Manila Standard - 2023 April 16 - Sunday

www.manilastandard.net

Oil spill damage nears P1b

As PBBM directs LGUs to find more fishing grounds for Mindorenos

n By VITO BARCELO AND VINCE LOPEZ

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos has directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government to meet with local chief executives and discuss alternative fishing grounds to allow fisherfolk displaced by the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro to fish in other waters around the province.

The President issued the directive during a situation briefing with the different national government agency heads and mayors in Pola town.

This developed as the damage cost and losses due to the oil spill from the sunken motor tanker Princess Empress are about to breach the P1billion mark, according to data from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Some P441.25 million in income has been lost in 22 fishing days due to the Mindoro oil spill, the BFAR said Saturday.

Meanwhile, the damage or losses

in terms of inputs and produce, fishing gears and paraphernalia, and facilities and equipment amounted to P445,333,928.

These include fisheries production losses from MIMAROPA’s commercial and municipal fisheries valued at P14,138,400 and damage to 119 metric tons of seaweed productions in Western Visayas valued at almost P3 million, BFAR director Demosthenes Escoto added. Data from the bureau showed more than 26,000 fisherfolk were directly affected by the oil spill.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development

BIG SLICK. An aerial inspection shows the gleam of an oil slick near the coast of Pola, Oriental Mindoro on Saturday, when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (inset) visited the province to assess the rehabilitation from the massive oil spill from the sunken MT Princess Empress last February. OPS photos

Remulla knows where Bantag is, had ex-BuCor chief tailed by DOJ

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla knows where Gerald Bantag can be found, after the Philippine National Police deployed tracker teams to arrest the former Bureau of Corrections director charged with plotting the death of broadcaster Percy Lapid and killing an inmate involved in the assassination.

Remulla revealed this during an interview on One News after a Las Pinas court issued arrest warrants against Bantag and former BuCor Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta, both of whom are facing non-bailable murder charges over the death of New Bilibid

Prison (NBP) inmate Jun Villamor.

“We have a general idea of where he is,” Remulla said. “We’ve been following his movements for the past few weeks but I haven’t spoken to those doing that.”

“Of course it’s our job to know where the person may be before, because that’s part of the job of the Department of Justice,” he added.

Aside from Bantag, Remulla said Zulueta is also “being followed by our people.”

“We’ve been trying to keep track of his movements so we have a general idea of his location,” he said.

continues to provide various interventions to families and individuals affected by the oil spill to complement the disaster response operations and efforts of their respective local government units.

Mr. Marcos instructed DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. to schedule a dialogue with the local officials of the four fishing sites within the Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions that could be tapped by the affected fishermen.

The four alternative fishing sites in Regions 4-A and 4-B include the Mindoro Strait in Mindoro Oriental; Cuyo Pass in Batangas; Tablas Strait in Romblon; and Tayabas Bay in Quezon.

Calabarzon (Region 4-A) is composed of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon while Mimaropa (Region 4-B) is composed of the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

The Chief Executive also assured that the national government, through the BFAR – an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture currently under the President’s supervision -- and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will continue monitoring the situation on the ground. “DENR will continue to monitor the situation. BFAR will continue to monitor the situation. As soon as it becomes clear, and we can go back to the old normal going to the new normal,” the President pointed out.

Gov: Puerto Galera fails 4 straight water qualiy tests

PUERTO Galera and nearby areas failed four consecutive water quality tests, making the popular tourist destination unsafe for swimming and other water activities, Oriental Mindoro Governor Bonz Dolor said Saturday.

“As far as water quality is concerned, salt water, from Puerto Galera to Bulalacao, bagsak (failed the test),”

Dolor told reporters at Pola town, where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited.

The governor said the latest results showed water quality was down even prior to Holy Week owing to the level of oil or grease followingthe massive oil spill triggered by the sinking of motor tanker Princess Empress off the coast of Pola, southeast of Puerto Galera, in late February.

Dolor said the local government of Puerto Galera earlier objected to the declaration of the state of calamity in the island, underscored by the visit of Tourism Secretary Christina GarciaFrasco last week and even diving at the area’s top spots to prove the water is safe. When asked if local officials in Puerto Galera could be held liable for allowing tourists and residents to swim in their waters despite knowing that there are traces of grease, the governor said: “I refuse to comment on that.” Dolor said he would wait for the official position of the Department of Health and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources before imposing a ban on swimming and water activities in the area.

49 cops found liable for massive shabu haul

FORTY-NINE officials and personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were found to have criminal and administrative liability in connection with the 990 kilograms of shabu confiscated in Manila last October.

A memorandum signed by PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) director Police Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz indicated that most of the officials and personnel were from the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG). The highest-ranking official cited by Cruz’s memo is former PDEG chiefPolice Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, who was told to go on leave along with nine other officials by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.

rips

The Special Investigation Task Group 990 also ordered the PNP officials and personnel, who were involved in seizing the shabu worth a record P6.7 billion, to surrender their firearms.

“There are 47, all of them PDEG, with Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo.

That’s our presscon tomorrow. We will present to you what we started, what we did, what we finished, our recommendation, and what we will do next,” Cruz said in a phone interview.

Domingo was relieved of his post after the controversy on the case of nowdismissed Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., who yielded 990 kg. of shabu during an anti-drug operation on Oct. 8, 2022.

China envoy’s EDCA ‘illusion’

THE Department of National Defense on Saturday defended the country’s Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States, just as it expressed concern on the remarks of Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian against the Filipino workers in Taiwan.

Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the country is not “meddling in the internal affairs of China concerning Taiwan,” and even described this as the ambassador’s “illusion.” It was also not directed against any country, he added.

The Chinese official’s statement is also a “subtle threat” to the country, the DND spokesman said, by

“tragically leveraging on the plight of our hardworking and peace-loving OFWs” there.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had already said the Philippines will not allow its military bases to be used for any offensive attacks.

A political analyst and a retired general earlier Saturday described the Chinese official’s statements as a “veiled threat.”

Ret. Gen. Edilberto Adan said it was also “very disturbing” and a form of “coercion.”

Political analyst Renato Cruz de Castro said he does not “see anyconnection to how the OFWs in Taiwan would be affected by the EDCA sites.”

MORE GEAR. A special radar truck of the US Marines guides in two Osprey helicopters (background) into Subic Bay International Airport from Hawaii for Balikatan 2023. For the first time, the Marine MV-22B Ospreys traveled 5,340 nautical in 22.7 flight hours from MCAS Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. USMC Photo / Cpl. Kyle Chan

OVERWATCH. President Marcos (right, in white shirt) oversees the aerial inspection in the areas affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.

NWRB gives more water to MWSS to cushion impact of ‘repair leaks’

THE National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has raised again the allocation of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) from the Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water system by 52 cubic meters per second (CMS) for the rest of April.

Meanwhile, the Maynilad Water Services Inc. announced that parts of the cities of Caloocan, Navotas, and Quezon will experience water interruptions on April 17-24 due to maintenance works on its pipe system.

The NWRB said it approved the 52 CMS allocation to the MWSS for April 16 to 30, 2023. “The NWRB recognized the efforts of

PH employment grows by 2.67m workers this year

n By VITO BARCELO

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the results of the Philippine Statistics Authority Labor Force Survey (LFS) for February reflected the continuous improvement in the employment sector.

In a press statement, the DOLE noted that the survey highlightedthe increase in the number of Filipinos joining the labor force, with a participation rate of 66.6 percent or 51.27 million.

The data reflected 2.67 million more than the labor force participation during the same period last year, and 1.548 million above the reported labor force participation in the previous month.

“The increase in the country’s employment rate by 1.6 percentage points or from 93.6 percent in February 2022 to 95.2 percent in February 2023 translates to 48.8 million employed Filipinos,” the DOLE said.

The increase in employment may be attributed to employment expansion in wholesale and retail trade (repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles at +701,000 or 6.96 percent); accommodation and food service activities (+580,000 or 34.8 percent); agriculture and forestry (+554,000 or 5.76 percent); other service activities (+362,000 or 13.83 percent); and fishing and aquaculture (+340,000 or 27.45 percent), according to DOLE.

In terms of unemployment, the DOLE saw a significant decrease in the number of unemployed on a year-on-year comparison, from 6.4 percent in February 2022 to 4.8 percent in February 2023.

the MWSS to immediately implement its conservation action plan and water supply augmentation measures to address the current water service interruptions, thus, it allowed the additional 4 CMS to the originally-approved allocation of 48 CMS in April,” the panel said in a statement.

The NWRB decided last to raise from 48 to 50 CMS the share of the MWSS from the

SARA PAYS HOMAGE

TO

Angat- Ipo-La Mesa water network from April 1 to 15 this year. The move was made to “support the stopgap efforts of the MWSS in addressing the water curtailment in the west zone area of Metro Manila affecting millions of water consumers.”

