Manila Standard - 2023 May 8 - Monday

SCRAP ETRAVEL REQUIREMENTS, SAYS LAWMAKER

DEGAMO ATTACK DEATH TOLL CLIMBS TO TEN

MIF now a priority admin bill

Senate commits to pass the measure before June sine die break

By Rio N. Araja

PRESIDENT Ferdinand

Marcos

Jr. has declared the Maharlika Investment Fund bill as one of 11 priority administration measures, Speaker Martin Romualdez said on Sunday.

This was also confirmed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri who said the Maharlika Fund as well as measures pushing for minimum wage hike top the Senate agenda as Congress session resumes today (Monday).

Romualdez said the 11 measures are now part of the bills adopted by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), bringing to 42 the total number of priority measures.

“President Marcos approved eleven bills designed to address key issues on public health, job creation, and further stimulate economic growth as part of his administration’s priority legislation. These measures will be the focus of our legislative efforts when Congress resumes session this Monday,” he said.

Aside from the Maharlika Fund, other priority measures include amending the Armed Forces of the Philippines Fixed Term bill; Local Government Unit Income Classification; amendment to the Universal Health Care Act, and the Bureau of Immigration Modernization measure, among others.

Imee wants probe on AI job impact

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Mr. Marcos off to Indonesia tomorrow for 3-day ASEAN Summit

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will go to Indonesia for the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on Tuesday, May 9.

Retired generals: Consider welfare of all affected by pension reforms

By Charles Dantes and Julito Rada

RETIRED military and police generals said the welfare of all stakeholders who will be affected by the proposed reform in the pension of retired military and uniformed personnel or MUP must be considered as high-level consultations have been set today.

“I’m sure all factors and the welfare of all concerned sectors will be duly considered,” said Ret. Gen. Alexander Yano, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in an interview with ABS-CBN.

“There will be a discussion on this. I don’t want to preempt the dialog. I

Coast Guard: Capsized dredger sinks, spills oil off Bataan waters

By Charles Dantes

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Sunday that the capsized MV Hong Hai 189 has sunk in waters off Mariveles, Bataan, and released

about 30 to 50 liters of oil and other mixed substances.

The MV Hong Hai, a Sierra Leoneregistered dredger, sank 400 yards away from Sisiman Lighthouse in

The President has just completed his working visit to the United States and attended the coronation of King Charles III in London. He will be in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia from May 9 to 11 for the ASEAN summit.

ALARMED over the possible loss of millions of jobs in the Philippines, Senator Imee Marcos sought a Senate inquiry into the uses of artificial intelligence (AI) and its possible displacement of workers in the country’s services and manufacturing sectors. Marcos, chairperson of the Senate committee on social justice, welfare, and rural development, expressed concern about the imminent loss of jobs, particularly in business process outsourcing (BPO)

Hollywood writers’ strike fueled by claim AI can do jobs

THE Hollywood writers’ strike broke out this week over pay, but the refusal of studios like Netflix and Disney to rule out artificial intelligence replacing human scribes in the future has only fueled anger and fear on the picket lines.

With their rapidly advancing ability to eerily mimic human conversation, AI programs like ChatGPT have spooked many industries recently. The White House this week summoned Big Tech to discuss the potential risks.

As part of the weeks-long talks with studios and streamers that collapsed Monday, the Writers Guild of America asked for binding agreements to regulate the use of AI.

Diesel leads oil price rollback at P2.90 per liter

By Alena Mae S.

Flores

THE country’s oil firms will implement a price rollback of as much as P2.90 per liter with diesel leading the price cut effective 6 a.m. Tuesday to

reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.

The Department of Energy confirmed the price rollback across all oil products. It estimated the rollback at P2.70

to P2.90 per liter for diesel, P2.30 to P2.55 per liter for kerosene and P2.20 to P2.40 for gasoline.

“We expect a rollback for all products,” DOE director for Oil Industry

By Riera U. Mallari

PHNOM PENH—Team Philippines rode a roller-coaster of emotions on Sunday, celebrating the highs of a six-gold rush triggered again by the

Solon: Scrap eTravel requirement

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

ALAWMAKER Sunday urged the government to drop its eTravel registration requirement for incoming international travelers, now that the World Health Organization (WHO) no longer considers COVID-19 a global public health emergency.

Camarines Sur Rep. Lray Villafuerte said scrapping the requirement would further entice tourists and prospective investors to come to the Philippines as the country transitions fully to the postpandemic “new normal.”

“Junking the tedious, time-consuming eTravel registration process would further convince the international investor community that the domestic economy has completely reopened for

Mr. Marcos...

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Foreign Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Angelito Nayan said President Marcos will discuss long-term food and energy security, economic recovery, transnational crimes, and the need to upgrade technical and vocational education and training during the summit.

Nayan said Marcos would also raise the issues regarding the adoption of climate and disaster resilient technologies, transitioning to renewable and alternative energy technologies, and the protection of migrant workers.

President Marcos is also expected to assert the importance of demonstrating ASEAN’s centrality in the region amid geopolitical issues, the DFA official said.

DFA spokesperson Ambassador Ma.

Terersita Daza said the opening ceremony of the 42nd ASEAN Summit will be held in the morning of May 10.

Talks with other leaders from both ASEAN and non-ASEAN guest countries are possible at the sidelines of the summit.

This will be the President’s 12th trip in his first year and the second time he will visit Indonesia.

During the last ASEAN summit, the President pushed for the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea based on international law, which he said should be an example of how states manage their differences.

Since then, aggressive Chinese intrusions into the West Philippine Sea—and a stronger US presence in the region—have raised tensions in the South China Sea.

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Under the proposals, nothing written by AI can be considered “literary” or “source” material -- industry terms that decide who gets royalties -- and scripts written by WGA members cannot “be used to train AI.”

But according to the WGA, studios “rejected our proposal,” and countered with an offer merely to meet once a year to “discuss advancements in technology.”

“It’s nice for them to offer to have a meeting about how they’re exploiting it against us!” joked WGA negotiating committee member Eric Heisserer, who wrote Netflix hit film “Bird Box.”

“Art cannot be created by a machine. You lose the heart and soul of the story... I mean, the first word is ‘artificial,’” he told AFP on the picket line outside the streaming giant’s Hollywood HQ Friday.

While writers already know this, the danger is that “we have to watch tech companies destroy the business in an attempt to find out for themselves,” he said.

While few television and film writers who spoke to AFP on the picket lines believe their work could be done by computers, the apparent conviction of studios and streamers that it can has been an extra slap in the face.

They fear that belt-tightening executives in Hollywood, where Silicon Valley companies have upended many traditional practices such as long-term contracts for writers, may seek to cut costs further by getting computers to write their next hit shows.

Comments by top Hollywood executives at this week’s Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills will have done nothing to quell writers’ concerns.

“In the next three years, you’re going to see a movie that was written by AI made... a good one,” said movie producer Todd Lieberman. AFP

business and entice more international tourists to come see the Philippines,” Villafuerte said.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Sunday welcomed the WHO decision to lift its COVID-19 global health emergency declaration.

“The decision shows that countries around the globe, including the Philippines, have succeeded through collaborative effort in fighting the highly

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“It will be on a best-effort basis. We will try to pass the remaining eight bills from the original priority list. If we could do that, we would have approved all the urgent measures identified by President Marcos in less than a year,” he said.

A total of 31 proposed laws had

Retired...

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am confident that our superiors will ensure that existing rights will be protected.” said Ret. Gen Wilben Mayor, former spokesperson of the Philippine National Police and currently presidential assistant at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.

AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar declined to give a comment, saying they will issue a statement after the meeting.

“We will be ready for the consultation,” Aguilar said.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said there is a need for a separate retirement and pension fund for MUP, saying the current pension system was a “big drain to the national budget.”

Diokno said the government will likely spend P848.39 billion annually for the next 20 years to finance the current pension system.

He said the accumulating pension liabilities will likely increase public debt by as much as 25 percent by 2030.

The Bureau of the Treasury estimates

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obstacle course racers, and the lows of back-to-back defeats in the 3x3 basketball finals of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here.

For the second straight day, OCR remained perfect for the Filipinos as the men’s and women’s relay teams proved too much for the opposition, taking the last two golds to complete a four-event sweep, while further boosting their status as the best in the region.

A certified crowd drawer at the Chroy Chavrang Convention Center Car Park, the men’s quartet of Ahgie Radan, Elias Tabac, Mervin Guarte, and Jay-ar de Castro hurdled all the obstacles in a new global standard of 24.47 seconds to beat Malaysia’s Ghalib Mohamad Azimi, Mohd Redha Rozlan, Nuur Hafis Said Alwi and Yoong Wei Theng, who clocked 25.15.

Earlier, Sandi Menchi Abahan, Mecca Cortizano, Milky Mae Tejares and Maritess Nocyao reigned supreme in the women’s category with a world mark of 33.73 at the expense of Indonesia’s Anggun Yolanda, Ayu Pupita,

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Mariveles at around 5:21 a.m. on Saturday, after colliding with the MT Petite Soeur, a a Marshall Island-flagged chemical and oil product tanker in the waters off Corregidor Island.

PCG Station Bataan and the Marine Environmental Protection Unit helped install oil spill booms and absorbent bags.

The PCG reported the collision of the two vessels on April 29. Three people died, two were still missing, while 15 others were rescued.

infectious novel coronavirus and its variants, though they remain a threat to public health,” he said.

He reminded the public “to wear a face mask when needed, wash your hands, isolate when sick, observe physical distancing, and get vaccinated” to avoid infection from COVID-19.

He urged the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to prescribe minimum health protocols consistent with the WHO decision.

“I think our people have learned to live with the virus. Though there is nomask mandate, many of them continue to wear masks and observe physical distancing. They are aware of the resid-

been originally listed by the President in his first State of the Nation Address in July last year and later adopted by the LEDAC.

Zubiri, for his part, said the Senate is committed to pursue the passage of the Maharlika Fund bill despite the initial lukewarm response of the Upper Chamber to the measure.

“We hope to end the debates on the MIF bill by the end of the month. Hopefully, we can ratify (the bill) by the first

that the level of total unfunded pension liabilities is P9.6 trillion. This is around half of GDP in 2022.

“We can no longer afford to keep this around,” said Diokno.

“They (soldiers) don’t have any contributions, and they enjoy large payouts. I think this really has to be discussed openly,” he said.

Diokno said a retired general would receive a monthly pension of P131,000, tax-free.

“We are determined to come up with a reasonable proposal in consultation with the concerned agencies and stakeholders. (Defense) Secretary (Carlito) Galvez, (Interior) Secretary (Benhur) Abalos, representatives from the Office of the President, the Department of Budget and Management, and I will meet to finetune the proposal and address the current issues of all involved,” he said in a briefing late Friday afternoon.

“Open dialog will be key to coming up with a reasonable solution to this monumental problem and providing a level of predictability for current and future MUP pensioners,” Diokno added.

Mudji Mulyani and Rahmayuna Fadillah (35.06).

The other gold medals were delivered by reigning duathlon queen Kim Mangrobang, the women’s soft tennis squad of Bien Zoleta-Mañalac and Princess Catindig, jiu jitsu fighter Marc Lim, who finally triumphed in his third SEA Games, and karateka Jamie Lim, who bounced back from her bronze-medal finish in Vietnam last year.

Mangrobang kept her crown in the 5k run, 20km bike and 2.5k run finale at the Kep Beach Resort; ZoletaMañalac and Catindig completed a championship sweep capped by a 5-2 victory over Chatmanee and Napawee Jankiaw of Thailand in the women’s doubles finals; Marc Lim beat Vietnam’s Dang Dinh Tung for the men’s ne-waza nogi 69kg gold; and Jamie

Lim returned to her rightful place on top of the SEA Games karate world by ruling the women’s -61kg women’s individual kumite at the Chroy Changvar Center Hall A.

Backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippines fell to fourth place with 13 golds, but

The MV Hong Hai 189 came from Botolan, Zambales and had 20 crew members on board. The MT Petite Soeur left the port of Mariveles, Bataan before the incident, the PCG said.

Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said they are mapping out plans to help local government units affected by the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro last February.

DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. has recommended to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that fishing areas be shared after meeting with local leaders and affected fishermen in the area.

ual threat and they are not letting their guard down,” he said.

He said the lifting of the global health emergency should pave the way for the country to sustain economic growth.

“It should translate to increased mobility, more economic activities and therefore additional job and income opportunities for our workers and their families,” he added.

Nine new COVID-19 deaths were recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) in its published report issued Saturday.

With the new fatalities, the total number of deaths was 66,453.

The report also showed 735 new recoveries, which brought to 4,024,220 the total number of those who recovered from the coronavirus infection.

week of June, before we go on sine die break,” he said in a radio interview.

Zubiri said the Senate’s final version of the bill will have more safeguards.

“We can assure the public that we have sufficient safeguards to ensure that the MIF would not be used for corruption, personal gain, nor for money laundering. It will be managed by professionals, not by political appointees. The fund would also be subjected to audit by top financial institutions,” he said.

MUP covers personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Public Safety College, the Bureau of Corrections, and the Philippine National Police.

Earlier, Diokno said the pension reform includes a new policy that will cover all active personnel and new entrants, meaning mandatory contributions begin with those currently or about to enter service.

The reform seeks the removal of automatic indexation of pension to the salary of active personnel of similar ranks. This means pensions will no longer increase according to the salary increases of active personnel.

Also, military uniformed personnel will receive their pensions at the age of 57. The current policy allows them to receive their pensions at 56, the mandatory retirement age.

The percentage of the mandatory contribution will be staggered over a uniformed personnel’s years of service – from 5 percent in their first three years, to eventually 9 percent of their salary

was just a gold shy of third-running Indonesia and two behind secondplaced Thailand.

Host Cambodia continued to lead the way with 28 gold, 21 silver and 23 bronze medals, mainly through its domination of indigenous sports like kun-bokator, an ancient form of martial art; kun khmer; and vovinam.

The Filipinos also had 18 silver medals, two one of them coming from the Gilas Women, which lost to Vietnam in the finals, 16-21, and the men’s squad that succumbed to a Cambodian team backstopped by three naturalized players in Brandon Peterson, Sayeed Pridgett, and Darrin Dorsey.

Karate also contributed four silver medals for the day, courtesy of kumite fighters Matthew Manantan (men’s -67 kg), Ivan Agustin (-84 kg), Remon Misu (-68 kg women) and Ariane Brito (+68kg women).

Cambodia’s bid for a Cinderella finish will be severely tested when the region’s big guns, among them the Filipinos, Thais, Indonesians, and Malaysians, press their bids in several martial arts disciplines and athletics, which get going Monday at the Morodok Techo Stadium.

Degamo attack death toll rises to 10 as another casualty dies

THE death toll in the March 4 massacre that killed Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo went up to 10 after a wounded victim died on Sunday.

The fatality was identified as Fredilino Cafe Jr., an employee of the Negros Oriental Provinical Engineering Office.

He died from his injuries more than two months since Degamo’s private compound in Pamplona town was attacked by heavily armed men.

Since the attack, Cafe had reportedly been “in and out of the hospital,” the Degamo camp said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier vowed justice for Degamo as he urged Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who has been tagged as the “highest mastermind” by the Department of Justice, to return to the country immediately.

Imee...

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and original equipment manufacturing (OEM) companies.

