parañaque City.
‘Panagbenga 2023 to go full blast’NEW FIRE STATION FOR MALABON. From (right to left) City Administrator Alexander T. Rosete, former Congressman Ricky Sandoval, Malabon Mayor Jeannie N. Sandoval, Regional Director BFP-NCR CSupt. Nahum Tarroza, RCDS. BFP-NCR SSupt. Rodrigo Ryes and Chief Fire Marshal Malabon Supt. Josephus Alburo sign the Deed of Usufruct for a new fire station in Malabon. (Inset) A priest blesses four new emergency response vehicles for the Malabon Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office. Andrew Rabulan YEAR OF THE RABBIT. A group of employees takes a group selfie in front of a giant rabbit at the UpTown Mall in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Malls have been putting up decorations ahead of the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese Lunar New Year. Danny Pata BIDA PROGRAM. Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director PBGen Nicolas D. Torres III (left) gives instructions to his men in Camp Karingal during the rollout of “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” (BIDA) program, a campaign against illegal drugs. Manny Palmero
DESPONDENCY over their huge losses in onion farming have reportedly driven five farmers in Bayambang, Pangasinan to commit suicide.
This was disclosed by Elvin Jerome Laceda, president of the Young Farmers Challenge Club of the Philippines, during an inquiry by the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture on the phenomenal skyrocketing prices of onions in the country.
Laceda told the panel chaired by Sen. Cynthia Villar that the onion farmers who killed themselves all came from a barangay in Bayambang, Pangasinan.
He presented to the Senates a housewife identified only as Nanay Merle who testified that her husband killed himself last year after their onion plantation was attacked by army worms.
The woman said her husband hoped to recoup their losses amounting to millions of pesos, but failed to do so due to the importation of onions.
She also divulged they were also constrained to sell their harvest to traders at very low price.
Confronted by enormous financial problems, Nanay Merle said her hus-
THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Monday reported that the death toll in the heavy rains across the country since Jan. 1 has reached 28, but only 15 have so far been confirmed, with the remaining 13 still for validation.
Meanwhile, the local NDRRMC office in Davao de Oro reported that 24 families were affected by a landslide caused by the torrential rains. However, there were no reports on casualties in the incident.
In a related development, the persistent inclement weather has forced the cancellation of multiple flights by local airliners.
In its updated report, the NDRRMC said eight fatalities were reported in Zamboanga, seven each in Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao, five in Bicol, and one in Davao Region.
A total of 1,397,296 people or 347,105 families were affected by the bad weather in 1,930 barangays in Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro, the NDRRMC said.
At least 38,108 affected families were staying inside 489 evacuation centers, over 56,000 families stayed with friends or relatives.
EXACTLY 929 police full
This was disclosed by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. who said the number represented 97.48 percent of all 953 3rd-level police officials expected to heed the Abalos’ call.
“I am pleased to announce that the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) has received the courtesy resignation letters of 929 Police Colonels and Star-rank PNP officers,” Azurin said in a press briefing at Camp Crame,” Azurin said.
Abalos earlier called on highranking PNP officials to file their courtesy resignations in order to rid the police force of officers who are involved in illegal drugs.
A five-man committee, including Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, will screen the resignations.
Azurin said the PNP demands that the committee members would be “objective, fair and circumspect” in their undertakings during the screening.
“We are expecting that they will maintain their impeccable character and integrity so that the result of all their evaluation will be acceptable to everyone,” he said. “Similarly, we appeal that the process will be devoid of personal and political biases.”
The National Police Commission will review the police officers whose resignations are accepted, Abalos earlier said.
A total of 1,307 houses were reported damaged, 935 of them partially and 372 totally. The NDRRMC estimated damage to agriculture P274.1 million and to infrastructure at P171.5 million.
The National Irrigation Administration also reported P25.6 million worth of damage to irrigation projects.
Authorities have declared a state of calamity in San Miguel and Santa Fe in Leyte; the entire province of Eastern Samar; Gandara, Basey, San Jorge, and Calbayog in Samar; Laoang in Northern Samar; Sirawai in Zamboanga del
Norte; and Tubod in Lanao del Norte. The national government has so far released P74.2 million for assistance to the affected communities, the NDRRMC said.
Engr. Ariel Capoy of the Davao de Oro NDRRMC quoted the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) as saying the affected locality was landslide prone., and that the villagers have been advised to evacuate during prolonged rainfalls.
“Base sa MGB, ito po ay highly susceptible to landslide at alam na po ng mga naninirahan doon. Isa sa mga SOP (standard operating procedure) namin doon na kapag may prolonged rainfall...aalis na talaga sila,” he said.
The Manila International Airport Authority logged the following canceled flights:
• PAL Express (2P) 2932/2933 ManilaBasco-Manila
• 2P 2035/2036 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
• Cebgo (DG) 6055 Manila-Busuanga
• AirSwift (T6) 110 Manila-El Nido
• T6 113 El-Nido Manila
• T6 114/115 Manila-El Nido-Manila
• T6 126 Manila-El Nido
• T6 122 Manila-El Nido
• T6 130 Manila El-Nido
• T6 130D Manila-El Nido
• T6 143D El-Nido Manila
• T6 133 El Nido-Manila
• T6 146D Manila-El Nido
• T6 146 Manila-El Nido
• T6 143 El Nido-Manila
• T6 151 El Nido-Manila
• T6 153D El Nido-Manila
• T6 154D Manila-El Nido
• T6 149 El Nido-Manila
• T6 154/155 Manila-El Nido-Manila
• T6 151D El Nido Manila
Meanwhile, the weather bureau PAGASA said a low pressure area (LPA) last tracked 205 km. east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte was unlikely to develop into a tropical cyclone.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes, Task Force Special Operations,chief Bong Nebrija, and officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) PNP lead a clearing operations along the Mabuhay Lane from Baclaran,Paranaque to Manila with illegally parked vehicles ticketed and towed to the MMDA’s impounding area in Marikina. Norman Cruz
DFA Undersecretary for Office of the Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said during a public briefing that the Aksyon Fund, or the fund for assisting OFWs, will be under DFA jurisdiction.
This is in addition to the assistance to nationals budget which is for aiding non-OFW Filipinos
AND HIGHFIVES.
abroad such as permanent residents of foreign host country, students, Filipino nationals who are citizens of host country but of Filipino descent or also a Filipino citizen, those awaiting naturalization, Filipinos engaged in government exchange visiting program and those who are there (abroad) who are there not to work, including spouses of foreign citizens.
“DMW is still setting up its funding mechanisms so for the time being, it (Aksyon Fund) will be under DFA. We are working on a joint agreement [in disbursing this],” De Vega said.
“We are still in the transition period. Pending the completion of transition, the DFA will be here to provide assistance,” he added.
The law creating the DMW was passed in February 2022. Under the law, the DMW should be able to fully function as an agency two years after the DMW law is passed.
Agencies under the DMW headed by Secretary Susan Ople include: Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, National Reintegration for OFWs, International Labor Affairs Bureau, Philippine Overseas Labor Office and OFW Hospital, among others.
band decided to take his own life.
Laceda said he brought Nanay Merle to the Senate hearing as a testimonial on the onion farmers’ miseries amid the runaway prices of the spice.
Laceda voiced out the farmers’ demand for the traders to buy their onions at gainful prices to be able to sustain their occupation.
While onions were being sold at P700 a kilo in Metro Manila, Laceda related that their group procured onions in Pangasinan for only P125 to P250 a kilo.
Laceda said they sold the onions in Metro Manila at P350 a kilo which, according to him, is already a big help for the consumers.
Sen. Imee Marcos also told the hearing about reports that reached her office that there were also onion farmers from Nueva Ecija and Pampanga who committed suicide due to losses.
According to Marcos, this was the only time that the prices of onions in the country went on a “roller coaster” ride.
She expressed beliefs that minimal importation of onions, done at the proper time with the right projection, could have staved off the unusually high prices.
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and its partner- agencies and local offices have intensified road clearing operations on the so-called on Mabuhay Lanes and other major streets in a bid to ease traffic in the metropolis.
The MMDA, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Capital Region Police Office, and local government units covered by identified Mabuhay Lanes, vowed to sustain the clearing and keeping the alternate routes free from all obstructions.
In a ceremonial send-off held in Baclaran, Pasay City, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said that the agency will deploy three teams to clear Mabuhay Lanes that serve as alternative routes for motorists.
He said that the regular operations and eventual turnover of the cleared area to its barangay captain is part of the memorandum of agreement between the agency and the DILG to maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the roads.
“We shall have no let-up in clearing the Mabuhay Lanes of different kinds of obstructions. That is a proof that the government is serious in making our key routes accessible,” he said.
“Everytime the MMDA, DILG, and the police force conduct clearing, it will be turned over to the barangay captain in charge of the area. Those who will fail to maintain its cleanliness and orderliness could be charged with an administrative case,” Artes warned.
DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Felicito Valmocina said that their office now has a monitoring team that will coordinate with the DILG-NCR to ensure that Mabuhay Lanes are clean and clear. Joel E. Zurbano
A 30-YEAR old autistic woman reportedly died in a fire that broke out Monday morning at a residential area in Barangay 197, Tondo, Manila.
Witnesses said the blaze started at around 2 a.m. Inside the unnamed victim’s house.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire reached first alarm only.
It was tapped out an hour later..
Barangay officials were still verifying the number of affected families. The BFP was investigating the possible cause of fire.
Firefighters said the blaze spread easily because the houses were made of light materials.
The houses of the affected residents sat on a lot that used to be a market.
The occupants said the building was already foreclosed by a bank but they were allowed to build temporary shelter by the previous owner.
They said they were just waiting for the official communication from the bank and were ready to vacate the edifice.
In the meantime, they were advised to stay at the barangay hall while the barangay officials are seeking help from the city government. Willie Casas
THE traditional Banawe Chinese New Year celebration will be back
It
The
People’s Republic of China Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian will serve as guest of honor and keynote speaker.
Also expected to join the celebration are Quezon City Association of Filipino Chinese Businessmen Inc. president
Joaquin
“Arjo” Atayde.
The traditional event was put on hold due to the pandemic, but it will now be making its festive return with several face-to-face events and interactive activities after Mayor Joy Belmonte issued Executive Order No. 53, reconstituting the organizing committee for the Chinese New Year Celebration.
The Quezon City government passed City Ordinance No. 2453-2015, formally designating the QC Chinatown in Banawe as one of its tourism districts, thus improving its accessibility, ensuring environmental sustainability, and enhancing its infrastructure and amenities.
