Manila Standard - 2023 February 17 - Friday

DA ALLOTS P177M TO COMBAT AVIAN INFLUENZA SPREAD

China hit over laser use denial

DFA stands by PCG account of incident contrary to Beijing’s version

By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Philippines and China on Thursday traded statements and barbs on the Chinese Coast Guard’s use of alleged militarygrade laser lights against local ships in the West Philippine Sea.

Chinese officials said its ships did not do so, even as the Philippine Coast Guard criticized the denials and the De -

partment of Foreign Affairs stood by the PCG account of the encounter during a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in

the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Chinese Foreign Minister spokesman Wang Wenbin issued a statement disputing the Philippine Coast Guard account after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian on Wednesday to express his concern over the latest incident.

The spokesman said the Chinese

envoy “provided the facts and China’s principled position on that.”

China stood its ground that it “did not direct lasers” at the crew of the PCG vessel BRP Malapascua at Ayungin Shoal last week, with Wang saying the handheld laser device meant to check speed and intended for navigation safety “does not inflict damage.”

PH-US biggest military drills in 8 years set Apr.

THE Philippines and the United States will carry out their biggest joint military drills since 2015, Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner said, against a backdrop of growing tensions with China in the South China Sea.

This year’s “Balikatan” military exercises between American and Filipino troops will take place in April, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar had said in a statement Monday. The exercises underscore improved ties with the US under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and come as the Philippines condemns China’s “aggressive” actions in the disputed waterway, including its use of a “military-grade laser” against one of Manila’s vessels earlier this week (see related story on A1 – Editors).

The 38th annual Balikatan exercises will be conducted in the second quarter and involve more than the previous year’s 8,900 troops, Brawner told reporters.

“All of these exercises that we are doing are in response to all types of threats that we may be facing in the future, both man-made and natural,” Brawner said.

GUINNESS RECORD. Musicians and dancers gather at the Kalinga Sports Complex in Tabuk City on Wednesday as Kalinga Province set two Guinness World Records for the largest gong ensemble and largest banga dance. A total of 3,440 men played gongs while 4,681 women danced with clay pots called “banga” balanced on their heads during the Feb. 15 attempt to set the Guinness records, the provincial government said on Facebook. Dave Leprozo

PCC looks into price spikes in onions, eyes cartel

for possible cartel or abuse of dominance conduct since November last year when it started to escalate.

By Maricel V. Cruz

SENIOR Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led her fellow Pampanga legislators and 15 other congressmen in urging the 19th Congress to rally behind former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity.

Arroyo, the former President, led the 19

legislators in filing House Resolution 780, which called on the House of Representatives to declare “unequivocal defense of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.”

The bill is titled “A Resolution in Defense of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines, Against Investigation and/or Prosecution of the International Criminal Court.”

6.1

QUAKE HITS MASBATE; HOSPITAL PATIENTS FLEE

QUAKE DAMAGE. This handout photo received from the City of Masbate Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office on February 16 shows officials assessing the damage at Magallanes Coliseum in Masbate, after a 6.1-magnitude earthquake rocked the province. AFP

Commission (PCC) said Thursday it has been investigating the high prices of onions

In a statement, the PCC said this was consistent with the probe prompted by

it launched its

RICE MEETING. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. listens to officials of the Department of Agriculture and National Irrigation Administration in a meeting Wednesday at Malacanang Palace as they planned the reorganization of government agencies to achieve sufficient rice production in the country in just two years. PCO Photo

Speaker vows to help ease plight of ‘sacadas’, boost PH sugar supply

SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez has vowed to probe the plight of 12,000 sugarcane farm workers from Nasugbu, Batangas affected by the closure of Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc. (CADPI).

During a meeting at Speaker’s Office,

Scientists nix

Romualdez listened to the concerns of sugarcane farm workers led by Sugar Folks Unity for Genuine Agricultural Reform Spokesman Christian Bearo, Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawang

may already be locally transmitted

health claims of formula milk

THE vast majority of health claims used to advertise baby formula worldwide are not supported by rigorous scientific evidence, a study said Thursday, leading researchers to urge the breast milk substitutes be sold in plain packaging.

The study comes a week after a group of doctors and scientists called for a regulatory crackdown on the $55-billion formula industry for “predatory” marketing, which they

House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez and House Resolution No. 681 filed by Marikina Rep. Stella A. Quimbo. The commission said

Imee nixes Senate panel RCEP report

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Imee Marcos did not sign the committee report on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, even though her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has made it one of his priority bills.

Senator Marcos’ move may be moot, since 16 senators have already signed the report, which is the number needed to ratify a treaty.

In not signing the committee report, Senator Marcos said she weighed the expected earnings from RCEP against the impact it would have on farmers and small traders.

“I am quantifying gains in electronics and garments versus agricultural damage from RCEP,” she said.

She conceded that there is a lot to

PH-US...

From A1

Mr. Marcos on Tuesday summoned China’s ambassador to express “serious concern” over the intensity and frequency of China’s activities in the South China Sea, most of which China claims as its territory.

China’s use of a laser against a Philippine vessel on Feb. 6, which its foreign ministry insists was legal, has sparked expressions of concerns and support from Australia, Japan, and the US, among other countries.

Washington “will redouble its efforts with our Philippine ally” to bolster the Philippine military and coast guard’s defense capabilities “as we work shoulder-to-shoulder to uphold the rules-based international order,” Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said on Twitter.

The Philippines has granted Washington greater access to its military bases as part of the latter’s efforts to deter China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea and tension over self-ruled Taiwan.

In 2015, more than 11,000 troops from both countries participated in the joint military exercises.

“The exercises will involve a myriad of activities, not just focused on developing the war fighting capability of both armed forces, but also of the other non-traditional roles such as humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” Brawner said.

“The AFP and the US Armed Forces are once again holding the 38th iteration of annual bilateral ‘Balikatan’ exercises. Although this is a bilateral activity, the AFP takes the lead in planning and execution, supported by the US Armed Forces with other like-minded nations as observers,” Aguilar said earlier this week.

He said “Balikatan” 38-2023 will help the AFP in developing its external defense capabilities and fulfilling its obligations to other countries in the region in terms of countering terrorism and other security threats.

The AFP neither indicated the exact dates of the exercises nor gave an exact number of participating American and Filipino military personnel for this year’s exercises. However, it said the maneuvers will be held in the areas of jurisdiction of the Northern Luzon Command, Visayas Command and Western Command.

GMA,...

From A1

The Philippines withdrew its membership from the ICC in 2019 under Duterte’s administration.

HR 780 emphasized that Duterte’s “remarkable accomplishments brought about by his relentless campaign against illegal drugs, insurgency, separatism and terrorism, corruption in government and criminality” made the life of Filipinos “better, comfortable and peaceful.”

It likewise cited the need for immediate action to curb the country’s serious and rampant illegal drug situation at the time when Duterte took office, as the drug problem was becoming an “existential threat to the country’s social fabric.”

The resolution further stated that the country’s unprecedented growth in exports and investments during the Duterte presidency was the result of the administration’s “holistic and whole nation approach in ending insurgency and curbing the drug menace in the country.”

Underscoring the Philippines’ functioning and independent judicial system, the Resolution quoted Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who called the ICC’s intent to resume its investigation against Duterte’s anti-drug campaign as “insulting” and “totally unacceptable.”

gain economically from RCEP but said it would “ravage the countryside and kill our farmers.”

The senator said it is the mandate of the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Customs to attend to their many promises to the farmers and small businessmen. She also recalled that nothing had been realized in the promises made when the country entered the World Trade Organization agreement in 1994.

Senator Francis Escudero said he has

not yet signed the committee report because he has not finished reading it and its annexes.

“I will finish it first… the ratification of treaties by the Senate is on a ‘takeit-or-leave-it’ basis because we can’t amend or change it,” he said.

Because of this, he said, it must be read and taken in its entirety and holistically before any decision can be made.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who delivered the sponsorship speech, said he would not vouch for the bill if he did not see its benefits.

He further noted that highly sensitive agricultural products such as rice, swine meat, poultry meat, potatoes, onions, garlic, cabbage, sugar, carrots, are excluded from tariff liberalization under RCEP.

In RCEP, he said the Philippines merely gave additional preferential arrangements to 33 agricultural tariff lines specifically for Australia, New Zealand, China, and Korea, compared to the existing ASEAN +1 FTAs.

The 33 tariff lines, he said, are equivalent only to 15 products, most of which pose no threat to local products.

The 15 products are fish fillet, frozen mackerel, celery, sausages, olives, spinach, olive oil, live swine, live chicken, black pepper, palm nuts and kernels, preserved sweet corn, chili and other capers, preserved onions, cornstarch and feeds for primates.

He pointed out that the country’s trade in these products is so insignificant compared to the benefits that the country can get from the agreement.

New PCO execs sworn in 3 days after reshuffle

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

on Thursday swore in newly appointed officials of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), three days after he ordered the office’s reorganization.

In a Facebook post, state-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) released the names of new officials as well as photos of the oath-taking ceremony held at Malacañan Palace.

Based on the list, Honey Rose Mercado was named Undersecretary for Traditional Media and External Affairs.

Franz Gerard Imperial and Gerald Baria were appointed Undersecre -

China...

From A1

In a transcript sent by the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Wednesday, Wang narrated China’s side on the incident last Feb. 6 at the Ayungin Shoal, where BRP Malapascua was headed on a resupply mission to the marooned BRP Sierra Madre.

Wang asserted China’s “indisputable sovereignty” in the Spratly Islands chain, known in China as Nansha Islands, including the Ayungin Shoal or Renai Reef in China, saying the China Coast Guard “was compelled to respond in accordance with law and warned” the PCG ship to leave.

“During that process, the China Coast Guard ship used a hand-held laser speed detector and hand-held greenlight pointer to measure the distance and speed of the Philippine vessel and signal directions to ensure navigation safety,” Wang statement stated.

“We need to highlight the fact that the China Coast Guard ship did not direct lasers at the Philippine crew, and the hand-held equipment does not inflict

PCC...

From A1

market assessment as onion retail prices were observed at an “unusual high range” and peaked at P600 per kilo in December 2022.

“PCC is looking into the cause of such market anomaly in coordination with the sector regulators and other law enforcement agencies, despite reports of onion prices starting to stabilize due to the arrival of imports and after the Department of Agriculture (DA) imposed a suggested retail price (SRP) of P150 per kilogram (kg) on February 6, 2023,” it said.

Expert...

From A1

new subvariants, Salvana reminded the public to continue wearing their face masks and avail of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines once they become available. Currently, the Philippines has detected three cases of the XBB.1.5, after two additional cases were found in the

Scientists...

From A1

said exploits the fears of new parents to convince them not to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding is widely recognized to have huge health benefits for babies.

The World Health Organization and the

Blinken to pledge US quake support on 1st Turkey visit

WASHINGTON—US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel Sunday to Turkey to discuss support after a massive earthquake, his first trip to the NATO ally which has had turbulent relations with Washington.

The visit, which was being planned before the February 6 earthquake that has killed nearly 40,000 people in the country and neighboring Syria, will be the first by Blinken to Turkey after more than two years in office.

Blinken will visit Incirlik air base, through which the United States has shipped aid, and then hold talks in the capital Ankara on “continued US support,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday.

The top US diplomat will also take part in the Munich Security Conference, where the Ukraine war and tensions with China will take centerstage, and will visit Turkey’s historic rival Greece, a fellow NATO ally.

tary for Broadcast Production and Undersecretary for Content Production, respectively. Patricia Anne Magistrado was named Assistant Secretary for External Affairs.

Ma. Rhona Ysabel Daoang, Marvin Antonio, and Lois Erika Mendoza were appointed as PCO directors for Traditional Media and External Affairs, Digital Media Services, and Content Production, respectively.

On Feb. 13, Marcos issued Executive Order (EO) 16 reorganizing the PCO to rationalize and consolidate the functions of the communications

damage on anything or anyone on the vessel. The Philippine side’s allegation does not reflect the truth,” it said.

However, the DFA said the Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5205 interfered and directed a “military-grade laser that caused temporary blindness to Filipino crew members” onboard the PCG ship.

In an interview on ANC, PCG adviser for maritime security Cmdr. Jay Tarriela also rejected the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s claim.

“It’s important to note that their vessels already have radar. Why would you do that, right? Why would you point those lasers at the crew of the [Philippine] Coast Guard vessel?” Tarriela said.

“The mere fact that our crew reported that they experienced that temporary loss of vision... is something that is not a made-up story,” he added.

The DFA stood by the PCG account, as spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said: “As far as the DFA is concerned, we have no reason to doubt the PCG’s account of the incident.”

Daza said the DFA told China that the BRP Malapascua was undertaking legitimate activities within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and that

Under the Philippine Competition Act (PCA), businesses found to have taken advantage of the situation may be fined up to P100 million and even face jail time of up to seven years.

The fines may triple if the trade of basic necessities, including agricultural products identified by the Price Act, are involved in cartel or abuse of dominance violations, the PCC added. Romualdez had vowed the government will go after unscrupulous traders and hoarders of onion and garlic, whose days “are numbered.”

“We received information that these people are hoarding onion, and more recently even garlic, to create an artificial scarcity in supply and induce price

genome sequence results released from Feb. 7-9.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) classified XBB.1.5 as an offshoot of the XBB subvariant and a variant of interest, due to its “increasing prevalence globally and enhanced immune evading properties.”

Despite this, DOH said that currently available evidence for XBB.1.5 “does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations com-

US CDC recommend breastfeeding exclusively during the first six months of a newborn’s life.

However, that recommendation is followed for less than half of infants globally, according to the WHO.

Daniel Munblit, an honorary senior lecturer at Imperial College London and an author of the new study, said

arm of the executive branch, including the Office of the President (OP), effective immediately.

The PCO, headed by a Secretary, will serve as the “primary office of the Executive branch in engaging and involving the citizenry and the mass media in enriching the quality of public discourse on all matters of governance.”

“For this purpose, the PCO shall be responsible in crafting, formulating, developing, enhancing, and coordinating the messaging system of the Executive branch and the OP,” EO 16 stated.

Vince Lopez

the Chinese Coast Guard’s actions, which included “shadowing, harassment, and dangerous maneuvers,” put the Filipino vessel and its crew in danger.

“Our focal person expressed the Philippines’ disappointment over the incident and called on China to refrain from committing such actions in the future,” Daza said.

The Chinese focal person, Daza noted, had asked for the two states to “work together to implement (the) consensus” reached by President Ferdinand R.Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping last month during the Philippine leader’s state visit.

In response, Daza said: “While we agree that we should continue working together, we hope that the Chinese side will reciprocate our efforts and refrain from committing actions that do not in any way positively contribute to our relations.”

The United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, Denmark, and the United Kingdom had earlier voiced support for the Philippines’ diplomatic protest and asked China to respect international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

increases,” he said last week. “This is economic sabotage.”

The Speaker instructed the House committee on agriculture and food, chaired by Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, to conduct an investigation and, if warranted by evidence, to recommend the filing of criminal charges against the people behind the scheme.

The House panel will also consider recommending to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the “calibrated importation” of onion and garlic to force these hoarders to unload their stocks and drive prices down. This importation, however, should not in any way prejudice the welfare of local farmers, Romualdez said.

pared to the original Omicron variant.”

Aside from XBB.1.5, the country also recently detected its first case of COVID-19 Omicron subvariant XBF—a recombinant sublineage of A.5.2.3 and CJ.1.

The World Health Organization recently added XBF, XBB.1.5, and CH.1.1 to the list of “Omicron subvariants under monitoring.”

A Filipino senior citizen, with no known travel history, was the country’s first case of Omicron subvariant XBF,

researchers were not on a “crusade” against infant formula, which should remain an option for mothers who cannot or choose not to breastfeed.

“But we are very much against inappropriate infant formula marketing, which provides misleading claims not backed up by solid evidence,” Munblit told AFP. Munblit and an international team of

The United States has flown in some 200 rescuers and contributed an initial $85 million in relief for Turkey, deploying Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters to bring supplies to worsthit areas.

President Joe Biden was elected after promising to take a greater distance from his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom Biden has previously branded an autocrat.

But the Biden administration has since viewed Turkey as helpful for a mediatory role between Russia and Ukraine, including in a deal to ship grain through the Black Sea to alleviate world shortages.

The Biden administration has voiced support for Turkey’s request to buy F-16 fighter-jets but the sale is being blocked in Congress due to concerns over Turkey’s human rights record and threats to Greece.

The United States has been seeking ways to encourage Erdogan to lift his objections to NATO membership by Sweden and Finland, which have shed earlier neutrality since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Speaker...

From A1

Bukid sa Tubuhan (Pamatu) Batangas

First District President Nasiancino Roxas, and others. Romualdez recognized and expressed appreciation for the important role that farmers play in the country, stressing that their welfare will help ensure the country’s food security.

“We need to improve the plight of our sugarcane farmers and ensure a sufficient supply of sugar. I thank our farmers for working tirelessly for our nation,” said Romualdez.