These sectors, she said, have shown a huge potential for job creation despite the pandemic.

“AI is developing faster than most people can comprehend and is threatening to take away jobs and turn employment growth upside down,” the senator warned.

She asked if call center agents and factory workers would soon be treated as dispensable after propping up our economy during the global health crisis.

The BPO industry grew 10 percent to $29.5 billion despite COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021, she said.

Senate Resolution No. 591 noted the alarming prediction that at least 1.1 million jobs in the Philippines will disappear by 2028, based on a study by Oxford Economics and US-based digital technology company Cisco.

Moreover, she said some 50 percent of organizations worldwide are seen adopting AI and automated machines this year, and investments in such technologies are projected to increase in the next three years by 50 percent to 100 percent, according to global consulting and advisory group Deloitte and professional services network KPMG, respectively.

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Management Bureau Rodela Romero said.

This will be the third consecutive week of rollbacks across all petroleum products due to the softening of world oil prices.

Unioil Petroleum Philippines said consumers can expect fuel prices to go down next week effective May 9. It said diesel should go down by P2.50 to P2.70 per liter while gasoline should go down by P1.80 to P2 per liter.

“These movements are attributed to the cut in the Official Selling Price of Arab Light Crude Oil to Asia to compete with India’s and China’s eagerness to snap up cheap Russian Crude Oil and the heightened concern about Chinese recovery with unexpected slowdown in manufacturing activity,” Romero said. Romero said oil prices also declined on reports of another possible US interest hike and a looming recession.

The West Texas Intermediate fell below $70 per barrel last week amid concerns of economic slowdown from the US and China.

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

The DILG chief said affected municipalities of San Teodoro and Baco may do their fishing in the municipal waters of Paluan and Abra De Ilog in Occidental Mindoro. Tayabas Bay and Mindoro Strait are also proposed as fishing areas for the two affected municipalities.

On the other hand, those in Calapan City, Naujan, and Pola will also be allowed to go fishing in the municipal waters of Boac, Gasan in Marinduque, as well as Tayabas Bay.

Municipalities of Pinamalayan, Gloria, and Bansud can fish in the municipal waters of Concepcion in Romblon and portions of Mindoro Strait.

The last cluster, which includes fishermen of Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao, can go fishing in Tablas Strait and the municipal waters of San Jose and Magsaysay in Occidental Mindoro.

Abalos said this sharing could go on until fish samples in the affected areas are okay.

Aside from identifying alternative fishing grounds, the DILG will also review policies on the management of municipal waters.

Recto seeks Senate OK of bill extending estate tax amnesty

By Rio N. Araja

BATANGAS Rep. Ralph Recto on Sunday appealed to his former colleagues in the Senate to pass the bill extending the estate tax amnesty for two more years.

Recto express confidence that the Senators could ratify the measure without waiting for President Marcos Jr. to certify it as urgent.

When the legislature resumes today, the lawmakers have only 12 session days before they adjourn by the end of the month.

Under the estate tax amnesty law, the period to avail of the benefits expires on June 14, “which means the clock is ticking,” Recto said.

He expressed hope for an extension “because in legislation, a month is an eternity. Kaya kayang-kaya ipasa.”

Although tax bills originate from the House of Representatives, the Senate, in anticipation of House action, can start tackling the bill, so that when the House bill arrives, the Senate version would be ready for floor debates, he noted.

The bill resetting the deadline of the estate tax amnesty to June 14, 2025 has hurdled the House ways and means committee.

This paves the way for plenary debates, “whose outcome—its passage— is a certainty,” Recto said.

As a senator, Recto was among the authors of Republic Act 11213 which erased the penalties and significantly cut the rates for estate tax obligations.

The period to avail of the one-time

tax relief coincided with the pandemic, prompting Congress to pass what would become RA 11569 which extended the amnesty period by two years, to June 14.

By extending the window of opportunity again by two more years, “families will save billions while government will earn billions,” Recto stressed

“Halimbawa, ‘yung lumang batas aabot ng 20 percent ang tax. At present, six percent na lang. ‘Yung lumang batas, kuripot sa exemptions. Ngayon, kung ang family home ay P10 million, deducted ‘yan sa bubuwisan, at may dagdag na P5 million standard deduction. Kung walang extension, hindi ito mapapakinabangan ng mga namatayan,” he said.

The extension is a “lifeline to a government scrounging for revenues and an act of kindness” to seniors whose vulnerability during the 30 months the pandemic raged prevented them from availing of the amnesty.

“Putting a deceased loved one’s properties in order was also a casualty of COVID,” Recto said.

He hailed the House bill as an improved version of the estate tax amnesty law because it covers deaths which occurred on or before Dec. 31, 2021, amending the cut off period of Dec. 31, 2017 in RA 11213.

BIR urged to rethink plan on 1% tax on online service providers

THE United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) is calling on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to reconsider its plan of imposing a creditable withholding tax of one percent on onehalf of the gross remittances of online platform providers to their partner sellers or merchants.

UFCC president Rodolfo Javellana, Jr. said the proposed policy by the BIR “is a heavy blow to the ordinary Filipino people who will suffer the effects of the new tax.”.

“Our economy has not yet recovered fully from the pandemic that brought us low. Our countrymen continue to suffer with the successive increases in prices of commodities, gasoline, electricity, and others,” Javellana said.

“At a time when the country has yet to fully recover from the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, introducing new taxes that will ultimately hurt the poor is the last thing the country needs right now,” he stressed.

Group seeks probe on German contractor blamed for LTO woes

A PUBLIC transport group on Sunday urged Congress and the Senate to investigate German contractor Dermalog allegedly involved in controversies that repeatedly disrupted operations of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), notably delays in the issuance of driver’s licenses and renewals of vehicle registration.

Meanwhile, a highly placed source at the LTO said their chief, Jose Art Tugade was already looking into the issue, adding that “definitely there would be sanctions against Dermalog, including the possible scrapping of the Dermalog contract.”

The National Public Transport Coalition (NPTC) charged that after 14 extensions and two-and-half years delay, Dermalog has yet to deliver in full the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) despite substantial payments al-

ready made by the LTO, amounting to 80 percent of the P3.4-billion contract.

NPTC president Ariel Lim claimed that Dermalog’s non-compliance with its contract has resulted in delays in the processing of driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registrations, as well as LTO other services.

Lim asserted that the irregularities “breed more corruption and opens the door for the seamless registration of colorum public transport and even carnapped vehicles.”

“Actually, we have already requested the Senate and the House of Representatives to look into the failure of Dermalog to deliver the complete system because it is the cause of the recurring glitches in the LTO system. The Dermalog’s LTMS is a complete failure, and was so disadvantageous to the government,” Lim said. Rio N. Araja

HPG cited as ‘guardians of the highways’

By Charles Dantes

THE Highway Patrol Group (HPG), which turned 68 last Friday, has been cited as “guardians of the highways” for maintaining peace and order on the roads across the country.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. made the citation in remarks highlight the HPG’s celebration of its 68th founding anniversary on May 5 in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Acorda, together with HPG chief Brig. Gen. Raul Bargamento commended the officials and personnel of the unit for their “hard work and commitment to keeping the roads safe and ensuring security of the motorists nationwide.

“The people are still suffering, the government should not add to their burdens,” he added.

UFCC was concerned that the plan to have the new one percent withholding tax will be the beginning of more taxes to be imposed upon the already suffering public.

It has already been reported that the Department of Finance (DOF) plans to introduce new and higher taxes in 2024.

“We appeal to President Marcos to be on the side of the ordinary Filipinos in our crusade against new anti-poor tax measures,” Javellana said.

“We believe you will fulfill your promise that you are not in favor of imposing new taxes that will make the people suffer, and your promise your administration will focus on fighting graft and corruption alongside efficient revenue collection,” he said.

“The public is counting on you on this, Mr. President. Hopefully the DOF and the BIR listen to you,” Javellana noted.

QC gov’t turns Payatas dumpsite into public sports, eco-facility

THE Quezon City government has opened a new bike park and trails at the Payatas controlled disposal facility designed to provide more green and open spaces for its residents.

After the closure of the Payatas dumpsite in 2010, Mayor Joy Belmonte created a technical working group in 2020 tasked with the redevelopment of the area into a public open space for recreational and environmental awareness purposes in line with her 14-point agenda to build a livable, green and sustainable city.

“The facility turned into a bike park is a living proof to the whole world that Quezon City can put up a safe and green community. This former mountain of garbage is now a recreational park,” Belmonte said.

The bike park would have four designated lanes utilizing its asphalt roads and offroad trails consisting of a 900-meter beginner route with three detours to the view deck route with a scenic view of the park.

The other two are the beginner trail and perimeter trail featuring pathways for mountain biking, gravel routes, and mild

steep ascents and descents.

The city has established 167 kilometers of protected national and city bike lanes, 15 bike ramps strategically located in overpasses and underpasses.

As of April, the city has over 200 parks and open spaces.

The goal of the local government is to double the number by 2030, Belmont’s said, The former dump would have a bamboo park, a dog park, an open-air museum and a plant nursery.

The city government is conducting a

geotechnical investigation and slope stability analysis of the facility being undertaken by its Engineering Department, along with Woodfields Consultants Inc., to ensure the safety of the area.

The study revealed that under normal conditions with no extensive rainfall or any seismic activity, the Old Mound and portions of the landfill can be utilized for various activities, such as biking, jogging and Zumba, but with strict limitations on the number of visitors to avoid crowding.

Rio N. Araja

PCAARRD launches 2 coconut projects

By Butch Gunio

THE Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) (PCAARRD) has launched two projects at the Visayas State University under the coconut hybridization program of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan.

Dr. Suzette Lina, said the project dubbed “Development and Evaluation of Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Strategies For Hybrid Coconut Farming in Eastern Visayas” aimed to develop a holistic and effective fertilization program for hybrid coconut production in the country.

On the other hand, Dr. Justine Bennette Millado, leader of the project named “Evaluation and Development of Biological Biorational Control Agents” for sustainable management of Asiatic palm weevil (APW) and other pests affecting hybrid coconut in Eastern Visayas”, said the research aims to enhance the management of coconut pests using natural control agents.

Millado said the project was expected to monitor the incidence and damage of APW, develop an early warning system for coconut pests, and mass-produce effective and eco-friendly agents to control coconut pests.

The PCAARRD research division of the DOST will monitor the project implementation and financial management.

During the event, the HPG handed out 10 individual awards and six unit awards, as well as recognitions for 23 outstanding personnel.

The HPG personnel were enjoined to avoid complacency and adhere to the importance of keeping vigilant, continuously enhancing skills and knowledge, and always upholding professionalism and integrity.

This year’s celebration had the theme “Ang Inyong Patnubay at Kaagapay Tungo sa Paglunsad ng Payapa at Ligtas na Lansangan”.

The HPG was created during the tenure of the late President Ramon Magsaysay after a tragic car crash 68 years ago caused the deaths of two statesmen close to him.

Acorda also urged the 228,000 members of the PNP to sustain “collaborative efforts in nationbuilding.”

He emphasized the five key priorities of the PNP, which include aggressive and honest law enforcement operations, boosting personnel morale and welfare, enhancing public service, maintaining operational readiness, and intensifying internal cleansing efforts.

Saleslady, partner nabbed for alleged P10-m gems theft

POLICE have arrested in Naic, Cavite a saleslady and her live-in partner for alleged robbery on a jewelry store in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The suspects were identified as Cheril Candidato, 39, and her boyfriend Jeffrel Logronio.

A team from the Manila Police Department raided Candidato’s residence in Naic and retrieved P8.5 million worth of gold jewelry believed stolen from the store where Candidato worked.

The store owner claimed however, that some P2 million worth of gold jewelry were still missing.

The suspects argued that they have not yet touched the loot, saying the store owner might have made a mistake in computation.

Somehow, the police noted alleged inconsistencies in Candidato’s statements Charges of qualified theft were being prepared against the suspects.

MARIAN FESTIVAL. A mother, with a baby in her arms, takes snapshots of the various icons of the Virgin May on display at the archdiocesan shrine of Nuestra Señora Del Perpetuo Socorro for the Marian Festival in Sampaloc, Manila. Danny Pata

MELONS, MELONS, AND MORE MELONS. Many things have been said about melons, but this one by the famous songstress Barbra Streisand probably beats them all; ‘Success to me is having ten honeydew melons and eating only the top half of each slice.’ Manny Palmero

ENTRANCE EXAMS. A group of students wait outside the gate for their turn to take the entrance tests at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila within the so-called Walled City of Intramuros. Norman Cruz

Admin’s housing has support of the urban poor, DHSUD says

THE Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Sunday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program has the support of the urban poor who are also willing to take part in the flagship program.

The Urban Poor Action Committee (UPAC) met with DHSUD key officials, led by Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, for a dialogue on the marginalized sector’s shelter concerns and their consequent recommendations to the 4PH.

Madeline Suarez from UPAC lauded the administration’s flagship program, citing that their proposed People’s Plan would be considered under the PambansangPabahay.

She presented the housing projects between the members of UPAC and the residents of the concerned communities, including the 96,600-square meter Parola, Manila project with 25,000 families; the 49-hectare Baseco Port Area project in Manila with 24,000 beneficiary families; the 10-hectare Camarin DHSUD property in Caloocan City to benefit 6,000 families, and the 17-hectare National Government Center project in Quezon City to benefit 30,000 families.

The government and UPAC also tackled the land dispute in Lupang Arenda.

Acuzar reassured the groups that he would push for the fast-tracking of a special order for a technical working group creation.

Rio N. Araja

PAO says private lawyers can give free legal advice

EVEN private lawyers can provide free legal services to indigent clients under the so-called Lapid Law, according to the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

The PAO maintained that there is no necessity to assign a PAO lawyer to represent the accused and another on behalf of the complainant in the same case since Republic Act 9999 or The Free Legal Assistance Act authored by Senator Lito Lapid, mandates incentives to private lawyers who could provide free legal aid to indigent clients.

PAO cited a Bureau of Internal Revenue regulation signed and approved by Finance

Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Sept. 8, 2022, in compliance with RA 9999 stating guidelines on the incentives a private lawyer offering free legal assistance, can obtain.

The law is clear that the actual free legal assistance would be exclusive of the minimum 60-hour mandatory legal aid services rendered to indigent litigants as required under a Supreme Court decision, it said.

“We are filing a most humble respectful request for issuance of implementing rules and regulations of RA 9999,” PAO chief Persida Acosta told the Manila Standard.

She believes Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo would reconsider their plea and review the conflict-of-interest provision of the newly SC-approved Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability.

“Along with the 2, 500 public lawyers and other PAO personnel, I appeal to the honorable Chief Justice to please heed our call to remove the ‘detrimental’ provision under the new code, wherein two public lawyers would challenge one another in one and the same criminal or civil case,” she said.

Lawyers from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the National Union of Lawyers of the Philippines can also provide free legal assistance to indigent clients, she noted.

The Lapid Law provides incentives for practicing private lawyers who offer free legal assistance of up to 10 percent deduction of their gross income derived from the actual performance of the legal profession, Acosta said.

In April, Acosta, together with the agency senior officials, filed a very respectful request to the High Court seeking a review of Section 21 of the new code allowing two PAO lawyers represent the accused and the complainant in one and the same case.

Rio N. Araja

‘Only Congress can amend state banks’

By Rio N. Araja

ONLY Congress can grant legislative charters to operationalize governmentowned and controlled corporations (GOCCS), amend their charters, or abolish or merge GOCCs, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Sunday said.