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been tasked to source out funding assistance for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) until March this year as the newly-created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) transitions to a fulltime agency this year. colonels and generals have submitted their courtesy resignations following an appeal by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos. in Quezon City on Jan. 22 after a twoyear hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. will make its much-awaited return to welcome the Year of the Water Rabbit. Quezon City government through its Tourism Department, headed by Tetta Tirona, will lead the celebration to be held on P. Florentino Street and Banawe Avenue. Co and Quezon City Chinatown Development Foundation chairman Charles Chen and District 1 Rep. Juan CarlosIN 2019, various human rights groups asked the Supreme Court for protection against red-tagging by the Philippine government.
Some of these groups included Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), Gabriela, and Karapatan. The petitioners also included Elisa Tita Lubi.
At the time of filing, they emphasized government harassment as three human rights workers were killed, RMP was accused of ‘radicalizing’ children in rural areas by Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., and Tita Lubi has been included in the proposed terrorist list by the DOJ.
In the same year, Hermogenes Esperon Jr., National Security Adviser at the time, responded by filing a perjury complaint against human rights defenders from these three groups.
He accused them of making false claims against the government.
He also asserted that while the group claimed that RMP is a registered non-stock, non-profit organization, RMP’s registration has expired.
Moreover, Esperon also mentioned that these cause-oriented organizations have convinced foreign funding institutions to give grants that were diverted to the CPP/NPA/NDF.
This perjury case and accusations from Esperon only prove why these groups and individuals need protection against red-tagging and government intimidation.
The story of Dyan and Armand ended well but others will not be too lucky in the future until the attacks against human rights defenders are finally stopped
As most know, red-tagging has cost many lives—mostly of people who have dedicated themselves to helping the marginalized.
Only days before the complaint from Esperon, the Court of Appeals also denied these groups’ request of protection from the military.
The Court of Appeals claimed, “There is no evidence of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, malicious prosecutions and defamations…for these reasons, the petition is denied.”
The groups’ request for protection was denied. Meanwhile, Esperon’s perjury complaint regarding RMP’s revoked registration went on for more than three years.
Just a few days ago, the Quezon City court finally acquitted the 10 human rights activists included in the perjury case.
According to the court, the prosecution failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt that “all accused made a willful and deliberate assertion of a falsehood.”
While this was an undeniable victory that they were finally cleared, it took three years for it to be resolved, even being revived after an earlier dismissal.
More so, this case should have never been filed at all.
This case is only concrete proof as to why these activists requested protection, as to how
government officials tend to harass activists.
Cristina Palabay, one of the acquitted, even mentioned that this was the third time that Esperon’s claims were dismissed.
First is the Hilongos case where peace consultants faced multiple murder charges due to the Hilongos “mass graves” recovered in Inopacan, Leyte in 2006. This was dismissed in 2021.
Second is Bulatlat’s case. The Quezon City court dismissed a government appeal to set aside the ruling that unblocked Bulatlat’s website.
According to the court, this was a violation of the organization’s freedom of speech and the press.
This also started with Esperon’s order for NTC to block alternative news websites including Bulatlat.
Third is this perjury case which started in 2019 and has finally been concluded in 2023.
These are victories showing how courage, hope, truth, and justice can prevail.
However, let us not forget that these are also blatant attacks from Esperon against activists who respond to marginalized sectors.
Undoubtedly, Esperon must be made accountable for his malicious and dangerous actions. The act of red-tagging must be taken seriously and we must hold accountable those who continue to do this.
In fact, this case and similar ones should never have been entertained by the Courts.
As these are strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), they should have been immediately dismissed.
According to an anti-SLAPP website (https:// anti-slapp.org/what-is-a-slapp), SLAPPs chill free speech and healthy debate by targeting those who communicate with their government or speak out on issues of public interest.
They are used to silence and harass critics by forcing them to spend money to defend these baseless suits.
SLAPP filers, like red taggers, don’t go to court to seek justice but seek to intimidate those who disagree with them or their activities by draining the target’s financial and other resources. Unfortunately the attacks against human rights defenders continue.
We saw this happening again in Cebu these past few days with the abduction of Dyan Gumanao, coordinator for Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Cebu (ACT Cebu); and Armand Dayoha, volunteer worker for the Alliance of Health Workers-Cebu (AHW-Cebu).
I knew Dyan, a student leader and honor student when she was in University of the Philippines in Cebu. Dyan is the best of the best of young Filipinos. I am sure that Armand, a visual artist, is equally good as a person.
Both were reported missing by their families and a campaign to have them released and surfaced was conducted over the weekend, which fortunately succeeded.
The story of Dyan and Armand ended well but others will not be too lucky in the future until the attacks against human rights defenders are finally stopped.
Website: tonylavina.com. Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs
LOOKING pale and exhausted, a dozen of the few remaining residents of Ukraine’s frontline town of Avdiivka briefly come out of their shelters to pick up food parcels distributed by volunteers.
They barely flinch at the sound of the constant shelling that echoes across the town just 13 kilometers from the pro-Russian rebel stronghold of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
Carrying boxes with stamps of the World Food Program, they slowly retreat to the relative safety of their basements, where they have been sheltering without power, gas or water.
“It’s very hard... (Volunteers) have offered for us to leave, to evacuate, but where can we go? We are too old,” says 74-year-old Svitlana, who shares a cold basement with five women and two men of a similar age who used to occupy the building above it.
In their basic shelter, thick blankets and sleeping bags donated by volunteers are sprawled across eight beds.
A flashlight secured to the wall emits a pale white gleam – their only source of light.
“Basements are all the same, but this is our basement. It would be cold now wherever we go,” Svitlana tells AFP, wearing a hat and wrapped in a thick winter coat.
“Here, at least, we can go upstairs and grab an extra jacket,” she adds.
Just over 2,000 of Avdiivka’s 30,000 residents remain in the town nearly 10 months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Frequent shelling
The head of the town’s military administration, Vitali Barabash, says Avdiivka is under frequent shelling from pro-Russian forces.
“From 7:15 am they started bombarding the old part of town with Grad rockets. At 9:30 there was a strike on the central part using artillery,” he says.
“Just seven minutes ago, they started a massive artillery strike, the central part of town again, apartment blocks,” he tells AFP in the middle of a cold winter day in mid-December.
Many of Avdiivka’s buildings have been damaged, their walls blackened, their windows blown out by the impact.
To the north of the city, a large coke plant which used to employ 4,000 people has been the target of numerous strikes.
Back in the basement of Svitlana’s home, a fire crackles inside a wood-fired stove in a small adjoining room.
Mikola pulls out twigs and branches from a small pile of wood to fuel the fire. Two explosions ring out in the distance.
“Who knows what it was. It looked like artillery or maybe mortars,” he says.
“Here we keep food, potatoes... If it gets too cold, we will move in here”, Mikola adds, referring to the heated room.
For Svitlana, “hope is all we have.”
“Most of us are sick, like everyone here -strokes, the flu, some people get injured,” she says.
Located in Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region, Avdiivka was briefly captured by Russian-backed separatists in spring 2014 before coming back under Kyiv’s control some months later.
It has remained a hotspot of fighting ever since.
‘All civilians threatened’
The town has witnessed fierce battles over the past few months, as Russia’s forces attempt to advance around Avdiivka and the nearby town of Bakhmut.
North of Avdiivka, Moscow’s troops in June cut
MANY have their eyes and ears at the ready for echoes from the five-day World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland ending on Friday where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., invited to the gathering, plans a “soft launch” for his planned sovereign wealth fund.
The WEF, more than 10,600 kilometers away from the Philippines, is seen by Philippine officials as a major venue to do a soft launch for the fund, given the prominence of the forum itself as well as global and business leaders in attendance.
Without doubt, critics have slammed the proposed soft launch, with Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel saying the final version, as approved by the House of Representatives—the Senate has yet to look at the provisions this month—accommodates “different concepts which are already contradicting each other.”
Pimentel called tackling the Maharlika Investment Fund at this point is premature since the bill creating it “is not well thought of and it is not well written.”
A soft launch, for everyone’s appreciation, is a preview release of a product or service—in this case the MWF – to a limited audience prior to the general public, aimed at gathering data customer feedback, prior to making it widely available during an official release or grand opening.
President Marcos has said he will seek out potential partners for his agriculture and infrastructure development plans at the Davos conference.
The President will encourage potential locators on the Philippines’ readiness to receive multinationals seeking to expand their operations in Asia
In his pre-departure speech, Mr. Marcos added he will encourage potential locators on the Philippines’ readiness to receive multinationals seeking to expand their operations in Asia.
“I will draw attention to our efforts at building resilient infrastructure that bolsters our effort to reinforce robust and resilient supply chains, ensures
food security, including critical inter-linkages with the health and nutrition sectors, while furthering climate-friendly, clean, and green energy to power the Philippine economy,” he said.
A bill creating the MWF—a key economic initiative for President Marcos—was passed by House of Representatives in December despite concerns over financial and corruption risks The President will “introduce” the fund in Davos and discuss “why we are doing it and why it’s a good idea,” Foreign Undersecretary Carlos Sorreta said.
The bill allows the fund to maintain an overseas and domestic investment portfolio, including infrastructure projects, enabling the fund to enter into joint ventures.
Mr. Marcos is the only Southeast Asian leader and only one of two Asian leaders scheduled to attend the Davos gathering, with Philippine officials predicting this to be “wonderful position to represent not only our country but how our own region ... can be the engine of growth for the world economy.”
Renato Reside Jr., an associate professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics, said the success of the Davos trip will depend on the President’s “ability to sell our country to world leaders and investors.”
National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan earlier said he believes the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund is appropriate despite the risks of a global recession and high interest rates.
“The participation of funds like this as a vehicle for attracting resources is, I think, appropriate at this time,” he said.
According to reports, this led to the issuance of a fake memorandum that there was a destabilization plot within the AFP.
But, why should Faustino be consulted by BBM on the replacement of his “bata” as Chief of Staff when, as Commander-in-Chief, the President has the sole prerogative of appointing whoever he likes within the AFP?
First was the courtesy resignation of PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr.,
a hundred.
Abalos’ call came from reports that some PNP generals and colonels had links with the proliferation of illegal drugs nationwide.
Abalos had said “we cannot continue fighting illegal drugs when the person behind you shoots you in the back.”
Indeed, the war against illegal drugs will never end when PNP generals and colonels continue to have links with illegal drugs.
First question: Why did Abalos make that call for courtesy resignations?
Yes, illegal drugs continue to proliferate nationwide because some members of the PNP have links to illegal drugs.
And the reason is simple.
Illegal drugs mean big money and everybody knows that Chinese cartels like the Triad and even the Mexican cartel, Sinaloa, are behind it.
If Abalos, who oversees the PNP, were to file charges against suspected generals and colonels believed to have links to illegal drugs, he knows full well that he’ll never succeed since what is needed when one were to file charges against anybody is hard evidence, not mere suspicions and hearsay.
