Manila Standard - 2023 February 16 - Thursday

COPS PLEAD NOT GUILTY IN MISSING SABUNGERO CASE

AFP: No let-up in WPS patrols

More nations raise serious concern over China’s ‘coercive’ actions

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz

THE Philippines will continue its maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), even after the Ayungin Shoal incident in which a Chinese vessel aimed a military-grade laser at a Philippine Coast Guard ship, the military said Wednesday.

Speaking to the press, Commander Ariel Joseph Coloma of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command said the incident would not stop them from carrying out their mandate.

“Nothing has changed,” he said in Filipino. “The AFP will continue its mandate and our ships will continue to patrol the WPS.”

The statement came as Canada and Germany joined other nations in calling out the Chinese coast guard’s use of military-grade laser against a Philippine vessel last week.

Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman said China’s actions were “coercive” and disrupted “lawful” operations of the said PCG vessel.

“Canada underscores its firm and unwavering support for the Philippines in the face of coercive actions of the People’s Republic of China in

Senators, labor group press for deployment ban of OFWs to Kuwait

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano

SENATORS on Wednesday pressed for a deployment ban of overseas Fili-

pino workers to Kuwait, saying OFWs cannot wait for the government to establish a tighter screening process on their foreign employers in the wake of the gruesome murder of domestic help -

PBBM to push use of hybrid variety in rice production

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has agreed to expand the use of hybrid rice as a better alternative to the inbred variety of rice to increase crop production.

At the same time, the President said he was optimistic that the Philippines

Quake death toll near 40k after 8 days

AN AID convoy passed through a newly reopened border crossing into rebel-held north Syria, where help has been slow to arrive since last week’s earthquake, which killed nearly 40,000 people in the region.

Rare survivors were pulled from the debris eight days after the 7.8-magnitude quake struck Syria and Turkey, but the focus has switched from rescue to providing food and shelter to millions in need.

A caravan of 11 United Nations trucks entered Syria through the reopened Bab al-Salama border point, after Damascus agreed to let the world body use the crossing for aid.

could come close to self sufficiency in rice in two years if the government can carry out a major reorganization of several key agencies.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Wednesday said the President met Tuesday with SL Agritech Corporation (SLAC) chairman

and chief executive officer (CEO) Henry Lim Bon Liong and various farmers from Central Luzon to address the challenges in the rice industry.

Marcos said he will implement a program to promote the shift to hybrid rice by providing subsidies and facilitating

er Jullebee Ranada this month.

“Reforms should have been done last year, 10 years ago,” said Sen. Raffy Tulfo in reaction to an exclusive story by Manila Standard on Wednesday, which

noted that at least two Filipinos per day experienced violence in the form of physical abuse, sexual harassment, or rape in Kuwait last year.

Gov’t to cut sugar prices by 85% with 440k MT of imported supply

By Othel Campos

THE Sugar Regulatory Administration has authorized the importation of 440,000 metric tons of refined sugar to bring down the price of the sweetener and manage local demand.

According to Pablo Luis Azocana, sugar board planters’ representative at the SRA, the government allowed for the importation of 200,000 MT of sugar classified for domestic use or “B” sugar and another 240,000 MT as buffer stock, classified as “C” or reserve sugar.

“We have an allocation for immediate arrival. This is expected to drive prices down to about 85 percent,” he said at the Laging Handa public brief-

ing Wednesday. Azocana stressed that imported sugar will be priced accordingly so as not to hurt farmers, some of whom are opposing the move.

“It is our goal that farmers get a fair price for their produce so that they will continue farming,” he said, adding that the government refused to give in to proposals to import raw sugar instead of refined since the local harvest provides bountiful reserves of raw sugar.

Based on Sugar Order (SO) No. 6 series of 2022-2023, the country’s second sugar import program aims to maintain a balanced supply and demand of sugar for domestic consumption while ensuring

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will increase its coverage for outpatient hemodialysis from 90 sessions to 156 sessions this year.

In a media forum on Wednesday, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said this is part of their commitment to implement enhancements in the benefit packages for 2023.

“This increase in the number of sessions covered is based on standards for adequate dialysis which requires three four-hour sessions every week for chronic kidney disease Stage 5 patients,” Ledesma said.

PhilHealth cover of hemodialysis to be expanded Writer, poet Gamalinda passes away

PhilHealth Senior Vice President Israel Francis Pargas disclosed they are targeting to officially issue the new policy before August, as the 90 sessions may end around that month or the second semester of the year.

“So, we have the time until the second sem, to make sure that we can release the 156 [sessions],” he said. “We hope that by this first or second sem, we can

HYBRID RICE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. discusses hybrid rice production during his meeting with the management of SL Agritech Corporation (inset), which specializes in the research, development, production, and distribution of hybrid rice. (See story below)

TOP BRASS. Generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) pay a courtesy call on Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (center) at the Social Hall of the House of Representatives Wednesday afternoon. Also in photo are House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe and Reps. Rachel Arenas, JJ Romualdo, and Jose Aquino. Ver Noveno

A LITTLE SWEETNESS. A Syrian child selling cotton candy smiles as he stands in front of the rubble of a collapsed building following last week’s earthquake in Syria’s rebel-held village of Atarib, in the northwestern Aleppo province, on February 14, 2023. Nearly 40,000 people were killed when the quake devastated swathes of Syria and neighboring Turkey on

DORIS Trinidad Gamalinda, poet, essayist, and editor of several national publications, died on Monday, February 13, 2023, in Manila. She was 95. Born Adoracion Trinidad on November 15, 1927 to school teacher Aurora Cañizares and lawyer Jesus Trinidad, she obtained her bachelor’s

Doris Trinidad Gamalinda

DOH: 2 new ‘Kraken’ COVID cases

By Willie Casas

THE Philippines has detected two new cases of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, the so-called “Kraken” subvariant being the most transmissible form of COVID-19, raising its tally to three, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

The country also detected its first case of Omicron subvariant XBF, which is linked to the recent spike of COVID-19 cases in Australia and Sweden.

Both subvariants are classified by the World Health Organization as subvariants under monitoring.

The XBF is a recombinant sublineage of BA.5.2.3 and CJ.1 (BA.2.75.3 sublineage), which was initially flagged for its increasing prevalence and had been associated with recent case increases in

stable prices.

“The unpredictable weather conditions and the anticipated increase in demand of sugar due to easing of restrictions brought about by the pandemic, deems it necessary to authorize this second sugar import program for crop year 2022-2023,” the SO read.

The first tranche of 100,000 MT refined sugar is estimated to arrive soon “for consumers to immediately feel the effects of declining sugar prices.”

The second tranche of another 100,000 MT is expected to arrive before April 1, and the final tranche of 240,000 MT is set to arrive after that date.

Azacona said the government may release the final tranche classified as “C” sugar during the offseason, and only upon assessment of the demand situation by the SRA and after the reclassification of the reserved volume to “B” sugar.

Imported sugar will be stored in SRA-accredited warehouses or direct to the consumers’ warehouse as indicated in the importer’s application.

But Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) chairperson Ariel Casilao said importation will hurt the local sugar industry.

“If we talk about the entry, the flooding of 440,000MT of sugar, we can be sure that our local sugar, our local production which is ongoing with our current milling season, will drop (in value),” he said in a TeleRadyo interview.

Casilao, a former lawmaker, said the sugar supply in the country is enough for domestic consumption.

“Those lacking (sugar) are who we call the bottlers, those making soft drinks or those corporations that need refined sugar,” he explained.

This problem, in turn, could have been solved had the government funded the modernization of sugar mills around the country, the UMA chief said.

“That comes from the backward machinery in our refineries here. We have machines in our milling and refineries that are 50 to 100 years old. But according to the SIDA or Sugar Industry Development Act, our local sugar industry should have received enough funding for its maintenance and development,” he noted.

already come out with the policy.”

Ledesma encouraged concerned members to avail of other renal replacement therapy (RRT) offers “to achieve better quality of life.”

RRT replaces the kidney’s normal blood filtering function due to failure, acute injury, and chronic disease of the organ.

It includes dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis), hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration, and kidney transplantation.

“PhilHealth is providing P270,000 in financial support to patients who are on peritoneal dialysis or what we call PD-First,” Ledesma said.

“And for those who have organ donors, PhilHealth pays P600,000 for renal patients qualified under our Z benefits for kidney transplantation,” he added.

Meanwhile, the House Committee on Health has approved a bill that would authorize the President to suspend and adjust the scheduled increases in PhilHealth premiums during crisis periods.

The bill would amend Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act and give the President this power during national emergencies or calamities or when the public interest so requires. Maricel V. Cruz and Willie Casas

Australia and Sweden, the DOH said. A recent wastewater analysis revealed that XBF accounted for about 55 percent of total cases detected in Victoria, Australia.

Preliminary studies also showed that many of Australia’s antiviral treatments against COVID-19 were no longer effective against multiple Omicron subvariants circulating in the country, including XBF.

“However, currently available evidence

the South China Sea,” Hartman said in a Twitter post.

“Recent actions that disrupted the lawful operations of Philippine vessels off the coast of the Philippines are in violation of international law and contrary to the maintenance of regional peace and stability, and the rules-based international order,” he said.

Germany also expressed “serious concerns” about the laser incident, saying that all states should observe maritime order.

“As a party to UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), the PRC (People’s Republic of China) must comply with its obligations, including notably the 2016 SCS Arbitration Decision,” Hartman wrote, referring to the decision of the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague that said China had no basis for claiming most of the South China Sea, and which upheld Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the area.

Earlier, the governments of Australia and Japan called out China for its actions.

In separate tweets, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu PSM and Japanese Ambassador to Manila Koshikawa Kazuhiko raised concerns about China’s recent actions.

“Australia shares concerns about unsafe and intimidatory actions directed against the Philippines. We continue to call for peace, stability and respect for international law in the South China Sea, a vital international waterway,” Yu wrote.

“We express serious concerns about dangerous behavior against PH vessels. All states should respect maritime order based on international law, in particular UNCLOS, and recall that the 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding. We firmly oppose any action that increases tensions,” Kazuhiko’s tweet read.

The growing international support for the Philippines came as the US re -

loan financing to farmers, the PCO said.

The President also vowed to apply the best practices being done by Central Luzon farmers in other areas in the country.

Citing a study by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units, the PCO said the hybrid system has given 41 percent better yield than inbred conventional seeds over the past two years.

“Hybrid farmers have reported harvesting around seven to 15 metric tons (MT) per hectare as compared to the average 3.6 MT/hectare for inbred seeds,” the PCO said.

Bon Liong said that if adopted nationwide on a two-cropping cycle per year, hybrid technology will give better income to farmers and achieve rice suf-

for XBF does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original omicron variant,” the DOH report read.

“Currently, the subvariant is still reported under omicron by the WHO and will remain classified under Omicron until sufficient evidence arises showing that the virus characteristics are significantly different from Omicron,” it added.

The DOH said the XBF sample was collected in December 2022 and was sequenced on Jan. 28, 2023.

Out of 69 samples sequenced by health authorities February 7-9, 26 were classified as XBB (including 2 cases classified as XBB.1.5), 10 as BA.2.3.20, 3 as BA.5 (including one case classified as BQ.1), 2 as BA.2.75, 1 case as XBC, and 20 as other omicron sublineages.

minded China that its increasingly aggressive behavior could invoke the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty that tasks Washington to come to Manila’s defense in case of “armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard in the South China Sea.”

The PCG reported that on Feb. 6, China’s Coast Guard pointed a “military grade” laser at some of the Filipino crew aboard BRP Malapascua while on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre near Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, in the Spratly Islands chain, known in China as the Nansha Islands.

Former national security adviser Clarita Carlos, meanwhile, said the Philippines seems to be the casualty in the proxy war between the United States and China.

“Why are they doing this? Is this part of their optical distractors? But are they escalating it? Are they waiting for America to respond to that?” Carlos said in a television interview.

She said if the two superpowers wanted to engage in a proxy war, they should not do it on Philippine territory.

In light of the latest provocation, she said, the Philippines should “shift gears to change China’s behavior.”

“My position is that you can’t keep on expecting a different result [by] doing the same thing. There’s a name for that. It’s called katangahan (stupidity),” she said.

“This is too much, they are becoming too abusive,” she added in Filipino. “What is China doing? It’s pushing us to the arms of Americans.”

Despite the growing international support for the Philippines, China insisted it was acting lawfully and said “the relevant waters are calm.”

The Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) use of laser resulted in the temporary blindness of PCG crew members. However, China defended its action as it accused the Philippines of intruding into its waters.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rod-

ficiency for the country.

From January to November 2022, the National Rice Program served 1.06 million rice farmers and 3,528 farmer cooperatives through the provision of hybrid and inbred or certified seeds, production-related and post-harvest machinery, small-scale irrigation, as well as extension and training activities.

Under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Program, the Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) granted P3.37 billion in zero-interest and non-collateral loans to 10,643 rice farmers and 197 borrower organizations and cooperatives. Rice varieties on the market are classified based on the size of grains and on where they are grown. There are also classifications based on traditional, modern, and hybrid varieties. Both traditional and modern varieties

Of the 26 XBB cases, one case was classified as a returning overseas Filipino and the rest were local cases from Regions 2, 3, 4A, 7, 10, 11, and NCR (including two cases classified as XBB.1.5), the DOH said.

All additional BA.2.3.20 cases were local cases from Regions 1, 2, 4A, 9, 11, CAR, and NCR. Meanwhile, out of 3 reported BA.5 cases, two cases were ROFs and 1 was a local case from Region 1 (including one case classified as BQ.1).

The two recently detected BA.2.75 cases were classified as ROFs while the XBC case was a local case from Region 11, the agency added.

The first patient with XBB.1.5 has already recovered after experiencing mild symptoms of the disease, the DOH said.

riguez on Wednesday urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to forge defense and security cooperation deals not only with Japan but with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Korea as well.

“We should negotiate and enter into visiting forces agreements (VFAs), like the one we have with the United States, in the face of heightened threats from China,” he said.

He said the continued employment by China of harassment tactics on Philippine Coast Guard and Navy personnel and Filipino fishermen “is unacceptable and detestable, and beyond the realm of civilized conduct.”

“How long our patriotic people, with their sense of national pride, could bear such harassment and bullying, I don’t know, but at some point, it has to stop. Enough is enough,” he said.

President Marcos announced his intention to forge a VFA with Japan during his five-day visit to Tokyo last week.

He said an agreement similar to the VFA with the US “is certainly under study.” Japan has expressed readiness to participate in joint military exercises and humanitarian missions in the Philippines.

Rodriguez dismissed Beijing’s assertion as “nonsense.”