The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) was created under Republic Act No. 2081 of 1958 and

Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) was established by RA No. 3844 of 1963. Both have separate legislative mandates. The proposed merger of DBP and LBP necessitates the amendment of their charters by Congress. Only Congress can amend or repeal statutes, Lagman stressed. The projected merger cannot legally be effected by a mere executive order, he added. Legislative enactment, not executive fiat, is mandatorily required to operationalize the proposed merger of DPB and LBP, he said.

Earlier, Senator Risa Hontiveros called for an investigation into the proposed merger of the DBP and LBP.

In a proposed Senate Resolution No. 570, Hontiveros emphasized that the merger “raises concerns on the potential risks and benefits it may bring to the economy, the stability of the financial system, and various stakeholders, including the employees of both institutions.”

On March 28, Finance Secretary

Benjamin Diokno announced that the government was contemplating a merger between the two state-run financing institutions, with LBP as the surviving entity. This would also create the largest banking institution in the country, with more than P4.179 trillion in assets.

If the merger pushes through, according

to Hontiveros, the welfare and livelihood of thousands of employees of both institutions may be at risk. PSR No. 570 also underscored the concerns raised by The Land Bank of the Philippines Employees Association (LBPEA) and DBP Employees’ Union (DBPEU), stating that the LBP and the DBP violated the terms of their Collective Negotiations Agreements by failing to consult with the unions beforehand. “As the two banks merge operations, it is possible that certain jobs will be eliminated or reduced in size. It will negatively affect employee morale and job satisfaction. Changes in leadership, organizational structure, and company culture can create anxiety.

Villanueva says PBBM trips paying off in investments, jobs

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

DUE to reports that American firms will hire at least 75,000 Filipino seafarers in the next 3 to 4 years, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva lauded the efforts of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on finding employment opportunities for Filipinos in the President’s trips abroad.

“The President is indeed the best salesman of the country,” Villanueva said, adding that “we thank him for reaping investments and jobs for our people from his foreign trips.”

President Marcos was also able to yield $ 1.5 billion in investment pledges and 6,700 jobs in the Philippines on his latest trip to the United States.

“This is a welcome development, especially in addressing the unemployment in the country, which is at 4.8% equivalent to 2.47 million, as of February 2023,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva also said that Mr. Marcos’ attendance at the coronation of King Charles

III continues to put the Philippines in the conversation for investments and trade partnerships with other nations.

The government will continue to strengthen the economy and provide employment to the Filipinos.

At the same time, it would still embark on missions to look out into the world for opportunities that could bring stability and prosperity into the people’s lives,” he said.

Pushing for his Senate Bill No. 2035 that will establish the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) plan, the majority leader said the country needs to institutionalize more targeted policies to address the employment struggles of the people.

The measure aims to serve as the country’s long-term employment generation and recovery roadmap. The bill targets to provide the employment policy that is comprehensive, coherent, and future oriented, to be able to address the dynamic changes in the labor market.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named new appointees to several government agencies, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

According to the PCO, the following officials have been appointed effective April 28: Annabelle Ploteña as acting member of the Board of Directors of Southern Philippines Development Authority; Maria Lourdes Saluta as Director III of National Economic and Development Authority Tariff Commission; and Maria Blanca Kim Lokin as undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry

Also appointed were the following;

Eugenio Paguirigan as Director IV of the Department of Transportation’s Office for Transportation Security; Avelino Caraan Jr. as member representing the labor sector in the Department of Labor and Employment’s Technical Education and Skills Development Authority

THE privatization of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other airports would not solve the worsening condition of these facilities, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Sunday.

Instead of pushing for the airports’ privatization as proposed by fellow legislators, Hontiveros suggested that the government should focus on improving management and greater accountability of local airports.

“Privatization is not the correct prescription to solve the worsening problems of service within our airports," Hontiveros said in a news release.

Operations at NAIA and other local airports will never improve even if the private sector runs them unless management systems are reformed, she said.

Hontiveros issued the statement after some colleagues in the Senate brought up the idea of

Palace names new appointees to several key gov’t departments

Board; Shirley Vicoy-Yorong as member representing the labor sector in DOLE’s TESDA Board; Teodoro Gatchalian as undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology; Romela Ratilla as Director IV of DOST; and Ronald Cabute as Director II of Department of Information and Communications Technology’s National Telecommunications Commission.

The PCO further said additional appointments include: Nelson Cañete, Director II of DICT’s NTC; Ma. Victoria Deypalubos as Director II of DICT’s NTC effective April 28; Anthony Alcantara as special envoy on transnational crime under the Office of the President; Michael Wesley Poa as undersecretary of the Department of Education; Sunshine Charry Fajarda as assistant secretary of DepEd; and lastly, Mohammed Hussein Pangandaman as administrator of the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan.

privatizing the airport.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri even suggested allowing a foreign firm to run the problematic airport. But the opposition solon disputed such a claim, adding that allowing international firms to manage the airport does not guarantee better services. Worse, they could bring an additional toll on the traveling public. She said well-maintained airports around the world like Doha’s Hamad International Airport, Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport, Korea’s Incheon International Airport, Paris’ Charles de Gaulle, and Istanbul Airport are all managed by their respective states.

“The majority of the best airports in the world remain state-owned. There are plenty of good practices in airport

operations for us to emulate if the government is indeed serious about fixing our airports,” Hontiveros said.

‘Privatizing NAIA will not solve airport issues’ Solon files bill to hike incentives for DepEd teachers

The senator echoed the earlier call of House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto and other officials for an immediate technical system audit of NAIA operations so the government can proactively identify and address its weaknesses.

Manila International Airport Authority officer-in-charge Bryan Co said in a statement Friday that with the assistance of power distributor Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the electrical audit of the NAIA Terminal 3 has started following an outage on May 1 that disrupted flights and affected about 9,300 passengers. Meralco said the outage was caused either by faulty wiring or short circuit, which resulted in a high amount of power current and fault indicator.

By Rio N. Araja

MAKATI City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. has filed a bill seeking to increase to P3,000 the annual World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit payable to every public school teacher employed by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Under House Bill No. 7840, the benefit would be bumped up from P1,000 to P3,000.

“Our bill merely seeks to augment the value of the WTDIB and make permanent via legislation the grant of the incentive benefit,” he said.

Campos is the House appropriations committee vice chairperson.

He invoked the mandate of the 1987 Constitution for the State “to ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate renumeration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.”

At present, a public school teacher receives only P1,000 every year as his or her WTDIB.

The incentive benefit is currently being paid to them every Oct. 5, which is celebrated annually as World Teachers’ Day to pay tribute to those engaged in the teaching profession.

Public school teachers first enjoyed the WTDIB four years ago when Congress inserted the incentive benefit as an item in the 2019 national budget with an initial funding of P800 million.

This year, the incentive benefit has a funding of P900 million in the 2023 General Appropriations Law.

Congress has provided an aggregate of P4.4 billion in funding for the WTDIB since 2019, according to Campos.

RAINBOW WALKWAY. Pedestrians walk along a ray of colorful lights at a walkway inside a mall in Manila going to the city hall on Sunday where public utility vehicles are waiting. Danny Pata

ROSARY FOR THE FAITHFUL. Parishioners of the archdiocesan shrine of Nuestra Senora Del Perpetuo Socorro in Sampaloc, Manila jostle to get a free rosary at an exhibit where various images of the Virgin Mary are featured as part of the 87 th feast of the shrine on Sunday. Danny Pata

BOAT FESTIVAL. A member of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assists a participant during the first “Parada Sakayan: Boat Float” competition as part of the Sakayan Festival 2023 in Isabela City, Basilan. The competition began at James Walter Strong Boulevard, Barangay Seaside, to Fuego-Fuego Beachfront, Barangay Tabiawan.

Questions on pensions

THE economic managers, particularly our finance secretary, along with the head of the House committee on ways and means, are quite worried about the unsustainability of our military and other uniformed personnel pension system.

And they should.

There was a time when the armed forces had an RSBS which was tasked with managing a fund for the retirement pensions of its members, but mismanagement and corruption caused its demise.

Now the MUP pension system is funded solely by government through the General Appropriations Act, which means it is an expenditure item financed by national government revenues and borrowings.

No contributions from members while in active service now constitute a fund from which the future pensions are sourced.

Both Sec. Diokno and Rep. Joey Salceda, economists of the first caliber, are worried sick that taxpayers cannot contribute enough to continue bearing the brunt of the MUP which will continue to increase tremendously such that it will likely reach one trillion pesos 12 years from now.

In 2021, the MUP pensions reached 160 billion, and for this year, it will cost 213 billion.

The average growth rate per annum of the financial requirement is more than 12 percent, which is why Diokno estimates it will breach the 1 trillion peso mark in the next decade. By any measure of projected growth of the Philippine economy, it would be unsustainable, and some solutions must be made on the question of pensions now, before it is too late.

Ironclad defense agreement

lives when the occasion requires, and his economic managers had to bite the bullet while an obedient Congress passed the same without worrying about future fiscal repercussions.

Salceda filed a bill in 2021 to fix the pension system for MUP as it faces an “imminent existential threat” because of its current unsustainable funding which mostly comes from government borrowings.

Was not Salceda a member of Congress in 2018, after serving three years as Albay governor? Surely the House leadership also relied on this economic whiz at the time.

But, as always in this benighted land, what is done is done. Remedies are now needed before the problem becomes so big it defies acceptable solution. I qualify “solution” because in a democracy, measures need to be “acceptable” and the most difficult part of governance is undoing what has been done, especially when it affects a sector who constitute the “protectors of the State.”

In fact, this is one reason why our people must support Constitutional changes.

The right-sizing and the right-funding of government’s humongous bureaucracy is in great part needed since the 1987 Constitution “permanently” legislated more than it should have.

Isn’t it unfair that officials of “Constitutional bodies” and the judiciary get huge pensions for life even if they served in such positions for a few years only, that being because the incumbent president of the time favored them with an appointment?

One can only hope some solution on the question of pensions can be mutually arrived at by the executive and the legislature, because a Gordian Knot solution could lead to unrest.

Which is why despite the resultant unpopularity, Pres. Emmanuel Macron of France gets my admiration for forging through with increasing the retirement age from 62 to 64 years, as a measure to stem the unsustainability of the pension system of one of the world’s most liberal democracies.

‘IRONCLAD’ is how its leaders describe the commitment of the United States to come to the defense of the Philippines if we are attacked by a third party under the terms of Mutual Defense Treaty we signed back in 1951.

The situation then may have been different in the post-Second War era with the US engaged in a Cold War with its arch-rival, the Soviet Union.

With the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, China has now emerged as a rival superpower fast catching up with the US in building a robust economy and a powerful military.

With tensions in the South China Sea not likely to go away with Beijing claiming practically the whole of the vital sea lane on the basis of a mythical ‘nine-dash line,’ our military alliance with the US serves as a deterrent to aggression that would threaten peace and stability in the region.

But ironclad does not mean the agreement is rigid and inflexible.

In fact, last week (May 3), the two treaty partners issued what’s called the Bilateral Defense Guidelines to update and modernize alliance cooperation to pursue their shared vision of a free and

The guidelines also seek to strengthen the United States and the Philippines’ combined deterrence in an evolving security environment

open Indo-Pacific region.

The guidelines reaffirm an armed attack in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea, on either of their public vessels, aircraft, or armed forces, including their Coast Guards, would invoke mutual defense commitments under Articles IV and V of the MDT.

The treaty partners also recognized the fact that threats may arise in sev-

eral domains, including land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace, and take the form of asymmetric, hybrid, and irregular warfare and gray-zone tactics.

After all, it has been 72 years since the MDT was signed, and modern warfare has assumed various modalities since 1951.

The newly crafted guidelines chart a way forward to build interoperability in both conventional and non-conventional domains.

The guidelines also seek to strengthen the United States and the Philippines’ combined deterrence in an evolving security environment.

Not only do the guidelines reaffirm the continuing relevance of the treaty in addressing both current and emerging threats, they also foster a common understanding of roles, missions, and capabilities within the framework of the alliance to face regional and global security challenges.

The Philippines will benefit from the updated guidelines on mutual defense cooperation as it would allow us to accelerate modernization of our armed forces and attain a credible defense posture amid heightened security challenges in this part of the world.

Deepening US-Philippine alliance

In a lunchtime discussion recently where retired military and businessmen were present, along with some retired legislators and former government officials, the crux of the matter was established as not a question of whether the pensions are deserved or not, but whether our government can raise the funds for it or not.

The private sector SSS is worried sick about its actuarial life, even as current president Rolando Macasaet is trying his best to make life better for members through recent measures as reducing the service fees charged by accredited collecting banks and online payment channels.

The GSIS which Macasaet headed during the last three years of the Duterte administration is in better actuarial shape, but it is not in a position to absorb the MUP, humongous as the financial requirement is.

SSS and GSIS retirees receive an average monthly pension of 4,528 up to 13, 600 pesos each, while the MUP average is 40,049 pesos each. The disparities are so huge.

The MUP includes officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Public Safety College, Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Corrections.

The “wa-is” among us would even comment that PNP (and perhaps BuCor personnel) should no longer receive the largesse after they retire, considering how much hay they made while the sun shone on their service or disservice. An observation which is unfair to the upright members of an institution whose public image has been so long tainted, save perhaps for a few short years under the stewardship of one Ping Lacson.

It is similar to the joke about Bureau of Customs personnel who do not care about their salaries because each Friday is “payday” for hierarchical graft.

The MUP fiscal nightmare ballooned when PRRD increased the salaries of uniformed personnel in 2018, when today’s DOF Sec. Ben Diokno was the DBM secretary, and a member of the economic team then led by Sec. Sonny Dominguez.

But PRRD was so concerned about the plight of uniformed personnel who risk their

EvEryman

By Richard Orsino

AS THE country braces for a long dry spell with the onset of El Niño, the government is considering the possibility of allowing industrial users to import sugar directly for their needs and to address potential shortages in the sugar supply chain.

This is in response to concerns over the impact of El Niño on the country’s agriculture sector, particularly on the sugar industry.

The proposal also seeks an expansion of the list of sugar importers beyond the three “preferred” traders at present.

Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. recently voiced his support for this measure, citing the urgent need to prevent job losses and stop the expected hikes in sugar prices that could burden consumers.

The recent news the retail price of sugar in supermarkets has hit a high of P136 per kilo is already a cause for alarm for many Filipinos.

Macron insisted requiring people to work two years more before qualifying for a pension was needed to keep the system afloat as the population ages, while opponents proposed raising taxes on the wealthy or employers instead, and said the change threatened hard-won social safety nets.

In France, labor unions are strong unlike in the Philippines where the prospect of losing jobs in a weak economy (our economic managers insist otherwise) has mellowed the labor unions into meek submission.

That of course is another long story, in our country where income inequality is so rife, and where the nouveau riche even flaunt their wealth and tasteless lifestyles on Youtube. ***

This writer is deeply saddened by the loss of a good man and a truly dedicated public servant -- Carlos Padilla, governor of Nueva Vizcaya.

Together with Doy Laurel and Eva EstradaKalaw, we watched in awe when, in 1984, he defeated the grand old man of Vizcaya politics, the late Leonardo Perez, former Comelec chairman under PFM Sr.