He added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been working very hard to ramp up agricultural production aimed at ensuring food security in the country.

“Thank you (farmers) for your dedication in helping the government attain its plan for food security. We are inspired by your great contribution,” Romualdez said.

This came a day after the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) authorized the importation of 440,000 metric tons of refined sugar to bring down the price of the sweetener and manage local demand.

The move, some sugar farmer groups said, would only hurt the local industry. Maricel V. Cruz

the DOH said.

The XBF is associated with the recent spike of COVID-19 cases in Australia and Sweden.

“The first case detected here in the Philippines is from a Filipino senior citizen with no known history of travel, the individual presented mild symptoms, and has already been tagged as recovered,” the DOH said in a statement.

As of Feb. 15, the Philippines has 9,082 active COVID-19 cases.

researchers looked at the health claims made for 608 products on the websites of infant formula companies in 15 countries, including the United States, India, Britain, and Nigeria.

The most common claims were that formula supports brain development, strengthens immune systems, and more broadly helps growth. AFP

Online clearance now available from Makati health department

IN BRIEF

PDEA agents seize 10 kilos of shabu in Samar

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported that it seized around 10 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” in anti-drug operations in Allen, Northern Samar.

The PDEA said that an interdiction operation in Barangay Jubasan, Allen, Northern Samar last January 11 resulted in the arrest of Mangayao Minatora and the seizure of around 10 kilos of shabu hidden in Chinese tea packaging.

Based on the street value set by the Dangerous Drugs Board, a kilogram of shabu is now worth around P6.9 million.

PDEA Regional Office-Eastern Visayas led the operation along with the Allen Municipal Police Station-Highway Patrol Group, Philippine Coast Guard, K9 Field Unit, 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, Northern Samar-Provincial Intelligence Unit and Northern Samar Police Provincial Office-Drug Enforcement Unit.

Aside from the drug haul, authorities also confiscated a sedan, two cellular phones and a wallet containing three ID cards and cash amounting to P1,670.

The PDEA said the suspect is now detained by the agency’s Regional Office-Eastern Visayas while the pieces of evidence are under the custody of its regional office forensic laboratory.

Vince Lopez

LTFRB to look into transport vehicle slots issue

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has clarified issues related to the 100,000 Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) slots that were being questioned by transport groups.

LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said that the LTFRB will first conduct public hearings with various stakeholders. After which, he said the LTFRB will deliberate on it in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and will then issue appropriate policy guidelines. He reiterated that the slots will be opened mostly for motorcycles and also four-wheeled motor vehicles, and will allow all interested TNCs to participate.

Guadiz added that all factors will be considered in the awarding of the slots, which will be spread out to other regions, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao, to benefit commuters in those areas.

The LTFRB believes that the opening of franchise slots will be able to help provide the public with more job opportunities, aside from a more robust public transportation service, he said.

The clarification came after a transport group claimed that the TNVS slots will be offered exclusively for just one TNC, which the Board vehemently denied. Rio N. Araja

BI’s task is to check travel documents, Tansingco says

BUREAU of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco on Thursday clarified that the role of the agency is to process and check the travel documents of aircraft passengers and has nothing to do with the “unauthorized departure” of a private plane at the Ninoy Aquino Internatinal Airport (NAIA).

Tansingco issued the statement after receiving reports that an unauthorized private jet was able to depart NAIA Terminal 1 last February 13, at around 10 in the evening.

The said report claims that the special flight carried passengers more than the number declared in the flight manifest.

Chartered flights fall under the category of special flights, wherein passengers are not processed in the immigration area, but are rather inspected near the aircraft.

He said that they have conducted an initial verification of the said incident with the BI NAIA Terminal 1 management.

“According to the initial report, there were 10 individuals on board the said aircraft. Seven passengers and 3 crew were listed in the manifest. All underwent derogatory checks and were compliant to immigration formalities,” he stated. Vito Barcelo

DA allots more than P177m to combat avian influenza

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) reaffirmed its commitment to stop the spread of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus in the country by reinforcing disease control measures.

For 2023, the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) has allotted a P177.78 million in funds for the government’s Avian Influenza Protection Program that will roll out mitigating measures before and during outbreaks of bird flu.

The fund, which is higher than the allocation in past years, will also be used to respond to animal disease emergencies through early detection and reliable laboratory diagnostics.

Joel E. Zurbano

Employees in private companies can now apply online to secure a health clearance certificate from the Makati Health Department (MHD).

Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay said the standardized, digitized, and centralized health clearance system aims to help employees get their health certificates without going to City Hall.

“This new system is designed to provide fast and secure processing of health clearance certificates while also helping to weed out fixers and ensuring the safety of the public. This is a big step forward in streamlining the process and providing our citizens with an efficient way to obtain the certificate,” she said.

A health clearance certificate, which is a requirement in order to obtain an individual mayor’s permit, proves that a worker is physically fit and free from infectious diseases.

Binay said those who want to apply

only need to go to https://makati.healthcert.ph and click the Health Certificate Application in the dashboard.

Applicants need to go to an accredited clinic or laboratory for their chest X-ray and stool exam. The diagnostic facilities will then submit documents to the MHD for approval before applicants can proceed to the online seminar about sanitation and occupational health.

They may pay for the health clearance certificate through online payment channels (GCash and Maya) instead of going to Makati City Hall Building 2. Applicants will then receive an email containing their health clearance certificate.

Under City Ordinance 2019-A-102, non-food-related establishment workers only need to pay P80 for a health clearance certificate, P100 for food-related establishment workers, and P150 for executives, managers, and supervisors. They also need to pay P50 for the processing of their documents and the seminar.

The health clearance certificate is valid until the end of the year and must be renewed every January.

Employees without health certificates will be penalized with a P1,000 fine for the first offense, P2,000 for the

second offense, and P3,000 for the third offense. The owner of the establishment will shoulder the penalties.

Binay also encouraged other laboratories to apply for accreditation and submit the necessary documents to the MHD. These include license to operate from the Department of Health, business/sanitary permit, a National Reference Laboratory Certificate of Proficiency, list of services, copy of contract with a service provider for health waste collection and disposal, company profile, letter of intent address to chief health officer

Dr. Vergel Binay, and accreditation fee of P5,000 for facilities not located in Makati.

To date, there are nine MHD-accredited diagnostic facilities, namely, Health Screen Laboratory and Diagnostic Center on Chino Roces Ave., Healthrix Medical and Diagnostic Clinic Corp. on Gen. Luna St., Megason Diagnostic Clinic in Tejeros and Comembo, RG Medical Clinic, Inc. in Bangkal, RGO Medical Laboratory and Industrial Diagnostic Center in Bangkla, Supercare Medical Services, Inc. on H.V. Dela Costa St., The Medical City Clinic on Chino Roces Ave., and Wellnest Diagnostic Center in Poblacion.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chair Atty. Don Artes (center) bares the MMDA’s disaster preparedness programs including search and rescue operations, sophisticated earthquake equipment, and K9 unit at the launch of MMDA Rescue Training Center in Cavite City.

Manny Palmero

UHC to cover dialysis centers in public hospitals

By Willie Casas

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said Thursday that the establishment of dialysis service facilities in all national, regional, and provincial government hospitals would be possible through the Universal Health Care (UHC) law.

PhilHealth senior manager for corporate communications Rey Baleña bared this in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita when asked about the filed measure mandating all government hospitals to set up their own dialysis service centers in five years’ time.

“I think because we already have

the Universal Health Care law, and the efforts of all sectors are in full swing since this is a whole of government and whole of society approach, that is not far from happening,” he said.

“PhilHealth is here to look at those facilities so they can be accredited, and provide the benefits to the patients who will undergo dialysis in those centers that will be established through this measure,” the official added.

During the House Committee on Health hearing on Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) expressed support for the legislation but said small hospitals might bear the brunt of its implementation.

The DOH said the proposal will cost them P26 million to set up a dialysis center and P8 million for its annual maintenance.

On the other hand, the Department of Budget and Management said it will study the proposal.

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), during the same hearing, proposed to provide lifetime support for hemodialysis patients, which the state health insurer would cover the cost and assistance to.

Baleña said that part of its new benefit package for 2023 would be the expansion of the coverage for dialysis sessions from 90 sessions to 156 sessions.

Parents of Dengvaxia kids seek PBBM help after case dismissal

PARENTS of supposed victims of Dengvaxia vaccination on Monday appealed for help from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. following the dismissal of the 24 criminal complaints they had filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC).

At a press conference at the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Annalyn Ybonia, mother of one of the complainants, said they have sent a letter to President Marcos and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla about their request for the inhibition of Justice Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes Andres from cases related to the Dengvaxia issue “because there’s a clear conflict of interest or contradicting interest.”

The PAO and the parents of the victims noted that DOJ Department Circular 29 dated Sept. 13, 2022, entitled: “Delineation of Duties and Responsibilities,” says one of the prime responsibilities of Andres is the supervision of the National Prosecution Service, which is under the DOJ. She said the supervision is also clear in a memorandum dated Oct. 10, 2022 of the DOJ Panel of Prosecutors (DOJ Panel) in response to the first petition by the PAO for the inhibition of the DOJ panel to serve as prosecutors in the criminal cases filed pertaining to the Dengvaxia vaccine before the QCRTC Branch 107.

The cases were transferred to QCRTC Branch 13 when the DOJ panel asked for the inhibition of the judge of QCRTC Branch 107. Rio N. Araja

Aside from continuously establishing close coordination with the local government units ( LGUs) and stakeholders, DA-BAI will carry on disease investigation activities and surveillance of quarantine zones and will systematically conduct culling and disposal of affected poultry animals at the first sign of detection.

DA-BAI Assistant Director Arlene Asteria Vytiaco stressed that the bureau has reinforced control measures to avoid a spike in bird flu cases.

According to Vytiaco, DA-BAI has immediately implemented depopulation, intensive surveillance in the 1-kilometer quarantine zone as well as cleaning and disinfection at a layer poultry farm in Santa Maria, Bulacan after confirming it tested positive of HPAI Subtype H5N1 on January 31.

“Intensified our control measures so that we could not feel the last year’s increase of cases from February until March to April.” Vytiaco said.

The BAI chief added that the Bulacan farm is the first layer poultry farm affected by bird flu this year, but the case has been resolved and contained.

After the 1-kilometer radius surveillance from the infected farm, it will be expanded to 7-kilometer surveillance to ensure that the area is AI free.

Vince Lopez

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) took a legal position that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) can still impose penalties against erring health care providers under the National Health Insurance Act of 1995 as long as these offenses were committed before the Universal Health Care Act was signed into law in 2019.

“To repeat, as a rule, all laws are prospective in application unless the contrary is expressly provided, or unless the law is procedural or curative in nature,” DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla declared, in a legal opinion dated January 30, 2023, which was sought by PhilHealth Officer-In-Charge President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eli Dino Santos.

Santos inquired if PhilHealth can still revoke the accreditation of health care providers for violating Republic Act No. 7875, the National Health Insurance Act of 1995, even if the resolutions for infractions committed under RA 7875 were issued after the passage of RA 11223, the Universal Health Care Act.

“RA No. 7875 and all its amendatory laws did not provide that they should be applied retrospectively, thus, the general rule that they are prospective in application applies,” Remulla stressed.

This means that “the penalties to be imposed are the prescribed penalties provided under the prior rules, and, hence, the penal provision of Section 38(b) of RA No. 11223 cannot be given retroactive application,” Remulla said.

Santos also asked Remulla if PhilHealth can still lift revocations of accreditations against health care providers since RA 11223 has “no provision regarding the procedure for accreditation” unlike RA 7875. Remulla said “both RA No. 7875, as amended, and RA No. 11223 explicitly state that recidivists may no longer be accredited or contracted as participants of the Program.”

PhilHealth can penalize firms, DOJ legal opinion says

SUGARCANE CONCERNS. House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (3rd right seated) and other officials listen to the concerns of sugarcane farm workers from Batangas affected by the closure of Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc. (CADPI) and vowed to look into their plight during a meeting on Wednesday at the Speaker’s Office. Ver Noveno

NEW SMILES. Dentists from a public health facility put new dentures to students of the Manuel  Araullo High School as part of the 19th National Oral Health Month celebrations spearheaded by the Manila Health Department in coordination with the Manila DepEd Division of City Schools. Danny Pata

6.1 magnitude quake shakes Masbate

A6.1 magnitude earthquake rocked the central Philippines on Thursday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, though there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.

The strong and shallow quake struck just off the coast of Masbate province in the centre of the archipelago nation shortly after 2 a.m. (1800 GMT).

The epicenter was 11 kilometers from the coastal village of Miaga in Masbate’s Uson municipality, USGS said.

The Philippine seismological agency said it had recorded more than 80 aftershocks.

“It was a bit strong,” Masbate provincial police chief Rolly Albana

Palace reveals new appointees to DA, military

MALACANANG has bared the names of new appointees to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. designated Paz Benavidez II as an assistant secretary of the DA, which is currently headed by the Chief Executive himself.

Other newly appointed DA officials were Honorio Flameño, Fernando Flores, Maria Christine Inting, Roland Tulay who will be holding the Director IV rank, as well as Reynaldo Campomanes who will serve as Director III.

The President also filled up at least 26 posts in the military service. Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II was named commander of the Philippine Army’s (PA) 4th Infantry Division; Maj. Gen. Ramon Guiang as vice commander of the PA; Brig. Gen. Pedro Balisi Jr. as assistant division commander of the PA’s Armor Division; and Brig. Gen. Luis Rex Bergante as commander of the PA’s Training and Command; and Brig. Gen. Marion R. Sison as division commander of the PA’s 3rd Infantry Division.

Brig. Gen. Rommel Tello was installed as the PA’s Inspector General; Col. Erwin Alea as commander of the PA’s 201st Infantry Brigade; Col. Peter Burgonio as commander of the PA’s Army Intelligence Regimen; Col. Maynard Camarao as commander of the PA’s 53rd Engineer Brigade; Col.

Ferdinand Melchor dela Cruz as commander of the PA’s 501st Infantry Brigade.

Other newly appointed officials were Col. Eugene Mata who will be serving as commander of PA’s 502nd Infantry Brigade; Col. Arnel Jose Morada as commander of PA’s 803rd Infantry Brigade; and Col.

Michael Samson as commander of PA’s 301st Infantry Brigade Brig. Gen. Teofilo

Bailon Jr. assumes the post of Philippine Air Forces’ (PAF) Inspector General, Brig. Gen. Ronie Petinglay as wing commander of PAF’s 580th Aircraft Control and Warning Wing; Brig. Gen. Elpidio

Talja as commander of PAF’s Air Force Reserve Command. Vince Lopez

told AFP.

“I was sleeping when we were shaken and woken up.”

The province has a population of nearly one million people spread across three islands.

Masbate provincial disaster officer Adonis Dilao told local media some buildings in the capital Masbate City had cracks in their walls, including the provincial hospital.

Patients had been evacuated from the facility, he said.

A section of the ceiling inside a sports and entertainment venue in the city also collapsed.

“Electricity posts were moving, even parked cars were shaken,” said Dilao.

Masbate City Mayor Socrates Tuason said classes and government work would be suspended on Thursday to allow for the “monitoring and inspection of structural integrity” of buildings.

Uson police chief Captain Reden Tolledo said some residents fled their homes.

“Even I went outside because of possible aftershocks,” Tolledo said.

Gregorio Adigue, a disaster officer in the Dimasalang municipality, said he felt a strong aftershock nearly an hour after the quake.

But buildings and other structures in the area did not appear to be damaged, he said.

On Ticao island, which is part of Masbate province, residents in one house reported a wall had crumbled, but they were unharmed, said Consencino Reymundo, a disaster officer in San Fernando municipality.

“We lost electricity but it was restored two hours later,” Reymundo told AFP.

Quakes are frequent in the Philippines, which sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic as well as volcanic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

Most are too weak to be felt by

Sara seeks upgrade in PH education system

By Bobby Lagsa

VICE President and Education Secretary

Sara Duterte-Carpio on Thursday said the country must avert further deterioration of the Philippine education system to save the future of the children and the country in general.

The Vice President made the statement in remarks at the 45th annual and 22nd Mindanaowide convention of the Association of Registrars of Schools, Colleges’ Universities- Technical Vocational Training Institution (ARSCU-TVTI) held in Davao City. She said if people in authority and responsibility give even half of their efforts in training young learners, the country will continue to harvest Filipino children who are struggling in the field of education.

Multiple studies and fact-finding missions on the Philippine education system showed that the deteriorating

Acuzar sees lack of skilled workers as nat’l housing steps up this year

IN anticipation of a high demand for construction workers once the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program goes full blast this year, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is coordinating with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to boost the skills of workers in the housing industry.

Housing Secretary Jose Rizalino

Acuzar said he expects a sudden increase in demand for laborers as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s. Pambansang Pabahay intensifies in the coming months.

