Manila Standard - 2023 March 21 - Tuesday

Show up today, Teves told

Sanctions loom for Negros solon, but lawyer says ‘plot thickens’

By Joel E. Zurbano, Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

THE House of Representatives committee on ethics on Monday gave Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. 24 hours to physically attend the next hearing scheduled for Tuesday.

The panel chair, Rep. Felimon Espares, said Teves’ failure to do so would result in possible sanctions.

At the same time, Espares disclosed that the panel, which held the meeting in an executive session, did not allow Teves to join the hearing earlier through videoconferencing.

Teves asked House Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe that he be allowed to deliver a privileged speech on Zoom in Monday’s plenary session. Teves’ letter was received at 2:55 p.m. He was unable to deliver a speech until the session ended at 5:36 p.m.

The ethics committee, however, rejected Teves’ bid to attend the meeting online and instead urged him to return home within 24 hours.

“We extend our time to let our colleagues respond within 24 hours to come home, but if he cannot appear personally in our committee, the committee would really have (to render) its decision, the appropriate sanctions. So probably by tomorrow (Tuesday) at 4 or 5 p.m., we will have our committee meeting to deal with if our colleagues

BIGGEST IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. Under construction is the Sadik Grand Mosque in Zamboanga City, expected to be finished late this year. The 50-hectare complex will also have a shopping mall and a hotel. Randy Caluag

ROV arrives amid contrary PCG reports on oil spill

THE Japanese vessel Shin Nichi Maru carrying the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of finding the MT Princess Empress, which sank and spilled 800,000 liters of industrial oil off the coast of Oriental Mindoro, has arrived in Calapan City, authorities said Monday. This was after the Philippine Coast Guard gave conflicting reports of the oil spill finally reaching Isla Verde, a part of

PH, China envoys in SCS dialog

DIPLOMATS from the Philippines and China are scheduled to hold a series of consultation meetings in Manila this week to discuss various concerns, including the disputed waters in the South China Sea, amid Chinese incursions in the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the dialogues will take place during the 23rd Philippines-China Foreign Ministry Consultations (FMC) on March 23 and the 7th Bilateral Consultations Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea on March 24.

Batangas City, in the Verde Island Passage -- recognized as the center of global shore-fish biodiversity, and which provides food and livelihood to

House lawmakers miffed as Senate zaps ‘Cha-cha’ hearing sans notice

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

de Oro City Rep. Rufus

Rodriguez, who chairs the House committee on constitutional amendments, expressed dismay at the postponement over the Senate’s last-minute postponement of its hearing without sufficient time to notify invited resource persons. “I was already prepared to go to the Senate today at 10 a.m. to present to

Foreign firms a step closer to full ownership in PH as rules released

By Julito Rada and Vince Lopez

allows full foreign ownership of businesses in select industries such

ROV CARRIER. As Philippine Coast Guard personnel gather oil-filled sand from the shores of three barangays on Isla Verde in Batangas City, the Japanese salvage vessel Shin Nichi Maru, with the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Hakuyo on its deck, docks at the Calapan Bay in Oriental Mindoro on Monday (inset). It will help the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Bagacay in containing the oil spill from the sunken MT Princess Empress. Danny Pata, Batangas Disaster Office

By Rey Requejo

and Charles Dantes

THE Philippines and the United States will soon announce the location of four additional military bases that American

OATH OF OFFICE. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez administers the oath of office to new Motion and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chair Diorella Maria “Lala” Sotto at the House of Representatives on Monday. Ver Noveno

soldiers will be allowed to use, officials said Monday. The longtime treaty allies agreed last month to expand cooperation in “strategic areas” of the country as they seek to

counter China’s growing assertiveness over Taiwan and its building of bases in the South China Sea. As this developed, foreign affairs

Next page Next page Next page Next page Next page Next page

Kerosene leads oil price rollbacks

By Alena Mae S. Flores

OIL firms slashed the price of kerosene by P2 per liter effective 6 a.m. today (Tuesday) to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.

The price of diesel also went down by P1.85 per liter while gasoline was reduced by P1.20 per liter amid concerns of a possible slowdown in the US and UK economies.

“Petron will implement the follow-

more than two million people.

Yesterday morning, the PCG Batangas Station under Capt. Victorino Acosta reported that oil had reached the shores of Isla Verde, with community officials on the island saying it reached Barangays San Agapito, San Antonio, and San Andres.

As Acosta confirmed the oil slick in radio interviews, pictures and videos posted by news organizations on social media also showed Coast Guard crews in Batangas gathering oil slick samples into pails and other containers.

“We are already combating it at around 4.4 nautical miles. There are oil sheens, but some are making a landfall which are black in color,” the PCG Batangas leader told radio DZBB.

But in the afternoon, Coast Guard spokesperson Armando Balilo said the island was “negative” for the oil spill after an aerial inspection.

“During the aerial inspection from 1PM to 4PM, the PCG confirmed that Verde Island and its vicinity waters no longer have traces of an oil spill,” the spokesman said.

PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu also said the aerial assessment revealed the full reach of the oil spill resulting from the sunken tanker, which went down on Feb. 28 near Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Abu added that the PCG was coordinating with towns or coastal areas where the oil spill might reach.

Acosta, meanwhile, assured that Batangas province has already been preparing for the spill and has put in place improvised oil spill booms and other equipment.

The PCG also said it has contracted experts from the United States and Japan who are in the country to help in the clean-up.

Balilo said the PCG requested help from the US, including another ROV that could help find the sunken tanker.

“Getting the sunken ship is not part of the plan,” said Balilo. “What we’re initially planning is to patch up a hole in the ship, if there’s any, and then have the oil siphoned out.”

The ROV Hakuyo from Japan would get first crack in locating the MT Princess Empress, which is reportedly moored 400 meters below sea level, a depth local ROVs or divers could not reach.

Environment Secretary Ma. Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga said it was important to pinpoint where the oil tanker sank to determine the extent of the damage to marine protected areas and the livelihood of the fishermen in the province.

Environmental groups including Oceana Philippines, Greenpeace Philippines, and Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) on Monday raised the alarm over the continued spread of the oil spill from the sunken tanker and called for a sustained and thorough investigation.

In a statement read during a public forum, the groups decried the “disruption caused by the oil spill from MT Princess Empress to the lives and livelihood of coastal communities and the health of critical marine biodiversity -- as the fuel tanker sank in waters belonging to the Verde Island Passage, the most biodiverse marine habitat in the world that is undeniably a national ecological treasure for the Philippines.”

ing price rollbacks effective 6 a.m. on March 21: P1.20 per liter for gasoline; P1.85 per liter for diesel and P2 per liter for kerosene. These reflect movements in the international oil market,” Petron said in an advisory.

Seaoil Philippines, PTT Philippines, PetroGazz, Cleanfuel, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines and Chevron Philippines also announced their respective rollbacks. The rollback is higher than forecasted during the first four days of trading last week at P1.50 to P1.80 per liter for diesel and P0.90 to P1.10 per liter for gasoline.

“Volatility in oil prices is seen in the next few weeks with the lingering factors that would push it to go down or go

also “going hard” against him.

up,” Department of Energy director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau Rodela Romero said.

On March 14, the oil companies implemented a price cut of P0.10 for diesel and P0.60 for kerosene but raised the price of gasoline by P1 per liter.

These resulted in a year-to-date net decrease for diesel at P1 per liter and kerosene at P1.65 per liter.

Gasoline on the other hand, has a net increase of P6.70 per liter.

ers involved in the crime to surrender.

Russia, China ‘share many goals,’ Putin tells Xi

MOSCOW—Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday told Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who arrived in Moscow earlier for his first visit since the Ukraine conflict, that their countries shared many goals.

“We have plenty of common tasks and objectives,” Putin told Xi, adding it was “symbolic” that the Chinese leader chose to travel to Russia for the first foreign visit of his new term.

will not physically appear in our committee,” said Espares.

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, a congressman for Cavite before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed him to his Cabinet, said it was up to the House whether Teves should be expelled.

Teves is in the United States and has refused to fly home, saying he fears for his life following the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, a political rival.

His lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, earlier said Teves had been allowed to participate in Monday’s House ethics committee hearing via teleconference to explain how he was supposedly framed.

To disenfranchise Teves from Congress would only disenfranchise the constituents of Negros Oriental in District 3, the lawyer said.

He maintained Teves’ innocence.

“Despite several requests, Congressman Teves was not allowed to talk via teleconference to explain his side so that the public would know the truth behind the issues,” Topacio said.

He said that it seemed “the plot thickens” against his client, for before it was only the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that are “circling on” Teves, now it seems that the House is

Topacio appealed to government agencies looking into the recent murder of Degamo “not to be obsessed” with Teves by making him look guilty, for any accused or suspect “is considered innocent unless proven otherwise.”

“They must follow all the leads and look at all the angles,” Topacio said as he accused the agencies handling the case of “resorting to trial by publicity.”

“That only shows they have a weak case, so they must justify it on the bar of public opinion,” the lawyer said.

This developed as another suspect in the killing of Degamo has surrendered, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said on Monday.

The suspect is now under the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and will be turned over to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Abalos did not identify the suspect who surrendered to the military over the weekend. But he said the suspect was a soldier and had vital information about the killing.

“We were told that the suspect has vital and critical information that we hope will pave way for the resolution of this case at the soonest possible time,” said Abalos during Monday’s press conference of Task Force Degamo.

He added the suspect strengthens the testimonies of other witnesses who earlier surrendered.

Abalos reiterated his call for the oth-

inhood Padilla, for appropriate plenary action,” Romualdez said.

“The mastermind seems to have no conscience. Fear for your lives, because they might kill you,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Abalos said the whole of the government is steadfast that justice will be served for Degamo and the families of the eight others who were also killed.

The DILG, he added, is willing to extend assistance and protection to the victims’ families and will evaluate thoroughly should they need security.

The Interior chief said they are also listing down the areas where there are private armed groups in anticipation of the barangay elections scheduled to be held on Oct. 30.

Department of Justice chief Remulla, who joined Abalos in the press conference, said the information given by the suspect will have to be validated.

“He knows other people involved and the information he told us corroborated the statements given by others who were earlier arrested,” Remulla said.

Remulla said the new suspect’s testimony provides vital information on the possible involvement of Rep. Teves in the killing.

Two of the four suspects, currently detained at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), have identified the lawmaker as involved in the killing.

At least 30 complaints have been filed in relation to the murder of Degamo at his home on March 4.

tend his panel’s hearing.

The leaders applauded the solidity of their alliance as the Chinese leader arrived in Moscow for a summit with the internationally isolated Russian president.

Xi described his trip as a “journey of friendship, cooperation and peace”, though China has been criticised by Western nations for what they consider tacit backing and diplomatic cover for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“I look forward to working with President Putin to jointly adopt a new vision” for relations, Xi wrote in a signed article in Russian newspaper Russian Gazette, that was also carried by Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

China has sought to portray itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine war, and its foreign ministry said last week that Beijing would “play a constructive role in promoting peace talks” between Kyiv and Moscow.

Putin welcomed Beijing’s moves on Ukraine as indicative of a willingness to play a “constructive role” in ending the conflict, while saying Chinese-Russian relations were “at the highest point”.

Xi’s trip serves to bolster an isolated Putin, who in a defiant move on Sunday went to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol -- his first visit to territory captured from Kyiv since Moscow’s invasion in February 2022.

Xi’s visit also comes just days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin on the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. AFP

the senators the basis of our RBH 6 and HB 7352, which were all datadriven, evidence-based, and futureproof,” said Rodriguez, who was invited to the hearing.

He was referring to Resolution of Both Houses 6, which calls for the convening of a constitutional convention to propose changes in the Charter’s economic provisions, and House Bill 7352, which implements the resolution.

On Sunday, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said Zubiri assured him that the Senate would give Charter Change a chance.

He said Zubiri assured him that he would keep an open mind on the move of the House of Representatives to institute economic reforms through constitutional amendments.

“He informed me that the Senate is awaiting the report of their committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes chaired by Senator Rob -

He also said Zubiri said his colleagues were contemplating resscheduling the hearing.

But Rodriguez said there was no reason given for the cancellation of the Senate hearing in the notice he received.

He said he read from media reports the assurances of Padilla, his Senate counterpart, that Monday’s hearing would be held as scheduled.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte echoed the appeal of his fellow legislators to the Senate leadership to allow a grand debate on Charter Change and attend to it “with a similar sense of urgency, out of consideration for its supermajority support in the House of Representatives and given the fact that a majority of them were once members of this bigger chamber.”

Thirteen senators had been elected to the House at one time or another in the past.

Padilla told a news conference on Friday that aside from Rodriguez, he had requested other House members to at-

the Philippines forum in Makati City.

He also appealed to other senators to listen to what congressmen would do.

“I wish members of the Senate would listen to what the [House members] are pushing for. I just want to be fair. I don’t want the House to think that I prevented their efforts,” he said.

Padilla added that he hoped other senators would find time to listen to constitutional economic reform advocates in the House.

On Monday, Zubiri said he had asked Padilla to postpone his invitation to House members as resource persons.

Traditionally, he noted that the Senate does not invite incumbent members of Congress as resource persons, as they are accorded interparliamentary courtesy, being members of a co-equal branch of the legislature.

“We usually invite representatives as guests, not resource persons, particularly on discussions of local bills,” Zubiri said.

Being a neophyte senator, Padilla may not yet be fully aware of the traditions and practices of both chambers, Zubiri added.

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The last FMC was held in 2019 while the last BCM happened in 2021.

The DFA said the discussions will cover an array of issues, including economic, people-to-people, maritime, security, and regional matters.

The FMC will focus on a more general approach as it “reviews the overall relations and all aspects” of Philippine-China cooperation.

On the other hand, the BCM will allow both parties, to cover “maritime issues of concern to either side, including developments in the West Philippine Sea, and areas of possible maritime cooperation and confidencebuilding,” the DFA said.

The department said the upcoming meetings were part of the outcome of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trip to China in January.

and defense officials of the Philippines and the United States will hold a highlevel “2+2” meeting in Washington next month to further strengthen political and military engagement.

Philippine Ambassador to Washing-

ton Jose Manuel Romualdez said Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense officer-in-charge Carlito Galvez Jr. will meet US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for a ministerial meeting -- the first under the Marcos administration.

The Filipino envoy admitted that the agenda will likely include recent developments in the South China Sea, where a series of Chinese harassment of Philippine Coast Guard crew and fishermen have been reported.

The Department of Foreign Affairs this month protested the Chinese Coast Guard’s pointing of a military-grade laser at a passing PCG supply vessel near Ayungin Shoal on Feb. 6.

Galvez, for his part, said the government had “already decided” on the sites.

“The two countries will announce (the locations) as soon as they can,” said US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall at a joint press conference with Galvez and other officials.

States is investing $24 million in upgrading the 2.8 kilometer runway.

Basa is one of the five bases originally included in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

The 2014 agreement gave US forces access to five bases in the Philippines. It has been expanded to nine, but the locations of the four additional bases have not been revealed as the government consults with local officials.

It has been widely reported that two of the sites will be in the northern province of Cagayan, less than 400 kilometers (250 miles) from self-ruled Taiwan, which China sees as part of its territory.

“As reflected in the joint statement of the state visit, the two leaders concurred that confidencebuilding measures such as the FMC and BCM would contribute to improving mutual trust and confidence,” the DFA said.

“They also affirmed the importance of both mechanisms as venues for the Philippines and China to foster cooperation and greater understanding as well as ease tensions,” the department added.

Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro of the DFA will lead the Philippine delegation.

Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will lead the Chinese side.

“All 21 agencies, including NEDA, approved the implementing rules and regulations of the amended Public Services Act. With the IRR already in place, we see this as a landmark

“The 2+2 is scheduled sometime in the middle of April,” Romualdez said at the Foreign Correspondents Association of

reform that will further improve the country’s position as an ideal investment hub, which will help enhance employment opportunities and allow more Filipinos to benefit from more improved goods and services,” Balisacan said.