The strategy of Abalos is clearly to accept the courtesy resignation of generals suspected to have links with illegal drugs.
On the other side of the coin is that mere suspicion seems final to many PNP generals and colonels who have been members of the PNP for many years.
That’s where comments that the call of Abalos was ill-advised.
Clearly, what people expected was that if Abalos had any evidence against members of the police force who have links to illegal drugs, just file cases against them. But, as I said, there is need for hard evidence to pin down anybody who has links to criminal activities.
Abalos has given those suspected of having links with illegal drugs an alternative. They can take a graceful exit and resign gracefully if their cases are weak.
The AFP conundrum is something else, brought about by the appointment of General Andres Centino by President “Bongbong” Marcos to replace General Bartolome Bacarro as AFP Chief of Staff, which is the prerogative of Marcos Jr. as Commander-in-Chief of the AFP.
This led to the irrevocable resignation of Department of National Defense OIC (officer in charge) General Jose Faustino, who claimed he wasn’t consulted, followed by courtesy resignations of military people who were identified with him (Faustino).
To the north of the city, a large coke plant which used to employ 4,000 people has been the target of numerous strikes
To me, as an observer, this can only reveal a deep-seated problem within the military, the “batabata syndrome” higher ups where the loyalty of members of the rank and file is not to the flag but to those who are on top who can promote soldiers. This, to me, is clearly very dangerous, where the military gets divided because their loyalties are not to the flag but to persons who have given benefits to their favorites.
Having been involved in drug rehabilitation for some years, just isolating drug users and addicts in rehabilitation centers won’t cure drug addiction, because drug addiction is both a psychological and physiological problem
This practice within the AFP should stop.
To a certain extent, I am glad this conundrum within the AFP has been exposed.
In the case of the PNP, the action of Abalos may be a bit hasty and drastic, but I cannot see any other way to clean up the police and restore once again the people\s faith in the police.
But, in the case of the AFP, it needs unity, not division.
In the case of the PNP, the scheduled lifestyle check is an obvious attempt by Abalos to find out who has ill-gotten wealth and has totally demoralized rank and file.
That, to me, will result in the total breakdown of the efficiency of the PNP, which I am afraid could be another problem.
But, we know that the PNP needs a total cleansing to restore the people’s faith in the police.
*** *** ***
Another conundrum was the total breakdown and glitch of the airspace of incoming flights and departing flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the main gateway of domestic and international flights, last New Year’s Day (Jan 1, 2023), which became an international embarrassment of the Philippines affecting no less than 361 air flights and stranding some 65,000 passengers.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines that is supposed to ensure the air space of the Philippine skies used by a circuit breaker, which the Senate and to many could only only
off one of the two main supply routes to the town.
Russian forces are also positioned to the east and to the south, where they have recently pushed back Ukrainian forces.
“Our troops withdrew from (the village) of Vodyane. They crossed the river because it was absolutely impossible to hold the previous positions which were completely destroyed,” Barabash says.
According to him, Moscow has recently redeployed regular troops near Avdiivka that are “better trained” than separatist forces but morale is “high” among Kyiv’s soldiers.
“They do not even think of leaving the town,” Barabash says.
be traced to the total incompetence, inefficiency, mismanagement and laxity of the CAAP.
Senate President Migz Zubiri even blamed the CAAP for the laxity, since a vital system like the communication, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management (NS/ZTM) system did not even have a CCTV to monitor the system and the equipment, which would likely invite saboteurs.
To me, this is enough to make heads roll in the CAAP.
That’s why I am surprised that Transportation Secretary Jimmy Bautista did not suspend the CAAP officials.
I am also surprised that while the CAAP officials knew that the system was already antiquated, the CAAP did not even bother to have a backup system, nor did they ask for more funds when the Senate deliberated its appropriations to seek funds to update the system, knowing full well that it needs a backup.
Santa Banana, if this international embarrassment happened in Japan or Korea, the CAAP officials would have committed suicide, not merely apologized.
As I said, heads must roll in the CAAP for this monumental international embarrassment.
*** *** ***
Speaking of BBM’s war on illegal drugs, there are those who say that less killings of those involved in illegal drugs, unlike what we had during the incumbency of President Duterte, will not win the war on illegal drugs.
I say the killings and more killings policy of Duterte could only result in a culture of impunity like what we had where “extrajudicial” killings were prevalent.
This caught international attention so much so that the ICC or the International Criminal Court even tried to investigate Duterte for “crimes against humanity.”
Recall that BBM has taken a holistic outlook on the problem of illegal drugs with special emphasis on rehabilitation which constitutes the bigger problem of illegal drugs. President Marcos Jr. realizes the problem of illegal drugs is more on the supply and demand problem, since cartels and drug syndicates know pretty well that so long as there is a demand for illegal drugs nationwide, with some 6 to 7 million drug users and addicts, they are always there to supply the demand.
And that’s precisely what has been happening –there is the continuous supply of illegal drugs like shabu (meth), cocaine, ecstasy and others.
It is for this reason why I commend Senator Christopher Lawrence “ Bong” Go for filing Senate Bill 428 for the building of nationwide rehabilitation centers to fight drug addictions.
But, as I know full well having been involved in drug rehabilitation for some years, just isolating drug users and addicts in rehabilitation centers won’t cure drug addiction, because drug addiction is both a psychological and physiological problem, where those who are addicted build for themselves a shell as it where, which must be broken by competent doctors who know the problem, These rehab centers must be properly staffed and, more importantly, must be community based because drug users and addicts need the full support of their families.
In any case, Senator Bong Go is on the right path.
But Avdiivka police officer Rasim Rustamov says the situation remains “really difficult.”
“We are suffering from repeated shelling of the town and surrounding areas. All civilians here are threatened,” he tells AFP inside a police station.
Living in the darkness of their basement, Svitlana and her neighbors keep busy by decorating the walls with large colorful collages.
“There was nothing but old brick walls here. Now, you see, step by step, we are decorating the boring grey backdrop,” Svitlana says.
“We know how to make it feel like home,” she adds. AFP
THERE had been comments and reactions on what has been happening at the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines lately in the aftermath of the call of Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos for police generals and colonels to submit their courtesy resignation. followed by generals and colonels in districts nationwide totalling close toKYIV—Kyiv can expect more deliveries of heavy weapons from Western countries soon, NATO said Sunday, as Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his forces after their claimed capture of a Ukraine town.
Dramatic rescue efforts unfolded at a tower block in the eastern city of Dnipro, shattered by a Russian missile strike that left 30 people dead and an estimated 34 people missing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the Russian people’s “cowardly silence” over the attack, noting that Ukraine had received messages of sympathy from around the world over “this terror.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine could expect more heavy weapons following Kyiv’s requests to its allies for the vehicles, artillery and missiles it says are key to defending itself.
“The recent pledges for heavy warfare equipment are important -- and I expect more in the near future,” Stoltenberg told Germany’s Handelsblatt daily, ahead of a meeting this week of a group that coordinates arms supplies to Kyiv.
Days after Russia claimed to have taken Soledar in eastern Ukraine, a salt-mining outpost home to 10,000 before the conflict, Putin hailed it as a major success.
“There is a positive dynamic, everything is developing according to plans,” Putin said, in an interview broadcast Sunday. “I hope that our fighters will please us more than once again.”
Russia’s defence ministry announced this week it had “completed the liberation” of Soledar.
This could be a key gain as Russian forces push towards what has been their main target since October: the nearby transport crossroads of Bakhmut.
Ukraine has denied Moscow’s claims, insisting that heavy fighting continues in Soledar.
But on Sunday, the US-based Institute for the Study of War said “Ukrainian forces are highly unlikely to still hold positions within the settlement of Soledar itself”.
Russia’s victory there, if that is what it proves to be, follows months of humiliating setbacks.
Both sides have conceded heavy losses in the battle for the town.
Rescuers in Dnipro meanwhile continued their search for survivors of Saturday’s missile strike on a tower block that has so far claimed 30 lives. AFP
STRASBOURG, France—The president of the European Parliament will seek Monday to get ahead of a graft scandal that has rocked the legislature, by officially unveiling a series of reforms to clean up the multinational assembly.
But many MEPs and observers believe the changes to be presented by Roberta Metsola don’t go far enough to be able to restore credibility in the institution.
The parliament has been the focus of intense scrutiny since the scandal broke open a month ago with the arrest of one of Metsola’s 14 vice-presidents after Belgian police raided homes and offices of several MEPs, former MEPs, parliamentary aides and heads of NGOs that dealt with lawmakers.
Belgian prosecutors are investigating alleged graft in the European Parliament benefitting Qatar and Morocco. The police raids turned up 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) in cash.
Qatar has denied having any role in any wrongdoing in the case. Morocco says it is the target of unjustified “media attacks” over the allegations.
Metsola’s arrested vice-president Eva Kaili, a Greek MEP who has since lost that high parliamentary position, also has said through her lawyer that she knew nothing about cash found at her home.
Kaili remains in custody with three other suspects: Kaili’s boyfriend Francesco Giorgi, who was a parliamentary aide; former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri; and Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, head of an NGO suspected of making payments to MEPs.
The three male suspects are all Italian. According to a Belgian media report, Giorgi has made a confession.
All four are charged in Belgium with “criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering”. Greece and Italy have launched their own investigations. AFP
ATLANTA—Speaking at Martin Luther King Jr.’s church on Sunday, President Joe Biden said the US civil rights leader’s dream of racial equality and justice had not yet come true, and renewed his call to fight for the soul of America.
Biden spoke at the very church that King, who would have been 94 this Sunday, called home.
“I’ve spoken before parliament, kings, queens, leaders of the world,” Biden said at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. “I’ve been doing this for a long time. But this is intimidating.”
The US president, visiting to mark the MLK holiday which falls on Monday, recalled the most famous speech by the icon of the fight for civil rights and against racial discrimination, who was slain in Memphis in 1968: the one in which he repeats the refrain “I have a dream”, “I have a dream.”
It is “a dream in which we all deserve liberty and justice, and is still the task of our time to make that dream a reality because it’s not there yet,” Biden said.
Biden told the congregation that he had put a bust of King in his office.
“The battle for the soul of this nation is perennial. It’s a constant struggle. It’s a constant struggle between hope and fear, kindness and cruelty, justice and injustice,” he added. AFP
POKHARA,
The Yeti Airlines ATR 72 plummeted into the steep gorge, smashed into pieces and burst into flames as it approached the central city of Pokhara on
The cause was not yet known but a video on social media -- verified by AFP partner ESN -- showed the twin-propeller aircraft banking suddenly and sharply to the left as it approached Pokhara airport. A loud explosion followed.
