Manila Standard - 2023 March 13 - Monday

FIRST LADY OFFERS MARRIAGE TIPS TO BACOLOD COUPLES

Oil spill puts Verde Island in peril

UP study shows oil trajectory to reach biodiversity center this week

DANGER CLOSE. These maps supplied by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute on Sunday show a recent simulation model over five days (March 12 to 16) on the oil spill from the sunken tanker in Oriental Mindoro creeping its way up to the Verde Island Passage (encircled), the strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro. The 1.14-million-hectare passage is extremely rich in marine biodiversity that is in harm’s way if the spill is not contained soon.

By Charles Dantes, Angelica Villanueva, Rio N. Araja, and Othel V. Campos

THE

PCO: Digital media literacy tack on deck

By Vince Lopez

THE government will implement a Digital Media Literacy campaign this year to equip the most vulnerable communities with knowledge and tools “to be discerning of the truth,” a Presidential Commu-

nications Office (PCO) official said.

PCO Undersecretary Cherbett Karen Maralit issued the statement during the CyberSafe Against Fake News, a side event to the 67th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of

The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute on Sunday showed the results of a recent simulation model on the oil spill crisis after the oil tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel sank last February 28 in the waters off Oriental Mindoro. The simulation focused on the tanker's

AT least four umbrella networks of labor groups have expressed their opposition to the National Government Rightsizing Bill, saying this could lead to job losses at the level of rank-and-file employees.

In a statement, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), the PublicSector Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), the Confederation of Independent Union in the Public Sector (CIU-SENTRO), and other NAGKAISA Labor Coalition affiliates said the government should insteadprotect the rights of government workers.

“We voice anew our opposition to the Rightsizing Bill (House Bill No. 7240), which could result in further streamlining of the rank and file and much needed workforce in the public sector, while maintaining top government positions that are hardly needed, and are responsible for eating up the bulk of the country’s budget for basic services,”

FFW President Sonny Matula said.

Next page

China warns EDCA to ‘harm’ PH interest, regional peace

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Chinese Embassy on Sunday said the United States was dragging the Philippines into its issues with China by establishing additional military bases in the country and warned that this may “seriously harm” Manila’s national interests and regional peace and stability.

The Chinese Embassy issued the

By Rio N. Araja, Charles Dantes, and Macon Ramos-Araneta

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez

on Sunday called for a congressional inquiry over the failure of several police escorts of slain Negros Oriental Gov. Roel

statement after US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said, in an interview, that she did not believe that Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites would serve as a “magnet” for Chinese “aggressive behavior.”

On the contrary, she said, these sites would help keep people safe.

But the Chinese Embassy countered

Next page

Degamo to report for duty on the day he was gunned down in his own house. Based on reports, the Speaker said, five out of Degamo's six Philippine National Police escorts did not show up for duty on March 4, when a group of gunmen entered his house and fired upon the governor, killing him and eight others.

location from March 10 to 16 and claimed that the non-stop discharge of oil from the alleged seepage area and the weakening of the northeast monsoon or "amihan" may lead the oil to flow northwards toward Verde Island. The Verde Island Passage is a body of PLANE AND REMAINS. Photos from the Isabela Incident Management Team show the remains, in body bags, of the pilot and five passengers of the Cessna plane that went missing for nearly two months arriving in Divilacan town on Sunday afternoon.

Coast Guard/Army photo

Degamo kin: More execs on kill list

THE recent killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo could have been perpetrated by an organized group, with more elected officials still on their list, Siaton Mayor Cezanne Fritz Diaz said Sunday.

Diaz, a nephew of Degamo, said the group behind the killing of his uncle was involved in illegal activities, which was the motive behind the assassination earlier this month.

“They are an organization. The suspect is not just one person, they are a group,” he said in a report on GMA TV’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

Diaz added he believes he is also on the

Oil...

From A1 water between Batangas and Mindoro and it is acknowledged as a global center of marine biodiversity and home to endangered and threatened species.

The oil trajectory will also affect the coastal areas of Calapan, Verde Island, and some parts of Batangas, the UP MSI study noted.

The damage to the biodiversity in Verde Island Passage will influence tourism revenues, livelihood, and food security in the area, it said.

More than 137,000 people or 30,000 families living in the Mimaropa andWestern Visayas regions—nearly double than previously reported—have already been affected by the oil spill, the government reported Sunday.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it has

China...

From A1 that Washington was only using the EDCA with Manila for its geopolitical interests and to contain China.

“Peace and development remain the theme of this era and the call of peoples around the world. However, the US, to secure its hegemony and selfish geopolitical interests and out of the cold-war mentality, keeps upgrading military cooperation with the Philippines by addingEDCA bases and military deployment in this country,” the embassy statement said.

“Whereas the US claims that such cooperation is intended to help thedisaster relief efforts of the Philippines and some Americans even tout the EDCA sites as a driver of the local economy, it is plain andsimple that those moves are part of the US efforts to encircle andcontain China

Probe...

From A1

“Governor Degamo had earlier reported to the police about the threats to his life so it stands to reason that his security detail should have implemented stricter measures to ensure his safety. That’s why it’s highly suspicious that these police escorts were missing on the day he was killed,” Romualdez said.

He urged the committee on public order and safety, chaired by Sta. Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, to investigate the matter.

“It appears that the perpetrators were aware of the fact that Governor Degamo had practically no protection so they could easily accomplish their mission to assassinate him,” he said.

“We don’t want to blindly accuse anyone, but the circumstances apparently point to collusion between some members of the PNP and the perpetrators of this dastardly crime,” he said.

Romualdez cited the parallels between the killing of Degamo and the 2019 assassination of Ako Bicol partylist representative Rodel Batocabe, who was then running for mayor of Daraga, Albay.

Despite reports of threats to his life, two of Batocabe's three police escorts were pulled out days before he was fatally shot.

“If we find out in this congressional inquiry that some PNP personnel were in cahoots with the perpetrators to remove the security protection of Governor De-

Poor...

From A1

the Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said.

As of 7:30 a.m. Sunday, the retrieval team has not yet reached the location where the second team is waiting to take over, Isabela PDRRMO head Constante Foronda Jr. said.

The team that recovered the victims' bodies was still in the mountainous and forested area of the town of Divilacan near Barangay Ditarum, where the crash site was located.

Disaster authorities in Divilacan said they were confident the victims' remains would reach the town's proper on Sunday.

Super Radyo dzBB reported late

hit list.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said manhunt operations continue unabated for the remaining suspects who killed Degamo and eight others on March 4. Lt. Col. Roderick Salayo, commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Siaton town, said they believe the remaining suspects are still in the province.

already distributed P10.98 million worth of food and non-food itemsamong the 30,042 families—or 137,230 residents of 121 barangays of Mimaropa and Region 6, who were affected by the oil spill.

The DSWD also launched a cash-forwork program for fishers who arebanned from fishing in the polluted waters and will be deployed instead to help in the clean-up efforts.

The agency also said its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program would extend financial aid to the affected families.

“Some 1,116 affected families, 740 of which came from Barangay Algeciras and 376 in Barangay Concepcion, both in the Aguyata town in Palawan, received ₱5,000 cash assistance with a total amount of ₱5,580,000,” the agency said.

The sinking of MT Princess Empire has already threatened the source of

through its military alliance with this country,” it added. Earlier this year, the Department of National Defense announced an agreement with the US to allow American troops access to four more bases in strategic areas of the country.

“To bundle the Philippines into the chariots of geopolitical strifewill seriously harm Philippine national interests and endanger regional peace and stability,” the Chinese Embassy said. It also disputed Carlson’s remark that joint US-Philippine patrols in the South China Sea would be “one important component of making sure that waterways are free and open.”

The Chinese Embassy warned that the patrols would heighten tension anddisturb the efforts of countries to keep the peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The embassy warning comes amid increasingly aggressive Chinese behavior in the South China Sea, including areas well

gamo, we will recommend the filing ofappropriate criminal charges against everyone involved,” Romualdez said.

Over the weekend, Department of National Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. encouraged the public to share with authorities all the information they might know about Degamo's murder.

In a statement Saturday night, Galvez assured the public that the government would use all the information they would gather “to get the justice everyone deserves.”

He said the joint special task force, which consists of the ArmedForces of the Philippines and the PNP, would carry out President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s orders to step up joint enforcement operations in Negros to ensure such incidents do not happen again.

Galvez, along with AFP chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino and PNP officer-incharge Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, will help supervise the task force.

Medardo de Lemos, National Bureau of Investigation chief, is alsodesignated as a task force commander.

Galvez and Centino were in Negros Oriental on Saturday to visit the wake of Degamo at the provincial capitol in Dumaguete City and meet with Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, the late governor's wife.

They also visited the 302nd Infantry Brigade, led by Brig. Gen. Leonardo Peña, and the newly deployed Light Reaction Company in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.

The unit will join the newly created task force.

Sunday afternoon that the remains of the pilot and passengers finally arrived in Divilacan.

The remains would be flown by an Air Force air asset to Cauayan City once the weather cleared.

"However, the weather forecast is not good for choppers after 12 p.m.," said IMT head Foronda Jr. Sunday marked the fourth day since the crash site of the downed Cessna plane was found, almost two months since it went missing. No survivors were found.

“Difficult terrain and the area’s thick jungle are contributing to the difficulty of retrieving the bodies which may take days,” the Philippine Army earlier said in a statement. Search teams discovered the aircraft's wreckage within the 20-kilometer radius

While four suspects have been arrested and charged with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder cases, Salayo said the others are still being hunted down in Negros Oriental. He said there could be more, based on information coming from various sources.

Another suspect was killed during pursuit operations the morning after.

Degamo was talking to beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in his residence in Pamplona when armed men barged in and opened fire on him.

Degamo’s remains will be brought to Siaton for public viewing on Monday, after which he would be brought to a family-

income of over 10,000 fishers and their families in Pinamalayan,Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, and Mansalay, according to the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro.

As of March 9, the massive oil spill had also affected 80 percent of the 34 marine protected areas and nine of 13 towns of the province.

Meanwhile, a team of experts from Japan arrived in the country last week to help authorities with the ongoing oil removal and control activities, while the Philippine Coast Guard on Friday reported that the oil spill has reached the shores of Taytay, Palawan.

In other developments:

• Quezon Rep. Reynan Arrogancia said response systems and technologies to address oil spills would cost tens of millions of pesos, requiring a multiyear public investment program. Parts of the budget for this could be lodged with the Maritime Industry Authority,

within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

China refuses to recognize a decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated Beijing's expansive claims and upheld Manila's rights over its EEZ.

On Sunday, the US embassy reassured Malacanang that the US “commitment to the defense of the Philippines is ironclad.”

US Embassy in Manila spokesman Kanishka Gangopadhyay was commenting on the Chinese Embassy in Manila’s description of the United States as a“bully” that was “ganging up with its allies from other parts of the world to flex muscle in the South China Sea.”

“My only response to the PRC (People’s Republic of China) statement is to repeat what we have said for some time: The United States and the Philippines enjoy an alliance and partnership based on deep historical, economic, and cultural

Galvez assured the families of the slain victims that justice will be attained, and peace will once again reign in the province.

“The President is very firm in his guidance to solve the case as swiftly as possible, and bring these lawless elements to justice,” he said. “There is always time for reckoning and this day is that time.”

Also on Saturday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the joint special task force is nearing the resolution of the case.

“With the pieces of evidence at hand, the special task force believes we are nearing the solution of these cases. We are just fine-tuning ang finalizing some of the evidence at hand, including materialrevelation and pieces of evidence… collected by the Forensic Group of the PNP,” she said.

“The STF is really confident that in the coming days, we can unmask already the people behind this heinous crime,” she added.

Fajardo also said the assault rifle used to gun down Degamo was seized from suspects in hot pursuit operations. This was confirmed through ballistic analysis and cross-matching examination, she said.

The STF is also examining the other firearms used and investigating the original owner, seller, and buyer of the vehicles used in the assassination, she said.

She also said six employees of embattled Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. who were present during a series of raids on his properties are now under the custody of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

of the Maconacon airport, the plane’s supposed destination when it went missing on Jan. 24.

The plane had taken off from Cauayan airport on a route that would have taken it across the Sierra Madre mountain range, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) earlier said.

The Cessna C206 plane with tail number RPC 1174 with six onboard was reported missing on January 24 after taking off from the Cauayan Airport heading for Maconacon town.

Once all the bodies are transported to Cauayan, Foronda said CAAP personnel will investigate the site of the crash.

"The retrieval team did not bring with them wreckage from the plane. The CAAP asked them not to move the parts," he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

owned property and buried on Thursday.

The governor and five others were killed during the shooting. The death toll went up to nine the following day, while 13 others were reported to have been seriously injured.

Police and military sources initially said there were at least 10 suspects in the shooting incident now known as the “Pamplona massacre”.

“The manhunt will continue for the suspects indefinitely until the mastermind is arrested. We will also endeavor to win the trust and confidence of the people while working to stabilize the peace and order in the province,” Salayo said in mixed English and Filipino. With Charles Dantes (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, he said. He added that Congress would need “a ballpark figure of how much all of it will cost.”

• Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) and the Department of Energy (DoE) are ramping up efforts to contain and recover the oil spill, which has reached the shores of Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique. The mining firm said it has devoted over 4,700 man-hours to the oil spill clean-up. It has also provided the responders from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Health with accommodation, transport services, and personal protective equipment,including hazardous material (hazmat) suits, N95 masks, boots, andsafety gloves. An oil spill containment boom has also been installed one kilometer from the shoreline to protect the reseeded giant clams in Semirara Marine Hatchery in Tabunan.

ties, and our shared democratic values,” the spokesman said. He said the US and the Philippines “stand together as friends, partners, and allies.”

“Now and always, the US commitment to the defense of the Philippinesis ironclad, and we are committed to strengthening our economic and investment relationship,” Gangopadhyay said.

China has consistently opposed the Philippines’ planned expansion of the EDCA, which will add four more military bases that US forces would have access to, in addition to the five existing bases.

In a related development, Dr. Jeffrey Ordaniel, Maritime Security Director for the Pacific Forum, said the Philippines should assert its domain despite the decreased presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, saying the mere presence of Chinese government ships was a “form of harassment.”

Labor...

From A1

the voices and concerns of the workers are heard and addressed throughout the process as the same is guaranteed by theConstitution," United Workers of Duty Free Philippines-FFW chairperson Romeo Silva added.

