Manila Standard - 2023 January 31 - Tuesday

PBBM rolls out 5-year dev’t plan

Signs EO for economic recovery to uplift lives of ordinary Pinoys

By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed an executive order (EO) approving and adopting the Philippine Development Plan for the period 2023-2028, which provides a five-year roadmap for the country’s economic recovery and aims to make the Philippines an upper-middle-income country by 2025.

The Plan lists several target outcomes that the Marcos administration commits to achieve over the medium term:

- Bring down the poverty rate to a

single-digit level -- 9 percent -- by the time the administration’s term ends in 2028;

- Keep food and overall prices low

and stable. Food and overall inflation will be kept within 2 to 4 percent;

- Create more and better-quality jobs. Although unemployment is nearing pre-pandemic levels in 2022 at 5.7 percent, there is much room to improve the quality, productivity, and stability of employment. By 2028, the target unemployment rate is within 4 to 5 percent, and the percentage of wage and salary workers in private establishments to total employed is within 53 to 55 percent;

- Maintain high levels of economic

growth in the medium term, rising from 6 to 7 percent in 2023 to 6.5 to 8 percent from 2024 to 2028; and

- Ensure fiscal discipline. The national government deficit to GDP ratio will be gradually brought down from 6.5 percent during the first half of 2022 to 3 percent in 2028. The outstanding government debt to GDP ratio will also be gradually reduced from 63.7 percent in September 2022 to 51.1 percent by the end-2028.

WHO declares COVID still global crisis, pandemic at transition point

GENEVA—Three years to the day after the World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the highest level of global alert over COVID-19, it said Monday the pandemic remains an international emergency.

The United Nations health agency’s emergency committee on COVID-19

Fuel price hikes: Gas up P1.30/l, diesel by P1/l

By Alena Mae S. Flores and Othel V. Campos

DOMESTIC pump prices went up for the third consecutive week by as much as P1.35 per liter effective 6 a.m. Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.

The oil firms raised the price of kerosene by P1.35 per liter, gasoline by P1.30 per liter, and diesel by P1 per liter.

Meanwhile, even as inflation remains high, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the suggested retail price (SRP) for various commodities would remain at levels set by the August 2022 SRP Bulletin, as the agency has not yet finished assessing the petitions for price increases by companies.

met last Friday for the 14th time since the start of the crisis.

Following that meeting, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus “concurs with the advice offered by the committee regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and determines

that the event continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC),” the organization said in a statement. Meanwhile, all countries remain “dangerously unprepared” for the next pandemic, the Red Cross warned on

By Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

on Monday said the education system has “failed” Filipino children as he vowed to do better to improve the education sector.

“We have failed them. We have to admit that we have failed our children. And let us not keep failing them anymore. Otherwise, we will not allow them to become the great Filipinos that we know they can be,” the President said after receiving the 2023 Basic Education Report from Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday.

“The Filipino is better than this. The children are better than this. And we cannot fail them. And that is the main motivation that we should keep in our hearts,” Mr. Marcos said.

In her report, Duterte-Carpio revealed the multiple challenges hounding the education system as she launched the so-called “MATATAG” roadmap to address the identified problems.

These problems included the lack of school infrastructure, the “cracks” in DepEd’s procurement practices, the decrease of enrollment in private

Monday, saying future health crises could also collide with increasingly likely climate-related disasters. Despite three “brutal” years of the COVID-19 pandemic, strong preparedness systems are “severely lacking”, the

Enrile slams ICC, suggests probers’ arrest for interfering

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENTIAL Chief Legal Counsel

Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday recommended that investigators working for the International Criminal Court (ICC) be arrested if they come into the country without government permission to probe the Duterte administration’s

bloody war on drugs.

The Philippines “will not allow any of our officials to be investigated or tried by the International Criminal Court,” Enrile told reporters Monday.

“As the lawyer of the President, as far as I am concerned, I do not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court of Justice. They have no

Power snaps may hit rural areas

By Alena Mae S. Flores

STATE-RUN National Power Corp. warned on Monday about year-long daily power interruptions affecting 1.3 million households in remote islands

NPC, suffering from funding shortages, proposed to reduce the operations of 156 power plants under the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG), which could affect 450,000 households.

It said delayed payments to new power providers and qualified third parties

Mr. Marcos says education system ‘failed’ the children

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio

Poll: 49% of Pinoys see life improving in next 12 months

‘Put e-sabong on banned gambling list’

LAKAS MEETING. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivers his message during a luncheon with Lakas-CMD party officials and members at the Social Hall of the House of Representatives on Monday. Ver Noveno

Poll: 49% of Pinoys see life improving

EARLY half of adult Filipinos believe their quality of life will improve in the next 12 months, a recent poll from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The SWS survey published Monday noted that 49 percent of adult Filipinos are hopeful their life will improve, while 37 percent believe it will stay the same.

Meanwhile, five percent believe their life will worsen, while eight percent did not give their answer.

The December 2022 Net Personal Optimism score was 4 points higher than the “excellent” +40 in October 2022 and is the highest since the prepandemic score of “excellent” +44 in December 2019, SWS added.

The Fourth Quarter 2022 Survey was

schools, congestion in the K-12 curriculum, employability of senior high school graduates, and lack of support for teachers, among others.

“We will rally for an improved learning system in the country. Together, we will rally for every Filipino child,” the Vice President said.

She said MATATAG will have four critical components: MAke the curriculum relevant to produce competent and job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; TAke steps to accelerate delivery of basic education facilities and services; TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and Give support to teachers to teach better.

“We know that the road will be bumpy, but our direction is clear. We know that the challenges are vast, but we Filipinos are resilient. We will overcome,” Duterte-Carpio said.

While the review of the K to 12 curriculum is still ongoing, the VP said it can be improved “by focusing on foundational skills and embedding peace competencies.”

Mr. Marcos, for his part, vowed to invest in Filipino teachers.

“Our teachers are there because it is a vocation. Teachers do not become teachers because it is their job. Teachers do not become teachers because they want to become rich. Teachers become teachers because they have to. It is a vocation,” the President said.

“We will build infrastructure that will provide our teachers, learners, and our entire academic sector with a healthy and safe environment that is conducive to learning... We will offer them multiple opportunities that meet both their personal and professional needs.”

“We will offer them the support they need in terms of resources, programs, and policies so that they can effectively perform their roles as teachers and mentors of our children,” he added.

might also result in power outages affecting about 835,000 households.

“The idea that was presented is to ration available fuel throughout the entire year effectively. We had initially announced the rationing to start as early as February, but we have not finished the consultations, so, we decided to defer it for consideration in March,” NPC president Fernando Martin Roxas said.

Roxas said the fuel rationing program would mean “equal misery.”

“We won’t favor anybody. We will dispense the available fuel as much as possible, fairly,” Roxas said.

Based on the reduced electricity schedule, SPUG power plants running 24 hours would operate at 15 hours, while those running 16 hours would be available for only 12 hours. Those operating below 16 hours would run for only five hours.

The Department of Energy said NPC’s approved and allocated funds for fuel expenses and subsidies of new power providers and qualified third-party parties in 2023 are insufficient to cover the requirements for the entire year amid high fuel costs.

NPC’s outstanding fuel payables for the operation of SPUG power plants and barges amounted to P1.031 billion for the billing months of November and December 2022, while payables to NPPs and QTPs reached P5.508 billion, representing three to four months of unpaid billings which are due and demandable.

conducted from December 10 to 14, 2022, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults aged 18 and above.

The survey’s error margins are ±2.8% for national percentages, ±5.7% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The 4-point increase in the national Net Personal Optimism score was due to an increase in Mindanao, which recorded a 14-point increase from a “very high” +34 in October 2022 to an “excellent” +48 in December 2022.

The optimism scores in other areas

were almost the same, with Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and Visayas all recording a 1-point increase from the October 2022 results.

In terms of academic attainment, college graduates are among the most optimistic with an “excellent” +57 score, up by 5 points from +52 in October 2022.

The December 2022 survey also showed 34 percent of Filipinos saying their quality of life was better than 12 months ago, or “gainers”, while 26 percent said it got worse -- termed “losers” by SWS.

Net Personal Optimism was still high among families who did not experience hunger in the past three months, with an “excellent” score of

+44. Those who experienced hunger, on the other hand, recorded a +43 score, while those who experienced moderate hunger had a +45 score.

Compared to the October 2022 survey, Net Personal Optimism rose from +41 among those from Not Hungry families.

The survey, likewise, showed 51 percent of Filipinos rating themselves as “poor” or “mahirap”, while 31 percent said they are “borderline” poor. Another 19 percent consider themselves as “not poor” or “hindi mahirap”.

Optimism was highest in families who do not consider themselves as poor, with an “excellent” +52 score, while those who consider themselves borderline poor was at +49.

SC nullifies SEC memo on CPAs, external audits

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court has nullified for being unconstitutional the memorandum circulars issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission that required the accreditation of certified public accountants (CPAs) acting as external auditors of corporations issuing registered securities and possessing secondary licenses.

In a 15-page en banc decision, the SC, through Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario, unanimously denied the petition

The PDP seeks to “bring back the country to a high-growth trajectory and more importantly, enable economic and social transformation for a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society,” the President said (see related story on Business, B4 – Editors).

“This plan represents not only our aspirations as a people but also our resolve to build a nation that we can be truly proud of,” Mr. Marcos said during yesterday’s launch of the PDP 2023-2028 at the PICC in Pasay City.

The President said the Plan will ensure that economic gains will redound to the benefit of ordinary Filipinos.

“Indeed, we look toward the future with hope, with optimism. But our gaze can only go as far as what we have done to unburden the life of the ordinary Filipino,” he said.

The PDP is based on Mr. Marcos’s 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda, which aims to “reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction while addressing the issues brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

EO No. 14 directs all national govern-

sovereign power over us,” Enrile said.

“If they come here, if I were to be followed, I will cause their arrest. They interfere too much in our internal affairs,” he said.

“We do not have an uncivilized judicial system. I will not allow them to come to the country to investigate here. They have to ask permission,” he added.

Last week, the ICC said it would resume investigations into extrajudicial killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

PBBM vows ‘all possible aid’ to Ranara family

By Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

on Monday vowed to extend all possible assistance to the family of Jullebee Ranara, the 35-year-old household worker whose burnt body was found in a desert in Kuwait a week ago.

“I just wanted to offer my sympathies to the family and to assure them that all the assistance that they might need… for the family and for whatever else, that is my promise to them. Their child made that sacrifice to work abroad because she has dreams for her family here,” the President said as he visited the wake of Ranara in Las Piñas City Monday afternoon.

filed by the SEC seeking the reversal of the March 20, 2018 decision of the Regional Trial Court of Davao City.

The RTC declared Paragraph 3, Rule 68 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC) and SEC Memorandum Circular No. 13-2009 as illegal.

The regional court nullified the provisions for being contrary to Republic Act 9298, or the Philippine Accountancy Act, and issued “ultra vires” or beyond SEC’s legal authority.

The provisions mandate that only an

ment agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations, government financial institutions, other national government offices and instrumentalities, government corporate entities, state universities and colleges, and local government units to adopt and disseminate the PDP 2023-2028.

They should also align their budgets and departmental or corporate programs with the PDP 2023-2028 strategies and activities.

The PDP 2023-2028 will be completed by the first quarter of 2023 and will be updated annually or as deemed necessary by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

For his part, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Monday the economic outlook remains “promising”, but the country should take more steps to sustain the recovery from the impact of the global health crisis.

Balisacan said the PDP should serve as the country’s development roadmap that would improve economic performance over the next six years.

But the IBON research group said the PDP 2023-2028 falls short of a comprehensive development plan, calling it obsolete and saying it needs to be reversed to pursue

Government data showed that 6,181 people were killed in Duterte’s w ar on drugs but human rights groups have questioned the figure, saying that the real figure could be as high as 30,000.

Enrile defended Duterte’s war on drugs, saying that the former President was acting within the bounds of the Constitution.

Enrile said that he and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have yet to discuss the topic, calling it “a non-issue.”

The Marcos administration has shown no signs of cooperating with the ICC.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said the Philippine government can conduct

external auditor and his auditing firm that is accredited by the SEC “shall be engaged by corporations covered by this Circular for the statutory audit of their financial statements.”

A fine ranging from P100,000 to P400,00 is also imposed by the SEC against auditing firms or responsible external auditors who will be found violating the accreditation requirement.

The SC noted that the assailed regulations were issued based on several provisions of the SRC and the Corporation Code, which covers corporations.

an economy that benefits the many.

The current plan is the ninth development plan since the Marcos regime’s PDP 1978-1982, which pushed freemarket reforms as “structural adjustment” while orienting the economy towards exports and attracting foreign investments, it said.

All the development plans since then have had the same framework and have been successful in making the country more export-oriented and in attracting foreign investment, IBON said.

“Measured as a share of gross domestic product (GDP), exports increased from around 16 percent of GDP in the early 1980s to over 40 percent in the early 2000s, albeit moderating to 28 percent in the last five years,” it said.

Foreign investment has meanwhile in effect increased six-fold from inward stock equivalent to less than 5 percent of GDP in the early 1980s to 29 percent today, the group added.

Yet, IBON said the share of manufacturing has fallen to its smallest share of GDP since the 1950s, and of agriculture to its smallest in history. Their respective shares in employment are also down to their smallest in recorded history, it said.

its own probe into the drug war, saying that it has created a special task force to do so.

The ICC, however, has dismissed the activities of this task force, saying it has not even interviewed witnesses but merely relies on reports.

On Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) called on the ICC to respect the country’s sovereignty and acknowledge the capacity of its judicial system.

PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. made this remark after the ICC approved an investigation into the country’s anti-drug campaign under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I told them that now that your child is gone, we will try to fulfill your dreams. All the assistance that we can give, we will give,” he added.

The President said the Philippine government is scheduling bilateral meetings with Kuwait to review the Bilateral Labor Agreement (BLA) to further protect overseas Filipino workers following the killing of Ranara, allegedly by her employer’s son.

“We are also scheduling bilateral meetings with Kuwait to look at the agreement that we have to see if there are any weaknesses in the agreement that allowed this to happen and to make sure that those weaknesses are remedied so that the agreement is stronger and... will be more supportive of our workers,” the President said.

Mr. Marcos was joined by Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, Senator Mark Villar, and Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar, among others.

DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac earlier said the National Bureau of Investigation would conduct an autopsy on Ranara’s remains.

Fuel...

From A1

While officials could not say when the new SRP Bulletin would be released, they said price hikes would be “minimal” for basic commodities like sardines, milk, coffee, and noodles. Even the price increases sought by canned meat manufacturers will be kept at the barest possible adjustment, they said.

Also, cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas prices will likely go up by about P9.50 per kilo by tomorrow, Feb. 1, due to the higher contract price for LPG. This translates to an increase of P104.50 per 11-kilo tank used primarily by households.

LPG is sold from P824 to P990 per 11-kilo tank in Metro Manila, with prices depending on the brand, outlet, and market forces.

Meanwhile, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas asked the government to remove the VAT on petroleum products to ease the burden of consumers affected by almost weekly oil price hikes.