Nepal, which has a poor record on air safety, observed a day of mourning on
Soldiers
“We have collected 68 bodies so far. We are searching for four more bodies. We should continue until we get the bodies,” senior local official Tek Bahadur KC told AFP.
“We pray for a miracle. But, the hope of finding anyone alive is nil,” he said. Debris from the airliner was strewn across the crash site, including the mangled remains of passenger seats and the plane’s white-coloured fuselage.
Rescue workers had rushed to the site after the crash, and tried to put out the raging fires that had sent thick black smoke into the sky. AFP
The ceremony will see royals from Britain, Denmark,
Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway
their respects to the former monarch, who died on Tuesday aged 82.
But there has been controversy in Greece over the funeral arrangements.
Constantine was a divisive figure in the country’s history and the government has decided not to grant him the honour of a state funeral.
The private service begins at noon at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral, with almost 200 guests expected.
The entire royal family of Spain, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II and Crown Prince Frederik, the Swedish royal family, the king and queen of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon, and Monaco’s Prince Albert II are set to attend.
The British Crown will be represented by Princess Anne, daughter of the late queen Elizabeth II. King Charles III, cousin of the former Greek king, and Constantine’s godson Prince William are not expected to join her. AFP
LIMA—Lima and other Peruvian regions were under a renewed state of emergency even as opponents of President Dina Boluarte began mobilizing toward the capital ahead of a major demonstration Monday, the latest in weeks of deadly unrest.
At least 42 people have died, ac-
cording to Peru’s human rights ombudsman, in five weeks of clashes at burning roadblocks and other flashpoints to demand fresh elections and Boluarte’s resignation.
She took over on December 7 as the South American country’s first woman president following the im-
peachment and arrest of leftist Pedro Castillo for his failed bid to dissolve Congress and rule by decree.
On Sunday some 3,000 protesters in Andahuaylas in southeastern Peru began boarding trucks and buses bound for the demonstration in Lima, RPP radio reported. AFP
BENI, DR Congo—At least 10 people were killed and 39 wounded Sunday in a bomb attack on a church in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo claimed by Islamic State jihadists.
Congolese military spokesman Antony Mualushayi said the “terrorist act” happened in a Pentecostal church in
North Kivu province’s Kasindi, a town on the border with Uganda.
The explosion killed at least 10 people and wounded 39, he added, revising up an initial death toll of five. Both tolls were provisional, the spokesman said.
But the spokesman for Uganda’s military operation in the DRC, Bilal
Katamba, said on Sunday evening that 16 people had been killed in the blast, and 20 wounded.
“The attackers used an IED to carry out the attack and we suspect ADF is behind the attack,” he added.
AFP was unable to independently confirm the death toll. AFP
extrastory2000@gmail.com
THE local stock market continued its bull-run Monday, sending the benchmark index above the 7,000 level, following another rally on Wall Street fueled by optimism over the world economy as inflation slows and China reopens to the world.
The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, climbed 93 points, or 1.35 per-
cent, to close at 7,045.48, as four of the six subsectors advanced.
The broader all-share index also went up by 37 points, or 1.03 percent, to settle at 3,675.15, on a value turnover of P10.23 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 138 to 65, while 46 issues were unchanged.
Nine of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by BDO Unibank Inc. which jumped 5.46 percent to P125.50 and SM Investments Corp. which went up 4.30 percent to P947.00.
The peso also strengthened Monday to close at 54.57 against the US dollar from 54.89 Friday. Most regional currencies appreciated against the green-
back on expected slowdown in Federal Reserve rate hikes.
Most Asian markets rose Monday. After last year’s battering, caused by surging prices and central bank interest rate hikes, the new year has seen a calmer mood on trading floors, with recession fears receding and bargain-buying providing support to equities.
While China is expected this week to report its worst annual growth since 1976—excluding pandemic-ravaged 2020—its emergence from zero-Covid and pledges to boost key sectors are raising hopes for a strong rebound in 2023.
Signs that the government was taking a lighter touch on the tech sector after a
long-running crackdown were also lifting confidence and giving a boost to market majors, including Alibaba and Tencent.
And HSBC’s Frederic Neumann said China’s emergence from almost three years of strict virus containment measures would likely boost the global economy.
“As the second-largest economy in the world, accelerating Chinese household and investment spending will help put a floor under global trade at a time when demand in the West is faltering,” he said.
The brighter outlook helped Asian markets in early trade Monday. Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok, Wellington and Jakarta
all rose.
Tokyo, however, dropped as a stronger yen weighed on exporters and Hong Kong retreated on profit-taking, after having rallied around nine percent since the start of the year. Singapore and Mumbai also dipped.
The Japanese unit has surged in recent weeks thanks to an expected slowdown in Federal Reserve rate hikes and after the Bank of Japan signaled a shift away from years of ultra-loose monetary policy.
Expectations the Fed will hike rates by just a quarter-point at its next meeting have pushed the greenback down against other major peers, including the pound and euro. With AFP
5 MAH 0.78 0.07 9.86%
6 HOME 2.3 0.17 7.98%
7 BCB 4.93 0.33 7.17%
8 ION 0.6 0.04 7.14%
9 DFNN 3.6 0.2 5.88%
10 SBS 4.5 0.25 5.88%
LAST
1 MJIC 1.13 -0.14 -11.02%
2 BCOR 7.2 -0.78 -9.77%
3 OPM 0.01 -0.001 -9.09%
4 CNVRG 17.68 -1.52 -7.92%
5 FERRO 2.7 -0.22 -7.53%
6 MFC 930 -55 -5.58%
7 CTS 0.92 -0.05 -5.15%
8 MEDIC 0.74 -0.04 -5.13%
9 WLCON 30.5 -1.6 -4.98%
10 SFI 0.08 -0.004 -4.76%
1 BDO 8,428,510 1,049,943,701
2 SM 835,660 791,385,055
3 ICT 2,499,400 528,700,900
4 BPI 4,134,040 468,359,595
5 ALI 12,287,600 389,755,350 6 GTCAP 731,540 347,500,600 7 AC 441,290 337,856,660
1,311,490 327,271,308
314,008,870
300,406,160
PARIS, France—Parisians will be invited to vote on whether to allow electric scooter rental services to continue operating in the city as authorities weigh banning the controversial forhire vehicles, the capital’s mayor has said.
The issue is “extremely divisive,” mayor Anne Hidalgo told the weekend edition of Le Parisien newspaper, with critics saying riders show only cursory respect for the rules of the road.
They often defy bans on riding on pavements, or park without consideration, while some abandon the scooters in parks or even toss them into the Seine river.
Fans meanwhile praise the zippy fleets -- totaling 15,000 scooters operated by companies Lime, Dott and Tier
-- as a fast, non-polluting alternative to cars or crowded public transport.
Hidalgo said Paris residents would be asked “a very simple question” in the referendum planned for April 2: “Do we or don’t we continue with free-floating rental scooters?”
The mayor said she herself was leaning towards a ban but would “respect Parisians’ vote”.
A ban would make Paris an exception among major cities.
In September, the capital already threatened the three operators with nonrenewal of their licences, which expire in March, if they failed to limit reckless riding and other “misuses”.
The operators in November came up with a number of suggested improvements, including equipping the scooters
with license plates that would allow easier tracking of riders running a red light, or traveling in pairs on the single-person vehicles -- both common violations.
But David Belliard, Hidalgo’s deputy in charge of urban transport, still said a cost-benefit analysis did not favor the rental schemes.
“They are in the way and they are dangerous,” he told AFP, saying he favored a ban to “pacify our streets and pavements.”
There was “too much negative feedback” from citizens about the scooters, he said.
Hidalgo told Le Parisien meanwhile that privately owned scooters, also hugely popular in the capital, were not targeted in the referendum. They are “not a problem,” she said. AFP
GENEVA, Switzerland—A global economic slowdown will force more workers into accepting lower quality, poorly paid jobs in 2023 while inflation gobbles up real-term wages, the United Nations warned Monday.
As prices rise faster than incomes, the cost-of-living crisis risks pushing more people into poverty, the UN’s International Labor Organization said, while unemployment around the world is set to rise.
The ILO said deficits in decent work had been worsened by multiple overlapping crises, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, emerging geopolitical tensions, an uneven recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and continuing supply chain bottlenecks.
“Together, these have created the conditions for stagflation—simultaneously high inflation and low growth— for the first time since the 1970s,” the agency said in its annual World Employment and Social Outlook report.
ILO director general Gilbert Houngbo said the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic was particularly patchy in low- and middle-income countries and was further hampered by climate change and humanitarian challenges.
“Projections of a slowdown in economic and employment growth in 2023 imply that most countries will fall short of a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels in the foreseeable future,” the former prime minister of Togo said in the report.
“Worse still, progress in labor markets is likely to be far too slow to reduce the enormous decent work deficits that existed prior to, and were exacerbated by, the pandemic.”
Global employment grew by 2.3 percent last year, but is expected to ex-
ILO headquarters. From ILO website pand by just one percent this year to nearly 3.4 billion people with work.
The projected rise is down on the 1.5 percent the ILO had previously predicted, adding to the gloomy outlook.
“The slowdown in global employment growth means that we don’t expect the losses incurred during the Covid-19 crisis to be recovered before 2025,” the ILO’s research chief Richard Samans said in a statement.
Global unemployment is projected to reach 208 million people this year, an unemployment rate of 5.8 percent.
The projection is up from 205 million in 2022, with the ILO saying most of the shock of the economic slowdown has been absorbed by “rapidly falling real wages” due to accelerating inflation rather than job losses.
Global unemployment was at 192 million in 2019 before surging to 235 million in 2020 as the Covid pandemic kicked in.
Meanwhile, the global jobs gap stood at 473 million in 2022.
This number comprises unemployment plus those who want work but are not seeking a job, either due to being discouraged by previous
failed attempts or having other obligations such as care responsibilities.
The 2022 global jobs gap was around 33 million above the 2019 level, with a rate of 15 percent for women and 10.5 percent for men.
Informal economies
“The current slowdown means that many workers will have to accept lower quality jobs, often at very low pay, sometimes with insufficient hours,” the ILO said.
The report said people aged 15 to 24 were facing “severe difficulties” in finding and keeping decent employment.
The ILO called for an investment surge in education and training, saying two-thirds of the global youth labor force was “without a basic set of skills”, which limited their job prospects and pushed them into lower-quality work.
Around two billion workers worldwide were in informal employment last year.
“Given the substantial rise in uncertainty regarding the future course of the global economy, employment expansion is fastest among informal workers,” the ILO said, with the informal sector driving most of the Covid-19 employment recovery. AFP
DAVOS, Switzerland—The number of billionaires should be reduced by half by 2030 through higher taxes and other policies to make the world more equal, Oxfam said Monday as global elites meet in Davos.