I was then the deputy secretary general of the opposition UNIDO when we challenged the monolithic KBL and succeeded in getting 59 members out of 180, no mean feat, with little resources, fortified only by defiant courage and the memory of the murdered Ninoy Aquino. Caloy Padilla was one of those valiant men who fought great odds and triumphed. The 1984 Batasan Pambansa elections became a precursor of the fall of the dictatorship.

The people of his province benefited immensely from this leader who brought major improvements in the lives of his constituents, particularly the vegetable farmers for whom he tirelessly worked in Congress to fund good roads that brought good value for their produce.

This writer was proud of his small role, as presidential adviser on political affairs during the aborted reign of Pres. Joseph Estrada, in helping Caloy achieve his dreams for his people.

My profound condolences to widowed Ruth, who also served Nueva Vizcaya, and their children. The country has lost another decent and dedicated public servant.

UNITED States President Joe Biden has given a clear and reassuring message to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the US stays “ironclad” in its commitment to the defense of the Philippines, including the South China Sea, and they will continue supporting the Philippines’ military modernization.

Biden recognized that “Our countries not only share strong partnership. We share deep friendship, one that has been enriched by millions of Filipino-Americans and the communities all across the United States.”

A fact that underlines the deep socio-economic dimensions between Americans and Filipinos. President Marcos Jr. said, “And so it is only natural that — for the Philippines to look to its sole treaty partner in the world, to strengthen and to redefine the relationship that we have and the roles that we play in the face of these tensions that we see now around the South China Sea and the AsiaPacific and Indo-Pacific region.”

These strong statements made during the recently concluded bilateral meeting between the two heads of state enunciates the Philippine-US alliance as the dynamics of geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific has become increasingly complex and multipolar.

Media headlines have related the President’s working visit to the US to strengthening defense cooperation amidst the increasing Chinese harassments in our maritime territories.

Actually, the May 1 bilateral meeting already builds on earlier talks during the United Nations General Assembly in September 2022.

There were also meetings with US Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III during their official visits to Manila.

The recently concluded live-fire Balikatan war games, the largest military exercise ever between US and Philippines troops, showcased a glimpse of the kind of fire power and interoperability that have been established should circumstances force the activation of military interventions.

The addition of four more sites Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is

strategically significant and aligns to the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Further deepening and expanding the defense cooperation is the adoption of Bilateral Defense Guidelines to ensure interoperability of forces on land, sea, air, and even cyberspace.

In last week’s forum on Modernizing Philippine Defense Capabilities and Elevating Security Partnerships hosted by the Stratbase ADR Institute, its president Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said, “With various elements attempting to tear down the rulesbased international order, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, the Marcos Jr administration must continue to engage with likeminded partners such as the United States, Japan, and Australia, among others, to secure Philippine waters and contribute to the security of the region.

pand a state’s sphere of influence, is always motivated by economic interests.

Whether it is seeing an opportunity to become the dominant power, or in our case struggling to build a competitive position we can sustain – strengthening the economy is the thing.

This is an element of the Biden-Marcos Jr. bilateral meeting that should get more attention as this presents a potential with long-term economic benefits that will benefit Filipinos.

To this, Biden announced he is sending the Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines, “first of its kind” aimed to boost the investments of American firms in the country with interest in the innovation economy, clean energy, and food security.”

The US and Philippines will also be cohosting the 2024 Info-Pacific Business Forum here in Manila.

It will be interesting how negotiations on the US-Philippine civil nuclear cooperation agreement will move forward.

Cooperation in the development of renewable energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy is also on the agenda.

“The current administration must implement a responsive and strategic national security policy that enhances the capacities of our military and protects the livelihood of our fisherfolk.”

Mr. Brett Blackshaw, Political Counselor of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines said, “On the US-PH alliance, our focus on maritime cooperation is on ensuring the Philippines has a credible deterrent to uphold and defend its sovereign rights.

“The past shows us appeasement does not work. It is important to show confidence and to develop the capabilities to stand up for lawful rights. And that is why having allies and friends matters so much.”

Maintaining peace and security, or looking at it from the dark side, ambitions to ex-

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, knowledge sharing, and other initiatives are also on the table.

The President met with companies in the maritime, pharmaceutical, nuclear and solar energy, BPO, semi-conductor, and healthcare. Approximately $1.3 billion in investment pledges will hopefully generate about 7,000 jobs.

Our geographic location puts us in the middle of these continuing geopolitical disruptions but is a situation we can effectively address by remaining steadfast and aligning with like-minded states in sustaining the rules-based international order by collectively deterring a destructive confrontation that nobody really wants.

‘Break the cartel; Fix PH’s sugar import policies’

Many are now calling on the government for an immediate resolution.

However, there are concerns the current policy on sugar importation, known as the Minimum Access Volume mechanism, is slow and bureaucratic.

While it has been in place for several years as a measure to protect the local sugar industry, the threat of El Niño on top of the now skyrocketing price of sugar demands the government must adopt a faster, more flexible, if not more radical, approach.

This burgeoning sugar supply crisis also follows allegations by Senator Risa Hontiveros the government is playing favorites by allowing only three private traders to import sugar under the current system.

She said this apparent “cartel” rakes in billions of pesos in “super profits” by selling the commodity at an “outrageous” price – none of which will go to the National Treasury.

Furthermore, related allegations of sugar smuggling have underscored the need for greater accountability and oversight in sugar

importation.

Senator Hontiveros stressed selling seized smuggled sugar to the public through the government’s Kadiwa stores only empowers the smugglers. Instead, Hontiveros suggested the smuggled commodity be given for free to poor communities.

Clearly, the potential disaster we are facing is both man-made and natural.

As we prepare for the potential impact of El Niño on our agriculture sector, it is crucial we prioritize the needs of the people.

Liberalizing sugar importation and allowing industrial users like manufacturers of food and beverage products to import directly can help achieve these goals.

By liberalizing sugar importation, the government will not only prevent a possible shortage of the sweet commodity but will also promote competition in the sugar industry. This can lead to better sugar prices for both producers and consumers, as Filipino consumers will not have to compete with industrial users for supply.

Furthermore, this move will also help stabilize the food and beverage industry at this difficult time, preventing production stoppage and job loss.

Liberalizing sugar importation can possibly even open an opportunity for small and

medium-sized businesses to enter the market and participate in the supply chain, thus creating more jobs and driving economic growth.

However, it is important to note liberalizing sugar importation should not be done at the expense of the local sugar industry.

The government must strike a careful balance between protecting local sugar producers and ensuring the country’s sugar supply is kept stable.

Proper regulation and monitoring of imported sugar must also be done to prevent the entry of substandard products.

Simply put, we cannot allow a select few to profit at the expense of the many.

The government must now act swiftly and decisively to avert a preventable disaster that can potentially wreak havoc on the country’s economy.

(The author is a retired executive who worked for three decades in the telecommunications industry.)

The government must now act swiftly and decisively to avert a preventable disaster that can potentially wreak havoc on the country’s economy

This writer is deeply saddened by the loss of a good man and a truly dedicated public servant—Carlos Padilla, governor of Nueva Vizcaya

It will be interesting how negotiations on the US-Philippine civil nuclear cooperation agreement will move forward

9 dead after gun rampage at Texas mall

Aman went on a rampage at a Texas outlet mall on Saturday, shooting dead eight people and wounding several others before he was killed by a police officer at the busy shopping complex.

Video footage circulating online showed the shooter getting out of a sedan in the mall’s parking lot before opening fire on people walking nearby.

An officer inside on an unrelated call quickly responded to the gunfire and “neutralized” the shooter as scenes of panic broke out at the sprawling facility in Allen, police said.

The identity of the shooter was not released. His body, sprawled on a sidewalk, was one of seven deaths at the mall when more police arrived.

Two others died in the hospital while “three are in critical surgery, and four are stable,” said Allen fire chief Jonathan Boyd.

The shooting at Allen Premium Outlets, 35 miles (55 kilometers) north of Dallas, began around 3:30 p.m. (2030 GMT), when it was busy with weekend shoppers, police said.

The officer in the mall “heard gunshots, went to the gunshots, engaged the suspect and neutralized the suspect,” said chief Brian Harvey of the Allen police department.

Some of the victims were as young as five years old, a hospital official told NBC News.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the mass shooting an “unspeakable tragedy.”

President Joe Biden “has been briefed on the shooting,” a White House official told reporters.

Vietnam logs record-high temperature

VIETNAM has reported a recordhigh temperature, with climate experts warning such extreme weather events would continue.

The country’s scientists have warned that global warming is exacerbating adverse weather, with the region sweltering under a heatwave in April – when neighboring countries also registered record temperatures.

A temperature of 44.1 degrees Celsius (111.38 degrees Fahrenheit) was measured in Vietnam Saturday, the National Center for Hydro Meteorological Forecasting said, breaking the 2019 record of 43.4 degrees Celsius.

Farmer Nguyen Thi Lan told AFP that temperatures in the central city of Danang had been increasingly hot, forcing workers to start earlier than ever. “We have had to finish before 10:00 a.m. to avoid the heat,” she said.

Lan said forecasters said temperatures had risen to nearly 40 degrees Celsius.

“But at lunchtime, I think it was much hotter.”

Vietnam’s weather varies from north to south, but the entire country is now entering its hottest summer months.

The record temperature was measured indoors at Hoi Xuan station in northern Thanh Hoa province. It topped the previous high of 43.4 degrees Celsius, recorded in April 2019 at Huong Khe District in central Ha Tinh Province. AFP

Local officials hailed the actions of the police officer who charged and killed the shooter.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to first responders that ran toward the gunfire and acted swiftly to neutralize the threat,” said Keith Self, a Republican congressman whose district includes the city of Allen.

Authorities believed initially that a second shooter might be on the loose. As police combed through stores in the mall, frantic shoppers and store employees rushed into parking lots.

Harvey later said police believe the unidentified shooter, who CNN said was wearing tactical gear, “acted alone.”

Janet St. James, a spokesperson for Medical City Healthcare, which operates multiple trauma facilities in North Texas, said it received eight patients from the shooting, ranging in age from five to 61, NBC News reported.

“Allen is a proud and safe city which makes today’s senseless act of violence even more shocking,” mayor Ken Fulk said in a statement.

“I want to commend our police and fire departments for their quick response. Their thorough training not to hesitate to move toward the threat likely saved more lives today.”

Jaynal Pervez, who arrived at the mall while his daughter was inside, told CNN: “There’s no more safe places. I don’t know what to do.”AFP

FOR HER CHILD’S FUTURE.

A voter casts her ballot during advance voting at a polling station in a school in Narathiwat, southern Thailand, on May 7, 2023, a week ahead of the May 14 general election. AFP

Myanmar crisis to dominate ASEAN summit

THE festering crisis in Myanmar will loom over talks between Southeast Asian leaders in Indonesia this week, as they renew calls for an end to the escalating violence.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military putsch that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February 2021, with the junta’s bloody crackdown on dissent sparking social unrest and an economic disaster.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)—long decried by critics as a toothless talking shop—has been trying to kick-start a five-point plan agreed with Myanmar two years ago after mediation attempts to end violence failed.

But its efforts have stalled as the junta ignores international criticism and refuses to engage with its opponents,

which include ousted lawmakers, anticoup “People’s Defense Forces” and ethnic minority armed groups.

An air strike on a village in a rebel stronghold last month that reportedly killed dozens of people sparked global condemnation and worsened the junta’s isolation.

Diplomats told AFP that the crisis would be a key issue during the May 9-11 summit on the Indonesian island of Flores.

The 10-member regional bloc will again “strongly condemn” the air strike and demand an immediate end to the violence in its end-of-summit statement to be issued by this year’s chair Indonesia, according to a draft seen by AFP.

“This would be the only way to create a conducive environment for an inclusive national dialogue to find a sustain-

able peaceful solution in Myanmar,” the draft statement said.

Myanmar remains an ASEAN member but has been barred from top-level summits over the junta’s failure to implement the peace plan.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Friday that her country was using “quiet diplomacy” to speak with all sides of the Myanmar conflict and spur renewed peace efforts.

But former Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa said the worsening crisis posed an “existential threat” to ASEAN.

He urged the bloc to do more or risk being sidelined as other nations, such as China and individual member countries of ASEAN, take the lead in trying to resolve the situation. AFP

Thais queue at temples, schools as early voting begins

THAIS queued under the blistering sun outside temples, shopping centers and schools to cast their early ballots Sunday ahead of a muchanticipated election next week.

More than two million Thais nationwide are registered to vote early ahead of the kingdom’s May 14 election, which is shaping up to be a clash between army-backed establishment parties and resurgent opposition movements.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha, who took power in a 2014 coup before cementing control in a controversial 2019 election, has been languishing in opinion polls with voters favoring old-school opposition party Pheu Thai and the more radical Move Forward Party. But with an electoral system heavily stacked in favor of the army-backed parties, challengers must achieve a landslide victory to have any hope of forming the next government.

“I hope this election will change the country in a better way,” said shopping mall worker Srisuda Wongsa-ad, 28, after casting her ballot.

23,000 flee ethnic violence in northeast India, army says

SOME 23,000 people have fled ethnic violence in northeast India that has reportedly killed at least 54 people, the army said Sunday, although there was no new “major violence” overnight.

The unrest in Manipur state erupted after a protest march by a tribal group last week sparked clashes, with vehicles and houses set on fire and authorities firing tear gas.

The military has deployed thousands of troops to the state bordering Myanmar, issued “shoot-at-sight” orders in “extreme cases,” imposed curfews and cut the internet.

The army said on Sunday no major flare-ups were reported overnight and

that a curfew was lifted between 7-10 am in Churachandpur district, one of the main flashpoint areas.

“Past 24 hrs also witnessed Army significantly enhancing surveillance efforts through aerial surveillance, movement of UAVs & redeployment of Army Helicopters within Imphal Valley,” it said, referring to unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.

“Total 23,000 civilians have been rescued till now & were moved to own operating bases/ military Garrisons,” the statement said.

Authorities have not given an official death toll but hospital morgues in the state capital Imphal and Churachand-

She was among hundreds queuing quietly at a polling station in the city’s fashionable Ekkamai district to vote at the Wat That Thong temple, overlooked by golden standing buddhas.

“I am voting for a candidate and party that I like, that can answer my needs,” she said, adding that she was voting early as it was more convenient for her.

Elsewhere in the city, the Royal Paragon Hall shopping center was packed with voters, albeit cooler ones, enjoying the complex’s air conditioning.

Despite the early hour, temperatures across the capital – which like much of Thailand endured a vicious April heatwave – were soaring and expected to hit 39 degrees Celsius later Sunday.

Shortly before midday outside one of Bangkok’s largest polling stations at Ramkhamhaeng University, machines sprayed a fine mist of water over the orderly queues as the day’s heat kept rising. AFP

pur had reported a combined total of 54 dead, according to local media.

Tribal groups are unhappy about the prospect of the state’s majority Meitei community being recognized under a “Scheduled Tribe” category.

This designation would give them a certain quota of government jobs and college admissions in a form of affirmative action aimed at addressing structural inequality and discrimination.

India’s northeast has seen decades of unrest among ethnic and separatist groups seeking more autonomy or even secession from India, with at least 50,000 people killed in Manipur since the 1950s. AFP

Mexican authorities rescue 113 migrants

AUTHORITIES in northwest Mexico rescued 113 kidnapped migrants of different nationalities from a building along the border with the United States, the state prosecutor’s office said.