“How can we intrude into our own territory? How about China heeding our incessant appeals for them to respect our territorial rights and interests and stop harassing and bullying our Coast Guard and Navy personnel and our fishermen?” he asked.

He also lauded the United States for denouncing the military-grade-laser incident and for reaffirming its obligations under the 1951 RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty.

In a statement on Tuesday (Manila time), US Department of State spokesman Ned Price said China’s “conduct was provocative and unsafe, resulting in the temporary blindness of the crew members of the BRP Malapascua and interfering with the Philippines’ lawful operations in and around Second Thomas Shoal.”

are called “inbred,” because they are reproduced through self-pollination or inbreeding, and the products or the seeds are what farmers use for planting.

Meanwhile, hybrid seeds are made by crossing two genetically different parent seeds with superior qualities to increase yield or production. However, planting these seeds is more complicated because, aside from higher production costs, seeds cannot be reused for another planting season.

After a meeting with officials from the DA and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the President said if they can do all that they need to do, the country will be close to self-sufficiency in rice in two years.

“There’s a great deal of work to do but we already saw how to do it. So that’s what we will work on for now.” he added.

“Relevant agencies must establish a tighter screening process on foreign employers to avoid abuse and maltreatment of OFWs. These include requiring them to submit a police record and pass a neuro-psychiatric exam to ensure that they are mentally stable,” Tulfo said.

“There should also be a pre-engagement orientation for foreign employers before letting them hire OFWs. The orientation should brief them about the importance of respecting Philippine culture and tradition,” he added. Migrante International, an alliance of migrants’ organizations, also urged the government to take proactive measures to stop the continuing physical abuses, harassment, and other problems involving OFWs.

“Sending a fact-finding team to Kuwait to investigate only when a highprofile case of an OFW death occurs is part of the problem, and in fact demonstrates that Philippine government agencies and officials mandated to uphold and protect the rights of our OFWs have been passive in responding to cases of rights violations among our OFWs,” Migrante said in a statement.

The group cited 2022 yearend reports that showed a 51.4 percent increase in contract violations from the previous year, and an alarming 216 percent increase since the memorandum of understanding between the Governments of Kuwait and the Philippines was signed in 2017.

Since there is no total deployment ban for OFWs to Kuwait, senators cited the need to monitor their work conditions.

The Department of Migrant Workers imposed a ban only for firsttimers to the Gulf state. Those who have been working in Kuwait and are renewing their contracts are not covered by the ban.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, the chairperson of the Senate labor committee, noted there should be a mechanism to regularly check on OFWs. Employers should be screened “to further assure our kababayans that they will not end up in the hands of exploitative and vicious individuals.”

“That’s why I want to recommend to the DMW to (totally) ban our OFWs from working in the state of Kuwait,” he added.

Before the earthquake struck, almost all the crucial humanitarian aid for the more than four million people living in rebel-controlled areas of northwest Syria was being delivered through just one crossing.

The trucks were loaded with essential humanitarian assistance, including shelter materials, mattresses, blankets and carpets, Paul Dillon, a spokesman for the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM), told AFP.

Activists and local emergency teams have decried the UN’s slow response to the quake in rebel-held areas, contrasting it with the planeloads of humanitarian aid delivered to government-controlled airports.

The United States, which refuses ties with Syrian President Bashar alAssad, called on both the government and rebels to work to allow in aid.

“Everyone should put aside their agendas and affiliations in service of one pursuit and one pursuit only, and that’s addressing the humanitarian emergency – the humanitarian nightmare – that’s unfolding in parts of northwest Syria,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington.

The UN also launched an appeal for $397 million to cover three months of “life-saving relief” for victims in Syria and said it was close to a similar plan for Turkey. AFP

degree in Philosophy, summa cum laude, from the University of Santo Tomas, where she was also Assistant Literary Editor of The Varsitarian. She also attended high school at the Holy Ghost College (later College of the Holy Spirit) and was Valedictorian at Legarda Elementary School, a few steps from her ancestral home in Sampaloc, Manila.

She began her writing career as a section editor for the Manila Times until its closure during Martial Law in 1972, and later worked as associate editor for Focus Magazine, editor of the Times Journal’s People Magazine and the Journal’s lifestyle editor. In 1980, she joined the

staff of the National Media Production Center, and a year later became editorin-chief of Woman’s Home Companion, during which time she turned the magazine into the most widely circulated lifestyle magazine in the country.

She retired in 1995 and devoted her later years pursuing her first love— writing—and rapidly published a succession of books, including Looking Glass (essays, New Day Publishers, 1991); Permutations of Love (essays, Anvil Publishing, 1996); The Way of the Miracle (essays, Giraffe Books, 1998); Mysteries and Memories (essays, Giraffe Books, 2000); and Now and Lifetimes Ago (poetry, Giraffe Books, 2001). She also published Two Voices (poetry, University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2012 ) with Gloria

G. Goloy. In addition, her poems were also included in the anthology Babaylan (Aunt Lute Books, San Francisco, 2000).

Mysteries and Memories was awarded Book of the Year by the Manila Writers Circle. In his introduction to the book, F. Sionil Jose noted “the felicity of language that only a poet can muster, the depth of perception and the illumination that clear thinking brings.”

Eugenia Duran-Apostol, in her introduction to Permutations of Love, said: “She rises above mere journalese and ends up enchanting you with singletopic literary musings, many of them poems-in-the-rough, almost-poems, not-quite-poems, unmetered poems. For by nature, Doris is a poet.” Her alma mater UST also honored her

with the Ustetika Award in 2006 and Philets Owl Award in 2010.

Doris Trinidad’s work explored the interconnectedness of writing, personal history, and memory, placing great value on the significance of family, friendships, art and literature, spirituality, and even politics and personal loss. Throughout her life, she remained a relentless student of the great metaphysical mysteries and the quest for God and meaning, and of being and becoming.

She wrote: “I will just remind you of the treasures that might be lying in your own mind, buried for years by layers of more pressing, more recent experiences. Find a quiet corner and a restful moment to coax them out. They are part of what you are.”

‘Child restraint gear not part of single ticket’

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday clarified that the penalty for violation of the rule on child restraint system (CRS) is being imposed based on the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, not on Single Ticketing System (STS).

The MMDA made the clarification following an online report attributing the CRS penalty to the STS.

“The set traffic violation penalty for failure to use a child restraint system (CRS) or use of a substandard child restraint system (CRS) is not imposed by the STS, per se, but is in accordance with Republic Act No. 11229, or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act,” the MMDA explained.

Under RA 11229, drivers caught violating the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act will be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 for the third and succeeding offenses.

The same penalties apply for using substandard or expired child restraint systems, as well as products that do not bear the Philippine Standard mark, ICC Sticker, or LTO clearance.

The MMDA stated that all listed traffic violations and penalties under the STS, which are the product of a series of consultations and were agreed upon by all Metro Manila traffic enforcement agencies and local government units, were integrated into the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, which serves as the guideline for the STS.

Enumerated in the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023 are the most common traffic violations as well as other special laws, including the protection of children for road safety.

All traffic violations or penalties stipulated in the traffic code were adopted in accordance to the existing laws, and no new ones are to be imposed.

The STS is set to be implemented in the National Capital Region (NCR) this coming April.

DOJ reopens 2020 slay of Spanish bizman in Siargao

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ)

on Wednesday said the three-yearold slaying of Spanish businessman Diego Bello Lafuente in Siargao Island has been revived after the policemen tagged for complicity in the case turned themselves in on Feb. 9.

The three suspects were escorted by Criminal Investigation and Detection

Group chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. when they surrendered to the DOJ. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he asked for an account of the events from the policemen during a brief meeting.

The DOJ chief also explained the framework within which the case will be tried.

“I can’t promise anything except a fair trial,” Remulla said.

IN BRIEF

BOC foils bid to smuggle

P6.2-m

cocaine in Clark

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized 1,187.1 grams of cocaine worth more than P6.2 million stashed inside the rims of three wheelchairs at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. The contraband was discovered in a shipment declared as “mini -sumatic wheelchair caster,” which arrived on January 13 from Tanzania.

The shipment was subjected to the usual K9 sniffing and x-ray scanning procedures and physical examination based on information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The examinations disclosed that the three wheelchair casters were filled with a white powdery substance inside the wheels.

“Samples were taken to the PDEA for chemical laboratory analysis, and the shipment yielded positive for cocaine, a dangerous drug under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” the BOC said in a statement. Vito Barcelo

Immigration agents nab

4 South Korean fugitives

IMMIGRATION Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the aliens were arrested in separate operations conducted by the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) in Metro Manila and in Pampanga.

“The prosecutor’s decision depends on the evidence,” he added. Lafuente, an alleged drug dealer, was killed in 2020 during an anti-drug operation in Siargao.

The suspects, whose identities were not immediately disclosed, claimed that Lafuente pulled a gun on them. Lafuente’s case was stalled when the policemen involved disappeared after the court issued warrants of arrest against them.

“We are in the midst of an intensified campaign to flush out these wanted foreigners who are using the country as a refuge to elude arrest and prosecution for crimes they committed in their homeland,” Tansingco said. According to the BI chief, all four South Koreans will be deported for being undesirable and undocumented aliens, adding that their passports were already revoked by their government. “They will also be placed in our blacklist, thus banning them from reentering the country,” he said. Vito Barcelo

PHILIPPINES-INDIA ART EXHIBITS. Indian artist Sushma Yadav explains the details of her self-portrait painting labeled ‘Self Intangible Inheritance,’ an etching and aquatint medium, during the opening of the Philippines-India art exchange exhibit spearheaded by the Angono Ateliers Association Philippines and the Arth Art International India, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Yadav’s painting can fetch P70,000, the organizers said.

Danny Pata

16 senators okay regional trade pact

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SIXTEEN senators signed the committee report backing the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement which was sponsored on the Senate floor Wednesday night by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda. then sold all over the world. As a result, vastly fewer products are solely made in any one country," Zubiri said.

The RCEP, which was among the priority bills tackled during the recent LEDAC Meeting, is subject to approval and concurrence in the Senate.

“Is good to go back to RCEP now, especially since we can now observe how well our fellow RCEP signatories have been faring since they all greenlit the implementation of the agreement,” Zubiri said. Covering all the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), plus Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, and New Zealand, the RCEP Agreement is the largest regional Free Trade Agreement in the world.

To date, the Philippines remains the sole RCEP signatory that has yet to concur on the ratification of the agreement.

“It’s want that we should left be behind. I don’t like that they will see us as a revolutionist and an isolationist,” Zubiri said, adding “but it would be wrong to simply argue that we must join it because others did. Rather, we should join out of the belief that it will create a snowball effect on jobs for our people, and market for our produce.”

The RCEP Agreement, Zubiri said covers almost all aspects of the economy.

“We have to appreciate it in its broader context. In a globalized economy, products are put together in one country from components sourced in other countries and

“This is what RCEP is all about.

It provides a stable platform so that countries in the region can optimize their participation in the global economy.”

To illustrate the benefits of RCEP, Zubiri pointed out the growth of ASEAN countries like Vietnam, which exported $108.48 billion to RCEP countries in 2022, up 16.4 percent from the previous year.

“In just one month, Vietnam earned nearly $50 million from exporting durian to China. This is one product where the Philippines should have a competitive advantage, which is not being utilized as we continue to withhold participation in the RCEP bloc,” he said.

He also brought up Thailand, whose exports to RCEP countries totaled $140 billion in 2022 (7 percent growth); Cambodia (4 percent growth), whose rapidly growing garment industry earned $10.25 billion from exports in just the first three quarters of 2022; and Malaysia, who is forecasting a 9.3 percent growth in exports this year.

“Definitely, this development is a clear indication of RCEP’s positive effects, and we cannot afford to be a fence-sitter while witnessing other ASEAN member states reaping the benefits of the Agreement,” Zubiri stressed.

Senate to probe human trafficking in NAIA

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Senate Blue Ribbon committee will investigate the alleged human trafficking using private flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) said to be in cahoots with some personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Airport Police Department.

The human trafficking activity was disclosed by Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, in a privilege speech delivered before the Senate floor Wednesday night. She related that last February 13, the PNP Aviation Security Group got information about

human trafficking activity involving an aircraft with tail no. N9527E, which was set to leave the airport at 10:00 that night bound for Dubai.

After verification and confirmation of the information, it was learned that six passengers were declared although 14 people boarded the aircraft. The senator said the airplane was operated by Cloud Nine No. 1 Leasing Company Limited, a Hong Kong-registered leasing company. Their assigned aircraft ground handler is Globan Aviation Service Corporation (GLOBAN), a local company.

According to Poe, the PNP Aviation Security Group then told aircraft inspectors of the possible operation and directed them not to sign

tagged in ‘sabungero’ case plead not guilty: PNP

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) disclosed that police officers who were tagged as suspects in one of the cases of missing ‘sabungeros’ (cockfight enthusiasts) have pleaded not guilty to charges filed against them. At a televised public briefing, PNP public information office chief Police Colonel Redrico Maranan said that the suspects, who surrendered to authorities, have already undergone arraignment, GMA News reported.

“In one of the cases, where the suspects were police officers who surrendered to the authorities, have undergone arraignment and entered not guilty plea,” Maranan, quoted by GMA News, said.

COURTESY CALL. Former Prime Minister of Japan Yukio Hatoyama, with his wife Madame Miyuki Hatoyama, shakes hands with  Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez during a courtesy call Wednesday afternoon at the plenary hall of the House of Representatives. Ver

In January, Police Patrolman Rigel Brosas and Police Staff Sergeant Daryl Paghangaan surrendered to the PNPIntegrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group Team 4-A. Former Police Corporal Roy Navarete also voluntarily surrendered at the Calauan Municipal Police Station in Laguna.

The three suspects are facing kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and robbery with violence charges in connection with the alleged kidnapping of e-sabong master agent Ricardo Lasco.

Lasco was illegally arrested at his house in Laguna by the police officers who allegedly pretended to be members of the National Bureau of Investigation in August 2021. He has not been seen since.

The PNP is working on at least eight cases on the disappearance of 34 sabungeros.

On Monday, the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it already has an idea about the mastermind behind the missing sabungeros.

“We have an idea but since CIDG is the primary investigating agency of the PNP, we don’t want to file a case that will just be dismissed,” PNP-CIDG chief Brig. General Romeo Caramat Caramat, quoted by GMA News, said, adding that the CIDG “cannot yet divulge the alleged mastermind’s identity.”

PBBM appoints new Coast Guard officials to new rank, assignments

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed new Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officials to the rank of Flag-rank Wednesday morning, according to a Palace statement.