The aid group made its plea as the Swiss Alpine village hosts political leaders, CEOs, and celebrities for the week-long World Economic Forum starting Monday.
In a report titled “Survival of the Richest,” Oxfam said billionaires had doubled their wealth over the last 10 years, with the wealthiest one percent gaining 74 times more than the bottom 50 percent.
The very wealthy have grown richer amid the cost-of-living crisis sparked by the Covid pandemic and soaring food and energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the report said.
Since 2020, billionaire wealth has surged by $2.7 billion a day even as inflation outpaced the wages of at least 1.7 billion workers worldwide, Oxfam said.
Food and energy companies, it noted, had more than doubled their profits last year.
Oxfam called for taxes at rates that progressively redistribute wealth and reduce extreme inequality.
For starters, it said, “the world should aim to halve the wealth and number of billionaires between now and 2030, both by increasing taxes on the top one percent and by adopting other billionaire-busting policies”.
Such steps would bring billionaire wealth and numbers back to levels last seen in 2012.
“The eventual aim should be to go further and to abolish billionaires altogether, as part of a fairer, more rational distribution of the world’s wealth,” it said. AFP
POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said Monday the fuel-swapping arrangement aimed at addressing the electricity supply shortage during the dry months will take effect on Feb. 26.
Meralco first vice president and head of regulatory management Jose Ronald Valles said industry stakeholders discussed on Jan. 5 the proposed salient provisions of the memorandum of agreement that would govern the “fuelswapping arrangement”.
The stakeholders agreed that the program’s implementation should commence after the approval by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
“The target for this is to take effect starting Feb. 26, 2023. Again this will take effect upon endorsement of the DOE [Department of Energy] and approval of the ERC, and the objective really is to address any potential supply deficiency,” Valles said during a forum organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Valles said Meralco received an offer from San Miguel Corp.’s South Premiere Power Corp. to supply power from the 1,200-MW Ilijan natural gas power plant in Batangas provided that it would be “full fuel pass-through.”
He said the DOE called a meeting on Dec. 27 with First Gas, SPPC, Meralco and the Malampaya consortium on the yellow alerts projected for 2023 if the Ilijan plant would not operate.
Valles said the DOE expressed full support for the fuel swapping “for the good of the country and committed to help with the government processes required to implement the fuel swapping arrangement.”
He said First Gas agreed to temporarily re-allocate an agreed volume of its Malampaya gas allocation under its gas sale and purchase agreement with the Malampaya consortium, enabling the Ilijan plant to operate and produce the agreed capacity.
He said First Gas would continue to supply to Meralco by temporarily operating its Santa Rita plant using alternative fuel. SPPC also vowed to make the agreed capacity from the Ilijan plant available to Meralco.
CASH remittances grew 5.7 percent in November to $2.64 billion from $2.50 billion a year ago, on sustained deployment of Filipino workers overseas amid the improving global economic environment, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.
“The expansion in cash remittances in November 2022 was due to the growth in receipts from land- and sea-based workers,” the BSP said in a statement Monday.
This brought cash remittances in the first 11 months of 2022 to $29.38 billion, or 3.3 percent higher than $28.43 billion registered in the same period in 2021.
Remittances from the United
States, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Qatar contributed largely to the increase in 11-month remittances. The US was the largest source of remittances, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia.
Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, also went up by 5.8 percent in November 2022 to $2.93 billion from $2.77 billion a year earlier.
“The increase in personal remittances in November 2022 was due to higher remittances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, and sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year,” the BSP said.
Cumulative personal remittances in the 11-month period increased 3.4 percent to $32.65 billion from $31.59 billion in the same period in 2021.
Studies showed that the Philippines was the fourth largest recipient of remittances in the world after India, China and Mexico.
The country is among the biggest suppliers of nurses around the world,
accounting for at least 20 percent of the total globally. The Philippines is also the biggest supplier of seafarers worldwide, accounting for about 20 percent to 25 percent of the total.
The deployment of OFWs has become more diversified over the years to include more territories outside the traditionally biggest host countries.
Remittances, which account for about a tenth of the gross national income, support major segments of the economy, including banking, transportation, real estate, healthcare, education and retail sectors.
They also support the country’s balance of payments, gross international reserves and the value of the peso.
Cash remittances hit a record $31.418 billion in 2022, up 5.1 percent from the $29.903 billion in 2021. The expansion missed the 6-percent growth target for the year, but it was a significant improvement from the 0.8-percent contraction in 2020 that was due mainly to the pandemic.
The BSP projected remittances to grow by 4 percent.
Petron gets $37m worth of tenders for securities
PETRON Corp. said Monday it received valid tenders amounting to $37.48 million from holders of outstanding $500-million senior perpetual capital securities.
Petron conducted a tender offer to purchase up to $50 million of the outstanding securities.
It said that following the expiration deadline at 4 p.m. on Jan. 12, it was accepting for purchase $22,470,000 in aggregate principal amount of securities at a purchase price of $927 per $1,000.
Petron said the payment date for the settlement of the tender offer is expected to be on Jan. 19.
The securities that will remain outstanding is $477.53 million after the settlement date.
Mizuho Securities Asia Ltd. was appointed as dealer manager for the tender offer and Morrow Sodali Limited was engaged as the information and tender agent for the tender offer.
Alena Mae S. Flores
RESTAURANT operator Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. said Monday it plans to scale up the expansion of its fast-growing roast chicken chain Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar after tripling its store network.
Shakey’s said in a stock exchange filing Peri-Peri now has 68 branches, up from 21 stores when it acquired the brand in 2019.
The company said it opened new stores in Central Luzon and North Luzon in the fourth quarter of 2022, as part of its strategy to expand its presence beyond Metro Manila.
“Peri-Peri has grown significantly over the past three years, despite the pandemic. In a short span of time, it has become a strong number 2 player in the category,” Shakey’s president and chief executive Vicente Gregorio said.
“Given its strong performance in the Metro, we believe it’s high time to expand to new cities and give their local residents a taste of Peri-Peri,” he said.
Jenniffer B. Austria
SATECO AG, a Swiss manufacturer of high-precision silicone keypads and silicone sensors, is investing P800 million in a manufacturing plant registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.
“The company is very much upbeat on their manufacturing operations in the Philippines. They plan to finish the construction of its state-of-the-art plant by September 2023 and start production by end of the year. They want to complement their operations in China to cater to North America and Japanese markets,” said Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo.
The Philippines also anticipates the entry of several Swiss enterprises following the 5th Philippine-Switzerland Joint Economic Commission meeting hosted by the Swiss government on Jan. 12 to 14, 2023 in Bern, Switzerland.
Sateco supplies its products to major automotive players like Daimler, BMW, Tesla and Mitsubishi Motors.
Othel V. Campos
LOCAD, an e-commerce logistics startup, said Monday it raised $11 million in series A funding to expand its supply chain platform that allows modern consumer brands in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific to automatically store, pack, ship and track orders in a distributed, end-to-end supply chain as-a-service.
Reefknot Investments, a fund anchored by Temasek and logistics powerhouse Kuehne & Nagel, led the funding series.
The series A funding round also saw participation from returning investors Sequoia India and Southeast Asia’s Surge, Febe Ventures, Antler, Foxmont and Kaya Founders and new investors Access Ventures and JG Digital Equity Ventures.
“As modern consumer brands in the Philippines and APAC are transforming to direct-to-consumer and omnichannel retail, we have seen that the supply chain and fulfillment infrastructure is a key barrier to scaling the business, and the bar is only rising further due to higher customer expectations for fast delivery, and the complexity driven by an increasing number of sales channels,” Locad co-founder and chief executive Constantin Robertz said.
“Ultimately, our goal is to enable a frictionless movement of physical goods and data across the supply chain for SME and enterprise brands, enabling anyone to sell anywhere, on any sales channel and deliver seamlessly,” he said.
Launched in the Philippines in 2020, Locad’s platform, dubbed the logistics
engine, syncs inventory across sales channels such as Shopify, Lazada, Shopee, Woocommerce and TikTok Shop and orchestrates end-to-end order fulfillment for B2C and B2B orders, from storage to delivery, through a network of warehouses and shipping partners.
Locad has served over 200 brands across the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Australia, and fulfilled more than 2 million transactions while maintaining a 99-percent same-day order fulfillment rate. After launching in the Philippines in 2020, the company expanded its regional presence over the last two years.
“We are excited to partner with Locad to bring holistic end-to-end e-commerce logistics solutions to brands across Asia Pacific,” said Ervin Lim, vice president of Reefknot Investments Inc.
By Jenniffer B. AustriaNICKEL Asia Corp. is pouring an additional P2.92 billion in renewable energy subsidiary Emerging Power Inc. through share subscription.
Nickel Asia said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday its board of directors approved the additional investments which would increase the company’s stake in EPI to 95.8 percent.
The mining firm said EPI would use the additional investments to finance the operations of existing projects and those of its subsidiaries and affiliates.
EPI operates a 100-megawatt solar farm in Mt. Sta. Rita in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales with a 230-kilovolt-transmission line under subsidiary Jobin SQM Inc.
It also secured a second 100-MW solar service contract with the DOE for the Mt. Sta. Rita site whose development would begin this year.
against RCBC and other persons.
RIZAL Commercial Banking Corp. said Monday it may appeal the decision of the Supreme Court of the State of New York that denied its motion to dismiss the case filed by Bangladesh Bank over the $81-million money laundering scam in early 2016.
“RCBC will continue to defend the case vigorously and is considering all options, including the possibility of an appeal against the denial of the motions to dismiss,” RCBC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday.
Bangladesh Bank filed a complaint against RCBC, its officers and other parties before the Supreme Court of New York on May 27, 2020.
RCBC said it received on Jan. 14 a notice from the regional trial court of Makati containing the summons and the complaint filed by Bangladesh Bank
“In a decision and order released on Jan. 14, 2023, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, the first instance trial court, denied the motions to dismiss filed by RCBC and its current and previous employee-defendants,” it said.
“Without ruling on the merits, the court confirmed its jurisdiction over RCBC and the individual defendants. It also exercised its discretion to find that New York is a convenient forum to try the case,” RCBC said.
It said the decision and order “merely resolved the jurisdictional issues and is not in any way, a finding of liability on the part of RCBC or any of the individual defendants.”
The bank said “the court directed the parties to mediate the dispute.”
Julito G. Rada
EPI is also developing pilot geothermal projects in Mindoro and Biliran. Once completed, the pilot operations may be expanded to realize 20 MW in Mindoro and 50 MW in Biliran.
The company signed an agreement in July with Shell Overseas Investments B.V. to jointly develop, own operate and maintain onshore renewable energy projects in the Philippines.