Thousands of migrants fleeing violence and poverty risk abduction and exploitation at the hands of criminal gangs while crossing Mexico on the way to the US border.

The latest discovery in the municipality of San Luis Rio Colorado, which borders the US state of Arizona, arose from follow-up investigations by authorities who found on Friday 10 Colombian citizens presumed to have been kidnapped.

“This time people from El Salvador, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, United States, India, Peru, Nepal,

Japan PM arrives in South Korea for landmark summit

JAPANESE Prime Minister Fumio

Kishida arrived in South Korea on Sunday as Seoul and Tokyo seek to restart their “shuttle diplomacy” and mend ties in the face of growing nuclear threats from Pyongyang.

Kishida is making the first official bilateral visit by a Japanese leader to South Korea in over a decade. He first headed to Seoul’s National Cemetery —where war veterans, including from the fight against Japanese colonial rule, are buried—to lay flowers and pay his respects.

Bangladesh, Cuba, Colombia, Brazil and Afghanistan were brought to safety,” the prosecutor’s office of Sonora state said on its official Facebook page.

Five individuals believed to be “responsible for the crimes against the migrants” were arrested as part of the operation, two of whom are Honduran nationals.

Police forces that carried out the rescue were greeted “with applause, blessings and prayers” by the group of foreigners held captive in the house, the prosecutor’s office said.

Last month, 63 migrants from Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Dominican Republic and Mexico were kidnapped in the same region while trying to reach the US border. All of them were rescued alive. AFP

Kishida will hold a key summit later in the day with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has made resetting ties with Japan a top priority for his administration. Yoon was in Tokyo in March for a fencemending visit.

The East Asian neighbors, both crucial security allies of the United States, have long been at odds over historic issues linked to Japan’s brutal 1910 to 1945 colonial occupation of the Korean peninsula, including sexual slavery and forced labor.

Kishida said Sunday ahead of his departure that the two leaders were working to resume so-called “shuttle diplomacy”—paused for years during a bitter trade spat linked to the forced labor issue. AFP

FINDING SOLACE IN ART. Visitors look at the paintings made by Ahmed Rabbani, a Pakistani recently freed from Guantanamo Bay prison, during an exhibition of his work called ‘The Unforgotten Moon: Liberating Art from Guantanamo Bay,’ in Karachi. When Rabbani ran out of paint to satisfy his artistic yearnings during 20 years of incarceration at Guantanamo Bay, he turned to whatever came to hand—dirt, coffee grinds, and even spices such as turmeric from the prison canteen.  AFP

INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE. Photo shows a child of the Miao ethnic minority taking part in the Zimei Festival in Taijiang County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, in China’s southwestern Guizhou Province. AFP

Gov’t eyes $2-b loan for lakeshore road

By Darwin G. Amojelar

THE Department of Public Works and Highways is seeking a $2-billion loan from the Asian Development Bank to build the first phase of the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network project.

It said the construction of LLRN Project Phase 1 would connect the southern province of Laguna to Metro Manila via Laguna Lake along the western coastline and would provide a safer, faster alternative and reliable transportation link.

IN BRIEF

Stocks seen moving sideways this week

SHARE prices may move sideways with an upward momentum on expectations the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will pause its monetary tightening cycle on continued decline in inflation. The market may also take its cue from the first-quarter gross domestic product data as investors were anticipating economic growth to remain strong despite the macroeconomics headwinds.

The government is set to release the firstquarter economic report on May 11.

“The steep decline of our inflation rate to 6.6 percent last April is expected to raise expectations that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will pause with its monetary tightening in its May 18 meeting. This in turn is seen to help the market climb,”

Philstocks Financial Inc. senior research manager Japeth Tantiango said.

Analysts said the expectation of rate hike pause is supported by the recent decision of the US Federal Reserve to increase rates by 25 basis points, while hinting it would soon end its hiking cycle.

The Monetary Board’s next policy meeting is set on May 18.

Jenniffer B. Austria

URC’s profit flat in Q1 despite higher sales

FOOD manufacturer Universal Robina Corp. said over the weekend net income attributable to equity holders of the parent was nearly flat at P3.4 billion in the first quarter as rising input and financing costs offset higher revenues.

URC said in a financial report filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange first-quarter consolidated sales rose 11 percent to P39.8 billion, sustaining its growth momentum from 2022.

All businesses delivered strong growth despite the continued elevated inflation rates across the region.

Sales from branded consumer foods increased by 7.6 percent to P27.4 billion in the first three months on strong performance from domestic and international operations.

Branded consumer food business in the Philippines rose 6 percent to P18.1 billion in revenues, recording its highest-ever sales in March. International sales jumped 13 percent to P9.8 billion with Vietnam, Malaysia and Myanmar posting double-digit growth in revenues. Jenniffer B. Austria

Semirara not interested in buying power plants

SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. is not keen on acquiring any power plant and will instead develop a coal plant in Calaca, Batangas, a top executive said over the weekend.

SMPC chairman Isidro Consunji said the company was open to developing the 700-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Calaca, Batangas under St. Raphael Power Generation Corp.

“Yes, we are open to purchasing other plants, but the prices being offered in the market makes it better for us to pursue developing new plants like our San Rafael, rather than purchase existing plants,” he said.

Consunji earlier said SRPGC was not covered by the moratorium on new coalfired power plants.

“St. Rafael is not part of the ban...The issue of St. Raphael is not a contract with Meralco. We are prepared to build it with or without an off-taker. The issue is it is not yet connected to the grid,” Consunji said. He said the transmission line that would serve the power plant was “maxed out,” and the additional lines were not been built due to delays experienced by National Grid Corp. of the Philippines such as the right of way issues.

“As soon as the grid connection is resolved, then we will build San Rafael, two by 350 [MW] because we already have indications from the banks to fund it,” Consunji said. Alena Mae S. Flores

The project involves the construction of a 21.5-kilometer viaduct and 15.9-kilometer embankment along the west shoreline of Laguna Lake from Barangay Lower Bicutan in Taguig to Calamba City in Laguna.

It will also cover the construction

of eight interchanges proposed to connect municipal boundaries to the nearest public road along Lower Bicutan, Sucat, Alabang, Tunasan, San Pedro/Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao and Calamba for a total project cost of P175.3 billion.

The DPWH said the LLRN 1 project would improve connectivity between Metro Manila and Laguna, thereby reducing transport time and costs and improving access to markets and wider employment talent pools and attracting tourists to the area.

Japan International Cooperation Agency estimated the economic losses due to traffic congestion in Metro Ma-

nila at P3.5 billion per day in 2017 and P2.5 billion in surrounding provinces including Laguna. These losses would rise to P5.4 billion a day in the National Capital Region and P5.9 billion a day in surrounding areas by 2035 if no action would be taken.

Meanwhile, the feasibility study for LLRN Phase 2 in the northern to southern coastline via an eastern route is almost complete, and the detailed engineering design would be included in the civil works loan for LLRN Phase 1.

The DPWH submitted the proposed LLRN Project to the National Economic and Development Authority for project

approval and endorsement to the Department of Finance for loan application.

“With 85.1 percent of the detailed engineering design for LLRN already complete, DPWH has started negotiations to gather support from possible financing institutions crucial in the realization of this flagship infrastructure project,” DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said.

The ADB is one of the biggest providers of official development assistance to the Philippines. In 2022, its approved its biggest project financing loan for Asia and the Pacific through the South Commuter Railway Project.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE country’s net oil import bill soared 64.4 percent in 2022 to $19.023 billion from $11.574 billion in 2021 amid higher world oil prices.

LOAN AGREEMENT. Pueblo de Oro Development Corp., the residential development arm of the ICCP Group, signs a P500million term loan agreement with the Development Bank of the Philippines. The loan proceeds will be used to build more residential projects within the company’s project sites in Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Pampanga and Batangas. Attending the signing ceremony are are

(from left) DBP senior vice president Ma. Lourdes Gumba, PDO president and chief operating officer Prim Nolido, DBP president and chief executive Michael De Jesus, DBP chairman Dante Tinga, PDO chairman and CEO and ICCP Group chairman Guillermo Luchangco, ICCP president and CEO Valentino Bagatsing and DBP vice president Raquel Atienza.

Strong deposits keep domestic banking industry resilient

By Julito G. Rada

THE domestic banking industry remained resilient in 2022, marked by the sustained growth in assets, deposits and profit, along with adequate capital and liquidity buffers, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said in a report over the weekend.

“The banks’ asset growth, funded mainly by deposits, enabled the banking system to continue to support the economy’s recovery through improved credit activity,” the BSP said in its latest report on the financial system.

“Importantly, the financial soundness indicators on capital adequacy, asset quality, profitability, liquidity and sensitivity to market risk point to the continued stability and resilience of the banking system despite tighter financial conditions,” it said.

Data showed that total assets of the banking system last year grew by 10.7 percent to P23.04 trillion, faster than the 7-percent increase in 2021.

Universal and commercial banks held the largest share of the total assets of the banking system at 94.2 percent (P21.70 trillion). Thrift banks and rural

and cooperative banks each held around 4.2 percent (P968.3 billion) and 1.6 percent (P372.5 billion), respectively.

Lending continued to support economic recovery as gross loans climbed 10.8 percent to P12.65 trillion in 2022, faster than the 4.8-percent growth in 2021.

Bank loans went mainly to real estate activities (18.3-percent share, P2.3 trillion), household consumption (11.0 percent, P1.38 trillion), wholesale and retail trade (10.9 percent, P1.37 trillion), manufacturing (10.2 percent, P1.28 trillion), electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply (9.6 percent, P1.29 trillion) and financial and insurance activities (8.3 percent, P1.05 trillion).

The BSP said that alongside the improvement in credit activity, the banking system’s non-performing loan ratio further eased to 3.2 percent in 2022 from the 4.0 percent in 2021. This was accompanied by high NPL coverage ratio of 107.0 percent, increasing from the 87.7 percent in 2021. The NPL ratio is expected to remain in single-digit and to gradually return to pre-pandemic levels.

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Friday, May 5, 2023

1.31 PTS.

6,685.66

Data from the Department of Energy’s Oil Industry Management Bureau’s Year-End Comprehensive Report showed that total petroleum demand reached 26.803 billion liters last year, an increase of 9.2 percent from 24.553 billion liters in 2021.

This translated into an average daily requirement of 73.4 million liters last year, up from 67.3 million liters in 2021 amid the increased economic activity and less stringent travel restrictions implemented nationwide.

Petron Corp. had the biggest market share in 2022 at 21.29 percent, followed by Shell Pilipinas Corp. with 15.55 percent and Chevron Philippines with 4.92 percent. The other small players cornered 50.81 percent of market demand.

Meanwhile, total oil import bill amounted to $19.579 billion, up by 61.1 percent from $12.154 billion in 2021. “This was attributed to high import cost of crude and finished petroleum products in 2022,” the DOE said.

Net oil import volume slightly increased last year to 25.501 billion liters from 23.628 billion liters in 2021. Total oil import cost was made up of 77.4 percent finished petroleum products and 22.6 percent crude oil. The import cost of crude oil reached $4.429 billion, or 95 percent higher than $2.271 billion year-on-year.

The DOE said product import cost registered a growth of 53.3 percent from $9.883 billion to $15.15 billion on higher import costs of finished products.

NEW IC COMMISSIONER. Senior leaders of the National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines pay a courtesy visit to newly appointed Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado (fourth from left) at the Insurance Commission. With Regalado are (from left) Nat Re head of risk and compliance Jacqueline Dy, head of life reinsurance Jaime Jose Javier, president and chief executive Allan Santos, head of data administration and technology Cinderella Gernan and head of finance Santino Sontillano.

Several South Korean companies interested in reviving Bataan nuclear power plant, says DTI

By Othel V.

Campos

SEVERAL South Korean companies expressed interest in reviving the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.

Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said there could be a possible cooperation between the Philippines’ BNPP and South Korea’s nuclear power plant operators.

“There are proposals to revive it, but I don’t think the government has made

any pronouncement of any plan to revive it. There are talks about it,” he said.

Pascual said there were some “push factors” between the BNPP and some nuclear power plants in South Korea.

“From what I’ve heard, BNPP can still be revived, and there are also plans to replicate this,” he said.

South Korea derives about a third of its electricity from 25 small modular reactors or nuclear power reactors, making it one of the world’s most prominent nuclear energy countries. It exports

some of the power and is building the UAE’s first nuclear power plant under a $20-billion contract.

The Philippine government is also eyeing cooperation agreements with Oregon-based NuScale Power Corp. and Canadian fission energy provider Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp.

NuScale is one of the US companies the Philippines engaged with during the visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the US this month.

Pascual said the Philippines is eyeing

DoubleDragon plans to build 10 US hotels by 2026

By Jenniffer B.

Austria

DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Corp. said it plans to build 10 hotels in the United States by 2026.

DoubleDragon said in a statement over the weekend Singapore-registered unit Hotel101 Global Pte. Ltd. was set to acquire its first US property by the third quarter of the year.

Hotel101 Global was one of the participants in the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit on May 1 to 4 in Washington D.C.

“We are delighted to be part of the Philippine delegation to the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit as the connections we have made this week have enabled us to significantly accelerate our process in selecting which of the ten states in the U.S. we should expand to first as well as giving us a direct line to the investment groups of the 50 US states,” said Hotel101 Global chief executive Hannah YuloLuccini.

a two-pronged approach in its partnership with NuScale that involves the installation of SMRs in certain areas and an opportunity for NuScale to set-up manufacturing operations in the Philippines.

Ultra Safe, on the other hand, is an expert in micro modular reactors, or nuclear plants smaller than SMRs. The Presidential Communications Office said USNC was looking at the Philippines as the first site of its nuclear energy facility in Southeast Asia.

DoubleDragon chairman Edgar Sia II said joining the Select USA Investment Summit gave the company confidence about growing its Hotel101 brand in the US.

“We are excited to have Hotel101 Global join the Philippine delegation to the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit. The company will play an important role in the very important business of expanding the US-Philippines commercial, investment, trade and economic relationship,” said Paul Taylor, the commercial

Net oil imports of PH soared 64% to $19b in 2022

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Japan vows $23.6-m climate change fund

NEW YORK―Japan and UNDP have joined forces for another set of funding to support climate action, drive green transformation and ensure climateresilient sustainable development.

The second phase of the Japan Supplementary Budget funds seeks to respond to the growing demand of developing countries supported by UNDP to take climate action and deliver on national climate pledges (also known as NDC), while also addressing complex current crises that pose a critical threat to global human security.

FAO maps out El Niño regions, readies actions to reduce risks

ROME—The Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is mapping out the areas in the globe that are especially vulnerable to El Niño and preparing actions that could be taken to mitigate its risks.

The FAO noted that the protracted threeyear presence of La Niña is leaving the global atmospheric scene and is making way for a likely imminent transition to El Niño, a meteorological event that typically distributes weather patterns in the opposite way. La Niña has brought relief for some drought-afflicted areas such as the Horn of Africa, but the opposite weather phenomenon could spell trouble for other parts of Africa, Central America and Far East Asia.

According to a new report by FAO, Southern Africa, Central America and the Caribbean and parts of Asia are of particular concern, as a number of countries in these regions already face high levels of acute food insecurity and key cropping seasons fall under the typical El Niño weather

patterns of drier conditions.

