Manila Standard - 2023 April 2 - Sunday

www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PH to meet EU standards on seafarers

Ople: Monumental crisis averted, 50,000 jobs saved

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

AFTER getting an extension of the Philippines’ maritime education, the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is prepared with its plans and programs to efficiently address the six deficiencies identified by the European Commission in the country’s maritime and seafaring sector.

The Department of Transportation said that although the European Commission has yet to set a deadline for meeting the EU level standards, the country’s Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) would be closely coordinating to address these deficiencies.

According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the European Commission’s decision to continue recognizing the Philippines’ training and certification will directly benefit more than 50,000 Filipino seafarers.

The EC’s Directorate General for Mobility and Transport on March 31 extended its recognition of Philippine-issued seafarers certificates, saying Manila has made “serious efforts” to address deficiencies in monitoring, supervision, and evaluation of training and assessment.

It had identified six areas of deficiencies in the maritime education, training and certification for seafarers of the Philippine government.

These were in areas of monitoring, supervision and evaluation of training and assessment; examination and assessment of competence; program and course design and approval; availability and use of training facilities and simulators; on-board training; and issue, revalidation and registration of certificates and endorsements.

START OF A LONG HOLY WEEK. Ahead of Palm Sunday today, Catholic devotees as well as local tourists visit the ‘Kamay Ni Hesus Healing Church Shrine’ -- a popular pilgrimage site located in the slopes of Mt. Banahaw in Barangay Tinamnan of Lucban, Quezon province. The 50-foot statue of the Ascending Jesus Christ was considered as one of the tallest among the country’s outdoor museums. Inset phoyo shows a ‘palaspas’ vendor at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo. Manny Palmero and Diana B. Noche

Teves not returning home until wish list is met—lawyer

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

SUSPENDED Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is not returning home yet despite appeals from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other government authorities for him to answer the charges levelled against him in relation to the assasination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

Teves’ counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, said his client has made certain requests to ensure his safe return to the country, some of which were rejected.

“I had two interactions with Speaker [Martin] Romualdez. Of course,the details I cannot divulge because of our gentleman’s agreement. But Congressman (Teves) made certain requests for his

NAIA passenger surge to hit 1.2m during long Holy Week holiday

n By JOEL E. ZURBANO

AIRPORT officials are expecting passenger traffic to reach 140,000 daily at the country’s premier gateway beginning this weekend until the Day of Valor, April 10, in what is considered to be the longest Holy Week holiday since 2019.

return in order to ensure his safety,”

Topacio said during a media briefing Saturday.

“He appeals that his requests be granted for his safety. This isneither for any special treatment nor a bargaining expedition. Just for his safety,” Topacio added.

Topacio declined to divulge the requests being made by his client to convince the latter “to surrender.” He said Teves will not return home until these requests are guaranteed, adding that his client is ready to face the court.

“(Romualdez) did not mislead us. He said ‘We can do these requests. We cannot do these requests,’” Topacio said.

Majority of Pinoys back Maharlika Fund—survey

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

MAJORITY of Filipinos support the administration’s proposed Maharlika Investment Fund, the non-commissioned Pahayag Quarter 1 survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. showed.

Based on the survey, 62 percent of the respondents were aware of the proposed MIF, and believe the fund is vital to improve particularly the agriculture and health sectors.

NCR has the highest level of awareness at 72 percent. The MIF is popular with Filipinos ages between 50 to 59 years old, registering at a high

69 percent and those 60 years old and above at 72 percent awareness.

The survey result showed “improving agricultural production and supply chains (32 percent) was regarded as the highest priority project that should be funded by MIF while funding universal healthcare for all Filipinos came in second at 23 percent and investment in lifelong learning for all registered third at 11 percent.”

Among the least priority projects are the establishment of logistic hubs across the country at one percent, establishing internet connectivity from Luzon to Mindanao at three percent,

and the National Railway System expansion outside of Metro Manila at three percent.

Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier said the MIF has adequate safeguards to make sure that “funds are invested properly.”

“MIAA is bracing for a surge in passenger traffic this Holy Week as weanticipate 1.2 million passengers in the four terminals of Ninoy Aquino International Airport over a ten-day period beginning today,” Manila International Airport Authority general manager Cesar Chiong said.

He assured the public that MIAA has sufficient manpower and equipment for the influx, as well as the availability of critical airport utilities, such as electricity, water, air conditioning, and communications; amenities and “malasakit” kits for passengers in the event of flight disruptions; and assistance desks in all four terminals to address the riding public’s concerns.

“We’re prepared. We are doing all of these initiatives in order to give our riding public a seamless travel “(Romualdez)

experience here at NAIA, especially since this is the first time that we’ll have quite a long Semana Santa after 2019,” Chiong said.

Romualdez said the MIF has proactive safety checks, including transparency provisions and the requirement to subject the books of accounts of the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), which will manage the fund, to three layers of audit by an internal auditor, an external auditor and the Commission on Audit.

PIMP MY (NATIVE) RIDE. Tourists ride a kangga or a carabaodrawn cart while navigating a river going to Tukuran Falls in San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro. Danny Pata

PRESS BRIEFING. Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, representing his client, suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., is joined by fellow counsels Edward Santiago and Michael Mella during a media briefing on Saturday at the Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City. Lino Santos

2 Fil-Am soldiers, 7 others die in chopper crashes in Kentucky

NINE American Army soldiers, among them two of Filipino descent, were reported killed on Wednesday in helicopter crashes that marred a military training exercise in Kentucky.

The accident involved two US Army helicopters—variants of the Black Hawk model designed for medical evacuation— that crashed during a nighttime training mission in Trigg County, near Fort Campbell, killing all nine soldiers on board.

The US Army released the names of the victims, all of them members of the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell

The list included Filipino-Americans Sgt. Isaac John Gayo, 27, from Los Angeles, California; and Cpl. Emilie Marie

AQUAPONICS.

A technician of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources tends to an aquaponics system at the International Ecotourism Travel Mart in Silang, Cavite. Urban aquaponics is a flagship project of BFAR in line with the Department of Agriculture’s plant, plant, plant program.

Norman Cruz

Eve Bolanos, 23, from Austin, Texas. They were reportedly born in the Philippines and enlisted in the US military in 2019.

Two US Army helicopters crashed during a nighttime training mission in Kentucky, killing all nine soldiers on board, a general said Thursday.

The crash was considered the deadliest such incident involving the military in more than eight years.

The aircraft were flying in formation with pilots using night vision goggles

during a routine training exercise, and were steered to land in an open field across from a residential area, avoiding deaths or injuries on the ground, Brigadier General John Lubas told a news conference.

The crash “resulted in the death of all nine service members aboard the aircraft,” all of them members of the 101st Airborne Division, which is based at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Lubas said.

Five soldiers were on one helicopter and four on another, with the military still working to notify all the families of those killed.

With an investigative team heading to Fort Campbell from the base where US Army Aviation is headquartered in Alabama, it was still unknown whether the

BI to stop using departure forms under expanded eTravel scheme

n By VITO BARCELO

Nemenzo is endorsed as UP chancellor

THREE members of the University of the Philippines (UP) board of regents have openly endorsed Dr. Fidel Nemenzo as chancellor of UP main in Diliman, Quezon City.

The three regents who represent the academe sector are Carlo Marc Ramota for faculty, Siegfred Raymundo Severino for student, and Victoria Canape-Belegal for staff.

The trio said that they want a UP Diliman chancellor who embodies the

traditions and principles of academic excellence, honor and democratic governance; advances the interests and welfare of the sectors and the rank-and-file employees; defends academic freedom and human rights; and defends the public character of UP as a national university.

On the basis of these qualifications, and the overwhelming support the various sectors of the community have manifested for Nemenzo, the

Turtle Islands to get P25-m town hall

n By NASH B. MAULANA

GEOGRAPHICALLY closer to Malaysia than to Manila, the country’s farthest constituents are assured of better access to Philippine government’s services, through the governance support programs being provided by the Bangsamoro Region to its component-local government units.