The EPI-Shell venture aims to develop 1 gigawatt of projects by 2028 with potential to contribute up to 3 GW into the country’s renewable capacity by initially rolling out a series of projects in Luzon and the Visayas.
The share price of Nickel Asia rose 1.2 percent Monday to close at P6.83.
RCBC plans to appeal New York court’s decision to hear $81-m laundering case
85 High School Boys’ basketball tournament.
Nunag replaced Richard Bachmann, who was called to serve the country as Philippine Sports Commission chairman.
Though the appointment came suddenly, Nunag accepted the job as it is his “full-circle moment.”
“I had to mull it over not too long because of the time constraints. Since I played and coached here in the UAAP, I just tried to give back and serve the league,” said Nunag, who also currently chairs a logistics company and a vice president of a resort.
“It’s a blessing. It’s something that I’m not taking for granted. I played for UP from 1998 to 2002, coached in Ateneo during UAAP seasons 72 and 73, and then nag analyst pa ako and now commissioner, it’s such a blessing,” he continued as the appointment only came last Wednesday.
It was Nunag’s managerial skills that proved to be the factor in his hiring, according to UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag.
“What he brings to the table is his managerial skills crucial to his position,” said Saguisag. “In fact, he immediately buckled down to work and met key people several times in the short time given to him.
“I personally sat down with him twice and what stuck to me was his growth mindset,” he added.
Nunag immediately buckled down to work on Sunday during Day 1 of the boys’ basketball tournament.
Not having the luxury of knowing the coaches of the league, he personally introduced himself to each head coach and told them that he will have an open line regarding any inquiry.
“I had to know the league and ask ED for the updated rules and regulations. At the same time, I had to talk to the referees about what they see sa laro and the key points to improve on. What I’m doing now is approaching every coach and having a one-on-one talk with them,” said Nunag.
Nunag is still pondering on whether he will also accept the role of 3x3 basketball commissioner, admitting tha t he is taking things one step at a time.
By Peter Atencio
For Barangay Ginebra mentor Tim Cone, Game 7 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioners Cup was a completion of an unfinished business that they thought was all wrapped up but which the Bay Area Dragons transformed into a spoiler of a night on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Coned admitted they focused their entire might on Games 6 and that fighting for another day was not the way they wanted to finish the blockbuster series.
Two days later, though, before a record mammoth crowd at the massive Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan the Kings slew the Dragons that were threatening to cast a gloom over the entire PBA hoopdome.
“We felt we had Game 6 in hand. We made that nice comeback, and we felt we had it in hand. And then we let it slip away,” said Cone moments after the Gin Kings posted a 114-99 swamping of the Bay Area Dragons to claim Ginebra’s 14th league crown.
The Kings were so focused on taking Game 6, according to the Gin Kings’ mentor, that they walked away and went home from the MOA Arena with an enraged feeling.
And that feeling spilled over when they stepped into the Philippine Arena.
“They could feel the energy of the crowd who were there. You know,
just from the very first basket when we scored. It’s hard to explain, but we could feel the energy of the players goes up,” added Cone.
The team got fired up the moment they saw the 54,589 fans who trooped to Bocaue begin cheering for them.
Everyone, from former Ginebra legends like Noli Locsin to Sunday Salvacion, and probably non-Ginebra fans, were not just cheering Ginebra—they were shouting “Philippines, Philippines” as if the battle was between the country’s national squad and China. After all, the Bay Area Dragons is a team based in Hong Kong which is part of China.
“They were just battling through, battling through, battling through. And whenever we got that lead, it just kinda got us purposeful,” said the 64-year-old Cone.
Cone, who has been coaching in the PBA since 1989, has so far earned his 25th overall PBA crown as a coach, and seventh for the Gin Kings.
“We knew what we gotta do out there.
And we stayed with it. We were really surprised at how well played, how we were able to handle Bay Area,” added Cone as he dealt with the coaching brilliance of Brian Goorjian, who is best known for steering Australia to a bronze medal finish during the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
In his victory speech, Ginebra governor and San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua paid tribute to the Ginebra fans. “Na scout nila pwera lang kayo, referring to the massive crowd that trooped to watch the game live. Wala silang ganyan sa China.”
RIANNE Malixi birdied four of the last eight holes to rescue a one-under 72 but fell by four strokes off Chinese Alice Zhao and Sophie Stevens of the US at the start of the Annika Invitational in Orlando, Florida Sunday.
Malixi produced a pair of back-toback birdie feats on Nos. 11 and 16 as she battled back from a three-over card marred by a double bogey on No. 4 and a bogey on the 10th of the par-73 Eagle Creek Golf Club to salvage a 38-34 round and join nine others at 13th place with two rounds left in the second leg of this year’s American Junior Golf Association circuit.
Zhao, 13, came away with a bogeyfree five-under 68 while Stevens shot six birdies against a bogey as they wrested a one-stroke lead over Italy’s Francesca Fiorellini, and Vanessa Borovilos, Ashleen Kaur, and Kati Li of the US, who matched 69s in cold conditions.
Lauren Kim of Canada and Czech Denisa Vodickova stood at joint seventh with 70s.
supporting our National Sports Associations and national athletes. I look forward to learning more about the programs that are in the pipeline, as well as those that are already being implemented,” Bachmann said.
The AJGA top guns likewise put themselves in early contention with No. 1 Gianna Clemente, who became only the second player in history to qualify for three consecutive LPGA Tour events last year, shooting a 71 for a share of ninth with three others, including fellow American Yana Wilson, who foiled her in last year’s US Girls’ Junior finals.
Other two-under-par scorers were Michelle Liu and Macy Pate.
In a simple turnover ceremony held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila today, previous PSC chief Jose Emmanuel “Noli” Eala formally passed on the PSC Chairmanship to Bachmann, as the latter fully accepted the challenge as the new captain of the PSC ship.
Bachmann expressed his gratitude to his predecessor who served as the 11th chairman of the commission and led the successful return of the Batang Pinoy National Championships grassroots program to face-to-face competition in 2022.
“I would like to thank and honor former Chairman Noli Eala for his service and dedication to
THE Ladies Chapter of Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club is holding its very first tournament since the pandemic at its home course on Feb. 11 (Saturday).
The Golf for a Cause Tournament led by its president Ermi Madulid will offer part of its proceeds to a total of 300 caddies, tee bo ys, and tee girls beneficiaries.
Golf for a Cause is dedicated to showing appreciation for its loyal and hardworking support system.
The tournament is expected to give more joy to the participants with its Hole-In-One
prizes, special awards, and raffle draws.
Camp Aguinaldo Golf Course is one of the country’s pride. A Par 68 course has one of the most challenging layouts in the metro. The 18-hole golf course will definitely enhance your course management and strategy with its dog-legs, lakes, water hazards, and street out-of-bound scattered in each hole.
For sponsorships, registration, and more information on CAGC Ladies Golf for a Cause Tournament, please contact Cookie Castillo at +63 977 842 2007.
Likewise, Eala thanked Bachmann for giving him the opportunity to share his thoughts and knowledge he gained during his stint as the PSC Chairman. He assured the new agency head of his full support.
Bachmann also thanked the PSC workforce who continue to play an important part in the overall role of the agency in Philippine sports, as the PSC celebrates its 33rd anniversary this month.
The PSC was established as the national sports agency by virtue of Republic Act 6847 on January 24, 1990, replacing Project Gintong Alay.
TEAM Blue, made up of Filipino imports composed of Anyang KGC’s Rhenz Abando, Ulsan Hyundai’s RJ Abarrientos, and Daegu KOGAS’ SJ Belangel prevailed over Team White, 13-7, Sunday in a Korea Basketball League 3x3 All-Star game at KT Sonicboom Arena in Suwon.
They played the finals game against Korea’s KGC’s Byeon Junhyeong, Seoul Samsung’s Lee Junghyun, and Seoul SK’s Kim Sunhyung in a contest that lasted only five minutes.
Abando and Abarrientos took charge for the All-Filipino team that took a 7-4 lead.
After that, Belangel beat Kim Seonhyeong with a euro-step and scored a breakthrough shot before Abando got a pass from Avarientos and made a dunk to move further ahead, 9-4.
Abando then iced the game with a buzzer-beater dunk for a 13-7 count.
Earlier, Abando received a perfect score of 50 points to rule the slam dunk contest.
He was flawless in his executions after Abando unraveled a fold dunk in the first round and executed a windmill dunk in the second round, wowing the audience when he spun around in mid-air.
Juncheng created a slice of history on Monday by becoming the first male Chinese player to win an Australian Open main draw singles match, a feat he called “huge” for his country.
The 17-year-old qualifier, the youngest player in the men’s draw, battled past Germany’s Oscar Otte 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 in nearly three hours to progress.
After saving two break points in the opening set, he did not face another as he sealed the win on his third match point at Melbourne Park.
His reward is a tough second-round encounter with either American 16th seed Frances Tiafoe or another German, Daniel Altmaier.
“I thin k it’s huge for Chinese men’s tennis. You know, we have had really good players from the women’s side but not really big names in the men’s,” said Shang, who also goes by the name “Jerry”.
“So I think we are very lucky that I’m part of it and I’m very lucky that I’m part of this team. Hopefully we can do something big in the future.”
In addition to the significance of the result for China, Shang also achieved several personal milestones —aside from notching his first major win, he also earned his first tour-level win in four tries.
“I think overall this whole week was different for me, playing my first Slam, every day I was pretty nervous getting on the court,” he said.
“But at the same time, it’s one of the best moments I have had so far in my career, so I’m just very excited to be on court, and everything is a learning process for me.”
Shang is leading a historic Chinese charge in Melbourne with three male Chinese players competing at any Grand Slam main draw since the Open era began in 1968.
He is joined by Zhang Zhizhen and Wu Yibing.
Seven Chinese also entered the women’s singles draw, led by the veteran Zhang Shuai, who is ranked 22 in the world.
The retired Li Na remains China’s best-ever player after she won the French Open in 2011 and Australian Open three years later. AFP
Nick Kyrgios pulled out injured as the Australian Open lost another big name on Monday, while Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula fired early warning shots with convincing wins.
The first Grand Slam of the year lost several stars in the build-up and unpredictable home hope Kyrgios became the latest casualty, his tournament over on day one before he hit a ball.
“I’m devastated, obviously,” the Wimbledon finalist told a hastily arranged press conference, having suffered a knee injury.
Injured men’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz and two-time Melbourne champion Naomi Osaka—who is expecting her first child—are among the other high-profile players missing.
The sudden absence of talented but temperamental Kyrgios further opens the door for nine-time Australian Open
champion Novak Djokovic and title holder Rafael Nadal.
Gauff v Raducanu
In the opening action, in-form third seed Pegula blitzed 161st-ranked Romanian Jaqueline Cristian on Margaret Court Arena 6-0, 6-1 in a 59-minute romp to signal her intent.
