Manila Standard - 2023 May 5 - Friday

Do not meddle: China says SCS ’not hunting ground’ for outsiders

CHINA has rejected what it described as "meddling" by outsiders in the South China Sea, saying it is "not a hunting ground" for forces outside of the region.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the statement when asked to comment on the new defense

guidelines betwee the Philippines and the US which includes how Washington will defend Manila if it came under attack in the SCS and areas within the Indo-Pacific region. The official said concerted efforts of

PH seeks duty-free rights in US

PBBM urges renewal of country's inclusion in ‘preferential‘ trade program

By Vince Lopez and Maricel V. Cruz

WASHINGTON

D.C.—PRESI-

DENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time) called for the renewal of the Philippines’ participation in the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade program, which allowed the duty-free entry of several Philippine products into the United States.

The country’s eligibility for the US GSP program expired on Dec. 31, 2020.

“We would like to request reauthorization… to boost trade and to make US products that are made in the Philippines more competitive," Mr. Marcos said in a speech at a forum organized by the US-ASEAN BusinessCouncil and at a US Chamber of Commerce roundtable and reception at the Blair House in Washing ton DC. gram, he said, would increase

‘Golden Orb’ plan to secure King Charles' coronation

LONDON—Thousands of police officers, snipers, and cameras will be used this weekend to ensure King Charles III's coronation passes off without incident.

London's Metropolitan police are spearheading a major security operation

Airlines adjust sched for May 17 airspace shutdown

By Joel E. Zurbano and Maricel V. Cruz

AIRLINES have adjusted their flight schedules to give way for the maintenance activities on the country’s Air Traffic Management System on May 17 to avoid a repeat of the infamous New Year’s Day shutdown.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) already completed its initial “corrective maintenance activity” on Wednesday (May 3) and said it “went smoothly.”

“The maintenance work on the Automatic Voltage Regulator was completed at around 0327H without disruption,” said CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio.

The repair work on May 3 included the removal of panel covers, replacement, testing and calibration, cleaning

—dubbed "Golden Orb"—which will see officers redeployed from around the country to the capital.

The "multi-layered" plan will also feature officers from specialized units including dogs, firearms, and marine support. Police will also use facial rec-

BuCor: Face mask, antigen test for visitors as COVID cases hike

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

As COVID-19 is spreading anew, individuals visiting the offices of the Bureau of Corrections and the New Bilibid Prison are required to wear face masks and present negative rapid antigen test results.

This comes amid the increase of COVID cases at the NBP and Correctional Institution for Women.

With the shift in testing protocols to focus more on symptomatic individuals, the Department of Health is bracing for a continuing rise in the COVID-19 positivity rate.

PBBM: Whole-of-gov’t fight vs. crimes

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a memorandum circular directing all government agencies and encouraging local government units to support the 2023 National Crime Prevention Program (NCPP).

The President said the directive is in line with the adoption of a “whole-ofgovernment” approach in addressing criminality, and ensuring peace and security in the country.

The 2023 NCPP puts into practice the strategies for ensuring peace and security

PINOY COMFORT FOOD. Speaker Martin Romualdez (center), gets his order of 'lumpiang shanghai' from TresM food truck owner, Chef Jeffrey Domigpe, at the Philippine Embassy grounds in Washington D.C. Wednesday afternoon (Thursday, Manila time). With him are Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, Jr. (left) and Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco. Ver Noveno

ognition technology. With world leaders and heads of state descending on London, as well as hundreds of thousands of expected visitors, the Met said the security operation would be "one of the most significant and largest" it had ever led.

Among those leaders is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who left the United States on Thursday (Friday, Manila time) with the First Family to attend the crowning of Britain’s 13th monarch since the political union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland.

HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee led by Sen. Robert Menendez (3rd from right) to discuss various issues such as agriculture, defense, security, cyber security, climate change, and economic development.

P1k polymer bags ‘Banknote of the Year’

THE 1,000-Piso polymer banknote of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has won the International Banknote Society’s (IBNS) “Banknote of the Year Award” for 2022.

The polymer thousand-peso bill is the first Philippine banknote to win the award. It won over banknote finalists from Algeria, Barbados, Egypt, Northern Ireland, and

Scotland.

In announcing the award, the IBNS said: “The Philippines’ successful design in eye-pleasing blue combines an endangered species with an environmental motif.”

IBNS is a global nonprofit organization that recognizes exceptional banknotes issued each year on the basis of artistic merits,

AT AMERICA'S MOST HALLOWED GROUND. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on the last day of the official visit in the US.

pro Britain's King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort

US firms keen on hiring Pinoy workers from Sudan

AMERICAN companies have expressed interest in employing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) recently rescued by the Philippine government from Sudan, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople said on Wednesday.

Ople said that US businesses are willing to look at the profiles of the displaced employees, most of whom are skilled workers.

The official also said some of the workers include international school

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trade with the US and promote competition.

Aside from strengthening trade relations between the two countries, the President also called on US companies to invest more in the Philippines as the country has stepped up efforts to “create an atmosphere that is attractive to potential investors.”

He told American business executives that the Philippine economy grew 7.6 percent last year.

“This is the effect of our very aggressive efforts really to promote the Philippines as an investment destination,” Marcos said.

“We will never, at any point, say we got it perfected. We will continue to listen to you and to all our other partners as to what else we can do to help transform our economy and, in that way, to be able to play a viable part in the security and defense issues that are the challenges of the day and of the region.”

He noted that the US-Philippines alliance is in the “front and center right now," overcoming "some bumps and scrapes" over the past years.

“But now, security and defense are top of mind… we also have to see that because our economies and our societies have grown more complex, everything... hinges on everything else and… it is very hard for us to separate and say that this is a discreet sector that does not affect any other sec-

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The Marcos family’s trip, following the President’s five-day official visit to Washington, is in response to the invitation sent by the United Kingdom to Mr. Marcos as relayed by UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils.

In a statement, Malacañan Palace confirmed the President had accepted the invitation to attend the coronation of the new British sovereign. It was still unclear at press time who in the presidential entourage to the US would accompany the Marcoses to London as well.

The coronation will be held at Westminster Abbey on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), the Presidential Communications Office said.

The PCO said Mr. Marcos and the First Lady accepted the invitation of the Master of the Household, upon command of His Majesty, to a reception at Buckingham Palace on May 5 ahead of the coronation of King Charles and Her Majesty the

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Apolonio said the next maintenance work at the Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) may affect operations of major airports, particularly the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, because it will be done from midnight until 6 a.m. on May 17.

The ATMC houses the Communications, Navigations, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) system which manages and supervises the air traffic activities within the Philippine Flight Information Region (FIR).

The ATMS power supply upgrade will involve the installation of a bypass panel to provide seamless ATMS operation and the reconfiguration of the existing distribution panel to segregate ATM system A (voice) and ATM system B (data), resulting in the UPS and

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DOH Officer-in-Charge Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire stressed that with this shift, those tested are most likely to be positive for the coronavirus disease.

Vergeire also said the positivity rate is not the sole criterion in monitoring the country’s COVID-19 situation.

She also allayed concerns from legislators on the reported increase in local COVID-19 cases.

During the hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations on the budgetary performance of the DOH, Vergeire told the panel the department is prevented from purchasing bivalent COVID-19 vac-

teachers, nurses, construction workers, and engineers.

Ople said among the top US employers interested in employing the rescued OFWs included Patty Jeffrey, executive vice president for International Opera-

tor,” he said.

Marcos also highlighted the government's efforts to advance the digital transformation of the Philippines, particularly supporting the “smart industry readiness” of several semiconductor and electronics manufacturing services companies “to help them craft their digital transformation road maps."

He also told the American business leaders that Philippines has succeeded in streamlining the process for permits to ensure ease of doing business as he assured them that his administration is working hard to address red tape and the digitalization of bureaucratic processes.

"They have done a very good job. They have reduced some of the permitting procedures from different industries from several months to a just few days," he said.

"I am really confident that if its continued, if it can continue its work and if it is well supported by legislation, by the bureaucratic procedures, we can cut down many of those unnecessary regulatory documentary requirements," he added.

The President said the country is also optimistic about the future increase in exports of solar and photovoltaic-related products from the Philippines as many countries strive to comply with their decarbonization targets.

He noted that with the trend toward electric vehicles, Philippine exports geared towards electric vehicle use, such as wire harnesses, rubber tires, and automotive electronics have good potential.

The semiconductor industry, on the

Queen Consort, Camilla Parker-Bowles.

The President is also expected to meet with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday.

"There will be more than 29,000 police officer deployments over the coming week in the lead up to Coronation Day and over the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend," the force said in a statement.

Saturday will see the largest one-day mobilization of officers in decades, with just over 11,500 police on duty, including 2,500 specialist officers. They will line the processional route, manage crowds and road closures, protect high-profile guests, and carry out searches.

Anti-monarchy group Republic has announced its plans to protest what it calls the "vanity parade." It is hoping around 1,000 people will turn out to boo the king as he passes Trafalgar Square.

The Met's Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan told reporters Wednesday the planned demonstration would be "legal" but vowed "very swift action" if the protests became "criminal."

AVR serving as each other’s backup in case the other power supply encounters a problem.

To ensure the continued safety of all its passengers, Air Asia Philippines is taking precautionary measures and sought the support of industry stakeholders for the proposed flight adjustmentsIn a meeting with Transportation department Undersecretary for Aviation

Roberto Lim, CAAP Director General

Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo, Manila International Airport Authority senior assistant general manager Bryan Co, and other industry leaders, the airlinediscussed the proposed rescheduling of 21 flights on May 16 and re-timing of 13, and the cancellation of six others on May 17.

Included in the rescheduling are flights to and from Taipei, Incheon, Bangkok (Don Mueang), Kota Kinabalu, and Incheon for international and Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, Puerto Princesa, Cagayan, Iloilo, and Tacloban for domestic. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

cines, which targets Omicron COVID-19 and its subvariants, due to an absence of a law authorizing such.

On the rising COVID cases, Vergeire said over 90 percent of the new infections being recorded daily are "mild and asymptomatic cases."

"We're averaging around 822 cases per day. This is about 79 percent higher than the previous two weeks of cases,"

Vergeire told the House appropriations panel chaired by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

"Most of these cases are mild and asymptomatic cases. We will have about 8 to 9 percent of those with COVID that are classified as severe and critical," she said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

tions of MedPro International, Magsaysay People Resources/Magsaysay Maritime Corporation under Doris Magsaysay-Ho and John Padget, president and chief experience and innovation officer of Carnival Corporation, Princess Cruises.

Ople said the DMW is already preparing the OFWs’ profiles, which will be provided to employers in the US and Saudi Arabia, which also expressed interest in hiring Filipinos.

“There are employers in the US and also in the cruise ship industry and Saudi Arabia that are very much interested and

other hand, can gain more from increasing skills in research and development, he said.

The President also assured American business leaders that the Philippines will "transform" and not just recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I do not use the word recovery, I use the word transformation. Because we are not trying to recover to where we used to be. We are trying to transform ourselves to be part of the modern world,” Mr. Marcos said.

“Now, that transformation I think will occur and is a grand opportunity that we have been given. Now we do not start from a blank sheet of paper but it’s close [to that]. There are many new sectors that did not exist before. There are businesses that did not exist before that will be very dominant in the very near future,” the President added.

President Marcos said he does not want the Philippines to be back where it was in mid-2019, right before the pandemic hit.

“I want to be somewhere else. I want to be in the middle of the new economy, number one. I think that is important,” he said.

Present at the forum were top American businessmen and Filipino tycoons, among them Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Enrique Razon, Tessie Sy-Coson, and Kevin Tan.