Upon its effectivity on April 4, 2023, the amendments to the PSA shall enable the liberalization of key public services.

Prior to the approval of the amendments, foreign ownership in the said industries was limited to 40 percent. Public service utilities such as elec -

Galvez and Kendall were at Basa Air Base, north of Manila, where the United

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba has publicly opposed having EDCA sites in his province for fear of jeopardizing Chinese investment and becoming a target in a conflict over Taiwan. With AFP

Sun is scheduled to pay a courtesy call to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo during his visit to Manila. Rey E. Requejo said the IRR of Republic Act 11659 was completed after extensive review and consultations with the public, legislators, relevant administrative agencies, and other key stakeholders.

tricity transmission and distribution, water and wastewater pipeline distribution systems including sewerage, petroleum and petroleum products pipeline transmission systems, seaports, and public utility vehicles remain subject to the 60-40 percent foreign equity limitation. The amendments also provide safeguard provisions to protect the country against national security concerns that may arise through any proposed merger or acquisition, or any investment in a public service.

“The PSA amendments form a critical part of our endeavor to attract foreign investments to the country to boost market competitiveness, foster innovation, and create high-quality jobs,” Balisacan said. Together with complementary policies and measures, Balisacan said he remained confident that the Philippines would be able to attract much-needed capital and technology, sustain its highgrowth trajectory, and generate highquality jobs enabling rapid poverty reduction in the next six years.

These policies and measures include the amendments to the Foreign Investments Act, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, the passage of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership ratification, amendments to the IRR of the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, approval of the NEDA Joint Venture Guidelines, as well as the Marcos administration’s continuous efforts to raise investor interest in the country.

BOC confiscates P206m worth of smuggled sugar, raw food items

By Vito Barcelo

AT least P206 million worth of smuggled frozen poultry, seafood products, and refined sugar were seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in separate raids in Navotas City in Metro Manila and in Subic, Zambales.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the agency, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, conducted the raids on seven warehouses and cold storage facilities in Navotas and found various meat and sea food products, such as frozen pork legs, chicken drumsticks, pork spareribs, squid rings, crayfish, pork ears, pork hinges, abalone, brawley beef, pork aorta, chicken feet, pork riblets, golden pampano, pangasius fillet, boneless pork ham, fish tofu, and pork ears.

The BOC chief said that most of the frozen seafood were from China while the frozen beef came from Brazil and Australia, and the pork from the United States and Russia.

The raiders also found an empty warehouse that was purposely made to be a cold storage facility.

“This is outstanding work by our law enforcement officers and our bureau personnel. I understand how much effort and commitment it takes to inspect all of these warehouses in just one day. It also goes to show how important proper coordination is among government agencies because these operations won’t be possible without it,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy said the bureau has intensified its anti smuggling drive to protect and stopped the economic impact of smuggled products entering into Philippine markets.

“Our officers have once more shown their diligence to target, detect, and intercept potential threats to our people’s economic activities. This is just one of the ways the bureau protects the public—by keeping these products away from consumers and thus safeguarding the livelihoods of those who go through the proper legal process of bringing in imported goods,” Rubio added.

Meanwhile, the BOC Subic confiscated smuggled sugar valued at P86 million contained in 30 20-footer containers which arrived from Hong Kong.

FREEDOM REGAINED.

Twenty- ve inmates or persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) receive their certi cates of release from the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, handed out by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang. The event was signi ed by the release of white balloons. The DOJ says a total of 401 PDLs natiowide regained their freedom on Monday.

CIDG-NCR police not yet off the hook, may be administratively liable—Azurin

OPERATIVES of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the National Capital Region (CIDGNCR) are not yet off the hook despite the retraction of extortion charges against them.

Meanwhile, elements of the PNP’s -Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) confiscated over P7.8 million worth of illegal drugs during a series of raids conducted March 13 to 19.

PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, in an interview with reporters at the Department of Justice, hinted that the CIDG agents could still be held administratively liable.

Azurin said they still have to validate and study the affidavit of retraction issued by a group of Chinese nationals who were arrested earlier by the CIDG-NCR in Paranaque City for alleged illegal gambling..

“Whether it was done voluntarily or under duress, there is investigation being conducted by the IAS (Internal Affairs

Rich, larger families waste more food than poor households—study

By Maricel V. Cruz

RICH Filipino families who could buy more are inclined to waste more food than those who have less, a scientific study showed.

Rep. Ray Reyes of Anakalusugan partylist group backed the call of the World Health Organization (WHO) to implement more comprehensive policies to reduce sodium intake among Filipinos.

The research, conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), also indicated that excess rice, vegetables, and meat often go to the trash bin.

The study used two-stage cluster survey to evaluate the Filipino household’s eating behaviors, according to the DOST’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

Some of the factors contributing to food wastage are; larger household meal portion size, greater number of household members,

and higher wealth status.

The study also found that households with the highest rice consumption were more likely to throw away excess rice compared to households with the lowest consumption.

“Rice wastage is also more common in households with a household head whose age ranges from 50–69 years old, than those with a younger household head,” the DOST said.

“More food are wasted in households with 5 or more members, and those residing in rural areas,” it added.

According to the agency, households with the highest vegetable consumption were more likely to waste vegetables compared to those with the lowest consumption.

“This implies that households incur more wastes when higher quantities are purchased, which most probably are not consumed and ends up being thrown away due to spoilage,” the DOST said.

Service), we will know the summary of the truth on that affidavit of desistance or denial. What is clear there is there is an operation of the CIDG-NCR, there was an arrest made and we have to determine criminal and administrative liability,” Azurin said.

“They (Chinese nationals) have to confirm what they have signed and submitted. Why is there such a report that something was lost and was returned and suddenly, the story was reversed,” he added.

In their sworn affidavit dated March 16, the Chinese belied reports that the CIDGNCR personnel extorted money from them.

“Aside from the pieces of evidence they have recovered during their operation, the

CIDG-NCR never took money or any personal belongings from the undersigned,” a portion of the affidavit stated.

The group, identified as Lin Andan, Yi Aile, Li Meiyi, Xiao Yan, Nian Xian, Zhang Fui, Jimmy Jutang, Wu Wei Long, Niu Howy, Lei Wen, A Shui, Peng Jun and Ki Kin, asserted that that they were immediate released from detention following their arrest.

However, the office of the PNP deputy chief for administration headed by Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia advised the foreigners to file a complaint against the CIDG-NCR personnel.

Claiming that no irregularity was committed against them, the group ignored Sermonia’s suggestion, saying they have no intention to do so. CIDG-NCR chief Col. Hansel Marantan and 12 of his men were relieved from their posts amid allegations that they took expensive watches and other personal belongings from the Chinese group.

SOME 11 million families nationwide still don’t have access to potable water. National Water Resource Board (NWRB) executive director Dr. Sevillo David Jr. said these families are forced to rely on “unprotected” deep wells, springs, rivers, lakes and rainwater for their household needs.

“Sa ngayon po ‘no, halos mga 11 million pamilya pa ho briefing. Government statistics showed that the Philippines has some 26.3 million families.

Lack of sanitation has also forced some families to defecate in the open, risking water contamination and diseases, David said.

Water supply also often becomes an issue during the dry season, he noted. “We have enough water supply for now. But the PAGASA says El Niño is looming,” David said.

El Niño is characterized by belownormal rainfall conditions, which according to the state weather forecaster.

“We need to prepare for this as it could affect our water supply, particularly in our farms,” David said. Asked what the government is doing to solve water issues, David cited President Ferdinand Marcos’ order to create a water resource management office.

“This office will be in charge of coordinating various government agencies which have water programs and activities. More than 13 agencies have a role or have a program on water and our President wants to have coordination to provide security and relief to the needs of our countrymen,” he said.

NCR’s COVID positivity rate goes up from 2.2% to 3.2 % over the past week

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) has gone up over the past week, but remained below five percent, the independent monitoring OCTA Research Group said on Moday.

Meanwhile, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is pressing the need to boost local capacity on vaccine development through the creation

of the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP).

From 2.2 percent recorded last March 11, the positivity rate in the NCR went up to 3.2 percent on March 18, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said on Twitter.

Positivity rate refers to the percentage of people found positive for COVID among the total number of individuals tested.

A positivity rate of less than five percent was recommended by the World Health Organization in May 2020.

If the positivity rate is at five percent or higher, it means there is high virus transmission.

Manila Standard TODAY

Meanwhile, David said positivity rates up in two southern Philippine provinces —Misamis Oriental with 17.1 percent on March 18, up from 11.1 percent on March 11, and South Cotabato with 13.2 percent, up from 10.5 percent.

The Department of Health on Sunday logged 185 new COVID cases, bringing the nationwide caseload to 4,078,994.

It was the 12th straight day that more than 100 new daily cases have been reported, and the fourth straight day that the number has exceeded 150.

The Department of Health (DOH) noted that the delay is due to the non-extension of the declaration of a state of calamity beyond 2022.

Gatchalian made the suggestion to boostlocal capacity to develop vaccines following the DOH’s announcement that delivery of the bivalent COVID vaccines

GSIS opens new branch in Tagum City

GOVERNMENT Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general manager Wick Veloso led the inauguration ceremony for the newly constructed office building of its Tagum branch along the National Highway (corner Purok Pioneer), Tagum City, Davao Del Norte last March 17.

The modern two-storey edifice offers convenience and accessibility to more than 47,000 members and pensioners from Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental provinces.

“This new building represents our continued pursuit to deliver the best ginhawa experience for all our stakeholders. Makakaasa po ang aming minamahal na pensioners and members na patuloy

naming gagalingan at pagagandahin ang aming serbisyo sa inyo, para sa ginhawa ninyong lahat,” Veloso said.

GSIS Tagum branch serves 39,222 members, 8,122 pensioners, 147 remitting agencies, and 200 sub-agencies. Around 180 clients visit the office daily.

The office is also a stone’s throw away from local hospitals, shopping centers, and schools, where public transportation is accessible.

GSIS’s Tagum site will become even more accessible to clients as Tagum City is poised to be the new center of Davao Region. The local government is working towards becoming a “highly urbanized” city by 2025.

might be slightly delayed.

As we have witnessed the bad effects of COVID, we should be prepared and it is important that we have own research and development in the study of vaccines.

In this way, we can immediately address any sickness that could likely be fatal.

The senator made his proposal in the Virology and Vaccine Institute Act of the Philippines (VIP) of 2022 (Senate Bill No. 941), which he refiled this 19th Congress.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA), for its consent to the nomination of: Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): ROMMEL U. LABRADOR to the rank of Commodore

The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions to the above nomination in seven (7) copies to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila. For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 8832-9830, 88342706 and 8551-1989. 20 March 2023.

VILLARICA

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS (MS-MAR. 21, 2023)

‘11m families have no clean water supply’

P9.89M SMUGGLED ILLEGAL DRUGS SEIZED. Combined elements of the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport seize smuggled illegal drugs estimated at P9.89 million during a raid at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.

Manny Palmero

meant to amplify the water utility’s advocacy on the sustainability and importance of water through workshops. The project is launched ahead of the World Water Day observance on March

Pimentel asks Blue Ribbon: Probe LTO ‘undue payment’

SENATE minority leader Aquilino Pimentel

III urged the Blue Ribbon Committee to immediately act on his filed resolution seeking an investigation on the alleged “undue payment” given by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to a joint venture in connection with a P3.19-billion Road IT Infrastructure project. “It’s about time that the Blue Ribbon Committee conducts this much-needed investigation into the details of this LTO contract,” Pimentel said.

Filed in August last year, Senate Resolution No. 147 seeks an investigation on the LTO’s undue payment to the joint venture of Dermalog Identification System, Holy Family Printing Corp., and Microgenesis and Verzontal Builders, citing certain provisions of the law that “issuances are explicit in providing that as a general rule, no payment shall be made for services not yet rendered or for supplies and materials not yet delivered under any contract with the government.”

He said Clause 10 of the General Conditions of the Contract of the standard

Philippine Bidding Documents for Goods state that “Payments shall be made only upon certification by the Head of the Procuring Entity to the effect that the Goods have been

Groups unite vs. gender-based violence

By Maricel V. Cruz

TINGOG Party List Rep.

Yedda Marie K. Romualdez

on Monday lauded the joint effort of the House of Representatives, the Quezon City local government, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to help victims of genderbased violence, particularly House employees and their family members.

This developed as the chamber signed a

IN BRIEF

Cebu Pac unveils 4-day seat sale for travelers

CEBU Pacific Air (CEB) has launched a four-day seat sale for domestic and international travelers in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

“To encourage passengers to travel, CEB is launching a special seat sale from March 20 to 23, allowing travelers from Visayas and Mindanao to book their flights to select domestic and international destinations for as low as P1 one-way base fare, exclusive of fees and surcharges,” said Candice Iyog, CEB Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer.

Iyog said the travel period for this promo is from June 1 to September 30, 2023.

The CEB management made the announcement as the airline is set to exceed its Cebu hub’s pre-pandemic network and capacity which will hit 129% in June.

The airline’s combined domestic and international routes operating in MactanCebu International Airport (MCIA) has reached 28 routes.

Joel E. Zurbano

CHR applauds BDO on climate change programs

THE Commission on Human Rights on Monday lauded Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. (BDO) for its initiatives to help address the pervasive issue of climate change in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Philippines’ National Climate Change Action Plan. Marla Garin-Alvarez, BDO vice president and Sustainability Office head, admitted that, as of yet, there are no “best practices” set in the financial industry when it comes to climate action.

The impetus to engage in the sustainability and climate movement stemmed from BDO’s realization that they had a crucial responsibility to affect positive impact on the environment and society, she said.

The company recognized that in the transition to a low carbon economy, a socially inclusive and just society must also be upheld, she added.BDO has become the first bank to approach the country’s independent national human rights institution to examine climate change issues and explore ways to mitigate them. Rio N. Araja

SM unveils its newest mall in the heart of Bataan

BALANGA CITY, Bataan–Bataan mall goers will soon enjoy shopping at a wide array of stores and amenities with the opening of SM Bataan.

Paula Gayeta, SM public relations officer, said the blessing of the new SM Bataan has been set this coming May. She said the opening of SM Bataan brings to 24 the total number of SM in Central Luzon alone or a total of 83 nationwide.

Gayeta said expected to attend the mall blessing are SM president Steven Tan, members of Sy Family, Gov. Joet Garcia, Balanga City Mayor Francis Garcia and Vice Mayor Vianca Venzon-Gozon, and other officials.

SM Bataan is located at the heart of the city in Barangay Ibayo adjacent to Bataan Central Terminal. She said SM and business establishments have already started hiring workers. Butch Gunio

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Quezon City Protection Center (QCPC) under the Office of Mayor Joy Belmonte, and the IBP-QC Chapter to provide legal, psychological, and shelter assistance to such victims at the Romualdez Hall of the House of Representatives.

Speaking on behalf of Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, Rep. Romualdez expressed gratitude for the signing of the historic agreement among the three parties.

“I am very much honored to witness and be a part of this historic signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by the House of Representatives, the Quezon City Local Government, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Quezon City Chapter, to provide comprehensive and holistic support to House

employees who are victims or survivors of gender-based violence,” Rep. Romualdez said.

“The Speaker and I express our full support for this undertaking. It fills me with pride to be a part of an institution that values the welfare of its employees and ensures that they receive the best care and support when they need it the most,” she added.

She noted that by bringing together their resources, the parties are creating a powerful network to provide timely intervention for House employees and their children who have suffered or are still suffering from the effects of violence and abuse.