Also on day one, fellow American Gauff was equally explosive in racing into the second round with a 6-1, 6-4 thumping of Czech Katerina Siniakova on the neighbouring Rod Laver Arena.
Gauff headed into Melbourne on a high after winning her third WTA title at the Auckland Classic, while Pegula was boosted by upsetting world number one Iga Swiatek at the United Cup.
The 18-year-old Gauff now faces a mouth-watering second-round encounter against former US Open champion Emma R aducanu, who beat Tamara Korpatsch 6-3, 6-2, barely 10 days after the Briton exited the Auckland event in tears with an ankle injury.
It will be a first meeting ever between teenager Gauff and the 20-year-old Raducanu.
“I’m really looking forward to this
match,” Raducanu said.
“I’m very up for it. Coco has obviously done a lot of great things and she’s playing well.
“I think we’re both good, young players, we’re both coming through -- part of the next generation of tennis really -- it’s going to be a great match.”
Also safely through was another American, Danielle Collins, last year’s beaten finalist in Melbourne. She beat Anna Kalinskaya 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.
Greek sixth seed Maria Sakkari also won.
But two seeds fell at the first hurdle, 25th-seeded Czech Marie Bouzkova and American 28th seed Amanda Anisimova.
Top seed Swiatek gets her campaign for a first Melbourne Park title under way later Monday against Germany’s Jule Niemeier.
Nadal’s tough test
Spanish great Nadal is in action on Monday with a tricky first-round encounter against Britain’s fast-rising Jack Draper.
Top seed Nadal, who boasts a record 22 major titles, has been struggling for form, and admitted Draper was dangerous. AFP
6 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
By finishing Superbon, Allazov now owns wins over two of the men considered to be the best in the most stacked division in all of kickboxing—Superbon and Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong.
So is now the time for him to try and get another ONE World Title in a different sport? Allazov said not quite.
“Before, all my fights were Muay Thai. I like Muay Thai. I like elbows, I like knees, I like clinching. I started my career in Muay Thai, not kickboxing,” he said.
“After I went to K1, I changed my style a bit and trained only [in kickboxing]. For me, this is another style, [a different] style. Timing in Muay Thai [is different from] timing in kickboxing.”
But that doesn’t mean his dream fight with ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK.Saenchai will remain a dream. For Allazov, the fight can still happen.
“Maybe Tawanchai wants to come to my [sport] and fight with me in kickboxing, no problem. Welcome! I said it before, but me going to Muay Thai is another situation. I don’t like it,” he said.
While a cross-over matchup between two of the top stars in the featherweight division sounds enticing, Allazov believes there are still a lot of fights for him in kickboxing that make sense –including a rematch with Sitthichai.
“I like [the idea of this] fight [with Tawanchai]. But my division has many fighters. I said before, Sitthichai is one of the best kickboxers in the world. Really. Before he was a pound-forpound kickboxer. For me, Sitthichai is better than Marat Grigorian and better than [Giorgio] Petrosyan, better than Superbon,” he said.
Asked whether he had thoughts on the achievement he replied simply in the negative and chose to reflect on his team’s disappointing form.
James is now second only to fellow Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points on the NBA’s all-time career scoring list and he is expected to surpass that total in the coming weeks.
James put up 35 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Lakers, passing the 38,000mark in the first quarter, and his achievement was acknowledged by the crowd and players.
But after the game ended in defeat for the Lakers, with Joel Embiid getting 35 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers, James was in no mood to reflect on his personal milestone.
“It’s just frustrating to get into those positions and not come out with a victory,” said Jam es.
Russell Westbrook was unable to make a play in the final seconds of the game for the Lakers.
“We got a stop, gave ourselves a chance to win the game and didn’t,” he said.
Nikola Vucevic produced a 43-point masterpiece as the Chicago Bulls overpowered the slumping NBA champion Golden State Warriors 132-118 on Sunday
Montenegrin star Vucevic bagged his ninth straight double-double after stepping up in the absence of injured DeMar DeRozan to help the Bulls snap a three-game losing streak at Chi-
cago’s United Center.
Vucevic’s performance was the centerpiece of a balanced all-round offensive display by Chicago, who saw six players finish with double-digit points tallies.
Zach LaVine added 27 points while Alex Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu had 12 points apiece.
Coby White added 15 from the bench.
“I got going really early,” said Vucevic after going 18-for-31 from the field with five threepointers. “It’s hard to explain. You just get this feeling within yourself that it’s kinda gonna be your night and you just play.
“We really moved the ball. We really played aggressively offensively and I was able to get into my spots.”
The victory was the perfect tonic for the Bulls (20-24) as they now head to Paris next week for a regular season fixture against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday. AFP
VICTORIA Sports Cycling Team, the newest Philippine professional cycling team, will feature top professional cyclists from Portugal in an effort to step up the training of Filipino professional cyclists and to help boost the team’s performance in international cycling tournaments.
According to VSCT representative Pako Ochoa, the team’s roster “is composed of a mix of veteran riders and young up and coming athletes from the Philippines and Portugal, including two former World Tour riders, José Mendes and André Cardoso,”
The United Cycliste Internationale (UCI)-licensed team will be representing the Philippines in the international tournaments starting this year.
Based in Aigle, Switzerland, the UCI is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events.
The officers of the VSCT include Atty. Franco Lacandalo (Team Rep-
a
Tapping experienced world-class cyclists,
Ochoa, “is one of the moves the team has made to help make VSCT internationally competitive.”
This, explained Ochoa, “is a tried and tested strategy that has been used by other teams in the past.”
“If we want to keep up with the best cyclists in the world, we have to train and ride with the best cyclists in the world. These include the likes of José [Mendes] and André [Cardoso].”
Mendez is a former World Tour Rider for Bora-Hansgrohe and twotime national road champion of Portugal. Cardoso, on the other hand, is a former World Tour rider for Trek Segafredo.
Established in 2010, Bora–Hansgrohe is a German UCI WorldTeam cycling team sponsored by BORA, a German manufacturer of extractor hoods and cooktops, and Hansgrohe, a bathroom fittings manufacturer. Also a UCI WorldTeam cycling team, Trek–Segafredo is licensed in the United States and was founded in 2011. Both teams have competed in top races like the Tour de France.
encore at the Pacific Grand Ballroom, Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino in Cebu City on February 18.
Fire and Ice Media and Productions announced Ice Seguerra’s milestone concert repeat fresh from the heels of its wins and nominations at this year’s Aliw Awards, where the concert bagged the “Best Stage Direction For a Concert” plum for the OPM icon and “Best Musical Direction” for Ivan Lee Espinosa.
Becoming Ice marked the multi-platinum artist’s return after a ten-year hiatus from doing major solo concerts. Its success has inspired its repeat in other venues across the country, beginning with the Queen City of the South, Cebu City. Other venues are to be announced soon.
Becoming Ice sings the songs of Seguerra’s stellar career from child actor to singercomposer, to director—the soundtrack of his journey, which also became a part of the soundtrack of many Filipinos’ lives, including the phenomenal hits “Pagdating ng Panahon” and “Anong Nangyari sa Ating Dalawa.” His thirty-five-year career in the movies and mu-
sic, and now also in media production, has cemented his name as a pop culture reference and icon transcending age groups.
“I’m very excited to go to Cebu because the last time I did a major concert was in 2014. It was back-to-back with Jake Zyrus. I love the Cebuanos kasi sobrang appreciative sila for good music. Pero discerning sila kaya medyo nakakakaba din Becoming Ice is very personal to me because it’s really like a documentary of my years in the business but with live concert elements…kakaiba talaga,” Seguerra shares.
“For the concert in Cebu, may mga mababago ng konti sa show. It’s going to be a different experience from the one I did in Manila. Ma s localized sya. I will be performing with Cebuano musicians and artists,” the artist adds.
Fire and Ice Media and Productions, led together by actress and film advocate Liza Diño-Seguerra and Ice Seguerra, will be producing the concert in cooperation with Nathan Studios and in partnership with Katinko. The event is also sponsored by Waterfront Cebu, Unilab, and Globe and supported
By Angelica VillanuevaLATE last year, Boy Abunda put an end to all the “transfer rumors” when he officially signed a contract with GMA Network. Now, after two decades, he’s back to GMA and ready to utter his famous line, “Kaibigan, tara, usap tayo?” again.
Coined from his copyrightprotected term “fast talk,” Tito Boy’s 20-minute live talk show, Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, will have its premiere telecast on January 23 and will be airing daily at 4:05 p.m finishing off the network’s Dramarama sa Hapon block.
Speaking to some members of the press last weekend, Tito Boy, as he is fondly called, shared his feelings towards his much-awaited showbiz news program.
“It’s not going be easy dahil ako ay kakatok, hihiram, hihingi ng 20 minutes ng oras tuwing hapon from Monday to Friday mula sa ating mga kababayan, sa mga nanay, sa mga tatay, sa mga Kapuso na makipagbalitaan at makipagkuwentuhan. Mapangahas masyado sabihin na magagawa ko ‘yun, but I will need your help,” the seasoned host said.
Most especially now that everyone has the access to spread and deliver news on various social media platforms, the King of Talk admitted that it’s going to be a difficult challenge.
“Doon sa pagbabago ng landscape…I am cognizant of where we are today. Hindi lamang reporters, hindi lamang tayo.
Ako, nag-You-YouTube. Ika’y merong YouTube, may Facebook. Everybody has become an active participant in the communications ecosystem,” Abunda explained.
Sa pagbabalita ngayon, halimbawa pag may buntis, it starts with sabi ko nga, cryptic posts. Until, you know, somebody reveals. Or ‘pag nag-away, ina-unfollow. Tinatanggal ang mga litrato sa IG. Lahat ng ito, familiar tayo. Familiar
tayo na nabago na,” he continued.
Hindi katulad noon na inaantay natin ang mga palabas para i-confirm ang mga balita. O ‘di kaya hinahabol natin. We were all going for exclusives hanggang magsasalita halimbawa ang artista. Alam natin ‘yun,” he added.
Tito Boy has been known for his direct-to-the-point and intense questions. He is even considered one of the showbiz news authorities and
He wouldn’t
“May konting kredibilidad dahil may fact-checking kami.
Kung halimbawa, magbibigay ako ng headline, dadaan ‘yan sa napakaraming tao before I’m able to do you know a commentary for example. Or, an enumeration of headlines for the day,” explained the award-winning host.
Fast Talk with Boy Abunda is more than the ‘sex or chocolates’ and ‘lights on or lights off’ that we know. It will not just revolve around revelations or confirmation of ‘chismis’ that people have been dying to know. But it also aims to go beyond what is obvious.