KMP said scrapping the oil excise taxes under TRAIN will provide immediate relief to Filipinos and help control the rising inflation. Petron Corp., Seaoil Philippines, PetroGazz, PTT Philippines, Jetti Petroleum, Cleanfuel, and Chevron Philippines made separate announcements of the latest oil price hike.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said.

The world’s largest humanitarian network said building trust, equity, and local action networks were vital to get ready for the next crisis.

WHO’s Tedros, it said, “acknowledges the committee’s views that the COVID-19 pandemic is probably at a transition point and appreciates the advice of the committee to navigate this transition carefully and mitigate the potential negative consequences.”

Even prior to the meeting, the WHO chief had suggested the emergency phase of the pandemic is not over, pointing to surging numbers of deaths and warning that the global response to the crisis “remains hobbled”.

“As we enter the fourth year of the pandemic, we are certainly in a much

better position now than we were a year ago, when the omicron wave was at its peak, and more than 70,000 deaths were being reported to WHO each week,” he told the committee at the start of Friday’s meeting.

Tedros said the weekly death rate had dropped below 10,000 in October but had been rising again since the start of December, while the lifting of COVID restrictions in China had led to a spike in deaths.

In mid-January, almost 40,000 COVID weekly deaths were reported -- more than half of them in China -while the true toll “is certainly much higher”, he said.

The WHO first declared a so-called PHEIC as what was then called the novel coronavirus began to spread outside China on Jan. 30, 2020.

Though declaring a PHEIC is the internationally-agreed mechanism for triggering a global response to such outbreaks, it was only after Tedros de -

scribed the worsening COVID situation as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, that many countries realized the danger.

Globally, more than 752 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported to the WHO, including more than 6.8 million deaths, though the United Nations health agency always stresses that the true numbers are likely much higher.

“All countries remain dangerously unprepared for future outbreaks,” the Red Cross said, concluding that governments were no more ready now than in 2019.

It said countries needed to be prepared for “multiple hazards, not just one”, saying societies only became truly resilient through planning for different types of disaster, as they can occur simultaneously.

The IFRC cited the rise in climate-related disasters and waves of disease outbreaks this century, of which Covid-19 was just one.

It said extreme weather events were growing more frequent and intense, “and our ability to merely respond to them is limited”.

The IFRC issued two reports making recommendations on mitigating future tragedies on the scale of Covid-19, on the third anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring the virus an international public health emergency.

“The Covid-19 pandemic should be a wake-up call for the global community to prepare now for the next health crisis,” said IFRC secretary general Jagan Chapagain.

“The next pandemic could be just around the corner; if the experience of Covid-19 won’t quicken our steps toward preparedness, what will?”

The report said major hazards harm those who are already vulnerable the most and leaving the poorest exposed was “self-defeating”, as a disease can return in a more dangerous form. AFP

Rise in COVID positivity rate ‘not alarming’

By Willie Casas

THE slight increases in COVID-19 positivity rate should not be a cause of concern now as the hospital admissions for severe and critical cases remain low, an infectious diseases expert said Monday.

Dr. Rontgene Solante made the remark after OCTA Research recorded an uptick in the National Capital Region’s (NCR) positivity rate from 2% on January 26, to 2.4% on January 27.

Positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested. Solante also said that any surge or spike in COVID-19 infections may mean that a new variant or Omicron subvariant may have entered the country, thus continuous monitoring is important.

Last week, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that hospital admissions in the country have become manageable with COVID-19 no longer among the Philippines’ top 10 causes of deaths.

Despite this, Solante still encouraged people to get vaccinated and boosted, and comply with the minimum public health standards, especially masking.

The DOH reported that the country’s tally of active CO ID-19 cases fell below 10,000 on Sunday. The tally of active cases fell to 9,982, lower than the 10,038 reported on Saturday—the lowest in nearly seven months since the 9,703 active cases monitored on July 3 last year and the first time since that day that the total was below 10,000.

The country also had 1,206 new COVID-19 cases in the past week and 74 deaths, the DOH said. As of Sunday, 456 cases or 9.5 percent of total COVID-19 admissions were in severe and critical condition, the DOH said.

IN BRIEF

Villar eyes granting P5k to new grads

DEPUTY Speaker and Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar has filed a measure that seeks to grant a one-time cash subsidy of P5,000 for fresh graduates to support them as they look for employment.

House Bill 6542 or the proposed Fresh Graduates P5,000 One-Time Cash Grant Act prescribes a financial aid to all fresh Filipino graduates of Philippine tertiary institutions, colleges, universities, and training institutions which they can use for the initial expenses of their employment application and job settling-in.

“This bill seeks to compliment and help fresh graduates by giving them a one-time cash grant in the amount of P5,000 which they can use as productivity/earnest fund [for their] application for employment, transportation and settling-in amount, if they get a job soonest,” Villar said. Maricel V. Cruz

DAR sets aside

P105M for Visayas projects

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Monday announced the provision of P105.7 million worth of infrastructure projects, and farm and machinery equipment to uplift the lives of agrarian reform beneficiary organizations in Eastern Visayas.

DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella

III was accompanied by Senator Imee Marcos during the awarding of the funds.

Included in the distribution is the Sustainable and Resilient ARCs (SURE) and Major Crop-based Block Farm Productivity Enhancement project amounting to P3,716,000 to the farmers of Leyte and Southern Leyte. Rio N. Araja

PhilMech chief vows more agency changes

PHILIPPINE Center for Postharvest

Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) head Dr. Dionisio G. Alvindia vowed to initiate more changes at the agency in a bid to stop corruption and improve public service delivery.

Alvindia made the remarks to defend his move to reshuffle the eight PhilMech personnel who were under investigation for alleged links to illegal activities inside the agency.

The PhilMech official, who is reportedly under attack by disgruntled officials and personnel, vowed to be more transparent in dealing with multi-billion projects intended for Filipino farmers.

At least eight PhilMech personnel were removed from their posts and were reassigned to other areas to prevent them from influencing the outcome of the investigations being conducted by the agency. Vito Barcelo

Ex-NSA denies submitting ‘report’ on onion smugglers

FORMER National Security Adviser (NSA) Clarita Carlos said she did not submit a report to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. which identified personalities supposedly linked to smuggling and hoarding of onions.

Carlos, quoted by a GMA News report, said the claims “have no basis.”

According to Carlos, it is the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) that should be asked if it has submitted such a report to Mr. Marcos.

Carlos called on those behind the information about the supposed report to stop, adding that “I already resigned. Leave me alone,”

The speculations emerged after Carlos resigned from her post as National Security Adviser and transferred to the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives, GMA News reported.

Earlier, a Senate inquiry was launched to investigate the high prices of onions in the country. President Marcos, who is also the Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary, said he did not believe there were people who plotted to have Carlos removed as National Security Adviser.

Rep. Wilbert T. Lee of AGRI party-list group meanwhile called for greater collaboration between the government and agriculture stakeholders in battling agricultural smuggling.

“Our agri-stakeholders are there offering their help (to address the issue on agricultural smuggling). I hope the government accepts this offer, as we need all the help we can get to comprehensively address agri-smuggling in our country,” Lee said.

The lawmaker emphasized that the involvement of stakeholders that face the issue of smuggling and are most affected by its effects “should be given a seat at the table.” These stakeholders have key insights that policy-makers and implementers might miss out on, Lee added.

Lee also lauded the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), which has been working with the DA’s counterintelligence team in various operations in

entry ports such as Manila and Subic.

The lawmaker also urged President Marcos, Jr. to institutionalize the inspectorate and enforcement division of the DA, which is currently headed by Asst. Sec. James Layug.

In other developments, the Philippine Egg Board Association (PEBA) is discouraging the public from buying frozen eggs as these are not according to standards.

At the Mega Q Mart in Quezon City, frozen eggs are being sold at P55 per kilo, GMA News reported. The eggs which are taken out of their shells are placed in a plastic bag which is kept in a freezer.

This costs much less than fresh eggs, which on Wednesday had the following prices at Mega Q Mart: P210 per tray for extra small eggs, P220 per tray for small; P227 for medium; P235 for large; P246 for extra large; and P252 for jumbo. One egg meanwhile is around P5, which is lower than the prices last week.

PEBA president Irwin Ambal warned the public against buying frozen eggs. “It’s hard because these need to be kept in cold chain, either in a chiller [or freezer.]” Maricel Cruz

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is ready to extend its office hours during the last day of the voter registration period on Tuesday.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Monday that registration sites will accept applicants until all those queued have been served. Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10868 or the rules on the voter registration for the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), all Election Assistants (EAs) are directed to list down the names of persons waiting in line to file their applications for registration, and are within a 30-meter radius from the voter registration sites, at 3 p.m. of the last day of the registration period.

Voter registration activities resumed last Dec. 12, 2022, and the poll body said the voter registration period for the BSKE would no longer be extended.

Biz groups: PH needs transpo safety board

By Othel V. Campos

SEVEN members of the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) together with the Safe Travel Alliance (STA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the House and Senate to reconsider the bill creating the Philippine Transportation Safety Board and subsequently approve the same bill in the 19th Congress.

American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham), AustralianNew Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ANZCHAM), Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (CanCham), European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines ECCP), Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc (JCCII), Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (KCCP), and Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Inc. (PAMURI) issued the call Monday.

Poe backs sale of assets for PH fund

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SEN. Grace Poe on Monday expressed support for the plan to sell government assets to fund the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).

Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said she agrees with the plan, adding that “they are called assets but some are nonperforming or problematic, riddled by corruption and mismanaged, thus may be handled better by the private sector.”

However, Poe said the sale of these assets should be transparent, particularly in the bidding process. She noted that the

buyers’ credibility should be considered and that proceeds of the sale should be accounted for and should directly go to the intended fund.

Poe further cited the assets by the Philippine Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), which she said is “a regulator and should not be running a casino.”

“They should sell those casinos run by PAGCOR,” she said.

According to the senator, the sale can be a windfall for the country and poses no risk to the public.

“Unlike if initial investments are sourced from government reserves which is not only wrong but dangerous,” she added.

Comelec hours to be extended for BSKE listup

FOR THE WEEKEND MARKET . Local traders near Hilongos Leyte Public Market display shoes for sale in preparation for the town’s weekend market. Hilongos is considered the biggest municipality in the southwestern part of Leyte. Manny Palmero

HI-TECH. Land Transportation Office (LTO) personnel demonstrate the Law Enforcement Handheld Mobile Device (LEHMD) at a training session at the LTO Central Office. The LEHMD is used for issuing electronic temporary operator’s permits (e-TOP) to traffic violators. Manny Palmero

Woman gets jail over bomb joke at Davao airport

By Joel E. Zurbano

POLICE and airport operatives have arrested a female passenger for cracking a bomb joke while boarding a Manilabound Cebu Pacific Air plane Sunday night at the Davao International Airport.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City council is set to pass an ordinance that would penalize bomb jokes, including those made through social media.

Police Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) personnel apprehended

Annabelle Macose, 59, a resident of Pangasinan, after one of the Cebu Pacific Air customers service staff complained about her bomb prank.

Macose reportedly told the joke to one of the airline’s flight crew.

PNP Avsegroup chief Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin said all passengers of Cebu Pacific Flight 5J-978 disembarked the plane to give way to the conduct of clearing inspection.

“But operatives of the explosive ordnance and K9 units “declared all baggage of outbound passengers cleared of any incendiary materials or devices,” he said.

Aberin commended the quick response of his men to the incident. He appealed and reminded passengers to refrain from making bomb jokes because it causes alarm and panic to the riding public.

“The Avsegroup along with airlines operators and airport authorities will not take this joke lightly. I sternly warn those who still do not understand the effect of bomb jokes to refrain from doing it. Otherwise they will face the consequences of their action as we will strictly enforce laws and regulations in the interest of public safety,” said Aberin.

PRECIOUS FUEL.

A fuel truck worker refills his gasoline containers from an underground storage tank at a station in Tondo, Manila, on Monday. Pump prices of petroleum products are going up this week, the third straight week of increases so far this year.

Norman Cruz

PNP wants ‘e-sabong’ on list of banned gambling modes

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) eyes the inclusion of e-sabong (online cockfighting) in the list of illegal gambling activities punishable under Presidential Decree 1602, the country’s anti-illegal gambling law.

‘Presidential son Vinny works as Congress intern’

communications technology in a bid to totally eradicate e-sabong.

PRESIDENTIAL son William Vincent “Vinny” Marcos works as an intern at the House of Representatives, according to the office of Speaker Martin Romualdez..

In a statement, the Speaker’s office said Vinny, youngest son of the President, has been working at the Speaker’s office since Monday last week.

Army forms panel to try 7 troopers over Plaza

Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said some of the high-ranking police officials who submitted their courtesy resignations were among those suspected of complicity in the illegal drugs trade.

murder

PHILIPPINE Army (PA) commander

Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has ordered the formation of a general court martial (GCM) to try Brig. Gen Jesus Durante III and his six other soldiers over the murder of model and businesswoman Yvonette Chua Plaza in Davao City last month.

Brawner issued the order last Saturday, after the board of inquiry (BOI) from the 10th Infantry Division that investigated Plaza’s death recommended the prosecution of Durante and the six co-accused in a military court.

Plaza was reportedly shot dead by two assailants in front of her rented house at the Green Meadows subdivision in Barangay Tugbok, Davao City last Dec. 30. After Plaza’s killing, several posts on social media dragged Durante’s name, saying he allegedly physically abused her. A post of a now inactive account has pictures of Plaza, with bruises and wounds on her face.

The BOI recommendation for court martial was endorsed to the Army’s Judge Advocate (JAG) General and Provost Marshal for the conduct of a pretrial investigation.

“A GCM was formed in anticipation for the administrative charges against the 2 officers and 5 enlisted personnel. Upon submission of the results of the BOI, the Army JAG and Provost Marshal will review the findings and initiate the preliminary investigation to identify violations in the AW prior proceeding to trial in the GCM,” Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad told ABS-CBN News on Monday.

“The Army believes in the country’s judicial system. The Army assures full cooperation and coordination with our law enforcement authorities,” Xerxes said.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Azurin said the Anti-Cybercrime Group has recommended to Congress the inclusion of e-sabong in the roster of prohibited gambling activities, with suggested sanctions on internet service providers who would fail to block e-sabong websites.

“It should be noted that e-sabong

websites hosted outside the Philippines can only be blocked, not taken down, as these sites can continue to operate via a virtual private network. The PNP is having a hard time curbing e-sabong because of the technological aspect. It’s a battle of technology. Some people engaged in e-sabong are well-financed and their resources are overwhelming so I think the government should also start beefing up or strengthening its cyber capability,” Azurin told reporters.

He also disclosed that collaboration efforts were underway with government agencies involved in information and

“As a matter of fact, even the DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology), the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) have been very visible, very cooperative. They are helping us in running after e-sabong operators,” Azurin said.

President Marcos issued last December Executive Order (EO) No. 9 sustaining the suspension of the live streaming or broadcasting of live cockfights cockpits.

The order also suspends online remote, or off-cockpit betting on live cockfighting matches, including activities broadcast live, regardless of the location of the betting platform.

The presidential directive did not cover operations of traditional cockfights authorized or licensed under existing laws.