Northern areas of South America are also at risk to potential dryness, while Australia normally experiences suppressed rainfall.

“Early warnings mean that we have to take early and anticipatory action, and we will support our Members in these efforts, to the full extent resources allow,” said Rein Paulsen, head of FAO’s Office for Emergencies and Resilience.

In the wake of the El Niño episode of 2015 and 2016, which affected over 60 million people in around 23 countries, FAO has carefully worked with membernations–including many of those where food security is likely to be impacted by the coming El Niño–and other UN agencies to establish action plans and protocols.

Standard operating procedures have been crafted to expedite timely interventions such as setting up community seed stores, assessing strategic food reserves and bolstering animal health surveillance campaigns.

FAO has developed anticipatory action protocols for drought in Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, southern Madagascar, Malawi, Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Pakistan and in Central America, and is ready to act early should the forecasts materialize.

Given the most recent forecasts that have raised the likelihood of an El Niño event occurring from June onwards,

FAO is already setting in motion initial preparations to support affected countries.

“Forecasts at this point are clear but inevitably can only be put forth with low confidence due to their low power during the May-June-July period,” explained Oscar Rojas, FAO agro-meteorologist.

El Niño events typically occur every two to seven years, with La Niña episodes and neutral conditions filling the years in-between. Catalyzed by a warming of Pacific Ocean waters, El Niño has a major influence on temperature and precipitation patterns over many parts of the world, driving extreme weather events including drought, flooding and storms.

While El Niño events and impacts are never alike, the broadly typical patterns enhance predictable regional consequences. FAO’s approach has been to map changes in vegetation conditions across the globe’s croplands and combine this analysis with crop calendars to better understand how rainfall deficits may affect production—the effects of water stress vary throughout a crop’s life cycle. This approach helps identify areas at higher risk, or those where dry conditions impact the entire crop cycle, and guides the type of interventions that should be implemented.

Under the standard operating procedures for early action to El Niño/La Niña episodes by the UN Interagency Standing Committee, anticipatory action initiatives

Toyota Motor Philippines backs carbon neutrality on Earth Month

LIAN, Batangas―A group of volunteers led by Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) headed to the coast of Lian, Batangas for a mangrove-planting activity as part of the ‘All-Toyota Green Wave Project’ (Green Wave).

The project is the company’s expansive and multi-sectoral effort towards carbon neutrality (CN) and biodiversity conservation within TMP’s network amid the serious threat of global climate change.

In observance of Earth Month, TMP gathered over 50 volunteers from its own workforce, parent company, subsidiaries, the Philippine National Police, and the local government unit. The group, spearheaded by TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto, planted 5,000 mangrove propagules at Sitio Sulok, aiming to reforest a coastline that is part of the Verde Island Passage, considered as the world’s center of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity.

“TMP’s multi-pathway approach to CN goes back to Toyota’s commitments announced in 2015 under the global ‘Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 (TEC 205).’ Under this, Toyota has outlined the Company’s targets to achieve Zero CO2 Emissions and Net Positive Environmental Impact by the year 2050,” Okamoto said.

“Today, we take time away from our usual workplace to be in harmony

TMP volunteers during the mangrove-planting activity in Lian, Batangas. with nature, and push CN beyond the emission reduction efforts TMP has at its manufacturing plant and with the Toyota electrified vehicles,” the TMP president added.

Recognizing the VIP’s importance as the planet’s marine frontier and the call for climate mitigation measures, TMP has initially adopted since 2020 a 10-hectare mangrove plantation at Barangay Binubusan in Lian municipality. The adoption is under the National Greening Program, which is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources nationwide reforestation program aimed at “involving and enhancing private

sector participation towards carbon neutrality.”

In collaboration with Lian’s Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office and fisherfolk association, TMP has planted a total of 20,000 mangrove propagules and is nearing project completion.

MENRO Lian head Alvin Jonson said the project’s success is linked to the mangroves’ survival and maturity rate as the reforested areas are expected to later contribute to livelihood of fisherfolks and serve as a natural barrier to protect nearby communities from calamities, such as storm surges.

Packaging should be green, smart—experts

RECOVERING from the effects of the pandemic, the packaging and manufacturing industries are up on their toes to use technological developments to come up with smart and inventive packaging that is reflective of the times.

“With the present appetite for sustainable packaging and consumers’ increased environmental and ethical consciousness, we have also witnessed altering global sentiments in the packaging industry. The packaging industry is rebounding now after the pandemic but we are optimistic,” said Mark Prakasvudhisarn of Informa Markets.

Informa recently organized ProPak Philippines, attended by industry players from all over the world, including the World Packaging Organization, the Australian Institute of Packaging, and Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association.

With a focus on sustainability, automation and packaging design, more private enterprises will be relying on technology in order to stay relevant and ahead of the curve. At ProPak Philippines 2023, packaging trends were extensively discussed and shared by industry leaders and experts.

Packaging nowadays is more than a receptacle for products. Technology-enabled solutions embedded in the packaging can now provide consumers with convenience, security and product information.

“Smart packaging nowadays also informs you how to recycle, how to reuse, and how to educate consumers on what to do with the packaging after it is used,” said Andrew Manly, communications director of Active & Intelligent Packaging Association.

advance in step with the likelihood that an El Niño event is brewing. FAO, OCHA and the WMO together with other partners are monitoring the situation to determine the countries at highest risk later in the year. While rain will be a welcome relief to farmers in Argentina and Near East Asia, El Niño can also cause severe flooding, which can harm agriculture and increase the risk of disease. That’s a particular risk FAO has examined in relation to East Africa, which has faced four years of extreme rainfall deficits and where recovery will at any rate take a long time even if rainfall finally returns.

Australia, Brazil and South Africa, all major cereal producers and exporters, are among the countries at risk of dry conditions, as are a host of other countries in Central and West Africa, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.

The inverse risk of excessive rainfall holds for exporters such as Argentina, Turkey and the United States of America, as well as for countries in Central Asia.

El Niño typically raises the global average temperature and was associated with the record high registered in 2016, when various carbon-releasing calamities occurred, including forest and peatland fires in Indonesia and billions of trees decimated by drought in the Amazon. FAO news

CSR and ESG

I WROTE earlier about how doing good and doing well as an economic and social imperative is now more relevant these days, and that we all need to contribute for the sake of our children and the future generation. Having sustainability as part of the end in mind makes a big difference. A concrete example is the Social Enterprise business model, but I will expound on this subject matter in another time.

I’ll share my views on the upcoming CSR Expo 2023, an annual event organized by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), that aims to rally the industry to do good, while still doing well in business. This 4-day special event is scheduled on July 4-7, with the conference happening at the Makati Diamond Residences while the expo at the Palm Drive activity center of Glorietta Mall, both in Makati City. The past couple of years were a low point for the majority and at the same time, an eye opener. It became clear that we all need to work together to create a more sustainable future.

Unfortunately, old challenges have not been fully addressed, and new ones continue to arise. The pandemic has intensified issues of climate change, food and financial insecurity, and more disaster-resilient communities―in short, the need to become more sustainable.

Today, two main terms are being associated to describe how businesses can show their commitment to sustainability: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).

CSR and ESG are related but are different concepts. Both help address social, economic, environmental concerns and contribute to corporate sustainability. It’s a bit confusing, so I did some research to try to simplify and understand better the difference between the two.

What is CSR?

A common definition says that CSR is a management concept that aims to contribute to societal goals of a philanthropic, activist, or charitable nature by engaging in or supporting volunteering or ethically-oriented practices.

CSR provides a platform for companies to deliver on their responsibility to do good by solving some prevalent societal issues. The goal is to ‘give back’ to their communities where they operate in and to reduce or compensate for the negative impact (if any) that their business might have on a particular community, their employees, or society as a whole. It’s a looser, general framework for responsible corporate behavior, hence the nature of CSR is more qualitative.

What is ESG?

ESG is a quantifiable assessment of sustainability and business practices.

Priorities of the new support package include increasing resilience and adapting to climate impacts on food security, reducing risk from climateinduced events such as floods and mudslides, and driving innovation to urgently advance renewable energy, sustainable transportation, energy efficiency and energy access for the most vulnerable communities.

“The 1.5°C limit of the global temperature rise as set by the Paris Agreement is still within reach. But as the UN Secretary-General said, it will take a quantum leap in climate action. UNDP’s renewed partnership with Japan will serve to make this urgent action possible and tackle multi-faceted crises in many countries,” said Haoliang Xu, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Program Support.

Japan’s $23.6-million contribution will assist 16 countries across AsiaPacific, Europe and Central Asia, Africa, and Arab State regions through UNDP’s Climate Promise initiative. The countries included in the new phase of support are Armenia, Bhutan, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Malawi, Namibia, Nepal, Serbia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.

The first round of funding from Japan enabled countries to advance new clean technologies and practices across different sectors such as in Egypt, Maldives and Bosnia and Herzegovina, develop policies that set ambitious climate action on the ground such as in Indonesia.

In Kenya and Georgia, the initiative improved forest management to increase reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Tajikistan was able to install early-warning systems that strengthen resilience of the local communities.

ESG strategy focuses on reaching certain performance metrics, setting measurable goals for them and conducting independent audits to verify that the metrics and related disclosures are accurate. There are explicit criteria surrounding ESG. For example, ratings agencies like Bloomberg, MSCI, S&P Global and Morningstar’s Sustainalytics subsidiary give companies ESG scores using different sets of performance criteria.

Investors use these scores to evaluate businesses, and most times provide their investment choices. Businesses create ESG reports to appeal to investors and other stakeholders and to meet regulatory compliance requirements.

For me, I think that CSR and ESG are complementary concepts that contribute significantly to the company’s overall sustainability efforts. A country like the Philippines, which struggles with corruption, widespread poverty, unequal distribution of wealth and opportunity, inferior infrastructure, and environmental degradation, etc.―all of which have worsened during the pandemic–badly needs both CSR and ESG efforts from the business sector.

Which makes this year’s CSR Expo theme, “From Extra to Essential,” extra relevant. It is a bold statement that is aligned with what we need as a nation, especially as we continue to recover from the worst global pandemic the past century. It is a rallying cry for the League of Corporate Foundations to lead and challenge the business sector to ensure not just compliance to regulatory policies, but also the full embodiment of the principles of good corporate citizenship–to lead by example and walk the talk.

I was told that global and local experts and leaders are scheduled to share their insights and strategies on how we can all contribute to building a better and more sustainable Philippines. That’s great news for all of us and I can’t wait to learn and participate in the CSR Expo 2023 this July!

Editor’s notes: Owen Cammayo is the Executive Director of BPI Foundation. Manila Standard’s Biodiversity 101 column is open to contributors who share the advocacies of protecting the environment and promoting sustainable practices that are being pushed by the United Nations. Such contributions are subject to the availability of space and the paper’s editorial policies. The contributions should not exceed 600 words or 4,000 characters.

Obstacle course

PH racers unstoppable

By Peter Atencio

PHNOM PENH—Two more new world records were established by Filipino athletes in the men’s and women’s relay squads on Sunday at the close of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games Obstacle Course Sports Competitions here.

As the last runner, Ahgie Radam’s quick traverse through the Cliffhanger, or the rotating monkey bars allowed him to lift the Philippines to a men’s gold medal.

The performance of Radam and his teammates Elias Tabac, Jose Marie de Castro and Mervin Guarte saw the Filipinos finishing the challenge in 24.4788 seconds.

Malaysia settled for the silver medal in 25.1596, after winning over Indonesia, which clocked in at 34.1152 seconds.

It was the second straight time that the Filipinos set a record in the event after they registered a time of 25.8566 seconds i n Round 1 of the heats.

In the women’s side, the Filipinas banked on Mecca Cortizano’s big dash up the quarter pipe to clock a recordsetting 33.7328 seconds, outrunning Indonesia, which finished second in 35.0601 seconds.

“Naabutan ko po sa huli. Sa pag-bell na lang. Binilisan ko po ang pagtakbo pataas,” said Cortizano, a 21-year-old student of University of the East.

The Filipinas, also made up of Sandi Abahan, Tess Nocyao, and Milky Tejares, earlier established a record in in round 2 of the heats, when they finished in 40.178 seconds, besting Malaysia (48.2455 seconds).

So far, a total of four records have been shattered during the course of the event, with Princess Cabuya setting a new world record for the second time in three days on Saturday.

Cabuya, a full-time athlete, did this after she conquered the 100-meter women’s individual action in 32.732 seconds, almost three seconds in front of silver medallist and teammate Kaiza de la Serna.

During the heats, the 32-year-old Cabuya reached the finals after topping the second heat in with a world recordsmashing 33.127 seconds.

Mark Julius Rodelas, a gold medallist in the men’s 100 meter individuals, also forged a world record time of 25.092 seconds which he set in the heats.

PSC chairman bats for change in SEA Games’ eligibility rules

By Riera U. Mallari

Dorsey and Peterson are teammates with the Jordan club Orthodox Amman of the West Asia Super League, while Pridgett currently plays for Greece’s Karditsa.

Tep Chhorath is the team’s only pure Cambodian player, who never played a single second in the finale.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann on Sunday expressed his strong opinion on the rampant use of naturalized players in the biennial games in the aftermath of the Philippines’ heartbreaking setback in the 3x3 men’s basketball at the hands of a Cambodian team that had all three American cagers on the playing court. A physically imposing Cambodian squad of naturalized players, 6’2” Darrin Dorsey, 6’8” Brandon Peterson and 6’6” Sayeed Pridgett manhandled a Filipino side of Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Joseph Eriobu and Joseph Sedurifa in the finals, 15-20, to give the host its first-ever gold in the sport.

The SEA Games has its own set of rules on eligibility as it allows countries to field in as many naturalized players as they wish, a ruling which Cambodia took advantage of to the fullest. In the Olympic Games, which follow FIBA rules, only one naturalized player is allowed.

“Kudos to our 3x3 team, we have actually improved from our bronze finish in Vietnam, and now, challenging a foreign Cambodia team. It is tough,” said Bachmann, a former basketball player himself. “I wouldn’t call it unfair, because it is legal now. But it (rules) is something SEA Games has to talk about. On a personal note, I just feel that if it’s not allowed in the Olympics, it should not be allowed in events in the SEA Games or the Asian Games.”

But while the PSC chief offered his opinion on the matter, there is also the side

control of.

“This morning, we were discussing with SBP already on how to improve and move forward,” said Bachmann, who with his commissioners Olivia “Bong” Coo and Fritz Gaston, nevertheless, are

satisfied of the Filipino athletes’ performance, while hoping that their early success is sustainable until the finish.

“So far, I’m very happy. It’s a good start, hopefully we can retain it,” said Bachmann in a brief huddle with Filipino sportswriters covering the games.

PH’s 3x3 squads

suffer heartbreakers in finals

PHNOM PENH—The Philippines settled for silver-medal finishes in the finals of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games 3-on-3 men’s and women’s basketball at the Morodok Techno Elephant Hall on Sunday.

The PH men’s side, led by Almond Vosotros, managed to stay close, but eventually succumbed to the imposing Cambodian team of naturalized players, 15-20, in the finals.

Sayeed Alkabir Pridgett, a 24-year-old American pro, led the

Cambodians with 10 points.