The rightsizing measure proposed by the administration, however, will not cover teachers and health workers as well as military and uniformed personnel and posts in government-owned and -controlled corporations and government financial institutions which are under the jurisdiction of the Governance Commission on GOCCs.

“Rightsizing will cover all departments and agencies of the Executive Branch to simplify government operations, systems and processes to facilitate the delivery of quality services and streamline and digitalize government systems and processes to improve government interoperability,” Budget Undersecretary Wilford Wong said during a House hearing on the measure in November.

“This bill will also rationalize rules and operations to reduce regulatory burden on citizens, businesses and other stakeholders and design organizational structure of agencies to facilitate the implementation of programs and projects,” he added.

The labor groups said the proposed measure would have “adverse effects” on rank-and-file government workers, who have already been hit by previous reorganization efforts in the government.

“These efforts resulted in the emaciation of rank-and-file workers, abloated top, institutionalization of contractualization schemes, and the privatization of public services,” the labor groups said.

The House of Representatives last week approved on second reading House Bill 7240, which has been listed as one of the legislativepriorities of the current administration.

Instead of rightsizing, the labor groups called for the passage of the Public Services Relations Bill, or House Bill No. 1513, and the New Philippine Nursing Practice Act of 2022, or Senate Bill No. 589.

First Lady offers marriage tips to Bacolod couples

By Vince Lopez

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, who has been married to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for almost 30 years, shared secrets to a lasting marriage to 2,023 couples who tied the knot in a mass wedding ceremony Saturday afternoon.

"We'll be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary next month, on April 17," said Araneta-Marcos, who was the guest of honor of the event held at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds. She said there is no magic formula to make a marriage work 100 percent, adding that each couple is unique.

"Since there's no magic formula, allow me to take this opportunity to share three lessons that I learned from being married to your President for almost 30 years," the First Lady said.

First, she said, couples should "make sure that the courtship continues" and having a regular date night with your spouse is one of the keys.

Second lesson, Araneta-Marcos said, is for couples to take care of each other and be "your spouse's biggest supporter and ardent advocate."

"Last but not the least, remember the saying happy wife, happy life. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

PCO:...

From A1

Women (CSW67) at the UN headquarters in New York.

Maralit noted that Congress has tasked the PCO to address the growing concern over misinformation and disinformation, especially in the digital landscape.

“Backed by the budgetary support from the Philippine Congress and its confidence in the leadership of the PCO, we took the opportunity to develop mechanisms through which we can bring the online experiences of females of all ages into focus,” the PCO undersecretary said.

In her remarks, the PCO official also noted that “crucially, in this age of plenteous and insistent information, the rights of women and girls continue to be undermined by disinformation and misinformation.”

The PCO, she said, will focus on the most vulnerable communities.

“Taking a context-based and factual grassroots approach, we intend to reach out to, and equip, these communities with knowledge and skills and tools that will enable them to discern the truth as they engage in various social media channels and platforms,” Maralit said.

She also said that the two-fold path involves the active collaboration by PCO with the private sector, including the stakeholders of the broadcast industry, to establish effective mechanisms against fake news.

Maralit said a study to be conducted this month throughout the Philippines seeks to refine the target communities where media literacy is most needed; determine the social media platforms through which these communities are most susceptible to fake news; and identify the contents and topics on which this misinformation and disinformation focus.

The study also hopes to identify the profiles of fake news peddlers;understand the influences that open these communities to deceptions and understand the practices and habits of the target communities that create the opportunities for exposure to disinformation and misinformation.

“When we have gathered the results of this study, expectedly by the middle of this year, we will be implementing a nationwide media literacy campaign that will focus on the areas identified,” the PCO official said.

By the end of this year, Maralit said, the PCO will be closing the campaign with a Media Literacy Summit, where speakers from organizations such as Facebook, Google, and the Philippine Commission on Women, among others, will be invited.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) discussed the measures it implemented to empower vulnerable populations to discern true and accurate information from fake news and to report any such abuses.

In her speech, CHR Commissioner Fayda Dumarpa said they have implemented Lila ang Kulay ng Boto Ko Campaign (Purple is the color of my vote), an education drive on women’s right to suffrage.

CHR also created an online reporting portal for gender-based violence “to provide a platform for women and girls to report and seek assistance on different forms of violence either committed offline or in online spaces, including those arising from disinformation and misinformation.”

Onion prices stay over P100 per kilo in MM

MARKET prices of onions remain above the expected range in Metro Manila, even as farmers groups reported a drop in farmgate prices amid the local harvest season and the influx of vegetable imports.

According to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Sunday, prices in Metro Manila should have gone down to as low as P80 per kilogram but instead have stayed above P100 per kilo, months after hitting over P700 per kilogram in some Metro Manila markets late last year.

“The farmgate price of red onions in Nueva Ecija currently ranges from P55 to P60 (per kilo) and the white, more or less, is at P60 per kilo for the farmgate price. Prices in Metro Manila should perhaps be at P90 or P80,” SINAG Chairperson Rosendo So said in an interview aired on GMA News on Sunday.

The same report noted, however, that red onions ranged from P120 to P140/kg, with white varieties at P100/ kg at the Datu Tahil Market in Commonwealth, Quezon City.

At the Blumentritt Market, red onions were priced at P120/kg and whites at P140 a kilo. Increases were also seen in the prices of tomatoes and calamansi in both markets.

Latest data available from the Department of Agriculture’s price monitoring indicate that prices of the local red onion ranged from P90 to P150, and the local white onion from P80 to P130 per kilogram in Metro Manila markets as of Friday, March 10.

Prices of imported onions, both the red and white varieties, ranged from P100 to P120 per kilogram.

Last month, the DA issued notices of violation against several stall owners in Metro Manila for selling “overpriced” onions in the markets.

In a statement, the DA said inspections conducted from Feb. 14 to 16 showed that some stalls have been selling a kilogram of onions from P140 to P250.

Congress panel takes dive into K-12 curriculum woes

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) will study challenges hounding the country’s K-to-12 curriculum, including the implementation of the Mother-Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) and the spiral progression approach, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said.

The EDCOM II is mandated to conduct a National Assessment and Evaluation which will include, among others, the determination of factors that have contributed to the continuing failure in performance of identified subject areas to meet desired local and international standards.

Gatchalian pointed out that based on the results of international largescale assessments such as the 2018 Programme for International Student As-

sessment (PISA), Filipino learners are lagging their peers abroad and failing to master basic competencies. Out of 79 countries that participated in PISA, the Philippines ranked lowest in Reading and second lowest in Mathematics and Science. While the Department of Education (DepEd) is already reviewing and revising the K to 12 curriculum, Gatchalian said EDCOM II’s assessment will formulate proposed education reforms to

address the education crisis.

“In my opinion, there are two very contentious issues specific to the K to 12 law, first is the mother tongue and second is the spiral progression,” said Gatchalian, co-chairperson of EDCOM II.

“We’ll definitely look at these because at the end of the day, what we’re looking at is improving learner performance,” he added.

A 2019 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), revealed that out of 16,287 schools surveyed, only 9% conducted the four activities needed to successfully implement MTB-MLE: the writing of big books on language, literature, and culture; documentation of the orthography of the language; documentation of grammar; and documentation of a dictionary of the language.

3D BILLBOARD. Strollers and visitors enjoy watching and taking selfies with the cat that appears on the

3D-LED screen at Bonifacio Global City (BGC)

Sen. Villar leads Women’s Day Bukidnon rites

EQUALITY and women empowerment nowadays is not just about protecting women from violence and other forms of abuses, but also giving them a chance to earn and provide for the needs of their family, said Sen. Cynthia A. Villar.

“I believe that when we empower women, we also empower families, the society and generations of people, who will contribute towards nationbuilding,” said Villar.

In her speech during the recent 18th Provincial Women’s Summit in Bukidnon, Villar described as “obsolete” the mindset that a man is the only breadwinner in a family.

“During these times, women are equal of men and are considered vital contributors to economic growth and in building an inclusive society,” said Villar in the celebration with the theme “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society.”

FORMER government executive

Dave Almarinez and his wife, the actress Ara Mina, recently unveiled the offices of their holding company A Force Ventures at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City with their venture partner, the actor Dingdong Dantes, leading guests and officials present.

In an interview, Almarinez told the Standard: “We are looking for concepts of potential (businesses) that can be expanded. Either we invest in them or actually partner with them. Or we provide our experience.”

A holding company is defined in Investopedia as a company that owns other companies and oversees their operations but exists solely to operate those subsidiaries.

Almarinez was president and CEO of state-owned Philippine International Trading Company (PITC) from 2017 to 2021. A true rags-to-riches story from his hometown in Laguna, the entrepreneur has held senior posts in various multinational corporations in the Philippines and abroad.

A start-up with “a keen eye for technology-related opportunities in Asia and beyond, particularly companies which embody strong potential,” Almarinez said A Force Ventures “will grow with you and for you.” Roy Tomandao

“Needless to say, economicallyempowered women can augment their family’s income, contribute for food on the table, and help raise and send their children to school. And these well-raised and educated children will then be the future and welcome assets of our nation,” she added.

As a legislator, she related about the existing laws which promote the rights and welfare of women.

They are RA 11313 (Safe Spaces Act or Bawal Bastos Law), RA 9710 (Magna Carta of Women), RA 11210 (Expanded Maternity Leave Law), RA 6725 (Prohibition on Discrimination Against Women), RA 6725 (Prohibition on Discrimination Against Women), RA 9262 (AntiViolence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004) and RA 7882 (Act Providing Assistance to Women in Micro and Cottage Business Enterprises). Macon Ramos-Araneta

Tolentino frets over disposal of 60 million expired COVID vaccines

SENATOR Francis Tolentino has raised alarm over the possible dangers of expired vaccines “on the lives of every Filipino and the environment.”

In a statement Sunday, Tolentino said he is not convinced that expired vaccines are already safe and are being burned, despite pronouncements by government agencies.

“Definitely, once it goes to the river, there is still a (bad) effect. As to matter of safety, nobody can still say that they are safe... they are infectious waste,” noted Tolentino, Senate health committee chairperson, who conducted the fourth and last hearing on the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) in the procurement of anti-COVID-19 vaccines.

He said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has yet to conduct a study on the ill effects of disposing of expired COVID-19 vaccines, which could reach up to 60 million doses by the end of the year.

While Tolentino said there is still no total cost of the expired vaccines, he has already directed the Senate Blue Rib -

bon Committee secretariat to make the proper computations.

Apart from the DENR, he said the private contractor in charge of burning the expired vaccines also has no studies on the effects of burying them in landfills.

At present, the Department of Health has one landfill in Cavite and another in Tarlac. Macon Ramos-Araneta

MEPS nixes reports it has settled with BTI

By Vito Barcelo

MANILA Express Payment System Inc. (MEPS) on Sunday denied reports that the issues between them and BTI-Philippines Inc. (BTI) had been settled.

MEPS, which owns and operates “TouchPay” machines, said in a statement it obtained favorable decisions in a series of cases filed against several officers and directors of other corporations that allegedly infringed on its registered utility model.

It said that a series of raids conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation-Intellectual Property Rights Division (NBI-IPRD) in 2021 led to the seizure of several automated payment machines under the label “Xytrix” / “ZoomPay” machines, owned by Xytrix Systems Corporation (Xytrix) and powered by Electronic Transfer and Advance Processing Inc. (E-TAP).

The Regional Trial Court of Muntinlupa, Branch

203, through Judge Myra B. Quiambao, found probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the officers of Xytrix, led by Danilo Evangelista, for the alleged crime of Unfair Competition under Republic Act No. 8293.

The seized Xytrix/ZoomPay machines were supposedly found to be infringing the registered utility model of MEPS, the latter said.

Xytrix admitted that it owns the seized kiosks but claimed the machines were manufactured and powered by E-TAP.

Likewise, the tribunal of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc. recently ruled in favor of MEPS and found that BTI, headed by Danilo Ibarra, apparently conspired with E-TAP in copying the registered utility model of MEPS and installed the same into BTI and E-TAP machines under the brand name “Pay & Go.”

LENTEN RITES. Young men loudly recite the Catholic vows during the traditional Pabasa of the Passion of Christ at a house in Sta. Maria, Tondo, Manila, while a man carries a crucifix while walking along T.M Kalaw Street in Manila on Sunday, signifying that Holy Week is just around the corner. Norman Cruz and Danny Pata

OFFICE OPENING. Former government executive Dave Almarinez (right) and his wife, the actress Ara Mina (center), cut the ribbon to the new offices of their holding company A Force Ventures at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City with their venture partner, the actor Dingdong Dantes (left). Roy Tomandao

‘End contractualization of 4Ps staff’

GOVERNMENT workers that serve as grassroots implementers of the P103-billion Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are at risk of becoming poor themselves due to the contractual nature of their jobs, House Minority Leader and 4Ps partylist Rep. Marcelino Libanan said on Sunday.

“We find it unacceptable that the very people at the frontlines of the government’s fight against poverty are precariously exposed to the hazard of becoming deprived on account of their contractual employment,” Libanan said.

By Rio N. Araja

ALBAY Rep. Joey Salceda said the government should provide support to Filipino women who suffered sexual abuse by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II even as he acknowledged that the Japanese government has already made reparations the equivalent of $29 billion today.

Salceda said for context, Japan has paid an equivalent of 8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 1956 to the Philippines in cash and goods as reparations, and another 3.5 percent of GDP in concessional loans.

“This, in today’s terms, would be equivalent to $29 billion in reparations – which significantly exceeds the country’s $22 billion infrastructure budget

The 4Ps, he said, is basically staffed by temporary contract of service or job order workers down to the municipal level.

“They do not have security of tenure, and they have zero social security protection and no benefits whatsoever.

And once their work contracts end, they risk joblessness and poverty, along with their families,” Libanan said.

The lawmaker filed House Bill No. 7410 which seeks to regularize the employment of 4Ps staff through the creation of new program offices and plantilla positions under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Under the bill, the DSWD would be required to establish permanent offices and positions for 4Ps management and operations at the regional, provincial,

Chief Justice seeks Rotary Club support

By Rey E. Requejo

CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmundo has urged members of the country’s more than 800 Rotary Clubs to rally behind the judiciary’s five-year reform programs intended to enhance the dispensation of fair and real-time justice to all.

In a speech before the two-day district conference of Rotary District 3800, Gesmundo urged the Rotarians to support the Supreme Court’s “vision of a responsive, efficient, and all-inclusive judicial system a reality.”

Gesmundo explained the SC’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI) 2022-2027, which he said was the “blueprint of action anchored on four guiding principles: Timely and Fair Justice, Transparent and Accountable Justice, Equal and Inclusive Justice, and Technologically Adaptive Management.”

