Manila Standard - 2023 May 14 - Sunday

PH, Kuwait set talks on labor issues

AHIGH-LEVEL Philippine delegation is scheduled to fly to Ku wait next week to discuss the ban on Filipinos entering the Gulf state for the first time and the possible review of the 2018 lab agreement between the two countries.

“What we hope to achieve when we get there is to clarify the issues of why there was a visa suspension, what will it take to resolve these issues between the Philippines and Kuwait,” Foreign Affairs AssistantSecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Paul Cortes said in a briefing on Saturday.

He said the ban and suspension of entry visa issuance were only formally communicated to the Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday, but Kuwait has yet to officially provide a reason behind its decision.

Kuwaiti media, however, said the ban stemmed from the Philippines’ alleged non-compliance with the 2018 labor accord concerning the operation of a temporary shelter for distressed Filipinos inside the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait.

Cortes, however, said Manila did not violate the deal if this was indeed Kuwait’s reason because the establishment of shelters inside the embassies, now known as Migrant Workers Overseas

UN body: No woman should die giving birth

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) called for adequate reproductive health care in the Philippines as the country marks Mother’s Day today, citing how around six to seven Filipino women die during pregnancy and childbirth due to the unavailability,inaccessibility, unaffordability, or poor quality of sexual and reproductive health services.

In a press statement, UNFPA Country Representative Dr. Leila Saiji Joudane said maternal deaths globally had increased during the past two years.

“Around six to seven Filipino women die daily due to childbirth.

During emergencies, when access to maternal health services is disrupted, more women die during pregnancy and childbirth. Women die because sexual and reproductive health services are unavailable, inaccessible, unaffordable, or of poor quality,” Joudane said.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the UN body noted that 1,458 women died of maternal causes in 2019, which went up to 2,478 in 2021.

Filipino Resource Centers (MWOFRC), is mandated under Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.

“We could not have agreed to a provision that will allow us not to establish a shelter for our countrymen because that’s our law.

Of course, whenever we have an agreement with another country, we always connect that with our domestic legislation,” he said.

He said the operation of these shelters abroad is non-negotiable, and would remain in operation regardless of the outcome of the upcoming talks.

“Our law is clear. We have to have a Cortes said the DFA would also explain

shelter for our kababayans,” he said. the deployment ban for household service workers (HSWs), which he believes could have been a “source of confusion” for the Kuwaiti side.

The ban only covers the contracts of

the deployment ban for household service have been a “source of confusion” for the first-time HSWs bound for Kuwait and

first-time HSWs bound for Kuwait and

the brutal death of Jullebee mains were found in a desert Cortes said the meeting

The upcoming

than 290,000 overseas Filipinos there. According to the DFA, around 70 percent of

the OFWs in Kuwait are household workers.

was imposed in February after the brutal death of Jullebee Ranawa, whose charred re mains were found in a desert in Kuwait this year. is timely as it was already set even before the issue of the entry ban came up. high-level talks, he said, are part of the regular discussions between the Phil ippines and Kuwait concerning the more around 70 percent of workers.

HERO, WITH OR WITHOUT A CAPE.

Kids pose with a ‘Super Mom’ at SM City Dasmariñas to mark Mother’s Day today. Norman Cruz

PBBM: Assist ‘comfort women’ in filing claims

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered concerned government agencies to extend aid and assistance to the case of the “Malaya Lolas” – a group of victims of sexual slavery by the Japanese imperial army during World War II.

The President made the statement

following a report of the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), saying the Philippines had failed to assist the Malaya Lolas in filing claims against Japan.

“Government agencies concerned are formulating a comprehensive response to the CEDAW committee and will submit this within the required period,” President Marcos said on Saturday.

“We commit to undertaking measures and finding ways to help them live better lives as an expression of our continued deep solidarity with them and of our utmost respect,” he added.

Mr. Marcos said his administration acknowledges the “grave atrocities endured by the brave Filipino women during wars of the 20th century.”

MALAYANG LOLAS. File photo shows two comfort women with Teresita Ang See (middle), convenor of the Flowers for the Lolas Campaign, in a protest action in front of the Japanese Embassy in Pasay City in January.

Danny Pata

“(We) sincerely commiserate with them as they bear the long-term and irreversible physical and psychological effects of the war. We honor their indomitable spirit and dignity in taking this important cause forward through these years,” the President said.

NPC to probe possible GCash ‘data breach’

THE National Privacy Commission on Saturday said it is looking into a “potential personal data breach” among accounts of Globe-backed fintech giant GCash that encountered unauthorized money transfers on May 9.

“The NPC’s Complaints and Investigation Division (CID) has been closely monitoring this incident since

May 9, 2023 amidst circulating reports of GCash users on suspicious transactions on their GCash accounts, to determine the existence of breach and its extent, and whether there are any other violation of the provisions of the Data Privacy Act of 2012,” the NPC said. The mobile wallet, however, denied that a hacking occurred.

The NPC said it ordered G-Xchange, Inc., the operator of GCash, to appear before the commission for a clarificatory meeting and to provide additional information and documents on May 12.

“The NPC will issue another order instructing GXI to provide further information and documents to enable an independent assessment and verify the

claims presented by GXI on the supposed phishing being the cause of the glitch,” the Privacy body said.

The Department of Information and Communication Technology as well as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas earlier said they were conducting their own investigation into the incident.

ICC allows PH to submit reply on probe appeal

THE International Criminal Court has granted Manila’s request to reply to the arguments raised by the ICC prosecutor on the country’s appeal against the resumption of the probe into the bloody war on illegal drugs of the Duterte administration. In a decision made public Saturday, the ICC appeals chamber said itwould help it decide on the appeal petition if the Philippine government submits a reply to certain issues raised by ICC

Prosecutor Karim Khan.

It gave Manila until May 16 to submit its response.

“The Republic of the Philippines may file a reply to the Prosecution’s response to the Philippine Government’s Appeal

Brief… The reply shall not exceed 10 pages,” read the decision signed by Presiding Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut.

In January, the ICC’s pre-trial chamber authorized the resumption of the probe

into the previous administration’s controversial drug war, which it suspended in November 2021 following a deferral request from the Philippine government.

Both Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra and Justice Secretary JesusCrispin Remulla had challenged the ICC prosecutor as to how he can continue his investigation without the compulsory processes, such as subpoenas, that only Philippine authorities can issue.

Gov’t reactivates special task force ahead of El Niño period

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

MALACANANG announced on Saturday that the Marcos administration has reactivated a task force mandated to take measures to cushion the impact of the anticipated El Niño phenomenon.

Meanwhile, Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles urged the people to continue planting trees to help mitigate the harsh effects of El Niño.

The multi-agency task force will be led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Presidential spokesperson Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

“The team is tasked to implement mea-

NAIA’s April air traffic highest in post-COVID era

n By JOEL E. ZURBANO

THE Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) posted last month its highest passenger volume and flight movement in a single month since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) disclosed on Saturday.

MIAA acting general manager Bryan Co said the NAIA recorded 1,677,779 international passengers and 9,089 international flights in April, more than double compared to the 663,824 international passengers and 4,494 international flights in April last year.

“Summer is indeed a popular time for vacation and international travel, not only for Filipinos taking advantage of airlines’ promotional fares or using travel funds for flights they couldn't use due to the pandemic, but also for our international visitors wanting to see the Philippines,” Co said.

“After more than two years of closed borders, we expect the momentum of recovery to continue for tourism and the aviation industry," he added.

NAIA handled a total of 1,178,461 passengers overall in the first 10 days of April as air travelers took advantage of the long Holy Week break.

Combined with domestic travel figures, NAIA registered a total of 3,666,503 passengers and 22,816 flights in April 2023. This represents a 50-percent rise from the 2,447,795 passengers in April 2022, and accounts for 86 percent of the 4,261,352 passengers in April 2019, the last full year before the pandemic.

Flight movement has also increased by 28 percent compared to the 17,774 flights in the same month last year, and is equivalent to 98 percent of the 23,327 flights in April 2019.

sures to mitigate the impact of El Niño on the country’s economy, natural resources, environment, climate change, disaster response, and peace and order,” Garafil said. The reconstitution of the task force, along with the revival of El Niño were in compliance with a presidential directive for a “whole-of-government” and approach to overcome the challenges of El Niño.