“I am confident that this MOU will be the foundation for a very strong partnership among the House, the Quezon City Local Government, and the IBP in addressing and preventing

gender-based violence,” Romualdez said. She also acknowledged the key people who worked hard to forge the tripartite agreement, including BHW Party List Rep. Angelica Co, Chairperson of the Committee on Welfare of Children; Laguna 1st District Rep. Lourdes Matibag, Senior Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality; Quezon City Councilor Eleanor “Doc Ellie” Juan, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, Atty. Annalou Nachura, Deputy Secretary General of the House Legal Affairs Department; Atty. Michael Atanante, President of the IBP QC Chapter; and Atty. Melissa Encanto-Tagarda, incoming President of IBP-QC. The MOU was signed on behalf of the House by Velasco, Atty. Atanante for IBP-QC Chapter and Councilor Juan for the QCPC.

PACT ON OIL SPILL

CLEANUP.

Members of the Japan Coast Guard Disaster Relief Team, Philippine Coast Guard, and US Coast Guard Oil Spill Response Team meet during a courtesy call at the Philippine Coast Guard National Headquarters in Manila and will work together on the cleanup efforts of a recent oil spill. Norman Cruz.

BI reassigns staff over lengthy immigration interview

By Vito Barcelo

BUREAU of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco has reassigned the BI officer who conducted a lengthy immigration interview to a Filipina traveler that missed her flight abroad, but defended that it was part of a normal process to prevent human trafficking.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the BI officer who interviewed Charmaine Tanteras has been removed from the frontline and reassigned to a backend office.

"While the procedure of asking secondary questions is really part of the immigration officer's duty, asking such questions that might not really be helpful in knowing the background of the person is cause for concern," she said.

However, Sandoval claimed that asking for a passenger's yearbook is not part of the questions asked by Philippine immigration officers.

“The immigration officer who questioned Tanteras denied asking for her yearbook. He denied asking for a yearbook photo but perhaps he was interested in knowing the background of the person who went viral," she said.

Tanteras missed her flight to Israel last Christmas due to a lengthy immigration interview.

The Filipina traveler said she had already been screened once by an immigration officer when she was asked to do another set of interviews. She said the second interview caused her to miss her flight.

She said the immigration officer eventually cleared her to go but the plane had already left just several minutes after the questionings. She said the immigration officer asked if she had booked her flight on her own and then took her phone to scroll through her emails.

Sandoval said travelers need only present their ticket, passport and supporting

rendered or delivered in accordance with the terms of this Contract and have been duly inspected and accepted.”

“Ten percent of the amount of each payment shall be retained by the Procuring Entity to cover the Supplier’s warrant obligations under this Contract as described in GCC Clause 17,” he added.

In its 2021 Consolidated Annual Audit Report for the Department of Transportation, the Commission on Audit flagged the LTO “for the undue payment given to the foreign information technology (IT) contractor, Dermalog, despite incomplete turnover for the P3.19 billion Road IT Infrastructure project.”

Pimentel, in the resolution, also cited various “unresolved issues” that have disruptions in the operations of various LTO sites, including the slow processing of documents in getting a driver’s license and its renewal, “as well as registration of vehicles, which have been attributed to its new IT system.”

Pimentel saw the urgency in conducting an inquiry amid reports that two vehicles bearing the same plate numbers were registered in the foreign-made IT platform of the LTO- Land Transportation Management System (LTMS).

Lawmakers grill immigration staff on NAIA incident

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SEN. GRACE Poe said airport and immigration personnel found liable for human smuggling incidents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) should face the consequences.

In an earlier speech, Poe said a chartered plane left NAIA for Dubai on February 13 without a pre-flight inspection from the Philippine National Police and carrying passengers who were not on the plane’s manifest.

During Monday's hearing, it was revealed that an immigration officer involved in the incident was relieved of his new post in the Bureau of Immigration's (BI) regional intelligence office pending an investigation.

Poe said the actions of the concerned officers showed clear violations of the protocols and will not set a good precedent if they remained unacted. "We expect decisive and correct actions from our airport and immigration chiefs on this matter to show respect for the institutions and to tell the public that irregularities will not go unpunished," she said.

Poe also said she expects an update on the installation of CCTVs in the airport's premises, including the area where private chartered flights take off. Airport authorities said the CCTVs outside the area were not working because they were designed to be solar-powered.

In the same hearing, BI personnel Jeff Pinpin admitted to members of the panel that he was off duty when he escorted various foreign passengers into a private jet during that said date.

For his part, Sen. Francis Tolentino, chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee noted that immigration personnel at the NAIA who reportedly escorted private plane passengers allegedly involved in human trafficking may be held liable for usurping public functions.

During the previous inquiry, it was revealed that Pinpin was the so-called “mystery immigration officer” who escorted foreign passengers to the private flight even though he was off duty during the evening of February 13.

documents to the immigration office, saying many Filipinos fall prey to illegal recruiters and there is a need to conduct screening.

She said the immigration bureau is intent on curbing human trafficking following a rise in trafficking cases involved in crypto scams.

Meanwhile, the BI reported a continuing recruitment of Filipinos who are trafficked abroad and recruited by syndicates to work for illegal online gaming operations.

Tansingco said this is evident due to the continued interceptions by immigration officers of Filipinos who attempt to leave abroad after being hired to work overseas for illegal gambling establishments.

“Many of these passengers, disguised as tourists, are usually bound for Thailand while others are destined for Cambodia or Myanmar. These recruitment scams show no sign of stopping,” Tansingco said.

In defending himself, Pinpin stressed that he was still waiting to be properly relieved, the reason why he remained on his post even after February 9. But Tolentino dismissed the Immigration officer’s alibi, saying that he has no business inside NAIA after February 9.

“So you were relieved? So you admitted you were also relieved, you now give discretion to the appowho's your successor, right? you were already relieved, that's already vacant. You were no longer there," Tolentino said, as he continued to grill Pinpin.

According to Tolentino, it is clear under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code that any person who falsely represent himself/herself to be an officer, agent, or representative of any department “who under the pretense of official position shall perform any act pertaining to any person in authority shall suffer the penalty of prison correctional in its minimum and medium periods.”

Solon urges embassies to assist OFWs facing charges in Muslim countries

By Maricel V. Cruz

REP. RON Salo of KABAYAN party-list on Monday urged Philippine embassies in Muslim countries – where there are overseas Filipinos (OFWs) incarcerated or facing the death penalty –to intercede on the OFWs’ behalf. Salo at the same time called on the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) to assist in the said cases.

Citing a report from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Salo said there are a total of 83 Filipinos overseas on death row, with 56 in Malaysia; 6 in the UAE; 5 in Saudi Arabia; 1 in Indonesia, which is the case of Mary Jane Veloso; and 15 from other countries such as Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, USA, Japan, Brunei.

Further, there are a total of 1,267 overseas Filipinos currently detained, with 914 in Middle Eastern countries; 321 in the Asia Pacific; 23 in Europe; 5 in America; and 4 in Africa.

“Ramadan, which begins on March 22, is a time of mercy and compassion. It is an opportune time for Muslim majority countries to exercise these virtues by showing leniency to Filipinos who are incarcerated,” Salo said.

Salo, chair of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, noted that historically, leaders of Muslim majority countries agree to pardon or commute the sentences of convicts during Ramadan.

Salo recalled that in previous years, heads of state in both Saudi Arabia and Yemen have marked the Islamic holy month of Ramadan by extending clemency to prisoners under sentence of death by granting pardons or commuting their sentences through the intercession of our embassies.

In 2018, The Emir of Qatar has given a royal pardon to 25 Filipinos who were charged with various offences in his country in a gesture marking the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

AGAINST RED-TAGGING. A delegation from the Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, and Ilocos Region voiced their concerns to the Commission on Human Rights and to the House of Representatives to stop red-tagging against Northern Luzon activists. Manny Palmero

DEGAMO CASE UPDATE. Justice Secretary Crispin 'Boying' Remulla (second from left) and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos (second from right) lead the press conference providing updates on the murder case of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, after another suspect surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) over the weekend. Flanking them are National Bureau of Investigation Director Medardo De Lemos (left) and AFP Chief Andres Centino (right). See story on A1. Norman Cruz

Why Duterte’s war on illegal drugs a big failure

With all the recent developments, like illegal possession of high powered firearms allegedly used in that Degamo killing, it does seem that Teves is rightly accused.

But, I must say that’s on the realm of speculation. *** *** ***

SANTA Banana, now we know why former President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs was a colossal failure.

And why illegal drugs continue to proliferate the market to add to the unabated entry of shabu (crystal meth) from China either through Customs or through smuggling!

In the hearings by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, it was found out, my gulay, that tipsters, who themselves were pushers of illegal drugs, were paid either by the police with illegal drugs confiscated either in buy bust operations by the police themselves, giving sometimes as much as 70 percent of the confiscated drugs.

To top it all, the proceeds earned in the market by the tipsters were given to the police . That’s what I call a smart deal, Santa Banana!

There were also reports in the Senate that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa expressed surprise at the revelation, saying, “We are going in circles.” Really? Didn’t Bato know what was happening to Duterte’s war on illegal drugs since Bato then was chief of the Philippine National Police for more than half of the six-year term of Duterte? Santa Banana, for a chief of police being unaware of what was going on with so many seizures of illegal drugs in buy bust operations or seizures of illegal drugs from drug pushers!

My gulay, with as much as 70 percent seized by the police getting back into the market, can you just imagine how much worth of shabu goes back to the market and peddled?

To contain the oil spill we must seek help from international sources, like Japan, South Korea and even the United States and Australia

The late Jimmy Barbers and his late brother Robert Barbers, who became a senator, were both good friends of mine, with both having been Manila chief of police, used to tell me that a chief of police knows what is going on in his jurisdiction.

It’s for this reason why I say the six year war of Duterte and his chief of police was a colossal failure!

If not, then there must be something wrong.

I’m just wondering if this giving tipsters as much as 70 percent of confiscated or seized illegal drugs is still going on ? Perhaps Chief of Police Rodolfo Azurin Jr. should answer that.

*** *** ***

Accused Negros Oriental Rep. Arnulfo Teves was reported to have sought from Speaker Martin Romualdez another two months stay in the United States after his official leave of absence expired.

For what? Because Teves is supposed to be under threat from whom? But, after two months, how sure is the House of Representatives that Teves would come back to face the music ?

Since Speaker Romualdez has said the two months leave of Teves will not be given and that he must come back and work as a legislator, what now ?

With all the charges he is facing together with his sons and others for the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, is there an assurance that Teves will come back?

I cannot guess what the congressman will do, but from what I know about cases like these, flight is possible and likely.

While extradition is possible with the accused in the US, it’s so easy for anyone or any Filipino to hide, not necessarily in the States but elsewhere.

In my last column on charter change, I said the biggest challenge against the push of neophyte but election topnotcher Senator Robin Padilla is with the Senate itself. He must show how he will be able to muster 18 votes with no less than Senate President Migz Zuburu claiming that Cha-Cha is not a Senate priority.

While Padilla appears undeterred in his push for amendments of the seven economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, with both President Marcos Jr. and the Senate President against him, the question now is, what will Padilla do?

I believe Cha-Cha through a Con-Ass or Constituent Assembly is the best and cheapest way to amend the charter; still, Padilla’s biggest challenge is the Senate itself.

I must confess that while I respect and admire Padilla’s commitment to charter change, let us admit that without the Senate and Zubiri’s cooperation, it appears Cha-Cha, in so far as the Senate is concerned, is doomed.

Padilla’s push for Cha-Cha by going around the country to convince the people for amendment in the economic provisions of the charter is truly admirable.

But, can Padilla do it without the support of his colleagues is now the big question.

The push of Padilla to go nationwide for charter change, as far as I am concerned , could be the answer.

After all, it will still be the people who will ratify the amendments in a plebiscite.

And while BBM and the Senate President are Padilla’s biggest roadblock, he might just be able to convince the people for the charter change.

After all, the people have the final answer to charter change. The voice of the people is the supreme law. ` *** *** ***

It is pathetic seeing people trying to clean up the oil spill reaching as far as Antique and Palawan.

Seeing people trying their best to clean coastal areas of Oriental Mindoro, whose residents are now getting sick in the aftermath of the oil spill, it seems the oil spill may even reach Boracay.

If that happens, Santa Banana, it will be a great tragedy to tourism – costing the country billions of lost income.

The biggest tragedy, to my mind, is that it seems there is nothing we can do to stop the oil spill since all that has been done by the government is to talk about the oil tanker that sank and left port without permit from the Coast Guard.

At this point, to contain the oil spill we must seek help from international sources, like Japan, South Korea and even the United States and Australia.

It is really pitiful that all the government has done is talk and talk.

This is why I believe there is a need for a DRR or Department of Disaster Resilience that is focused on strategic risk reduction on calamities and disasters like an oil spill.

The NDRRMC might help in the other disasters like floods, super typhoons, landslides, storm surges, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, which are common in the Philippines, but containing oil spills like this one hitting Oriental Mindoro, Antique and Palawan is something different.

This kind of tragedy is not common to the Philippines, and it appears like there’s nothing we can do about it but talk and talk.

Mister President , it is only you who can seek help from the other countries, and the sooner the better.

Seeing the owners of the sunk oil tanker is right and proper, but there is a need for you, Mister President, to seek assistance from other countries. As I said, the sooner the better, Mister President. *** *** ***

The purchase by PLDT of the Lopez-owned Sky Cable certainly is for the better.

I know that for sure, since I am a client of Sky Cable and my service would get disrupted every now and then and I have to wait days on end for the repairman to fix it because Sky Cable promises and promises, but they take days to be at my doorstep.

With PLDT now owning Sky Cable, I am sure its service will be a lot better. That’s all that is needed by Sky Cable.

sweets, pastries, fast and processed food, fried as well as oil rich or fatty foods.

Honor Blanco Cabie, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Many eyes on Moscow

EVIDENTLY, many eyes will be on the Russian capital this week as Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the internationally isolated Russian president Vladimir Putin meet for a summit, seen as part of efforts to solidify their alliance.

Xi has described his three-day trip which began Monday as a “journey of friendship, cooperation and peace” on the heels of what many observers have described as tacit support and diplomatic awning for Russia’s nearly 14-month war in Ukraine. The exact death toll on both sides has been difficult to ascertain, but the UN human rights office has suggested at least 8,000 non-combatants have been confirmed killed with nearly 13,300 injured since the Russian invasion on February 24 last year.

More than 8.1 million refugees have been recorded as fleeing Ukraine and sheltered across Europe, while an estimated 8 million others had been displaced within the country by late May 2022 alone.

In September last year, Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that 5,937 Russian soldiers had been killed in combat and claimed 61,207 Ukrainian soldiers slain, with 49,368 wounded by

Non-summit participants know that Xi’s Moscow trip has more than just the diplomatic toasts and smiles during official functions

that time.

Xi’s signed article in the newspaper Russian gazette, also carried by the Chinese state news agency Xingua, that he looked forward to working with Putin, at 70 Xi’s senior by one year, “to jointly adopt a new vision” for relations is being carefully analyzed by the West as well as countries near China, where diplomatic ripples are being watched in the Taiwan Strait and the disputed areas of the South

China Sea.

China has portrayed itself as a neutral party in the dragged out Ukraine war, and its foreign ministry said last week Beijing would “play a constructive role in promoting peace talks” between Kyiv and Moscow.

Putin has welcomed Beijing’s moves on Ukraine as indicative of a willingness to play a “constructive role” in ending the conflict, while saying Chinese-Russian relations were “at the highest point.”

Xi’s visit also comes just days after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin on the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.

Xi’s trip, which follows some traction in the South China Sea, where overlapping claims of sovereignty are unresolved, and disquiet in the narrow Taiwan Strait, is certainly being watched by countries in Southeast as well as East Asia.

Non-summit participants know that Xi’s Moscow trip has more than just the diplomatic toasts and smiles during official functions.

