Manila Standard - 2023 February 24 - Friday

President declares Feb. 24 a holiday; 6 in 10 say EDSA spirit is alive—SWS

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared February 24 as a special non-working day in observance of the EDSA People Power anniversary, moving its celebration from a Saturday to today (Friday) to support the government’s holiday economics thrust.

This developed as about 6 in 10 Filipinos believe the spirit of the EDSA Revolution is alive, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released Thursday. The Office of the Executive Secretary

PH divorce bills gain ground

House panel merges measures to include church annulment

By Maricel V. Cruz

AHOUSE panel on Thursday moved to consolidate bills

instituting divorce in the Philippines, the only country in the world where it is not legal.

The House committee on population and family relations on Thursday approved in principle House Bills (HBs) 78, 2593, 3843, 3885, 4957, 4998, along with HBs 1021 and 1593, setting the stage for the consolidated measure’s endorsement for plenary discussions.

Former Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, one of the advocates of divorce, said that instituting divorce in the country will allow the husband and the wife to “correct” their errors. He said allowing for the dissolution of a “toxic” marriage, through divorce, would be “best way forward.”

“Marriage is beautiful. But only for those who get it right. And for those who do get it right, congratulations!

(The) reality, however, shows us a different picture for most people. Many get marriage wrong,” Alvarez said as he sponsored his bill instituting absolute divorce and dissolution of marriage.

Alvarez said the state should not “forcibly chain together those who should be allowed to distance and part ways in peace.”

“For this situation, a toxic marriage, like an exploding star pulled back and collapsing unto itself, becomes a blackhole where nothing, not even the light, hope and love, can survive or escape,”

Alvarez added, saying many marriages are mistakes.

HB 1021 recognizes church annulment or church dissolution of marriage and HB 1593 recognizes the civil effects of church annulment, church declaration of nullity, and church dissolution of marriage.

The committee designated one of the bill’s authors, Albay Rep. Edcel

Coast Guard seeks US, Japan aid on laser use amid sea harassment

said it is reaching out to the United States and Japan to come up with procedures for dealing with harassment on its ships using laser technology while

admitting it had no immediate capability of deploying lasers to aid its patrol of the country’s seas. The PCG is including the use of laser technology in its rules of use of

force, but still needs the approval of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea, Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a television interview.

In a Laging Handa briefing on Thursday, Tarriela also said they had no plans of using laser technology “as part of our weaponry for Philippine Coast Guard vessels.”

Rescuers confirm 4 in Cessna plane crash on Mayon dead, retrieval set

By Joel E. Zurbano

RESCUERS have confirmed four people died after the Cessna 340 plane they were in crashed on Mayon volcano at

CRASH CASUALTIES. Energy Development Corp. released this image on Thursday identifying the four persons who died in the crash of a Cessna plane owned by the company near the crater of Mayon Volcano in Albay last weekend. EDC Photo

Investment body to present P15t in projects to PBBM next month

By Vince Lopez and Rey E. Requejo

THE government’s Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) is set to meet

Makati court junks libel rap vs. MS execs

THE Makati Regional Trial Court on Thursday dismissed libel charges against former and present officers of Manila Standard filed by Enrique Locsin, former Philcomsat director, over a column written by Victor Agustin that appeared in the newspaper’s December 17, 2007 edition.

In a 44-page decision, Makati RTC Branch 60 Presiding Judge Cesar L. Aganon said the prosecution’s witnesses

this week to finalize a list of some P15 trillion worth of projects that will be presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. next month.

This was as the President on Thursday said he believes it is “only a matter of time” before ordinary Filipinos start feeling the effects of economic growth

in the country. According to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

League of Municipalities vows to back dev’t agenda

THE League of Municipalities of the Philippines expressed its unwavering support for the development agenda of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., detailed in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, following the presentation of the LMP National 2023 General Assembly Declaration at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday.

LMP National President Mayor Joseph Santo Niño “JB” Bernos of La Paz, Abra presented the declaration to Mr. Marcos, who graced this year’s league assembly with the theme, “Strengthening Municipal Capabilities Around Autonomy and Fostering Resiliency.”

the weekend, officials said Thursday. The victims, including two Australians, were on board the plane that went missing Saturday morning shortly after taking off for Manila from Bicol International Airport in Albay province, several kilometers from the Mayon volcano. Carlos Baldo, mayor of Camalig municipality, which overlaps the crash site, said a search and rescue team reached

Senate names oversight panel for RCEP treaty

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

THE Senate has named the members of the oversight committee who will watch the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s biggest free trade agreement ratified by senators Monday. Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda will lead the RCEP oversight committee with Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, Senators Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Mark Villar, Sonny Angara, Sherwin Gatchalian, Jinggoy Estrada, and Alan

TOAST TO THE EMPEROR. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, and Deputy Speaker Vincent “Duke” Frasco raise their wine glasses in a toast during the National Day Reception celebrating the 63rd birthday of Japanese Emperor Naruhito hosted by the Japanese Embassy at the Grand Ballroom of Shangri-la The Fort in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on Wednesday night. Ver Noveno

LMP SUPPORT. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. joins officials of the League of Municipality of Philippines (LMP) led by its National President Joseph Sto. Nino Bernos (seated third from left) and President Emeritus Luis Chavit Singson (left) during its national assembly at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday. Joseph Muego

Jinggoy calls ICC ‘white monkeys’

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

SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday night called officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC) “white monkeys” for seeking to investigate human rights abuses during the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Estrada said there was no need for the ICC to conduct a probe on drug war deaths because the country’s justice system has remained active and functional.

He noted that even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. slammed as an intrusion and a threat to the country’s sovereignty the plan of the ICC to interfere in the Philippines’ justice system.

“No Pontius Pilate and white mon-

This came three days after the spokesman revealed the PCG’s plans – in the wake of the February 6 laserpointing incident in Ayungin Shoal involving the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) -- in an interview with CNN, These plans include joint patrols with the United States Coast Guard in the WPS to counter Chinese aggression in the waterway and support freedom of navigation in the contested South China Sea.

“We maintain our response to evade or maneuver. The only thing that is new right here is the use of laser technology, which is supposedly included in the rules of use of force,” Tarriela told CNN.

“To be honest, the use of laser technology - we still don’t have that kind of capability in the PCG. That is why we are reaching out to the US and Japan as to how we will be able to come up with procedures for this kind of harassment,” he added.

In the public briefing, Tarriela added: “What we are saying is for us to revise our rules for the use of force, where it’s still not indicated how the Philippine Coast Guard would respond to these kinds of threats towards (our) vessels,” he said.

“Definitely, the PCG is not considering putting laser weaponry onboard our Coast Guard vessels,” he added.

Tarriela’s statement came after the laser-flashing incident in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) earlier this month that the crew of the PCG’s BRP Malapascua said left them temporarily blind.

The continued presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, the country’s exclusive economic zone in the disputed South China Sea, also remains an issue.

The PCG official said around 30 Chinese vessels are still moored in the West Philippine Sea as of Wednesday — 26 in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal and four in Ayungin Shoal.

To counter their presence, Tarriela said they are intensifying their patrols in the areas by deploying one offshore patrol vessel and 144 MRRV vessels.

keys from the ICC should be allowed to enter our country as they will be wasting their time,” he said. He said the Philippines should not be deceived or accede to the instructions of the “foreign monkeys.” This developed as Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday assured the European Union that the Philippine government is implementing reforms in the country’s justice system.

Lagman, to lead the technical working group to work on the consolidated bill.

“May I move to approve in principle House Bill Nos. 78, 1021, 1593, 2593, 3843, 3885, 4957, and 4998 subject to the submission of a substitute bill encompassing the various bills to be crafted by a technical working group soonest with special concern on the civil recognition of marriages dissolved by the Catholic Church and other recognized religious denomination as a possible separate measure but a companion bill […]?” Lagman said.

Lagman’s bill, HB 77, provides that the divorce petition will undergo a judicial process where proof of the cause for the divorce is established and that the marriage has completely collapsed without any possibility of reconciliation.

Lagman’s bill also allows divorced couples to remarry.

Tingog party-list lawmakers on Thursday lauded the approval at the committee level of the party’s proposed measure seeking civil recognition of church annulment to make it accessible and inexpensive.

“On behalf of the Tingog Party List, I’d like to thank the committee for its favorable action on House Bill (HB) 1593. This is a significant development

Remulla conveyed the assurance during his meeting with the delegation of the European Parliament (EP) Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI).

As for the case of detained former senator Leila M. De Lima, Remulla said he told the delegation that she may be provisionally released if she files a petition seeking the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus, which is a legal remedy against arbitrary detention.

Before Estrada’s privilege speech, Senator Robin Padilla also aired his strong objection to the ICC plan to enter the country to investigate Duterte’s drug war in which thousands of drug suspects, mostly low-level pushers or users, were killed.

that provides hope for an efficient and more affordable procedure to remedy the situation of couples trapped in an irreparable relationship,” said Rep. Jude Acidre, who co-authored the measure with fellow Tingog Party List Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez.

The action of the committee was prompted by Lagman’s motion to approve eight measures in principle and assign a TWG to craft a substitute proposal on the civil recognition of marriages dissolved by the Catholic Church and other religious denominations.

In his sponsorship speech before the committee, Acidre said that once HB 1593 becomes a law, a declaration of nullity decreed by the Church will hold as much weight and have the same effect as a civil annulment.

“This removes the burden of undergoing the civil annulment process. As a result, Catholics who have sought annulment in the Church should not anymore be ‘long oppressed by the darkness of doubt’ over whether their marriages already declared null and void should also be recognized as such by the state,” Acidre said.

HB 1953 proposes that a marriage duly and legally solemnized by a priest, imam, rabbi, or presiding elder of an established church or religion in the Philippines which is subsequently annulled, dissolved or declared a nullity in a final judgment or decree in accordance with

Padilla and Estrada both filed separate resolutions urging the entire Senate to oppose the ICC probe.

But opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said the drug-related killings have not stopped and the ICC investigation would not hurt domestic efforts.

She assured representatives of the European Parliament subcommittee on human rights that the ICC investigation on the war on drugs will help the country “exhaust all means” to give justice to the victims of the bloody policy of the previous administration.

The group met Hontiveros separately during their visit to the Senate on Wednesday, where they sought a different perspective on human rights issues in the Philippines.

the canons and precepts of the church or religious sect, shall have the same effect as a decree of annulment, dissolution or declaration of nullity issued by a competent court.

The authors of the measure said their proposal was an offshoot of Pope Francis’ position to simplify the procedures for annulling marriages in the Catholic Church.

Jerome Secillano, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Public Affairs Committee Executive Secretary, said the Catholic Church remains staunchly opposed to legalizing divorce.

Iglesia Ni Cristo spokesman Edwil Zabala said their church also believes in the sanctity of marriage.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) rallied behind the proposed measures legalizing divorce in the Philippines.

At a congressional hearing, Senior Gender and Development Specialist Armando Orcilla Jr. of the PCW Policy Development, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division said: “As to divorce and dissolution of marriage, we fully support these bills filed to free married couples from the tedious process of annulment, be it in a form of divorce or dissolution of marriage.”

Orcilla said studies have shown that women are mostly “at the losing end” when a marriage fails.

COVID-19 cases, deaths dropping, WHO data says

DESPITE its continued global health emergency status, COVID-19 cases and deaths have declined, according to data from the World Health Organization.

Based on its latest epidemiological report, nearly 5.3 million new cases and over 48,000 deaths were reported from Jan. 23 to Feb. 19, a decrease of 89 percent and 62 percent, respectively, from the previous month.

The decrease in cases has been observed across all WHO Regions, while all but the Eastern Mediterranean Region (+18%) have also recorded a decline in fatalities.

The Western Pacific Region, to which the Philippines belongs, saw a 94 percent decrease in reported cases and a 77 percent decrease in deaths, ABS-CBN reported.

But the world body attributes the decline to the reduction in testing and reporting delays around the world.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus on Wednesday night appealed to countries to “maintain and strengthen surveillance and sequencing so that as the virus evolves, vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics can be evaluated and updated quickly as needed.”

“This week, WHO’s Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19 Vaccine Composition emphasized the need for continued surveillance to guide the composition of vaccines, and to assess their effectiveness,” he said in a press briefing.

While many countries, including the Philippines, have already lifted the mandatory use of face masks in most spaces, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s Technical Lead for COVID-19, said it remains to be part of the comprehensive strategy to reduce transmission rates.

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the wreckage on Wednesday and confirmed there were no survivors.

“We found the site, there were no signs of life,” Baldo told a news conference on Thursday.

and testimony “do not qualify as preponderant evidence” to grant Locsin’s petition and hold Agustin and the officers of the Standard civilly liable for libel.

Aside from Agustin, the former Editorial Board Chairman of the Standard, also cleared of libel charges were publisher

Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, the ICC Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) meeting will establish the list that will include the eventual flagship projects of the current administration, GMA News reported.

Teodoro “Teddy” L. Locsin Jr. – the complainant’s brother – President Rogelio T. Salazar, and Editor-in-Chief Jojo A. Robles, who were the Standard’s top officers when the case was filed in 2008. Also acquitted were Standard Managing Editor Ramon L. Tomeldan and Associate Editors Ray S. Enano, Chin Wong, and Cesar Barrioquinto.

In his complaint, Enrique Locsin sued the Standard officers and staff for Agus-

In a related development, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko expressed optimism that the PH economy “will show topclass growth” among its Asian neighbors and will “attract more Japanese investors in the coming years.”

tin’s article titled “Locsin’s Private ATM” in his regular “Cocktales” column, which he said was defamatory and caused him “dishonor, discredit or contempt.”

The complainant also asked for an unspecified amount in damages over Agustin’s column. But Judge Aganon disagreed, saying there was not enough evidence to convict the accused for libel under Articles 353 and 355 of the Revised Penal Code. Jimbo Gulle

Edillon earlier said the Marcos administration has already identified some 206 big-ticket projects under its infrastructure program, but these are still being evaluated for viability.

(OES) released Presidential Proclamation Number 167 signed by President Marcos declaring the special nonworking day.

According to the Palace, the declaration of the non-working day is “to enable Filipinos to avail the benefits of a long weekend.”

Furthermore, the memo stressed that the celebration of the EDSA People Power anniversary – normally marked every Feb. 25 – “may be moved from its original date as long as the historical significance is maintained.”

The Office of the President also directed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to issue the appropriate circular to implement the proclamation for the private sector.

The SWS survey, meanwhile, said out of 1,200 adults polled from Dec. 10 to 14 last year, 62 percent said the spirit of the People Power revolution was alive, while 37 percent said it was not.

The survey said 57 percent of respondents said the date was still important to commemorate the February 1986 uprising, while 47 percent said the commemoration was no longer important.