Also on Wednesday, the President met with members of the US Senate to discuss a wide range of issues that include security, defense, agriculture, and climate change mitigation, economic cooperation and cybersecurity.

In his remarks, President Marcos

"We have an extremely low threshold for anybody or anything that will disrupt this event," he said.

Holding up an anti-monarchy sign is not a criminal act, Adelekan noted, while adding "our priority is around safety and security for everyone."

Contentious new laws handing police increased powers to curb disruptive protests by climate campaigners and others came into force just this week, leading to accusations they were rushed through ahead of the coronation.

Under the new Public Order Act, protesters who block roads could face up to 12 months in prison.

The Met have also disclosed that they "intend to use facial recognition technology in central London."

"The watch list will be focused on those whose attendance on Coronation Day would raise public protection concerns," the force said. That includes those wanted for offenses or with outstanding arrest warrants, the statement added.

Civil liberties organisation Big Brother

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under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 with the National Police Commission (Napolcom) at the helm of NCPP implementation.

The 2023 NCPP was developed by Napolcom through its Technical Committee on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, an inter-disciplinary body composed of acknowledged experts from government agencies and non-government organizations involved in the criminal justice system.

Napolcom is an agency attached to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) responsible for the administration and control of the Philippine National Police.

On Thursday, a ranking police official said the country’s crime rate dropped by 11.36 percent in the first three months of the year.

In a Laging Handa briefing, Philippine National Police (PNP) PublicInformation

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countries within the region allowed the situation in the South China Sea to maintain "overall stability."

"The US-Philippines defense guidelines is a bilateral arrangement," Mao said. "China firmly opposes any country’s move to meddle in the South China Sea issue to harm China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests by citing the guidelines." Mao said the SCS is a "shared home for countries in the region, not a hunting ground for forces outside the region."

"When regional countries are committed to mutual trust, solidarity, cooperation and properly handling differences, they

would like to see profiles of our workers from Sudan, she said.

“For Saudi Arabia, we are working closely with PEACEME, a recruitment industry association geared towards employment in KSA as well as with the Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development,” she added.

Ople pointed out that livelihood support and assistance are also in place for the displaced OFWs.

"All OFWs have received $200 care of the DMW while they are in Egypt and then livelihood package, financial

thanked Sen. Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee and other members of the panel for welcoming his delegation to Capitol Hill for the frank and productive discussions on the state of Philippines-US relations.

Having been a member of the Philippine House of Representatives andthe Senate, Marcos said engagements between Manila and Washington should not only take place at the executive but also with members of the legislature.

Marcos noted that defense and security engagement remains the key pillar of Philippines-US bilateral relations. He hailed the US’ willingness to work with the Philippine government “as an equal, sovereign partner."

The President also expressed the Philippines’ intention to deepen cooperation with the US in the areas of supply chain, health and health security, environment, energy security, and interconnectivity.

The meeting was part of the President’s official visit to Washington, and follows a series of high-level dialogues with US President Joseph Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris.

Joining the President in the Wednesday Capitol Hill meeting were Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual.

Watch hit out at the proposed use of what it branded an "authoritarian mass surveillance tool that turns the public into walking ID cards."

"This Orwellian technology may be used in China and Russia but has no place on the streets of Britain...," still less during the Coronation, its legal and policy officer Madeleine Stone said.

In addition, snipers will be stationed on some rooftops in central London, while the skies above the British capital will also be closely watched.

No drones or planes are permitted to fly over central London on Saturday, except for police helicopters and authorized media.

According to Philippine Ambassador to the UK Teodoro Locsin Jr., President Marcos personally knew King Charles during his early adulthood, and they even had a chance to play polo together. Charles became king when his mother Queen Elizabeth II died last September 8. He also took over as head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Office chief Col. Redrico Maranan said a total of 12,226 crime incidents were recorded from Jan. 1 to May 2, compared to 13,763 crimes in the same period last year.

“We were able to reduce 1,500 plus crimes of the so-called eight focus crimes. That's why we see, our different anti-criminality strategies, we see that it is effective,” he added.

The eight focus crimes are murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, vehicle theft, motorcycle theft and rape.

Index crimes are serious crimes such as murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, rape, theft, and carjacking, while non-index crimes are violations of local ordinances and laws and vehicular accidents.

Maranan said that under PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr.'s leadership, the PNP will deploy policemen in barangays identified by the local police forces as crime-prone areas as part of preemptive efforts against criminality. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

have in their hand the key to peace and stability in the South China Sea," Mao said.

Defense OIC Carlito Galvez and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington established the new guidelines to modernize bilateral alliance cooperation "for a free and open Indo-Pacific region."

Under the guidelines, the Philippines and the US will expand cooperation on maritime security through but not limited to joint patrols. The guidelines also "reaffirmed that an armed attack in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea, on either of their aircraft or armed forces – which includes their Coast Guards – would invoke mutual defense commitments under the 1951 PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty."

assistance of initially P50,000 and then through OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) regional offices. The initial P50,000 will be coming from the DMW’s direct aid to the worker, another P50,000 will be given by OWWA to the families of the workers,” she said.

In a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Padget said his group of companies is set to hire some 75,000 Filipino seafarers in the next three to four years. Padget also represents Carnival Cruise Line, Holland American Airlines and Seaborn.

DICT to launch SIM Check to fight scammers

By Orlan Mauricio

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is set to launch “Project: SIM Check Mo” next week as part of the government’s efforts to combat cybercrime.

The project involves a text messaging service thru the DICT’s Hotline“1326” that provides every citizen the capability to validate in 10 seconds the partial identity and status of a SIM number of a suspected scammer.

All one needs to do is text SIM CHECK, space, plus the 11-digit number and send it to 1326.

The sender will then receive the status of the SIM, which will indicate whether it is already registered or not, the initials of the SIM owner, and a remark on whether it has a good or
derogatory record.

“The project needs to be launched ASAP and immediately while we await the expiration of the 90-day extension period for the mandatory sim registration under Republic Act 11934,” DICT Executive Director Alexander Ramos of the agency’s Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center said.

The official said the three-month extension is a “very long and dangerous time that can be taken advantage of by scammers to continue all sorts of scheming to swindle unsuspecting individuals.”

“Cybercrime prevention is a threeway shared responsibility between the telcos and the consumers-subscribers. The government acts as the supervisingcyber security to ensure that the public enjoys a safe cyberspace,” Norman Ancheta, OIC of the Inter Agency Response Center that handles the 24/7 operations of DICT’s Hotline 1326, said.

PNP to implement cigarette and vape ban among minors

By Charles Dantes

THE Philippine National Police on Thursday announced stricter monitoring of minors using cigarettes and vape devices as the force intensified its Oplan Bisita Eskwela.

PNP Spokesperson Col. Redrico Maranan explained that new Police Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda decided to give out the directive after parents and teachers appealed to watch over them.

"Our Chief PNP has received reports that some have been accosted, warned, and had vape items and products confiscated which they are bringing into and around schools," said Maranan in a public briefing.

The spokesman also shared that the PNP will partner with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in enforcing the smoking ban among minors.

PNP's Oplan Balik Eskwela required police officers to visit local communities and patrol schools in their respective areas of responsibility to prevent students from being victimized by criminal elements.

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such as design and use of colors, as well as high-quality security features.

The obverse side of the 1,000-Piso polymer banknote showcases the Philippine Eagle, which symbolizes the Filipino people’s uniqueness, strength, power, love for freedom, and sharp vision. It also features the national flower, Sampaguita, which represents purity, simplicity, humility, and strength. The bill’s reverse side showcases the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site; the T'nalak weave design of the T’boli people; and the South Sea Pearl.

The BSP began circulating the awardwinning banknote in April 2022. It was printed by Note Printing Australia, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Australia’s central bank.

IN BRIEF

Kadiwa stores post over P6.4m sales nationwide

THE government-run Kadiwa stores have generated sales of over P6.4 million nationwide, with the National Capital Region and Central Luzon recording sales of over P1 million each, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The Kadiwa in NCR, which recorded sales amounting to P1,009,903.24, was set up at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on April 30, with its opening attended by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. no less.

Meanwhile, the Kadiwa outlets in Central Luzon established in San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan; Angeles City in Pampanga; and Mariveles, Bataan, also reported sales surpassing the P1-million mark apiece.

Other Kadiwa ng Pangulo para sa Manggagawa sites in Luzon chalked up the following sales: Cordillera Administrative Region – P193,583.00; Ilocos Region – P464,769.00; Cagayan Valley Region– P302,418.00; CALABARZON – P137,654.00; and Bicol Region – P673,056.87.

Exigency plans readied for Mindoro fishermen

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are mapping out plans to help fishermen affected by the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. has recommended to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the sharing of fishing areas following a meeting with local leaders and affected fishermen in the island.

“The DILG and BFAR will adopt a cluster approach to ensure that all affected fisherfolk will have a place to go and congestion in one fishing area will be avoided,” Abalos said.

Joel E. Zurbano

More people think ROTC should be optional than compulsory—SWS

By Vito Barcelo

MORE Filipinos think that the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program should be optional rather than compulsory, according to a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey.

The survey, conducted March 26 to 29, showed that 42 percent of the respondents believed that ROTC should be optional for senior high school students.

On the other hand, 35 percent opined that ROTC should be compulsory, while

22 percent asserted that the basic military training should not be in the senior high school’s curriculum at all. Those who favored making the ROTC program an “optional” course were of the consensus that the students should

be given the chance to choose between military training or community service.

Respondents from the Visayas indicated the highest level of support (46 percent) in making ROTC mandatory for senior high school students, followed by Mindanao with 34 percent, “Balance” Luzon with 32 percent, and Metro Manila, 29 percent.

Metro Manilans and the Visayans manifested the highest level of support for noninclusion of the ROTC in the senior high school curriculum with identical 25 percent.

Mindanao and “Balance” Luzon

came in second and third with 22 percent and 21 percent, respectively.

Those in Balance Luzon had the highest support for ROTC to be an optional course at 47 percent, followed by Metro Manila with 46 percent; Mindanao, 42 percent; and Visayas, 28 percent, The polling had a 2.8 percent margin of error.

The SWS also said only one percent of the respondents were either undecided or simply did not have an answer to the question.

PNP prioritizes cases of missing ‘sabungeros

By Charles Dantes

‘

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has given top priority to solving the reported involuntary disappearance of six security guards of a cockfighting facility in Manila. Meanwhile, the San Pablo Regional Trial Court has started hearings on the alleged abduction of e-sabong master agent Ricardo Lasco from his residence in August 2021.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. hinted that they were leaving no stone unturned in the investigations on the cases of the six missing security guards of the Manila Arena, believed to be related to e-sabong or online cockfighting.

“They will be conducting regular meetings pa rin to make sure na hindi po nabibitawan ito...Those incidents na medyo wala pang nai-file na kaso we are pursuing them,” Acorda said.

The victims’ families have called on Acorda to ask for help in putting closure to the cases.

According to Acorda, he’s been asking for regular updates from the Special Investigation Task Group handling the cases of the missing sabungeros.

The task group reported that it was giving particular attention to at least eight of the 34 reported missing cockfight aficionados.

HOME SAFE. A family of five beams upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 from war-torn Sudan via a Riyadh-Manila flight. They are among a group of 74 repatriates consisting of 45 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), 22 young children and seven students who were assisted by the Philippine government in fleeing Sudan. The returning OFWs received P50,000 from the Department of Migrant Workers, plus another P50,000 to be withdrawn at the regional offices of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. Danny Pata

Voluntary surrender as mitigating circumstance

FOR voluntary surrender by an offender to be appreciated as a mitigating circumstance that reduces the penalty, the same must be spontaneous and unconditional.