Concerned government agencies, in a report to the President, have agreed to continue the existing structure of the El Niño Task Force as stated under Executive Order (EO) No. 16 issued in 2001. Under EO 16, the task force was mandated to formulate a comprehensive disaster preparedness and rehabilitation plan for El Niño, monitor the implementation of the plan, and conduct a massive public information campaign.

The order also directed all government agencies and local government units to extend full support to the El Niño task force. Garafil said the current Expanded Roadmap for Addressing the Impact of El Niño (E-RAIN) would also be updated and enhanced.

INBRIEF

BOC undergoes key personnel reshuffle

CUSTOMS Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio has ordered the revamp of district collectors in major ports and other key officers to “further improve the agency’s collection performance.”

“An issuance of a resolution indicating the adoption of the existing E-RAIN framework is recommended, and if needed, a creation of a Technical Working Group is also suggested,” she said.

To address the 2015-2016 El Niño episode, the administration of then president Benigno Aquino III crafted RAIN, which focused on ensuring food security, health, energy security, and safety in 67 impacted provinces, plus Metro Manila.

Acting Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez, in his report, emphasized that the reconstituted El Niño team will further improve the E-RAIN, specifically in such critical areas as food security, water security, energy security, health, and public safety.

Included in the reshuffle, based on Rubio’s Customs Personnel Order (CPO) dated May 10, 2023, were collectors of the so-called “billionaires ports’ - Port of Manila (PoM), Manila International Container Port (MICP) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Maritess Martin of Port of Subic replaced Manila port collector Michael Angelo Vargas who was transferred as deputy collector for administration in the MICP.

NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan, who was transferred to Subic, was replaced by Maria Yasmin Obillos-Mapa while MICP collector Arnoldo Famor, who was designated as chief of Paircargo Assessment Composite Unit in NAIA, was replaced by Romeo Allan Rosales from the Office of the Commissioner (Ocom).

Iloilo bettor pockets P225m Mega lotto pot

AN Iloilo resident is now P225 million richer, having won the jackpot in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) Mega Lotto 6/45 draw on Friday.

PCSO general manager Melquiades Robles said the lucky bettor’s 14-05-44-25-01-36 combination earned for him the top prize of P225,248,638.

The ticket was bought in Pavia, Iloilo.

The PCSO advised winners that they have one year from the date of the draw to claim their prizes, as specified in Republic Act 1169, the law on PCSO lotteries.

All jackpot prizes must be claimed at the PCSO main office in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

IT’S WORTH ONE’S SALT. Salt makers in Barangay Banog Norte, Bani, Pangasinan stand their ground as the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, launches Oplan Asin in the province to save the industry from eventual decline.

MECO says OFWs in Taiwan are secured

MANJILA Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairman and resident representative Silvestre Bello III on Saturday allayed concerns about the safety of Filipinos in Taiwan amid brewing tensions with mainland China.

Bello said the Philippine government, through MECO, was looking after the welfare and well-being of the Filipino expatriates in Taiwan.

“So we would like to assure you, everyone. I’ll take this opportunity to inform you… in Taiwan everything is normal and, if in the remote possibility na magkaroon

ng emergency situation, for example earthquake, mga lindol o even war, preparado po ang Taiwan government not only in protecting their own people but even the Filipinos, especially our workers,” Bello said in a media forum in Quezon City.

According to Bello, the National Police Agency of Taiwan has assured him of the protection and security of the Filipinos in the island nation.

“I met with the Director General together with the head of the Home Civilian Defense of Taiwan and they assured us na

iyong ating mga kababayan ay protektado nila,” Bello said.

Quoting Taiwanese security officials, Bello said there were 89,000 shelters that can accommodate more than the total population of Taiwan.

“Ganoon kapreparado iyong ating mga kasama sa Taiwan and they really treasure our OFWs kasi sila, according to them, are the best in their manufacturing industry,” he said.

Bello also noted that 90 percent of the factories in Taiwan have Filipino workers.

Tingog party-list extends financial aid to 300 impoverished Pasigueños

TINGOG party-list, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has undertaken another offsite payout event in Pasig City.

Tingog Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre presided at the distribution of the financial aid to needy residents held at the Youth Development Center in Rave Park, Pasig City on Thursday.

The political group said it considered the event as a “significant achievement that aligns with their advocacy in continuing to provide aid to different communities across the country in need of social services.”

Tingog and the DSWD gave away P3,000 to each of the 300 beneficiaries. Pasig City councilor Paul Roman San-

Panel set up to manage Malacañang Heritage Mansions

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday issued Executive Order No. 26 to promote and conserve Philippine historical and cultural heritage sites under the management of the Malacañang Heritage Mansions.

The order also provided for the creation of advisory and management bodies for the cultural and heritage sites.

EO 26 was entitled “Promoting Filipino History and Culture Through the Efficient Management of Malacañang Heritage Mansions, and Cre-

ating an Advisory Board and Management Center for the Purpose.”

“An Advisory Board for the efficient management of the Malacañang Heritage Mansions is hereby created,” the President stated.

The advisory board shall be composed of three representatives from the Office of the President (OP), who will serve in ex officio capacity, and three representatives from the private sector to be appointed by the Chief Executive. The President tasked the board to formulate policies, projects and

tiago expressed gratitude to the Tingog lawmakers, as well as Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for assuring the people, especially the indigents that they can depend on their political leaders.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Tingog Party-list dahil sa walang sawang pagbibigay ng tulong … tumutulong lang po kami (local officials) para mapaabot yung tulong mula sa kanila,” Santiago said.

Councilor Marion Rosalio Martires was also present at the payout to give hope to the people that despite the arduous, yet necessary requirements and process, their requested help is guaranteed. He also expressed his appreciation with Tingog Party-list and Speaker Romualdez for their unfailing help in the community.

programs for the efficient management of the Malacañang Heritage Mansions subject to existing laws and regulations.

“For this purpose, the Malacañang Heritage Mansions shall include the Kalayaan Museum, and such other properties as may be identified by the Advisory Board,” the EO stated.

The supervision of the Kalayaan Museum was transferred from the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration to the Social Secretary’s Office (SoSec).

Winners must write their names and signature on the back of the winning tickets and present two government-issued identification cards or documents. Lotto winnings of more than PHP10,000 are subject to 20 percent tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Meanwhile, 75 others won PHP32,000 each for guessing five out of the six winning digits, while 4,002 will get PHP1,000 each for four correct digits, and 73,108 will settle for PHP30 each for three correct digits.

The 6/45 Mega Lotto is drawn every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This is the third time this month that a lone bettor won the jackpot.

Fuel prices expected rise anew next week

MOTORISTS may anticipate an increase in fuel prices next week, Unioil Petroleum Philippines, Inc. said on Saturday. According to the oil company’s forecast, the per-liter prices of diesel will go up by P1.30 to P1.50 starting May 16. Pump prices of gasoline are seen to rise by P0.30 to P0.50 per liter. This is another turnaround as the oil firms himplemented price rollbacks over the past three weeks.

As of May 9, the Department of Energy locally monitored year-to-date net decrease for diesel and kerosene at P7.05/liter and P7.50/liter, respectively, while gasoline has a net increase of P3.85/liter.

The oil price hike will put an end to three consecutive weeks of price cuts, triggered by concerns of a recession in the US.

On May 9, the oil companies implemented a per liter decrease of P2.20 for gasoline, P2.70 for diesel, and P2.55 for Kerosene.

These resulted in a year-to-date net decrease for diesel at P7.05 per liter and kerosene at P7.50 per liter. Gasoline, on the other hand, has a net increase of P3.85 per liter.

WHERE THE PRICE IS RIGHT. Budget-conscious shoppers simply know where to find adorable ready-to-wear dresses at affordable prices—in a flea market in Quiapo, Manila.

TINGOG DOES IT AGAIN, THIS TIME IN PASIG. Tingog party-list lawmakers Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre hold another offsite financial aid payout, this time in Pasig City where they give away P3,000 to each of 300 needy Pasigueños.