Asked about how many EDSA Revolution promises were fulfilled, 47 percent of respondents said “a few”, 28 percent answered “almost none or none,” 19 percent said “most,” and 5 percent believed “all or nearly all.” Vince Lopez

Balisacan said some 190 of the projects are tentatively set to be undertaken through public-private partnership (PPP), of which 98 are already in the pipeline and estimated to be worth P3 trillion.

The final list will then be taken up by the NEDA Board Executive Committee — chaired by the President — when it meets in two weeks’ time on March 9.

In a declaration, the municipal mayors reiterated their position and call “for strengthened complementation between the national and local governments.”

They said this is “one of the cornerstones in achieving the national goal for actualized economic and social transformations to reinvigorate employment generation and to accelerate poverty

Peter Cayetano as members.

The oversight committee will guarantee the smooth implementation of the free trade agreement. It will also moni-

of government

and medium

“Hopefully the President will approve that. It’s bearing the entire list and we have already identified what is likely PPP (public private partnership), but we are open to accommodating any of those as candidates for PPP,” Balisacan said.

The list also includes projects prepared by earlier administrations and those returned to the proponents, which Balisacan said should be accepted if they satisfy the standards of the current administration.

NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie

reduction as articulated in the newly minted PDP plan.”

“This declaration, therefore, is a testament to our unwavering support of the Marcos Administration’s development agenda and a show of our solid commitment to continuously partner with the national government, coupled with collaborative action and cooperation between local authorities, towards the shared goal of a better Philippines in 2028,” the LMP said.

The group also appealed for the re -

enterprises (MSMEs); science and technology; trade; and agriculture sectors.

With the Senate’s ratification, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri noted the Philippines can now finally join the fourteen other countries that have begun to implement the agreement.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chair of the House committee on ways and means, meanwhile said that while he supports the

Mr. Marcos made his latest remark on growth in a Facebook post as he welcomed a report showing that investments registered with the Board of Investments (BOI) reached more than P414 billion in the first 40 days of 2023.

This amount accounts for more than 40 percent of the country’s P1-trillion investment target for the year.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual, who chairs the BOI, revised the bureau’s investment approval targets from P1 trillion to P1.5 trillion this year.

vision of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Executive No. 138

(Full Devotion of Certain Functions of the Executive Branch to Local Governments) to highlight its lengthened timeline implementation.

This would give ample time for local governments to put in place transitory systems to cater to the changes and full assumption of revolver roles and responsibilities prescribed under the approved Devolution Transition Plans (DTPs).

Moreover, the LMP asserted that

RCEP “as a free trader,” he believes that the agreement could “accelerate the hollowing out of our domestic agriculture and manufacturing sectors.”

Salceda added, however, that “the impacts on our country would be worse by not joining.”

“The RCEP’s most significant change is really easier rules-of-origin procedures. Any input from any member

Baldo said 179 people were involved in the operation to carry the bodies down the steep slopes of the volcano. They hoped to arrive at the base of the mountain by Thursday evening.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the plane’s wreckage was on the western side of the volcano, about 3,500 to 4,000 feet above sea level.

“It’s very difficult terrain,” said Albay disaster officer Cedric Daep, warning the retrieval operation could take longer than a day.

“It’s steep and there are ridges where only one person can climb at a time.”

Manila-based Energy Development Corp. said previously that it owned the plane. The Australians were technical consultants for the renewable energy company.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go to their families and friends during this difficult time,” company president Richard Tantoco said in a statement.

The wreckage was spotted on Sunday, but rain, clouds and the risk of a volcanic eruption hampered efforts to reach the crash site.

A rescue team, including veteran mountaineers, began making the steep climb on foot on Tuesday. With AFP

municipalities be allowed to make decisions and craft solutions that are localized tailored fit, and responsive to local needs and contexts.

“When local governments have the power to make decisions and the requisite resources, they can streamline services and respond, appropriately and timely, to identify the needs of localities and the people,” its statement said.

The President affirmed his administration’s support for the devolution of functions to local governments.

country of the RCEP is considered domestic input,” the lawmaker said.

“As such, even when the inputs are, say, from a mix of China, Vietnam, and Thailand for complex goods, as long as they total 40 percent of the value of the good, they will qualify for preferential tariffs – 97 percent of which ATIGA (the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement) already reduced to zero.”

tor the support programs

agencies for micro, small,

PH to export durian to China starting March

By Vince Lopez and Bobby Lagsa

FOLLOWING President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to China last month, the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) has reported that the Philippines would start shipping durian to China starting March this year.

DA Assistant Secretary Arnel

De Mesa informed the President of the scheduled shipment of durian to China during a meeting with Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) in Malacanang this week.

In its presentation, the DA-BPI said there is an initial volume of 7,500 metric tons (MT) of durians ready to be sent to the Asian country, which will be sourced from 59 different farmers or producers covering some 400 hectares of production area.

President Marcos’ China visit last month opened the country’s door for more Philippine fruit exports to Beijing as he cited the agricultural sector as “at the forefront” of the post-pandemic economic recovery strategy.

Mr. Marcos told the chief executive officers (CEOs) from the agriculture sector in Beijing that the protocol for the export of fresh

Philippine durian was already signed, paving the way for Chinese importers to source the fruit from the Philippines.

Manila and Beijing agreed on a protocol of phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh durians from the Philippines to China between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and China’s General Administration of Customs.

The $2.09 billion in purchase intentions for Philippine fruit exports secured by the Marcos administration also covers coconut and bananas, among others.

At least four companies had expressed their intention to purchase more Philippine tropical fruit products, especially durian, the President said.

The Durian Industry Association of Davao City (DIADC) on Wednesday meanwhile said that they expect to start shipping fresh durian to China next month.

MEETING WITH THE SPEAKER. Local officials of Aklan province, led by Aklan 2nd District Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr. (5th right), pay a courtesy call on Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (center) at Speaker’s office in the House of Representatives Wednesday afternoon. Other attendees include (from left) Mayor Charito Navarosa of Libacao, Mayor Rex Gubatina of Madalag, Mayor Jeserel Templonuevo of Numancia, Mayor Floribal Bautista of Malay, Mayor Gary Fuentes of Tangalan, Mayor Josephine Iquiña of Malinao, Mayor Concepcion Labindao of Buruanga, Mayor Maria Fe Laseta of Nabas and Mayor Jose Miguel Miraflores of Ibajay. Ver Noveno

ASEAN advisory group eyeing dev’t of PH local micro firms

MAKATI CITY—The Association of Southeast Asian NationsBusiness Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) leadership hopes to work with the Philippine government to help develop micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines.

The ASEAN-BAC leadership, which is also composed of top officials of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia), was in Manila last week as a continuation of its chairmanship roadshow across the region.

ASEAN-BAC and KADIN Indonesia chairperson Arsjad Rasjid said the Manila roadshow aims to strengthen the trade and investment within the ASEAN region

IN BRIEF

and also foster the bilateral partnership between the Philippines and Indonesia. Indonesia is one of the Philippines’ major trading partners with a total trade value of $9.5 billion per year.

The Indonesian government also implemented a Philippines First Policy, which prioritizes Philippine agricultural goods for importation. “We are doing a roadshow in every ASEAN country because we want to really hear the voice of business from each country. We need to make sure that we can make more trade and investment within us [ASEAN]. The goal is ASEAN centrality. Innovation towards greater inclusivity. It means we cannot leave anybody behind,” Rasjid explained.

Drug group eyed in Adiong ambush

A GROUP of drug suspects is being eyed as possible suspects in the ambush of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

“Based on our ongoing investigation, we are looking at a group of drug personalities,” PCol. Robert Daculan, quoted by GMA News, said.

The official refused to name

the group as it might hurt their investigation. Daculan said they are now collecting statements from first responders and survivors of the attack, GMA News reported. “Sa ngayon nasa finalization stage kami ng collection ng mga affidavits ng mga nagsurvive, mga first responders. Then sa operation regarding sa grupo na ito ay tuloy-tuloy po,” he noted.

Agents seize marijuana worth P3.7m

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized more than P3.7 million worth of high-grade marijuana (kush) and arrested its claimant in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The BOC, with the help of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), discovered the illegal drugs in a shipment from Quebec, Canada, said to contain “window curtains, cotton.”

The shipment was subjected to usual K9 sniffing and xray scanning procedures and was immediately subjected to physical examination based on information received from the PDEA. The physical examination resulted in the discovery of five packs of dried leaves and stems weighing 2,336 grams, suspected to be Marijuana. Vito Barcelo

Senator hints SRA exec may be sued

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

OPPOSITION Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday hinted at the possible filing of administrative and criminal charges against Senior Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban over the irregular importation of 260 20-foot containers of sugar from Thailand.

Hontiveros issued the statement following Panganiban’s admission that he proceeded with the immediate importation of sugar as he considered a memorandum released by the Office of the Executive Secretary as a directive to import sugar.

Hontiveros questioned anew the Department of Agriculture’s “handpicked” companies which imported tons of sugar country, saying this was how cartels were formed.

Hontiveros said importing 450,000 metric tons of sugar can be considered an economic sabotage.

“Ayon sa batas, sa Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, bawal ang pagpasok sa bansa ng asukal na hindi bababa sa P1,000,000 ang halaga, at walang tamang permit,” she explained.

“Kaya sa pag-amin kahapon ni Department of Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban na sila ang namili at nag-utos sa tatlong kompanya na mag-import, sana ay handa silang humarap sa mga seryosong kasong kriminal at administratibo,” she added.

Hontiveros further said only the Sugar

Recto asserts NCAP needs more studies

By Maricel V. Cruz

DEPUTY Speaker and Batangas Rep.

Ralph Recto on Thursday expressed belief that the controversial No Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP) needs to undergo further studies and public consultations.

“But even if judicial roadblocks are lifted, the No Contact Apprehension Program should not be resumed until broad consultations, whose end is cure it of its weaknesses, are held,” Recto said.

“Parang sa lansangan lang, “Stop, Look, Listen” is the most prudent approach,” he added.

Recto made the statement in response to the possible return of the NCAP–which uses closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to spot traffic violations by motorists and pedestrians–this coming April.

“In principle, I agree that CCTVs could be a tool to enhance traffic enforcement, to impose rules – that should be the only motivation, and never to raise revenues,” said.

Recto said the objective is to have uniform rule that binds the entire country,. “One way to do this is for Malacañang to step in,” he said.

“The national government must look under NCAP’s hood and tweak and treat the program of its defects. Para kung ibabalik man, walang malawakang reklamo na ang hulicam ay parang hulidap,” Recto stressed.

“As NCAP is getting viral, spreading to other LGUs, the rules must be made clear, so there will be benchmarks as to fines imposed, as well as the limits of ROI of private contractors,” he said.

Regulatory Administration (SRA), not Panganiban on his own, has the authority to issue permits and licenses like sugar orders to import the commodity under the SRA charter.

Pitong buwan na mula nang mabulgar ang sugar import fiasco, bagong fiasco ulit? Sino na naman ang nag-utos niyan? Sino at ano ang nag-udyok sa kanila na gawin ang ika niya ay “hasty decision na yan?” Hontiveros inquired.

“Once, and for all, para mapanatag naman ang mga consumers, nananawagan ako kay Presidente: lagdaan na nila ang isang maayos na sugar order na hawig sa mga dating sugar orders na pangmaramihang importers,” she added.

The SRA recently released an order authorizing the importation of 440,000 metric tons of refined sugar even without the signature of President Ferdinand “Bongbong”Marcos Jr., who sits as chairman of the SRA Board in his capacity as Secretary of Agriculture. Sugar Order No. 6, uploaded on the SRA website, showed that the document was transmitted to the Office of the President on Feb. 9, 2023.

Makati to convert Makatizen Cards into virtual cards

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Makati City government is set to transform its Makatizen Cards into virtual cards.

Mayor Abigail Binay made this announcement during Wednesday’s forum dubbed as “The Rise of Intelligent Cities and Municipalities” held at the Bonifacio Global City.

Binay said by going digital, the Makatizen Card will soon be conveniently accessed through a smartphone or any internet-enabled device, making it easier for residents to access government services and programs.

The Makatizen Card is a pioneering project that brings together social

services, information, identification, and financial features to constituents. It is a unified, multi-purpose governmentissued citizen ID that consolidates financial and social benefits for over 500,000 Makati residents.

The mayor said the card was a springboard for the city’s rapid transformation into the country’s first Digital City. She added it empowers employees, the senior citizens, and the youth.

“Since the start of my term in 2016, we have been implementing a number of digital initiatives to improve the lives of Makatizens,” said Binay.

“In 2017, we launched the Makatizen Card in partnership with Globe Telecom’s G-Xchange Incorporated and iBayad

Online Ventures. It is the first citizen card in the country that can be used as a valid ID, ATM, and social card. Through its GCash feature, this multipurpose card allows users to send or receive money and other benefits from the city like cash gifts for senior citizens, stipends for scholars, and bonuses for City Hall employees,” she said.

Binay also said in the forum that her city was the first in the Philippines to distribute financial assistance to residents via GCash when Metro Manila was under lockdown. “This feature helped us support Makatizens during difficult times, as we released P364 million to over 72,000 residents in just one day.”

In 2017, she said, her administration

Solon eyes Charter change to enable foreign investments in PH mass media

PAMPANGA Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. has proposed multiple amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution, including one that would allow foreign investments in mass media.

Gonzales’ suggestions were contained in a memorandum to the Committee on Constitutional Amendments chaired by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

Gonzales, who is also a Deputy Speaker, wanted Section 11 of Article XVI on Mass Media to be rewritten to state: “The ownership of mass media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines, or to corporations, cooperatives, associations, and entities organized under the laws of the Philippines at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens,

provided that its management shall be exclusive only to citizens of the Philippines.”

He said his proposed amendment “means that mass media will remain to be majorityowned and controlled and run exclusively by Filipinos, with foreign ownership to be limited to 40 percent.”

Currently, Section 11 provides: “The ownership and management of mass media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines, or to corporations, cooperatives or associations, wholly-owned and managed by such citizens.”

In proposing to allow foreigners to invest in mass media, Gonzales said the sale of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) to foreigners by certain mass media companies was brought up in past House hearings.

“PDRs are investment instruments which earn interest and can be sold for profit. Through PDRs, foreign nationals may directly own shares in mass media corporations, which is not in accordance with the present Constitution,” he said.

“This proposed amendment will improve and aid mass media networks, as foreign nationals would be openly welcome to invest directly in mass media corporations instead of going around the law through the use of PDRs,” he said.

Another Charter change proposed by Gonzales would allow foreigners and foreign corporations, associations and entities to own land not exceeding five hectares, provided they use it for manufacturing or trading activities.

A third proposal would leave to Congress the discretion on relaxing the present 40-percent foreign participation limit on the exploitation of the country’s natural resources by inserting the phrase, “or as may be provided by law” in Section 2 of Article XII.