Vosotros also had 10 points for the Filipinos. Cambodia’s team stepped up with its defense after Lervin Flores brought the Filipinos close, 15-17, but Pridgett scored the final points with his deuce and drive in the last 5.2 seconds. “Everybody knows that they’re mostly imports. But we did our best and played our best,” said Gilas men’s 3x3 coach Lester del Rosario. Meanwhile, defense on Jack

Athletics’ big guns Obiena, Knott are coming

SIEM REAP—The big guns of athletics, led by Olympians Ernest John Obiena and Kristina Knott, go into action Monday at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh with the goal of surpassing the team’s medal haul in the last edition of the biennial meet.

Hoping to eclipse its five-gold, seven-silver and 14-bronze haul in athletics during the Hanoi games, Team Philippines will be led by world no. 3 pole vaulter Obiena, who according to the news wire service Agence FrancePresse is “perhaps the biggest favorite in any athletics event at this games.” Obiena, who will aim for another stint in the Olympics (Paris 2024) when the qualifying window opens in July, has a personal best of 5.94 meters. But he doesn’t have to leap that high in these games, where the SEA Games record only stands at just 5.46,

High hopes for PH aces as golf unwraps

Animam held down the Filipinas in the last two minutes, allowing the Vietnamese to prevail, 21-16, for the gold.

Coach Patrick Aquino said Gilas Women still had a better showing after finishing empty handed last year.

“Luck was not on our side this time around after losing the first game, and making it to the championship, and losing it. But’s it’s better than the last SEA Games,” said Aquino.

Peter Atencio

total journey from Italy. “Katulad nga ng sinabi niya, pupunta siya dito para ‘jump to win’.”

The 27-year-old Tokyo Olympian will be gunning for a third straight pole vault gold at 4:05 p.m. (5:05 in Manila) and maybe, go for the record. But this will all be based on what kind of rhythm Obiena will have on Monday.

“Tignan muna natin kung ano ang magiging position niya, and then we will take it from there,” the older Obiena added.

All eyes will also be on the team’s other athletic stars Knott and reigning fastest woman in Southeast Asia – Kayla Richardson.

The 27-year Knott, for one, has been aching for competition in these games. After becoming the darling of athletics during the 2019 edition of the games in the Philippines, where she bagged two golds (200 and 4x100 mixed relay), including a new games record in the 200, Knott missed the Hanoi games when she tore her left plantar fasciitis. Riera Mallari

PHNOM PENH—With the pressure to deliver mounting, the Filipina golfers go all-out for a strong start in what could set the tone for their gold medal drive in both the individual and team competitions in golf in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here today (Monday).

Rianne Malixi, on whose broad shoulders practically rest the country’s bid after handing over the lone medal (bronze in team play) in last year’s edition of the region’s premier sporting competitions in Vietnam, drew Indonesia’s Kristina Yoko and Kann Vong of Cambodia at 8:05 a.m. at the backside of the Garden City Golf Course.

Despite blowing a final round lead in the recent Royal Junior in Japan, the 16-year-old ace has kept a winning mindset heading into the 54-hole tournament to be disputed under the stroke play format.

“I’m pretty neutral about it honestly,” said Malixi, referring to her Royal Junior result. “I’m excited and nervous at the same time but knowing how much preparation and hard work I’ve put in the past few weeks, I know I’ll do just fine.”

“I don’t think I’ll be doing something new or anything out of the extraordinary for me. Again, my main goal is to start fresh and try not to do anything spectacular,” added the ICTSI-backed spearhead of the national team, which includes Mafy Singson and Lois Kaye Go, member of the 2019 squad which swept the women’s gold medals in the Manila SEAG at Luisita.

The team gold will be contested in match play format.

Go will slug it out with Elaine Widjaya of Indonesia and Vietnamese Xuan Minh Doan at 7:55 a.m., after the 7:45 a.m. group made up of Singson, Vietnam’s Bao Nghi Than and local bet Yin Harmonie, also on No. 10.

PHNOM PENH—If it’s not allowed in the Olympics, it should not be allowed in the Southeast Asian Games.

Ahgie Radam, Elias Tabac, Jose Marie de Castro and Mervin Guarte celebrate their OCR gold win by displaying the Philippine ag.

which Obiena also owns. “He’s in good spirits kahit pagod sa biyahe,” said Obiena’s father/coach Emerson referring to his son’s 22-hour

PSC chairman Richard Bachmann with commissioners Fritz Gaston and Olivia ‘Bong’ Coo. that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has a

Kristina Knott Ernest John Obiena

Cambodia’s Brandon Peterson celebrates after winning against the Philippines in their men’s nal basketball 3x3 match. AFP

LeBron’s son Bronny commits to play at USC

LOS ANGELES—Bronny James, the 18-year-old son of NBA superstar LeBron James, announced Saturday he has committed to play at the University of Southern California.

In an Instagram posting, Bronny James displayed a photo of himself in the USC locker room with the caption “Fight On #committed.”

The talented teen is ranked among the top US high school prospects and considered one of the top point guards in the nation.

He capped a stellar senior campaign at Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles with 15 points in an all-star game of top college candidates, sinking five 3-pointers. His famous father—the NBA’s alltime leading scorer as well as a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player—has said he will join for whatever NBA team Bronny James plays on just for the chance to play alongside his son.

Teen star James could be eligible for the NBA Draft after one season for the Trojans, who are expected to have a strong squad next season.

Some analysts have already marked James as a likely top-10 selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Bronny James would turn 20 in October of 2024, the same month that the 2024-25 NBA

NIVERSITY of Santo Tomas has made it to the UAAP men’s volleyball finals for the first time in 11 years following a 25-18, 25-22, 25-21 sweep of Far Eastern University in the Season 85 stepladder on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

“We’re more than happy kasi after [11] long years nakabalik ng Finals yung UST,” said Golden Spikers’ Gboy De Vega, who unleashed 16 points on 14-of-29 spikes and two service aces while also tallying eight excellent receptions. “Big thank you sa lahat ng alumni kasi isa sila sa naging factor kung bakit kami naging united this game.

“They shared knowledge, yung mga experiences nila before nung nag champion sila dati at isinapuso lang namin yun, naniwala kami sa lahat ng turo nila,” the rookie added.

UST will start its best-of-three finals series against the three-peat seeking National University on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The Bulldogs are undefeated in

14 matches this season.

Golden Spikers make volley finals for 1st time in 11 years U

“Naging advantage sa amin [‘yung long preparation] kasi napag-aralan namin ‘yung positioning nila and at the same time napag-aralan din namin ‘yung weaknesses namin, naging strength namin ‘yun,” said UST assistant coach Benjamin Mape.

Ahead by just two in the third set, 21-19, Gboy de Vega and Rainier Flor collaborated to send the Golden Spikers to match point, 24-20. Mark Calado pulled one back for FEU, but Josh Ybañez completed the sweep on a check ball off a combination play.

The Golden Spikers pulled away from a 17-15 count, with Flor, De Vega,

Ybañez, and Dedoroy all chipping in to take the first frame, 25-18.

With the game tied at 22-all, errors doomed the Tamaraws, as Ariel Cacao first committed an overreach violation before Rainier Flor denied Jelord Talisayan for the set point in the second period. Mark Calado’s attempt then went out to give UST the 25-22 tally.

Ybañez backstopped De Vega with 15 points and 13 receptions while Flor and Dedoroy chimed in with 11 points apiece as well.

Calado was the lone Tamaraw in double figures with 12 points, while Jelord Talisayan and Dryx Saavedra managed six and five points, respectively.

Naga College stuns UST; Kings Montessori wins vs Lyceum

CLARK FREEPORT—Adding this Freeport to its list of host locations from around the world, Ducati, the renowned Italian motorcycle manufacturer, recently organized it global event dubbed “We are Ducati. We Ride as One” event inside Clark Freeport Zone.

In collaboration with the Clark Development Corporation, the event saw hundreds of Ducati riders from all over the country come together for a day of riding and camaraderie.

The highlight of the event was a group ride, where the riders formed a massive convoy and rode through the streets of this Freeport, from the vicinity of the Clark International Airport to the Clark Parade Grounds.

Riders of all ages and skill levels came together to celebrate their passion for motorcycles, showcasing their skill and passion in a safe and controlled environment.

CDC Tourism Promotions Division

Officer-In-Charge Elenita Lorenzo expressed excitement about the event happening in the Freeport. She also cited the significance of the Ducati brand which is synonymous with passion, performance, and innovation.

With its sprawling roads and picturesque landscapes providing the perfect backdrop for the event, Clark is now the top-of-mind for organizers when it comes to various events, including sports-related activities.

As mentioned on its official website, “We Ride as One” is an event organized by Ducati to bring together its community of Ducati Official Clubs (DOCs) and enthusiasts worldwide, providing them with an opportunity to unite on the same day and share a combined experience of fun and togetherness. Ducatisti gather at their local dealers to meet and celebrate, with a Ducati Red parade coloring the streets of each location.

Aside from this Freeport, other prominent locations like London, Melbourne, Rome, Madrid, Tokyo, Shanghai, Munich, Dubai, Bangkok, Amsterdam, Sydney and other major cities worldwide also hosted the said event.

NAGA College Foundation stunned University of Santo Tomas, 16-25, 25-14, 25-13, as unheralded squads stamped their marks in the explosive opener of the inaugural Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Sunday at the San Andres Gym in Malate, Manila.

The Lady Tigers pulled off a reverse sweep behind Arah Ellah Panique’s 22 points to complete an upset ax on the Junior Tigresses and introduce themselves with a bang in the 16-team GVIL backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Potato Corner, Peri-Peri and R&B Meil Team with the City of Manila as government cooperation partner.

Panique had 21 hits and a block while Maria Blesila Abitria and Sheena Sarie chipped in 15 and 10 points, respective-

ly, for the Bicolana spikers in a massive upset of perennial UAAP contender from a set down.

Naga jumped to 1-0 for an early lead in Pool D ahead of a gigantic duel anew against another UAAP powerhouse in La Salle Zobel next Sunday.

“Nagbunga kung ano ‘yung pinagsanayan namin. Sabi ko lang sa mga bata, hangga’t di pa tapos, wag tayong bibigay. Galing lang tayo ng probinsya

pero parehas lang kami sa training at sa tao-tao,” said coach Parley Tupaz.

“Napakalaking bagay ito para sa amin lalo na sa probinsya namin, sa Naga, at sa school lalo at nandito lahat ng malalakas na high school teams sa Shakey’s.”

Jaila Adrao, with 10 points, served as the only bright spot for the Junior Tigresses in a flat start to their campaign in the GVIL, also supported by Mikasa, Team Rebel Sports, Toby’s Sports, Genius Sports and SM Tickets.

Later, Shekaina and Shahanna Lleses connived with 11 and 10 points, respectively, as Kings Montessori School from Quezon City also pulled the rug from under NCAA bet Lyceum of the Philippines University-Cavite in Pool B, 2510, 25-18

“Masaya na panalo sa unang salang

kasi advanced ang mga teams dito sa Shakey’s. Concern namin nung una na mawala ‘yung takot ng mga bata kontra sa mga mas bigating teams. Buti nakapag-execute kami at maganda ang passing,” said coach Rogelio Getingan. Angelica Cruz paced Lyceum with seven points.

In the third match, Clarisse Loresco fired 15 points as Far Eastern UDiliman made short work of St. Clare Caloocan, 25-7, 25-11, for a 1-0 slate in Pool C.

All GVIL games are accessible live and on-demand through Plus Network on all of its social media platforms as well as on the pages of Shakey’s Philippines and Shakey’s Super League (SSL) with CNN Philippines, Solar Sports and Tap Sports as TV partners.

Korean eyes breakthrough win at ICTSI Luisita golf

KIM Seoyun hopes to feed on her strong runnerup finish at Caliraya Springs in quest of a maiden win on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, coming in as one of the top draws in the ICTSI Luisita Championship unfolding Tuesday in Tarlac.

The 19-year-old Korean nearly toppled Pauline del Rosario in the last LPGT stop in Cavinti, Laguna three weeks ago, fighting back from four strokes down in the stretch to pull within one heading to the final hole. But she missed forcing a playoff with a flubbed birdie try, enabling del Rosario to pound out a one-stroke victory while on a break from the Epson Tour.

But going to the P750,000 Luisita Championship, the fourth leg of this year’s Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit. Kim exudes confidence, vowing to dish out her best at the challenging Luisita Golf and Country Club course and against a stellar field headed by Harmie Constantino, Daniella Uy, Chihiro Ikeda and Pamela Mariano.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to play at Luisita. If I look at my condition now, there is a possibility that I can win,” said Kim.

She also crowded Rianne Malixi in a duel of top amateurs in last year’s Riviera Championship in Silang, Cavite but came up short by two despite a tournament-best, eagle-spiked backside 31 at the exacting Langer course.

Ready for big-time golf, Kim marked her pro debut with a tied for 23rd finish at Anvaya

Cove Ladies International ruled by Bianca Pagdanganan last February then skipped the Visayan swing of this year’s LPGT to toughen up and sharpen her skills for the Caliraya Springs Championship.

She stalked del Rosario and trailed by just one shot after 18 holes, fell by four in the second round but mounted a fightback in the last 18 holes, birdying three of the first five holes then bouncing back from a three-bogey, one-bogey card from Nos. 8 to 12 with three birdies in the last six holes to threaten the eventual ICTSI-backed winner.

Her second runner-up effort also made Kim a lot hungrier coming into this week’s battle, not just of shotmaking and iron play at one of the country’s top championship courses, but also of decision-making.

“Thanks to God’s grace, I was able to finish the Caliraya Championship in second place and it surely bolstered my confidence,” said Kim. “I’m excited to show my skills again at Luisita.”

So do Constantino, Uy, Ikeda and Mariano, ensuring another down-to-the-wire finish in the 54hole championship put up by ICTSI, which also features Florence Bisera, Sarah Ababa, Gretchen Villacencio, Apple Fudolin, Rev Alcantara and Korean Yang Juyoung, along with amateurs Laurea Duque and Nam Eunhua, also from Korea.

Completing the cast are Sheryl Villasencio, Eva Minoza, Lovelynn Guioguio, Lucy Landicho, Majorie Pulumbarit and Kristine Fleetwood.

The UST Golden Spikers celebrate their victory in the Season 85 stepladder on Sunday.

Bronny James AFP

Coco Martin’s unrelenting drive to create captivating content

PRIMETIME series FPJ’s Ang Batang Quiapo is not your ordinary television drama. Instead of providing the actors with a traditional script, Coco Martin –who wears different hats in the series as the lead actor, director, and co-producer –gives them a general idea of the scene and allowed them to improvise their dialogue and actions based on their understanding of their characters and the situation.

This unscripted approach allows the actors to tap into their creativity and deliver performances that felt authentic and natural.

“You have to be on your toes. You have to rely on your instincts and knowledge of your character to create meaningful scenes,” said Charo Santos who plays Tindeng Asuncion in the action drama.

She added that the technique also challenges the actors to be more present at the moment and respond to each other’s cues and actions in real time.

According to Coco, this approach was a way to make the actors feel more invested in their characters and the story. He wanted to create an environment where the actors felt free to explore and express their creativity and to give them a sense of ownership over their performances.

This and more will be seen in the succeeding episodes of FPJ’s Batang

Quiapo starting tonight. The announcement was made during a media conference, where Coco shared his thoughts and feelings about the show’s storyline and characters. His involvement in the production demonstrates his commitment to creating captivating content for his audience.