Danny Pata

Pakistan ex-PM Khan back home after arrest, riots

PAKISTAN’S former prime minister Imran Khan arrived at his Lahore residence on Saturday after being freed on bail following days of legal drama and nationwide riots over his arrest on corruption charges.

Khan was swooped on by dozens of paramilitary troops and arrested during a routine court appearance on Tuesday, triggering violent clashes in several cities between his supporters and security forces.

His detention came just hours after he was rebuked by the powerful military, whom he once again accused of being involved in an assassination attempt against him last year.

The arrest on court premises as he prepared to file a bail application was declared unlawful on Thursday by the Supreme Court, which kept Khan in custody until Friday –when he was granted two weeks’ bail in the corruption case.

Islamabad High Court also ordered Khan could not be arrested before Monday in any case.

Khan has become entangled in a slew of legal allegations – a frequent hazard for opposition figures in Pakistan – since he was ousted from power in April last year.

“The head of the country’s largest party was abducted, kidnapped from the high court, and in front of the entire nation,” Khan told AFP from the court building.

“They treated me like a terrorist, this had to have a reaction,” he said of the protests that followed.

US backs bid to document Ukraine damages for post-war reparations

THE United States is throwing its support behind a bid to document damages from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which hopes the effort will lead to post-war reparations, according to a letter seen Friday by AFP.

The UN General Assembly in a non-binding November vote backed the idea of an “international register” that would document damages across Ukraine from the war unleashed by Russia in February 2022.

Earlier this year, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, the head of the Council of Europe, proposed that the Strasbourg-based group take the lead on the register.

The 46-nation Council, founded in 1949, seeks to uphold democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Its members are holding a meeting Tuesday in Reykjavik devoted mostly to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In a letter ahead of the meeting, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations who will represent Washington, an observer to the Council, at the

summit, said the United States would provide funding and serve as an “associate member” of the nascent register.

“As President Biden has stated, the United States has committed to holding Russia accountable for its war of aggression against Ukraine,” Thomas-Greenfield wrote in a letter to Buric seen by AFP.

“Establishing a Register of Damage to document claims of damage from Russia’s brutal war is a critical step in this effort,” she wrote.

The World Bank estimated in March that Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery needs amounted to $411 billion, 2.6 times the country’s estimated 2022 gross domestic product.

The United States in March also voiced support for another international effort on Ukraine – a special tribunal to consider the crime of aggression.

Ahead of her trip, Thomas-Greenfield spoke by telephone on Friday with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

The US ambassador discussed efforts to renew a UN-backed deal to ensure exports of grain from Ukraine, a key breadbasket, said her spokesman, Nate Evans.

After negotiations led by Turkey and the United Nations, Russia in July agreed to the initiative which ensures shipments from Black Sea ports but has not committed to a new renewal next week. AFP

Khan eventually left the heavily guarded court late Friday, hours after his hearings had ended and as protesters a few kilometers away clashed with police, who responded with tear gas. Shots were also fired towards officers, police said.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, the former cricket superstar reached his Lahore residence, where videos posted by his PTI party showed more than 100 supporters celebrating his release and throwing rose petals over his car.

“They keep trying to silence Khan and keep trying to put him behind bars. But Khan has proven that the one who stands with the truth always wins,” 21-year-old supporter Waqar Ahsan told AFP after Khan was granted bail. Zuneira Shah, a 40-year-old mother of three, feared that “the establishment would keep coming for him.” AFP

INBRIEF

‘Doomsday’ mother found guilty of murdering children

BANGLADESH Saturday moved to evacuate Rohingya refugees from “risky areas” to community centres and hundreds fled an island as the most powerful cyclone in nearly two decades barrelled towards the country and neighbouring Myanmar, officials said.

Cyclone Mocha was packing winds of up to 175 kilometers per hour (109 miles per hour) and meteorological officials in Dhaka classed it as “very severe,” with their Indian counterparts calling it “extremely severe.”

It is expected to make landfall on Sunday morning between Cox’s Bazar, where nearly one million Rohingya refugees live in camps largely made up of flimsy shelters, and Sittwe on Myanmar’s western Rakhine coast.

“Cyclone Mocha is the most powerful storm since Cyclone Sidr,” Azizur Rahman, the head of Bangladesh’s Meteorological Department, told AFP.

That cyclone hit Bangladesh’s southern coast in November 2007, killing more than 3,000 people and causing billions of dollars in damage.

Bangladeshi authorities have banned the Rohingya from constructing permanent concrete homes, fearing it may incentivise them to settle permanently rather than return to Myanmar, which they fled five years ago.

“We live in houses made of tarpaulin and bamboo,” said refugee Enam Ahmed, who lives at the Nayapara camp near the border town of Teknaf.

“We are scared. We don’t know where we will be sheltered. We are in a panic.”

Forecasters expect the cyclone to bring a deluge of rain, which can trigger landslides. Most of the camps are built on hillsides and landslips are a regular phenomenon in the region.

The storm is also predicted to unleash a storm surge up to four meters (13 feet) high, which can inundate low-lying coastal and riverine villages.

Officials said thousands of volunteers were evacuating Rohingyas from “risky areas” to more solid structures such as schools.

But Bangladesh’s deputy refugee commissioner Shamsud Douza told AFP:

“All the Rohingyas in the camps are at risk.”

Panic has also gripped some 8,000 people in Bangladesh’s southernmost island of Saint Martin’s with the tiny coral outcrop – one of the country’s top resort districts – right in the storm’s path. AFP

THAI opposition leaders toured Bangkok in open-top jeeps Saturday in a final-day bid to woo voters, urging them to turn out in force to oust the military-backed government.

The kingdom goes to the polls on Sunday with voters tipped to issue a damning verdict on former coup leader Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha after nearly a decade in power. But in a country where coups and court rulings have often overturned election results, there are fears the military could seek to cling on– despite the army chief insisting there would be no intervention this time.

Pheu Thai’s main prime ministerial candidate Paetongtarn Shinawatra waved and made the traditional Thai “wai” greeting to supporters as she toured the streets in an open-top jeep.

Dozens of trucks decked out in the party’s scarlet banners paraded from the Democracy Monument towards Bangkok’s main shopping district.

Supporters waved flags and chanted: “Pheu Thai landslide.”

“I hope Thai people will vote for us to solve your problems,” Paetongtarn told reporters.

Despite giving birth to her second child less than two weeks ago, the 36-year-old

showed no sign of flagging in the scorching tropical heat.

“It’s only been 12 days, I’m a little bit tired but that’s okay,” she told AFP.

“I’m so excited.”

Pheu Thai has been leading opinion polls, but the party’s route topower could face roadblocks from a Senate handpicked by the military under the 2017 junta-scripted constitution. Paetongtarn’s billionaire tycoon father Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as prime minister by a military coup in 2006, while her aunt suffered the same fate at Prayut’s hands in 2014.

Sunday’s poll is the first since major youth-led pro-democracy protests erupted across Bangkok in 2020 with demands to curb the power and spending of Thailand’s king – breaching a long-held taboo on questioning the monarchy.

Those protests fizzled out as COVID-19 curbs were imposed and dozens of leaders were arrested, but their energy has fed into growing support for the rival opposition Move Forward Party (MFP).

MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat made his own push on an open-top truck tour Saturday, rallying support through a loudhailer.

“Please give the younger generation the opportunity to govern the country – we

will take care of the older generation,” he told passersby.

Final countdown: Thai parties make last-day pitch to voters Bangladesh evacuations ahead of Cyclone Mocha

The election has shaped up as a generational clash between the pro-democracy opposition, backed by young and rural voters, and the conservative, military-allied royalist establishment embodied by Prayut and his United Thai Nation party.

Prayut, 69, has made an unashamedly nationalist pitch for votes and painted himself as the only candidate capable of saving Thailand from chaos and ruin.

Also in the conservative camp is the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) led by deputy prime minister Prawit Wongsuwan— another former army chief and coup architect who was close to Prayut until they fell out.

The 77-year-old, long regarded as a canny backroom operator in the shadowy world of Thai politics, has been tipped as a potential kingmaker this time.

As he made his own last push for votes on Saturday, he was keeping his cards close to his chest.