And this is where the sharp-eyed leaders of the world will have their eyes and ears close to every phrasal verb, crafted in diplomatese – even as the war in Ukraine, which has changed the world, will continue.

Faith as a decision and relationship

THE importance of personal relationships with Jesus and discernment in the Christian life cannot be overstated.

These are essential elements that ensure that we remain in alignment with God’s will for our lives and fulfill our mission as witnesses of the Gospel.

The Catholic tradition has often emphasized a doctrinal or sacramental relationship with Christ, which can sometimes overshadow the importance of a personal relationship.

In relation to this, papal preacher Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap., delivered his second Lenten homily which serves as a powerful reminder that faith must be primarily understood as a personal decision and a personal relationship with Jesus.

It is not something that can be simply absorbed as children within a family or school setting.

Moreover, Cantalamessa highlights the critical role that laypeople play in the Church’s evangelizing mission. Laypeople are best positioned to share their personal experiences of Christ with others in their daily lives.

By doing so, they can help others develop a personal relationship with Jesus and discern His will for their lives.

In one of his homilies, Pope Francis talked about nurturing a personal relationship with Christ.

According to the Holy Father, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ means that we are not simply called to believe in him, but to enter into a living and dynamic relationship with him, one that transforms our lives and shapes our very being.

To have a personal relationship with Jesus is to know him as a friend, to love him as a brother, and to follow him as a Lord. It means opening our hearts to him, and allowing him to enter into the deepest parts of our lives. It means spending time with him in prayer, reading his Word, and participating in the sacraments of the Church, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation. Through this relationship, we come to understand that Jesus is not just a historical figure,

Aging gracefully

“ONE should not lie about one’s age,” a retired academic says judiciously, replying to questions whether one should lie about one’s age.

“Beauty is only skin-deep, what matters is character and the ‘legacy’ that you’ll leave behind. Beauty mellows with age, which carries wisdom and glory.”

This was the straight away answer of retired Professor and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Wilma C. Natividad at the Mariano Marcos State University of Batac in Ilocos Norte.

The 73-year-old holder of a doctorate in science in chemistry from nearby Paoay town was answering questions during a pre-weekend interview, no longer worried about getting late to the university, just four kilometers due east from her hometown.

In her case, there is no more bundy clock punching, no more papers to sign and reports to read, no more meetings to attend and to preside over; no more academic problems to solve, no worry about accreditation and so on.

The day after officially retiring from the MMSU, “I taught Biochemistry at the MMSU Graduate School where I was a core faculty when I was still in the university and the same course at the MMSU College of Medicine for two years more.”

While she relished eating everything pre-retirement, now the grandmother of two, who lives with her 94-year-old mother, has had to cut down on

The retired scholar, who wakes up after sunrise followed few minutes of meditation – first of two such during the day, the second before retiring to bed – is now more on fruits, vegetables, and natural fruit juices in keeping with doctor’s advice.

But she religiously takes in maintenance medicines to regulate her blood sugar, cholesterol, uric acid, and triglyceride levels.

She also takes vitamins and other supplements to maintain healthy liver, bones, blood and kidneys, has eye drops regularly following recent cataract surgery on both eyes.

How does she stay active following her retirement from the academe?

With the speed of thunderclap, Natividad says she does some mild exercises like stretching, shoulder shrugging, dance moves, household chores, 15-minute exercises at home, stretching, self massage, legs propping up as advised and taught by a physical therapist.

And she finds space to read the papers, watch TV (news and talk shows involving doctors, credible politicians, commentaries...no silly teleseryes).

She has included in her weekday routine checking on her two grandchildren’s breakfast and provisions for lunch as well as morning and afternoon snacks.

As part of her healthy regimen, she consumes 10-12 glasses of drinking water a day, and no sodas.

At her age, she feels strong, although she admits

“I am trying to slow down a little bit; I don’t like a bad fall.”

Asked when she started feeling old, she repeated the word: “Old? If feeling pains in the hips and legs might be considered old, well I felt these at 72.

“After X-rays (at St Luke’s Medical Center in Metro Manila) the doctor just gave me some vitamins for bones and said I have to take it easy.”

To relieve herself of stress, she goes to the mall, eat out with her husband, also a retired doctor of agicultural engineering, and their grandchildren, attend mass and socio-cultural gatherings, and being active as lector and commentator.

Any secrets for aging gracefully?

“No secrets...I pray a lot, I lift up my worries to the Lord, don’t keep up with the Joneses, don’t pick a fight with anyone, stay away from rumor-mon-

but a living and present reality in our lives.

He is the one who guides us, sustains us, and gives us the strength to persevere in faith. He is the one who fills us with hope and joy, even in the midst of trials and difficulties.

This vision for the Church is in line with Pope Francis’ call for a “missionary transformation” that recognizes the unique role that laypeople can play in spreading the Gospel.

The pope has emphasized that every Christian is called to be a witness of the Gospel, and this includes laypeople.

In addition to cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus, Christians are called to share that relationship with others

To cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus and discern His will for our lives, we must engage in regular prayer and reflection.

We must also seek to deepen our knowledge of God’s word and His teachings.

By doing so, we become better equipped to recognize God’s voice and discern His will for our lives.

Following Jesus is not just about adhering to a set of rules or doctrines.

While doctrine and theology are important, they are not the ultimate goal of the Christian life. Instead, the goal is to cultivate a deep and personal relationship with Jesus, one in which believers are transformed by His love and empowered to share that love with others. Through prayer, Bible study, and worship, Christians can develop a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for them.

gers, kind to everyone, just be my own humble self and be at peace with myself and the world.

And she participates in meetings where she is an officer in various civic and religious organizations, including the group of retirees in her hometown and nearby Currimao.

At her age, are there things she wants to do still?

Fast on the draw, Natividad says she wants “to travel more, see more places in the Philippines although I have been to many places before when I was still in active service and to go back to the US again with Rudy,this time to visit our daughter who is now working as a nurse at the surgery dept of a hospital there.

“Our only regret is that we were not able to visit her in London where she worked as an Operating Room nurse before she went to the US.

As an elderly, what constitutes her diet?

“Not much on high carbs and fatty foods, more on milk, a little coffee, fruits and veggies ... organic? I think that’s just a buzz word, fashionable word. Nothing is really organic now,” she says.

Any worries as a senior? “During my ‘paranoid’ moments, I worry how we (she and her husband) will be when we get so old and very dependent.

“It’s good that in the ripe age of 94, my mother is with me, my two brothers and sister are very cooperative and supportive.”

Are there things she misses doing now that she is in her retirement years that she used to do preretirement?

As they grow in their relationship with Him, they are transformed into His image, becoming more loving, kind, and compassionate. This transformation is not something that believers can achieve on their own, but it is made possible through the work of the Holy Spirit.

In addition to cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus, Christians are called to share that relationship with others. This can be done through evangelism, discipleship, and serving others in Jesus’ name. As believers share the love and message of Jesus with those around them, they participate in His mission to seek and save the lost. Ultimately, the Christian life is not just about following rules and doctrines. It is about cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus and sharing that relationship with others.

By doing so, we can better understand God’s will for our lives and fulfill our mission as witnesses of the Gospel. Cantalamessa’s homily is a powerful reminder of the essential elements of the Christian life: personal relationships with Jesus and discernment.

Laypeople have a critical role to play in spreading the Gospel and helping others develop a personal relationship with Jesus.

By engaging in regular prayer and reflection, seeking to deepen our knowledge of God’s word, and sharing our personal experiences of Christ with others, we can better understand God’s will for our lives and fulfill our mission as witnesses of the Gospel.

Website: tonylavina.com. Facebook: tonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

A lot, which includes missing the meetings and camaraderie shared among VPs and other officials of universities she got to interact with, giving lectures and grabbing total attention from her captive audience in the classroom, the hustle and tension, stress and unnecessary sleepless nights whenever quality assurance accreditation of programs came every so often.

She says: “And of course the joy and triumphant fulfillment when the program accreditation results come in and we passed with flying colors, the intellectual interaction with colleagues and the awe and respect of students enrolled in my course, staying up late in the dining table to study/scrutinize papers before signing, read reports and academic information and other happenings”

She adds: “A day in the office is never enough for these, writing speeches...attending to visitors who would like to benchmark with the university, among others.”

As an elderly, what would be her advice to those still in pre-retirement years?

“Love your work, treasure your friends, save as much as you can, live with prudence and within your means, assert yourself when you know you are right, be humble with achievements and take care of your home and family.

“Work, earn, save, enjoy and have faith in the Lord.”

Are there things she does to make herself active?

She quickly admits “reading, interacting and getting involved in community work, keeping honest and real people for company, friendship, and interaction, meeting or communicating with relatives and friends very often, engaging in discussion and being at peace with members of family, being nice to neighbors, and just ignoring them otherwise – to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

The retired academic says ‘Beauty mellows with age, which carries wisdom and glory’

EAGLE EYES

WORLD

EU MINISTERS HAMMER OUT DEAL TO ‘RAID’ STOCKPILES

BRUSSELS— European Union ministers on Monday will look to sign off on a 2-billion-euro plan to raid their stockpiles and jointly purchase desperately needed artillery shells for Ukraine.

Kyiv has complained that its forces are having to ration their firepower as Russia’s year-long invasion has turned into a grinding war of attrition.

Ukraine has told the EU it wants 350,000 shells a month to help its troops

Putin in Mariupol in first trip to RU occupied lands

KYIV—Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise trip to Mariupol, the Kremlin said Sunday, his first visit to territory captured from Ukraine since the start of Moscow’s invasion.

The visit triggered an angry reaction from Ukraine, with a presidential aide blasting its “cynicism” and “lack of remorse”.

Just hours after Putin visited Crimea to mark the ninth anniversary of the peninsula’s annexation, video distributed by the Kremlin showed him landing by helicopter in Mariupol, the port city that Moscow captured after a long siege last spring.

The Russian leader took a tour of the city and was seen driving a car. The Kremlin said he visited a rebuilt musical theatre and followed the presentation of a report on reconstruction work.

“We’re praying for you,” a resident told Putin, referring to the city as “a little piece of paradise”, according to images broadcast by Russian state TV which showed that the visit took place at night.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the visit took place “very late” on Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday.

It was Putin’s first trip to the eastern Donbas region since he launched the invasion in February 2022, and comes almost a year after Moscow announced the capture of Mariupol.

Located on the shores of the Sea of Azov, the city was left devastated after Moscow’s relentless bombardment and brutal siege.

“The criminal always returns to the crime scene... the murderer of thousands of Mariupol families came to admire the ruins of the city and (its) graves. Cynicism and lack of remorse,” Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said on Twitter. AFP

hold back Moscow’s onslaught and allow them to launch fresh counter-offensives later in the year.

Foreign and defense ministers from the bloc’s 27-nations meeting in Brussels are seeking to agree on a multipronged initiative aimed at speeding up supplies and bolstering their defense industries.

“Time is of the essence: we need to deliver more artillery ammunition and we need to deliver faster,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said.

The first part of the plan involves committing a further one billion euros ($1.06 billion) of shared funding to try to get EU states to tap their already stretched stocks for ammunition that can

be sent quickly.

The second part would see the bloc use another one billion euros to order 155-millimetre shells for Ukraine as part of a massive joint procurement push intended to spur firms to ramp up production.

Buying weaponry together on this scale is a major new step by the EU, which has seen long-standing efforts to work more in unison on defense propelled by Russia’s war.

Countries have been wrangling over details, like whether the EU’s defense agency or member states would negotiate the orders and if they should buy only from producers in Europe.

EU ambassadors on Sunday hammered out the remaining issues and it

was hoped ministers would give their stamp of approval at their talks, diplomats said.

Estonia -- which originally pitched spending 4 billion euros on shells -pushed for a clear target that 1 million rounds will be provided.

But others were reluctant to commit to a specific number out of fear they won’t hit it.

- How much in stocks? -

After 12 months of eating into their stockpiles, there are questions over how much EU countries can share immediately without leaving themselves vulnerable.

“We don’t know, member state by member states, the state of their stocks

France faces make-or-break vote after pensions uproar

PARIS—French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne on Monday faces two motions of no confidence in the National Assembly lower house, after forcing through an unpopular pension reform last week without a vote.

While her allies in President Emmanuel Macron’s camp have the largest number of MPs, they do not control an absolute majority in the chamber -meaning they could be defeated if the entire opposition unites in one of the ballots, set for debate from 4 pm (1500 GMT).

But few observers believe the opposition can muster the numbers to topple the government.

“Let’s get clarity. The vote means clarity,” Aurore Berge, chief of the pro-government MPs, told broadcaster Franceinfo Sunday.

“It’s about one sole question: is the pension reform indispensable or unbearable for the French public?”

Macron’s widely disliked campaign pledge to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64—extending the number of years people must pay into the system to receive a full pension—was passed on Thursday using the French constitution’s Article 49.3.

The provision means that the bill automatically becomes law unless the government loses a no-confidence vote, with two motions since filed: one from a small centrist group, and the other from the far-right National Rally. Borne and her ministers failed to woo enough MPs from the conservative Republicans party to clear the threshold for a majority last week, but now hope they will not vote to eject the government.

TWO PREMIERS.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left) and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi walk before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on March 20. Kishida arrived in India on Monday for talks expected to focus on deepening trade and technology ties as well as shared concern about China. AFP

Macron—who has made no public comments since Thursday -- broke his silence on Sunday, saying in a statement issued to AFP that he hopes “the text on pensions can go to the end of its democratic journey with respect for all”.

Republicans leader Eric Ciotti has said he refuses to “add chaos to chaos” and so his party will not back the noconfidence motions. With only a few likely rebels in his ranks, most expect the government to survive.

The government says its pension changes are needed to avoid crippling deficits in the coming decades linked to France’s ageing population.

“Those among us who are able will gradually need to work more to finance our social model, which is one of the most generous in the world,” Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Sunday. AFP

EU hosts donor conference that seeks to rally quake aid for Turkey and Syria

BRUSSELS—The EU on Monday will host a conference in Brussels aimed at ramping up funds from international donors to help the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.

Last month’s catastrophic 7.8-magnitude quake flattened entire cities, killing more than 50,000 people across southeastern Turkey and parts of war-torn Syria.

Millions were displaced and a preliminary estimate from the United Nations says the damage in Turkey alone could amount to over $100 billion.

Flash floods in the region last week only added to the misery, killing 14 people living in temporary shelters.

The United Nations Development Programme complained earlier this month about the poor level of response to a call made in mid-February for urgent funding.

Aid organisation International Rescue Committee (IRC) urged donors to at least ensure the UN’s emergency appeal for $1 billion for Turkey and $397 million for Syria are fully funded.

The UN says the appeal for Turkey has so far only been 16 percent fulfilled, while the figure for Syria stands at 72 percent.

“Over a month since the earthquake, the situation in affected regions remains desperate,” said Tanya Evans, IRC Syria Country Director.AFP

but we think that there is still some ammunition” available, an EU official said.

EU countries have already committed a wide range of military support worth 12 billion euros to Ukraine, with 3.6 billion euros from a joint fund used to help cover the costs.

Officials say that since the invasion last February 450 million euros from the fund have gone on supplying 350,000 shells to Ukraine.

Key to getting countries to deplete their stocks is convincing them that European industry can step up to produce more.

Ukraine’s consumption of ammunition currently far outstrips the amounts its Western backers are manufacturing. AFP

2b-euro ammunition plan for Ukraine IN

War-scarred Iraq in uncertain future

BAGDAD—Iraq on Monday marks 20 years since the start of the US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, but no official celebrations are planned. The oil-rich country remains traumatized from the years of war, occupation and bloody sectarian turmoil that followed the operation launched on March 20, 2003.