Gonzales is also suggesting that Congress be allowed to create autonomous regions in other parts of the country by amending Section 15 of Article X on Local Government, which provides that such regions be established in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordilleras. He cited the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which he said is the second fastest growing region in the country with 7.5-percent economic growth. Maricel V. Cruz

SBMA chief to update stakeholders on Freeport affairs in Mar. 27 SOFA

SUBIC Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Rolen Paulino Sr. will deliver his state of the freeport address (SOFA) on March 27, 2023 to highlight the unveiling of a business expo at the Freeport zone. This year’s SOFA, the 16 th of such occasion, will be Paulino’s first as SBMA administrator. The affair will be held at the Subic Bay Exhibit and Convention Center.

It is anticipated by the stakeholders of Subic Bay Freeport Zone and the different sectors and LGUs surrounding the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The SOFA also marks the annual gathering of stakeholders organized by the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce The remarks also serve as an official platform wherein the SBMA chief renders his report and updates to the different stakeholders about the

state of businesses inside the facility in terms of economic growth, new investments, policies, accomplishments, future plans and other matters relevant to the stakeholders.

The SBMA gives to the surrounding local government units their revenue share from the corporate tax every semester which is two percent of the fivepercent special tax it collects from business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone; the remaining three percent goes to the national coffer. Joseph Muego

also opened the Makatizen Wi-Fi in partnership with Neo-Converge ICT Solutions and Globe Telecom.

“We also have the Makatizen App, the country’s first digital citizen app. Also launched in 2017 in partnership with Neo-Converge and Voyager Innovations, the Makatizen App allows users to access information on government services. Its user-friendly features enable residents and business owners to report emergencies and other community concerns that need immediate attention. With just one tap on the SOS button, our DRRM Operations Center will immediately dispatch police and rescue personnel to respond to the scene,” said Binay.

IN BRIEF

Muslim groups back Robin’s Hijab Day bill

THE National Commission on Muslim Filipinos on Thursday backed the passage of the National Hijab Day bill authored by Sen. Robinhood Padilla.

At a news conference at the Quezon Memorial Circle Amphitheater in Quezon City, Dalisay Macadawan, NCMF commissioner for women sector, said their observance of the National Hijab Day is a testament that the Quezon City government as well as the national government support the passage of the National Hijab Day Bill into a law.

“To wear a scarf or hijab signifies submission to Islam. Muslim women must observe the wearing of Hijab,” she said. “Hijab concerns Muslim women. It is to encourage women of all background to observe the wearing of Hijab. Feb. 1 is observed as the World Hijab Day,” she added. Rio N. Araja

Litigants in Dengvaxia homicide raps file for inhibition of QC judge

PARENTS of children whose deaths were linked to the Dengvaxia vaccine have asked a Quezon City judge to stay away from the litigation of the Dengvaxia-related cases filed against 38 respondents.

Ian Colite and Analyn Ebona filed an urgent motion for inhibition and to hold in abeyance the proceedings of the eight counts of imprudence resulting in homicide charges with Branch 13 Judge Lily Ann Padaen, stressing that they wanted another judge to handle the cases for a fair trial.

Eight Quezon City prosecutors – City Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano; Deputy City Prosecutor Irene Resurreccion-Medrano; Senior Assistant City Prosecutors Maria Raiis Geronimo and Charisma Reyda Manauis, and Assistant City Prosecutors Renato Abastillas Jr., Raphael Joseph Seares, Habeas Corpuz and Jerome Christopher Feria – agreed to the filing of the eight-page urgent motion. Rio N. Araja

Villar cites importance of Virology Institute

LAS Piñas Rep. Camille Villar said the administration-backed Virology Institute of the Philippines (VIP) will be a game-changer in the country’s fight against emerging illnesses and offer better protection to the public in future pandemics.

“In the recent coronavirus pandemic, we have seen the worst and heavily challenged our medical sector. This bill is our immediate response to the pandemic to ensure that extensive research is done in viruses affecting humans, plants and animals,” said Villar, one of the authors of the measure in the House of Representatives.

The House approved on third and final reading House Bill 6452 in December last year.

Once enacted, Villar said the legislation will “better equip the country with mechanisms and methods in dealing with another possible pandemic that could threaten the lives and livelihood of

Maricel V.

people.”

Cruz

PROTEST MARCH. Members of the indigenous Dumagat tribe and peasants residing at the Sierra Madre mountain range stage a protest march to Malacañang to call for a halt in the construction of the Kaliwa Dam, saying the project threatens their very existence. Danny Pata

NEWEST PARTY-LIST SOLON. A few hours after being sworn in as the new representative of the Bicol Saro partylist at the House of Representatives, Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan immediately buckles down to work and meets with Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte and  the city and municipal mayors to discuss their concerns and proposals to further develop the province as one of Bicol’s major economic and tourism hubs.  Lino Santos

MANILA’S TAX DRIVE. As part of Manila’s tax campaig, a QR Code board is posted to help taxpayers access e-services guidance and pay on time at the city hall’s E-business one-stop shop. Norman Cruz

SBMA Chairman Rolen Paulino

The estate of the deceased

THE individual seeks to accumulate wealth to perform his duty of service to the members of his family. The knowledge that, upon his death, the products of his efforts and his work will be enjoyed by the objects of his affection furnishes the greatest incentive to his initiative, industry and thrift (Tolentino, Succession).

In Common Law, “succession is an attempt to express the family in terms of property.”

“It was but natural, therefore, that the property and succession should be the points at which the family sought most eagerly to preserve its stability and safety” (The Concise History of the Common Law).

The law on succession is thus based partly on the law of family relations, and partly on the law of property (Tolentino, Succession citing 5 Valverde 8).

“As Sanchez Roman says: ‘I firmly believe that even in primitive society, successional right… had for the basis of its existence not only the organization of property…, but also the institution of the family” (Tolentino, Succession).

Disputes may arise in the determination of what constitutes the estate of the deceased. For instance, if there is a question on the title of a property, it should not be passed upon in the testate or intestate proceeding; that question should be ventilated in a separate action (Romero v. Court of Appeals, et al., G.R. 188921, April 18, 2012).

It is worth remembering that ‘[O]ftentimes death brings peace only to the person who dies but not to the people he leaves behind’

“As a rule, the question of ownership is an extraneous matter which the probate court cannot resolve with finality.

“Thus, for the purpose of determining whether a certain property should or should not be included in the inventory of estate properties, the probate court may pass upon the title thereto, but such determination is provisional, not conclusive, and is subject to the final decision in a separate action to resolve title” (Pacioles v. Ching, G.R. 127920, August 9, 2005).

However, the probate court is competent to decide the question of ownership “if the interested parties are all heirs, or the question is one of collation or advancement, or the parties’ consent to the assumption of jurisdiction by the probate court and the rights of third parties [is] not impaired” (G.R. 188921, April 18, 2012; Aranas v. Mercado, et al., G.R. 156407, January 15, 2014).

In the case of Romero v. Court of Appeals, et al., Leo and Amando claim their brother Vittorio succeeded in fraudulently registering several properties to his name through Deeds of Sale executed by their mother, Aurora, the latter being the administrator of the estate of their deceased father (G.R. 188921, April 18, 2012).

Hence, Leo and Amando filed a complaint for annulment of sale against Aurora and Vittorio.

The trial court in dismissing the case held that “the case could not be adjudicated… without first getting a definitive pronouncement from the intestate court (another pending action) as to the share of each of the heirs of the late Dante Y. Romero in his estate” (G.R. 188921, April 18, 2012).

In the same decision dismissing the case, the trial court also declared that even the claim of the mother, Aurora, that some of the properties being claimed by the plaintiffs are paraphernal (properties exclusively owned by the wife), is an issue which must be taken up and established in the intestate proceedings (G.R. 188921, April 18, 2012).

“The Supreme Court declared that the determination of whether a property is conjugal or paraphernal for purposes of inclusion in the inventory of the estate rests with the probate court”… [T]his is… within [its] jurisdiction which necessarily has to liquidate the conjugal partnership in order to determine the estate of the decedent…” (G.R. 188921, April 18, 2012 citing Bernardo v. Court of Appeals).

In simpler words, the case is not really one of title or ownership, but the determination of which particular properties should be included in the

Ax falls on city executives

AT ABOUT 11 am last February 6, Quezon City policemen arrested University of the Philippines Professor Melania Flores at her home inside the UP Diliman campus.

The policemen enforced a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Maria Gilda Loja-Pangilinan of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City. Apparently, Flores’ housemaid filed a criminal complaint against Flores for the latter’s alleged failure to remit employer’s contributions to the Social Security System. Under the law, an employer may be held criminally liable for non-remittances of SSS contributions.

Within the same day, Flores posted bail and was ordered released, albeit temporarily.

Bail was set by Judge Pangilinan at P72,000.00, which suggests that Flores may not have been paying her housemaid’s SSS contribution over a long period.

The UP Student Council, the All-UP Academic Employees Union (which Flores used to head), and a group called the Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy-UP, immediately branded the arrest as an assault on academic freedom.

They also claimed the arrest violates the so-called 1992 accord between UP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which supposedly requires law enforcers to ask permission from the UP

inventory of the estate, as “only the probate court can competently rule on whether the properties are conjugal and form part of the estate” (G.R. 188921, April 18, 2012). In Pacioles v. Ching, respondent Ching’s (mother of the deceased Miguelita) purpose “was not to obtain from the intestate court a ruling of what properties should or should not be included in the inventory. She wanted… to secure from the intestate court a final determination of her claim of ownership over properties comprising the bulk of Miguelita’s estate” (G.R. 127920, August 9, 2005).

The Supreme Court said the Regional Trial Court, acting as an intestate court, had overstepped its jurisdiction when it allowed the determination of Respondent Ching’s claim.

The intended “day in court” or hearing is geared towards resolving the propriety of the respondent’s contention that she is the true owner of the bulk of Miguelita’s estate (G.R. 127920. August 9, 2005).

“[I]t is well-settled… that when a question arises as to ownership of property alleged to be a part of the estate of the deceased person, but claimed by some other person to be his property, not by virtue of any right of inheritance… but by title adverse to that of the deceased and his estate[;] such [a] question cannot be determined in the course of an intestate or probate proceedings.”

In the case of Aranas v. Mercado, et al., the administrator, Teresita (second wife of deceased Emigdio) submitted an inventory indicating that at the time of death, Emigdio had “left no real properties but only personal properties” worth P6,675,435.25 consisting of cash, furniture and fixtures, pieces of jewelry, and shares of stocks of Mervir Realty and Cebu Emerson (G.R. 156407, January 15, 2014).

Claiming that Emigdio had owned other properties that were excluded from the inventory, Thelma (daughter of Emigdio from his first marriage) moved for the RTC to direct Teresita to amend the inventory, and to be examined regarding it.

The RTC granted Thelma’s motion.

The RTC ordered Teresita to re–do the inventory of properties which are to constitute the estate of Emigdio and then to submit the revised inventory within 60 days from notice thereof.

The Court also directed her to render an account of her administration of the estate (G.R. 156407, January 15, 2014). Can the RTC direct the inclusion of certain properties in the inventory notwithstanding that such properties had been either transferred by sale or exchanged for corporate shares in Mervir Realty by the decedent during his lifetime?

The answer is in the affirmative.

“Upon [the issuance] of the letters of administration to the surviving spouse, the RTC becomes duty–bound to direct the preparation and submission of the inventory of the properties of the estate, and the surviving spouse, as the administrator, has the duty and responsibility to submit the inventory within three months from the issuance of letters of administration pursuant to Rule 83 of the Rules of Court, viz:

Section 1. Inventory and appraisal to be returned within three months. – Within three (3) months after his appointment every executor or administrator shall return to the court a true inventory and appraisal of all the real and personal estate of the deceased which has come into his possession or knowledge. In the appraisement of such estate, the court may order one or more of the inheritance tax appraisers to give his or their assistance” (G.R.156407, January 15, 2014).

Section 1 allows no exception, for the phrase true inventory implies that no properties appearing to belong to the decedent can be excluded from the inventory, regardless of their being in the possession of another person or entity.

Hence, the RTC that presides over the administration of an estate is vested with wide discretion on the question of what properties should be included in the inventory (G.R. 156407, January 15, 2014).

It is worth remembering that “[O]ftentimes death brings peace only to the person who dies but not to the people he leaves behind. For in death, a person’s estate remains, providing a fertile ground for discords that break the familial bonds” (G.R. 127920. August 9, 2005). These acrimonious disputes must be avoided to keep the peace among those who were left behind.

Domestic mineral processing

The DTI’s green metals initiative is anchored on the need for an immediate global transition to cleanenergy technologies

This is a step in the right direction, since mineral ores such as nickel and copper are depletable resources. The DTI wants to encourage new entrants if they will invest in processing of the ore into high valueadded products. In other words, we have to move up the value chain.

As a case in point, the agency wants to convince Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd., which already has operations in the country, to pursue higher value processing of ore in the Philippines.

The Japanese firm has two subsidiaries in the country, namely the Coral Bay Nickel Corp., operating in Palawan, and the Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp., operating in Surigao del Norte.

What’s important is that there should be an environmentally friendly way of processing nickel ore in mining areas, and to migrate the processing to even higher value-added stages of the production chain to include, for instance, the manufacture of lithium ion batteries. DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual favors the policy shift. He believes mineral processing is crucial, given our resources of green metals such as nickel, copper and cobalt. These minerals can be used for downstream industries, such as electric vehicles battery manufacturing, hyperscaler data centers and renewable energy projects.

What is happening at present is that the country is an exporter of raw materials. The ideal situation,

Recto vows to continue Bobby Ongpin’s projects

THE members and guests of Balesin Island Club, founded by Roberto “Bobby” Velayo Ongpin who was its chairman/CEO, will be glad to know that it is now in the hands of a very capable finance man.

He is Eric O. Recto, nephew of Bobby Ongpin, who was former finance undersecretary when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was President.

Bobby Ongpin or “RVO” as he was called by friends and associates had died in his sleep in the early hours of Feb. 5, 2023. Eric O. Recto took over as chairman and CEO in accordance with the will of Ongpin, and the Alphaland Board of Directors took no time to have Recto as Alphaland Chairman and CEO.

Ongpin also named his daughters Anna and Michelle to serve at Alphaland. Rodolfo Ma.“ Pong” Ponferrada remains as President and Chief Operating Officer, a very capable executive, who was with RVO from the start of Balesin.

Before Ongpin came back to the Philippines, he spent some years in Hong Kong as a consultant of AIG (American Insurance group).

He also partnered with the Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok and became the vice chairman of The South China Morning Post. He initially brought in a partner -- the Ashmore Investment Banking concern of London – but eventually the partnership and Ongpin didn’t work out, so they separated.