A P 25-million municipal hall building has been slated for completion in April in Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi by the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MILGBARMM).

MILG Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said the municipal hall projects granted to a number of BARMM’s 116 towns formed part of the 2021 Support to Local Moral Governance Fund of the Office of Chief Minister Ahod Al-Hadj Murad Ebrahim.

The same program, Sinarimbo said, also supports provision of barangay hall buildings to BARMM villages whose development had been stalled by armed conflict, initially, in Mindanao mainland.

Consisting of six small islands -- T ganak, Baguan, Langaan, Boan, Lihiman, and the Great Bakungan-- Turtle Islands municipality is closer even to Malaysia than to Tawi-Tawi’s capital town of Bongao.

three UP regents declared that they will vote for him.

A fourth regent, Raul Pagdanganan, has also indicated his endorsement of Nemenzo as the next UP Diliman chancellor.

The UP board of regents has eleven members, and a minimum of six votes are required for a candidate to win. The panel will meet on April 3 at the Quezon Hall to elect the next UP Diliman chancellor.

MMDA traffic aide in extort racket falls

n By JOEL E. ZURBANO

POLICE have arrested a traffic aide of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for alleged extortion in Port Area, Manila.

The suspect, identified as Rey Gaza, 53, was assigned at the MMDA Northern Traffic Enforcement Division – Traffic Reaction Unit. He was arrested in a joint entrapment operation conducted by the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the MMDA Intelligence and Investigation Office (IIO) on Friday.

The operation stemmed from the complaint of a trucking company owner operating in North Harbor and Valenzuela.

In his complaint, Salvador Jecino claimed that Gaza and his cohorts were exacting “payolas” amounting to P10,000 every month since 2019 from his trucking and transport service business.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes reiterated that they will never tolerate any wrongdoings like “kotong” or “payola” and other illegal activities in the ranks.

“The MMDA is serious in cleansing its rank. As a matter of fact, the agency is continuously cracking down against corrupt employees as part of its intensified cleansing program to weed out erring personnel,” Artes stressed.

two helicopters collided.

“We have a safety team coming... from Fort Rucker, Alabama who specialize in aircraft safety and specifically these investigations,” Lubas said.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear mourned the lost soldiers and praised those who responded to the crash.

“Freedom relies on those who are willing to serve, some of which pay the ultimate price,” the governor told the news conference.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement he is “saddenedby this tragic loss,” while White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told journalists that “we stand with all who are grieving in the wake of this terrible, truly terrible, accident.”

Cops nab suspect in DLSU-Dasma coed’s murder

POLICE have arrested the suspect in the March 28 killing of a 22-year-old graduating coed of the De La Salle University in Dasmariñas City, Cavite.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Jean Fajardo said the suspect, identified as Angelito Erlano alias Kulet, was nabbed Saturday morning and was brought to the Dasmariñas police station for questioning.

"PNP has taken custody of suspect Erlano after the PNP launched a massive hot pursuit operation for his arrest in the gruesome crime he committed against a De La Salle student," according to a statement by acting chief PNP public information chief Col. Redrico Maranan.

"The Dasmariñas City Police Station disclosed that a hot pursuit operation was conducted by the operatives of Dasmariñas City Police Station and Cavite Provincial Intelligence Unit which led to the identification of the suspect and the location of his house on March 29, 2023, at around 11:30 p.m., in Brgy. San Nicholas 2, Dasmarinas City, Cavite, through the backtracking of CCTV footage," the statement read. The school administration earlier vowed to tighten security measures after the incident, allowing increased police visibility and security marshals dormitories outside the school.

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) will discontinue the use of paper-based departure cards starting May 1. In an advisory, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said they are expanding the eTravel system to lessen the requirement for departing passengers. The setup—initially launched in December—harmonizes and consolidates data collection processes at ports of arrival.

“The eTravel platform will soon be used for both arriving and departing passengers,” Tansingco said.

“Travelers no longer have to fill out departure cards, and instead may log in the online portal prior to their flight,” he added.

The system is an initiative of a sub-technical working group (TWG) of the Inter-Agency Task Force, chaired by the BI. It is a joint project of the agency with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC).

According to eTravel TWG chairman Dennis Javier, starting April 15, departing passengers may log in to the platform within 72 hours but not later than three hours from their scheduled flight.

The online portal replaces the paper-based departure card which passengers were usually required to fill out prior to departure.

“This is a major step in streamlining documents presented by departing travelers, allowing for faster and more efficient immigration processing,” Tansingco said.

Egg farms incur losses, may shut down—group

EGG farms in the country are incurring losses due to low demand, an industry organization said on Saturday.

The Philippine Egg Board Association also raised the likelihood that some poultries might stop operation due to the high cost of feeds.

Gregorio San Diego, leader of the group, said egg prices went down over four straight weeks, resulting in lower egg production due to decreasing demand.

“Ang pinoproblema namin, ‘yung demand. Kasi palaging sinasabi na ‘yung supply mababawasan, magiging kaunti. Pero ang problema natin ngayon, ang nababawasan ‘yung pambili ng tao,” San Diego said in an ABS-CBN interview.

“Meron nang size kami, maliliit, below P5 na ang wholesale sa amin. Kaya lugi na naman kami. Ang manok, kinakain sa isang araw P5 na, ibang gastos pa... Lugi kami talaga,” he added.

San Diego said egg prices dropped to P1 a piece, while the price tag of small-size eggs was down to as much as P1.50 in the market.

“Tumataas ang presyo ng feeds, bumababa ang presyo ng aming itlog, eh ‘di lalong lalaki ang pagkalugi namin. Dadating na naman tayo sa marami ‘yung titigil kung ‘di na makakayanan ‘yung pagkalugi,” he said.

TOWN HALL FOR TURTLE ISLANDS. A P25-million municipal hall is fast taking shape on remote Turtle Islands in the Tawi-Tawi archipelago, set for completion this month under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (2nd right) inspects the new  San Miguel Global Power’s Battery Energy Storage System in Limay, Bataa. Also in photo are (from left) Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, San Miguel Corp. president and CEO Ramon Ang, and Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla. Ver Noveno

STAMPEDE AFTERMATH.

A bystander looks on at the site of a stampede in Karachi on April 1, 2023, a day after a crush during a Ramadan alms donation that has killed at least 11 people. Some 600 to 700 people were packed into a small industrial compound as a factory distributed alms in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi on March 31, officials said, and the stampede was sparked after the main gate was opened. AFP

Biden tells Russia: Release Wall Street Journal reporter

PRESIDENT Joe Biden called for Russia to release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being held on espionage charges, while rebuffing a call from the paper’s editorial board to expel Russian journalists from the United States.

Asked by White House reporters what his message was to Russia regarding Gershkovich, a US citizen, Biden said: “Let him go.”

The Wall Street Journal’s board of opinion editors called in a piece published Thursday afternoon for the expulsion of

Lawyer seeks acquittal for former dictator

THE lawyer of Suriname’s former dictator Desi Bouterse called Friday for a court to acquit him of a 20-year sentence over the deaths of 15 political prisoners.

Bouterse first seized power in a 1980 coup and in December 1982 allegedly rounded up 15 political opponents – including lawyers, journalists and businessmen – for execution at the Fort Zeelandia military barracks in the capital Paramaribo.

The 77-year-old had already been sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2019, but he has been challenging that verdict and under Surinamese law cannot be arrested before he exhausts the appeals processes.

“I ask for you to respond to the undeniable need of our society... forthe trial to end as soon as possible and with an acquittal,” said his lawyer Irvin Kanhai during the appeal hearing in Paramaribo.

Kanhai added it would be “wise and an act of patriotism to end” thetrial against Bouterse, who has always denied involvement in the murders.

