THE Supreme Court (SC) has declared the law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections from December 2022 to October 2023 unconstitutional -- but ordered the polls to push through this year.
The High Court, in a decision penned by Associate Justice Antonio Kho, Jr., declared unconstitutional RA 11935 but “recognizes the legal practicality and necessity of proceeding with
THE Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) on Tuesday said private hospitals in the country lack 50 percent of their nursing staff.
In an interview over radio dzBB, PHAPI president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano said that even before, private hospitals lacked at least 40 percent of their nursing staff.
“Perhaps, there was another 10 percent for the past two years,” he said.
He also said it’s likely that half of what needed have already left, having resigned and opted for better-paying jobs elsewhere.
He said the exodus of nurses will limit the service private hospitals can provide.
For example Grano said, some wards in private hospitals had to be closed.
He said a nurse in a private hospital usually can handle eight to 12 patients in wards.
“Twelve is the maximum in what we call toxic wards,” he said.
In ICU or special areas, he said, the ratio is 1:1 or 1:2.
“We have the facilities, especially in private hospitals. Our only limitation, and this already happened during the pandemic, is our number of nurses,” he said. Even public hospitals are facing a shortage of nurses.
By Maricel V. Cruz
THE Marcos administration is working to create a favorable environment for businesses to thrive, including a push for a digital economy, Speaker Martin Romualdez said during the 44th National Conference of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines on Tuesday.
Romualdez said Congress joined hands with the administration to cut red tape and promote ease of doing business, among others.
“Recognizing the advent of the digital economy, we’ve championed the Digital Philippines program. This is a dual effort to enhance our digital infrastructure and arm our workforce with the necessary digital skills, creating an avenue for more job opportunities in the tech sector,” he said.
“Moreover, we are committed to ensuring that our economic growth is inclusive and sustainable. We are prioritizing sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and services, which
THE HAGUE, Netherlands—Malaysia on Tuesday won a Dutch court case over a $14.9 billion award against the Southeast Asian nation that stems from a 19th century deal with a Philippine sultan.
The verdict is part of a complex legal battle being fought in European courts that is rooted in Malaysia’s colonial
By Rio N. ArajaTHOUSANDS of children forced to leave their homes by erupting Mayon Volcano are missing out on school and showing signs of psychological distress in cramped and unsanitary evacuation centers, the Save the Children group
past, with territorial claims and potentially billions of dollars worth of state assets at stake.
Descendants of the Sultan of Sulu, who once ruled over the tropical islands that are part of the southern Philippines as well as Sabah in Malaysia, had taken
said Tuesday.
The 28 temporary evacuation shelters, primarily located in schools, are congested and lack proper ventilation for women and small children, further exacerbating the challenges displaced families face, the group said.
Niño is high.
She said rainfall is expected to decrease in September and to drop further from October to December this year.
“For December, 36 provinces will experience dry spell. Drought for two
Ana Solis said the possibility of El
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed optimism that the Philippines will become the “tourism powerhouse” of Asia in the next few years as the government unveiled its new tourism slogan “Love the Philippines” yesterday.
“What a better way to express that love than directly incorporating it into our country’s newest tourism campaign slogan, Love the Philippines. This is new branding which we unveiled today. It will serve as our guidepost for the Philippine Tourism Industry moving forward,” Marcos said in his speech during the Department of Tourism’s
A GROUP of health workers staged a noise barrage Tuesday calling for the immediate release of COVID-19 allowances and performance-based bonuses for their services during the pandemic.
The demonstrators at the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) and National Children’s Hospital (NCH) also urged the administration to grant a pay hike, demanding a P33,000 entrylevel salary to all public and private health workers in the country.
Alliance of Health Workers (AHWs)
President Roberto Mendoza said this is part of health workers’ series of protest actions before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2nd State of the Nation Address.
On June 23, specialty hospital health workers held a lunch break protest with the same demands.