A semblance of normalcy has returned, but Iraq still battles a range of entrenched challenges, from political instability to poverty and rampant corruption. Iran, the major Shiite power and archfoe of the United States, now wields much influence in Iraq, whose Shiite majority was freed from the oppression of Sunni strongman Saddam. Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, who is backed by a pro-Iranian coalition, has not spoken of the US invasion but only of the “fall of the dictatorial regime” of Saddam, who was later caught, tried and executed.

At a Baghdad conference on the eve of the anniversary, Sudani said: “We remember the pain and suffering of our people in those years that were dominated by senseless wars and systematic sabotage.” AFP

Kim leads ‘nuclear counterattack’ drill

SEOUL—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un led two days of military drills “simulating a nuclear counterattack”, including the launch of a ballistic missile, state media reported Monday.

Kim expressed satisfaction over the weekend drills, which were held to “let relevant units get familiar with the procedures and processes for implementing their tactical nuclear attack missions”, said the report by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The drills were the fourth show of force from Pyongyang in a week and came during Freedom Shield, the biggest US-South Korea military exercise in five years.

North Korea views all such exercises as rehearsals for invasion and has repeatedly warned it would take “overwhelming” action in response.

The weekend drills in North Korea were divided into exercises simulating the shift to a nuclear counterattack posture and a drill for “launching a tactical ballistic missile tipped with a mock nuclear warhead”, KCNA said.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Sunday that the short-range ballistic missile flew 800 kilometres (500 miles) before landing in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.

They branded it a “serious provocation” that violated United Nations sanctions. AFP

9 Chinese killed in C. African Rep. BAMBARI—Nine Chinese mine workers were killed in an attack in the Central African Republic, sparking a rare call on Monday from China’s President Xi Jinping for the perpetrators to be “severely” punished.

The attack by “armed men” happened at about 5:00 am near Bambari, said the central town’s mayor Abel Matchipata.

Matchipata told AFP that “nine bodies and two wounded” had been counted, adding that the victims were Chinese workers at a site run by the Gold Coast Group, 25 kilometres (15 miles) from his town.

China’s foreign ministry confirmed the toll, and Xi called on authorities in the Central African Republic to “severely punish” those behind the killings.

The president had ordered “an all-out effort to treat the wounded, handle the aftermath in a timely manner, severely punish perpetrators in accordance with the law, and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens”, an unnamed China foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

Local authorities did not release further details of the attack, nor was there any claim of responsibility. AFP

PUTIN IN MARIUPOL. This handout video grab released by Russian Presidential Press Office on March 19, 2023, shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) listening to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin at a newly built neighborhood during their visit to Mariupol in Russian-controlled Donetsk region amid the former’s surprise trip. AFP

UN to deliver diagnosis and prescription on climate crisis

THE United Nations was poised to release a capstone report Monday distilling nearly a decade of published science on the impacts and trajectory of global warming, and the tools available to prevent climate catastrophe. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 30-odd page “summary for policymakers” -- compressing 10,500 pages authored by more than 1,000 scientists -- is as dense as a black hole and will deliver a stark warning.

“We are nearing a point of no return,” UN chief Antonio Guterres said last week as diplomats from 195 nations gathered in Interlaken, Switzerland, to hammer out the final wording, finalized on Sunday night by exhausted and sleep-deprived delegates two days behind schedule.

“For decades, the IPCC has put forward evidence on how people and planet are being rocked by climate destruction.”

Since the last IPCC synthesis report in 2014, science has determined that devastating impacts are happening more quickly and at lower levels of warming than previously understood.

With Earth’s average surface temperature 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels so far, the planet has seen a steady crescendo extreme weather, including tropical storms made worse by rising seas.

On current trends, the world is on track to warm by an additional 1.6 degrees.

In 2022, climate change quantifiably amplified deadly heatwaves in South America and South Asia, massive flooding in Nigeria and Pakistan, and recordbreaking drought in Western Europe and the Unites States, according the World Weather Attribution consortium, which includes many IPCC authors. AFP

Stock market falls; SPNEC, Aboitiz Equity buck trend

STOCKS fell Monday on fears about the financial sector, despite news of UBS’s takeover of embattled Credit Suisse and central bank pledges to provide liquidity to troubled lenders.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, shed 18 points, or 0.29 percent, to close at 6,451.02 Monday, as four of the six subsectors showed losses. The index, representing all shares, also dropped 7 points, or 0.22 percent, to settle at 3,456.66, on a value turnover of P5.63 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 99 to 73, while 55 issues were unchanged.

Five of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. which climbed 5.68 percent to P53.95 and SP New Energy Corp. which went up 4.37 percent to P1.67.

The peso also finished stronger at 54.67 against the US dollar Monday, compared to 54.71 Friday.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets traded lower. The losses came ahead of the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting this week, with speculation mounting that it will pause its interest rate hikes to provide some stability to markets. Asian traders tracked Friday’s losses in New York and Europe. Hong Kong plummeted 2.7 percent, with heavyweight HSBC off nearly six percent on worries about its exposure to risky bonds related to Credit Suisse. Standard Chartered also sank.

The losses came even as the city’s de facto central bank said its banking

TOP GAINERS

sector had “insignificant” exposure to Credit Suisse.

Other regional bank shares were also hit, including Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, National Australia Bank and India’s ICICI.

The Japanese government said the country’s “financial organizations on the whole have ample liquidity and capital, and the financial market is stable overall”.

And ahead of the open in Europe, France’s central bank chief said Credit Suisse’s woes “don’t concern” European banks.

London, Frankfurt and Paris all fell in early Monday trade.

Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul and Mumbai were also in the red.

Shanghai rose after the Chinese central bank cut the amount of cash banks must keep in reserve, hoping to boost the country’s economy. With AFP

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

March 20, 2023. Asian equities sank on March 20 following a sell-off in New York on fears over the financial sector, with traders giving short shrift to news of UBS’s takeover of embattled Credit Suisse and central bank pledges to provide liquidity to troubled lenders. AFP

Musk says code for recommending tweets to be made public in March

SAN FRANCISCO, United States—

Twitter owner Elon Musk on Friday put out word that he will make public the long-secret algorithm for recommending tweets.

The code used for recommending the posts suggested to users will become “open source” at the end of March, Musk said in a tweet of his own.

“People will discover many silly things, but we’ll patch issues as soon as they’re found!” Musk tweeted.

“Providing code transparency will

be incredibly embarrassing at first, but it should lead to rapid improvement in recommendation quality.”

Musk contended that the recommendation algorithm used at Twitter is overly complicated and not fully understood inside the company.

“We’re developing a simplified approach to serve more compelling tweets, but it’s still a work in progress,” Musk said.

Making the code open source would mean developers, including

aspiring rivals, would be able to put their own spins on the algorithm, according to a foundation for the software ecosystem.

Since billionaire Musk’s takeover of Twitter in October, the platform has suffered outages, layoffs and seen advertisers flee 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.

After several rounds of layoffs saw more than two thirds of employees let go, Twitter is running on a skeleton staff, allegedly leaving it vulnerable to outages as well as disinformation and harmful content.

Musk has tried to wean Twitter from advertising and promote subscriptions as a new way to bring in cash—an idea that Meta is testing as well—but so far the results have been disappointing. AFP

UBS, Credit Suisse chiefs in the spotlight in wake of $53.7-b rescue deal

By Nathalie Olof-Ors

ZURICH , Switzerland—The heads of Switzerland’s two biggest banks were set for further talks Sunday in which UBS could salvage Credit Suisse, which required a $53.7 billion rescue last week over growing doubts about its solvency.

UBS chief executive Ralph Hamers, whose priority until now was to invest in digital technology, will have to decide whether his bank takes over all or part of its struggling rival.

Credit Suisse boss Ulrich Koerner knows UBS inside out and may be able to use that to smooth the negotiations, even if until now he had been determined to plough on with a restructuring plan for his bank he launched in October.

Ralph Hamers

Hamers, a 56-year-old Dutchman, has been in the hot seat at UBS since November 2020.

He built up a solid reputation at ING, taking over when the Dutch bank was having trouble repaying a state bailout of 10 billion euros extended during the global financial crisis.

Under his stewardship, ING finally repaid its loans seven months before the deadline.

But under his watch, ING also had to settle a 775-million-euro laundering probe with Dutch authorities in 2018 after it failed to ensure that people were not hiding cash used for illegal purposes in its accounts.

Hamers took over at UBS from Sergio Ermotti, now chairman of the reinsurer Swiss Re.

Ermotti had spent nine years restoring UBS’s reputation after its bailout by the Swiss government and the central bank in 2008, as well

as the $2.3 billion in losses racked up by a rogue trader in 2011.

Ermotti handed over the UBS keys with the bank in good condition, giving Hamers the room to launch the next phase in its growth: turning it towards digital technology, which had been one of his main achievements at ING.

But Hamers has suffered some setbacks. Last year, UBS had to give up on the $1.4 billion acquisition of Wealthfront, an automated investment service firm based in California.

The plan fell through but Hamers, running a bank which generated a profit of $7.6 billion last year, has continued to invest in digital.

Hamers regularly appears without a tie and with his shirt collar open, a far cry from the austere uniform adopted by most bankers in Zurich.

Ulrich Koerner

Koerner, 60, became chief executive

of Credit Suisse in August 2022.

He moved into the top job after tackling its asset management division following the bankruptcy of British financial firm Greensill, in which the bank had committed some $10 billion.

Koerner, who holds a doctorate degree in economics, began his career with the consulting firm McKinsey.

He later worked at Credit Suisse in various roles between 1998 and 2009, notably directing activities for the Swiss market, before moving to UBS until 2020.

The German and Swiss national returned to Credit Suisse in 2021, tasked with turning around the asset management business after the Greensill affair.

Koerner had already distinguished himself by his ability to carry out restructuring programs. As head of operations at UBS, he transformed core functions at the headquarters “like a

UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher (right) shakes hands with Credit Suisse chairman Axel Lehmann after a press conference following talks over Credit Suisse in Bern on March 19, 2023.

UBS agreed to take over its troubled Swiss rival Credit Suisse following urgent talks aimed at sparing the embattled bank from a bloodbath when the markets reopen. AFP

machine”, noted the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper.

He unveiled a restructuring program for Credit Suisse at the end of October, planning to hive off the investment bank and refocus the group on more stable activities such as wealth management.

The plan included 9,000 job cuts by 2025, which would reduce the workforce by 17 percent.

On Tuesday, on the eve of the bank’s worst-ever day on the stock exchange, Koerner urged investors to give him three years, as planned, to implement the overhaul and see it bear fruit.

But with an annual loss of 7.3 billion Swiss francs last year and further losses predicted for 2023, investors were unconvinced, prompting the Swiss central bank to extend an emergency loan of 50 billion Swiss francs (54 billion euros). AFP

KUWAIT CITY—The Kuwait Oil Company declared a “state of emergency” on Monday following an oil spill on land, but said no injuries or disruption to production had been reported.

The emergency followed an “oil leak in the west of the country”, the state-owned company said in a statement, as video posted by Kuwaiti media showed a gushing pipe surrounded by a large slick of oil.

“No injuries have occurred as a result of the leak and production has not been affected,” company spokesman Qusai Al-Amer was quoted as saying, adding that no toxic fumes have been reported.

The leak “occurred on land but not in a residential area”, he later told AFP.

Teams have been dispatched to determine the source of the leak and contain the incident, Al-Amer said, declining to give the spill’s exact location.

Kuwait’s Al Rai newspaper released a video on Twitter showing a pipe spewing large amounts of oil onto barren land. AFP could not independently verify the footage.

Kuwait is a major oil-producing country where nearly 90 percent of government revenues come from oil.

The key member within the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is currently producing about 2.7 million barrels per day.

The Kuwait Oil Company has previously reported oil leaks in its fields in 2020 and 2016.

In 2017, Kuwaiti authorities reported two slicks off the Gulf’s state’s shores over the span of a few days. AFP

Kuwait Oil Co. declares ‘state of emergency’ on land oil spill

HONG KONG STOCKS. People walk past a sign showing the numbers for the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong on

BSP expected to increase interest rate by another 25 bps this week

By Julito G. Rada

The Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, is expected to raise the key interest rate by another 25 basis points to 6.25 percent on Thursday as it attempts to prevent secondround effects from one of the “stickiest” inflation in the region, an international think tank said Monday.

Moody’s Analytics, a unit of Moody’s Corp., said in a report Monday central banks in the Asia-Pacific region—particularly in Australia, India, the Philippines and Vietnam—might keep raising interest rates while watching to see if tightening of lending standards did some of the heavy lifting for them.

“The outlook still assumes one or two more rate hikes by those central banks still fighting an inflationary upswing,” it said.

“In the Philippines, the overnight reverse repo rate is expected to climb 25 basis points to 6.25 percent. The country is battling some of the stickiest inflation in the Asia-Pacific region; headline inflation

EMBEDDED

nudged down only to 8.6 percent year-onyear in February from 8.7 percent in January,” Moody’s Analytics said.

The BSP in February raised overnight borrowing rate by 50 basis points to 6 percent, bringing cumulative hikes to 400 basis points since May 2022. Moody’s Analytics said demand- and supply-side factors were driving inflation.

It said that on the demand side, the return of tourists had pushed up prices for accommodation, restaurant meals and transport. High gas prices were also a key supply-side factor.

“With inflation still too high, BSP will want to prevent what it calls the ‘emergence of additional second-order effects,’” it said.

It said the small easing of inflation in

DOE

sees more days

of tight power supply

THE Department of Energy said Monday it expects more yellow alerts in the Luzon grid during the dry season because of the delay in the completion of some power plants.

“We were looking at 12 yellow alerts in Luzon, but we saw some changes. There were delays in the power plants, that’s why it reached 15 for Luzon,” DOE Undersecretary Rowena

February, which contrasted with the BSP’s expectation for an increase, could give the central bank confidence to step back.

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. did not rule out the possibility of acceleration in inflation in the coming months despite the slowdown in February.

HSBC said in a report that food inflation remained “problematic” due to non-tariff barriers. “Despite the emergency importation of onions and sugar, the year-on-year rises in vegetables and tubers [33.1 percent] and sugar, confectionery and desserts [37.0 percent] were still above 30 percent. As argued in a previous note, the imposition of non-tariff barriers to these goods does not put a ceiling on how high prices can rise,” HSBC said.

Cristina Guevara said during the Philippine Power Electric Industry Forum 2023 organized by the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines.

Guevara said the power supply situation might change once the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project was partially completed this month.

“For Luzon, the expected peak demand this year is at 13,125 megawatts. With the assumption of scheduled planned outage from power plants, forced outage and additional capacity from committed or upcoming power plants, we are expecting 15 yellow alerts and zero red alert throughout the year,” she said.

“With the import from Visayas of about 250 MW to provide stability to the Luzon’s supply, the number of critical weeks with yellow alerts might be reduced,” Guevara said. Alena Mae S. Flores

More Japanese companies expected to invest in PH

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority said Monday it expects more Japanese companies to invest in the Philippines.

“We are encouraging more investments coming from Japan especially this time when we, alongside President Bongbong Marcos Jr., are most aggressive in promoting the Philippines to international business community. The Japanese will always be ichiban [number one] in PEZA and in the country,” said PEZA officer-in-charge Tereso Panga.

The Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Osaka and the representative office of the Department of Trade and Industry in Western Japan organized the three-day Business Partner City conference in Manila, the first time in more than two years that the event was held physically since the pandemic.