“I don’t make any prediction about the result,” he told reporters.

The 95,000 polling stations scattered from the misty forest-clad mountains of Thailand’s north to the idyllic palm-fringed sands of the southern beaches open at 8:00 am (0100 GMT) on Sunday. AFP

YOUNG SURVIVOR. A Palestinian child carries belongings salvaged from the rubble of a building damaged in Israeli air strikes on Gaza city on May 13, 2023. Israel and Gaza traded heavy fire on May 12 but Egyptian mediators launched a new bid to end days of fighting that has killed dozens, all but one of them Palestinian. AFP

A US mother with “doomsday” religious beliefs was found guilty Friday of murdering two of her children and conspiring to kill her husband’s ex-wife. Lori Vallow was on trial in the northwestern US state of Idaho over the deaths of her 16-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan and adopted seven-year-old son Joshua “JJ” Vallow.

Vallow, who has reportedly claimed to be a goddess charged with preparing humanity for the second coming of Christ, faces up to life in prison without parole. Her fifth husband Chad Daybell –the self-published author of several apocalyptic novels -- will soon go on trial separately over similar charges, which also include the murder of his first wife, Tammy.

The couple’s “religious beliefs” were cited by prosecutors as a factor in the murders, and their story was the subject of a Netflix true-crime documentary series “Sins of Our Mother,” released last year. The case first drew national headlines in late 2019 following the disappearance of Vallow’s children, which was first reported to authorities by Joshua’s grandparents. AFP

G7 finance chiefs move to diversify supply chains

THE G7 plans to launch a partnership scheme to diversify supply chains this year, the group’s finance ministers said Saturday following talks in Japan ahead of a major summit next week.

The ministers did not directly cite a desire to reduce reliance on trade with China or Russia as motivation for the initiative, which focuses on clean energy technology.

But the United States has led a push for export controls on chip components to China, citing national security concerns, and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen pointed to recent shocks to the global economy.

“Spillovers from Russia’s war against Ukraine and disruptions caused by the pandemic have made clear the importance of diversified and resilient supply chains,” she told reporters.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki also said COVID had revealed “the downside of supply chains being too concentrated in one place.”

In a joint statement, the Group of Seven’s finance ministers and central bank chiefs said they hoped to launch the partnership in collaboration with the World Bank “by the end of this year at the latest.” AFP

BY CANDLELIGHT. Pilgrims holding candles pray during the procession at the Shrine of Fatima in central Portugal. Thousands of pilgrims converged on the Fatima Sanctuary to celebrate the anniversary. AFP

Broadband internet firm expands in island destinations

CONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc. have reached the shores of world-class island destination Boracay as it continues to expand its domestic footprint to travel destinations nationwide.

“Nationwide expansion and making sure we reach Filipinos’ homes is a long game. This is why we push on with our fiber deployment nationwide, particularly in Visayas and Mindanao where we are still a relatively new name. Two years on and we are where we want to be: we are securing our foothold and making a name for ourselves especially in establishing our presence in high interest tourist destinations,” said Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy.

Aside from Boracay, Converge is also present in key tourist destinations nationwide such as Bohol, Cebu, Davao, Coron, Baler, Batangas, Puerto Galera and La Union, offering tailor-fit solutions for the hospitality industry.

“As restrictions have eased, we are very happy to be present in these key areas to help boost tourism and assist businesses and SMEs in their

recovery. The pandemic proved that the only way forward is to embrace connectivity and maximize the benefits of technology. We are here to show that Converge not only offers them worldclass connectivity, but also technology solutions that can give their businesses a competitive edge,” Uy said.

With over 7.9 million ports as of December 2022, Converge now has the broadest fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in the Philippines. It rolled out 2 million fiber ports in 2022 alone, driven by the robust expansion in Visayas and Mindanao. In 2023, Converge aims to roll-out more ports in the Visayas and Mindanao. VisMin accounted for a fifth of Converge’s nearly 1 million subscriber base in the fourth quarter of 2022. Aside from Aklan, Converge is present in nine other provinces in Visayas, while in Mindanao, it is present in 11 major provinces. For 2023, Converge is looking to expand to new cities in Bohol, Zamboanga, Palawan, and more cities in Aklan.

Bank of China named best bank in 2022

BANK of China (HK) Ltd. Manila Branch won as the “Best Renminbi Bank 2022” in a ceremony organized by The Asset Triple A TREASURISE (Treasury, Trade, Supply Chain, Risk, ESG) Awards.

Bank of China Manila country head Hu Xinquan said the recent achievement shows Bank of China’s dedication to delivering exceptional services and solutions to address the requirements of its clients. It also reinforces the bank’s significant participation in the renminbi (RMB) market in the Philippines.

“We’re honored to receive such a distinguished award. It is a testament to the tireless efforts and unwavering commitment of our teams in providing the best RMB products and services to our valued clients. This achievement confirms our focus on innovation and service excellence in order to contribute to the growth of the financial services industry in the Philippines,” he said.

Bank of China offers a variety of RMB products in the Philippines such as deposit, payment, settlement, financing, and trade services. The bank is in constant pursuit of providing the best financial services in the country and is dedicated to contributing to the growth and development of the Philippine economy.

The Asset is a widely recognized business news and research organization on Asia’s financial markets. The Triple A Awards is an annual event recognizing companies and financial institutions that have launched or helped implement initiatives in corporate treasury management, trade finance, supply chain and/or risk management.

Tech powerhouse launches AI platform for business

IBM unveiled IBM watsonx, a new AI and data platform to that will enable enterprises to scale and accelerate the impact of the most advanced AI with trusted data. IBM chairman and CEO Arvind

Solo parent joins ranks of ‘mompreneurs’

Krishna said watsonx will make it easier fro business to scale-up using AI as tool for advancement.

“With the development of foundation models, AI for business is more

powerful than ever. Foundation models make deploying AI significantly more scalable, affordable, and efficient. We built IBM watsonx for the needs of enterprises, so that clients can be more than just users, they can become AI advantaged. With IBM watsonx, clients can quickly train and deploy custom AI capabilities across their entire business, all while retaining full control of their data,” he said.

With watsonx, IBM is offering an AI development studio with access to IBM-curated and trained foundation models and open-source models, access to a data store to enable the gathering and cleansing of training and tuning data, and a toolkit for governance of AI into the hands of businesses that will provide a seamless end-toend AI workflow that will make AI easier to adapt and scale.

Among other advancements that IBM will soon release is a GPU-as-a-service infrastructure offering designed to support AI-intensive workloads, an AI-powered dashboard to measure, track, manage, and help report on cloud carbon emissions, and a new practice for watsonx and gener-

from IBM Consulting that will

client deployment of AI.

Sanchez recalled how 2015 was not a good time for her and her family. As a solo parent, she admitted how terrified she was without a fallback.

“Imagine how scared I was, thinking how I could provide for my two kids who are still schooling. I was never prepared for such circumstances, and that time was literally a nightmare. It was dreadful and I was forced to face it, fright and all,” she said.

For the longest time, Sanchez worked in the academe doing sales and promotions. Her last stint as a training provider ended when the company she was working for decided to streamline its workforce, and she was among those who were let go.

Though shaken by the prospect of an unreliable future, her bravado was never broken. The single thing she thought she was capable of doing is trying to maximize her talent for cooking, which is what she did by putting to good use a food mixer which was a parting gift from coworkers in her previous company. Her small pastry venture started to take off, mindful of how critical customers could be in this time of health consciousness and hype on physical wellness. So she thought hard on how she could manage to provide sweet snacks minus sweetness overload.

Mama Mia’s Sweet Delights turns common pastries into unusual sweets by using natural ingredients and sweeteners that are available in her Cabuyao neighborhood in Laguna province.

There was no regret that she was not able to capitalize on her Agriculture degree, Sanchez said, but she somehow managed to incorporate part of learnings from the university into her food business.

With the separation pay she got from her previous job, she set out to put up a small snack nook at the facade of her home where she sold snacks like siomai, sandwiches and burgers, alongside pastries and homeprepped condiments.

Sanchez bakes several variants of banana bread, infusing vegetables like

squash into the process. Her tablea brownies and calamansi crinkles are also a hit, especially among local tourists who brings home with them her products as presents or “pasalubong.”