It must be shown that the offender in doing this either “acknowledges his guilt or… wishes to save them the trouble and expenses necessarily incurred in his search and capture” (People v. Gervacio, et al., G.R. L-21965, August 30, 1968 citing People vs. Sakam).

“The word ‘spontaneous’ emphasizes the idea of an inner impulse, acting without external stimulus. The conduct of the accused, not his intention alone, after the commission of the offense, determines the spontaneity of the surrender” (Reyes, the Revised Penal Code).

The surrender must be made to a person in authority or his agents.

Article 152 of the Revised Penal Code defines a person in authority as “[a] person who, by direct provision of law or by election or by appointment by competent authority, is charged with the maintenance of public order and the protection and security of life and property…”

There can be no voluntary surrender if there is a condition imposed such as the need to confer with a councilor

Examples are city councilors, policemen, barangay leaders and “any person who comes to the aid of persons in authority.”

Surrender of the accused to the Justice of the Peace (now called the Municipal Trial Court Judge) with whom he posted a bond, and then to the Constabulary headquarters of the province, is entitled to the mitigation of voluntary surrender (People v. Casalme, L-18033, July 26, 1966).

In the case of People v. Dimdiman, “[v] oluntary surrender may not… be credited to the appellant because the fact that he did not try to escape or did not resist arrest after he was taken into custody by the authorities does not amount to voluntary surrender… Here, the accused after shooting the deceased was immediately disarmed and placed under arrest” (G.R. L-33154 February 27, 1976).

Voluntary surrender is no longer possible if the accused is already in custody.

“While he (the offender) was being investigated under NBI custody regarding the death of one Rebecca Hanasan, he denied in statements he issued on November 13 and 21, 1965 that he poisoned Guillermo Literal” (People v. Hanasan, G.R. L-25989, September 30, 1969).

“He escaped from NBI custody sometime during the first week of December but was immediately recaptured. It was then while under NBI custody again that… he confessed to sole responsibility for the death of Guillermo Literal… thus [there was] no voluntary surrender to speak of since the appellant was in point of fact arrested”(G.R. L-25989, September 30, 1969).

In the case of People v. Gervacio, et al., the Supreme Court rejected the claim of voluntary surrender by the accused Simplicio Gervacio when he and another accused fled “to the province of Leyte which necessitated the authorities in Quezon City to go to the place and search for them.”

In fact, Gervacio surrendered to the Mayor of Biliran 12 days after the commission of the crime (G.R. L-21965, August 30, 1968).

In yet another case, “Reno… went to the Hamtic police station to request that they take custody of the accused-appellant who was then in his house. Undoubtedly, when

Boost for PH agriculture

the police went to Reno’s house at San Angel, San Jose, Antique, it was for the purpose of arresting the accused-appellant and not because he was surrendering to them voluntarily” (People v. Manzano, et al., G.R. 217974, March 5, 2018).

“[M]erely reporting the incident cannot be considered voluntary surrender within contemplation of the law. By [the] accusedappellant’s own admission, he only went to the authorities to inform them that Adrian was injured… [he] claims he had nothing to do with the murder of Oliver…this negates any acknowledgement of guilt” (People v. Badriago, G.R. 183566, May 8, 2009).

However, in the case of People v. Placer, “[h]e (Ramon) had voluntarily yielded himself and the balisong used in the stabbing to Barangay Chairman Rey Loilo of Beguin, Bulan, Sorsogon, who then brought him and the weapon to the police station for proper disposal… the day following the fatal stabbing of Rosalino (victim)…” (G.R. 181753, October 9, 2013).

“That the surrender preceded the filing of the criminal complaint with the Municipal Trial Court of Bulan on June 27, 2001 is notable. There is every indication the surrender was spontaneous on Ramon’s part, indicating his intent to unconditionally submit himself to the authorities, either because he acknowledged his guilt or he wished to save them the trouble and expenses necessary for his search and capture” (G.R. 181753, October 9, 2013).

The Supreme Court, in appreciating voluntary surrender in favor of the accused, said “on seeing Patrolman Cadaoas who had not even drawn his gun the defendant (accused) threw away his bolo, raised his two hands, offered no resistance and said to the patrolman ‘here is my bolo, I stabbed Atty. Bello,’ is indicative of his intent or desire to surrender voluntarily to the authorities”

(People v. Tenorio, G.R. L-15478, March 30, 1962).

In the case of People v. Lozano et al., the mitigating circumstance of voluntary surrender was appreciated because “[i] mmediately upon learning its issuance (warrant of arrest), and without [it] having been served on him, the appellant contacted his co-accused PO2 Lozano [and]… communicated his desire to surrender (the latter in turn called the Police Superintendent)” (G.R. 137370-71. September 29, 2003).

Although “the surrender was induced by his (accused) fear of retaliation by the victim’s relatives does not gainsay the spontaneity of the surrender, nor alter the fact that giving himself up… saved the State the time and trouble of searching for him until arrested”

(People v. Clemente, et al., G.R. L-23463, September 28, 1967).

There can be no voluntary surrender if there is a condition imposed such as the need to confer with a councilor (People v. Mutya, G.R. L-11255-11256, Sep 30, 1959).

Neither can there be voluntary surrender if the stimulus to surrender is the impossibility of living in hostility and resistance with authorities without rest or peace for a moment (People v. Sakam, G.R. 41566. December 7, 1934).

While voluntary surrender may appear to be inconsistent with the intent and impunity to commit a crime, the law recognizes that the offender may show some remorse and in effect desire to be subject to judicial corrective measures and rehabilitation; thus, eliminating the need for law enforcement authorities to forcibly arrest the offender.

THE recent official visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to the United States has yielded tangible benefits for the country not only in terms of enhanced defense cooperation, but also in promoting over-all economic development.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the visit to Washington DC may well be our agricultural sector. A significant outcome of the talks between the leaders of the two countries was an agreement to set up a minister-level mechanism on agricultural cooperation.

The partnership was sealed during a meeting between President Marcos and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials led by Secretary Thomas Vilsack. The meeting with the USDA, the President said, was important as the country wanted to address food supply shortages in the country particularly during the lockdowns at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was crucial for him, therefore, to

These support services will go a long way in improving the quality of life of our farmers, reducing rural poverty and achieving the goal of food security for the long term

assume the post of Agriculture Secretary “because agriculture is a very complicated issue especially in the Philippines.”

During the meeting, the Philippine side expressed keen interest in forging mutually beneficial agreements to strengthen agriculture research and capacity-building initiatives for the further development of biotechnology in the country. We also argued for expanding market access of Philippine agricultural products to the US. USDA officials, on the other hand, said they looked forward to strengthening knowledge transfer between the US and the Philippines and continued cooperation on agriculture innovation systems. The Food Security Dialogue between the

Rich harvest from US visit (1)

IF THERE’S one thing the just-concluded four-day official visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to the United States has achieved, it is to bring longstanding bilateral relations to a new and higher level.

In their brief meeting on May 1 in the White House in Washington D.C. on May 1, Marcos and US President Joe Biden managed to discuss a broad range of key issues: security cooperation and humanitarian aid; clean energy and food security; environmental protection and the fight against climate change; the rule of law and human rights.

In a joint statement, the two leaders lauded the “remarkable ties of friendship, community, and shared sacrifice that serve as the foundation of the U.S.-Philippines alliance.”

“In efforts to promote inclusive and broadbased prosperity, invest in the clean energy transition and the fight against climate change, uphold international peace and stability, and ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law, the United States and the Philippines will remain the closest of allies, working together to deliver a better future for our citizens and tackle the emerging challenges of the twentyfirst century,” they said.

The two leaders welcomed the identification of new sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), as this would “strengthen Philippine security and support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization goals, while driving US investment to local communities across the Philippines and improving our shared ability to rapidly deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”

Amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, the two leaders underscored their “unwavering commitment” to freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, as well as the importance of respecting the sovereign rights of states within their exclusive economic zones consistent with international law.

Marcos and Biden said they support the inherent right of Filipino fisherfolk to pursue their traditional livelihoods in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) based on the 2016 ruling of the Permanent

Arbitral Tribunal constituted pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They also affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which they said is an “indispensable element of global security and prosperity.”

Both leaders also affirmed their support

No doubt, the wideranging conversation between the two leaders touched on issues that lie at the core of bilateral ties, which are founded on shared democratic values, and a common commitment to peace, progress and prosperity

for Ukraine in its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, “noting the conflict (with Russia) has adversely affected food and energy security in the Indo-Pacific.”

Biden had earlier indicated he would send a Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines to enhance American investments in our country’s innovation economy, transition to clean energy, support for the critical minerals sector, and food security for Filipinos.

The two leaders also announced the Philippines and the US will co-host the 2024 IndoPacific Business Forum, touted as the “marquee commercial event in the region.”

It will be held in Manila to further establish the Philippines as a key hub for regional supply chains and high-quality investment.

Both leaders likewise resolved to expand cooperation on environmental protection, including enhanced domain awareness, marine

two countries also explored ways to further boost cooperation on capacity-building and technology support since the Philippines wanted to build effective and efficient supply as well as value chains and increase exports of agricultural commodities.

The dialogue was intended to assist the country in strengthening research and development in the agricultural sector, particularly on biotechnology centers, geospatial databases, climate-proof facilities, and information services and make the sector prepared to cope with the challenges in the post-pandemic period.

The reality is that agriculture has been the consistent lowest contributor to the Philippine economy at an average of 9.92 percent yearly against the industry and services sectors that contributed 30 percent and 60 percent on average, respectively.

What should be done by the government at this point is to boost agricultural production by providing vital support services to farmers, such as credit, farmto-market roads, post-harvest facilities, farm management skills, and marketing information.

These support services will go a long way in improving the quality of life of our farmers, reducing rural poverty and achieving the goal of food security for the long term.

LAST April, the UP Board of Regents elected incumbent UP College of Law Dean Edgardo Carlo Vistan II chancellor of Diliman, UP’s flagship campus, to serve from 2023 to 2025.

Vistan bested two other rivals for the post, namely, a certain Victor Paz, and Fidel Nemenzo, the outgoing chancellor who was seeking re-election.

Nemenzo has been criticized for his sympathies towards the radicals and leftists in UP.

During his lackluster term as UP Diliman chancellor, Nemenzo allowed the campus to be used as fora for anti-government rallies and demonstrations. Reports have it that groups favoring the administration of then President Rodrigo Duterte were not allowed inside the campus.

In 2021, the UP Diliman Executive Committee opposed the bid of Atty. Harry Roque, then President Duterte’s spokesman, for a seat in the United Nations In-

conservation, and preventing coastal areas from environmental degradation.

Marcos and Biden pledged to promote increased cooperation and knowledge sharing between the United States and the Philippines through the Science and Technology Agreement.

They also welcomed US plans to establish an Open-RAN Interoperability Lab in Manila.

The leaders welcomed the creation of a bilateral Labor Working Group as part of the US-Philippines Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, which would provide a crucial opportunity for the two countries to “work together on implementation of internationally recognized labor rights,” and to facilitate exchange and dialogue among the US and Philippine governments and labor unions, as well as employer organizations.

Finally, the two presidents highlighted the need to strengthen democratic institutions, rule of law, and respect for human rights, including freedom of expression, press, and association. They also underscored the importance of countering any form of violence against civil society, women, children, and marginalized groups.