The Presidential Communications Office bared the said appointments of various PCG Flag-rank officers including:

For the rank of Coast Guard Vice Admiral (CG-VADM): Joseph M. Coyme, Ronnie Gil L. Gavan, and Robert N. Patrimonio.

Gavan was the Deputy Commandant

for Administration of the Philippine Coast Guard (O/DCAPCG) and Coyme was the commander of the Maritime Safety Services Command of the Philippine Coast Guard.

Patrimonio was the Commander of the PCG’s Marine Environmental Protection Command.

Furthermore, the Coast Guard RearAdmiral (CG-RADM) rank appointees were; Gregorio I. Adel Jr., Armand A. Balilio, Hostillo Arturo E. Cornelio, Eustacio Nimrod P. Enriquez Jr., Edgardo T. Hernando, Rudyard M. Somera, and Nelson B. Torre. Cornelio was the Commander of the Coast Guard District

Tulfo files measure seeking review of minimum wage

SEN. RAFFY Tulfo filed a Senate Resolution (SR) No. 476 to review existing policies on minimum wage increases.

THE House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill mandating the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) to select at least one student applicant from each of the congressional districts in the Philippines to comprise the freshman cadet class of every school year to ensure the representation of all districts in graduating classes and widen the access to education of students from far regions.

With 247 affirmative votes and one abstention, the chamber approved on third reading House Bill (HB) 6994 on Wednesday.

“This proposed legislation will not only provide equity, but will also accord the opportunity to study in PMMA to deserving students, especially the youth coming from provinces and far-flung areas,” Speaker Martin G. Romualdez said.

“This bill does not aim to give special treatment because the applicants must still pass the examination and submit the requirements. But this will definitely ensure that at the very least, youth from across the country can start on a level playing field in terms of access to education in the prestigious PMMA,” the Leyte 1st District congressman added. Maricel V. Cruz

Tulfo stressed that while there was a minimum wage increase last year, it will not be able to sustain the living conditions of workers.

He noted that many workers are facing financial difficulties brought about by rising inflation. He also maintained that the minimum wage serves as a critical tool for ensuring that workers receive a basic standard of living and for promoting economic growth.

“It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that the minimum wage is set at a level that provides workers with a decent standard of living, taking into account factors such as inflation rates,” the resolution read.

He said it is imperative to improve the standard of living and quality of life for workers, particularly those in the lower income bracket, and to ensure that the policies on the minimum wage increase are fair, effective, and consistent with the needs of the workers and the economy.

It can be noted that the latest minimum wage increase took effect last June 4, 2022, with the rates ranging from P533 to P570 per day in NCR.

The increase in minimum wage outside Metro Manila, meanwhile, took effect between June 6 to June 30, 2022, with the rates ranging from P306 to P470. Macon Ramos-Araneta

National Capital Region - Central Luzon. Enriquez Jr. was the commander of the Philippine Coast Guard Education Training and Doctrine Command and Hernando was the Commander of theCoast Guard Special Operations Force. Adel Jr was the Commander of PCG’s Inspector General and Internal Affairs Service and Somera was the director of PCG’s Strategic Studies and International Affairs Center. Torre was the Former commander of the PCG’s K-9 Force Command and former Deputy Commander of the PCG’s Maritime Security and Law Enforcement

Bill of firemen certification as medical responders OK’d

WITH an overwhelming 236 votes, the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill requiring Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel to be certified medical first responders and emergency medical technicians.

House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez said the requirement under House Bill (HB) 6512 “will save lives.”

“In emergency situations like a fire, an earthquake or a road accident, BFP personnel are often, if not always, the first responders. They have to have adequate basic medical training to assist and save victims,” Speaker Romualdez said.

“This is the reason why fire departments in many countries, including our own BFP, are mandated to have emergency medical service (EMS) units,” he said.

Romualdez added that the type and quality of training EMS personnel receive “can spell life or death for persons needing immediate medical assistance.”

He cited the recent case of a popular American football player who collapsed after tackling an opponent during a nationally televised game. The player suffered cardiac arrest and his heart stopped beating. First responders administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on him for 10 minutes before he was taken to a hospital. Many American doctors said the CPR given by responding personnel saved the player’s life. Maricel V. Cruz

Command.

Balilio was also the PCG spokesperson and PCG’s Internal Auditor. He was also vocal on the recent events involving PCG in conflict with the Chinese Coast Guard on the usage of CCG’s Military-grade Laser on the PCG personnel and vessel patrolling the waters off the Ayungin shoal which was a part of the Philippines’ Kalayaan Group of Islands. The PCG is mandated and responsible to perform maritime search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, marine environmental protection, and maritime security.

any document not until the inspection of the aircraft and the passengers. Around 9:15 pm, three foreign national crew boarded the plane. Two GLOBAN vans arrived. At 10:11 pm, another GLOBAN van carrying three immigration officers and three other vehicles with six foreign nationals arrived. They were escorted by the Airport Police Department patrol vehicle.

In the flight general declaration, there were only three crew members and six passengers In the plane. But based in the information by Poe from the BI, seven passengers were in the plane’s general declaration, including – one Malaysian, Korean, Chinese, Vanuatu, and three from Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Marcos thanks Ukraine leader for 451 Pinoys’ safe passage

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for ensuring the safe passage of Filipino repatriates at the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday. In an official statement on the two leaders’ Feb. 13 phone conversation, the DFA said Marcos reiterated that the Philippines would continue to support the “peaceful resolution of the crisis in Ukraine.”

“President Marcos underscored the Philippines’ support for previous UN resolutions reaffirming the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of Ukraine and other UN member states,” the DFA said.

“The President also conveyed his gratitude to President Zelenskyy for ensuring the safe passage of Filipino nationals who were repatriated from Ukraine during the conflict,” it added.

Quoting Zelenskyy as saying, the DFA said the Ukrainian leader thanked Marcos for the support and Manila’s “clear” position on the conflict.

“The Ukrainian President requested for continued Philippine support in the United Nations and other related fora. He expressed hope for the future of Philippines-Ukraine relations, as Ukraine considers the Philippines a strategic partner in the region,” it said.

The phone call was the first of its kind between the two leaders since Marcos assumed the presidency in June last year.

Based on the latest DFA data, a total of 451 distressed Filipinos were assisted since the war started, 397 of whom have been repatriated to the Philippines while 54 others were evacuated to other countries.

Cops

NEW ESPLANADE. The River Park Esplanade located at the New Government Center in Barangay Dulong Bayan, San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan was unveiled to the public on Tuesday. Rep. Florida Robes of the Lone District of the City of San Jose del Monte and Mayor Arturo Robes along with other officials lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the park’s opening. Manny Palmero

Noveno

. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Director Renato N. Molina with other BIR officers prepares for ‘REKORIDA’ (public announcements) in front of the BIR building in Intramuros Manila. The BIR is encouraging taxpayers to pay their taxes early. Norman Cruz

Once home to civilizations, fabled Antioch left in ruins

By Joris Fioriti

THE smashed dome of the ancient mosque, considered to be Turkey’s oldest, covers rubble that used to be a prayer hall.

Once a home to a myriad of civilizations, the southern city of Antakya lies in ruins after last Monday’s 7.8-magnitude quake.

Fourteen centuries of history were ravaged in less than two minutes in Antakya, a fabled ancient Greek center known throughout most of its history as Antioch.

Erected in AD 638, the Habib-i Neccar was “the first mosque built within modern-day Turkey’s borders”, according to the government’s culture portal.

Only its walls have survived, leaving delicate yellow, red and blue paintings and calligraphy exposed to the winter sky.

It was even placed under a French mandate between the end of the First World War and 1939, when the city became a part of modernday Turkey.

A former general of Alexander the Great founded Antioch in 300 BC.

The city has suffered several earthquakes—almost one every 100 years—and is no stranger to rebuilding.

There were devastating quakes in 37 BC, 115 AD and 458 AD.

A quake in AD 526 is thought to have killed 250,000 people. In 1054, 10,000 are thought to have died.

“Antakya is the cradle of several historical events,” said Hakan Mertkan, a doctoral student at the University of Bayreuth in Germany and author of a book on Antakya.

But it’s also “a cradle of earthquakes, its soil full of history”, he added.

Crossroads of civilizations

Turkey, like Syria, is on one of the world’s most active fault lines.

But the region is also “at the center of much of humanity’s shared ancient history”, said Aparna Tandon, senior program leader at the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property.

The area impacted is home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Our ‘frenemy’ China

IIS CHINA our friend or our enemy? Or both, that is, a “frenemy”?

Increasingly, it looks like it’s the latter, because of its behavior in the South China Sea.

The latest incident that shows China considers us an enemy is the reported harassment by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel on February 6. According to the PCG, a China Coast Guard ship directed a “military-grade” laser at one of its vessels, putting the Filipino crew in danger.

The PCG vessel was supporting a rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine Navy in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

What happened was that the Chinese ship crossed the bow of the PCG ship at a distance of 7.4 km (4 nautical miles), as if to warn BRP Malapascua to stop or alter course.

This was followed by “dangerous maneuvers,” with CCG 5205 a close distance of about 150 yards from the starboard quarter of the Philippine vessel before the Chinese ship shone its laser.

But with no action on the part of Beijing to mend its ways, a ‘frenemy’ is really how we should consider them, and adjust our bilateral relations accordingly

The two sides exchanged radio challenges throughout, with the Chinese vessel warning the PCG ship was “in the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China.”

The PCG is correct in condemning the Chinese action.

This was a provocative act that could have led to an escalation of simmering tensions in the South China Sea.

The Lloyd Austin visit

“A bit of the Prophet Mohammed’s beard was once preserved in a box” at the mosque, said Havva Pamukcu, a 50-year-old woman wearing a headscarf.

“I’m heartbroken,” she said.

A few hundred meters away, a Greek Orthodox church erected in the 14th century—and rebuilt in 1870 after another earthquake—is also gone.

A white cross that once stood on its pointed roof now lies atop shattered walls and broken pieces of wood.

“All the walls have fallen. We’re in despair,” said Sertac Paul Bozkurt, a member of the council managing the church.

‘Soil full of history’

Antakya is in Hatay, a province tucked between the Mediterranean Sea and Turkey’s border with Syria.

It was one of the worst affected by the earthquake and its aftershocks, which have claimed more than 35,000 lives across the region.

In the old city, several streets are still inaccessible, blocked by buildings flattened like pancakes and cars trapped under the debris.

Across more than two millennia, the city was home to Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Persian, Arab and Ottoman empires.

(Second of two Parts)

LAST Monday, we ended our article by mentioning the likelihood of a Visiting Forces Agreement with Japan or whatever final form a security arrangement we may in the near future have with China’s historic rival.

The shift in our foreign and security policy will be more pronounced with this.

China’s long memory has yet to forget the Rape of Nanjing by Japanese invaders, even if the Filipinos’ extremely short memory may have erased the atrocities inflicted by the Japanese forces during the Second World War. We understand the concern of the Japanese over the rising military strength of China, especially since the South China Sea is maritime lifeline for the Japanese and South Korean economies.

The specter of a Chinese closure of these sea lanes once Taiwan is reunited with the mainland is not likely though, as that would trigger a world war.

China knows this as well, and will likely not risk shooting itself in the foot with such adventurism.

What matters to the once sleeping dragon in the realm of geopolitics is Taiwan. Not only is it doctrine, it is a question of “face.”

“Strategic ambiguity” has been the American policy towards Taiwan since it recognized the One China principle, but wary hotheads in Washington DC now push for “strategic clarity” with President Joe Biden blowing hot and cold on the Taiwan issue.

Relations between Beijing and DC are getting testy, each side watching the moves of the other.

Like Aleppo in Syria, Turkey’s “crossroads of civilizations” was already “60 percent destroyed in 1822 after an earthquake,” said Youmna Tabet, of the World Heritage Convention.

Fortunately, there does not seem to be as much damage at Turkey’s other heritage sites, said Maria Liouliou, Tabet’s colleague.

The fortress in Diyarbakir seems to have suffered only moderate damage, she said.

But the dangers are far from over now that the worst aftershocks have faded, experts warn.

What look like “simple cracks” to the “layman’s eyes” can weaken a monument and cause it to collapse weeks later, said Samir Abdulac, who works at the International Council on Monuments and Sites, which seeks to protect historical places.

The experts AFP spoke to all insisted the “priority” was to save lives first. Safeguarding historical monuments must come later.

This was clear when AFP encountered a local official in Antakya, one of many families devastated by the disaster.

“I just lost my two brothers and a nephew. I am evacuating my wife and daughter today,” said the official, who preferred to remain anonymous.

“I have no money, nothing. Frankly I have other priorities than cultural heritage.” AFP

THERE is no question that PBBM has totally reversed the Duterte administration’s foreign policy towards China and the United States.

While former President Duterte embraced China and scorned the US, PBBM is now aggressively reviving the 2014 EDCA, adding four more AFP military bases for joint use with US military forces for a total of nine.

No wonder US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his team must have gone home grinning from ear to ear for what must have been a very successful trip.

The question now is why the sudden shift from a balancing act of trying to navigate between the two powers to a position clearly favoring our old treaty ally, the US?

This shift shows there is a big difference in the appreciation of the prevailing geopolitical situation in the region between the previous President and our current leader.

Former President Duterte in many of his speeches and pronouncements did not believe that the US when worse comes to shove would in the end be willing to go to war for us.

He reduced the yearly Balikatan military exercises to Civic Action activities to the frustration of his Defense Secretary.

PBBM on the other hand has more faith in the words of the US as shown in his many interviews.

Another possible reason could be that PBBM was left with no or little choice but move closer to the US orbit because of what China’s naval militia has been doing to our fishermen in the WPS.

This does not include some menacing actions of the Chinese Coast Guard like the dangerous use of military grade laser beams. In the final analysis, however, all relationships whether among humans or countries will always depend on trust.

On this score, it would seem that PBBM is showing he trusts the US more than he trusts China.

In addition, based on some surveys undertaken, so does the Filipino public. Various pundits whose job is to make commentaries on such government initiatives

We should therefore prepare, to the best of our abilities, in the hope that if and when the time comes we can acquit ourselves with honor

also seem to show that more of them are in favor of what PBBM did compared to those who are against.

Let us hope, therefore, this is the right and correct move for the sake of our country.

The new agreement as US Defense Secretary Austin said is a big deal.

One reason is because it changes the military equation in the region.

It provides the US with some logistical capabilities that it did not have before the agreement.

The agreement shortens the reaction time of the US in case of any conflict which as we know could be crucial in military operations.

But as the spokesman of the CPP said, it could enhance the chances of the country getting involved and being a target in any conflict between the powers in the region.

China also reacted with a veiled warning to us to be careful not be used as a tool by the US.