Ongpin had plans to make Alphaland public by offering an IPO (Initial Public Offering), according to some sources. Recall that Alphaland was listed at the stock market before it was delisted. Ongpin was also chairman of PhilWeb Corporation, which he sold to Greggy Araneta. He was also chairman of Atok-Big Wedge Mining Corp. Amid clear and blue waters of the Pacific ocean, off the eastern coast of Luzon, Balesin island is a destination of unmatched natural beauty where Bobby built seven themed villages -- Balesin, Bali, Phuket, Mykonos, St. Tropez, Costa del Sol and Toscana – with combined 386 villas and rooms, equipped with the best luxuries and amenities. I was there when these themed villages were being constructed. And I was there when they were all completed.

Ongpin’s idea of having a hydrofoil jet vessel was also realized.

Recto has vowed to continue with the projects of his late uncle, primarily at nearby Patnanungan Island, a 732-ha island which is called Balesin International Gateway (BIG).

This is a resort complex with fresh water, a 2.5 kilometer runway capable of handling big jets which could be used by international members of Balesin Island Club, composed mainly of the rich, famous and the elite.

Bobby had gone international before he died, buying one minute commercial time slots at CNN to entice the rich, famous and elite from nearby Asia, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Europe and the Middle East to become members of Balesin, enabling them to bypass the congested and crowded Ninoy Aquino International Airport

and fly directly to BIG.

Bobby Ongpin had also envisioned five 5-star hotels, an 18-hole golf course and 1,834 luxury beach and golf homes.

The idea: Attract the world’s high network individuals to enjoy the most unique beach resort and nature enclave, as members and guests.

According to Recto, he will particularly pay attention to services.

The entire BIG project, Santa Banana, will be completed in 10-years time.

But the late Ongpin had already begun.

The late Bobby, the visionary, always thought big as he envisioned BIG.

Even if Ongpin is gone, with Balesin now in the hands of Recto as chairman and CEO and Ponferrada as president and COO, Balesin members and guests can be assured of the continuation of Ongpin’s projects

With Alphaland being debt-free with over P1 billion in its pocket, Balesin Island Club members can be assured of continuous good service.

Another project which Recto vowed to continue is the Baguio Mountain Lodges, a 9-kilometer distance from Central Baguio City, the summer capital and which I call “the Forbes Park of Baguio,’, since the lodges being built are too pricey for me.

The project is already pre-sold.

Of the 142 lodges, 74 have already been built.

The area, which was bought by Bobby when he was managing partner of SGV, had a log cabin at the top of a hill.

I was there upon invitation of Bobby and, Santa Banana, the thought came to my mind that it was really ideal for building mountain lodges complete with helicopter pad.

In fact, it is now secured by a high wall surrounding it and outposts, complete with a chapel, gymnasium, and even amenities like a spa.

There are even eateries before the entry to the area.

Bobby always thought of the needs of the residents and Recto vowed to continue with them and even improve its services.

The last project of Ongpin is a soccer football field complete with artificial grass like they have abroad for the premier soccer football leagues.

however, is for us to process and produce semifinished and finished products.

The proposed shift toward mineral processing falls under the industrial, manufacturing and transport cluster. Across these IMT subsectors, the common denominator is electronics and electrical parts that are now part of the global value chains.

The IMT sector also includes industries such as aerospace, electric vehicles, advanced electronics chips and products, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing technologies.

The DTI is also encouraging more investments in electric vehicles as part of its green metals initiative.

To join the EV or electric vehicle global value chain, it wants to invite investments in relevant technologies, such as producing and developing pollution reduction and green vehicles, IT in vehicles, and precision metal components of electric vehicles. Recent visits of the Chief Executive to other countries, such as Japan, underscore this.

The DTI’s green metals initiative is anchored on the need for an immediate global transition to cleanenergy technologies.

The Philippines is fortunate in having a rich lode of green metals. We have an estimated two billion metric tons of nickel reserves, 1.1 billion metric tons of copper and 260,000 metric tons of cobalt.

If we can process these instead of exporting them in raw form, then we sustain economic growth, reduce poverty levels and improve the quality of life of Filipinos.

Would you believe that Ongpin had gone to the US, Japan and Europe to sell Balesin as a winter getaway for soccer football premier leagues to practice for the winter.

In fact, the soccer field is even/ already in place complete with a grandstand and dormitories under it for soccer players to use.

Bobby Ongpin was the great visionary that he was, and members and guests will be glad to know that all of RVO’s projects are now in the hands of very capable executives like Eric O. Recto and Rodolfo Ponferrada who were with Bobby from the start to continue Bobby’s dreams and to make them a reality.

I was always with Bobby Ongpin when he came back to the Philippines after he left the country when the late Marcos Sr. was exiled.

I helped him buy out the majority shares of ETPI—Eastern Telecommunication Philippines Inc.—which he later sold to Ramon Ang of San Miguel, who later on sold it to Smart and Globe.

In fact, I was aware the first project of RVO was a “Marine Hub” at Pasay City, close to the four casino projects of PAGCOR.

Marine Hub was a members-only club for fanciers of boats, complete with all the amenities you can think of for marine lovers.

I was with RVO when the project was launched.

I know, since Eric O. Recto was also there as the right hand of RVO.

The project was discontinued because of some differences with another property developer about the land.

That gave Bobby an opportunity to make Balesin Island Club his signature development, an island which he bought from his undersecretary Ed Tordesillas when RVO was Trade and Industry Minister of Marcos Sr.

Recto also vowed to continue with Bobby’s CSR, Corporate Social Responsibility, at the Ateneo de Manila University in the name of his late brother, the finance secretary of the late Cory Aquino, Jaime V. Ongpin, providing scholarships to poor and deserving students.

Another dream of Ongpin was to popularize soccer in the Philippines, since soccer does not demand height like basketball.

With soccer legends Pele of Brazil, who was only 5 feet and seven inches tall, and now Messi, another soccer legend from Argentina who is also 5 feet seven inches tall, Ongpin said Filipinos can also be legends in soccer.

Well. that’s something we Filipinos should think about.

In one of his last letters to Balesin Island Club members, he wrote and I quote:

“This past weekend, we started playing on the FIFA-approved field at the Balesin Football Center.

“Fortunately, our BFC Managing Director, Darren Hartmann, owns and operates a football academy in Sinaloan (sic), Laguna, only an hour from our shipping point of Infanta, Real in Quezon.

Full text at www.manilastandard.net

administration before they can enforce a warrant of arrest inside the UP campus.

Based on a news report, union member Mary Grace

Concepcion made a senseless, non sequitur remark the arrest is directed against critics of the administrations of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Concepcion also claimed Flores had already settled the SSS contribution problem with her housemaid, but she did not explain how and why she was aware of this.

What she said has the badges of hearsay.

I disagree with those who condemned what happened.

Flores’ arrest has nothing to do with academic freedom.

It’s a criminal case arising from a complaint filed by Flores’ housemaid about Flores’ alleged failure to remit employee’s SSS contributions.

The housemaid’s complaint does not in any way interfere with Flores’ work as a UP professor. It’s a private household problem.

The available recourse for Flores is to post bail, which she did, and establish in court that she has already settled her liability. If Flores has really settled her liability, then the criminal case will be dismissed.

Surprisingly, Flores’ allies conveniently overlooked the plight of Flores’ housemaid. While they sympathized with the housemaid’s employer, they ignored the plight of the housemaid, a

Incidentally, what does the UP College of Law, which supposedly champions downtrodden workers (like Flores’ housemaid) and like persons, have to say about this incident?

member of the working class, whose employer allegedly violated the housemaid’s rights under the SSS law. They didn’t even get the housemaid’s side of the

issue, and just sweepingly concluded that Flores’ arrest is illegal. They also forgot that the housemaid is entitled to all remedies available under the law, the criminal case included, to protect her rights.

Why this didn’t dawn on Flores and her defenders, Mary Grace Concepcion especially, is a mystery.

To my recollection, the so-called 1992 accord between UP and the DILG is no longer in force and effect. Citing it in favor of Flores, therefore, is untenable.

Even assuming the accord remains in effect, the same is unconstitutional because it is tantamount to class legislation in favor of UP. Since there are non-academic residential areas inside UP Diliman (like Flores’ home), it is legally absurd to make these places subject to special treatment, when all other similar residential areas outside of UP are subject to the law. Besides, why should the enforcement of a warrant of arrest, duly issued by a court of law for a criminal offense involving alleged non-remittances of SSS contributions, require the prior permission of the UP administration?

Furthermore, what has a criminal case involving SSS contributions got to do with the Duterte and Marcos Jr. administrations? One who hires a housemaid is expected to abide by the laws governing such employment.

If Flores claims she is unaware of the criminal case, she should raise that matter in court.

From what happened, it seems to me UP President Danilo Concepcion and UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo are encouraging the UP faculty, students and personnel to defy the law. Being a lawyer, UP President Concepcion ought to know the arrest of Flores is in accord with law, and that nobody should be an obstacle to law enforcement.

After all, there are legal remedies available to UP professors arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by a court of law.

Nemenzo is not a lawyer, but ignorance of the law is not an excuse for non-compliance with the same. Concepcion and Nemenzo should have explicitly reprimanded those who tried to stop Flores’ arrest. Their inaction in this regard encourages the troublemakers to think they’re exempted from the law. Incidentally, what does the UP College of Law, which supposedly champions downtrodden workers (like Flores’ housemaid) and like persons, have to say about this incident?

IF THE the Department of Trade and Industry had its way, the government should stop the direct sale abroad of our mineral ores and instead encourage investments in minerals processing in the country.

Air strikes, rocket fire in deadly raid on West Bank

GAZA CITY—The Israeli army and Palestinian militants traded air strikes and rocket fire in and around Gaza Thursday, a day after the deadliest Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank in nearly 20 years.

Eleven Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, were killed and more than 80 wounded by gunfire on Wednesday when Israeli troops raided the flashpoint West Bank city of Nablus, drawing international appeals for calm.

Top Palestinian official Hussein Al Sheikh described the raid as a “massacre” and called for “international protection for our people”.

Before dawn on Thursday, Palestinian militants hit back firing six rockets from Gaza into Israel.

The Israeli army said it managed to intercept five of them, while the sixth struck an uninhabited area.

Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rockets after it called on “resistance forces” to respond to the “major crime” in Nablus.

Two hours later, the Israeli military carried out air strikes on multiple targets in Gaza, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky.

The missiles targeted “a weapons factory” and a “military camp”, both run by Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas, the army said in a statement.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres appealed for calm, warning that tensions in the West Bank had reached their most dangerous level in years.

“Our immediate priority must be to prevent further escalation, reduce tensions and restore calm,” the UN chief said.

“The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is at its most combustible in years,” he added, pointing to “sky high” tensions and the stalled peace process.

The Israeli army said Wednesday’s raid had targeted a “hideout apartment” used by suspected militants accused of shootings in the West Bank. It said one of the wanted suspects was “neutralized”, along with two others at the property who had opened fire on troops.

The suspects and Israeli forces “exchanged fire... there were also rockets that were fired on the house” by the army, spokesman Richard Hecht told journalists. AFP

Ukraine allies vow to strengthen defenses; UN set for peace vote

WARSAW—US President Joe Biden and European leaders in Warsaw vowed to strengthen defenses “from the Baltic to the Black Sea”, as the UN General Assembly prepared to vote Thursday for “lasting” peace on the eve of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Nearly a year after Russian forces rolled into Ukraine, Biden on Wednesday attended a meeting with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and the heads of Eastern European countries to shore up support for Kyiv.

The leaders of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia joined the talks amid widespread concern in their

countries that the conflict could spill over.

The US leader had arrived in Warsaw after a surprise trip to the Ukrainian capital, during which he promised increased arms deliveries for Ukraine.

In a statement after Wednesday’s meeting, the leaders vowed to further “reinforce our deterrence and defense posture across the entire Eastern flank from the Baltic to the Black Sea.”

Stoltenberg urged allies to step up support for Ukraine, saying: “We cannot allow Russia to continue to chip away at European security”.

In New York, the UN General Assembly met for a special session that was to debate a motion backed by Kyiv and its allies calling for a “just and lasting peace”—which will be brought to a vote Thursday.

“I appeal to you: this is a decisive moment to show support, unity and solidarity,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at the UN.

“Never in recent history has the line between good and evil been so clear. One country merely wants to live. The other wants to kill and destroy,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin’s UN ambassador took aim at the West, saying it was

Strong winter storms hit US;

Heavy snowfall snarls travel

LOS ANGELES—Powerful winter storms lashed the United States on Wednesday, with heavy snow snarling travel across wide areas, even as unusual warmth was expected in others.

Blizzards forecast to dump up to two feet (60 centimeters) of snow swept across a vast band of the country from the West Coast to the Great Lakes, grounding flights and knocking out power to tens of thousands.

Warnings of heavy snowfall were even issued for usually sunny areas near Los Angeles, as well as for more typical winter weather spots in the far north.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service said two rounds of snow would wallop parts of Minnesota in a “historic winter storm (that) will likely lead to impossible travel.”

“ready to plunge the entire world into the abyss of war” to defeat Russia. ‘Historical lands’

In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a patriotic rally Wednesday, telling a crowd of tens of thousands that Russia was fighting “for our historical lands, for our people”.

The day before, the Russian leader had announced the suspension of Moscow’s participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty and promised to press on with the campaign in Ukraine during a state of the nation address.

Biden called the decision a “big mistake”, while news agency Ukrinform reported that a Ukrainian representative said Russia’s “nuclear terrorism threatens the whole world”. AFP

IN BRIEF

Florida gunman kills reporter, child

MIAMI—A man suspected of killing a woman on Wednesday in Florida returned to the scene of the crime hours later and gunned down a television reporter and a nine-year-old girl, authorities said.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina said that a 19-year-old man, Keith Melvin Moses, had been taken into custody and was believed responsible for the shootings.

The attacks occurred in Pine Hills, a suburb west of Orlando in central Florida. A 20-year-old woman was slain there at around 11 am (1600 GMT), the sheriff’s department said Wednesday.

A team from Spectrum News 13 arrived hours later to cover the murder, Mina said at an evening news conference.

Shortly after 4 pm (2100 GMT) time, Moses arrived and opened fire on a Spectrum camera operator and a reporter as they stood near their vehicle, killing the reporter and wounding the camera operator, the sheriff added.

The gunman then entered a nearby home and shot a woman and her nineyear-old daughter.

The victims were all taken to the hospital, but the girl and the Spectrum News 13 reporter died, Mina said.

“We have detained the person believed to be responsible for the murder this morning, as well as the shootings this afternoon,” Mina said. AFP

China mine collapse kills 4, dozens missing

in case of an emergency. Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle.”