About 15 Japanese companies plan to put up businesses in different sectors including manufacturing, food, agriculture, pharmaceutical, electronics and machinery. Presidential special envoy to Japan Reghis Romero II underscored the efforts done by the government to continue pitching in the country to Japanese investors. Othel V. Campos

Max’s Group’s net profit rises 38% to record P622m

FINANCE. UnionDigital Bank president and chief executive Henry Aguda (second from right) participates in a panel discussion on embedded finance during Fintech Week Tel Aviv where he shared success stories and use cases on significant advancements made in embedded banking in the Philippines. With Aguda are (from left) UNIPaaS vice president for business development Noa Gastfreund, Worx co-founder and chief executive Keren Aviasad, Guestry Payments Business lead Alisa Applebaum and Karma vice president for payments Mor Grisariu. Dubbed as the start-up nation of the world, Israel gathered the global fintech community for Fintech Week Tel Aviv from March 13 to 15.

Medalla: Local banks to withstand shocks from US lenders’ collapse

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor

Felipe Medalla said Monday the strong domestic banking system can withstand the possible shocks from the collapse of two lenders in the United States.

Medalla sent notes to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to assure the stability of the Philippine banking system amid the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in the US and underscored the strength of the domestic asset base that significantly differs from that of the US.

Medalla said local banks mostly hold loans which are less susceptible

to changes in fair value, while security holdings of the California-based Silicon Valley Bank were larger in relation to their capital.

“[Local banks] have lower market risk exposure compared to US banks. Losses of Philippine banks, including estimated net unrealized losses on security holdings due to the rising interest rate environment, are expected to be smaller [as a percentage of assets] relative to their US counterparts,” Medalla said.

Medalla said the US Federal Reserve’s policy rates rate hikes were

larger and came from a lower level than the BSP policy rates. He said the Philippines’ yield curve did not invert similar to the US yield curve.

Medalla also noted that US banks’ bond holdings have longer tenors of up to 30 years, while Philippine banks mostly hold government securities with residual maturity of up to 15 years.

He said local banks maintain a diversified lending base across counterparties and industry types, and their loan quality is manageable. They also have strong risk governance and risk management

systems and maintain sufficient capital to absorb unexpected losses from policy rate increases.

“[Local banks] are highly liquid and tend to rely on a wide depositor base compared to US banks,” Medalla said, adding that domestic lenders do not have material exposure to the failed banks in the US.

“Nonetheless, the BSP will continue to closely monitor developments, assess their impact on the banking system and respond accordingly,” Medalla said.

Julito G. Rada

Meralco in talks with Aboitiz, SMC for 670-MW emergency supply deal

By Alena Mae S. Flores

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said Monday it is finalizing a oneyear 670-megawatt emergency power supply agreement with Aboitiz Power Corp. and San Miguel Corp. to replace its 2019 power supply agreements which were subjected to a writ of preliminary injunction by the Court of Appeals.

COCONUT REPLANTING. Cargill is taking bold steps in leading the coconutplanting community in Bohol to rehabilitate typhoon-damaged farms, rebuild livelihood and ensure good future for their children. With the goal to replant 100,000 coconut seedlings, Cargill, CARE Philippines and local partners kick off the project with a commemorative tree-planting ceremony in Barangay Cabanugan in the town of San Isidro. Super typhoon Odette felled more than 10 million coconut trees in the country and gravely affected the copra industry. San Isidro is one of the municipalities that suffered a devastating economic loss with 130,000 felled coconut trees.

Ovialand

reports

By Jenniffer B. Austria

OVIALAND Inc., a house-and-lot developer with plans to hold an initial public offering this year, reported a 37-percent increase in net income last year on the back of higher revenues.

Ovialand said in a statement Monday net income reached P227 million in 2022, up from P166 million in 2021 as revenues surged 64 percent to P1.4 billion during the period.

Meralco head of regulatory management office Jose Ronald Valles said at the sidelines of the Philippine Electric Power Industry Forum organized by the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines they received offers from Aboitiz Power’s GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. for 300 MW and from SMC for 370 MW beginning March 26 at an average rate of P7.80 per kilowatt-hour with a passthrough fuel cost.

“That is only for one year, and we were able to get a certificate of ex-

emption from DOE, and we are now in the process of finalizing the agreements with the two generators...This is cheaper than what we previously signed,” Valles said.

He said SMC would supply Meralco 370 MW from its coal plants for two months, then shift to liquefied natural gas once available. GNPower will supply 300 MW from its 1,336-MW coal plant in Mariveles, Bataan.

Meralco previously executed a second EPSA with GNPower Dinginin for 300 MW of baseload capacity covering the period Feb. 3 to Feb. 25, 2023 for P8.5250 per kWh. This was higher than the first EPSA which carried a fixed price of P5.95 per kilowatt-hour in January.

The contracts replaced the 670 MW capacity under Meralco’s 2019 power supply agreement with SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. subsidiary South Premiere Power Corp., which was issued an injunction by the CA.

37% income growth to P277m, to pursue initial public offering

“We started 2022 with a target of P1.2 billion in revenues, but we exceeded this to almost P1.4 billion as the year ended. Midway through the year, we decided to speed up our construction due to higher-than-expected market demand for our premium affordable homes,” Ovialand president and chief executive Pammy OlivaresVital said.

“While global and local economic conditions remain challenging for ev-

eryone, we remained persistent with our targets and focused on our strength of giving Filipino homebuyers the value for their money on houses that are turned over within 3 to 6 months,” she said.

The property developer said its assets expanded to P1.6 billion in 2022 from P1.1 billion in 2021.

“We are on track with our 5-year growth strategy that was launched in 2021. Our strategy involves a regional

growth approach,” Olivares-Vital said. The company, which started with projects in Southern Luzon, recently expanded to Bulacan province. The project will primarily cater to the northern Metro Manila market.

“We continue to be bullish with our growth, so that we can support the demand for premium quality housing at an affordable price point for our growing economy,” Olivares-Vital said.

RESTAURANT chain operator Max’s Group Inc. said Monday net income grew by 38 percent in 2022 to a record P622 million from P451 million in 2021 on the back of higher sales of core brands. Core net income, which excludes the P377million one-time gain from the sale of a subsidiary in 2022, jumped eight times from 2021 level and 63 percent from the pre-pandemic 2018 level. The group’s system wide sales, a measure of all sales to consumers from company-owned and franchised stores, went up 41 percent to P17.6 billion in 2022 from 2021 sales of P12.52 billion.

Same-store-sales growth from domestic operations climbed 43 percent, while same-store sales from international business increased 36 percent on continued relaxed restrictions and holiday demand surge in the fourth quarter.

“Our commitment to our stakeholders is to not only recover during the pandemic but come out stronger. Despite the challenges that the organization has faced since the first lockdown in 2020, our business model has been tested and proven, with consistency of executed strategies as evidenced in our recovery,” MGI chief executive Robert Trota said in disclosure to the stock exchange. Jenniffer B. Austria

Budget

carrier sees Cebu hub exceeding pre-pandemic flights

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CEBU Pacific said Monday it is raising to 28 its combined domestic and international routes operating at Mactan-Cebu International Airport as it targets to reach 129 percent of its Cebu hub’s pre-pandemic network and capacity by June.

The airline unit of the Gokongwei Group will start operating direct flights between Cebu and Taipei daily starting June 23, increasing its network from MCIA to 23 domestic and 5 international destinations. Cebu Pacific will also ramp up flight frequencies to 11 destinations from Cebu.

The new and resumed flights from Cebu and the additional frequencies are expected to increase the total number of seats by 21 percent, equivalent to 76,000 more seats a month.

It said that to support the expansion, the airline would increase its Cebu hub’s fleet to 13, with two additional aircraft based at MCIA. The added aircraft are on top of the 10 new Airbus NEO aircraft that will be delivered in 2023 to expand the airline’s entire fleet.

The airline earlier announced that it would operate direct flights from Cebu to Naga starting March 26 and resume flights to Hong Kong and Narita from Cebu on March 26 and May 1, respectively.

“Cebu Pacific is proud to have its largest base outside Manila in one of the best airports in Asia. We are excited to further expand our Cebu hub to connect more travelers to some of the world’s best beaches and islands,” said Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer experience officer Candice Iyog.

With Obiena out, Hockett, Fil-Am Cole in spotlight

By Peter Atencio

WORLD championship bronze medalist and Asian record holder Ernest John Obiena won’t be around to see action in the six-day 2021 ICTSI-Philippine Athletics Championships, which begins on Wednesday at the Ilagan Sports Complex in Ilagan, Isabela.

The absence of the world no. 3 Obiena will have Filipino bet Hockett de los Santos going into a clash with Filipino-American aspirant Elijah Cole for a second slot in the men’s pole vault slot.

The winner between them will get a seat in the national squad being assembled for the coming Southeast Asian Games.

Obiena and De los Santos came up with a 1-2 finish in the Vietnam SEA Games.

Cole, a former University of North Carolina varsity mainstay, has a personal best of 5.41 meters going into this week’s trackfest.

“Magandang testing ito, considering na competitive ang mga locals natin ngayon,” said national head coach Jojo Posadas.

The 21-year-old Dde los Santos has managed to improve on his SEA Games’ silver-medal performance of five meters with a 5.1-meter jump in the PATAFA Weekly Relays last October.

The De los Santos-Cole showdown is expected to happen on the final day of the trackfest. A total of 42 events will be played on Day 1, with 26 gold medals initially at stake in the men’s and women’s open, the boys’ and girls’ under-20 and the boys’ and girls’ under-18 categories.

Meanwhile, the 2023 NMSAAP Masters Athletics

Meet in Isabela will serve as the pre-opening event Tuesday.

More than 100 athletes aged 30 years old and above have signed up to join in 24 age-group events.

Another athlete to watch out for is Christine Hallasgo, who will see action in the women’s 10,000-meter run. She is expected to slug it out with promising long distance bet Rizza Sorongon, a 19-year-old discovery from Sultan Kudarat.

UP Maroons acquire 6’8”

Fil-Am player

FIL-AM cager Sean Alter has committed to suit up for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.

The 6’8” Alter accepted an invitation to join the Fighting Maroons before the championship game for the 2023 Smart-NBTC Division 1 championship.

The 19-year-old Alter is part of Fil-Nation Select.

Alter confirmed his decision to UP basketball program director Bo Perasol before the Fil-Am National fought National University-Nazareth School for the Division 1 crown.

“Sean’s another important piece to the puzzle for us to keep competing in the UAAP,” said Perasol.

Alter averaged 5.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists for FilAm Nation.

He now joins 6’7” National Collegiate Athletic Association 98 Juniors’ Most Valuable Player Luis Pablo and 6’8” Seven Gagate in the big Maroons’ rotation.

The Maroons’ lineup of big men also includes 6’11” UAAP 85 Men’s MVP Malick Diouf.

UP is seeking a second title in the last three years following a runner-up finish last season.

Peter Atencio

Lady Bullpups keep UAAP girls’ volley championship

NATIONAL University Nazareth School showed steely resolve in the fi rst and third set to beat Adamson University, 26-24, 25-22, 29-27 and retain the UAAP Season 85 high school girls volleyball crown Monday at the packed Paco Arena.

The Lady Bullpups won the bestof-three series, 2-1, for their sixth title overall.

Setter Abegail Pono, in her final year for NUNS, was named the Finals MVP.

“Masaya ako dahil sa huling season ko sa NUGVT, may maiiwan akong mas ayang alaala na nangyari po sa amin,” said Pono, who idolizes Camilla Lamina, a former high school girls champion for the Lady Bullpups.

“Okay lang po na kahit hindi nasweep ‘yung season na ito, at least nanalo po kami. Binigay namin ‘yung buong puso po namin sa laban na ito, sa season na ito” the Cebu native added.

The Baby Falcons, who won Game 2 in five sets last Saturday to force a decider, raced to an early 10-3 lead on a Red Bascon kill.

But Adamson failed to sustain its hot start as NUNS stormed back behind Ce-

line Marsh’s cross court spike and season MVP Kianne Olango’s kill to secure the opening set.

The Lady Bullpups were in full control in the second set but were tested by the Baby Falcons in the third.

Trailing 17-21, NUNS was able to claw back and reached the championship point first at 25-24 on a net touch violation by Adamson.

Olango’s kill forced the match’s final deadlock at 27-27 before Rob Silla, atoning from an earlier service error, nailed an ace to put the Lady Bullpups at championship point once more.

Bienne Bansil then produced a championship-clinching block for NUNS.

The Bullpups, however, have to wait another day whether the Bustillosbased school will complete a high school golden double.

Far Eastern University-Diliman out-

lasted NUNS, 23-25, 25-22, 25-14, 1925, 15-13, to send the Finals to a winnertake-all on 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

Best Opposite Spiker Amet Bituin’s match-sealing spike allowed the hardfighting Baby Tamaraws to level the best-of-three series at one game apiece.

Leading the way for the boys’ individual awardees was Most Valuable Player Eugenio Gloria of NUNS. Fellow Bullpups Herbert Egger was

named the Rookie of the Year and First Best Middle Blocker, and Jeffe Gallego Jr., the Best Setter Andrei Delicano of FEU-D and Jan Julian Macam of University of the East were named Best Outside Hitters, and Patrick Lardizabal of University of Santo Tomas was the Second Best Middle Blocker.

Completing the list is Best Libero Edriel Alavar of FEU-D.

Gadia, Ouano deliver for Gentle Giants

FORMER Philippines Under-22 star

Ivan Ouano opened his goalscoring account for Dynamic Herb Cebu FC as the Gentle Giants overcame a gritty Maharlika Manila FC, 2-1, before a good Sunday night crowd in the Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig. Needing maximum points to close the gap on leaders Kaya FCIloilo, the Gentle Giants needed to fight back from a goal down to beat Maharlika which came into the match riding high on their first win of the season.

Daniel Gadia struck late in the first half to cancel out David Basa’s surprise opener for Maharlika, before Ouano scored the go-ahead goal

four minutes into the second half to secure the win in the first PFL match played at the stadium.

“It was a hard fought match, but we made sure we get the three points,” said Gadia, who also scored against Azkals Development Team last week.

“Being man of the match and scoring a goal on my part was just a bonus for the hard work we put together as a team. We needed this win more than anything.”

The win kept Cebu within striking distance of Kaya FC-Iloilo, which has 42 points, eight ahead of the Gentle Giants. Cebu has played two less matches than Kaya. Maharlika remained in last place with just four points from 16 matches.

Cebu dominated possession early

on, but it was Maharlika that hit first with Basa directing a header to the bottom corner off a Zachary Ford delivery in the 20th minute.

Mert Altinoz and Marius Kore came close to equalizing with their efforts denied by the crossbar. A quick throw in to Gadia caught the Maharlika defense napping and the midfielder beat Javier Coscolluela at his near post to make it 1-1.

Ouano, who fired two goals for the Under-22 Azkals in the AFF Championship in Cambodia last year, entered the match at the start of the second half. He made an immediate impact, intercepting a loose pass from Maharlika defender Ben Diarra, before firing low past Coscolluela.

Avaricio aims for Visayan swing sweep in Iloilo

CHANELLE Avaricio, bouncy coming off a near-improbable title run in Bacolod, hopes to cash in on her fine form and good breaks as she shoots for a sweep of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s Visayan swing in the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge starting Wednesday at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club.

Avaricio turned a losing stand into a winning act as she rallied from eight strokes down in the final round to nip Sarah Ababa by one in last week’s Negros Occidental Golf Classic, putting her on track for another prolific season after racking up three victories last year.

But the Alabama State U product is looking beyond campaigning on the country’s premier circuit as she is set to play in the Pattaya Ladies Open in Thailand, along with the other Filipina players, next week and in the US to sharpen her game and gain more experience in pursuit of more golfing honors.

“I’ll play just a couple of tournaments here and head to the Thai LPGA where I have some events coming,” said Avaricio. “I will then fly to the US in April to play some tournaments.”

The comely shotmaker embarked on a US mission after ruling the Hallow Ridge, Caliraya Springs and Pradera Verde legs last year to toughen up and saw action in three Thai LPGA events this year where she posted tied for 43rd (NDSF Ladies Classic) and 50th

(BGC Championship) finishes and missed the cut in the Thai LPGA Classic. She rallied for joint 16th in last month’s Anvaya Cove International and was heading to another fruitless campaign in Bacolod after trailing Ababa by eight in the final round.