“I’m going to work with a great team pero hindi ako uupo. Kaya sinasabi ko sa kanila, ‘Pasensya na kayo, sobrang taas ang energy ko at pakialamero ako.’ Oo, dahil hindi ako papayag na hindi magdeliver dahil sobrang tiwala ang ibinigay sa akin ni Atty. Gozon,” he said.
“So we have to step up, we have to be able to present how we’re gonna do Fast Talk. Ang Fast Talk naman is specific and personal to the guest,” Abunda added.
He also teased the media by revealing his first set of guests during the pilot week. Marian Rivera kicks off the premiere episode and will be followed by a soon-to-be-wed couple, Glaiza de Castro and David Rainey on Tuesday.
Alden Richards will be gracing the Wednesday episode and his StartUp-PH leading lady, Bea Alonzo is set to be the Thursday guest. Capping off the week will be Paolo Contis whom he personally called to ask to be in the show.
“I spoke to Paolo Contis straight… Hindi naman ako papayag, sabi ko, ‘hindi ako papayag na hindi ka umoo,’” shared Tito Boy. The seasoned talk show host also shared that he is looking forward to the day that he
Apart
DESPITE the fact that she and Diego Loyzaga have already called it quits, Barbie Imperial says she still wishes her former lover good. She even thinks of his happiness and welfare.
In a recent interview, Barbie said that she’s happy that Diego has reconnected with his dad Cesar Montano
“That’s what he truly wants. Everyone knows that for quite some time, their relationship as father and son got strained. It was something like seven years until they were able to bury the hatchet in March last year. I’m glad that finally, they’re fine,” she avers.
The 23-year-old actress reveals that they already had closure after their split. It was even reported that they saw each other again.
“We had closure. Our breakup is no longer an issue for me. It’s been a year already. We both moved on and are presently happy with our respective lives.”
Barbie notes that she learned there’s nothing wrong with being single.
“My issue with my dad was very deep before. Because of that, many of my relationships were affected. I did everything to heal my inner child. I told myself that it’s okay if my dad isn’t around. That everything has its reasons. I taught myself how to be okay with that. I read self-help books which proved to be beneficial in my situation,” ends Barbie.
* * *
In her recent Instagram post, Sharon Cuneta called Julia Montes as her beloved and most favorite daughter in the ‘biz. It can be remembered that they became close when they worked together in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
Nocebo
by Brunella Cocchiglia and Emily Leo and coproduced by the Filipino production company, Epicmedia. It was executive produced by XYZ Films. The film is also the first recipient of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)’s International Co-production Fund (ICOF) in 2020.
Nocebo was the opening film at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival and had limited runs at Sitges Film Festival, Cork International Film Festival, Singapore International Film Festival, and QCinema International Film Festival.
“I will admit that I’ve cried a lot last year. But that’s water under the bridge already. I realized that it’s okay to be alone. Before, I was so afraid to be alone. I became dependent on people when it comes to my happiness. Then I challenged myself to fix things by myself. Fortunately, in the long run, I got used to dealing with things generally by myself. I made sure that I can manage even if I’m alone. It resulted in my being independent which is definitely a positive development.”
According to the Kapamilya actress, facing her issue with her father has helped her in keeping a positive disposition. Actually, she grew up in a broken family and she only met her biological dad when she joined ABSCBN’s popular reality show Pinoy Big Brother: 737 in 2015. This was the source of her emotional wounds.
According to the Megastar, their friendship remains solid even after the toprating show wrapped up. Almost every day, they send each other text messages. Sharon revealed that Julia is sweet, kind, and has a beautiful heart. She doesn’t forget to greet and ask how Mega is doing.
The veteran actresssinger also said that Julia is very down-to-earth. On her birthday last January 6, Sharon revealed that Julia called her up and greeted her. Recently, the young actress also sent her food like her favorite Lengua and Lechon.
Sharon believes that Julia is heaven-sent, saying that she is one of God’s best gifts to her in 2022. For this, she’s forever grateful to Him. She even thanks Julia for the happiness she brought into her life.
IF YOU are determined to laugh your way to success and happiness this 2023, we suggest tuning in to The Soshal Network (TSN) YouTube Channel. Not only you will gain knowledge on law and other matters, but you will also laugh heartily as three female lawyers find humor in anything and everything under the sun.
TSN started as a blog in 2012, born out of a drinking session between three law school pals Camille Buhain-Javier, Vivian Tan, and Faye Condez-De Sagon In between alcohol sips, they started talking about blogs. In typical schoolgirl envy, Camille jokingly said “eh mas madami kaming opinion.” Ideas started floating in the air, and before the night was over, The Soshal Network (TSN) was born.
“Hindi naman kami influencer or celebrity na invited sa mga bongga events,” Vivian shared “but our funny stories would be interesting, kasi kahit kami natatawa sa sarilli namin.”
The TSN blog easily rose to fame, serving as a parody of ultra-flashy bloggers who posted fabulous vacations and designer clothes. TSN is all about the good life, but instead of flaunting Chanel or Louie Vuitton, the girls dangled bags made from Good Morning towels, hair accessories made of rags, and even spoofed A-listers. Recently Camille posted her version of Heart Evangelista’s Moschino cutlery outfit complete with plastic spoons, instead of Heart’s golden utensils.
Their website is a library of funny commentaries on all topics. An entry entitled “The Soshal Climber’s Guide to Travelling” gives visual hacks so
Facebook followers would think you are on a grand vacation, like posting a photo with a foreigner in the background.
They also shared how well-curated footwear photos can make it seem like you are in some winter country. A photo of a pair of boots surrounded by snow came with the caption which reads “boots can create insta-travel feels.” But in truth, Camille was in her Cavite home, stepping on crushed ice.
Their video “Hottorneys: Pinoy lawyers
who would make you want to plead guilty” is still a runaway winner, six years after it was first published. Shirtless legal professionals showing off their abs, with Camille’s schoolgirl shriek in the background, is still the hands-down favorite.
All three have been friends since their law school days. The most visible in the vlog is Camille, also known as Ms. Provinciated. She lives in Bacoor and as a child, she dreamed of joining Little Ms. Philippines contest in Eat Bulaga. She
never had a chance to join, but since she was exceptionally opinionated, her mother encouraged her to study law. If the vlog requires props or “costumes” Camille relies on the sewing skills of her helper. “Dati, kami-kami lang nag vi-video, ngayon may tagahawak na kami , at may microphone, asenso na di ba,” Camille added.
Vivian is Ms. Domesticated. She is a wife and mother and recently started her own law firm. Her comical exchange with Camille (which happens almost daily)
the beginning, her kids would often say “why are you so silly, Mom.” But with the growing number of followers, they now happily declare, “my Mom is a blogger.”
The most outgoing and fashionable is Faye Condez de Sagan also known as Ms. Sophisticated. She seems like the most serious in the group, but she is just as wacky. The two likes making fun of her because she is always well put together. She works in Congress, and yes, her workmates are aware of her popularity. “I am always missing in action. I just show up for the shoot and follow what they say” she joked.
The Soshal Network moved to YouTube in 2015 and continues to release a new video every week. Asked if they were ever bashed, Vivian said in jest: “Wala naman, siguro takot sila kasi mga lawyers kami.”
In their latest video, the girls visited the House of Representatives as guests of Camille’s brother, Batangas City Representative Eric Buhain. The lawmaker could not contain his laughter when they said they have some proposed bills, hoping for sponsorship. When the Congressman inquired further, Camille brought out Meralco, cable, and telco bills.
The vlog currently has 53,300 subscribers.
AMAIA Land Corp. further cements its reputation of being the go-to developer of affordable housing after winning the Best Emerging Residential Real Estate Developer – Philippines Award at the 2022 Global Business Outlook Awards.
Global Business Outlook awards excellence of businesses in the private and public sectors around the world.
WALTERMART continues its thrust of bringing the good life to more Filipino families as it opens its 38th mall in Baliwag, Bulacan. With this, WalterMart Baliwag promises to deliver a one-stop, convenient, fresh retail experience to the Baliwag community.
The Philippines’ leading community mall chain takes the grocery shopping experience a notch higher. From farm fresh to seafood and oriental produce, to International Flavors and Healthy Organic Sections – the widest assortment of essential goods are housed in its newest branch.
The mall also boasts a line-up of tenants to amp up its assortment – food selections like KFC, Chatime, Angel’s Pizza, Figaro, Famous Belgian Waffle, Waffle Time, Buko Juan, Eng Bee Tin and a food court where friends and family can safely dine together at Ate Rica’s Bacsilog, Paotsin, Turks, Siomai House, Potato Corner, Takoyakings, Goto Pilipinas and more.
Abenson, Abenson Home – the Philippines’ largest appliance store carries up to a thousand items from home appliance to work-from-home essentials.
Essentials stores carry branded and value items like Ace Hardware, Watsons,
Japan Home Centre, and Mr DIY. Amusement, Service lanes, and Cyberzone open up to cater #MoretoLove experiences like Funhouse, BDO, Core Pacific, Delco, Samsung, Rulls, Infinix, and Gadget Suit.
Waltermart has been providing an easy and hassle-free shopping experience in every community it serves. From easy and accessible transport options to visit, to Free 250 spacious parking slots, and Happy Hatid jeep for commuters. Waltermart Supermarket has also grown its online ordering capability via Grocery Delivery site, www. waltermart.com for a full omni-channel experience.
“WalterMart Baliwag is our 5th mall in the province of Bulacan, following Sta. Maria, Plaridel, Guiguinto, and Malolos. We are honored to open our doors to the Baliwag community, in providing opportunities to local business owners and employment for job seekers,” says General Manager and SVP for Operations, Jerico Buñing
WalterMart
Remedios
For more updates, follow WalterMart on Facebook: facebook.com/ WalterMartMallOfficial or join their Viber Community here: https://bit.ly/ WalterMartCommunity
For the past 12 years, Amaia has achieved significant scale and growth in providing affordable housing to the broad C market of Filipinos. Amaia has garnered the top share of this market in recent years and continues to focus on serving such market, while retaining a stable and healthy balance sheet.
To date, Amaia has sold over 50,000 residential units and has delivered over 20,000 units to buyers in 33 projects located in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The company has consistently been an innovator in its field and has introduced successful products, including projects with sustainability features that benefit both the planet and the residents. Amaia was one of the best performing developers during the recent pandemic. In 2020, the year COVID hit, Amaia was able to exceed reservation sales versus the pre-pandemic level of 2019. This was a major feat, considering that one would expect its market, the middle class, to be severely hit by the pandemic.
Despite all the challenges brought about by the pandemic, Amaia successfully adapted quickly to digitalization, which enabled it to operate smoothly during volatile times. More importantly, the Company has emerged much stronger than before and is poised to achieve even greater heights moving forward.