THREE municipalities in the province of Cagayan became the latest beneficiaries of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s multi-purpose evacuation center (MPEC) project after the state-run gaming agency inaugurated the newly-constructed facilities over the weekend.

The PAGCOR-funded basketballcourt type multi-purpose facilities worth P12.7 million each were formally unveiled in the towns of Amulong, Solana and Peñablanca.

In the municipality of Solana, the evacuation facility built in the flood-prone Barangay MalalamMalacabibi, was already used as a temporary shelter in October 2022 after the gates of Magat dam were opened to release water following the onslaught of Tropical Storm Paeng.

According to Solana Municipal Mayor Jennalyn Carag, despite being partially completed, the PAGCOR-funded evacuation facility already provided safe refuge to 80 families from low-lying communities in their town.

“Even when it was still being constructed, this center was such a big help for us,” she said.

this year,” he said.

“With that amount, we could have rebuilt much of our war-damaged economic sectors and provided support to victims of war when it was still timely to do so. We were the largest recipient of Japanese reparations. We clearly squandered our opportunity – and also failed to fully acknowledge the wrongs committed by the Japanese in the Philippines,” he added.

Salceda, however, said it is late, but never too late, to correct a historical injustice such as this.

“It will not cost the government too much to rectify a historic wrong by providing the necessary support to these survivors and their descendants. Around 1,000 women were enslaved as comfort women during the Second World War,” he said.

city and municipal levels.

The new 4Ps offices would be staffed by regular heads, social welfare officers, administrative assistants, and monitoring and evaluation personnel, among others.

At present, the DSWD is one of the smallest executive departments in terms of regular plantilla items.

In the 2023 General Appropriations Act’s staffing summary, the DSWD has only 3,335 authorized permanent staffing positions. Rio N. Araja

Lawmaker calls for biometric immigration screening of

SURIGAO del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel wants the Department of Justice to draw up a biometric border security plan that would enable a modernized Bureau of Immigration to keep better track of foreigners coming in and going out of the country.

“The BI should start deploying biometric checks to verify the identities of foreign visitors and validate their entry

or exit,” Pimentel, House good government and public accountability committee vice chairperson, said in a statement on Sunday.

“We urge the DOJ to work closely with the Department of Budget and Management so that new appropriations for the BI’s biometric controls may be included in the 2024 national budget that Malacañang will submit to Con-

gress in August,” he added. Biometric technologies that provide automated facial, fingerprint, and/ or iris recognition of foreign visitors would expedite immigration clearance and enhance travel experience, Pimentel said.

He said biometric facial comparison alone would reinforce border protection against imposter threats and prevent the

“We encourage you, Rotary Club members, coming from diverse backgrounds and various disciplines, to assess the SPJI and—should you find our reform agenda true, fair, wellmeaning, and constructive and beneficial to all—to join us in making our vision of a responsive, efficient, and all-inclusive judicial system a reality,” the top magistrate said.

“Together, let us achieve our dream of a just, equitable, and peaceful society, and a better world for all,” he added.

Gesmundo also acknowledged “the important role that the Rotary Club has played in promoting peace and justice through its projects and activities.”

The Baguio City Fire Station is investigating a fire incident that razed portions of the Baguio Public Market late Saturday evening. Mayor Benjamin Magalong said they are still looking for a possible relocation site for the affected vendors.

foreign visitors

entry or reentry of foreigners seeking to commit crimes in the country.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, during his confirmation hearing, pressed for the biometric tracking of foreign visitors amid the involvement of several overstaying Chinese nationals in criminal activities such as human trafficking, prostitution and online gambling-related kidnapping.

Solon backs plan to make Kadiwa stores permanent

A PARTY-LIST solon has expressed support to the plan of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to put up permanent Kadiwa stores across the country.

“In fact, we have been calling for the institutionalization of the program and filed a bill towards this end because it presents a win-win scenario for all concerned. It is a win for farmers. It is a win for consumers. It is a win for all of us,” said AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee.

Mr. Marcos last week announced his plan to establish more Kadiwa centers.

“So, this Kadiwa program will just continue because now we are considering to evolve it.

These won’t be so-called pop-up centers, but we will have a permanent Kadiwa center in various LGUs. We are studying the potential sites,” the President said.

House Bill No. 3957 or the “Kadiwa Agri-Food Terminal” bill seeks to institutionalize the program through an initial P25 billion fund for the Department of Agriculture to set up and manage Kadiwa Agri-Food Terminals in every local government unit in the country.

Salceda: Late, but not too late, for PH to provide support to comfort women

Exposing the bullying in the WPS

efforts. We also need to enhance maritime domain awareness through the use of advanced technologies and intelligence gathering” Ambassador Riefenstahl said.

‘Political terrorism’

NOTHING less than an act of “political terrorism”

WHILE Chinese vessels are still doing swarming maneuvers in the surrounding waters of Kalayaan Island, another incident of harassment has been reported on Friday when a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) aircraft with several media correspondents onboard were “ordered” seven times to “leave immediately.”

As quoted in news reports, a Chinese radio message from one of the loitering vessels near Kalayaan Island said, “You have entered a Chinese reef and constituted a security threat. To avoid misunderstanding, leave immediately.”

The PCG pilot appropriately responded they were flying within Philippine territory. A Chinese navy ship and a coastguard vessel were also spotted within 15 kilometers from the shores of Kalayaan Island

These new bullying incidents along with a pile of others documented in around 200 diplomatic protests are all part of Beijing’s gray zone operations to assert their “nine dash” claim which has been declared invalid when the Philippines won its Permanent Court of Arbitration case in 2016.

Wide-eyed vigilance to tell the truth about Chinese gray zone actions will force Beijing to concoct bigger lies that, in the end, cannot stand up to credible witnesses and evidence

China has refused to abide by the ruling and has instead intensified militarization in the area to the extent of massive base building activities with sporadic waves of Chinese Maritime Militia incursion into the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

This has caused enormous damage to the environment and marine resources in our Exclusive Economic Zone and violated Philippine territorial rights.

How to counter these gray zone or cunningly calibrated acts of aggression that are just at the brink of committing blatant acts of war was the hot topic in the hybrid forum organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute in partnership with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Philippines serendipitously held a day after the incident caused media journalists to witness firsthand how China insistently intimidates the Philippines.

Anke Riefenstahl, Ambassador from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, in her keynote address said the Indo-Pacific region can only benefit from peace and stability if all countries in the region do their part.

“We need to strengthen partnerships with like-minded countries. This can involve cooperation on maritime security, information sharing, joint military exercises, [and] coordinated diplomatic

Riefenstahl further pointed out the need to counter propaganda and disinformation aimed at influencing public opinion and undermining regional stability.

Dr. Daniel Schmücking, the Representative to Cambodia and the Philippines of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung described how ASEAN is becoming the new battleground for the new strategic competition and emphasized the importance of multilateralism and the rulebased world order.

On the new strategy of the PCG in addressing gray zone operations in the WPS, CG Commodore Jay Tarriela, Adviser of the Commandant for Maritime Security of the Philippine Coast Guard, exposing bullying behavior for the awareness of all Filipinos and a global audience will remove the “shades of gray” and uncover “the black and white.”

This is a stark shift from the appeasing approach of the last administration to an alliance aligned position to uphold the international rules-based order and a directive to call out and publish each hostile action by the Chinese.

This close watch on Chinese aggression will cause international criticism and distrust which can have disruptive consequences for a country whose current economic power can be affected by its moral stature in a globalized ecosystem where abiding by the rule of law is a fundamental value.

Stratbase ADRi Trustee and Program Convenor Dr. Renato de Castro for his part said the Philippines and its allies should strengthen regional security institutions in the wider context of ASEAN, the Philippines, Japan, and Australia addressing China’s gray zone aggression in the South China Sea.

“To limit China’s ability to conduct grey zone operations against the Philippines requires Manila, Washington, Canberra, and Tokyo to convey strong signals of commitment for mutual assistance through security agreements, troop deployments, arms transfers, and multinational exercises, thereby reducing the Philippines’ sense of insecurity, Dr. de Castro said.

Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit expressed the institute’s belief defending a rules-based order is a collective responsibility of the international community strengthened through partnerships and alliances and that “attempts to challenge the status quo and disturb this order by any means, including gray zone operations, cannot be tolerated.”

“The Philippines and other IndoPacific states must engage in strategies that will ultimately change China’s behavior to be symbiotic with the internationally established rules-based order,” Prof. Manhit said.

The latest bullying instance experienced by a plane load of reporters in a PCG flight over the Kalayaan islands shows that media is now being embedded in the gray zone.

The immediate global reportage of the hostile acts in the West Philippine Sea is a potent countermeasure against the state sponsored disinformation machinery of China.

Wide-eyed vigilance to tell the truth about Chinese gray zone actions will force Beijing to concoct bigger lies that, in the end, cannot stand up to credible witnesses and evidence.

is how Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has described the recent brazen assassination of Negros Occidental Governor Roel Degamo that also led to the deaths of eight of his constituents and the wounding of 16 others.

This is an accurate description that shows the depths to which our political culture has deteriorated, with physical elimination of political adversaries apparently now getting to be the norm.

In February, three other local officials were also targeted for armed attacks. Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. and Mayor Ohto Montawal of Datu Montawal town, Maguindanao del Sur province, both survived separate attacks on Feb. 17 and Feb. 22, respectively, but Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda died in an ambush on Feb. 19.

In the wake of the Negros Oriental massacre, the Philippine National Police now wants to provide additional security to local officials.

But will assigning more police security escorts to politicians deter armed attacks?

And who should be given additional security? Those with validated death threats?

RIGHT after President Duterte appointed me as Chairman and de facto ambassador to Taiwan, we worked on a major investment project that both my predecessor and the DTI’s commercial counsellor had informed me as possibly ripe for the picking.

One of Taiwan’s largest steel manufacturers based in the industrial city of Kaoshiung was looking at the Philippines as a site for a stainless steel plant.

The plant would make use of our huge nickel deposits and other minerals to produce stainless steel sheets and extruded tubings which are in high demand all over the world both for construction projects and appliance manufacturing.

They were looking at Indonesia and Australia to source iron, as we did not have an integrated steel mill capable of producing the billets they required.

The Iligan project started by President Diosdado Macapagal foundered from a slew of bad loans and, later, neglect and mismanagement. We enticed them to locate in the Phividec area in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, where there was a guaranteed supply of water from a nearby river, and two power plants, one by a Japanese consortium and another by a Filipino company.

Apart from which, large deposits of nickel abound in the Caraga Region, next to the proposed site.

I had several meetings with their chairman, an 82-year-old self-made billionaire industrialist who owned health, educational, entertainment and hotel facilities in Taiwan, other than his core steel business.

The chairman sent a group of engineers to Misamis Oriental, and, through our efforts, got the interest of Phividec to lease some 300 hectares of flat land to them, beside the seaport.

The engineers found the proposed site suitable for their plant, which would hire some 8,000 locals and even middle management executives.

President Duterte, Secretary Sonny Dominguez and Secretary Mon Lopez approved of the project which would mean an FDI of some 8-0 billion US dollars.

DTI USec and BOI Governor Ceferino Rodolfo made two trips to Kaoshiung upon our arrangement and the interest was genuine on both sides. The Taiwanese company was already starting to negotiate terms of the lease with the government GOCC when, on May 23, 2017, while President Duterte was on a state visit to

The rule of law must prevail at all times, or else the country will descend into a spiral of violence and anarchy

Those local officials in areas with a history of intense political rivalry that has led to violence in the past?

At present, under a 2019 PNP memorandum circular, local chief executives are entitled to a maximum of two security officers from the Police Security and Protection Group.

In “highly exceptional cases,” they may

Where bullets fly

Moscow, terrorists laid siege to Marawi, and a lengthy shooting war began.

Despite our assurances that Tagoloan was quite far from the area of conflict, the steel magnate politely withdrew its interest.

“Our engineers and executives are afraid to reside in Mindanao,” he said.

I told him that Marawi was some 140 kilometers away from Tagoloan, but he said, “no one wants to invest in a country where bullets fly.”

I will always remember what the old chairman, who became a personal friend, told me about FDIs and their aversion to places ‘where bullets fly’

I tried to offer Cagayan’s export processing zone, just 14 hours away by cargo vessel from the huge international port in Kaoshiung, and with a soon-to-be-completed airport in Lal-lo, which was just half an hour away by air from his headquarters.

But CEZA did not have the required 300 hectares of contiguous flat land, and Port Irene was not properly equipped.

Later, two Chinese mainland firms showed interest in similar projects in Phividec, but up to the present, not an inch of earth has been moved.

I will always remember what the old chairman, who became a personal friend, told me about FDIs and their aversion to places “where bullets fly.”

The dashed Taiwanese investment project came back to mind when first, some senators railed against, and in fact succeeded in preventing the showing of a Hollywood motion picture in the country.

The film “Plane” depicted a plane forced to do an emergency landing in Jolo, Sulu, where supposedly, terrorists who used the Islamic faith as excuse for kidnap-for-ransom and pil-

request a maximum of six additional escorts, either from the PNP or from private security agencies.

The rash of killings has been blamed partly on the slow-paced resolution of election protests, with losing candidates likely to resort to violence to settle political disputes.

But it may also be true that the violence we’re seeing now at the local level may well be the result of politicians wanting to remain in power for as long as they can.

They are likely to resort to extreme lengths, including murder and mayhem, just so they can retain their hold on public office.

What the Marcos administration should do is to direct the PNP and the armed forces to conduct an assessment of the threat posed by private armed groups and known gunfor-hire syndicates as well as an inventory of unlicensed firearms at the provincial, city and municipal levels to prevent political violence from escalating further.

The PNP should leave no stone unturned in their investigation of recent cases of armed attacks against local officials and bring the perpetrators and masterminds to justice.

The rule of law must prevail at all times, or else the country will descend into a spiral of violence and anarchy that will set only back government efforts to accelerate economic advance and uplift the lives of poor and powerless Filipinos.

lage, abound.

Although the film was shot in Costa Rica, the supposed setting was the island of Sulu, where indeed, there had been many kidnapping and killing incidents involving foreigners which drew world-wide negative reactions and tarred the image of the country, particularly the entire island of Mindanao.

We can always reason that Davao or Butuan or Cagayan de Oro are miles away from such troubled places, but as in the Taiwan investment which failed, no one wants to go to any place “where bullets fly.”