“MWSS is currently intensifying its pipeline leak repairs, and maximizing the utilization of its water treatment plants and deep wells,” the NWRB said.

The board also noted that for the month of May, the requested 52 CMS was “conditionally approved,” pending the MWSS’ execution of its commitments and compliance with certain conditions related to water augmentation and conservation by April 2023.

Fuel prices seen to move up anew next week after this week’s hike

According to the PAGASA, near normal rainfall will take place in the Angat area from May to September 2023.

The rainfall was seen to offset Angat Dam’s water losses as an offshoot to the impending El Niño phenomenon in the latter part of the year, the NWRB said.

“NWRB, along with its partners MWSS, NIA, PAGASA and NPC, will continue to monitor, evaluate and manage the water supply for Metro Manila and its adjoining provinces,” the agency said.

“The technical working group is also preparing contingency plans to minimize the effects of El Niño,” it added.

The NWRB urged households, offices, businesses and communities to conserve water to cushion the impact of the El Niño.

n By ALENA MAE FLORES

FUEL pump prices are expected to move anew next week on the heels of the past week’s price hikes.

Unioil Petroleum Philippines’ predicted that the price of diesel during the April 1824 trading week might go down by P0.30 to P0.40 per liter.

Gasoline, on the other hand, may either retain its current rate or drop by a minimal 10 centavos per liter. Oil companies usually announce price adjustments on a Monday, to be implemented the next day.

Last Tuesday, fuel firms implemented a per-liter increase of P2.60 for gasoline, P1.70 for diesel, and P1.90 for kerosene.

The latest price adjustments resulted in a year-to-date net decrease for diesel at P1.95 per liter and kerosene at P3.45 per liter. Gasoline, on the other hand, has a net increase of P8.65 per liter.

Meanwhile, an industry source said oil consumers can expect a price rollback for diesel by as much as P0.55 per liter next week as it reflects the movement of prices in the world market.

The source told the Standard that based on the four-day trading and foreign exchange movement week-on-week, the pump price of diesel is estimated to go down by P0.45 to P0.55 per liter, while gasoline will have no movement or a P0.05 per liter increase.

The final computation will depend on Friday’s oil price trading, the source added.

The move followed reports from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries that there may be some risks to summer oil demand despite the production cut announced by OPEC and Saudi of 1.16 million barrels per day to boost prices.

FORMER

PRESIDENT MANUEL ROXAS. Vice President Sara

Duterte leads the wreath-laying in remembrance of the 75th death anniversary of former President Manuel Roxas at the former leader’s monument in Roxas City, Capiz. Also present at the event are former President and Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, and other members of the Roxas clan.

Solon to NGCP: Ensure enough power for health facilities in summer months

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

A PARTY-list lawmaker on Saturday urged the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to ensure adequate power supply for health facilities amid possible intermittent power interruptions during the summer.

“We urge the NGCP to make sure that we have adequate power supply throughout the summer season when demand is at its highest,” Anakalusugan Rep. Ray Reyes, vice chair

of the House Committee on Health, said. “Hospital patients’ lives are on the line and we need to ensure that the quality of operations in our medical facilities will not be affected,” Reyes said.

Reyes also underscored the NGCP’s role in the country’s transition to green energy and noted that electricity rates are also usually highest during summer due to the high demand in electricity.

Citing data from the Department of Energy (DOE), Reyes said energy demand

was expected to reach a high of 13,125 megawatts (MWs)..

He called on the NGCP to fast track its study backlogs on green energy to tap a more stable, cheaper energy supply for consumers.

“NGCP has the power to make it easier for renewable energy technologies to make it into the grid,” Reyes said.

“We need to finish more projects that will ensure sufficient and cheaper energy supply,” he added.

Party-list solon seeks

consolidation

of all anti- illegal recruitment laws

CONGRESSWOMAN Marissa Magsino of the OFW party-list group pushes the passage of House Bill 7865 seeking to consolidate and update existing laws on illegal recruitment into a single penal law.

Magsino said the measure would generate a more effective and efficient enforcement and implementation of Philippine laws to combat illegal recruitment.

Magsino lamented that illegal recruitment has been growing and evolving through the use of online modes and multi-country transit points schemes. Recently, there have been numerous cases of illegal recruitment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), particularly for countries in Southeast Asia, which often lead to human trafficking, she noted.

Registry of Deeds opens new office in Balanga City

n By BUTCH GUNIO

THE Registry of Deeds has a new office, located at the third floor of the Bunker Capitol in Barangay San Jose, Balanga City in Bataan.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Land Registration Authority (LRA) chief Gderardo Panga Sirios led the inauguration ceremony, along with Bataan officials headed by Gov. Joet Garcia, 2nd District Rep. Abet Garcia, and Vice Gov. Cris Garcia. Remulla and Sirios thanked the provincial government for its “generosity in

providing the new office” that will improve the service delivery of the LRA. Registry of Deeds Bataan head lawyer Amante Capuchino also expressed gratitude to the provincial government for continuing support to his office.

Gov. Garcia said the opening of the new Registry of Deeds office was “timely, making its services closer to the people.”

In another development, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Limay expressed full support to Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio’s five-point priority programs. These programs are 1) digitalize Customs processes 2) hit and surpass the target 3) simplify procedures and facili-

tate secure trade 4) curb smuggling in all forms and 5) uplift employee welfare and development.

“We fully support the plans and programs of Commissioner Rubio”, said Port of Limay district collector William Balayo.

It can be recalled that in the month of February, BOC Port of Limay registered a record breaking 21 months of consistently collecting revenues beyond the monthly target. From June 2021 to February 2023, the BOC Port of Limay under the leadership of Balayo, collected revenues beyond the monthly target for a total surplus of P35.9 billion.

Magsino said illegal recruiters and human traffickers were taking advantage of information and communications technologies (ICT) to profile, recruit and exploit their victims offering fake job offers and promises in the absence of traditional physical and geographical limitations. She said the global nature of illegal recruitment and the abuse of these technologies also make it more difficult for law enforcement authorities to combat this crime, requiring a certain level of digital expertise and cooperation across borders to support prosecution

“One of the identified gaps contributing to the evolving problem of illegal recruitment is the absence of a single penal law,” Magsino said. Maricel Cruz

On April 11, local oil companies implemented a per liter increase of P2.60 for gasoline, P1.70 for diesel and P1.90 for kerosene.

BOI says President confident on P3.48t investment pledges

PRESIDIENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains confident that the more than P3.48 trillion investment pledges secured during his foreign trips would materialize and subsequently generate jobs as soon as possible, a Board of Investments (BOI) official said Saturday.

At a weekly news forum in Quezon City, BOI executive director forinvestments promotion services Evariste Cagatan said the President was closely monitoring the leads to provide assistance and fasttrack the foreign investors’ entry into the country.

“Investment leads pa lang iyan so marami pang kailangang gawin para tuluyang matuloy ‘yong mga pledges (These are only investment leads, so a lot still needs to be done before they materialize),” Cagatan said.

The challenges, she said, ranged from securing permits to the need for vast tracts of land and hiring employees with the right skills for their businesses.

A total of $62 billion or approximately P3.48 trillion in investment pledges was ramped up since Marcos’ first official foreign travel in 2022.

“Most of these, for example, the US trip, marami nang pumasok at na-register na natin sa BOI at PEZA,” Cagatan said.

“But you must understand that if you make the pledge today, it does not mean that it would materialize instantly. The gestation period is quite long,” she added.

SOMETHING FISHY IN MALABON

CITY Mayor Jeannie Sandoval (right, with child in red) gives away fish to residents of Barangay Acacia and seven other communities in the city.

Andrew Rabulan

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER TO SAVE LIVES. Filipino and American soldiers undertake a simulated CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) drill to save disaster victims as part of their training during a joint military exercise dubbed Balikatan at Sangley Point Naval Base in Cavite City. Danny Pata

in Ukraine

BEIJING -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio

Russian strike kills 9, toddler included, in apartment block Lula to US: Stop ‘encouraging’ war

KYIV—Russia

shelled a block of flats in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, killing nine people, authorities said Saturday, including a two-year-old boy who was rescued from the rubble but died on his way to hospital.

Friday’s strike on the quiet neighbourhood came as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill that will make it easier to mobilise citizens into the army and block them from fleeing the country if drafted.

Russia also said it was pushing further into the hotspot of Bakhmut, 45 kilometres (27 miles) southeast of Sloviansk, which is one of the cities that will be at risk if Kyiv loses the longest and bloodiest battle of the war.

Sloviansk lies in a part of the Donetsk region that is under Ukrainian control.

According to Kyiv, it was struck by seven missiles which hit five buildings, five homes, a school and an administrative building.

Vadim Lyakh, the head of Sloviansk’s military administration, said Saturday that nine people died -- including a woman whose body was recovered from the rubble overnight -- and 21 were wounded.

Five people were still under the rubble and their identities were established, he said.