Bouterse was all smiles when he left the court on Friday, greeting supporters who shook his hand and hugged him.

During the previous hearing in January, Bouterse admitted in court that he had heard gunshots on the day the prisoners were killed, but insisted he did not order their execution nor was he present for the killings.

He said he believed the gunshots were part of an effort to intimidate the inmates, who he claims were trying to overthrow him.

Instead, Bouterse accused his number two Paul Bhagwandas – who died in 1996 – of being responsible for the Fort Zeelandia violence.

The court is expected to issue its verdict in the second half of 2023.

Bouterse stepped down in 1987 under international pressure, but returned to power in 1990 in a second, bloodless coup. He left office a year later but was then elected president in 2010 and remained in the post until 2020. AFP

‘I am still alive’: Pope Francis leaves hospital

POPE Francis left hospital on Saturday after a three-night stay to treat bronchitis, stopping to say hello to well-wishers and joking he was “still alive.”

The 86-year-old pontiff, who was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday with breathing difficulties, got out of the car transporting him and smiled and joked with the crowd.

Asked by someone how he felt, he quipped twice with a big smile “I am still alive!”

As the crowds clapped, Francis headed off to the Vatican to begin preparations for Holy Week and Easter, the most important week in the Christian calendar.

The pontiff felt unwell Wednesday after a general audience in St Peter’s Square, but his condition improved after he was given antibiotics.

On Friday, the pope visited the children’s cancer ward at the hospital, handing out chocolate Easter eggs and even baptising a weeks-old baby boy, according to a video published by the Vatican.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis had been working earlier on Friday in the hospital’s private papal suite on the 10th floor and catching up on newspapers. On Thursday night, he ate pizza with some hospital staff.

The Argentine pope confirmed on Saturday he will preside over Palm Sunday mass in St Peter’s Square, the start of a busy week of events leading up to Easter.

Francis’ hospitalisation was his second since 2021, when he underwent colon surgery, also at Gemelli. AFP

Italy blocks chatbot ChatGPT over data

Russia’s ambassador to the United States, as well as “all Russian journalists working here,” describing the move as “the minimum to expect.”

“The timing of the arrest looks like a calculated provocation toembarrass the US and intimidate the foreign press still working in Russia,” it added.

The Journal’s editor in chief, Emma Tucker, sent a note to thenewspaper’s staff Friday, saying that “we will carry on doing everything in our power to secure Evan’s release.”

“Your safety and security are what matters most to me, and we will continue to protect that no matter where you may be reporting from,” she added.

Speaking to reporters before leaving to view tornado damage inMississippi, Biden said that expelling Russian journalists was “not the plan right now.”

Gershkovich is believed to be the first foreign journalist held for spying in post-Soviet Russia, and his arrest is expected to escalate the Kremlin’s confron-

tation with the West amid Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, responding to the editorial board’s demand that all Russian journalists be expelled, said “the newspaper can say that, but it should not happen. There’s just no reason for this.” He said that Gershkovich had been caught “red-handed.”

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Gershkovich denied thecharges against him at a court hearing in Moscow. He was remanded in custody until May 29 pending trial.

The case has been classified as “secret,” TASS reported, which restricts information that can be published about it.

The only details available are that Russia’s security agency announced it had “foiled an illegal activity” by arresting Gershkovich in Yekaterinburg—about 1,100 miles (1,800 kilometers) east of Moscow— on an unspecified date.

The 31-year-old journalist’s detention, on charges that carry a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars, is a serious escalation of Moscow’s sweeping crackdown on the media.

The White House condemned the arrest and warned Americans not to travel to Russia, while also advising those now inside the country to leave for their own safety.

“The targeting of American citizens by the Russian government is unacceptable. We condemn the detention of Mr. Gershkovich in the strongest terms,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

US officials said they were in touch with the family of Gershkovich as well as the newspaper and that the State Department had contacted Russia.

Several other US citizens are in jail including Paul Whelan, a former Marine, who was arrested in 2018 and handed a 16-year sentence on espionage charges that he denies. AFP

Trump says ‘shocked’ but ‘ready to fight’

DONALD Trump’s legal team went on the offensive on Friday following his historic indictment, vowing the former president would never seek a plea deal and was ready “to fight” all charges.

The 76-year-old Trump, who is hoping to recapture the White House in 2024, chimed in with attacks on the prosecutors who brought the charges against him and even the judge expected to hear the case.

“ELECTION INTERFERENCE, KANGAROO COURT!” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, adding that Juan Manuel Marchal, the judge who may preside over an eventual trial, “hates me.”

Trump is to be booked, fingerprinted and will have a mugshot taken at a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday afternoon before appearing before a judge as the first ever American president to face criminal charges.

“The president will not be put in handcuffs,” said Joe Tacopina, one of Trump’s attorneys, adding that he does not believe prosecutors will “allow this

MESSAGE OF APPROVAL.

A woman holds a sign approving the indictment of former US President Donald Trump near the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. A New York grand jury has voted to indict Trump over hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. AFP

to become a circus.”

Tacopina said the hush-money case being brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg against Trump faces “substantial legal challenges” and the former president would plead not guilty.

There is “zero” chance Trump would accept a plea deal, he told NBC’s Today show. “It’s not going to happen. There’s no crime.”

Trump, who is currently at his palatial Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, was initially “shocked” at the indictment, his attorney said, but “he’s now in the posture that he’s ready to fight this.”

Trump’s pending arrest throws a political grenade into next year’s White House race and President Joe Biden sidestepped questions from reporters about the indictment of the Republican he beat in 2020 and could potentially face again in November of next year.

“I have no comment on Trump,” Biden said.

A New York grand jury indicted Trump on Thursday over a $130,000 hush-money payment made to a porn star to buy her

silence during his 2016 campaign.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing and accused Bragg, a Democrat, of waging a “political witch-hunt” to derail his new White House bid.

In predicting his indictment, Trump called for protests and warned it could lead to “potential death and destruction” for the country.

And in a statement, the ex-president said he had already raised $4 million for his 2024 presidential campaign in the 24 hours following news of the indictment.

Extra security has been deployed for days around the downtown Manhattan courthouse where Trump is to be booked and arraigned, with the New York Police Department saying Friday there were “no current credible threats” to the city.

Trump survived two impeachments while in the White House and kept prosecutors at bay over everything from the US Capitol riot to missing classified files – only to land in court over a sex scandal involving Stormy Daniels, a 44-year-old adult movie actress. AFP

ITALY said on Friday it was temporarily blocking ChatGPT over data privacy concerns, becoming the first western country to take such action against the popular artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. The country’s Data Protection Authority said US firm OpenAI, which makes ChatGPT, had no legal basis to justify “the mass collection and storage of personal data for the purpose of ‘training’ the algorithms underlying the operation of the platform.”

ChatGPT caused a global sensation when it was released last year for its ability to generate essays, songs, exams and even news articles from brief prompts.

But critics have long fretted that it was unclear where ChatGPT and its competitors got their data or how they processed it. Universities and some education authorities have banned the chatbot over fears that students could use it to write essays or cheat in exams. AFP

Musk defends paid blue tick for Twitter

ELON Musk defended his controversial pay model for Twitter, claiming that any social media platform that didn’t follow suit would fail because they would be swarmed by bots. Musk made his prediction on the eve of Twitter’s April 1 ultimatum that verified accounts with the cherished blue tick that had not forked over cash would lose it.

“The fundamental challenge here is that it’s (easy) to create literally 10,000 or 100,000 fake Twitter accounts using just one computer at home and with modern AI (artificial intelligence),” Musk told a question and answer session on Twitter.

“That’s the reason for really pressing hard on verified where the verified requires a number from a reputable phone carrier and a credit card,” Musk said. AFP

Rights groups slam child rape sentence

WOMEN’S rights campaigners in Morocco slammed as “unjust” Friday the sentences handed down to three men accused of having repeatedly raped an 11-year-old girl.