Huwag naman sana, but even those foreign businessmen, who many have been enthused to take a second look at our country as an investment destination after the president’s successive sojourns abroad selling the country for FDI’s, may have had second thoughts by now, after the spate of highly publicized assassinations of public officials.

I always loved Dumaguete and the province of Negros Oriental for their serene beauty and, even better, the environment of peace and discipline among its population.

Most of it leaders may have been influenced by its center of learning, Silliman University, such that for the longest time, elected officials of the city and province were models of temperance and quiet dignity.

I had even considered residing in Dumaguete or Dauin for retirement, and tourists have discovered the place not only for the marvelous dive spots in Apo Island, Bacong and Dauin, but likewise for the genteel, laid back but unboring Dumaguete capital.

Then came the dastardly killing in such an unbelievably daring fashion as what happened in Pamplona, where Gov. Ruel Degamo and nine ordinary folk were massacred. Reported all over the globe, the massacre came after an attempt on the life of Lanao del Sur Gov. Bombet Adiong, and a Pasay City attempt on a Maguindanao mayor, apart from the killing at a makeshift police checkpoint in Nueva Vizcaya of the vice-mayor of Aparri Full text at www.manilastandard.net

Divorced Afghan women forced back to abusive ex-husbands

By Luana Sarmini-Buonaccorsi, Aysha Safi

and Estelle

Emonet

ABUSED for years by her ex-husband who broke all of her teeth, Marwa has retreated into hiding with her eight children after Taliban commanders tore up her divorce.

Marwa was one of a small number of women who, under the previous US-backed government, were granted a legal separation in Afghanistan, where women have next to no rights and domestic abuse is endemic. When Taliban forces swept into power in 2021, her husband claimed he had been forced into the divorce and commanders ordered her back to his clutches.

“My daughters and I cried a lot that day,” Marwa, 40, whose name has been changed for her own protection, told AFP.

“I said to myself, ‘Oh God, the devil has returned’.”

The Taliban government adheres to an austere interpretation of Islam and has imposed severe restrictions on women’s lives that the United Nations called “gender-based apartheid”.

Lawyers told AFP that several women have reported being dragged back into abusive marriages after Taliban commanders annulled their divorces. For months Marwa endured a new round of beatings, locked away in the house, with her hands broken and fingers cracked.

“There were days when I was unconscious, and my daughters would feed me,” she said.

“He used to pull my hair so hard that I became partly bald. He beat me so much that all my teeth have broken.”

Gathering the strength to leave, she fled hundreds of kilometers to a relative’s house with her six daughters and two sons, who have all assumed fictitious names.

“My children say, ‘Mother, it’s okay if we are starving. At least we have got rid of the abuse’,” said Marwa, sitting on the cracked floor of her bare home, clasping a string of prayer beads.

“Nobody knows us here, not even our neighbors,” she said, fearing her husband would discover her. ‘Islam permits divorce’

In Afghanistan nine in 10 women will experience physical, sexual or psychological violence from their partner, according to the UN’s mission in the country.

Divorce, however, is often more taboo than the abuse itself and the culture remains unforgiving to women who part with their husbands.

Under the previous US-backed government, divorce rates were steadily rising in some cities, where the small gains in women’s rights were largely limited to education and employment.

Women once blamed their fate for whatever happened to them, said Nazifa, a lawyer who successfully handled around 100 divorce cases for abused women but is no longer permitted to work in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

Threatened with losing custody of her four daughters, she returned to her ex-husband who by then had also married another woman

As awareness grew, women realized that separating from abusive husbands was possible.

“When there is no harmony left in a husband and wife relationship, even Islam permits a divorce,” explained Nazifa, who only wanted to give her first name.

Under the ousted regime, special family courts with women judges and lawyers were established to hear such cases, but the Taliban authorities have made their new justice system an all-male affair.

Nazifa told AFP that five of her former clients have reported being in the same situation as Marwa.

Another lawyer, who did not want to be identified, told AFP she recently witnessed a court case

where a woman was fighting against being forcefully reunited with her ex-husband.

She added that divorces under the Taliban government are limited to when a husband was a classified drug addict or has left the country.

“But in cases of domestic violence or when a husband does not agree to a divorce, then the court is not granting them,” she said.

A nationwide network of shelters and services that once supported women has almost entirely collapsed, while the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Human Rights Commission have been erased.

‘Knock on the door’

Sana was 15 when she married her cousin, 10 years older than she was.

“He would beat me if our baby cried or the food was not good,” she said as she prepared tea on a gas stove at a home where she has been living in secret.

“He used to say that a woman does not have the right to talk.”

With the help of a free legal service project she won a divorce from her husband in court -- but her relief was shattered when Taliban commanders came knocking.

Threatened with losing custody of her four daughters, she returned to her ex-husband who by then had also married another woman.

She escaped after he announced the engagement of her daughters to Taliban members.

“My daughters said, ‘Mother, we will commit

suicide’,” Sana said.

She was able to gather some money and escape with her children, and with the help of a relative found a one-room house, furnished only with a gas stove and some cushions for sleeping.

“Whenever there’s a knock on the door, I fear that he’s found me and come to take the kids away.”

Ordeal for children

A Taliban official told AFP the authorities would look into such cases where previously divorced women were being forced to return to their ex-husbands.

“If we receive such complaints, we will investigate them according to sharia,” said Inayatullah, spokesman for the Taliban supreme court, who like many Afghans goes by one name.

When asked whether the Taliban regime would acknowledge divorces granted under the previous government, he said: “This is an important and complex issue.”

“The Dar al-Ifta is looking into it. When it arrives at a uniform decision, then we will see,” he said, referring to a court-affiliated institution that issues rulings on sharia.

For Marwa and her daughters, who survive by sewing clothes, the trauma has left deep psychological wounds.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to get them married,” said Marwa, looking at her daughters.

“They tell me, ‘Mother, watching how bad your life has been, we hate the word husband’.” AFP

Ukraine readies counter-offense as Russia inches inside Bakhmut

THE Ukrainian military was preparing Sunday for an upcoming counteroffensive, with a top commander saying his forces’ ongoing defense of Bakhmut in the face of fierce and sustained Russian attacks was necessary to “buy time” for that push.

The remarks came as British intelligence said the frontline had shifted in the fight for Bakhmut—the longest and bloodiest battle of Moscow’s year-long invasion—but that any further Russian advance in the devastated town would be “highly challenging.”

Some military experts have questioned the sense of continuing to hold the city, but the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, said that it helped win time in preparation for the coming counteroffensive.

“The real heroes now are the defenders who are holding the eastern front on their shoulders, and inflicting the heaviest possible losses, sparing neither themselves nor the enemy,” Syrsky was quoted as saying in a statement on Saturday.

“It is necessary to buy time to build reserves and launch a counteroffensive, which is not far off.”

In a video released on Saturday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russian mercenary group Wagner, said that his forces were close to the administrative center of the city.

Standing on the rooftop of a high-rise building in what is said to be Bakhmut, Prigozhin is seen pointing towards a building in the distance.

“This is the building of the town administration, this is the center of the town,” he said, clad in full military gear.

“It is one kilometer and two hundred meters away.”

Speaking as artillery boomed in the background, Prigozhin said the most important thing now was to receive more ammunition from the army and “move forward.” AFP

SAYS EX-PRESIDENT WAS ‘WRONG, RECKLESS’

Pence: History will hold Trump ‘accountable’ for Capitol attack

FORMER US vice president Mike Pence on Saturday said history would hold former president Donald Trump “accountable” for his role in the 2021 attack on the US Capitol, US media reported.

The remarks are likely to widen

the rift between the former running mates, who have been at loggerheads ever since Pence refused to go along with Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and remain in power.

“President Trump was wrong,” Pence said in a speech at the annual Gridiron Dinner in Washington, a white-tie gala put on by journalists that draws top politicians.

“I had no right to overturn the election. And his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the

Capitol that day. And I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable,” Pence was quoted as saying by multiple media. Some of the thousands who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, called for Pence to be hanged, forcing him to scurry to a safe location.

Trump has already declared his intention to seek a new term as president in 2024 elections, and Pence indicated he may challenge him for the Republican nomination.

The Gridiron Dinner is usually a

light-hearted event with skits and musical entertainment, and Pence initially sought to poke fun.

“I will wholeheartedly, unreservedly support the Republican nominee for president in 2024 – if it’s me,” he said.

Pence’s sharp remarks aimed at Trump were unexpected at the gala.

“Was at the dinner and can confirm @Mike_Pence definitely caught the room by surprise—lots of dropped jaws,” tweeted Maryam Mujica, a former State Department official. AFP

Israeli soldiers kill 3 gunmen in West Bank

ISRAELI soldiers shot dead three Palestinian gunmen after they fired at troops in the occupied northern West Bank near Nablus, the army said on Sunday, as violence in the region continued.

The military said that “gunmen opened fire” at an army position near the Jit junction west of Nablus, with the soldiers responding with “live fire”.

“Three armed gunmen were neutralized during the exchange of fire and an additional armed gunman surrendered himself to the forces,” the army said in a statement, noting none of the Israeli forces were wounded in the clash.

The soldiers, members of the elite infantry Golani reconnaissance unit, grabbed three M-16 rifles and a pistol used by the Palestinians, the army said.

Palestinian medical and security sources had no information on the event.

Violence intensified last year, but has worsened in the West Bank since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office in December in a governing coalition with ultra-Orthodox Jewish and extreme-right allies.

The government of Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption on charges he denies, has vowed to continue the expansion of West Bank settlements.

On Thursday, a member of the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas opened fire outside a Tel Aviv cafe, wounding three men in their 30s before being shot dead.

Hours before, three armed Palestinians were killed in an Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank.

Several Palestinian armed groups had called on Tuesday for revenge for the recent deaths of six Palestinians in an Israeli army raid in the northern West Bank.

The Tel Aviv attack came just hours after Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin had called for de-escalation ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan that starts in March and the Jewish holiday of Passover in April. Austin, following talks with Netanyahu and his counterpart Yoav Gallant during a brief visit to Israel, also called on the “Palestinian leadership to combat terrorism and to resume security cooperation and to condemn incitement.” AFP

Fox News grapples with revelations in defamation case

CAN Fox News, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch’s influential conservative outlet, overcome its legal travails and revelations of behind-the-scenes intrigue?

A steady torrent of private messages, texts and emails from top network figures continue to surface as part of a defamation lawsuit, with each revelation enthralling US media and Demo-

cratic critics of the 24-hour news behemoth.

Brought by an electronic voting machine manufacturer, Dominion Voting Systems, the billion-dollar suit alleges that Fox News promoted former president Donald Trump’s false claims that its equipment was used to rig the 2020 election. By releasing batches of company

State media: Nokor adopts war deterrence measures

NORTH Korea has decided to take “important practical” war deterrence measures, state media reported Sunday, a day before Seoul and Washington begin their largest joint military drills in five years.

The decision was made at a meeting of the ruling party’s military commission presided over by leader Kim Jong Un, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

“The meeting discussed and adopted the important practical steps for making more effective, powerful and offensive use of the war deterrent,” KCNA said.

The report said the move was aimed at “coping with the present situation in which the war provoca-

communications, Dominion’s lawyers have yanked the curtain back on what commentators and executives really felt about Trump, who counted on Fox News for steady support.

“We are very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights... I truly can’t wait,” Fox News star Tucker Carlson wrote to his team on January 4, 2021, two days before Trump

supporters stormed the US Capitol in a bid to overturn the election.

“I hate him passionately.”

The internal Fox News documents and communications reveal that after the November 2020 election few people at the network, including Murdoch, believed Trump’s contention that the election was “stolen” by Democrats, especially through electronic voting. AFP

tions of the US and south Korea are reaching the red-line,” but did not elaborate on the measures.

South Korea and the United States are scheduled to start the “Freedom Shield” exercises Monday, focusing on the “changing security environment” due to North Korea’s redoubled aggression, the allies said.

All such exercises infuriate North Korea, which views them as rehearsals for an invasion.

The country has said its nuclear weapons and missile programs are for self-defense.

Analysts have said North Korea will likely use the drills as an excuse to carry out more provocations, including missile tests and perhaps even a nuclear test. AFP

At San Francisco expo, AI says ‘sorry’ for destroying humanity

ADVANCES in artificial intelligence are coming so hard and fast that a museum in San Francisco, the beating heart of the tech revolution, has imagined a memorial to the demise of humanity.

“Sorry for killing most of humanity person with smile cap and mustache,” says a monitor welcoming a visitor to the “Misalignment Museum,” a new exhibit on the controversial technology.

The pieces in this temporary show mix the disturbing with the comic, and this first display has AI disburse pithy observations to the visitors that cross into its line of vision.

“The concept of the museum is that we are in a post-apocalyptic world where artificial general intelligence has already destroyed most of humanity,” said Audrey Kim, the show’s curator.

“But then the AI realizes that was bad and

creates a type of memorial to the human, so our show’s tagline is ‘sorry for killing most of humanity,’” she said.

Artificial General Intelligence is a concept that is even more nebulous than the simple AI that is cascading into everyday life, as seen in the fast emergence of apps such as ChatGPT or Bing’s chatbot and all the hype surrounding them. AFP

BLANKETED IN ASH. Motorists commute on a road covered with ash after an eruption from Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s most active volcano, in Stabelan village, Magelang. AFP

BACK TO EARTH. In this NASA handout photo NASA Astronaut Josh Cassada waves after being helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship Shannon shortly after he, along with NASA astronaut Nicole Mann, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, landed in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tampa, Florida, March 11, 2023 after a five-month stay aboard the International Space Station. AFP

have more to do to cool down the world’s largest economy. AFP

Meta working on new platform, potential Twitter rival

SAN FRANCISCO, United States— Facebook owner Meta is working on a new “text sharing” social media platform, it said Friday, in a project seen as a potential rival to embattled Twitter.

Since billionaire Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter in October, the influential website has suffered outages, layoffs, and seen advertisers flee the platform over the lack of content moderation.

But so far no major alternative to Twitter has emerged, leaving global leaders, politicians, celebrities, and companies little choice than to continue to communicate via the platform.

Following reports on news websites

Platformer and India-based Moneycontrol, Meta confirmed on Friday that it was beginning to work on the new platform.

“We’re exploring a standalone, decentralized social network for sharing text updates,” Meta said in a short emailed statement.

“We believe there’s an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests,” the statement added.

The media reports said that Meta’s new app would use technology that al-

Stock market seen continuing sideways movement this week

By Jenniffer B. Austria

STOCKS are expected to keep moving sideways this week, as investors remain anxious about rising interest rates following the US Federal Reserve’s hawkish tone.