While her pastries are one-of-a-kind, competition for baked goodies was tight as many home-based bakers surfaced during the pandemic. To survive, she branched off to making bottled goodies such as gourmet tuyo when a friend gave her a bunch of dried fish during the pandemic. Homeprepped chili garlic sauce and gourmet tinapa were added to her growing home-processed food selection.

Aside from her innate cooking skills and her novel pastry ideas, what helped Sanchez the most, were the short courses she took with Maya Kitchen that greatly enhanced her skills as a cook and a baker.

“There were many trial and errors along the way. I absorbed all of them as part of the learning process. Pandemic was never dull for me. It was a time of great learning. While the days were slow, I took it as a welcome period to improve myself and strengthen the only business I know by heart,” she said. Before the pandemic, her first customers were family, relatives and friends, and then order came pouring through word of mouth. Some local companies expressed interest to buy her products, but her lack of proper credentials as a legitimate and registered enterprise became a stumbling block to more sales and to expanding her customer base.

“I realized I needed to step up my game if I am to pursue this path for the rest of my life. As a business owner, I know I need to get the necessary permits and certification in place, so I registered with the Department of Trade and Industry in 2017 but it took two years to get the permits I needed. But after that, the DTI has never let go of my hand. Without the DTI, It would be difficult for me to scale-up. They have been so helpful in so many ways,” she said.

Part of the assistance she received from the DTI are trainings. Sanchez was a graduate of Kapatid Mentor Me Program and several trainings that benefit micro enterprises. She also did the rounds of product and trade fairs both in the LGU level and in bazaars sponsored by the DTI. She has attended at least 10 trade fairs in Luzon and is very keen to penetrate the markets of Visayas and Mindanao, if given the chance. She also joined the Small Medium Enterprise Roving Academy program of DTI Laguna through Negosyo Center Cabuyao City. SMERA is continuous learning program

designed to help MSMEs become more competitive in domestic and international markets with a set of business modules tailored to the needs of business enterprises. Amid the pandemic, Sanchez took on the challenge to join the One Town, One Product Next Gen Program in 2020. Through OTOP, she was able to level up the quality of her products and come up with new or better offerings.

With skills learned and practices developed, Sanchez dreamt of having her own cafe in the near term, where she can consolidate all her products in one formal setting while rendering a free shelf for the products of her friends who are also micro-entrepreneurs. A social enterprise is what she is actually excitedly planning for. Her idea of a cafe is not limited to serving food only. The plan is to have an open kitchen that will welcome people who are willing to learn baking and other food preparation processes. A designated part of the cafe will also sell bakery needs and equipment, more like a one-stop-shop.

Currently, Mama Mia’s Sweet Delights supplies part of the shelf keeping units of a pasalubong center in UP Los Baños. Sanchez continues to take bulk orders that add to her sales.

Working solo, Sanchez started training her youngest child on small administrative work and run errands for her. She said she is very grateful to her son for the support he gives her. Already in Grade 9, he can manage small business stuff that otherwise would have burdened Sanchez as she does all the business processes herself— from the procurement of ingredients, processing, baking and cooking, down to packaging and marketing.

“I believe it is good training for our children to involve them in our business. It makes them aware of the sacrifices we endure for them. That alone will build a certain degree of resiliency in them, a gift that cannot be monetized. A gift only a mother can give their children,” she said.

Othel V. Campos

MAMA Mia Sanchez joined the growing ranks of “mompreneurs” when she set up a small home-based business trying to make both ends meet after she lost her job eight years ago.

A quick guide to making content for YouTube Shorts

By Patricia Taculao

THANKS to its dedication to innovation, attention to detail, and security concerns, YouTube has become the leading streaming platform in modern society. These are some reasons content creators prefer using YouTube as their primary avenue for sharing entertaining video materials. Aspiring content creators are also looking to establish themselves as vloggers or more.

Yet before they can post material on YouTube, they must adhere to its community guidelines and find modern approaches to entice viewers. YouTube takes spreading misinformation seriously and will take the necessary measures to prevent a more uncontrollable chain of events. In the meantime, audiences have their own preferences in viewing content. But with the right formula and niche method, the possibilities for content creation are endless.

“I’m a big believer that with open technology, we now have a voice online. Media creators and anyone can just sign up on YouTube and create and tell a story.

But with freedom comes responsibility, so it’s always up to us on how to use that voice,” said Mervin Wenke, the Head of Communications and Public Affairs of Google Philippines. Nica Policarpio, YouTube’s Strategic Partner Manager, shares some tips on how users can maximize YouTube as a platform. Her position allows her to support YouTube’s top creators and media partners’ growth on the site.

The latest development from YouTube that captured people’s interest is YouTube Shorts, vertical form videos that only take 60 seconds or less. According to Policarpio, although the Shorts are an ideal and easy way to tap into content creation, it also helps boost a page’s watch time and subscriber growth as it has become more mainstream.

“I’ve worked with creators who were primarily on long-form, but anytime they’ve used shorts consistently, it’s had a lot of positive spillover effects into the growth of their overall channel. It’s really a good tool to supplement your existing content strategy, and it’s a really good way to grow on YouTube,” she related.

Content creators who value credibility and information can add dates to their Shorts to inform audiences about their latest undertakings. Although it doesn’t apply to every YouTube Shorts as some contain evergreen material, others with relevant updates, such as news,

YouTube offers a free and accessible streaming platform for aspiring content creators to realize their dreams

can add the data to avoid misinformation.

Calling audiences to like, subscribe, and comment can help content creators boost their stats on YouTube

On the other hand, one option is to add text or subtitles to the short-form videos as they’re not always sound-enabled. It also gives an inclusive experience, allowing viewers with difficulty hearing to understand the content easily.

Adding intriguing titles also bears positive results for viewership, whether in long-form or Shorts. It helps pique the audience’s interest and allows them to filter their content or search for it whenever they feel like viewing it (again). YouTube Shorts is also an efficient avenue for content creators to explore their inventiveness, where they can lean into current trends (or start new ones) to entertain their audiences through humor and more. Policarpio also reminds content creators

From: Akari & Megumi Nakano To: Corazon Nakano

Happy Mother’s Day to Mama, Madir, Mimi, and the many nicknames we lovingly call you. We will never stop flexing how lucky we got when the universe made you our mom. Rain or shine, we know you’ll always be here to support and love us. So, Ma, on this special day (and everyday), we want to express how grateful we are, knowing that whatever nickname we utter, you will always be our mother. We love you!

Besides

YouTube’s community guidelines and policies to avoid complications and aspiring ones to have a consistent call to action for their viewers, asking

them to like and subscribe to their respective channels. YouTube notifies users about new content from accounts they watch frequently. If audiences only view Shorts, the notifications will only revolve there instead of giving off updates on the creator’s primary account, where they share long-form videos. By maximizing the power of the Shorts and connecting it to primary accounts, users can create a relevant position in the world of content creation. But if their channels don’t focus heavily on news updates, content creators can show a wide array of material–anything under the sun–to entertain and build a community. All while adhering to YouTube’s standards.

A MOTHER’S DAY TRIBUTE

Kyla’s letter to her mom

Dear Mom,

To my very special mom, I know that there are times when you just want to give up when the amount of challenges that come with being a mom becomes too hard every single day. I am glad that I was raised by a strong woman like you, mom, you have set an example of how a woman can singlehandedly run the house and influence the success of the whole family.

unconditional love and support for me

All of your efforts and sacrifices never go unnoticed. Thank you for your unconditional love and support

Thank you for your sacrifices. I will make sure that all your sacrifices were worth it. You might not be the perfect mother–no one is–but I thank God that He gave me a mom that helped me become the person that I am right now.

Through all the struggles, tears, and joys, you are my mother, and I love you.

TODAY, we celebrate our mothers who tirelessly and unconditionally love and support us. Manila Standard’s Sunday Young Life dedicates this space to the youth’s heartfelt messages for their mothers on their special day. Happy Mother’s Day!

n By RIERA U. MALLARI

PHNOM PENH – A

Filipina star is born in the Southeast Asian Games.