No doubt, the wide-ranging conversation between the two leaders touched on issues that lie at the core of bilateral ties, which are founded on shared democratic values, and a common commitment to peace, progress and prosperity.

Much more than bringing PhilippinesUS ‘special relations’ to much higher levels of partnership, the US official visit and the Marcos-Biden meeting tell us very clearly that the way forward lies in close cooperation based on common interests and mutual respect. [Next: Strengthening partnership across various sectors]

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

UP academics are needlessly obsessed with PhDs

ternational Law Commission. The committee was headed by Nemenzo. Other than the dean of the College of Law, nobody among the committee members is a lawyer, much less an expert in international law.

How the committee could competently declare Roque unfit for a seat in the International Law Commission is a mystery.

The committee also claimed that Roque has a bad record in human rights cases, but it conveniently overlooked the fact that Roque served as counsel for many Filipino “comfort women” who sought retribution for the sexual assaults committed against them by Japanese soldiers during World War II in the Philippines.

Evidently, the UP Diliman Executive Committee went beyond its field of competence in opposing Roque’s bid.

Its behavior also reveals officials of UP Diliman are so full of themselves that they think they have a monopoly of wisdom.

Days before he lost his re-election bid, Nemenzo was at the forefront in denouncing Quezon City policemen who enforced a warrant of arrest on a UP Diliman professor, who had a pending criminal case in the Regional Trial Court over alleged

non-payment of employer’s social security contributions.

Nemenzo and his kind labeled the arrest as a violation of the academic freedom of UP, even if the case involves a private matter with absolutely no bearing on academic freedom. It was almost as if Nemenzo wanted UP professors to be exempted from the law.

All that likely led the UP Board of Regents not to re-elect Nemenzo as chancellor.

Like the UP Diliman chancellor, the UP president is elected by the UP Board of Regents.

In December last year, Nemenzo ran for UP President, but he failed to get the UP Board of Regents on his side.

At the time Nemenzo sought re-election as chancellor, a small group of academics from UP Diliman endorsed his candidacy.

He also had the support of the radicals in the Diliman campus.

After Nemenzo lost the vote, a mob of radicals trooped to the UP Diliman administration building and attempted to force their way inside the meeting room of the Board of Regents.

When they failed to get their way, the mob defaced university property.

Nobody among the faculty members supporting Nemenzo condemned the mob rule.

I have not encountered any statement from Nemenzo which criticized the violence ostensibly committed in support of his candidacy.

In the aftermath of Nemenzo’s defeat, the same academics from UP Diliman scored Vistan’s election on the ground that Vistan does not have a doctorate degree in Philosophy (commonly called a PhD), unlike Nemenzo and Paz.

Big deal!

From that statement, it looks like those UP academics are extremely obsessed with PhDs, in that one who has no PhD is unfit to run a university. That view is not only an example of non sequitur; it is also bereft of legal basis.

A PhD may give rise to a disputable presumption that the holder is extensively edu-

cated, but it doesn’t mean the holder is more intelligent than one who has no PhD.

Many PhD holders I have met in my lifetime may be learned, but they are unable to articulate effectively in a discussion.

A large number of them can’t even speak in straight English, or are unable to address a big audience.

Running a university effectively is a responsibility that requires administrative competence. One who has a PhD is not necessarily knowledgeable about administrative work.

The UP charter does not require that the UP Diliman chancellor must have a PhD. If the law does not require it, the noisy proNemenzo academics have no valid reason to demand one from Vistan.

Edgardo Angara, Alfredo Pascual and Danilo Concepcion do not have PhDs but they became UP presidents. Why then should a UP chancellor need a PhD?

Vistan graduated from UP with academic honors, holds an undergraduate and a master’s degree in Law, and has had extensive administrative experience as law school dean.

He does not need a PhD to run UP Diliman.

‘Govt needs to return franchise tax to POGOs’

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court (SC) has upheld its decision issued last year which declared as unconstitutional the government’s imposition of a 5% franchise tax on gross bets from gaming operations of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

In an eight-page resolution, the SC denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) seeking the reversal of the said ruling.

The high court directed the government to refund POGO licensees of the 5% franchise tax it collected from them under the Bayanihan 2 Law.

“It is evident that not to order a refund will result in injustice and inequity on the part of the POGO licensees. Thus, any amount that was collected from the POGO licensees based on the implementation of the Bayanihan 2 Law, and prior to the passage of R.A. 11590 (An Act Taxing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations) should be returned,” the high court declared.

“All things considered, the Court finds no compelling reason to reverse and set aside the assailed decision. Thus, the motion for reconsideration must be denied with finality,” the SC said.

The SC also ordered that an entry of judgment be issued immediately in the case.

In its motion for reconsideration, the government through respondents DOF and the BIR, argued that the assailed tax issuances are valid as these were issued on the account of the expanded licensing and regulatory authority of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

The said respondents maintained that offshore-based POGOs are subject to franchise tax and income taxes.

AO creates Independence Day panel

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed an administrative order creating an inter-agency committee for the commemoration of the 125th anniversary of Philippine independence and nationhood.

Under Administrative Order (AO) No. 8, signed by the chief executive on Tuesday, the committee is tasked to “facilitate the planning and execution of programs and projects” for the commemoration of the 125th Philippine independence anniversary.

It will be chaired by the National His-

torical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) while the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will serve as vice-chair.

The inter-agency committee’s members are the Department of Tourism, Department of Education, Department of National Defense, Department

of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Transportation, and the Metro Manila Development Authority.

The country will commemorate the event to “give focus on the freedom that our forebearers struggled for towards that they dreamed for the country and the history that we seek to remember and honor them with.” Republic Act No. 10086 or the “Strengthening Peoples’ Nationalism Through Philippine History

Act” provides that the state shall provide the means to “strengthen people’s nationalism, love of country, respect for its heroes and pride for the people’s accomplishments by reinforcing the importance of Philippine national and local history in daily life with the end in view of raising social consciousness.”

It is further directed to “reinvigorate government support for historical research; and sustaining and enhancing programs for the protection, preservation and conservation of historical relics and memorabilia, monuments, sites and other historical resources.”

IN BRIEF

Comelec disqualifies Legazpi Mayor Carmen Rosal

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has disqualified Legazpi Mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal for violating a ban on government payouts within the 45-day campaign period in the last May 2022 elections.

In a 19-page decision, the Comelec also declared Alfredo A. Garbin Jr., the second placer in the May 2022 elections, the dulyelected mayor of Legazpi City.

“Respondent is found to have given money to influence, induce, or corrupt the voters, as described in Section 68 (a) in relation to Section 261 (a)(1) of the Omnibus Election Code.

“Respondent is hereby disqualified from being a candidate for Mayor of Legazpi City, Albay for the 9 May 2022 National and Local Elections. Pursuant to relevant rules and applicable jurisprudence, the 2nd placer, Alfredo A. Garbin Jr., is hereby declared the duly-elected Mayor of Legazpi City,” reads the ruling of the Comelec en banc. Vito Barcelo

Tolentino wants probe on gov’t plans vs. avian flu SEN. Francis Tolentino wants a Senate probe on the government’s policies to avoid an avian influenza flu outbreak in the country. He noted that the high inventory of imported poultry products amid the unabated importation of finished goods “poses a significant threat to the immediate and long-term prospects of the local poultry sector in the county.”

He said this also puts consumers at risk of the potential adverse effect of other transboundary diseases. “This will also ultimately lead to adverse public health effects.”

According to the senator, there should be a clear and solid policy from authorities to avert and ward off any possible outbreak of transboundary animal diseases in the country. Macon Ramos-Araneta

PARAÑAQUE FIRE. Firefighters respond to a fire that gutted houses at a residential area in Barangay Don Bosco, Parañaque in the wee hours of Thursday, May 4. Arson investigators are still determining the cause of the fire that displaced close to 400 families. Norman Cruz

UN chief says ‘we failed’ to stop Sudan war

THE UN chief on Wednesday said “we failed” to stop war from erupting in Sudan, where persistent fighting between rival generals undermined efforts to firm up a truce.

“The UN was taken by surprise” by the conflict, because the world body and others were hopeful that negotiations towards a civilian transition would be successful, Antonio Guterres told reporters in Nairobi.

“To the extent that we and many others were not expecting this to happen, we can say we failed to avoid it to happen,” the secretary general said.

“A country like Sudan, that has suffered so much... cannot afford a struggle for power between two people.”

Deadly urban combat broke out on April 15 between Sudan’s de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who commands the regular army, and his deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

At least 550 people have been killed and 4,926 wounded, according to the latest health ministry fig-

ures, which are likely incomplete. Since the fall of strongman Omar al-Bashir in 2019, international mediators have sought to bring civilians and the military to the negotiating table.

But in the process, analysts believe, they gave too much credit to Burhan and Daglo, who worked together in a 2021 coup that derailed the post-Bashir democratic transition.

The two generals later fell out in a power struggle.

Sudan expert Ernst Jan Hogendoorn, writing for the Atlantic Council, said international and regional leaders must “begin to strategically apply pressure” by freezing bank accounts and blocking business activities of Sudanese leaders and their forces.

Guterres spoke on the same day his top humanitarian official, Martin Griffiths, was in Sudan, after neighbouring South Sudan announced on

Tuesday that the warring sides had agreed “in principle” to a seven-day ceasefire from May 4.

In a statement early Thursday, the army said it had “accepted” this proposed ceasefire extension, while calling for “an African solution to the problems of the continent.”

But by midnight Wednesday, the RSF had not commented on the ceasefire and the army stressed in its statement that all its commitments were conditional on “respect for the truce” by the other side.

Griffiths arrived in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan—so far untouched by the fighting—on an urgent mission to find ways to bring relief to the millions of Sudanese unable to escape.

He called for security guarantees “at the highest level” to ensure desperately needed aid deliveries to war-ravaged parts of the country.

The aid chief said he had been informed by the UN’s World Food Programme that six trucks dispatched to the country’s western Darfur region had been “looted en route” Wednesday, “despite assurances of safety and security.” AFP

Male suspect arrested in deadly shooting at an Atlanta hospital

POLICE have arrested a man suspected of shooting five people—one of whom died—at an Atlanta hospital on Wednesday, authorities in the southern US city said.

One person was killed and four were injured when Deion Patterson allegedly opened fire in a hospital waiting room just after midday (1700 GMT). Patterson then allegedly stole a truck that had been left running at a nearby gas station and fled.

A manhunt went into the night before Patterson was apprehended outside the city in neighboring Cobb County.

“Law enforcement have taken the suspect into custody,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said at a news conference Wednesday evening.

“He will be charged and stand trial for his crimes.”

Patterson was detained “without incident,” said Cobb County police chief Stuart VanHoozer.

The victims, all women, were aged between 25 and 71, police said at an earlier news conference.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office later identified the woman shot and killed as Amy St. Pierre, 38, CNN reported. St. Pierre worked for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency told the broadcaster.

Three other women were in intensive care and a fourth victim was in stable condition, CNN reported.

Police chief Darin Schierbaum said local authorities received assistance in the search for Patterson from multiple agencies, including the FBI and the Secret Service. AFP

PASSOVER SACRIFICE.

Samaritans take part in the traditional Passover sacri ce at Mount Gerizim near the northern West Bank city of Nablus on May 3, 2023. Only around 800 Samaritans remain in their two communities, one on the mount and one in the Israeli city of Holon, near Tel Aviv. According to their beliefs, they trace their lineage to the Israelites whom Moses led out of slavery in Egypt and who established themselves in the biblical northern kingdom of Israel, known as Samaria. AFP

Infographic explains El Niño and La Niña, opposing climate patterns in the Paci c Ocean that can signi cantly impact weather, wild res, ecosystems and economies worldwide. AFP

FBI subpoenaed over unveri ed Biden claim

US Republicans subpoenaed the FBI Wednesday for a document they said details an “alleged criminal scheme” involving a foreign national and Joe Biden—although they made no specific allegations against the president.