More than 1,550 flights within, into or out of the United States had been cancelled by 0000 GMT Thursday, according to Flightaware.com, with its “Misery Map” showing Denver, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis-St Paul particularly badly hit. Roads were also difficult, with Wyoming suffering from problems even on main highways.

THE death toll from a collapse at a coal mine in northern China rose to four on Thursday, state media reported, as the search for dozens still missing resumed after a massive landslide hindered progress overnight.

More than 50 people were trapped when a 180-metre-high slope gave way at the open-pit mine in the Inner Mongolia region’s Alxa Left Banner area at around 1:00 pm (0500 GMT) on Wednesday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Hundreds of rescue workers were dispatched to the remote site, but another landslide later that day temporarily halted efforts to save those trapped beneath the rubble.

BUDDHIST RITE. Exiled Tibetan artists perform during the celebrations to mark the third day of the Lhosar Nepali Buddist and Tibetan’s New Year in the area of Boudhanath Stupa temple in Kathmandu on February 23. AFP

“Heavy snow will combine with northeast wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph (55 to 70 kph)... This will lead to significant blowing and drifting snow with whiteout conditions in open areas. Some drifts may be several feet deep,” a warning said.

“If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle

“Please change travel plans if you are coming towards Wyoming,” the state’s department of transport posted on its Facebook page. “A major winter storm and multiday closures are likely on Interstates and secondary roads throughout Wyoming!”

Around 280,000 properties were without power across the country, according to Poweroutage.us, almost half of them in Michigan, where snow, sleet and freezing rain were icing power lines, making them vulnerable to gusting winds. AFP

Rescuers have since resumed their work, CCTV reported around midday Thursday, adding that at least four people had been killed in the incident, with six injured and 49 still unaccounted for.

Footage from the broadcaster showed rescue workers in orange overalls and yellow helmets dwarfed by a mountain of rust-coloured rubble, and excavators working to clear some of the debris.

“I had just started work when I saw slag falling down the slope. The situation got worse and worse,” a rescued worker named Ma Jianping told CCTV. AFP

Mexico okays contentious poll reforms

MEXICO CITY—Mexican lawmakers on Wednesday passed a controversial electoral reform championed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador that critics see as an attack on democracy ahead of key elections next year.

The proposal to reduce the size and budget of the independent agency that organizes elections was approved in the Senate by 72 votes in favor and 50 against.

The legislation now heads to the president for enactment, having already been voted through the lower house after various alterations.

The bill is a watered-down version of more radical reforms originally sought by Lopez Obrador that sparked mass street protests against a perceived attack on a key institution, the National Electoral Institute (INE), designed to safe-

guard elections from political tampering. The polling agency has previously said that even the “Plan B” changes contained “deficiencies that endanger the workings of the electoral process.”

Lopez Obrador alleges that the INE endorsed fraud when he ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2006 and 2012, before winning in 2018.

He argues that his reform will improve the electoral system.

The opposition vowed to challenge the reform in the Supreme Court and called for fresh street protests.

It voiced concern that the changes would benefit the ruling party, which is gearing up for presidential and legislative elections in mid-2024. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA

MOST ACTIVE

South Korea freezes rates on slowing economy, ending a year of price hikes

SEOUL—South Korea’s central bank on Thursday froze benchmark interest rates at 3.5 percent owing to concerns over the slowing economy, ending a year-long run of hikes.

The Bank of Korea decision comes after the economy shrank in the last three months of 2022—the first time since the second quarter of 2020 as the pandemic kicked in.

The reading prompted speculation that the BOK would have to adjust its pace of monetary tightening. It had hiked rates eight times since January 2022—with one pause in February—as it fought to curb rising prices, which surged last year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent the cost of energy and food soaring. While the inflation is projected to be “above the target level” this year, the BOK said in a statement it was deemed

Local stocks extend losses; Peso recovers

STOCKS fell for a second day, with little buying enthusiasm after minutes from a Federal Reserve policy meeting indicated interest rates will likely keep rising longer than previously feared.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark shed 13 points, or 0.20 percent, to close at 6,685.90 Thursday, as four of the six subsectors declined. Industrial and services went up.

The broader all-share index slipped 7 points, or 0.20 percent, to settle at 3,572.20, on a value turnover of P4.35 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 90 to 85, while 39 issues were unchanged.

Only two of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, with ACEN Corp. rising 1.80 percent to P6.79 and Manila Electric Co. managing a 0.06-percent rise to P309.20.

The peso gained 0.56 percent to close at 54.87 against the US dollar Thursday from 55.18 on Wednesday.

A blockbuster jobs report and sticky inflation data this month have dealt a hammer blow to earlier expectations the US central bank could soon pause its monetary tightening campaign or even cut borrowing costs before year’s end.

Several Fed officials have lined up to warn traders they were too optimistic and that with the labour market still strong, rates would need to keep rising until it had weakened and prices were under control.

Minutes from the Fed’s Fed. 1 decision reinforced that broad agreement as policymakers try to get inflation down to their target of two percent.

“Participants observed that a restrictive policy stance would need to be maintained until the incoming data provided confidence that inflation was on a sustained downward path to two percent, which was likely to take some time,” the minutes said.

“Almost all participants agreed that it was appropriate to raise the target rate for the fed-

eral funds rate 25 basis points at this meeting.”

And it noted that “a few participants” were in favor of a 50-point increase.

Analysts pointed out that the minutes came before the latest jobs and inflation figures.

National Australia Bank’s Taylor Nugent, meanwhile, noted “the absence of any mention of ‘disinflation’ in the minutes, which contrasts [bank boss Jerome] Powell’s press conference where he noted many times that the disinflationary process was underway”.

After a healthy rally through January, global markets have rowed back this month as investors come to terms with the higher-for-longer rates narrative and recession fears return.

After Wednesday’s sell-off, Asian markets were mixed.

Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Mumbai and Bangkok all fell, though Seoul, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta edged up.

London dipped at the open, though Frankfurt and Paris edged higher.

“One of our big concerns coming into this year was the market was anticipating an event that wasn’t likely to occur, that being a dovish Fed pivot,” Oaktree Capital Management’s Danielle Poli told Bloomberg Television.

“The market has woken back up a little bit in these last two weeks.”

Investors are now awaiting the release of US jobless claims later in the day, which could provide a fresh idea about the strength of the labor market.

Crude prices edged up slightly Thursday but made only a small dent in the losses of at least three percent suffered the day before as the prospect of higher rates and a possible recession drags on demand expectations. With AFP

Dubai housing boom buoyed by Russian buyers, burdens tenants

By Sahar Al Attar

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—With rents soaring and properties selling fast, the expatriate hub of Dubai is in the throes of a housing boom bolstered by rich emigres that have buoyed investors and burdened tenants.

Dubai, renowned for its towering skyscrapers and ultra-luxury villas, saw record real estate transactions in 2022, largely due to the influx of wealthy investors—especially from Russia.

That helped to rake in more than $140 billion last year, marking a 76-percent annual rise in property market transactions for the Gulf city-state, based on the latest official figures.

“The market in the last year has massively changed -- it is great for landlords, but it’s not so good for tenants,” said Jacob Fletcher of brokerage firm Betterhomes.

While it may not be as rich in oil as the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, Dubai lures expatriates with tax incentives, a lush lifestyle, and cheap services provided by low-wage laborers from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

In upscale Dubai neighborhoods, where properties sell for more than $10 million, the 219 sales recorded in 2022 were “more than the total recorded between 2010 and 2020”, said real estate consultancy Knight Frank.

Property prices in these prime locations jumped by 44 percent in 2022 compared with the year before, it said.

“The luxury market in Dubai was the fastest growing in the world but

remains cheaper than main big cities,” said Faisal Durrani, head of Middle East research at Knight Frank.

Rich Russians

Over a decade ago, Dubai’s property market slumped due to a financial crisis.

The city is now a magnet for ultra-rich investors, including Russians fleeing the impact of sanctions after their country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russians were the biggest foreign buyers on Dubai’s property market last year, according to Betterhomes.

British, Indian, Italian, and French nationals are also among the top investors, the brokerage firm says.

Entrepreneurs, business executives, bankers, and celebrities are among the wild assortment of clients rushing to clinch a home in one of the first cities to open up after the Covid-19 pandemic.

This image shows highrise buildings in Dubai, on Feb. 18, 2023. Home to towering skyscrapers and ultraluxury villas, Dubai saw record real estate transactions in 2022, largely due to an influx of wealthy investors, especially from Russia. AFP

“We’re seeing a lot of customers from Europe, who are wanting to move here and who are wanting to send their kids to school here, start business here,” said Farhad Azizi, who heads property development firm Azizi Developments.

“So, we were seeing a lot of a lot of new clientele, and they’ve kept the market very busy.”

Most of Dubai’s population of more than 3.5 million is comprised of expatriates.

‘Take the hit’

But the housing boom has made it more expensive for them to live in the city.

“There’s about a 20 percent increase in the rental market this year compared to last year alone,” said Fletcher of Betterhomes.

“The people that have lived here, especially for a while are very not happy with how high the prices have gone.”

The real estate sector accounts for about a third of Dubai’s economy. AFP

“appropriate to judge whether the base rate needs to rise further while assessing the pace of (the) inflation slowdown.”

“Currently available information suggests that the slowdown of global economic growth and inflation has continued,” it added.

The BOK said the economy had slowed because of weakening consumption and a continued decrease in exports. Economic conditions could improve in the second half of the year, with recovery in the Chinese economy and demand in the IT industry bouncing back, but global economic uncertainties were still “judged to be high”, the bank said.

Against this backdrop, the BOK revised its economic growth projection down to 1.6 percent from 1.7 percent in 2023, compared with a 2.6 percent expansion last year. AFP

Manila Standard TODAY

MARKET WATCH. People walk through the exchange square outside the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in Hong Kong on Feb. 23, 2023. AFP

BOI hikes 2023 investment registration forecast to P1.5t

By Othel V. Campos

THE Board of Investments upgraded its 2023 investment registration target to P1.5 trillion, or 50 percent higher than the original forecast of P1 trillion.

“Given the strong investment approvals for January, as well as the robust pipeline of investment leads, including those generated through presidential visits, I have increased the 2023 investment registration target of BOI from P1 trillion to P1.5 trillion,” Trade Secretary and BOI chairman Alfredo Pascual said Thursday.

The BOI said it received new appli-

Metrobank’s income jumps

48% to P32.8b

By Julito G. Rada

METROPOLITAN Bank & Trust Co.,

the second-largest lender in the country, said Thursday net income jumped 48 percent in 2022 to P32.8 billion from a year ago, driven by the sustained strength of core businesses.

The bank said in a statement fourthquarter earnings also climbed 55 percent year-on-year to P9.3 billion.

It said better corporate and consumer lending businesses, healthy fee income and subdued operating expenses marked the 2022 performance.

Net interest income increased 14 percent year-on-year on higher loan demand and better net interest margin of 3.6 percent. Gross loans expanded 14 percent, supported by a 15-percent growth in corporate and commercial loans as businesses started to build inventories and resumed investment spending.

Net credit card loans went up 29 percent, leading the recovery in consumer lending.

Deposits grew 15 percent from the previous year to P2.2 trillion, with low-cost current and savings accounts stable at P1.5 trillion.

“With our strong balance sheet and highly capable team of Metrobankers, we stand ready to continue to be the trusted partner of all our stakeholders for the long term,” Metrobank president Fabian Dee said in a statement.

The 11-percent improvement in fees and other income to P23.5 billion supported the bank’s modest growth in non-interest income.

Operating expense growth was manageable at 3 percent to P61 billion, bringing down the cost-to-income ratio to 54 percent from 59 percent in 2021. This helped drive the 24-percent increase in pre-provision operating profit to P52 billion in 2022.

Non-performing loan ratio eased to 1.9 percent from 2.2 percent in 2021, above the industry’s 3.3 percent. Its NPL cover remained substantial at 172.4 percent, reflecting the bank’s strong ability to cover any potential risks to portfolio health.

Metrobank ended 2022 with consolidated assets of P2.8 trillion, maintaining its status as the country’s secondlargest private universal bank.

Total equity reached P318.5 billion. Capital ratios remained one of the highest in the industry, with capital adequacy ratio of 17.7 percent and common equity tier 1 ratio of 16.8 percent, above the minimum regulatory requirements.

cations for investment registration totaling P414 billion as of Feb. 9, 2023, or 142.9 percent higher than P170.5 billion generated in the same period in 2022. The Department of Trade and Industry expects the entry of P344-billion investment leads generated during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visits through combined efforts

of the country’s investment promotion agencies.

Data showed that of the total investment pledges as of Feb. 9, foreign investment approvals amounted to P163 billion, representing a 65.436-percent increase from P249 million in the same period in 2022. It accounted for nearly 40 percent of the total, with domestic investment approvals representing the balance of P251.3 billion, also up 47.6 percent from P170.3 billion in 2022.

The BOI said the bulk of foreign capital came from Germany with P157 billion, followed by the Netherlands with P2.7 billion, Japan with P524 million, the US with P509 million and the UK with P194 million.

“With investment prospects being very positive, and as we continue to receive serious interest from global investors, we are definitely on track to meeting our annual investment target of P1 trillion. We are not even through with the second month of the year, and we already have secured nearly half of our full-year target for investment approvals,” Pascual said.

The BOI said that in terms of regional dispersion, Western Visayas generated the highest investment pledges with P293.3 billion, followed by CALABARZON with P111.7 billion. Eastern Visayas contributed P3.5 billion; Central Luzon, P3 billion and the National Capital Region, P783 million.

IN BRIEF

net income surged by 50 percent in 2022 to P5.61 billion from P3.74 billion in 2021, fueled by increased lending activities as a result of the full reopening of the local economy, a top executive said Thursday. DBP president and chief executive Michael de Jesus attributed the rise in the bank’s net income to higher loan volume and interest income, combined with prudent management of interest expense despite the rise in loan loss provisioning.

“This resurgent financial performance of DBP enhances its inherent strong capacity to support the national government’s goal of promoting sustainable and equitable economic growth in the country, through the provision of vital financial support to various socio-economic initiatives, particularly on infrastructure development,” de Jesus said.

BATANGAS WAREHOUSE. Executives of Aboitiz Construction Inc., Aboitiz InfraCapital’s LIMA Estate and El Colono del Oeste Inc. break ground on a 3,000-square-meter warehouse and 18,337-sq. m. meter land development inside LIMA Technology Center in Batangas. Attending the ceremony are (from left) Aboitiz Construction senior project manager for operations Kervy Datay, Aboitiz InfraCapital LIMA Estate vice president for operations Clifford Academia, ACI vice president for business generation Levi Agoncillo, entrepreneur Carolina Gozon-Jimenez, El Colono del Oeste president Joel Marcelo Gozon Jimenez, former GMA Network president Menardo Jimenez Sr., El Colono director Nico Bolzico, ACI technical manager for business development Ganyfer Hernandez and Next Century Building Systems Inc. plant manager Joel Felipe.