But the two-day leader faltered with a 79 and Avaricio gutted out an even-par 70 card to steal the win.

The same kind of finish looms in this week’s battle with Ababa seeking redemption and the likes of Pamela Mariano, Daniella Uy, Chihiro Ikeda, Harmie Constantino, Sunshine Baraquiel and Marvi Monsalve all going all-out to spark their respective title bids in the 54-hole tournament put up by ICTSI.

Three of the country’s leading amateurs are also keen on crowding their fancied rivals for top honors in the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized event, including Rianne Malixi, who swept her three LPGT stints last year but who could not seem to get her game going at Marapara although she battled back and tied for third with Mariano.

CIGNAL BEST PLAYER. San Miguel Beer’s CJ Perez posted all-around averages of 23.0 points on 55-percent clip, 10.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 3.3 steals in three matches, numbers solid enough to make him the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the past week.

Daniel Gadia delivers another solid performance for the Gentle Giants.

Finals’ MVP Abegail Pono gets a victory ride from her National University Nazareth School teammates.

Chanelle Avaricio

Alcaraz routs Medvevev for tennis crown, world no. 1 spot

INDIAN WELLS—Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz swept past Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday to win the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 and secure his return to number one in the world.

US Open champion Alcaraz ended Medvedev’s 19-match winning streak, denying him a fourth title in as many tournaments to ensure he will supplant Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic atop the rankings.

“It feels amazing to lift the trophy here, to recover the No. 1,” Alcaraz said. “I would say this has been the perfect tournament.”

Serbia’s Djokovic, barred from entering the United States because he hasn’t been vaccinated against Covid-19, sat out Indian Wells and will miss the Miami Open starting this week, where Al-

caraz is the defending champion.

Alcaraz, 19, who became the youngest world number one ever after his triumph at Flushing Meadows last year, claimed his third Masters 1000 title and joined compatriot Rafael Nadal as the only players to win at least three as a teenager. Nadal won six before turning 20.

He was unstoppable on Stadium Court, breaking through what he’d called the “wall” of Medvedev’s formidable defenses.

Medvedev, coming off titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai, could find no answer as Alcaraz fired winners from all over the court, defying the

windy conditions.

“Daniil obviously didn’t play at his best level, but I’m very happy for my performance and how I played this tournament.”

He said the big change in him since a semi-final defeat to Nadal last year at Indian Wells was his comfort level on the game’s biggest stages.

“I think my tennis didn’t improve so much since last year. What I improve

a lot is to not take the pressure, just to play relaxed. That, for me, is the most important thing.

“That’s why I show a great level, because I feel like I have no pressure. I enjoy.”

Medvedev certainly wasn’t able to ratchet up the pressure on him.

A stinging backhand winner gave Alcaraz an early break in the opening set as he raced to a 3-0 lead.

He gave himself a set point with a sharply angled forehand volley and sealed it with an unreturnable serve, then won the first 10 points of the second set on the way to a 4-0 lead.

He didn’t face a break point as he polished it off in one hour and 11 minutes, a diving volley winner giving him match point that he converted with another service winner. AFP

PETRO Gazz and Creamline set out for a pair of repeats over PLDT and F2 Logistics, respectively, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena Tuesday with an eye on forging another clash for the Premier Volleyball League All Filipino crown.

The Angels and the Cool Smashers matched four-set victories in the opener of their respective best-of-three semifinal series over the weekend and both are keen on re-asserting their might in an attempt to add another chapter to a rivalry that began to take shape in 2019.

Petro Gazz, then bannered by Myla Pablo, stunned the highly-fancied Creamline in the Reinforced Conference finals but the Cool Smashers got back at the Angels right in the next Open conference.

They faced off again in this tournament, then the Open, last year with Creamline still prevailing.

But PLDT and F2 Logistics will sure-

Games Tuesday (SM Mall of Asia)

4 p.m. – Petro Gazz vs PLDT 6:30 p.m. – Creamline vs F2 Logistics

ly be coming in today’s crucial matches armed with a different mindset and key adjustments needed to keep them in the hunt for a title breakthrough in the league organized by Sports Vision.

The way the Angels recovered from a first-set stumble before cutting the taller High Speed Hitters down to size for a 2225, 25-19, 25-21, 25-18 victory.

Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro downplayed their big fightback but credited the High Speed Hitters for pushing his wards to outdo themselves.

“PLDT is a really great team. But great teams will just push us forward,” said Al-

madro, whose wards will be taking on the High Speed Hitters at 4 p.m. “Na-push nila kami to our limits, so nakita namin kung ano pa yung pagkukulang, especially nung first set at nung second set na pitpitan talaga.”

“What’s good is that these girls are really fighters. They’re humble and they’re fighters, and they really want it,” added Almadro, who drew five double digit outputs from Jonah Sabete (18), MJ Phillips (17), Remy Palma (14), Aiza Pontillas (13) and Grethcel Soltones (10) to underscore their awesome firepower.

But the Angels also shone in net defense, coming through with 14 blocks, six more than the High Speed Hitters. They also produced 23 excellent sets, including 18 from Djanel Cheng, that kept their offense humming in the last three sets.

PLDT coach Rald Ricafort, whose wards stunned the Angels in five in the

elims, also got big numbers from Jovie Prado (18), Mean Mendez and Mika Reyes, who both scored 11 points, and Dell Palomata and Michelle Morente, who matched nine-point outputs. But they struggled with their first ball in the last two sets, enabling the Angels to regain control on their way to victory.

Angels, Cool Smashers eye 4th titular showdown Bullpups stun US cagers for NBTC title

Like the High Speed Hitters, the Cargo Movers will need a lot of adjusting to do to slow down the Cool Smashers in their 6:30 p.m. match. Creamline unloaded 69 attack points against F2’s measly 38-hit output partly caused by the continued absence of Pablo, who has not seen action since cramping out against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans last March 7.

The former Angel normed 13 points in seven elims games, delivering a huge 27-point performance in their five-set win over the Cool Smashers.

Despite their edge, Creamline coach

‘Street fighter’ Perez leads Red Bull F1 sweep

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia—Red Bull’s Sergio Perez flexed his street circuit muscles with dramatic effect on Sunday by storming to victory ahead of teammate Max Verstappen at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

While the top two were clear cut, the next two places remained in confusion long after the race had finished with Fernando Alonso first stripped of third place and then reinstated in the early hours of Monday morning.

Perez, a 33-year-old Mexican, came home 5.355 seconds clear of the defending double world champion as Red Bull reeled off a masterful onetwo triumph, the Dutchman having stormed through the field from 15th on the grid.

Verstappen also clocked the fastest lap of the race on the final lap to retain his lead of the embryonic drivers’ championship, snatching it back from Perez as they duelled at high speed.

It was Perez’s fifth career win having previously triumphed in Monte Carlo and Singapore to earn his reputation as a ‘street fighter’.

“It turned out to be tougher than expected,” he said. “The safety car tried to take the victory from us again here, but not this year! The team did a great job. Now we must keep pushing.”

Verstappen was eliminated from qualifying after a drive-shaft failure.

“It wasn’t easy to get through the field,” he said. “We settled for second so it’s a good recovery in the end.”

Two-time world champion Alonso finished a stirring third on track for Aston Martin to claim a 100th podium finish on

his record-extending 357th start. That place was initially taken from him. He had received a five-second penalty for starting outside his grid position. When he tried to serve it during a pit stop, stewards ruled a jack had touched the car too soon and they hit Alonso with a 10-second penalty.

George Russell rose to third for Mercedes.

But Aston Martin requested a review and showed stewards videos of similar incidents that went unpunished. Stewards accepted that it was not clear the offence had broken Formula One rules and lifted the punishment.

Alonso was back to third followed by the two Mercedes cars of Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Next were the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, who started 12th. Esteban Ocon and his Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly occupied the next two places.

The race began under dazzling floodlights at the Jeddah Street Circuit in balmy conditions, ideal for spectators, drivers and cars.

Alonso dream start

Alonso made the best start, from his incorrect position too far to the left of his grid slot, as he surged past Perez to lead into turn one.

He was unable to retain it for long and was passed by Perez at turn one at the start of lap four. By then, he had been given a five-second penalty for his starting spot error.

Behind them, Leclerc, on soft tyres, began his climb from 12th and reached seventh by lap eight as Verstappen climbed from 15th to 10th while Russell and Stroll settled into third and fourth. AFP

By Peter Atencio

REINHARD Jumamoy came up with a triple double as he helped push the National University-Nazareth School to its third straight and fourth overall crown in the 2023 SmartNBTC National Finals.

Banging in 16 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals, Jumamoy’s big game saw the Bullpups swamp FilNation Select-USA, 75-64, in the Division 1 Finals at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.

The Bullpups unravelled a late fourth-quarter surge to trounce the Fil-Americans, with teammate RJ Colonia also finishing with a doubledouble of 23 points, 10 rebounds.

“We did not even think that this would be our fourth title. I just told the boys to treat this game like Gilas vs. USA. That was the fire that I used for them to get going in this game,” said first-year head coach Kevin de Castro, who replaced mentor Jeff Napa.

With the score tied at 63-all in the final frame, Pervy Timbang got a wide-open layup on a fastbreak, followed by Colonia’s, handing the Bullpups a four-point cushion, 67-63, with 2:40 minutes remaining.

Jumamoy was named Most Outstanding Player afterwards. He was in the Division 1 Mythical Team with Colonia, Jason Mandaquit Jr., and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu’s Jared Bahay and Raffy Celis.

Meanwhile, RJ Liwanag shot 18 points for Team Tarlac as it rallied to an 86-84 win over Royal Trading Star Don Bosco-Dumaguete to claim the 2023 Smart-NBTC National Finals Division 2 championship. “This is a big thing for us, our province, and all provincial teams. We’ve shown we can compete,” said coach Julius Dela Vega, after Team Tarlac launched a big second half run to notch the province’s first-ever national under-19 title.

Brodeth, Manito sustain PPS romp in Baybay

KIMI Brodeth and Gio Manito kept their dominant run in the PPS-PEPP junior circuit, fashioning out a pair of victories in varying fashions even as Ma. Caroliean

Fiel continued to stamp her class in her side of play in the Mayor Jose Carlos Cari National Juniors Tennis Championships in Baybay, Leyte last Sunday.

The top-seeded Brodeth trounced Kate Imalay, 6-2, 6-0, in the girls’ 16-U finals at the Baybay City Tennis Club then the Ormoc City star routed Corazon Lambonao, 6-1, 6-1, in the premier 18-U division to match her two-title romp in Maasin, Leyte last week.

Manito also duplicated his exploits but needed an extra set and a couple of breaks

to repel Kenzo Brodeth, 6-2, 2-6, 11-9, in the boys’ 16-U championship of the Group 2 event presented by Dunlop. The Pardo, Cebu find also held off Gerald Gemida’s tough stand to prevail, 6-3, 6-4, in the 18-U finals. Fiel, meanwhile, mounted her own charge in the 10-unisex and girls’ 12-U classes, crushing Ericson Barquio, 4-0, 4-1, in the youngest category and then surviving Chrystell Laguna, 7-5, 2-6, 13-11, in the other division. Also clinching top honors in the tournament, held as part of the country’s longest talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro, are local bet

Xian Calagos, Kenzo Brodeth and Imalay.

The fourth-ranked Calagos upended top seed Claudwin Toñacao, 6-4, 6-1, to snare the boys’ 12-U crown; No. 1 Kenzo Brodeth, also from Ormoc, topped the 14-U side with a 6-0, 6-0 rout of Christian Laguna; while Imalay also downed Chrystell Laguna, 6-0, 6-3, in the 14-U finals of the week-long tournament.

The Brodeths, along with Fiel, go for a sweep of the Visayan swing as they banner the field in this week’s championship hosted by Mayor Lucy Torres beginning Thursday. For details, contact tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay at 09154046464.

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain kisses the winner’s trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev in the nale of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. AFP

Red Bull Racing’s Mexican driver Sergio Perez celebrates after winning the Saudi Arabia Formula One Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah. AFP

Gio Manito (second from left) and Kimi Brodeth hold their trophies as they pose with Baybay Tennis Club vice presidents Bebot Malate (left) and Jeje Chiong (right) after completing another pair of two-title romps.

GMA brings forth newest youth-oriented series ‘Sparkle U’

YOUTH-ORIENTED anthology series

Sparkle U gives viewers a feel-good and heartwarming afternoon every weekend.

Sparkle U features the good times and the struggles that Filipino youth are facing today in their teenage lives.

The show’s first installment entitled

“#LikeforLike” will soon be headlined by some of Sparkle GMA Artist Center’s most promising stars Shayne Sava and Abdul Raman, together with Zephanie Michael Sager, Roxie Smith, Anjay Anson, Lauren King, Vanessa Peña, and Princess Aliyah

“#LikeforLike” follows the story of a 17-year-old wallflower, Bekang (Shayne), and three other mediocre teens, Sue (Zephanie), Marco (Michael), and Wado (Anjay). From being nobodies, they will suddenly become famous after rescuing the campus queen bee, Yazzi (Roxie) from a fire incident.

As their high school lives begin to change, the four teenagers must deal and adjust to their new status. They will

of taking it slow Kris Bernal reflects on the value

By Patricia Taculao

EARLIER this month, actress Kris Bernal delighted fans and friends with her pregnancy announcement on social media. Now roughly 17 weeks pregnant, Kris gets candid about her journey toward being a first-time mother.

Her family was the first to know about her life-changing news before she posted the viral mock-up movie posters announcing her pregnancy. Yet amid all the parenting advice she received from friends and family, the one

Yet, since she’s still in the early stages of pregnancy, Kris hopes to remain active in the industry, even for minor appearances.

“Hangga’t kaya, gusto ko magwork. May mga guestings naman na hindi masyadong tedious— uupo lang, interview lang. Wala namang mga physical activities or work from home,” Kris said.

The Kapuso actress also feels secure with her pregnancy because, aside from it not being too complicated, she has her husband,

Kapuso actress Kris Bernal will soon welcome her first child

be forced to act according to society’s expectations, especially now that they gained attention from more popular students and the anonymous Jen Z, a vlogger who reveals secrets and controversies inside the university.

Will Jen Z make or break the relationships these teenagers have with their friends, families, and even with themselves? Will their sudden fame be something good for them or will it only harm their young minds?

Ali Marie Nokom-Dedicatoria; Senior Program Manager Antonio R. Pastorpide; Executive Producer Kaye Cadsawan; and

Associate

Afternoon Prime Dode Cruz; Creative Consultant Kit Villanueva-Zapata;

Sharon Cuneta keen on working with other networks

IN AN Instagram post, Megastar

Sharon Cuneta insinuated that she’s currently open to the possibility to work for other TV networks.

It can be remembered that she went back to ABS-CBN in 2015 after her four-year stint with TV 5. Since she came back to the Kapamilya, she was able to do five shows with them. However, the management has no clear offer to her at this point.

“For the first time in all these decades, I don’t have a long-term contract with my station. I know it is a number of things that have caused this. First, we lost our franchise, then, the station has way too many stars now and we of the ‘old guard’ have to give way,” avers Shawie.

Due to this development, the Megastar now considers herself a freelance talent.

“So while I will always be there when ABS needs me and will always be grateful, I guess it is understandable that I for now consider myself a free agent. It’s time I open myself up to other stations that may need my services, while always keeping my Kapamilya ‘duties,’ if and when they come. As they say, one goes only where one is needed!”

Sharon reveals though that she hasn’t talked to any stations yet. And despite her present disposition, the award-winning actress-singer maintains that she still loves her former home studio.