ALL HANDS ON DECK.

Police officers and other volunteers help man a voters’ registration center in Las Pinas City as residents come in droves to beat the deadline for registration for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections set in October this year.

Joseph Muego

House panel okays bill defining PH maritime zones

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on Monday approved an unnumbered substitute bill declaring the maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines.

The panel, chaired by Pangasinan Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas, consolidated House Bills 2467, 3895, and 6109 or the pro-

posed “Philippine Maritime Zones Act” which aims harmonize Philippine legislations with international laws, such as the 1982 United National Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

A similar measure was already approved on third and final reading during the 18th Congress, but the Senate failed to act on it.

The bill seeks to clarify the nature and status of the waters connecting the various

islands of the Philippines and its adjacent seas.

According to one of the bill’s authors, the Philippines, as a signatory and party to the 1983 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), “recognizes the establishment of various maritime zones and jurisdiction of coastal states, including its own, over which sovereignty and appurtenant sovereign rights can be exercised.”

Tax exemption eyed for balikbayan boxes

CAGAYAN de Oro Rep. Rufus

Rodriguez seeks the exemption of balikbayan boxes from Customs duties and taxes as a gesture of recognizing the “hard work and sacrifices” of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to give their families a better future.

Rodriguez filed House Bill 6752 which also provides “non-intrusive” ways of inspecting the balikbayan boxes.

He added that the balikbayan boxes or packages could be opened only under certain circumstances.

Rodriguez said families and relatives of OFWs and other Filipinos abroad receive an average of 400,000 balikbayan boxes every month.

“These balikbayan boxes serve as the enduring testament of their sacrifice and

hard work in order to secure a better future for their families back home. They represent their love and care for their families, who have to endure months or even years of separation from each other,” he said.

In proposing the tax exemption and no-opening-of-packages policy, the Mindanao lawmaker invoked the Constitution, which provides: “The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare.”

Rodriguez said his proposed law is a way for the state and the government to give back to OFWs and other Filipinos living abroad, who send home billions of dollars and other foreign currencies a year. Maricel V. Cruz

“Vinny will undergo training in the legislative processes,” the statement said.

“He will be mentored on the daily grind at the House of Representatives, including the role and interaction of various committees and departments on the legislative processes, as well as strategies to help expedite the passage of vital bills and other measures for the benefit of the Filipino people,” it added.

The paper said the Speaker, who is Vinny’s uncle, will supervise and oversee the young Marcos’ training, a task he also did for Vinny’s older brother, Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, during the 18th Congress.

Sandro, 28, currently serves as Ilocos Norte First District Representative and holds the position of House Senior Deputy Majority Leader.

Vinny was seen earlier at a meeting with the members of the House Minority bloc led by House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan.

Libanan, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed that Vinny has been designated as special assistant to the Speaker.

“The truth is, we were advised that Mr. Vincent ‘Vinny’ Marcos had been designated special assistant to the Speaker, and the Speaker merely asked us to brief the young man on the role and work of the House minority bloc,” Libanan said.

Binay hails PBBM’s VAT refund offer to foreign tourists

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Nancy Binay on Monday hailed the offer by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to refund the value-added tax (VAT) collected from foreign tourists.

Binay said the President’s gesture would help “kickstart” the country’s tourism industry.

“It would be nice to see the Philippines as an alternative shopping destination and showcase our premium local brands,” the senator said.

Binay, chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism, said “we also want our tourists have a pleasant experience and the ease of traveling and shopping in the Philippines.”

“That’s why it would also be a good thing if the DOF could walk us through its (VAT refund) implementation in retail shops, department stores, in ports and airports,” she said.

She said it would seem this VAT refund program is first time for us.

“It will be much better if the DOF can present numbers and data how much will be the administrative costs in its implementation.

She also wants to know how many percent will be lost from our collection, and its impact and benefits to small- and medium-scale retailers in the tourism industry.

SENATE-COMELEC ACCORD. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Commission on Elections chairman George Garcia sign a memorandum of understanding

are Senators Nancy Binay, Robinhood Padilla, JV Ejercito, Comelec Commissioners Ernesto Maceda

and Socorro Inting.

Victory for press freedom

RAPPLER Holdings Corporation and its president Maria Ressa have been acquitted by the Court of Tax Appeals for three counts of failure to file tax returns and one count of tax evasion.

The cases stemmed from a complaint by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Justice filed on November 26 and 28 alleging that Rappler evaded tax payments when it raised capital through its partnership with foreign investors North Base Media and Omidyar Network. This involved the issuance to the two entities of Philippine Depositary Receipts or PDRs financial instruments.

On January 18, 2023, the Court of Tax Appeals acquitted Rappler Holdings Corp. (RHC) and its chief executive officer, Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, of the P70.228-million tax evasion charges filed by the Duterte administration.

In an 80-page decision promulgated on Wednesday, Jan. 18, the CTA’s First Division acquitted Ressa and RHC of four cases of violation of the National Internal Revenue Code.

In a decision, the CTA ruled that “accused Rappler Holdings and Maria A. Ressa are acquitted, for the failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”

option to purchase the underlying shares of RI subject to certain conditions -- that there is no law restricting foreign ownership in the business of the operating entity.”

Under the NIRC, Section 254 concerns the attempt to evade or defeat tax, while, Section 255 is on the failure to file return, supply correct and accurate information, pay tax, withhold and remit tax, and refund excess taxes withheld on compensation.

All the above requisites are not present for the income tax liability to attach to accused RHC’s PDR transactions with NBM and ON. Neither is it liable for VAT (value added tax) as it is not a dealer in securities,” it pointed out.

Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, is understandably up the wall, given the reported interceptions of smuggled agricultural products but no one punished.

Another senator, Joseph Victor Ejercito, principal author of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Law, has called on the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Justice to accelerate filing non-bailable charges of economic sabotage against agricultural smugglers taking advantage of the increased consumer demand.

It’s getting ‘egg-citing,’ as one good at swordplay, put forward

will take advantage of consumers and farmers,” Villar said earlier this month.

“No civil liability may be adjudged against the accused as the alleged unpaid tax obligations have not been factually and legally established and proven,” the CTA also ruled.

With its decision, the CTA ordered the cancellation of the bail bonds posted by the accused and “ordered released to them upon presentation of proper documents, in accordance with the usual accounting rules and regulations.”

The case involved the Philippine Depository Receipts issued by news outfit Rappler headed by Ressa to NBM Rappler L.P. and Omidyar Network (ON) of eBay founder and entrepreneur Pierre Omidyar.

“There is nothing in the wordings of the PDR Instruments and the PDR Subscription Agreements, that would show that the foreign entities NBM and ON will become owners of the shares of stock of RI (Rappler) upon issuance of the PDRs,” the CTA pointed out.

“Paragraph 4 of the PDR Instrument, stipulates that the ownership of the shares of stock of RI remains with the issuer RHC,” the tax court said. In sum, since accused is not required to pay the income tax and VAT (value added tax) on the PDR transactions for the taxable year 2015, the elements of Sections 254 and 255 of the 1997 NIRC (National Internal Revenue Code), as amended, are rendered nugatory and without legal support. The plaintiff, therefore failed to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” the CTA declared. It pointed out the PDR holder “only retains an

The decision was written by Associate Justice Catherine Triunfante Manahan with the concurrence of Associate Justices Jean BacorroVillena and Marian Ivy Reyes-Fajardo of the court’s first division. Ressa mentioned others who are still waiting for verdicts in their cases such as community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, 21 when she was arrested in Tacloban City, Leyte, in February 2020, and former senator and justice secretary Leila de Lima, arrested under the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. The acquittal comes four years after the previous Duterte government filed the cases against Ressa and Rappler. The International Center for Journalists says the tax evasion case acquittal shows it’s possible for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ‘hit reset’ on media repression. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines welcomes the acquittal and called the verdict “a win for journalists and the rule of law.”

“The cases against Maria and Rappler illustrate the increasing use of the law for reprisal against and for intimidation against journalists and civil society,” the group said.

As of January 18, 2023, there were at least three cases being tried in court against Rappler, Maria Ressa, and a former researcher including Rappler’s pending petition before the Court of Appeals for a temporary restraining order against the Securities and Exchange Commission to stop it from implementing its decision reaffirming its January 2018 closure order against Rappler.

Pending also is petition for review filed with the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeals on October 10, 2022 denied the motion for reconsideration previously filed by Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr over the court’s affirmation of their June 2020 conviction.

Finally, there is the ongoing tax case against Ressa and RHC at the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 157 that is due for promulgation in June 2023.

May the free press win in all these cases.

Website: tonylavina.com. Facebook: tonylavs

Twitter: tonylavs

Lessons from the elderly

By Honor Blanco Cabie

RECENTLY, a childhood friend invited us to bend an ear while he and his maternal cousin, Florencio Blanco, who turned 98 only last January 16 would be on a video call.

An invitation we could not refuse, though hesitant were we to monitor their conversations.

After all, it is never in our character to tune in on discussions where we are well-nigh not essential participants.

But his bulletin board his maternal cousin shares some denominators with us – a strong family man, a musician, and a teacher – were immediate marbles we did not want to skip.

We learned he had just gone on a “sentimental journey” to the north of his province, buoyed up by the sights of the coastal Patapat viaduct and the Bangui windmills before returning home to Paoay, sight of the UN Heritage Lister San Agustin Catholic church, whose construction began in 1694 with architecture blending baroque, gothic, Chinese, and Javanese..

At that point, we had just read a report on the oldest known living woman, American-born Maria Branyas of Spain, aged 115 years, while the oldest living man is Juan Vicente Perez of Venezuela, aged 113 years.

We had the certitude we could pick up major life lessons from the man we learned later spent much of his prime years as a public school teacher, molding adolescent minds in Nueva Vizcaya.

That was after earning his elementary teacher’s certificate from the Far Eastern University in Manila, and later in his home province of Ilocos Norte where he retired as a district schools supervisor in Badoc, hometown of the Luna brothers.

He had in between doing lesson plans and administrative functions earned a master’s degree in education at the Northwestern College in Laoag to help him clamber up competitive the education ladder.

We watched our playmate’s cousin on the video call, and tried to collect every syllable he lobbed at his younger cousin – of the 51 cousins on their mother’s side, nine are left, with the biologically youngest, who would have been the 10th had he not been clawed by the coronavirus while being a frontliner in the US of A.

Beyond doubt, 98-year-old Florencio, who still does some carpentry work after taking in his maintenance medicines and vitamins, may have his hearing somehow impaired.

But he is still sharp-minded as perhaps in his younger years while preparing lesson plans for his different classes in Paoay and Batac before he got assigned in Badoc, also in the second district of Ilocos Norte.

The younger cousin walked him through the mountains of Dupax in Nueva Vizcaya and the unforgiving terrain of Pinili town, where warriors walked during the PhilippineAmerican war and the Second World War.

It was in Pinili where he was caught as a guerrilla against Japan’s occupation troops, fear beyond his demeanor, the same town where he was saved by maternal cousins in the bolomen regiment in the forested hill town, 457 kilometers north of Manila.

Verily, the elderly can be chests for words of wisdom.

The way they talked with each other, we felt in the older cousin his sense of pride for family, how life had been all these summers and how life must be enjoyed, the kind of courage in face of adversity as in the Second World War.

The man, who relishes soup as an indispensable part of his daily menu, has five children—two girls and three boys—all professionals, some retired and now enjoying their passion in life, the youngest still working as a clinical laboratory scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Regional Laboratories near Simi Valley in California.

The younger cousin, who obviously holds every leaf and branch of their family tree that has extended careers beyond the Philippine shores, appeared as much touched as the older as they talked about their roots and their family members.

Fortunately for the older cousin, who still receives his GSIS pension, he is not in the home for the aged, although he has two caregivers alternating to look after him, almost two years after his wife of nearly 77 years died in 2022, a month before she was to reach the century mark.

During the 70-minute video call, we learned a lot on how both cousins gave value to family roots.

If the conversations had run through the alphabet, three letters gleamed and gave us

A farmers’ group warned last month the government that more than 20 smugglers are now bringing in white and red onions, rice and frozen meat products.

“Let us please dismantle these groups and charge them with economic sabotage because this is non-bailable,” Ejercito had said.

As prices of some basic agricultural commodities, particularly onions, continue to catapult, Villar said a group of senators is keen to repeal the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 and put in place a measure that would protect the farmers against unfair trade practices.

“We will repeal it (anti-smuggling law) and write a new law that would prohibit any move that

We note there supply of onions is abundant in the country but, as Villar said, “unscrupulous business operators have a hand in its scarcity in the market and its escalating prices.

“Traders and importers control the price of onions. They buy onions at very low prices and store them, which our farmers cannot do as they have no storage facility.”

The senator said one way to help the onion farmers is to provide a storage facility for their products, so they could sell them as they see fit.

The situation, she added, has already gotten out of hand that some onion farmers have failed to recover from mounting debts and losses.

As if that is not enough for righteous rage

Agriculture because there have been reported interceptions of smuggled agricultural products, but not a single person has been jailed.

I am also surprised at President Marcos Jr., as secretary of agriculture who knows full well the existence of the Mafia-like smuggling of agricultural products, since nobody thus far has been caught and jailed.

across the agricultural tracts, the Department of Agriculture is trying to figure out why the retail prices for eggs have soared to as high as P10 apiece.

For instance, a DA official said eggs sold in Metro Manila markets are overpriced by at least P1.50 per piece.

Egg producers have been saying the farm gate price is stable, with Metro Manila and Occidental Mindoro sourcing their egg supply from Batangas.

One DA official said it seems the problem is in between as when eggs are transported to Mindoro, they only cause an additional 50 centavos; in Metro Manila, the added cost is P1.50, P2 to P2.50.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Kristine Evangelista has said the department is investigating after Philippine Egg Board Chairman Gregorio San Diego said farm gate price remains generally low, between P6.70 and P7.20 per piece.

Evangelista acknowledged the layers of traders are a major factor in pulling up retail prices of eggs and one of the solutions is to eliminate the layers of traders to minimize the increase in the retail price.”

Sans doubt, the egg producers should be able to bounce back.

And consumers should be excited with their eggs—scrambled, over easy, or sunny side up— when they are on their tables.

It’s getting “egg-citing,” as one good at swordplay, put forward.

I have often said, if this Mafia-like smuggling syndicate can easily smuggle agricultural products, they also can easily smuggle illegal drugs.

This perhaps explains the continued seizure of illegal drugs across the country. *** *** ***

I WONDER why the Commission on Human Rights has not yet called a possible violation of human rights with the frequency of photoaccompanied “Notice to the Public” ads appearing in newspapers. These notices warn readers the former employees have been terminated by the advertising/paying company and are no longer connected with the firm.

In which case, the same person whose photo appears should not transact business with the public, giving the impression such person had committed some malfeasance or some criminal activity.

Santa Banana, those notices to the public remind me so much of those posters we see in movies of criminals during the”Wild Wild West” in American movies of seeking out people “Wanted Dead or Alive” with either a $5000 or $1000 reward!

I know it is the right of companies or any organization to make the public aware of people who commit malfeasance or any criminal act so that people should not transact business with them.

But such is not the case in these public notices.