“Health workers deserve salary increase. We are conducting a noise barrage to break the deafening silence of President Marcos, Jr for not responding to the just calls of public and private health workers for pay hike,” said Mendoza.
“President Marcos Jr has been in power for almost a year now, but we have not even seen any steps taken by his administration to heed our longtime demands for a living wage, job security, mass hiring and release of unpaid benefits,” stated Ricardo Antonio, president of the National Orthopedic Hospital Workers Union-Alliance of Health Workers.
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provinces,” Solis said.
Based on PAGASA’s forecast, the areas that may experience dry spell are as follows: Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Metro Manila, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Spratly Islands, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes in Luzon; and Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Leyte in Visayas.
Meanwhile, Southern Leyte and Camarines Norte may experience drought by the end of December.
Meanwhile, PAGASA senior weather specialist Rusy Abastillas said 11 to 14 tropical cyclones are still expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility from July until the end of the year.
Abastillas said three or four tropical cyclones may arrive in July.
The number of tropical cyclones will be reduce to two or three each in August, September, and October. By November and December, one or two more may enter PAR. Rio N. Araja
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the conduct of the BSKE on the last Monday of October 2023, pursuant to the operative fact doctrine.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last year signed Republic Act No. 11935, postponing the 2022 BSKE to the last Monday of October 2023.
The term of the incumbent barangay and SK officials was supposed to end December 31, 2022, but they stayed in a hold-over capacity until successors are elected.
50th anniversary celebration.
“The campaign that you [DOT] have conceptualized aims to enhance the overall experience of every traveler,” he added.
In May, Mr. Marcos approved the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028 which will serve as his administration’s blueprint and development framework for the tour-
ism industry. He said the NTDP 2023-2028 contains the government’s targets, which include the promotion of local products and the implementation of more infrastructure projects to ensure hassle-free travel.
“The five-year plan stemmed from this admin’s determination to implement programs that will positively transform our country towards being a tourism powerhouse in Asia in the coming years. Let us therefore strive to translate our golden vision into reality,” he said.
Marcos lauded the DOT for making the tourism industry “a major driver of economic growth.”
He also welcomed the “improving”
figures in tourism revenues, employment, international arrivals and domestic trips, saying these indicate the country’s recovery from the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“All of these are encouraging signs that the tourism industry in our country as a whole is headed well towards full recovery. It also conveys a strong message to the world that we are ready and fully equipped to welcome tourists, travelers as well as investors,” Mr. Marcos said.
To realize his administration’s goal of transforming the Philippines as Asia’s tourism powerhouse, the President urged Filipinos to be the country’s tourism ambassadors.
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources has built a new geomapping tool to address climate change and manage the country’s forestlands.
In a public briefing in Malacañang, DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga said that the DENR’s Geospatial Database Office (GDO) was planned way back since her first meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following her appointment.
This was also after the President on Monday urged Filipinos to protect the
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which honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham among Christians) to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God’s command.
It marks the end of hajj, a key pillar of Islam that able-bodied Muslims must undertake at least once in their lives.
Eid’l Fitr, which commemorates the end of Ramadan, is the other important holiday of Islam.
During the feast of Eid’l Adha, Muslims re-enact Ibrahim’s obedience by sacrificing a cow or ram. The family will eat about a third of the meal, a third goes to friends and relatives, and the
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Health Secretary Ted Herbosa noted there are 4,500 vacancies in more than 70 government hospitals nationwide.
Herbosa announced on Monday that he plans to establish a National Nursing Advisory Council that will focus on addressing the concerns of Filipino nurses.
The plan drew support from the chairperson of the House committee on civil service and professional regulation, Bohol Rep. Kristine Tutor.
The chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on labor and employment called for a dialogue among stakeholders to address the shortage of nurses in government hospitals.