“One of the things that I see it coming is the problem of workers’ shortage. We have a problem with availability of skilled workers,” he said.

DHSUD has initiated talks with TESDA director general Danilo Cruz as early as October 2022 as a proactive measure to empower construction workers in preparation for the workforce requirement of housing project development.

“We are coordinating with TESDA for

the training of skilled workers – carpenters, plumbers, electricians and those to be need for the finishing touches of masons,” Acuzar said. “Other than that, we can manage,” he added.

TESDA has expressed support to augment the housing and construction industries’ present workforce.

“Right now, we are looking at all angles and aspects to prepare for the beginning of actual implementation of the Pambansang Pabahay on the ground. We are fast-tracking construction so that we can adjust with the projected increase in cost. We need enough workers to ensure that we build and provide the houses on time for our kababayans,” the housing chief said.

The DHSUD earlier said about 1.7 million jobs, including construction workers, would be generated yearly once the 4Ps Pabahay started.

The significant number of jobs is seen to contribute in the administration’s post-pandemic recovery efforts and in furtherance of the eight-point economic agenda of the

administration,

quality of education is due to the low government budget for education; poor quality of teachers; poor management of schools; poor school facilities such as laboratories and library facilities; poor learning environment; the content of the curriculum; inadequate books and science equipment; the poor method of instruction; shortages of classrooms.

In a 2018 study conducted by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) showed that among 79 participating countries and economies, the Philippines scored the lowest in reading comprehension. Reading was the main subject assessed among 15-year-old students in the 2018 PISA. The Philippines had an average reading score of 340, more than 200 points below China (555)

and more than 100 points less than the OECD average (487).

“Our collective mission — and this means, including our registrars here today — is to ensure that we are able to avert the further deterioration of the Philippine education system,” Duterte-Carpio said.

Duterte-Carpio added that with rapid changes in technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics, many of the jobs we know today will be obsolete in the future.

Duterte-Carpio added that the country’s education system must know how to adapt and prepare the future workforce for the unprecedented changes already happening across industries.

“Therefore, student-centric learning is crucial to helping our Filipino children and youth become lifelong learners, to be adaptable and flexible to future work demands,” Duterte-Carpio said.

humans, but strong and destructive nes come too, with no technology available to predict when and where they will hit.

The nation’s civil defense office regularly holds drills simulating earthquake scenarios along active fault lines.

The last major quake was in October in the northern Philippines.

The 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit the mountain town of Dolores in Abra province, injuring several people, damaging buildings and cutting power to most of the region.

A 7.0 magnitude quake in mountainous Abra last July triggered landslides and ground fissures, killing 11 people and injuring several hundred. AFP with Rio N. Araja

MMDA to set up training center for emergency response units

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will open a training center to prepare emergency responders for the so-called “Big One” and other major disasters.

The center is meant to boost the skills of Metro Manila emergency responders to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents within the National Capital Region in cases of strong earthquakes and other major calamities.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the Disaster Preparedness Training Center was conceptualized after the agency saw the gaps in the capacity-building and training of rescuers after an earthquake hit Abra province in October last year, where rescuers had to come from different areas across the country.

“The agency saw the need to build a center that will focus on disaster response to empower rescuers and provide those affected by disasters with immediate assistance,” Artes said.

The center is also a preparatory measure to avoid casualties in the event that a “Big One” or a 7.2-magnitude quake hits Metro Manila.

Based on the 2004 Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the estimated impact of the quake, may leave at least 35,000 people dead, 120,000 injured, and an economic loss reaching P2.5 trillion.

The center, with a lot area of more than one hectare, will be furnished with the necessary facilities, and tools to provide participants with an experiential learning opportunity. It will be built on a vacant property of the MMDA at the Carmona Sanitary Landfill in Cavite City.

1,168

couples tie the knot in Caloocan mass wedding

By Jun David

A TOTAL of 1,168 couples simultaneously tied the knot in a mass civil wedding ceremony held Tuesday in Caloocan City officiated by Mayor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan and attended by other high ranking officials of the city.

In his remarks, Malapitan exhorted the newlyweds to show affection to each other and be understanding, saying it helps guarantee a smooth relationship and a peaceful life.

He also reminded the couples to always seek guidance from God in making decisions for their families.

“Sa ating mga bagong kasal, sa panibagong yugto ng inyong buhay, sana’y mas ipakita at iparamdam ninyo ang inyong pagmamahalan. Intindihin ninyo ang isa’t isa dahil kasabay ng pagintindi ay ang magaan na pagsasama at payapang buhay. huwag nyong hayaan na ang kasal ay maging sakal. Support each other’s dream and let your partner grow as an individual,” the Mayor said.

“Sa lahat ng gagawin nyo bilang magasawa, palagi ninyong hihilingin ang

gabay ng Panginoon nang sa gayon ay palaging tama ang inyong mga desisyon para sa inyong pamilya.” he added.

Civil Registry chief Lucena Flores said the city government was always ready to assist its constituents because it aims to protect and strengthen families, one of the most fundamental unit of our society.

She also congratulated the couples and announced that all of them will take home gifts from the city government.

“Palagi pong handa ang ating

Pamahalaang Lungsod na tulungan ang ating mga kababayan na nagnanais magpakasal dahil layunin po natin na maprotektahan at mas patatagin ang mga pamilya na isa sa pinakamahalagang bahagi ng ating lipunan. Congratulation po sa inyong lahat! Ang bawat magasawa po ay makakatanggap ng electric kettle, bottles of brandy at movie tickets, magbonding po kayo pag-uwi.” Ms. Flores stated.

Malapitan assured the newlyweds that as they build their own families, the city government will help them provide a good life and a bright future for their children.

A GATHERING OF SCHOOL REGISTRARS.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara

Duterte-Carpio addresses the Association of Registrars of Schools, Colleges,’ UniversitiesTechnical Vocational Training Institution, Region 11 Annual Convention and 22nd Mindanao-wide Invitational here at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City. VPSD Facebook photo

The center will feature four training facilities: Rappelling tower, Confined Space Structure, Wrecked Building with Structure Rubble Pile, and Pancake Collapsed Structure which will provide training on real-life rescue scenarios.

LANAO del Sur Rep. Ziaur-Rahman “Zia”

Alonto Adiong on Thursday flagged ABSCBN’s new TV program Ang Batang Quiapo for allegedly depicting Muslims as harboring and thieves under the pretext of using stolen goods to help others.

In a statement and social media post, Adiong said he was disheartened by allegations that the Muslim residents of Quiapo not only own guns, but also coddle criminals particularly thieves who hide in their community to avoid arrest by the police.

“These are discriminatory, harmful, and derogatory portrayals of an entire community. As a district representative of Lanao del Sur and a Bangsamoro Muslim, I am deeply saddened by this discriminating portrayal,” Adiong stressed.

“It is crucial to note that Islam does not coddle theft and considers it a major sin,” Adiong added.

He also said it was preposterous and derogatory that the short time Muslims were featured in popular media, it was to rehash outdated stereotypes.

“Muslim community in and around the Golden Mosque in Quiapo has a rich history that dates back several centuries. Islam was first introduced to the Philippines in the 14th century, and the Muslim community has been an integral part of the country’s cultural and social fabric ever since,” Adiong said.

“The Muslim community is a diverse and vibrant group that has made significant contributions to the progress and development of our nation. To ignore this fact and portray us in a negative light is a disservice to our community’s longstanding presence in this country and to the values of respect and inclusivity that we should all strive to uphold,” Adiong said. Bobby Lagsa

Lanao solon says TV show puts Muslims in bad light

Marcos Jr.

Acuzar said. Rio N. Araja

SIARGAO TO HAVE OWN MEDICAL CENTER. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez addresses the groundbreaking ceremony for the projected P325-milllion Siargao Island Medical Center in Surigao Del Norte. Romualdez said the upcoming facility will upgrade the Siargao District Hospital into a Level ll General Hospital, increase its bed capacity from 50 to 100, and raise professional health care services in the island. (Inset ) Romualdez (2 nd from right) administers the oath to new Lakas-CMD members consisting of councilors, mayors, vice mayors of Surigao Del Norte. Ver Noveno

PRICE CHECK. Department of Trade in Industry assistant secretary Ann Claire Cabochan leads an inspection and price monitoring inside the Liana’s Supermarket and Department Store on Earnshaw street in Sampaloc Manila. Norman Cruz

Peeking into wills and succession

THE Biblical book of Ecclesiastes says “[T]o everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; … a time to mourn, and a time to dance… Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”

Death is a paradoxical part of life. Everyone dies. While life’s acquisitions and possessions cannot be brought to the afterlife, the law has treated the property, rights and obligations of the deceased as transmissible “to another or others either by his will or by operation of law” (Article 774, Civil Code of Philippines).

To succeed “means to substitute, to subrogate, or to put one person in place of another” (Arturo

Tolentino, Succession, citing 5 Manresa 202).

Understood in this sense, it is equivalent to the substitution of a deceased person by a living person in all the transmissible property and juridical relations which the former had in life (Tolentino, Succession citing 6 Sanchez Roman 12).

Inheritance refers to the objective element of succession, to the mass or totality of the patrimony of a deceased person (Tolentino, Succession citing 6 Sanchez Roman 12). The inheritance includes all the property, rights and obligations of a person which are not extinguished by his death (Article 776).

“Whatever terminology is used by the law… it is clear that the moment of death is the determining point when the heirs acquire a definite right to the inheritance…” (Tolentino, Succession, citing Morales v. Yanes).

The right vests “even before the judicial declaration of their being heirs in the testate or intestate proceedings” (Tolentino, Succession, citing Bonilla v. Barcena).

testamentary succession. If the person is given by will both personal and real property, he is called a “devisee and legatee” (Tolentino, Succession; see Article 782).

“[T]he testator may entrust to a third person the distribution of specific property or sums of money that he may leave in general to specified classes or causes, and also the designation of the persons, institutions or establishments to which such property or sums are to be given or applied” (Article 786).

The third person entrusted to make the distribution, to the extent of choosing the persons, institutions, or establishments to which the property or money will be given or applied, does not make any disposition, but simply carries out details in the execution of the testamentary disposition made by the testator himself in his will (Tolentino, Succession). For example, a testator may leave P50,000 for relief to persons afflicted with infantile paralysis, and designates a third person to make the distribution of said amount (Tolentino, Succession).

Similarly, a testator who is a member of Rotary International may leave $50,000 for the latter’s Polio Eradication program but may opt to designate RI to carry out its implementation.

All persons who are not expressly prohibited by law may make a will (Article 796).

The word “person” means only natural persons.

Only creditors attend the obsequies of corporations; they never leave orphans or widows to mourn at their funerals and probate courts have no jurisdiction over their properties (Tolentino, Succession, citing Rood, p. 81).

Persons of either sex under 18 years of age cannot make a will (Article 797).

To make a will it is essential that the testator be of sound mind at the time of its execution (Article 798).

Succession may be: (1) testamentary; (2) legal or intestate; or (3) mixed (Article 778).

Testamentary succession is that which results from the designation of an heir, made in a will executed in the form prescribed by law (Article 779).

“When, however, there is no valid testament expressing the decedent’s will, then his property must be distributed according to the provisions of the law on intestate or legal succession. These provisions [on intestate succession] will also take effect, even in the presence of a will, if such will does not validly dispose of all the property of the deceased” (Tolentino, Succession).

“As to the part validly disposed of [by will], there is testamentary succession; but as to the part not validly disposed of, or to which no heir is designated by the testator, there is legal or intestate succession. This is called as mixed succession” (Tolentino, Succession).

“The making of a will is a strictly personal act; it cannot be left in whole or in part to the discretion of a third person…” (Article 784).

In other words, only the testator can make his will and no one else, as it is intended to control to a certain degree the disposition of his estate which will take effect after his death (see Article 783).

“It is to be noted that it is the making of the disposition, the expression of the will of the testator, that is not the subject of delegation.”

However, the physical and mechanical drafting of the will may be done by a third person, inasmuch as such an act does not constitute the delegation of the will or disposition (Tolentino, Succession).

However, it is the author’s view that the mechanical drafting of a holographic will cannot be delegated to a third person.

A holographic will is one executed by the testator himself, writing, dating, and signing it by his own hand, without the attestation of any third person (Tolentino, Succession, citing 4 Castan 334). An heir is called to succession either by will or by operation of law (Article 782).

“[A]nyone who succeeds to the whole or to a fraction of the inheritance… is an heir, whether he succeeds by virtue of a will or intestacy. In a sense, he is a continuation of the personality of the deceased” (Tolentino, Succession).

A legatee is one who is given a gift of personal property by will; and a devisee is one to whom real property is given by will.

There is a devisee or legatee only in

“It shall be sufficient if the testator… at the time of making the will know[s] the nature of the estate to be disposed of, the proper objects of his bounty, and the character of the testamentary act” (Article 799).

The soundness of the mind of the testator must be determined in relation to the time of the execution of the will (Tolentino, Succession, citing 1 Alexander 475-477; Thompson p. 81).

The nullification of the will executed when the testator was of unsound mind is not cured by the fact that the testator later recovers reason and fails to revoke his will (Tolentino, Succession).

Every will must be in writing and executed in a language or dialect known to the testator (Article 804).

Our present Code permits the execution of two kinds of wills: (1) the ordinary or attested will; and (2) the holographic or handwritten will (Tolentino, Succession).

Two or more persons cannot make a will jointly, or in the same instrument, either for their reciprocal benefit or for the benefit of a third person (Article 818).

Every will, other than a holographic will, must be subscribed at the end thereof by the testator himself or by the testator’s name written by some other person in his presence, and by his express direction, and attested to and subscribed by three or more credible witnesses in the presence of the testator and of one another (Article 805).

The ordinary or attested will must be acknowledged before a notary public by the testator and the witnesses.

The notary public shall not be required to retain a copy of the will (see Article 806).

This is to safeguard the secrecy of its contents “so that the testator will not be the object of importunities or pressure to change his will” (Tolentino, Succession). No will shall pass either real or personal property unless it is proved and allowed in accordance with the Rules of Court (Article 838).

There are two kinds of probate proceedings recognized by our law: (a) ante mortem probate, or that which is had during the lifetime of the testator; and (b) the probate after the death of the testator (Tolentino, Succession; see Article 838).

“The probate of the will decides no other question than… the capacity of the testator and compliance with those requisites or solemnities which the law prescribes for validity of wills.

It does not determine… the validity or efficacy of the provisions; these may be impugned… notwithstanding the authentication” (Tolentino, Succession citing Montaño v. Suesa).

Health for all

Universal Healthcare Act.

RA 11223 provides that all Filipinos are automatically enrolled under the NHIP. Hence, PhilHealth coverage should be 100 percent.

But after looking into PhilHealth’s registered beneficiaries data from 2018 to 2021, the PIDS researchers found geographic discrepancies in the population coverage across provinces.

The most poverty-stricken provinces also have low population coverage, with only senior citizens, indigents, or sponsored beneficiaries as members.

What should be done?

The government think-tank urged PhilHealth and the Department of Health to focus on improving healthcare coverage in the poorest provinces, especially in priority areas like Mindanao.

FEBRUARY 8, 2023 marked the 63rd birth anniversary of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

To mark the occasion, a newspaper (not this newspaper) published an article praising Aquino, and stating that fidelity to the Constitution was the hallmark of his presidency.

I disagree. During Aquino’s presidency (20102016), the supremacy of the Constitution was repeatedly put in jeopardy just to suit his personal whims. Aquino’s Executive Order 1, his first executive issuance, created the so-called Presidential Truth Commission and vested it with the power to investigate crimes allegedly committed during the term of his predecessor, ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The late Senator Ernesto Maceda revealed that EO 1 was drafted by Liberal Party loyalist, Aquino minion, and ex-Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

After issuing EO 1, Aquino appointed Davide chairman of the commission.

I challenged the constitutionality of EO 1 by way of a petition I filed in the Supreme Court.

In my petition, I pointed out the President cannot, through the exercise of executive power, create a public office like the PTC. I argued the power to create public office is legislative in character, and belongs exclusively to Congress.

After due proceedings, the Supreme Court en banc granted my petition and declared EO 1 unconstitutional (Biraogo vs. Philippine Truth Commission, G.R.

192935, December 7, 2010).

Thus, the first EO issued by Aquino, prepared by an ex-chief justice at that, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. I remember in a public ceremony attended by Aquino and then Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, Aquino publicly berated Corona for the court’s adverse ruling on the Aquino family’s vast Hacienda Luisita estate in Tarlac.

That ruling made the hacienda subject to the agrarian reform law.

Fidelity to the Constitution means the President should respect decisions of the Supreme Court.

Aquino did not.

In August 2010, Aquino appointed his good friend

Maria Lourdes Sereno as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

After Corona was impeached and removed by Congress in May 2012, Aquino appointed Sereno Chief Justice. It turned out that Sereno was not qualified for the post, as seen in her ouster therefrom by no less than the Supreme Court itself (Republic vs. Sereno, G.R.