In my opinion, the published notice violates rights of people, with their photos placed in the pages of newspapers. My gulay, such notices give the impression the person who appeared in those notices had committed some criminal act. If they did, the right thing for companies or corpotrations to do is to sue them, not to have their photos plastered in newspaper pages. I believe such Notices to the Public violate human rights or the inherent right of a person to be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.

This is why the Commission on Human Rights should do something because such violation of human rights could even include the newspaper where those Notices to the Public appear.

Being a lawyer, I cannot help be impressed those persons whose photos appear in the pages of newspapers committed some wrongdoing so much so that the public is warned not to transact business with them.

It’s like having posters of wanted criminals, which to me is a clear violation of human rights. *** *** ***

Senator Cynthia Villar bewails the rampant smuggling of food items like the pricey onions, sugar, rice, fish and meat products without a single smuggler going to jail.

I can understand the frustration of the senator as chairperson of the Senate Committee on

If the conversations had run through the alphabet, three letters gleamed and gave us an impression: he stands beside the letters H, B, and C – for honesty, benevolence, and considerateness

There have been reports that a Mafia-like syndicate operates in the smuggling of products much-needed in the market, and BBM has not gone after them since, /even though this constitutes a non-bailable offense of economic sabotage.

This continued smuggling of agricultural products has given the impression that Bongbong Marcos as agriculture secretary must be changed, Santa Banana!

I believe (the Davos trip) was all worth it, if only for the fact that BBM showed to the world that the country is now open for business

I have been informed, and believe BBM knows this full well, that from the time the smuggled products are loaded in a shipment, the Mafia-like smuggling operation starts.

Usually , smuggled goods come from China and the Mafia-like operators know which ports the smuggled goods will be unloaded at.

Whether or not they pass through Customs and where they will be unloaded finally, are all under the control of these Mafia-like smugglers.

I have also been informed that when Customs people raid a warehouse, somewhere in Bulacan, Cavite and Batangas, it simply confirms that the bureau is part of the Mafia-like syndicate to give the impression that Customs people are up to their jobs and to fool the media.

What I am surprised about, Santa Banana, is that BBM is fully aware of the Mafia-like smuggling of agricultural products and yet has not done anything about it.

Senator Villar is right.

These constitute economic sabotage, a nonbailable offense.

It’s time BBM Marcos Jr. showed the people his zero-tolerance to the smuggling of agricultural products.

Mister President, stop once and for all the smuggling of agricultural products, if only to benefit local farmers and local producers.

What the people need is a display by the President of accountability behind the continued incidents of smuggling.

an impression: he stands beside the letters H, B, and C—for honesty, benevolence, and considerateness.

And he could laugh at jokes—never mind that some lateral incisors are not there anymore —dished out by the younger cousin, whose sense of humor appears a beaming notice board among the cousins, gone and still on the go.

We saw in his laughter his ability to sight read syncopated notes as when he played 1st clarinet with the FEU Band before the second world war, the kind of competence the younger cousin had when he was with The Mendiola Brass years later with Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass beats.

While listening to the 98-year-old, we remembered Apoorva K S Hebbar, the environmental engineer from Karnataka, India,

At the continued House panel for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution, a former member of the Cory Constitution brought up the subject of political dynasties.

He said that it’s time political dynasties, which reportedly constitute about 80 percent of members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, be banned as required by the charter.

The reason for this is self-interest.

I believe it is really self interest that’s behind all the political dynasties.

We can never expect Congress to enact a law implementing a ban on political dynasties.

But, I believe, considering all the pessimism that political dynasties will persist with the kind of politics we have, banning them will be next to impossible.

However, we can reduce political dynasties by limiting the number of those elected belonging to the same family to two, either re-elected or appointed.

This will effectively reduce the number of political dynasties.

This reduction of elected and appointed members belonging to the same family may at first be difficult to have.

But I believe it can be done with enough political will from our national leadership. Did I touch the nerves of members of political dynasties ? *** *** ***

It’s great news the Philippines exceeded the target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent for our domestic growth rate for 2022.

Now, if only the country can sustain that growth for 2023, Santa Banana!

According to Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, the high GDP was the result of what he called “Revenge Spending,” with people spending so much on travels around the country and abroad, partying, going to beach resorts and shopping. I can believe that because so many of my friends and relatives and their families are having reunions following the reported easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

I myself am aware of such “Revenge Spending,” with the easing of health protocols and restrictions.

*** *** ***

There appears to be a debate on whether or not the attendance of BBM at the annual World Economic Forum in the resort city of Davos, Switzerland was imperative considering that Marcos Jr. was even accompanied by most of the country’s tycoons and taipans.

I believe it was all worth it, if only for the fact that BBM showed to the world that the country is now open for business.

who wrote: “We should listen to our elders, not because they are always right, but because they have more experience in being wrong.”

Listen and learn from seniors. And why not?

Just living for so many years gives them the advantage of seeing the world longer and understanding people better. They offer priceless wisdom that can sustain the younger generation willing to listen to the long run – if they are keenly listening.

(HBC, an honor student in his college years, is a musician and used to teach literature, Asian Civilization and journalism in undergraduate and graduate levels before the pandemic. He was coach of the San Beda College of Arts and Sciences Debate Team and the FEU Oratorical and Debate Club)

FIRST, we got reports on the unrestrained smuggling of food products like sugar, rice, onions, fish and meat— but no one thus far jailed, which has disappointed some officials and many citizens.

WEAPON EXPORT POLICY’

NATO to SoKor: Step up for Ukraine

SEOUL—NATO

Secretary General

Jens Stoltenberg asked South Korea on Monday to “step up” military support for Ukraine, suggesting it reconsider its policy of not exporting weapons to countries in conflict.

Stoltenberg is in Seoul on the first leg of his Asia trip, which will also take in Japan, as part of a drive to boost ties with the region’s democratic allies

in the face of the Ukraine conflict and growing competition from China.

He met top South Korean officials Sunday, and on Monday urged Seoul to do more to help Kyiv, saying there was an “urgent need for more ammunition”.

He pointed to countries like Germany and Norway that had “long-standing policies not to export weapons to countries in conflict” which they revised after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February last year.

“If we believe in freedom, democracy, if we don’t want autocracy and tyranny to win then they need weapons,” he said, speaking at the Chey Institute in Seoul.

South Korea is an increasingly important arms exporter globally and has recently signed deals to sell hundreds of tanks to European countries, including NATO-member Poland.

But South Korean law bans the export of weapons to countries in active conflict, which Seoul has said makes it difficult to provide arms directly to Kyiv, although it has provided non-lethal and humanitarian assistance.

South Korea opened its first diplomatic mission to NATO last year.

Stoltenberg said it was “extremely important that President Putin doesn’t win this war”, saying it would make the world a more dangerous place. AFP

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS

Notice is hereby given of the extrajudicial settlement among the heirs of Domingo R. Rayel on 25 July 2022 as per Doc No. 71, Page No.16, Book No. I, Series of 2022, of Notary Public Shawn Dustin B. Coscolluela of Makati City. (MS-JAN. 31, FEB. 7 & 14, 2023)

UK PM Sunak sacks ally as minister, Tory party chair

LONDON—British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday dismissed a senior ally whose murky tax dealings have focussed anger at the government as a costof-living crisis brings misery to millions.

An inquiry into the wealthy Conservative party chairman Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs -- dating from his founding of the YouGov polling company in 2000 -- had found a “serious breach” of ministerial rules, the government said.

“As a result, I have informed you of my decision to remove you from your position in His Majesty’s Government,” Sunak wrote in a publicly released letter to his Iraqi-born ally.

Sunak appointed Zahawi as the party chairman, and cabinet minister without portfolio, when he entered 10 Downing Street nearly 100 days ago, following the implosion of Liz Truss’s premiership and the demise of the scandalplagued Boris Johnson.

Then, as his letter noted, Sunak vowed to deliver “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level”. Instead, the Zahawi case, and allegations of bullying levelled by civil servants at Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, have undermined Sunak’s attempts to restore public faith in the beleaguered Conservatives. AFP

PEACE TO THE FALLEN. This handout picture taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential press service on January 29

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky taking part in a ceremony in Kyiv to commemorate the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Kruty against Bolshevik Red Army. AFP

GOP leader, Biden meet to avoid US debt default, spending cuts

WASHINGTON—House speaker Kevin McCarthy said he would meet Wednesday with Joe Biden to discuss avoiding a US debt default, but warned the president must rethink his refusal to consider spending cuts in exchange for raising the borrowing limit.

“I want to find a reasonable and a responsible way that we can lift the debt ceiling,” while controlling what he called runaway spending by Congress, the Republican leader told CBS Sunday show “Face the Nation.”

The talks will be McCarthy’s first with the president since he became speaker of the House of Representatives this month after Republicans won control of the chamber.

The raising of the national debt limit — which allows the government to pay for spending already incurred—is often routine.

But members of the new House Republican majority have threatened to block the usual rubber-stamping of that increase above the current $31.4 trillion.

Japan avalanche: 2 men presumed dead

TOKYO—Two men have been found following an avalanche in Japan and are presumed dead, police said Monday, a day after the off-piste accident in the central region of Nagano.

A search had been underway for two foreign nationals reported missing, and police official Tomohiro Kushibiki told AFP that officers were working to confirm they were the same pair.

Both men were found “in cardiorespiratory arrest”, he said, a term commonly used in Japan before a death can be confirmed by a doctor.

The missing two had been outside the patrolled areas of a ski resort in Otari village along with 11 other skiers and snowboarders when the incident took place on Sunday.

Five people were hit by the ava-

lanche, with the other three able to climb down by themselves, Kishibiki said.

The other members of the group also reportedly made it safely back down the slope.

Last week, a cold snap blanketed much of Japan in heavy snow, including Nagano, which draws many overseas tourists during ski season.

An avalanche warning and snow warning are currently in place for the area.

Mountain Gazette magazine reported that professional American skier Kyle Smaine, 31, had been killed in an avalanche in Nagano on Sunday.

Fans were quick to leave tributes on a video he had posted on Instagram on Sunday showing him skiing off-piste. AFP

Biden says the matter is non-negotiable, accusing the Republicans of taking “the economy hostage” in order to push a purely political debate on government spending.

Reflecting the White House’s refusal even to frame Wednesday’s meeting as a negotiation, Biden’s official agenda said merely that he would discuss “a range of issues” with the Republican speaker. Raising the debt ceiling “is an obligation of this country and its leaders to avoid economic chaos,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said recently. “Congress has always done it, and the president expects them to do their duty once again.”

“That is not negotiable.”

That sets the stage for a high-stakes clash in the weeks or months ahead.

A US debt default could trigger a global financial crisis, sending borrowing costs up and undermining the role of the dollar as an international reserve currency, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned. AFP

French premier nixes backtracking on pension reforms

PARIS—France’s prime minister on Sunday ruled out backtracking on a plan to raise the retirement age as unions prepared for another day of mass protests and strikes against the contested reform.

An increase in the minimum retirement age to 64 from the current 62 is part of a flagship reform package pushed by President Emmanuel Macron to ensure the future financing of France’s pensions system.

After union protests against the change brought out more than a million people into the streets across France on January 19, the government signalled there was wiggle room on some measures.

They included special deals for people who started working very young, and provisions for mothers who interrupted their careers to look after their children and for people who invested in further education.

But the headline age limit of 64 is not up for discussion, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said Sunday.

“This is now non-negotiable,” she told the FranceInfo broadcaster.

While unions have welcomed the government’s readiness for negotiation on parts of the plan, they say the proposed 64-year rule has to go.

Calling the reform “unfair”, France’s eight major unions, in a rare show of unity, said they hoped to “mobilise even more massively” on Tuesday— their next scheduled protest day—than at the January 19 rallies. AFP

shows

NO HOME LEFT. Palestinian girls sit in the debris of the house of Rateb Hatab Shukairat after it was demolished by Israeli bulldozers in the East

DIMINISHING

TOURISTS. A woman walks next to a mural of the Sacsahuaman Inca fortress in the city of Cusco, Peru, on Jan. 29, 2023, as the number of tourists arriving at the popular tourist destination continues to diminish due to the ongoing nationwide protests. Violent clashes with police in protests to oust the government of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, close congress, and call for general elections have already left 48 people dead -among them a policeman. The demonstrations began the second week of December, had a truce at the end of the year, and resumed on Jan. 4 in Puno, south of the border with Bolivia. AFP

Medtech maker Philips cuts 6,000 more jobs after sleep device recall

THE HAGUE, Netherlands—Embattled Dutch medical tech maker Philips said on Monday it will slash 6,000 more jobs worldwide after fresh losses caused by a massive recall of faulty sleep respirators.

Chief Executive Roy Jakobs announced the “difficult, but necessary further reduction of our workforce” by 2025, which comes just three months after it announced another 4,000 cuts.

“2022 has been a very difficult year for Philips and our stakeholders, and we are taking firm actions to improve our execution and step-up performance with urgency,” Jakobs said in a statement. The Amsterdam-based firm unveiled net losses of 105 million euros ($114

million) for the fourth quarter of 2022 and 1.6 billion euros for last year as a whole, largely due to the recall.

Philips announced a global recall in 2021 of its appliances to treat people suffering from sleep apnea.

This followed concerns patients risked “possible toxic and carcinogenic effects” if they inhaled or swallowed pieces of degraded sound-dampening foam on the machines.

Jakobs, who took over in October, said Philips needed to “improve performance and simplify our way of working to improve our agility and productivity.”

“This includes the difficult, but necessary further reduction of our workforce by around 6,000 roles globally by 2025,” he added. AFP

Market tumbles ahead of Fed meeting

PSEi January 30, 2023

TOP GAINERS

STOCKS fell Monday as traders struggled to maintain momentum from last week’s rally ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s meeting this week that will likely set the pace of interest rate hikes in most markets.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark, lost 81 points, or 1.15 percent, to close at 6,970.97 as five of the six subsectors declined, with mining and oil showing the biggest loss.

The broader all-share index also went

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

down by 37 points, or 1.02 percent, to settle at 3,659.96, on a value turnover of P8.30 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 147 to 57, while 38 issues were unchanged.

Two of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by BDO Unibank Inc. which gained 0.82 percent to P123.00 and SM Prime Holdings Inc. which rose 0.27 percent to P37.70.

Most Asian markets retreated, but Shanghai advanced as mainland Chinese markets reopened after a weeklong Lunar New Year break.

Even a strong performance on Wall Street was not enough to lift sentiment across the region, after data showed the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of in-

Manila Standard

TOKYO—Japan’s Toyota was the world’s top-selling automaker in 2022, retaining its lead over German rival Volkswagen for the third year, company data showed Monday.

Despite the chip shortage and Covid-related supply chain disruption, Toyota and its subsidiaries sold nearly 10.5 million vehicles last year, around the same as in 2021.

In comparison, Volkswagen Group— which held the top spot until 2020 when it was overtaken by Toyota—sold 8.3 million units last year, an annual drop of seven percent.

“Despite the impact of production constraints caused by the spread of Covid-19, increased demand for semiconductors, and other factors, global sales were at the same level year-on-year as a result of solid demand centered around Asia,” the Japanese car giant said.