“We should have a dialogue first, then craft a workable strategy to address the shortage, with the view towards implementing a long-term solution instead of temporary measures,” Rizal Rep. Fidel
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“Children are most vulnerable in disasters. Their world has been upended, their sense of stability shattered,” said Alberto Muyot, chief executive officer of Save the Children Philippines.
“Children are experiencing difficulty sleeping due to worries and fears. They are also suffering from respiratory illnesses. Children require specific support, and balancing their immediate requirements with recognizing their long-term needs is imperative. We must
country’s forestland in addressing the problems caused by climate change.
Mr. Marcos stressed during the celebration of the 160th anniversary of the Philippine Forestry Service that taking care of the environment redounds to the benefit of the present and future generations.
The Environment chief said recommendations for the establishment of a physical baseline were made by environmental officials to ensure the proper management of natural resources.
“So, what this will do for us is it will allow us to identify where we should
prioritize in terms of forestation, reforestation, or where should the water systems and infrastructure be in order to reach the most populations in need,” Yulo-Loyzaga explained.
According to the Environment chief, the geospatial database will use satellite imagery and other tools to monitor the available natural resources.
Moreover, she said the mapping tool could be also used to aid in climate change mitigation, carbon dioxide sequestration from the atmosphere, flood management, and soil erosion control.
NEWLY-appointed poverty alleviation adviser Larry Gadon said he is setting his sights on solving problems related to nutrition and job creation among the youth.
During the Laging Handa public briefing, Gadon bared his “BBM: Bata˙ng Busog, Malusog’’ feeding program aimed to address the importance of nutrition and education for the younger generation.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday named Gadon as Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation due to his “wealth of experience” in various fields as a legal counsel and a corporate executive. Charles Dantes
Herbert bid to nix graft case rejected
FORMER Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista’s bid to dismiss the graft case filed against him involving a P32-million computerization project has been rejected by the Sandiganbayan.
The anti-graft court in a sevenpage resolution dated June 22 but released on Tuesday said “Accused Bautista cavils that the amended pre-trial brief [of the prosecution] is fatally defective for non-compliance with the rules governing pre-trial in civil cases, specifically Rule 18 of the Rules of Civil Procedure.”
“At this juncture, it must be emphasized that what primarily governs the pre-trial of this case is the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure,” the Sandiganbayan said. Maricel V. Cruz
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the case to the Hague Appeals Court. They were asking Dutch judges to enforce a decision by a French court last year which ordered the $14.9 billion payout.
remaining third is donated to the poor and needy.
The giving of charity in the form of money, food or clothes to the homeless or poor is another key tradition of Eid’l Adha.
Employees who would report to work on regular holidays are to be paid 200 percent of their daily wage rate in the first eight hours.
Workers must receive an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate today for work rendered in excess of eight hours or overtime.
Those who will not show up at work on regular holidays will still receive 100 percent of their rate.
In the Philippines, Eid’l Adha has been a public holiday since 2002.
Nograles said.
Nograles issued the statement after Herbosa drew flak for a proposal to tap unlicensed nurses to fill vacancies in public hospitals.
The Professional Regulation Commission on Thursday said that nursing graduates who failed the board exam cannot be granted temporary or special licenses and work in government hospitals.
Nograles said the furor over the issue could have been minimized had there been “a meaningful consultation with stakeholders.”
The lawmaker said government agencies including the Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment, the Budget department, and local government units, along with other stakeholders of the health sector, should immediately conduct a formal dialogue on how to address the issue.
“We should discuss the issues such as nurse to patient ratio, working hours, salary, among others,” he said. “What is
act decisively to ensure their emotional well-being remains intact during this challenging period.”
Disaster officials say about 31 percent of 10,000 evacuees within the permanent danger zone are children. They are uprooted from their homes and deprived of their education because schools are used as evacuation centers.
Moreover, the Department of Education (DepEd) says 22,000 students from Albay, Ligao and Tabaco school divisions in Albay province have been affected by Mayon Volcano’s unrest.