These provinces are Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. These provinces, by the way, are populated mostly by Filipinos who live below the poverty line.

Compare that with Greater Manila – composed of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon – which has 98.9 percent, Luzon 90.7 percent, and the Visayas 90.5 percent.

The National Health Insurance Program seeks to achieve universal population coverage in the country.

But the 52 percent coverage in the five provinces is way below the target 100 percent of the healthcare coverage guaranteed by the

The National Health Insurance Program seeks to achieve universal population coverage in the country

The study showed that Mindanao has the largest share of indirect contributors, mostly indigent or sponsored, at 57 percent.

Needless to say, it is the indigents and beneficiaries of government programs like the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program who are at higher risk of contracting diseases.

The Manila Standard: Its 36th founding anniversary

THIS week, the Manila Standard is celebrating its 36th founding anniversary, capped by a fellowship today at Casa Buenas at the Newport World Resorts in Newport City. As chairman emeritus of this newspaper, I should be joining everybody to mark the paper’s red-letter day. Unfortunately I cannot. My doctor told me at my age, 95 going on 96 years, I should not because the elderly are susceptible to COVID-19 infection.

The MS has its own story to tell.

I recall that after the exit of the late strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos, the late Rodolfo Reyes, a journalist and a very good friend of mine, who was known for his expose in the defunct Manila Times for having infiltrated a drug den in Tondo and lived to tell it, called me he wanted me to start a newspaper. He claimed he got a call from Manda Elizalde from Florida that he would like Rod to head it.

Thus, Rod and I started to have a complete staff with me as chairman of the editorial board and a column and with him (Rod Reyes) as publisher and editor-in-chief.

Recall that Manda Elizalde was Secretary of the Department of Cultural Minorities during the incumbency of Marcos Sr.

Manda was later on accused of allegedly kidnapping minority women and fled from the Philippines during the latter part of Martial Law.

Rod and I soon found out that Manda fled to Costa Rica and joined his former classmate from Harvard University, at the time the president of Costa Rica. When the term of Manda’s former classmate ended, Manda went to the United States. In Florida he called up Rod. Soon after, Manda came back to the Philippines despite a pending warrant of arrest.

You would not believe it, but it was the late Noynoy Aquino, who wold eventually become president, and his paternal aunt Tessie Aquino Oreta who met Manda at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and facilitated Manda’s return through immigration and Customs, after which Manda spent some time at his beach resort in Batangas. In the meantime, Rod Reyes and I were given the authority to use the former Elizalde Building along Ayala Avenue which housed Tanduay Rhum. The first issue of MS was in tabloid form. But, later on, we went into the regular form to accommodate advertising. Manda financed the MS, but it was losing money as a newcomer in the print media industry.

If I am not mistaken, after four or five years, Manda decided to sell the MS, and the buyers, at P5 million, were the Soriano and Yuchengco groups Soon after, Alfonso Yuchengco, a very good friend of mine, told me that he wanted to get out from the newspaper because he could not get the cooperation of the late Andres III to use the MS to also attack his competitor. For that he sold out his control. That left the Soriano Enterprises in full control of MS. When the Sorianos sold out their interests at San Miguel, they also sold out their interest in the newspaper business and left Ricky Razon, as partner at Soriano, as sole owner of the MS. When Teddy Boy Locsin, who was former

237428, May 11, 2018).

Thus, Aquino appointed a non-qualified individual to the highest judicial post in the land.

Pursuant to constitutional tradition, the judiciary should be immune from politics. Under Aquino, the judiciary, the Supreme Court in particular, got politicized.

This is readily seen in Aquino’s insistence that Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita CarpioMorales, and not Chief Justice Corona, be the one to administer his presidential oath of office.

After Morales retired from the Supreme Court, Aquino appointed Morales Ombudsman. Fresh into his term, Aquino attempted to create a Moro substate in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Many legal luminaries including the eminent constitutionalist himself, retired Supreme Court Justice Vicente V. Mendoza, publicly revealed the Aquino plan was unconstitutional. Aquino’s attempt to violate the Constitution through his planned Moro substate eventually lost steam, thanks to the valiant efforts of then Senator, now President, Ferdinand Marcos r. The Aquino administration was also marred by public outrage at the congressional abuse of pork barrel funds.

foreign secretary, decided to discontinue the newspaper “Today” he decided to join the MS and its full staff.

That was when the MS was known as The Manila Standard Today.

The MS was left in full control of the daily until Razon sold MS to the present owners, the PMSPI.

That, in short, is the story of The Manila Standard, where I am still today since the beginning. I had opportunities to write for other newspapers, but I am that kind of person whose loyalty to something is forever.

And I guess I’ll stay as a columnist of the MS until I write “30”—a euphemism for the final paragraph. I love this newspaper, those that work with me and its visions. *** *** ***

The tripartite agreement among the Philippines, Japan and the United States forms an alliance that can neutralize the assertive attitude of China in this region

President Marcos Jr. said that charter change is not a priority.

That’s his point of view, since he believes, Santa Banana, that FDI’s or foreign direct investments will not come to the Philippines without charter change. Both chambers of Congress are now considering amendments among the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Yes, FDIs may now be attracted to the Philippines since it’s the President assuring foreign investors with ease of doing business now under his administration.

To me, my gulay, BBM missed the real point on the imperative need to amend the 1987 Constitution that has become antiquated after 36 years.

In fact, the economic provisions of the charter have become oppressive and restrictive aside from being antiquated.

In fact, I’d say there are so many other provisions of the charter that have become out of date, so much so that the 1987 charter itself is not only antiquated, but needs to be updated to catch up with time. No constitution is etched in stone that should never be amended.

Perhaps, Bongbong Marcos thinks the move by the Senate and the House of Representatives to push through with the amendment of the economic provisions of the charter might lead to the opening of Congress to amend other provisions of the charter, specifically on the terms of duly elected public officials.

The PIDS research emphasized using standardized equity measures, like poverty incidence, in national allocation and prioritization frameworks of projects and activities for equity and efficiency across health programs.

The government think-tank also proposed that PhilHealth, in collaboration with other government agencies, must ensure the accuracy, validity, and consistency of data on indigents at both national and subnational levels to improve healthcare equity throughout the country.

The 1987 Constitution directs the government to “protect and promote the right to health of the people” and to “adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.” The administration should take decisive steps to ensure that this particular constitutional provision is fully carried out.

This will not happen with both chambers of Congress voting separately under a constituent assembly.

Senator Robin Padilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, is specific on his move to amend the constitution.

His resolution provides only amendments to the economic provisions of the charter – similar to the push of Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

Aside from this, we must not forget the executive branch is distinct and separate from Congress.

Whatever moves Congress does should not be dependent on what the President thinks and wants.

In this connection, I believe despite what President Marcos Jr. thinks of the moves of Congress to amend the 1987 Constitution is his alone.

Taking all things in consideration, both the Senate and the House should pursue what they believe in about the antiquated, oppressive and restrictive provisions of the charter.

In fact, I believe the final word should be on the people.

In this connection, it is my belief a plebiscite should help on what the people want.

If the people believe the provisions of the charter should be amended, that’s it.

After all, the people ratified the 1987 Constitution. Vox populi, or the voice of the people, suprema lex. The voice of the people is the supreme law. *** *** ***

The five-day working trip of President Marcos Jr. to Japan is certainly his most productive vision, not only as far as economic benefits to the country are concerned, with no less than 35 businesses in the Philippines signing separate deals with their counterparts in Japan, but also insofar as defense and security are concerned.

The tripartite agreement among the Philippines, Japan and the United States forms an alliance that can neutralize the assertive attitude of China in this region.

The tripartite arrangement can even be enlarged with South Korea and Australia.

And this arrangement should be no reason for China to raise tensions in this part of the world.

In fact, it’s but natural for Japan and the Philippines to enter into this tripartite arrangement because they are allies.

If China and Russia can have a bilateral arrangement, why not a tripartite agreement among the Philippines, Japan and the US?

After all, the US and the Philippines have expanded their EDCA or Expanded Defense Cooperative Agreement with the US, now having access to four more Philippines bases. *** *** ***

I do not want to end this column without extending my belated Happy Birthday greeting to my good friend Johnny Ponce Enrile who just turned 99 years old.

JPE is now the Presidential Chief Legal Counsel of BBM.

I have known JPE since he enrolled at the old Ateneo de Manila at the ruins of Padre Faura to take up a two-year pre-law associate title, after which he took up four years of law at the University of the Philippines.

Happy Birthday Johnny !

An attempt by Aquino allies in Congress, particularly those from his Liberal Party, to circumvent constitutional restraints against misuse of the national budget was stopped by the Supreme Court.

In 2012, Aquino’s allies in Congress enacted Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act. This law would have allowed Aquino’s Justice Secretary, Leila de Lima, to violate the privacy of the online and mobile phone activities of ordinary citizens.

Fortunately, the Supreme Court declared that part of the law unconstitutional in a case where I was one of the petitioners. Under the Constitution, the President is expected to protect the territorial integrity of the Philippines.

It was under Aquino when the Philippines lost its strategic hold on key islets and shoals in the West Philippine Sea. We lost those territories on account of Aquino’s improvident directive for the Philippine Navy to withdraw from the islets and shoals, on his mistaken impression the Red Chinese navy will do the same.

Although Aquino pressed the Philippine claim to the disputed maritime territory before the international arbitration tribunal of the United Nations, and we eventually won the case, that victory, however, is an empty one, and one too late.

Beijing remained, and continues to stay, in the disputed area, and has even expanded its presence there, albeit in violation of International Law.

The Red Chinese government refuses to recognize the international arbitration tribunal’s ruling, and there seems nothing that Manila can do about that. Fidelity to the Constitution was the hallmark of Aquino’s presidency? That’s overpraising the guy.

DISTURBING, if not worrisome, is the recent finding of the government thinktank Philippine Institute for Development Studies that five provinces have only 52 percent or lower PhilHealth coverage.

Overnight drone, missile strikes at Ukraine – Kyiv

U

The Ukrainian army said it shot down 16 of the 36 missiles Russia launched overnight from planes and ships in the Black Sea.

"Unfortunately, there were hits in the north and west of Ukraine, as well as in the (central regions of) Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovograd," presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said.

Dnipropetrovsk regional governor

Sergiy Lysak posted images on Telegram of firefighters working in the debris of partially destroyed residential homes.

The strikes killed a 79-year-old woman, Lysak said.

In the western region of Lviv, strikes hit a "critical infrastructure facility," governor Maksym Kozytsky said on Telegram. No casualties were reported.

Since October, Russia has launched regular waves of attacks that have crippled the Ukrainian energy infrastructure and left millions in the cold in the middle of winter.

Some fear that, after months of military setbacks, Moscow may be preparing a new large-scale offensive in late winter or

KRAINE on Thursday reported a new wave of overnight Russian missile and drone strikes, which killed at least one and damaged many buildings.early spring.

Meanwhile, the head of mercenary outfit Wagner has admitted that Russia may take another two months to capture the embattled Ukraine city of Bakhmut, blaming the "monstrous bureaucracy" of the top brass for the slow gains.

The fierce fighting for the eastern industrial city is the longest running battle of Russia's near year-long intervention.

"I think it's (going to be in) March or in April," Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin said in one of several messages posted online overnight. "To take Bakhmut you have to cut all supply routes. It's a significant task," he said.

The 61-year-old, who is close to President Vladimir Putin, said the speed of Russian progress in the grinding battle would depend on whether Ukraine continued to send reserves to hold the city. Prigozhin's private fighting force, which has recruited from prisons across Russia to bolster its ranks, has claimed a lead role in recent battles in east Ukraine.

He announced last week that Wagner would no longer be drawing from prisons to fill its ranks and on Thursday said this would impact their fighting potential.

"Of course, at some point the number of units will drop and as a result the number of tasks that we can perform will not be what we want," he added. AFP

Turkey detains man trying to kidnap baby

TURKISH police have detained a man trying to steal a baby from a hospital in southern Turkey, state media reported, following the catastrophic earthquake that hit the region.

A 7.8-magnitude quake unleashed chaos in southeastern Turkey and parts of Syria, killing nearly 40,000 people and displacing millions in both countries.

A man walked into a hospital pretending to be a police chief in the Samandag district of the quake-affected province of Hatay, the Anadolu state news agency said Wednesday.

The hospital staff realized his police ID card was fake and called the

SPECTACULAR

flowing off

Sokor defense paper labels North ‘enemy’

SOUTH Korea called the nuclear-armed

North its "enemy" in a defense document Thursday, the first time in six years it has used the term, signalling a further hardening of Seoul's position toward Pyongyang.

The two countries remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, and after the collapse of a rare round of diplomacy 2019, talks have stalled as Kim Jong Un doubles down on military development.

The North Korean leader declared his country an "irreversible" nuclear state last year, and carried out sanctionsbusting weapons tests nearly every month, including firing its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

In response, Seoul's new conservative administration has ramped up joint drills

with key security ally Washington, and in a new defence white paper referred to Pyongyang an "enemy" of the South.

North Korea

"defined us as an 'undoubted enemy'" in December 2022, the document, officially released Thursday, said. "Therefore, the North Korean regime and the North Korean military, which are the main agents of the activities, are our enemy."

Analysts said the move illustrated the state of inter-Korean relations, which are "filled with confrontations," Yang Moojin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP. "It even gives the impression of a return to the Cold War era."

An Chan-il, a defector-turnedresearcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told AFP the move made sense as "Pyongyang last year

passed a law enshrining the right to use preemptive nuclear strikes".

"Not doing anything in response would not have been appropriate," he added.

South Korea's bi-annual defence white paper first described Pyongyang as an enemy in 1994, after a North Korean official threatened to rain "a sea of fire" upon the South, and the term was used until around 2000.

It was dropped for a few years, but then reappeared in 2010 after North Korea was accused of sinking a South Korean warship, killing 46 seamen.

It was dropped again under Seoul's dovish former president Moon Jae-in, who championed engagement with Pyongyang.

South Korea's current president, Yoon Suk Yeol, took over from Moon in May last year, vowing to get tough on the North. AFP

after quake

real police, it added. When officers detained the man, they found fake police and military ID cards, gold and money in Turkish lira, dollars and euros worth around $6,500, Anadolu said.

The agency did not provide information about the baby. Some parents in the region have expressed alarm to AFP over rumoured child kidnappings.

Turkish Family Minister Derya Yanik on Monday said at least 1,362 children had been separated from their families by the quake. AFP

NZ accepts foreign help as cyclone cripples island

NEW Zealand redeployed gunships and helicopters to deliver water, food and fuel to cities cut off by Cyclone Gabrielle on Thursday, as overwhelmed rescue teams embraced overseas offers of help.

Five people have died and 10,500 more have been displaced, according to authorities, in a disaster that has crippled the country's populous North Island.

Four days of violent winds and lashing rains caused landslides and widespread flooding that lacerated the island's road network, caused rolling power cuts and knocked out hundreds of mobile phone towers.

Police said 3,500 people had been reported as "uncontactable," as residents around the country tried desperately to reach loved ones.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the police held "grave concerns" for those still missing.

"We do need to be prepared for the likelihood

there will be more fatalities," he warned. Hipkins said over 100,000 households were still without power on the North Island, home to more than three-quarters of the country's five million residents.

On Thursday, the east-coast city of Napier was briefly cut off after experts detected damage to the last useable bridge linking its 65,000 residents with the rest of the country.

The national Transport Agency said the bridge had since reopened, but only for emergency services and critical workers.

Isolated residents have been told not to leave their homes unless "absolutely essential" and to restrict water use.

When residents do venture out, they wade through murky floodwaters to get supplies or huddle on the steps of a few buildings that still have wifi, trying to let loved ones know they are safe. AFP

FRENCH unions on Thursday called workers out on a new strike against a bitterly opposed pension reform being debated in parliament, but turnout was sharply down.

The fifth day of action against President Emmanuel Macron's reform – whose headline measure is raising the legal retirement age from 62 to 64 -- aims to keep up the pressure ahead of a wider mass walkout on March 7.

But unlike previous strike days, most main line trains and the Paris metro were running normally, as fewer workers participated during school holidays across most of France.

Employees at state-controlled energy giant EDF said they had lowered output by more than 3,000 megawatts, or the equivalent of three nuclear power plants, without affecting supply to end users.

On Wednesday, many hydroelectric plants had been disconnected from the grid.

Also Thursday, 30 percent of flights from Paris' Orly airport were cancelled. AFP

AT LEAST 39 people, most of them undocumented US-bound migrants who had just survived a perilous jungle crossing, died in a bus crash in Panama on Wednesday, officials said.

Maria Isabel Saravia, Panama's deputy director of migration, said 28 people were also injured in the accident.

CHINESE President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to Iran, Beijing's foreign ministry said Thursday, as a three-day trip to China by the Islamic republic's leader drew to a close.