MGB affirms GFNI unit’s right to mine in Brooke’s Point

By Jenniffer B. Austria

NICKEL miner Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. said Thursday the Mines and Geosciences Bureau affirmed unit Ipilan Nickel Corp.’s exclusive right to conduct mining operations in Brooke’s Point, Palawan. The MGB declared that the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement between the government and INC covering 2,835 hectares of land in Brooke’s Point remained valid until April 2025, GFNI said in a stock exchange filing.

GFNI said Engr. Glen Marcelo Noble, regional director of MGB-MIMAROPA Region, issued the clarification in a letter dated Feb. 21, 2023

to Brooke’s Point vice-mayor Mary Jean Feliciano in response to a resolution by the Sangguniang Bayan seeking to halt INC’s mining operations in the area.

Residents of Brooke’s Point early this week set up human barricade to prevent INC from further conducting mining activities in the property. The resolution aimed to investigate the operations of INC following questions on the alleged renewal of its MPSA in 2018. IPC was also operating without a mayor’s permit in 2023.

Noble said, however, the MPSA did not expire on Aug. 5, 2018. MPSA No. 017-93-IV was amended on April 10, 2000 to conform to RA7942, otherwise

known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, he said.

GFNI said INC was in the process of securing a mayor’s permit for mining operations for 2023.

“We are awaiting the renewal of our mayor’s permit as we have already submitted the necessary documents and complied with all laws and regulations,” said IPC resident mine manager Alex Arabis.

INC employs over 1,500 workers, 90 percent of whom are residents and indigenous peoples of Brooke’s Point. INC said it spent close to P53.3 million to fund various projects to improve the quality of life in Brooke’s Point and nearby areas.

ERC suspends FIT-ALL collection by another six months

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy Regulatory Commission said Thursday it suspended the collection of feed-in tariff allowance for another six months starting March 2023.

It said in a statement it decided to extend the FIT-All collection moratorium until August 2023 amid the high cost of electricity to bring relief to consumers in terms of a lower power rate of P0.0364 per kilowatt-hour.

The regulator issued a resolution suspending the FIT-All collection on

Nov. 16, 2022, from December 2022 to February 2023.

“In view of the rising level of inflation and cost of living affecting millions of Filipino households, the ERC re-evaluated the FIT-All Fund balance and found its healthy status, which can sufficiently cover the FIT-All payment requirements for six more months,” the ERC said.

The FIT-all is a uniform charge imposed on electricity consumers and is a component of the electricity bill that ensures the development and promotion of renewable energy in the

country.

The ERC directed the distribution utilities, retail electricity suppliers and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines to report to the agency not later than March 31, 2023 the status of its implementation of the suspension of the collection of FIT-All charge from December 2022 to February 2023 billing period.

It issued the directive to ensure correct and timely compliance by the said entities as collection agents.

ERC issued the directive through a resolution dated Feb. 22, 2023.

DBP is the eighth largest bank in terms of assets and provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy—infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; the environment; and social services and community development. It has a network of 132 branches and 15 branch lite units. Julito G. Rada

DOE awards 55 offshore wind service contracts

THE Department of Energy said Thursday it awarded 55 offshore wind service contracts with an aggregate capacity of 40,680 megawatts, reflecting strong investor interest in the emerging offshore wind industry.

It said in a statement the awarded contract capacity is “almost twice the dependable generation capacity in the country.” The agency is in the process of amending the policies and guidelines for OSW development.

Among the contracts awarded are Domhain Earth Corp.’s 1, 600-MW offshore wind project in offshore Cagayan and Ilocos Norte and its 3,100-MW Bulalacao offshore wind project in Oriental Mindoro; Earth Sol Power Corp.’s 500-MW offshore wind project in Bagac, Bataan; Giga Ace 7 Inc.’s 1,024-MW offshore wind project in Calatagan and Lian, Batangas; and Vind Energy Corp.’s 495-MW offshore wind project in Cavite.

These also include Wpd Philippines Inc.’s 300-MW offshore wind project in Cavite; CleanTech Global Renewables Inc.’s 1,200MW Bulalacao Bay offshore wind project in Oriental Mindoro and Antique; Energy Development Corp.’s 700-MW offshore wind project in Negros Occidental and 1,000-MW offshore wind project in Guimaras, among others. DOE Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said an offshore wind inter-agency committee is needed to facilitate OSW development in the country. Alena Mae S. Flores

DHL Express upgrades aircraft, carrying capacity DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, said Thursday it upgraded its aircraft from A300 to A330-300, increasing its capacity by 31 percent in the Philippines. The upgraded aircraft, operated by Air Hong Kong, will increase DHL’s capacity from 42 tons to 55 tons, with 12 weekly flights to serve the route of Hong Kong-Manila-Cebu-ManilaHong Kong.

“We continue to invest in our business in the Philippines, and we are proud to bring these improvements to the country,” said Nigel Lockett, country manager for DHL Express Philippines.

“Our new and larger aircraft is a firm commitment to serving our customers, and ensure that we are prepared to support their growth at a global scale and respond to the needs and demands of the market,” he said.

The aircraft is part of 15-year-agreement that DHL signed with AHK Air Hong Kong Limited and Cathay Pacific to enable overnight air delivery services and support express services for the Asia Pacific region until 2033.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PAL set to resume more domestic flights from Clark in April

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PHILIPPINE Airlines said Thursday it is ramping up its domestic route network, with the reopening of flights from Clark to Caticlan (Boracay) and Busuanga (Coron) in April 2023.

The airline unit of billionaire Lucio Tan will resume services between Clark International Airport and Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay, via a thrice-weekly frequency starting April 1.

Beginning April 4, PAL will restart services between Clark and Busuanga (Coron) with four-times weekly frequency.

off point to the country’s prime island destinations. Philippine Airlines hopes that the new routes will further bolster the full recovery of domestic tourism,” said PAL president and chief operating officer Capt. Stanley Ng.

“We will work in partnership with our stakeholders, including the Clark Airport authorities and the concerned local governments, to effectively build more connectivity between Clark and various regions of the Philippines,” he said.

“We are proud to be PAL’s partner in making Clark International Airport the gateway to these destinations, not only for travelers from Northern and Central Luzon, but also for foreign tourists wishing to experience the beauty of the Philippines,” he said.

PAL operates daily flights between Clark and Mactan-Cebu International Airport and international services from Clark to Seoul and Busan in South Korea for the winter season.

Isabela corn farmer Levy Mateo avails of loan from Land Bank of the Philippines with an affordable interest rate of only 2 percent per annum under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. Under the program, she availed of an initial loan for working capital amounting to P120,000—which has since grown to P600,000—for the purchase of farm inputs such as seedlings and fertilizers.

“The revival of these direct flights will give travelers from Central and Northern Luzon a convenient new way to access Boracay and Coron, demonstrating Clark Airport’s position as a key jump

Noel Manankil, president and chief executive of Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp., the private consortium that manages the Clark International, Airport said: “We are happy to welcome the resumption of these two routes from Philippine Airlines.”

Clark International Airport offers travelers the country’s newest terminal with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities.

“We aim to leverage on the strengths of Clark and maximize its potential as another PAL hub for both domestic and international flights,” Ng said.

AGRICULTURE LOAN.

SPORTS

PFF calls on fans to support Filipinas, be part of history

By Randy Caluag

THE Philippine Football Federation is inviting Filipino football fans to become part of history by joining the public view of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy on March 1 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati.

“We invite all football fans and stakeholders to come and visit the trophy when it arrives here to see women’s football’s biggest prize,” said PFF president Mariano Araneta.

“We are delighted to welcome the FIFA Women’s World Cup

trophy in Manila as the excitement continues to build up for the Filipinas’ debut in the most prestigious women’s football tournament in the world.”

The Philippines women’s squad made history when it qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup under

Gilas takes on Lebanon at PH Arena

By Peter Atencio

THE Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team will rely on new faces to compensate for its lack in size on Friday at the start of FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers’ sixth window at the Philippine Arena.

Top Gilas big men Kai Sotto, Japeth Aguilar and Carl Tamayo will be unavailable during Gilas’ coming games against Lebanon on Friday at 6 p.m. and against Jordan on Monday, leaving June Mar Fajardo as the team’s only legitimate center.

Big man Kevin Quiambao is expected to step up, with 6’5” naturalized player Justin Brownlee and 18-year-old Mason Amos, a shooter.

Team captain Amir Saoud will lead the Lebanon squad, which will also miss key players, led by Fiba Asia Cup MVP Wael Arakji.

Lebanon will also be without Ali Haidar, who averaged 13.4 points a game for the team, second behind Arakji with 16.8 points.

Haidar is the top rebounder of the Cedars during the qualifiers with 6.4 per contest.

Lebanon won over the Philippines, 85-81, during the August window in Beirut.

The Cedars will have Sergio El Darwich, Hayk Gyokchyan, Gerard Hadidian, Jean Marc Jarrouj, Jad Khalil, Marc Khoueiry, Ali Mansour, Ali Mezher, Naim Rabay, Gabriel Salibi, and Karim Zeinoun.

coach Alen Stajcic. Subsequently, the Philippines was chosen to be part of the Trophy Tour of the Women’s World Cup 2023.

PFF secretary general Atty. Ed Gastanes said exciting activities have been lined up during the tour, where Filipino fans can join and show their support to the Filipinas, who are preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 slated on July 20 to August 20 in various places across both Australia and New Zealand.

The Filipinas were drawn in Group A along with Norway, Switzerland, and host New Zealand.

The World Cup trophy will be in

the country until March 2 with different related activities lined up including mini-games like freestyle football, penalty shootouts, and skills and header challenges while fans can also have an opportunity to have a photo with the actual World Cup trophy.

“We hope that the upcoming trophy tour would inspire Filipino football fans and players, particularly young women’s players nationwide,” added PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes. “It is a unique moment for everyone to see the trophy which is only seen during the official draw and the final match of the Women’s World Cup.”

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy

The original trophy is currently at the World Football Museum in Zurich, Switzerland. It was designed by William Sawaya from Milan, Italy for the 1999 tournament. All the names of the countries which have previously won the World Cup are engraved underneath the base.

An exact replica of the trophy is given to the World Cup winners with the name of the winning team engraved underneath.

Pagdanganan blows field with eagle-spiked 67 to lead by 6

MORONG, Bataan—Bianca Pagdanganan got back at PK Kongkraphan in emphatic fashion, toppling the Thai ace with an eagle-spiked frontside assault then sustaining her charge at the back to fire a 67 and take a commanding six-shot lead over Ya-Chun Chang and Pakin Kawinpakorn after 36 holes of the Anvaya Cove Ladies International here yesterday.

An eagle on the par-4 No. 1 fueled Pagdanganan’s second round attack and she kept on firing and netting birdies the rest of the way while showing restraint to dominate the field, which succumbed in another wind-blown day when bogeys became the norm rather than the exception.

But as her rivals sputtered and hobbled in blustery conditions, the Filipina ace flourished, gunning down four birdies after a miscue on the par-5 No. 2 then rebounding from back-to-back mishaps from No. 12 with birdies on Nos. 15 and 18.

She surged ahead by three with a 33 at the turn and doubled it up at the finish with an eight-under 136 aggregate, including an opening round 69, for a whopping six-stroke bulge over Taiwan’s No. 1 and Kawinpakorn as Kongkraphan failed to recover from a costly double-bogey on No. 4 and limped with a 75 after a nearimpeccable 68.

With a 143 total, the eight-year LPGA

Tour veteran tumbled to fourth in a tie with compatriot Kultida Pramphun, who matched par 72, enabling Kawinpakorn, who fired a 70, and Chang, who carded a 72, to assume the challenger’s role at 142.

Thai Meechai Kusuma faltered with a 75 and slipped to sixth at 143, while Poruangrong Green also shot a 72 to tie compatriots Konsunthea Ornnicha and Jaengkit Chorphaka, who matched 73s for the second straight day, and Taiwanese Yi-Tsen Chou, who fumbled with a 76, at 146.

“I’m pretty satisfied with how I played today (yesterday). I got my goals – hit the fairways and greens. It’s important to keep the ball in play and I’m pretty sure I got it done for most part,” said Pagdanganan, who got going after her 9-iron approach shot from 142 yards on No. 1 hit the top of the edge and rolled into the cup. “I thought it’s going to the bunker but it was a good shot and I got away with it,” she added.

All looked for a virtual repeat of the gripping first round skirmish when just three strokes separated seven players, including the fancied troika of Kongkraphan, Pagdanganan and Chang, in the $100,000 championship kicking off the 2023 Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and serving as the second leg of the LPGA of Taiwan Tour.

World Aquatics orders PH Swimming Inc. elections

WORLD Aquatics has suspended the Philippine Swimming Inc. and ordered an electoral process for the national federation’s board of directors through the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The suspension was prompted by a PSI letter to swimming’s world governing stating that it still has the recognition of the Philippine Sports Commission, the government agency that funds sports programs.

“While the World Aquatics Bureau noted that PSI denied all allegations, it considers the allegations against PSI to be proven and very serious,” WA stated in a memorandum dated February 22, signed by its executive director Brent Nowicki and sent to the PSI, POC and the Asian Swimming Federation.

“World Aquatics has tried to resolve the many issues with PSI, but PSI and in particular, certain members of its Executive [the President

and Members of the Board of Trustees] have ever since vigorously resisted to any assistance and help for the necessary reforms, showing no interest and no willingness to act in accordance with World Aquatics Constitution nor with the principles enshrined in such Constitution.”

The WA added: “Worse, by letter dated 4 February 2023, the Secretary General of PSI requested, by using wrong and misleading arguments, the intervention of the Philippine Sports Commission, a Philippine governmental body, into the affairs of PSI.”

Following the suspension, the WA sought the POC in forming an Electoral Committee with the mandate “to take all steps necessary to conduct and hold new elections.”

The WA sand the Electoral Committee’s functions include the call for or invitation to submit nominations;

preparation of electoral guidelines, to ensure that voting by secret ballot is possible, vetting of possible candidates including eligibility tests, convocation of electoral assembly and running of the assembly and taking all actions necessary for fair and democratic elections without undue influence.

“In accordance with the World Aquatics Constitution, the members of the Electoral Committee shall be confirmed by the World Aquatics Bureau, based upon recommendation from the Philippine NOC,” WA furthered in the letter.

WA’s suspension order bars the PSI from exercising exercise any of its membership rights during the period of suspension, including the right to attend and participate in the international federation congress.