Modular instruction is now being implemented and classes will still be
Enshrined in law, Republic Act 9849 states the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah or the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar, is declared as a national holiday for the observance of Eid’l Adha.
Known as Eid al-Adha, Eid’l Adha, Idul-Azha, Id-ul-Zuha, Hari Raya Haji or Bakr-id; the ‘Feast of Sacrifice is the most important feast of the Muslim calendar.
The festival may also be known as Al Eid Al Kabeer, which means the ‘Grand Eid’ and has this more important status as in religious terms as this Eid lasts for four days whereas Eid’l Fitr is one day, even though most countries observe about the same number of public holidays for both Eids.
As the exact day is based on lunar sightings, the date may vary among countries.
stopping us from hiring more nurses?
Let’s identify these barriers and closely collaborate to find a solution that we can implement.”
The DOH earlier said it will hire nursing assistants to help address the nurse shortage in government hospitals, but Herbosa said his plan to employ nursing graduates who failed the board exam would not be shelved.
The World Health Organization recommends a ratio of 27 nurses per 10,000 population. In the Philippines, there are only 16 nurses per 10,000.
The country would need an additional 127,000 nurses to meet the WHO target, the Health department said.
Entry-level nurses in private hospitals take home between P15,000 ($271) and P25,000 ($452) a month, about the same as new teachers, but less than junior police officers.
But it is a far cry from nurses’ average monthly salary of $3,000 in the US and 2,000 pounds ($2,530) in the UK.
conducted until the end of the academic year in July. However, should the situation continue through the new academic year beginning August, the DepEd projects the need to install temporary learning spaces and decongest schools.
After speaking with families in evacuation camps, Save the Children is raising the alarm of urgent and long-term needs of children as the prolonged disruption of children’s daily lives is having a significant impact on their mental and emotional well-being.
In the face of the ongoing volcano’s eruption, we are working swiftly to establish temporary schools,” Muyot said.
“The Hague Appeals Court today rejected the request of the Philippine nationals for the recognition and enforcement of the final arbitral award in the Netherlands,” the Dutch court said in a statement.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed the “landmark” decision.
“This decision has blocked any attempt by the claimants to enforce their illegitimate claims against the government of Malaysia in the Netherlands,” the prime minister said in a statement.
“We are now closer than ever to completely nullifying the sham and abusive final award” by the French court, he added.
Oil-rich Sabah fell under the control of European colonial powers in 1878 in an agreement that saw the sultan and his descendants receive annual payments -- the equivalent of around $1,100 -- that Malaysia continued to make after it was formed in 1963. AFP
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are crucial for job creation, particularly for marginalized communities,” Romualdez added.
Addressing several foreign dignitaries present, Romualdez said now is the time to invest in the Philippines which has the fastest-growing economy in the world, apart from having a very popular leader in President Ferdinand Marcos.
He said the House of Representatives is working hard to institutionalize needed reforms, noting that before the 19th Congress adjourned its First Regular Session, the chamber approved 33 out of the 42 priority legislations in the common legislative agenda of the Legislative-Executive Advisory Council (LEDAC).
“These educational sanctuaries will nourish their minds and provide a semblance of normalcy, a lifeline to hope and stability. While we tend to their material needs, our responsibility is to foster an environment that nurtures their resilience, allowing them to weather the storm.”
Save the Children in the Philippines is providing psychosocial support through art intervention activities in three evacuation centers in Camalig, Albay, together with local partner Tarabang para sa Bicol (TABI). These activities aim to provide children with a safe space to express their emotions and cope with the stress caused by the volcanic eruption.
THE government will spare no one in its revitalized antidrug campaign, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said.
Abalos made this assurance, saying the government and law enforcement agencies need to become “role models” in the campaign against illegal drugs. “We have to make a statement. We are going to show our people that the government is serious about this war on drugs. There will be house cleansing, and no one will be spared,” he said in observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT).