Gennah Malapit, a 16-year-old Palarong Pambansa standout and protégé of throwing legend Danillo Fresnido, only wanted exposure in the region’s biggest sporting spectacle, where dreams are planted and then harvested in the Olympics.

She ended up taking a silver that felt like gold in terms of promise and potential.

“Gusto ko lang po magkaroon ng exposure, para ma-equip ako sa future,” said the pretty Grade 10 student of Ambassadors of Hope Christian Academy in Tanay, Rizal. “Hindi ko akalain ito. Sobrang saya po.”

Innate talent

Built like a trackster with long legs and a strong upper body, the 5’9”

Gennah first tried running, but was convinced by her early sports instructors to try out javelin.

Yes, javelin of all sports -- an unspectacular discipline unlike volleyball, which she also dabbles with from time to time like both of her parents; or running, which gave birth to glamorous stars like the late track icon Lydia de Vega, Elma Muros-Posadas and Kristina Knott.

But the sport can take a backseat sometimes to the talent that cannot be bottled down, like Ernest John Obiena, who has transformed the “boring” event of pole vaulting into a glitzy affair, that whenever he jumps in the SEA Games, Asian Games, the world championships or the Olympics, Filipino fans of all kinds take a pause to witness him soar.

Five years ago, if you’d say that a Filipino pole vaulter will be known in the world and become a multi-brand endorser of an energy drink, distilled water, sneakers and even biscuits, then you must be nuts. That is what Gennah could be if her talents are handled right.

She paid attention to the janitor

Gennah’s love affair with javelin blossomed as soon as she held that spear right in her very first throw. And it was nurtured by the school janitor Rigor Gernale (of all people), who surprisingly knew how to hurl, the basics of the sport, how to embrace its fundamentals

A JAVELIN STAR IS BORN Let it fly, Gennah

and what to impart to Gennah.

When national team throwing coach Fresnido, who was already eyeing her when she was younger, took over, Gennah became some sort of a legend in several regional and national meets.

Smasher of records

In 2019, Gennah debuted in the Palaro with an unofficial hurl of 46.57 meters right on her first attempt, smashing by over five meters, Avegail Beliran’s 2018 mark of 41.46 meters.

The official national junior record, set by Fil-heritage athlete Cerah Moran in

2017, was 45.74, which Gennah nearly shattered in April during the Calabarzon regionals with her 45.6.

“Nagustuhan ko po (javelin), iba kasi siya,” said Gennah, who is expected to turn the sport into a byword, the way Obiena did with pole vault.

The entire package

And for good reason. Gennah’s big smile can light up a room, while her statuesque figure will always stand out in a crowd. And did we say she’s pretty?

And of course, the skill. The power. That’s what differentiates her from hun-

dreds of athletes before.

Bright future

Entering the Cambodia SEA Games without any expectations of sorts -- just soak up all the learning -- Gennah went further and even bettered her own record by over 4 meters, hurling the javelin to a distance of 49.55, just three behind the winning 52.6 of Thailand’s Jariya Wichaidit, last year’s silver medalist, who took many SEAG tries to finally hit paydirt.

Gennah said the javelin initially slipped off her fingers, and it flew to a

measly 4.1 meters.

“Nagalit po ako, kaya binuhos ko lahat sa sunod na bato ko,” said Gennah, who like Bruce Banner is someone you don’t like being angry.

“She’s the future,” gushed national team coach Jojo Posadas. “Time will come, kapag nabigyan ito ng magandang break, ma-expose, ‘yung high-level training program, mamo-motivate ito tiyak.”

In Gennah’s case, there’s no need for any kind of encouragement. Simply hand her the spear and she will let it fly.

PSC, Ifugao province sign MOA for Laro ng Lahi hosting

THE Philippine Sports Commission and the Provincial Government of Ifugao formally signed the Memorandum of Agreement Friday, May 12 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, on the conduct of PSC’s Laro ng Lahi sa Ifugao scheduled on May 26-28, 2023 in Lagawe, Ifugao.

The PSC was represented by Women in Sports program oversight Commissioner Olivia “Bong” Coo and Commissioner Edward Hayco. Ifugao Governor Jerry Dalipog, C. E. joined them in the simple signing ceremony this morning.

“After a series of coordination meetings in the province, we are happy that our inaugural leg will finally push through. We are thankful to Gov. Dalipog for this partnership,” expressed Commissioner Coo.

“This is the first time, it will definitely help our province, and makakatulong sa ating kabataan in their physical and mental health,” said Gov. Dalipog.

For its inaugural year, PSC’s Laro ng Lahi sa Ifugao will feature five (5) regular sports namely; boxing, wushu, wrestling, weightlifting, and taekwondo, including 9 indigenous games namely, Labba Race, Guyyudan (Tug of war), Kadang-kadang, Dopop di Babuy, Munbayu, Hanggul, Huktingan, Bultung, and Dopap di Manuk

The national sports body aims to support and help the province of Ifugao develop its local sports program. Laro ng Lahi will be open to all interested including out of school youths and members of the indigenous community in the province. The agency also donated some sports equipment to the province ahead

Fencers add silver, bronze to PH tally

n By PETER ATENCIO

PHNOM PENH — Filipino bets Samuel Tranquillan and Ivy Dinoy added two medals to the Philippines’ campaign on Saturday in the fencing competitions of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at Hall D of the OCIC Wedding Center in Chroy Changvar District here.

Tranquillan claimed the silver medal following a 3-15 loss to Singaporean Samuel Robson in the men’s foil finals.

On the other hand, Dinoy fell in a 12-15 setback to Vietnamese Vu Thi Hong in the women’s epee semis.

Meanwhile, PH fencing star Samantha Catantan has been pulled out of the women’s team foil event after injuring her left knee Friday.

National team coach Ramil Endriano confirmed that Catantan’s knee injury has been diagnosed by

doctors as a partial ACL tear.

Catantan will undergo more medical assessments when she returns to Manila.

The team skipper of the Penn State University Nittany Lions playing in Division 1 of the US NCAA, never got to play a finals’ rematch with nemesis Maxine Wong of Singapore, who eventually won the gold medal.

The country’s top Filipina fencer conceded on the advice of her coach and medical personnel to not continue with her duel with Wong, after getting hurt during her clash with Kemei Chung of Singapore in the semifinals. She settled for the silver.

All is not lost for Catantan in her dream of making it to the 2024 Paris Olympics, though, as a partial ACL tear takes only three months to heal and recover from if there are no medical setbacks during rehab.

BREN Esports bullish on outlook, to expand in Singapore

BREN Esports the Mobile Legends world champion in 2021 is set to expand its clout in Singapore.

Mobile Legends is the most famous and most downloaded mobile game having millions — and still growing -- esports players and enthusiasts following their favorite esports groups.

BREN Esports has installed discipline to all its players giving the team a formidable and super competitive image in the tough esports field.

BREN ESports is the biggest and most successful team in the Philippines, the only locally-grown squad with a full-service training facility READ. BREN Esports, also known as BREN EPro, has partnered with EMERGE Sports for its expansion in Singapore.

“We aim to be the leading eSports ecosystem in the Philippines with the principles of transparency and collaboration with partners who share the same vision to nurture the growth of esports locally and internationally,” said Bernard Lu Chong, President and CEO of Bren Esports; and Esports Arena(MeSA), BrenProTV and Next Talents, BrenPro, Inc.

Currently, Bren Esports is part of the first franchise league in the country, “The Nationals” which features a traditional league format where franchise teams compete in four game titles that cater to different gaming communities (PC gaming, mobile gaming, console gaming, and a wildcard game). This league also aims to be the main pool

for national esports athletes who will compete in tournaments sanctioned by the SEA Games, Asian Games and the Olympics. The league is broadcast live in ESPN5. Recently, the Court of Appeals dismissed the case and recalls a warrant of arrest against Bren Esports’ Bernard Lu Chong. The alleged charges involving Lu Chong with Fortuneyield. Lu Chong was able to prove that he was no longer connected with Fortuneyield when it committed on or about March 22, 2019, the time of the alleged commission of the crime, by reason of his resignation, assignment of shares, and replacement as President of the said company long before the said commission of the crime, has been sufficiently established.

of the launching of the program.

Commissioner Coo also believes that the upcoming project will be a good avenue to discover potential national athletes and so to strengthen the national training pool.

“Most of our successful national athletes are homegrown talents from the provinces, with this Laro ng Lahi, we aim to further widen our talent pool specially in female athletes across the country,” shared the lady commissioner.

Also present during the MOA signing were PSC Deputy Executive Director Anna Christine Abellana, Philippine long jump queen and WIS consultant Elma Muros-Posadas, while Aguinaldo Ifugao Mayor Gaspar Chilagan Jr. and Executive Assistant Agustin Calya-en represented the province of Ifugao.

Junior PGT Round 1 under way at Caliraya Springs

ACTION in the Junior PGT (Philippine Golf Tour) Series 2023 resumes Sunday (May 14) with a two-division tournament featuring bidders in the 9-10 and 11-12 (boys and girls) age categories at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club in Cavinti, Laguna.

Registration starts at 7 a.m. at Caliraya Springs clubhouse with the tournament firing off at 8 a.m. Green fees and lunch will be covered by the JPGT.

Organized by the PGT under the ICTSI golf program, the junior series kicked off at The Country Club in Laguna last January with the drive-chipputt competition where top pros Dottie Ardina, Princess Superal and Miguel Tabuena graced the event while giving tips and sharing their expertise with the youngsters.

The 18-hole tournament will be played under the Modified Stableford scoring system.

Precious Zaragosa and Mona Sarines banner the girls’ 11-12 cast while Iñigo Gallardo and Matthias Espina lead the boys’ 11-12 roster. Others vying for top honors in the first round of the series are Lisa Sarines, Brittany Tamayo and Tiffany Bernardino, while beefing up the boys’ field are Lucas Garcia, Javier Bautista, Lujo Gomez and Raplh Batican.

Tipped to dispute the boys’ and girls’ 9-10 diadems are Ryuji Suzuki, Jose Luis Espinosa, Clarence Enemento, Vito Sarines, Race Manhit and Juan Antonio Cruz, along with Tea Bernardino, Chime Cuenca, Mikaela Torres, Jared Saban, Rafaella Batican and Makayla Verano. Schedules for the 13-14 and 15-18 (boys and girls) age group divisions will be announced soon.

Shown here are (from left) Ifugao Provincial Executive Assistant Agustin Calya-en, Aguinaldo, Ifugao Mayor Gaspar Chilagan Jr., and Ifugao Provincial Governor Jerry Dalipog receives some of the sports equipment donated by the Philippine Sports Commission presented by commissioners Olivia “Bong” Coo and Edward Hayco and Deputy Executive Director Anna Christine Abellana, ahead of the launching of Laro ng Lahi Program in Ifugao on May 26 to 28.

Bernard Lu Chong

Gennah Malapit displays the Philippine flag after her silver finish.

Genna waves a small PH flag during the opening ceremonies. (Gennah’s FB page)

Fencing president Richard Gomez attends to the injured Samantha Catantan

PAOLO Sandejas’ long-awaited Bloom EP captivates listeners with its heartfelt and introspective tracks. Alongside previously released singles, this six-track EP features the title track “Bloom,” a poignant portrayal of the transformative moment following a breakup when one gathers the strength to move forward.

The song paints a vivid picture of a harsh and wintry landscape, symbolizing the pain and sorrow that accompanies heartbreak.

However, just as winter gives way to the vibrant arrival of spring, the artist finds solace and begins to radiate with newfound hope. Paolo reveals that he initially crafted the song around the bright and hopeful instrumental, aiming to match its uplifting tone with lyrics centered on the same theme. His intention is to console those who may be dwelling on the past, urging them to shift their focus forward and embrace their own personal growth.

“Bloom” stands as a powerful indie pop anthem, capturing the intricate emotions that arise from heartache and the transformative journey towards healing. This track, along with the EP’s other offerings, such as “Different Shade Of Blue,” “Hide & Seek,” “Liquid Courage,” “BORED? (hope you’re happy),” and “Aftertaste” featuring Tala, showcases Paolo’s ability to encapsulate the essence of human experiences and emotions.

Sandejas’ ‘Bloom EP’ is a testament to his artistry and a must-listen for anyone seeking authentic and relatable music that resonates deeply within.

“Bloom” easily became part of numerous Spotify Playlists such as “Tatak Pinoy”, “RADAR Philippines”, “Situationship”, “Happy Stroll”, “.ORG”, and “OPM Rising”. Likewise, the song is included in the New Music Friday Playlist in the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Along with this grand release, Paolo Sandejas is also one of the chosen OPM acts for Spotify PH’s RADAR Artists of 2023. He’s also doing a busking tour with fellow artists to promote the Bloom EP

Kapamilya stars celebrate body positivity and inclusion

ETRO magazine’s highly anticipated Metro Body special for 2023 brings together a dynamic lineup of Kapamilya stars who serve as powerful role models, embodying body positivity and exuding unshakable confidence in their own skin.

“IT FEELS to me like the classic romcoms that you just don’t see anymore,” says producer Esther Hornstein of Love Again, a new love story about “two heartbroken people in New York City – with different reasons for their heartbreak – find their way to each other, one knowingly, the other unknowingly. It has a lot of heart and very real characters.”

One of those characters is Rob Burns, a music journalist who falls in love with the unknown woman who has been sending romantic messages to his work cell phone number – without knowing

In an inspiring collaboration with Star Magic, Metro Body 2023 shines the spotlight on celebrities of diverse body shapes and sizes, aiming to uplift and inspire viewers and young audiences to wholeheartedly embrace their imperfections.

This special edition extends support to the recently concluded “Hot Summer: LaHot Sexy” grand summer event, celebrating inclusivity and self-love.

Among the Star Magic artists featured are Ria and Gela Atayde, Alexa Ilacad, Joseph Marco with his girlfriend Dasha Romanova, BGYO Gelo, BGYO Mikki, BGYO Nate, Karina Bautista, Luke Alford, Paolo Gumabao, Dalia Varde, Ashley del Mundo,

Sophie Reyes, Cianne Dominguez, Mary Delle Cascabel, Enzo Almario, Mela Habijan, Anne Lorenzo, Raf Juane, Lucas Garcia, Igi Boy Flores, Jhaiho, Nonongn, Lie Reposposa, Seham Daghlas, Drey Brown, Izabel Reyes, Alexa Macanan, Beatriz Teves, couple JV Kapunan and Shaine Macela, and Xyriel Manabat

A tradition of Metro, the Metro Body special seeks to champion movements that inspire readers to not just care for and love their bodies but also be confident about themselves. This year, it also serves as motivation for those who seek confidence or have experienced body shaming or rejection but are ready to embark on their self-love journeys with the inspiration from the Star Magic talents. – Nickie Wang

Sam Heughan takes the lead in ‘Love Again’ as the ultimate romantic heartthrob

that the number, which used to belong to her late fiance – is currently being used by another person.

Playing the romantic male lead is Sam Heughan, who rose to international fame thanks to his starring role in the popular drama Outlander Priyan-

ka Chopra Jonas stars opposite Heughan as Mira Ray Celine Dion is also in the movie, playing herself and the subject of Rob’s writing assignment. “He’s a Scotsman who’s been living in New York for so long that he’d call himself a New Yorker,” says Heughan of his character. “He’s a music journalist who’s still pretty depressed about being left at the altar a year earlier. Then Mira comes into his life and changes everything.”

For Heughan, preparing to play the lead in a romantic comedy wasn’t just getting ready for a role – it was opening up a whole world of film.

“I started watching lots of romantic comedies, which I’d avoided over the years because I thought they weren’t for me. But as soon as I started to watch them, I fell in love with them,” he says.

“They’re brilliant, they’re adult, they’re funny, they’re dark – it was a revelation to me. And I think this movie is an homage or nod to that tradition,” he says.

Preparation also was a chance for the

actor to walk in the shoes of a music snob who gets his comeuppance in the form of the Queen of Power Ballads.