In 2022, Toyota sold 2.7 million electrified vehicles, around five percent more than the previous year. The vast majority of those—2.6 million—were hybrid models.

Toyota pioneered hybrid cars, but some critics say the company has been slow to make the shift to battery-powered engines even as demand soars for low-emission automobiles.

A year ago, Toyota hiked its targets for the sector and announced it would roll out 30 battery-powered electric models by the end of the decade.

Mio Kato, an analyst at Lightstream Research who publishes on Smartkarma, told AFP that Toyota was likely to keep its topselling crown in the near term.

“In terms of the actual volumes, it will still be difficult for Volkswagen or General Motors to surpass Toyota easily because both are under more pressure in China with their internal combustion engine business,” he said.

Electric-only carmakers like China’s BYD will one day pose “a genuine threat” to Toyota, he said, because they have strong battery technology and “more experience and better branding” with EVs. AFP

Qatar joins Lebanon-led consortium to explore for gas near Israel waters

BEIRUT—Lebanon announced Sunday that Qatar had entered a consortium to explore for offshore gas in waters near Israel, following a historic border deal last year between the two foes.

The agreement green-lights Lebanon’s exploration of its southern Qana, or Sidon, reservoir following the signing of the landmark accord last October demarcating its maritime borders with long-time enemy Israel.

Sunday’s deal will see the gas-rich Gulf country’s state-run QatarEnergy receive a minority 30 percent stake in two blocks of Lebanon’s exclusive economic zone, according to Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

French company TotalEnergies and Italy’s Eni will both retain 35 percent shares in the blocks after Russia’s Novatek relinquished its minority stake in 2022.

Lebanese Energy Minister Walid Fayad and his Qatari counterpart Saad al-Kaabi, who is also QatarEnergy’s chief executive, signed the deal Sunday, along with the heads of Eni and TotalEnergies.

Kaabi told a press conference following the signing ceremony that Qatar’s involvement was an “opportunity to support Lebanon’s economic development”.

Lebanon has been caught in an economic quagmire that has plunged much of its population into poverty and has been described by the World Bank as one of the worst in modern history.

TotalEnergies’ Patrick Pouyanne said he expected the exploration phase of the Qana project to be completed “within the next 12 months”, expressing hope that the work would result in discoveries of hydrocarbons. AFP

flation rose in December at its slowest pace in more than a year.

The reading saw dealers ramp up bets on the central bank lifting interest rates this week by just 25 basis points, down from the half-point hike last month, which followed four straight 75-point increases.

The European Central Bank and Bank of England are also due to announce decisions this week.

The meetings come as a string of recent data suggests that last year’s monetary tightening campaign by policymakers was beginning to kick in, as price rises begin to slow from their multidecade highs.

There remains trepidation on trading

floors that economies could still slip into recession, while a mixed earnings season so far has also caused concern about company profits.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that while she was pleased to see inflation coming down, she remained wary about the economic outlook.

“I’m reasonably satisfied by the data that I’ve seen so far, but I don’t want to minimise the risk of recession” owing to the Fed’s rate hikes “slowing down the economy”, she told Bloomberg News.

That worry was offsetting optimism in Asia about a strong recovery in China this year, as it emerges after the lifting of painful zero-Covid policies. With AFP

Toyota remained the top car seller for the third year

Business B4 TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2023

Upson secures PSE approval on P4.88-b IPO

By Jenniffer B. Austria

GADGETS retailer Upson International Corp. said Monday it obtained the Philippine Stock Exchange’s approval for its planned P4.88-billion initial public offering.

Upson said in a statement the local bourse granted the notice of approval to the company, subject to post-approval requirements.

The company plans to sell

789.47 million primary common shares and 98.68 million secondary common shares, with an over-allotment option for another 98.68 million secondary common shares at P5.50 apiece.

The final price will be announced on Feb. 28. Offer period will be from March 6 to March 10, and listing was tentatively scheduled on March 16.

“We are both thrilled and grateful to have received the PSE’s approval for our planned initial public offering. This is a significant milestone as we look forward to sharing our growth prospects with everyone,” said Upson president and chief executive Arlene Sy.

Upson was operating a nationwide retail network of 200 stores as of Sept. 30, 2022, using wholly-owned retail brand outlets such as Octagon Computer Superstore, Micro Valley, Gadget King and Octagon Mobile as well as concept and specialty stores like Acer, HP, Brother and Silvertec in select locations.

Upson said it would use the proceeds from the IPO to fund the expansion of its store network and for other general corporate purposes.

It said that from 2023 to 2027, it planned to open 250 new stores or an additional 25,000 square meters of retail space.

PNB’S AWARD. Philippine National Bank receives the coveted Four Golden Arrow Award during the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard Golden Arrow Awards on Jan. 20, 2023. Receiving the award is PNB president Florido Casuela (third from left).

With him are (from left) Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Emilio Aquino, Institute of Corporate Directors president Ma. Aurora Geotina-Garcia, Philippine Stock Exchange president and chief executive Ramon Monzon and Institute of Corporate Directors chairman Cesar Villanueva.

By Julito G. Rada

N

ATIONAL Economic and Development Authority

now move forward with a better sense of what our priorities and urgent needs are,” Balisacan said. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported last week the 2022 gross domestic product expanded by a 46-year high of 7.6 percent, faster than the 5.7-percent expansion in 2021. This also surpassed the government’s target range of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent despite the global headwinds high-

lighted by higher interest rates and elevated inflation.

Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Monday the economic outlook remains “promising”, but the country should take more steps to sustain the recovery from the impact of the global health crisis.The economy gained mainly from the strength of the industry and services sectors. The 2022 GDP growth was the fastest since 8.8 percent in 1976.

“The trajectory of our post- pandemic recovery is undoubtedly promising. Still, we cannot rest easy, knowing that we have much work ahead of us as we strive to sustain and improve our performance,” Balisacan said.

Balisacan said the PDP forum―a first in a series of stakeholder discussions and roadshows on the PDP 20232028―is a manifestation of the Marcos administration’s commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach for achieving long-term inclusive development.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, January 30, 2023 -81.19 PTS. 6,970.97 F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023 Currency UnitUS DollarPeso United States Dollar 1.00000054.3680 Japan Yen 0.0077110.4192 UKPound1.23970067.4000 Hong KongDollar0.1277386.9449 SwitzerlandFranc1.08683859.0892 CanadaDollar0.75125840.8444 SingaporeDollar0.76184741.4201 AustraliaDollar0.70960038.5795 BahrainDinar2.652661144.2199 Saudi Arabia Rial 0.26641114.4842 BruneiDollar0.75895641.2629 IndonesiaRupiah0.0000670.0036 Thailand Baht 0.0304601.6560 UAE Dirham0.27230114.8045 EuroEuro 1.08680059.0871 Korea Won 0.0008130.0442 ChinaYuan0.1471568.0006 IndiaRupee0.0122680.6670 MalaysiaRinggit0.23579312.8196 New Zealand Dollar 0.64850035.2576 TaiwanDollar0.0330571.7972 Source: BSP TOTAL VOLUME 1,214,575,831 98,365 TOTAL VALUE (IN PHP) 8,296,110,153.36 ADVANCES 57 DECLINES 147

UnionBank’s net income

steady at P12.7b

in 2022

UNION Bank of the Philippines, one of the largest lenders in terms of assets, said Monday it posted a net income of P12.7 billion in 2022, almost unchanged from P12.6 billion in 2021.

UnionBank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange this translated into a return on average equity of 9.7 percent, which took into consideration the impact of the P40-billion additional capital from the stock rights offer in May 2022.

“In 2022, we witnessed a momentous shift in our business model. We have a solid balance sheet that continues to provide us above industry net interest margins. The shift in digital also allowed us to grow our fees coming from mobile fund transfers and payments. We were able to book the same bottomline as the previous year, but with less reliance on trading,” said UnionBank executive vice president and chief finance officer Manuel Lozano.

UnionBank president and chief executive Edwin Bautista said the bank made a commitment at the start of 2022 to execute on key strategic imperatives. These include the seamless integration of the acquired Citi consumer business and the commercial launch of UnionDigital as one of the six digital banks licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Julito G. Rada

CREIT receives permit on ASEAN green bonds

CITICORE Energy REIT Corp., the country’s first renewable energy REIT and largest RE landlord, said Monday it received a permit to sell for its maiden ASEAN green bond offering from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fixed rate bonds, scheduled to be issued on and listed at the Philippine Dealing and Exchange on Feb. 10, 2023, will bear a coupon rate of 7.0543 percent and be due February 2028. It earlier received a rating of PRS Aa+ with stable outlook from the Philippine Rating Services Corp., signifying its strong capacity to meet its financial obligation.

The offer period will run from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, 2023, with SB Capital and Investment Corp. and PNB Capital and Investment Corp. acting as the transaction’s joint local underwriters, issue managers, bookrunners and selling agents.

“After opening the doors to a new REIT asset class in 2022 focused on RE, we want to show our existing and potential investors and all stakeholders that we are committed to continuously provide them with green and sustainable investment options. We are hopeful that the offer’s objective of funding green projects will translate to a favorable reception from the market,” said CREIT president and chief executive Oliver Tan.

Manulife launches new global, Asia bond funds

MANULIFE Investment Management and Trust Corp. launched two new unit investment trust funds in the Philippines.

BANK of the Philippine Islands plans to return to the international bond market this year to refinance part of or its entire maturing $600-million debt papers, a top executive said Monday.

BPI treasurer and head of global markets Dino Gasmen told reporters at the sidelines of the bank’s P20.3-billion bond listing ceremony at the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. they were planning to complete the dollar-denominated bond issuance in the second quarter of 2023. Gasmen said the terms of the offering including size and tenor were being finalized as the bank continued to evaluate the interest rate environment.

“Nothing has been finalized, but we are sure that we will refinance maybe portion of it, or maybe the entire amount. We are going to work on it within the first quarter to decide what exactly what we want to do and execute it in the second quarter,” Gasmen said.

The last time BPI raised funds from the overseas bond market was in 2019 when it raised $300 million from the sale of ASEAN green bonds.

BPI on Monday also listed P20.3 billion worth of fixed-rate bonds called BPI Reinforcing Inclusive Support for MSMEs Bonds. Jenniffer

B. Austria

It said Manulife Asia Short Duration Bond Feeder Fund is a bond feeder UITF investing primarily in a portfolio of mainly investment-grade short duration fixed-income securities issued by governments, agencies, supranationals and corporations in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Portfolio duration is a maximum of three years.

Meanwhile, Manulife Global Dynamic Leaders Equity Feeder Fund is an equity feeder UITF investing primarily in a concentrated portfolio of equity and equity-related securities of large capitalization companies listed globally. Investors may access both UITFs in both peso and US dollar share classes for as low as P1,000 or $100, respectively.

“While global economic growth could remain challenged this year, Manulife Investment Management sees opportunities in high-quality Asian bonds as a resilient investment in the current environment. For aggressive investors, high-quality global equities can offer long-term potential capital appreciation and dividends,” said AiraGaspar, president and chief executive of Manulife Investment Management.

Japanese firm asked to finish Manila-Malolos rail on time

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Transportation

on Monday asked the Japanese contractor of the North South Commuter Railway Phase 1, or the TutubanMalolos segment, to complete the project on time.

“I call on Hitachi to complete the project on time. We hope we will do this even earlier. We will work closely so that all issues are addressed so that we complete this project on time,” Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said during the signing

of the Contract Package 04 of the NSCR Phase 1.

The CP04 of NSCR Phase 1 will start construction by March this year and is expected to become operational by 2026.

Once completed, thousands of Filipinos are expected to benefit from the project with ease of mobility and accessible connectivity, Bautista said.

“This part of the NSCR will carry the most number of passengers of the NSCR Project,” he said, as he conveyed his gratitude to the gov-

ernment of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency and the contractor Hitachi for supporting the rail infrastructure. The Japanese government also expressed commitment to completing the project.