So far, at least 50 police officers have been slapped with criminal and administrative cases for allegedly committing irregularities in the seizure of P6.7 billion worth of “shabu” in October last year. “We do not believe in shortcuts. We believe in the rule of law. Trust in
government must be sustained,” Abalos said.
Abalos said the DILG is also pushing the conduct of random drug testing in the agency, its attached offices, and local governments in line with the department’s Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Program.
The DILG launched the anti-illegal drugs advocacy program BIDA, describing it as an intensified and more holistic campaign from the grassroots up.
Abalos meanwhile said the theme of this year’s observance “People First: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention” is in line with the principle of the government’s Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) of putting primacy on prevention and rehabilitation. With Vince Lopez
ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vice chief of staff Air Force
Lieutenant General. Arthur Cordura said, “cyber operation is part of our national and collective defense means.”
Speaking during the fifth anniversary celebration of the AFP Cyber Group (AFPCyG), he also echoed Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro’s guidance of recognizing the significance of cyber capabilities as a command and leadership tool.
“Those [are] capabilities that provide situational awareness and actionable intelligence for military and decisionmakers to guide and execute their
command and control directives,” he added.
Cordura also said cyber operations are the heart of the military’s C4ISTAR systems.
C4ISTAR refers to the “Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting Acquisition and Reconnaissance”.
“It is a game changer. The application of cyber fundamental changes the nature of war thereby inevitably shifting the paradigm on how we operate in a continuum of peace, conflict, crisis, and war,” he added.
Cordura also commended the AFPCyG, headed by Army Col. Walter Icaro, for their unwavering service in cyberspace operations.
Justice
Undersecretary Deo Marco (third from right) distributes certificates of discharge from prison, grooming kits, and gratuity and transportation allowances to 423 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in a ceremony at the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City yesterday. Marco was assisted by BuCoc Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., (4th from right) and Atty. Persida Acosta Chief of the Public Attorney’s Office. Joseph Muego
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino
“Koko” Pimentel stressed that the minority bloc in the Senate is “hands off” from majority matters.
Aside from Pimentel, the other opposition lawmaker in the Senate is Sen. Risa Hontiveros. He also said there will only be a change in the Senate leadership if someone is interested in the top position.
“As far as I know, there’s no one inter-
ested,” stressed Pimentel on the alleged actions to oust Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri when the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress opens on July 24.
Senators Win Gatchalian and Grace Poe stressed that there are no talks to unseat Zubiri. “There’s no such thing. The members are very satisfied with the leadership of SP Zubiri,” said Gatchalian. He noted that they have accomplished a lot under his guidance. Poe described Zubiri an effective and consensus-build-
ing leader.
She said many priority and crucial measures of this administration were passed by the Senate in a timely manner, without sacrificing the quality of every measure.
“There are no talks to replace Senator Zubiri and we strongly support him,” she said.
She quoted Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda who said, “Why fix something that’s not broken?”
SENATE Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said legal services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) must be uninterrupted in the formal turnover of the OFW component of the assistance-tonationals (ATN) functions to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) from the Department of Foreign Affairs
(DFA) starting July 1, 2023.
“The transition should be smooth and seamless so that services to our OFWs, especially those in distress will be continuous,” Villanueva said.
The principal author and sponsor of the DMW Act, Villanueva said the transfer of ATN functions for OFWs is to ensure
that help for OFWs is immediate and does not need to compete with the ATN of the DFA for nationals other than OFWs. The DMW will utilize the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) fund for the purpose while the DFA ATN will be funded separately. Macon Ramos-Araneta
EVEN as we approach the mid-2020s, our society still contends with issues and concerns of workplace violence and harassment.
While seminars regarding these are common abroad, particularly in the light of #MeToo, they are by no means usual or mandatory here.
Thus, any effort toward bridging this gap and providing more information about how to understand these topics and conduct one’s self in regard to these matters in the workspace is most welcome and could serve as an example to other employers and organization leaders.