On March 20, an appeals court in the capital Rabat sentenced one man to two years in prison and two to 18 months on charges of statutory rape and “violent indecent assault of a minor,” according to news website Medias24, which dubbed the sentences “shocking.”

The girl from a village near Rabat, who was 11 at the time of the abuse, was raped repeatedly over a period of months, the Jossour Forum of Moroccan Women said in a statement on Friday.

The group called for “more severe sentences in the face of such heinous crimes.”

The Moroccan penal code allows for prison terms of up to 20 years for the charges brought against the three defendants, who were also ordered to pay a combined 50,000 dirhams ($4,880) in compensation. AFP

PAL unlocks gateway to Western Australia

from the challenges of the pandemic. The flight symbolizes PAL’s determination to grow its network and conquer new markets,” Ng said.

PAL’s sustained penetration of global markets make up for lost opportunities during the pandemic, as it catches up with projected global airlines market growth of $762.65 billion by 2030, or 3.21 compounded annual growth rate from 2023 to 2030, according to Verified Market Research. The global airlines market value in 2022 was $551.32 billion.

“We are optimistic about the growth prospects for a Perth-Manila service. We hope to stimulate travel flows in both directions, so we may build up to more weekly flights eventually. We are now at 92 percent of our pre-pandemic flights. We have high hopes for the success of our Perth-Manila service. Indeed, Perth-Manila is the first international route we are introducing after the pandemic,” Ng said.

By Darwin Amojelar

PERTH, Australia—The flag carrier of the Philippines boosted its presence in Australia, with the opening of a fourth gateway, after Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Philippine Airlines’ documented inaugural flight to Perth opens new opportuni-

ties not only for the airline, but also for leisure and business travelers from both Western Australia and the Philippines, who are now presented with an option for a nonstop, long-haul flight.

The carrier touched down at Perth Airport on March 27, 2023—a major feat after pandemic woes caused a bottoming out of major businesses in the past three years with airlines, along with the tourism sector, taking the hardest blow.

“This new route expands Philippine Airlines’ footprint in Australia, making PAL the largest airline operator offering the most routes from the Philippines to this very important region of the world,” said PAL president and chief executive Captain Stanley Ng.

“We’re excited to launch the first new international route of Philippine Airlines since the pandemic, a sure sign that the world is waking up to a new era of opportunity and growth. And we’re excited to have this chance to invite

more Filipinos and other Asians to fly here and to have the holiday adventure of a lifetime, to pursue their educational goals, to do business in the economic heart of Western Australia,” he said.

Ng, a veteran pilot, commanded the maiden flight with a crew of three pilots and six flight attendants.

PAL is flying 7 hours direct to Perth thrice weekly on scheduled service every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

The non-stop flights save travelers about four to six hours in travel time compared to the regular routes of other airlines that require a stopover and flight connections to Perth.

The nonstop flights to Manila allow for connections to Cebu, Davao and other Philippine business and resort destinations. Travelers from Perth may also fly onward via nonstop PAL flights to the US West Coast, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand.

“This milestone journey celebrates the continuing recovery of our airline

IT WAS not too long ago when Genevieve Manalad assumed the highest post at Savemore Market and received the distinction of being the first woman president at Savemore. Manalad rose from being a management trainee to become the woman at the helm of SM Markets’ ubiquitous, round-the-corner boutique grocery stores.

A true blue SM lady, Manalad worked as a management trainee after being hired on the spot following a grueling 3-hour interview. She has served in various capacities leading to heading the operations department at Savemore and have worked side-by-side with Savemore’s former president Jojo Tagbo.

“If you want to know a person who is homegrown, then that’s me, because I never worked with another company except for SM,” she said, noting how her 24 years in SM Retail has shaped her into an all-around, highly-focused and organized business leader that she is now. She has taken a hands-on approach to effectively manage the day-to-day operations of Savemore’s vast network of over 200 stores. “While it’s possible to delegate there are certain crucial areas that require my strategic attention,” she said.

Through her experiences, Manalad has refined her skills and developed a deep love for her profession, spurring her to set her sights on loftier objectives and work tirelessly to accomplish them. With a combination of her innate charm and honed expertise, she takes on every hurdle that comes her way with grace and poise, making it a part of her vibrant lifestyle.

PAL is deploying a long-range Airbus—A321neo—that can accommodate 12 passengers in luxurious full-flat business class seats along with 156 Economy Class passengers. The roomy A321neo cabin has personal inflight

entertainment screens in each seat with Wi-FI connection. Already, the forward booking for Manila to Perth was “building up quite well” after a strong head start for the route, Ng said.

PR 224 Perth-Manila flight departs from Perth’s Terminal 1 International at 8:30 a.m. local time every Monday, Thursday and Saturday, and lands in Manila at 3:50 p.m., while PR 223

Manila-Perth service departs from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at 12:05 a.m., after midnight every Monday, Thursday and Saturday and arrives at Perth Airport at 7:15 a.m. on the same day.

Ng said PAL expects to serve, first and foremost, the 46,000 Filipinos working and residing in Western Australia where a good majority are working in the mining sector, while others are into healthcare. There is also a healthy population of Filipino students enrolled in various universities.

PAL will work with Tourism Western Australia authorities to support Perthbound travelers from the Philippines, North America and other Asian countries, highlighting a wealth of unique adventure and business opportunities

in Western Australia.

“Perth now joins Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in our Australian network—a milestone that underscores the growing trade relations and tourism activities that animate our two countries and help unite the Filipino and Australian people,” Ng said.

Australia is the Philippines’ third largest source of international visitors, with more than 89,000 Australians visiting the Philippines in 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, Australia ranked third in terms of travelers going to the Philippines. Latest data showed that the traveling Australians to the Philippines increased 4.76 percent to 63,468 visitors from 2021 arrivals.

With the new route, PAL offers a total of 20 weekly direct flights to all four gateways in Australia. The carrier’s market share for Manila to Australia reached 60 percent.

Perth Airport chief executive Kevin Brown said the new route would inject more than 52,000 seats into the market each year, as Perth is also keen on welcoming more Filipinos especially students who would help boost the education sector in Western Australia.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, who led the send-off ceremony in NAIA, underscored the importance of the aviation sector and its expansion to accommodate the rapid demand for air travel.

“Aviation is one indispensable mode of modern transport. This Perth inaugural flight will start to reconnect the lost air bridges and re-ignite the once robust tourism and trade relations with other countries,” he said.

Australian ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu joined the inaugural flight, along with other notable people including businessmen and government officials.

Yu believed the new routes would serve to further strengthen the collaboration of WA and the Philippines in business and culture.

PAL said it would continue to reopen markets that were discontinued during the pandemic to expand and strengthen its foothold in the global airline market. It recently resumed regular flights to China via Shanghai-Manila-Shanghai route while serving two other Chinese mainland cities of Guangzhou and Xiamen.

BPO firm recognized for people-centered policies at work

FOR the second year running,

Teleperformance earned the distinction as one of Philippines “Best Workplaces™ in 2023, during the Great Place to Work® Philippines first inperson recognition gala at Hilton Manila.

Teleperformance Philippines CEO Francisco Lara noted that the company continue to focus on people’s holistic wellbeing, given the evolving needs of businesses and employees in the new normal.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized once again as one of the Best Workplaces™ in the Philippines for our initiatives that inspire trust and commitment among our people. We

will solidify our efforts to support our people’s welfare and development and help enrich their experiences as citizens of the communities we serve,” he said.

Teleperformance, along with 35 workplaces in the Philippines, were recognized for being trailblazers in the art of connecting, leading, and inspiring employees.

The Philippines Best Workplaces™ List is highly competitive. Regarded as the global authority on workplace culture, seasoned consultants from Great Place to Work® curate the list using rigorous analytics and confidential employee feedback.