Analysts said the lower-thanexcepted February inflation rate could push the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to reduce the size of its rate hike to 25 basis points, instead of the previous 50-basis-point pace. The BSP’s next policy move will also depend on the Fed’s policy action.

“Any adjustments in the BSP’s key rates also depends on future Fed hikes, particularly after the recent signals provided Fed chair Jerome Powell on possible higher peak in the policy rate, especially if US labor remains robust,” BDO Unibank Inc. said in its weekly outlook.

Inflation rate in the Philippines eased in February to 8.6 percent from its recent peak, but analysts also noted that consumer prices remained elevated. The BSP will hold its next policy meeting on March 23.

com said.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index fell by 0.98 percent to close at 6,589 last week. This week, the market’s immediate support is 6,400, while resistance is at 6,700.

Meanwhile, global markets took a beating on Friday as US jobs data boosted the likelihood of further aggressive interest rate hikes, while bank shares wobbled amid the collapse of SVB.

After sharp losses on Thursday, Wall Street’s top indices had managed to peek into the green before regulators closed the troubled Silicon Valley Bank, sending stocks tumbling into the red again.

lowed it to be interoperable with niche network Mastodon and other platforms.

This would be a clear break from usual practice by tech giants, where platforms such as Instagram or YouTube are kept behind technological walls and operate using company servers under strict rules.

Mastodon runs from decentralized computing servers, with no central management or authority calling the shots.

In December, Musk briefly banned Twitter accounts that provided links to other social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Mastodon. AFP

A series of fund raising activities this March—the initial public offering of Alternergy Holdings Corp. and Upson International Corp.—could provide excitement to investors.

Offer period for Alternergy’s P1.6billion maiden share offering is slated this week, while Upson’s IPO period will commence March 21.

Online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia. com said that amid the volatile trading conditions which could last until the middle of 2023, investors should stick to reliable stocks to offset the impact of rising inflation and interest rates.

“These value plays may require time and patience to fully unravel, but the trade-off is consistent cash-flow plus growth stories will survive some of the most testy market cycles,” 2TradeAsia.

Worry for tech startups after Silicon Valley Bank failure, gov’t takeover

By Thomas Urbain

NEW YORK, United States—Silicon

Valley Bank’s stunning collapse has led to the freezing of tens of billions of dollars stored there by startups and their private equity backers, raising fears of a wider tech sector fallout.

The company, whose website says it is “the financial partner of the innovation economy,” was taken over Friday by the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to prevent further damage.

“SVB knew the entrepreneurial community,” Joseph DeSimone, a professor at Stanford University and founder of several startups, told AFP.

“They helped us recruit people, helped with securing mortgages for transplants, gave financial advice to new executives... So their disappearance is a real loss,” he said.

The company previously boasted that “nearly half” of technology and life science companies that had US funding banked with them, leading many to worry about the possible ripple effects of its collapse. For banks that are FDIC-insured, only

TO MY fellow Lasallians, a very special afternoon! I would like to give my biggest and sincerest congratulations to everyone for this recognition. A recognition we never thought we would receive because I am so sure that when we volunteered and chose to serve our community, receiving any awards or recognition was never our priority–it was always the people first.

To our loved ones we invited today, thank you so much for your support as we act on the mission appointed to us. To our awardees, let’s say a short appreciation to them.

Brother President Bernard Oca, Dean Christine Ballada, Ms. Fritzie DeVera, SLIFE Director Christopher Villanueva, and to our esteemed guests, a good afternoon.

Before I start my response on behalf of all the Gawad awardees, I would like to share my thought process or my research on what Gawad Ortigas symbolizes. It says, “it is given to the student leader who, amid personal responsibilities, displays strong leadership imbued with true Lasallian values, academic excellence, and indefatigable service to the community.”

Police officers leave Silicon Valley Bank’s headquarters in Santa Clara, California on March 10, 2023. US authorities swooped in and seized the assets of SVB, a key lender to US startups since the 1980s, after a run on deposits made it no longer tenable for the medium-sized bank to stay afloat on its own. AFP

$250,000 per account is guaranteed.

But according to SVB’s latest annual report, 96 percent of its total $173 billion in deposits was uninsured.

The FDIC said Friday that all accounts would quickly get access to the

Choosing to serve

What struck me the most were the phrases “amid personal responsibilities” and “indefatigable service.” In Filipino, “walang kapagurang paglilingkod sa kabila ng mga personal na tungkulin at responsibilidad.” I suddenly thought of my own experiences as well as the officers I met along the way.

Our hardships in the past two to three years were no joke. We all have been through difficult times, facing our challenges: Loneliness, financial challenges, adjusting to online learning, losing our loved ones, and so on. Even watching or checking the news on social media puts a heavy weight on our shoulders. These are just some of the challenges we faced personally. To some, I know you have been through much worse.

I want to share my admiration for one of our nominees for the Gawad Ortigas tonight. His life story and leadership journey inspired me so much. He was our first batch vice president, batch president, and former Arts College Government president. He had three years of service in the university, but no one knew the things he had been through in those years. It was in 2021 when he took care of his father while

insured portions of their deposits, but that the rest would depend on how much is recovered from sales of the bank’s assets, an often lengthy process.

“The real victims of the SVB fallout are the depositors: startups with 10 to

serving our batch at the same time. He would have his meetings at the hospital with a poor internet connection. When he took care of his father, he also cared for our batchmates—attending to numerous concerns and empowering our officers. What a leader. I thought, “Kung kinaya niya ang buhay, kaya ko rin.” His name is Verrick Sta. Ana. For sure, we all know any Verricks at one point in our lives, or to some, it might even be ourselves. Walang kapagurang paglilingkod sa kabila ng mga personal na tungkulin at responsibilidad. He is one of the many people who inspired me to serve passionately and tirelessly.

I can now see leaders in the audience who inspired me as well. Kay sarap maging isang Lasallian leader. Despite the challenges we face every day, we still choose to serve. That is why from the bottom of my heart, I am sharing the Gawad Ortigas award with all of us. During the years I served in the student government, I built relationships with many of our students. Lasallians have opened my eyes to the realities we all face. And that despite the challenges, we continued to stand up, face the present, and hope for the future.

100 employees, who cannot make payroll, and will have to furlough or shutdown workers as soon as Monday,” tweeted Garry Tan, head of the wellknown incubator Y Combinator. He warned that “years of US innovation” are on the line, as an entire “generation of American startups” could be destroyed in a month or two.

‘Doesn’t look good’

Activist investor Bill Ackman raised a similar alarm on Twitter, saying that SVB’s collapse “could destroy an important long-term driver of the economy.”

“If private capital can’t provide a solution, a highly dilutive gov’t (government) preferred bailout should be considered.”

According to several US media reports, SVB had discussed on Thursday and Friday a possible buyout with several banks but could not find a solution quickly enough.

Champ Bennett, co-founder of the video platform Capsule, revealed on Friday that the $5 million raised in midFebruary during the company’s first seed funding round was housed at SVB and is now inaccessible. AFP

European equity markets ended sharply lower, with London stocks sliding 1.7 percent while both Paris and Frankfurt dropped 1.3 percent. Asian stocks also posted steep losses. Markets were rocked after SVB, which specializes in venture-capital financing, on Thursday announced a stock offering and offloaded securities to raise much-needed cash as it struggled with falling deposits.

In reaction, the firm’s shares collapsed 60 percent in New York on Thursday and trading was suspended Friday morning, before regulators announced they had closed the bank. The move makes SVB the largest retail bank to fail since 2008.

“It’s the second day of concerns around the banking sector and questions whether this reflects any systemic risk,” said Angelos Kourkafas of financial services firm Edward Jones. With AFP

TOP GAINERS

We never said yes to our position. We said yes to service with a purpose in mind, a heart to serve, and hands ready to help. Gawad Lasalyano is more than just a recognition for us. It is a recognition for all the leaders who inspired and helped us and the people and community we continue fighting for.

To be continued.

The author is a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in Economic Studies graduate from De La Salle University. She was the Francisco V. Ortigas, Jr. Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader awardee during the Gawad Lasalyano Awards 2022. This column was her speech during the awarding ceremonies on March 8, 2022. She can be reached at britney_paderes@ dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

EMPLOYMENT REPORT. US President Joe Biden, with Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Cecilia Rouse (left) and Director of the National Economic Council Lael Brainard, speaks about the February Jobs Report in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 10, 2023. The US added 311,000 jobs in February, government data showed Friday, suggesting policymakers

Ayala Group spending P264b in 2023 on property, telecom, power businesses

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. said over the weekend it budgeted P264 billion in 2023 capital expenditures to sustain investments in its property, telecommunication and power generation businesses.

Ayala said in a recent analyst presentation about 32 percent of the total capital spending would be allotted to property arm Ayala Land Inc. which plans to aggressively launch residential projects and acquire land for future development.

Telecom unit Globe will also spend $1.3 billion this year, down 32 percent year-on-year. Ayala said Globe’s capital spending would further decline to $1 billion by 2024.

ACEN Corp. earmarked P51 billion to P70 billion in capital expenditures this year depending on the opportunities that may arise.

Ayala said at the parent level, the conglomerate would spend P19 billion

to sustain the expansion of healthcare and logistics businesses.

The conglomerate said it expected to raise P50 billion from divestment from non-core businesses and joint partnerships by 2023.

Ayala said it would “continue to engage with interested parties around potential divestments, despite current headwinds.”

The group raised P31.1 billion in 2022. It sold its concession in the 4-kilometer Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway to Villiar Group’s Prime Asset Ventures Inc. for P3.8 billion. It also conducted a property-for-share swap with ALI.

It also expressed plans to sell its stake in Light Rail Manila Corp. which operates and maintains LRT Line 1. The proceeds from the divestment would be used to fund future investments and further strengthen the company’s balance sheet.

Meanwhile, it will also seek growth by scaling emerging business units and exploring ways to increase exposure to consumer wallet.

OIL SPILL CLEAN-UP. Semirara Mining and Power Corp. emergency response team and Barangay Semirara responders work to clean-up and contain the Mindoro oil spill that reached Semirara Island. The hazardous waste first reached the shores of Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique afternoon of March 3. The oil spill covers almost 3 kilometers of shoreline stretching from Sitio Sigayan and Sitio Toong of Barangay Semirara and Sitio Sabang of Barangay Tinogboc, affecting 341 households who mainly rely on fishing for livelihood. SMPC ERT has devoted over 4,700 man-hours to the oil spill clean-up.

Gov’t allows 2 Cavite-Batangas tollways

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE construction of two expressways connecting Cavite and Batangas via Tagaytay City will push through, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan told reporters it supports the implementation of the P25.24-billion Cavite-TagaytayBatangas Expressway proposed by Metro Pacific Tollways South in line with the government’s Build Better More Program which aims to address the infrastructure gap and traffic congestion issues.

Bonoan said the CTBEX project

Diokno: Financial system remains sound and healthy

By Julito G. Rada

FINANCE Secretary Benjamin Diokno said over the weekend the government’s sound fiscal policies will ensure a healthy financial system.

“Rest assured the Department of Finance stands ready to support the FMAP in safeguarding the health of our financial system through sound, responsive, and progressive fiscal policies,” Diokno said during the Fund Managers Association of the Philippines’ 16th annual convention at the Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay on March 11.

FMAP is an organization composed of local equity and fixed-income fund managers that guide the investing public through professional fund management that adheres to ethical standards and global practices.

Diokno said that amid the persisting global economic challenges, “a financially inclusive and vibrant economy is better equipped to absorb shocks and remains resilient in economic crises.”

He said the Philippine economic team had prepared three forward-looking plans that map out the trajectory for the next five years.

The Marcos administration’s 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda lays out strategic interventions to address immediate concerns such as taming inflation, reducing economic scarring brought about by the pandemic and generating job opportunities.

He said over the medium term, the agenda is to create more, better quality and green jobs through higher investments in infrastructure, human capital development and digitalization.

By Othel V. Campos

DISTRIBUTORS of electric vehicles in the Philippines expect a 30-percent increase in sales this year, following the issuance of Executive Order No. 12 in January that allows the entry of certain types of completely-built up EVs at zero tariff until 2028.

Members of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines said the EO effectively reduced the tariff of some automotive parts and components to 1 percent.

“EV has good prospects moving on to 2023. With 0 tariff starting Feb. 20, 2023, new orders of EVs become very competitive versus ICE [internal com-

would “push through,” and “I don’t think there will be conflict in alignment” with the Cavite Batangas Expressway proposed by San Miguel Holdings Inc.

“The two projects will push through, but we will have to iron out some pending issues, so that both of them can start,” Bonoan said, referring to CTBEX and CBEX.

“Let’s see on how we can interconnect the two and plus the alignment,” he said.

The DPWH granted the original proponent status to MPTC for the construction of CTBEX in 2018. CTBEX is a 50.43-kilometer expressway that will connect Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City and ultimately terminating in Nasugbu and another spur road to Tuy, Batangas.

CTBEX, which is expected to decongest about 23,000 vehicles daily from the nearby thoroughfares, will start at Silang East Interchange of the CaviteLaguna Expressway which is now open to the motoring public. The alignment will traverse the towns of Silang, Amadeo, Mendez, Alfonso and Tagaytay in Cavite and Nasugbu in Batangas.

The MPTC Group said that in line with the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Build Better More program, it would continue to develop tollways to address the traffic congestion issues and spur economic growth in the region.

The MPTC Group has a total of 240.6 kilometers of existing expressways and 43.1 kilometers under construction, with a total investment of $3.06 billion.

It operates 105 kilometers of North Luzon Expressway, 94 km. of Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway and 14 km. of Manila-Cavite Expressway. It also operates the 8.5-km. Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway in Cebu.

MPTC is also building the 45-km. Cavite Laguna Expressway Project that

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Friday, March 10, 2023

-19.39 PTS.

6,589.88

SwitzerlandFranc1.07227159.2301

CanadaDollar0.72322339.9494

SingaporeDollar0.73909840.8263

AUTOMATED STEEL MILL. SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. chairman and chief executive Benjamin Yao signs an agreement with SMS Group chief sales officer for India and Asia-Pacific region Dr. Pino Tese to equip the former’s Calaca steel plant with the latest artificial intelligence system for process automation and digitalization. Engineers and technicians at the SteelAsia plant will be given extensive training on the use of AI-assisted technologies. With the leading technology expertise from SMS Group, SteelAsia’s Calaca Mill will have higher energy efficiency, allowing it to increase its output and cut emissions as a result of the new AI and state-of-the-art burner system.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SYSTEM operator National Grid Cor-

poration of the Philippines set the opening of bids for the competitive selection process for the procurement of ancillary services this week.