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) broke new ground in this aspect with its trailblazer project for the art industry -the CCP Safe Space Handbook, released last June 21 as an ebook that may be downloaded by the public for free (see culturalcenter. gov.ph.).
Edited by the CCP Gender and Development (GAD) Committee and CCP GAD Technical Working Group, organized by the CCP Yakap Committee, and written by Cindy Cruz-Cabrera, the CCP Safe Space Handbook presents guidelines on setting up a workplace free from bullying, harassment, and intimidation.
Why is it important to make work spaces (and other spaces) safe in all aspects for everyone?
The purpose of the event is to recognize and encourage the production of books that are of excellent quality in all aspects of bookmaking, from content production (writing and editing), book production (printing, binding, etc.), and book design
“Safe work spaces respect, protect, and fulfill human rights,” Cabrera wrote in her introduction to the Handbook.
“In order for a workspace to truly be safe, it must have policies, measures, and mechanisms that guarantee its workers their human rights and occupational safety, and safeguard all aspects of health and well-being.”
The CCP Safe Space handbook emphasizes the need to establish and maintain safe work spaces for artists, who comprise one of the most vulnerable work sectors worldwide.
The book sets out principles, concerns, and considerations for safeguarding the rights and well-being of its patrons and audiences.
“We aim to make CCP a space where every artist can freely express themselves with the assurance of being valued and respected in every aspect, where they can report any concern without fear of reprisal and judgment,” said CCP president Margarita Moran-Floirendo.
The Handbook also promotes safe physical and virtual work spaces across all industries and sectors so that they may respect, protect, and fulfill human rights.
The book is therefore even more relevant, timely, and functional because it can be used as an exemplar by any company or organization.
The 137-page ebook contains a primer of core concepts about safe spaces and work spaces (and the difference between them), a list of Philippine laws on the subject, a general code of conduct and safety protocols,
and downloadable incident forms (one for adults, another for children).
Other government agencies may use this book for their mandated GAD programs, that per rules and guidelines are well-funded but that are in some agencies not implemented very well due to lack of knowledge on the part of their managers. (Pro tip: get in touch with the Philippine Commission on Women for help designing your GAD programs.)
* * *
For the past several weeks, I have been writing about writing, specifically with regard to learning how to perfect technique and craft through workshops and residencies.
As the summer shines on, more writing classes are being conducted to give students on vacation a chance to attend before school starts.
One such was a masterclass on experiencing and writing short fiction, taught by acclaimed writer and editor Angelo ‘Sarge’ Lacuesta last June 17.
The session was an updated version of the flash fiction workshop he gave at the Dubai Literary Festival last February. Dubbed “The Stories Inside Us,” the class was the first in a series of events hosted by the Yuchengco Museum and yfilms, the museum’s digital arm. “Yfilms and The Yuchengco Museum reached out to me, asking if I would do a seminar or lecture for them,” Lacuesta said.
“I’ve delivered craft and appreciation lectures for a number of years now, and I was happy to do it. It was a great opportunity to do it in such beautiful and inspiring surroundings. And it was especially wonderful to have younger people attend the class. We need to think about the developmental aspect of creative writing.”
Lacuesta, who is also editor-at-large of Esquire Philippines magazine, lectured about storytelling – what it is, how to do it – and used examples from several films to illustrate his key points.
The number of participants went over everyone’s expectations and the event turned out to be a happy success, thanks to the enthusiastic participants—from young writers to internationally published ones—and the inspiring venue.
“Activities like these create spaces for learning and community, especially for younger writers,” Lacuesta said.
Why is storytelling important for the individual, for the community, and for the nation?
“Storytelling lets us understand ourselves and the world around us,” Lacuesta says. “Not only does it allow us to make sense of our personal and social or political situations, but it also drives us to seek our personal truths…
“I like to think that we define the nation when we do any kind of work as Filipinos, and writing is a particularly expressive and personal way to perform work.”
* * *
The Gintong Aklat Awards are back!