The June 2020 record outlines a whistleblower’s information on “then-vice president Biden and a foreign national relating to the exchange of money for policy decisions,” two senior lawmakers said in a letter to the bureau.

The Republicans in the House of Representatives, who have been criticized in the past for expensive investigations targeting top Democrats that ended up falling flat, are giving the FBI a week to turn over any relevant information.

The document they are seeking is “an FBI-generated FD-1023 form,” House Oversight Committee chairman James

Comer and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley said in a joint statement.

“It has been alleged that the document includes a precise description of how the alleged criminal scheme was employed as well as its purpose,” they wrote to FBI director Christopher Wray and his boss, Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Comer and other Republicans have been leading sprawling investigations into Biden and his family that have been criticized as lacking focus and failing to come up with a “smoking gun” to support corruption claims.

Wednesday’s subpoena was their first to mention the president directly—marking an escalation in their attempts to link the 80-year-old Democrat to wrongdoing.

“The American people need to know if President Biden sold out the United States of America to make money for himself,”

Coronation gown spotlights

Queen Camilla’s style

IN just a few days’ time, the eyes of Britain and millions more around the world will be on Camilla as she is crowned queen alongside her husband, King Charles III.

“It’ll be the dress that will be the most talked about, it will be analyzed in every detail,” said Caroline Young, a writer specialising in fashion.

While the design of Camilla’s gown is being kept under wraps, the 75-year-old queen consort commissioned British couturier Bruce Oldfield, who boasts a long list of highprofile clients, including Charles’s ex-wife Princess Diana.

According to fashion expert and royals’ commentator Miranda Holder, the coronation gown is going to “define” Camilla.

“It’s going to go down in history,” she added.

Britain last held a coronation in 1953. Charles’s mother Queen Elizabeth II wore an intricately embroidered white satin gown on the day.

But Camilla is likely to opt for something less luxurious with the new king keen to slim down the ceremony as the country grapples with a cost of living crisis.

When the royal procession arrives at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, the queen will be cloaked in a crimson velvet “Robe of State”, originally made for Elizabeth 70 years ago.

Camilla will be crowned with Elizabeth’s grandmother Queen Mary’s Crown, which she wore at the coronation of her husband King George V in 1911.

In honour of Camilla’s late mother-in-law, the crown will be reset with several diamonds from her personal jewellery collection. AFP

Britain’s Camilla, Queen Consort

Canada MP seeks expulsion of Chinese diplomatic o icial

A CANADIAN lawmaker on Wednesday called for Ottawa to expel a Chinese diplomat accused of having sought to intimidate him and his family in Hong Kong over the MP’s criticisms of Beijing.

Conservative MP Michael Chong’s call was echoed by fellow opposition lawmakers who demanded action during a heated exchange in parliament in which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government was put on the back foot.

The outcry followed a damning report this week by the Globe and Mail claiming the government turned a blind eye to Beijing’s interference in Canadian affairs.

Citing classified documents and an anonymous security source, the newspaper said China’s intelligence agency had planned to target Chong and his relatives with sanctions for having voted in February 2021 for a motion condemning Beijing’s conduct in Xinjiang as genocide.

This was “almost certainly meant to make an example of this MP and deter others from taking anti-PRC positions,” it cited a Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) document as saying, using an acronym for the

Comer said, without providing details of any accusations against the Democrat.

The White House dismissed the probe as another example of Republicans improperly targeting the president for partisan ends.

“For going on five years now, Republicans in Congress have been lobbing unfounded politically motivated attacks against (the president) without offering evidence for their claims. Or evidence of decisions infl uenced by anything other than US interests. They prefer trafficking in innuendo,” Biden’s spokesman Ian Sams said.

“When it comes to President Biden’s personal fi nances, anybody can take a look: he has offered an unprecedented level of transparency, releasing a total of 25 years of tax returns to the American public.” AFP

People’s Republic of China.

official at China’s consulate in Toronto was said to be involved in the intrigue.

needs to be declared persona non grata immediately,” Chong told reporters in Ottawa after being briefed on the details by CSIS. come clean about who knew what and when and what they did about it,” he said, in comments followed by a blustering question and answer session of Parliament on the issue.

RUSSIA fired up to 24 attack drones against Ukraine overnight, 18 of which were shot down, Ukraine’s air force said on Thursday, a day after Moscow accused Kyiv of a drone attack on the Kremlin.

“The invaders launched up to 24 Shahed-136/131 attack drones... The Air Force of Ukraine, in cooperation with other air defence units, shot down 18 attack drones,” the air force said on Telegram.

Sergiy Popko, the head of the city of Kyiv’s military administration, said that according to preliminary information “all enemy missiles and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) were destroyed over Kyiv by air defence forces.”

Popko said it was the third day of attempted strikes on Kyiv in May.

“Our city has not experienced such intensity of strikes since the beginning of this year,” Popko said.

He said that debris from the downed drones had fallen on different parts of Kyiv but there were no casualties.

Moscow on Wednesday said Ukraine had launched two drones against the Kremlin in an attempt to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin threatened a tough response.

Ukraine has denied any involvement and the country’s Western allies have also cast doubt on the report. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Russia fires 24 drones at Ukraine, 18 shot down

TOP GAINERS

STOCKS rose Thursday, shrugging off the sour mood surrounding the US Federal Reserve’s announcement that it was raising interest rates yet again and likely keeping them high for the foreseeable future.

The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index climbed 77 points, or 1.18 percent, to close at 6,684.35, as all six subsectors advanced, led by property shares.

The broader all-share index went up 28 points, or 0.81 percent, to settle at 3,553.64 on a value turnover of P4.54 billion. Losers edged gainers, 97 to 96, while 45 issues were unchanged.

Eight of the 10 most active stocks ended in the green, led by PLDT Inc. which climbed 4.59 percent to P1,254.00 and Ayala Land Inc. which rose 4.56 percent to P28.65.

The peso was barely moved Thursday to close at 55.35 against the US dollar.

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

SAN FRANCISCO, USA—Microsoft

on Thursday expanded public access to its generative artificial intelligence programs, despite fears that tech firms are rushing ahead too quickly with potentially dangerous technology.

The AI-enhanced features of the company’s Bing search engine and Edge internet browser are now open for anyone to use, Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president, said in a blog post.

“This means that it will now be easier than ever for everyone to try the new Bing and Edge by simply signing into Bing with your Microsoft Account,” Mehdi said.

The services have been enhanced with the ability to work with images as well as text, and Microsoft intends to add video to the mix, according to the executive.

A Bing “Image Creator” was recently integrated into its AI chatbot’s repertoire, allowing it to generate visual, as well as written, content, Mehdi said.

“We are expanding Image Creator to all languages in Bing,” he added. “So now you can create images in your native language.”

Risks from AI include its potential uses for fraud, with voice clones, deepfake videos and convincing written messages.

A range of experts in March urged a pause in the development of powerful AI systems to allow time to make sure

they are safe. Their open letter, signed by more than 1,000 people, including billionaire Elon Musk and Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak, was prompted by generative AI technology from Microsoft-backed firm OpenAI.

“AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity,” the letter read.

“Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable,” it said.

A prominent computer scientist often dubbed “the godfather of artificial intelligence” recently quit his job at Google to speak out about the dangers of the technology.

Geoffrey Hinton said at an MIT forum on Wednesday that it makes sense to halt the development of AI. But he added that the idea is naive given the intense competition between countries and companies involved in the sector.

Hinton, who created some of the technology underlying AI systems, maintained that the existential threat from AI is “serious and close.”

In the three months since AI-powered Bing and Edge were unveiled, more than a half a billion chats have taken place, according to Mehdi. Microsoft has so far seen people make more than 200 million images with Bing creator software, Mehdi said. AFP

Meanwhile, all three major US indices declined along with the dollar after the Fed’s hike, while recession worries drove US oil prices below $70 a barrel, where they remained on Thursday.

But Hong Kong bucked the slide on Wall Street to finish with solid gains of nearly 1.3 percent, even as its de facto central bank moved to boost rates in line with the Fed.

While Shanghai also rose, Chinese shares overall see-sawed throughout the day, with the CSI 300 index ultimately finishing flat amid concerns over an uneven economic recovery.

Taipei, Wellington, Mumbai, Jakarta and Singapore were all up, while Sydney was slightly down and Seoul was flat. Tokyo was closed for a holiday.

Attention now shifts to Thursday’s meeting of the European Central Bank, which is expected to deliver another rate increase of its own.

London, Paris and Frankfurt were all down in early trade.

Meanwhile, fears of widespread banking turmoil were revived on Thursday as shares of regional US lender PacWest plummeted by more than half in after-hours trading.

The selloff was apparently spurred by reports the bank was considering the possibility of a sale or other capital-raising measures in the wake of the recent collapses of other mid-size lend-

ers, which had first sparked concerns for the health of the sector.

PacWest sought to reassure investors in a statement, insisting it had not “experienced out-of-the-ordinary deposit flows” since the banking fears first arose, and that its “cash and available liquidity remains solid”.

The bank said it was routine to “continuously review strategic options”, adding it had been “approached by several potential partners and investors”.

But Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, told Bloomberg that investors were unlikely to be convinced, adding that “there is nothing to suggest that the banking crisis is at an end”. Oil, meanwhile, was still down on Thursday after taking a hit over fears of weaker demand due to an economic slowdown.

US benchmark WTI was trading below $70 a barrel in the afternoon after previously hitting its lowest price since OPEC+ cut output a month ago. With AFP

SINGAPORE—Bhutan and Singapore-based Bitdeer have announced plans to raise $500 million to set up crypto mining operations that use the Himalayan kingdom’s plentiful hydropower.

Huge amounts of electricity are needed to power the vast computer farms that mine for cryptocurrency, leading to heavy criticism of their impact on the climate and a search for greener mining options.

Soaring energy costs have also squeezed crypto firms, leading to the birth of several initiatives to find cheaper and more sustainable ways to power their operations in a notoriously risky and volatile industry.

The initiative announced on Wednes-

day by the Bhutan government’s investment arm Druk and Nasdaq-listed crypto-mining firm Bitdeer includes the construction of data centers and investment in renewable energy such as hydropower and hydrogen.

“The Partnership with Bitdeer to launch a carbon-free digital asset mining datacenter represents an investment in a more connected and sustainable domestic economy,” Druk CEO Ujjwal Deep Dahal said in a joint statement with Bitdeer.

Bhutan, sandwiched between India and China, is carbon-negative and its constitution mandates that 60 percent of the country remains forested.

It has an abundant supply of hydropower and exports electricity to India,

but has ramped up efforts in recent years to expand revenue sources and diversify its economy.

Druk and Bitdeer, which already runs data centers in Norway and the United States, said they expect to begin raising funds for the initiative by the end of May.

Bitdeer is owned by Chinese crypto billionaire Jihan Wu, and began trading on the Nasdaq in April.

Last year, dozens of companies united under the umbrella of the Crypto Climate Accord, pledging to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

Two US firms—Block and Blockstream— are preparing to launch a fully solar-powered bitcoin mine in June. AFP

5 & 6, 2023)

NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

To All Stockholders:

Please be informed that the annual meeting of stockholders of BRIGHT KINDLE RESOURCES & INVESTMENTS, INC. (the Corporation”) for the year 2023, which is scheduled every last Thursday of May of each year, has been postponed and reset to a later date.