Beijing and Tehran reinforced their strong economic ties in 2021 by signing a 25-year "strategic cooperation pact" but have been under pressure from Western nations over their positions on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Iran is also under strict US sanctions for its nuclear program.

Xi "gladly accepted" an invitation by

President Ebrahim Raisi to make a trip to Iran, both countries said in a joint statement issued on Thursday.

No date was given for the visit, which would be Xi's first to the Middle Eastern nation since 2016.

Iran agreed with major world powers in 2015 to rein in its nuclear program in return for the lifting of punishing sanctions.

But then-President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, resulting in Tehran rolling back its commitments. AFP

The bus plunged down a ravine and hit a minibus about 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of the capital Panama City, the National Migration Service said in a media statement.

It said the injured, including children, were being treated at various hospitals and clinics and the latest death toll was based on "preliminary information."

Saravia said 66 people were on the bus, meaning at least one victim was likely from the vehicle it hit. She said 20 of those on the bus were minors.

UNICEF said in a note to AFP that at least three children were among the dead.

The bus was transporting migrants who had crossed the Darien Gap, an inhospitable jungle area bordering Colombia. AFP

Stock market index retreats; JG Summit up

STOCKS fell Thursday ahead of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ decision to raise the key interest rate by another 50 basis points that brought it to a 14-year high of 6 percent.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, lost 6 points, or 0.09 percent, to close at 6,815.91, as three of the six subsectors declined, led by mining and oil.

The broader all-share index went up 2 points, or 0.08 percent, to settle at 3,639.08, on a value turnover of P12.23 billion. Losers outmatched gainers, 102 to 80, while 54 issues closed flat.

PSEi February 16, 2023

TOP GAINERS

Two of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, with JG Summit Holdings Inc. rising 2.37 percent to P54.00 and Ayala Land Inc. picking up 1.89 percent to finish at P29.60.

Meanwhile, the peso slightly appreciated Thursday to close at 55.12 against the US dollar from 55.17 Wednesday.

Other Asian markets rose Thursday, extending gains in New York, as a forecast-busting US retail sales report

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

showed American consumers remained confident despite elevated inflation and the prospect of more interest rate hikes. Traders have been tracking US data for months, with the general consensus being that, while good for the economy, a strong reading is bad for stocks as it adds pressure on the Federal Reserve to keep tightening monetary policy. With this in mind, a massive half-amillion jump in new jobs last month was the spark for a sell-off across the world, and a prompt for central bank officials to warn rate hikes would need to go higher than expected and stay there longer.

News this week of a smaller-thanestimated drop in January inflation rein-

forced that view, further denting investor sentiment. However, analysts said Wednesday’s jump in retail sales—the biggest since March 2021—may have led some to change their minds from the “good news is bad news” mantra, and that the economy could avoid a “hard landing”, or recession.

Quincy Krosby, of LPL Financial, told Bloomberg Television that the gains were “telling us maybe we can keep going as long as inflation is coming down overall and growth is solid.”

National Australia Bank’s Rodrigo Catril added: “Strength in retail sales figures have been supported by a strong labor market... and as noted by the New

US retail sales rebounded 3% on biggest gain since 2021

WASHINGTON, United

States—Retail

sales in the United States rebounded in January, government data showed Wednesday, logging the biggest gain since early 2021 as policymakers watch for signs that consumer spending is cooling in the longer run.

The US central bank has been working to ease demand as officials try to rein in stubborn inflation, raising interest rates rapidly over the past year.

While there have been signals that the effects of policy are rippling across sectors including consumer spending, the latest data could spark concern.

Retail sales bounced by three percent last month to $697 billion after two months of contraction, said a Commerce Department report Wednesday, markedly higher than analysts expected.

Providing a boost were sales at auto and other vehicle dealers, which jumped 6.4 percent from December to January.

Also robust were sales at department stores, which surged 17.5 percent, while

Inflation nibbles at Nestlé margins but firm sees stronger sales in 2023

ZURICH, Switzerland—Swiss food giant Nestlé said on Thursday sales rose last year, but inflation nibbled at its margins, while net profits plunged due to asset disposals in 2021.

Sales rose by 8.4 percent to 94.4 billion Swiss francs (95.5 billion euros, $102.3 billion). However, most of that was due to the company’s hiking prices.

Nestlé, which makes Nespresso capsules, Maggi soups, and KitKat chocolate bars, estimated its real internal growth to be just 0.1 percent.

“Last year brought many challenges and tough choices for families, communities, and businesses,” Nestle chief executive Mark Schneider said.

“Inflation surged to unprecedented levels, cost of living pressures intensified, and the effects of geopolitical tensions were felt around the world,” he added.

Nestlé said its underlying trading operating profit margin dipped by three-tenths of a percentage point to 17.1 percent.

Net profits fell by 45 percent to 9.3 billion francs in 2022 but the comparison with 2021 is deceptive since the disposal of shares Nestle held in L’Oreal boosted 2021 earnings.

The company said underlying earnings per share rose by 8.4 percent, and by 9.4 percent when currency changes are stripped out.

Nestle’s board proposed a dividend

of 2.95 francs per share, an increase of 15 centimes.

“Looking to 2023, we expect another year of robust organic growth, with a focus on restoring our gross margin,” said Schneider.

For 2023, the company expects sales growth of between six and eight percent when excluding exceptional changes, down from the 8.3 percent registered on this basis in 2022.

It hopes to hold, if not improve, its underlying trading operating profit margin, setting a target range of between 17.0 and 17.5 percent.

Underlying earnings per share in constant currency is expected to rise between six and 10 percent. AFP

those at restaurants and bars spiked 7.2 percent, the report said.

US Federal Reserve officials are looking for indications that consumers are pulling back as they consider when to halt their campaign of interest rate hikes, but the latest numbers could sharpen their resolve to continue with increases.

The surge in January was the biggest monthly rise since early 2021, according to official data.

Compared with a year ago, retail sales in January were up 6.4 percent.

Wall Street stocks slumped following the strong numbers, on market concerns that the Fed could remain aggressive in its inflation fight.

A separate report released by the Fed on Wednesday showed that industrial production was flat last month, after shrinking in the two months prior. Manufacturing and mining output picked up in January, but that of utilities plunged on “unseasonably

warm weather” that depressed heating demand, said the report. Unlikely to persist

Economists suggest that some of the increases seen could be temporary.

Kieran Clancy of Pantheon Macroeconomics said mild weather in recent weeks likely provided a boost to auto dealership visits that helped retail sales and supported industrial output.

In both cases, the trends are unlikely to persist, he added.

“Abstracting from the noise, the bigger picture here is that the trend in manufacturing output has softened significantly since the middle of last year,” he said.

This comes as Fed rate hikes take a toll on capital expenditure of businesses.

Some of the retail rebound also reflects “catch-up demand,” Clancy said, noting that auto production has returned to pre-pandemic levels. But demand for vehicles could weaken on higher financing costs. AFP

York Consumer survey earlier in the week, the US consumer is not worried about losing their job.”

“The main takeaway is that the US consumer remains in rude health and with inflation still too high for comfort, the Fed has no alternative but to keep lifting the funds rate,” he said.

All three main indexes on Wall Street initially sank on the latest figures before rebounding to end the day in the green.

And after a rocky week so far, Asia picked up the baton.

Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Mumbai, Bangkok, Wellington and Taipei were all well up, though Shanghai and Jakarta reversed earlier gains. With AFP

Global oil demand to hit record high as China reopens

PARIS, France—World oil demand is set to hit a record in 2023 as top consumer China emerges from Covid restrictions and air travel recovers from the pandemic, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.

Demand is expected to reach 101.9 million barrels per day on average in 2023, an increase of two million barrels per day from last year, the IEA said in its monthly oil market report.

It would be up 1.4 million barrels a day from the pre-pandemic level in 2019 as consumption of fossil fuels behind global warming has yet to peak.

Independent energy research firm Rystad puts the turning point at no earlier than 2025.

The Asia-Pacific region accounts for most of the increase in demand, with China alone accounting for nearly half of the expected 2023 growth after it lifted its zero-Covid policy in December.

China’s reopening is also expected to boost air travel, which has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, driving demand for jet fuel up by 1.1 million barrels per day. Demand for oil products is expected to drop given weak manufacturing activity and demand for petrol will decline further as vehicle efficiency improves and electric vehicles gain market share.

On the supply side, production remained stable at around 100.8 million barrels per day in January, according to the IEA.

Russian exports held up well despite the entry into force in December of an EU embargo on oil imports by sea and a G7 decision to put a price cap in place.

The IEA expects world oil output to rise by 1.2 million barrels per day in 2023, with the gains driven by the United States, Brazil and Norway.

It said production increases should outpace demand growth in the first quarter and match it in the second.

“A substantial deficit could emerge in (the second half of 2023) as China’s reopening drives demand higher,” while Russian output will likely be constrained by Western sanctions, it said. AFP

Users say Microsoft’s Bing chatbot gets defensive, testy

SAN FRANCISCO, United States— Microsoft’s fledgling Bing chatbot can go off the rails at times, denying obvious facts and chiding users, according to exchanges being shared online by developers testing the AI creation.

A forum at Reddit devoted to the artificial intelligence-enhanced version of the Bing search engine was rife on Wednesday with tales of being scolded, lied to, or blatantly confused in conversation-style exchanges with the bot.

The Bing chatbot was designed by Microsoft and the start-up OpenAI, which has been causing a sensation since the November launch of ChatGPT, the headline-grabbing app capable of generating all sorts of texts in seconds upon a simple request.

Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene, the technology behind it, known as generative AI, has been stirring up passion, between fascination and concern.

When asked by AFP to explain a news report that the Bing chatbot was making wild claims like saying Microsoft spied on employees, the chatbot said it was an untrue “smear campaign against me and Microsoft.”

Posts in the Reddit forum included screenshots of exchanges with the souped-up Bing, and told of stumbles such as insisting that the current year is 2022 and telling someone they have “not been a good user” for challenging its veracity.

Others told of the chatbot giving advice on hacking a Facebook account,

plagiarizing an essay, and telling a racist joke.

“The new Bing tries to keep answers fun and factual, but given this is an early preview, it can sometimes show unexpected or inaccurate answers for different reasons, for example, the length or context of the conversation,” a Microsoft spokesperson told AFP.

“As we continue to learn from these interactions, we are adjusting its responses to create coherent, relevant and positive answers.”

The stumbles by Microsoft echoed

the difficulties seen by Google last week when it rushed out its own version of the chatbot called Bard, only to be criticized for a mistake made by the bot in an ad.

The mess-up sent Google’s share price spiraling down by more than seven percent on the announcement date.

By beefing up their search engines with ChatGPT-like qualities, Microsoft and Google hope to radically update online search by providing ready-made answers instead of the familiar list of links to outside websites. AFP

AIRBUS RECOVERY. Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury poses for photographs after the Airbus annual press conference in Blagnac, southwestern France on Feb. 16, 2023. With 4.2 billion euros, the net profit of the European aircraft manufacturer published on Feb. 16, 2023, exceeds its previous record in 2021 by several tens of millions, contrasting with its American rival Boeing in convalescence and in the red for the fourth consecutive year with a loss of $4.9 billion. AFP

Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft corporate vice president of modern life, search and devices, speaks during a keynote address announcing ChatGPT integration for Bing at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington, on Feb. 7, 2023. Microsoft’s long-struggling Bing search engine will integrate the powerful capabilities of language-based artificial intelligence, CEO Satya Nadella said, declaring what he called a new era for online search. AFP

BSP increases borrowing rate by 50 bps to 14-year high of 6%

By Julito G. Rada

THE Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raised on Thursday the benchmark policy interest rate by another 50 basis points to 6 percent to rein in inflation that blew past the target range last year and accelerated to a 14-year high of 8.7 percent in January 2023.

BSP Governor and MB chairman Felipe Medalla said in a briefing the rate hike would take effect Feb. 17, 2023. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also raised to 5.5 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively.

Mitsubishi Motor plans to assemble new vehicle in PH

By Othel V. Campos

MITSUBISHI Motor Philippines

Corp. is smoothing out plans to establish an assembly line for the production of a completely-knocked down vehicle in the Philippines.

“They [MMPC] mentioned that they’re expanding into a new model assembly. The plan is contingent on the expansion of the CARS program,” Special Trade Representative in Tokyo Dita Angara-Mathay said, referring to the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program.

She said the Japanese automotive firm had not yet revealed the scope of its intention on adding an assembly line, although there were rumors it was planning to create another line for the Expander model to support production in Indonesia.

Expander is a compact multi-purpose vehicle that has become popular in developing economies like the Philippines.

Mathay said Mitsubishi Mirage, MMPC’s entry into the CARS program, was not as saleable as anticipated. Its sluggish sales were aggravated by the rising cost of fuel.

“We’re hoping they will be making the next-generation Expander here in the Philippines. Right now, it’s being made in Indonesia,” she said.

MMPC has yet to disclose plans on supplemental investments to support the creation of a new production line. It earlier invested in stamping and painting facility required by CARS to produce the Mirage and download the P9-billion subsidy allotted to CARS participants.

MMPC invested around P4.3 billion for machineries to manufacture big parts like panels for car doors and paint shop.

The Board of Investments is working on the extension of the CARS program and proposed to add three years to catch up on lost opportunities for participants.

Under the current timeline, CARS participants—MMPC and Toyota Motor Philippines Corp.—have until 2024 to comply with the program requirements. Mitsubishi needed to produce the required volume of 200,000 units by 2023.

Each participant was required to manufacture at least 200,000 units of their enrolled models—Vios for Toyota and Mirage for Mitsubishi— by the end of the six-year program, in exchange for incentives amounting to P27 billion in fiscal and non-fiscal perks.

BSP data showed the last time the policy rate hit 6 percent was in August 2008 during the global financial crisis.

“In deciding to raise the policy interest rate anew, the Monetary Board noted that the latest baseline inflation forecast path has shifted higher relative to the previous

assessment. Average inflation is projected to breach the upper end of the 2 percent to 4 percent target range at 6.1 percent in 2023, before returning to within target at 3.1 percent in 2024,” Medalla said.

He said the forecasts were adjusted upwards following the higher-than-expected inflation outturn in January of 8.7 percent and the continued stronger rebound in domestic demand and gross domestic product growth in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Both headline and core inflation measures continued to increase, indicating a further broadening of price pressures, particularly in services, he said.

Oxford Economics said it expects the BSP to raise the policy rate by another 25 basis points in its next meeting in

Bangko Sentral approves beta test of GCash overseas

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GCASH, the mobile wallet of Globe, said Thursday it secured the green light from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to use the e-wallet overseas using international SIM cards.

“We continue to make a difference in Filipinos’ lives by making financial services easier and more accessible to our now 76 million-strong registered users. With around 10 million Filipinos living abroad, we want them to also be able to take advantage of GCash services even as they use international SIMs,” GCash president and chief executive Martha Sazon said.

“As more people put their trust in GCash, we strive to remove more barriers and create a better experience for all,” she said.

Under the beta launch of GCash Over-

seas on Feb. 16, only the first 1,000 users from Japan, Australia and Italy could access GCash with an international SIM card.

Once they’re fully verified, Filipinos overseas regardless of their SIM card could begin signing up for GCash and support their families back home by sending money for free (GCash-toGCash), paying for bills on time and instantly buying them load credits with just a few taps on the app.

The beta mode will run for a limited time, while the full launch is expected later this year.

GCash has also been doubling down on its international expansion through partnership with global payments platform, Alipay+.

Aside from GCash Overseas, it can now be used to pay in select merchants

across countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Qatar as well as top European destinations like the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy.

GCash offers users a wide variety of accessible financial products and services such as sending money, buying load and paying bills. Users can also explore other innovative financial services to jumpstart their journey towards their financial goals through GSave, GInsure and GInvest.

Mynt, the operator of GCash, became the country’s first unicorn or privatelyheld startup company with a value of over $1 billion in November 2021, after it raised more than $300 million in its latest funding round from new and existing investors to fund aggressive expansion.

DOE sees smooth opening of two LNG terminals this year

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy said

Thursday the country’s first two liquefied natural gas terminals which are expected to open this year will have no problem securing LNG despite the tight global supply forecasts.

“Supply is not a problem given the connections of both. It is the price of $20 per MMBtu [metric million British thermal unit] that will be of greater concern,” DOE’s Oil Industry Management Bureau director Rino Abad said.

Linseed Field Corp. and FGEN LNG Corp. are expected to complete their terminals in the first half.

Linseed is scheduled to commission

its first integrated LNG import terminal in Barangay Ilijan in Batangas City in April in time for the arrival of San Miguel Corp.’s LNG supply for the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan combined cycle power plant.

FGEN LNG, a subsidiary of First Gen Corp., together with BW LNG which provides LNG storage and regasification services, is also set to commission its LNG facility in March, while the commercial operation is seen to start in June 2023.

Abad said SMC is securing supply from a global LNG supplier, while First Gen is teaming up with Tokyo Gas which has expertise and trade connections in the field.