Life insurance firm offers affordable trust investments to Filipinos

INVESTING local and global Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs) is now more accessible to Filipinos as Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corporation (Manulife IM Philippines) lowers the minimum investment amount for all its funds from P5,000 to P1,000 starting March 2023.

Manulife announced that income payouts from Manulife investment portfolio that include Manulife Asia Dynamic Bond Feeder Fund, Manulife Global Preferred Income Feeder Fund, Manulife Global Multi-Asset

Diversified Income Feeder Fund and Manulife Global REIT Feeder Fund will shift from semi-annual to monthly income payouts starting August 1, 2023, allowing investors to actually experience return on their investment on a more regular basis.

Manulife’s Asia Pacific REIT Fund of Funds, which invests in a diversified portfolio of exchange-listed REITs in the Asia Pacific region, will continue to have semi-annual payouts but will have a lowered minimum investment

amount of P1,000 starting March 2023. Investors can receive their monthly income payouts via credit to their bank accounts or arrange for them to be topped up to their funds adding more value to their investments. Income payouts lower than P100 or $20 will be automatically reinvested into investors’ respective funds to enable them to earn more income over time.

Manulife investment funds are available on Manulife iFunds, an easy-to-use one-stop digital fund investment platform that allows investors to manage their portfolios anytime, anywhere.

Manulife IM Philippines has 19 Funds available, providing investors access to local and global investment opportunities depending on their goals, needs, and risk profiles. In 2022, the company already became one of the country’s largest fund managers, with more than P162.6 billion in assets under management (AUM), a net income of P84.3 million, and a customer base of over 13,000 investors.

PAL president and CEO Captain Stanley Ng is the pilot-in-command of the flag carrier’s maiden flight to Perth, Australia via PR223. Assisting him in the controls of PAL’s 168- seater Airbus A321 is first officer Jose Joel Mira (right).

By Gabriella Andrea Tresvalles

to

ACCORDING

Bangko Sentral ng

Pilipinas, our inflation has been at an all-time high in 14 years, with 8.7% in January, beating the forecast of both private economists and BSP of 7.3% to 8.3%. This economic situation is due to the increase in essential goods and services.

cuisine for ideas—partly because of the Korean wave, but mostly, Korean food is known for its healthy yet affordable approach to food.

Last Thursday, March 16, the Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines held a "Korean Home Cooking with Sangkap Pinoy" workshop in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Their event aims to bring Filipino closer to Korean food made at home.

During the workshop, the participants cooked two dishes: Lapu-Lapu Maewuntang, Spicy Stew with LapuLapu, and Lapu-lapu Jeon or Lapu-lapu Pancake. The Sayote Janggaji or pickles

Korean

Cultural Center launches workshop on home-cooked Korean meals for Filipinos

The dishes in KCC’s workshop include (from left) Lapu-lapu jeon (Korean pancakes), Maewuntang (Spicy Stew with Lapu-lapu), and Sayote Jangajji (pickles) (Source: Korean Cultural Center’s Facebook page)

cooked rice. It usually consists of bap (or cooked rice), guk or tang (or soup), and kimchi. There can usually be around three, five, seven, and nine side dishes best served in a meal. It can go as many as 12 side dishes but is usually more common in Korean royal cuisine.

Participants listen intently to Chef Lily as she explains the recipes’ importance in Korean culture (Source: Korean Cultural Center’s Facebook page)

With the price increase of meat and vegetables, people needed more ideas about what to cook for their families.

Some people leaned into Korean

were prepared beforehand by Chef Lily

Min These said meals are called Banchan—small side dishes served with

MrBeast brings burger joint to Manila

GLOBAL YouTube sensation Jimmy Donaldson, popularly known as “MrBeast,” brought his famous burger chain to the Philippines last March 22, Wednesday. This fast-growing virtual restaurant serves meaty burgers and chicken sandwiches that will surely be loved by MrBeast’s loyal followers and food lovers alike.

Beastly beginnings

MrBeast Burgers began as a unique pop-up restaurant last November 2020, when MrBeast and his closest friends Chandler Chris, and Karl, launched the “world’s first free restaurant” in Wilson, North Carolina. Aside from Burgers, they also gave away stacks of cash to customers and brand-new gadgets through drive-thru pick-ups. Millions of fans came, and the YouTube video about the event garnered over 125 million views. The success of the pop-up led to the creation of an all-digital MrBeast Burgers joint, where customers can only order through any existing delivery app or download the exclusive MrBeast Burgers app. The ghost kitchen launch was another success, with sold-out orders across 300 contracted locations in the United States.

Last September 4, MrBeast opened a physical burger restaurant at the American Dream Mall in New Jersey, USA, with thousands of fans lining up to try MrBeast’s menu. Over 5,500 burgers were ordered during the event, setting a new record for the most burgers sold by a single restaurant in one day.

Chicken Sandwich Combo, Beast Style Fries, and Beast Style Burger Combo. Other options are crispy chicken tenders, Karl’s grilled cheese, and the Nashville Hot Chicken Tender sandwich.

Bringing the Beast to Southeast Asia

After their record-breaking debut in New Jersey, MrBeast sets his sights on expanding overseas- particularly in the Philippines. MrBeast Burgers’ operation in the country will be under JustKitchen Philippines, a leading world-class virtual kitchen operator founded by experienced food service industry professionals.

JustKitchen is a platform that makes it possible for delivery-only restaurants to operate efficiently at lower overhead costs and less wastage. They have a network of “hub and spoke” kitchens, bringing in several food brands in the country, such as InLuck, Master Don, and now Mr.Beast Burgers. Much like the digital venture of MrBeast Burgers, in which the operations are made possible with the help of third-party couriers and apps, MrBeast burgers will also be available to order on GrabFood for delivery and pick up.

Satisfying servings of the Nashville Hot Chicken Tender sandwich

MrBeast Burgers offer a variety of choices with their bestsellers named after the founders, Chandler Style, Chris Style, Beast Style, and Karl’s Deluxe Burgers. These well-loved burgers are known for their smash burger style – with patties smashed on the grill, cooked to deliver twice the flavor in one dish.

Fans can also try Jimmy’s Favorites,

which include Chocolate Chip Cookie,

MrBeast Burgers bestsellers are named after the founders

Like the hit launch of their first pop-up, MrBeast Burgers took Manila by storm on the week of March 22 with free burgers, free fries, and BOGO on their bestsellers for customers. This iconic launch, followed by a series of activations, is an event that fans, foodies, and curious customers wouldn’t want to miss. Updates will be posted on the Facebook pages and other social media accounts of MrBeast Burger PH and JustKitchen PH. Check out their official website and online menu to know more about MrBeast Burgers, the team behind it, and what you can expect for the launch.

The burgers are available to order via GrabFood for delivery or pick-up

The first Korean dish that Chef Lily taught was Maewun-tang, or spicy fish stew. Coming from its name—a combination of two words, "maewun" (hot and spicy) and "tang" (soup)— this is a hot spicy fish soup boiled with gochujang (Korean red chili pepper paste), chili powder, and various vegetables such as kangkong, bean sprout, and radish, which are readily available at our local markets.

Maewun-tang is one of Korea's most popular dishes while drinking alcoholic

drinks. As you can see from your favorite K-drama or K-variety shows, they allow customers in specialty seafood restaurants to select the fish they want for their soup.

The soup is made from leftover fish parts if they ordered sashimi on the side.

The next dish was the Lapu-lapu jeon or pancake. Jeon is a fritter in Korean cuisine made in whole, sliced, or minced food. These pancakes are usually seasoned, coated with wheat flour, egg wash, and pan-fried. Korean pancake is an easy recipe that can also be made by busy people, most especially workers, and students.

ARTIST’S CORNER

THERE’S no limit to making art or where artists can draw inspiration. Take it from Zachiko G. Jontongco, a Grade 10 student from Victorious Christian Montessori College Inc. He began making his pieces after being inspired by simple yet vibrant subjects around him.