This, however, did not seem to have any effect on PBBM because during his just concluded visit to Japan, he and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida were reported to have explored the possibility of a tripartite defense agreement with the US.

To those who agree with what the CPP, PBBM

Shiftotherwise, and earlier.

One such move that Beijing is quite disturbed about is the growing American military presence in the Philippines.

We have every right to assert our objections to what China has been doing in the West Philippine Sea, occupying rocks and expanding them into reclaimed islands, and harassing our fishermen who eke out a living in the waters of our economic zone. We should prod our ASEAN memberstates, particularly Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei into pressing for a mutually acceptable Code of Conduct in the South China Sea and never give up on our territorial claims, even as we continue diplomatic talks with China on protecting the livelihood of our fishermen.

But protective measures of sovereignty and economic well-being have to be properly calibrated lest it provoke retaliatory measures in these difficult times.

On the economic front, we have a yawning trade deficit with China.

As of end 2021, that deficit was 15.2 billion dollars. What we export to China they can source elsewhere if the State dictates, except perhaps, and for the next few years, our nickel and other minerals.

Even our 2-billion-dollar fruit export allocation for bananas, pineapples, and now durian as well, can suffer consequences, as occurred in 2012 over the Scarborough Shoal incident.

Yet with our weak domestic manufacturing, we consume far too many imported Chinese goods.

Our shopping malls will close down if Yiwu or Guangdong stop selling cheap goods to them. And with cost economies, it will not be easy to substitute these with Made in USA or Made in Japan goods.

But more than these possible economic effects, I fear that by allowing China’s powerful geopolitical rivals to pre-position

Relations between Beijing and DC are getting testy, each side watching the moves of the other

military equipment in many parts of our country, we will contribute to hastening a military invasion of Taiwan. Make no mistake, as the president himself admits, that a war in the Taiwan Strait will affect us, draw us into its vortex if only because of geographical proximity. The mere fact that we have 160,000 Filipinos residing in Taiwan who we cannot easily repatriate home once the PLA bombs the airports and seaports from Keelung to Kaoshiung is a nightmare already.

But allowing the US of A to expand their military presence here, albeit on a “non-permanent” basis, is allowing them to prepare for war against China.

Sure, “si vis pacem, pare bellum” (If you want peace, prepare for war) holds true to this day, and that may be what the US and its allies in the region (Japan, South Korea and Australia) are trying to project to dissuade China from an armed attack on what it indubitably considers part of its territory. Being prepared is prudent. Deterrence is fine.

But faced against an implacable determination on the part of China under Xi to take over Taiwan by peaceful means or otherwise, we may end up provoking the

Time will no longer be a friend of Beijing, to paraphrase John F. Kennedy’s words.

For now, Beijing may bide its time on account of the forthcoming 2024 elections in Taiwan, about the same time the US of A will decide between the Democrats and the Republicans.

Last week, the Kuomintang’s vicechairman, Andrew Hsia met with Wang Huning, the Communist Party’s fourth ranked leader in Beijing, and was asked to “oppose Taiwan independence and interference by external forces” so as to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Wang is quite close to Xi, and is one of just two Politburo Standing Committee members not replaced by the latter in the last party congress in October 2021.

Although the KMT or “Blue” party in Taiwan favors close ties with China, it has for political correctness denied being proBeijing, and declares it is just for peaceful resolution of disputes.

The ruling DPP, on the other hand, has been staunch in its defense of a free Taiwan, and has been strengthening its defense mechanisms in the event of a Chinese “invasion.”

The US of A, while affirming a One China policy and a strategic ambiguity towards Taiwan “independence” has been profitably supplying arms to the island nation to “enhance its defensive capability.”

Sounds exactly like EDCA.

It is foreseeable for the PRC to be supportive of a KMT victory in Taiwan’s November 2024 elections, and between now and then, more pro-active measures may be in place.

Meanwhile, the push to steal more nations which recognize Taiwan will continue.

Depending on the outcome of the April elections, Paraguay, the South American

We know that Ayungin Shoal, a submerged reef 194 km off Palawan province, is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

That is why our Navy maintains its presence there through the derelict vessel BRP Sierra Madre.

When President Marcos Jr. visited China in early January, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he was willing to find a compromise and a solution to the territorial and maritime dispute in the South China Sea.

Whatever happened to that promise?

Was it something uttered merely to please his visitors, but totally bereft of sincerity?

The Philippine government even suggested that the two sides should establish a hotline to prevent any escalation of tensions between the two navies/ Coast Guards in the high seas.

It turns out that no such hotline is now in place.

Since 2016, the Philippines has filed 461 diplomatic protests against China over repeated incursions in the West Philippine Sea, according to the DFA.

But with no action on the part of Beijing to mend its ways, a “frenemy” is really how we should consider them, and adjust our bilateral relations accordingly.

in his interviews showed he realizes this but believes that regardless of what we do, he believes we cannot avoid getting involved because of geography not to mention history.

In the last two World Wars, the Low Countries in Europe for example declared their neutrality because they did not want to get involved but were nonetheless invaded.

Perhaps, in the mind of PBBM, it is better to join an alliance for more and better protection than being swallowed up with no chance at all.

This is partly because of all the countries in this region with a defense agreement with the US, we have the weakest military capability.

We have a long way to go before we can attain a credible defense capability.

This is why what our military strategic plans devised by our defense leaders are crucial in relation to all these military agreements we entered into.

All of them must be integrated to enhance our military posture.

But, in the end, it is best for us to realize that the defense of the country will ultimately be left to us Filipinos.

We should therefore prepare, to the best of our abilities, in the hope that if and when the time comes we can acquit ourselves with honor.

We pray however, that it will never come because, to borrow the words of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, now is not the time for wars.

Now is the time for peace.

So, instead of raising the tensions in the WPS and Taiwan Strait, the big powers should simmer down on their rhetoric and military drills to lower the tension.

As the Ukrainian conflict is showing, the noncombatants are the ones suffering the most which could have been avoided if leaders were only willing to sit down and talk.

landlocked nation once ruled by a dictator, may soon switch recognition to China from Taiwan, the opposition eyeing the big Chinese market for its livestock and soybean exports, lifeblood of its economy. Recall that Tsai Ing-wen’s predecessor, the KMT’s Ma Ying-jeou, presided over warm relations with the mainland. But what happens if the DPP wins again, after eight years of Tsai?

Feeling assured that big brother America and friendly Japan will be with them, the situation between “cousins” could deteriorate further. With 2027 around the corner for Xi Jinping’s third and probably final term, and in the face of the US pare bellum tactics in the region, particularly in the Philippines which is closest to Taiwan, the itch to push the button for a military offensive could thus be irresistibly hastened.

The Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation can no longer be postponed.

Will then the Philippines be caught in the maelstrom and the non-permanent bases become targets for the PLA forces?

Of course we will.

And what about the safety of the 160,000 Filipinos in Taiwan who along with half a million more contract workers from other countries may not even have space in underground shelters?

These should be primary considerations to ponder about in the crafting of foreign policy that impacts on national security.

This is unlike a Neville Chamberlain conundrum in the face of Hitler’s annexation of the Sudetenland.

Europe’s geography and its history are far different from ours vis-à-vis our waterseparated rich and powerful neighbors. It will be a blue water and air corridor conflict, where time is key to everything.

But the dangers are far from over now that the worst aftershocks have faded, experts warn

UN appeal: $5.6b aid to Ukraine in ‘23 Survivors found

Nearly a year after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UN estimated that 21.8 million Ukrainians were now in need of humanitarian assistance.

"The war continues to cause death, destruction and displacement daily, and on a staggering scale," UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in a statement.

"We must do all we can to reach the hardest-to-reach communities, including those close to the front line," he said.

"The suffering of the Ukrainian people is far from over – they continue to need international support."

The needs are so great that aid

THE United Nations said Wednesday that $5.6 billion was needed to provide humanitarian aid in Ukraine and to the millions who have fled the war-ravaged country. organizations cannot reach everyone, but the UN said the requested $5.6 billion would allow it to reach the 15.3 million people in most dire need this year. A full $1.7 billion of that amount was needed for assistance to the more than four million Ukrainian refugees hosted across eastern Europe, it said. Most of that would go to Poland, which is hosting more than 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees, and Moldova, the main transit country for Ukrainians making their way further into Europe. Women and children account for around 86 percent of the overall refugee population, according to the UN.

"Europe has proven capable of bold, collective action to help refugees," UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said in the statement.

"We must not, however, take this response, or the hospitality of host communities, for granted," he said.

"Continued international support and solidarity is needed, until refugees are able to return to their homes in safety and dignity, which must also remain a priority."

Since the war began, humanitarian organisations in Ukraine have been working to reach people across the country, with nearly 16 million receiving aid and protection services in 2022, including in areas outside of the Ukrainian government's control.

Inside Ukraine, "the war has profoundly affected access to livelihoods and disrupted market

stability particularly in southern and eastern oblasts, further aggravating humanitarian suffering," the appeal said.

It warned that "a majority of Ukrainians have reportedly reduced food consumption and spent savings," pointing to soaring unemployment, skyrocketing inflation and inadequate social assistance. And while food and other necessary items were still widely available in most areas under the control of the Ukrainian government, it cautioned that such items were "difficult for many people to afford without cash, vouchers, or livelihood assistance."

And they "are much more difficult to obtain in areas experiencing constant bombardment," it said, highlighting the "systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure throughout the war." AFP

as New Zealand cyclone kills four

MILITARY helicopters winched stranded storm survivors to safety in New Zealand on Wednesday, after Cyclone Gabrielle killed four people and displaced 10,500 more. With the storm now fading into the South Pacific, rescue teams have finally reached regions cut off by days of torrential rain and gale-force winds.

The New Zealand military deployed three NH90 helicopters on reconnaissance and rescue flights to the hard-hit Hawke’s Bay area, finding families, pets and workmates clustered on sodden zinc rooftops – surrounded by a sea of murky debris-filled floodwater.

“In some cases, flood waters were up to the second storey of homes where people were being rescued,” a military spokesperson said. The disaster has severed roads, collapsed houses and cut power across a swathe of New Zealand’s North Island: home to more than three-quarters of the country’s five million residents.

The human toll continues to rise. Police said the body of a child was found in Eksdale on the remote east coast after the youngster was “believed to have been caught in rising flood water.”

Emergency Management Minister Kieran McAnulty said three other bodies had also been recovered from storm-hit areas.

They included a woman killed when her house was crushed by a landslip in Hawke’s Bay and a victim believed to be a volunteer firefighter trapped by a collapsing home.

About 10,500 people have been displaced and 140,000 are still without power, according to McAnulty.

He hailed the “phenomenal” effort of rescue workers and military personnel who plucked “roughly 300 people from rooftops” in Hawke’s Bay – a sprawling expanse of lush farmland, rugged mountains and hard-to-reach towns.

He said a group of 60 people were rescued from one large building marooned by floodwaters.

Aerial images showed a once-bucolic landscape riven with torrents of floodwater, latticed with crumbling roads and scarred by massive landslides.

“There’s still gaps in our knowledge. Some areas haven’t had communications for a couple of days and we know there’s a shortage of food and water,” McAnulty told radio station Newstalk ZB. New Zealand faces a monthslong effort to fix damaged roads, homes, and bridges. ADP

Nokor unveils stamps featuring Kim’s daughter

NORTH Korea has unveiled new postage stamps featuring leader Kim Jong Un's daughter, in what experts described as another sign of her rise as heir apparent of the nuclear-armed nation.

North Korean state media never mentioned Kim's children for years. But in November, at the launch of the country's most powerful ballistic missile, Kim was pictured with his daughter in tow.

There have since been several highprofile appearances by the daughter, who has never been named by Pyongyang.

South Korea's spy agency believes she is Kim's second child, called Ju Ae.

The state-run Korea Stamp Corporation

unveiled a new series of stamps on Tuesday commemorating the November 18 missile launch – five of them featuring Kim and his daughter.

The corporation described the unnamed girl as Kim's "beloved daughter" in captions describing the stamps on its website. The series will be released on Friday.

Some experts say the daughter's appearances indicate that she is being groomed as the next leader, and that the stamps further cement her place in the cult of personality surrounding the ruling Kim family.

The stamps "look like the official start of Kim Ju Ae's life as her father's successor," An Chan-il, a defector-turned-

researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told AFP.

But others said it was still too early to say for sure, given that Kim is still in his 30s and the daughter's name has never been mentioned officially.

"Throughout North Korean history, whenever it officially named the country's heir apparent, they made sure people knew the name of the person," Yang Moojin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP.

"It's still very possible that Ju Ae is just being used for (propaganda)... while Kim's eldest son is being groomed as a successor behind closed doors." AFP

China to resume issuing visas for South Koreans Feb. 18

CHINA will resume issuing short-term visas for South Korean nationals on February 18, the Chinese embassy in Seoul said Wednesday.

The move follows South Korea's decision last week to end Covid-linked travel restrictions on Chinese nationals – rules that sparked a furious response and tit-for-tat

measures from Beijing. From Saturday, the Chinese embassy in Seoul and other consulates "will resume issuing short-term visas for Korean citizens to visit China, for business, transit and other private affairs", the embassy said on its official WeChat account.

China scrapped visa-free transit for South

Korean and Japanese citizens last month after Seoul and Tokyo imposed Covid measures on travellers from China, where coronavirus cases were surging at the time.

China has seen a boom in outbound travel after the government abruptly abandoned strict Covid policies that included mandatory quarantines for all arrivals. AFP

Fukushima pins hopes on pufferfish

THE pufferfish filling nets in Fukushima are a delicacy that can kill if wrongly prepared. But to a community devastated by a 2011 nuclear disaster, they are also a lifeline.

In the 12 years since the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant caused by a deadly tsunami in northeastern Japan, "there hasn't been much good news", fisherman Masahiro Ishibashi told AFP. The cooperative he belongs to has faced tight fishing restrictions, and consumers have avoided produce from the region over radiation concerns.

And as the plant operator prepares to release wastewater treated to remove radioactive elements into the sea, the fishing community fears further reputational damage.

So when tiger pufferfish – an expensive variety of the notorious "fugu" – began to appear in their catch, they saw an opportunity. Fugu is often served raw at high-end restaurants in

Japan, where chefs must hold a licence proving they can safely slice around organs that contain a lethal poison.

Now, each morning at Matsukawaura port, 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Fukushima Daiichi, boat crews heave buckets overflowing with fat, darkspotted tiger pufferfish into the arms of waiting family members. For 43-year-old Ishibashi, the fish marketed as "fukutora" – meaning "lucky tiger" – lives up to its name. "We're catching new, attractive species, and drawing attention from consumers. We can show them that fish from Fukushima is safe and delicious," he said.