He said the Japan-Korea market price for LNG of $20 per MMBtu is now a “relatively reasonable price”, compared to the September 2022 cost of $70 per MMBtu.

“Hence, it would be acceptable for both FGen and SPPC [South Premiere Power Corp.],” Abad said.

SPPC is owned by SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. which operates the Ilijan gas plant.

Abad made the statement following the release of the latest Global LNG Outlook by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis which showed that global LNG supplies would likely to remain tight through 2025.

March, before staying put for the rest of the year.

“We think aggressive hiking risks dampening economic outlook this year, when the economy already faces several headwinds, particularly given our lowerthan-consensus growth forecast of 4.1 percent,” the London-based think tank said.

“At the same time, its current account deficit leaves the Philippines more exposed to external pressures. If the US economy proves more resilient than expected, the US Fed could hike further, which may again put downward pressures on the peso and force the BSP to tighten more,” Oxford Economics said.

BPI lowers 2023 GDP growth forecast to 5%

BANK of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest lender, reduced its 2023 economic growth to 5 percent from 6 percent because of local and global headwinds that include elevated inflation and higher interest rates.

BPI’s growth projection was lower than the actual expansion of 7.6 percent last year and the government’s forecast of 6 percent to 7 percent for 2023.

BPI Global Markets economist Rafael Alfonso Manalili said in a report Thursday that risks continued to weigh on growth.

“One of the headwinds is high inflation which continues to beset consumer spending. Inflation has gone up significantly and it has a significant impact on the economy because we are a consumer-driven economy,” he said.

“We expect average inflation to settle within the 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent range this year. The decline in inflation will be gradual or slow because of persistent supply constraints especially in the agriculture sector,” he said. Julito G. Rada STI

Education booked P226-m

profit in 6 months

STI Education Systems Holdings Inc. saw its net income nearly quadruple to P226.3 million in the first six months of fiscal year ending December 2022 from P56.85 million it booked a year earlier, driven by higher enrolment.

STI Holdings, which owns and operates one of the biggest networks of private schools in the country, said Thursday revenues in the sixmonth period reached P1.44 billion, a 28-percent increase from P1.12 billion in the same period the previous year.

It said that for the school year 2022-2023, the total number of new students went up by 17 percent to 41,565 from 35,566. The number of ongoing students for school year 2022-2023 also went up 14 percent to 94,312 from 82,629.

STI Holdings said the improvement in enrollment mix contributed to the profitability as more students enrolled in programs regulated by Commission on Higher Education. Enrollment in CHED programs grew by 18 percent to 66,309 from 56,342 students in the last school year. Jenniffer B. Austria

IEMOP eyes June launching of power reserve market

THE Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, which runs the electricity spot market, said Thursday it expects to launch the reserve market by June.

The reserve market allows for the trading of ancillary services or services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads, while maintaining the reliable operation of the transmission system.

IEMOP chief operating officer Robinson Descanzo said the target date was given by the Department of Energy and would depend on the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission of the rules on the price methodology for the implementation of the reserve market in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the trading floor of electricity.

IEMOP filed the application in its capacity as the market operator to secure the approval of the ERC of the pricing mechanism for reserves traded in the WESM. “The target of DOE is to pursue the commercial operations in June. So the PDM has to be approved,” Descanzo said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Metrobank, GT foundations support scholarship program

THE University of Asia and the Pacific signed a memorandum of agreement with GT Foundation and Metrobank Foundation on Feb. 15, 2023, recognizing both foundations as platinum donors to the Dr. Placido L. Mapa Jr. Scholarship Endowment.

GT Foundation executive-director and Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña said the grant is the Metrobank Group’s way of honoring the late Dr. Placido Mapa Jr., who has been instrumental in the business success of Metrobank and in pursuing the advocacies of Metrobank Foundation.

The generous donation of the foundations would enable UA&P to continue making a significant impact on preparing future leaders. Grantees of the scholarship endowment will be given 100-percent coverage of tuition and miscellaneous fees, a monthly stipend of P8,000, an

internet allowance of P1,000 a month, a laptop and one-on-one mentorship with a member of the UA&P board of trustees.

The grant is open to incoming college and junior college students with a high school average of at least 90 percent, possess exemplary leadership credentials and show potential to be trailblazers and catalysts for change in the community.

After more than two decades of government service, Dr. Mapa Jr. served Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company for over 30 years in various capacities. He was president of Metrobank from 1989 to 1991, vice chairman from 1992 to 2005, chairman of the Metrobank board of advisers from 2006 to 2009 and senior adviser from 2010 to 2019.

His father, Dr. Placido Mapa Sr., was also the founding president of Metrobank. Dr. Mapa Jr. is often remembered not only for his numerous professional ac-

complishments but also for his character. This can be attested to by several business leaders whom he mentored when they were still young executives in the banking and finance industry. One of them is Sobrepeña, who has fond memories of him.

Sobrepeña said Cidito, as family and friends fondly called Dr. Mapa Jr., was a standard of excellence above reproach because of his integrity and fairness.

“All these years while working with him at Metrobank and Metrobank Foundation, Dr. Mapa continued to reflect the embodiment of a character worth emulating. He Accords dignity to those he deals with regardless of economic standing or political persuasion,” he said.

“Some may call this political savvy. However, I think it has more to do with respecting others, much in the line of spiritual tenets which he espoused and lived by,” he said.

BDO’S TAX CONTRIBUTION. The city government of Mandaluyong recognizes BDO Unibank Inc. as one of its top 10 taxpayers during its annual liberation and cityhood anniversary. Joining the recognition ceremony are (from left) Mandaluyong City Assessor’s Department head Gener Sison, Treasury Department head Corazon de Guzman, Mayor Benjamin Abalos, BDO Corporate Center Ortigas branch manager Vina Co-Trinidad, BDO Corporate Center Ortigas marketing officer Michael Thomas Uy, Vice Mayor Carmelita Abalos and Business Permits and Licensing Department head Catherine Arce.

From left: Metrobank Foundation Inc. president and GT Foundation executive director Chito Sobrepena shakes the hand of University of Asia & the Pacific president Dr. Winston Padojinog over the foundation’s donation to UA&P’s Placido L. Mapa Scholarship Endowment Program during the memorandum of agreement signing between the parties. Manny Palmero

Ubas hopes 2 meets will get him ready for SEAG

By Peter Atencio

JANRY Ubas hopes to use a scheduled national performance trial within the next two months and the National Open in Ilagan, Isabela to get ready for a better podium finish in the coming 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

Ubas, the bronze medalist in the heptathlon event of the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam, said this after setting two new national records when he bagged a bronze medal in heptathlon in the recent 10th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.

“Malapit na ako sa peak. Mga 80% ready na ako,” said the 29-year-old Ubas. Philippines Athletics Track and Field Association secretary general Edward Kho said it was the second time that the Philippines has won a medal in the meet.

The last time Team Philippines won a bronze medal was in 2016 in Doha, Qatar with Eric Cray in the 60m.

Ubas had two of the six national marks shattered when he settled for third place after completing eight events in men’s heptathlon, tallying a total of 5246 points.

PH football association to get P264M from FIFA

By Peter Atencio

FUNDS amounting to $8.04 million (roughly P264.782 million) will be allocated to the Philippine Football Federation over the next four years by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the international governing body of soccer.

This is a 29 percent increase from what FIFA gave in the previous World Cup cycle to member nations worldwide.

The FIFA Council approved of the allocation following a meeting on Tuesday in Zurich, Switzerland.

The council gave its nod after FIFA got a record-breaking revenue of $7.6 billion during the 2019-2022 cycle, and the projected

Rich Anvaya Cove Ladies International golf slated

THE Ladies Philippine Golf Tour unveils its new season in compelling fashion, drawing a powerpacked international cast, led by aces from Taiwan and Thailand, for the Anvaya Cove Ladies International beginning Feb. 22 at the posh Anvaya Cove Golf Club in Morong, Bataan.

The organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. is all geared up for the upcoming $100,000 championship spread over 54 holes that will likewise set in motion the new LPGT season following a successful 2022 edition that culminated in a first-ever Match Play Championship at Villamor.

The Anvaya Cove International also serves as the second leg of this year’s LPGA of Taiwan Tour, which has partnered with the LPGT in pre-pandemic times, sanctioning a couple of LPGT events in Taiwan and vice versa.

That guarantees a talent-laden field for next week’s battle of shotmaking and survival test at the windraked Anvaya Cove course with the TLPGA top players, headed by former LPGT Midlands leg champion Ching Huang, making up the core of the 70-player cast.

Spicing up the title chase in the event sponsored by ICTSI are some of the top guns from the Thailand LPGA Tour, including former LPGT winners Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng, Onkanok Soisuwan and Wannasiri Sirisampant, along with five Japanese, Hong Kong’s top player Isabella Leung and Manila-based Korean Kim Seo Yun, who finished second to top amateur Rianne Malixi at LPGT Riviera last year.

$11 billion that the world body is expected to gain during the 2023-2026 period.

FIFA recently published its annual report, revealing that it has earned “more than seven times the amount of funding has been provided to associations since Gianni Infantino became FIFA president in 2016.”

“It is FIFA’s duty to ensure not only that global tournaments engage with girls and

boys, women and men from all corners of the world, but also that football continues to provide opportunities to everyone, wherever they are born,” said Infantino in a statement.

FIFA said that for the 2023-2026 cycle, the total investment for the FIFA Forward program will be $2.25 billion.

In the next cycle, they will be implementing the FIFA Forward 3.0 program, which will have every one of FIFA’s 211 member associations (MAs) getting approximately $8 million for football development projects and operational support.

FIFA Forward is the world body’s flagship development program, which aims to provide for development and seeks help increase global competitiveness.

For the Philippines, the support saw the Philippine national women’s team expe-

Mariano Araneta

riencing its maiden qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, something that never happened in the past.

The PFF, through its president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, was able to get a new home in 2021 in Carmona, Cavite, and it was done through the Asian Football Confederation President’s Infrastructure Initiative Programme in 2020.

The headquarters are located within walking distance of the national training center, a full-sized FIFA-funded artificial pitch and two mini-pitches.

The structures give the PFF the needed resources to house its core football facilities close together in a single location.

Ubas broke the previous mark set by Jesson Cid at 4565 points in the 2014 Asian Indoor Championships in Hangzhou.

The national mark of Donovant Arriola of 7.64 meters back in 2015 also fell when he took first place in the long jump even at 7.66 meters, Ubas took the lead in two events, after the 60-meter run.

Ubas, who was leading after four events on Day 2 last Saturday, was behind Japanese bets Yumi Maruyama and Keisuke Okuda at the end of the final event, which is the 1000-meter run. Maruyama took the gold with 5801 points, with Okuda taking second with 5497 points.

“Ang lalakas ng kalaban. Nag-second place ako pagkatapos. Iyung last event, hindi ko na kinaya, hindi naman ako malakas doon,” added Ubas, who settled for eighth position in the 1,000-meter run.

He stayed in top three after Ubas got three more podiums in the high jump, 60 meter hurdles and pole vault.

Four other national records fell, with Sarah Dequinan breaking two, after settling for ninth place in the women’s pentathlon meet.

Dequinan’s 3530 points was the first national indoor record in the event, while the 1.66 meters that she cleared in high jump eclipsed Maureen Schrivjers’ 1.60-meter effort back in 2014.

Perpetual retires Thompson’s NCAA jersey

THE University of Perpetual Help System DALTA has retired Barangay Ginebra playmaker Earl Scottie Thompson’s NCAA jersey no. 6 in simple ceremonies at the UPHSD-Las Pinas City Gym II on Thursday.

University officials, who were on hand to witness the ceremonies, included Perpetual Altas Team Manager and Board Liaison Officer for Sports and Athletics, Anton Tamayo and Las Pinas campus School Director Dr. Arnaldo De Guzman.

The event was also attended by alumni, students, school officials, and fans of the famous basketball player.

In an interview, UPHS and Dalta Group of Companies CEO and Chairman of the Board Dr./BGen. Antonio L. Tamayo said: “The first time we saw Scottie take to the basketball court, we already knew he was special. With his diligent work ethic and the solid support of our staff, he blossomed into a fine basketball player. He is an example and an inspiration to all Perpetualites, and we will always be proud of him and his accomplishments.”

Meanwhile, Joseph Thompson, Scottie’s father said that he is thankful for the efforts of the Perpetual community.

“I remember when Scottie suffered from a back injury in his third year with the Altas. I was so worried, I even asked him to go home and continue his studies in Digos City. But Scottie refused because he wanted to pursue his dream by playing for the Altas in his 4th year,” Joseph Thompson said. “As a father, I’m very proud of Scottie. But like any other father, I always tell him to be humble and never think that he is on top of the world.”

UPHSD President Anthony Tamayo said that Thompson will always be welcome in the Perpetualite family.

“Once a Perpetualite, always a Perpetualite. Our doors will always be welcome to Scottie. He has shown us that the Perpetualite values of hard work and faith in God are pathways to success.”

Anton Tamayo also had praises for the former Perpetual Alta player.

“Scottie is one of the most exciting

OKBet, MPBL renew partnership

A NIGHT after the celebration of Valentine’s Day, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League and gaming platform OKBet renewed their “love affair” as they intend to help more aspiring players reach their full potential and eventually realize their dreams.

Boxing legend and MPBL founder Manny Pacquiao expressed his elation to the commitment of support made by the country’s leading gaming platform for their upcoming fifth regular season.

“I am looking forward to continue working with OKBet, which is one of our trusted partners in championing sports development and the welfare of our Filipino athletes,” said the former senator

during the OKBet Grand Launch billed as “Together, We Rise’ at the Hilton Manila Hotel “OKBet shared our goals to provide more opportunities to aspiring talents from all over the country, and help the local competitive scene recover from the Covid-19 pandemic,” added Pacquiao.

OKBet’s partnership with MPBL was part of the milestones the gaming platform achieved the past years which Pacquiao attested, saying the league he bankrolled returned from a two-year break due to the contagion with much success.

OKBet vowed to keep the partnership more vibrant apart from its main goal of helping revitalize the

no matter the challenge, a Perpetualite has what it takes to shine.” Dennis

country’s economy. After sealing a historic deal with MPBL last year, OKbet also launched its “Play It Forward” sports development program and enlisted the help of some of the league’s most talented players and coaches to host free basketball clinics for the Filipino youth.

It has also acquired the rights of the Makati OKBet Kings in the MPBL which will be competing with at least 29 other teams from different cities and provinces around the country on March 10. As a reliable ally of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, OKBet also committed to upholding the integrity of the gaming industry.

LINGERIE FIGHTING TOURNEY. Pink team coach Joel Kane (left) looks on as Bella Rockafella and “Hotstu ” Hollie Dunaway ght during “Lingerie Fighting Championships

37: Back to the Mansion” at Sapphire Las Vegas Gentlemen’s Club on February 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

Former Sen. Manny Pacquiao is OKBet’s advocacy partner in responsible gaming campaign. The partnership was unveiled during the company’s Grand Launch billed as “Together, We Rise’ on Feb. 15 at the Hilton Manila Hotel.

PBA MVP Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is shown with wife Jinky Thompson, Perpetual Altas team manager and Athletic Director Anton Tamayo and Perpetual Help Medical Center president Richard Tamayo during the PBA superstar’s Perpetual Altas jersey no. 6 retirement ceremony at Gym II at the Home of the Altas in Barangay Pamplona III, Las Piñas City. Dennis Abrina players to take to the Philippine Basketball Association hardcourt. He exemplifies the never-say-die attitude of

Perpetualites, that

Abrina

PNVF U18 championships under way at Rizal coliseum

FOUR girls’ matches and three in the boys’ side usher in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Under-18 Championships on Friday at the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Parañaque Green Berets and New Gen. Sta. Cruz Laguna kick off the action in a girls’ Pool A match set for 10 a.m., followed by the Parañaque Thunderbolts Volleyball Club-Gracel Christian College Foundation duel in Pool B at 11:30 a.m.

Marikina Titans Volleyball Club and California Precision Sports (CPS) square off at 1 p.m. in a Pool C duel, while Team Hiraya (Angono, Rizal) collides with Volida Volleyball Club to complete the girls’ competitions at 2:30 p.m.

The boys’ hostilities begin with Justice CM Palma High School taking on Team Makati at 4 p.m. in Pool A, Queen Anne School (QAS) clashing with Team Nagcarlan Laguna (NCL) at 5:30 p.m. in Pool D and MNHS-Antipolo City facing Philippine Christian University at 7 p.m. in pool B.

“Finally, the PNVF U-18 championships is here and we’re glad to announce that the reception’s very warm and enthusiastic,” PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara said. “We believe that we’re going to find the best talents here in this newly-revived tournament.”

Twenty teams are competing in the girls’ section and 16 squads are entered in the boys division. There are four pools in each of the genders.

Matches will be held on four consecutive Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, according to competition director Oliver Mora, with the medal plays for both genders set on March 12.