The purpose of the postponement is to give Management sufficient time to prepare for the meeting.

A Notice of Meeting will be issued in relation to the new meeting date.

CHALKS ON DISPLAY. This photo taken on May 2, 2023 shows a worker producing chalks at a workshop in Yingcheng, Xiaogan city, in China’s central Hubei province. AFP

BOSCH EXECUTIVES. Stefan Hartung (third from left), chief executive of German technology company Bosch and the members of the board (from left) Markus Heyn, Tanja Rueckert, chief finance officer Markus Forschner, Stefan Grosch and Christian Fischer pose in the company’s research center in Renningen, southern Germany, on May 4, 2023, prior to the annual press conference. AFP

SMPH prices planned P35-b bond offering

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PROPERTY developer

SM Prime Holdings

Inc. set the interest rates for its planned P35billion peso-denominated fixed-rate bond offering.

SMPH said in a stock exchange filing Thursday the P35-billion bond offering in three tranches would consist of P25 billion as the base offer and additional P10 billion for oversubscription.

The interest rate for Series S is at 6.2069 percent per annum due 2025, Series T at 6.2151 percent per annum due 2026 and Series U at 6.3275 percent per annum due 2029, it said.

The offering period will be from May

8 to 12, 2023. The bonds will be issued and listed on the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. on May 23.

SMPH chief finance officer John Nai Peng Ong said the company would use the proceeds to finance expansion plans.

“The fifth tranche of SM Prime’s P100-billion debt securities program will be used in pursuance of our expansion plans that will provide the company

US firm teams up with local miner to set up nickel processing facility

By Othel V. Campos

A US company teamed up with a local mining firm to set up a nickel processing facility in the Philippines, according to Department of Trade and Industry officials who are part of the Philippine trade mission to the US. Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said in a briefing late Wednesday night they could not disclose the details of the agreement which is between the two private firms.

“We can only provide the enabling environment so that they can do it. If we can provide incentives to allow the proposals or projects [to] move in a certain direction, we will do so,” he said. The DTI is in talks with other nickel processing proponents from Europe,

China and Japan.

Pascual said nickel processing is a good economic mover that could create 10 to 20 times in added value compared to nickel ore exports. He said the Philippines is pushing for a critical minerals agreement with the US.

“We want the further processing of these raw minerals so that we can produce metals like nickel that are essential ingredients or components of batteries needed for electric vehicles. The whole world is moving toward EV and the supply of critical green metals like nickel. Nickel will become very much in demand,” he said.

The proposed CMA is an ongoing initiative of the Philippines, as it continues to engage the US to create a meaningful partnership on nickel processing, Pascual said.

a stronger foothold in the key areas of the country,” Ong said.

SMPH earlier said it would spend P80 billion in capital expenditures this year to build more malls and residential projects. The Series S, T and U received a rating of PRS Aaa from Philippine Rating Services Corp. PRS Aaa rating is the highest rating assigned by PhilRatings, denoting that such obligations are of the highest quality with minimal credit risk and the issuing company ‘s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligations is extremely strong.

The bonds will be made available to investors through joint issue managers BDO Capital & Investment Corp. and China Bank Capital Corp., which are also joint bookrunners and joint lead underwriters.

SMPH tapped BPI Capital Corp., EastWest Banking Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. as joint underwriters for the transaction. SMPH earlier disclosed plans to raise a record $1 billion from its real estate investment trust offering in the second half of 2023.

SMPH president Jeffrey Lim said the company had started the process of incorporating an REIT unit that would initially own 12 to 15 malls in the Philippines.

“Hopefully we can launch the REIT by second half of the year subject to market conditions,” Lim said.

SM Prime owns 82 malls in the Philippines and seven malls in China. Of the 82 Philippine malls, 30 to 35 are fully mature, according to the company. “We can initially transfer 12 to 15 mature malls into the REIT, and then the rest will be for the future for the growth of SM REIT,” Lim said.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PLDT Inc. said Thursday net income slightly dropped in the first quarter amid soaring inflation and seasonal dip in consumer spending.

The country’s largest telecom company said net profit amounted to P9.015 billion in the first quarter, down from P9.07 billion in the same period last year. Core income, excluding the impact of asset sales and Voyager Innovations, reached P8.6 billion, up 5 percent from the same period last year.

“Because of soaring inflationary pressures, we must strive to

attain cost-efficiency and operational excellence in order to provide leveled-up customer experiences while keeping our products and services affordable for our subscribers,” PLDT and Smart president and chief executive Alfredo Panlilio said.

“We continue with our transformation initiatives to strengthen our core business as we plan for our growth strategies,” he said. Service revenues rose 2 percent in the first quarter to P47.1 billion, led by Home and Enterprise. Data and broadband, which grew by 6 percent to P38.5 billion, contributed 82 percent of consolidated service revenues.

ACEN’s net income jumped to P2b in Q1

ACEN Corp., the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group, said Thursday net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company jumped to P2 billion in the first quarter from P405 million a year earlier.

ACEN said in a disclosure to the stock exchange increased borrowing costs and overhead tempered income growth as the company accelerated its expansion of renewable projects.

“After weathering several challenges in 2022, we began the year with encouraging results brought about by the growth in generation output,” ACEN president and chief executive Eric Francia said.

Consolidated revenues climbed 23 percent in the first quarter to P9.1 billion as a result of higher net generation amid better wind resources and the commissioning of new power plants in the Philippines and in Australia.

“We expect to grow our net selling merchant position further, with more capacity scheduled to come online in the second half of the year. As our renewable energy investments begin to bear fruit, ACEN is now on a stronger footing as we continue working towards our aspiration of reaching 20 gigawatts of renewables by 2030,” said Francia. Alena Mae S. Flores

KMC opens co-working space at SM North EDSA

KMC Solutions inaugurated a co-working space at SM North EDSA Tower 1 in Quezon City on April 27, 2023, with plans of opening two more sites at Jollibee Tower in Pasig City and Lexmark at Cebu Business Park in May.

Each site offers state-of-the-art tech and business facilities and fully-equipped social amenities, making hybrid work more achievable and sustainable for Filipino businesses.

SM North EDSA Tower 1 is KMC’s first new flexible office development in 2023, with 553 seats across 2,449 square meters of floor space. Located close to transit hubs, pedestrian walkways, shopping malls, and restaurants, the new flexible workspace in Manila offers a flexible working environment with hot desks and retractable outlets alongside a pantry, mind and body training room, shower facilities and an ice cream machine.

The Jollibee Tower on Emerald Street, Ortigas, will offer 741 seats over 1,869 sq .m. of floor space, while the 5,590-sq.m. space at Lexmark, a PEZA-accredited building, will have 1,215 seats. KMC’s total footprint now spans across 27 buildings, totaling 106,442 square meters.

Entravision executives unveil Asian expansion

A TOP executive of Entravision, a leading global advertising, media ad-tech and commerce solutions provider disclosed the company’s plan to expand in Asia.

Entravision chief digital, strategy and accountability officer Juan Saldivar met with members of the Philippine press as part of a business tour within the AsiaPacific region, shared global industry insights and discussed the company’s plans for Asia.

Entravision in APAC services over 700 clients in 11 markets with an experienced team of over 120 specialists focused on helping brands grow online through mobile app growth, social media, performance marketing and retail media solutions.

“In the Philippines, we are thrilled to serve hundreds of extraordinary agencies and brands. Our numbers show more than 100 well connected consumers with a full smartphone penetration. The Philippines is a thriving market with hyper-local solutions and a rampant digital advertising industry north of 500 million dollars,” said Saldivar.

Entravision has strategically evolved into a digital powerhouse, expertly connecting brands to consumers in Asia, Europe, Africa, the US, and Latin America. “Entravision is committed to investing in Asia and expanding our presence in the region to help empower local and regional businesses through innovative and effective advertising solutions. I’m proud to lead the company’s exciting journey in the region,” said Pieter-Jan de Kroon, president for Entravision Asia.

PLDT’s core income grew 5% to P8.6b in first three months

HOUSING PARTNERSHIP. Laguna-based property developer P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corp. and Japanese developer Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp. reinforced their growing partnership through another memorandum of understanding signed on March 24, 2023. The MOU will be instrumental in spurring more property developments in Laguna, Pampanga and Metro Manila. Signing the MOU are (from left) P.A. Properties vice chairman Jonathan Lu, HHPC executive officer Masahiko Toda and P.A. Properties chairman Romarico Alvarez

PH pays tribute to Women’s Power

PHNOM PENH—It will be Women’s Power for Team Philippines as it flaunts an almost female athlete-dominated delegation during the parade of nations in the opening ceremony of the Cambodia 23nd Southeast Asian Games on Friday.

Alyssa Valdez, one of the most recognizable female athletes back home, arrived here at dawn, enough time for her to rest from a three-hour red-eye flight from Manila for the opening ceremony where she will be flagbearer for the second time after the 2015 Singapore Games.

“It’s a privilege and I am overwhelmed by this historic opportunity,” said Valdez, who flew in ahead of the women’s volleyball team that’s due here Saturday.

The opening ceremony starts at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. in Manila) and will be staged at the Morodok Techo Stadium, 60,000-seat structure built in the shape of a “sailing boat” with two sharp structures that reach almost 100 meters in height and surrounded by a moat in the ancient Angkor style.

Located in the outskirts of the Cambodian capital, the stadium was built in August 2017 and completed in August 2021 at a cost of $160 million.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino anticipates a warm appreciation for a Team Philippines pulling off a first in SEA Games opening ceremony history with the female-

dominated contingent.

“This is a first time—a tribute to women athletes and to the gender equality program of the International Olympic Committee,” said Tolentino, who will be one of only two men who will join the parade besides Chef de Mission Chito Loyzaga.

Deputy Chef de Mission Leonora Escollante will also be in the parade. They will all be wearing elegant Francis Libirandesigned white barongs—which the Philippine fashion icon called “Araw”— over black pants. Joining the parade are swimming and diving’s Ariana Hanah Drake, Chloe Isleta and Miranda Cristina Renner; athletics’ Aira Teodosio, Jamela de Asis, Jelly Diane Paragile, Ginnah Malapit, Abegail Manzano, Melissa Escoton, Sarah Dequinan, Kristine Knott, Evelyn Palarbica and Natalie Uy; badminton’s Aira Mae Albo and Mikaela de Guzman; basketball’s Clare Castro, Janine Pontejos, Afril Bernardino, Ana Alicia Castillo and Angelica Surada; billiards’ Chezka Centino and Rubelyn Amit; and chess players (ouk chatrang) Janelle Frayna and Shania Mae Mendoza.

Also in the roster are cricket’s Lolita Olaguier and April Rose Saquilon; women’s football’s Sarina Bolden, Jessika Cowart, Quinley Campomanes and Inna Palacios; golf’s Rianne Malixi and Lois Kaye Go; jiujitsu’s Andrea Divina, Isabela Montana and Louann Gutierrez; Kun Bokator’s Mariane Mariano and Alyssa Kylie Mallari; obstacle race’s Sandi Menchi Abahan and Marites Nocyao; pencak silat’s Angel-Ann Singh, Shara Julia Jizmundo and Angeline Virina; and table tennis’ Rose Jean Fadol and Sendrina Andrea Balatbat.

Rising jiu-jitsu star delivers PH’s 1st gold

By Peter Atencio

PHNOM PENH—Rising jiu-jitsu fighter

Kaila Napolis stood up, foiled a knee bar and scored a vengeful 2-0 upset win against one of Cambodia’s brightest hopes in Jessa Khan to win the Philippines’ first gold medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here.