Five years ago, not much tiger pufferfish was caught off Fukushima, but local authorities say warmer-thanusual water temperatures may have helped the species thrive. AFP

LIFELINE.

This photo shows Yoshimasa Kanno, operator of the Minatoya hotel, handling slices of tiger puffer fish sashimi at his hotel in Soma city of Japan's Fukushima Prefecture. The pufferfish filling fishermen's nets in Fukushima are a delicacy that can kill if wrongly prepared, but to a community devastated by a 2011 nuclear disaster, however, they are also a lifeline. AFP

HEARTFELT MESSAGE. A letter is pictured during a spiritual service for the victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on the fifth anniversary of the massacre in Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2023. Seventeen people were killed and another seventeen were injured after a 19 year old former student opened fire at the school on February 14, 2018. AFP

desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139.

I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease. The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to Hong Kong of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in

Stocks snap 2-day slump; Peso falls to 55.17 a dollar

PSEi February 15, 2023

STOCKS recovered Wednesday from a twoday slump, after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas announced that remittances from Filipinos working overseas grew to a record $32.54 billion last year.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, rose 30 points, or 0.45 percent, to close at 6,882.09

Wednesday, as four of the six subsectors advanced, led by property shares.

The broader all-share index picked up 4 points, or 0.12 percent, to settle at 3,636.18, on a value turnover of P5.26 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 113 to 71, while 46 issues were unchanged.

Five of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Universal Robina Corp. which climbed 4.54 percent to P147.40 and SM Prime Holdings Inc. which rose 2.70 percent to P38.00.

The peso, however, slipped 0.62 percent Wednesday to finish at 55.17 against the US dollar from 54.83 Tuesday. The local currency was still up 1.05 percent since the start of this year’s trading.

the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship.

14. My character witnesses are Rochelle L. Ongchap and Alan L. Tan both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at Quezon City and Quezon City respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization.

MOST ACTIVE

Meanwhile, other Asian markets sank Wednesday as a mixed US inflation report did little to soothe investor worries that the Federal Reserve will continue to ramp up interest rates, which many fear could cause a recession.

The much-anticipated figures

from January’s consumer price index showed a slight slowdown from the previous month, but the 6.4 percent reading was higher than forecast, suggesting a return to normality will take longer than hoped.

A number of top Fed officials also lined up to restate that borrowing costs will likely need to go higher and for an extended period if they are to bring inflation down to their two percent target.

Recent data had suggested the bank’s almost year-long rate-hike campaign was beginning to show results, providing fuel for a healthy run-up in global markets in January as traders began factoring in a possible cut towards the end of 2023.

But that optimism has taken a severe hit, with a blockbuster jobs report confirming that the world’s top economy remains robust, narrowing the scope for the Fed to ease up.

After the figures were released, monetary policymakers reiterated their determination to stay the course, with expectations that rates could go well above five percent, from the current 4.5-4.75 percent. With AFP

Twitter to name new CEO by end of 2023

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—

Twitter boss Elon Musk said

Wednesday that a new CEO might be running the online platform by the end of 2023, after a “rollercoaster” since he took full ownership last year.

“I’m guessing probably towards the end of this year should be good timing to find someone else to run the company,” he told the World Government Summit conference in Dubai via video.

“I need to stabilize the organization and make sure it’s in a healthy place and that the product roadmap is clearly laid out... I think it should be in a stable position around the end of this year.”

Musk paid $44 billion for his favorite social media platform and exiting day-to-day operations would allow him to deflect criticism that he is neglecting his other ventures, especially car company

Grab set to bolster dominance of domestic taxi service business

SINGAPOREAN ride-hailing app Grab seems to be an entitled service provider in the Philippines.

The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is clearing the way for Grab Philippines to obtain 100,000 more slots in tranches for its fourwheeled vehicles (or transport network vehicle service)—a move that will surely raise eyebrows in the sector. LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III reasoned out that Grab’s additional and future franchises would help create 500,000 new jobs as part of an investment deal with the government.

But allocating more franchises to Grab is tantamount to promoting unfair competition in the TNVS taxi business. It would make more sense if the LTFRB opted to open the market to new players instead, given the complaints of overcharging and abuse lodged against Grab.

A group this early criticized the decision of the LTFRB to grant 100,000 TNVS slots to Grab. Digital Pinoys national campaigner Ronald Gustilo called the LTFRB decision an abuse of dominance and could lead to outright monopoly. He urged the government to help other transport network companies that can fill the gap in demand instead of granting the slots to just one company.

“Why is LTFRB giving Grab special treatment when it is taking them too long to decide on complaints against the overpricing and surge pricing abuse? LTFRB should first decide on the pending complaints before handing out new franchises. It seems that they are tolerating this kind of practice,” says Gustilo.

The decision of the LTFRB may also pave the way for more slots in the app-based motorcycle-taxi hailing service. I am not sure, though, if the LTFRB has the jurisdiction to grant franchises to the motorcycle taxi business. The regulator is part of the Department of Transportation’s Technical Working Group (DOTrTWG), along with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and some members of the Senate and Congress.

The TWG was formed to oversee the government’s motorcycle taxi pilot program in aid of legislation. Three motorcycle taxi companies are part of it—Angkas, Joyride and Move It. The program aims to create and develop a comprehensive motorcycle taxi law that will

Tesla, which has seen its share price plummet since he took over Twitter.

Musk has given few clues as to what type of leader he is looking for. On December 21, when he first announced he planned to step down as CEO, he said only that he would limit his own duties to software and server engineering once “someone foolish enough” had taken his place.

Since Musk took full ownership of Twitter on October 27, the platform has been riven by chaos, with mass layoffs, the return of banned accounts, and the suspension of journalists critical of the South African-born billionaire. Musk’s takeover also saw a surge in racist or hateful tweets, drawing scrutiny from regulators and chasing away big advertisers, Twitter’s primary source of revenue. AFP

benefit both riders and commuters.

Can Guadiz grant franchises to MC taxis when the program is still in its testing stage? Granting MC taxi franchises to Grab in itself is contentious. For the sake of argument, those MC taxi franchises should be given to Move It, and not Grab

To recall, Grab recently acquired 99 percent of Move It’s business operations. Both Grab and Move It, in all of their media interviews, said the merger would not affect Move It’s business operations because Move It remained independent from Grab.

Move It, says general manager Wayne Jacinto in an interview with DZMM on September 13, 2022, will remain as Move It regardless of the investments and shares bought by Grab.

Grab Philippines country head Grace Vera Cruz echoed Jacinto’s statement in a CNN interview on September 15, 2022. “Move It exists as a separate entity and Move It has the license for the pilot or the accreditation for the pilot. It doesn’t automatically mean that Grab is going to participate in the pilot through Grab as the shareholder. What it means is Grab is a shareholder of Move It and Move It continues to be the participant in the motorcycle taxi pilot,” says Cruz.

Meanwhile, complaints against the backdoor entry of Grab into the MC taxi pilot study through its acquisition of Move It remains unresolved.

Lawmakers, thus, should pass the motorcycle taxi law now to serve as basis for rules and regulations of the industry. The legislation will foster competition and lead to better services for the riding public.

Grab’s growing dominance, meanwhile should be checked. The Philippine Competition Commission has complained during a recent congressional hearing that Grab continued its fare increases despite the fines it received for overcharging.

Marikina 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo reminded the PCC during the same hearing that it had the power to investigate Grab Philippines about its abuse of dominance.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

WIND TURBINES. This photograph taken on Feb. 14, 2023, shows wind turbines in a wind farm on hills covered with snow in Barruelo de Santullan, Palencia province, northern Spain. AFP

PAL reopens more flights to China after 3-year pause amid pandemic

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PHILIPPINE Airlines said Wednesday

it reopened more flights to mainland China after halting operations for almost three years amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are forging ahead with the restoration of PAL’s Greater China flight network, an investment that will strengthen our connections to the economic hubs in the mainland and help boost bilateral relations between the Filipino and Chinese people,” said Capt. Stanley Ng, president and chief operating officer of PAL.

“We hope that our relaunch of flights to Beijing and Shanghai will help fuel a rebound in tourist and business travel. Our goal is to once again operate the largest network of flights on multiple routes between mainland China and the Philippines,” he said.

The Lucio Tan-led airline is resuming direct flights to Shanghai on Feb. 14

and to Beijing on Feb. 21.

The long-awaited resumption of passenger flights linking Manila with Shanghai’s Pudong Airport and Beijing’s Capital Airport came nearly three years after most services were paused because of pandemic-related border restrictions.

Mainland China was the second largest source of tourists to the Philippines, with 1.74 million Chinese residents visiting in 2019.

Shanghai and Beijing join Xiamen and Guangzhou (Canton) in the roster of PAL’s mainland Chinese destinations.

PAL is also increasing its ManilaXiamen-Manila flights from weekly to three times weekly starting Feb. 25 and its Manila-Guangzhou-Manila flights from weekly to twice weekly starting Feb. 16, and progressively increasing to daily flights on March 26.

Quanzhou (Jinjiang) and Macau are next in line for resumption in March 2023, PAL said.

2022 remittances climbed to record $32.54b

By Julito G. Rada

REMITTANCES grew 3.6 percent in 2022 to a record $32.54 billion from $31.42 billion in 2021 on sustained demand for skilled Filipino workers overseas as global economies continued to recover from the impact of the pandemic, latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

The full-year remittances growth, however, missed the official target of 4 percent set by the Bangko Sentral.

The growth in cash remittances from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Qatar and the United Kingdom contributed largely to the increase in remittances from January to December 2022. In terms of country sources, the US posted the highest share of overall remittances in 2022.

Data showed that in December 2022, cash remittances coursed through banks

Smart signs partnership

with US-based Plentina

SMART Communications Inc. said Wednesday it teamed up with Plentina—a Silicon Valleybased fintech startup to enable its subscribers to purchase prepaid load and pay later through the latter’s mobile app. Under the partnership, Smart subscribers can access a Buy Now, Pay Later service that enables them to conveniently take out a micro consumer loan to pay for their load via Plentina.

“We welcome Plentina as one of our direct distribution partners. Our tie-up with Plentina provides a financial service that caters to the broader base of prepaid customers,” Alex Caeg, senior vice president and head of PLDT Smart consumer sales group said in a statement.

“We also hope to extend this service to our retail and device partners so that they can offer more convenient and flexible modes of payment for customers who may want to purchase mobile phones or other gadgets from Smart,” he said.

Plentina and Smart are working together to reach even more Filipinos and provide them with easier access to mobile load as well as to digital tools for work and study. Darwin G. Amojelar

SEC chair asks MSMEs to tap capital markets

THE Securities and Exchange Commission encouraged micro, small and medium enterprises to consider tapping the capital markets, including crowd funding and initial public offering, to raise funds for their businesses.

SEC chairman Emilio Aquino said Wednesday at the start of a nationwide roadshow on capital markets, MSMEs should have access to different financing options given their great contribution to the Philippine economy.

The MSME network accounts for 99.5 percent of total businesses in the country and employs 63 percent of the local workforce. It also constitutes 25 percent of the country’s total exports and contributes 40 percent to the gross domestic product.

“However, 67 percent of our MSMEs are still experiencing credit constraints. Most of them rely on internal resources for their capital needs. While those who apply for traditional bank loans face tedious documentation, high interest rates, and mandatory collateral requirements,” Aquino said in a speech. Jenniffer B. Austria

went up by 5.8 percent to an all-time high of $3.16 billion from $2.99 billion a year earlier, as receipts from both land- and sea-based workers registered strong growth.

Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, also reached a record $36.14 billion in 2022, which was 3.6 percent higher than $34.88 billion in 2021.

“The robust inward remittances reflected the increasing demand for foreign workers amid the reopening of

economies,” the Bangko Sentral said in a statement.

The full-year 2022 level accounted for 8.9 percent and 8.4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and gross national income, respectively.

Personal remittances in December hit $3.49 billion, up by 5.7 percent from $3.30 billion recorded in December 2021.

“The increase in personal remittances in December 2022 was due to higher remittances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, and sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year,” the BSP said.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the increased holiday spending in December, with no COVID restrictions compared to the previous years, led to more remittances in the latter part of the year.

“The sending of more remittances are also needed to cope up with higher

inflation locally,” Ricafort said. Inflation reached 8.1 percent in December and accelerated further to 8.7 percent in January.

Ricafort said the continued growth in remittances reflected faster economic recovery in some major host countries for OFWs.

Studies earlier showed that Philippine remittances were consistently the fourth largest in the world after those of India, China and Mexico.

The Philippines is among the biggest suppliers of nurses, accounting for at least 20 percent of the total globally. It is also the biggest supplier of seafarers worldwide, with about 20 percent to 25 percent of the total around the world.

The deployment of OFWs has become more diversified over the years to include more countries worldwide, especially those outside the traditionally biggest host countries.

The Bangko Sentral expects remittances to rise 4 percent in 2023.

ASEAN TECHNOLOGY LEADER.

AXA Philippines chief technology and transformation officer Carlos Santos is recognized as one of the top 100 tech leaders in ASEAN and Hong Kong by CIO100 2022 during a ceremony at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. CIO 100 awards outstanding tech achievements delivered by individuals and organizations alike.

Filinvest REIT announces plan to acquire more properties

By Jenniffer B. Austria

FILINVEST REIT Corp., the real estate investment trust company of the Filinvest Group, said Wednesday it plans to expand its portfolio to include retail, leisure, residential and industrial properties.

FILRT said in a stock exchange filing new acquisitions would be focused on Grade A commercial properties that would enable its assets to expand beyond office leasing.

real estate properties and deliver additional value by driving more efficient and sustainable cost of operations,” FILRT said.

The company said its recent acquisition of a Boracay property was a part of the investment strategy.

In November, FILRT reported the acquisition of a 2.9-hectare Boracay property from Filinvest Development Corp. for P1.05 billion.

By Othel V. Campos

STATE-RUN Bases Conversion

and Development Authority and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization of Japan signed a memorandum of understanding for a three-year demonstration project on smart mobility solutions to be implemented in New Clark City and its environs.

The MOU signed by BCDA president and chief executive Aileen Zosa and NEDO executive-director Takashi Wada was part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Japan.

NEDO led by Zenmov Inc., a Japan-based information technology solutions provider specializing in the transportation sector, will nominate a group to measure and verify the effectiveness of a transport service system operating through a cloudbased technology platform.

lowed it to diversify into hospitality.

“FILRT is focused on diversifying its portfolio to boost dividends for its shareholders while improving the revenues of its existing prime office assets,” Lirio said.

