Manila Standard - 2023 May 15 - Monday

Medal

PH marks 5 WPS territories

PCG: Sovereign markers at critical areas show resolve to protect waters

By Charles Dantes

FIVE navigational buoys or sovereign markers have been successfully installed in “critical areas” of the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard said Sunday.

The buoys, installed near Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island and Juan Felipe Reef carry the Philippine flag and signify the country's sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the country's exclusive economic zone, the PCG said.

The move also highlights the country's unwavering resolve to protect its

maritime borders and resources and contribute to the safety of maritime trade, the PCG added.

The PCG's Task Force Kaligtasan sa Karagatan led by Vice Admiral Joseph Coyme led the placing of buoys.

standings (As of 9:30 p.m. May 14) Country G S B Vietnam 103 87 93 Thailand 90 65 87 Indonesia 66 60 79 Cambodia 65 59 100 Philippines 46 73 82 Singapore 42 36 55 Malaysia 28 41 78 Myanmar 19 18 56 Laos 6 20 50 Brunei 2 1 6 Timor Leste 0 0 8 GOV'T WORKERS'

Gov’t assures aid to OFWs hit by Kuwait visa ban

By Vince Lopez

THE government has assured assistance to the overseas Fili - pino

QUEEN AGAIN.

Newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2023

Michelle Dee waves to the crowd following the coronation night at SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. This is her second pageant tiara after her Miss World PH triumph last year.

Teddy Pelaez

workers (OFWs) affected by the Kuwaiti government’s suspension of work visas, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday.

DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes said the affected OFWs would be

included in the National Reintegration Program of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), among other forms of assistance. Reports said the government of Kuwait has suspended the issuance of new entry visas for Filipinos into

the Gulf state.

Cortes said the department received an official note from Kuwait suspending new visas on Saturday.

“We were told that it is only for those who are new – meaning if you

Adviser: UK bus branding meant to honor, uplift Pinoys

THE country’s latest campaign branding – “We Give the World Our Best” – aimed to “honor and uplift the spirit” of overseas Filipino work ers, Presidential Adviser on Creative Communication Secretary Paul So riano said over the weekend.

Soriano also clarified the new tagline is different and will not replace the country’s long-time tourism slogan “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”

workSo-

“At its core, the project intends to let the whole world know how good, compassionate, and competent Filipinos

Ragos facing perjury case for false testimony—DOJ

By Rey E. Requejo

FORMER National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) deputy di rector Rafael M. Ragos may

ing false testimonies, a Department of Justice official said Sunday.

Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said that Ragos’ recantation of his earlier testimony

Next page

are. Filipinos bring their ‘best’ through daily actions that touch lives all over the world,” he said.

Senator Nancy Binay earlier said she was baffled by the transit ad in London extolling the crucial role of Filipino

Next page

THE Department of Education has created a national task force to review the implementation of the senior high school program for one year to identify ways to improve the job prospects of SHS graduates. Based on its own tracer study, DepEd found out that only one out of ten SHS graduates were employed while around eight out of ten went to college.

A study by the Philippine Business for Education also showed that out of the 70 leading companies across all sectors in

Next page

Hospitals, biz brace for COVID-19 upsurge

THE country logged over 2,000 new COVID-19 cases for the third straight day on Sunday as government hospitals braced for an uptick of cases owing to the local transmission of the Arcturus variant.

In-person classes at a school in Cabatuan, Isabela province are also suspended this week after over a dozen teachers and students tested posi-

tive for COVID, as experts warned the public to be extra cautious with infections continuing to rise.

Next page

ACTRESS Michelle Marquez Dee was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2023, achieving her dream on her second attempt at the title over the weekend.

The coronation took place at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, where the 28-year-old emerged victorious.

page

Next

Gov’t workers’ midyear bonus out

STATE workers will receive their midyear bonus starting May 15, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Sunday.

"I am happy to announce that our civil servants will be receiving their midyear bonus this year, as provided in the agency-specific allocation under the 2023 General Appropriations Act or GAA. e know that fellow government employees look forward to receiving this bonus which can really help in their everyday needs,” she said in a news release Sunday.

"We are reminding all government agencies and offices to ensure the timely release of bonuses to their employees or as stipulated in our existing rules and reg-

PH...

From A1

Chinese militia ships anchored inside the country's territory.

In an interview, Coyme said that there is no heightened tension between the country's law enforcement agencies and Chinese vessels in the area.

“Our approach is diplomatic,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. “We are not yet in the situation where tensions are heightened. With our ships there, we are normally conducting our law enforcement functions pertaining to maritime safety— and this is not provocative in nature.”

In April, more than 100 Chinese vessels were seen lingering near the West Philippine Sea, and the PCG reported provocative tactics by the ships, including a Chinese coast guard ship that sailed into the path of a PCG vessel, almost causing a collision.

In July 2016, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated

Gov’t...

From A1 do not have a resident visa or what they call 'iqama'... you cannot enter. But if you come back to Kuwait because you've been working there, you can enter," Cortes said.

A delegation of officials from the DFA and DMW will travel to Kuwaitthis month as part of the ongoing discussions between the Philippines and Kuwait to tackle labor concerns.

"Kuwait and the Philippines always have discussions very often,” Cortes said. “It’s a constant communication forum that we have instituted – not only with Kuwait but all the others to make sure we’re always on track as far as protection and promotion of the well-being of our

Task...

From A1 the country, only 20 percent were willing to accept SHS graduates.

“As the nation strives for economic recovery and growth, it isbecoming increasingly important for SHS graduates to have greater access to employment, entrepreneurship, advanced education, and training,” read the memorandum signed by DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong.

The task force was given until May 12, 2024 to submit its report.

The one-year review aimed “to ensure consistency, responsiveness, andrelevance” of the SHS program to the needs of the learners and stakeholders.

Earlier, former President and Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo filed a House bill reverting the current K-to-12 program to “K+10+2,” essentially returning high school back to four years.

Under the measure, Grades 11 and 12 will be converted into a pre-univer-

Adviser:...

From A1 nurses during the coronavirus pandemic.

The complete campaign slogan read: “The nurse who gave the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine. A Filipina. We give the world our best. The Philippines.”

“Is the ad intended to encourage tourists to visit the country? Is it aimed to encourage more foreign investments? Or, is it meant for hospitals abroad to hire our nurses? It’s really vague,” Binay said.

“It seems that we are offering the world our nurses—which is a bit off since we are running out of supply of health workers. We don't want to commodify our people, and we don't want to be tagged as a labor-exporting country.”

Soriano said the bus advertisement in London, which came out in time for King Charles III’s May 6 grand coronation given the anticipated large international crowd to attend the historic global event, was just “among the first communication outputs” of the OPACC’s nation-branding project.

“Unfortunately, the London (adver-

ulations, starting May 15.”

The midyear bonus is equivalent to one month basic pay as of May 15 and shall be given to entitled personnel who have rendered at least a total or aggregate of four months of service from July 1 of the immediately preceding year to May 15 of the current year.

The employee shall also remain in the government service as of May 15 of the current year and have obtained at least a satisfactory performance rating in the immediately preceding rating period or the

China's expansive nine-dash claims covering the entire South China Sea and recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights in the area within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

Beijing ignored the international ruling and deployed hundreds of militia vessels in the disputed areas, including those belonging to the Philippines.

Earlier this month, the PCG also released a video of its personnel challenging via radio the Chinese militia vessels spotted in Sabina Shoal, which is within the Philippines exclusive economic zone.

The Chinese vessels dispersed after the radio challenge, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said.

Also on Sunday, the PCG and Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela urged Congress to approve and pass the 'PCG Modernization Act."

"[The current maritime] challenges require the PCG to operate with the highest level of efficiency and effectiveness to safeguard the country's maritime interests and territorial integrity. The current capa-

migrants are concerned.”

The OFWs who were recently rescued from Sudan received livelihood support and assistance, including $200, care of the DMW.

American business firms have expressed interest in employing the displaced OFWs. There are employers in the US and also in the cruise ship industry and in Saudi Arabia that are interested and would like to see the profiles of Filipino workers rescued from Sudan.

Kuwaiti media 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

sity education type of learning system mandatory only for those proceeding to college.

Meanwhile, Bohol Rep. Kristine Alexis Tutor on Sunday proposed that classes must start at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. at public schools with a one-class shift.

She said the health of students is important -- especially amid the heat waves brought about by El Nino weather -- adding that teachers also need more time to prepare.

“Janitors, utility staff, and security personnel also need preparationtime to make sure the same is clean, ready, and secure before classes start,” she said.

“Weekends should be free time with family for all students and teachers, except for the occasional co-curricular activities, training, and contests. Co-curricular (classes) and activities that are not integral parts of classes must not disrupt weekday classes. No ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) or similar activities on Saturdays or Sundays. No anything on weekends,” she added. Rio N. Araja

tisement) was misconstrued as part of the country’s tourism promotion campaign. OPACC wants to clear the confusion and clarify that it was not meant, in any way, to promote the country’s tourist destinations,” he said.

“Video (advertisements) featuring true stories of successful Filipinos in different countries were also released within the same period, aired overseas.

The first two ads tell the story of Charm, a Filipina caregiver in the UK, and DJ, a barista in Italy,” he said.

“Through this country branding campaign, we want to uplift the spirit of our overseas Filipinos and honor them, particularly for their values that make Filipinos known to do their best at whatever chosen field, wherever they go and whatever it is they do. They truly deserve this,” Soriano added.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the DOT will eventually come out with a tourism brand aligned with OPACC's country brand.

"There is a sea of opinions about this. But I would like to remind our fellow Filipinos that the statement 'We give the world our best' is a statement of fact. Do you not agree?" Frasco said.

applicable performance appraisal period.

The midyear bonus will be given to all positions for civilian personnel, whether regular, casual, or contractual, appointive or elective, full-time or part-time, now existing or hereafter created in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, constitutional commissions and other constitutional offices, state universities and colleges, and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) covered by the Compensation and Position Classification System, and in local government units.

Entitled personnel to receive the mid-year bonus also include the military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the Department of

bilities of the PCG, however, are insufficient to execute its mandates," Tarriela said.

House Bill No. 8028 was filed by Tarriela on May 10 in recognition of the need to enhance the capability of the PCG to guarantee the efficient execution of its mandates.

"This bill, therefore, proposes a modernization program that aims to acquire state-of-the-art air and floating assets and implement interoperable communication systems to safeguard the country's maritime interests," the legislator said.

Tarriela said HB No. 8028 will be divided into four tiers of development, with the first tier focusing on constructing PCG response bases and improving Coast Guard's maritime domain awareness capabilities.

The second tier will cover PCG infrastructure development and the acquisition of state-of-the-art vessels and equipment to advance its interdiction and maritime law enforcement capabilities.

The third tier will pave the way for

of shelters inside the embassies, now known as Migrant Workers Overseas 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 shelter for our countrymen,” he said.

Cortes said the DFA would also explain the deployment ban forhousehold

Michelle...

From A1

Following in the footsteps of Catriona Gray, Dee becomes the second Filipina to represent the country at both the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.

Among those beaming with pride was her mother, Melanie Marquez, who herself was crowned Miss International in 1979. She watched as her daughter claimed the coveted title after finishing first runner-up in last year's edition.

Growing up on a family ranch in Utah, USA, Dee developed a love forfarm animals. She pursued her education, obtaining a Psychology degree from De La Salle University and completing a certificate program in entrepreneurship essentials from the prestigious Harvard Business School. Alongside her achievements, Dee is also a passionate advocate for Autism awareness.

Dee's remarkable journey to the Miss Universe Philippines crown showcases her dedication, intellect, and commitment to making a positive impact. As she prepares to represent the country on the global stage, she carries with her a strong sense of purpose and a genuine desire to raise awareness for meaningful causes.

“I firmly believe that the best natural resource that the Philippines (can offer) is us Filipinos. We are the true heart and soul of the Philippines with the way we are hospitable, with our warm smiles. And we are the reason why the world keeps coming back for more," she said.

"No matter where the universe takes

Hospitals,...

From A1

their branches without face coverings.

The country, however, has lifted its mask requirement, with President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. saying the Philippines had already been on “normal footing” even before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared last week an end to the emergency phase of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Health tracker logged 2,109 new cases yesterday, while active cases stood at 15,891.

National Defense; uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Public Safety College, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; Bureau of Corrections of the Department of Justice; Philippine Coast Guard of the Department of Transportation; and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The grant of midyear bonuses for personnel of covered GOCCs shall be determined by their respective governing boards while those of provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays shall be determined by their sanggunian (council).

strengthening the Coast Guard's coastal defense by acquiring and developing more offshore patrol vessels similar to BRP Gabriela Silang from France.

The third tier should also include the acquiring of air assets and providing more capacity-building opportunities for the Coast Guard Aviation Force to bolster airspace security within the country's exclusive economic zone.

Lastly, the fourth and last tier focuses on the construction of more PCG training facilities to continuously enhance the skills and abilities of its workforce, as well as shipyards and hangars to secure Coast Guard assets and equipment.

Each tier would take three years to be fully implemented, covering a total of 12 years for the complete execution.

PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu welcomed the development and expressed gratitude to Tarriela for recognizing the need for the PCG's modernization.