AFP journalists saw rescue workers digging for survivors on the top floor of the typical Soviet-era housing block, and black smoke billowing from homes on fire across the street.

“A child died in an ambulance after being pulled out from the rubble,” Ukrainian police said on Twitter.

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska sent her condolences to the child’s family during this “indescribable grief”.

President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier denounced Russia for “brutally shelling” residential buildings and “killing people in broad daylight”.

The street below -- including a playground -- was covered in concrete dust and debris, including torn pages from school books and children’s drawings.

- Shocked residents“I live on the opposite side of the street and I was sleeping a little when I heard this huge boom and I ran out from my flat,” 59-year-old resident Larisa told AFP.

“I was really scared and in a state of shock,” she said, adding that the impact of the shelling had broken her windows and sent shards of glass flying throughout her home.

“I heard a woman screaming, ‘there’s a child here, there’s a child here’ -- She was screaming so much.”

A resident nearby, who declined to give her name, told AFP the strikes had blown out her windows and dislodged her front door from its frame.

“No one from our side of the building was injured but maybe someone here was,” she said, pointing to a pool of blood next to another entrance of her building.

- Russia pushes to take Bakhmut -

More than a year after Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine, fears are high in Russia that the government is planning a fresh mobilisation drive after a bill was rushed through parliament this week to create a digital draft system.

Under the legislation, which Putin signed Friday, a draftee would be banned from travelling abroad and would have to report to an enlistment office once electronic call-up papers were received.

Tens of thousands of men fled Russia last autumn after Putin announced a mobilisation to prop up the forces in Ukraine.

The strike on Sloviansk, which many residents have fled since Russia invaded, came as Moscow said it was pushing to take more districts of ravaged Bakhmut.

The town has become a fixation of military commanders despite having little strategic value, leading to a brutal nine-month war of attrition. “Wagner assault units are conducting high-intensity combat operations to conquer the western districts of the city,” the Russian army said in a statement, referring to the private paramilitary group. AFP

Macron inks France pension reform into law

PARIS -- French President Emmanuel Macron signed his controversial pension reform into law Saturday, defying three months of protests and pleas from unions not to implement the legislation.

The alterations became law after the text was published before dawn in France’s official journal, prompting accusations from the opposition Macron was seeking to smuggle it through in the depth of the night.

The publication came just hours after the approval on Friday by the Constitutional Council of the essence of the legislation, including the headline change of raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Unions warned they were calling for mass Labour Day protests on May 1, and sometimes violent demonstrations erupted in several cities overnight after the verdict was announced.

The battle to implement the law turned into the biggest domestic challenge of Macron’s second mandate, as he faced widespread popular opposition to the changes but also sliding personal popularity.

Socialist leader Olivier Faure said that

Macron’s swift signing of the law showed “disdain” towards the protest movement while hard-left MP Francois Ruffin called it a “democratic hold-up”. “A law enacted in the middle of the night, like thieves,” tweeted French Communist Party chief Fabien Roussel. “Everyone on the street May 1.”

- ‘Not defeated’The nine-member Constitutional Council ruled in favour of key provisions of the reform, including raising the retirement age to 64 and extending the years of work required for a full pension, saying the legislation was in accordance with French law.

Six minor proposals were rejected, including forcing large companies to publish how many over-55s they employ, and the creation of a special contract for older workers.

The appearance of the text in France’s Official Journal -- the gazette of record -- means it has now been enacted into law.

“The Social Security Code is thus amended. In the first paragraph, the word: ‘sixty-two; is replaced by the word: ‘sixty-four’,” states the text, referring to the retirement age.

But the constitutional court’s decision could prove a shallow victory for Macron, as analysts say it has come at a major personal cost for the 45-year-old.

The president’s approval ratings are near their lowest levels ever, and many voters have been outraged by his decision to ram the pensions law through parliament without a vote, using a legal but controversial mechanism denounced by opponents as anti-democratic.

Polls consistently show that two out of three French people are against working a further two years.

Macron has called the change “necessary” to avoid annual pension deficits forecast to hit 13.5 billion euros ($14.8 billion) by 2030, according to government figures.

“Stay the course. That’s my motto,” Macron said Friday as he inspected Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, four years after a devastating fire nearly destroyed the gothic monument.

Seeking to avoid triumphalism, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne tweeted that after the court verdict “there are no winners or losers”. AFP

BLINKEN IN VIETNAM.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) meets Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the party’s headquarters in Hanoi on April 15. AFP

Smoke bomb tossed at Japan PM a year after assassination of Abe

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida resumed campaigning on Saturday after being evacuated unharmed from the scene of an apparent “smoke bomb” blast.

The incident in western Japan’s Wakayama came less than a year after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, which traumatised the country and forced a security shake-up for public officials.

Kishida was in the city to deliver remarks in support of a ruling party candidate at a local port when a disturbance rippled through the crowd gathered to hear him speak.

Footage from national broadcaster NHK showed the prime minister turning to look backwards as a person was detained by security and people moved away, some shrieking.

Seconds later, a blast was heard and white smoke filled the air.

Footage and photos from the scene showed a silver, pipe-like object on the ground, but

Lula da Silva said Saturday that the United States should stop “encouraging war” in Ukraine “and start talking about peace”. “The United States needs to stop encouraging war and start talking about peace, the European Union needs to start talking about peace,” Lula told reporters in Beijing at the end of a visit where he met with President Xi Jinping.

In that way, the international community will be able to “convince” Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky that “peace is in the interest of the whole world,” he said before leaving for the United Arab Emirates.

Lula’s visit to China, Brazil’s top trading partner, focused on strengthening ties and spreading the message that “Brazil is back” as a key player on the global stage.

He is carrying out a delicate balancing act as he also seeks closer ties with Washington. His visit, which included an economic agenda in Shanghai and a more political one in Beijing, comes after a meeting with US President Joe Biden in February.

Unlike Western powers, neither China nor Brazil have imposed sanctions against Russia after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and both seek to position themselves as mediators to achieve peace. Before the trip, Lula had proposed creating a group of countries to mediate in the war, and said he would discuss this in Beijing. AFP

INBRIEF

Germany powers down last 3 nuclear reactors

BERLIN -- Germany will switch off its last three nuclear reactors on Saturday, exiting atomic power even as it seeks to wean itself off fossil fuels and manage an energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.

While many Western countries are upping their investments in atomic energy to reduce their emissions, Germany is bringing an early end to its nuclear age. Europe’s largest economy has been looking to leave behind nuclear power since 2002, but the phase-out was accelerated by former chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011 after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

The exit decision was popular in a country with a powerful anti-nuclear movement, stoked by lingering fears of Cold War conflict and atomic disasters such as Chernobyl in Ukraine.

“The risks of nuclear power are ultimately unmanageable,” said Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, who this week made a pilgrimage to the ill-fated Japanese plant ahead of a G7 meeting in the country. AFP

Biden hints at bid for US re-election

BALLINA, Ireland -- US President Joe Biden ended an emotive visit to Ireland on Friday with a campaign-style exhortation for hope, as he inched closer to formally launching his 2024 bid.

The 80-year-old Democrat, who has Catholic Irish roots, had a tearful encounter with a priest before a concluding speech that coincided with an angry address back home by Donald Trump, his potential Republican rival for next year’s White House battle.

“I told you my plan is to run again,” Biden told reporters before flying to the United States.

“I’ve already made that calculus. We’ll announce it relatively soon. But the trip here just reinforced my sense of optimism about what can be done.”

Biden was feted by an estimated 27,000 people as he spoke in front of the floodlit St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina, one of his family’s ancestral hometowns, in northwest Ireland. AFP

Everest claims first 3 deaths of season

KATHMANDU -- Rescuers have called off the search for three Nepali climbers missing on Everest, officials said Saturday, acknowledging the first fatalities on the world’s highest mountain this climbing season.

The trio were crossing the treacherous Khumbu Icefall on Wednesday as part of a supply mission when a block of glacial ice fell and swept them into a deep crevasse.

it was not immediately clear whether it had caused the blast and smoke.

Government officials said a man had been arrested on suspicion of obstruction of business.

He has been identified as a 24-year-old man from the Hyogo region, a Wakayama police official told AFP. There was no immediate information on a potential motive.

People at the scene described moments of panic.

“I ran frantically, and then, 10 or so seconds later, there was a loud sound and my kid started crying. I was stunned, my heart is still beating fast,” one woman told NHK.

A man at the scene told the broadcaster that “when we all stopped in front of the podium, someone started saying ‘culprit!’ or something, or ‘an explosive was thrown,’ so everyone started dispersing fast.” AFP

“After several search and rescue attempts, the operation has been called off. They are buried too deep and it does not seem possible to retrieve the bodies,” tourism department official Bigyan Koirala told AFP.

The Khumbu Icefall is a dangerous, ever-shifting expanse of glacial ice that requires climbers to navigate crevasses over rickety ladders.