The suspension, WA indicated, will be lifted once the Electoral Committee

Cebu CC takes overall Seniors’ lead, Cangolf 2 behind

CEBU—Playing under the radar, so to speak, Cebu Country Club on Thursday pooled a second round 140 points built around the four-over-par 76 worth 50 points of Jufil Sato, to take the overall lead in the Philippine Airlines Interclub Seniors championship at the Club Filipino de Cebu layout in Danao.

Former pro Carl Almario marked his seniors debut with 49 points, and Cebu CC, playing in the lower Founders Division, counted the 41 of Kyu Ok On for a 290 total, now two points ahead of Canlubang, which remained on top of the centerpiece Championship division race after amassing 133 despite calling on skipper Tony Olives to play.

Zaldy Villa fired 48 points, Rene Unson accounted for 44 and Abe Avena contributed 41 as the defending champion Sugar Barons played well enough to keep its repeat bid alive even after Tommy Manotoc went home

hours before the first round on Wednesday because of a family emergency.

Luisita thus gained ground on Cangolf after shooting a 137 for 283, with Ronnie Littaua shooting 47 and old reliable Rodel Mangulabnan 46 that went with Benjie Sumulong’s 44.

Third round action will still be at Club Filipino, an unpredictable up-and-down course with sleek greens where Cebu CC will now be grouped with players from Canlubang, Luisita and Manila Southwoods—1, 2 and 3 in the premier race.

“We didn’t play really well today,” Luisita non-playing captain Jeric Hechanova said. “With Tommy (Manotoc) out for Canlubang, it’s now a very wide-open race. Four teams now have a chance with Cebu CC joining the fight.”

Southwoods also threw its hat in the ring after a day-best 139 in the Championship flight even with spearhead Jun Jun Plana

has completed its mandate. The sanction, however, doesn’t prejudice Filipino athletes from participating in WA competitions.

“During this transitory phase, the World Aquatics Bureau instructed the World Aquatics Office to ensure that Filipino athletes may continue to take part in World Aquatics competitions and events for which they are eligible and/or to benefit from World Aquatics Development Programs for which they meet the requirements, in compliance with framework conditions to be determined,” the IF said.

WA earlier ordered the creation of a Stabilization Committee to take over PSI’s functions as a national sports association. The committee recently conducted trials at the New Clark City for the national aquatics team to the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

Bianca Pagdanganan res a 67 to take a commanding six-shot lead over Ya-Chun Chang and Pakin Kawinpakorn. Manny Marcelo

Theody Pascual, Joseph Tambunting and Thirdy Escaño are the others suiting up for the Carmona-based squad in the final

Carl Almario

4 girls’ teams, 3 boys’ squads debut in PNVF U18 tourney

FOUR teams in the girls’ division and three squads in the boys’ side are making their debuts at the resumption of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Under-18 Championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Malate, Manila.

Debuting in the girls’ section are Sto. Nino de Praga Academy of Trece Martires City against Team Hiraya (0-1 won-lost) of Angono in Pool D at 11:30 a.m. and De La Salle Lipa against Paranaque Green Berets (1-0) in Pool A.

Canosa Academy of Lipa City and UVL Munoz Hornets of the Science City of Munoz in Nueva Ecija clash at 2:30 p.m. in a battle of first-timers in the tournament organized by the PNVF headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara and supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, PLDT, Rebisco and Akari.

La Salle-Greenhills debuts in boys’ Pool A against Santa Rosa City (1-1) at 8:30 a.m. and so will De La SalleLipa against Hermosa Volleyball Club (1-0) of Bataan at 4 p.m. in Pool C and Canosa Academy of Lipa City against Queen Anne School (1-1) also of Santa Rosa City at 5:30 p.m. in Pool D.

Five teams went unbeaten in two matches in the first weekend of the tournament—Justice CM Palma High School (Quezon City) and Team Nagcarlan (Laguna) in boys’ Pool A and D, respectively, and Maryhill College (Lucena City) in Pool A, California Precision Sports (Antipolo City) in Pool C and Volida Volleyball Club (Manila) in Pool D in the girls’ division.

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.

PH stays in contention on Malixi’s strong play

CARMONA—Rianne Malixi finally got her game back and Team Philippines moved into contention for a podium finish after the penultimate round of the 43rd Queen Sirikit Cup held at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club’s beautiful yet challenging Masters course here on Thursday.

Malixi had a slow one-birdie, twobogey card in the opening nine, but came out stronger at the back side, making three birdies and an eagle for a four-under-par 68 to step up to within five shots off India’s Avani Prashanth and solo second in the individual title race.

The Pinay ace, who will turn 16 in a couple of weeks, roared back with a 15-foot birdie on the 10th, added two more on the 11th and 15th and then capped her brilliant final nine with a

long 25-foot putt for eagle on the 18th to end the day in contention for the individual title.

“Patience was the key. When two bogeys happened on nos. 6 and 7, I got a little frustrated. But I told myself to calm down and patiently waited for the next birdie to drop. When it did on the 10th, it turned my game around. Positive things came, including that eagle on the last hole,” Malixi said. Her score, coupled with Lois

De Guzman turns back top rookie Gonzales

MIKAELA De Guzman made strides in her title aspirations in the women’s singles of the 2023 Philippine Badminton Open after outgunning Anthea Gonzalez in their Round of 16 contest, Thursday at the Dragonsmash Badminton Center.

The UAAP Season 85 Most Valuable Player worked for 34 minutes to eventually finish off the league’s top rookie Gonzalez, 21-15, 25-12, to advance into the quarterfinals in this tournament backed by Yamaha, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, MWell, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, and Meralco.

Second-seed Christal Fuentespina also moved to the next round after taking care of Khylle Marie Agura, 21-8, 21-6 in her side of the draw.

Elsewhere, seeded pairs in the doubles events stamped their class to book their respective places in the last eight.

Alyssa Leonardo and Thea Pomar zoomed into a 21-13, 21-7 win over Agura and Phoebe Villaflor to pace the women’s doubles quarterfinalists, alongside fellow national team stalwarts Nicole Albo and Lea Inlayo, winners against Nica Songcuan and Zyrish Camba, 21-11, 21-9.

Kaye Go’s 77, helped the Filipina squad to jump to sixth with 435.

South Korea slowed down with 144 but continues to hold on the top spot with 425., followed by India (143428). Japan (145), Indonesia (137) and New Zealand (143) were tied for third with 433.

Korea was led by the 71 of Yoo Hyun-jo and 73 of Kim Min-sol. India’s Prashanth’s 70 and Vidhatri Urs’ 72 counted in the three-to-play, two-tocount format of the tournament organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

“We achieved our goal of slicing down Korea’s lead and, as bonus, Rianne (Malixi) has a shot for the individual plum),” said captain Ann Granada, noting that if the young lass from Quezon City wins, she will be the second Filipina to do after Dottie Ardina triumphed in 2011 in India.

In the men’s side, 31st Iran Fajr International Challenge champions Alvin Morada and Christian Bernardo defeated Jireh Keane Ortega and Josh Defensor, 21-12, 21-14, to lead the pairs going into the next phase. Julius Villabrille and Solomon Padiz Jr. booked their places as well, shooting down James Villarante and Ariel Magnaye, 21-10, 21-16. Morada and Leonardo also made the next round of the mixed doubles’ side after outlasting Ron Jacob Gavile and Rhafi Santos, 21-14, 21-17. Pomar and Bernardo also moved on with a come-from-behind win past Geva De Vera and Magnaye, 6-21 21-15, 21-18.

The fifth day of the tournament, which is also brought by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, continues with its quarterfinals phase.

Boxing body says eating eggs explains Benn’s positive dope test

LONDON—Conor Benn has been cleared of a doping offence after the World Boxing Council ruled a “highly-elevated consumption of eggs” constituted a “reasonable explanation” for his positive finding.

A scheduled catchweight “grudge” bout against British rival Chris Eubank Jr scheduled for October last year was cancelled after trace amounts of a fertility drug, clomiphene—which is known to elevate testosterone levels in men—were found in Benn’s urine.

Benn, 26, had denied intentionally or knowingly ingesting any banned substances, and in December broke his silence in a long post on Instagram, saying: “The truth will soon

Reality bites

True to form, Iceland gave us a peek of what a really strong team with excellent conditioning, skills and experience can do against a squad still trying to find its way to compete against bigger, better and stronger opponents.

come out.”

On Wednesday, the WBC, having consulted a nutritionist, announced it was reinstating the London boxer in its rankings and stated there was “no conclusive evidence that Benn engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of Clomiphene.”

It added: “Mr Benn’s documented and highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collectiaon, raised a reasonable explanation for the Adverse Finding.

“The WBC shall include Mr. Benn in its ratings during the period immediately following the issuance of its ruling.”

The global governing body said it would correspond with the World

lent one, is very apparent.

We may have racked up three losses, but will go home with lots of lessons learned, tons of takeaways and the experience that hopefully will help the team win a point or two, where and when it really counts.

Which I believe was the real purpose of going to Spain and playing in the Pinatar Cup was all about.

Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) over concerns about Clomiphene as a food contaminant and “the potential for false positives caused by ingestion of contaminated food”.

Despite the WBC ruling, Benn remains under investigation by UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC).

Until their inquiries are finished, Benn will not be licensed to box in the UK, but could fight in another country under a different jurisdiction.

And the BBBofC stressed Wednesday its concerns remained.

“For clarity, whilst the BBBoC wishes to make clear that it respects the WBC, the WBC is a sanctioning body and not a governing body,” said

will fly to Doha, Qatar to face Jordan.

a statement.

Britain’s boxing authority said as it had adopted the UK Anti-Doping code, “the decision of the WBC does not affect the ongoing implementation of the BBBoC’s rules (and those of UKAD)”.

The bout was intended to be a continuation of the Benn v Eubank feud in which the rivals’ fathers—Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr—battled it out in two ferocious contests in the early 1990s.

A catchweight of 157 pounds (71.2 kilogrammes) was agreed for the sons to continue the family feud into a trilogy fight, meaning Benn would have had to move up two weight divisions and Eubank lose three pounds. AFP

A 5-0 LOSS to the 16th-ranked Iceland capped the Philippine Women’s National Football Team’s campaign in the 2023 Pinatar Cup in Murcia, Spain.

The defeat was the heaviest suffered by the Filipinas in the four-nation tournament featuring many of the best soccer players in Europe. The Philippines opened the tournament with a 1-0 loss to Wales and 2-1 defeat at the hands of Scotland.

While our hopes are always high whenever our national teams compete–whether the Azkals, the Filipinas or whoever is carrying the cudgels for the stars and the sun—there is always that reality that gives us the nastiest bite.

The 5-0 was a beatdown, no way to sugarcoat it. Aside from the difficulty of spelling and pronouncing their names, the Stelpurnar okkar (Our Girls) really did their job, came prepared and all business in making life miserable for the Filipinas where it matteee most: in the pitch. Iceland’s athleticism was on another level and far superior, collectively as a team. They almost have it all. Skills, technique, imposing physical presence, etc.

The list would go on. But then again, the losses would mean a lot more if the Filipinas didn’t learn anything in competing in another level, a different level, wherein you get what you bargain ed for, where the disparity between a good team against an excel-

Coach Alen Stajcic made it clear that competing in the tournament will serve as the gauge where our team is at. For that alone, mission was accomplished. Earning a point, a draw and an unlikely win, given the caliber and fitness of the opposition, were just bonuses.

You still made us proud Filipinas. Chin up! Rest for a few days, ponder on what happened, on what could be improved up, attend to personal matters for a few days or simply relax for a bit. Then go back to work. While it is running short, there is still time.

Our Philippine Azkals will apparently have two friendlies next month. Despite no official announcement yet from the Philippine Football Federation, the Azkals will face Kuwait on the 24th, then

At least the match against Kuwait is confirmed after its football association formally announced the game against the Philippines. From what I have heard, the game against Jordan is yet to be confirmed but nevertheless, it is still good news to know something about the team. That despite being out of the limelight, there is something to look forward to with the squad lost in the accomplishments of their female counterparts.

“The process of rebuilding the Azkals will continue with these friendlies. It will not be easy (the process), but we are optimistic that the tuneup games put the team in the right direction,” Dan Palami, Azkals’ Team Manager, said.

Palami added that the team is looking forward to playing their first match after failing to advance past the group of the Mitsubishi Electric Cup early this year.

“A lot of players have responded positively with the invitation to join the training pool for the Kuwait and the Jordan friendlies. We are looking forward to having a strong team against them,” Palami added.

Palami said they have invited 25-30 Azkals playing in and out of the country to join the squad the Middle East. He said they are finalizing the list once all needed details and information are at hand.

While The Designated Kit Man is not at liberty, yet, to disclose who were invited, the list looks very promising. I saw several big and familiar names playing in leagues in Europe and in Southeast Asia. A number of young ones are also in the squad. I just hope they could all make it.

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. Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games veteran and now professional boxer Charly Suares plus another guest or two, will join us in the show.

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

Rianne Malixi (left) scored a four-under-par 68, while Lois Kaye Go (right) had a 77 as the PH squad jumped to sixth with 435.

David Licauco is on a roll

ACTOR and entrepreneur David Licauco, alongside Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez, was recently introduced as the newest endorser of BlueWater Day Spa, a renowned leader in pampering and rejuvenation.

The latest endorsement is just one of the many projects that landed on the 28-year-old actor’s lap this year alone.

“Relaxation is such a precious time for me. Being very busy with the taping schedules as well as managing my businesses, having my favorite Balinese Massage at the spa at the end of a long tiring week is something that I always look forward to,” said Licauco.

Meanwhile, beauty queen and model Tracy Perez’s go-to treatments include BlueWater Day Spa’s Deep Tissue Massage and IPL Hair Removal service.

“When it comes to massages, I really love something that would concentrate on the areas that usually experience chronic tension like my lower back, shoulders, and neck. The Deep Tissue Massage realigns the deep layers of my tissues and muscles so that I can walk on heels again the following day,” shared Perez.

Apart from the two celebrities, BlueWater Day Spa also introduced Miss World Philippines 2022 Gwendolyne Fourniol, Miss Supranational 2022

Alison Black, Miss Eco Philippines

2022 Ashley Subijano Montenegro, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2022

Ingrid Santamaria, and Miss Eco Teen International 2022 1st runner-up Beatriz Mcleland as their endorsers.