“The more colorful and balanced the subject is, the more inspired I get! But, usually, when I scroll through social media, specifically Instagram and Twitter. I see other artists (mostly oil painters) and their works, which are so beautiful and motivational, which gives me the drive to work!” he said.

Jontongco began recognizing his

Jeon can serve as an appetizer, a side dish, or an anju-- food eaten with alcoholic drinks, the Korean version of our local pulutan.

The last dish that Chef Lily taught in the workshop was Jangajji, or pickles. With chayote and its seasoning consisting of soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar, Chef Lily brought it to a boil and stored it in a tight container. The difference between kimchi and pickled vegetables is that the former is fermented, and the latter is not. When the workshop ended, the participants learned how to cook Korean dishes without breaking the bank.

talent at four years old. His cousin would doodle blobs and comicstyled whips on paper. It piqued the young Jontongco’s interest, so he began drawing everything from his colorful imagination. He usually draws characters and people he likes, often from pop culture or the people around him.

“My art style is very versatile, but I’m still finding the right style that fits and corresponds to me the most! The artists that inspire my art style are Will Rochfort (@willrochfortart), Safeyah Aljabouri (@aljabouri), and Scott Christian Sava (@ssavaart),” he shared.

“Lady Gaga portrait” THIS painting is my favorite! The shot, which I drew inspiration from, was taken during her performance of the national anthem of the USA at the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

“Leo”

IT is a commissioned piece for my friend and classmate, who requested a portrait of her dog! Leo is sitting on a stone fence that shows the view of Mt. Rainier.

“Billie Eilish’s ‘Happier Than Ever’ album cover” I REALLY liked her complexion, so I got inspired to paint her.

“Charlie & Chuckie”

THIS is a portrait of my beloved pets, Charlie the cat and Chuckie the dog. Charlie passed two years ago during the process of painting, making the pieces more sentimental.

UNABLE to steer AMC-Cotabato to a top Spikers’ Turf finish, Jau Umandal still lifted the Most Valuable Player trophy behind his conference-long exploits in the Open Conference won by Cignal in record fashion at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum

The 25-year-old former University of Sto. Tomas star emerged as the second leading scorer at the end of the semifinals after tallying a total of 236 points on 203 attacks, 22 blocks and 11 aces.

He also finished inside the Top 5 in all scoring categories, placing third in the spiking department (45.82 percent), winding up fourth in blocking (0.47 per set), and posting another fourth-place effort in serving (0.23 per set).

Iloilo’s Jade Disquitado and Wendel Miguel of Cignal shared the Best Outside Hitters honors while HD Spiker Ysay Marasigan nabbed the Best Opposite Spiker award.

Cignal swept Cotabato in the best-ofthree finals, completing a perfect season of 15 wins.

Disquitado, the top leading scorer of the Open Conference, finished with a total of 293 points on 270 attacks, 12 blocks and 11 service aces, while Miguel placed 10th in scoring with 122 points built on 109 attacks, nine blocks and four aces.

The 18-year-old rising star placed fifth in the spiking category with a 45.30-percent success rate and the sixth-best server with an average of 0.20 per set.

Meanwhile, the former UP standout shone on both ends after entering the finals as the second most efficient spiker with a success rate of 45.99 percent and the fourth best in digging (1.39 per set) and receiving (51.27-percent).

Marasigan, on the other hand, tallied 110 points off 95 attacks, eight blocks, and seven aces to finish 13th in scoring.

He is also ninth in spiking efficiency

with 40.43 percent and 10th from the service line with 0.16 per set.

JP Bugaoan of Cignal and Mfena Gwaza of the D’Navigators took the Best Middle Blocker awards while Manuel Sumanguid III (Cignal) and JM Apoli-

nario (Iloilo) were named the Best Libero and the Best Setter of the tournament organized by Sports Vision. Bugaoan ranked sixth in scoring after putting up 158 points on a league-high 37 blocks, 116 points, and five service aces.

He averaged 0.84 blocks per set, another league-high. Gwaza had 128 points, good for eighth, built on 85 attacks, 32 blocks, and 11 aces. He is also second in the blocking department with an average of 0.59 per set.

NU stomps UP for 27th straight men’s volley win

REIGNING champion National University needed four sets to defeat the luckless University of the Philippines, 25-14, 25-18, 23-25, 25-21, and remain unbeaten in the UAAP Season 85 men’s volleyball tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

The Bulldogs improved to 9-0 and stretched their winning streak to 27 games dating back to Season 81.

The Fighting Maroons, meanwhile, slipped to 0-9, putting them on the brink of elimination.

Angelo Lipata and Louis Gamban pulled off back-to-back points for the Fighting Maroons. The former denied Kennry Malinis before the latter drilled an off-the-block hit, forcing a fourth set.

However, Michaelo Buddin and the Bulldogs’ blocking came alive in the fourth, fending off UP’s rally from 18-24 down, to finish the match in one hour and 56 minutes.

“Sa bi ko balik lang tayo kasi talagang tinrabaho ng UP yung third set talaga, although doon sa third set na yun kami yung nagkulang talaga,” said NU head

coach Dante Alinsunurin, also the former head coach of the Philippine Men’s National Volleyball Team.

“Sabi ko nga sa mga players ko bumalik lang kung ano ang ginawa natin nung first at second sets, ituloy lang natin, at kailangan maging agresibo pa tayo sa ginagawa natin,” he continued.

Nico Almendras had a game-high 19 points to go with 13 excellent receptions and five digs, while Malinis backed him up with 17 points, including a match-best six blocks.

Joshua Retamar dished out 15 excellent sets, as Buddin finished with 12 points, while middle blockers Obed Mukaba and Gerard Diao got nine and eight points, respectively.

Gamban made 13 points and 21 excellent receptions for the Fighting Maroons, while Ranz Cajolo and Lipata produced 11 points apiece. Both teams will return on April 12 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, the first gameday after the Holy Week break. UP will face Ateneo de Manila University at 9 a.m., while NU will battle

Trisha, Lady Falcons continue to soar

ADAMSON University beat Ateneo de Manila University in three sets, 25-23, 25-17, 26-24, to remain in solo second in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Saturday.

The Lady Falcons had to weather the Blue Eagles’ fiery comeback from 22-16 down, thanks to Bea Lomocso’s three aces and a successful challenge by coach Oliver Almadro. With Adamson at match point, 24-23, Faith Nisperos went crosscourt but it was called out. The Blue Eagles then called for a ball in/ball out the challenge and were deemed successful to extend the third frame.

But Trisha Tubu and Lucille Almonte nailed back-to-back hits for the Lady Falcons sweep,

Blu Girls open Asia Cup bid

THE RP Blu Girls arrived in South Korea on Saturday and set

extending their winning streak o three matches.

“We used the timeout, and then meron pa naman isang puntos bago sila mag tie so I’m trying to relay na walang pressure, lalaro lang, relax,” said Adamson head coach Jerry Yee on the endgame.

The Lady Falcons remained second at 7-2, a full game ahead of the University of Santo Tomas and National University, while also snapping the Blue Eagles’ two-game winning run to sink to 3-6. This was also Adamson’s first elimination round head-to-head sweep of Ateneo since 2008-09 (Season 71). The duo of Kate Santiago and Tubu was flexing anew with 18 and 17 points, respectively, with the former adding nine digs.

Apolinario, meanwhile, placed second in the setting department with an average of 4.41 sets per set while Sumanguid dominated the receiving (60.30 percent) and digging (2.34 per set) categories after placing first in both.

Suzuki, Taguchi reign supreme at Southwoods

SHINICHI Suzuki and Teruhisa Taguchi came away with 72 Aggregate points at Legends as they edged the Justin Tambunting-Eric Escalona pair by one for the overall gross championship in the Southwoods Invitational in Carmona, Cavite yesterday.