“It was a fun movie to prep for,” Sam shares. “Jim sent me a playlist of very contemporary music – and it was pretty challenging music, because Rob is a bit of an academic. He’s a cynic, a critical music snob who falls for the music of Celine Dion. At first, he only hears these songs on the surface – he thinks they’re overly embellished, overly romantic. But it turns out there’s truth to them. These songs really move him when he opens himself up to them. That’s a really nice journey to go on with the character.”

“Sam is so thoughtful about everything,” says producer Hornstein. “Sam made Rob a complicated guy – not your average romantic comedy prince who’s there to save Mira.”

Love Again, now showing in cinemas, is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Ben Affleck’s action-packed thriller takes flight on Prime Video

BEN Affleck’s AIR, from Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports, Mandalay Pictures, and the first project from Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity, has become available to stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

AIR has been praised by audiences and critics alike, currently boasting a 92 percent “Certified Fresh” Tomatometer rating and a 98 percent verified audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and an “A” CinemaScore.

From award-winning director Ben Affleck, AIR reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s

fledgling basketball division, which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time.

Matt Damon plays maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight, with Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter

Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling Chris Tucker as Howard White Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, and Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, among others. This marks the first time Ben Affleck has directed a feature film starring Matt Damon. With a script penned by Alex Convery AIR is produced by David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Affleck, Damon, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov, Peter Guber, and Jason Michael Berman. Executive producers include Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Kevin Halloran, Michael Joe, Drew Vinton, John Graham, Peter E. Strauss, and Jordan Moldo

Ria Atayde is among the many artists who promote body positivity

Xyriel Manabat embraces her body and teaches others to do the same

Joseph Marco (right) and beau Dasha Romanova flaunting their figures

Sam Heughan describes his character as ‘a Scotsman who’s been living in New York for so long’

Starring alongside Heughan in the lead female role is Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Paolo Sandejas’ ‘Bloom’ captures the intricate emotions from heartaches and the transformative journey towards healing

Ben Affleck plays the Nike co-founder Phil Knight in ‘AIR’

AN EXCLUSIVE limited-edition capsule collection was recently unveiled by Calvin Klein in collaboration with the renowned artist, brand ambassador, and global icon, Jennie Kim Inspired by Jennie’s effortless and chic everyday fashion, the collection showcases a range of must-have pieces, including underwear sets, denim, tees, fleece, and knits, infused with her unique sense of style and creativity. With a soft pastel color palette handpicked by Jennie, the capsule revamps these essential silhouettes, complemented by personalized touches such

Blackpink’s Jennie redefines casual chic

the iconic Calvin Klein logo in Jennie’s own handwritten script.

“Collaborating with Calvin Klein on this capsule has been an exciting progression in our partnership,” said Jennie. “This collection reflects my everyday style and is based on many of the Calvin Klein essentials that have become staples in my wardrobe. I wanted to bring a personal touch to these pieces, which you’ll see reflected in the fit, the color palette, and the details. My aspiration for this collection is that everyone will feel as happy and confident in these pieces as I do.”

“Having worked with Jennie on

Some features of the collaboration include pieces with a comfortable fit, color palette, and details to promote confidence

several campaigns, we know firsthand that she is a cultural powerhouse. Her persona, talent, and distinctive style have a major global impact,” said Jonathan Bottomley, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Calvin Klein. “ Our partnership stems from an authentic place – Jennie is a longtime fan of the brand – and we wanted to deepen that relationship by bringing her personal perspective to our products. The result is a mix of Jennie’s coveted style and Calvin Klein’s most iconic essentials, which we know will resonate strongly with consumers around the world,” the executive added. Available in Lilac, Chalk Blue, and Desert, as well as classic black and white,

the minimal silhouettes are relaxed in attitude. Matching bralettes and bottoms, bodysuits, and soft rib tanks are designed for versatile comfort. Joggers, tees, dresses, and crewneck sweatshirts are soft to the touch and easy to move in. A denim shirt and ‘90s jeans offer a cool and easy look, while a knit top, dress, and sculpting denim bralette and skirt set make a fashionable statement. The campaign, shot by Korean photographer Hong Jang Hyun, shows Jennie in her most comfortable and effortless state, and visualizes her dreamy inner world through surreal images and video. Capturing her unique sensuality and confidence, the campaign allows viewers to step into Jennie’s world.

A fusion of style and comfort for summer season

COS launches its Mens Summer Capsule Collection, offering stylish and lightweight essentials designed to beat the heat with effortless flair. The collection allows you to embrace the summer season in comfort and style with refined and versatile pieces.

This latest edit is an awakening of spirits, built to evoke feelings of freshness and leisure through pieces in lighter fabrication that’s fit for the warm season.

Pairings are kept light and airy, with an overall color palette that ranges from classic neutrals to aquatic tones while a key print motif takes inspiration from the movement of water.

Runway to rouge

When high street fashion takes on the French red carpet

become favorites among celebrities both on and off the red carpet, with notable names such as Dua Lipa, Hunter Schafer, Bella Hadid, and Irina Shayk embracing the brand’s irresistible allure. Cadwallader’s commitment to inclusivity is also lauded, making it clear that Mugler is a French fashion brand that welcomes and celebrates everyone.

IN A groundbreaking fashion coup, H&M has announced its latest designer collaboration, this time joining forces with none other than Casey Cadwallader’s renowned brand, Mugler. This highly anticipated partnership promises to deliver an unforgettable fusion of high-street style and avantgarde design, creating an affordable yet glamorous collection that will captivate fashion enthusiasts worldwide.

This highly anticipated release showcases an exquisite range of womenswear, menswear, and accessories that seamlessly integrate Mugler’s iconic silhouettes. Get ready to witness a fusion of classic and contemporary as Mugler’s new runway collection unveils its signature styles, including sultry cutouts, sleek catsuits, alluring corsets, and striking exaggerated shoulders.

Under the masterful guidance and creative direction of Cadwallader, each item in this collaboration reflects a harmonious blend of H&M’s distinct high-street vibe and Mugler’s iconic fashion legacy. With meticulous attention to detail, the collection showcases pieces that effortlessly transition from the runway to the red carpet, capturing the essence of both brands’ recognizable styles.

With Cadwallader at the helm, Mugler has soared to new heights, thanks to its collection of alluring and body-contouring statement pieces. These designs have

In the Philippines, H&M recently held an exclusive shopping party at its SM Makati branch. Celebrities, social media personalities, and VIPs alike attended the year’s biggest party so far. Sighted during the party strutting the stunning and alluring Mugler collection were Kylie Verzosa James Reid Issa Pressman Jessica Yang, Chie Filomeno, Maja Salvador and Rambo Nuñez , among others.

Also in attendance was Cebubased model and designer Lukresia (a.k.a. @thirdworldbb) who modeled for the Mugler runway show in Paris last January. Lukresia was also seen donning Mugler pieces during the well-attended fashion affair.

The culmination of the event had guests rushing to get their hands on the coveted collection pieces as each had only 10 minutes to shop.

The enthusiasm in the room was palpable as other guests cheered for their friends during the quick shopping spree. Overall it was a fun and memorable event. The limited collection is now available in H&M SM Makati and on hm.com

The COS Mens Summer Capsule Collection offers stylish and lightweight essentials

Versatile, carefree, and pared-back, the collection’s pieces are summer-ready and made for days spent on the go, using materials like linen and seersucker to keep warm days easy.

Featuring Korean top model Taemin Park and up-and-coming Japanese fashion star Yugo Takano, the imagery is shot with a lot of natural lighting to best capture the spirit of the collection and complement its fresh take on color and cut.

COS is a London fashion brand blending contemporary culture with timeless style. Dedicated to quality, sustainability, and innovation, their unique collections showcase elevated essentials and iconic pieces made to last. Embracing experimental design and material

innovation, COS prioritizes the use of recycled, renewed, and sustainably sourced fibers.

Summer Capsule Collection is now available at the COS Store Manila, SM Aura Premier.

K-pop star Jennie Kim shares some of her personal style in Calvin Klein’s latest collection

Actress Chie Filomeno

Real-life sweethearts Maja Salvador (right) and Rambo Nuñez

Actress Rhian Ramos

Social media personality Lharby Policarpio

Beauty queen and actress Kylie Verzosa