Napolis’ move frustrated Khan’s efforts to have her rival’s legs locked out behind her knee, allowing the 25-year-old Filipina to claim the women’s 49-kg ne-waza gold on Thursday at the OCIC Wedding Center at the Chroy Changvar District.

“Parang talo na kasi, 0-0. I tried my best to get a 2-0 score,” said Napolis, who waited four years to get back at Khan, considered Cambodia’s best jiu-jitsu athlete following her recent decision to turn professional.

Khan, who defeated Napolis in the 2019 SEA Games in Manila, could not get a firm grip on her attack when the referee signalled a win in favor of the Filipina when the time was up.

“Natalo ako nu’ng 2019. Ang saya na nabawian ko siya sa bansa niya,” said Napolis, who swept her four-match, round-robin encounter.

A Cambodian-Mexican-American ju-jitsu practitioner, Khan was unbeaten before she

confronted Napolis on the mat. She is considered a heroine here after winning Cambodia’s first-ever gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games via the sport of jiu-jitsu.

Napolis, who is coached by Allan Co, started her campaign with 50-0 beating of Vietnam’s Thi Huyen Dang, followed by a 3-0 win over Thailand’s Nuchanat Singchalad, and a 50-0 rout of Singapore’s May Yong Teh.

“Sobrang saya ko po, dahil nandiyan silang lahat,” Napolis, unmindful of the big, boisterous crowd cheering for Khan.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann had the wonderful privilege of awarding the country its first gold medalist in his first official major international function as chairman of the government sports body.

“I had the privilege of being in the medal ceremony for our first gold medal winner, Kaila. Congratulations once again,” Bachmann said. “I also want to congratulate Harvey and Karl for bringing in the first medal of Team Philippines. It is such a thrill to start counting medals and see how the hard work of our athletes are translating into these victories. Job well done!”

For his part, POC president Rep. Abraham Tolentino said: “One big congratulations for one of our female athletes breaking the ice for Team Philippines in these SEA Games.”

Sarina Bolden, Jessika Cowart, Quinley Campomanes and Inna Palacios of the Philippine women’s football team will be among the female athletes from the Philippines parading during the SEA Games’ opening ceremonies. PFF

Kaila Napolis

By Randy Caluag

NUTRITION is one issue that has become less of a concern for Filipino athletes doing battle in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

That’s because celebrity chef Bruce Lim has been given more influence in the preparation and serving of the food at the games’ dining hall.

Lim said he stays at “the background” with his seven-man team of Filipino chefs working 24/7 with their local counterparts “to make sure we serve the best food for all the athletes.”

The round-the-clock work, according to Lim, includes drafting the daily menus, preparing the ingredients and special requests from a particular group of athletes, plus the actual cooking.

Nutrition least of PH team’s concern in SEAG IN BRIEF

Lim said jiu-jitsu and other combat sports athletes from Team Philippines have requested low-sodium meals for their athletes, who are maintaining a desired weight in their divisions.

“All food we serve are halal certified, so they can serve everyone, especially Muslim athletes,” he said.

Putting a premium on the nutritional needs of Filipino athletes, POC president Rep. Abraham Tolentino tapped the services of Lim, born and raised in the US, and who became popular through the Asian Food Channel, where he has a show. Lim also served as an executive chef during the Philippines’ SEA Games hosting in 2019.

Here, he will be serving the 804 athletes seeing action in the Cambodia Games which will run until May 17.

Tolentino also announced that food and other nutritional needs of the athletes who don’t have access to the games’ Mess Hall will be delivered to their hotels or competition venues.

3x3 men’s squad seeks redemption

PHNOM PENH.—The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Thursday revealed on their social media page the members of the Gilas Pilipinas Men 3x3 team for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

The team, composed of Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Joseph Eriobu, and Joseph Sedurifa, will vie for redemption in this year’s Games.

The Philippines settled for the bronze medal in the men’s 3x3 last year after ruling the inaugural event in Manila in 2019.

A gold medalist in regular basketball in 2015 and 2017, Vosotros will vie for his third SEA Games gold, this time in the 3x3 where he has found a home. Vosotros and Flores form the core of the TNT squad that bagged the grand slam in the recent PBA 3x3 season.

Vosotros is no stranger to international competition, seeing action for Gilas in the Fiba 3x3 Asia Cup in the last two years.

In 2021, Vosotros also joined forces with Flores and Eriobu in the Gilas 3x3 team that placed fourth after a 21-20 upset of Mongolia in the quarterfinal round where Vosotros hit the game-winning two pointer.

Floorball teams eye breakthrough medals

PHNOM PENH—The Philippines’ floorball teams shoot for breakthrough medals in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games after going empty-handed the last time the sport was included in the regional showpiece.

Philippine Floorball Association vice president Marco Ortiz expressed confidence in the country’s medal chances as the men’s and women’s squads wrap up their preparations for the floorball competitions set to start on May 11.

“Our expectation for this year is for us to grab that first SEA Games medal for both the men’s and women’s team,” said Ortiz in a mix of Filipino and English. “Any medal would be a success. Of course, we want the gold.”

In the 2019 SEA Games hosted by the Philippines, the men’s and women’s squads both finished fourth at home as Singapore and Thailand triumphed.

Thailand ruled the men’s division as Singapore and Malaysia settled for second and third, while Singapore reigned supreme in the women’s class where Thailand and Malaysia ended up as runners-up.

Ortiz hopes the addition of key players will get the teams – backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee –over the hump.

The men’s side will be reinforced by Kim Varga and Melvin Mendoza who are seeing action in the highest floorball league in Sweden, the country where the sport originated.

Jade Rivera, Filipina-Finnish Heidi Hyrylainen, and Filipina-Swedish Angelica Bengtsson will lead the women’s crew.

“Thailand and Singapore are our toughest foes. We’ll see. Our chances are good this year,” Ortiz said.

Obstacle teams stay on track for gold

PHNOM PENH—The Philippine men’s and women’s squads stayed on track for the two gold medals at stake in the relays event of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games Obstacle Sports competition at the Chroy Changvar Car Park here.

Led by former track and field star Mervin Guarte, the Filipinos took heat 1 of the 100-meter course in 25.857 seconds, ahead of Indonesia, which clocked 25.789 seconds in second place.

Guarte’s crew then slipped to second spot in the second heat after clocking 36.878, with Malaysia moving ahead at 26.197.

“Ginawa namin lahat ng puwede naming gawin. Doon sa monkey bars naging crucial sa start,” said the 31-year-old Guerte.

Guarte unravelled a new move in the monkey bars, finishing the 10-meters with just three grabs of the horizontal iron rods, instead of five, in order to quickly finish the challenge.

Guarte’s teammates Jayr de Castro Elias Tabac and Ahgie Radan then took turns in helping his team arrange a gold-medal duel with Malaysia. Peter Atencio

Celebrity chef Bruce Lim talks to Filipino athletes

‘Mr. Exclusive’ Emil Sumangil ecstatic over hosting new multi-platform show

IN a recent event to launch

Resibo: Walang Lusot Ang May

Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, Sumangil recalled how he was praying in a church when he received a call from the management offering him the opportunity to host the program. He was ecstatic to hear the news, describing it as a surreal moment.

“I’ve been with GMA for 18 years now and it’s been my dream to be part of a program that doesn’t just offer public service but also a program that allows me to take action and resolve issues,” Sumangil said. Resibo: Walang Lusot Ang May

Atraso aims to serve as a credible and reliable tool to hear grievances and complaints, expose wrongdoings, and take a proactive stance by providing concrete actions that will give a hopeful resolution to every case featured.

Each episode tackles pressing complaints encountered by Filipinos across the country and even overseas. It also exposes and investigates various crimes that impact the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

Atraso, the first Public Affairs program to be telecast both on radio and television as well as on livestreaming platforms, seasoned journalist Emil Sumangil spoke passionately about how being chosen as the host of the groundbreaking show was nothing short of a dream come true. parties, and hearing their sides, facilitating dialogues, and helping

As the resident “Action Man,” GMA Integrated News’ veteran reporter and “Mr. Exclusive” Emil Sumangil brings grit and depth as the host of the program. He is expected to deliver exclusive crime stories on top of the complaints and grievances from the public as he finds the truth behind each story: pursuing investigations, joining operations, facing concerned parties, and hearing their sides, facilitating dialogues, and helping resolve concerns, which ultimately aim to secure resolutions that will bring light and a sense of fulfillment to the public.

On its pilot telecast, Resibo immediately takes on two pressing cases.

In Taguig City, an estranged couple was fighting for custody of their two-yearold daughter. Jen accused her former live-in partner Jan of physically assaulting her. This led to their separation, prompting Jen to bring their child with her. But Jan took their daughter away from Jen. After almost two months of longing, Jen sought help from RESIBO which

coordinated with Taguig City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWD) to act on the complaint. Will Jen reunite with her daughter in the end? Meanwhile, a suspect in the killing of a barangay official in Sto. Tomas, Batangas has been in hiding for almost a decade. The suspect, known as Giovanni Mundin is considered as one of the Most Wanted fugitives in Region IV-4. Recently, the Philippine National Police Maritime GroupNational Capital Region uncovered his whereabouts and they did not waste time trapping the suspect.

Resibo: Walang Lusot Ang May Atraso premieres this Sunday, May 7, at 5:00 p.m. on GMA and GTV, with simulcast on DZBB, Super Radyo in Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Palawan, General Santos, and Kalibo as well as livestreaming on GMA Public Affairs YouTube channel and social media accounts.

For complaints and grievances, the public may reach Resibo through Hotline Number: 0917-7RESIBO, Email: Resibo@ gmanetwork.com, Facebook: ResiboWalangLusotAngMayAtraso or visit GMA Action

Center, Kapuso Center Building, GMA Network Drive, Diliman Quezon City.

Seasoned broadcast journalist Emil Sumangil

…are talking about

Kathryn Bernardo

AMID all the controversy surrounding Philippine love teams and artists’ growth, Filipino netizens on Twitter are admiring Kathryn for her classy and professional way of saying that she needs growth as an artist. Outside her love team with real-life partner, Daniel Padilla, Kathryn is her own person who has proven much in the entertainment industry. Her upcoming movie is a testament as to how much she grew after she stood up for herself by acknowledging what she needs in her craft.

Boobay

ENTERTAINERS have a lot on their plates, but as the popular saying goes, “Health is wealth.” During a live interview with Boy Abunda, Boobay was in a daze before being able to continue, explaining that his previous health issues caused him to “hang.” The best thing he could do when it happens is to stay still until he returns to normal. It’s also something we can consider when we’re overwhelmed with life – to just relax until we get back on our feet.

…are not talking about

Liza Soberano

BESIDES going on international podcasts to share her story as a child actor and the benefits it brought her, Liza has been reportedly cast in Hollywood films. Yet the fervent applause Liza received before quieted down as eager eyes focused on her next move that will show just how much she has grown as an individual artist. In the meantime, others just hope she learned to not bite the hand that feeds.

Tito Sotto

RUMORS about noontime show Eat

Bulaga have been circulating, each sounding more ridiculous than the last. Sotto hopes that after his clarifications about the show will put the gossip to rest, with everybody moving forward as planned. Fans are still awaiting what may come next for their wellloved noontime show, but as Sotto said, “We’ll cross the bridge when we get there.”

A smartphone tailormade for your passion

SAMSUNG Mobile, being a leading global innovator, has a keen understanding of its users’ needs and strives to deliver accordingly. In line with this philosophy, Samsung launched its latest flagship Galaxy S23 smartphone lineup on February 1, at the highly anticipated Galaxy Unpacked event of 2023.