Meralco building new substation

in Cavite

MANILA Electric Co. said Wednesday it started developing a new substation in Kawit, Cavite at a cost of P490 million to support industrial expansion and the growing energy demand of communities in the area.

“This Meralco Island Cove Substation will be an integral part of the Meralco Distribution System in Cavite, supporting not just Island Cove’s power requirements, but also that of the communities around Kawit and Bacoor, Cavite,” said Meralco first vice president, chief commercial officer and customer retail services head Ferdinand Geluz.

Meralco and solutions provider First Orient International Ventures Corp. signed an agreement for the construction of a gas-insulated switchgear substation on a 2,377-square-meter land in Island Cove.

“The lot donation of the FOIVC group, where the substation is being built, is an enormous help for Meralco’s continuing efforts to deliver reliable power to our customers,” Geluz said. The Island Cove substation is expected to be completed by April 2024. Alena Mae S. Flores

“The company’s strategy is to expand in key central business districts in Metro Manila and towards major regional hubs or key cities in the Philippines with high and stable occupancy from income-generating Grade A

The land is being leased by Boracay Seascapes Inc., the building owner of Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay and a subsidiary of FDC.

FILRT president and chief executive Maricel Lirio said the acquisition not only expanded the company’s asset types but also broadened its income profile and al-

FILRT also reported its board of directors approved the declaration of P0.071 per share cash dividend. This brought the total dividends declared by the company to P0.363 based on the cut-off period for year 2022 and translated into to an annualized yield of 6.6 percent based on the closing market price of P5.50 per share on Dec. 29, 2022.

The cash dividends will be payable on Mar. 24 to stockholders on record as of Mar. 3.

“In keeping with our goal for the New Clark City to become a green, sustainable and inclusive city, we have partnered with Japan’s NEDO and Zenmov to help BCDA in developing advanced and innovative solutions to improve transportation services and connectivity in this region.

We can definitely learn a lot from this sharing of technologies and expertise that our Japanese partners have relating to the advancement of their transportation sector,” Zosa said.

She said with the study’s findings, “BCDA can also develop solutions to better optimize energy use, minimize pollution and lower carbon footprint and manage congestion and other traffic-related issues.”

Aboitiz Group studies small modular reactors as zero-carbon energy sources

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Abotiz Group is studying nuclear energy and small modular reactors as viable zero-carbon energy sources to fuel the Philippines’ energy transformation.

Aboitiz Group first vice president and chief reputation and sustainability officer Ginggay Hontiveros delivered a presentation during the Asia-Pacific business leaders meeting of the APEC Business

Advisory Council from Feb. 12 to 14 in Auckland, New Zealand.

“Beyond its decarbonization role, the ABAC Sustainable Growth Working Group recognizes nuclear energy’s viability to fuel the energy transformation of society given its high energy return on investment and its weather independence.

Aboitiz’s presentation provides insight into those opportunities and potential challenges,” Aboitiz Group said in a statement.

The group said research and technical development with key stakeholder groups and subject matter experts are paramount to the success of energy transformation.

Aboitiz Group presented other crucial sustainability topics, including decarbonization efforts with nuclear energy and the democratization of climate risk information.

This kickstarted insightful and productive discussions among regional business

leaders to develop comprehensive work plans for sustainable growth.

The presentation on a climate risk information platform tackles the gaps in information on climate risk scenarios between economies.

“ABAC recognizes the need to democratize this information. The climate threat is a shared risk and responsibility. A unified platform for free data on climate risk scenarios that helps one economy would help all,” the Aboitiz Group said.

RETIREMENT FUND. The Maccaferri Group signs an agreement with Philippine National Bank to set up a retirement benefit plan for the group’s employees. Leading the signing ceremony at the PNB Financial Center in Pasay City on Feb 13 are (seated, from left) Maccaferri head of finance Christian Dale Medrano, Maccaferri country managing director Thomas Wintermahr, PNB president Florido Casuela, PNB chief trust officer Joy Jasmin Santos and PNB board advisor and British Chamber of Commerce Philippines executive director and trustee Christopher Nelson. With them are (standing, from left) PNB trust banking group head Johanna Michelle Go, corporate trust division head Jaclyn Faith Chua-Lipana and senior marketing officer Lea Steffi Romero.

Barroca named Cignal top cager

AFTER a flat start, Magnolia picked up the slack and strung two straight wins to get in the thick of things in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

The Hotshots began their campaign at 0-3 with losses to Converge, TNT, and San Miguel Beer before regaining their footing just in time with big wins over Phoenix Super LPG and reigning champion Barangay Ginebra to go up in the middle of the standings at 2-3.

Veteran guard Mark Barroca captained Magnolia’s ship back on track behind his brilliant plays on both ends of the floor in the two wins, with new import Antonio Hester also making his presence felt.

The 36-year-old Zamboanga City native carded 20.0 points on 62-percent accuracy along, with 3.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals as the Hotshots dominated their last two games behind a winning margin of 21.5 points.

With his heroics, the two-time Finals

MVP earned the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period Feb. 8-12.

A fifth selection in the 2011draft, the former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay sizzled for 19 points, three rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 24 minutes of action as Magnolia made quick work of Phoenix, 108-95.

Magnolia led by as many as 27 points during the match, a feat it would even surpass against archrival Ginebra in another chapter of the storied Manila Clasico over the weekend at the Mall of Asia Arena.

With over 11,000 fans in attendance, the Hotshots turned the highly-anticipated duel into a blowout by leading by as much as 31 points before settling for a 118-88 count to deal the defending champion its first loss of the conference.

The 5’10” Barroca, once again, stamped his class on the big stage with 21 points, three boards, three assists and two steals for another all-around play.

That’s on top of his defensive duties taking on Ginebra’s dreaded backcourt combo of Scottie Thompson, Stanley Pringle, Jeremiah Gray, and LA Tenorio.

Barroca eclipsed TNT’s Mikey Williams and Rain or Shine’s Nick Demusis for the weekly citation being handed out by the group of print and online media regularly covering the PBA beat.

‘Akosi Dogie’ 1st pick in PBA Esports draft event

ONE of the country’s most popular gamers is taking his act to the most popular basketball team in the land.

Akosi Dogie went down in history as the first ever top overall pick in the inaugural PBA Esports Bakbakan Draft held Monday at Robinsons Place Manila.

Barangay Ginebra made it possible the moment the draft ordered was revealed, tapping the well-known vlogger and tech enthusiast, Naser Ignacio Mollazehi in real life, with the no. 1 selection during the proceedings.

“With our first draft pick, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel picks Akosi Dogie,” big man Christian Standhardinger announced to get the drafting going.

Akosi Dogie was later joined on stage by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and presented his customary Ginebra jacket by team governor Alfrancis Chua, manager Rayboy Rodriguez, and Standhardinger.

TNT also didn’t lose time taking its turn in the podium as it picked Billy ‘Z4pnu’ Alfonso at no. 2, while Eric ‘Eruption’ Tai ended up at no. 3 with the Magnolia Hotshots.

Meanwhile, pretty influencer Lhea Bernardinho was the first female player to be drafted in the PBA Esports history at no. 4 with Terrafirma Dyip, followed by Edgar ‘ChooxTV’ Dumali at fifth with Blackwater.

Other first round picks in the draft were Renz ‘Pein’ Reyes at no. 6 with NLEX, Honda Beast at seventh with Phoenix, Yuri Gaming with NorthPort at eighth, Mico ‘Coco’ Sampang with Meralco at ninth, Okata at 10th for Rain or Shine, Converge got the ever popular L3bron at no. 11, and Elyson ‘Ghost Wrecker’ Caranza at no. 12 for San Miguel

Team governors led by vice chairman Bobby Rosales of Terrafirma, officials, and players joined Marcial in welcoming the draft aspirants during the three-hour program, also attended by Dark League Studios CEO AC Valdenor and program director Mark Chua.

Filipino athletes learning Cambodia’s Kun Bokator

By Randy Caluag

COMPETING for the first time in the Cambodian traditional sport of Kun Bokator, the Philippines is expected to compete at the highest level against rivals in Southeast Asia.

This was the assessment of Sambo Pilipinas president Paolo Tancontian, who will act as Deputy Chef de Mission in charge of combat sports in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games slated in May in Cambodia.

“May laban tayo. Magagaling naman tayo (Filipinos) basta sa striking,” said Tancontian on the second day of the seminar conducted by the Cambodia Kun Bokator officials, coaches and athletes at the Tagaytay International Convention Center.

Kun Bokator is one of the indigenous sports included by the host country in the list of sports for the biennial games, offering a total of 21 gold medals, including 9 in combat and 12 in forms techniques.

Those, who attended were from kickboxing, muay thai, wrestling, pencak silat, Kyokushin karate, and sambo, to absorb the techniques.

“The usual striking techniques pa pero maraming variations sa tuhod and clinching and throws,” said Glenn Mondol, coach of Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas.

Kun Bokator has been practiced as a traditional martial art in Cambodia since the 12th century.

In the coming SEA Games, it focuses more on kicking and knee-striking techniques.

The special jumping knee offers 5 points if properly executed. Throws, takedowns, and kicks to the head are worth 2 points. Punch to face and body

Two Cambodian athletes demonstrate how to play the Kun Bokator sport. Randy Caluag equals one point. Cambodian Bokator officials are making rounds in Southeast Asian member countries to promote the sport and attract participation. At least four countries are needed to have the sports

played in the games. The three-day seminar was hosted by Philippine Olympic Committe president and Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino, with the support of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Nakajima grabs lead as Woon fades in the wind

TAGAYTAY—Toru Nakajima took command with a gutsy 70 in blustery conditions, wresting a two-stroke lead over erstwhile leader U Minn Woon and four others, including amateurs Gab Manotoc and Russell Bautista, halfway through the Philippine Golf Tour QSchool at Splendido Taal here yesterday.

Nakajima, the 2013 PGT winner at Wack Wack who placed runner-up to Angelo Que in his last Tour stint at Anvaya Cove in 2017, used a hot backside start to recover from an opening 73, birdying the par-5 Nos. 10 and 11 then picking up another stroke on No. 3 while bucking the strong winds. He, however, fumbled with a bogey on No. 5 for a 36-34.

But he seized the solo lead at 143, towing 50 others to the final two rounds of the 72-hole elims offering 35 cards for this year’s PGT beginning with the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic on March 15-18.

It was the comebacking Elmer Salvador, however, who made the biggest

jump as the 2009 Order of Merit win ner rattled off four birdies in a five-hole stretch from No. 2 on his way home to match Woon’s best 69 Tuesday. From the brink with an opening 80, Salvador, who also birdied Nos. 16 and 17 against a double-bogey on No. 18 and a bogey on the first hole, moved to joint ninth at 149 with Josh Jorge, who carded a 75.

winWoon, who opened

tried to pull away with birdies on Nos. 2 and 6. But just when thought he had the firm and dry Splendido layout all figured out, he lost his rhythm and touch in high winds, bogeying Nos. 8 and 9, yielding more strokes on Nos. 12 and 14 and dropping two shots on the par-3 No. 17.

The 28-year-old Malaysian, who vied at home before competing here and will fly to Thailand next week, skied to a 76 and fell into a tie for second at 145 with

Manotoc, Bautista, Salahog and Korean Hyun

Ho Rho.

Manotoc, a former SEA Games national team member, rebounded from a 74 with a 71, anchoring his fightback with a closing frontside 35 marked by

three birdies against two bogeys, while Bautista bucked a two-bogey mishap at the front with three straight birdies from No. 10.

But the 22-year-old bidder from Mactan, Cebu wavered with two bogeys against a birdie in the last five holes to settle for a 72.

Rho, who turned pro in Europe last year but who now calls Mount Malarayat his home, mixed two birdies with the same number of bogeys for a 72 while Salahog stumbled with four bogeys against two birdies and limped with a 74.

Others who advanced in the elims organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. were Japanese Gen Nagai, winner of the Philippine Junior crown in 2014, who also matched par 72 for a 146, Hong Kong’s Michael Wong (73-148), and amateurs Jonas Magcalayo and Leandro Bagtas, who pooled identical 150s after 73 and 75, respectively, for joint 11th with Rene Menor and Carlos Packing, who shot 77 and 78, respectively.

Team Underdogs leads Army Navy Club200 Endurance Race champions

TEAMS Underdogs, KARAT, Desert X, Gucci Gang and Hyper Boys made history as they emerged the first champions of the 2023 Army Navy Club200 Endurance Race on Saturday at the Clark International Speedway.

The Underdogs, composed of riders Christopher Guzman, Paolo Aguilar, Alvin Almendras won the premier Adventure 19 Class, with a best time of 2:16.186 in the novel, first-of-its-kind motorsports spectacle featuring two-three rider teams sharing just one transponder for the entire run of approximately 200 kilometers, with each participant riding at least 50 laps.

They were followed by the Triumph Adventure Team and Boss Team A. “It was en exhilarating experience to all participants, an entire day of thrilling action at the speedway. Everyone had a blast,” said Red Romero, past president and one of the founding members of the organizing Club200.

Meanwhile, Team KARAT, which was comprised of riders Jan Timbol, Gico Tobias and Jomel Policar-

pio, ruled the Adventure 17 category, with a best time of 2:06.922 in the motorsports extravaganza presented by Army Navy, BMW Motorrad Ducati, KTM BGC, Pirelli, Angkas, Evo Helmets, APRILIA, Juan Life, Hotel 101, Clutch Moto and Merry Mart, and powered by Wheeltek, Triumph, Harley Davidson of Manila and Motoworld, with Manila Bulletin and C! Magazine as media partners.

Second placer in the Adventure 17 was Rosario Bikes Racing Team.

The Adventure 21 class had Desert X, composed of riders Jade Tan, Joey Almeda and Ryan Benton, ruling the competiton with a best time of 2:20.338, with KTM PH Team 2 and KTM PH Team 1, placing runner-up and third, respectively. With riders Jan Timbol, Christopher Guzman and Justin Guce leading the way, the Gucci Gang topped the Sportsbike Division with a best time of 2:00.233. The Kawasaki IGM Racing Team placed second, followed by Wheeltek QTS Racing Team.

Toru Nakajima

UE stuns champion Nazareth in volleyball

UNIVERSITY of the East made known its intention of bringing back the crown with no less than a gritty statement win against defending champion Nazareth School of National University, 25-22, 25-23, 27-25, in the UAAP Season 85 High School Boys’ Volleyball tournament, Tuesday at the Paco Arena in Manila. Outside hitter Jan Macam provided the muscle in the Junior Warriors’ offense and eventually closed the match with a crosscourt kill.