Despite being in the early stages of pregnancy, Kris hopes to stay active in showbiz through minor roles or appearances that resonated the most with Kris was learning to take it slow. As an actress, Kris doesn’t shy away from intense drama roles, as evident in her characters in Artikulo 247 and Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Buhay Ko, among others. She even goes out of her comfort zone to star in the Prime Video murder mystery comedy Ten Little Mistresses, which she shot last September, some months before Kris learned she was with child. Despite her wishes to be active in showbiz, Kris has to take a step back and consider her health, especially now that she’s responsible for another life besides her own.

“Since I’m a workaholic, there were times na I felt guilty not working. And there were times na I felt helpless kasi bedrest ako. But then, you have to surrender to what your body or your baby needed,” Kris told Manila Standard Entertainment during an intimate press conference at one of her business ventures, House of Gogi in Quezon City.

When asked whether they have gender preferences for their firstborn, Kris said they want a healthy baby first and foremost but would be happy with either one. Still, Kris admitted to wanting a girl because she’s very chic and hopes to share her interests with a daughter. But even so, she and Perry will welcome their first child with open arms and loving hearts.

Kris’s journey as a first-time mother will be eventful as she learns the ups and downs of parenthood.

“I don’t think we can ever say that we are fully ready because there’s no such thing as a manual to becoming the ‘perfect mom.’ But

that’s the thing. When you aren’t fully ready for something, you try your best to equip yourself so you become ready. It’s constantly learning to become the mom you want to be—which makes you the mom that your child needs,” she said.

OPM hitmakers take centerstage at Winford

ALL roads lead to Winford Resort & Casino Manila (WRCM) with multiaward-winning bands Truefaith and OPM Hitmen set to perform some of their greatest hits and more, live, tonight and March 31, respectively.

Tonight, revisit enduring Truefaith songs like “Perfect,” “Kung OK Lang sa ‘Yo,” and “Alaala” as frontman Medwin Marfil along with Eugene Marfil, Kaka Quisimbing, Allan Elgar, Jake Lumacad, and Macky Macaventa take the stage to let fans reminisce the glory days of original Pilipino music at the luxury hotel. Marfil recorded their most well-known song, “Perfect,” in 1991 along with workmates Ferdie Marquez and Francis Guevarra at Fullerton Studios. The following year, he sent the demo to a local radio station which instantly caught the attention of its listeners and shot to the top

Throughout the years, Truefaith has released 11 albums, earned numerous accolades, and performed local and international gigs. Their most recent album, 11, was released just last year on streaming platforms. On March 31, Winford Manila invites you to watch multi-award-winning balladeers Renz Verano, Richard Reynoso, Rannie Raymundo, and Chad Borja – collectively known as OPM Hitmen – join forces to serenade you with their own hits.

To date, Verano has released 10 studio albums. His second, “Para Sa ’Yo,” features the hit “Remember Me,” which is widely regarded to be his signature song.

Reynoso has released eight albums, with gold and platinum awards to boot. His most memorable songs include “Hindi Ko Kaya” and “Maaalala Mo Pa Rin,” to name

a few. Raymundo, dubbed “the great OPM Hitmaker”, is the man behind classics like “Hanggang Kailan” and his seminal hit “Why Can’t It Be?”.

Last but not least, Chad Borja has been in the music industry for four decades after scoring a hit with the song “Ikaw Lang” taken from his debut album, “All About Love.” Prior to that, he formed the group C-60 and went on to join The New Minstrels Band that performed both locally and internationally. General admission to this new normal concert experience is free, with VIP seats near the stage available at P800 (Truefaith) consumable of food and drink, and P1,250 (OPM Hitmen) per person inclusive of food and drink. WRCM is a proud recipient of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Safety Seal Certification, the highest distinction awarded to accommodation establishments

“I love ABS! I have been and will always be a Kapamilya. My memory and loyalty are unquestionable. But a girl’s going to work where she can and where she’s wanted,” she points out.

Mega’s last project for the Kapamilya was FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano topbilled by Coco Martin . Prior to this, she also headlined her own musicalvariety show The Sharon Cuneta Show , the talk show Sharon , and the reality programs Starpower , The Biggest Loser , The Voice Kids , The Voice Teens , and Your Face Sounds Familiar

Her message to her former home network:

“See you again hopefully soon, whenever you may need me!” ends Sharon.

* * *

At long last, Mel Martinez plays lead in the horror-comedy vehicle D’ Aswang Slayerz under Amartha Entertainment Production. Honestly, does he feel it’s long overdue considering that he’s been in the

Megastar Sharon Cuneta now considers herself a freelance talent

business for a considerable length of time already?

“No, I don’t feel that way. For one, I’m the type who will accept projects which I like. As the old saying goes, there are no small roles, only small actors. Whether it’s a big or small part, I always deliver my best. Work for me is precious,” he states.

In most of his memorable supporting parts, he always breathes life to the confidante of the female lead.

“For the longest time, I’m always the best friend, as in the BFF. But there are also times when I play the lead like in GMA’s Wish Ko Lang . For me, it’s all the same, as long as it’s work.” Is there pressure on his part when it comes to the movie’s box-office performance being the lead star?

“Well, there is. I guess, it’s inevitable. But the good thing is I’m confident with our offering. If the material is good, for sure, movie buffs will support it, right?” says Mel.

that strictly comply with health standards set by local authorities. Hippodrome Bar & Lounge is WRCM’s signature entertainment venue and is located on the second floor of the 22-story resort. Visit www.winfordmanila.com for

more information or call the hotline at +63 (2) 8528-3600 for inquiries. You may also follow Winford Resort & Casino Manila on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates on special events and promotions.

Kris Bernal (right) with Perry Choi

Perry Choi, to guide and support her. Kris shared that despite her hubby’s playful nature, which few people see, he’s attentive to her needs and wants. He also goes the extra mile by reminding Kris to avoid strenuous activities.

From left: Vanessa Peña, Roxie Smith, and Lauren King

‘Sparkle U’ stars Anjay Anson, Zephanie, and Michael Sager

Watch Truefaith and OPM Hitmen perform live at Winford Manila on March 21 and 31, respectively

of the charts where it stayed at number one for 10 weeks.

Cebu Pacific

celebrates stories of growth and expansion

Airline to hit 129% pre-pandemic capacity with combined 28 domestic, international routes to operate from Cebu

“TWENTY-SEVEN

years ago, Cebu Pacific took its first flight here in Cebu, it was March 8. Last year, we were also at the Mactan International Airport where we celebrated our 200 millionth passenger, that was March,” said the ecstatic Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, while talking to the guests of the airline who flew from Manila and other parts of the country to join in the celebration of the airline’s unprecedented milestones.

“The event was like a relaunch, coming back out of the pandemic in announcing almost the end of the pandemic and the start of the rebirth of the industry,” she carried on banking on the renewed interest of the public to travel again. The country’s leading carrier is set to exceed its Cebu hub’s pre-pandemic network and capacity which will hit 129 percent in June, as the airline raises to 28 its combined domestic and international routes operating in Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

by the summer of this year as we fly back to our international destinations such as China and Melbourne this month.

Last month, we announced the restart of our Clark hub with 15 domestic and international routes. That’s more

The imposing facade of NuStar in Cebu

CEB will start operating direct flights between Cebu and Taipei daily starting June 23, increasing its network from MCIA to a total of 23 domestic and 5 international destinations. CEB will also ramp up its flight frequencies to 11 of its destinations from Cebu.

In an event held at Nustar Resort and Casino in Cebu on Sunday night, Cebu Pacific Marketing Michelle de Guzman mentioned that the year 2023 is “the year of growth.”

“We will hit our pre-pandemic capacity

boosting of the economy in North and Central Luzon,” De Guzman announced.

“We have also renewed our partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board. In Singapore, we now fly four routes between the Philippines and Singapore. We have a lot of good stories of growth and expansion and we’re not done yet.

And this growth of Cebu Pacific –with the delivery of 15 new aircraft this year – means more destinations and flights for everyone,” she went on.

The new and resumed flights from Cebu as well as the additional frequencies are expected to increase the total number of seats by 21 percent, equivalent to

Café offers new food and experiences for movie fans

MOVIE-THEMED café gets an upgrade with a brand-new menu and stunning new interiors as Cinema ’76 Café settles into its new home in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

With its official launch on March 18, Cinema ’76 Café promises to offer its guests an elevated casual dining experience, featuring a curated menu of progressive Filipino dishes inspired not only by cinema but also by different flavors around the world.

Designed by the renowned chefs of Center for Asian Culinary Studies led by Chefs Gene and Gino Gonzalez, local foodies can expect a tantalizing array of dishes from comfort food to all-time favorite snacks as well a selection of handcrafted beverages like blended coffee drinks to start your day and classic cocktails to cap the night.

Chef Gene describes the direction of the menu as very intentional and “always keeping in mind the cinema and theater attitude.” One of the top considerations was the moviegoers at the adjacent Cinema ’76 Film Society, the popular micro-cinema.

The chefs made sure that a good portion of the menu can be taken inside and enjoyed in the theater.

This includes items like Truffle Fries, Mozzarella Sticks, Chorizo Chisu Croquettes, and Nachos made from premium stone ground chips with sour cream, salsa cruda, cheese sauce, and ground beef. Even the popcorn at Cinema ’76 Café is not your run-of-the-mill movie snack with distinctive flavors like Truffle Caramel, Smoked Ribs, and Cheddar – made fresh daily.

For something more filling, Chef Gene recommends the sandwich selection in-

spired by some of TBA Studios’ beloved historical films: Luna (chicken tocino with salted egg relish, and tomatoes), Del Pilar (adobo flakes, cream cheese, with pickled onion), and Quezon (chicken inasal, tomatoes with creamy béchamel sauce).

As for the rest of the dishes, Chef Gino believes that it’s “a good mix of new and familiar flavors.”

“We have favorite bistro dishes that are not necessarily Filipino but are very agreeable to the Filipino taste. We have American, Italian, and a bit of Asian too so everyone will have more reasons to go here,” he added. Some of these delectable dishes you shouldn’t miss are the Margherita Soup, Steak and Fries, Seared Salmon served with thickcut fries, and the TBA Studios Box-Office Pasta, an extra virgin olive oilbased chorizo pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, toasted bell peppers, and shimeji mushrooms.

Cinema ’76 Café first opened in Anonas in June 2021, a year into the pandemic when all cinemas closed indefinitely. Cinema ’76 Café became a bright spot for movie fans that sorely missed being inside a movie theater. While the Anonas branch has per-

manently closed, the new location in Tomas Morato makes it even more accessible for film enthusiasts and foodies alike. The new space also now boasts of a contemporary yet relaxing and homey interior with options for both indoor and outdoor dining.

“We wanted the café to reflect the needs of our growing customer base so we made sure to incorporate dining options for them, which we couldn’t implement in our former branch. With our spacious dining area and a customizable menu, we can do so much more and be an ideal venue for different types of events,” said TBA Studios President and COO Daphne O. Chiu

She also added, “Tomas Morato has always felt like the heart of the entertainment capital: Quezon City and we’re pleased and excited to be part of this community. We look forward to serving anyone looking for a unique place to dine.”

Cinema ’76 Café officially opens its doors on March 18. Follow Cinema ’76 Café

76,000 more seats per month.

To support this expansion, CEB will increase its Cebu hub’s fleet to 13, with 2 additional aircraft to be based at MCIA.

The added aircraft are on top of the 10 new Airbus NEO aircraft that will be delivered in 2023 to expand the airline’s entire fleet.

The airline previously announced that it would operate direct flights from Cebu to Naga starting March 26 and resume flights

CEB relaunches its piso fare allowing travelers from Visayas and Mindanao to book their flights to select domestic and international destinations

to Hong Kong and Narita from Cebu on March 26 and May 1, respectively.

“Cebu Pacific is proud to have its largest base outside Manila in one of the best airports in Asia. We are excited to further expand our Cebu hub to connect more travelers to some of the world’s best beaches and islands,” said Candice Iyog.

To encourage passengers to travel, CEB is launching a special seat sale from March 20 to 23, allowing travelers from Visayas and Mindanao to book their flights to select domestic and international destinations for as low as P1 one-way base fare, exclusive of fees and surcharges. The travel period is from June 1 to September 30.

The expansion of the CEB’s hubs in Clark and Cebu comes as the airline turns 27 years old this March. The airline celebrated the milestone by holding a special anniversary gathering at NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu City.

CEB flew its maiden voyage from

Manila to Cebu on March 8, 1996. Since then, the airline has made it its mission to enable every Juan to fly by offering affordable and accessible flights and continuously ramping up its network.

CEB currently flies to 34 domestic and 25 international destinations, spanning across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. Book your flights now via cebupacificair.com

Renowned  chef launches movement to help feed the hungry

CHEF Jessie Sincioco, a top chef who has made meals for global dignitaries, has launched the Hapag Movement Menu, which includes four set meals that patrons may enjoy while also helping address involuntary hunger.

The special menu is part of Sincioco’s commitment to the Hapag Movement, a Globe-led community program that aims to alleviate involuntary hunger through supplemental feeding and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The meal sets, which include a salad, soup, main course, dessert and hot drink, are available for lunch at P1,200 and dinner at P1,500 at Sincioco’s well-loved restaurant, Chef Jessie Rockwell Club in Makati. For every meal served, half of the proceeds will be donated to the Hapag Movement.

“I salute Globe for this timely and much-needed movement for the whole country. We know very well that hunger is a reality here. We make it a point to give back whenever we can. That’s how we came up with the Hapag Movement menu. This way, our diners can support the advocacy,” said the chef.

The Hapag Movement Menu features a healthy selection of salads for starters and a variety of Filipino and fusion main dishes, from the familiar yet elevated beef morcon and caldereta to fish fillet florentine and baked parmesan-crusted chicken.

In strengthening her commitment to the Hapag Movement, Sincioco also said she would invite top chefs from the Philippines and abroad to be part of the movement, as well as enlist the help of neighboring restaurants in Rockwell to further the advocacy.

“When I learned about this credible and realistic movement, I did not hesitate or think twice about helping out. Let us all do our part in making this movement a smashing success,” she said.

Chef Jessie has cooked and created many dishes for world leaders, big movers in the business industry, well-known personalities, and even the Pope. But what she finds most fulfilling is providing food for the most marginalized in society.

Chef Jessie supports the Hapag Movement through her company’s membership at the Rotary Club of Makati Business District (RCMBD), which recently signed a four-year partnership with Globe to raise funds for the Hapag Movement.

Chef Jessie Sincioco finds providing food for the most marginalized in society as the most fulfilling Her Mana Cuisine Corporation is among the earliest corporate members of Rotary to support the undertaking.

“We are excited to have Chef Jessie on board as we continue our fight against hunger in the Philippines. We are grateful for her commitment to find ways to raise funds, including the special Hapag Movement menu. We look forward to expanding the Hapag Movement globally through enlisting a global network of chefs for the initiative,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at the Globe Group. RCMBD earlier pledged to raise P10 million in funds for the Hapag Movement through various initiatives involving individual members and corporations. By making this commitment, the Rotary chapter has become one of Hapag Movement’s most dedicated fundraising partners. Globe leverages partnerships to raise funds and deliver critical support to affected families. The program aims to rally Filipinos behind a collective effort to feed the hungry and provide empowering livelihood training, as an estimated 15 million Filipinos continue to suffer from involuntary hunger. To learn more about Globe, visit https://www. globe.com.ph/

Media, celebrities, and Cebu Pacific executives on a cruise during the announcement of piso fare for Visayas and Mindanao

Cebu Pacific executives

Guests at the Cebu Pacific event held at NuStar Resort and Casino in Cebu

Candice Iyog (center), Cebu Pacific Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, with celebrity guests at the Cebu Pacific event

Mikael Daez (left) and Megan Young are among the celebrities and special guests who join in the celebration