The Samsung S23 series features three models - S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra, loaded with premium features. Is it worth upgrading to this latest offering? Let’s explore its capabilities. The S23 Ultra stands out with its boxy aesthetic, matte glass back, and weight of 233g, conveying

SINCE 2006, going back to Ateneo de Manila’s campus for a visit meant looking for Alma Fermano, popularly known as Ate Alma, and having a selfie with her. One of the most memorable ones was in 2012 when I attended a cousin’s wedding and had a reunion dinner with block mates in Katipunan, Quezon City.

With very limited before the get-together, I squeezed in a quick surprise visit to Ate Alma while wearing my semi-formal dress. I was in a rush and clumsily tripped. She was that special. Even with a bleeding knee, I knew I had to find her like a niece longing for a hug from her favorite aunt.

During those times, I had no idea how special the campus’ go-to photocopy lady was to a lot of other students. I just knew that Ate Alma was special to me. She was more than just a service provider – she was a friend, a cheerleader, a therapist, an Ate, and a Nanay rolled into one.

durability and luxury. The S23 Ultra features Gorilla Glass Victus 2, providing improved durability, and can withstand drops onto concrete and asphalt. The S23 and S23 Plus have curved sides and are comfortable to hold, making them ideal for those with smaller hands. All three models are available in Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender. The S23 series is powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Gen2 for Galaxy, which offers a clock speed of up to 3.36 GHz, providing a fast and seamless user experience.

The Samsung S23 Ultra features a magnificent 6.8-inch 120Hz adaptive screen, boasting a resolution of 3,088 x 1,440 pixels at 500ppi. This display makes it a top-notch entertainment powerhouse and an unparalleled business tool. The screen elevates the user’s experience of watching shows, browsing, using social media, and gaming. With the S23 Ultra’s advanced camera system, powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and 5000 mAh battery, it is possible to take work calls and meetings anywhere. The S23 base model and S23 Plus are also excellent workhorses, with adaptive

All for Ate Alma

and accommodating. Ga or Pangga, short for Hiligaynon term of endearment palangga which means love, became an instant nickname for many of us who know Ate Alma.

Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone Galaxy S23 Ultra her house was damaged by the flood in 2020.

Collectively, current Ateneo students, alumni, and even those who did not know her gave Ate Alma the help she needed and deserved during the time of crisis.

The call to help her initiated by an Atenean went viral. Ate Alma received a sudden influx of monetary help, beyond what she needed to rebuild her home. With the gift of advanced technology and without asking for help, acts of kindness from people whose lives she has touched over the years easily found their way back to her.

refresh rates of 120Hz and resolutions of 425ppi and 393ppi, respectively.

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Focusing on what the consumers need makes a big difference. Make the Smart choice and upgrade to the Samsung S23 series through the Smart Postpaid website or visit a Smart Store near you.

Nickie Wang

out the short film on GCash’s Youtube channel. For random thoughts, e-mail the author at randomrepublika@gmail.com

Alma Fermano or the endearing Ate Alma to students at the Ateneo de Manila University

Kumusta ka Ga?” was her usual greeting whenever I dropped by her spot when I was still a student. It was reminiscent of how my mom would genuinely ask how my day went whenever I got home from school.

More often than not, my reply would be unfiltered, “Stressed po, Ate. (Insert rant about deadlines).” And she would respond with a comforting smile and words of encouragement. It has always puzzled me how she never runs out of the happy vibe when many would probably find her photocopying job as routinary or for lack of a better term, boring.

While there are so many reasons to get cranky or agitated in her line of work, she finds enough reasons to be consistently warm, kind,

THE surface of our tiny, blue dot in the vast universe is made up of about 70 percent water. Water is crucial for the sustenance of all living things on the planet, most obvious perhaps with that of marine life. While we humans are naturally surfacedwellers, modern day heroes scout the life aquatic by virtue of a profound purpose: the care and protection of our common home.

In celebration of Earth Day, employees of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) in different parts of the country dedicated their time and the best of their abilities in making a better and cleaner Earth for all humans and animals.

THE BALILI RIVER CLEAN-UP

In northern Luzon, AboitizPower renewable energy subsidiary Hedcor, Inc. acted on their environmental protection goals with the collection of almost 246 kilograms of waste in its Balili River Clean-up Drive last March 24, a joint project with the Municipality of La Trinidad, Benguet.

The Balili River became infamous when it was pronounced biologically dead in 2004 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). According to accounts of local old-timers, the river used to be so pristine that fishes thrived in it abundantly. An indigenous people’s mandatory representative from Barangay Balili even recalls washing her white school uniform in the river in the 1960s.

“The river used to be clean and unpolluted,” a local shared. The state of the river gradually deteriorated when establishments and settlers in La Trinidad grew exponentially.

This inspired the personnel of Hedcor to support the Balili River Clean-up.

“At Hedcor, we are taking concrete steps to further environmental sustainability for future generations,” said Hedcor official Jay Kabamalan. “Hedcor recognizes that the health of the environment is vital to the well-being of local communities. As such, Hedcor aims to create a culture of environmental stewardship and encourage people to take responsibility for their surroundings.”

Hedcor’s efforts were conducted in partnership with the local Municipal Environment Natural Resources Office (MENRO) and the Benguet State University (BSU). Hedcor also supports Barangay Balili’s local ordinance mandating its officials and residents to conduct a clean-up drive every first Saturday of the month. To date, Hedcor has collected over two million kilograms of waste, all of which were properly disposed.

SCUBASUREROS

The “scubasureros” of AboitizPower subsidiary Therma Visayas, Inc. (TVI) conducted a coastal clean-up activity at the Bato Marine Sanctuary in Brgy. Bato, Toledo City in Cebu. The idea behind this environmental project came from TVI employees who are also scuba diving enthusiasts.

“Scubasurero is a portmanteau combining ‘scuba diving’ and ‘basurero’ or garbage collector,” explained Therma South, Inc. (TSI)

For years, she witnessed her panggas’ academic pains and wins. She was there when we were still navigating our way through classes, getting lost and asking for directions as freshmen. And when the time came in our senior year, she was also there to ask for copies of our graduation photos to add to her growing collection. I remember not being very happy about the way I looked in my photo but there was Ate Alma whose face lit up when she finally got her requested copy from me with my handwritten “dedication” at the back of the print. Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” That is so true and Ate Alma remains a living proof. I may not recall her pickme-uppers almost two decades ago but I will never forget her warm and nurturing presence.

In one of my conversations with Ate Alma, she expressed a hint of sadness as graduation time drew near and my batchmates and I were leaving campus soon. “Kailan na kaya tayo magkikita ulit?,” she wondered. It was then that I secretly vowed to keep in touch and visit her any chance I would get. My heart was overjoyed when I found out during the height of the pandemic that others also cared for Ate Alma. In fact, they cared for her a lot. Her kindness came full circle when typhoon Ulysses struck her home and

BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE

This was perfectly captured by award-winning director Antoinette Jadaone’s short film produced by mobile wallet and payment platform GCash. Tears were shed and shared during the grand premiere of #GCashStories last Friday with both guests and executives savoring the inspiring story of Ate Alma.

It was a joy to see Ate Alma get the spotlight she deserves and even celebrities lined up for a photo op with her. As people flocked onstage, I had to take off my mask for a very brief moment just so I could get her attention. She was showered with so much love. The same kind she freely gave away over the years.

Witnessing how small acts of kindness add up over time inspires me so much.

Tears still well up in my eyes whenever I re-watch “Alma.” I just cannot help but savor the blessing of being her pangga In case you missed it, check

AboitizPower eco-warriors at work

In total, 280 kilograms of garbage were collected which is composed of 167 kg of residual waste and 113 kg of biodegradable waste. NURSING ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES BACK TO HEALTH

Another AboitizPower subsidiary, Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (Davao Light), along with Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and in partnership with the DENR Region XI, continues to support the conservation efforts for sea turtles at the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park which is a pawikan rescue center facility.

Out of the seven sea turtle species in the world, three species of pawikan—the olive ridley, the green sea turtle, and the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle—are at the park. The park is a known nesting ground for the hawksbill turtle and has released over 7,000 hatchlings since 2015.

There are currently seven rescued pawikans under the care of the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park. The latest addition is a female hawksbill sea turtle (scientific name Eretmochelys imbricata) that was turned over to the eight-hectare ecological preserve and biodiversity conservation site at Sitio Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya, Davao City. The turtle was found caught weakly floating in a fish trap by fisherfolk led by Kagawad Ronel P. Simo in the sea near Purok Libra, Sitio Tambangan, Lasang, Davao City.

In coordination with the DENR Region XI, the endangered reptiles are provided with veterinary care and are being observed at the facility until they are fully recovered and can be released back into the wild.

“Pawikans are known to return faithfully to the same beach where they were born or previously nested,” said Davao Light President and Chief Operating Officer Rodger S. Velasco,. “With the sea turtles coming back and laying eggs through the years, the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park has successfully lived up to its objective of protecting and preserving the area and its flora and fauna, despite daily environmental threats such as pollution and soil erosion.”

The pawikan protection efforts, along with coastal clean-up and tree planting activities conducted frequently at the park, are aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) [14], which aims to conserve life below water.

is brought to the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park to be nursed

to health.

the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park see a rare and diverse ecosystem which includes a mangrove forest, marine turtle habitat and nesting area, and a fish sanctuary. Reputation and Stakeholder Management Manager Lou Jason Deligencia. “We conducted this activity as part of our personal advocacy to help protect marine life.”

The Bato Marine Sanctuary is a marine-protected area in the host community of TVI, and is home to various fish species, corals and marine creatures. With the increasing upsurge of marine pollution due to plastic and other nonbiodegradable waste, the TVI scuba divers saw the need to support the Bato Marine Sanctuary and preserve the area’s marine life through the reduction of solid waste on the sanctuary’s sea bed.

The Scubasurero project is being managed in close coordination with the DENR - Tanon Strait Protected

Seascape (TSPS), the Toledo City local government through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), as well as the Toledo City Agriculture Office, Bantay Dagat, and the Philippine Coast Guard.

The TSPS is the biggest National Integrated Protected Areas System - Marine Protected Area (NIPAS-MPA) in the Philippines covering 534,589 hectares.

“Scuba divers and free divers from the local community, local fisherfolk and members of the Philippine Coast Guard continue to support us in this endeavor,” said TVI Vice President and Facility Head Noel Cabahug, who also partook in the activity being a scuba diving enthusiast himself.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), sea turtles help maintain the health of seagrass beds and coral reefs. The critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles live on coral reefs, eating the overgrown sponges that suffocate slow-growing corals, resulting in a healthy reef and also helping to prevent the overpopulation of jellyfishes in the ocean.

The care and protection of the planet, our common home, is a joint human responsibility. Working together and taking responsibility is vital in ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for ourselves, the generations to come, and the animal kingdom.

“This year’s Earth Day theme, ‘Investing in our future,’ highlights the importance of dedicating our time, resources, and energy to the care of our environment,” said AboitizPower President and CEO Emmanuel Rubio. “We are happy that we are afforded with opportunities to help and contribute in leaving a positive impact to its protection.”

AboitizPower employees and community members from La Trinidad, Benguet team up for the Balili River Clean-up.

(Left and middle) Scubasureros carefully remove garbage and other debris from corals. (Right) On land, volunteers from TVI, TSI, and the local community work together to collect trash.

(Left) A female hawksbill sea turtle rescued by local fisherfolks

back

(Right) Visitors to

Ate Alma in a photo with the author during their quick reunion in 2012