NGCP said in a bid bulletin the submission of bids for Luzon is on Mar. 13, Visayas on Mar. 14 and Mindanao on Mar. 15, 2023. Bid opening is at 10 a.m. on Mar. 14 for Luzon, Mar. 15 for Visayas and Mar. 16 for Mindanao.

bustion engine],” said EVAP chairman Ferdinand Raquelsantos.

Raquelsantos said EV sales of 4-wheeled vehicles went up by 20 percent between 2021 and 2022.

He said that based on industry computations, the price of imported EV coming from the most favored nation would be reduced by 17 percent to 20 percent.

The EVAP’s price comparison showed that Jaguar I-Pace was priced at P7.99 million prior to the issuance of EO 12, but would be cheaper by 17.5 percent at about P6.59 million. Jaguar I-Pace is a full battery electric-vehicle.

Nissan full BEV Leaf may bring down its price by around P600,000 to

NGCP said it would conduct the bid evaluation on Mar. 17 to 22, 2023, while the deadline for post-qualification requirements is on Mar. 22, 2023. NGCP hopes to issue the notice of award on April 18.

NGCP needs qualified AS providers which can supply the grid requirements for regulating reserve, contingency reserve, dispatchable reserve, reactive power support and black start service.

NGCP, as the grid operator, is responsible for determining, acquiring

P700,000 per unit from the original price of P2.7 million, a company official said.

Car enthusiasts are waiting for the entry of the iconic Tesla into the Philippine automotive market, but there is no official distributor yet, Raquelsantos said. He said EV manufacturers from China would benefit the most from the tariff reduction compared to other exporters. Compared to Korean EVs that are taxed 5 percent, Chinese EV exports to the Philippines were coming from 30-percent tariff.

More than 20 EV brands are present the Philippines, including trikes, motorcycle, commercial vehicles and parts

MalaysiaRinggit0.22128812.2235

New Zealand Dollar 0.60990033.6897

TaiwanDollar0.0324251.7911 Source: BSP

and dispatching the needed AS levels to maintain power quality, reliability and security of the nationwide grid.

The Department of Energy issued Circular No. DC 2021-10-0031, which prescribes NGCP’s procurement of ancillary services. NGCP on Jan. 26 invited all interested grid-connected merchant plants and independent power producers to apply for eligibility and participate in the competitive bidding for the procurement of AS.

suppliers.

EVAP said that in 2022, some 10 EV manufacturers were keenly eyeing investment opportunities in the Philippines, as the government announced the re-allocation of the remaining P9billion fund from the country’s biggest automotive incentives program to EV manufacturing. Raquelsantos said EV manufacturers from 4 countries were queueing to apply for incentives under the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program. Data from the Land Transportation Office showed that EVs across segments reached 13,943 units in 2021, from only 823 units registered in 2010.

is expected to be completed by 2024. Its operational segments stretched from Mamplasan in Binan, with interchanges at Laguna Technopark, Laguna Boulevard, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road up to Silang East Interchange.

The C5 Link—a 7.7-kilometer 2x3 lane expressway that will connect CAVITEX R1 to C5 Road in Taguig—is also under construction.

MPTC is also constructing 8 kilometers of NLEX Connector Road and 2.60 km. of NLEX Segment 10 R10.

It has pending unsolicited proposals to the DPWH to build the P92-billion 15.1-km NLEX-Cavitex Port Expressway Project and the P71.9-billion 19.4km. C5 Expressway Project.

NTC reports 93.3% decline in text scams

THE National Telecommunications Commission said over the weekend text scams complaints dropped 93.3 percent after the implementation of the subscriber identify module registration law. NTC legal branch officer-in-charge Atty. Andres Castelar Jr. said text scams complaints went down to 100 per day from 1,500 complaints prior to the effectivity of the SIM card registration. Castelar text scams complaints were expected to further decline once all SIM cards registered in the system. As of March 9, public telecommunications entities reported 42.7 million successful SIM registrations representing 25.24 percent of the total 168 million active SIM subscribers as of September 2022. Smart Communications Inc. reported 21.8 million of its SIMs had registered, or 32 percent of its 67,995,734 subscribers. Globe reported 17.6 registered SIMs or 20 percent of its 87.8 million subscribers.

DITO Telecommunity Corp. reported 3.2 million SIMs or 24 percent of its 13,108,103 subscribers. Darwin G. Amojelar

SMC Global set to issue

$500m worth of securities

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp.’s board approved the issuance of redeemable perpetual securities of up to $500 million in favor of parent company San Miguel Corp.

SMCGP informed the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. the issuance of the securities would be under terms and conditions determined by the management as the most beneficial to the company. The company did not provide additional details.

SMCGP posted a net loss of P2.63 billion in the first nine months of 2022, a turnaround from a net income of P13.693 billion in the same period in 2021. The company attributed the losses to lower gross margin and net unrealized foreign exchange losses amounting to P16.174 billion in the first three quarters of 2022.

SMCGP suffered from losses over high fuel costs, gas constraints of two power subsidiaries and inability to raise rates after the Energy Regulatory Commission rejected its joint petition with Manila Electric Co. Alena Mae S. Flores

NEA updating guidelines on electric coop ratings

THE National Electrification Administration said over the weekend it is incorporating in the proposed amendment to the electric cooperatives’ overall performance assessment guidelines the show cause orders issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission as a demerit point.

NEA committee on EC overall performance assessment chair Xeres Adzuara issued a memorandum dated Mar. 10, 2023 which stated that a demerit of one point would be imposed on ECs which received a minimum of three show cause orders for various violations from the ERC in a year. The violations include the non-submission of uniform reportorial requirements, failure to post an itemized breakdown of generation charges on the website, non-implementation of over and under-recoveries, imposition of rates without ERC approval, implementation of the power supply agreement pending application to the ERC and non-testing of installed electric meters. NEA announced plans to amend the categorization process of electric cooperatives to focus on its financial performance. “I want a reflection of the true state of operations both on the technical and financial management,” NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said earlier. Alena Mae S. Flores

PH teen jin wins 1st gold at ASEAN taekwondo tilt

By Peter Atencio

FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD

Tachiana Kezhia

Mangin earned her first-ever gold medal Saturday as the Philippines took eight of 19 gold medals at stake in the kyorugi junior division of the 16th ASEAN Taekwondo Championships at the Ayala Malls-Manila Bay in Parañaque City.

Mangin’s spinning back kicks in the third round carried her to a 2-1 (6-1, 0-7, 10-3) win over Vietnamese foe Nguyen Thi Loan and the junior female featherweight division title.

The 5’8” Mangin, a 10th grader from University of Santo Tomas, said she has never claimed a gold medal in the five international meets that she has joined since 2019.

“Hindi pa po nananalo ng gold sa tatlong taon ko pong pagsali sa international. Ngayon pa lang po. Marami na rin po akong natutunan,” said Mangin.

She started in international sorties with a silver-medal finish in the ASEAN Taekwondo’s -33 kg junior women’s category, followed by two bronze medals in the Asian and World Championship in Amman, Jordan, and Tashkent, Uzbekistan respectively in 2019.

Then, another bronze in the Ho Chi Minh edition of Asian tilt last year saw Mangin move up to no. 13 in the Asian rankings.

National University standout John Angelo Pascual also needed three rounds to make it past another Vietnamese, Nguyen

Phuoc Khuong, 2-1 (3-0, 2-6, 8-1), and take the junior men’s welterweight honors.

“Naging maganda po ang first experience ko sa paglaban sa international meet. Dahil dito ay pagbubutihan ko na po sa mga susunod pang laban,” said Pascual, a 10th grader.

Pascual said Nguyen anticipated his moves in the second round and quick counterstrikes in the third allowed him to recover on points.

Also contributing to the Philippines’ gold output on Day 2 in the male division are Aldrich Paul Merin (finweight), Kurt Curata (bantamweight), Ocean Dinoro (lightweight), Justine Atienza (lightheavyweight).

Chloe Chua came off with the Philippines’ second gold in the junior female side with her 2-0 (7-0, 16-4) triumph over Singaporean Ingrid Iskandar in the light middleweight action.

Justice Palma boys, La Salle Lipa girls bag bronze

JUSTICE Cm Palma High School beat Mayamot National High School and De La Salle Lipa downed Maryhill College to clinch the boys and girls bronze medals Sunday in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Under-18 Championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

JCP, competing out of Quezon City, went five sets against their rivals from Antipolo City, 25-21, 26-28, 25-20, 23-25, 15-10, while the girls from Batangas needed a fourth set to frustrate the girls from Lucena City, 25-12, 22-25, 26-24, 25-21.

JCP had to dig deep in the two-hour and 27-minute match to wrap up its campaign in the under-18 tournament revived by the PNVF headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara and supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, PLDT, Rebisco and Akari.

“There were many things that we’re lacking in the match just like communication among the players on the court, but we exerted a lot of effort to win this game, no matter what,” JCP middle

Breakthrough win for Thai; Malixi ties for 13th spot

blocker Maverick Joseph Palis said.

“We are glad that we managed to hang on up to the last drop and prevail,” added Palis, who had seven blocks for 10 points for the team of coach Ralph Ocampo.

JCP team captain Neil Aldrin Catap nailed five of his 29 points in the fifth set—all kills—while Al-Bhukarie Sali made 22 spikes and two blocks for 24 points.

PNVF Secretary-General Don Caringal praised both teams for fighting as if the gold was at stake.

“There’s something bigger than gold in what they’re fighting for even though it’s a battle for bronze,” Caringal said. “It’s a very competitive match and I’m really thankful for the effort of both teams.”

De La Salle Lipa coach Imee Mendoza echoed Caringal’s observation.

It’s bronze that glittered like gold,” Mendoza said. “We still kept the pride of La Salle and it wasn’t easy than the first time we’ve faced them.”

Gadia delivers as Cebu nips Azkals Development Team

MIDFIELDER Daniel Gadia made up for his absence in the previous game with a stunning late goal as Dynamic Herb Cebu FC turned back Azkals Development Team, 2-1, last Saturday night to close in on leaders Kaya FC Iloilo in the Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Serving a suspension in the 1-1 draw against Stallion Laguna last week, Gadia scored the winning goal in the 70th minute as the Gentle Giants improved to 31 points, five points off Kaya, which has played one more game than Cebu.

A standout from University of the Philippines, Gadia is a fiery midfield player who makes a bigger impact with his passing. Against ADT, he took on a different role as the goalscorer.

“I was challenged by our captain kuya Jason

(Cordova) to score a goal so I just tried,” Gadia said. “There have been a lot of scenarios in the game that I can take a shot in front of goal but I ended up passing. I didn’t want to miss that chance when I had it.”

Cebu took the lead in the 20th minute with Rintaro Hama firing from close range after Leaford Allen’s effort bounced off the cross bar.

But ADT levelled just moments into the second half with Oliver Bias teeing up youth standout Gavin Muens inside the area. That goal set up a thrilling finish with Gadia, who was sent off in the 3-2 win over Kaya in Iloilo three weeks ago, producing a smart finish at the near post to beat goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad and sending Cebu to a ninth victory of the season.

SINGAPORE—Thai

Eila Galitsky capped her breakthrough victory in the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship in smashing fashion, birdying three of the last four holes in scorching heat to dash whatever hopes her chief rival Minsol Kim of Korea had for a comeback, closing out with a 68 and beating the Korean world No. 14 by five shots on a 14-under 274 total.

Kim shot a 70 for second at 279 while compatriot Yeji Park also carded a twounder card to tie Hong Kong’s Sophie Han and Kiwi Fiona Xu, who matched 71s, and world No. 5 Yuna Araki from Japan, who matched par 72, at 282, at the Singapore Island Country Club’s The New Course. Rianne Malixi’s WAAP campaign that gained tracks midway through the 72-hole championship ended in shambles with a late wave of bogeys as she fumbled with a 73 and wound up joint 13th at the Singapore Island Country Club here yesterday.

While Galitsky fell short by three to Yuka Yasuda’s record eight-stroke triumph over inaugural champion Atthaya Thitikul in the 2019 edition of the annual championship in Japan, Galitsky succeeded in foiling the Koreans’ bid to sweep two major events here following JinYoung Ko’s triumph in last week’s Women’s World Championship at Sentosa.

More importantly, the victory gave Galitsky’s promising career a big shot in the arm as she claimed spots in this year’s three Major championships on the LPGA Tour, including the Chevron Championship in Texas next month, the Evian Championship in France in July and the AIG Women’s Open in England in August.

It also netted her invites to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur later this month in Georgia, the Hana Financial Group Championship and the Women’s Australian Open.

Lhuillier upbeat as Blu Girls gear up for Asia Cup

AMATEUR Softball Association of the Philippines president Jean Henri Lhuillier expressed his confidence in the PH Blu Girls’ chances of landing the top 3 in the upcoming Women’s Softball Asia Cup and qualifying for the World Women’s Softball Championships.

“The girls are preparing for this competition. I’m confident we will be fighting it out for a podium finish and qualify for the World Cup. We at ASAPHIL together with the coaching staff are leaving no stone unturned in the girls’ preparations in our quest for Asian supremacy,” said Lhuillier.

The Blu Girls, the perennial Southeast Asian Games gold medalists, have been in deep training for the past months already. Their preparations are a notch higher with twice-a-day practice sessions, consisting of drills, strategies, workouts and actual games, three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon.

The girls are scheduled to compete in the Women’s Softball Asia Cup on April 2 to 8 in South Korea to fight for one of the World Cup slots, where the world’s best teams are competing.

“Our training has been going well and I can say we have a strong and cohesive team. We have good pitchers and our batting has been improving. Hopefully, these translate to great actual games and wins for the team,” said head coach Randy Dizer.

The Blu Girls’ mentor is banking on top pitcher Ann Antolihao, as well as left-field veteran player Arianne Vallestero to lead the Blu Girls’ charge. He also listed up-and-coming players Angelu Gabriel (shortstop) and MJ Maguad (2nd base) as the other players to watch out for and are expected to contribute to the team’s campaign.