Coco teased viewers to watch out for the new developments, as well as the new characters who will join the story, as Tanggol finally commits to becoming a better person by turning his back on his vices. He discussed that Tanggol has learned a lot from street life and his experiences in Quiapo and has realized that it is time for a change in his life. Coco also expressed his

excitement and curiosity to see what new journey Tanggol will embark on in the future episodes of the show. Aside from the shift in Tanggol’s character, Coco promised an explosive episode as the lives of the different characters will finally intertwine and cause chaos among their respective groups. Talking to the media, Coco also expressed his appreciation to the viewers who continue to tune in making

‘Voltes V: Legacy’

Batang Quiapo a big part of their lives ever since its premiere in February.

“We thank all the people who love and support Batang Quiapo from the beginning until now. You are the reason why our program turned out to be great. Thank you so much for all your help and love for us,” said Coco, who serves as an actor, coproducer, and one of the directors of the series,” he said in the vernacular.

FPJ’s Batang Quiapo premiered strongly in February 2023, earning 44 million total online views in its first week alone. It has consistently hit record-breaking concurrent views online on Kapamilya Online Live and continues to be loved by Filipinos around the world as Tanggol, Mokang, Lola Tindeng, and other characters have become household names.

FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, which is inspired by the original story of Regal Films, airs on weeknights at 8:00 on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWantTFC, and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. –Nickie Wang

When Zeke met Fifth

WITH its first three episodes gaining 1.3 million plus views since it dropped on Oxin Film’s YouTube Channel, the reign of Pinoy boy’s love drama continues with My Story

Director Xion Lim’s My Story presents two pairs of actors namely the BL reliables Miko Gallardo and Teejay Marquez plus the fresh princes of Pinoy BL, Jericho Del Rosario and Hiro Shimoji

The Gallardo and Marquez narrative focuses on the tandem of Filipino chefs working in Thailand, with Sky (Gallardo) doing his darn best to come to terms with and move forward move on from a failed long-distance relationship while Win (Marquez) is anxious and excited about what happens next and now to this rebound and not so groovy kind of love.

For the young masters Del Rosario and Shimoji, what we get to see is sugar spice and all that is nice, pleasantries and surprises that bring kilig and confusion, and all the game changer feels and bringer of the ouchies that is about to unravel and for them to experience.

There is no denying that the Sky and Win pairing is enjoyable to watch. However, it is the Zeke and Fifth slowly but surely blossoming of fine pink romance that brings not only curiosity but hooks BL aficionados and its new audiences.

Director Lim explains why the young masters bagged their respective roles of Fifth (for Hiro) and Zeke (for Jericho): “I want someone who truly fits the part of two college students who are polar opposites. 'Yung maangas one and a softie person. The actors must be comfortable with their own skin, willing to expose their emotions, be vulnerable, and has this honest connection. With Jericho and Hiro, they have it. There is something magical about them. On the set, and behind the scenes, they are natural. And I am happy to report na kahit pa parang sub-unit sila here, so many are adore them.”

VOLTES V Legacy, the latest Filipino television series, has set a new standard for local productions with its stunning use of computer-generated imagery (CGI). The show, which had a limited run in theaters and gave moviegoers a glimpse of this much-awaited series, has left audiences captivated and in awe, raising the bar for what can be achieved in Filipino television.

The show’s use of CGI has enabled it to create breathtaking and dynamic action sequences, which have helped to immerse viewers in the story and elevate the overall quality of the show. As a result, Voltes V Legacy has become a benchmark for future Filipino productions, inspiring others to push the boundaries and aim for new heights of excellence.

The country’s biggest and probably the most expensive series is headlined by Miguel Tanfelix as Steve Armstrong, Ysabel Ortega as Jamie Robinson, Radson Flores as Mark Gordon, Raphael Landicho as Little Jon Armstrong, and Matt Lozano as Big Bert Armstrong.

Seeing them on the big screen during the series “cinematic experience,” it’s easy to conclude that their performances show authenticity and emotional depth, allowing audiences to fully immerse themselves in the story and connect with the characters.

Miguel’s portrayal of Steve Armstrong captures the character’s bravery and determination, while Ysabel’s Jamie Robinson is a perfect blend of intelligence and vulnerability. Radson brings a strong and loyal presence to his role as Mark Gordon, and Raphael’s Little Jon Armstrong is both charming and mischievous. Matt’s Big Bert Armstrong is tough and dependable, making him an integral part of the team.

Together, these actors have created a dynamic and cohesive ensemble that pivotal to the success of the show. Their individual performances are strong and well-suited to their respective characters. And their chemistry as a group adds an extra layer of depth to the characters’ relationships, making them more believable and compelling.

The making of ‘Legacy’

GMA’s Assistant Vice President for Drama highlighted how the show began its production at the height of the pandemic in 2020.

“We started shooting at the beginning of the pandemic, we were all locked in. Imagine the threat of COVID-19 at that time and the expenses of the network with all of us being locked in. Added to that were the strict protocols that needed to be followed,” Sese started.

The capable production team of ‘Voltes V: Legacy’ he executive also revealed that the team had to make significant adjustments

“We were together for three years. Little Jon (Raphael) was still small then. We had his costume made three times, and that was one of the big challenges the production went through because we couldn’t shoot with a minor at that time. We had to finish all the sequences without him. There were even meetings on whether Little Jon would be replaced, but no. We stood our ground. We had hope that COVID-19 would subside, and thank God, we were able to finish this Moreover, the GMA executive reminisced about the personal sacrifices of the production team just to put up a grand and phenomenal series like Voltes . But in the end, Sese reiterated that everything has paid off.

“We sacrificed a lot of our time. The times we would have spent with our families, we didn’t have them. But I’m not complaining because this is such a legacy project and I’m really proud that it went to us because we will carry it forever. Credits to the team behind me who never gave up on all the challenges.”

The live-action series is produced by GMA Network in partnership with Toei Company, Ltd. and Telesuccess

CGI to

The innocence and purity of their hearts, combined with the unpredictable nature of their fiery passion, drive Zeke and Fifth followers crazy with kilig Zeke and Fifth’s initial meeting was filled with anger, disgust, and arrogance, yet their on-screen chemistry and sparks were palpable, exceeding the usual dose.

Jericho on playing Zeke: “It’s a great opportunity for a newcomer like me and I’m being professional about it. I enjoy this ride of a lifetime as Zeke, and having Fifth as a constant in his life makes it even better.”

When asked if he is prepared to face criticism or stereotypes for his role in BL, Hiro responds, “No matter what role I portray, people will always have something to say about you. It’s time to break the stigma that if you’re a man who acts in a BL, it means you’re gay. That kind of thinking is outdated.”

He continues, “I enjoy playing the role of Fifth because he is a well-crafted character who speaks for many people, not just those of my age group, but for everyone.”

The reality of many watching their episodes and the sudden popularity and rise of followers on their social media accounts, the twosome are amused, amazed, and grateful.

Since they filmed, and have finished the shooting of the episodes, Shimoji shares: Hindi pa kami nag-aaway o nagkatampuhan. Mas naging deeper pa ang friendship namin.”

Well, the closeness and fondness cannot be concealed and denied, it is more than evident that Jericho and Hiro enjoy each other company, touch-feely yes but not going overboard. Both are courageous with their reply of “Yes,” when asked if it is possible for them to be in love with one another outside of their characters. Such bravery for these young men to express that.

With a narrative that brings the romance and contemporary realities of a different kind of love, and actors who bring the emotional truth to their respective characters, My Story proves that the reign and reach of

The new princes of Pinoy BL 'My Day' stars Hiro Shimoji (left) and Jericho Del Rosario

Mokang (Lovi Poe, left) and Tanggol (Coco Martin)

Filipino actor, director, and producer Coco Martin

The cast of FPJ's Batang Quiapo at the mediacon last May 4

The show uses

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

DEAR Joe, the country’s first letter-writing café, recently opened a branch in Imus, Cavite, its 23rd since it was launched in 2020.

Conceptualized by the same creative and brilliant minds behind The Coffee Project, Dear Joe has become a haven for lovers of the written word customers come for the cafe’s authentic retro-American vibe and stay for the caffeine fix.

Dear Joe’s cool and serene ambience inspires customers to scribble notes on the cafe’s fun stationery as they linger over their favorite brews. They may write to whomever they please – their celebrity crush, a dearly beloved or cherished friend, a lover from the past – or even write heartfelt words of affirmation for themselves.

Such delightful pursuits may now be savored at Dear Joe’s newest outlet, located in Imus, Cavite, just across from

LIFE

Pen your love story at Dear Joe

Camella Manors Aviana, a place of convergence where everything that its residents need and wants for a laidback yet exciting lifestyle is within reach.

Camella Manors Aviana is smack dab in the heart of Imus, one of Cavite’s more dynamic cities. As a bustling growth center, Imus is considered a hub for this progressive province’s economic, social, and residential activities. It recently inaugurated

Dead Sea marathon

its 1.4-billion state-of-the-art Imus overnment Center, adding to the developments that are expected to generate a stronger demand for residential condominiums. This has placed Camella Manors Aviana under the radar of condo unit buyers and investors that seek a cozy suburban setting amid shopping malls, restaurants, and other establishments.

Deborah D. Eria, the Division Head of Aviana Imus, shares her excitement about how Dear Joe will fit into this scenario.

“After a long day at work, there’s nothing like getting to relax in a quiet nook in Dear Joe, sipping on hot or chilled coffee while dashing off a sweet note to someone,” Eria says.

“Dear Joe offers just that –some downtime for yourself in a place where you can reflect and set thoughts down to paper,” the executive ends.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with exquisite floral cakes and indulgent feasts

CONRAD Manila is proud to announce its celebration of Mother’s Day with a series of delightful offerings. This year, Conrad Manila is honoring mothers and soon-to-be moms with indulgent feasts and exquisite floral cakes, specially curated to show appreciation for their unwavering love and care.

Featuring Bru Coffee Bar’s three charming floral cake options, each cake is beautifully adorned with delicate sugar flowers and intricate detailing, adding an elegant touch to this special celebration. The Rainbow Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, and Mango Cheesecake options are not only visually stunning but also delectable, with flavors that cater to every palate. Regular and mini cakes are available, starting at P400 nett.

Fabio Berto, Hotel General Manager, says, “At Conrad Manila, we underscore the importance of recognizing the unique bond between mothers and their families. Our lovely floral cakes are a testament to our appreciation of mothers and our dedication to ensuring they receive only the best.”

THE Dead Sea is actually a 605-square-kilometer lake, landlocked by Israel, Jordan and Israel’s West Bank, and is the lowest point on earth, at 1400 feet below sea level. It earned its name because its 332 percent salinity, ten times that of the oceans, prevents any macroscopic aquatic organisms, such as fish and water plants, to live in it.

But its unique combination of salt and minerals is also a welcome benefit to those who swim in it – they easily float in its buoyant waters and, the best part is, the swimmer reaps the benefits of the water’s therapeutic properties.

When my siblings and I visited the Dead Sea several years ago, swimming was the first thing we all did. I wanted to try out if I would really float on it. And I did!

In fact, I was reading a book while floating effortlessly on the lake.

After swimming, my sisters gave themselves a facial using the muddy soil on the shoreline because our tour guide told us that some enterprising Israelis bottle the saline-andmineral-rich soil from the beach and sell it as very effective facial and skin cleansers.

once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Now comes the good news that I gathered from the Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, of which I am one of the trustees. Israel is now accepting registrants to next year’s Dead Sea Marathon which offers participants a unique running experience in an area that is closed to the public and used only for the purpose of the marathon.

Brasserie on 3 invites families to an exquisite ‘Mother’s Day Extravaganza’ feast curated by Executive Chef Warren Brown. Inspired by mom’s favorite dishes, the menu offers an indulgent blend of Indian and Western signature dishes, including a rib eye roast, lechon sisig con chorizo, paella, and more. On May 13 and 14, Moms dine for free in every group of four, with prices starting at P3,500 nett per person.

Sweet treats at the Conrad Manila C Lounge available on Mother’s Day 2023

care, ensuring that this Mother’s Day will be unforgettable. The set includes a range of delightful treats, including strawberry panna cotta, chocolate tart, strawberry pavlova, carrot cake, and macarons. Rates start at P2,688, with a selection of tea, coffee, or sparkling wine, available until May 14, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fabio adds, “We want to provide our guests with an opportunity to celebrate this special day with their loved ones in a comfortable and luxurious setting. At Conrad Manila, we strive to create unforgettable moments and experiences that will leave a lasting impression.”

has evolved from the old Ein Gedi race which, for over 30 years, hosted thousands of runners from all over Israel. These runners have been participating in the race year in and year out, most probably mesmerized by the beautiful scenery that comes with the event. A wide range of courses is available to all categories of runners – 5km, 10km, 21.1km, 42km, and the 50km Ultra Marathon, which is under the auspices of the Israel Athletic Association.

China Blue celebrates Mother’s Day with a grand feast fit for a queen. The special menu honors the love and care that mothers selflessly provide their families, and guests can get a special gift for mom with every purchase of the set menu. The set menu starts at P49,880 nett, serving 10 guests.

C Lounge invites families to share precious moments with their mothers while enjoying a delectable spread of treats and picturesque views. The ‘Mother’s Day Tea Party’ set is made with love and

For more information on Conrad Manila’s Mother’s Day offerings, visit EatDrinkHilton.com and www. conradhotels.com/manila for more details. You may also call +63 2 8833 9999 to learn more about their Mother’s Day offerings. Stay connected by following them on their social media pages at www.facebook. com/ConradManilaPh and www. instagram.com/ConradManila.

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE:

A good-looking lady went to see a psychiatrist for her first session. The doctor motioned for her to lie down on the couch, but she refused. The doctor explained to her, for several minutes, why she would have to do it, she finally lay down, smoothed her dress around her legs, and began to relax a bit. “Now then, how did your trouble begin?” the psychiatrist asked. With a concerned tone in her voice, the lady answered,

We enjoyed ourselves swimming in the water and relaxing on the beach, taking note of the lifeguard’s reminder that we should not stay in the water for more than 15 minutes at any given time, otherwise, our skin will get very soft and would easily be vulnerable to sharp or pointed things. Our frolic at the Dead Sea was definitely a

Israel constructed on the Dead Sea, as a pathway for the marathon, a long, narrow, dirt embankment, mixed with asphalt, traversing the lake onto the other side, the boundary of Jordan. This path is flanked by the salty waters of the wide open Dead Sea, giving participants a unique, almost surreal experience. No other marathon event in the world gives participants this rare familiarity with such a picturesque background while competing for the honor and the valuable prizes that go with winning the sports event. The present-day Dead Sea Marathon

The attractive photos on this page will give you an idea of what to expect when participating in this unique sports event. If you are interested in registering for the 2024 edition of the Dead Sea Marathon which is scheduled in February, or need additional information, click on https://deadsea.run/en This brings me to my question –with all the tourists flocking to the Dead Sea all throughout the year, and the thousands who participate in the marathon, how can something with so much life, vigor, and excitement be called ‘Dead’? For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

The Marathon’s path traverses the Dead Sea, from the Israel side to the Jordan border

The public enjoying the Marathon’s path, flanked by clusters of salt crystals

“Just like this.”

A tourist effortlessly floating on the Dead Sea while reading a book

Dear Joe has a cool and serene ambiance that inspires customers to scribble notes