“Katulad lang nu’ng sinabi ko sa umpisa, one at a time. Hindi naman kailangan magmadali, kailangan pag-isipan lahat ng gagawin para makuha namin ‘yung goal namin na manalo,” UE head coach Raffy Mosuela shared. He added, “’Nu’ng nakita nila na nag-eerror na ‘yung kalaban (first set), siyempre tumaas na ‘yung kumpyansa ng mga bata. Though, ‘yung isang outside hitter ko, siya lang naman nag-jajump serve, sabi ko ‘Diskarte mo.’ Hindi na ko magsasabi na kung saang area niya dadalhin

‘yung bola. It just so happened na nagkaroon naman ng errors ‘yung kalaban.”

With the game tied at 25-all in the final set, Roland Llorente sent UE into its second match point with a finish on a combination play. Macam then pulled through with the kill to end the contest after one hour and 16 minutes.

“Actually si Macam, very sincere siya talaga. ‘Yung two years nga na hindi nakalaro, nakita ko ‘yung potential niya at desidido talaga. Tingin ko, hinihingi niya ‘yung bola talaga para manalo,” Mosuela spoke of his Grade 11 student-athlete’s confidence.

University of Santo Tomas also protected its clean 2-0 record after taking care of Ateneo in the following match in straight sets, 25-14, 25-8, 25-9.

Woods lauds LeBron longevity, tries to prolong own golf career

LOS ANGELES—Tiger Woods reflected on LeBron James’s NBA career scoring record on Tuesday, marvelling at the Lakers great’s continued dominance even as he tries to prolong his own superstar career.

“That record, we thought it would never be surpassed,” Woods said of James’s move past Kareem AbdulJabbar to the top of the NBA’s all-time scoring list -- a spot Abdul-Jabbar had held for 39 years.

“What LeBron is doing, also the

Cargo Movers, Crossovers clash for share of PVL lead

F2 LOGISTICS and Chery Tiggo test their strength and mettle in a key duel while PLDT and Army try to pick themselves up from opening game stumble as action heats up in the Premier Volleyball League All Filipino Conference elims back at the Philsports Arena today (Thursday).

The Cargo Movers saved what could’ve been a disastrous start after blowing a 2-0 set lead against the PLDT High Speed Hitters, recovering in the clutch to snatch a five-set win last Feb. 7 before blasting the Akari Chargers in three over the weekend.

The Crossovers, on the other hand, fashioned out a pair of lopsided victories over the Cignal HD Spikers and the Army Lady Troopers to launch their campaign on a sound mode following a dismal second-to-last finish in the season-opening conference last year.

That makes their 4 p.m. showdown worth watching with the winner not only extending their win run but also gaining a shared view of the top with the Creamline Cool Smashers, who trounced the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in three the other night to wrest solo control at 3-0.

Meanwhile, PLDT and Army collide in the 6:30 p.m. with the winner moving into joint fourth with idle Petro Gazz.

For F2 Logistics, a victory will also serve as a boost to its confidence as the Cargo Movers face the Cool Smashers on Saturday, also at the Pasig arena.

The Crossovers, meanwhile, will still have a week to toughen up before squaring off with the defending champions on Feb. 25.

But the two teams aren’t looking far ahead, focusing on the task at hand with both sides hoping to cash in on whatever edge they have over each other in pursuit of the key win.

F2, for one, is enjoying a fine start following the acquisition of Myla Pablo, who debuted with 21 points against the High Speed Hitters before the former Petro Gazz Angel yielded the stellar role to Kim Dy, who sizzled with 17 points in dispatching the Chargers. But the Cargo Movers are so deep in talent with Aby Marano, Ivy Lacsina, Ara Galang, Cha Behag, and Elaine Kasilag ready to step up at any given time and Kim Fajardo and Iris Tolenada anchoring their plays and Dawn Macandili manning their floor defense.

amount of minutes he’s playing, no one’s ever done that before at that age.

To be able to play all five positions, that’s never been done before at this level for this long.”

Asked about a possible equivalent in the golf world Woods said perhaps the

record 82 US PGA Tour titles he shares with Sam Snead.

At 47, with 15 major championships on his resume and after litany of injuries that have left their marks on him, he’s not giving up on adding to that tally—even if he knows his time is growing shorter.

Of course, he’s been there before. Woods said he always felt he could power through the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in 2007, which required surgery in 2008.

He soldiered on through a torn Achilles tendon and a neck injury and a knee sprain in 2011.

He said the first time he really wondered if he’d make it back was after spinal fusion surgery in 2017 to address years of nagging back trouble.

Now he’s hobbled by the lower leg injuries suffered in a February 2021 car crash, playing a drastically reduced schedule.

“I had some knee surgeries early on in my career but nothing like what I experienced with my back,” Woods said. “When my back went, man, those were tough surgeries and tough rehabs.

“That’s when I started realizing the mortality of this game and just sports in general ... there comes a point in time

where a couple of my friends in the NFL, when you become afraid to get hit, you take that one little flinch of I don’t want to get hit.

“Well, when I had my back I didn’t want to hit certain shots because I may end up on the ground, so that was tough.”

Woods noted that at least he doesn’t have the complication his NFL counterparts face in playing a contact sport.

He marvels at the career of seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, who retired for good after coming back for one last NFL campaign last year. AFP

SEA Games gold winners to be cited by scribes

THE country’s gold medal winners in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam lead the long list of personalities who will be recognized with citations in the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night on March 6 at the Diamond Hotel grand ballroom.

Boxing Olympians Eumir Felix Marcial and Rogen Ladon, together with triple gold winners Ana Nualla and Sean Aranar of dancesports, and the Gilas Pilipinas women’s team are among those to be cited with the special award given out by the oldest media organization in the country. The Philippines bagged a total of 52 golds in Hanoi to finish a strong fourth during the biennial meet that was twice rescheduled due to COVID 19 surge in the region.

Olympians Hidilyn Diaz, EJ Obiena, and Carlos Yulo, along with other SEA Games gold medal winners Rubilen Amit, Meggie Ochoa, Carlo Biado, Johan Chua, and Vanessa Sarno however, will no longer be given citations as they’ll be honored with higher awards during the gala night presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV, and

ably backed up by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, MILO, Smart, MVP Sports Foundation, Rain or Shine, 1Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, Philippine Basketball Association, OKBet, and ICTSI.

Yulo, Obiena, Amit, Biado, Chua, Ochoa, and Sarno are part of the group to be feted with Major Awards, while Diaz gets the distinction as the PSA Athlete of the Year for the second straight time.

Other individuals to be cited outside of the SEA Games gold medalists are Chezka Centeno, Marie Antoinette San Diego, Efren Bagamasbad, Ronald Lomotos, Philippine Navy Standard Insurance, Philippine pencak silat team, Letran Knights basketball team, Joyce Reboton, Dottie Ardina, Rianne Malixi, Kaizen dela Serna, Andrico Mahilum, Mark Julius Rodelas, and Sandi Abahan.

Entities receiving the same award are Philippine National Volleyball Federation, and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

Earlier announced as part of the honor roll were tennis prodigy Alex Eala for President’s Award and the late track great Lydia De Vega, who will be inducted in the PSA Hall of Fame.

Incomparable Duplantis dreaming of ‘perfect’ vault

LIEVIN, France—Swedish pole vault world record-holder Armand “Mondo” Duplantis says he is loving life and searching for the “perfect” jump.

As the US-born Olympic champion prepares for action at the Lievin indoor meet in northern France on Wednesday, he said he was still driving himself on, having collected the male World Athlete of the Year award in 2022 after winning the world title in a new world record of 6.21m.

“I just really enjoy what I’m doing.

I really enjoy everything about it, the whole process. This whole thing is so fun. Doing this whole thing is still a dream,” said Duplantis.

“I proved a lot. I don’t think I have much more to prove to anybody, I just have to prove a little bit more to myself.”

Duplantis cleared 6.06m in Berlin last weekend but failed at three attempts to set a new world record of 6.22m.

It was proof once again that he has redefined this most technical of events.

At the age of 23, he has eclipsed many of the achievements of Sergey Bubka, the Ukrainian who dominated

the event for over a decade and now fills a senior role in the sport’s governing body World Athletics. Duplantis though insists that Bubka “probably had a greater career than I did, this far”.

“But I think if we were head to head, I think I would beat him a lot more times than he would beat me!”

The Swede spends his waking hours scheming about how to achieve the “perfect jump” that will push his record to a height that future generations will struggle to match.

“Who knows (when it will come)?” he said. “I don’t think I’ve done it yet, I think I’ve come close. I have to be really, really consistent on my running and on the pushing.

“There’s a lot of room for improvement in a few aspects of the jump. Hopefully it’s only the beginning of a long career that I’ll have, so I think I’ll be pushing some higher bars in the next few years.”

For now he is just relishing the noisy Lievin atmosphere, with bigger challenges looming ahead -- such as the outdoor world championships in Budapest in August where he will seek to defend his world title.

Tiger Woods of the United States is shown on the putting green prior to The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. AFP

Sweden’s Armand Duplantis fails to clear the bar as he competes in the men’s pole vault event during the ISTAF indoor athletics meeting in Berlin. AFP

Eumir Marcial

John Prats marks 30 years in show business

In the driver’s seat, not out of league

BY YUGEL LOSORATA TOUCHBASS

BACK when my band Syato was starting out in the early 2000s, and before being signed by a record label, one of the hit songs that made a strong impact on us is “Passenger Seat” by Stephen Speaks

We always get a kick out of the point where the chorus and verse tunes run with each other in a delightful serenade that does not muddle the waters. Realizing that such an arrangement features two strong singers makes it more fun for us mates who like singing in harmony.

FROM being one of the celebrated child stars of his generation, John Prats is now leveraging his stardom into a solid career as creative person behind the scenes. Using the skills he picked up from working in front of the camera, the 39-year-old TV personality is able to transcend the trap of career stagnation and become one of the most soughtafter concert directors today.

Last year, the gradual lifting of restrictions has spurred an unusually high demand for concerts, events, and specials, quickly filling up the plate of the highly-sought after actor, director, and TV personality for the whole year (a good problem to have given the effects of the pandemic on the industry).

“My creative freedom is not just for myself, I always collaborate with my artists. I do this because I want to make the artists I’m working with to be happy and at the same time entertain those people who bought their tickets and get their money’s worth,” John told Manila Standard Entertainment on why he enjoys working behind the camera.

“My work is very addicting. I would only draw things on tissue paper then it gives me so much pleasure when I see my vision turn into reality, say seeing my work come to life in a venue like Araneta Coliseum,” he went on.

As a concert director, John got to direct KZ Tandingan and Bamboo Mañalac’s concert in Pampanga (entitled Rock and Soul Supremacy) and Klarisse De Guzman’s solo concert at the New Frontier Theater (Her Time).

Also last year, John got the chance to also direct concerts and events for international

artists, with the most notable being Jessi’s Zoom in Manila concert (the first-ever solo concert of the Korean hip-hop star).

He got to direct the 2-leg Be You 2 concert (featuring K-Pop stars TVXQ!, BoA, Chen, and Xiumin of EXO), and the fan meet of Kim Soo-hyun (one of the highest-paid actors in Korea today). These are just the highlights of John’s 2022 but prior to the pandemic, he has already accomplished a lot as a director, having directed Most Streamed Filipina Artist Moira Dela Torre’s Tagpuan concert in 2018 at the KIA Theater and the Braver concert last 2019 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The recently concluded sold-out kickoff concert of Moira’s 2023 World Tour at the Araneta Coliseum on February 3 is the latest sign that John is not only bouncing back with style, but that he is also still going strong, refusing to slow down, and continuously evolving as an artist.

In the field of television, John’s biggest highlight of 2022 would have to be the epic conclusion of the seven-year run of the wildly popular FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. John was not only a cast member but also one of the directors of the show alongside Coco Martin He also got to direct the star-studded 2022 ABS-CBN Christmas Special, too.

When not acting or directing, John could be found showing off his moves on It’s Showtime stage as a regular judge and mentor for the “Girl on Fire” dance competition.

In celebration of John’s 30 years in Philippine showbiz, Rank Magazine has released an exclusive feature about his career.

“Technically, I celebrated my 30 years in showbiz last year. But given that we were still in a pandemic, and it was only recently that we get to enjoy some sense of normalcy which is why I’m celebrating it just this year,” John explained.

“And it’s nice to celebrate how your career evolved throughout the years. I wanted to share this experience with the people who were there from the very start of my career and the people who still support the things I do now. I wouldn’t be where I am at right now without those people,” he ended.

‘FPJ’s Batang Quiapo’ pilot trends nationwide, earns 341k live concurrent views

PRIMETIME King Coco Martin returned to television with a bang as the action-filled pilot episode of his new series FPJ’s Batang Quiapo jumped to the number one spot of trending topics on Twitter and earned 341,509 live concurrent views on Kapamilya Online

Live on YouTube on Monday (February 13).

Coco’s explosive return in Batang

Quiapo was warmly welcomed as fans packed Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila to join the cast for the series’ official poster unveiling and live public viewing of the almost one-hour-long, actionpacked pilot episode.

Coco expressed his gratitude to the viewers for their overwhelming support and said, “Nakakatuwa kasi na-appreciate nila ‘yung pinaghirapan namin. Kasi talagang dugo at pawis ang pinagpuhunan namin para mapaganda namin ‘yung palabas ngayon. Susulitin namin ‘yung pagmamahal na ibinibigay nila sa amin.”

The public viewing capped off Coco’s

Barbie Forteza joins GMA Network’s anti-piracy campaign

MARIA Clara at Ibarra lead star Barbie

Forteza officially took her oath as one of the ambassadors of GMA Network’s Anti-Piracy campaign “Stream Responsibly. Fight Piracy.”

“It is such a responsible campaign to be part of. Being an artist myself, it is important to have and to be part of campaigns like this. This validates the hard work of the people not only in front but behind the camera, who give their best efforts, day in and day out, to produce quality shows for our viewers,” says Barbie.

Also part of the roster of Kapuso ambassadors for “Stream Responsibly. Fight Piracy.” are Voltes V: Legacy stars Miguel Tanfelix, Ysabel Ortega, Matt Lozano, Radson Flores, and Raphael Landicho, together with fellow Sparkle star Mikee Quintos. The campaign aims to encourage viewers, especially the younger generation to give importance and value to the creative works of the people behind the series and films by watching them only from legitimate sources. It also aims to educate and raise awareness among the public of the potential harms of clicking pirated websites and apps.

two-week-long festivities to celebrate the premiere of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo. Earlier, Coco and his co-stars, led by Lovi Poe, Cherry Pie Picache, John Estrada, and McCoy de Leon, greeted fans who filled the streets in a festive-like parade that passed through Baclaran, Luneta, Quiapo,

and Tondo and lasted almost four hours on February 9.