Bankrolled by JICA, the NSCR Phase 1 has a route length of 37.9-kilometers from Malolos, Bulacan to Tutuban, Manila, and will be eventually connected to the NSCR-Extension Project, which passes from Calamba, Laguna to Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila Standard TODAY BALANCE SHEET As of DECEMBER 31, 2022 ASSETS AMOUNT CURRENT QUARTER PREVIOUS QUARTER Cash and Cash Items 6,639,912.56 39,196,038.17 Due from Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas 200,997,829.34 256,147,437.06 Due from Other Banks 730,904,079.53 500,049,827.58 Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit of Loss 0.00 0.00 Available-for-Sale Financial Assets-Net 0.00 0.00 Held-to-Maturity (HTM) Financial Assets-Net 10,000,000.00 10,000,000.00 Unquoted Debt Securities Classified as Loans-Net 0.00 0.00 Investments in Non-Marketable Equity Security-Net 0.00 0.00 Loans and Receivable - Net 3,108,809,934.14 3,095,285,708.52 Loans to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Interbank Loans Receivable Loans and Receivables- Others 3,150,580,839.14 3,133,556,613.52 Loans and Receivables Arising from RA/CA/PR/SLB 0.00 General Loan Loss Provision 41,770,905.00 38,270,905.00 Other Financial Assets 104,141 ,294.38 101,739,994.66 Equity Investment in Subsidiaries,Associates and Joint Ventures-Net 0.00 0.00 Bank Premises, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment-Net 31,456,433.53 30,522,582.38 Real and Other Properties Acquired-Net 106,295,503.12 106,435,132.30 Non-Current Assets Held for Sale 261,510,919.01 261,510,919.01 Other Assets-Net 47,727,629.88 45,067,368.49 Net Due from Head Office/Branches/Agencies, if any (Philippine branch of a foreign bank) 0.00 0.00 TOTAL ASSETS 4,608,483,535.49 4,445,955,008.17 LIABILITIES Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss 0.00 0.00 Deposit Liabilities 2,608,687,035.83 2,657,269,924.08 Due to Other Banks 0.00 0.00 Bills Payable 1,064,000,000.00 864,000,000.00 a) BSP (Rediscounting and Other Advances) b) Interbank Loans Payable 1,064,000,000.00 864,000,000.00 c) Other Deposit Substitutes 0.00 0.00 d) Others 0.00 0.00 Bonds Payable-Net 0.00 0.00 Unsecured Soubordinated Debt-Net 0.00 0.00 Redeemable Preferred Share s 0.00 0.00 Special Time Deposit 0.00 0.00 Due to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 0.00 0.00 Other Financial Liabilities 39,324,187.91 38,328,819.67 Other Liabilities 61,589,632.93 62,590,648.16 Net Due to Head Office/Branches/Agencies/(Philippine branch of a foreign bank) TOTAL LIABILITIES 3,773,600,856.67 3,622,189,391.91 STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Capital Stock 717,730,942.16 712,532,807.64 Other Capital Accounts 20,048,621 .17 13,876,672.76 Retained Earnings 97,103,115.49 97,356,135.86 Assigned Capital 0.00 0.00 TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 834,882,678.82 823,765,616.26 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 4,608,483,535.49 4,445,955,008.17 CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS Guarantees Issued 0.00 0.00 Financial Standby Letters of Credit 0.00 0.00 Performance Standby Letters of Credit 0.00 0.00 Commercial Letters of Credit 0.00 0.00 Trade Related Guarantees 0.00 0.00 Commitments 0.00 0.00 Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts 0.00 0.00 Securiites Held Under Custodianship by Bank Proper 0.00 0.00 Trust Department Accounts 0.00 0.00 a) Trust and Other Fiduciary Accounts 0.00 0.00 b) Agency Accounts 0.00 0.00 c) Advisory/Consultancy 0.00 0.00 Derivatives 0.00 0.00 Others 8,970,373.17 8,970,409.17 TOTAL CONTINGENT ACCOUNTS 8,970,373.17 8,970,409.17 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Gross Total Loan Portfolio (TLP) 3,250,868,429.23 3,230,654,899.01 Specific allowance for credit losses on the TLP 100,287,590.09 97,098,285.49 Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) a. Gross NPLs 325,720,504.63 290,805,293.65 b. Ratio of gross NPLs to gross TLP (%) 10.02% 9.00% c. Net NPLs 225,432,914.54 193,707,008.16 d. Ratio of Net NPLs to gross TLP (%) 6.93% 6.00% e. Ratio of total allowance for credit losses to gross NPLs (%) 43.61% 46.55% f. Ratio of specific allowance for credit losses on the gross TLP to gross NPLs (%) 30.79% 33.39% Classified Loans & Other Risk Assets, gross allowance for credit losses 45.00 45.00 DOSRI Loans and receivables, gross allowance for credit losses 213,277,986.74 231,120,968.01 Ratio of DOSRI loans and receivables, gross of allowance for credit losses, to gross TLP (%) 6.56% 7.15% Gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables 0.00 0.00 Ratio of gross non-performing DOSRI loans and receivables TLP (%) 0.00% 0.00% Percent Compliance with Magna Carta (%) a. 8% for Small Enterprises 10.73% 11.49% b. 2% for Medium Enterprises 35.04% 35.23% Return on Equity (ROE) (%) 2.30% 2.20% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on Solo Basis, as prescribed under existing regulations a. Total CAR 16.88 17.48 b. Tier I CAR 15.92 16.53 c. Common Tier 1 Ratio (%) 0.00 0.00 Deferred Charges not yet Written Down 0.00 0.00 Unbooked Allowance for Credit Losses on Financial Instrument Received 0.00 0.00 BOARD OF DIRECTORS FR. ANTONIO CECILIO T. PASCUAL Chairman ATTY. MICKEL M. BORIGAS Vice-Chairman PATRIA T. CHIONG ROMEO A. DE JESUS DORIS R. DORIGO SALVADOR S. COLLANTES, JR. EDITA S. LAURON. GARIBALDI O. LEONARDO ROBERTO C. MASCARINA WILFREDO F. MERCADO DIVINA C. QUEMI NICOLAS H. VERONILLA SATURNINO J. GALANG JR. PONCIANO D. PAYUYO BOARD SECRETARY ATTY. SIMEON T. ASIA, JR. EXECUTIVE OFFICER MA. THERESA T. NACAR OIC & CASD Head Republic of the Philippines ) Makati City ) s.s. I/We, RODA L. CRUZ and MA. THERESA T. NACAR of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set forth in the above balance sheet are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief. RODA L. CRUZ MA. THERESA T. NACAR Finance Head OIC and CASD Head

DTI INSPECTION. Undersecretary Ruth Castelo of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Consumer Protection Group seals uncertified sanitary wares in Sta. Cruz, Manila. The DTI through the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau busted uncertified sanitary wares and self-ballasted LED lamps worth P352,775.00 during its heightened enforcement operation in Manila on Jan. 20, 2023.

“While the pandemic exposed the frailties and weaknesses within our system in the past few years, we were able to draw from those lessons and can

PSC exec Torres to handle 30 sports

By Peter Atencio

NEWLY APPOINTED commis-

sioner Walter Torres will have his hands full with his duties as a board member of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Torres, who got his appointment three weeks ago, will not only be involved in monitoring athletes in 13 national sports, he will also be keeping an eye on the 17 disciplines concerned with the disabled, for a total of 30 sports.

The 55-year-old Torres got his marching orders, along with commissioners Bong Coo and Edward Hayco, following a meeting with new PSC chairman Richard Bachmann last week.

“We have finalized the NSA allocations. I have 13 NSAs and 17 para sports under me. I will meet with them this week, and talk about programs, plans and their budget,” said Torres.

He added he will be wearing two hats as he assumes his new role with the government sports agency.

Torres will still be keeping his post as vice president of the Sports Committee in the ASEAN Para Sports Federation, which is the governing body of the Paralympic Movement in South East Asia

Last August, Torres retained this post with Than Than Htay of Myanmar in the APSF.

Among the NSAs that Torres will take care of are modern pentathlon, fencing, judo, lawn balls, water skiing, sepak takraw, esports and floorball.

Coo, on the other hand, will handle 22, and this includes muay thai, bowling, athletics and karatedo.

Torres used to be the Director of the Loyola Schools Physical Education Program and has been teaching Physical Education in Ateneo since 2000 before he became a commissioner.

On the other hand, Torres said he is stepping down as secretary general for the Philippine Paralympic Committee and Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled.

He has also given up his coaching job in fencing and his position a board member of the Philippine Fencing Association.

Because he has given a lot of time with the disabled, he hopes to have his responsibilities with the para athletes be put side by side with that of regular athletes.

Sports

Djokovic settles ‘greatest’ debate with Aussie Open win

MELBOURNE—In drawing level with Rafael Nadal’s record 22 Grand Slam titles, Novak Djokovic reignited the debate about who is the greatest men’s tennis player of all time.

For some, the Serb settled it with his record-extending 10th Australian Open crown.

Certainly his vanquished opponent on Rod Laver Arena thinks so.

“He’s the greatest that has ever held a tennis racquet, for sure,” said Stefanos Tsitsipas after losing 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5).

It seems inevitable that Djokovic, who returned to world number one with his dominant victory in Sunday’s final, will win more Slams.

At 35 he is a year younger than great rival Nadal and except for hamstring trouble early on in Melbourne, he appears to be in excellent physical shape.

In contrast, Nadal’s battered body broke down again at the Australian Open and he limped out with defeat in the second round, his title defence over and the Spaniard in pain with a hip injury.

Roger Federer, the third of the “Big Three” who have dominated men’s tennis for the past 15 years, retired last year with 20 Grand Slam titles. Federer will always be the “people’s champion” in the eyes of many because of the graceful way he played, but it is Djokovic who looks primed to pull away with the record number of men’s major crowns. ‘Soak it in’ Djokovic seems to thrive on pain and feed off adversity.

Two years ago he won in Australia despite tearing stomach muscles, this year it was a hamstring that did not allow him to practise between matches.

If not for Djokovic’s vaccine status, which saw him deported from Australia a year ago and prevented him competing at the US Open, he may well have already

been on 23 or 24 Slam wins.

“Haha, I told you. We created a monster... Sat on my couch and enjoyed the entire show. Soak it all in,” Nick Kyrgios, beaten by Djokovic in the Wimbledon final last year, tweeted on Sunday.

Nadal, at 36, may be able to recover from his latest injury and even find the will to achieve another triumph on the clay of Roland Garros in May.

But he is a new dad and as the calls grow from family and friends to stop punishing his body, he could bow out sooner rather than later.

There is a theory that he could call it quits at this year’s French Open.

It is his favourite tournament and a 15th title there would provide a storybook ending. Polarising

Djokovic only appears to be getting better with age and the “Next Gen” of young talent are still unable to get near him over five sets.

His coach, Goran Ivanisevic, believes there are a few more years at the top—and more Slams—to come.

“Definitely two, three more years,”

PH to mark centennial Olympic campaign in Paris

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has remained in France to iron out in earnest the country’s campaign for next year’s Olympics. The reason for his enthusiasm and passion? The Philippines marks 100 years of participation in the Olympics in 2024 and, even more significantly, it will again be in Paris.

“It’s a century of Filipino athletes’ campaign in the Olympics,” said Tolentino, who earlier this week formally sealed arrangements for a pre-Olympic training venue at the Academos Sports Center in Moselle in the City of Metz.

“Hidilyn Diaz [Naranjo] won for the country its first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, and that was

historic,” Tolentino said. “But how about a more historic centennial Olympic campaign?”

The Philippines debuted in the Olympics in Paris 1924 with David Nepomuceno as its sole representative in the 100 and 200 meters of athletics.

The country participated in 21 more Olympics after that and after Tokyo Olympics, has collected 14 medals—one gold, five silver and eight bronze medals.

Tolentino signed a memorandum of agreement on Tolentino signed last Thursday with officials of the City of Metz led by La Moselle President Patrick Weiten the memorandum of understanding in a ceremony covered by the French media.

France3, one of France Television Group’s regional channels,

RL or the Le Républicain Lorrain and Letz Go Metz were among the French media who diligently covered the ceremony.

A video clip of Diaz-Naranjo’s gold medal campaign in Tokyo as well as those of boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam and bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial were featured on French television.

The Philippines was the first to sign a training agreement with Moselle, one of the hundreds of Pre-Games Training Centers for Paris 2024 that are certified by both the French organizers and the International Olympic Committee.

The pre-Olympic training program, which covers two months before the July 26 to August 11, is also the first in POC history.

Strong Group eyes 3rd victory in Dubai cagefest

STRONG Group shoots for its third straight win when it faces Al Wahda of Syria early Tuesday, Jan. 31, in the 32nd Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Al-Nasr Club Hall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Match is set at 1 a.m. with the Jacob Laoowned team out to put a fitting sequel to an easy 93-76 win over Al Nasr of Libya early Sunday in Group B elims.

The Syrians have yet to win in two games but Strong Group head coach Charles Tiu has refused to take them lightly. For one, the Syrian club has tapped a new import in the hope of turning its fortune around.

“They lost to Al Nasr of Libya but they will have a new and big import for our game. So they’re a different team right now,” said Tiu. Tiu, however, was delighted at how his lo -

cals, especially BJ Andrade, Kevin Quiambao and Justine Baltazar, responded to his challenge after their so-so performances in the team’s scary 91-87 over the national team of the host country Saturday.

“Good win for us, we prepared better and scouted our opponents well. We got our players to follow the game plan and were happy with our win,” said Tiu. “BJ gave us a big lift hitting the first three triples of the game, and I thought Kevin and Justine were huge for us.”

Apart from his imports in Renaldo Balkman and Shabazz Muhammad and Fil-Am Sedrick Barefield, Tiu is hoping his locals will again step up against the Syrians, saying the team, also supported by Mighty Sports and Acrocity, needs a good game in time for their crucial showdown with Dynamo of Lebanon. The Lebanese squad is also undefeated in two games.

Ivanisevic told reporters after Sunday’s final.

“The way he’s taking care of his body, the way he approaches everything, the food, it’s amazing. It’s unbelievable the level.”

Some tennis fans will always take convincing to accept Djokovic as the greatest, despite what the number of Grand Slam titles says.

He polarises opinion, whereas Federer and Nadal are universally loved for how they are on and off the court.

There are those who see something too calculating in the intense, brooding Djokovic. Controversy is never far away.

Last year it was his Covid vaccination status. This year it was his father Srdjan posing with a fan holding a Russian flag featuring Vladimir Putin’s face.

Before that, Djokovic’s infamous default from the US Open in 2020 for petulantly swiping a ball which hit a female line judge laid his character bare, said the critics.

But Djokovic supporters say those traits are what have driven him to glory. AFP

forum

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann graces the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum for the very first time on Tuesday since becoming head of the country’s government sports agency last month.

Bachmann is going to discuss the plans and programs of the PSC under his administration in the session that starts at 10 a.m. at the ground floor of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Before the PSC chairman takes centerstage, Philippine Obstacle Sports Federation president Atty. Al Agra opens the weekly Forum as he talks about the association’s coming event this March, its recent elections, and a proposed Masters Games for seniors.

The special session is still presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

PSA president Rey Lachica, sports editor of Tempo, enjoins members to attend the Forum also livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and aired on a delayed basis over Radyo Pilipinas 2, which also shares it on its official Facebook page.

PSC chief Bachmann to discuss plans at

Coach Charles Tiu Courtesy of HERBERT IPONLA

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic display the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophy a day after his victory against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in the men’s singles final match of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

POC chief Rep. Abraham Tolentino being interviewed in France

Loman to use 2022 lessons in bid to get ONE title shot

STEPHEN “The Sniper” Loman believes that his 2022 is a precursor to the year ahead.

The third-ranked bantamweight mixed martial artist plans to use everything he learned while competing in the ONE Championship Circle last year, especially since he could be next in line for a shot at the ONE Bantamweight World Title.

The belt will be disputed by former king John Lineker and #1-ranked Fabricio Andrade at ONE Fight Night 7 on February 25 at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, and Loman will be watching with an attentive eye.

Last year, “The Sniper” scored impressive wins over Japanese veteran Shoko Sato before beating former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes. While he impressed in both of those fights, he knows that the road ahead is only going to get tougher.

“What I learned from that year is that there are no pushovers here in ONE. I learned that [in] every fight, I have to step up. But it’s also good because I proved that even though they are veterans [who] have plenty of experience in the Circle, I can still beat them,” he said.

“I also learned the value of perseverance. [I] just [have to] keep on working on my skills and sharpening everything.”

Knowing that he’s probably got next, whether that’s Lineker or Andrade, Loman is now working on the physical aspects of his game.

“I have to build on my stamina and work on my explosiveness. Championship matches are tough because it’s five rounds, so I have to prepare,” he said.

“I’ve experienced it while competing in a different promotion, so now I just have to work on my stamina again to prepare myself for fights like this.”

He’s not foreign to five-round grinds. He came into ONE as the hottest Filipino commodity after being the longest-reigning champion in the Middle East, where he held the bantamweight championship for more than two years.

Chiefs, Eagles set up Super Bowl showdown

MIAMI—The Kansas City Chiefs will meet the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl after the two top seeds won their Conference Championships in contrasting style on Sunday.

While the Eagles had it easy against injury-hit San Francisco 49ers, winning 31-7, the Chiefs needed a field goal three seconds from the end to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.

The wins set up what should be an enthralling contest between two of the most exciting and entertaining quarterbacks in the NFL with the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes up against Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts.

The February 12 clash in Arizona will also pit Chiefs coach Andy Reid against the team where he spent 14 years as head coach.

The Eagles sealed the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl appearance—and second in five years—with an emphatic victory in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field.

The 49ers’ hopes of victory were upended after a disastrous first half that saw starting quarterback Brock Purdy -- himself the team’s third choice signal-caller

—injured on the team’s opening drive.

Back-up Josh Johnson—the fourth choice Niners quarterback—also departed injured in the third quarter.

All of Philadelphia’s touchdowns came via their ground game, with running back Miles Sanders scoring twice, Boston Scott adding a third before quarterback Jalen Hurts burrowed over in the third quarter.

The Eagles piled up 148 rushing yards throughout from 44 carries.

“I’ve dreamed about this, and all the guys on this team have dreamt about this their entire lives,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said afterwards.