POLO CHAMP. Andrew Romualdez scores in the third chukkers for the Blue Team during its High Goal polo game against the White Team to win the Journal Cup (People’s Tonight, People’s Journal, People’s Taliba Online and Journal Online) at the Enrique Zobel Field in Makati City on Sunday. Romualdez’s teammates included Xavier Tengco, Al e Araneta and Gregorio Gelosi. Ver Noveno

Tachiana Mangin with national junior coaches Levi Santos and Brix Ramos

Daniel Gadia (left) celebrates with teammates Jacob Liao and Ibrahim Moro.

Eila Galitsky soaks it up in victory

Members of the De La Salle Lipa celebrate their triumph in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Under-18 Championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Highlands Ladies Cup braces for grand return

THE Highlands Ladies Cup, put on hold the last three years due to Taal Volcano eruption and pandemic, gears up for an explosive return when it holds its 15th staging on April 29 at the wind-raked, challenging Tagaytay Midlands Golf Course in Tagaytay.

The organizing Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter has guaranteed the upcoming event, backed by Diamond sponsor W Group, Inc., will surpass its previous editions in terms of participation and prizes with a maximum field expected to take part in the 18-hole tournament featuring players of all genders.

Registration is ongoing with fees pegged at P4,000 for members and P5,000 for non-members, inclusive of green fee, cart sharing, lunch and snacks plus raffle. Tickets are available at the Highlands and Midlands golf courses and Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter.

Kostya Tszyu son Tim wins WBO crown with TKO of foe in 9th rd.

SYDNEY—Australian

Tim Tszyu stopped American Tony Harrison in round nine with a blistering performance Sunday, lifting the interim WBO super welterweight title.

The unbeaten 28-year-old Australian won by a technical knockout in the Sydney bout after letting loose a flurry of powerful right-handers.

Tszyu, son of former light welter-

weight world champion Kostya Tszyu, said his victory sent a message to US undisputed world super welterweight boxing champion Jermell Charlo.

“The message was sent clearly. You know what’s coming. I’m coming. I am coming to America,” he told an arena packed with Australian fans.

Tszyu was poised to fight Charlo in Las Vegas in January.

But Charlo’s defence of all four major sanctioning body world crowns was postponed when his promoters announced in December that he had broken his left hand during training.

Charlo has recorded only one loss in his career—when Harrison won a

unanimous decision over him in December 2018 in New York.

Charlo came back a year later and defeated Harrison in a rematch.

On Sunday, the 32-year-old Harrison tried to keep Tszyu at bay for much of the fight with a string of rapid-fire jabs.

But the Australian’s powerful hooks and uppercuts finally took their toll, dropping the American and leading the referee to stop the onslaught.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Naoya Inoue will fight for two world titles in his super-bantamweight debut when he takes on American Stephen Fulton in Yokohama in May, the boxer nicknamed “Monster” said.

Adamson belles hand Lady Eagles 3rd straight loss

ADAMSON University

sent Ateneo de Manila University reeling to its third consecutive loss in straight sets fashion, 25-18, 25-23, 25-19, in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament at the Philsports Arena on Sunday.

The Lady Falcons showed their composure in the second and third frames with on-point endgame execution to complete the sweep.

After Vanie Gandler pulled the Blue Eagles within one in the second, 23-24, Kate Santiago did not let the period get extended by drilling a down-the-line spike.

Ahead by just two late in the third, 18-16, Adamson got contributions from Santiago, May Ann Nuique, and Lucille Almonte while also getting help from Ateneo’s errors

to pull away, 25-19.

“’Yung pina-practice namin, ‘yung pinaguusapan namin naeexecute ng mga players kaya masaya kami doon,” said head coach Jerry Yee.

The Lady Falcons also grabbed their third straight win to join National University at second behind 4-1 win-loss cards, while the Blue Eagles fell to 1-4, tied with University of the Philippines at sixth.

Trisha Tubu drained 23 points built on 22of-39 attacks while Santiago backstopped the opposite spiker with 11 kills and collected nine digs.

Faith Nisperos was the hard carry for the Blue Eagles anew with 17 points while Gandler and Lyann De Guzman got nine and eight points, respectively, with the latter chalking up seven excellent receptions and five digs.

The unbeaten Inoue became the first undisputed world bantamweight champion in half a century when he beat England’s Paul Butler in December to add the WBO title to his WBC, WBA and IBF belts.

The 29-year-old, who has a 24-0 record with 21 knock-outs, vacated his titles in January to move up to the super-bantamweight division.

He intends to make an instant impact against WBC and WBO titleholder Fulton, who is unbeaten in 21 fights with eight knock-outs.

“All I can do is believe in myself,” Inoue told reporters at a press conference in Tokyo. AFP

Quezon rallies to nip Negros; Bataan trounces Rizal

THE Quezon Huskers clawed back from a deep hole to stun the Negros Muscovados, 82-80, late Saturday and join the Bataan Risers in the early lead of the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika PIlipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.

Trailing by as many as 16 points, 14-30, and ten points, 64-74, in the last quarter, the Huskers dropped a 10-point salvo to seize the lead at 79-78 and frustrate the Muscovados, who controlled the game for nearly 32 minutes.

Jeric Teng presided over the Huskers’ rally with 8 points in the last 10 minutes, including a drive in their finishing kick that also saw Mark Pangilinan and RJ Minerva knock in a triple each and Lucena City Mayor Mark Alcala score on a fast break.

The 26-year-old Alcala shared the limelight as he also drilled in two triples, the last pushing Quezon ahead, 46-44, in just 12 minutes and 51 seconds of play.

Thomas Torres also sparkled for Quezon coach Eric Gonzales with 12 points, including the game’s final basket, 81-80, 10

rebounds and 7 assists. Pangilinan chipped in 11 points and Minerva 10 for the Huskers co-owned by Rep. Keith Micah Tan and San Andres Mayor Ralph Edward Lim. Quezon City Gov. Helen Tan lauded the Huskers for their gallant effort as well as the hometown crowd for not giving up on their team even when they fell behind anew at 6978 midway of the fourth quarter.

Also ecstatic with the Huskers’ bright debut in the country’s biggest cage league, were team manager Atty. Donn Kapunan, consultant Patrick Gregorio and assistant team manager Magnum Membrere.

“I’m glad the boys were able to shake off opening day jitters,” said Gonzales.

“We’re still working on our physical conditioning, that’s why I am forced to use long rotations.”

The Muscovados got 18 points from Jonathan Gantalao, including 10 in the fourth quarter, 13 points and 8 rebounds from Jason Melano, 12 points from Richard Albo and 11 points and 9 rebounds from Edrian Lao.

Missing the services of 6-foot-7 Will Gozum, who’s still finishing a playing

commitment, and 6-8 Ken Holmqvist, who’s nursing a shoulder injury, the Huskers got outrebounded, 47-36, by the Muscovados, owned by John Gilbor.

Bataan, drawing the points from top gunner James Castro and prized acquisition Yves Sazon, subdued the Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers, 81-70, in the opener. Castro, who joined the MPBL 1,000 point-club in the game, wound up with 20 points, followed by Sazon with 12 as the Camaya Coast-backed Risers pulled away, 62-46, midway of the last quarter.

Rizal got 23 points from former NCAA Junior MVP Troy Mallillin and 11 points from King Rodney Fuentes. MPBL Founder and CEO Manny Pacquiao graced the inaugural ceremonies of the Fifth Season declared open by Commissioner Keith Duremdes.

The MPBL goes to the Star Arena in Baliuag, Bulacan on Monday with a tripleheader pitting Quezon City against Bicol at 4 p.m., Nueva Ecija against Laguna at 6 p.m. and Sarangani against Bulacan at 8 p.m.

“We are more than prepared for this year’s tournament after three years,” said tournament chair Dionne Cu. “Golfing friends have been waiting for us to stage our festive tourney.”

The fun-filled but competitive tournament, supported by Platinum sponsor Parola Maritime Agency, Inc. and bronze sponsor Wee Community Developers, Inc., will have a shotgun start at 8 a.m. It will be played under the System 36 scoring format The event is used to be held late in the year but the THLC moved it to an earlier date to coincide with the Tagaytay Ladies team’s 18th founding anniversary celebrations. As in its past editions, part of the proceeds will go to THLC’s favorite charity in Silang, Cavite, the Boys & Girls Town where school age children are preparedfor the real world through an entrepreneurial-based education.

IRONKIDS to usher in IronMan 70.3 in Davao

THE future of Philippine triathlon braces for another spirited battle in pursuit of top honors in their side of the swim and run race in a competitive but friendlier setting when the IRONKIDS Philippines 2023 is fired off on March 25 at the Azuela Cove.

The organizing The IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events, Inc. is introducing new distances to encourage more participation while adding an extra year in the premier side to enable the 15-year-old bidders to still join the event as part of their preparations for bigger competitions ahead.

Four Individual titles will be up for grabs, including the 6-8 years old (100m swim and 1km run), 9-10 (150m swim and 1.5km run), 11-12 (200m and 1.5km run) and the 13-15 (250m and 2km run).

Also to be disputed are the mixed team relay trophies in the 6-10 (100m swim and 1km run) and 11-15 (200m swim and 1.5km run) categories. For details, log on to ironkidsphil.com.

Spicing up the big weekend of fun and bonding in a shared experience is the Girls’ Run on March 24.

The IRONKIDS has ushered in a number of IRONMAN events in prepandemic, contributing to the growth of the sport while guaranteeing the steady flow of talents. It marked its return to the mainstream at Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite last October.

The event has also helped develop values like discipline, sportsmanship and respect for others and at the same time preventing gadget addiction among them while encouraging the children to live an active lifestyle.

Meanwhile, the Alveo IRONMAN 70.3 Davao powered by Petron roster has hit 1,052 entries two weeks before its staging, which marks the return of the premier endurance race in the king city of the south.

Australian boxer Tim Tszyu (R) gets punched by USA’s Tony Harrison during their WBO super welterweight world title bout at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on March 12, 2023. AFP

Trisha Tubu drained 23 points built on 22-of-39 attacks.

The cast and team of ‘Hearts on Ice’

GMA Network brings to light another groundbreaking show with Hearts on Ice, the country’s first figure skating drama on primetime television.

really conquer all challenges?

E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

Meanwhile, Ponggay’s determination will also be tested as she faces some wicked figure skaters who see her as a big joke in the industry. One day, she meets Monique, a talented figure skater from abroad. They form an unlikely friendship without knowing that their mothers used to be bitter opponents in the figure skating world.

How will their camaraderie slowly turn to hate and competition? How far can Ponggay go to achieve her dreams and make her loved ones proud?

Completing the star-studded cast are Amy Austria as Libay, the cold mother of Ponggay who doubts her dreams of becoming a figure skater; Tonton

mother of Monique and a rival of Libay; Lito Pimentel as Ruben, the supportive and loving father of Ponggay; Ina Feleo as Coach Wendy, one of the best figure skating coaches in town who sacrificed her career for love; Cheska Iñigo as Vivian, the controlling mother of Enzo and Yvanna’s ally in persecuting Ponggay. Adding excitement and inspiration to the series are Miss Philippines Earth 2020 Roxie Smith as Monique, a competitive figure skater, and Ponggay’s best-friend-turned-enemy; Kim Perez as Bogs, the whimsical friend of Enzo and secret admirer of Ponggay; Skye Chua as Sonja, an excellent figure skater who bullies Ponggay and Monique.

Hearts on Ice creative team lists Aloy ‘Hearts on Ice’ also marks the first onscreen pairing of Xian (left) and Ashley

Ashley redeemsOrtega broken

dreams

in PH’s first figure skating drama on GMA

and multi-talented actor Xian Lim as Enzo, the series directed by Dominic Zapata starts airing tonight.

Hearts on Ice follows the story of Ponggay who aspires to fulfill her mother’s broken dreams of becoming a figure skating champion. Despite Ponggay’s leg impairment, she works hard to be a figure skater to receive validation and love from her mother.

Later on, Ponggay discovers an online content creator whose music brings out the best

of her capabilities.

As she begins to pursue her passion with the right music, Ponggay meets the snobbishly attractive Enzo who appears to be her anonymous online idol and the one who will soon make her fall in love. Will they be each other’s strength and inspiration to continue dreaming? Does love

Gutierrez as Gerald, the rich and charming brother of Yvanna and Libay’s exlover; Rita Avila as Yvanna, the hostile

Adlawan as creative director, Ricky Lee as content development consultant, Jojo Nones as creative consultant, John Roque as head writer, Liberty Trinidad-Villaroman, Marlon Miguel, and Brylle Tabora as writers, and Louize Andrei Al-Sheri as brainstormer. Hearts on Ice airs at 8:50 p.m. on GMA and at 11:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and at 11 p.m. every Friday on GTV.

Paolo Gumabao pairs with Czech star in new romantic film

YOUNG actor Paolo Gumabao stars in a romantic film titled Spring in Prague, which was partly filmed in the Philippines and in the capital of the Czech Republic.

Under Borracho Film Production, the 24-year-old actor stars opposite Czech actress Sara Sandeva. The story is by Eric Ramos, and the direction is by Lester Dimaranan

In the movie, Paolo plays the role of Alfonso, a resort owner who falls in love with Maruska Ruzicka, a foreign tourist visiting the Philippines for the first time.

Andrew Gan embraces his character as Sean even though he finds it challenging

Andrew Gan Actor

on the rise

Sean out. When I start embracing my character and eventually becoming him, my imagination becomes ballistic. It helps me as an actor to not only be in my character’s shoes but give him the emotional truth that I must invest,” Andrew states.

Gan’s Sean, is not privy to the sexual preference and orientation of his wife Kristina and this reality, says Andrew: “That is a bigger emotional blow to him. Kasi nga disbled na siya then he discovers that lesbian ang wife niya and is in love with somebody else. Big-time pain and shock, definitely!”

“The truth exacerbated his insecurities,”

“I never worked with a female actress in the Philippines who would go through the script with me, only Sara. I appreciate her so much because this is the kind of actor that I am. When you give me the script, I dissect it, I have notes on my script,” Paolo told the press during the film’s recent media conference.

“When Sara arrived, she was ready also. She had notes and she had highlights on her script. That’s when I realized that the movie will proceed smoothly and we will get along well,” he pointed out,” the actor added.

Paolo believes that Spring in Prague is a festival-worthy film.

“Not only Cannes. There’s a lot of prestigious awardgiving bodies sa ibang bansa. Hindi lang naman kailangang Cannes. So, if it’s a material or a script that I feel na madadala kami du’n or feeling ko kaya kong gampanan at bigyan ng hustisya, e, tatanggapin ko po,” said the actor.

Cameras have started rolling for the film and Paolo only had good words for his beautiful Czech screen partner Sara and the people behind the film.