Saturday’s (February 18) girls’ matches pit CPS against Santa Rosa City in Pool C at 9 a.m., Ateneo de Manila University against Bethel Academy in Pool D at 10:30 a.m., NCL against QAS in Pool B at 12 noon and Maryhill College (MHC) against Junction Youth Organization in Group A at 1:30 p.m.

In the boys’ class, the Saturday matches are Hermosa Volleyball Club against Team Manila at 1 p.m. in Pool C, Junction Youth Organization against QAS at 4:30 p.m. in Pool D and Team Makati against Santa Rosa City (SRC) at 6 p.m. in Pool A.

On Sunday, it will be Volida Volleyball Club against Ateneo in Pool D at 8 a.m., SRC against MRK in Pool C at 9:30 a.m., Angeles City against NCL at 11 a.m. in Pool B and New Gen Volley Club of Santa Cruz against MHC at 12:30 noon in Pool A all in the girls’ side.

Jordan donates $10 million to Make-A-Wish foundation

LOS ANGELES—Basketball great Michael Jordan will make a record-breaking $10 million donation to the Make-A-Wish foundation to mark his 60th birthday later this week, a statement said on Wednesday.

Jordan’s donation to Make-A-Wish— which aims to fulfill the wishes of children aged between 2-18 battling critical illness - is the largest in the Arizona-based nonprofit’s 43-year history.

The six-time NBA championship winner has had a long association with the nonprofit, first working with the organization in 1989.

A statement from Make-a-Wish said the 59-year-old billionaire hoped his gesture would inspire others to donate to the foundation.

“For the past 34 years, it’s been an honor to partner with Make-A-Wish and help bring a smile and happiness to so many kids,” Jordan said in a news release.

“Witnessing their strength and re-

silience during such a tough time in their lives has truly been an inspiration.

“I can’t think of a better birthday gift than seeing others join me in supporting Make-A-Wish so that every child can experience the magic of having their wish come true.”

Make-A-Wish said Jordan had granted “hundreds” of wishes to children all over the world since 1989. His multimillion-dollar donation will be used to create an endowment to help grant wishes in the future for children and young people with serious illnesses.

“Everyone knows about Michael’s legacy on the basketball court, but it’s what he has consistently done off the court when no one’s watching that

makes him a true legend for wish families and the wider Make-A-Wish community,” said Make-A-Wish America chief executive Leslie Motter.

Jordan is regarded by many as the greatest basketball player in history, with six NBA Finals MVP awards in addition to his championship rings.

He also won five season MVP awards and was a 14-time All-Star during a career that spanned 1984 to 2003. AFP

1,500

golfers to see action in 74th PAL Interclub

MORE than 1,500 players representing 178 squads will converge next week for the 74th Philippine Airlines Interclub golf team championships in Cebu City.

Canlubang starts its defense of its Seniors’ crown on Tuesday, Feb. 22 against a host of challengers led by rival Luisita.

The Seniors’ event has drawn a total of 100 teams, nearly half coming from the United States, Canada, the Middle East, and Malaysia, among others. Alta Vista and Club Filipino de Cebu will play host to the four-round event that uses the Molave scoring system that awards 3 points for par. A regulation round is equivalent to 54 points. Each team is allowed to field a maximum of four players per round with only the top three scores counted. Each player is limited to two rounds.

After a three-day break, the regular Men’s Division tournament kicks off on 1 March with defending champion Manila Southwoods gunning for its seventh crown.

Twenty-one international teams are among 75 clubs entered in the tournament that is adopting the PAL scoring system. A par is worth 2 points with 36 points awarded to a regulation round.

Hosting the regular Men’s event are Cebu Country Club and Club Filipino de Cebu.

A maximum of five players can be fielded by each team but only the top four scores count. A player is also limited to two rounds.

Cebu City last hosted the Interclub in 2019.

The annual PAL Interclub, considered the country’s unofficial national team championship, was shelved for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 74th staging of the event is supported by platinum sponsors ABSCBN Global, Asian Journal, Airbus, and NuStar Resort and Casino. Gold sponsors include Radio Mindanao Network, Mastercard, Primax, University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network, PLDT/ Smart, and Konsulta MD.

Joining the event as silver sponsors are Philippine National Bank, Biocostech, and VISA.

Nakajima hangs on with 73 on windy day

TAGAYTAY—Toru Nakajima misfired coming home and barely clung to a one-stroke lead over Hyun Ho Rho with a 73 as majority of the rest also cracked with over-par scores in punishing day in the Philippine Golf Tour Q-School at Splendido Taal here yesterday.

The wind howled at the onset of the third round and kept pounding the course and the field throughout, sending the scores soaring and Nakajima’s erstwhile pursuers tumbling.

The scrappy Japanese did feel the warmth of the clubhouse at the finish but not its comfort as he hardly hung onto the lead with a 216 aggregate.

Coach Joe Lipa

THE Philippine Women’s National Football Team made its debut in the Pinatar Cup in Spain with a narrow 1-0 defeat against Wales early morning yesterday, Manila time.

Ranged against the higher-ranked Welsh squad, which is also preparing for the UEFA Women’s Nations League in September, the Filipinas gave their opponents a good match but an unfortunate foul in the penalty area in the 44th minute of the game proved to be the difference.

Kayleigh Green’s right footed strike to the bottom left corner gave Cymru the lead and eventually the game as Wales got off to a winning start in the tournament that also has Scotland and Iceland competing.

Despite the loss, Filipinas’ head coach Alen Stajcic was happy with the way his squad played in another historic match for the Philippine side.

“Considering that we’re in pre-season and the opposition right in the middle of their season, the jetlag, we’ve had delayed flights, we’ve had players ill and we’ve had players

He actually survived the test with a three-birdie, three-bogey

coming in really late to camp. That was an amazing effort, probably one of our best in terms of effort. We went up against players in the super league and some of the big clubs as well so it was a really good effort and the team showed a lot of discipline defensively,”

Stajcic said after the game.

Stajcic made two changes after the break.

Subbing in Eva Madarang and Katrina Guillou for Isabella Flanigan and Quinley Quezada to change the pace of the game. The pair made an immediate impact but Guillou’s attempt was parried away by Welsh goalie Safia Middleton-Patel. It was only the shot made by the Filipinas throughout the game as Wales dominated ball possession, had 11 more shots and seven more corners than the Philippine side.

Despite these stat lines, the Filipinas’ defense made the game close and it was even acknowledged by Wales Manager Gemma Grainger when she told BBC sport that “it was a tough game, they sat in deep and made us work.”

For his part, Stajcic assured that there were so many takeaways from the game especially on how the team can hold on to the ball better.

He also noted the penalty late in the first half as something they have to address in future games.

“It’s the fourth or fifth penalty we’ve given away and we’ve got to learn on those kinds of things but apart from that, I thought we did really well. Dom (Randle) herself had a strong game defensively,” he said.

frontside stint and came through with a brave run of pars at the back. But he failed to get up and down on the treacherous par-3 17th and wound up with a 36-37. Hyun also bogeyed the penultimate hole and missed catching the 2013 PGT Wack Wack leg winner at the helm. But the Korean ace now based at Mount Malarayat threatened to within one with a 217, setting the stage for a shootout for top honors in the final round of the elims which offers 35 cards for this year’s PGT. Make it a three-way battle as Gen Nagai put himself in strong contention for medal honors, also with a 72 for a 218. The Cebu-based Japanese,

The Filipinas will next face Scotland on February 18, 10 p.m. Manila time before capping their Pinatar campaign against Iceland on February 22, 3.30 a.m. Manila time.

“A lot of things to look forward to in the next week and hopefully, we can freshen the squad up for Game 2 and see how we go against Scotland who are as good as a team or even better (than Wales),” Stajcic added.

The Pinatar Cup is an invitational women’s association football tournament in San Pedro del Pinatar in Murcia. At least four teams are invited to join the competitions. It started in 2020 but got canceled the following year because of the pandemic. It resumed last year with Belgium winning the title. Scotland won the inaugural tournament. The opposition in Pinatar might be formidable, but then again the Filipinas have something that Wales, Scotland and even Iceland, ranked 16th in FIFA rankings, doesn’t have: a ticket to the biggest football event in Australia and New Zealand this year in July.

Speaking of a big event, a new book on basketball coach and icon Joe Lipa will be released next month. If schedules will allow, the book will come out by the third week of March.

Titled as “Coach Joe Lipa’s Basketball 101”, the book aims to be the most detailed guide for coaches and players of the most favorite sport in the country. Seasoned coaches or even those, who are just starting their careers calling the shots whether in elementary, highschool, collegiate and even professional cage leagues can learn a lot from the mind of one of the greatest local coaches the country ever had.

a former Philippine Junior Amateur champion, actually appeared headed to grabbing the third day honors with four straight birdies from No. 9 for a running two-under card. But he came in ruffled by the winds like the rest, bogeying Nos. 14 and 18 and enabling Nakajima, who also placed second to Angelo Que at Anvaya Cove in 2017, to stay ahead of the surviving 51-player field heading to the final 18 holes of the qualifier organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Nilo Salahog, in a five-way tie for second with first day leader U Minn Woon and amateurs Gab Manotoc and Russell Bautista, and Hyun after 36 holes, also wobbled at the finish

Aside from the subject itself, what makes the book equally interesting is the fact that The Designated Kit Man’s college classmate and Bedan Brother, Sonny Regalado Lopez wrote the book along with Coach Joe. Dean Ronnie Dizer of UP College of Human Kinetics and Faith Nacional-Rahi also played major roles in the publication of the book.

“Coach Joe is one of the greatest coaches we ever had. He was the only coach in our history to lead the Philippines to podium finishes in Asian basketball with purely homegrown players,” Lopez said.

Pistol Pete was my AB Philosophy and Letters classmate in the former best boys’ school in Mendiola before he shifted to Marketing Management and has made a career in Marketing Communications. He is a basketball coach and skills mentor based in the South of Manila as a means of staying connected to the game.

He was also a former varsity player for Benedictine Abbey School also known as San Beda College Alabang and originally wanted to go to UP Diliman just to try out for the Maroons and play under Coach Joe after growing watching Lipa during his heydays in the defunct Philippine Amateur Basketball Association while coaching other teams in different levels.

Lipa, a disciple of the great Bobby Knight of Indiana University and ‘84 US Olympic coach, has seen it all when it comes to coaching. Aside from his exploits with the national team, Lipa also ended his alma mater’s 47-year title drought when he guided

with bogeys on Nos. 15 and 18 and fell to fifth at 221 after a 76, while Bautista crumbled when the going got tougher and skied to a 77 marred by a double bogey on the par-4 No. 1 for a 222 in a tie with Hong Kong’s Michael Wong. The 25-year-old Wong barely made it to his tee-time but withstood the pressure and the elements at Splendido, hitting two birdies against a bogey at the front. He, however, bogeyed three of the last seven holes and finished with a 74, six strokes behind Nakajima. Ferdie Aunzo shot one of the day’s two best 71s to move to joint seventh at 223 with Woon, who continued to falter with a 78 after a 69 and 76.

the UP Maroons to the UAAP men’s basketball championship in 1986 with Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano. Aside from coaching in the PABL and UAAP, Lipa also had stints with Manila Beer, Shell, Air 21, Columbian Motors in the PBA.

“Although Ron Jacobs (the former coach of the national basketball team) was the first to introduce it in local basketball, it was coach Joe, who first appreciated the details and intricacies of motion offense in 1983. Motion offense is still being used by former coaches of the national team until recently,” Lopez explained.

Coach Joe’s book will come in two editions—one for coaches and one for the Department of Education (DepED). The latter will be proposed to DepEd as an accredited reference material in the public school system. The DepEd Edition aims to have PE teachers, through the book, instruct the fundamentals of the sport in Grades 5 to 12 classes as part of their PE curriculum the proper and scientific way coming from the point of view of Lipa.

Great job Peter!

I can’t wait to see the book when it comes out.

Please don’t forget to watch and tune in this Sunday, February 12, 2023 from 2-3 p.m. for another interesting discussion at 3PTS–Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports over DZME 1530 KHZ.

Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!

For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@ yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat

PBA

ALL-STARS AT PASSI CITY. Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Willie Marcial (left) and Passi City Mayor Atty.

Stephen Palmares on Wednesday sign a contract at the Mall of Asia Arena making the city the venue of the coming PBA All-Stars.

Michael Jordan

Toru Nakajima reads the line of his putt on the first hole

PEOPLE

…are talking about

David Licauco

GMA’s

Maria Clara at Ibarra did more than just bring a modern twist to Filipino literary classics.

It also reiterated why David is a heartthrob in so many ways. When he shared what he looks for in a potential partner, especially the non-showbiz bit, fans couldn’t help but gush and feel hopeful that maybe they’re the right match for the Kapuso actor. Well, whatever happens, may the best woman win (his heart).

Moira dela Torre

Despite her tear-jerking songs, Moira drew laughs when she candidly fulfilled a fan’s request to bring him danggit as he was watching her concert in Doha, Qatar. It’s refreshing to see Moira happy and comfortable with herself, even though it wasn’t an easy journey toward healing. And maybe she just discovered a new career path as a delivery girl whenever she feels like taking a break from life.

…are not talking about

Ronnie Alonte

Who would’ve thought there was trouble in paradise between him and Loisa Andalio? Ronnie admitted to cheating on Loisa several times, but she caught him every time, and karma caught up with him eventually. The question remains, what inspires Loisa to stay despite the actor’s repeated unfaithfulness? Maybe Ronnie learned his lesson and kept himself from having affairs—at least for Loisa’s sake.

Maggie Wilson

The fight between Maggie and her estranged exhusband, Victor Consunji continues, with the former reminding everyone through Instagram that she’s still the legal wife. Consunji, on the other hand, addressed Maggie’s social media posts by taking the lawful route and plying the former beauty queen with lawsuits. It’s taking a long time before they make peace with each other or come to a conclusion.

Korea-bound Hori7on gears up to be the next global group to hit the pop scene

DREAM Chasers

Jeromy Batac, Marcus Cabais, Kyler Chua, Vinci Malizon, Reyster Yton, Kim Ng, and Winston Pineda were hailed the winners of the country’s first idol survival competition, Dream Maker, on Sunday night (February 12).

The seven Dream Chasers, who received the highest public votes, were officially launched as Hori7on. Winning in ABSCBN’s idol survival competition marks the first step for the seven Dream Chasers in fulfilling their dreams of being an idol. They are set to fly to South Korea to further hone their skills to be the next global pop group.

Jeromy emerged with the highest number of votes of 3,188,238 votes to place first among 62 dream chasers, followed by Marcus and Kyler in second and third place with 2,824,716 and 2,697,520 votes respectively.

Vinci, the chosen center of the show’s signal song, “Take My Hand,” ranked fourth with 2,447,877 votes and Reyster placed 5thand got 2,285,407 votes.

Kim, who did not experience making it to the Top 7 in the past rankings, placed 6th with 2,240,510 votes, while Winston Pineda completed the group with 2,049,832 votes.

Meanwhile, Drei Amahan, Prince Encelan, Wilson Budoy, Thad Sune, Jay-R Albino, Matt Cruz, Macky Tuason, Jom Aceron, and Josh Labing-isa were the other Dream Chasers in the finale but did not make it to the final cut.

Marcus Vinuya, a business unit head for Dream Maker, shared what will keep Hori7on busy after winning the competition. He said, “Tuloy-tuloy ang training nila

rito while waiting for the visa, then they will head to Korea for further training. Eventually, they will debut within the year.”

With the success of the first collaboration project of ABS-CBN, MLD Entertainment, and Kamp Korea, CEO of MLD Entertainment Lee Hyoungjin said that viewers should watch out for the future

collaborations they have lined up for them. He said, “We have a lot of projects we have planned, so please look forward to it.”

During the finale, the Dream Chasers were split into two groups and performed the original songs “Dash” by BULL$EYE and “Deja Vu” by Seo Won-jin. They also surprised the viewers with an original song,

“Salamat,” to thank their fans who supported them in their journey.

The Dream Maker: The Dream Finale, which trended worldwide, featured performances of the Dream Chasers with girl group BINI BGYO TFN, Pinoy mentors Darren Espanto and Bailey May, and the show’s host Kim Chiu

Entrepreneur-philanthropist vies for Mrs. International 2023 title in Malaysia

MICHELLE Vitug Encarnacion, former Mrs. Elite Philippines International 2019, is now competing in Mrs. International 2023, to be held from February 18 to 27, with the preliminaries in Singapore and finals night in Malaysia.

Encarnacion, a successful businesswoman, promising actress, and philanthropist, has prepared a lot for the competition bringing with her a tourism video showcasing some famous paradise-island attractions of the Philippines.

Mrs. Philippines Face of Beauty International 2019 Riza Oben Dormiendo

Mrs. National Globe 2022 Marie Abigael Bayuga, and Mrs. Philippines International 2021 Leona Luisa Andersen gave Encarnacion moral boosts during a predeparture sendoff event held at St. Francis Shangri-La Place in Mandaluyong City.