The Suzuki-Taguchi and Tambunting-Escalona tandems slugged it out scorching conditions for two rounds, matching 82s in Best Ball at the Masters but the former’s combined closing 72-point output for a 154 netted them the crown in Manila Southwoods’ premier member-guest tournament.

Tambunting and Escalona settled for a 71 for second at 153 while Allan Yap and Zachary Villaroman placed third with a 144 after a 66 (Legends) and 78 (Masters).

The battle for the overall net trophy likewise went down-tothe-wire with Melchor Bacsa and Alexander Festejo thwarting the Willy Tee Ten-Fritz Jerrold Lacap in the tiebreak after both teams finished with 180s from identical 84s and 96s at Legends and Masters, respectively.

Richard Chua and Fernando Lim scored a 178 after 84 and 94 and finished third in the event supported by year-round sponsor Royal Caribbean/Baron Travel, hole-in-one sponsors Ogawa, Alpine Motors Philippines, Toyota Silang, Pagcor Casino Filipino and Klio International.

Bacsa and Festejo completed a twinkill as they ruled the Sponsors/Guests category, beating the Eimie Hedeager-Sarah Cruz (8096-176) by four. Anthony See and Christopher Ilagan placed third with a 171 after an 81 and a 90 in the four-day tournament backed by Platinum sponsors The Turf Company, Inc., CWC International Corp. and Newport World Resorts and gold backers Agrexplore Corp., Alpha Quality (GFX) Leads Agriculture/Malveda Properties Development Corp., Mikro-Tech Capital, Inc./ Capital One Energy, Inc., The Manor and The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay..

The other winners were Division I – Renie Floro and Kazuo Murakami (74-96-170); Division II – Pablo Olivarez and Roberto Leviste (83-94-177); Division III – Chua and Lim (84-94-178); Division IV – Richard Santos and Mich Miguel (81-94-175); and Division V – Willy Tee Ten and Fritz Lacap (84-96-180).

Kiana V sings new mental health anthem for the youth

IWANT To Be Here,”

a song made through a collaboration between leading telehealth service KonsultaMD and some of the country’s hottest artists, Kiana V, Nix Damn P, and Curtismith, is fast gaining popularity as a mental health anthem for the younger generation.

The song aims to motivate individu� als to voice out their mental health con� cerns and seek support. It is a powerful reminder that no one has to face their struggles alone, and there are always resources available for those in need.

Since its launch, “I Want To Be Here” has garnered significant public interest and has hit main� stream media, with numerous radio pickups and local DJs including it in their setlists in clubs around the metro. The heartfelt message of this music piece has earned high praise, with many people saying that it has helped them express how they feel.

During the song’s first week of release, Kiana V was invited to perform it live on the popular Wish Bus of Wish FM 107.5, which helped increase its exposure.

The joint project is a continuation of KonsultaMD’s mental health awareness campaign, which started with the successful “Be Kind To Your Mind” concert in 2021.

“Music has a unique ability to connect with people and commu� nicate powerful messages,” said Cholo Tagaysay, KonsultaMD’s Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that “I Want To Be Here” is more than just a song � it’s a powerful tool to raise awareness and support for mental health. We hope that it will inspire people to prioritize their mental health and seek help when they need it.”

In less than a month, the song has amassed over 20,000 audio streams on Spotify and Apple Music. It continues to pick up steam, especially on TikTok,

younger generation

where the #IWantToBeHere dance challenge is growing in popularity. This dance challenge aims to further spread awareness by asking the au dience to express how they feel through dance and music.

“I Want To Be Here” is now live on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

The new mental health anthem continues to gain significant public interest and has hit mainstream media

‘Voltes V Legacy’ sneak peek to be shown in cinemas

GMA Network gives a sneak peek of what fans can expect from the live�ac� tion adaptation of the hit anime series via Voltes V Legacy: The Cinematic Experience on April 19.

This will show the special version of the first three weeks of the series before its premiere on primetime TV in May.

A touching story of love for family, the one minute and 30 seconds clip fea tures Earth’s last line of defense – the Voltes team and their super robot, Voltes V – as they battle the evil Boazanian Forces who are about to invade and an nihilate the Earth.

After GMA dropped the teaser trailer last Friday, netizens and fans of the popular ‘70s Japanese anime took to social media to praise and express

their excitement about its power house cast, world class set, and cutting-edge visual effects and ani mation.

Voltes V Legacy is touted to be the network’s most expensive and biggest TV production to date. The live�action adaptation is produced by GMA Network in partnership with Toei Company, Ltd. and Telesuccess Productions Inc.

Acclaimed local animators from Riot Inc., and GMA’s Post Video Graphics and Audio team handled the program’s heavy CGI and other visual effects.

Voltes V Legacy: The Cinematic Experience will exclusively be shown in SM Cinemas from April 19 to 25.

The most anticipated six-member boy group Pluus

Pluus

P-Pop’s newest boy group

PLUUS, the most anticipated boy group set to debut this year, is summarizing all its pre-debut preparations in its first-ever 3�in�1 showcase (debut stage, media con ference, and fan gathering): PLUUS +ime is Now

The six member boy group is being managed by SBTown, and is under the record label, Universal Records.

The name of the group came from the combination of the words “Plus” and “Us”

which means that “Pluus (pronounced as ‘plus’) and its fandom are together in this jour ney from the start and will continue to stick together for a long time and that the boys will be here to ‘add’ good things in their life.”

The boys of Pluus debuted in their showcase, PLUUS +ime is Now yesterday at Power Mac Center Spotlight, Circuit Makati. They prepared a triple set of sur prises for this event. Everything from their dance skills, vocals, and rap skills. This

3�in�1 showcase came with the addition of exploring the details of their debut album: PLUUS +.Y.M Pluus members collectively wrote the songs and choreographed the dance for this debut. The music video was also unveiled in the event ahead of its official release on their YouTube channel. Before debuting, the boys of Pluus went through four years of extensive training and hardships.

The 1975 drops new single culled from acclaimed ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’ album

ENGLISH pop rock band, The 1975, delivered a stunning performance of “Oh Caroline” on NBC’s Saturday Night Live earlier last month, where the band featured as the musical guest alongside host Jenna Ortega and also showcased its previous single “I’m In Love With You.”

Last month saw the band crowned ‘Best Rock/Alternative Act’ at the 2023 BRIT Awards before announc ing its biggest ever headline show at London’s Finsbury Park. Taking place on July 2, the band will be top ping an incredible bill featuring Cigarettes After Sex, Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers, The Japanese House, and American Football, with the tickets selling out within two minutes of go ing on sale.

The band is currently touring its new At Their Very Best show, taking in arenas across USA, Canada, UK and Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia over the next twelve months, with

over 500 thousand tickets sold to date.

Between the impressive staging, high�concept performance art, surprise appearances from friends like Phoebe Bridgers, Jack Antonoff, and Taylor Swift, and the excess of viral mo ments, the tour has been lauded as a band truly in its prime.

Formed in Manchester in 2002, The 1975 has established itself as one of the defining bands of its generation with its distinctive aesthetic, ardent fanbase, and unique sonic approach.

Released last October, the band’s fifth studio album Being Funny In A Foreign Language was met with lavish praise, with The FACE labeling it “an album of massive tunes, pristine produc tion, and sincere romanticism” and Rolling Stone US vowing the al bum sees the band “reassert them selves at the forefront of 2020s pop�rock.”

The cast of ‘Voltes V: Legacy’

The Cat’s Spleen: Anatomical Structure, Function, Ailments and Treatments CAT ANATOMY

Pawsbook

WE HAVE been encountering posts on dogs, cats, and other animals on Facebook that are eye-openers, or inspiring, or enlightening, or educational, or can make one feel good during a stressful day, or make one encouraged to help the poor souls among us.