The official hashtag for the premiere of the series, #FPJsBatangQuiapoDay, was also the top trending topic on Twitter in the Philippines with over 22,000 tweets. Coco, as well as the tags “Primetime King

Is Back” and “Plaza Miranda” also made it to the trending list on Twitter, while Miles Ocampo ranked among the worldwide trends for her emotional portrayal of a conflicted young mother.

The first episode of FPJ’s Batang Quiapo gave a series of backstories that started with how the high-speed chase for Ramon (Coco), a notorious criminal, led him to rape a stranger named Marites (Miles Ocampo ), in his desperate attempt to continue his bloodline. Later on, it was revealed that the child that Marites gave birth to is Tanggol (Coco).

Meanwhile, fans also flocked to Cebu last February 11 to witness the special performances of the Batang Quiapo cast during their mall show in Cebu.

FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, which is inspired by the original story of Regal Films, airs weeknights at 8:00 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWantTFC, and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Boyce Avenue serenades The Big Dome

By Patricia Taculao

FEBRUARY 14 is a significant global event where people celebrate love in all forms. But before Valentine’s Day came, Boyce Avenue serenaded its Filipino fans in a concert held on February 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Opening the event were three local acts, Nobita The Juans and Adie, whose hit songs stirred various emotions from listeners. First up on stage was Nobita, bringing melancholic vibes with their music. The slow, soothing music set the mood for the audience, hinting that it was a night that would appeal to their sentiments and bring a wave of nostalgia through music.

After Nobita, The Juans took the stage to delight the Araneta crowd with their lively performance. However, they took a different approach to celebrate love. Aside from performing love songs for the couples present, they also tugged on the heartstrings of attendees with complicated love lives. The Juans performed their song “Ihahatid Kita” while encouraging the audience to let go of things not meant for them, even if they hold them near and dear.

Singer-songwriter Adie took the stage last before giving way to Boyce Avenue, stirring up the crowd even further. He sang his latest piece, “G.K.Y.A.M.” (Gusto Kita ‘Yun Ang Mahalaga), giving waves of kilig to his fans in the crowd. Adie also performed his hit song, “Mahika,” with the audience singing along.

Even though the night was some days away from Valentine’s Day, the three local acts made the attendees feel heard and represented through their music. When Boyce Avenue took the stage, the crowd felt the emotions and music to enjoy the concert further.

Boyce Avenue is an American cover band formed in Sarasota, Florida, by brothers Alejandro Luis Manzano, Daniel Enrique Manzano, and Fabian Rafael Manzano

Throughout the night, they switched from singing their original compositions to popular covers and vice versa. Filipino fans couldn’t keep themselves from singing along to the band’s

rendition of classics like “Every Breath You Take,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” and “Unchained Melody.” They also had their take on more recent pieces, including “Blinding Lights” and “Easy On Me.”

Since the concert is Boyce Avenue’s pre-Valentine offering, they didn’t pass up on singing several Ed Sheeran songs like “Castle On A Hill” and “Perfect,” Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years,” and Coldplay’s “Yellow.” The eager crowd couldn’t help but sing along and feel like the band was serenading them directly.

Boyce Avenue began in 2004 by posting song cover videos on YouTube in 2007, paving their career as professional musicians. They have over 4.8 billion YouTube views and over 16.2 million subscribers thanks to their acoustic take on popular songs. It’ll be their 11th time returning to the Philippines after carving out a niche among the local music scene’s favorite foreign artists. They began visiting the country in February 2009.

Besides their pre-Valentine concert in Manila, Boyce Avenue has two more shows in the Philippines, which continue on February 12 at the Waterfront Hotel Ballroom in Cebu and February 14 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao.

The two voices on “Passenger Seat” are not even harmonizing. They’re singing different melodies in the same way that John Lennon and Paul McCartney were toward the end of “I’ve Got A Feeling,” a nearly forgotten Beatles track that features the legendary songwriting tandem vocally collaborating on equal footing for the last time. The trick simply works.

Stephen Speaks turns out to be a rare foreign act that hit it big in the Philippines which, to say the least, is way bigger than anywhere else where their music is heard. To put that in context, Fra Lippo Lippi’s career is significantly marked by its huge popularity in the Philippines.

Checking the Wikipedia entry on Stephen Speaks shows that upon the Philippine release of their debut studio album “No More Doubt,” under Warner Music Philippines 20 years ago, it was declared platinum just 10 days after. It also noted that their songs “Passenger Seat” and “Out Of My League,” as expected, “received significant airplay atop Filipino radio stations.”

Small wonder that the Philippines has been quite a regular stop for Stephen Speaks, with its legacy carried on by singer-songwriter Rockwell Ryan Ripperger. The guy is currently in the country doing a series of shows, promoting a new single called “Tryin To Prove,” and working on the release of a greatest hits album on vinyl format. He shared, “I was last here in 2019 and I was planning on doing a few more things but it got interrupted by the pandemic. I came back as soon as I could. I love the Philippines and I am glad to be back.”

That the latest release dropped on Valentine’s Day featured his collaboration with TJ McCloud, their first since “Passenger Seat,” makes this particular visit extra thrilling.

Filipino fans have already seen Stephen Speaks face to face for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. The act performed at Wish Radio’s event set in Solaire (February 12), the UP Fair (February 14), and Eastwood (February 15).

Today (February 16), the music goes to McKinley Hill, and then wraps it up in Ayala Bay (February 18) and Ayala Terraces (February 19).

“TJ McCloud is the co-writer of ‘Passenger Seat’ and I am excited about our new single. It is a preview of our new album that will be out either late this year or next year,” stressed Ripperger who’s working with local record label Eikon records for the vinyl release of Stephen Speaks’ best tracks.

The group’s other major hit “Out of My League” is one gentle piano piece that has made listeners “shiver but in a good way.” It also ensured they’re no one-hit wonder.

The album to be packed with hit songs should be available around October. A concert to coincide with its release is in the works.

Some of John’s highlights in 2022 include directing concerts and events for international artists

John Prats (right) with Moira Dela Torre

John finds his work as a concert director addicting

John makes an effort to collaborate with fellow artists, sharing some creative freedom with them

Singer-songwriter Rockwell Ryan Ripperger of Stephen Speaks

Barbie (center) together with GMA International’s First Vice President and Head of Operations Joseph T. Francia (leftmost) and GMA's Assistant Vice President, Litigation & Special Projects, Legal Affairs Atty. Jose Vener Ibarra (rightmost)

Coco Martin at the live public viewing in Plaza Miranda

American cover band Boyce Avenue during their pre-Valentine concert at The Big Dome

Beauty and lifestyle brand opens largest store in Clark

BEAUTÉDERM President and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan continues to be a game-changer with her newly-opened store at Clark Cityfront Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga. The grand opening of her biggest store, attended by brand ambassador Piolo Pascual, was held on February 9. Anicoche-Tan, the brains behind the growing beauty empire, expressed her gratitude to Pascaul and local ambassadors Mich Viray (fashion designer), Joanna Ning Cordero (marketing manager), and Voltaire Zalamea (event organizer) who were also present at the opening. “This is another milestone. Being surrounded by supportive people like Mr. Piolo Pascual and our local ambassadors feel good. This store means a lot. It is a testament to passion, dedication, and a lot of hard work,” Anicoche-Tan said. “This store is also a reminder of all the lives touched and changed by Beautéderm, whether you’re a consumer or a seller.”

The empowered entrepreneur added, “The first time I entered this store at Clark Cityfront Mall, I felt proud. We’re reaching more people here in Angeles

By IDr. Katherine Anne Correa and IDr. Markee Madolaria

WE ARE excited to open our doors to our friends and family to our homes as we continue to open up amid looser pandemic restrictions. Hence, this is the year when we anticipate a more welcoming and happier place – an abode that makes us smile more.

Here are some interior design tips to usher in positivity and inspire gatherings:

1. Adapt to your lifestyle.

Don’t be restricted to styles you see in printed publications, online, and other platforms. Mix your personality and address your needs that speak to you. For example, if you feel an open storage might add clutter but manifest your character, do so. You won’t regret it for it connects you to your comfort. Be the maximalist in the ocean of minimalism.

2. Stick with the classics.

The timelessness of design elements is a good investment. Reinvent the vintage structure with a modern twist. Use patterns in modern applications. Imagine using sintered tiles as wall accents in a room, taking into account the proper proportions.

3. Create a space that makes you smile. Apply personality-driven designs. Add textures to accentuate a wall or a furniture piece. Design decisions that pop out to truly bring happiness.

4. Encourage sustainability and stability Build a space that nurtures comfort in knowing that the materials last long. Most resources nowadays come cheap. Yet there is always a question of “will this be ready for wear and tear?” One example is the fad application of selfadhesive accent wall claddings. These cost cheaper than using natural ones, but create future problems with adhesions, porosity or even fireproofing.

5. Use solar power and natural ventilation. We are blessed to be living in a tropical country where we can experience a good amount of sunlight and airflow. Let’s maximize these by considering proper window usage and placement. The sun’s heat may kick in during summer. Use this as a source of electricity. The solar energy technology is a solid investment because it’s free, local, and green.

6. Design in harmony with the natural world. Humanity has evolved rapidly. Tech-

City and changing the game. Our skincare and beauty products are revolutionary. And it always warms my heart when people rave about our products. Their feedback means a lot.”

During the store opening, customers were able to avail of the P5,000-worth reseller’s package as part of Beautéderm’s advocacy to help aspiring sellers to earn and thrive as entrepreneurs.

Some of the lucky customers were also in for a treat as they had a Piolo Pascual meet and greet. The actor said, “You breathe life into Beautéderm. The brand wouldn’t be this big without your support. Your reviews matter!”

Pascual told Anicoche-Tan, “The opening of this store is solid proof of your expanding business model and reach. You are a game-changer in the skincare industry. I am forever grateful to my Beautéderm family.”

For more details, check out Beautéderm on Instagram (@beautedermcorporation), Facebook (Beautéderm), Twitter (@beautedermcorp), and TikTok (@ beautedermcorporation).

Interior design tips: Six ways to create a happy space

Choose materials that would go with the timeless beauty of the space

Be

nology has created a heavy carbon footprint. Choose natural materials that will grow along with the timeless beauty of a space. Be conscious of choices and how they were manufactured. We may be enjoying beauty in our space, but we are neglecting our ecosystem. Let’s use indigenous products and consider our cultural

grassroots.

About the Authors:

IDr. Katherine Anne G. Correa is a freelance interior designer and an advocate of heritage conservation. As a designer, she is passionate about the splendor of the past and gets inspiration from art and nature. Her vision for architecture

and design is rooted in Filipino culture.

She is currently the Program Chairperson of the Interior Design Program of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde. She finished her Masters of Architecture from University of the Philippines College of Architecture.

IDr. Markee Madolaria is a consultant, designer, and art director. His experience ranges from being a junior sales

A day of pampering for country’s leading entrepreneurs

AVIGNON Clinic recently welcomed and treated some of the country’s top businessmen to a day of pampering at its premier clinic in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) Taguig. The special occasion was made possible through collaborative efforts between Avignon and the prestigious Harvard (HBS) OPM Philippines.

Avignon Clinic CEO and founder Christopher Cachuela personally welcomed the guests.

Recognizing the importance of wellness, the executive valued an opportunity to allow the VIPs to unwind despite their hectic schedules.

“We want them to experience their private me-time after long hours of meetings in an out of their offices,” Cachuela notes.

The select group of business leaders included ambassador Joey Antonio CEO of Century Properties; Stanley Ng, president of Philippine Airlines; Robert Laurel Yupangco, CEO of Yupangco Group; Juancho Robles, managing director of KPP Powers Commodities; Melissa Yeung Yap, CEO of Greenstone Pharmaceutical Inc.; Pinky Pe Tobiano,

CEO of Progressive Group of Companies; and Ken Jeswani, CEO of Scent and Beaute Inc.

Acknowledging the demanding work nature of business executives, Avignon Clinic launched “Avignon After Hours,” an approach designed to provide busy leaders and executives their private “me-time.”

“Avignon understands the busy schedule

of clients, so we are adjusting our clinic hours to accommodate this group of individuals,” Christopher says. “A pampering session is a deserved reward after activities like board meetings and business planning.

“Our wellness clinic is ready for the executives’ much-needed facial relaxation and pampering.” Adherence to the highest standards of safe-

ty and compliance is non-negotiable for Avignon Clinic. The signature service, aesthetic interior, and smart and relaxing facilities, will give the wellness boost sought by the executives and their teams.

“Regular, uninterrupted me-time helps our busy brains to unplug and unwind,” said Pinky Pe Tobiano. “In doing so, we relieve stress to help better sleep, more control over

that the materials you use last long

designer and visual merchandise officer to becoming a creatives department manager and senior designer. Currently, he heads the design team “markthatspace” and shares his expertise as educator of Benilde Interior Design Program. He graduated cum laude at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Interior Design.

our moods, which, in turn, help us function more effectively as leaders.”

Avignon Clinic is a destination for Thermage FLX treatment to tighten and lift sagging skin. They also offer PiQo4 laser for skin rejuvenation and the popular laser pore minimizer Clear+Brilliant.

Avignon’s BGC premier clinic is located at 108 Ground Floor, Fort Victoria, 5th Avenue and 23rd St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (0917-6368732); Quezon City flagship clinic is at 58 Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City (0917-6566988); and Avignon Clinic Baguio is at Ayala TechnoHub, Ordonio Drive, Camp John Hay, Baguio City (0917-6253500).

Ken Jeswani, CEO of Scent and Beaute Inc.

Interior Designer Katherine Anne Correa, Chairperson of the Interior Design Program of the De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts Ensure

Benilde Interior Design educator IDr. Markee Madolaria

Avignon executives Benedict Sy (leftmost) and Chris Cachuela (rightmost) with Melissa Yeung Yap, CEO of Greenstone Pharmaceutical Inc.

From left: Melissa Yeung Yap, CEO of Greenstone Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Robert Yupangco, CEO of Yupangco Group; Christopher Cacheula, founder and CEO of Avignon Clinic; Stanley Ng, president of Philippine Airlines; Pinky Pe Tobiano, CEO Progressive Group of Companies; Benedict Sy, president of Avignon Clinic; and Juancho Robles, managing director of KPP Powers Commodities

Ambassador Joey Antonio (left), CEO of Century Properties, and Christopher Cachuela, Avignon Clinic CEO and founder

Beautéderm President and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan (left) with Piolo Pascual at Beautéderm Clark Cityfront Mall