“To be able to do this together with a bunch of men that love each other, that are connected to each other and would do anything for each other—it’s pretty sweet.”

Bengals threaten another comeback

Harrison Butker converted the 45-yard game winner for the Chiefs, after a costly penalty against the Bengals, to grab the

victory after Cincinnati—who had won their last ten games—had threatened another comeback win.

Chiefs quarterback Mahomes came into the game still nursing an ankle injury picked up in last week’s divisional round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, while his favored target, tight-end Travis Kelce, had been dealing with a back injury picked up at practice on Friday.

While the quarterback was less mobile than usual and ended the game limping at times, he was able to deliver the key plays down the stretch.

Indeed, any serious concerns the Chiefs had about their two key players eased in the second quarter when Mahomes rolled right and found Kelce with a 14-yard touchdown pass to make it 13-3 for Kansas City.

The Cincinnati offense sprung into life after the interval and tied up the score at 13-13 when Burrow went deep with a 27yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling then kept a Chiefs drive alive with a smart reachout for a first down and the receiver finished off the 11-play, 77-yard drive, collecting a 19 yard pass down the middle from Mahomes. AFP

THE MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) welcomed Quezon Province and Negros Muscovados to its fold on Sunday night at Conrad Hotel Manila.

Quezon Province, owned by Gov. Dr. Helen Tang, was represented by Magnum Membrere and Atty. Donn Kapunan, and Negros, represented by team owner John Gilbor and his wife Grace, were present during the team owners’ meeting with MPBL Founder and CEO Manny Pacquiao and league officials led by Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.

A total of 28 teams sent their representatives while Quezon City called to signify its intention to join the MPBL’s fifth regular season set to start on March 10 at a yet to be announced-venue.

This early, Quezon Province and Bataan have offered to host the opening ceremonies and games of the country’s top regional league.

Other teams present during the MPBL’s first general meeting this year were Bacolod, Bacoor, Batangas, Bulacan, General Santos, Iloilo, Imus, Laguna, Makati, Manila, Marikina, Mindoro, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Rizal Province, San Juan, Valenzuela, Zamboanga, Cebu and Caloocan. Pasay, Paranaque, Cebu, Iloilo and Bulacan will be returning after missing the highly successful 22-team fourth season.

Executive officer Joe Ramos presented a report of the league viewership under Cignal TV through One PH and One Sports Plus showing that the MPBL games enjoyed high ratings, averaging 108,000 viewers and posting 12 million audiences reach.

Apart from One PH and One Sports Plus, MPBL games will now be covered live through MPTV (Media Pilipinas) on Channel 98 Cignal HD.

Duremdes announced that the MPBL fifth season will take a break twice this year, in deference to the Holy Week and the FIBA World Cup which the country will be co-hosting from August 25-September 10.

Operations head Emmer Oreta said the teams will again be divided into the North and South division for the single round-robin elimination round which will last till September with the top eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals. The semifinal round will be a best-ofthree affair and so will be the Division Finals. The National Finals featuring the North and South champions will again be a best-of-five series.

Baisa sustains PPS run; Divinagracia dominates

BRICE Vincent Baisa kept crushing the opposition with his brand of play, posting another twinkill even as local ace Ma. Hannah Divinagracia lorded it over the girls’ field in the PPS-PEPP National tennis juniors championships at the Helvetia and Panaad courts in Bacolod last Sunday.

Baisa, ranked No. 8 in 16-U play, trounced second seed Kurt Barrera, 5-3, 4-2, in the quarters, routed No. 5 Kirby Ramacho, 6-1, 6-0, then upended top seed Ariel Cabaral, 6-2, 7-6(2), to clinch the crown in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.

Cruz reaffirms status as PH’s no. 1 with Flexible Cup tablenet win

TABLE tennis teen phenom Kheith Rhynne Cruz dominated the field composed of grizzled veterans to win the Women’s Open class title in the 10th Flexible Cup International Table Ten nis Championships over the weekend at the Robinsons Mall in Novaliches, Que zon City.

Playing under the Joola Philippines, the 16-year-old Cruz, the youngest player to hold the no.1 ranking in the Philippine Women’s Team, proved she was a force to reckon with, beating Lee Xi Nin of Gold Medal Malaysia in a tightly fought championship duel, 2-1, to clinch the crown in the event sponsored by Flexible Packaging Products, Inc, and organized by the Table Tennis Association for National Development.

Long-time national member and Cruz’s teammate Rose Jean Fadol and Angel Joyce Laude of De La Salle University claimed runner-up honors in the tournament participated in by over 200 players from 30 teams.

“We’re really happy and proud of Kheith Rhynne’s performances throughout her young career since maisama namin siya sa TATAND program. From being a struggling junior campaigner and now the country’s no.1 player at the young age of 16, she has come a long way. We in TATAND are all out in supporting her quest to make it to Olympics, like her childhood idol Ian Lariba,” said Lim.

The TATAND chief likewise, shared the limelight as part of the Joo -

la Philippines team, along with Cruz, Fadol, Joshua Manlapaz and World Championship campaigner John Russel Misala which claimed runner-up honor in thr Team Open class.

“For a decade, todo suporta sa table tennis ang Flexible, kaya kami sa ay talagang taos-puso ang pasasalamt, gayundin sa mga team na nakiisa sa atin,” added Lim.

Team Xiom Indonesia composed of Luki Purkani, Zahru Nailufar, Gusti Syaful and Yon Mardiyono defeated Sunsports Red Singapore, bannered by Josh Chua, Yin Jing Yuan, and Tay Jit Kiat and the UST1, manned by John Michael Castro, Alvin Menard Sevilla, Eljey Dan Tormis at John Dayl Que.

The rising Puerto Princesa, Palawan star then held off Cabaral, 7-5, 3-6, 104, in the 18-U semis, then repeated over Barrera, 6-2, 6-2, to match his two-title romps in the Iloilo and Roxas City stops of the country’s longest-talent search put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/ CEO Bobby Castro.

The top-ranked Divinagracia, on the other hand, stamped her class in 16-U division, foiling Jana Diaz, 6-2,

6-4, in the finals then as the No. 2 seed, rapped No. 1 Jufe-Ann Cocoy, 6-2, 6-3, in the 18-U title clash to share MVP honors with Baisa, who is expected to take the top spot in the boys’ top two age brackets when the new UTP (United Tennis Philippines) ranking is released next week.

Other winners in the tournament sponsored by Mayor Albee Benitez were Iloilo’s Francisco De Juan III, Clemente Barrera III from Tayasan, Negros Oriental, La Carlota’s Kathlyn Bugna, Ormoc’s Kenzo Brodeth and Queen Villa, also from La Carlota.

De Juan hacked out a tough 5-4(4), 4-5(5), 11-9 decision over Clemente Barrera to match his title feat in the 10-U class in Roxas City; Barrera got back at De Juan, 6-4, 6-2, in the 12-U finals; No. 2 Bugna toppled top seed Alexa Cruspero, 6-3, 6-4, in the girls’ 12-U championship; Brodeth repulsed Andrian Rodriguez, 2-6, 6-1, 10-8, to snare the boys’ 14-U trophy; and Villa blasted Cruspero, 6-1, 6-2, in the girls’ 14-U finals of the event backed by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, the Unified Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating).

Meanwhile, the chase for top honors and ranking points shifts to Bais City, Negros Oriental on Feb. 2-7. For details, contact tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

MPBL welcomes 2 new members; starts March 10 with 26 teams

General view of State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. State Farm Stadium will host the NFL Super Bowl LVII. AFP

Brice Baisa (second from left) shares the PPS Bacolod leg spotlight with Hanna Divinagracia as Fr. Joji Ansula (left) and fellow NOTA (Negros Occidental Tennis Association) officer Nark Nicavera look on.

Women’s singles open winners, led by Keith Rynne Cruz (center), receive their medals and prizes from TATAND honorary president Charlie Lim (left) and VP Richmond Ong (right) during the awarding ceremony of the 10th Flexible Cup International Table Tennis Championship.

Entertainment

‘Avatar’ sequel now ranks fourth all-time high in global sales

JAMES Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water continued to dominate the box-office charts, taking in an estimated $15.7 million this weekend in North American theaters to make it the fourth-leading global grosser of all time.

The Disney/20thCentury sci-fi film, “has been #1 for seven straight weeks... a feat that hasn’t been accomplished” since Cameron issued the original Avatar in 2009, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said on Twitter.

Hefty results from theaters around the world – including $237 million in ticket sales in China – helped boost The Way of Water

GMA Network, Viu Philippines ink deal to bring world-class content

PHILIPPINE broadcast giant GMA Network and Viu, PCCW’s leading panregional over-the-top (“OTT”) video streaming service, are set to bring world-class content to more Filipinos as the two enter a five-year partnership deal.

The deal, which marks the first-ever collaboration between GMA and Viu, will bring upcoming Kapuso shows available on Viu Philippines, beginning with The Write One and Love Before Sunrise. Both titles are set to premiere this year, and will be available on Viu in the Philippines exclusively 48 hours before their respective TV broadcast on GMA Network.

“This 2023, GMA Network is all set to bring more world-class content to Filipino viewers across various platforms. We are honored and grateful that Viu Philippines is with us in our endeavor to produce original and top-notch programs that can be consumed in various platforms such as leading OTT service Viu,” said GMA Network Senior Vice President for Programming, Talent Management, Worldwide, and Support Group, and President of GMA Films Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes

Vinchi Sy-Quia, Deputy General Manager of Viu Philippines, adds his excitement on this collaboration, “Viu is proud to embark on this milestone partnership with Philippine multimedia giant GMA. Aligned with Viu’s vision of offering Premium Asian Entertainment and Experiences, this collaboration with GMA showcases the best of world-class Filipino content from both the GMA Entertainment Group and the GMA Public Affairs Group that can be streamed anytime, anywhere on the Viu Philippines platform.”

The partnership was made official during a contract signing held on January 12. Joining Atty. Gozon-Valdes for GMA Network were Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, First Vice President for Public Affairs Nessa Valdellon, and Consultant for Business Development and Strategic Content Partnerships Reena de Guzman Garingan

Attending for Viu Philippines were Deputy General Manager Vinchi Sy-Quia, and Head of Content Partnerships Garlic Garcia alongside the Viu PH Content and Marketing team.

Produced by GMA Public Affairs, The Write One sees the much-awaited team-up of Sparkle artists Ruru Madrid and Bianca Umali. A romantic drama with a touch of fantasy, it tells the story of Liam (Ruru), a frustrated man who is given a chance to rewrite his love and life story with the help of a mysterious typewriter. With the love between Liam and Joyce (Bianca) dimmed by the years that have passed, both wonder what could have been had they not given up their individual dreams. Until one night, Liam stumbles upon an antique typewriter and finds himself writing –and magically making real – the revised story of his life.

Bea Alonzo and Dennis Trillo banner the original drama Love Before Sunrise, set to be produced by GMA Entertainment Group.

An epic love story, Love Before Sunrise brings to life the story of Atom and Tala and their humble beginnings from when they first met under the stars to becoming friends, lovers, and eventually ex-lovers while pursuing their dreams. A dramatic exploration of romantic desires and aspirations, the series will also be Bea and Dennis’ first-ever drama series together.

By Patricia Taculao

MARS Ravelo’s Darna, under ABS-CBN, continues to reel in viewers from across the globe. The modern retelling of the well-loved Filipino heroine, now played by Jane De Leon, never falters in earning rave reviews from its dedicated fans. However, not everyone seems impressed with the show’s production.

As the age-old saying goes, “You can’t please everyone.”

Recently, Kapamilya actress Dawn Chang has been the topic of netizens after a clip of her character in Darna, Maisha Rodriguez, using her superpowers on the townsfolk of Nueva Esperanza went viral on social media. Many viewers aren’t buying that Maisha can influence those around her through dancing. It’s not something people see every day, even on popular media.

Despite being the topic of the joke, Dawn found the viral clip amusing and praised its editing. Moreover, she found the positive side of the somewhat negative feedback by saying that she captured the audience’s attention immediately.

“I guess I understand how they feel. They probably feel disappointed, according doon sa mga nakasulat. But all I can say is they have to watch the next episodes para mas maintindihan nila,” she said during an online media conference.

She continues to argue that the clip was only introductory and only allowed viewers to see the surface instead of the depth of Maisha’s character in the fantasy series.

“Maisha has the power to manipulate people through dance. Para siyang Pied Piper, ‘yun ‘yung inspiration niya. I think this never happened in the history of Darna. It’s something new; it’s something different. A lot of people can relate,”

Dawn explained.

The Kapamilya actress likens her character’s influence to TikTok, the leading social media and video-sharing platform nowadays. Since its rise to popularity, TikTok has made several dance challenges viral and, in a way, encouraged users to do the same.

For her, Maisha and her superpowers are new, unique, and relatable, which makes ABS-CBN’s modern retelling of Darna more relevant to its younger audience.

On the other hand, as an actress, Dawn found her talent (and on-screen superpower) for dancing helpful in shooting action scenes.

to fourth place globally all-time at $2.117 billion, unadjusted for inflation. That means Cameron now has his name on three of the four top grossers ever: the original Avatar Titanic, and The Way of Water (Avengers: Endgame from Disney and Marvel sneaks in at second).

In second place for the North American weekend was Universal’s family-friendly Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, at $10.6 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period. In third, up two spots from last weekend, was Sony’s feel-good A Man Called Otto, at $6.8 million. Tom Hanks plays the title

curmudgeon in the adaptation of Swedish novel A Man Called Ove Scary-doll thriller M3GAN from Universal and Blumhouse Productions took in $6.4 million to place fourth. It has an android doll, created as a companion to a young orphan, turning steadily creepier.

And Yash Raj Films’ new action thriller Pathaan placed fifth at $5.9 million, an impressive North American total for a Hindilanguage film. It stars Shah Rukh Khan known as the “King of Bollywood,” in a story about spies, rogue agents, and a deadly labgenerated virus. AFP

DAWN CHANG defends character’s

superpowers in ‘DARNA’

“We specialize in body movement. We can easily imitate, even if we’re not experts in, say wushu. We can easily adapt the look of the body movement or body posture because everything is about the look of the body, the way you express it from head to toe,” she explained but clarifying that she doesn’t mean to trivialize martial arts experts.

Dawn will join the ranks of the Super Soldiers, which includes Richard Quan as General Borgo, Paolo Gumabao as

Noah Vallesteros, Young JV as Andrei Abesamis, Kim Rodriguez as Xandra, Eric Fructuoso as Arthur Pineda, Joshua Colet as Sigfried Cruz, Simon Ibarra as Zaldy Vallesteros, and Mark Manicad as Ali Corpuz.

“They have to watch out for Maisha, and they have to watch out for the rest of the Super Soldiers,” Dawn said. Catch Mars Ravelo’s Darna on weeknights at 8 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, CineMo, A2Z, and TV5.

Francine Diaz believes in her pairing with Seth Fedelin

actress is under pressure, it is the role assigned to her in her new soap.

“I’m nervous not because of the fans’ reaction but of how we’ll pull it off on screen. We don’t want to disappoint Dreamscape Entertainment, particularly Sir Deo (Endrinal). This is not just a soso project. Heavy preparation is needed.”