Senator Christopher Go has filed Senate Bill No. 2112 as a counterpart to the House measure.

service workers (HSWs), which he believes could have been a “source of confusion” for the Kuwaiti side.

The ban only covers the contracts of first-time HSWs bound for Kuwait and was imposed in February after the brutal death of Jullebee Ranawa, whose charred remains were found in a desert in Kuwait this year.

Cortes said the meeting this month with Kuwaiti officials is timely asit was already set even before the issue of the entry ban came up.

The upcoming high-level talks, he said, are part of the regular discussions between the Philippines and Kuwait concerning the more than 290,000 overseas Filipinos there.

According to the DFA, around 70 percent of the OFWs in Kuwait are household workers.

me, I'll always be proud to call the Philippines my home. And no matter what happens I will always be proud to call myself Pinoy," Dee answered. Her final interview question was: "Recently, the Department of Tourism has adopted a new branding campaign, 'We give the world our best.' For you, what is the best that we can offer to the rest of the world and why do you consider it so?"

Pauline Amelinckx and Krishnah

Marie Gavidez were crowned Miss Supranational Philippines 2023 and Miss Charm Philippines 2023, respectively, in a separate ceremony following the coronation show.

Christine Opiaza and Angelique Manto finished as first and second runners-up, respectively.

Earlier in the show, host Xian Liam announced the cancellation of the Top 10 semi-finalists after a technical difficulty occurred and the Top 18 candidates were called and went through the evening gown competition to compete for the Top 5.

Dee, who won best in evening gown, was crowned by last year’s Celeste Cortesi. Reigning Miss Universe 2023, Filipino-American R'Bonney Gabriel spoke to the audience and sat among the panel of judges which also included GMA Network SVP Annette Gozon-Valdes, Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Rep. Sam Verzosa, and 1973 Miss Universe Margie Moran.

Co-hosts were Alden Richards and Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi. Guests performers were American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez and K-Pop artist Nam Woo-hyun.

Metro Manila had the highest number of new cases in the last 14 days, followed by Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Bicol Region.

Among cities and provinces, Quezon City had the most new infections for the same period, followed by Rizal, Cavite, City of Manila, and Laguna.

Dr. Imelda Mateo, the medical center chief of Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Marikina City, told ABS-CBN News hospital admission remains low as more of COVID-19-positive patients have mild symptoms, and thus can be treated at home. That does not prevent the spread

Sweden claims Eurovision tiara for seventh time

LIVERPOOL—Sweden won the Eurovision Song Contest early Sunday, as singer Loreen beat out 25 competitors in the finale of the world's biggest live music event, hosted by Britain on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.

A previous victor in 2012, Loreen is the first woman to win theeccentric, much-loved competition twice and only the second person to do so after Johnny Logan for Ireland in the 1980s.

It is a record-equalling seventh Eurovision crown for Sweden, and means the Scandinavian nation will host next year's contest on the 50th anniversary of ABBA's win—the country's first—with breakthrough hit "Waterloo".

Loreen—real name Lorine Talhaoui —told reporters that her victory with dance-pop track, "Tattoo", felt "surreal" and "so beautiful", and had left her "seriously overwhelmed".

Born in Sweden to parents of Moroccan Berber origin, the 39-year-old's win for Sweden over 25 other countries competing in the final was celebrated in her homeland.

"There is only one queen and her name is Loreen," proclaimed the Expressen tabloid while the Svenska Dagbladet said the singer had "written history."

Loreen narrowly triumphed over Finland's Kaarija after the public and jury votes were combined following an evening of typically eclectic musical acts in Liverpool.

Third place went to Israel, with Noa Kirel's "Unicorn", as more than 160 million estimated viewers watched on television around the world.

'Proud'

Last year's runner-up Britain selected Liverpool -- home of The Beatles -- to stage the Europop music festival after organisers ruled it was impossible for 2022 victors Ukraine to do so amid Russia's ongoing invasion. AFP

Ragos...

From A1

against former senator Leila M. de Lima led to her acquittal in the case involving illegal drugs, but his retraction would pave the way for charging him with perjury case.

Court records showed that De Lima and her bodyguard Ronnie P. Dayanwere accused of receiving, on two occasions, a total of P10 million as proceeds from the illegal drugs trading at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City when the former was justice secretary. Ragos had testified that he delivered the money in 2012 when he was officerin-charge of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). He later recanted his testimony against De Lima and Dayan.

The recantation paved the way for the acquittal of both De Lima and Dayan of the second criminal case filed against them.

The decision stated that “the testimony of witness Ragos is necessary to sustain any possible conviction," said Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Abraham Joseph B. Alcantara.

“Ultimately, the retraction created doubt which warrants the acquittal of both accused,” the judge ruled.

Malcontento said that Ragos swore to the truthfulness of his testimony against De Lima and was even warned that he could be charged with perjury if this was found to be false.

On the filing of a perjury case against Ragos, Malcontento said:

“That’s a possibility, but we have to wait for directions of OSEC (Office of the Secretary).”

According to Prosecutor General, the decision to charge Ragos with perjury will come from Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla.

With her acquittal on her second drugs case, De Lima is now battling for her exoneration in the third case pending before Branch 256 of the Muntinlupa City RTC.

She had filed a motion to post bail, which is still pending resolution.

In the three cases, De Lima was charged with violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act due to the alleged proliferation of illegal drug trading at the NBP.

of the virus, however, as in Cabatuan National High School, 11 teachers and two students tested positive last week, forcing Mayor Bernardo Garcia Jr. to ask that the school suspend classes this week. The school and staff will return to blended, online and modular learning for its 2,224 students until May 17, the school principal said.

Mateo of ARMMC said the hospital is ready should there be a surge of cases in the coming days. Amang Rodriguez is the catchment hospital of nearby places like Rizal province, Pasig, and Quezon City.

ONLY two out of 22 remaining communist guerilla fronts in the country continue to be active, the National Security Council (NSC) said Sunday.

NSC spokesperson and Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said 20 guerilla fronts had weakened. However, several still had access to firearms and other weapons, so attacks were still possible.

“When we say weakened, they are running out of barangays or a mass base. That’s where they get their strength, from the support of the villagers... The remaining 20 guerrilla fronts, some still have weapons,” Malaya said in a radio DZBB interview.

“We are monitoring them to eliminate and arrest them. It doesn’t mean that they can’t attack anymore... Let’s expect that there will still be attacks, but their previous formation, when they could organize 20 up to 40 people, that’s already gone,” he added.

According to Malaya, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) had also cleared over 2,000 barangays from the influence of communist terrorist groups (CTG).

Around 400 barangays were still controlled by CTGs, he added.

“The military was committed to ending things this year. They are very, very hopeful that all the guerilla fronts will be finished. We will weaken them and wipe them out eventually,” Malaya said.

With more barangays to be placed under the NTF-ELCAC’s peace and development monitoring, the NSC official hopes Congress would allocate the funding needed to support the affected communities to address the root cause of the insurgency.

PBBM, VP, Speaker laud mothers

By Rio N. Araja

IN CELEBRATION of Mother’s Day, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Speaker Martin Romualdez on Sunday paid tribute to mothers’ sacrifices and unconditional love, and how they teach children to make the world a better place.

“I wish each and every mum a day full of the love, happiness, and appreciation they deserve. Happy Mother’s Day!” Mr. Marcos wrote on Instagram

The President posted a photo of his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, his mother Imelda Marcos, and sisters

Sen. Imee Marcos, Irene, and Aimee.

In her message, VP Duterte cited the selflessness of mothers and how their love inspires children to dream and pursue their dreams.

“Everything that mothers do reminds us what it is to be selfless. They ask for so

little and yet they give so much,” she said.

“Their sacrifices and unconditional love have molded us to become the persons that we are today and what we will become in the future — inspiring us to dream and encouraging us to pursue these dreams,” she added.

The Vice President also underscored the efforts of those who have taken the roles of being mothers of children outside of their own homes or in communities, adding that the mothers’ work helps sustain the values of Filipino society.

“May this day serve as an affirmation of the great work that our mothers un-

failingly commit to teaching our children to be good, be present when others need them, and, in doing so, sustain the values that make up the fiber of our Filipino society — faith, optimism, resilience, resourcefulness, and generosity of spirit,” Duterte-Carpio said. Speaker Romualdez, meanwhile, wished all mothers the very best day ever on Mother’s Day.

“I join the whole world in celebrating the life of that very, very special person who has sacrificed a lot to see us all succeed, put our needs first before their own, and seek our highest good no matter the costs for them,” he said.

IN BRIEF

Makabayan asks SC to reconsider MIF

THE Makabayan bloc has filed a motion for reconsideration, led by ex-Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares, to the Supreme Court decision dismissing their petition questioning the swift passage of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Bill.

“We stand by our assertion that the President’s certification of the measure as urgent did not explicitly spell out any public calamity nor emergency, in violation of Article VI Section 26 (2) of the Constitution,” Colmenares said.

“The controversial bill was also passed on second and third reading on the same day, violating the rules of procedure of the House of Representatives, which state that no bill must be approved on second and third reading on the same day,” he said. Rio N. Araja

Villar cites life-changing medical mission

NOTING that cleft lip and palate remain common birth defects in the Philippines, affecting one in every 1,000 children, Sen. Cynthia Villar has hailed a medical mission to address this concern.

She specifically acknowledged “Operation Restore Hope” on its 30th anniversary of bringing this lifechanging medical mission to underprivileged children with these deformities.

“The condition can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to eat, speak, hear, and socialize normally, leading to low self-esteem and social isolation. That’s why this medical mission, which provides free lip and cleft palate surgeries to underprivileged children, is so important,” the senator said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘Reds have just 2 fronts active, rest weakened’

MAMA’S ZUMBA. Farmers Plaza in Cubao, Quezon City hosts a free Zumba class for all mothers as part of its Mother’s Day celebration on Sunday. Manny Marcelo

Launching pad

MINORITY Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan is right when he urged the president to appoint Cabinet officials who would not run for the 2025 midterm elections.

Libanan argues this is to ensure the commitment to the job, instead of spending a lot of time preparing for an elective run.

Indeed we have had so many Cabinet officials who use their high-profile positions as launching pad for political ambition.

If they intend to run for congressman or governor in their home province, they first fill up positions in their bureaucracy with kababayans who have some form of political clout in their locality, and they pour resources of the agency into “projects” for their constituents.

I recall a senator who, serving his last term, poured his entire “pork barrel” entitlements into the province where he would run as governor.

While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with these practices for as long as they are not money-making “ghost” or defective infrastructure projects, the practice defeats the mandate for which they have been appointed, which, as Libanan states, “Puts away their focus from their (national) agency.”

In response, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said something everybody accepts as fact, that “(the president) is within his full political power” to replace some people in the Cabinet.

But to address Libanan’s unsolicited advice to the president, the former chief justice stated: “Sino ba naman ang makapagbabawal sa sinumang tao na tumakbo dahil sa nais niyang maglingkod sa bayan.”

But that is precisely Libanan’s point. Is public service (maglingkod sa bayan) to be measured only in terms of elective office?

Media speculations on supposed ‘nonperformers’ do injustice to those who now sit in their appointive posts

Did not the good chief justice serve the country and the people with dedication in all his years in the judiciary, instead of running for Congress or the governorship of his home province of Abra, where his family has been deeply involved in electoral politics?

This writer agrees with Rep. Libanan.

And it would be wise for the president to talk to his appointees in Cabinet and make it a pre-condition that they ought not to run in the immediate and forthcoming elections, and focus completely on their responsibilities to the mandate at hand.

No person who truly wants to “maglingkod sa bayan” will refuse the president’s condition. And if they truly serve with dedication and produce results, then they can run should they so wish, in 2028.

This is not to criticize those who ran for public positions after an appointive stint who served well in their positions, and who did not use the prerogatives of power as launching pad for pre-determined electoral plans.

Some served well in their appointed posts and were rewarded by the public with electoral approbation thereafter, or in some cases, they were asked by their appointing power to be part of the administration’s senatorial ticket.

For those who can yet recall, this was the case of the late DOH Secretary Juan Flavier, who was highly successful as steward of the public health, but was prevailed upon by Pres. Fidel V. Ramos to be part of the 1995 administration ticket, which his Lakas party could not fill up with potential winners that he had to forge a coalition with the LDP, and in a gesture of unity, got his presidential rival, the late Monching Mitra, to be part of the ticket.

Yet Flavier was reluctant to leave his post as DOH secretary, and most everyone except perhaps his enemies from the rabid pro-life advocates were sad when he resigned to

SHANGHAI, China—Tired of Shanghai club nights dominated by men, where a woman’s appearance often matters as much as her musical skills, Eloise Fan has created an underground space where women DJs are free to shine.

On a chilly spring evening, dozens of young women in a packed basement bar crowded around music producer Fan as she stood at the mixer, demonstrating how to transition between tracks.

The 30-year-old advertising professional is the co-founder of a label called “Scandal” that champions women producers and runs workshops teaching electronic dance music fundamentals.

She and her team are part of a small number of women working to make China’s nightlife safer and more welcoming.

In doing so, they are actively resisting conservative social norms—and, sometimes inadvertently, pushing up against a backdrop where anything seen as feminist is increasingly considered a challenge to authority.

Fan’s motive is simple.

“I want to raise the visibility of women in the underground music scene, and let more people see them,” she told AFP.

“Perhaps we can jump-start everyone’s inspiration.” Scandal began as a series of club nights, then

make a run for the Senate. But then, it was his president who asked him to run, just as it was Pres. Duterte who asked his SAP, Bong Go to run for senator in 2019. These are different from those who accepted appointments with the hidden agenda of propelling themselves to elective public office, and using the administrative machinery and perhaps even the funds of the office to pre-campaign all over the land.

And then again, now that PFM Jr. will fill up the positions he has left vacant, and there are yet so many of them, aside from the three major Cabinet level posts, it is unfair to the public for him to say that “tapos na ang OJT.”

It is also quite unfair to those whom he had appointed thus far. The general public, even would-be foreign investors would be so disappointed that OJTs had been placed in sensitive offices.

Or maybe the president was in a jocular mood, but, regretfully, it was a bad joke.

As early as a month before his overwhelming mandate, Ferdinand Jr. was ascertained of victory.

His staff and close-in advisers should already have begun the process of quietly making short lists for important Cabinet and sub-Cabinet positions.

More so when he got a huge electoral mandate, when a formal selection committee, not necessarily made public, should have produced a short list, along with a matrix that aside from curriculum vitae, included the prospective appointees’ political/ ideological inclinations.

It would then be up to the president to choose from the short list, weighing both academic and professional credentials with his personal esteem of the prospect’s loyalty or political merits.

After all, under our system, every appointee serves at the president’s pleasure.

Thus, by June 30 more or less, the president’s Cabinet, along with posts like the AFP, PNP, BOC, BIR, and key GOCCs and GFIs should have been completed.

Unless, of course, the president had reserved three Cabinet positions, such as the departments of national defense, health and agriculture for election losers from the time he became president-elect.

But what about other sensitive posts? Note that the present CSAFP was recycled after having appointed someone else, and the very critical BIR and BOC saw a changing of the guard months after June 30.

On top of these, important GOCCs and bureaus are yet manned by OICs and holdovers, putting both policy-making and program implementation in limbo for almost an entire year.

What do these examples say of a proper selection process?

A year has passed since PFM Jr. got his huge electoral mandate. By his own words, he intends to consider “qualified” election losers.

Who might these be?

Speculations are rife that former SND Gibo Teodoro will be returned to the post he held under PGMA in 2007 till 2009 when he decided to run for president. He ran unsuccessfully last 2022 for a Senate seat.

Or Art Yap, who was PGMA’s agriculture chief from 2005 till 2009 when he decided to run for congressman in the 3rd district of Bohol, and later served as governor for one term, having lost re-election last May 2022.

Media likewise mentions Dr. Minguita Padilla, the renowned ophthalmologist who has been quite active in public health concerns, and has worked in the DOH as consultant in previous administrations, as the incoming secretary.

And since the president himself has said that the time for OJTs or on-the-job training is up, who among his first team, most of whom have already passed the Commission on Appointments’ nihil obstat, will be replaced?

Media speculations on supposed “nonperformers” do injustice to those who now sit in their appointive posts.

And for as long as speculations hound them, proper governance becomes hostage.

Fruitful participation in ASEAN W

In the first place, we were part of efforts in the early 1960s to unite the three countries in the Malay Archipelago—Malaya, Philippines and Indonesia—under a nonpolitical confederation. While Maphilindo was short-lived, it led to the establishment later on of ASEAN, which now consists of 10 countries, with Timor-Leste set to be admitted as the 11th member.

ASEAN is a political and economic union which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, educational and sociocultural integration between its members and countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Its primary objective is to accelerate economic growth by loosening restrictions on goods, services and capital within the region.

Another is to promote regional peace and stability based on the rule of law and the principles of the UN Charter. The regional bloc resolves issues and concerns through consensus, or what it calls “the ASEAN way.”

In our recent participation in the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia last week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. articu-

lated the Philippine position on key issues.

We stressed the need to transition to renewable and alternative energy technologies and called for enhancing regional cooperation to ensure a cleaner energy future.

Apart from this, we emphasized the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation in tackling shared challenges such as climate change, transnational threats and

upholding rules-based international order anchored on international law.

We pointed out the need to prioritize food self-sufficiency and security through innovative solutions to attain overall human security.

We likewise urged the Summit participants to take decisive and responsive action on geo-political issues in the region, and to commit to the implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

Likewise, we reaffirmed our commitment to work with the private sector to empower micro, small and medium enterprises and farmers through knowledge and technology transfer.

The President also held bilateral meetings with the prime ministers of Vietnam and Laos to strengthen cooperation and expand partnerships on health, education, trade, agriculture, tourism and people-topeople exchange.

All in all, the two-day ASEAN Summit gave the Philippines ample opportunity to tell them that we highly value our participation in the regional bloc, that we are willing to work together with them in resolving economic and security concerns, and that we also want to seek consensus on issues that stand in the way of peace and stability in the region.

Paleng-QR PH Plus is a grassroots enabler

THE marketplace is changing and at such a rapid pace that has never been seen in history with digital technologies opening up virtually limitless possibilities in innovations that will reshape the way humans will live, work, and play on a planetary scale.

The most ubiquitous evidence of how technology has changed us is the smart phone that has become the default device to connect, interact, transact, and entertain.

Now that we have survived the pandemic, we have the opportunity to build on important lessons from that crisis.

One important learning that stands out is how we quickly adopted to technology to deal with severe disruptions of those lockdowns and how the new modes of digital transactions should be harnessed to bring us to, and even beyond pre-pandemic levels of economic growth.

The President in several pronouncements has given marching orders for a government wide digital transformation and has recruited the support of the private sector to engage in partnerships to help in what essentially will need to be a systemic overhaul of the slow, linear, redundant, and inefficient government bureaucracy to a level of productivity, transparency, and efficiency of public services that consumers are already getting from private enterprises that are already adept in integrated digital solutions in their operations.

The first challenge that the government will need to act on with urgency is the updating of obsolete government laws and policies which will need strong champions to push reforms that will be very disruptive to the old ways of bureaucrats as many human touch points can be automated with cloud based applications that will accomplish processes that would typically take hours, days, weeks or even more, in a matter of minutes and without the need travel and fall in long queues in local or national government offices.

Several policy reforms have been prioritized such as the E-Governance Act, and the Digital Transaction Act, among others.

The Ease of Doing Business Law which aims to cut the red tape in getting business registration and permit renewals will need the automation of these processes for government offices to comply.

On the grass roots level, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of the Interior and Local Government jointly launched to bring the convenience and efficiency of digital payment platforms down to public markets, daily commuter transportation and other SMEs in all cities and municipalities.

All local government leaders should help enable their constituents... by working with the BSP in rolling out the Paleng-QR PH Plus in their local ecosystems

The idea of empowering all Filipino consumers with the ability to do daily transactions digitally came from a team of students of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños student who was one of the finalists of the BSP Youth Summit competition in 2021.

Kudos to these young innovators from UPLB: Martin Rafael Torres, Reymar Angelo Cabatu, Harper de Leon, Oliver Caile Montesar, and Paolo Nicomedes. The team’s adviser Joram Obsioma said in a published statement, “The concept was aimed at helping Filipinos face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, while promoting financial digitalization.”

Obsioma explained that “By helping palengkes go digital, we not only help market vendors protect themselves against COVID-19, but also to cope with the fastchanging financial environment-’yung hindi sila mapag-iiwanan ng mga malls and techie businesses,”.

By now, QR (Quick Response) codes are those square shaped images with an array of many squares that are uniquely arranged in

Women dance to their own beat in China’s nightclubs

released its first album in 2022.

In “Shanghai Dreams”, the label’s all-women compilation released this year, ticking, whirring beats meld with the sounds of roaring waves and blurred vocals to express what the group calls an “alluring and deceiving” mood.

T-shirts vs make-up

In the bar, one of the featured artists gave the group pointers on developing an ear for music composition.

Eva, who performs under the stage name Empress CC, said the underground electronic music scene is in some ways a refuge for women.

The 31-year-old said that in mainstream clubs, some men perceive “paying to have women drink with you “ as a status symbol.

Still, her experience as a professional music producer has shown her that even in underground circles, women must work harder than their male peers to make their mark.

“For talented female DJs to be able to make a name for themselves, it’s much harder than for male DJs who started at the same time and are at the same level,” Eva said.

More broadly, women in China must also contend with negative stereotypes of promiscuity and immorality that persist around women who frequent clubs and bars.

The band’s lead singer, Yuetu, has campaigned against sexual harassment at nightlife venues and is a firm believer in fighting for women’s rights—but she takes pains to emphasize that her music is about much more

In 2020, when a young woman’s visits to multiple bars were publicized by COVID tracers in the city of Chengdu, the flood of online vitriol and misogyny showed how widespread those

perceptions can still be.

In recent years, conservative attitudes valuing women primarily for their appearance and childbearing have been increasingly reinforced by state media and popular culture.

Even in more liberal circles, Fan often felt objectified in the clubs where she and her friends cut their teeth as DJs.

“Men can put on a t-shirt, sweatshirt and shorts and be a DJ, but women (are expected to) put on thick make-up, and dress up so they look sexy and beautiful,” she told AFP.

“One of the artists from our label told me she had previously been asked for her body measurements for a show.”

She pointed to other factors behind the relatively lower number of women in music.

Parents often feel that it’s normal for boys to be “naughty or cause trouble and play,” but encourage girls to “make safer decisions,” Fan said.

Labelled

Breezy, a 27-year-old legal professional from southern Guangdong province who has contributed to a Scandal album, told AFP she was proud of the project’s overtly feminist aims.

“Scandal can help women in China realize that female musicians can also do well,” she said.

But the feminist label can be a minefield for

what looks like a matrix of sorts.

This is a familiar feature that you may see when shopping online or even in brickand-mortar stores that you can simply scan with your smart phone and fulfill your purchase.

Consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor, former HOR Representative, Atty. Kit Belmonte in a recently published statement has called on local governments to encourage their constituents in the grassroots to shift to digital transactions, saying the benefits of technology must be felt by all.

“The use of technology should be extended to market vendors, community shopkeepers, tricycle operators and drivers, farmers and small merchants,” Atty. Belmonte said. The top payment platforms such as GCash have integrated QR codes for the ease of their users and are seeing an increase in the volume of transactions.

These has led to the substantial improvement of the ratio of banked and unbanked Filipinos which BSP 2021 figures show banking penetration at 56 perent and sees demand for financial services growing at a rate of 9 to 10 percent.

The BSP-DILG Joint Memorandum Circular issued in June 2022 already outlines the implementing guidelines and roles and responsibilities anent to the program.

All local government leaders should help enable their constituents, especially those still in the informal, micro-enterprise level and their consumers by working with the BSP in rolling out the Paleng-QR PH Plus in their local ecosystems. Beyond convenience, expansion of the Paleng-QR PH Plus program will expose more Filipinos to financial services and become integrated into the formal banking system which can open bigger and more profitable entrepreneurial opportunities.

women trying to gain recognition as artists.

In China, women in the public eye often explicitly disavow feminism to avoid angering fans.

Multiple people working on feminist projects involving nightlife venues in China told AFP they had attracted negative attention from authorities for their activities, and that speaking openly to foreign media about feminism would be too risky.

Under President Xi Jinping, authorities have cracked down on almost every kind of feminist activism, restricting NGOs, arresting high-profile figures, and suspending social media accounts.

In capital Beijing, the all-female rock band Xiaowang said a reductive view of women’s role in music can get in the way of their passion for loud sounds and rhythm.

The band’s lead singer, Yuetu, has campaigned against sexual harassment at nightlife venues and is a firm believer in fighting for women’s rights —but she takes pains to emphasize that her music is about much more.

“I’m not in a band just to promote feminism,” Yuetu told AFP.

Nevertheless, she said she felt “a little bit of responsibility as a female musician.”

“I hope some young girls can hear the true voice of female musicians.” AFP

HY is it important for the country to take an active part in the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?

We stressed the need to transition to renewable and alternative energy technologies and called for enhancing regional cooperation to ensure a cleaner energy future

IN BRIEF

Solon seeks P1k fuel subsidy for fisherfolks

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee has filed a bill seeking to guarantee a fuel subsidy for municipal fisherfolk by providing a fuel voucher of not less than P1,000 per month.

Under House Bill No. 8007 or the “Pantawid Pambangka Act of 2023,” the Department of Agriculture is mandated to administer the monthly subsidy program, in which the amount will be revised every year to account for inflation.

“Despite the fishing sector’s major contribution, our fishermen continue to be among the fundamental sectors’ poorest people.

Hindi po makatarungan na kung sino pa ang producer ng pagkain, sila pa ang napapabayaan at pinakanaghihirap,” Lee said. Rio N. Araja

Tolentino lauds House on approval of new CA

TAGAYTAY City Rep. Aniela Bianca Tolentino on Sunday lauded the decision of the House Committee on Justice for acting immediately on pending bills proposing new Court of Appeals (CA) divisions, saying this will complement the rise in the number of lower courts in the country.

The justice panel has taken cognizance of the urgency of putting up more CA divisions to be located in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur and Davao City as lawmakers noted the continued rise in cases requiring action from the appellate court, she said.

Tolentino authored House Bill 4033, proposing the appointment of new CA justices or an increase in appellate court magistrates from the current 69 to 78. Rio

N. Araja

Offshore mining firms back PBBM climate call

A GROUP of deep-sea offshore mining organizations on Sunday backed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on the urgent issues on worldwide critical minerals supply and concerns on climate justice.

The Offshore Mining Chamber of the Philippines Inc., led by Dr. Michael Raymond Aragon, said: “We fully support our President’s timely call to all ASEAN nations to start enhancing regional cooperation to boost the supply of strategic industrial metals and mineral value chain in the Asia Pacific region because the future of clean energy is anchored on the crucial supply of critical minerals for mankind to achieve the clean energy transition goal needed in our common fight versus global climate change.”

During the 42nd Summit of the ASEAN in Indonesia, the President said “recognizing that the cleaner energy future is anchored on the supply of critical minerals... ASEAN should start enhancing regional cooperation toward boosting the region’s strategic industrial metal and mineral value chain.” Rio N. Araja

FIRE

AFTERMATH. Residents look for salvageable materials after a fire razed their houses at a residential area in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Sunday. One died and four others were injured in the fire. Norman Cruz

Taiwan to extend PH visa plan

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Saturday said it is confident the Philippines will not lose its visa-free entry privileges in Taiwan after a Taiwanese official said it could be extended annually.

Filipinos are currently eligible for the visa exemption program for a stay of up to 14 days, except those holding diplomatic or official/service passports until July 31.

Peiyung Hsu, a representative from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines had said this

‘MISS POSSIBILITIES.’

Angela Gabrielle Santiago, a special child, waves to the crowd as she is crowned ‘Miss Possibilities 2023’ in a pageant at the Henry Lee Theater in Ateneo De Manila University on Saturday. The Miss Possibilities Foundation has been at the forefront of advocating the acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities.

could be extended “because people to people connectivity is so important.”

MECO chairperson Silvestre Bello III said Taiwan needs Filipinos not only for the tourism sector, but other business sectors as well.

“We were informed that there might

be some policy changes pero hanggang ngayon wala pa naman and I am still confident yung ating visa-free privilege will not be discarded kasi kailangan nila ang mga Pilipino,” Bello told reporters in a briefing.

Bello, a former labor secretary, said he was not keen on requesting the duration of the visa-free stay there to be lengthened.

Taiwan is targeting to attract at least 200,000 Filipino tourists to Taiwan as well as 200,000 Taiwanese tourists to the Philippines.

Around 5,000 Filipinos may be needed for the manufacturing sector soon,

Transport groups slam exorbitant LTO service fees on LTMS platform

By Rio N. Araja

DRIVERS and operators belonging to the National Public Transport Coalition (NPTC) on Sunday hit the new foreignmade information technology platform of the Land Transportation Office’s Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) for charging “enormous service

fees” to the motoring public.

At a media interview, NPTC national convenor Ariel Lim said the LTO charges drivers, vehicle owners, auto dealers and operators a minimum of P75 per transaction when paying through the LTMS. The service fees are allocated for the online portal’s accredited payment

gateway, Paynamics.

Instead of providing convenience, the LTMS has become an added financial burden to the motoring public, especially to the low-income public utility vehicle drivers, Lim lamented.

Since the government owns the LTMS, the public must not be charged additional fees, he said, citing the sys-

tem could be used as a money-making scheme and a vehicle for corruption.

He questioned if the selection for the payment with the gateway partner went through a proper bidding and accreditation.

The basis of the price for a service fee as it is higher than the usual rate of P25 to P45, apart from the P75 service charge.

said Bello.

Bello meanwhile said that the situation in Taiwan is normal and the safety of overseas Filipinos there has been assured by the Taiwanese government amid tensions with neighboring China.

Bello said that the Philippine government is looking after the welfare and well-being of Filipinos there, while noting that Taiwan is prepared to protect not only its citizens but foreigners as well in case of an emergency.

The National Police Agency of Taiwan has also made an assurance that Filipinos there would be secured and protected, he added.

PNP rescues 17 Malaysians from

Kawit company

By Charles Dantes

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday reported that 17 Malaysian nationals were rescued working under allegedly poor conditions in a company based in Kawit, Cavite.

PNP Chief Benjamin Acorda Jr said that a joint rescue operation was conducted at 10:30 p.m. Friday by the Police Regional Intelligence Division 4-A CALABARZON and the Royal Malaysia Police with the assistance of the Provincial Intelligence Unit, Cavite Police, and Kawit Municipal Police.

Authorities said the Malaysians sought help due to poor working conditions inside the offices of real estate company Klaire One Corp. and have expressed their decision to leave the company.

The rescued Malaysians have been identified as Steve Sim Vui Leong, Kong Seeing Hock, Lai Yen Fan, Tiu Yong Yong, Tommy Wong Chiong Ming, Jane Liong Siew Jiun, Chua Wei Tung, Ang Kian Long, Antonio Alex Samuel, Stephen Pang Ying Kwong, Simon Chee Yung Fock, Stephanie Sim Do Do, William Law Hing Liong, Bong Ju Fong, Algyen David, Yaw You Ming, and Jalan Rambai Paya Terubong.

Dela Rosa ends Senate hearing on Degamo killing

By Macon Ramos Araneta

SEN. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has ended the Senate inquiry on the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others after getting the testimonies of 80 persons from the province.

Dela Rosa presided over five hearings conducted by the Senate Com-

mittee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs which he chaired.

Dela Rosa’s committee also looked into the other political killings wherein Degamo and his political rival the Teves clan, have been implicated.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier identified suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves as the mastermind behind

the murder of Degamo.

According to Dela Rosa, he will craft a report and will recommend the abolition of politicians in maintaining private armies.

The senator said he will also propose not to allow policemen and soldiers in active service to be engaged in violence.

Jinggoy: Jail term for criminals targetting e-wallets

SENATOR Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is eyeing the imposition of a jail term against cyber criminals targeting virtual or electronic wallets and similar platforms used for digital financial services. Estrada recently filed Senate Bill No. 2171, the proposed Bank Ac -

counts, Electronic Wallets, and Other Financial Accounts Regulation Act, to fully equip and empower government agencies and financial regulators to address cybercrime schemes and provide financial consumers with efficient means to resolve their complaints.

“If authorities are capable to trace those behind hacking or unauthorized transactions, scamming and other modus using the internet or mobile banking, there should be appropriate punishment of jail term and a heavy fine,” Estrada said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Danny Pata

‘Quake city’ won’t vote for Erdogan

“WE NEED change, we’ve had enough,” said Mehmet Topaloglu, one of the first to cast his ballot on Sunday in the southern Turkish city of Antakya, destroyed by this year’s devastating earthquake.

For Topaloglu, the 7.8-magnitude February tremor that killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey and the economic situation have changed the nature of the polls, which could end President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s more than two-decade grip on power.

“I voted Erdogan for his first two terms, but I won’t vote for him again, even if he were my father,” the farmer told AFP at an Antakya school used as a polling center.

Semra Karakas and her 23-year-old daughter Aylin endured a 14-hour bus ride to return to Antakya for the vote, after the quake forced them to leave and settle in the southern coastal city of Antalya.

Gaza ceasefire in effect after strikes

ACEASEFIRE was in effect on the Gaza Strip Sunday, drawing people back into the streets after five days of cross-border exchanges killed at least 34 Palestinians and one Israeli.

The truce got off to a rough start after the final 30 minutes running up to the expected Saturday 10:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) deadline saw a volley of fire.

Dozens of rockets were launched from Gaza towards Israel, prompting renewed air strikes, AFP correspondents in the territory said.

Most of the rockets were intercepted by Israeli air defenses.

Overnight attack leaves 13 dead in Pakistan base

MORE than a dozen people were killed in an overnight battle between Pakistan paramilitary troops and militants who stormed their base and took families hostage, the army said.

“Well equipped” fighters assaulted a Frontier Corps compound in Muslim Bagh, Balochistan province, and captured three families in a residential block, the military said.

Fighting raged from Friday evening until Saturday morning and “the complex clearance operation involved hostage rescue operation,” the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but ethnic Baloch separatist groups have for decades waged a rebellion against the state in the southwestern province, frequently targeting security forces.

The Pakistan Taliban is also active in the region.

“The terrorists had not even spared children” in their hostagetaking, ISPR said. All six militants who breached the compound were killed, it said.

Seven “sons of the soil” – a term generally used for state security forces -- were killed but one individual was a civilian, ISPR said.

Six more people, including a woman, were wounded.

A funeral service for some of the men killed was held in Balochistan’s provincial capital Quetta on Saturday. AFP

A few more rockets were fired after 1900 GMT, followed by fresh Israeli strikes, before things appeared to calm down.

Two rockets were fired from Gaza after 11:00 p.m. (2000 GMT) with no victims, the Israeli army said. Egypt brokered the latest ceasefire, saying it had secured agreement from both Israel and the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad.

“Israel’s National Security Adviser

Tsahi Hanegbi... thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and expressed the State of Israel’s appreciation for Egypt’s vigorous efforts to bring about a ceasefire,” a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office said.

Israel’s response to the Egyptian initiative means “quiet will be answered by quiet, and if Israel is attacked or threatened it will continue to do everything it needs to do in order to defend itself,” he said.

A Palestinian source confirmed Islamic Jihad’s agreement.

“We want to thank Egypt for its ef-

forts,” Islamic Jihad political department official Mohammad al-Hindi told AFP. He has been in Cairo since the fighting erupted on Tuesday.

For days, life in Gaza and Israeli communities near the border has been a daily routine of air strikes and sirens warning of incoming rocket fire.

Residents in the crowded Gaza Strip cowered indoors as the fighting raged, with streets empty and only a few shops and pharmacies open.

“The whole Palestinian people are suffering,” Muhammad Muhanna, 58, told AFP in the ruins of his home. “What have we done?”

Pakistan ex-PM calls for nationwide protests

PAKISTAN’S former prime minister Imran Khan called for nationwide

“freedom” protests on Sunday, after his brief arrest and detention last week triggered deadly unrest.

The one-time cricket superstar – who has been tied up in dozens of legal cases since being ousted from power in April last year – was freed on bail on Friday after his detention was declared unlawful by the Supreme Court.

Enraged by the arrest, supporters set fire to government buildings, blocked roads and damaged property belonging to the military, which they blame for Khan’s downfall.

“Freedom does not come easily. You have to snatch it. You have to sacrifice for it,” he said in an address broadcast on YouTube Saturday night.

He called for his supporters to hold protests “at the end of your streets and

Zelensky in Berlin; Ukraine readies offensive

UKRAINE’S President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks Sunday with his German counterpart at the start of his first visit to Germany since Russia’s invasion, with Berlin offering emphatic support in the form of a huge new military package.

“Already in Berlin,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter. “Weapons. Powerful package. Air defense. Reconstruction. EU. NATO. Security.”

Zelensky’s trip comes as Kyiv is preparing a much-anticipated counter-offensive and follows a day of meetings in Rome with Italian leaders and Pope Francis.

Ukrainian forces have been training a new contingent of forces and stockpiling Western-supplied munitions and hardware that analysts say will be key to reclaiming territory cap -

tured by Russia.

Once accused of reticence in supplying military gear to Ukraine, Germany has since become a major contributor of tanks, rockets and anti-missile systems.

Zelensky was greeted by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Bellevue Palace where he signed the guestbook before the pair headed into talks.

The Ukrainian leader’s schedule for Germany has not yet been officially confirmed but he is expected to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz later Sunday.

He may also head to the western German city of Aachen, which this year is awarding him and the Ukrainian people the Charlemagne prize – an honor awarded for efforts to foster European unity.

Bild daily said Zelensky’s flight to Aachen on a German government plane would be secured by the air force.

Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki are due to attend the ceremony in Aachen. AFP

villages” across the country on Sunday, and announced a return to campaigning on Wednesday for immediate elections.

For months, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party leader has waged a campaign of defiance against the military. His arrest on Tuesday came just hours after he was rebuked for claiming senior officials were involved in an assassination attempt against him last year. AFP

Speaking by containers acting as improvised polling stations, Aylin said the earthquake – and the state’s inadequate response to the emergency – reaffirmed her choice in the race between two presidential frontrunners, Erdogan and his secular rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

“The state didn’t come to our aid. They came three or four days afterwards,” added the architecture student, who thinks support for the conservative Erdogan in Antakya’s Hatay province will “fall a lot.”

Semras recalled the images of dead babies lying in the rubble, some of whom perished due to the cold temperatures, and said the “catastrophe” would affect the polls.

Medical worker Deryer Deniz, 35, has lived in cramped conditions in a tent since the tragedy, and thinks this year’s elections “are much more important.” AFP

Cat. 5 cyclone hits Myanmar, Bangladesh

CYCLONE Mocha began to crash ashore at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on Sunday, Bangladesh’s weather office said, uprooting trees and bringing driving rain to a region home to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees.

Packing winds of up to 195 kilometers (120 miles) per hour Mocha hit between Cox’s Bazar, where nearly one million Rohingya refugees live in camps largely made up of flimsy shelters, and Myanmar’s Sittwe, the office said.

The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center earlier said Mocha was packing winds up to 140 knots, or 259 kph, equivalent to a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

“Our camp houses, which are constructed with bamboo and tarpaulins, can be blown away in soft, light winds,” Mohammad Sayed, 28, told AFP from Nayapara refugee camp in Bangladesh.

“The schools, which are designated as cyclone shelters... are not strong shelters that can withstand the winds of a cyclone. We are scared.”

“The wind is getting stronger at the moment,” rescue worker Kyaw Kyaw Khaing told AFP earlier from Myanmar’s Pauktaw, about 25 kilometers inland from Sittwe, and where he said around 3,000 people had arrived to seek shelter. AFP

TRUCE. This picture shows a battery of Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system in the southern city of Ashdod. Israeli air strikes battered Gaza again over the weekend in response to rocket fire from militants as a ceasefire took effect Sunday. AFP

People take part in the gay pride conga to celebrate the day against homophobia and transphobia in Havana, Cuba. AFP

SCENE OF THE CRIME. Forensics are at work at the scene of a shooting in Villerupt, eastern France. A hooded armed man on May 13, 2023 fired from a car injuring five people, three severely. AFP

By Othel V. Campos

INTERNATIONAL visitor arrivals in the Philippines

breached the 2-million mark as of May 2, reflecting the rebound of the global travel and tourism industry, data from the Department of Tourism showed over the weekend.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the country recorded 2,002,304 international visitor arrivals from Jan. 1 to May 12, 2023, exceeding the 2022 full year target of 1.7 million foreign visitors.

“Notwithstanding our challenges and

Grab says cancellation fees have LTFRB approval

GRAB Philippines said over the weekend the complaints over the P50 charge on canceled rides are “isolated” as the cancellation fee was approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

“Over the past two weeks, we have received feedback from five passengers regarding Grabcar P50 cancellation fee. We want to assure the public that these feedback are isolated occurrences, and that they can always rely on Grab to provide a fair, safe and efficient platform for their mobility needs,” Grab said in a statement.

“After doing an investigation, we can confirm that there have been no deliberate efforts from our driver-partners to take advantage of passengers, and misuse the Grab Cancellation Fee Policy to their advantage,” it said. Grab said the fee kicks in when a passenger cancels after a five-minute grace period had lapsed. “The fee is intended to directly compensate drivers - not Grab, who have already started traveling towards the designated pick-up point,” it said.

Grab said the cancellation fee was approved by the LTRB in 2021, under the MC 2020-028. This measure was put in place to encourage responsible usage of ride-sharing services and enhance the overall experience for both passengers and drivers.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Stocks to move sideways on improving economy

LOCAL stocks are expected to move sideways with an upward momentum this week on the back of improving macroeconomic conditions.

Analysts said the continued decline in inflation rate, the strong first-quarter economic performance and the overall positive firstquarter earnings results of listed companies are among the factors boosting investor sentiments.

The downtrend in consumer prices is also implying that there’s room for the central bank to pause monetary tightening, they said.

“The local Monetary Board meeting this week is widely expected to follow this dovish trail, seeing as PH inflation tracks global price cooling; a lower 25 basis points hike is floating around the street, but a pause is totally not out of the table,” online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said. The Monetary Board’s next policy meeting is set on May 18.

Analysts said despite improving economic situations, profit takers would be quick in cashing in on gains to take advantage of the short rally. Investors are also expected to remain cautiously optimistic as downside risk drivers such as inflation and interest rate are expected to be less challenging in the second half of the year.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Developers want higher socialized housing threshold

A GROUP of developers asked the Board of Investments to adjust the threshold on socialized housing projects to P4.2 million from P2.4 million, following the unabated increase in construction and labor costs over the last 10 years.

Subdivision and Housing Developers Association Inc. president Leonardo Dayao said the proposed threshold is aligned with recommended ceiling proposed by the National Economic and Development Authority at P4.28 million in order for developers to keep their prices within the affordable limits of consumers.

“In fairness to the BOI, they are receptive in reviewing our petition. Right now, the price ceiling for incentives, in terms of housing, is P2 million, but we are proposing a much higher ceiling of P4.2 million. It can be reasonably concluded that keeping the threshold for mass housing at the P2 million is no longer reflective of the current indices, and the rising costs of construction materials, labor, and land,” he said during the launch of the Philippine Furnitures Furnishings Market 2023.

Developers said that comparing the prices from 2018 to 2022, wholesale prices of construction materials increased by an average of 14 percent, based on the Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index. Along with the increase in the cost of construction materials is the rise in the cost of labor and the zonal values of residential areas in highlyurbanized cities, they said. Othel V. Campos

difficulties that our country has faced, a pandemic and the various calamities that come into our shores, the good news is that this has done nothing to break the Filipino spirit or to diminish the beauty of the Philippines,” she said.

South Korea delivered almost a quar-

ter of the total number of visitors in the Philippines with 487,502; followed by the United States with 352,894 or 17.62 percent; Australia with 102,494; Canada with 98,593; and Japan with 97,329.

Rounding out the top 10 tourism markets for the Philippines are China with 75,043 visitors; Taiwan with 62,654; the United Kingdom with 62,291; Singapore with 53,359; and Malaysia, 36,789.

The DOT said inbound tourism also generated P168.52 billion in receipts from January to April, or 782.59 percent higher than P19.09 billion achieved in the same period last year.

Frasco said the DOT is optimistic

about the Philippines being a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

“We are at the cusp of the massive success of tourism in the Philippines.

You can feel it, you can hear it, you can see it, it’s our time Philippines, it’s our time to become Asia’s leading tourism powerhouse, and with your help, we can achieve just that,” Frasco said.

The DOT is keeping its 4.8-million target arrivals for 2023.

The United Nations’ World Tourism Organization said its barometer shows that the sector’s swift recovery continued into 2023, with international arrivals reaching 80 percent of pre-pandemic

International visitor arrivals surpass 2m IN BRIEF

levels in the first quarter of 2023. It said some 235 million tourists travelled internationally in the first three months, or more than double the same period of 2022.

“Tourism has continued to show its resilience. Revised data for 2022 shows over 960 million tourists travelling internationally last year, meaning twothirds [66 percent] of pre-pandemic numbers were recovered,” it said. The Middle East saw the strongest performance as the only region exceeding 2019 arrivals ( up 15 percent) and the first to recover pre-pandemic numbers in a full quarter.

EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES.

IMF supports BSP rate hike to cool inflation

By Julito G. Rada

THE International Monetary Fund supports any move by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to further increase interest rates to bring back inflation within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

This was contained in a statement after an IMF team led by Shanaka Jay Peiris held meetings in Manila from May 8 to 12 to discuss economic and financial developments and the outlook for the Philippine economy.

“Risks to inflation remain on the upside, and a continued tightening bias may be appropriate until inflation falls decisively within the 2 to 4 percent target range,” the IMF said.

Inflation hit a 14-year high of 8.7 percent in

January 2023 after surpassing the target range last year. Inflation eased to 8.6 percent in February, 7.6 percent in March and 6.6 percent in April but remained elevated over the target range.

The BSP hiked the policy rate by a cumulative 425 basis points to 6.25 percent, more than the adjustments by other emerging market Asian central banks.

“After peaking in January 2023, headline inflation has gradually slowed in recent months, but core inflation has remained elevated, calling for tighter-for-longer rates,” the IMF said.

It said timely imports of cheaper food items and buffer stock releases as envisaged by the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook were expected to reduce still high food prices.

AI SUMMIT. LBC Express Inc., Aboitiz Data Innovation and Union Bank of the Philippines sign a tripartite agreement to champion financial sustainability at the inaugural AI Summit in the Philippines. Through this initiative, LBC clients will have access to small business financing from UnionBank to help finance their expansion plans. Signing the agreement are (from left) Aboitiz Data Innovation chief operating officer Guy Sheppard, LBC Express chief financial officer Enrique Rey Jr. and UnionBank executive vice president Roberto Abastillas.

RLC eyes REIT offering for malls, logistics units

By Jenniffer B. Austria

PROPERTY developer Robinsons Land Corp.,

the country’s second largest shopping mall operator, is studying the possibility of conducting a real estate investment trust offering for its malls and logistics businesses.

“At the strategic corporate level, we will closely monitor REIT opportunities for our malls and logistics businesses,” RLC president and chief executive Frederick Go said during the company’s annual stockholders meeting.

RLC has an REIT firm for its office business under RL Commercial REIT Inc. RCR is now one of the largest REIT companies in the coun-

try with a market capitalization of P62.22 billion and with the widest geographical reach. It has 16 assets spread across 10 key cities all over the country. RLC was operating 53 malls with total gross leasable area of 1.6 million square meters as of end-March 2023. Eight of these malls are located in Metro Manila and 45 in other key cities across the country.

RLC plans to open two new shopping malls-the Opus Mall in Pasig City and Robinsons Mall Pagadian between 2023 and 2024. These new malls will increase the company’s gross leasable area to 1.689 sq. m.

RLC’s malls generated rental revenues of P8.95 billion in 2022, up 74 percent year-on-year.

Blueleaf Energy commits to invest over $2b in PH renewable projects

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SINGAPORE-BASED Blueleaf Energy, a portfolio company of Macquarie’s Green Investment Group, said it plans to invest, together with its partners, over $2 billion to put up 2,000 to 3,000 megawatts of renewable energy projects in the Philippines over the next five years.

“Our goal is we would like to at least do between 2 and 3 gigawatts of renewables in the Philippines over the next five years. And that would translate into an investment commitment in excess of $2 billion,” Blueleaf Energy chief executive Raghuram Natarajan said.

He said the company aimed to construct between 8 GW and 10 GW of renewable energy projects around the Asia Pacific region.

Natarajan said Blueleaf’s overall portfolio would be onshore renewable technologies with a major focus on solar, wind and battery storage.

“Specifically for the Philippines, I would say it’s more solar, onshore wind and storage, but we are actively working together also with the other players, whether that’s geothermal or other ones to be able to integrate that together with the solar and wind farms,” Natarajan said.

“Our intention is eventually to provide in the

future a 24/7 renewable energy supply for the Philippines’ people. It’s not realizable immediately right now, but we’re working towards a pathway to reach it,” he said.

Natarajan said Blueleaf Energy would deliver its portfolio of RE projects in the Philippines in partnership with other developers such as SunAsia Energy Inc.

“We do work together with other partners as well depending upon technology, location. And the approach has always been in every country that we work with local partners because we do want to make sure that we are actively engaging,” he said.

GCash, a leading financial technology company, is pushing for more digital technology innovations to boost the country’s financial inclusion agenda as it gathers key public sector partners in the second part of its GCash for the Nation workshop series. Attending the series are (from left) GCash assistant vice president for public sector partnerships Cathlyn Pavia, San Fernando City treasurer Mary Ann Bautista, Department of Information and Communications Technology e-government specialist David Balamon, MyEG Philippines Inc. chief executive Ann Margaret Saldana and GCash vice president for commercial operations Luigi Reyes.

Global food production at risk as El Niño climate takes shape

THE development of an El Niño climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean this year has become more likely, with dangerously high temperatures and extreme weather events expected, the World Meteorological Organization said last week.

El Niño and La Niña are natural phenomena which the WMO describes as “major drivers of the Earth’s climate system.” After a three-year La Niña spell, which is associated with ocean cooling, the world faces an 80 per cent chance of an El Niño event developing between July and September.

Tell-tale signs are a warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. With a slightly lesser likelihood, it may develop even earlier.

WMO Secretary-General Professor Petteri Taalas, citing the agency’s State of the Global Climate reports, said the eight years from 2015 to 2022 were the warmest on record. The world experienced the hot weather although the planet for three of those years “had a cooling La Niña... and this acted as a temporary brake on global temperature increase.”

The WMO chief also warned that the development of El Niño would “most likely lead to a new spike in global heating and increase the chance of

breaking temperature records.”

The “very powerful” El Niño event of 2014-2015, combined with greenhouse gas-induced atmosphere warming, resulted in 2016 being the warmest year on record. WMO said the effects of the upcoming El Niño on global temperatures will likely be most apparent in 2024. Taalas said the world “should prepare”

for El Niño, which can trigger more extreme weather and climate events, including severe rainfall and drought, depending on the region.

He also stressed the crucial role of early warning services, which can help inform action and avoid the worst impacts of extreme weather. Some one hundred countries in the world today do not have adequate weather services in

place, according to the WMO.

The WMO said there was no indication so far about the strength or duration of the upcoming potential El Niño, and that no two El Niño events were the same. Close monitoring will be needed to pinpoint the impacts.

The agency said El Niño events are “typically associated” with increased rainfall, which can cause flooding, in

southern parts of South America, the southern United States, central Asia and the Horn of Africa.

While WMO notes it might bring “respite” from the long drought spell in the Horn of Africa, El Niño can also cause “severe droughts” over Australia, Indonesia, and parts of southern Asia.

Given the record number of people facing acute food insecurity, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said last week it was “scrutinizing the areas in the globe that are especially vulnerable to El Niño” and supporting countries on risk mitigation.

FAO pointed to ] Southern Africa, Central America and the Caribbean and parts of Asia as areas of particular concern, where many people are already food insecure and “key cropping seasons fall under the typical El Niño weather patterns of drier conditions.”

The agency also flagged that major cereal producing and exporting countries, such as Australia, Brazil and South Africa, are among the countries at risk of dry conditions, while on the other hand, excessive rainfall could affect cereal exporters Argentina, Turkey and the United States.

“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.

The agency stressed that along with other UN entities, it has been working for years to develop anticipatory action plans for a number of countries and is ready to “act early, in coordination with governments and partners,” if the forecasts materialize. UN News

Source: FAO graphics

Ando smashes 3 records, wins 1st gold in SEAG

PHNOM

PENH—Tokyo Olympian

Elreen Ann Ando finally struck gold on her third try, ruling the -59kg event of the weightlifting competitions in record fashion in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Sunday at the National Olympic Stadium here.

The 24-year-old Ando proved to be a cut above the rest as she lifted a total of 216 kgs, a new record total, to go with two other new marks she set±the clean and jerk with her 118 kgs, and the snatch at 98 kgs.

“It’s just a matter of redeeming myself after all those failures and heartaches, especially in the last Asian Championships when I did not finish my clean and jerk. I focused on my training and came to my senses again,” said Andro, who could only muster silver-medal finishes in Vietnam last year and the Philippines in 2019.

Ando placed 7th in the Tokyo games two years ago.

Thailand’s Suratwadee Yodsarn settled for the silver with a 91-kg lift in snatch, and 115kg in clean and jerk for a total of 206 kg, while Vietnamese Hoang Thi Duyen placed third with a 93kg in snatch, 112kg in clean and jerk for a total lift of 205 kg.

The old record in snatch (96kg), clean and jerk (115 kg) and total (210 kg) was established by Duyen in last Hanoi, Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in May 2022.

Ando also ended the Vietnamese’ two-year reign in the 59 kg.

So far, the Philippines has one gold in weightlifting, and four silvers courtesy of Angeline Colonia (women’s 45 kg), Lovely Inan (women’s 49 kg), John Febuar Ceniza (men’s 61 kg) and Rosalinda Faustino (women’s 55 kg).

“It is the start of Philippines’ rise in weightlifting. As what I said after Colonia’s silver, others will follow,” coach Edmund Cardano said. “Reigning champion Vanessa Sarno and Kristel Macrohon will follow Ando, I believe.”

Olympians infuse life into Filipinos’ SEAG campaign

By Riera U. Mallari

PHNOM PENH—Tokyo Olympians Carlo

Paalam and Nesthy Petecio of boxing, and weightlifting’s Elreen Ando led the charge of the cavalry, infusing life into the Philippines’ sagging campaign with the team’s biggest daylong haul of nine golds in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here on Sunday.

Olympic silver medalists Paalam and Petecio led a 3-of-5 golden finish by the Filipino boxers, while Ando smashed three records on the way to the -59kg weightlifting gold to help the Philippines surge past Singapore at fifth place in the medal standings.

Their wins, to go with the victory of light welterweight boxer Paul Bascon, the two golds in arnis, plus triumphs in judo, esports and wrestling handed the Filipinos a total harvest of 46 golds to Singapore’s 42 as of 8 p.m.

Paalam, who bagged a silver while

fighting in the flyweight class in Tokyo, dominated Aldoms Suguro of Indonesia to rule the men’s bantamweight class, while Petecio was simply too much against her Indonesian rival Ratna Sari Devi in the women’s featherweight division.

Bascon scored a split decision over Rujakran Juntrong of Thailand as the Filipinos wrapped up their campaign with four gold medals, counting featherweight Ian Clark Bautista’s win last Saturday.

The 24-year-old Ando started the Phil-

Sibol grabs PH’s 2nd esports gold in SEAG

By Peter Atencio

PHNOM PENH—The Philippine

Sibol team dominated from start to finish, sustaining the momentum they got from taking Game

1 to score a 3-0 sweep of Malaysia in their best-of-five finals series in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games esports tournament at the Naba Theatre of the Naga World 2 Integrated Resort here on Sunday.

Angelo Kyle “Pheww” Arcangel celebrated his second gold medal for Sibol, as the team completed a 19-11, 16-7, 19-16 verdict over the Malaysians.

The 24-year-old Arcangel, playing an important role of a Faramis, a healer, who kept most of his team-

mates from getting easily killed in the game, last saw action for the team when they won their first gold back in the 2019 edition of the games in the Philippines.

“This is exciting. I’m the only one who has won two gold medals. And I thank my teammates for it,” said Arcangel, who drew supp ort from teammates Rowgien Stimpson Unigo, David Canon, Michael Angelo Sayson, Nowee Macasa, and Marco Stephen Requitiano display the Philippine flag.

It was the Philippines’ second esports gold in these games, following its title conquest in the Mobile Legends: Bang-Bang and League of Legends: Wild Rift.

Filipino esports bets also had a

silver in the women’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and bronze medals in the Valorant PC mixed team event and Crossfire. A double kill from Canon’s Arlott character saw Sibol taking a 6-0 lead in the early period of their 26-minutelong Game 1.

In Game 2, Sibol fought its way to a 4-all lead, before Canon’s axewielding Lapu Lapu went on a triple, as the Filipinos took charge with an 11-4 edge.

“The boys just brought their A game to the match,” said coach Francis Glindro of the team’s fighting spirit.

Sibol finished the Malaysians in Game 3 by taking control of the base in just 11 minutes.

ippines’ gold rush by smashing records in the the -59kg with her total of 216 kgs, the clean and jerk with her 118 kgs, and the snatch at 98 kgs, with judoka Rena Furukawa following suit by retaining her under 57kg women’s tiara.

Esports delivered its second gold through the Sibol men’s team that swept Malaysia 3-0 in the finale of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang event and wrestler Jason Balabal topped the 82kg class.

Charlotte Ann Tolentino and Jedah Mae Soriano delivered the first two of an expected avalanche of gold in arnis, ruling the women’s full contact padded stick finals in the bantamweight and lightweight events, respectively.

Matching the country’s fourth place finish last year in Vietnam, however, seemed an impossible task considering Indonesia and Cambodia have cracked the 60-gold mark.

Vietnam was on its way to taking the overall crown anew by nearing the 100gold mark, with Thailand sure of taking at least second before it hosts the next edition of the games in 2025.

Gilas faces Indonesia, eyes finals

GAMES MONDAY (Morodok Techo Elephant Hall 2)

11 a.m. local time / 12 noon Manila time

– Malaysia vs. Philippines (women)

3 p.m. local time / 4 p.m. Manila time –Cambodia vs. Thailand (men)

5 p.m. local time / 6 p.m. Manila time –Indonesia vs. Philippines (men)

PHNOM PENH—Gilas Pilipinas goes for a finals spot on Monday when it faces Indonesia in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball tournament at the Morodok Techo Elephant Hall 2. The Nationals will face Indonesia starting at 5 p.m. (6 p.m. Philippine standard time), needing to win the semis battle to land a spot in the finals.

The Philippines finished second in Group A with a 2-1 win-loss record, arranging a semifinal showdown with Indonesia, which swept Group B with an 87-69 win over Thailand Sunday.

Indonesia, bidding to retain the gold, has three naturalized players in its roster, which includes former PBA import Lester Prosper.

Indonesia swept the Hanoi Games last year, including an 85-81 win over the Philippines in the final game of the round-robin tournament to grab the men’s basketball gold.

Gilas completed the group stage with a 105-45 win over Singapore to clinch a semifinal berth. Coach Chot Reyes expressed satisfaction with their play on Saturday after using the Singapore game as preparation for the semifinal round.

“There were certain things on offense and defense that we wanted to execute. More than scoring the points, we were able to do that,” said Reyes.

PHL cyclists make baby steps back to top of podium

SIEM REAP—It was way below excellent but the two bronze medals won in men’s road race at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games showed Philippine cycling is making baby steps back to the top of the podium.

“It’s an improvement,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who also heads the national federation for the sport PhilCycling. “They’re little yet significant accomplishments in a cycling discipline that’s never easy at all.”

Reforms in PhilCycling’s road organization have started to bear fruit—the coaching staff and national team composition were revamped in February.

Ronald Oranza clinched both bronze medals in criterium and road race where

“Hard work and focus, and more importantly, it’s the motivation that the riders projected from their selection to the national team in February to the monthlong training camp in April,” said Reinhard Gorantes, who’s joined in the road coaching staff by Virgilio Espiritu, Alfie Catalan, Marita Lucas and Gerald Valdez.

The cycling competitions ended Saturday with Vietnam’s Thi That Nguyen winning the women’s road race—a 100.40-km four-lap ride over a 25.10-km loop. The race was a bore with 20 of the 30 starters riding as a bunch from start to finish. Thailand’s Jutatip Maneephan clinched silver and Malaysia’s Nur Aisyah Zubir bagged bronze with the same clocking as Nguyen.

Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez, and Justin Brownlee got their games going in the first half on their way to combining for 41 points against Singapore.

Reyes hopes that the team has gotten used to the heat at the Elephant Hall 2, which became an issue during the Cambodia game where they lost.

“Again, the heat in the 1 p.m. game is different from the 5 p.m. game especially if the stadium is full. Again, that was the problem that we had (against Cambodia). Hopefully, we have adjusted better for the semifinals,” said Reyes.

The women’s team will play its final game of the tournament against Malaysia as they go for a podium finish at 11 a.m. (12 noon Philippine standard time).

Carlo Paalam (left) scores a body shot against his Indonesian foe Aldoms Suguro en route to the bantamweight gold in the SEA Games’ boxing competitions.

Sibol members are shown at the winner’s podium with Cavite Vice Gov. Athena Tolentino.

The national road team (from left) Jonel Carcueva, Nichol Pareja Rench Michael Bondoc, Marcelo Felipe, Mark Lexer Galedo, Jhon Mark Camingao, Mar Francis Sudario, Ronald Oranza, Avegail Rombaon, Jermyn Prado, Kate Yasmin Velasco, Mathilda Krog, Maura de los Reyes and Mhay Ann Linda riders from four of the six participating countries partaking of the medals—Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam won a gold each in both.

Elreen Ando

Arnis’ loss is fencing’s gain as Garcia bags 2nd silver

PHNOM PENH—Noelito Garcia Jr.

doesn’t regret his shift from arnis to fencing because he has a a handful of Southeast Asian Games medals to show for it.

The 26-year-old Garcia, who made the decision to become a fencer in 2015, grabbed a silver in the men’s epee individual event on Saturday in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at Hall D of the OCIC Wedding Center in Chroy Changvar District here.

Bulldogs score UAAP volley 3-peat

Manila Chooks! eyes podium finish for PH

ARMED and ready.

Toughened up by its stints in the two overseas tournaments, the Manila Chooks! 3x3 squad is determined more than ever to make a podium finish in the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Manila Masters set on May 20 to 21 at the Glorietta Activity Center.

Chooks-to-Go President Ronald Mascariñas is pinning his hopes on the team to deliver the goods for the country.

“We are set to encounter formidable opponents in the upcoming Manila Masters, yet I have full confidence that the new Manila Chooks! squad is more than capable of rising to the challenge,” Mascariñas said.

“The landscape of 3x3 basketball has undergone significant transformations in recent years, and we have been steadfast in our commitment to continually enhance our 3x3 basketball program.”

The rejuvenated Manila Chooks! team, characterized by its youth and agility, has diligently prepared to confront the top foreign teams they will encounter.

“It is crucial for them to bear in mind that they are not just representing themselves but our entire nation. This realization should serve as a profound inspiration, propelling them to deliver their utmost performance on the court,” added the amiable godfather of Philippine 3x3.

Head trainer Chico Lanete is convinced the Philippine contingent in the FIBA level 10 tournament— the top competition on the 3x3 pro circuit—can win it all and gain more points for the country’s bid to qualify for the Paris Olympics next year.

“Almost 100 percent ang preparation namin. Napakalaking tulong iyong pagpunta namin sa Amsterdam and Mongolia kasi doon namin nakita kung ano pa iyong kulang namin at kailangan pang i-improve,” Lanete said yesterday during the tilt’s press launch at the Chooks! dine-in restaurant at the Mall of Asia in Pasay. “Hopefully, next week 100 percent ready.”

Lanete said his quartet’s runand-guns style of play will come in handy for the Manila Masters that will draw fancied teams UB Huishan of Serbia, Latvia’s Riga, Amsterdam HiPRO of the Netherlands, and Mongolia’s Sansar MMC Energy.

NATIONAL University clinched its third consecutive championship by defeating the University of Santo Tomas, 25-20, 25-21, 2520, to complete a 16-game sweep of the UAAP Season

85 men’s volleyball tournament on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Bulldogs won the finals series 2-0, crushing the Golden Spikers’ hopes of extending the title showdown.

This is the first season sweep and ‘three-peat’ in the league since Season 79, when Ateneo de Manila University, led by Marck Espejo, achieved both feats. UST also completed a perfect season by winning all 17 matches in the 2008-09 season.

The victory also gave the Bulldogs their fifth crown overall, making them the fourth-winningest program, and extended their winning streak to 34 games, dating back to their second game in Season 81.

“Pumunta kami dito talagang nakita ko sa players ko na gusto nilang

manalo,” said NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin. “Credit sa mga player ko talagang tinrabaho namin after ng Game 1 namin alam namin ‘yung lapses namin buti na lang itong Game 2 lumabas talaga ‘yung gusto namin mangyari sa loob ng court and nakuha namin ‘yung game.

“Sobrang happy kami kasi first time na mangyari sa NU na makasweep kami, makuha namin ‘yung three-peat, and yung history namin na 34-game winning streak,” the decoarated head coach continued. With just a three-point lead in the third set, the Bulldogs’ blocking came alive, registering back-to-back blocks. Nico Almendras sealed their four unanswered points with a crosscourt kill,

securing a commanding 21-14 lead en route to the 25-20 clincher.

Almendras and Ken Malinis contributed two consecutive points for NU in the second set, a crosscourt hit and a spike off an over-received ball, securing a commanding 2-0 lead.

Bryan Buddin followed up his Game 1 performance with 20 points and 10 excellent receptions, while Almendras added 14 points.

This season’s Best Setter, Joshua Retamar, was named Finals MVP after delivering 25 excellent sets and five points in the first game, followed by 17 sets and two blocks in the final game.

Rookie MVP Josh Ybañez led the way for the Golden Spikers with 13 points but struggled with his attacks, going 12-of-32.

Gboy de Vega contributed 10 points, while Jay Rack Dela Noche was limited to just six points.

NU had to dig deep in Game 1 after squandering a two-set lead, winning 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 29-31, 15-11 last Wednesday.

“Para sa akin tama lang ang pagpalit ko ng sport kasi masaya ako sa naabot ko. (I made the right choice and I am happy of my accomplishments),” said Garcia, who also had a silver in the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games and bronze in the 2018 PH edition.

The chase for that elusive gold continues late Sunday as a member of the epee team, which is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee. He had to shift to fencing because arnis wasn’t part of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines calendar.

Garcia, who began practicing the Filipino martial arts in Grade 5, had his biggest accomplishment as an “arnisador” when he bagged the gold in the 2013 Dumaguete Palarong Pambansa secondary boys’ (51-55) featherweight division.

It was, however, as a fencer that he became an athletic scholar of the University of Santo Tomas with a degree in Bachelor of Physical Education Sports, Wellness and Management, before becoming a national pool/team member for nearly a decade now.

“Next target ko sana makalaro sa (19th) Asian Games (2023) sa Hangzhou, China (September 23 to October 8). (I want to play in the Asian Games),” said the full-time national athlete.

Sarines, Batican siblings top JPGT Series in Caliraya

MONA Sarines and Ralph Batican matched 52 Modified Stableford points to share top honors in the 11-12 age group category while Rafella Batican and Vito Sarines ruled the 9-10 class with 42 and 54

points, respectively, in Round I of the Junior PGT Series 2023 at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club in Cavinti, Laguna on Sunday.

Mona Sarines gunned down an eagle and

a birdie against five bogeys in the heat at the up-and-down layout for a two-over 74 card in stroke play worth 52 points, while Ralph Batican equalled the former’s 52-point output on three birdies against five bogeys, also for a two-over round in stroke play.

Vito Sarines, on other the hand, produced a daybest three-birdie, three-bogey round for a 72 worth 54 Stableford points as he nipped Ryuji Suzuki by two points in a tightly-fought finish while Rafella Batican emerged on top of the girls’ 9-10 class with an 84.

Suzuki finished with 52 points after a 74 in stroke play while Jacob Casuga placed third with 51 points after a 75 in the 18-hole event organized by the Philippine Golf Tour and held as part of the ICTSI junior golf program featuring players from the 9-18 age brackets.

Chanelle Gonzales came in second to Rafella Batican with 39 points from an 87 while Chime Cuenca wound up third with 29 points after a 97.

Lisa Sarines placed second to sister Mona in the girls’ 11-12 category with 50 points from a 76 while Precious Zaragosa posted 47 points from a gross 79 for third, edging Pauline Tamayo, who also shot a 79, in the countback. Stefano Bautista placed second to Ralph Batican with 45 points after an 81 while Lujo Gomez scored 38 points from an 88 for third.

Meanwhile, schedules for the 13-14 and 1518 (boys and girls) age group divisions will be announced soon.

Iloilo subdues Quezon; Negros, Makati prevail

ILOILO continued to gain traction in the OKBetMPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League)

Fifth Season with a 73-64 victory over Quezon Province on Saturday at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.

Powered by Tony Ynot, CJ Catapusan, Joshua Flores and Neil Tolentino, the Iloilo United Royals posted their second straight win and fourth in their last five games to climb to 4-5 in the elimination round of the 29-team, twodivision tournament.

Ynot, a former San Beda star, fired 18 points, while CJ Catapusan, a former UP Fighting Maroon, and Flores, formerly of National University added 13 each for the United Royals, who started their stint this year by dropping their first four games, but recovered under new coach Manu Inigo.

Neil Tolentino, a former Arellano Chief, contributed 11 points for the United Royals, who surged ahead, 32-19, but needed to weather the Huskers’ repeated rallies through Catapusan, who had a short stint with Quezon.

Quezon absorbed its second straight loss after opening with a seven-win run. The Huskers, missing the services of injured big man Will Gozum, got 17 points and 11 rebounds from Ximone Sandagon, followed by Alfrancis Tamsi with 11 points plus nine 9 rebounds.

In other games, Negros trounced Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc., 94-75, while Makati OKBet stunned General Santos, 79-72. With Mark Maloles notching 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, and Jason Melano posting 17 points plus 6 rebounds, the Muscovados stormed to a 62-35 spread

before cruising to their fourth win against five losses.

Valenzuela fell to 1-8 despite the 20-point, 6-rebound effort of Michael Angelo Macion and the 18-point, 4-rebound output of Stepan Steinl.

Trailing, 31-41, at halftime, the Makati Kings seized the lead after three quarters behind the guns of Rob Celiz, Allan Santos, Jerson Terso and Billy Robles, then quelled the Warriors’ final assault to climb to 5-3.

The Warriors got 25 points from Mark Cruz and 10 each from Christian Fajarito and Jervy Cruz but still tumbled to 6-2.

The MPBL goes to the Bacoor Strike Gym on Monday with Batangas and Rizal clashing at 4 p.m., Sarangani and Zamboanga battling at 6 p.m., and Imus and Bacoor colliding at 8 p.m.

The NU Bulldogs are shown after capturing their third straight championship in the UAAP men’s volleyball tournament.

Shown here are (from left) Rafella Batican, Vito Sarines, Mona Sarines and Ralph Batican show their medals after topping their respective divisions in Round 1 of the Junior PGT Series 2023 at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club in Cavinti, Laguna Sunday.

Reel and real-life couple Kim and Jerald tackle co-parenting in new video

RAISING a child is no easy feat. What more can be challenging for couples when their relationship issues get in the way of parenting?

Whether in a solo or co-parenting situation, moms would naturally take the huge responsibility of ensuring their child’s welfare. They are innately independent, strong, and reliable. But when it comes to raising a child, the strongest moms know that they need a reliable support system to make things work.

PLDT Home delves into the reality of co-parenting in a new video released in celebration of Mother’s Day.

Heaven Peralejo embarks on thrilling journey with Viva Entertainment

DURING Heaven

Peralejo’s contract signing with Viva Entertainment, her co-star from the series The Rain In España, Marco Gallo, made the moment even more special. Just as the contract signing and media interviews were coming to a close, Marco made a surprise entrance, holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers (six white roses) for Heaven.

The unexpected appearance of the actor added an extra touch of sweetness and warmth to the already significant event, which was also attended by Viva’s big bosses. It was a heartwarming gesture that showcased their strong bond and friendship beyond the screen.

“A bouquet of white roses is a subtle and thoughtful way to express yourself when words fail. It can also symbolize a new beginning and unconditional love. In the next couple of years, in those moments we will be filled with obstacles always remember that you have someone beside you who will understand you for who you are,” read the note that accompanied the flowers.

In an interview with Manila Standard Entertainment during the event, Heaven expressed her heartfelt gratitude towards Marco and her celebrity friends who are already part of the media company, emphasizing that they have played a significant role in making her feel at home with Viva Entertainment. Their presence and support have contributed to creating a sense of belonging and comfort for Heaven within the company.

“Moving to Viva became easy because they made me feel at home,” she said.

Heaven’s decision to join Viva Entertainment opens up new possibilities and avenues for her career. With the support of her new home, she can further showcase her talent, explore diverse roles, and reach a wider audience.

“I have a strong desire to delve into genres like rom-com and thriller in my career as an actress. I firmly believe that Viva will provide me with the opportunity to explore these genres and discover new facets of my talent,” the 23-year-old actress said of her decision to join Viva Entertainment.

“I am also keen on venturing into music and would love to try my hand at it. Viva’s support and platform make me confident that I can pursue these creative endeavors and expand my artistic horizons,” she added in the vernacular.

Heaven also expressed her excitement for the upcoming chapter in her career and eagerly anticipated the beginning of her collaboration with Viva Entertainment. She was filled with enthusiasm as she looked forward to embarking on this new journey and couldn’t wait to dive into work with the entertainment company.

“I had been working in the same industry for years, and while I enjoyed my job, I know deep down that I am ready for this change,” the former Star Magic artist stated.

Heaven, who gained fame as a teen housemate on the popular reality show Pinoy Big Brother in 2016, initially began her acting career under Star Magic. She has

graced the screens of ABS-CBN with her appearances in various shows, including Sana Dalawa Ang Puso, Pamilya Ko, Starla, Bagong Umaga, and A Family Affair Heaven embarked on her first project with Viva Entertainment, taking on the series The Rain in España, which premiered on Viva One in April. Currently, she is also actively involved in the action series The Iron Heart and is eagerly preparing for her role in the upcoming drama, Linlang

Featuring popular Filipino actors and real-life couple Jerald Napoles and Kim Molina, the heartwarming video narrates the story of two separated parents navigating the challenges of caring for a new baby. Molina’s character, Michelle, juggles motherhood with her high-powered professional responsibilities at work, while the father, Jigo, played by Napoles, does his best to assist despite their strained relationship. Throughout the video, Jigo demonstrates a genuine willingness to learn and adapt, potentially opening the possibility for a healthy co-parenting arrangement for their family. The story

emphasizes the importance of helping and supporting mothers, especially coparents, as they can always benefit from someone they can rely on.

Through this special Mother’s Day story, which honors hardworking mothers and mother figures, PLDT Home reaffirms its longstanding commitment to promoting safe spaces and fostering stronger connections within the family at home. Be inspired by this Mother’s Day story and share your own special experiences with Mom. Watch PLDT Home’s video on https://pldthome.info/ WeGotYouMom.

Heroes come alive in ‘Monumento 1896’

HEROES, whether fictional, mythical, or historical, have a hold and magic, elicit awe and wonder, stir emotions, and fuel and ignite hope and inspiration.

Cinema, literature, and theater are the platforms that gave us Darna Avengers, Justice League, Guardians of the Galaxy, John Wick, Fernando Poe Jr., and many more. Modern-day heroes, such as overseas Filipino workers, teachers, medical practitioners, soldiers, and the many ordinary men and women with extraordinary feats, are staples as well in traditional and online news, and other forms of mass communication mediums.

A question arises: What if Filipino historical heroes came alive? One cannot help but wonder what their reaction would be to our joyful yet chaotic times.

Gat Jose Rizal, our foremost national hero, would he be appalled with the reign of greed that many consider as the culprit of the republic’s societal cancer? The Supremo, Andres Bonifacio would be revolted with the sorry state of existence of the economically disadvantaged sector?

How about Francisco Balagtas, would he lament the fact that his lyrical Filipino is now considered archaic and the youth, seem to have mastered languages from other countries? Lapu-Lapu, the great datu of Mactan, would he be baffled by a foreign culture and people? The powerful feminine Gabriela Silang, would she be shocked perhaps with fun, fearless females? And the caregiver of the Katipuneros, Melchora Aquino, would she wail over the fact that her tale of giving assistance to the courageous Katipuneros, has been reduced to a believe it or not storyteller?

All these questions are answered headon by Monumento 1896, a play by FLP Productions, written and directed by Rodel Mercado, adapted from the play written by Jenny Simon

The theater becomes a medium of education and entertainment with this Mercado-directed play. With the creative use of magic, the innocence of a young miss who got lost in a park, a fairy that serves as the storyteller of the past and present, and statues of national heroes coming alive as they talk about their

GMA News Online’s ‘Eleksyon 2022’ graphics named as SOPA Awards Finalist

FOR its innovative and visually stunning graphics, GMA News Online’s “Eleksyon 2022” makes it as a finalist at the prestigious Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards for Editorial Excellence 2023.

The “Eleksyon 2022” graphics have been recognized under the Information Graphics (Regional/Local) category.

The “Eleksyon 2022” website was developed by GMA New Media specifically for the Philippine national elections last year. It featured three

separate apps with visually captivating graphics that enhanced the user experience and made election-related information easier to understand.

The said website gave users a step-by-step approach to information dissemination starting with the Voters’ Profile which allowed the public to explore and analyze the voting power of each region by gender, age group, and civil status. This was followed by Stand on Issues, created in collaboration with the expertise of GMA News Research,

which gave the voters information on the candidate’s positions on key issues at a glance. Finally, the website culminated in the visually appealing Eleksyon Results that showcased real-time information on the national elections. With these apps, social media users highly praised the “Eleksyon 2022” website for its comprehensive coverage of the national polls, consolidating vast amounts of information on a single platform.

The SOPA recognition is a testament

to GMA News Online’s commitment to providing quality journalism and accurate, timely, and informative news to Kapuso viewers. The winner of the Excellence in Information Graphics (Regional/ Local) category will be announced at an in-person event at the JW Marriott Hong Kong on June 15. The awards are organized by the Society of Publishers in Asia to honor excellence in journalism, and this year marks the 25th anniversary of the event.

sacrifices and glory, and their bewilderment and reactions to what happens now.

What makes Monumento 1896 work big time is the weaving of its narrative, easy to comprehend, clever dialogue with attributions to people, events, places, and lingo of the present. It dared its student-based audiences to use their imagination, listen attentively, as they get a better understanding of what these heroes fought and stood for, and in this fantastical moment of being able to breathe, talk, and feel, when they expressed what they think of the realities of today, hit hard!

The play of director Mercado, as expressed by the heroes, believes that it is not all darkness and doom, that change and hope, the youth and the power that they hold, will make this motherland of our great once more.

Another plus factor of the play are the actors who became heroes. Standouts are Rey Correjado as Andres Bonifacio, he had the gravitas of the Supremo, and his costume as the Gat was historically accurate. Asean Gabat as Lapu-Lapu had a stellar stage presence, brawn, and body. And the Diwata, Dyn Atiche was a hit, especially her beauty and lightness, the dropping of punchlines on point, and she delivers the most important messages to the captive and elated student audiences.

My only quiver, the ensemble, composed of Matthew De Ubago, Karina Macaspac, Edmund Ong, Daven Noveno, RJ Tamayo, Klouney Ogatis, Carissa De Ocampo, Francheska Rosales, Arjay Tarcilo, Tonny Abad, and Rachell Baldomaro definitely had their moments on stage that their public adored, However, at some point, it became repetitive and tedious. Trimming down their stage time must be done.

Monumento 1896 is proof of the positive power of theater to inform, entertain, educate, and sow seeds of love for arts and Philippine culture.

Show schedules are slated on May 20 and 27 at the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Manila Auditorium and on June 17 and 18 at SM North Edsa SkyDome. For Show Buyers and Tickets they can call 0927-2422673 and 0915-5197779

Kim Molina (right) and Jerald Napoles show the responsibilities of co-parenting through a heartwarming video

A scene from ‘Monumento 1896’

Heaven Peralejo (second from left) during her contract signing with Viva Entertainment

‘The Rain In España’ co-stars Marco Gallo (left) and Heaven Peralejo

Former Star Magic talent Heaven Peralejo finds

Cruising on domestic seas

ALEADING pioneer in sea transportation offering enhanced and unique onboard experience is 2GO Travel, a subsidiary of 2GO Sea Solutions, the shipping arm of 2GO. It is the largest, most modern ROPAX operator in the country, with eight ROPAX vessels, one freighter vessel, and 18 ports of call. It offers speed, schedule reliability, and voyage frequency.

Always on the lookout for new trends, 2GO Travel recently embarked on a program highlighting and honoring the contribution of content creators to society. Its unique program for this sector is called the 2GOKada Creators Cruise which will gather over 100 content creators, dubbed the 2GOKada, for three days of workshops, activities, and a concert onboard MV 2GO Masagana starting this weekend.

The 2GOKada Creators Cruise is a campaign that champions tourism via sea travel in partnership with Department of Tourism (DOT) to encourage young travelers to explore the wonders of the Philippines and invite their followers to discover the country themselves. This cruise experience will make its way to Iloilo and Bacolod for a stopover tour, showcasing a few of the major tourist spots in Western Visayas as part of the activity highlights.

Apart from DOT, 2GO Travel also part-

ners with Careless Music, an independent record label, for its up-and-coming artists to perform, and TikTok Philippines, the short-form mobile video social media platform, to sponsor a workshop during the cruise.

Blessie Cruz, Group Head/ AVP for Marketing of 2GO Group, Inc. hopes that this campaign will encourage young people to explore the Philippines first and enjoy sailing with the pioneer in sea travel.

To encourage more travel within the Philippines, 2GO Travel had a limited-period P99 Sea Sale, inclusive of a 50-kilo baggage allowance. Featured travel were from Manila to Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Coron, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Ozamiz, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga. Visayas and Mindanao interports were also available from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, and Ozamiz.

Making travel more accessible with 2GO Travel, the Batangas-Iloilo-Bacolod route for South Luzon passengers recently opened. Travelers may now book their trips from Batangas to Iloilo and Bacolod skipping the 2-hour travel to Manila, making a more convenient and accessible route for South Luzon travelers.

Passengers may now easily book their trips online through the 2GO App or through the website at travel.2go.

2GO is making travel more accessible through the recently opened Batangas-IloiloBacolod route for South Luzon passengers

com.ph. They may also book their tickets at 2GO retail outlets, SM Business Centers, any of the 2,000 authorized agents nationwide, or through 85287000.

Backed by 148 years of expertise in transportation and logistics, 2GO has made a mark in providing the best sea travel experience, efficient movement of products and cargo, and catalyzing business growth in the domestic and international markets.

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE:

An ornithologist (a man who loves birds) crossed a homing pigeon with a woodpecker. The resulting bird not only delivers the message, it also knocks on the door.

WE ALL want to show how much we love our mommas in one way or another. And what better way to make this day special than a scrumptious dining experience? Giving gifts and shopping for Mom can make this day special but trust us, a good dessert date will add up to her good mood.

Say “Mahal kita” to your mom in the sweetest way possible with these outstanding, decadent, and delicious dessert choices at the SM Mall of Asia Complex.

salted egg yolk custard giving off that creamy and balanced sweet and salty flavor. Paradise Dynasty is located at level 2 of S Maison.

If Mom is into Italian cuisine, Rossini Ristorante Italiano’s Rossini—Cannoli is the best. It’s impossible not to love Rossini’s open Sicilian crispy cocoa cone filled with sweetened ricotta cheese. Rossini is located at level 2 of S Maison.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a classic Filipino treat made of pandan flavored gelatin, coconut cream, tapioca pearls, and young coconut meat strips from Lola Café. Lola Café is located at level 2 of S Maison.

Starting off at the SM Mall of Asia, give in to Warm Italian Doughnuts from Olive Garden. This Italian version of beignets is similar to a doughnut or churro. Each piece is fried to perfection, tossed in vanilla sugar, and served with raspberry or chocolate sauce. Olive Garden is located at level 2 of South Entertainment Mall.

Meanwhile, the Mediterranean Café’s Fudge Cake is a perfect example of heaven on earth. This perfect buttery chocolate cake is covered in a creamy real chocolate buttercream that you’ll want more in every bite. Mediterranean Café is located at level 2 of South Entertainment Mall.

Stick to the basics with this Sticky Mango Rice by Basil. This sticky rice dessert from the north of Thailand is made with glutinous rice, fresh mango slices, and coconut milk and is perfect for moms who are always on the lookout for food items with a great combination of flavors and textures. Basil is located at the level 1 of Galeon Museum.

Mother’s Day calls for some Blueberry Pancakes cravings at Denny’s. The American service diner-style restaurant chain serves a scrumptious classic waffle with banana, Nutella, and sweet cream, suitable for moms with a sweet tooth. Denny’s is located at level 1 of South Entertainment Mall.

If you are heading down S Maison, indulge Mom with this decadent slice of Tarta de Chocolate from Barcino. The chocolate gateau dessert from one of S Maison’s Spanish specialty restaurants is a cake flavored with melted choco. Pair it with wine for that exquisite fine dining experience. Barcino is located at the level 2 of S Maison.

You can also try out Paradise Dynasty’s Charcoal Custard Lava Buns. The soft chacoalinfused black buns are a gem. With every bite of this, you can savor its golden oozing filling of

THIS month, City of Dreams Manila is dedicated to celebrating and honoring mothers in the most remarkable way possible. Offering an extensive selection of experiences, from dining extravaganzas to indulgent staycations, rejuvenating wellness activities, and exclusive shopping opportunities, City of Dreams Manila aims to provide an unforgettable and personalized experience for every mom.

NOBU MANILA

Treat mom to a luxurious Sunday Brunch with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s famous cuisine. For P4,388 per person, enjoy a wide selection of appetizers, grilled kushiyaki, premium sashimi, sushi, and maki rolls paired with signature sauces. Don’t miss the roasted whole US striploin and smoked beef brisket, served with creamy wasabi, au jus, and mushroom wasabi sauce. Experience Filipino-inspired dishes, specialty dishes, salads, soups, desserts, and beverages for a delightful dining experience.

And as you stroll through SM MOA Square, be sure to drop by Cibo and try their rich and satisfying L’ottimo Chocolate Fudge. The chocolate fudge cake that sits on a pool of double cream is truly the ultimate way to end a hearty meal with the family. Cibo is located at level 2 of SM MOA Square.

Delight in this sweet tasty, cold dessert Mango Sago that will leave you having more at Ocean Seafood. Ocean Seafood is located at SM By The Bay. There’s more to love in Mediterranean Café’s Baklava that is overflowing with filo pastry, chopped nuts, and sweetened with syrup. Med Café is located at level 2 of South Entertainment mall.

For dinner, Nobu Manila entices with an eight-course tasting menu (P8, 871.42) net per person, consisting of the chef’s choice of appetizer to warm up the palate for the first course of Tuna Tataki followed by a selection of assorted sushi and chilled chawanmushi of seasonal vegetables. Yellowtail Tosazu with crispy red onion and olive oil; Salmon Sashimi Salad; Pan-roasted Seabass with pickled watermelon amasu ponzu, and balsamic caviar; Grilled Wagyu Beef with crispy kabocha, nasu, shitake, and garlic SMR (soy-mirin reduction) come after. Chocolate and Yogurt, consisting of chocolate mousse, yogurt, vanilla crumble, and ube ice cream provide a lip-smacking conclusion to the meal.

Have mom ease into “Friday Chill Out” with a seductive summer sundown special, and entrancing DJ tracks complementing Nobu’s globally renowned new-style Japanese cuisine and sophisticated drinks. A perfect prelude to the weekend celebration, the Friday Chill-Out’s much-coveted menu at the trend-setting restaurant’s cabanas, patio, and bar, includes select Nobu classics by the renowned Chef Nobu, such as Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño, Rock Shrimp Tempura, Black Cod on Butter Lettuce, and Miso Cappuccino, to name some. Premium sushi, sashimi, nigiri, and maki; an

You can never go wrong with Italianni’s flavorful white chocolate coconut cheesecake which is perfect for a mother and daughter’s afternoon cake. Italianni’s is located at level 1 of S Maison. Say it sweetly with mom with this Locavore’s Bicho bicho with whipped cream, coco jam, tablea sauce, and banana. Locavore is located at level 1 of S Maison.

The SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex is a world-class destination providing endless possibilities for Pinoys to shop, dine, and enjoy. And as we celebrate Mother’s Day, don’t forget to plan a delectable dessert date with the best Momma in the world in the best place in Pasay City.

array of kushiyaki served with Nobu custom sauces, along with handcrafted cocktails, signature sake, champagne, wine, beer, liquor or mocktails are also offered.

Nobu Manila’s Friday Chill-Out happens every Friday, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. until May 26. Email noburestaurant@cod-manila for reservations.

CRYSTAL DRAGON

The award-winning restaurant specializing in Cantonese and regional Chinese specialties whips up a celebratory a la carte menu available until today, from 12:00 noon to 11:00 p.m.

It consists of Double-boiled Chicken Soup with conpoy and Chinese herbs served in whole coconut; Poached Hokkaido Scallop in sour broth; Wagyu Beef with king mushroom and capsicums tossed in truffle paste; Wok-fried Spicy Drunken Crayfish; and Chilled Sweetened Eight Treasure Soup (“Ching Po Leung”). DREAMPLAY  DreamPlay, the first-of-its-kind DreamWorks-inspired interactive play and creativity center, is staging a special activity on Mother’s Day, where kids with participating tickets can unleash their creativity and craft a heartwarming dedication card for their moms at The Dream Tales Library; or gift moms with gingerbread cookies they baked at Cooking with Gingy. Not to be missed are the other attractions for families to explore exciting activities together, from challenge courses to storytelling, cooking, and more.

NÜWA AND NOBU SPA

The special occasion merits a pampering session for mom, and both Nüwa and Nobu Spas guarantee a tranquil and personalized spa experience. Mothers can choose from the spas’ signature treatments: Nüwa Spa’s TwoFold Heal-ot, which draws inspiration from the Philippines’ age-old healing techniques and traditions, and helps stimulate the immune system, increase blood flow and promote wellbeing; or Nobu Spa’s Nobu Rakuen, an Asianinspired massage featuring the relaxing essence of warm oils and heated bamboo that soothes away stress, rejuvenates, and energizes.

For inquiries, call 8800-8080 or

The 2GOKada Creators Cruise is a campaign that champions tourism via sea travel in to encourage young travelers to explore the wonders of the Philippines