By Mariana Burgos

WHEN asked to describe the function of the heart, kidneys, or lungs, most individuals can give you a relatively accurate explanation. However, despite the fact that everyone has heard of the spleen, you are likely to be met with blank looks. Let us put an end to the mystery and explore into the realm of the feline spleen and what it does.

Anatomical Structure

The feline spleen is a dark red organ situated near the stomach, according to Dr. Bari Spielman in his article, "Structure and Function of the Spleen in Cats." It is longer than it is wide, and it resembles a massive tongue. It is surrounded by a strong fibrous tissue capsule, and blood arteries enter and exit the spleen on the same side, in a region known as the "pedicle."

Although the exact position varies at times, the spleen is normally found in the cranial section of the abdomen on the left side. The spleen can really transfer position to the right side of the body, or to the caudal section of the belly, depending on its size and form, as well as the size of the surrounding organs (for example, if the stomach is full).

The internal anatomy of the spleen is composed of "red pulp" and "white pulp" sections, as well as a "marginal zone" that divides the white and red pulp. According to Dr. Spielman, the red pulp includes multiple sinuses that are engorged with blood, giving the spleen its typical red appearance.

The red pulp filters foreign proteins, bacteria, and faulty or aged red blood cells. The white pulp is where red blood cells are formed, as well as immune system cells. The principal function of the marginal zone — the region that separates the red pulp from the white pulp — is blood filtration.

Function of the Organ

A cat can survive without a spleen. The spleen can be surgically removed if required, and most animals will be alright. However, the spleen serves crucial tasks, and having one is obviously preferable to not having one. For one thing, it aids in "hematopoiesis," or the formation of red blood cells. The bone marrow is the primary location of red blood cell synthesis, with the spleen coming in second. The spleen is also a storage place for red blood cells and platelets, so if the body suddenly requires more red blood cells in circulation, the spleen has the potential to contract and flood the bloodstream with more blood, says Dr. Spielman.

Filtration is another crucial function of the spleen. The spleen in your cat serves as a huge filter, trapping and removing old or aberrant blood cells from circulation. The spleen also traps and removes bacteria, foreign proteins, and aged cells by phagocytosis, a process in which immune system cells within the spleen devour the offending particles. Finally, the spleen participates in the immunological response, which is an essential role.

Ailments of the Feline Spleen

Spleen disorders can be classified as either primary or secondary. Dr. Spielman tells us that the spleen itself is the location of the ailment in primary spleen illnesses. However, a systemic illness that occurs elsewhere in the body might also have a secondary effect on the spleen.

Splenomegaly or splenic enlargement, according to Michele K. who wrote the article, "Enlarged Spleen in Cats", says that it is the most prevalent aberrant finding suggesting a splenic

issue. Physical examination may typically discover this by carefully touching the contents of the abdominal cavity.

There are two types of feline spleen enlargement: localized and generalized. A splenic mass is a focused enlargement of the spleen caused by localized splenomegaly. A generalized splenomegaly is a widespread swelling of the spleen. Dogs are more likely to have localized splenomegaly, but cats are more likely to have broad splenomegaly.

Once splenomegaly is diagnosed, numerous diagnostic techniques can be used to determine the reason of the enlargement. A complete blood count, serum chemical test, urinalysis, and abdominal radiographs might all be informative, according to Michele K. Abdominal ultrasonography is a great non-invasive method for determining whether the enlargement is localized or widespread, as well as for further defining the underlying illness process.

In many circumstances, collecting a sample of splenic cells is the only way to make a clear diagnosis. This can be achieved with either aspiration or biopsy. Michele K. tells us that fine-needle aspiration

is a technique that involves inserting a needle linked to a syringe into the spleen. A sample from the spleen is then aspirated into the needle's hub and sprayed onto a microscope slide. The slides are subsequently forwarded to a laboratory where a clinical pathologist will assess them. Under ultrasound guidance, aspiration can be conducted with relatively little sedation. This is a safe and dependable approach of assessing patients with splenomegaly.

Treatment/s to Spleen Disorders

The treatment choices indicated will be determined by the underlying reasons of the enlarged spleen. An enlarged spleen is usually indicative of another underlying medical issue. Before creating a good therapy for your cat, it is critical for your veterinarian to discover the reason. In extreme circumstances, splenectomy (splenectomy) may be recommended.

Michele K.’s says veterinarians may prescribe

1. corticosteroids to minimize inflammation in the spleen and other organs.

2. Antibiotics will be administered if the enlargement is caused by a bacterial infection.

3. Immunosuppressants, which work to suppress the immune system's reactivity, will be used to treat autoimmune main causes.

4. Chemotherapy, which works to eliminate cancer cells in the cat's body, can be used to treat cancer.

5. Cats with severe anemia may require iron supplements.

6.Fungal infection medications may also be provided.

As stated in Michele K.’s article, the veterinarian may need to remove all or part of the cat's spleen in situations of splenic torsion or trauma. (splenectomy). This will be done under general anesthesia at the hospital. The entire spleen or a portion of it will be removed, and the blood arteries connected to it will be clamped and knotted. After that, the incision site will be closed. Surgery may also be required to remove any tumors or masses caused by cancer.

About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist. She is a solo parent for 16 years now because she is wife to a desaparecido. She and her daughter are animal lovers and are active in advocating not only human rights but the rights of animals as well.

Sunday Pets would like to share these notable posts of netizens and groups through this space called Pawsbook.

She was 18. Her people, who loved her whole life, took her, a vaccination booklet, a leash, a collar and her belongings and took her to the Baldwin Park shelter.

They said they were tired of fighting with an older dog, signed papers and left, without even looking at her.

When she was picked up by a volunteer at the shelter, she leaned on him probably wishing it was all just an ugly dream.

The moment was immortalized by photographer John Hwang, who was in the shelter at the time.

Unfortunately, dogs love sincerely, with all their heart, with all their soul and are unable to understand that human 'love forever' most often has an expiration date.. - to annual, to moving, to illness, to old age...

Dogs definitely deserve better people �

I Hate Dog Breeders

Every rescue dog has a story to tell...

This is Flyn's story:

"Flyn was bred for hunting, many years he served his master and did everything they wanted him to do. But Flyn never really cared too much about hunting and killing and all that, he loved everything and everybody and wanted affection more than anything. The person who had him took a baseball bat and hit him so hard that his skull broke and he lost his eye and teeth. Somehow he survived and got away, roaming as a stray. He ended up in many shelters, no one ever wanted him, even though he had so much love to give. Then, one day with about 13 years of age already, someone looked into his one eye and fell in love instantly. They both felt something very special was happening and Flyn found his first and last loving forever home that day. He had 3 amazing years before he finally closed his one eye forever.

For that person he was more than just a dog, he was family and he opened a whole new world of understanding and started a passion for rescue! Thank you Flyn! https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/ emoji.php/v9/tac/1/16/2665.pngRIP!"

Thilakasiri Bandara

Old and alone, I thought a dog would fill my existence.

I found him in the street, dirty, hungry, I stroked him, he followed me without fear.

Now he's my dog, I'm his owner.

I talk to him, he answers me by washing my hands.

"Fido tomorrow we won't have anything to eat, the retreat is over, we'll have to wait!".

This blessed day arrives, online, with the other retirees, the booklet broken by time, clutched in my hands, I await my turn. Fido is shaking happily. He knows that today we are going to eat more and a little better.

It's already winter. My house is cold without fire. He is close and warms me. The beginning of spring finds us united in giving thanks to the sun, while from my heart, a prayer is born: ‘Thank you Lord for having created the dog.’” Compiled by DC

Maria Cristina Rizea

The cat’s anatomy. (Photo from Dreamstine royalty-free images.)

A cat being examined by the vet. (Photo from Dreamstine royalty-free images.)

aspirate

cat with splenomegaly. (Photo from the Vetstream website.)