Francine points out that Dirty Linen is different from the previous projects she made.

Francine.

IN A recent interview, Francine Diaz was asked if she felt afraid or worried that her new love team with Seth Fedelin in the latest Kapamilya prime time offering Dirty Linen will not be accepted by the fans. It can be remembered that the two are part of the group Gold Squad along with Andrea Brillantes and Kyle Echarri. When they did the phenomenal soap Kadenang Ginto, Francine was paired with Kyle while Seth was with Andrea. Now, Francine is being paired with Seth instead.

“Honestly, I just discovered in myself that I’m prepared to work with Seth and in whatever people would say regarding our team-up. Of course, when the project was first offered to me, the nervousness and doubt were there. For one, we don’t know how the public would react. But when the cameras started to grind, I know for myself that I’m prepared for everything,” she said. If there is one area where the young

“The recent programs I did were light rom-coms like Bolabola. I rested in doing heavy dramas. Then, the offer to do ‘Dirty Linen’ came. It’s a heavy project. It’s good that our senior co-stars are very nice and supportive. They made work easier for us.

“As for playing the character of Chiara Fiero, I found it really hard at first. Number one, I’m not really one who is English-speaking. In some of our scenes, there are English words that I’m not familiar with and I don’t know the correct pronunciation. But of course, that’s my character so I really have to study to be effective in portraying it.”

On the lighter side, how’s her relationship with Seth?

“Well, as of now, we’re still on the getting-to-know-each-other stage. Is there courtship happening? At this point, there’s none. It’s purely work and being professional. In fact, I was telling Seth that we’re lucky and blessed to be part of a highly-competent cast,” ended

********

For the first time in local television history, GMA-7 and ABS-CBN 2 will collaborate on a grand project called Unbreak My Heart along with the popular streaming site Viu. Just recently, the two rival networks announced on their respective social media platforms what transpired during the contract signing and story conference of the much-anticipated soap opera.

Unbreak My Heart stars Kapuso wards Richard Yap and Gabbi Garcia and Kapamilya talents Jodi Sta. Maria and Joshua Garcia. The project serves as a reunion vehicle for Richard and Jodi who worked together in the highly successful Kapamilya program Be Careful with My Heart in 2012.

When interviewed, Jodi said: “This collaboration will really bring in opportunities not only to the networks, but for the people working in the network, for the people in the industry.”

Richard seconded: “I’m really proud, honored, and excited to be part of this show which is history in the making since this is the first time that two network giants will be working with each other. Of course, I’m also excited to be working with Jodi again and all the other people in the cast!”

Gabbi and Joshua, who will be paired for the first time in the show also share the excitement.

“It’s my first time doing this kind of role. Its growth and depth are remarkable,” Gabby said.

On his part, Joshua expressed: “I feel honored to be part of the cast. It’s exciting to breathe life into the character assigned to me.”

The supporting cast is comprised of industry veterans Laurice Guillen and Eula Valdes along with Nikki Valdez, Bianca de Vera, Maey Bautista, and Will Ashley

Directed by

Emmanuel Quindo Palo and Dolly Dulu, Unbreak My Heart will air on GMA and stream in 15 territories outside the Philippines via Viu.

‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ marks James Cameron’s third top grossing movie

Francine Diaz (right) and Seth Fedellin

Dawn Chang as Maisha Rodriguez

The Kapamilya actress considers her dancer's physique advantageous in shooting action scenes

‘Love Before Sunrise' lead stars (from left) Dennis Trillo and Bea Alonzo and 'The Write One' lead stars Bianca Umali and Ruru Madrid

Life

Cebu’s ultimate ‘instaworthy’ setting

SINCE its establishment 38 years ago, Golden Haven has been known as the developer of the country’s most beautiful memorial parks. Combining elegant archi tecture with verdant greenery, all Golden Haven memorial parks live up to this aesthetically im peccable image. However, one Golden Haven me morial park stands out as the most “Instaworthy,” a coveted status in this digital age when memories are not simply stored in one’s heart but also chronicled in social media. Golden Haven Cebu, a moun taintop sanctuary inspired me morial property, is one such picturesque haven—all 13 hect ares of it. Located on Binaliw Road just

Work hard, play hard

SOMEONE told that we shouldn’t take “work hard, play hard” mantra to heart, reason being, it has a negative connotation. “It’s like subscribing to YOLO (you only live once) lifestyle that sometimes encourages alcohol abuse while partying all night.”

I retorted with a famous line uttered by Catriona Gray when asked during the Miss Uni verse 2018 contest if she was in favor of the legalization of marijuana: “Everything is good but in moderation.”

If you are living a city with a vibrant at mosphere, working hard with an idea of hav ing a dynamic nightlife as your reward, then there’s nothing wrong with living your life the way you wanted. While partying all night may have some dangers, there is no way of knowing what will happen tomorrow, might as well live an authentic life – your own ver sion of self reward.

For professionals living in Makati – the coun try’s premier city certainly ticks all the right boxes when it comes to an ideal workplace. �ccessible by both public and private trans portation to and from points in Metro Manila, Makati is home to a host of well established banks, BPOs, multinational corporations, fivestar hotels, world class shopping malls, and international embassies. Even the esteemed center of commerce, �yala �venue, is located at the heart of Makati’s CBD, as are many of the country’s most iconic edifices.

But the city is also constantly evolving, and the addition of spanking new mixed used developments as well as ultramodern skyscrapers to the Makati skyline means the city is very much alive and rife for business. Such a vibrant atmosphere is matched by a dynamic nightlife scene that indulges your every mood and fancy. Be it coffee and con versation with friends or cocktails and danc ing with colleagues and clients, It �ll Hap pens in Makati for anyone who likes to play hard as much as they work hard.

For late night talking or working. In Le gazpi Village, you can find Panco Café that blends the tastes of Melbourne and Manila in a chill café setting. Highly recommended are Kalma (that’s kalamansi and matcha) and a Dirty Mocha made with Davao tablea. There’s also Bad Café that serves high-qual ity coffee made from specialty grade coffee beans from local and �sian roasters. Com bine your choice of hot or cold drinks with your preferred sweet or savory treat. Start with a slow roaster pork belly adlai bowl or mushroom tartine, and end with a sumptuous calamansi pie. Malongo �telier Barista, the first Asian café of the popular French roaster that specializes in organic and free trade cof fees and bio-coffees, is another must-visit spot in the village.

If you’re in Salcedo Village, Odd Café has a roster of irresistible hot and cold drinks enjoyed in Instagram worthy interiors. Try French Kiss, the drinkable version of French toast, or Black Forest, the liquid counterpart to the popular dessert. � largely plant based menu may just inspire you to finally go vegan.

Café 1911 in Bangkal serves classic cof fee and short order selections (think pastries and pasta dishes) in a Korean coffee shopinspired ambiance. For a more unique cof fee experience, Papakape in Palanan allures

you with its ginger-infused coffee in drinks like Kape Gingerccino, Iced Cocolatte, and Choco Mochaluya. That they are prepared in a small glass house bar�cum�counter and served in a cozy outdoor spread is another reason to return.

For chill nights with good booze. Enjoy re freshing cocktails named after radio commu nication codes (“10 4” means “okay,” get it?) at Bar 10 4 in Legazpi Village. Match them with Japanese bar chow or Pinoy food from the neighboring �buela restaurant. 78 45 33 in Salcedo Village specializes in handcrafted cocktails (Negronis, martinis, Cosmopolitans, and the like) and vinyl records (its name refers to the three speeds of vinyl records). Talk about a perfect combination when you just want to unwind after a long day at work. Craving for elevated Southeast �sian fare complete with DJ sets and incredible cocktails? Head over to Golden Gibbon (still in Salcedo), a fine casual resto with a focus on cocktails and food influ enced by cultural heritages across the Southeast �sia region.

You can also find more chill bars in Pobla cion. There’s OTO that made it to the list of Asia’s Best Bars of 2019 for good reason: It offers fabulous drinks that fall under the cat egories of classics, signatures, or classics with a twist, as well as a wicked all vinyl playlist. You can also check out The Odd Seoul that captures the “Gangnam side of Korea” in fun drinks like Yogurt Lady (an intriguing mix of soju, vodka, Yakult, aloe vera juice, and melon-flavored ice pop) and Kimchi Sour (soju, lemon juice, egg white, almonds, and yes, kimchi).

If live music is a must. Seltsam, a rooftop bar in Legazpi Village, boasts an infectious, all�night playlist (from techno to funk and everything in between). Load up on cocktails and bar chow to keep your energy up! Social House in Circuit Makati alternates live band performances with killer DJ playlists. Drinks range from beer and cocktails to wine, and

outside the city, the memorial park features manicured gardens and lush landscaping that harmonize with its Italian inspired amenities like the Pope John Paul II Memorial Hill, the Koi Pond, and the Butterfly Gar den Plaza, among others.

�ttesting to Golden Haven Ce � bu’s exceptional features, the “Best Memorial Park Landscape �rchi tectural Design” award was, in fact, bestowed on it in the recently held Philippine Property �wards.

It’s not a surprise, then, that Golden Haven Cebu is fastly gaining popu larity as a venue for prenuptial and pre debut shoots, proving that the park is not just a tranquil resting place for the dearly departed—it is also a charming setting for recording happy milestones.

Cebu resident Kristine Sia, whose father is interred in the park, agrees, relating that she and her then fiance held their prenup shoot in Golden Haven Cebu. �c� cording to her, they chose the me morial park for its wonderful am biance, which evokes everlasting peace and harmony.

“We also wanted to include my late father in the celebration of our momentous occasion, and acknowledge the big part he had in my life as my guiding light,” Kristine muses. Without doubt, Golden Haven’s pristine setting offers engaged couples the perfect backdrop for a celebration of love and life, and gives more meaning to the vow, “Till death do us part.”

30th Travel Tour Expo offers discount, exciting promos

�S the tourism strongly recov ers from its pandemic slump, we are now seeing more Fili pinos and their families, groups of friends, business trips, and solo travelers hitting the road, taking the skies and seas to reach different destinations.

Driven by the anticipated long weekends in 2023, travel ers respond by planning their trips early and take advantage of these extended holidays for more quality recreation and lei sure during travel.

To be held on February 3 to 5 at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, the 30th Travel Tour Expo 2023 and the 8th International Travel Trade Expo 2023 is the most oppor tune event for travelers to seek bigger and better deals for their travel needs. �s much as 70 percent discount on air fares and other exciting promos will be made available during the three day expo, mounted by the Philippine Travel �gencies �ssociation Inc. (PT��), the largest and most prestigious travel agency association in the country.

Under this theme, “� Better and Stronger Future of Travel is Here,” the upcoming grand expo is expected to further in vigorate and push the tourism activities of Filipinos travelers in their domestic and interna tional trips exclusive deals and amazing discounts await those who will and book their trips early during the expo.

when you want to splurge—champagne.

Boogie Manila in Poblacion is best known for housing the best hiphop scene in Manila. Groove to incredible sounds and a menu of bar food and cocktails. The ultimate must have: Barik Supremo Lambanog.

If you’re down for an adventure. �dd more thrill to your Makati nights at The Studio Dance Club in Legazpi Village, which has a stable of seasoned dance instructors to lead you to R&B Nights, Disco Friday, Saturday Boogie Nights, and K Pop Nights. Don’t forget to drink and dine between sets. Left Behind at �yala Malls Circuit disrupts your predictable after-office routine with three es cape rooms you can book with friends. Sign up for 45 minutes of figuring your way out of a woman’s restroom (Flushed), the base ment of a house located in a forest (The Base ment), or a mine in a mountain (The Mines).

Let the night surprise you by taking a visit to Tiu Theater along Chino Roces �venue. It has served as the stage of numerous theater produc tions, film screenings, concerts, and other live performances since 2014. Hip hop and rap lov ers know the place for hosting the latest edition of Flip Top Battle League. The Spirits Library in Poblacion isn’t just a “purveyor of rare bot tles, books, and bar paraphernalia,” it also stag es live burlesque shows courtesy of Burlesque PH, the country’s premier brand for burlesque performances and education.

Want to add your favorite haunts to the list?

Submit your very own It �ll Happens In Makati digital map and get a chance to enjoy prizes like an overnight stay at a luxurious Makati hotel.

Send your artwork entry to makeitmakati.offi cial@gmail.com with the subject “It �ll Hap pens In Makati Digital Map Entry <Name>”. The deadline for entries is today, so share your Makati know how and your creativity too, and create your It �ll Happens In Makati digital map now. Discover the ins and outs of Makati City and enjoy these gems throughout the year. Follow @MakeItMakati on Facebook and Instagram.

For those looking for some thing new adventures, visi tors are encouraged to try the new and exciting destinations that will be unveiled by the participating tours and travel agencies. While for those look ing best deals to fit their travel budget, the expo promises and will deliver a wide choice of affordable tours, transportation options, and accommodations as well as different payment options for the utmost conve nience for travelers.

This year the 30th Travel Tour Expo 2023 will be bigger and much more exciting as it will oc cupy two sprawling floors of the SMX Convention Center in Pa say that can accommodate more than 300 participating exhibi tors with 700 booths as well as a projected number of 80,000 to 100,000 visitors are anticipated during as the expo’s attendance,

the biggest number yet since 2020.

This year the list of exhibi tors is composed of airlines, travel agencies and tour op erators, hotels and resorts, food concessionaires, government, national travel operators, travel and tour, association, embas sies, theme parks and entertain ment, cruise liners, shipping, insurance, travel essentials, travel related entities, foreign based travel agencies, and tour operators.

With the valuable support of the Tourism Promotions Board, the expected visitors include travel and tourism trade practi tioners, corporate and business travelers, holiday travelers, in centives convention planners, government and business lead ers, direct buyers, and inves tors can expect exciting raffle draws, corporate game shows, entertainment, exhibitors and sponsors presentations, cultural dance competition, and a confer ence that will brief the attendees on the latest updates and recent issues in domestic and interna tional travel industry.

As the first post pandemic Travel Tour Expo, we expect a revenge travel that can greatly boost the travel industry and encourage the tourism stake holders to open their businesses and try to recover lost opportu nities. �s the tourism industry recovers, it will highlight the important role it plays in the economy as a top dollar earner, generate employment oppor tunities and spur infrastructure development.

On February 3, the PT�� 30th Travel Tour Expo 2023 and 8th International Travel Trade Expo 2023 will formally open at 10 a.m. The expo hours start as early as 9:30 a.m. En trance tickets are priced at P70.00 for general admission and P50.00 for seniors.

The event sponsors are De partment of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Unionbank, Philippine �irlines, �irswift, United �irlines, PLDT, Hotel 101, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone �uthority (TIE Z�) Guam Visitors Bureau.

For more information, please go to www.traveltourexpo.ptaa.org.ph and contact organizers at tel. nos. 88310124, 8997-2063, 8846-8373, 09178071514.

Steven Brian Sia and his wife Kristine Sia taking beautiful photos around Golden Haven

Photos by The Immensity Studios

Malongo Atelier Barista is the first Asian café of the popular French roaster specializing in organic and free trade coffees and bio-coffees

The Studio Dance Club

A Southeast Asian-inspired drink at Golden Gibbon