All climbers must cross it on the route to the mountain’s 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak.

“This morning we went back to find them and were able to locate the area but it wasn’t possible to bring them back home,” Mingma Gyalje Sherpa of expedition company Imagine Nepal posted on Instagram late Friday. AFP

ANOTHER SHELLING. A resident stands in front of a burning building after a shelling in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk on April 14 amid Russia’s military invasion. It killed at least five people, the local governor said, warning that others could be buried in the rubble. AFP

Logistics executive builds bridges to last mile delivery

SABINA LopezVergara, chief commercial officer at Ninja Van, continues to redefine the role of women leaders in logistics.

Donning the uniform, she proved that in a very competitive world where men rule, a woman need not be androgenous nor engage in a testosterone showdown to be on top of things.

Departing from the traditional impressions and expectations that women should be as bold and manful as her male counterpart, she managed to remain who she is while improving on her core competencies.

Coming from a string of fab jobs at Zalora and HOOQ, among others, the former fashion and creatives executive says the logistics space is pretty much “not a sexy industry”.

“It’s really difficult to do logistics. It’s super operations-heavy, practically a service industry. I came from fashion and video, then all of a sudden, delivery? So, how would that be something that’s interesting for me? First few weeks on the job, I regretted accepting the offer. I remembered I have to explain over and over why it is called Ninja Van. Why not something that says express? But I guess that’s what the brand is all about,” she said.

“We wanted to bring something different to the table across all of the traditional logistics players in the Philippines. We wanted something more fun. We wanted something people would really remember. And something that would be a brand and not just three letters or two letters and numbers. We want to be known as express logistics provider,” she said.

It took a good many and lengthy chats with long-time friend and former co-worker Martin Cu, country head of Ninja Van in the Philippines, before she tested the waters and instantly regretted her decision after three weeks on the job.

Determined to make her mark in a male-dominated world, without a clue on how a courier company operates, Lopez-Vergara persisted to learn the job, beat the odds and learned to acclimatize herself to fit into her new shoes as Ninja Van sales head.

Time, she noted, has a good way of coming to terms with reality versus expectations. Seven years passed and she’s now one of the guys.

Learning by experience has humbled Ninja Van’s CCO—from hailing Grab and riding Angkas—she tried all these public means of logistics to visit sellers door-to-door.

Going back during the initial few years of Ninja Van, there were only eight members of the company including her one-woman sales team. Promotion came during the pandemic, as the company recognized her as the new chief commercial officer.

Before Ninja Van, Lopez-Vergara had several offers which she rejected, after seriously considering the courier firm’s offer and prepped-up herself to face logistics challenges. For her, Ninja Van is an irresistible challenge.

the number of initiatives the company is actually working on. Before rising as a leading logistics service provider, Ninja Van was renting an apartment in Acacia Estates in Pasig City and moved in to a co-working space in Makati after Lopez-Vergara joined the company. Today, the company occupies 7,000 square feet of space for operations, including the company offices in Paseo Center in Makati and about 300 offices and hubs nationwide.

Lopez-Vergara admitted that the pandemic has been good to people in logistics and many capitalized on this as micro logistics companies set-up their own fleet of two to five riders.

“At that time I was turning 30, still young, but obviously at a time when I ask myself where can I contribute more. Did I want to be a part of a big corporation where I just be like anybody else or did I want to do something that I would be recognized? With Ninja Van, I know Martin and I trusted him and I trusted the culture. They talk to me about how they would want to grow the business, how they are really open about their plans. At one point, it’s not the offer anymore, I felt I wanted to grow, to be the woman in logistics and I was the only woman then,” she said. Having served various leadership roles, Lopez-Vergara is drawn to a man’s world where decision making is now shared by the womankind. By virtue of gender parity, she encourages women to take on a man’s role and not end up as another cog in the wheel. The only woman at the helm of Ninja Van manages about seven teams, depending on

Professional services firm grooms new corporate leaders

“Many have put up mom-and-pop logis tics units. That really exploded during the pandemic. But the difference with Ninja Van is that we’re a tech and data-enabled pro vider. Our technologies are mostly in-house, built by our team. So we’re able to customize and build the specific needs given to us by clients. We are careful during the pandemic for letting people try online ordering, and that really helped us grow,” she said.

An online-first company, Ninja Van has a solid digital interface with real time monitoring and updates, taking delivery as a serious business even doing same-day deliveries to select areas, at the moment.

With 3,500 riders, Ninja Van has reached even the remotest of islands and even delivers on foot if the paths are impassable to two-wheeled vehicles. The riders are mostly men as the job description is not at all attractive to the female worker. Othel V. Campos

Food logistics app teams up with the Cooperative

FOODPANDA has teamed up with Online Food Vendors Marketing Cooperative or simply the Cooperative to boost the assistance provided to Filipino entrepreneurs so they can gain a wider audience and establish a name in the online marketplace.

According to foodpanda Philippines finance director Lhecks De Castro, online platforms enable micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to achieve sustainable growth by having a wider reach while making their operations more efficient.

“Even beyond the new normal, there are still plenty of benefits that MSMEs can enjoy by getting access to digital platforms, including increased productivity, improved profitability, and reduced operational. However, transitioning to digital platforms might be challenging for them. But with the

P&A Grant Thornton leaders and GT regional head for network capabilities in Asia Pacific Rodger Flynn share a toast to more vibrant years ahead during the firm’s 35th anniversary celebration.

LEADING professional services organization P&A Grant Thornton articulated a promise, during the firm’s 35th anniversary in February 2023, to create a work environment where people will flourish and eventually become transformational leaders.

“Turning 35 is an important moment for our firm. Our journey has been marked with huge opportunities, and just like many businesses, several challenges too. We are fortunate to reach this point of our history largely because of clients and friends in the business community and profession who have all bestowed their invaluable confidence and continuing support for our firm and our people,” said P&A Grant Thornton CEO Marivic Españo. Born in 1988, P&A Grant Thornton was a product of collaboration between 2 visionaries and prominent names in the Philippine accounting profession - Ben Punongbayan and Joe Araullo. Both espoused excellence, integrity, and commitment to provide quality

service to its clients.

“We consistently received, annually, very good ratings from clients in our customer satisfaction survey. This great recognition gives us the greatest feeling of all – that we are well-liked by our clients. We are happy and proud to continue to work together with [our clients] in the next 35 years and beyond,” said P&A Grant Hornton co-founder Ben Punongbayan.

Partners at the firm shared their commitment to support sustainability goals, specifically on gender equality, quality education, decent work, good health, and economic growth, and responsible consumption and production.

For P&A Grant Thornton, building pathways for change means laying the groundwork for bold and divergent thinking in a business landscape that calls for innovation and transformation. From the founders to the next generation of leaders, the firm remains strongly committed to grow with its clients and its people.

BPO firm values health and well-being of talents

LEADING business process outsourcing firm Telus International Philippines champions a creative work environment that inspires its team members to per-

combined assistance between us and OFVMC, they can navigate through this transition,” he said.

While different types of cooperatives exist in the country, OFVMC focuses on online food vendors. Its goal is to assist micro and small entrepreneurs seeking to reach a wider market while offering educational seminars beneficial to running their business operations

and other privileges given to official members.

“For businesses which are just start-ups, joining the Cooperative will encourage member contribution and shared responsibility, not to mention the opportunity to earn interest in their share capital and expand their network in the industry as businesses,” De Castro said.

logispro-

An online-first company, Ninja Van

Ninja Van CCO Sabina Lopez

By Ma. Lanzelle Cruz and Kyla Marie Victoriano

LAST March 8, the world celebrated International Women’s Day in solidarity with women across the globe. It’s when people commemorate women’s milestones and achievements in various fields for years, despite struggling with sexism in a patriarchal society.

While Women’s Day often extends throughout March, the challenges women face occur daily. Embracing equity and equality is a firm message women and allies have advocated continuously for decades.

In celebration of Women’s Month and highlighting that this movement goes beyond a day or month, Coca-Cola Philippines held a panel discussion on “Embracing Equity: Stories of Championing Every One” at Bonifacio Global City last March 16, 2023.

With the global theme of #EmbracingEquity, coinciding with International Women’s Day 2023, the forum highlighted engaging stories and insights of female trailblazers across various areas and fields. They discussed why “equal opportunities are no longer enough” and the importance of having supportive environments that becomes an avenue for everyone regardless of their background or gender.

As part of the celebration of Women’s Month, the program also celebrated the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification of the Philippine Women’s National Team, the first Filipino team to compete at the WWC 2023.

During the first panel discussion, Women’s National Team goalkeeper Inna Palacios, Philippine Football Federation’s Grassroots Development

YoungLIFE

Dedicated to championing

Head Dave Javellana, news anchor, TV host, and athlete Gretchen Ho, and sociologist and co-founder of Queer Safe Spaces PH Tina Boado shared their stories in sports about the challenges that female athletes face as well as the importance of having support for these athletes to inspire the youth.

Palacios, who has since become a beacon of women empowerment, knows the difficulties in fighting for a place in the male-dominated sports industry. Yet, besides inspiring young women to pursue their athletic dreams, Palacios has a more radical view of equity and equality. The Filipinas’ goalkeeper hopes to see a gender-less approach in sports to completely diminish the differences and prejudice between males and females in the industry to achieve equality and equal opportunity.

In the meantime, being a firm believer of the statement “no one is free until we are all free,’’ sociologist and Boado shared that “we are in an inclusive country, and if there’s gender equity in the country, it is important to look at it from the lengths of intersectionality.”

In the second panel discussion, actress, writer, and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate Mela Habijan, as well as Coca-Cola Philippines Franchise Director Jonah de Lumen-Pernia with filmmaker, producer, and podcaster Antoinette Jadaone, and Boado covered perspectives on the state of gender equity and inclusivity as well as the creation of supportive environments.

podcaster , and Boado covered perspectives on the state of gender equity the meant

As she acknowledged how the challenges she faced were meant for her to grow and inspire others, actress, writer, and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate Habijan defined what womanhood is for her.

“Womanhood for me is about championing sensitivity, championing the ability to empathize with another person’s heart, womanhood for me is simply getting to know who I am from the core.”

On the other hand, being in the film industry, filmmaker, producer, and podcaster Jadaone expressed how the efforts of early advocates and allies

allowed others to establish themselves in the industry. However, the responsibility of being the guardians for future generations now falls on their shoulders.

GENDER equity

“Lahat sila binuksan yung pinto para sa aming mga babaeng direktor, kaya nung pumapasok na kami sa industriya, naka-pave na yung way, sila na yung nag bungkal,

is how we achieve our purpose to refresh the world and make a difference,” said Tony del Rosario, President, CocaCola Philippines and Vice President for East Franchise Operations of Coca-Cola ASEAN and South Pacific.

“This long-standing commitment is also what drives us at

lumalakad nalang

kami, ” she said. “Ang importante kaming mga babaeng direktor or in the industry kahit hindi babae, yung pinto na dinaanan namin, binubuksan pa namin sya. Pati bintana kailangan buksan, kailangan na igguard namin siya na bukas ito hindi namin hahayaan na sumarado.” “Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important to our values as a company as they are necessary to our growth, and it

Coca-Cola Philippines to support women breaking new grounds and to join the efforts of other like-minded organizations in the country in embracing equity, diversity, and inclusion,” he added.

As of this year, Coca-Cola Philippines has already achieved its goal of 5050 gender parity across all levels of management. An increasing number of women have also taken on previously male-dominated positions and departments in its manufacturing plants, with 44 percent

Art meets sustainability exhibit launched in SM Malls in Cebu, Ormoc

of its bottling plants led by women.

The company also has a robust sponsorship program for women executives to climb the career ladder.

Coca-Cola Philippines aims to continue its commitment to advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the company and the community. The company has a comprehensive global strategy, including three long-term ambitions—a diverse workforce to mirror the markets, equity for all people, celebrating uniqueness, and creating an inclusive environment.

To learn more about the efforts of Coca-Cola Philippines to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, visit www.coca-cola.com.ph/news/makingeach-day-more-refreshing-than-the-last.

ARTIST’S CORNER

THERE’S no limit to a person’s imagination, especially for those who turn their ideas into reality.

Winston Jr. S. Abapo, fondly known as Winsty, is a 25-year-old artist who draws inspiration from his dreams. Yet besides leaning towards his innate creativity, Abapo also has an affinity for vintage and surreal elements.

“I love the vintage-styled hair of women, especially how they wear old-fashioned garments. And I also love dreaming of things or places I want to see, like surreal vibes, putting some bubbles, and associating them with deeply personal meanings. I begin with an idea of my feeling, finding the things I want to be while dreaming, and then painting it,” he said.

As an artist, Abapo hopes to have his own solo exhibit in the future, featuring pieces he’s genuinely happy with and proud of. “The idea of my solo exhibit is to share that it's okay to feel sad, empty, lonely, and make mistakes as long as you learn good things from it and love yourself more. I want to have my own business using my art,” the young artist said.

Moreover, Abapo also has another goal of owning a coffee studio where he can serve signature coffee and host several art exhibits.

The SM City Cebu installation features birds in masterfully crafted wooden sculptures that depict nature's beauty

SM City Cebu, SM City Consolacion, and SM Center Ormoc’s Beyond Green:

Where Art Meets Sustainability exhibit inspired young ones in the importance of nature preservation. The malls featured several local artists that converted discarded everyday materials into beautiful masterpieces. In SM City Cebu, the exhibit featured the works of landscape architect and well-known gardener and plant collector Jaime Chua and driftwood sculptor James Doran-Webb. The display featured birds, swans, eagles, roosters, owls, the Philippines’ Fruit bat, Kalaw, and the Philippine cockatoo in masterfully crafted wooden sculptures depicting nature’s beauty. SM City Consolacion also partnered with SEED4Com, one of the local organizations that pioneers sustainability in the Philippines featuring art from its Eco Artist and National Clean Up Ambassador, Pedro Angco Jr., and its community partner, Caohagan Women. Pedro Angco Jr. showcased mesmerizing pieces of art composed

Pieces by Eco Artist and National Clean Up Ambassador, Pedro Angco Jr. at SM City Consolacion

of discarded rubber slippers collected during his ocean cleanups. The raw and colorful masterpieces are a testament to his creativity, talent, and the potential of transforming waste into something beautiful.

The Caohagan Women Quilts displayed hand-stitched quilts that

featured small and large-scale handsewn quilts made by residents of Caohagan Island – one of the seven islands that compose the Olango Island Group in Mactan. It was in 1996 when residents of Caohagan Island began to make quilts under the guidance of former McGraw Hill Inc. Japan

president Katsuhiko Sakiyama and designer Junko Sakiyama.

Mallgoers also had the opportunity to witness the masterpieces of the students from New Ormoc City National High School Special Program in the Arts in SM Center Ormoc. These students incorporate the trash we see every day into mixedmedia artwork. Ma. Theresa M. Ablen, a Grade 10 teacher of SPA, shared that this is the first time their students attempted a mixed-media art approach.

As a responsible community member, SM has consistently implemented programs and activities to inspire Filipinos to be more sustainable, educating them on the importance of sustainability and the need to help protect the environment. SM also has projects that directly engage mall-goers, focusing on solid waste management. These are the monthly Trash to Cash recycling market and the collection of used lead-acid batteries, the Electronic Waste Collection Program, and the Plastic Waste Collection Program held in partnership with the Plastic Credit

Hermaphroditus.

Life is full of ironies, isn’t it? One must get hurt to heal, struggle to bloom, and suffer to live. As if we must marry the pain to live happily ever after. Despite this, I will welcome it with open arms. I will kiss it hard and give it all that it wants for I know it all to be worth it.

The first discussion panelists (from left) Tina Boado, Gretchen Ho, Inna Palacios, and Dave Javellana

The panelists of the second discussion consist of (from left) Mela Habijan, Jonah de Lumen-Pernia, Antoinette Jadaone, and Tina Boado

Lebron remains a Blue Eagle

LEBRON Nieto will remain with the Ateneo Blue Eagles program as he has formally committed to the Katipunan school.

Though glad that the team has accepted him, Nieto stresses that it’s one thing to be an Atenean but he still has to earn being a Blue Eagle.

“Growing up, I always watched my brothers (Matt and Mike) play for the Blue and White in the UAAP, so it was a big dream of mine to play and win for Ateneo as well,” Lebron said.

“But to people saying that it was my destiny to be a Blue Eagle, I understand that many were expecting me to become a Blue Eagle, but to me, being a Blue Eagle is something that is earnedone that I worked hard for every day.

“So, I am very happy that I have been given the opportunity to play for the Blue and White, just like my father (Jet), brothers, and sister (Shawntel) did. Nothing was given easily, and I worked hard to showcase that I, too, can become a Blue Eagle and hopefully bring glory to Ateneo in the same way they did,” continued the Ateneo High School standout.

Lebron will be the fifth Nieto to play for the Blue Eagles.

Dr. Jet was part of the Ateneo team that won back-to-back UAAP men’s basketball crowns from Seasons 50-51 while twins Matt and Mike had huge roles during the school’s three-peat from Season 80-82.

Meanwhile, Shawntel was part of the Ateneo women’s badminton team that notched a back-toback from Seasons 75-76.

“We are really pleased to bring Lebron into the team and obviously, he comes from a great

How will TNT solve Ginebra’s impeccable shooting?

n By PETER ATENCIO

THE awesome three-point shooting of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings is among the concerns of TNT Tropang Giga coach Jojo Lastimosa.

Lastimosa feels that they have to address this area going into Game 4 of the 2023 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup finals on Sunday evening at the Araneta Coliseum.

“You gotta look into their three-point shooting. Considering na nananalo sila sa three-point shooting, because that was the key,” said Lastimosa, after the Gin Kings got back at TNT, 117-103, to take the lead once again, 2-1.

In that game, the Tropang Giga unloaded five of 18 franchise record-high triples at the halfway mark of the fourth quarter to give the Gin Kings enough room to repulse the Tropang Giga.

Lastimosa observed that the Gin Kings have adjusted well after the Tropang Giga took Game 2 with a 95-82, in Game 2 last Wednesday.

“They felt they needed to score more, and they scored more. And even for us, we scored well,” added Lastimosa, who felt that the Gin Kings wouldn’t be able to sustain their outside shooting in that game all night long. But he was proven wrong.

pedigree with older brothers Matt and Mike being great servants to our program and done such a great job and now, they have moved on to the pros,” said Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin.

“Just the fact that we have another Nieto in the squad is exciting for all the coaches and he has done a great job in training so far,” the American-Kiwi mentor continued.

“My parents and all my siblings support me throughout and provide me with advice that I use to get better. We carry no rivalries within the family. Instead, we build each other up and ensure that we use each other’s strengths to support each other in achieving our dreams and goals,” shared Lebron.

“Through their own crafts, they left their marks, and I am determined to work and play hard not necessarily just to ‘leave my own mark, too’ but instead, to be the best student-athlete I could be for the greater glory of the team, Ateneo, and God. My focus is on our team and on winning the UAAP championship. Whatever else comes is a bonus,” he added.

In his senior year with Ateneo High, Lebron averaged 16.46 points, 4.85 rebounds, 4.69 assists, and 2.85 steals per contest, earning him the no. 12 ranking in the NBTC 24 rankings.

The 18-year-old native of Cainta, Rizal was also the captain of the Gilas Boys team that competed in the 2022 FIBA U16 Asian Championship.

Besides his offensive prowess, what surprised Baldwin with regard to Lebron’s game is his defensive tenacity -- a Nieto trademark.

“I think that he is a guard that brings some serious offensive skill -- he is an excellent shooter of the ball and handles the ball well. But what we really like -and what surprised us a little bit -- is his aggressive-

ness and toughness on the defense. I guess being a Nieto, that shouldn’t be a big surprise,” said Baldwin.

Lebron will be eligible to play for the Blue Eagles starting UAAP Season 86. But he knows there’s still a lot of work to be done from now until tip-off.

“Being in the best program in the Philippine collegiate basketball scene, I want to absorb all the knowledge that Coach Tab and the entire coaching staff will impart to us,” said Lebron, the youngest of the Nieto siblings.

“We are excited to have Lebron on the team and we think he has a bright future but there is an awful lot of work just like there is with any incoming freshman. He is enthusiastic and a hardworking kid. I think the future looks bright for Lebron and we look forward to a tough kid and a long and successful relationship with another Nieto in the Blue Eagle family,” added Baldwin.

UAAP baseball: Bulldogs end campaign on high note

NATIONAL University ended its UAAP Season 85 Baseball tournament campaign on a winning note, taking a rousing 11-3 rout of Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday at the UP Diliman Baseball Field.

UAAP Season 81 Best Pitcher, MJ Carolino, showed up with a no-relief nine-inning work, limiting the Blue Eagles to just one run on one hit in the first inning before the latter broke with two more in the seventh inning.

The senior pitcher finished with nine batters struck out in the process, putting the Bulldogs in fifth place at 4-6.

“Skill-wise, andun na kami,” Bulldogs head coach Egay Delos Reyes said. “Pero kung makikita mo sa mga games namin, kinulang kami dun sa mental aspect. Understandable naman kasi unang-una walang liga, kulang sa exposure, and itong mga ‘to puro first-timers.

“Hopefully, we learned something from this season

para by next season madala namin at makapag-contend uli kami,” he continued.

Carolino’s confidence on the mound was fueled by NU’s turns on the offensive side that produced runs in four of the nine innings, including a huge fourth-inning barrage that started off with graduating left-fielder Reynante Aranzano’s hit to the middle of the park.

First baseman Keishi Okamoto then sent a base hit along the leftfield foul line to extend the two-run lead to four, scoring Aranzanso and designated hitter Julius Soriano. Rightfielder Nigel Paule and Kevin Maulit added two more to mount a 6-0 advantage.

Okamoto ended with a four-hit-on-five-at-bat performance that also drove four of the Bulldogs’ 11 runs. Maulit added two hits on three at-bats and sent three of his batter-runners home, even scoring thrice himself in the third, fourth, and sixth innings.

UST Belles boost stock with win over Lady Eagles

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas sent Ateneo de Manila University on the brink of elimination, 25-22, 25-20, 27-29, 25-21, to keep pace for the second spot in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig, Saturday.

The Golden Tigresses joined Adamson University at 8-3 for a joint second while the Blue Eagles slid to 4-7 at sixth.

Ateneo’s fate is already not on its hands because a win by National University against Far Eastern University

tomorrow will already mean the end of the road for the Blue Eagles.

“Ang hirap talaga talunin nitong team na ito (Ateneo) kasi nga anytime talagang babalik eh kasi nga meron silang Faith Nisperos, nandoon pa yung De Guzman, yung Gandler pa.

Sa part naman namin, pinipilit namin kung saan yung butas, kung saaan yung malakas na atake,” said UST head coach Kungfu Reyes after the two-hour 25-minute match.

In the extended third set, it was Faith Nisperos who Ateneo went to almost exclusively as she hammered two kills

in their last three points to extend the match, 29-27.

The Blue Eagles threatened to force a decider when they led by two late in the fourth, 20-18, but Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez, Milena Alessandrini, and Janna Torres connived to score seven of the game’s last eight points, 25-21. Laure and Nisperos had a showdown with the former netting 27 points in 23 attacks and four blocks to go with 16 digs while the latter made 31 points on 29 spikes. Nisperos matched her UAAP career

In Game 2, Justine Brownlee and Jamie Malonzo knocked in two apiece during that crucial stretch, sparking a crucial 18-7 blast that allowed the Gin Kings to shatter an 88-all tie, and move away, 107-95, when it was over at the 4:34 mark.

The Tropang Giga shot 11 of 29 threepoint attempts in that, with Michael Williams connecting with five.

Another deadly three-point specialist, Calvin Oftana, needs to step up for the Tropang Giga, according to Lastimosa. “Hindi lang nawala, nawala talaga,” said Lastimosa, on Oftana, who managed only one triple during the match.

Gin Kings coach Tim Cone credited Stanley Pringle for stepping up in Game 3.

Pringle is the 11th player to make at least six consecutive treys in a game without missing a shot.

“We shot the ball real well tonight from different angles led by Stanley. Stanley kept us in the game, got us ahead, kept us in the game during the first half, and then hit big shots in the second half,” said Cone.

Winner takes all in AltasRed Spikers showdown

THE defending champions Perpetual Altas Spikers and San Beda U Red Spikers square off for the NCAA Season 98 men’s crown in their confrontation in the winner-take-all Game 3 finals ton Sunday at the FilOil EcoOil Center in Barangay Corazon de Jesus.

The players of multi-titled Coach Sinfronio ‘Sammy” Acaylar will try to bring home to Las Piñas the crown they failed to seal on Friday, when SBU won Game 2, 17-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25 -23, 15-11, and snapped Perpetual’s 32-game winning streak. The win sent the series to a rubber match. The Red Spikers overcame season MVP Louie Ramirez’s 32-point explosion to hand the three-peat seeking Altas their first loss since Feb. 16, 2018.

Reigning Season 98 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Loiue Ramirez will try to carry the Altas to a 13th men’s title overall in 38 years in the league.

Before this, Mary Rhose Dapol was named Season MVP and 1st Best outside spiker of women’s volleyball, while Marian Tracy Andal bagged the Best Libero trophy; Trece Martires City native Shaila Omipon was named Rookie of the Year awardee, while Joshua Zareño was awarded Best opposite spiker in the men’s division. Perpetual Altas got Game One on April 11 via straight set, 2520, 25-16, 25-22.

Dennis Abrina

best in scoring.

But it was Hernandez who stole the show, tallying a personal-best 24 points spread through 19 attacks, three blocks, and two aces.

Regina Jurado and Milena Alessandrini also contributed 10 points apiece for the Golden Tigresses. Vanie Gandler and Lyann De Guzman supplied 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Blue Eagles. Ateneo

Ginebra’s Stanley Pringle (right) poses big problems for TNT when he sizzles from long range (From PBA Images)

San Beda’s Lorenz Calayag (3) and Kenrod Umali (9) tries to block the attack of Perpetual Help’s Kobe Brian Tabuga in the teams’ Game 2 battle at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City. Dennis Abrina

Lebron Nieto will be the fifth Nieto to play for the Ateneo seniors team Blue Eagles.

NU’s MJ Carolino is all grit in a no-relief, nine-inning job. (From UAAP Media)

Bloodbath action in horror-comedy ‘Renfield’

A WILDLY inventive take on vampire mythology, Renfield stars Nicholas Hoult as the sad, perennially abused henchman of Dracula (Nicolas Cage) who, after dutifully serving his exploitative master for decades, is in the grips of a full-blown everlastinglife crisis. Renfield is unwilling to do Dracula’s bidding any longer but has no idea how to strike out on his own.

That all changes when he meets New Orleans cop Rebecca (Awkwafina), a principled officer with some unresolved anger issues, who is determined to bring down the city’s most powerful crime family, led by Bellafrancesca Lobo (Shohreh Aghdashloo) and her son Tedward (Ben Schwartz). Inspired by Rebecca’s willingness to stand up for what’s right, Renfield begins to imagine a brighter future for himself, one where Nicholas Hoult (left) and Nicolas Cage in ‘Renfield’

he might escape the drudgery of his nightly existence and enjoy walking among the living once more.

After more than a century of servitude, Renfield longs to be away from the allpowerful Dracula, but the vampire has no intention of allowing Renfield to walk free. It’s a situation that’s left Renfield feeling largely hopeless and unhappy. The role is portrayed by Emmy nominee Nicholas Hoult. Hoult immediately zeroed in on Renfield’s emotional core.

“Renfield’s just exhausted with the prospect of continuing to do Dracula’s dirty work,” Hoult says. “He’s worn down, beaten down, and looking for an escape or some sort

Finding your own paradise

Anji Salvacion’ssummer anthem with

By Nickie Wang

ON FRIDAY, April 14, Anji Salvacion released a single that encourages listeners to boost their self-esteem and embrace their own version of paradise.

“I hope people can relate to the song the way it resonated with me when I first listened to it,” Anji said during the single’s virtual press launch.

“This song paves the way for a

new Anji because I like to explore and experiment with new sounds. And I think it’s the perfect vehicle to introduce my new sound, the new me,” she added.

track, her first project under Tarsier Records, is the Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10 big winner’s constant selfreminder that everyone has their own timeline and that there’s no need to compare themselves with others.

right now is very hard to achieve because everybody

in this generation is competing with each other. I just want to remind everyone that it’s not about competing, it’s about going with your own pace and that’s what the song really means to me, embracing one’s self, your body, your beauty, your skin, your

Anji Salvacion’s ‘Paraiso’ is a constant self-reminder that there’s no need to compare themselves with others everything, your personality, that’s what it’s all about,” Anji explained.

She also shared that she felt confident upon hearing the song for the first time. “Yung

also showcases Anji's evolving musical style, vocal prowess, and growth as an artist

‘cause when I first heard the song it made me confident about myself, it made me love myself even more so I want everyone to love themselves even more. If you’re hearing this everyone, love yourself,” she said.

With its intricate beats and complex harmonies, the track was produced by US-based producer, Exale, and composed by US-based singer-songwriter, Annie Lux. “Paraiso” showcases Anji’s evolving musical style, vocal prowess, and growth as an artist.

Before becoming known as the singing sweetheart of Siargao in PBB, Anji participated in the first season of Idol Philippines back in 2019. She entered the music industry by releasing three soundtracks namely, “Buo” for the series Marry Me, Marry You, “Keeps on Coming Back” for IWantTFC’s Unloving U, and “Don’t Be Afraid” for the drama My Sunset Girl

Last year, Anji released her debut EP Kasingkasing Dalampasigan, which contains six self-penned tracks that show her sweet and soft vocals accompanied by acoustic instrumentals. Its key track “Dalampasigan” has over two million streams across different platforms, while her EP has earned over 4.5 million streams on Spotify.

of spark to return to his normal life and what he misses. It’s a toxic relationship between Renfield and Dracula – they’ve been together for so long and they really know how to push each other’s buttons and work against each other.”

Few actors commit to a role the way Academy Award-winner Nicolas Cage does, and his outsized presence made him an obvious choice to take on the iconic role of Dracula. Not to mention, he had previously embraced his inner bloodsucker very early in his career, for the 1988 cult favorite Vampire’s Kiss For Cage, the challenge lay in tapping into the complicated dynamic between

his character and Hoult’s – finding the nuances of their rapport while remaining true to both the horrific and comedic moments.

“The subject matter itself is not funny, it’s disturbing,” Cage says. “But at the root of it, there is a kind of love there. And then there are moments where it’s just abuse. It’s the dark side of human relationships that we’re exploring in this. That’s not an easy subject to take on, and certainly, to give it the spin of comedy, it’s tricky.”

A Universal Pictures International release, Renfield unspools in local cinemas on April 26.

Henry Lau collaborates with new style partner

TOMMY Hilfiger announces that Chinese Canadian singer-songwriter Henry Lau is the China Brand Ambassador for its latest Spring Polo Collection.

Renowned for his exceptional musical talent, unique voice, performance style, and distinct character, Lau is a multidisciplinary talent who always finds innovative ways to present his creative identities and expression to the audience.

Lau first appeared with Tommy Hilfiger in the Fall 2022 “Flip It” China Brand Campaign. The new campaign, on the other hand, features items from Tommy Hilfiger’s classic 1985 Polo Collection, reborn with more sustainable materials. The rugby polo with boxy, almost cropped shape and twill collar, was one of the brand’s first polo designs and was prominently displayed in the first Tommy Hilfiger store in New York. The core design elements of the classic Tommy Hilfiger polo had been established in 1995.

The range of Polo shirts is presented in the Classics Reborn Spring 2023 campaign, showcasing a reinvention of all-time prep classics. The brand’s signature style finds new life through the self-expression of the next generation.

The 1985 Polo and Spring 2023 Classics Reborn collections are available on Tommy.com, in selected Tommy Hilfiger stores.

In the Philippines, Tommy Hilfiger is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., and is located at Central

Chinese Canadian singer-songwriter

Henry Lau is the China Brand Ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger’s latest Spring Polo Collection

Square in Bonifacio High Street Central, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, Marquee Mall, TriNoma, Mall of Asia, Greenbelt 5, Newport Mall, Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Tommy Jeans Robinsons Place Manila, Tommy Hilfiger Rockwell, and online at Trunc.ph, Rustans.com, Zalora, and Lazada.

Visually impaired film student bags Best Screenplay in HK tilt

academics and extracurriculars,” the Digital Filmmaking student beamed. “I finally got back on the honors roll despite not having much improvement in vision.” Occasional challenges were inevitable, particularly under a program that is highly dependent on visuals. With dedication, Vitug focused on and pushed towards screenwriting - a skill that required less eyesight.

“I love being a screenwriter. It allows me to write what I want to see with the production team bringing that sight to me — a sight that would have been difficult for me to experience and appreciate outside of a movie set,” she elaborated. “Being so dependent on cameras back then makes becoming a film student a full-circle moment. Now, cameras empower me and allow me to bring stories to life.”

At 19, Vitug’s Romuelda internationally debuted and nabbed the Best Screenplay recognition at the 2022 Hong Kong Super Short Film Festival.

CHARLIE Vitug was diagnosed with bilateral optic neuropathy, the permanent damage on the optic nerves of both eyes when she was only 10 years old.

From being a consistent honor student, she started failing one class after another. With blurred vision and blind spots, she also had to let go of her hobbies such as drawing and playing tennis.

“Everyone around me thought that it was the sudden loss in vision but a part of me knew that it was also a loss of motivation,” she admitted.

Vitug opted out of a school for the blind. But with the help of family, she turned to low-vision gadgets and their accessibility features. She waded all the way to high school zooming in through an iPad camera to read and write.

During college, she not only found a safe space, but also a renewed inspiration at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. “Things are turning out well in terms of

It was also an Official Selection and Best Student Short Film Nominee at the 9th Pambujan International Film Festival and Official Selection for the 2023 Pasinaya Open House Festival.

The two-minute political commentary follows the titular character set to attend a press conference with her husband Ferdie.

“The household major-domo received a call. She requested him to get a pair from her extensive shoe collection and have it brought to her,” Vitug narrated.

“She said any would do except for the ones in the color she hates most – yellow. He suggested pink, causing her to admit that she could never fit into those.”

Driven to encourage viewers to learn more about history without overwhelming them with information, Vitug released Romuelda a few months after the elections in time for National Heroes Day.

Taking inspiration from culture and politics, Vitug was a fellow of the Writer’s Block Screenwriting Workshop where she was among the chosen participants to develop a screenplay as part of the program.