“Actually, even before they finished writing the story, kinausap na ako ni Atty. Ferdie Topacio about it because he really needed someone who could connect with a foreign actress,” he started.

“I grew up in Taiwan. So, first language is Chinese and English. So, kaya naging first choice ako para maging guide din for Sara, who’s very fun to be with. So, in this film, I just focus on you know being the best leading man that I could,” Paolo concluded.

CURRENTLY streaming on AQ Prime’s Director’s Cut app and arousing the curiosity of many is Greg Colasito’s Upuan, a contemporary motion picture that presents the lives of two women who share a meaningful and passionate different kind of love and a man that seems to be the hindrance to their “happily ever after and new forever.”

According to director Colasito, Upuan is a cut above the rest because it is a lesbian movie that presents its points of view, emotions, honesty, fears, troubles, and how they fight to make their relationship work. Also, Krista Miller and Nikka Madrid hare are not the lesbians that we are so used to seeing on screen.

“What we have here are two women who are sincere with their love and kung paano naging kumplikado ang mga buhay nila dahil marami ang may hindi gusto sa mga relasyong babae na nagmamahal sa kapwa babae,” Colasito expalins.

Miller’s character has another layer of emotional complication because she is married to Sean, which Andrew Gan portrays. Gan describes Sean as a hard-working, successful man whose priorities are his family and of course, the love of his life, Kristina. However, something unfortunate happens to him, and becomes disabled. This reality sucks big time for Sean.”

“It was difficult for him to accept that he is baldado, so dependent on others for his care and welfare. He easily flares up, and shouts. He does all that to hide his insecurities, especially his feeling of being kaawa-awa,” Andrew says of Sean’s emotional ordeals.

“As an actor, all these emotions that Sean experiences are not only challenging but daunting. On my part, ninamnam ko talaga si Sean. My imagination helped me in fleshing

Gan goes on. “Feeling talaga ni Sean, mas lalo siyang naging walang silbi, walang sinabi, lala na yung pagiig lalaki at pagkalalaki niya.”

“How a man like him goes through that whole emotional cycle of anger, denial, and eventually, accepts that what is happening to him and to Kristina, is not for naught, but for the best, is the most admirable thing about Sean,” avers Andrew.

The rising actor believes that viewers must support Upuan because all the characters in the film are relatable – flawed and beautiful at the same time.

“The experiences they go through as characters in this film by director Gilbert, we can relate to their hurt and happiness, pleasure and pain, choosing between I love you and goodbye, of a love or a dream that is worth fighting for.”

Gan declares: “I am ready to give life, heart, and soul to everything. Doing roles that are totally different from who I am, becoming them and showing to all that these people, there is so

much about them that we do not understand, and pushing forward the envelope of confused, demented, troubled, and dark characters and being able to show their humanity to others and get the sympathy they deserve, as an actor, ang sarap nun.”

Andrew hopes that more AQ Prime films get more support and love from the public since the streaming platform offers movies with narratives that are daring, out of the box, and titillating.

“They definitely spark conversation and the deeper understanding of people, their morality and psyche. AQ Prime does its share in enlivening and boosting the entertainment industry. Tumutulong ang AQ Prime sa mga Pilipino at sa bayan. Proud to be part of this progressive film company,” he ends.

Hollywood’s Asian stars welcome ‘long overdue’ breakthrough at Oscars

FROM Oscars favorites

Everything Everywhere

All at Once and RRR to an unprecedented four acting nominations, Asian representation in Hollywood has finally

Behind the camera, best picture frontrunner Everything Everywhere –a $100 million box office hit with 11 Oscar nominations – has an Asian codirector, Daniel Kwan, and an Asian producer, Jonathan Wang

“There’s something really beautiful about being able to show that if you put people in these roles, people will go see it,” Wang told AFP

“Why is it only white characters who go on the fun adventures, but Asian and Black characters and Latino characters have to experience the suffering?

“It’s time to flip that on its head. And people are going to run to the box office.”

It is all a far cry from Hollywood’s past. At the recent Screen Actors Guild awards, James Hong, the 94-yearold veteran who appears in Everything Everywhere , reflected on how white actors with “their eyes taped up” once played leading Asian roles because producers thought “the Asians are not good enough and they are not box office.”

“But look at us now,” he said, to a huge ovation. Read full story on manilastandard.net

Nickie Wang, Editor; Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant

Xian Lim (left) and Ashley Ortega headline ‘Hearts on Ice,’ the country’s first figure skating drama on primetime television

Ashley Ortega (left) plays Ponggay, an aspiring figure skater, while Xian plays Enzo, an online content creator

Headlined by the fresh pairing of Sparkle actress Ashley Ortega as Ponggay

Paolo Gumabao (left) with Czech actress Sara Sandeva

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant

E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

ONLINE lifestyle destination and eCommerce pioneer Lazada celebrates its 11th anniversary with a promo that runs for 11 days.

Hosted by Alden Richards and Bea Alonzo, the #EpicBirthdaySuperShow which kicked off on March 2 also showcased the Lazada Shoppable Runway fashion show, a glimpse of the 20foot tall LazLook Mannequin,

alongside other thrilling activities and prizes for attendees to enjoy.

The Super Show streamed on LazLive and at Lazada’s official TikTok and Facebook pages.

LIFE

sellers’ success as Lazada enters its new decade. We are constantly providing tools, mechanics, and solutions that empower everyone to reach more consumers with products at always the best, unbeatable prices,” added Barrera.

off,” says Lazada Philippines Head of Marketing Kitty Calderon

“We are pulling out all the stops for our Epic 11th Birthday Celebration that offers the best deals this March 3 to 13.

As the country’s top online shopping destination, Lazada is showcasing a wide range of trendy, affordable, and quality assortment for our customers. Everyone can also enjoy Cashback and Fast and Free shipping every day,” said Lazada

Philippines CEO Carlos Barrera

“We remain committed to our brands and

Meanwhile, in celebration of women’s month, women employees, customers, and sellers at Lazada, the ecommerce company mounted iconic executions like the Lazlook Mannequins, creating enriching experiences and pushing innovation that seamlessly merge shopping with entertainment and social.

“Everyone is invited to drop by Market!

Market! and check out the LazLook Mannequin exhibit at the Activity Center until March 29, showcasing the most epic styles, stackable vouchers, up to P1000 cashback as well as deals for as low as P99 and up to 80 percent

Bold, and beautiful brave

“Like our LazLook Mannequin, people can be inspired by the wide range of styles to choose from, deals for as low as P99, and up to 80 percent off at LazLook, Lazada’s trendy and affordable destination for fashion,”

eCommerce pioneer celebrates 11 years

Calderon added.

Joining Bea and Alden, and fashion influencers like Mimiyuuh, Mika Salamanca, and Bella Racelis during the kickoff event were Darren Esperanto, and P-Pop groups BGYO Bini, and SB19

In addition to the Super Show, Lazada has online and in-app challenges and giveaways so everyone can join in on the fun. Together with partner banks, Lazada is giving you the opportunity to avail of vouchers that they can use during the 11th Birthday Sale until today, March 13).

Leading home improvement retailer gears up for wider CSR program

Attendees of the MR.D.I.Y. Acts of Kindness CSR campaign held at Myons

MR.D.I.Y., the nation’s favorite family and home improvement one-stop-shop retailer, affirmed its commitment to serve and spread goodwill to its communities this year with the inclusion of two major partners under its umbrella corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, the MR.D.I.Y. A-OK (Acts of Kindness) campaign.

Conrad Manila’s Spa has a relaxing and rejuvenating promotional package for the hardworking and empowered ladies is available at 8833-9999.

THAT is how the Hilton Hotels and Resorts in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka describe the female gender in their worldwide celebration of International Women’s Day, honoring women everywhere for their unwavering spirit and strength.

Naturally, Conrad Manila, Hilton Hotel’s luxury brand, has come up with its own celebration which is ongoing until the end of the month. This includes various activities that honor and uplift women, including power lunches, special cocktails, and spa packages. The hotel’s General Manager, Fabio

At the other end of Roxas Boulevard, The Manila Hotel invites women and their mates to have “A Taste of Japan.”

On March 15, a Wednesday, the hotel’s Champagne Room hosts an evening of epicurean journey with its exclusive Sagagyu dinner paired with bespoke wine.

Only for dinner that day, the fine dining restaurant will have a 7-course dinner, featuring dishes curated by a guest chef

ABS-CBN’s Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation and TV5’s Alagang Kapatid Foundation have partnered with MR.D.I.Y. through the latter’s A-OK campaign for 2023.

The program also continues its collaboration with World Vision, SOS Children’s Villages, and GOM Football Center for Excellence.

A-OK is the overarching corporate social responsibility program where the retailer enables and empowers communities. The program has its roots in the Good

Bag Campaign, where proceeds from the purchase of MR.D.I.Y. eco-bags nationwide are eventually donated to its NGO partners. The success of the Good Bag Campaign in 2021 inspired the company to level up its CSR program into the A-OK campaign, which focuses on four key pillars: Family Welfare, Preservation and Protection of the Environment, Youth and Education, and Disaster Preparedness.

MR.D.I.Y. ‘s Chief Executive Officer Roselle Marisol Andaya further explained why the company has these CSR initiatives.

“MR.D.I.Y. entered the country in 2018, with our first store opening in Balagtas, Bulacan. That same year, we opened five other stores, one in Ayala, two in Waltermart malls, Sta Lucia, and Fishermall Quezon City. Our market has received us well, owing to our variety of more than 18,000 products under 10 different categories. We

celebrated our 100th store milestone last 2020,” the CEO said.

“And just last November of 2022, we celebrated our 300th store milestone at SM City Sucat. We are now 339 stores strong–with our latest opening today in Culiat Town Center in Quezon City. From 6 stores in 2018 to 339 today,” Andaya added. MR. D.I.Y, according to Andaya, looks forward to working with its incredible partners to bring its visions to life.

Berto, believes that a woman’s touch has the ability to transform anything into something magical, significant, and impactful. The hotel management wants to show its appreciation and gratitude to all women for their thoughtful contributions to society.

The award-winning Conrad Spa is currently offering discounts on special wellness treatments for guests’ pampering and rejuvenation. Every spa purchase this month comes with a complimentary one-hour personal training voucher from the Fitness Center, worth P1,500. At the C Lounge, two cocktail mixes are made available to the ladies---“Be My Candy,” made with Aperol, Prosecco and Cotton Candy, and “Darna,” made with Coconut Jelly, Coconut Water, Mango, Hibiscus Syrup, Vodka, and Rosemary Infusion.

The hotel has many other attractive offerings for ladies and more information

from Japan, Hiroki Samata – a classicallytrained chef and master butcher whose impeccable knife skills are admired by many.

Chef Samata will exhibit his culinary creativity with a menu that puts the spotlight on Saga-gyu beef, one of the world’s most

A slice of nostalgia

THROUGH generations, King Sue Ham has understood the powerful connection between memories and flavor. The brand has been taking people on a journey down memory lane by offering a range of products that can bring a flood of memories to mind. With King Sue Ham, patrons can savor not just the taste, but also the emotions and memories that come with it.

Nostalgic Staples: The King Sue Chinese Ham Bone-In is a succulent and savory delight that has been a staple on Filipino tables. A must-have for special occasions, its rich flavor, and tender texture have been perfected through the decades and take palates on a nostalgic epicurean experience that never fails to impress and satisfy.

Sweet, Spicy, & Salty: The King Sue Piña Ham, on the other hand, is a perfect

blend of sweet and savory. It is made with a unique combination of flavors and spices that give it a distinct taste that is hard to forget. The Piña Ham’s flavor profile is perfect for those who love a little bit of adventure in their food, and it is perfect for mealtimes shared with family and friends.

A Bit More Savory: If you’re in the mood for something a bit more savory, then the King Sue Corned Beef is just what you need. This delicious and tender corned beef is made with premium quality beef that has been carefully cured and seasoned with just the right blend of spices that takes you back to your childhood snack favorite. The result is a hearty and satisfying dish that is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Must-Try Favorites: If there’s one food that has the power to get your taste buds dancing and your mouth watering, it’s King Sue

Sliced Bacon. From the first sizzle in the pan to the first bite, King Sue Sliced Bacon is an experience unlike any other. The crispy texture, the combination of salty and savory, and how it pairs perfectly with just about any dish make it a favorite of many. The scent alone is enough to make your mouth water and leave you longing for that first delicious bite.

Culinary Delights: The King Sue German Franks is another favorite. The high-quality pork and beef blend mixed with a unique blend of spices creates a distinct and unforgettable flavor. The texture is firm, yet tender, with a slight snap that is the hallmark of a well-made frankfurter.

revered delicacies. Saga beef cows live a life of comfort and luxury, nurtured through expert breeding techniques, and are free to relish the infinite beauty of Saga’s natural surroundings. As a result, the cows produce a perfect balance of fat marbled in lean meat, known as “glossy marbling,” which is the key to its melt-in-the-mouth texture and unparalleled flavor. To make the dining experience more enjoyable, the hotel partners with Titania Wine Cellar for wine pairing, using the latter’s extensive range of quality wines.

Seats are limited to 40 persons so reservations are a must and may be made through (+632) 85270011 or (+632) 53015500 locals 12621266, 1300 or message restaurantrsvn@ themanilahotel.com or r.champagneroom@ themanilahotel.com. For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com

Steamed Classics: If you’re looking for something a bit more unique, then the King Sue Old English Pork Sausage is just what you need. This sausage is made with high-quality pork and seasoned with a blend of spices that give it a distinct and flavorful taste. It is perfect for those who love a bit of adventure in their food and is great as a snack or as part of a main meal.

A Little Bit of a Kick: Finally, King Sue Hungarian Sausages are a must-try for any food lover looking for a truly bold and flavorful experience. Each juicy and perfectly spiced bite is a symphony of complex flavors that dance across your palate. The high-quality pork and beef blend is seasoned with a unique blend of spices that create a taste that is both distinct and memorable.

Needless to say, King Sue Ham is more than just a brand. It is a piece of nostalgia, a slice of home, and a reminder of good times spent with loved ones.

For more information about King Sue Ham, visit their Facebook page, Instagram, or get in touch with them via (02) 8364-8575 8364-8548 8376- 6500. You may also contact sales at +63 917 713 8229.

Lazada ambassadors Alden Richards (left) and Bea Alonzo

MR.D.I.Y. donates Christmas packs to mothers supported by TV5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation

Japanese Chef Hiroki Samata, hard at work with Saga-gyu beef in his kitchen