Maan Cueto Aris and Aries Concep-

GMA Network hits 30m subs on YouTube

MEDIA giant GMA Network recorded another milestone as it crosses the 30-million subscriber mark on YouTube. With diverse and buzz-worthy content, GMA Network has captured the audience wherever they may be in the world. The network’s official YouTube channel (GMANetwork) currently has 28,611,312,103 lifetime views as of January 2023, according to YouTube Analytics.

Driving growth to the channel are shows Maria Clara at Ibarra, Abot-kamay na Pangarap, Unica Hija, Luv Is, and Magpakailanman

GMA’s YouTube channel also beat ABS-CBN with 167 million views against the latter’s 158 views from January 1 to 15.

Powered by GMA New Media, Inc., the network’s YouTube channel boosted its growth in subscribers and views by continuously innovating and entering into partnerships, including working hand in hand with YouTube via the YouTube Partnership Program in 2016.

In 2016, GMA Network earned its Silver Play Button for reaching 100,000 subscribers. In less than a year, it crossed the 1M subs mark and took home its Gold Play Button. In 2019, GMA received the Diamond Play Button after reaching 10 million subscribers. It next hit the 20M mark in 2020.

Kapuso Stream and Stream Together, (limited video-on-demand projects,) were also launched on the channel. Kapuso Stream is the first continuous live streaming service of GMA Network on YouTube and was launched in 2022, hosting daily live streaming of GMA Afternoon Prime and GMA Telebabad programs.

GMA also holds the distinction of being the first in the Philippines and the second television network in Southeast Asia to have three Diamond Creator Awards.

Earlier this year, GMA partnered with the Alliance for Creativity & Entertainment (ACE) to further strengthen its effort against digital piracy. ACE is widely regarded as the world’s largest and most effective anti-piracy coalition with over 50 current global members and GMA is its first member from the Philippines.

The network likewise launched its own anti-piracy advocacy campaign dubbed “Stream Responsibly. Fight Piracy” which aims to raise awareness among the public, especially the younger generation, on the value of creative works. The campaign also seeks to protect and educate the public about the potential harms of clicking pirated websites and apps.

cion, CEO/owners of Mrs. Philippines International organization, expressed confidence in the strong chances of Encarnacion to bring home the title.

* * *

Miss Supermodel Philippines 2023 runway challenge held

The twelve official candidates of Miss Supermodel Philippines 2023 walked the stage in red swimwear during the search’s Runway Challenge preliminary round held on Monday at One Shangrila Place Tower in Mandaluyong City.

The candidates, who also paraded in Filipiniana, include Aileen Joyce Santiago, Shyrla Nuñez, Jireh Calacala, Klebsiella Joiz Pasion, Ryzah Ortiz, Imogene Belles, Querubin Gonzalez, Alexia Villa, Katherine Padilla, Karla Majam, Floriane Lajara, and Mariah Nilo

Miss Aura International 2021 Alexandra Faith Garcia, along with Miss Supermodel Philippines national directors JJ and Mae Evelyn Maghirang, and Dr. Charlie Mendez stood on the sidelines as members of the

By Angelica Villanueva

IN the music industry where most of the bands ended up disbanding or vocalists decided to leave their respective bands in exchange for launching their own careers, Gigi De Lana gave her bandmates in The Gigi Vibes Band the assurance that she is not going anywhere despite offers to go solo.

Tama na hindi sila nag-wo-worry kasi hindi ko pinaparamdam ‘yun and at the same time, I will not leave The Gigi Vibes just because of offers, kasi for sure, maraming offers d’yan. Kasi before, naranasan ko nang mag-solo and hindi siya nag-wo-work for me,” she said.

In a press conference for their upcoming post-Valentine concert, Gigi shared that she actually tried going solo but admitted that it was not the same as she was performing with the band.

Kasi kung ako naman, kasi part naman ako ng banda. Ang daming nagsasabi, actually, ‘yung Gigi De Lana and The Gigi Vibes dapat Gigi Vibes na lang kasi banda kami. I’m not a solo artist with a band,” shared Gigi.

The singer is actually a Star Magic talent and Rise Studio artist. She was introduced in 2022 with her self-titled debut album which earned over 3.9 million streams on Spotify by yearend. It features the hit song “Sakalam” and the key track “O Bakit Ba.” She was also paired with Kapamilya actor Gerald Anderson on the drama series Hello Heart.

The Gigi Vibes, consisting of Gigi for vocals, Jon Cruz (musical director, keyboard), Jake Manalo (bass), Julius Traqueña (guitar), and Romeo

Michelle Vitug Encarnacion (center) is a successful businesswoman, promising actress, and philanthropist. She is also the former Mrs. Elite Philippines International 2019

board of judges. Alex Moico hosted the event with Communications Manager Sam Sapo * * * Studio8 Academy now open for business Studio8 Academy (Fashion Arts Music & Entertainment School) held its grand opening recently at the studio’s headquarters located at 120 Maginhawa St. in Diliman, Quezon City graced by actor Roi Vinzon Studio8 Academy, a brainchild of fashion designers Dave Ocampo, co-founder and president of Designers Circle Philippines (DCP), and Velzon Hizon Velez, founder of Manhattan Fashion Week and owner of VHV Fashion House, provides training that focuses on helping students of all ages develop skills. It offers various workshops that include Acting (Film and Theater), Modeling | Pasarela, Dance, Voice, Musical Instruments, Art Class (Painting and illustrations), Disk Jockey (DJ), Tutorial for Academic Subjects (Math, English, Science, Pilipino), Hair and Makeup Training, Photography, and Hosting.

Gigi De Lana headlines a post-Valentine concert at The Theatre at Solaire

From left: Jake Manalo, Romeo Marquez, Gigi De Lana, Jon Cruz, and Julius Traquena Marquez (drums), will once again hit the concert stage titled G Rules , happening on February 18, Saturday, at The Theatre at Solaire.

Last year, the band had their Domination concert tour in Manila, the Middle East, and the U.S. This love month, the Gigi Vibes is going to rock everyone’s hearts out with their original songs and amazing covers that have taken the internet by storm.

“Actually we wanted it to be as intimate as possible, ‘yung abot kamay lang nila kami,” Gigi exclaimed. “It will be something new, tampok ang mixed emotions sa show namin.

And s’yempre hindi mawawala ang kulitan.”

Witness and experience the good vibes with Gigi and the Gigi Vibes in the G Rules concert presented by ABS-CBN Events and Solaire Resort Entertainment City. Tickets are priced at P6480 (SSVIP), P5,400 (SVIP), P3,780 (VIP), P3,240 (gold), 2,160 (lower balcony), and P1,620 (upper balcony) available on ticketworld. com.ph and Solaire Box Office.

For more details, visit www.abs-cbn. com/newsroom You may also check Solaire Resort Entertainment City’s website at www.solaireresort.com

‘Dream Maker’ Top 7 debuts as Hori7on

David Licauco (left) and Barbie Forteza from ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’

C4 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2023

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant

E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

WE CAN find all kinds of love in this lifetime, but nothing compares to a first love. Sometimes, it’s not the first person that gave them kilig the puppy love that gave us butterflies when we were kids – for some of us, our first love actually began at home.

For most of us, our parents are the ones who loved us first, unconditionally. Actress, host, and meditation teacher Maxene Magalona realizes this meaningful truth and shares it with everyone in

LIFE

t felt letter to her late f

a new Valentine’s Day video

In the video, she pens a letter to her late father, the iconic and legendary master rapper Francis Magalona Maxene describes how her father taught her the true meaning of love. “For you, love is about acceptance and non-judgment. You love others the way you want to be loved— by just letting you be who you are,” she writes. “The love my dad showed me is my first love. He was a very genuine person. He showed everyone sincerity and respect. And to me, that’s love – accepting people

Maxene is one of the children of the late

SELF-LOVE has been a recent buzzword as people are becoming more in tune with themselves and realizing that having individual needs is valid. At this time of a pandemic, many of us were given the chance to slow down and face our challenges headon. Many of our struggles, especially ones that have to do with emotions, can be addressed by showing ourselves some love and care.

Thanks to the surplus of online tutorials and a bunch of do-it-yourself hacks today, it seems like everything can be self-taught. Can we also just teach ourselves the loving we need?

In an attempt to gain more understanding of the self and earn some selflove, I gifted myself with the book The Year of the Introvert: A Journal of Daily Inspiration for the Inwardly Inclined. The book by professional writer and online entrepreneur Michaela Chung is packed with quotes, insights, and journaling prompts for introverts like me. The writer, who specialized in introversion or the quality of being shy and reserved, takes readers on a year of self-care and introspection.

As I quickly glanced through the pages, I chanced upon a method of learning how to love the self more

AS a city in perpetual motion, Makati isn’t Makati without the endless stream of buses, cars, and bikes plying the stretches of Ayala and Makati Avenues, the heart of the central business district. The premier city’s elevated and underground walkways are constantly bustling as well, providing thousands of pedestrians with convenient facilities to get to their destinations, whether it’s an office in a high-rise building or one of the many restaurant and retail options in world-class malls.

But there are other ways this city encourages you to keep moving.

Parks and open spaces like Ayala Triangle Gardens on the corners of Ayala and Makati avenues and Paseo de Roxas Street, Washington Sycip Park and Legazpi Active Park in Legazpi Village, and Jaime Velasquez Park (or Salcedo Park) in Salcedo Village attract joggers and bikers at all hours.

If organized activity is more your thing, Makati has that, too, in spirited dance and dojo classes. The country’s leading city for business, lifestyle, entertainment, and culture even has something for adventure-seekers who thrive in the unpredictability of escape room games.

Shall we dance?

Nude Floor at Ayala Malls Circuit offers the gamut of dance disciplines—from

for who and where they are,” Maxene says.

Love, indeed, is patient and kind.

Maxene continues to live on the love that her dad taught her.

“The love you experience at home is the love that you model,” she shares. “Love is a safe space where you will be accepted and not judged.”

In her letter, she mentions how her dad showed her unconditional love through his actions. “You always tell me what I need to hear, but in a kind and gentle way,” she writes. “You would laugh and giggle as you tell me that heartbreak and pain are a natural part of life.”

“I’m very honored to be part of a

project that speaks of this kind of love. When you experience that kind of love at home you’re able to share it with others. I’m happy and honored that PLDT Home chose me to share this message with others,” she says. She adds that her favorite part of the video is the love letter for her dad. “I get to reconnect with him even if he’s not here physically. It was a comforting and heartwarming experience because it makes me remember that even if I am physically alone, love really knows no bounds. My dad’s love lives in me. I want to continue that legacy of his love.”

Maxene concludes the letter by declaring that despite the painful heartbreaks, she’s not afraid to love again. “I will never give up. I will never lose hope. I know deep in my heart that I will find my true love one day because you showed me what true love is about. Thank you, Pop. I found my first love at home.”

Watch Maxene Magalona’s heartwarming video on PLDT Home’s Facebook page or YouTube

Unpacking the method

L.O.V.E.

when the inner critic kicks in and makes us doubt our worth. Whether we are in a relationship or not, we can benefit from these steps which are broken down into L-O-V-E. Lean back Assess a situation from a distance. Detach for a bit and give yourself time away

Fun in fitness

ballet and vogue with ballroom culture to more contemporary choices like hiphop, popping, house, soul & funk, and waacking—not a typo, but a circa ‘70s street dance. Sign up for 60-minute lessons with the studio’s reputable network of instructors and choreographers.

The Studio Dance Club in Legazpi Village is a nod to the classic ballroom scene. Drink, dine, and dance to timeless disco music in elegant Art Deco-inspired interiors. Born with two left feet? Let the club’s in-house dance instructors gently lead you through salsa, samba, swing, and themed dance parties like Disco Friday, Saturday Boogie Nights, and K-Pop Nights.

The Ayala Triangle Gardens is an ideal venue in the metro to live out a healthy lifestyle

from a scenario physically or mentally. Observe Watch what is happening without passing judgment. Get in touch with your feelings as well. If you can, label your emotion or describe exactly how you feel. Recognize if there are certain triggers.

Aside from Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, judo, boxing, arnis, and fitness kickboxing, there’s even an anti-bullying course for kids. Certified instructors lead classes.

Capoeira Kadara Philippines in Bel-Air holds classes on the Brazilian discipline that marries martial arts with dance, aerobics, music, and even spirituality. T he group is led by Instructor Leao , under the guidance of Mestre Cicatriz , founder, president, and head mestre of Kadara Capoeira International.

The Lab is a boxing and Muay Thai fitness studio in Legazpi Village that’s known for its highly skilled trainers and quality equipment amenities. Open for both members and non-members, the studio aims to help all reach their full fitness potential.

Elite Boxing and Muay Thai Gym is a new workout spot in Salcedo Village if you’re into boxing and Muay Thai training for fitness and weight loss. Its coaches include current and former national team members or professional champions who are also capable of offering advanced training for professional athletes.

Cycle House in Salcedo Village is a fun music-driven indoor cycling studio that combines cardio and strength training. Its thematic classes like its Britney nights or K-pop rides are developed by cycling and fitness experts to make sure you effectively hit every single muscle group for that total body transformation. Need an escape?

Remember, the best relationship we will ever have is with ourselves

Vote for you

The book asks if we quickly start rooting for the opponents when our preferred team in a game begins to lose. Highly unlikely, right? It reminds us to always be on our side no matter what if we want to cultivate a loving attitude toward ourselves. This entails

Whether we are in a relationship or not, we can benefit from the L-O-V-E method

showing compassion for oneself when feeling defeated in life’s game. Escape

Going outside or engaging in one of our favorite pastimes can help us escape reality. This also allows us to validate our needs and address our wants. Our inner troll is said to be silenced when we find some peace. With these easily digestible steps comes a powerful journaling prompt on one of the book’s pages: Think back to a time when you were most in love with yourself. The book asks, “Who were your friends, what were your hobbies, and where were you living?”

Replicate the emotion by going back to the situation and recreating even the smallest wins. It may seem like hard work but it will be worth it in the end. As an inspiring woman I know constantly reminds, “The best relationship we will ever have is the one with ourselves.”

For your random thoughts, e-mail the author at randomrepublika@gmail.com

Meet ABS-CBN News’ new head

ABS-CBN has appointed Mary Anne Francis Toral as the new head of ABSCBN News, succeeding Regina “Ging” Reyes who retired in December last year.

Prior to her appointment, Francis served as ABS-CBN’s News Production head and was instrumental in the successful 2022 Halalan marathon coverage. She also led ABS-CBN News’ DocuCentral group that produced several award-winning documentaries, including Di Ka Pasisiil, a documentary on the Marawi siege that won a Gold World Medal in the New York Festivals –World’s Best TV & Films in 2018.

During her tenure as ABS-CBN head of Breaking News and Live Events, Francis was also responsible for the special coverage of the Visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines in 2015 and Pilipinas 2016, the Presidential Town Hall Debate held in Pangasinan.

Francis, a 25-year veteran of ABSCBN News, rose from the ranks and produced various programs including The World Tonight with Angelo Castro, Jr. and Tina Monzon Palma, Talkback with Monzon Palma, and Beyond Politics with Lynda Jumilla

She graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Broadcast Communication in 1998. In 2009, Francis was awarded the Benigno and Corazon Aquino Fellowship by the United States Embassy in Manila.

Where to get your kicks?

KMA Fitness and Martial Arts in Salcedo Village has something for every member of the family.

Left Behind at Ayala Malls Circuit gives you and your gang 45 minutes to get out of a ladies’ restroom (Flushed), the basement of a house in the middle of a forest (The Basement), or a mine in the far north mountain of Amarok (The Mines). Consider it a fun afteroffice alternative to your usual exercise routine, or a great way to bond with family and friends.

Meanwhile, Nadia Trinidad has been appointed as News Digital Media head, and will now be responsible for ABS-CBN News Online and its digital news properties.

Trinidad was previously the head of the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) prior to her new appointment. She began her career as a reporter and news advisory anchor for Studio 23 and eventually took on bigger roles

Mary Anne Francis Toral is a 25-year veteran of ABS-CBN News including being the North America Bureau chief in 2011, News Production head in 2013, and managing director in 2021. Trinidad is a Communication graduate of Ateneo De Manila University and holds a postgraduate degree from Stanford University as a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow. She succeeds Lynda Jumilla who retired last December 31 after serving as news digital head for three years. A veteran broadcast journalist, Lynda was named the Marshall McLuhan fellow in 2012 by the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines. She was the anchor of Beyond Politics on ANC and previously served as ABS-CBN chief of reporters. Taking the helm as the new ANC head is Alvaro Dan “Baroy” Morga He will be in-charge of ANC’s content production and lead its editorial production teams. He previously served as ABS-CBN News’ head of Strategy and New Business. Morga graduated with a degree in Economics from Ateneo De Manila University.

Actress, host, and meditation teacher Maxene Magalona describing how her father saw love

iconic Filipino rapper Francis Magalona