With the addition of Licauco and Perez, as well as the beauty queens, BlueWater Day Spa’s roster of celebrity endorsers just grew bigger. Other brand ambassadors include celebrities and fellow queens Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Miss Universe Gazini Ganados, Michelle Dee, Harry Morris, Fabio Ide, and Christian Bautista

Since 2005, BlueWater Day Spa has helped Filipinos achieve and maintain

a balanced state of well-being through its wide, varied range of treatments. From intensely rejuvenating massages to deep cleansing facials, and sculpting and toning treatments that help maintain a toned physique, BlueWater Day Spa prides itself in having unique and niche massage services like the Four Hand Massage, Therapeutic Colonic Massage, and Pregnancy Massage. With three branches located around the metro, BlueWater Day Spa also offers its discerning clientele relaxing respites in the

city where they can de-stress and pamper themselves. BlueWater Day Spa has branches in Banawe – Quezon City, Eton Square - Ortigas in Greenhills, San Juan, and

…are talking about Miles Ocampo

Throughout the years, Miles undoubtedly improved her craft as an actress. She went from a bubbly child star from Goin Bulilit to a versa- tile actress starring in several dramas. In the remake of Batang Quiapo, directed and top-billed by Coco Martin, she gave a whole new performance level that made viewers on edge because of its intensity. Miles has been in the entertainment business for years, but her star shines brighter than ever.

Catriona Gray

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray has been making headlines again, but this time for more personal news. She’s engaged to her partner, actor-singer Sam Milby. The pair announced the next step in their relationship via Instagram in a cozy-looking picture. Cat, on the other hand, admits that she’s comfortable around her beau. Engagement or no engagement, we’re just happy that she is.

…are not talking about Aljur Abrenica

Estancia Mall in Pasig City. Soon to open at The Infinity Tower, BGC.

To know more about the BlueWater Day Spa, follow @bluewaterdayspaofficial on Instagram.

Mutya ng Pilipinas takes back Miss Intercontinental franchise

Beauty queens and celebrities participated in a special fashion event – styled by the men and women behind LA Style Fashion, headed by LA Styling Salon director Larry Asistin – which coincided with the launching of LA Styling Magazine International

* * * New York Fashion Week to visit Manila

MUTYA ng Pilipinas 2023 Iona Violeta

Gibbs will represent the country in the Miss Intercontinental 2023 pageant following the awarding of the license (franchise) for 2023 to the Mutya ng Pilipinas (MNP) organization by the Miss Intercontinental Organization (MIO).

“We welcome the MIO with open arms and we look forward to a strong and exciting partnership, starting with the 51st Miss Intercontinental 2023 and hopefully in the years to come,” said MNP president Cory Quirino. “Sharing compatible approaches in its platform for beauty pageantry, MIO searches throughout the continents just as MNP conducts its campaign in the far reaches of the country’s hometowns and in Filipino Overseas Communities abroad,” she added.

The MNP had previously sent beauty delegates to the Miss Intercontinental pageant until 2013, with Maria Sovietskaya Bacud placing 2nd runner

IT WAS an adrenaline-pumping pilot week for Coco Martin’s latest television series FPJ’s Batang Quiapo after it racked up over 44 million total digital views on Kapamilya Online Live and iWantTFC.

up in 1995 and Koreen Medina, finishing 3rd runner up in 2013.

*

* * Philippine bet named 1st runner-up in Miss Charm 2023

Filipino-British Annabelle Mae McDonnell nearly snared the first Miss Charm 2023 title during finals held at Hoa Binh Theatre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, last Friday. McDonnell was named 1st runner-up to winner Luma Russo of Brazil, while Olivia Tan of Indonesia finished as 2nd runner-up.

McDonnell, 22, is a student in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs at De La SalleCollege of St. Benilde and 1st runner-up in Miss Universe Philippines 2022. She was appointed by Empire.ph in November

The first few action-packed episodes are only a glimpse of what’s to come as viewers brace for even more exciting encounters in the series with the arrival of Supremo (Lito Lapid), an exconvict, and Greg, RK Bagatsing’s new

as the country’s representative in the inaugural pageant. Russo, McDonnell, and Tan were named in the final Top 3 from the Top 6 of Colombia’s Juliana Mabib, South Africa’s Luyanda Zuma, and Venezuela’s Lady Di Mosquera * * * LA Styling Salon ‘Salon of the Stars’ launched LA Styling Salon, a high-end salon at Sofitel Philippine Plaza, held its grand launching during the Style To Watch event at Sofitel, presented by the tandem of Bench Bello and John Guarnes. The Style to Watch beauty, hair, and makeup trend event featured style icons from various fields of beauty expertise.

character.

Greg will bring more problems into the life of Ramon (Christopher de Leon), a high-profile fugitive who recently escaped from prison with the help of Don Julio (Tommy Abuel), his father who is a business tycoon running one of the biggest criminal syndicates in the country. With Ramon on the loose, he only has evil intentions and is hell-bent on finding Tanggol (Coco), his only son, whom he hopes would continue his legacy as a notorious drug lord. Because of this, Tanggol’s life may be in great danger since he is completely unaware that his real father is Ramon, the same man who mercilessly raped his mother Marites (Cherry Pie Picache).

FPJ’s Batang Quiapo

As an offshoot of the huge success of Alegre Production Philippines at the recent New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in Manhattan, the NYFW organization has decided to visit the Philippines within the year, to explore possible collaboration with local designers in showcasing to the world the various local fabrics from the different regions in the country.

This is the second season that Alegre Runway Production, headed by CEO/ owner Tara Macias Sy, in collaboration with US-based Alegre de Filipinas, headed by Janice Delima Tentler, has participated in the NYFW event which features international designers’ collections.

The Alegre Production team of fashion designers and models was well-received with their latest Filipino collection showcasing their newest creations from local designers. The tremendous support and feedback they got from the fashion industry and trendsetters in New York City have inspired them more in promoting authentic local fabrics and Filipino creativity.

It’s been days since he and AJ Raval revealed their relation- ship – on Valentine’s Day, no less. De spite the passion between the two, the public was more concerned about Kylie Padilla’s (Aljur’s exwife) reaction. Yet since Kylie announced that all she wants now is peace and happiness, Aljur and AJ’s “announcement” became background news as the drama died down between his past and present relationships (for now).

Carla Abellana

Wedding bells are nowhere near the actress’s near-distant future, especially after her relationship with her estranged husband Tom Rodriguez. The former flames haven’t released any information about how their relationship went downhill, leaving their audi- ence to speculate. Her declaration of not eyeing marriage anytime soon did not take anyone by surprise since her love life was disastrous the previous year. Yet despite that, it’s inspiring to see that she remains hopeful for a positive future.

Screen fades to black on ‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’

AFTER several months of consistent social media trends and positive feedback from viewers, GMA Network’s groundbreaking masterpiece Maria Clara at Ibarra ends its journey inside the novels of Dr. Jose Rizal

The program is bannered by Barbie Forteza as Klay, Julie Anne San Jose as Maria Clara at Ibarra, David Licauco as Fidel, and Dennis Trillo as Simoun.

As the show nears its finale, Simoun is decided to carry out his plan of vengeance. His bomb plot will take place at the wedding reception of Juanito Pelaez and Paulita Gomez. Simoun brings a lamp as a gift to the newlyweds, but inside it is an explosive to spark a rebellion.

Who will join Simoun in his revenge plan? Will Klay be able to interfere with his plot and save him instead from danger?

Meanwhile, what will happen to the love story of Klay and Fidel? Will

Nickie Wang Editor; Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant

‘Batang Quiapo’ sets record in pilot week

page.

David Licauco (left) and Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez

Other Bluewater endorsers include pageant winners from various competitions

Becoming Bluewater Spa’s newest endorser is only one of David’s many projects

The winners of Mutya ng Pilipinas 2022 with national pageant director Cory Quirino (third from left)

Coco Martin in the modern rendition of ‘Batang Quiapo’

‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ stars (from left) Barbie Forteza, Dennis Trillo, and Julie Anne San Jose

Manila Standard columnist named Tourism Congress president

THE Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) recently convened and elected its new Board of Trustees for the period 2023-2025. Tourism industry veteran and Manila Standard travel columnist Bob Zozobrado is the President; James Montenegro of Chroma Hospitality, Executive Vice-President; Cindy Marie Virar of Marcian Garden Hotel Corp., Secretary; Margarita Munsayac of Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, Treasurer; Harry Morris of Hijo Resources Corp., PRO. TCP was created by the Tourism Act of 2009 under Republic Act 9593 to serve as the private sector consultative body to assist the government in the de-

velopment, implementation, and coordination of Philippine Tourism policy. Its hundreds of members come from all sectors of the Tourism Industry all over the country.

To live up to its mandate of being the true representative of the country’s tourism stakeholders, the new TCP Board filled up the various positions representing the industry’s various sectors and regions.

Rolando Cañizal of Rajah Travel Corp. is the Vice-President for Luzon; Peter Tay of Boracay Adventures, Inc. is the Vice-President for Visayas; and Marilou Ampuan of Bloomers Travel and Tours is the Vice-President for Mindanao.

The appointed sectoral representatives for Luzon are Sylvia Elvira Domingo of Philippine Airlines, Trustee for Transport; Michael Jaey Albaña of SMX Convention Center, Trustee for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions); Javier Hernandez of LIO Tourism Estate, Trustee for Tourism Estate Development. Sectoral representatives for Visayas are Maria Theresa Acelo of Check Cars Transport System, Trustee for Transport; Celso Jimenez of Micro Soph Events Management Services, Trustee for MICE; Eduard Loop of Cebu Safari and Adventure Park, Trustee for Tourism Estate; and Jaime Sarte III of Feel Deep Scuba Diving Services, Trustee for Other Accredited

Tourism Enterprises. The appointed sectoral representatives of Mindanao are Mary Ann Montemayor of Konkordans, Inc., Trustee for MICE; and Clyde Gamola of PHINMA Cagayan de Oro College, Trustee for Other Accredited Tourism Enterprises. Information on the golden benefits of membership to TCP is available through tourism.congress2014@ gmail.com or through 09178909921 or 09667635064.

IN CASE you’re looking for an all-inone place in Lipa City, Batangas, consider dropping by The Sosyal Place. Apart from its impressive concept of being a one-stop shop, the story behind its expansion is such an inspiration.

On Valentine’s Day, I got to enjoy the cool weather in Lipa, awesome food at D’Baristroe café, and an insightful interview with young entrepreneur Monroe Laurenze Dimaano – the president of the Triple MLD Group, Super MLD Inc., Real Success Construction & Company Inc., and The Sosyal Place.

At 23, Monroe stands out because he knows what he wants. It was just perfect that his parents, who are in the construction business, have goals that are aligned with his. It is not every day we’ll meet a young man who enjoys collaborating with his mom. Together, they actualize business ideas.

Monroe toured us around the familyowned business complex that houses a grocery store, pharmacy, coffee shop, salon, hotel and villas, and a soon-to-open VIP bar. One would not think that the flourishing business site with patrons coming in was also hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The young owner, inspired by his parents, led me to these business learnings. · Dare to be different. A play with words, the catchy brand The Sosyal Place means two things – sosyal as high-end in Filipino slang and “social” as one relating to connectedness with other people. Aside from the unique open-type hotel hangout, The Sosyal Place also houses a coffee place with unique blends. Monroe dared to offer something new in a place already known for its kapeng barako. He has started a new cof-

Business young from a

and life learnings entrepreneur

fee culture in the community.

· Use passion as your fuel. Have you ever been told to turn your passion into a profession? Why not turn it into a business?

Monroe and his family are into good food and sharing meals as a family. This inspired him to personally explore and experiment with homemade recipes that are now being served at their in-house café. There is just so much love that goes into the personalized menu items before they are served.

· There is power in productivity. “I didn’t hire a chef. The pandemic gave me time to innovate our recipes,” Monroe happily shared as he talked about building his café’s menu over time. He invested time and effort in coming up with the best op-

The power of charcoal

CHARCOAL is famously known as a detoxifying superfood, and skin care ingredient, because of its absorption qualities. This means that when you apply it to your skin, the charcoal attracts any excess oil, dirt, and impurities on your skin, leaving your skin feeling cleansed and purified when you wash the charcoal away.

The Body Shop’s Himalayan Charcoal line is made from bamboo which is the fastest-growing woody plant in the world, making it an environmentallyfriendly resource.

But what does charcoal do to your skin?

Re-texturizing. With regular use it works by gently exfoliating the top outer skin, leaving the skin feeling smoother and softer.

Clarifying. Helps to refine pores over time, leaving the complexion looking clarified and improving the skin’s luminosity.

Organic Acids. Derived from hibiscus flowers and famous for their skinexfoliating powers, these acids lead to a smoother-looking skin surface and a brighter-looking complexion.

It is sourced from charcoal powder from the Himalayan foothills of India, known to have purifying properties, brilliant for oily skin. It also has hibiscus flower extract that contains organic acids, known to have exfoliating properties. Salicylic acid is known to penetrate into the pores of the skin helps remove dead skin that has built up on the surface and alpine willow herb is known to help soothe the skin and control sebum production.

The Body Shop’s Himalayan Charcoal Line is available at The Body Shop stores and on its online store www.thebodyshop.com.ph.

The Body Shop was founded in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddick in Little Hampton, England. The beauty brand pioneered corporate activism and was built on a philosophy that business can be a force for good.

tions for his consumers. His eyes lit up as he talked about the journey of finding the right ingredients and perfecting each dish like his now best-selling truffle adobo pasta.

· Kindness is the key. The familyowned business started a culture of treating its employees like family. While many have suffered from job losses during the pandemic, Monroe and his family made adjustments to make sure the company’s employees get to keep their jobs. It is also heartwarming to know that some people working in the café are homegrown and trained to develop skills for the different jobs.

· Grit makes you great. Giving up for Monroe was not an option when the 2019-opened complex felt the blow of the series of lockdowns. With the help of a

Sunshine Place opens Ikebana flower arrangement workshop for beginners

FOR four Saturdays starting tomorrow, Marc Tomas will conduct a face-to-face workshop on Ikebana-Sogetsu-inspired flower arrangement for beginners (Part 1) at the Sunshine Place.

The workshop will serve as an introduction to participants who want to learn the basics of the Japanese art of flower arrangement.

Tomas, former president of Ikebana International Manila Chapter 108 and member of Sogetsu Potential Manila Chapter will demonstrate how to arrange flowers in upright Moribana style, basic slanting, and Variation # 4 with movements, basic Nagiri Style and combination of Moribana and Nagiri Arrangements.

Participants will have the opportunity to make their own Ikebana-Sogetsu-inspired flower arrangement under the guidance of Tomas who has been teaching Ikebana classes at Sunshine Place since

PIATA VIP GUESTS. The Philippine IATA Agents Travel Association (PIATA) held its 1st Induction of Officers at Dusit Thani Hotel Ballroom recently. Inducted by Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco were Maria Paz Alberto, president; Carlo Severino,  vice president; and Bea Berenguer-Testa, Chal Lontok-Del Rosario, Gia Fortun- Plumley, and Kem Lim, trustees. Shown in photo are guest speaker DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista (left) having

and PAL president and COO Stanley Ng.

The Body Shop’s pick of products for clarified and refined-looking skin. Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Clay Wash, Himalayan Charcoal Skin Clarifying Night Peel, and Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask