Manila Standard - 2023 April 19 - Wednesday

ALBERT DEL ROSARIO, EX-DFA CHIEF AND ENVOY, PASSES AWAY AT 83

CHIEF EXECUTIVE RALLIES AGENCIES VS. EL

SPEAKER: BETTER PH-US ECONOMIC SECURITY TIES UP

PBBM: Watch Taiwan OFWs

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

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to look after the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan following a statement from the Chinese ambassador that referred to their safety as tensions rose over the selfgoverning island.

Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo De Vega said contingency measures are in place in case Filipi-

DFA says contingency plans in place at MECO

China Foreign Minister on 3-day Manila visit

By Rey E. Requejo and Jessica M. Bacud

CHINA’S Foreign Minister Qin Gang flies to the Philippines on Friday for a three-day official visit and meeting with his Filipino counterpart as Beijing and Manila keep their relations warm

Staunch WPS defender Del Rosario dies at 83

By Rey E. Requejo

FORMER Foreign Affairs Secretary

Albert del Rosario, one of the country’s staunchest advocates of Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, passed away on Tuesday, He was 83.

“The family of Ambassador Albert Ferreros del Rosario is deeply saddened to announce his passing today, April 18,” his family said in a statement. “The family requests privacy during this difficult time. Details will be released at a later date,” the statement added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Del Rosario, who spearheaded the Philippines successful arbitration case against China in 2016, died while en route to San Franciso (see related story on A1 – Editors).

Marcos, solons, diplomats pay tribute to ‘ADR’

By Vince Lopez,

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr., lawmakers and foreign diplomats on

Tuesday paid tribute to the late former Foreign Affairs secretary and ambassador Albert Del Rosario, who played a key role in winning a favorable ruling for the Philippines against China from an international tribunal.

Abalos vows to watch over Teves himself once solon comes home

By Joel E. Zurbano

INTERIOR and Local Government

Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. assured a Senate panel Monday that he would guarantee the safety of suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., if he returns to the country to face murder charges filed against him.

“I will watch over [Teves] myself.

I assure you that 100 percent,” Abalos said.

During Monday’s Senate hearing on the case, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa asked Abalos if he is ready to take accountability for ensuring Teves’ safety, the DILG chief replied “yes.”

The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs earlier did not allow Teves — who has also been tagged as the mastermind behind the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo -- to attend the hearing virtually.

No return to masking in MM

Del Rosario, 83, died on his way to San Francisco in the United States onboard an aircraft. The Del Rosario family has yet to release information on the cause of death.

amid their continued differences, especially over the South China Sea.

Qin, China’s concurrent State Councilor, will have a meeting with Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo to exchange views on the outcomes of the recent Philippines-China Foreign Ministry Consultations and Bilateral Consulta-

tions Mechanism on the South China Sea held in Manila in March.

“The official visit continues the series of high-level interactions between the Philippines and China in 2023, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s state visit to China

Address political violence, illegal drug trade, PH peace councils told

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday tasked the members of the national and regional peace and order councils to address cases of political violence as well as those stemming from the illegal drug trade.

The President said these were today’s two biggest concerns threatening peace and order in the country. He also said that an internal review being conducted by the Philippine Na-

tional Police (PNP) aimed at determining cops with drug links will conclude in two weeks or so, as he vowed to relentlessly fight the proliferation of illicit narcotics in the country.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the CCTV footage “speaks for itself” in the alleged coverup attempt of some cops in the P6.7 billion drug haul in October 2022. Abalos made the statement in response to the defense of PNP Chief Police General

Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

DRILL. Philippine and US Marines demonstrate the use of Stinger MANPADS in an air defense drill at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in San Antonio, Zambales during Balikatan 2023 on Mondauy. While the Philippine Marines does not operate any MANPADS, it is looking

for its Coastal Defense Regiment. USMC Photo / Cpl. Kyle Chan

PBBM rallies agencies vs. El Nino

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed different government agencies to make the necessary preparations and come up with a strategy to address the looming dry spell or El Niño phenomenon that may hit the country this year until early next year.

During a sectoral meeting, the President tasked select government agencies to come up with a campaign to generate public awareness to conserve water and energy, among others, to mitigate the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, said Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno in a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday.

China...

“Earlier, President Marcos gave clear instructions or orders that we should strengthen our preparations for the expected adverse effects of El Niño,” Nepomuceno said, noting the Department of Health (DOH) was expected to gear toward addressing illnesses that may appear as a result of El Niño.

“Secondly, that is preparation for the lack of water. We are expecting that, so

he ordered earlier that we should have a public awareness campaign and immediately especially should start with government agencies, institutions including public institutions that are schools or schools to save water immediately before your problem gets worse.”

Aside from conserving water, the President, Nepomuceno said, wants the public to conserve electricity to cushion the effects of the dry spell, which could intensify in the last quarter of the year or early next year. There are two specific instructions given by the President, Nepomuceno said.

One is the adoption of a whole-ofgovernment or whole-of-nation approach, and the other one is putting up protocol-based and scientific long-

term processes that could be adopted by the country. Through the mechanisms of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the President specifically instructed concerned government agencies to quickly form an El Niño team so they could effectively respond to the crisis, according to the OCD official.

Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Administration (DOST-PAGASA) Deputy Administrator Esperanza Cayanan said during the same press briefing that in their latest forecast, the probability of the occurrence of El Niño increased to 80 percent this coming June, July, and August.

Tulfo, Hontiveros ‘strongly support’ divorce bill

President asks First Lady Liza to marry him again

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he asked the First Lady to marry him again on the occasion of the couple’s 30th anniversary.

President Marcos and First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos recently celebrated their 30th year as a couple, as shown in photos shared on Mr. Marcos’ official Twitter account on Tuesday (see photos on A1 – Editors).

The photos showed the President proposing to the First Lady, according to a GMA News report.

The report also said Mr. Marcos also penned a letter saying, “Make all my dreams come true! Marry me again! Happy anniversary!”

Mr. Marcos mentioned that his wife said “yes” to his proposal.

in early January,” the DFA said in a statement.

It will be Qin and Manalo’s first inperson meeting, where they are expected to “discuss ways forward in the implementation of the agreements reached” during Mr. Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s bilateral talks.

“Both sides will discuss increasing and strengthening cooperation in agriculture, trade, energy, infrastructure, and people-to-people relations, among others,” DFA added.

Manalo and Qin are also expected to discuss regional security issues of mutual concern, the DFA said, despite Beijing’s continued aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, which other countries saw as a threat against peace and stability in the region.

The visit coincidentally followed Manalo’s recent high-level engagements with the officials of the US, China’s main rival, in Washington, D.C., wherein Manila and Washington bolstered their military alliance in response to China’s aggression in the waters, among other reasons.

“Qin’s visit will be his first official engagement with the Philippines since his appointment as both Foreign Minister and State Councilor in December 2022 and early March 2023, respectively,” the DFA said.

China has strongly opposed a decision by the Marcos administration to grant US military forces access to additional sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement in northern Luzon, which Chinese officials said will be used by the US to possibly intervene in the Taiwan issue.

SEN. Raffy T. Tulfo said he strongly supports the proposed divorce bill refiled by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, saying that the bill is an “act of social justice that would give people a fresh start from a miserable marriage.”

During Tuesday’s public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, Tulfo said that based on his experience as a public servant, he

PBBM:...

From A1

From A1 Abalos... From A1

“Please pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Ambassador del Rosario, who passed away on April 18, 2023 at the age of 83. He was a MAP member for 45 years. Wake and internment details will be announced later,” the management group, which he was president of in 2007, said in a statement.

The former DFA chief contributed many opinion articles and thought pieces on the maritime issue and national defense in general to several publications, including the Manila Standard.

He was also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Stratbase ADR Institute, providing guidance and direction to the numerous policy studies and advocacies that the Institute advances.

“It is with profound sadness that we at the Stratbase Group offer our deepest condolences to the family of our beloved Chairperson, Ambassador Albert F. del Rosario,” the organization said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

“It has been an honor to work with a leader who personified the highest level of statesmanship, integrity, and love of country that has inspired us to sustain the strategically critical advocacies of the Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies,” it added.

“(Del Rosario) has been a champion of democratic values and a rules-based international order to sustain lasting peace, security, and prosperity for all. He has fought for an independent foreign policy that prioritizes the interests of the country and of the Filipino people.”

“He believed that diplomacy is a great equalizer in international affairs and that each state had an equal voice in the global community regardless of their political, economic, or military capabilities,” it added.

nos need to be evacuated.

“(The President) has given a general order to always watch out for the safety and welfare of all OFWs, including in Taiwan,” De Vega said in a briefing.

He assured the public that there has been a contingency plan for a long time.

“It’s a thick book,” he said. “It’s there in the Manila Economic Cultural Office and labor offices.”

At a recent forum, Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian said Beijing “reserves the option of taking all necessary measures” should things escalate in the Taiwan Strait and advised Manila to oppose “Taiwan independence” if it really cares about the 150,000 OFWs there.

Huang’s statement came after the Philippine government allowed US troops access to four additional military bases under its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

The Chinese embassy later said the ambassador was misquoted.

De Vega said the Philippines “is a peaceful country.”

“We do not have the intent to undertake offensive military actions. There is no need for anyone to make statements that make it appear our OFWs are being targeted,” he said.

Mr. Marcos has maintained that the new EDCA sites would not be used for offensive attacks after the Chinese gov-

had witnessed countless persons stuck in toxic or unproductive marriages.

“The quality of family life for spouses who are already in an unhealthy marital relationship is not what was envisioned by the State as something that needs protecting,” Tulfo said.

Tulfo further said that while Executive Order No. 209 or the Family Code of the Philippines provides various remedies for the termination of a marital union, those

ernment noted that two of these bases were located at the northernmost tip of Luzon, just a few hundred kilometers away from Taiwan.

De Vega said no Filipino is seeking government help for repatriation in Taiwan as of yet.

Senators earlier said the government should have a contingency plan to evacuate 150,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan in case the brewing tensions with China escalate.

Senator Francis Escudero said this should be a given for every country where Filipinos are working. Embassies and consulates must be prepared for any contingency, he added.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said the country must always be prepared where OFWs are concerned.

“Where we have a concentration of OFWs, we should always be ready with all sorts of contingency plans,” he said.

“When the contingency actually happens, the folder or plan should just be pulled from the shelf. That’s how we should be prepared,” he said.

Senator Francis Tolentino said he had already recommended that in case of an emergency, civilian commercial passenger ships should be commandeered by the government to facilitate the immediate evacuation of OFWs from Taiwan.

“We have to prepare a contingency plan utilizing commercial vessels assisted by the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard,” he added.

In the House, Assistant Minority Lead-

processes have proven to be excessively adversarial, tedious, and unjustly expensive, especially for the poor.

Hontiveros, meanwhile, said the Senate panel will form a Technical Working Committee to study the proposed divorce bill.

In the same hearing, Hontiveros questioned why a woman should be locked in a hurting relationship where there is no love and respect.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

er Arlene Brosas criticized the remarks of the Chinese ambassador, saying he had “crossed the line” by citing the fate of OFWs in Taiwan to pressure Manila.

“Chinese Ambassador Huang is sending a veiled threat to our OFWs in Taiwan to pressure the Philippines to abide by the ‘One China’ principle. He clearly crossed the line, and Malacanang should recommend that he must be immediately recalled,” said Brosas, the nominee of the Gabriela party-list group in the House of Representatives.

“To tell Manila to ‘unequivocally oppose’ such [an] assertion of [Taiwan] independence and dangle the fate of our OFWs – that is simply unacceptable,” she added.

The lawmaker said that while Filipinos should oppose the designation of new shared locations under the EDCA, this does not mean that they should tolerate Beijing’s aggressive acts in the West Philippine Sea.

“From the building of artificial islands in the contested waters to the harassment of our fishermen and lasertagging of our Coast Guard, China has done so much to cause unrest and concern in the peace and security in the West Philippine Sea. It has no ascendancy to lecture us on ensuring regional stability and de-escalating the tension in the contested territories,” she said.

Brosas said Gabriela will continue to oppose any act of aggression and foreign intervention, whether from Washington or from Beijing.

Bureau of Investigation,” Abalos said.

In his tweet, the President said he cherished his wife, saying “there is still no place I’d rather be and no person I’d rather be with. Liza, you will always be the girl of my dreams.”

The President said they celebrated their anniversary with family and close friends, many of whom were present during their wedding in 1993.

The First Couple has three sons, Ferdinand Alexander, who now serves as Ilocos Norte representative, Joseph Simon, and William Vincent. Vince Lopez

Address...

From A1

Rodolfo Azurin Jr. that no cover-up happened during the operation.

“In law, there is the principle of res ipsa loquitur. The thing speaks for itself. The video in itself is a statement of what transpired,” he said in a statement.

“While I respect General Azurin, I am sure he agrees with me that the public deserves to know the truth. This is not only about the issue of the 42 kilograms, but what happened to the 900 kilograms of shabu,” he said in a mixture of English and Filipino.

Addressing the 1st Joint National Peace and Order Council and Regional Peace and Order Council Meeting 2023 in Malacañang, President Marcos said Tuesday’s event was timely as his government confronts the increasing violent activities, particularly after last year’s election.

“They happened just after the election... almost one after the other. So, it became very prominent in the minds of the townspeople that it had really become too bad,” he told the participants.

“And of course, that is true because even one is too much. But nonetheless, in terms of the political violence, I think, I hope, and we must continue to look out for, and watch out for,” the Chief Executive said.

The peace and order councils must also focus on addressing the proliferation of illegal or loose firearms that fuel violence in the country, he said, at the same time warning against the rise of warlordism.

As the head of the Special Task Force Degamo, Abalos also assured the Senate that the task force will soon reach the end of the investigation of the case.

“The task force is now approaching the final phase of its investigation. All the evidence is still being confirmed for the filing of criminal charges against the rest of the suspects including the suspected mastermind,” he said.

Marcos,...

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“I join the entire nation in mourning the passing of former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario, an honorable diplomat and an esteemed public servant,” Mr. Marcos said in a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO)

“I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Secretary del Rosario, who was known for his pat-

DOH:...

From A1

Mask-wearing is also encouraged among the elderly, individuals with comorbidities, immunocompromised persons, and children.

Vergeire said the country’s isolation and quarantine protocols remain in

“We will not stop until the last perpetrator is caught, imprisoned, and tried to the full extent of the law. This is the only way to restore normalcy to the lives of ordinary citizens and maintain order, security, and lasting peace in Negros Oriental,” Abalos added.

Abalos credited the police, the military, and the National Bureau of Investigation for their efficiency.

“You saw how quickly those involved in this crime were caught. I am grateful for the strength and unity of the police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National

riotism and integrity,” he said.

The President thanked Del Rosario for his long years of dedication and commitment to serve the country as foreign envoy then Department of Foreign Affairs chief under the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III.

“We thank his deep commitment to our national interest and his unwavering devotion to our shared values,” the President said.

Del Rosario was behind two prominent legal cases against Beijing, including a 2013 case at the Permanent Court

place, adding asymptomatic close contacts of probable or confirmed cases who have been vaccinated with at least primary series shall not be required to undergo quarantine. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated asymptomatic close contacts of probable or confirmed cases shall quarantine for at least 14 days from the date of the last exposure, she said.

On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said there was nothing funny about the deaths of Degamo and eight other people.

“There is nothing funny about nine people getting killed,” Remulla said in a message to the media.

He said people were living in fear as long as Teves was not in legal custody.

Remulla was reacting to Teves’ statement that he found it funny that he might be tagged a terrorist to force him to surrender.

of Arbitration that eventually struck down China’s claims to most of the resource-rich South China Sea. Del Rosario continued his criticism of China after leaving office by holding public forums organized by his think tank and writing opinion columns in local newspapers. In March 2019, del Rosario filed a complaint against Chinese officials at the International Criminal Court, alleging “crimes against humanity” over the supposed environmental fallout of Beijing’s activities in the South China Sea.

For the isolation of individuals with symptoms and suspect, probable, and confirmed cases, here are the guidelines:

-- All suspect, probable, and confirmed cases who are asymptomatic or present with mild symptoms, and who have been vaccinated with at least primary series, shall isolate for at least seven days from the sample collection date

The other overwhelming problem confronting the country today when it comes to peace and order is violence perpetrated by drug syndicates quarreling over territory with the involvement of some members of the police force, Mr. Marcos said.

“It stems from the territorial fights over areas where drugs are distributed, who controls the drug trade in that area. Sometimes we hear there is a real scalawag there,” he said.

“So, we really need to watch carefully that these activities that are growing have to be dismantled.”

The complaint was eventually dismissed because China is not a state party to the Rome Statute that established the court. Months after filing the ICC case, he was denied entry to Hong Kong in what critics called retaliation for his criticism of Beijing.

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez paid tribute to Del Rosario.

“Our country has just lost a consummate diplomat, a humble and conscientious public servant and civilian, and a staunch and passionate defender of national sovereignty,” Romualdez said.

or from onset of signs and symptoms, whichever is earlier.

-- All suspect, probable, and confirmed cases who are asymptomatic or present with mild symptoms, and who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated, shall isolate for at least 10 days from the sample collection date or from onset of signs and symptoms, whichever is earlier.

Puerto Galera brgys. fail water quality tests

By Rio N. Araja

OUT of the 35 sampling stations within the municipality of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro and it’s barangays, only nine sampling stations have met the criteria for the agency’s water quality guidelines.

Department of Tourism Secretary

Christina Frasco meanwhile said Puerto Galera is projected to lose around P5.3 million daily should it be shut for tourism, after authorities deemed many of its water sites unsafe for swimming activities.

Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and International Affairs Jonas Leones identified those areas that passed DENR Administrative Order 2016-08 or the Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards of 2016 as Small Lalaguna and Big Lalaguna shoreline, Balete, Central Sabang shoreline, Coco Beach, Batangas Channel, Paniquian, Balatero, and West San Isidro Bay.

Citing the Department of Health, he said potable water must not have detectable levels of contaminants beyond the standards. He said exposure to such contaminants could cause rashes and blisters.

“Do not touch the water,” he said.

Oils and grease may also result in aspiration leading to respiratory diseases, while ingestion would cause gastrointestinal irritations which may manifest acutely abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The Department of Health advised the public to exercise caution and refrain from consuming water from affected areas when conducting water-related occupational and recreational activities, Leonen said. The consumption of contaminated various fish, shellfish and other seafood products is prohibited.

He said the local government, along with the DENR, is studying if the water contaminants are caused by the oil spill. On Feb, 28, MT Princess Empress carrying 900,00 liters of industrial fuel oil sank off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, causing an oil spill.

Fate of SIM registration law now rests in hands of SC—Sen. Poe

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Grace Poe said the fate of the SIM Registration Law now rests on the collective wisdom of the magistrates of the Supreme Court (SC).

“We worked hard and fought for its passage to fend off scams and spams preying on our people, and sometimes causing them financial losses and endangering their safety,” Poe said.

Poe, the chairperson of the Senate committee on public service, also said the law has instituted adequate safeguards that will vouch for consumers’ right to privacy while ensuring safe and secure mobile use. “We respect the processes of the high court in deliberating on the petition,” she added.

Earlier, the SC has been asked to declare unconstitutional Republic Act No. 11934, otherwise known as the SIM Registration Act, on the ground that it violates the basic constitutional rights of SIM card users.

In a 59-page petition filed by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and several other individuals, the petitioners also sought the immediate issuance of a temporary restraining order and/or a writ of preliminary injunction enjoining the implementation of the law pending the resolution of the petition.

HONORING RIZAL.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala lays a wreath at the monument of Dr. Jose Rizal on Tuesday, April 18. Fiala arrived in the country Sunday evening for a three-day official visit. Danny Pata

Survey: Half of Pinoy families received ‘ayuda’

A SURVEY conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said about half of Filipino families received assistance in the last quarter of 2022.

The SWS said the December 10 to December 14, 2022 survey found that 53 percent of families received help in the past 3 months, while 47 percent did not.

The most common forms of assistance included money that was given (32 percent), followed by food (25 percent), money that was lent (6 percent), non-food items (2 percent), support for schooling or training (2 percent), any kind of service (2

percent), and jobs (2 percent), ABS-CBN News reported. Among families that received help in the past 3 months, 60 percent got it from the government and 37 percent from their relatives.

Other sources of assistance included friends (11 percent), a private person who is not a relative or friend (5 percent), private companies (3 percent), non-government organizations or NGOs (3 percent), and religious organizations (1 percent), the SWS, quoted by ABS-CBN News, further said.

The 1,200 respondent-household heads were allowed to give more than one answer.

The percentage of families that did not receive any help was higher in the Visayas (54 percent) than in Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, and Mindanao (46 percent each), the pollster added.

The December 2022 face-to-face survey also found that 51 percent of Filipino families rated themselves as poor, 19 percent said they were not poor, and 31 percent said they were on the borderline, according to the SWS.

Czech gov’t considering armament deal with PH

CZECH Prime Minister Petr Fiala bared that the Czech Republic is considering delivering air assets for the Philippine Coast Guard and studying a rearmament deal for the Philippine Army Fiala recently went to the Philippines for a three-day state visit and met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Telecom company Globe meanwhile said on Tuesday said it is offering incentives to attract subscribers to register their SIMs with just a week left before the April 26 deadline.

“At the meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., I supported joint projects in the area of the defense industry,” Fiala, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said.

“These are, for example, possible deliveries of aircraft for the Philippine Coast Guard or the project of Česká zbrojovka for the comprehensive rearmament of the

local army,” the official further said. Fiala, on a 10-day tour of Asia, did not deliver a speech before his departure at the Villamor Airbase, but Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Jana Sediva said that the European leader’s visit in Manila was “very successful,” ABS-CBN News reported.

I am a Doubting Thomas

for there they will see him (cf. v. 7).

According to the Holy Father, going to Galilee means two things: on the one hand, to leave the enclosure of the Upper Room and go to the land of the Gentiles (cf. Mt 4:15), to come forth from hiding and to open themselves up to mission, to leave fear behind and to set out for the future.

IN HIS homily for Easter Vigil, Pope Francis, in reference to the women who found the empty tomb, said that the women thought they (the women) would find Jesus in the place of death and that everything was over, forever.

Sometimes, according to the Holy Father, we too may think the joy of our encounter with Jesus is something belonging to the past, whereas the present consists mostly of sealed tombs: tombs of disappointment, bitterness and distrust, of the dismay of thinking that “nothing more can be done,” “things will never change,” “better to live for today,” since “there is no certainty about tomorrow.”

If we are prey to sorrow, burdened by sadness, laid low by sin, embittered by failure or troubled by some problem, we also know the bitter taste of weariness and the absence of joy, the pope adds.

The wheel of justice is rolling

On the other hand, to return to the origins, for it was precisely in Galilee that everything began. There the Lord had met and first called the disciples.

So, to go to Galilee means to return to the grace of the beginnings, to regain the memory that regenerates hope, the “memory of the future” bestowed on us by the Risen One.

Reflecting on what the Paschal of the Lord accomplishes, the Holy Father said: it motivates us to move forward, to leave behind our sense of defeat, to roll away the stone of the tombs in which we often imprison our hope, and to look with confidence to the future, for Christ is risen and has changed the direction of history.

Yet, to do this, the Pasch of the Lord takes us back to the grace of our own past; it brings us back to Galilee, where our love story with Jesus began.

The Holy Father then asks us to remember our own Galilee and walk towards it, for it is the “place” where we came to know Jesus personally, where he stopped being just another personage from a distant past, but a living person: not some distant God but the God who is at your side, who more than anyone else knows us and loves us.

Then we come to the Gospel for the First Sunday after Easter.

The Gospel of John speaks of the time when the Risen Lord appears to his disciples.

WITH four suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others attending this week the first preliminary investigation of the case at the Department of Justice, we can see the wheel of justice is rolling.

The lawyer for the Degamo family and the widows of the eight individuals killed with the governor, Levito Baligod, told reporters the suspects affirmed their sworn statements before prosecutors.

The Department of Justice also said it would file charges against Marvin Miranda, arrested in a hot pursuit operation on March 27 in a barangay in Barbaza, Antique where he was allegedly hiding.

He was identified as an alleged mastermind in the killing, charged with nine counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder.

He was also identified as the former bagman of suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.

In a statement, the DOJ said the indictment was based on the disclosures

given by certain Antipolo, Javier, Rodriguez, Labrador, and Rivero in their respective extra-judicial confessions that “Miranda played an indispensable part in the planning of the assassination of the governor.”

“The state prosecutors found that Miranda conspired in the commission of the crimes and recommended his indictment, together with accused Antipolo, Isturis, Javier, Pattaguan, E. Gonyon, and JL. Gonyon, who were previously charged in court,” the agency said.

But the lights are focused on Teves, who is still abroad, and whom Justice Crispin Remulla said was “one of the masterminds of the assassination of

Manila land deal questioned anew

Then the Holy Father emphasizes there are times, we may simply feel weary about our daily routine, tired of taking risks in a cold, hard world where only the clever and the strong seem to get ahead.

At times, we may even feel helpless and discouraged before the power of evil, the conflicts that tear relationships apart, the attitudes of calculation and indifference that seem to prevail in society, the cancer of corruption, the spread of injustice, the icy winds of war, the Pope said.

We may have come face to face with death, because it robbed us of the presence of our loved ones or because we brushed up against it in illness or a serious setback.

In times like this, the Pope said, it becomes easy to yield to disillusionment, once the wellspring of hope has dried up.

In these or similar situations, our paths come to a halt before a row of tombs, and we stand there, filled with sorrow and regret, alone and powerless, repeating the question, “Why?”

However, as pointed out by the Holy Father, the women at Easter, did not stand frozen before the tomb; rather, the Gospel tells us, “they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples” (v. 8).

They brought the news that would change life and history forever: Christ is risen! (v. 6).

They remember to convey the Lord’s summons to the disciples to go to Galilee,

According to John’s account, Thomas refused to believe Jesus had risen from the dead and appeared to the other disciples until he could see and touch Jesus’ wounds.

When Jesus appeared to him and invited him to do so, Thomas confessed his faith and called him “My Lord and my God.”

Jesus then said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Thomas wanted assurance and evidence.

He also wanted Jesus and needed a personal connection to the Messiah.

Thomas’ transformation from doubt to faith is a reminder that Jesus meets us where we are and invites us to a deeper relationship with Him.

It tells us of the stark reality that doubt is very much a part of our faith journey.

Yet Christ is calling us to totally repose our trust and faith in Him even when we do not see; when believing requires no tangible evidence; or even when we cannot see or understand the workings of His plan.

By faith, we are able to believe in God who is unseen, yet true.

Without faith, we won’t be able to see God’s glory (John 11:40), and without faith, we won’t be able to please Him (Hebrews 11:6).

These days as multiple health crises are hitting me, I am a Doubting Thomas. But I have hope that soon I will proclaim: “My Lord and my God.”

Evan Gershkovich: Dedicated reporter imprisoned in Russia

EVAN Gershkovich was determined to keep reporting from Moscow since the Kremlin’s seismic Ukraine offensive, seeing it as his duty to keep telling Russia’s stories, despite the risks, in a country he loved.

The US-born son of Soviet Jewish emigres had covered Russia as it grew increasingly repressive for six years, earning a reputation of a talented on-the-ground reporter.

Weeks before the Ukraine campaign, he got his dream job: Russia correspondent for the Wall Street Journal. As many US journalists left Russia, he made a choice to keep reporting from the country.

Now, the 31-year-old is held in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo Prison—he first foreign journalist arrested on spy charges since the Soviet era.

He risks 20 years, with Moscow accusing him of trying to obtain classified defense information for the US government.

Since his shock arrest on March 29, few details have been made public—Russia has kept the case top secret.

In his first contact with the outside world, Gershkovich wrote a handwritten letter to his parents in Russian. “I am not losing hope,” it read. His mother Ella Milman said he “felt it was his duty to report” from Russia.

“He loves Russian people,” she said in a video interview with the Wall Street Journal.

Gershkovich was arrested during a reporting trip in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.

He was believed to be working on a story about the powerful private company Wagner.

He has reported extensively on how Russians have experienced the Ukraine conflict, speaking to families of dead soldiers and critics of President Vladimir Putin.

For friends and colleagues, he was just doing his job and had known he was under the watchful eye of security services, but believed his accreditation with the foreign ministry would protect him.

“He knew for some stories he was followed around and people he talked to would be pressured not to talk to him,” Guardian correspondent Pjotr Sauer, a close friend, told AFP.

“But he was accredited by the foreign ministry. I don’t think any of us could see the Russians going as far as charging him with this fake espionage.”

‘We saw Russia through his eyes’

The son of Jewish parents who emigrated to the United States from the Soviet Union in the 1970s, Gershkovich grew up in the US state of New Jersey. His parents had fled Soviet repressions and anti-Semitism. “I said to him this is the country that I left

A LOCAL company, Nesco International Development Corp., has asked the Philippine Stock Exchange to suspend the trading of shares of publicly-listed Megaworld Corporation over the property developer’s alleged questionable land deal for its Lucky Chinatown Mall project built on a military reservation formerly known as Cuartel Meisic in Binondo, Manila.

In a letter dated March 15, 2023, Nesco asked the PSE to “suspend the trading of shares of Megaworld Corporation and its subsidiary Empire East Land Holdings Inc. and other related affiliates and interests.”

Nesco warned the PSE may “be unduly dragged as an enabler and complicit to its (Megaworld’s) web of graft, corruption, plunder and possible racketeering, both locally and internationally, where it peddles its laundered real properties and shares.”

In support of its request to the PSE, Nesco attached the comment dated December 12, 2022 of the Office of the Solicitor General filed with the Supreme Court in G.R. 257855 where the OSG stated “the fact that Megaworld secured TCT Nos. 283867 and 283868 in its favor did not vest ownership upon it, as the titles cover properties within a military reservation being merely lent to City of Manila for educational purposes.”

“Registration does not vest title; it merely constitutes evidence of such title, assuming there is a valid title to begin with. Our land registration laws do not give the holder any better title than what he actually has, the joint venture and subsequent sale of properties between City of Manila and Megaworld being void, these produce no legal effects whatsoever,” it said.

The OSG further stated that “simply put, a military reservation such as Cuartel Meisic is beyond the commerce of man, and therefore cannot be alienated in favor

of a private entity.”

Nesco said “possible class suits against Megaworld and its cohorts, here and abroad, cannot be ignored” as it implored the PSE “to act now, and do what is right and appropriate to protect the interest of the government and the Filipino people and the world at large”.

Governor Degamo” and the “missing piece that will tie up all loose ends of the case.”

“The case is 99 percent finished. Following the arrest of Marvin Miranda, I can tell you that it is only a matter of time before we can put this to bed,” Remulla said.

The Department of Justice, meanwhile, is considering having Teves Jr. designated and proscribed as a terrorist to force him to surrender in relation to the Degamo killing.

“As a solution to the impasse here about the surrender of Mr. Teves or Congressman Teves, we are looking at designating him or proscribing him as a terrorist, to have him proscribed by the Court of Appeals and designated by the Anti-Terror Council because of the acts that happened,” Remulla told the Senate inquiry earlier this week.

But in an online press conference, the congressman’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said the Anti-Terrorism Law had a specific definition of what terrorism is or the crimes supposed to be in relation to sowing fear and panic among the public. The Degamo killing has prompted Malacanang to create a national interagency task force to “prevent the spread and escalation of violence elsewhere in the Philippines and to preserve peace and order in Negros Island.”

reason to question the authenticity of the subject Original Certificate of Title registered in the name of Title Nos. 7245, 7182 and 7203, purportedly all registered in the name of the City of Manila, OCT Nos. 7245, 7276, 7182 and 7201 are supposedly the mother title of TCT Nos. 273079, 273080 and 273082, which cover the subject properties.”

According to Nesco, the PSE’s “continued inaction may unwittingly be perceived as further condoning, tolerating or enabling Megaworld Corporation” to take over the government-owned “military reservation known as Cuartel Meisic and other prime real properties additionally covered by U.S. General Order 8977 [1904]”.

In its letter to the PSE dated March 16, 2023, the Madrid, Danao & Associates sent a “Reiterative Request to Suspend the Trading of Shares and its related subsidiaries Empire East Land Holdings, Inc. and other related interests, founded on the OSG’s findings of ‘fraud’, ‘plunder’ and ‘landgrabbing’ by Megaworld’s GRP-owned MILITARY RESERVATION Cuartel Meisic at Binondo, Manila via fake and dubious TCTs.”

The letter reads in part: “We write for our client, NESCO International Development Corporation…In the attached Comment dated 12 December 2022 of the Solicitor General’s Office in Supreme Court G.R. 257855 entitled Hansel M. Marantan vs. City of Manila, et. al, the OSG concluded clearly and in no uncertain terms that:

“(9) On 28 February 2018, the LRA Task Force Titulong Malinis (TFTM) issued an LRA Report categorically stating there appears to be a strong

journalist to work for an English-language newspaper—The Moscow Times—in 2017, he immediately fell in love with the place and the job.

Gershkovich was quick to make a name for himself there, breaking stories on the newspaper’s shoestring budget.

‘Deeply cares about the story’

In a letter dated 15 March 2023 addressed to Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah H. Lacuna coursed through Atty. Veronica N. Lladoc, City Legal Officer, and Atty. Maria Perlita P. Cabrera, Deputy City Legal Officer, entitled: “Follow-up to our Letter of 23 November 2022 for the Recall and/or Cancellation of Business Permit/s of Megaworld’s ‘Lucky Chinatown Mall’ and ‘City Place at Manila’ and all its lessees and business locators,” the law office said:

“Dear Mayor Lacuna: Further to our letter of 23 November 2022 (copy your Office received on 25 November 2022) we recently received a Comment from the Office of the Solicitor General on Supreme Court G.R. 257855 entitled “Hansel M. Marantan vs City of Manila, et. al.” holding and declaring that:

“9) On 28 February 2018, the LRA Task Force Titulong Malinis issued an LRA Report categorically stating there appears to be a strong reason to question the authenticity of the subject Original Certificate of Title Nos. 7245, 7276, 7182 and 7201, purportedly issued in the name of the City of Manila, OCT Nos. 7245, 7276, 7182 and 7201 are supposedly the mother titles of TCT Nos. 273079, 273080 and 273082, which cover the subject properties.”

x x x

Let’s see how this case unravels.

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

Before joining the Wall Street Journal, Gershkovich had worked for AFP’s Moscow bureau for a year.

He wrote about a Russian opposition politician running for elections from prison, unprecedented wildfires in Siberia and extensively covered how Moscow downplayed the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

and this is the country that you love,” his mother said in the video interview.

The family had still embraced his job and life in Moscow.

“We saw Russia through his eyes,” his mother said.

His sister, Danielle, said in the video interview that Gershkovich was “really passionate about showing other sides of Russia, the nuance and the beauty of it.”

A fluent Russian speaker, he had left a job as an editorial assistant at The New York Times and decided to return to his parent’s homeland. When he arrived in Russia as a fresh-faced

Friends say his character—open, gregarious, and extremely sociable— made Gershkovich’s reporting even better.

Sauer said he “could make any source comfortable, because they always felt he deeply cared about the story.”

Even now, from prison, Gershkovich seems not to have lost his sense of humor.

“Mom, you unfortunately, for better or worse, prepared me well for jail food,” he wrote in his handwritten note.

“And I am trying to write. Maybe, finally, I am going to write something good.”

Danielle Gershkovich also praised her brother’s open character: “I know that’s probably a silly thing to say but I can see him making friends in there.”

A football fan, he also immersed himself in the incredible and murky story of Sheriff Tiraspol, a football club in Transnistria—the separatist pro-Russian region of Moldova—when it qualified for the Champions League in 2021.

Even as the stories got darker, Gershkovich’s wry sense of humor shone through.

“There are two kinds of news stories in Russia these days: someone’s been arrested, something’s been shut down,” he wrote on Twitter in June 2022.

He added: “I’ve been kindly reminded that there is a third kind of news story, too: something’s been banned.” AFP

Thomas’ transformation from doubt to faith is a reminder that Jesus meets us where we are and invites us to a deeper relationship with Him

The Degamo killing has prompted Malacanang to create a national inter-agency task force to ‘prevent the spread and escalation of violence elsewhere in the Philippines and to preserve peace and order in Negros Island’

Let’s see how this case unravels

Even now, from prison, Gershkovich seems not to have lost his sense of humor.

Speaker vows stronger PH-US economic security ties

By Maricel V. Cruz

SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Tuesday vowed to work harder in expanding the Philippines and United States (US) economic security relations.

Romualdez made the pledge following a meeting at the US Capitol in Washington D.C. with US Representative Young Kim of California on Tuesday morning (Philippine time), with a group of Philippine legislators also in attendance.

Kim is chairperson of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the IndoPacific.

Accompanying Speaker Romualdez in the meeting were House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe of Zamboanga’s 2nd District, Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga’s 3rd District, Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco, Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Jose Aquino II, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel del Gallego Romualdez, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, and House sergeant-at-arms retired Gen. Napoleon Taas.

The Speaker said the meeting with Rep. Kim centered on defense and security engagement, which remain a key pillar of the Philippines-US bilateral relations.

“We asked for the continued US congressional support for defense and economic security,” he said.

“On top of our strong military security with the United States, Rep. Kim has vowed to work with us to further strengthen and expand the country’s economic security with them. This partnership will boost productivity, drive economic growth, and generate new jobs,” Romualdez added.

He announced that a US legislative delegation led by Rep. Kim will visit the Philippines in November this year to further solidify their agreement to expand PH-US economic cooperation.

Romualdez recalled that in recent engagements, the US has repeatedly emphasized the strategic importance of the Philippines, as well as the PH-US alliance’s vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Sara visits Masbate schools disrupted by recent rebel attacks

VICE President and Education Secretary

Sara Duterte on Monday visited seven public schools in Masbate which suffered class disruptions due to rebel attacks, affecting thousands of students.

Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar said the arrest and deportation by Malaysian authorities of ranking Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) leader Eric Casilao “sealed the collapse of the New People’s Army (NPA) insurgency in the Davao Region.”

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) said Duterte toured the Palani Integrated School in Balud, Guindawahan Elementary School in Pio Corpuz, Locso-an Elementary School, Arriesgado Sevilleno High School in Placer, Villa Hermosa Elementary School, Villa Hermosa National High School in Cawayan, and Masbate Comprehensive National High School in Masbate City.

In-person classes were suspended for a week in six Masbate towns due to armed clashes between government forces and suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, affecting over 55,000 students and 2,815 school personnel.

The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier said the attacks “have caused trauma to learners and school personnel, who witnessed the senseless violence.”

During her visit, Duterte highlighted the importance of education in ending the cycle of poverty.

She also reminded students from the Locso-on Elementary School in Placer town to duck and seek cover when they hear gunfire.

Group seeks review of tax and duty-free importation of palm oil

By Othel V. Campos

AN ORGANIZATION of domestic industries on Tuesday asked President Marcos to revisit the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) policy on granting tax and duty-free privilege to palm oil importers purportedly for animal feeds in light of alleged rampant cases of technical smuggling.

Federation of Philippine Industries

(FPI) chairman and Coconut Oil Refiners Association (CORA) president Jess Arranza said there seemed to be a big discrepancy on how much of the imported palm olein is used for animal feeds and the volume that the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) allows for importation.

“We have data that shows the volume of imported palm olein coming in, which has surprisingly increased during

the pandemic. It is just a wonder how the big the shipment are and how little is known as the how much exactly is needed for animal feeds compounding,”

Arranza said in a press briefing.

The group made the appeal in a follow-up letter to the President, who is also the concurrent DA Secretary, to reiterate their intention to work with Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban in stamping out the

General, 6 other Armymen face court martial for murder

By Charles Dantes

SEVEN Army soldiers including a onestar general and a colonel will face a general court martial for alleged complicity in the murder of a model and businesswoman in Davao City last December.

To be tried by court martial were Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante, 1001st Brigade deputy commander Col. Michael Licyayo, and five other troopers for their alleged involvement in the killing of Yvonnette Plaza.

In a statement, the Philippine Army said the military prosecution panel would convene anytime this week.

Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., PA commanding general, approved the filing of administrative charges against Durante and Licyayo, along with SSgt. Gilbert Plaza; Sgt. Delfin Sialsa Jr.; Cpls. Adrian

Cachero and Rolly Cabal; and Pfc. Romark Longakit. Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad, in a statement, said the Army had finished the review of administrative liability of the accused.

“(These were) subsequently referred to the GCM (General Court Martial). The GCM is chaired by the Maj. Gen. Jose Eriel Niembra, who is the current 10th Infantry Division commander,” Trinidad said.

Durante and Licyayo were charged with violation of Article of War 96 which refers to “conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman,” while the five others were charged with violation of Article of War 97 referring to “all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and military discipline and all conduct of nature to bring discredit upon the military service.”

“The Philippine Army will uphold the highest form of discipline amongst its personnel in the performance of its mandate of serving the people and securing the land. The Army does not tolerate wrongdoings and criminal acts of any soldier, be they officer or enlisted personnel,” the PA statement added.

Durante and Licyayo are currently under the custody of the Eastern Mindanao Command in Camp Pandacan in Davao City, while Plaza, Sialsa, Cachero, and Cabal were placed under the custody of the Army in Davao City. Longakit had been absent without official leave (AWOL).

Plaza was found dead outside her home in Davao City last December 28, 2022.

CCTV footage showed one of the suspects pointing a gun at the businesswoman, while another stayed in their getaway motorcycle.

CA junks Ampatuan’s hospital plea

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld with finality its decision rejecting the plea of murder convict and former Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan to be transferred to a hospital.

In a resolution released last April 11, 2023 but was made public only on Tuesday, the CA’s former 17th Division denied Ampatuan’s motion for reconsideration of its decision issued on July 4, 2022 which upheld the ruling issued by the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City Branch 221 denying the petitioner’s urgent motion to be trans-

ferred from the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) to a hospital at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ampatuan’s camp claimed that he was vulnerable to contracting COVID while inside the NBP due to his delicate condition, having suffered stroke on three different occasions.

The former governor said he was also suffering from hypertension, diabetes and chronic atrial fibrillation.

The trial court denied Ampatuan’s request, saying that the NBP has its own facility where he could receive proper medical treatment, if necessary.

This was upheld by the CA in a sevenpage decision issued on July 20, 2022.

illegal use of imported palm olein by unscrupulous traders.

“The DA should also revisit this policy of allowing zero VAT and duty free importations of palm olein as this is clearly hurting the local coconut and palm oil farmers and producers. There should be strict validation relative to such reason given by importers and effective monitoring on where these importations are actually utilized,” Arranza said.

IN BRIEF

BOC haul for Q1: P19.2b

THE Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) intensified campaign against smuggling has resulted in the seizure of more than P19.22 billion worth of contraband and other illegally imported goods in the first quarter of 2023.

The confiscations during the period involved imitation goods worth more than P13.249 billion, smuggled agricultural products worth over P2.552 billion, cigarettes and other tobacco products worth over P1.748 billion, and illegal drugs worth P849 million.

Other seized items covered general merchandise, steel products, electronics, medical supplies, jewelry, food, chemicals, currency, fuel, and oil. Joel E.

Zurbano

CPA loses plea for writ of amparo before CA

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has sustained its earlier decision dismissing the appeal of several officers and members of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) for the issuance of a writ of amparo against the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict-NTF-ELCAC) and other law enforcement agencies.

In a 16-page resolution, the CA’s former17th Division through Associate Justice Angeline Mary Quimpo-Sale did not give weight to petitioners argument that it set the bar “too high for any aggrieved citizen to seek succor from the courts in times of threats to his life and liberty” when it denied their petition for a writ of amparo. Rey E. Requejo CHR commends SC‘s modernization program

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday commended the Supreme Court’s (SC) modernization program, including its policy on video-conferencing for legal aid cases.

“With hope that modernization will guarantee the benefits stated above, the Commission on Human Rights commends the Supreme Court’s decision that improves accessibility to legal aid for marginalized and vulnerable groups,” the CHR said. Rio N. Araja

TRUCKS CONVOY. Some 50 cargo trucks roll in a convoy along Road 10 at the Manila International Container Terminal in Tondo, Manila to dramatize their protest against the Trusted Operator Program-Container Registry and Monitoring System (TOPCRMS), an electronic container monitoring system being pushed by the Philippine Port Authority. Norman Cruz

PH SOLONS AT US CAPITOL. A Philippine congressional delegation headed by Speaker Martin Romualdez (4th from right) meets with U.S. Representative Young Kim (in red skirt) ) of California, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific. Others in photo are Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe (2nd left) of Zamboanga’s 2nd District, Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. (2nd right) of Pampanga’s 3rd District, Navotas City Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco (3rd right), Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Jose “Joboy” S. Aquino II (right), Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” del Gallego Romualdez (3rd left), and House Secretary General Reginald “Reggie” Velasco. Ryan Ponce Pacpaco

G7 urges ceasefire in Sudan; Blinken calls feuding generals

GROUP of 7 Nations (G7) foreign ministers on Tuesday urged warring forces in Sudan to "end hostilities immediately" and return to negotiations, after days of fighting that has killed almost 200 people and wounded 1,800.

A weeks-long power struggle in the north African country exploded into deadly violence Saturday between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

"We urge the parties to end hostilities immediately without pre-conditions," the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Japan said in a statement.

They warned the fighting "threatens the security and safety of Sudanese civilians and undermines efforts to restore Sudan's democratic transition".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had spoken with the two generals and "underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire".

"Too many civilian lives have already been lost," Blinken tweeted, adding he had "stressed the

Lavrov, Lula meet, Brazil, US trade barbs on Ukraine

RUSSIA'S foreign minister met in Brazil on Monday with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as Washington criticized the South American leader's recent remarks on US defense support for Ukraine.

Lula is fresh off a trip to China and the United Arab Emirates, during which he raised eyebrows in the West by accusing the United States of "encouraging the war" in Ukraine.

He also said the United States and Europe "need to start talking about peace," and that Kyiv shares the blame for the conflict, which began in February 2022 when Russian forces poured into Ukraine in an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government and annex swaths of the pro-Western country.

His remarks echoed a line frequently used by Moscow and Beijing, which blame the West for the war.

Sergei Lavrov, Russia's top diplomat, thanked Lula on Monday for his offer to mediate peace talks on the 14-month war.

But the visit, and Lula's recent remarks, sparked criticism from the White House, which has led support for Ukraine.

"In this case, Brazil is parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda without at all looking at the facts," US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. AFP

importance of ensuring the safety of diplomatic personnel and aid workers".

Following the call, Daglo said in a tweet that the pair had "discussed pressing issues in Sudan", adding he was grateful for the US's "commitment to restoring stability in Sudan".

Blinken also confirmed a US diplomatic convoy had been fired upon on Monday, though those inside were unharmed, in what he called a "reckless" act.

In a separate incident, the European Union's ambassador to Sudan was attacked in his home in Khartoum on Monday, the bloc's top diplomat Josep Borrell said. A spokesperson told AFP the veteran diplomat was "OK" following the assault.

- Terrified residents -

Analysts say the fighting in the capital is unprecedented and could be prolonged, despite regional and global calls for a ceasefire as diplomats mobilise.

Battles have taken place throughout the vast country and there are fears of regional spillover of the conflict that has seen air strikes, artillery and heavy gunfire.

Terrified residents of Khartoum are spending the last and holiest days of Ramadan watching from their windows as tanks roll through the streets, buildings shake and smoke from fires triggered by the fighting hangs in the air.

Those compelled to venture out face queues for bread and petrol at outlets that are not shuttered.

Residents are also dealing with power outages.

Volker Perthes, the head of the UN mission to Sudan, told the Security Council in a closed-door session Monday that at least 185 people had been killed and another 1,800 wounded.

"It's a very fluid situation so it's very difficult to say where the balance is shifting to," Perthes told reporters after the meeting.

Medics in Sudan had earlier given a death toll of nearly 100 civilians and "dozens" of fighters from both sides, but the number of casualties was thought to be far higher, with many wounded unable to reach hospitals.

The official doctors' union warned fighting had "heavily damaged" multiple hospitals in Khartoum and other cities, with some completely "out of service".

The World Health Organization warned that several Khartoum hospitals "have run out of blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids and other vital supplies".

In the western region of Darfur, international medical aid organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF)reported receiving 136 wounded patients at the only hospital in El Fasher still operating in North Darfur state. AFP

US arrests two over Chinese ‘police station’ in New York

US authorities arrested two men Monday for allegedly setting up a Chinese "police station" in New York and charged dozens of Chinese security officials over a campaign to monitor and harass US-based dissidents.

The arrests of Harry Lu Jianwang, 61, and Chen Jinping, 59, are the first anywhere over a suspected campaign by China to establish surreptitious police posts in countries around the world, said Breon Peace, the top federal prosecutor in Brooklyn.

The two men set up the office in Manhattan's Chinatown last year at the behest of the Fuzhou branch of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), China's national police force, ostensibly to offer services like Chinese

driver's license renewal, according to Peace.

But in fact their main job was to help track down and harass fugitive dissidents from the People's Republic of China (PRC), US officials said. "The MPS established a concrete outpost, an offthe-books police station right here in New York City, to monitor and intimidate dissidents and other critics of the PRC within one of the United States' most vibrant diaspora communities," said David Newman, the Justice Department's principal deputy assistant attorney general for national security. - Harassing dissidentsCanada and several European governments have cracked down on similar "police stations."

Last year the Spain-based human rights group Safeguard Defenders first revealed the existence of such outposts around the world. They often operate with little or no indication they are there – though US officials said the Manhattan office had been visited by officials from the Chinese consulate in New York. AFP

by virtue of COA Resolution No. 2008-0051 dated February 15, 2008, Section 5,2 Rule IX of the 2009 Revised Rules of Procedures of COA (RRPC) and COA Resolution No. 2013-0163 dated August 23, 2013;

WHEREAS, the foregoing COA issuances that impose filing fee do not specifically include requests for approval of asset or property swap/exchange which, in essence, is an indirect sale of property, the propriety of which has to be determined by the Commission Proper in the exercise of its quasi-judicial function that entails costs;

WHEREAS, the imposition of

PRESIDENT Emmanuel Macron on Monday staunchly defended his widely unpopular pension reform but said he understood the "anger" felt by the French after three months of protests.

His speech was met with yet more, sometimes violent, protests throughout France.

Addressing the nation for the first time since signing the reform into law, Macron said he regretted that no consensus had been found on the change.

Macron signed the legislation early Saturday, just hours after its

CHINESE President Xi Jinping will push for a "higher stage" of relations with Pyongyang, North Korean state media said Tuesday, as G7 foreign ministers condemned the North's unprecedented string of weapons tests. China is North Korea's longtime treaty ally and main economic benefactor, their relationship forged in the bloodshed of the Korean War when Mao Zedong sent in millions of "volunteers" to fight US-led United Nations forces to a standstill.

Mao once described the two countries as being close as "lips and teeth", and while relations have fluctuated over the years, a breakdown in negotiations between North Korea and the United States has spurred both sides to strengthen their alliance.

banner change to hike the retirement age from 62 to 64 had been validated by the constitutional court, prompting accusations he was smuggling the law through in the dead of night. The left and unions dismissed his latest attempt to ease tensions and warned of mass Labour Day protests on May 1. Polls have consistently recorded a majority of French opposed to the reform, which the government rammed through parliament using a controversial mechanism to avoid a vote. AFP

"The traditional China-DPRK friendship has weathered the trials of the changed international situation for a long time," Xi said in a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, using the initials for the North's official name. In the message carried by the Korean Central News Agency, Xi noted the current international and regional situations are "changing seriously and in a complicated way", adding: "I will continuously push the friendship and cooperation between the two sides to a higher stage." The message came just hours before G7 foreign ministers demanded North Korea "refrain" from further nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, warning of a "robust" response. AFP

conclusion of a G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Prince Karuizawa hotel in Karuizawa, Japan on April 18. AFP

Stocks, peso slip on elevated crude prices, concerns over interest hikes

By Julito G. Rada

Stocks fell Tuesday and the Philippine peso fell beyond the 56-a-dollar mark on growing concerns over elevated crude prices and possible more interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve.

The PSE index, the 30-company benchmark of the Philippine Stock Exchange, lost 40 points, or 0.63 percent, to close at 6,464.72 amid thin trading Tuesday as all six subsectors retreated.

The broader all-share index went down 18 points, or 0.52 percent, to settle at 3,471.52 on a value turnover of P3 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 114 to 61, while 55 issues were unchanged.

Only two of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. gained 1.92 percent to P58.40, while Manila Electric Co. added 0.31 percent to finish at P320.00.

Asian markets also mostly fell Tuesday, even as data showed China’s economy grew far more than expected in the first quarter after activity resumed following three years of painful zero-Covid measures.

The blockbuster 4.5 percent expansion, helped by above-forecast retail sales last month, revived optimism for an economic recovery in the country after its worst performance in decades last year.

Investors continue to fret over Federal Reserve plans to hike interest rates as officials try to rein in US inflation, with top policymakers seeming to be split over how many more increases are needed.

Shanghai, Tokyo and Jakarta rose but Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Wellington, Mumbai, Taipei and Bangkok were all negative.

Focus now turns to the release of fresh US earnings this week from big-ticket names including Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Johnson & Johnson, Netflix, Tesla, Ericsson and Nokia.

Meanwhile, the peso on Tuesday fell to a threeand-a-half-month low against the US dollar on higher global crude oil prices and the tempered growth of overseas Filipino remittances recently.

The local currency lost 29 centavos to close at 56.14 against the US dollar from 55.85 on Monday. It was its weakest level since it settled at 56.2 on Dec. 28, 2022.

Total volume turnover reached $1.417 billion, up

from $1.374 billion previously.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the weaker peso could lead to higher import prices and overall inflation.

“The peso [is] also weaker after global crude oil prices lingered among 2.5-month highs more than two weeks after the unexpected oil production cut of more than one million barrels per day as announced by OPEC+,” Ricafort said.

“The peso also weakened recently more than a week after the end of seasonal increase in OFW remittances and conversion to pesos during the long Holy Week,” he said.

Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that cash remittances in February 2023 posted its slowest growth in seven months amid the slowdown in global economic activities and the risk of recession in the United States.

Money sent home by overseas Filipinos rose 2.4 percent to $2.57 billion from $2.51 billion in the same month last year. It was the slowest expansion since 2.3 percent in July 2022.

Ricafort said the dollar/peso exchange rate also continued to correct higher after the PSEi corrected lower. With AFP

NEW APPLE STORE. Apple chief executive Tim Cook (right) and senior vice president of retail and people Deirdre O’Brien wave during the opening of Apple’s first retail store in India on April 18, 2023. Apple opened its first retail store in Mumbai on April 18, underscoring the US tech titan’s increasing focus on the South Asian nation as a key sales market and alternative manufacturing hub to China. AFP

Court acquits Air France, Airbus over 2009 Rio-Paris crash

PARIS, France—A French court acquitted Air France and plane manufacturer Airbus Monday over the 2009 crash of a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, a ruling victims’ families said left them “disgusted”.

The court in Paris found the companies had committed various errors leading up to the worst aviation disaster in Air France’s history—which left all 228 people on board flight AF447 dead —but that their mistakes could not be proven to be the cause.

While the ruling was expected after prosecutors recommended against seeking a conviction, it was still a huge blow for victims’ relatives, who have waged a 14-year campaign for justice.

As hearings in the eight-week trial wrapped up in December, prosecutors said it was “impossible” to convict the two aviation giants, which were charged with involuntary manslaughter but de-

nied the charges.

If convicted, the two companies would have risked a fine of 225,000 euros ($250,000) as well as significant reputational damage.

As the verdict was read out, relatives of the victims present in court stood up, appearing stunned, then sat down again.

Ophelie Toulliou, who lost her brother in the accident, said she was dazed by the “injustice” of the verdict.

“It makes no sense to me,” she said.

Daniele Lamy, president of the association which represents the victims, said she and others were “disgusted”.

“We expected an impartial judgement, this was not the case,” she said.

“All that remains of these 14 years of waiting is despair, dismay and anger.”

In Brazil, victims’ families also voiced outrage.

“The French justice system isn’t serious, it isn’t impartial,” Nelson Marinho,

president of the Brazilian victims’ association, told newspaper O Globo.

“This tragedy devastated so many families. I can’t describe what I’m feeling today,” said Marinho, who lost his son in the crash.

‘Imprudence’

The hearings centered on the role of defective “Pitot tubes”, which are used to measure flight speed.

The court heard how a malfunction with the tubes, which became blocked with ice crystals during a mid-Atlantic storm, caused alarms to sound in the cockpit of the Airbus A330 and the autopilot system to switch of.

Technical experts highlighted how, after the instrument failure, the pilots put the plane into a climb that caused the aircraft to stall, then crash into the ocean.

Air France and Airbus blamed pilot error as the main cause. AFP

ATTY. ROSALINDA F. RIVERA Corporate Secretary

BUSINESS

Araneta Center, Megawide seek arbitration

By Jenni er B. Austria

ENGINEERING fi rm Megawide Construction Corp. and Araneta Group sought arbitration over several real estate projects that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Megawide said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Araneta Center Inc. filed with the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission a counterclaim against the company amounting to P1.53 billion.

The counterclaim stems from the alleged violations relative to the P4.5-

IN BRIEF

USTR backs resumption of trade privileges for PH

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said Tuesday she fully supports the resumption of the US Generalized System of Preferences to sustain trading collaboration between the US and the Philippines. She said the US Congress is adding an environmental criterion to the GSP, one that the Philippines should comply with if it wants the preferential trade system to be reauthorized.

“I’m looking forward to our Congress reauthorizing GSP. I can’t predict when it will be reauthorized. I have expressed to partners in Congress of my support for the reauthorization of GSP program, in particular, my support for a GSP program that is updated with respect to its criteria,” she said in a briefing with local business reporters.

The US GSP expired on Dec. 31, 2020, but the Philippines remains optimistic that its petition would be heard. The Philippines was among the five biggest users of the US GSP program in 2020 together with Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil and Cambodia. Othel V. Campos

PetroEnergy posted 30% growth in 2022 income

PETROENERGY Resources Corp. said Tuesday it recorded a 30-percent increase in 2022 consolidated net income to P863 million from P665 million in 2021, driven by higher oil revenues.

PERC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange revenues increased to P2.551 billion from P2.422 billion in 2021. Oil revenues rose 57 percent to P726 million from P461 million as global crude prices soared from an average of $69.90 per barrel to $106.27.

PERC holds a 2.53-percent participating interest in the Exploration and Production Sharing Contract covering the Etame block in Gabon, West Africa. It is also engaged in renewable energy development in the Philippines through its holding firm PetroGreen Energy Corp. that owns and runs RE power stations utilizing geothermal, wind and solar energy.

Electricity sales declined 11 percent to P1.695 billion from P1.899 billion because of the one-month preventive maintenance shutdown of the 20-megawatt Maibarara-1 and the 12-MW Maibarara-2 geothermal power plants in February 2022. Alena Mae S. Flores

Cosco, The Keepers report strong profits

BUSINESSMAN Lucio Co’s Cosco Capital Inc. and The Keepers Holdings Inc. reported double-digit growth in profit in 2022.

Cosco, the retail holding company of the Co family, registered a 16.8-percent growth in consolidated net income to P12.28 billion from P10.5 billion as revenues increased 13 percent to P197.1 billion from P174.4 billion. The group’s grocery retailing businesses, Puregold Price Club Inc. and S&R Membership Shopping Club, contributed 63 percent of total core net income, followed by the liquor distribution with 25 percent, commercial real estate segment with 11 percent and specialty retail at 1 percent.

Meanwhile, The Keepers, the largest imported liquor distribution in the Philippines, booked a record consolidated net income of P2.23 billion in 2022, a 41.1-percent growth from the previous year.

Consolidated revenues reached P13.95 billion, up 26.5 percent from 2021 as sales volume increased by 20 percent to 5.3 million cases in 2022.

Jenniffer B. Austria

billion construction contract for the expansion of Gateway Mall 2 and Ibis Hotel within the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City. Gateway Mall 2 is a seven-story mall development, while Ibis is a 15-story project offering 300 hotel keys. Both projects were topped off in

the early part of 2020.

Megawide said it planned to file an opposition to ACI’s permissive counterclaims for due consideration by the CIAC Arbitration panel.

“The permissive counterclaims will not have a significant impact as far as the operations of the company is concerned,” Megawide said.

Megawide in January also filed a complaint with CIAC involving the design and construction of the Araneta Cyberpark Tower 2.

Megawide’s aggregate claim against ACI amounts to P339.6 million.

The prolonged pandemic has affected several infrastructure and construction

projects in the country because of mobility restrictions, supply problems and increase in cost of materials.

Megawide also built Cyberpark 1 and the New Frontier theatre for ACI.

ACI is the developer of the 35-hectare Araneta Center—a mix-use hub of retail, entertainment, residential, business and hotel developments in Quezon City.

Megawide on Monday concluded its follow-on offering with the listing of its Series 5 preferred shares at the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Megawide said it would use the proceeds to partially fund the full redemption of its Series 2A preferred

shares that were listed in November 2020.

Megawide’s portfolio of projects includes the Metro Manila Subway System, Suncity West Side City project, Newport Link project and MalolosClark Railway Phase 1 project.

It also took the next step in realizing its goal of entering the data center space—a burgeoning industry amid heightened digitalization—with the signing a few weeks ago of an agreement with Singapore-based Evolution Data Centers to build a facility handling critical servers.

The share price of Megawide climbed 0.34 percent Tuesday to close at P2.99.

By Julito G. Rada

BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender led by the Sy Group, said Tuesday net income in the fi rst quarter jumped 41 percent to P16.5 billion from P11.7 billion a year ago on the back of broad-based growth across businesses.

FOLLOW-ON OFFERING. Megawide Construction Corp. concludes its follow-on o ering with the listing of its Series 5 preferred shares at the Philippine Stock Exchange. Megawide will use the proceeds to partially fund the full redemption of its Series 2A preferred shares that were listed in November 2020. Attending the listing ceremony are (from left) Megawide director and group

CFO Ramon Diaz, independent director Celso Vivas, vice chairman and executive director for infrastructure development Louie Ferrer, chairman, president and CEO Edgar Saavedra, Securities and Exchange Commission chairperson Emilio Aquino, PSE president and CEO Ramon Monzon, chief operating o cer Roel Refran, Issuer Regulation Division head Marigel Baniqued-Garcia, general counsel Veronica Del Rosario and Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines COO Renee Rubio.

Luzon power grid faces ‘yellow alert’ until June—ICSC

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ENERGY think tank Institute for Cli-

mate and Sustainable Cities said Tuesday the Luzon grid will likely be placed under yellow alert status reflecting thin power reserves starting the last week of April until mid-June.

ICSC issued the warning in its latest report titled “Luzon Power Outlook: Reviewing the Adequacy of Power Supply for April to June 2023” which examined the sufficiency of power supply in Luzon for the second quarter based on the power demand forecasts presented by the Department of Energy in March.

The report came a year after ICSC warned of a possible shortfall in the country’s power supply in the second quarter of 2022 in time for the national elections.

“Higher demand during summer low-

ers the available generating capacity from Weeks 17 [April 24 to 30] to 24 [June 12 to 18] of 2023. The supply can further deplete as forced outages of large baseload power plants can unexpectedly occur in these times, likely pushing the system into yellow alert and near red alert levels,” said ICSC chief data scientist and author of the Luzon Power Outlook 2023 report Jephraim Manansala.

“This highlights the need to monitor the compliance of all power plants with the Grid Operating and Maintenance Program plans of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines,” said Manansala.

ICSC cited the updated presentation of Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara forecasting a total of 15 weeks under yellow alert status in 2023, contrary to their initial estimate of 12 weeks and none under red alert status.

GOLD CERTIFICATION. PJ Lhuillier Inc., the parent company of micro nancial services giant Cebuana Lhuillier, gets the Gold Certi cation by Investors in People—a global standard for people management that o ers accreditation to organizations that adhere to the Investors in People Standard. PJ Lhuillier president and chief executive Jean Henri Lhuillier says the achievement is a testament of the group’s deep regard and appreciation to the people who made PJ Lhuillier and Cebuana Lhuillier a force to reckon within the industry.

SSI Group hit record profit in 2022 on recovery of luxury retail

LUXURY retailer SSI Group Inc. said Tuesday it achieved an all-time high net income of P1.9 billion in 2022, up 1,178 percent from P150.9 million in 2021 as the full reopening of the economy boosted consumer spending.

SSI said in a stock exchange filing the 2022 revenues jumped 54 percent yearon-year to P23.8 billion, also an all-time high for the group.

It said fourth-quarter net income reached P1 billion, an increase of 70 percent from the same period last year as sales jumped 32 percent to P8.1 billion.

“I am pleased that the strategies we began to implement in 2020, strategies meant to enable a quick turnaround in the group’s financial performance post-COV-

ID and strengthen the group’s position as a unified retailer, with a strong brick and mortar and e-commerce presence, delivered the desired results,” SSI president Anthony Huang said.

The group’s luxury and bridge and casual wear categories continued to perform strongly, with increases of 25.3 percent and 46.4 percent, respectively, as compared to the same period last year.

It also saw a significant turnaround in the sales of the fast fashion which increased by 110.5 percent and footwear, accessories and luggage categories which grew by 74 percent. Sales of others brands, comprised of personal care, food and outlet sales, increased as well by 37.5 percent.

SSI said sales from its e-commerce platform also went up by 19 percent in 2022 and accounted for 7.6 percent of total sales.

The group’s store network totaled 524 stores, covering 101,184 square meters as of end-2022. The group opened 12 stores and closed 11 outlets in the fourth quarter.

“Our 2022 results demonstrate the resilience of SSI’s core customer base and the strong demand for the brands in our portfolio. Robust demand combined with our rationalized store network, which is concentrated in the country’s prime shopping areas, as well as cost efficiencies, allowed the group to deliver record results during the 4th quarter of the year and for full year 2022,” Huang said. Jenniffer B. Austria

ICSC took into consideration the DOE’s assumptions, including peak demand requirements of 13,125 megawatts, no planned maintenance outages and forced power plant outages amounting to about 600 MW in the second quarter this year.

ICSC said government and power industry players should ensure that power plants comply with NGCP’s GOMP by minimizing outages during this critical period to prevent the power supply from falling under red alert levels, leading to rotating power interruptions in Luzon.

It said ancillary services should be sufficient to support power transmission, and distribution utilities and participants should implement the Interruptible Load Program.

ICSC said the government should also closely watch the timely completion of power plants to provide additional capacity.

BDO said in a disclosure to the stock exchange return on average common equity improved to 14.45 percent from 11.09 percent in the same period last year.

“While macroeconomic challenges persist with still elevated inflation and interest rates, the bank believes it is in a good position to weather short-term volatility and capitalize on long-term growth opportunities given its sound balance sheet, established business franchise and strong and diversified earnings streams,” it said in a statement.

Gross customer loans increased 8 percent to P2.6 trillion, while total deposits expanded 14 percent to P3.2 trillion.

BDO said that given the uncertainty, it maintained a healthy balance between loan growth and sufficient liquidity for unforeseen events, maintaining its liquidity ratio at 35 percent.

Net interest income grew to P43.4 billion, while non-interest income rose to P18.9 billion, bolstered by solid growth in the various fee-based and treasury/foreign exchange businesses. Operating expenses went up by 17 percent, mainly from volume-related costs such as credit card interchange fees, documentary stamp taxes and gross receipt taxes, consistent with increased activity.

The bank also sustained its IT investments and branch expansion with 97 new branches opened since the first quarter of 2022. Revenue growth continued to outpace operating expenses growth, resulting in pre-provision operating profit accelerating to P24.9 billion.

Non-performing loan ratio improved to 1.98 percent from 2.72 percent a year ago, while NPL coverage increased from 120 percent to 170 percent year-on-year, as the bank maintained its conservative credit and provisioning policies.

Capital base strengthened to P475.9 billion, with capital adequacy ratio and common equity tier 1 ratio at 14.8 percent and 13.7 percent, respectively, both comfortably above regulatory minimum levels.

Book value per share rose by 10.5 percent year-on-year to P88.81.

BDO solidified its industry leadership following a 33.4-percent increase in net income last year to a record P57.1 billion from P42.8 billion a year ago. The bank managed to sustain its profitability amid a very challenging business environment due to higher interest rates and inflation.

Two airlines expect travel bookings to pick up as fuel surcharges decline

By Darwin G. Amojelar

TWO airlines expect travel bookings to pick up in the coming months as fuel surcharges for domestic and international flights continued to drop.

“Any form of reduction in air travel costs is a big help for all our guests as they can allot this to additional baggage allowance or pasalubongs—which can be particularly helpful for people traveling on a budget or for families traveling together,” said AirAsia Philippines communications and public affairs country head Steve Dailisan.

“We are also expecting the travel

booking trend to continuously intensify as most Filipinos are still eyeing lastminute summer plans extending to June, thus this fuel surcharge development would benefit travelers,” he said. The Civil Aeronautics Board reduced the applicable fuel surcharge rates for domestic and international flights to Level 5 in May from this month’s Level 6. Passengers who will be purchasing their tickets next month will only incur an additional surcharge of P151 to P542 for domestic flights and from P498.03 to P774.75 for international flights, depending on the distance. Joel Zurbano

Lascuna forces 4-way tie in wild PGT Caliraya

start

CAVINTI, Laguna—Tony Lascuña charged back from a three-putt miscue on No. 17 with a birdie from short range on the last hole, keeping a fourunder 68 and forcing a four-way logjam at the helm after 18 holes of the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship here on Tuesday.

But a happy mix of young guns and seasoned campaigners, including Sean Ramos and Elmer Salvador, matched 69s at the well-kept Caliraya Springs Golf Club, while seven others, led by recent Bacolod leg winner Ira Alido, produced identical 70s to make it a crowded leaderboard in the early going of the P2.5 million championship put up by ICTSI.

Lascuña worked his way up in conventional fashion, targeting the long holes and birdying all but one of the four par-5s. He then rebounded from his lone mishap with a closing birdie on the par-4 18th for a pair of 34s.

“I focused on holes where my chances for birdies are good,” said Lascuna, who gained on No, 4, 12 and 16, (all par-5s) to go with his other birdie on No. 8. “My driving, irons and putting were okay but the greens are a little bit tough.”

By Randy Caluag

THE nationwide

search for future elite esports athletes gets going when the initial season of the Philippine E-Palarong Pambansa takes off with regional tournaments all the way to the finals in Iloilo City.

The tournament, which will partner with the Sanguniang Kabataan, is targeting young players from the smallest towns up to the big cities in the country.

“This will create more opportunities for the Filipino youth to participate in a multi-million dollar industry,” said Jaymart Montehermoso, prime mover of the E-Palarong Pambansa.

Events to be be played in the the maiden season that will run from June to August, are League of Legends and Valorant on PC and mobile games, namely Mobile Legends Bang Bang, Call of Duty and League of Legends Wildrift.

“My target is to shoot 4-under in four days to earn a shot at the title,” added the ace Davaoeno shotmaker, eyeing a top podium finish after placing second in Bacolod and Iloilo last month.

Multi-titled Angelo Que missed

joining the two-under par group with a bogey on the penultimate hole but his 71 tied him with four others at 18th, well within striking distance of Lascuna, Lloyd Go, Clyde Mondilla and red-hot Rupert Zaragosa.

Tony Lascuña worked his way up in conventional fashion, targeting the long holes and birdying all but one of the four par-5s.

Manny Marcelo

Unlike Que, Go sizzled despite the absence of a practice round following their stint in International Series Vietnam over the weekend, posting one of the two bogey-free cards in a day that started in gray skies and drizzle and

ended under scorching sun.

It took Go, a full-card holder on the Asian Tour, practically three holes to figure out the up-and-down Arnold Palmer-designed layout which demands consistency off the tee. Like Lascuna, he birdied three par-5s (Nos. 4, 6 and 12) and though he missed completing his domination of the long holes on No. 16, the Cebuano ace and former national champion matched Lascuña’s birdie on the 18th and a pair of 34s.

“I played very well, hit all the fairways. Pretty much, I didn’t miss today (yesterday) and I had few lucky birdies,” said Go, seeking his first Philippine Golf Tour victory. “The key here is to hit the fairways and hit my wedge closer to the hole. Hopefully, I’d get to win this week.”

So does Mondilla, who lost by four to Zanieboy Gialon here last year. With five birdies against a lone bogey, the former Philippine Open champion and winner of PGT and PGT Asia titles tied up some loose ends of a failed title bid and took the first step to connecting the pieces together with a 35-33.

“My tee shots and driving were okay. Though I missed a couple of birdie chances inside 6-7 feet, I still felt good, at least I’m in good position,” said Mondilla, out to atone for his mediocre finishes in the Bacolod and Iloilo.

Mondilla agreed it will boil down to consistency off the mound, saying: “If you hit it solid off the tee, you will be rewarded with short irons or wedges for you approach.”

“But I would need to stay patient and hopefully my putting would click in the next three days to further go low,” he added.

Philippine esports gets boost with E-Palarong Pambansa

“Our national athletes have performed well in the international scene and it was proven that esports can become a sustainable career. This can be emulated in the local setting, and the winners will have more opportunity to climb higher grounds in esports.”

The E-Palarong Pambansa, a National Youth Commission-endorsed esports tournament circuit, aims to revolutionize the esports industry in the country.

A total of 1,634 towns and municipalities are invited to take part in this tournament circuit made possible by an advisory by the National Youth Commission that enjoins the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (Youth Council Federations)

Presidents countrywide.

“By showcasing the country’s prowess in esports and scouting for talents nationwide, the event seeks to create a new generation of esports professionals that can compete in the world stage,” added Montehermoso.

E-Palarong Pambansa will also have a National Esports Shoutcaster Search to find talented voices from all over the country to provide live commentary and analysis of esports matches.

The Event Roadmap consists of three stages: Qualifier, Group, and Playoffs, culminating in the Grand Finals to be played at ICON - Iloilo Convention Center, Iloilo City, Philippines in August.

Bachmann: Funding to be based on NSA performance

By Peter Atencio

A NEW system has been adopted by the Philippine Sports Commission in allocating financial assistance to the 73 national sports associations that are under its supervision. In the past, the government sports body has used historical data to determine how much of its annual budget is allotted to each NSA.

PSC chairman Richard Bachmann said the board approved the use of new system this time, after the NSAs that they are monitoring have increased from 43 in 2019 to 73 this year.

Bachmann talked about their expenditures for the NSAs during Tuesday’s weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Conference Hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. The new system of financial assistance

was approved by the PSC with less than a month left before the 32nd Southeast Asian Games gets going in May in Cambodia.

Bachmann said that in the past, NSAs got assistance based on the performances of their athletes in national and international meets.

This time, they have set a criteria based on their status as an Olympic and non-Olympic sport, their athletes being in individual or team sports, along with being medallists and non-medallists in international and national meets as well.

“Under the matrix, there will be certain points for certain criteria for Olympic sports and non-Olympic sports. Is the NSA self-sufficient because some of them have sponsors? For individual and team sports there will be certain points,” he said.

“And for medals in the Olympics, Asian Games or SEA Games there will be certain points. Do they have good governance,

may grassroots ba? They earn certain points totalling 100 percent,” Bachmann said during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, MILO, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

He further explained that for NSAs that want bigger financial assistance from the government, they have to deliver the medals especially in the international arena.

“They have to perform. If they perform they get more money from the (overall PSC) budget for next year. We will not base it on historical data,” said Bachmann.

He said the PSC is leaving no stone unturned that the close to 900 athletes as well as their coaches and trainers will have everything they need as they bid to improve on the country’s fourthplace finish last year in Hanoi.

Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League to focus on high school players

SIXTEEN teams are set to participate in the returning Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League that comes off the wraps on May 6 at the New San Andres gym.

Five schools from the UAAP, four from the NCAA, and schools representing other leagues, including several coming from the provinces, will be vying in the tournament to be held Saturdays and Sundays only.

Since games will only be played every weekends, there will be six matches per day during the first three weeks of an expected five-week run of the meet.

“We’re excited because not only do we have the top UAAP schools, we have the top NCAA schools, and we also have the top non-UAAP and NCAA schools joining the tournament. So we got the best of the best in the high school division,” said Ian Laurel, president of the organizing Athletic Events and Sports Management Inc. during the

La Salle nears 2nd straight baseball title

DEFENDING champion De La Salle University is one win away from taking a second straight UAAP baseball championship after edging University of the Philippines, 9-8, in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals on Tuesday at the UP Diliman Baseball Field.

The Green Batters will look to clinch the championship in Game 2 on Friday, with home-field advantage at 3:30 p.m. Down, 4-8, DLSU unleashed a fiverun fifth inning to take the lead at 9-8, which turned out to be the final score.

“Sinasabi ko sa kanila nga na this is a championship game, expect na hindi magiging madali ‘yung laban,” said Green Batters head coach Joseph Orillana.

Senior third baseman Julius Diaz started the rally off with his lone hit of the game, a single to the middle of the field and out of reach of UP second baseman Fritz Natanauan.

“Now, we’re turning our eyes on the high school division, both junior and high school. Suffice it to say, ACES is confining ourselves to schools. We are non-professional, strictly amateur organization that thrives on developing young men, and women and girls for future endeavor. It starts here, but it doesn’t end here,” said Juico.

Both Juico and Laurel were joined in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, MILO, Philippine Olympic Committee, and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation by coaches of some of the participating teams, namely John Yude (Adamson), Aimee Mendoza (De La Salle-Lipa), Jennifer Arasan (Emilio Aguinaldo College), Gelina Luceno (National University assistant team manager), and Rhea Ramirez (Arellano University).

A throwing error by Maroons’ third baseman Mark Tuballas on an attempted out to first base put Diaz and centerfielder Shinji Kajihara on first and third base. A fielder’s choice saw Diaz get and Kajihara to scoring positions, which eventually scored off a hit from right-fielder Pio Villamiel, cutting the deficit to two at 6-8.

Shortstop Vince Flores then added another hit to the middle that scored Villamiel and relief pitcher Lord Aragorn De Vera, before crossing the plate himself to snag the lead for good at 9-8 with another hit from second baseman Joseph Alcontin.

From there, Joshua Pineda took control of the defense, steering the Green Batters’ stand on the mound, limiting the Fighting Maroons to two hits in the 5 1/3 innings in lieu of Flores and Pineda, striking out two of the last three batters.

Organizers and sponsors of the Philippine E-Palarong Pambansa during the launch

Collegiate Pre-Season, ACES chairman Philip Ella Juico stressed it’s time to focus on developing young girls at the high school level.

ACES chairman Philip Juico and president Ian Laurel with some of the participants.

PSC chairman Richard Bachmann

Swimming elections set June 15

ELECTIONS for the new board of trustees of the Philippine Swimming Inc. are scheduled on June 15 under stringent guidelines and precise timelines.

World Aquatics approved of the election proceedings formulated by an Electoral Committee which the international federation itself created to establish guidelines for the exercise.

The guidelines and policies for the elections are publicly available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/ 1ml604Z2GZwxGGXASjGY9xzv17

3KDPnoN/edit.

The Electoral Committee is composed of POC secretary-general Atty. Edwin Gastanes as chairman and POC legal chief Atty. Wharton Chan, Atty. Avelino Sumagui and Atty. Marcus Antonius Andaya as members. Their appointment to the committee was approved by the World Aquatics through its Executive Director Brent Nowicki.

“The guidelines and policies have been established in such a way that they adhere to IF policies and certified instructions and are comprehensively inclusive of all stakeholders—regional representation and the sport’s disciplines,” Chan said.

To be elected are 11 members of the board of trustees based on geographical sector with—plus one member from among the representatives of diving, open water swimming, water polo and artistic swimming.

The geographical sector covers two each from the Area 1 (National Capital Region), Area 2 (Regions 1, 2, 3 and Cordillera Autonomous Region), Area 3 (Regions 4-A, 4-B and 5), Area 4 (Regions 6, 7 and 8) and Area 5 (Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, CARAGA Region and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao).

All clubs (new and old) are required to register through the Electoral Committee email philaquatics. elecom2023@gmail.com.

Maxey stars as Sixers rout Nets for 2-0 lead

PHILADELPHIA—Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 96-84 to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference series.

Maxey’s haul from 13-of-23 shooting included six from three-point range as Brooklyn finally succumbed after making a bright start that saw them lead by 10 points in the second quarter.

Brooklyn were left ruing their inability to make the most of their first-half dominance against a sluggish-looking Sixers, who nevertheless restricted the Nets to just a five-point advantage as the teams went in for half-time at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.

Philadelphia’s adjustments paid divi-

dends in the third and fourth quarters, with the Sixers outscoring Brooklyn 2414 in the third before wrapping up victory in the fourth.

Joel Embiid, double-teamed throughout, finished with 20 points and 19 rebounds while laying on seven assists as Maxey and Tobias Harris (20 points) shouldered the offensive responsibilities.

“He trusts in me, and he trusts in Tobias to make the big shots tonight, and that’s what we did,” Maxey said of Embiid’s selfless performance.

2 Team Lakay studs added to ONE sked

IT will be an action-packed weekend for Filipino fight fans after two Team Lakay fighters were added to ONE Friday Fights 13 this Friday at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

ONE Warrior Series Philippines winner Adonis Sevilleno and newcomer Carlos Alvarez are set to banner Team Lakay, with the Mark Sangiao-mentored squad looking to showcase its young guns anew.

Sevilleno battles Road To ONE: Mongolia product Enkh Orgil in an interesting bantamweight MMA clash between two regional tournament standouts.

The 29-year-old Sevilleno made his debut at ONE 164 last December, though he lost to compatriot Drex Zamboanga via decision in a battle of attrition.

In that match, Sevilleno showed glimpses of brilliance. However, Zamboanga’s experience was too much for him to overcome.

Now he gets a chance to get his first win in The Home of Martial Arts against Orgil, who has won his last six bouts—the last two in Road To ONE: Mongolia.

Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers admitted his team had been lucky to face only a five-point deficit heading into half-time.

“I thought we wasted the whole first half,” Rivers said. “We were fortunate. At half-time they could have been up more with the way we played. We’re a better team than the way we played in the first half.

“But this is what the playoffs are all about—it’s gonna test your trust. This was an early test for us, and we came through it.”

Cameron Johnson led the Brooklyn scoring with 28 points while Mikal Bridges finished with 21 and Spencer Dinwiddie 12.

Game three in the series takes place in Brooklyn on Thursday. AFP

PSC vows full support for PH’s SEAG team

THE Philippine Sports Commission vowed to provide complete support to all members of Team Philippines when they compete in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games scheduled May 5 to May 17 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This support includes funding preparation, supplies, manpower and logistics.

Asked to project Team Philippines’ finish in the biennial meet, PSC chairman Richard Bachmann was quick to say that he does not want to predict a finish.

“I just want to support them. If we were fourth place last year, then hopefully we can improve this year,’ said Bachmann during his guesting at the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum held Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Team Philippines will be banking on the 840-strong Philippine delegation that will carry the country’s tricolors in 38 disciplines in the biggest biennial multisport event in the region.

Boxing, one of the country’s medalrich sports, will be bannered by 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Nesthy

who is deep in training to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Our national athletes have been working hard and hopefully, all their hard work will pay off,” added Bachmann who has been visiting the training and preparations of the different national teams since January.

Aside from the SEA Games, Bachmann also encouraged each National Sports Association to look at the bigger picture, especially at other major events that are also set this year like the Asian Games, World Championships, and qualifying events for the Paris Olympics.

“I’m not putting down the Southeast Asian Games, I’m just saying that, we should win that all the time. We have many events this year, suportahan natin ang atletang Pilipino,” Bachmann said.

There will be a send-off party for Team Philippines on April 24 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. No less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos is expected to attend.

In those matches, the Mongolian proved that he can win wherever the bouts went. He scored a rear-naked choke of Bayarjargal Tsendoo in his Road To ONE debut before knocking out Bat-Ochir Batsaikhan in his last outing.

Alvarez, on the other hand, takes on Reza Abasi in a featherweight MMA bout.

The 24-year-old will bring in a tremendous striking pedigree, owing to his Wushu Sanda background from Team Lakay and his time as a national athlete with the Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas squad.

The pair’s matches on Friday night will be the perfect appetizer for what’s to follow on Saturday morning at ONE Fight Night 9: Nong-O vs. Haggerty.

Their teammate Jhanlo Mark Sangiao targets his third straight win in The Home of Martial Arts when he takes on Matias Farinelli in a three-round bantamweight MMA bout.

On the same card, third-ranked atomweight contender Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga looks to keep a stronghold on her place in the rankings when she battles Julie Mezabarba.

Del Rosario bucks shaky start to lead with 69

CAVINTI, Laguna – Pauline del Rosario marred her return to the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour with a three-putt mishap but marked it with a big finish of two birdies in the last three holes as she fired a 69 and wrested a one-stroke lead over Korean Kim Seoyun in the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championships here on Tuesday.

Del Rosario quickly settled down after an early struggle with her putter, gaining strokes Nos. 4, 7 and 10 then rebounding from a missedgreen bogey on the 12th with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 of the Caliraya Springs Golf Club, thus fueling her drive for an LPGT victory while on a break from the Epson Tour.

“I actually three-putted the first hole but birdied the last, so I liked how I finished strong,” said del Rosario, who racked up four victories in running away with the LPGT Order of Merit title in her rookie season in 2017.

But to score a follow-up to her last local victory in 2020 in bubble setup at Riviera, the lone Filipina to have won on the LPGA of Taiwan, also in 2017, stressed the need to keep the ball in play all throughout the remaining 36 holes of the P1 million championship.

“The roughs are a bit tough, there’s not much spin coming to the greens, which are pretty hard.

So emphasis should be hitting it on the fairways,” added del Rosario, who will be as much as tested as Kim in a second round showdown with Harmie Constantino after the Korean likewise bounced back from a misfortune on the first hole with four birdies against one more bogey for a 70.

Kim was practically on target from tee to green, hitting all but one fairway and reaching regulation 17 times. But she wrestled with her putter and flubbed a couple of birdie opportunities.

“I hardly missed the fairways but the most important thing here is to hit the greens. (Greens) not super fast but you need to be careful,” said Kim, who placed runner-up to Rianne Malixi at Riviera last year.

Constantino, winner of the last two LPGT events last year, overcame a two-over card after seven holes with four birdies against another bogey for a 71 as she seized solo third, just a couple of strokes off del Rosario.

After hitting back-to-back birdies from No. 8 to draw level par, Constantino came through with a birdie-blast on the par-5 12th then negated her bogey on No. 15 with a birdie on the last long hole (No. 16) to put herself back in contention.

“The birdie-blast kind of got me going,” said Constantino, who expects to crowd del Rosa-

rio and Kim in the last 36 holes for a crack at another championship after a pair of forgettable finishes in Bacolod and Iloilo ruled by Chanelle Avaricio and Malixi.

“There are some minor details to work on and there are some sides of the greens that shouldn’t be missed,” said Constantino.

Avaricio likewise fought back from a doublebogey start with birdies on Nos. 4 and 7 but she dropped another stroke on No. 13 and finished with a 73 for joint fourth with Pamela Mariano, while Marvi Monsalve blew a one-under card with a triple-bogey 7 on her closing No. 9.

She ended up with 74 and slipped to joint sixth with Sarah Ababa and Daniella Uy, who is out to redeem herself from squandering a six-stroke lead in the final round in Iloilo that had her finishing at joint fourth instead.

Florence Bisera and amateur Lois Kaye Go matched 75s while amateur Mafy Singson wavered with four bogeys in the last seven holes and tumbled to joint 11th with eight others at 76.

Other four-over par scorers were Rev Alcantara, Kristine Fleetwood, Apple Fudolin, Chihiro Ikeda, Gretchen Villacencio, Koreans Jane Jeong and Yang Ju Young and amateur Laurea Duque.

Petecio and Carlo Paalam. Olympian and world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo and world No. 3 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena are also strong gold medal contenders in the Cambodia meet.

Weightlifting Olympian Elreen Ando and Asian champion Vanessa Sarno will spearhead the national weightlifting squad in the absence of the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz

PSC chairman Richard Bachmann with former PSC counterpart Philip Juico

Adonis Sevilleno

Pauline del Rosario Manny Marcelo

Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AFP

BTS’ J-Hope starts mandatory military service

BTS star J-Hope was set to start his mandatory South Korean military service on Tuesday, local media reported, becoming the K-pop juggernaut’s second member to enlist, prompting an outpouring of well-wishes from fans.

The septet has become a global cultural phenomenon, selling out stadiums around the world and dominating key US charts while raking in billions for South Korea’s economy and building an international legion of fans known as ARMY.

But all able-bodied men in South Korea must serve at least 18 months in the military, and after a years-long debate about whether BTS deserved an exemption, Jin, the oldest member of the group, enlisted in December.

J-Hope – whose full name is Jung Ho-seok – was set to begin his five-week basic training at an army boot camp in Gangwon province on Tuesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The 29-year-old posted pictures of himself on Weverse late Monday, with his newly shorn, military-approved buzzcut.

“I love you, ARMY. I’ll go and come back safely!” he said.

The post attracted thousands of comments from fans, with many expressing sorrow over the group’s ongoing hiatus.

Band member Jin, who is currently serving in the military, left the comment “D-1” on one of J-Hope’s Weverse posts on Monday – a nod to the fact he had one day left before enlistment.

The septet’s agency HYBE had confirmed on April 1 that J-Hope

JM shares his hesitance to accept the role in ‘Adik Sa ’Yo’ but eventually took another shot at his career

would be enlisting, but did not disclose details “to prevent any issues that might occur from crowding.”

“Please note that there will be no official event on the day of his entry,” the agency said at the time. “The entrance ceremony is a time to be observed by military personnel and their families only... Fans are advised to refrain from visiting the site.” AFP

GMA Network extends global presence, airs TV shows in Russia

GMA Network, through its content distribution arm GMA Worldwide, has sold 248 hours of content in Russia allowing the media giant to showcase seven of its top-rating TV series to air in the country this year. The acquired titles, which will be dubbed in Russian are: Lolong (Crocodile Whisperer), Love You Stranger, Return to Paradise, Artikulo 247 (Article 247), First Yaya (The First Nanny), Love You Two, and Kapag Nahati Ang Puso (Broken Hearts).

‘Lolong’ (‘Crocodile Whisperer’) tells the tale of an extraordinary friendship between a man and a giant crocodile named Dakila

The Philippines’ most-watched TV show in 2022, Lolong (Crocodile Whisperer) tells the tale of a man’s extraordinary friendship with a giant crocodile named Dakila. Bannered by Ruru Madrid, the series was the Philippines’ National Winner for Best Visual/Special Effects at the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards.

‘Return to Paradise’ leads Derrick Monasterio (left) and Elle Villanueva

Melody Reyes (Sanya Lopez), a high-spirited and diligent woman from a humble background who rescues a child from an accident, not knowing that the child’s father is Glenn Acosta (Gabby Concepcion), a widower and the incumbent Vice President of the Philippines. Romantic feelings soon blossom between Melody and Glenn.

character in

By Angelica Villanueva

JM De Guzman essays ‘Adik Sa ‘Yo’ relatable

DESPITE JM De Guzman’s success both in acting and singing, during his journey as an artist, he had also gone through a lot of obstacles – he had faced struggles both in his career and in his personal life.

Looking back, JM is glad that he was able to survive that dark phase of his life and now being in “the best state of his wellbeing.”

In a press conference for his upcoming film, Adik Sa ‘Yo, JM admitted that at first, he was hesitant to accept the offer because of the stigma connected to his name.

“Nahihirapan po ako, sa totoo lang. ‘Yan po ‘yung actually constant pattern ko. Lagi pong and’yan ‘yung, ‘Ah, kasi gan’yan ‘yung past niya...gan’yan ‘yung ugali niyan,’” JM started.

JM plays the role of Paulo, a drug addict in the movie that pairs him with beauty queen-turned-actress Cindy Miranda “Hindi ko po ipagkakaila may na may kaba,” he added.

Known to many, JM became the talk of the town when he got himself involved with prohibited drugs years ago. Yet, with his strong will to become better and with the help and support of his family, he was able to gather himself and took another chance on his career.

Now that he was offered to play the

character of Paulo, being the versatile actor that he is, the actor took it as a challenge.

“Well, I took it as a challenge na lang po na ma-ta-tap ko ‘yung past experience ko and ‘yung mga pianagdaanan kong struggles before. I just trusted the material,” said JM.

“

S’yempre ginagamit ko na lang ‘yun motivation to move forward and ginagamit ko rin na opportunity ‘yung stigma na

‘yung nangyari sa’kin to create awareness sa mga pinapakita ko sa buhay ko ngayon,” he continued.

As an actor, JM is very passionate about his craft and continuously strives to improve his skills. For him, acting is an art form that requires immense dedication and hard work.

“

Ang gaan lang katrabaho ni JM. Eh, ako naman, hindi ko masyadong alam sa nangyari sa kanya. Basta ang alam ko, very passionate siya work at gusto ko ‘yung taong ganoon,” shared Cindy. When asked to share some words with those people who are struggling with the same situation that he had experienced, the award-winning actor advised them to surround themselves with people who could be their support system.

“Well, there’s always a circle of friends who are willing na makatulong sa’yo whenever you’re feeling down, whenever you feel you need support. Seek guidance du’n sa mga professionals or as mga kaibigan na ni-tu-trust mo. And s’yempre kay God, ‘wag bibitaw du’n., ‘yung faith,” JM stated. Directed by Nuel Naval, Adik Sa ‘Yo unspools today in cinemas nationwide. Under Viva Films, the movie also stars Meg Imperial, Nicole Omillo, Candy Pangilinan, and Andrew Muhlach.

Another GMA Public Affairs-produced series last year, Love You Stranger merges mystery and romance with folklore and filmmaking and stars Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos in their first primetime TV series together.

Return to Paradise, top-billed by Derrick Monasterio and Elle Villanueva with Eula Valdes, tells the story of two college students who find love while stranded on an island after a plane crash. As they survive life in the wild, they fall deeply in love with each other.

A riveting legal drama, Artikulo 247 (Article 247) stars Rhian Ramos, Benjamin Alves, Kris Bernal, and Mark Herras. The series powerfully portrays the journey of a woman who becomes the victim of a frustrated homicide. Unfortunately, her attacker gets away with it because of Article 247 of the Philippines’ Revised Penal Code. As she moves on and tries to forget about the past, she finds herself faced with her attacker again and she is forced to fight for justice.

Philippines’ No. 1 show for 2021, First Yaya (The First Nanny) follows the story of

Meanwhile, romantic comedy Love You Two, which debuted on Philippine TV in 2019, stars Jennylyn Mercado, Gabby Concepcion, and Shaira Diaz. It features Raffy, the overprotective sister of Sam who is in love with Jake, a man twice her age. Raffy worries Jake will take advantage of Sam’s naiveté and makes it her mission to separate them. However, Raffy realizes that Jake is a good man and soon finds herself falling for him.

‘Love You Stranger’ merges mystery and romance with folklore and filmmaking

Completing the list of GMA shows is the drama Kapag Nahati ang Puso (Broken Hearts) starring Bea Binene Sunshine Cruz and Benjamin Alves. The series, which aired in 2018, tells the story of an unsuspecting mother and daughter who unwittingly become fierce rivals. Rio is separated from her baby who grows up to become a young lady named Claire. The two cross paths in the world of fashion. They develop a close relationship until they both end up falling in love with the same man, Joaquin.

Digitally restored local classics screen at Asian filmfest in France

ABS-CBN Film Restoration continues to take centerstage overseas as it featured its digitally restored classics at the 29th Vesoul International Film Festival, an annual film fest highlighting Asian cinema, which happened recently in France.

Among the digitally restored titles screened from its Sagip Pelikula initiative are the 1976 family-drama classic Nunal sa Tubig starring Elizabeth Oropesa, the period-drama Tatlong

Taong Walang Diyos featuring Nora Aunor, and Star Cinema’s historical-drama Dekada ‘70 topbilled by Vilma Santos, Christopher de Leon and Piolo Pascual

Apart from its screenings on the international big screen, ABS-CBN Film Restoration head Leo Katigbak had the opportunity to share the state of Philippine cinema and film restoration today with the international film audience as one of Vesoul’s guest speakers.

Leo also shared his delight in international attendees’ interest in taking digitally restored classics to more international film festivals, following the screenings of the featured titles during the Vesoul Filmfest.

“It’s also been heartwarming to receive many inquiries for our restored films to participate in festivals. I think our restored classics are finding an audience that remembers, discovers, or rediscovers these films by virtue of the fact that even some five decades ago, we were already getting noticed in foreign festivals. I feel that the foreign attention will also benefit us here since it gives the films prominence and a higher profile,” Leo added.

Despite the clamor of bringing more restored Filipino classics to global shores is much evident today, he then added that there’s more work needed

to be done locally in promoting the withstanding legacy of Philippine cinema through restoration efforts, and that is what Sagip Pelikula, alongside partner organizations including the FDCP, has been working on for the longest time.

As to what to expect from ABS-CBN Film Restoration and its Sagip Pelikula initiative, Katigbak said they are continuing their efforts despite ABS-CBN’s recent struggles as they dig deeper into their archive and restore older titles ranging from pre-World War II to the golden age of Philippine cinema during the 50s, with soon premiering the digitally restored version of the 1950 melodrama classic Mutya ng Pasig this April among others. Today, Sagip Pelikula has restored and remastered over 200 titles since its launch, with inclusions of marquee titles such as Himala, Oro, Plata, Mata, Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon, Kakabakaba Ka Ba?, Ibong Adarna, among many others.

BTS member J-Hope

J-Hope sports a buzz cut in preparation for his military service

Cindy (left) also recognizes JM’s passion for acting, which she appreciates

pairing of JM (left) and beauty queen-turned-actress Cindy

Nora Aunor in the period-drama ‘Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos’

Who should watch the musical ‘Ibarra’?

education and how it can equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to challenge injustice and oppression. Piolo Pascual who’s playing Crisostomo Ibarra, in the stage and modern adaptation of the influential piece of literature, the musical Ibarra is a must-watch for everyone.

“I think every Filipino should watch Ibarra . It’s our own creation, it’s our own story. Noli Me Tangere is one of the most prominent books ever written.

OSE

Tangere gives people a glimpse of colonialism, class struggle, and religious conflict during the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. And despite the period it got published, the novel is still very relevant even up to this day.

The themes of oppression, revolution, justice, and morality are timeless and can still be found in our world at present. Thus reinforcing the power of Rizal’s novel to provide an insight into the so cial, political, and religious issues of the Philippines during the Spanish coloniza tion, and how these issues still continue to influence society today.

Additionally, the novel provides a powerful commentary on the power of

It’s a constant reminder of our struggles, of our roots, of the revolution. So, everyone should watch it so we would be reminded of our roots and be proud of it,” Pascual told Manila Standard Life during the musical’s media conference.

“It’s a dream come true for me to play Ibarra since the novel itself is one of the most influential books that I read back in high school. And when I first saw the musical Noli Me Tangere , I told myself that one day, I’ll play that character,” the actor recalled.

Ibarra, a musical based on Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, is set to be staged by Tanghalang Una Obra at the GSIS Theater this June.

The musical stars Pascual in his first foray into musical theater. He is joined by featured cast members Myramae Meneses (Maria Clara), Jeffrey Hidalgo (Elias), Floyd Tena (Padre Damas0), Carlo Mañalac (Padre Salvi), Nicole Laurel Asensio (Sisa), JD Tena (Basilio), Elian Santos (Crispin), Jon Joven Uy (Pilosopo Tasyo),

Piolo Pascual gives life to Crisostomo Ibarra in the modern adaptation of the influential piece of literature

Carla Guevara Laforteza (Doña

and Victorina).

Richelle Joson Sisa cover),

Aira Maglinao Rechelle Maynes ensemble), Victoria Mina Doña Victorina cover), Canlas Neil Tolentino (Don Tiburcio/ male ensemble),

Magalad Billeza Nolasco

Posadas Figuracion Ariel Perino ensemble), JM Avelino

Also in the cast are Meldea Chua (Doña Consolacion/ ensemble), (female ensemble/ Roxy Aldiosa (female ensemble/ Maria Clara cover), (female ensemble), (female ensemble), Dianne Fabros Isabel (female Paula Paguio (female ensemble/ Doña Consolacion cover), (female ensemble, Doña Victorina cover), Carlos (Alferez/ Ibarra understudy), (Don Tiburcio/ male Roby Malubay (Tenyente Guevarra/ male ensemble), Joseph (Padre Damaso alternate/ male ensemble), Anton (Lucas/ ensemble), JV Pascual (Tarsilo/ ensemble), Kevin (alternate Elias), Earle (Don Rafael/ Bruno/ Alferez cover/ male ensemble), (Kapitan Tiyago/ Guardia Civil/ Tauhan/ ensemble), (Sacristan Mayor/ male ensemble), Kiko Cruz III (Sepulturero/ Padre Sibyla/ male ensemble), and Lance Soliman (male ensemble).

Contemporary artist Lui Medina shares creative process in talk

‘Untitled’ (Bobbio II), 2021, digital C-print. Photo courtesy of Filipino contemporary

MAPS: In the Folding of Strata, a free hybrid event, welcomes guests into the creative process of Filipino contemporary

artist Lui Medina

In this artist talk organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Medina will discuss how she utilizes landscapes as a framework to interrogate form and figure.

Her works in exhibitions such as The Notion of the Edge (2018) and Where does landscape begin? (2016) were both at Artinformal. They explore the plasticity of topographies and how expanses can become isolated parcels, islands into sprawls, and landscapes without landmarks, mainly with the use of graphite.

This interest in shapes and the organic has in turn also molded the materials and the canvases that she uses for her drawings and paintings.

Medina’s works are part of MCAD’s ongoing exhibition Adaptation: A Reconnected Earth. The show proposes an approach to determining the present within the realities of a changed climate, a despairing planet, and a recently renewed humanity.

Medina graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts in 2003 and earned a Master of Fine Arts in Painting at the Slade School of Art in Lon-

Filipino contemporary artist Lui Medina don in 2008. In 2018, she was artist-in-residency at Fusion/ Inaudita in Turin, Italy. She has been part of exhibitions at the Langgeng Art Foundation in Jogjakarta (2017), Mind Set Art Center in Taipei (2016), and Equator Art Projects in Singapore (2015). Maps: In the Folding of Strata is free

and open to the public. It will be held on Thursday, April 20, 3:00 p.m.

Interested participants may register through https://forms.gleu/uM

Ibarra is a musical with 37 songs, written by Jomar Fleras, with music by Joed Balsamo. It is directed by Frannie Zamora, with choreography and co-direction by Paul Alexander Morales, production design by Mio Infante, and lighting design by Dong Calingacion

The show will run from June 8 to 18, at the GSIS Theater, J.W. Diokno Blvd, CCP Complex. For inquiries regarding tickets and sponsorships, email info@riseagainsthunger.org.ph. Tickets will be available on Ticketworld soon.

‘Katutubong Diva’ Bayang Barrios celebrates 35 years via concert

REINTRODUCING Bayang Barrios, the Katutubong D.I.V.A. – Driven, Inspired, Victorious, and Authentic – through her first solo concert at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (Black Box Theater) on May 6, at 7:30 p.m. Joining Bayang on stage will be legends Joey Ayala, Gary Granada, Lolita Carbon, Cooky Chua, and Poppert Bernadas, friends and collaborators over three decades in show business. The anniversary concert, Bayang Barrios Katutubong DIVA, will be directed by Floy Quintos Bayang Barrios is the exquisite voice on the songs “Malayo Man, Malapit din,” “Bagong Umaga,” “Pag Nanalo ang Ginebra,” and Encantadia’s theme song. Bayang is a multiawarded singer and songwriter who’s been in the industry for 35 years. She’s also a teacher, mother, theater artist, designer, and peace advocate. She has a band named Naliyagan, and is married to another award-winning musician-producer, Mike Villegas She is a proud Manobo from Agusan del Sur, but she once downplayed her ethnic origins. She had in fact turned her back on her indigenous roots after the trauma of discrimination in childhood. She studied hard, became a teacher, and rarely mentioned her native background. Then in Davao, she met a songwriter and performer who celebrated native cultures in his music - Joey Ayala.

She joined Ayala’s iconic band Ang Bagong Lumad, which pioneered in giving native

themes and music a contemporary beat and vibe. For nearly 20 years, they traveled the country and the world introducing indigenous music, instruments, and dance to mainstream audiences, especially youths hungry for a deeper connection to their Filipino identity. When Bayang went solo, she continued her journey of celebrating her native origins, and began a chapter in her life of standing up for indigenous rights and other causes close to her heart.

Looking back on a storied career, she says her proudest moments were winning the Metropop Music Festival in 2003 for her song “Malayo Man, Malapit Din” and receiving the Lorenzo Ruiz Award for Music by the Catholic Mass Media Awards in 1997, where she was personally awarded by the late Cardinal Jaime Sin for her song “Bayang Makulay.”

The widespread awareness and acceptance today of indigenous cultures can be credited partly to the courageous efforts of artists like Bayang, who have sought to make native roots a badge of honor.

Her upcoming concert Katutubong Diva is her first as a solo artist, but only the latest version of Bayang Barrios as an influencer of pop culture and avatar of native pride.

Produced by Manila Media Inc, Bayang Barrios: Katutubong Diva will be held at the CCP Black Box Theater on May 6.

Tickets are available at TicketWorld. For other inquiries, please contact Manila Media Inc at +632-83511483 or +63977-1154586.

For seasoned actor

Bayang Barrios, the Katutubong D.I.V.A., will have her first solo concert in celebration of 35 years in the industry

artist Lui Medina

‘Ibarra’ stars Piolo (left) in his first foray into musical theater

The complete cast of ‘Ibarra’ led by Piolo Pascual who plays the title role

JRizal’s Noli Me struggle, at insight

Soprano Myramae Meneses (left) joins the cast of ‘Ibarra’ as Maria Clara