Nicholas Hoult plays the sad, perennially abused henchman of Dracula

‘Paraiso’

Benilde Digital Filmmaking student Charlie Vitug

PETIQUETTE 101:

How to Be a Considerate PetOwner in Public Places

By Rowena David

Here are some tips for practicing good pet etiquette when out in public:

Train Your Pet

One of the benefits of having a welltrained pet is it will likely behave appropriately in public. It is less likely to jump on people, bark excessively, or run off-leash, for instance. This can result in an enjoyable atmosphere for all involved.

Keep Your Dog on a Leash

Respect other people's personal space by keeping your dog from wandering off or getting into trouble. Try to keep your dog under your control at all times. Maintaining control over your dog helps ensure their safety around other people and their belongings.

Respect People's Fear or Allergies

Before bringing your furry friend anywhere, such as a friend’s house, ask ahead if there are any concerns about them. Be mindful of people who may have allergies or are afraid of certain pets. If someone expresses fear or discomfort around your pet, respect their feelings. Either keep your pet away from them or remove your pet from the situation.

Don't Bring Your Pets to Places that are not Pet-Friendly

While socializing your pets and taking them out in public is beneficial, it's also important to be mindful of where you bring them. Some stores and restaurants are

marked as pet-friendly, otherwise, don’t take pets to establishments that do not allow pets. Additionally, respect people's homes by not bringing pets over unless the owner has given consent.

Clean Up After Your Pet

One important aspect of being a fur parent is that you are responsible for your pet's waste. Whether you're out for a walk on a busy sidewalk or strolling in the park, it’s important to have a bag on hand to pick up any waste that your pet leaves behind.

Keep Your Pets on a Leash in Unfamiliar Areas

It’s always tempting to let your dog run free and explore their surrounding, but always consider not only their safety but the safety of other people as well. Off-leash dogs could end up getting injured or engaging in fights with other animals. Always be cautious when exploring unfamiliar places with your pet.

Follow the Rules

When you take your pet out in public, bear in mind that your pet is sharing spaces with others. For instance, Many

parks and beaches have designated areas where pets are welcome, so stay within these boundaries.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

When you take your pet out in public, make sure that your pet is wearing a collar with a tag that contains your contact information. In case your pet gets lost, having identification can improve its chances of being returned to you safely. When traveling with your pet, bring with you a first aid kit that contains basic supplies like gauze, bandages, antiseptic wipes, and any medications your pet might need in case of emergencies.

Avoid Excessive Barking

While some barking is normal, excessive barking can be an annoying distraction to other people. One way to minimize your dog’s barking is to identify the root cause of their behavior. Excessive barking could be due to too much excitement, anxiety, or fear. Another effective way to reduce excessive barking is through training. Teaching your pet basic commands such as "quiet" will help them learn to adjust their behavior.

Skipping Your Dog's Bath Time

Bathing your dog before taking it to someone’s house is a sign of respect for the owner of the house and its other inhabitants. It demonstrates that you're willing to take the necessary measures to make your dog look presentable in public spaces.

Be Considerate of Others

Lastly, remember that there are people who are not comfortable around pets. Some people might have allergies to fur, while others might not appreciate being greeted by a hyperactive pet. As a fur parent, you need to be aware of how your pet's behavior may impact others. By practicing good pet etiquette when out in public, you can guarantee that you and your pet have a positive and enjoyable experience. Remember that not only is being considerate of others the right thing to do but it also promotes positive attitudes towards pets and pet owners within your community.

About the author: About the author: Rowena David is a faculty member at the University of Makati and an animal welfare advocate.

Kidney and Bladder Stones in Cats and Dogs: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

By Mariana Burgos

METABOLIC kidney stones are those that occur as a result of an imbalance in the blood or urine. Kidney and bladder stones are far more prevalent in dogs and cats than in humans.

The explanation for this might simply be due to dogs' and cats' quadruped posture, according to Harriet M. Syme in her article, "Stones in cats and dogs: What can be learnt from them?".

She claims the bladder's most reliant region is ventral, which may favor the preservation of crystal aggregates or extremely tiny stones and their eventual progression into clinically visible uroliths (kidney stones).

Urinary stones (urolithiasis) are a major cause of lower urinary tract illness in dogs and cats. The production of bladder stones (calculi) is linked to the precipitation and crystallization of a number of minerals, according to the article, “Urinary Stones” of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons’ (ACVS) website. Urinary stones are caused by a variety of reasons. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for the treatment and prevention of urinary stones.

Causes

The ACVS says that the possible causes of these stone formations may be attributed to the following:

- a high salt content in urine

- retention of these ions and crystals in the urinary system for an extended length of time

- a pH that is ideal for salt crystallization

- a structure for crystal formation

- a reduction in the body's natural inhibitors of crystal formation.

They claim that if the diet of the pet companion is high in minerals and protein but the animal is taking less water, that would lead to increased salt saturation in the urine.

So, this means that it is not a good practice that if your pet is eating wet food often, you would think less to monitor its water intake. And, this is usually the mentality of a number of pet owners I know. Now we know, giving a diet of wet food to our pets does not mean we can forget about giving them water on a daily basis.

Signs and Symptoms

According to ACVS, the symptoms that your pet may exhibit are determined on the location of the urinary stones. The majority of urinary stones are found in the urinary bladder or urethra, with only a tiny fraction stuck in the kidneys or ureters.

Urinary stones can cause inflammation by causing damage to the lining of the urinary system. This inflammatory response may predispose your pet to a bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI).

If the stones are in the bladder, symptoms may include the following:

- pee with blood in it

- struggling to urinate

- urinating regularly in tiny amounts

- abdominal pain

- urinary mishaps

If the stones are in the urethra, you may see these signs:

- urine dribble

- straining or posturing to pee but producing no urine

According to ACVS, the stones can also become stuck in the ureter (the section of the urinary tract that transports urine from the kidney to the bladder), producing a blockage that can lead to catastrophic kidney damage. If your pet exhibits any of the following symptoms of a urinary blockage, you should seek veterinarian assistance right away.

Ureteral stones can be identified by the following symptoms:

- abdominal pain

- reduced appetite

- lethargy

- vomiting

- blood in the pee

Diagnostics

Your primary care veterinarian will almost certainly advise you to have your pet's blood and urine tested. He or she may also recommend that an ECG be performed. Your veterinarian may also want to culture not only the urine but also the bladder lining or the urolith (bladder stone).

ACVS tells us that the most often used imaging techniques are X-rays (radiography) and ultrasound. Most, but not all, stones will be seen on radiographs. Stones

that do not show up well on conventional radiographs can be identified by inserting a contrast agent and/or gas into the urinary system, commonly by a urinary catheter.

Ultrasound examination is particularly effective in evaluating the kidneys, ureters, and bladder, but it has limited capacity to check the urethra. Nuclear scintigraphy, a non-invasive technology for analyzing renal blood flow and function, has also recently been employed.

Treatment

Stones made of calcium oxalate, urate, cystine, or silicate cannot be dissolved and must be removed through operation. Struvite stones can be dissolved on occasion by giving your pet a commercially prepared diet (e.g., Hill's S/D). This type of diet is specially created for this purpose and should be discontinued once the patient is cured, according to ACVS.

Urinary blockage caused by urethral stones is a medical emergency. The urinary blockage must be removed in order for the bladder to empty, or the bladder must be drained using cystocentesis (a treatment in which a needle is inserted through the abdominal wall into the distended bladder and the urine is extracted using a syringe).

Stones stuck in the urethra can often be removed and driven back into the urinary bladder by flushing the urethra with a urinary catheter, a procedure known as retrograde urohydropulsion.

Aftercare and Results

ACVS reminds us that the specific aftercare will be determined by the location of the stones as well as the operation that your pet underwent. Your veterinarian will provide you and your pet precise advice. Most dogs recovering from bladder surgery should be restrained for the first two weeks. To prevent self-trauma at the surgical site, your pet may need to wear an E-collar. You should keep an eye on your pet following surgery to ensure proper urine flow and a return to normal appetite and activity levels. For the first week or two following urinary surgery, it is normal for pets to have a tiny quantity of blood in their urine.

About the Author: Mariana Burgos is a freelance artist. She has been 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.

WHEN fur parents take their fur kids out in public, practicing proper etiquette is important to ensure everyone has a pleasant and safe experience. Not everyone is fond of pets but good pet etiquette can help make the experience enjoyable for everyone.

Imma's doggie day out at a pet-friendly beach. (Photo by Gigi Victa-Reyes) Kitty Alfie is all dressed up for a stroll in the park. (Photo by Reina Francia)

Bruno and Nyaki with their furmom Kimmie Bautista. (Photo by Flordeliza Bautista) Snow Whitey with rescuer Maricel at a pet insurance event. (Photo by Maricel Mondejar)

Sage had blood in his urine in 2019. Tests showed he had kidney stones. He was given sambng capsule once a day and other meds to break down the stones. He passed the stones through his urine. It was good this happened as Sage avoided surgery for removal of the stones. (Photo by Save Animals of Love and Light- Save ALL, an animal welfare group)