Established in 1981 and managed by the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP), the awards are held only every two years and are given to outstanding book publishers.
The purpose of the event is to recognize and encourage the production of books that are of excellent quality in all aspects of bookmaking, from content production (writing and editing), book production (printing, binding, etc.), and book design.
The contest is open to all BDAP members.
The judging of entries in the various categories (see bdap.ph for details) is ongoing.
The awarding ceremony will be held in September 2023 during the Manila International Book Fair.
** * FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO / Email: writerjennyo@gmail.com
One is that coronavirus vaccines may soon be commercially available in the Philippines after the Food and Drug Administration on Monday announced it had granted a certificate of product registration for the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.
“The FDA is pleased to announce the approval of the application and grant of CPR for Toziameran + Famtozinameran (15 mcg/15 mcg)/ 0.3 mL Dispersion for Injection with a brand name, Comirnaty Original/ Omicron B.A. 4-5,” it said in a press statement.
“The FDA has granted the CPR with five years validity after a comprehensive evaluation process, extensive clinical trials, and thorough assessment of all available scientific data and information provided by the vaccine manufacturer and comprehensive evaluation process,” it added.
Pfizer submitted a CPR application under monitored release for their vaccine doses to the FDA in February.
In May, the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 no longer represented a global health emergency
Their application was evaluated by Taskforce Edward, which was tasked to streamline the approval and evaluation of COVID-19 vaccines. FDA Director General Dr. Samuel Zacate encouraged pharmaceutical firms to apply for the issuance of CPR or market authorization for their vaccine shots.
The Department of Health previously said bivalent vaccines provide protection against the original COVID-19 strain SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
Earlier this month, the DOH allowed the use of Pfizer bivalent jabs as a third booster dose pending the arrival of COVID-19 biva-
lent vaccines in the country.
Last week, the national government officially started giving the doses to healthcare personnel, saying they are among those who will be prioritized for the inoculation as they would need additional protection against the virus.
We believe the FDA when it urged the public to “maintain confidence in the regulatory processes and to rely on accurate information from trusted sources regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.”
“The FDA will continue to prioritize transparency and provide regular updates to keep the public informed,” it said.
Another reason to cheer up is the statement by Health Secretary Ted Herbosa Monday he would recommend lifting the country’s COVID-19 state of public health emergency.
In an ambush interview, Herbosa stressed that COVID-19 no longer posed an emergency and could be treated as any other disease that the Department of Health monitors, like influenza, cough, and cold.
To date, COVID-19 which hit the country in March 2020, has had 4,155,758 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 66,481 deaths.
In May, the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 no longer represented a global health emergency.
THE good news from Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police is that 27,248 barangays in the country have been cleared of illegal drugs.
This is an accomplishment rate of 76.76 percent since there are 35,536 barangays nationwide identified as drug-affected. There are 42,046 barangays in the country.
The PNP uses the term “drug-cleared” for barangays previously classified as drugaffected but had successfully hurdled the Barangay Clearing Program and declared drug-cleared by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing.
The term “drug-free,” however, is used for barangays that have had no reports of drug activity at all.
Of the drug-cleared barangays, 115 were classified as seriously affected and 12,560 moderately affected. The remaining 14,573 were described as slightly affected.
The regions that registered the highest drug clearance rate are Calabarzon with 97.06 percent followed by Cagayan Valley, 95.55 percent; the Cordilleras, 95.22 percent; Eastern Visayas, 94.52 percent, and Soccsksargen, 89.37 percent.
PNP Chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. has commended government agencies, local officials and communities for helping bring down the number of drugaffected barangays.
“As we continue our fight against illegal drugs, we remain committed to ensuring the safety, security and well-being of every citizen,” he said.
While acknowledging the good progress made by law enforcers in clearing drugaffected barangays, the top cop emphasized the need to stop the drug trade in the remaining 8,288 barangays, 326 of them classified as seriously affected.
At present, Acorda pointed out, 8,288 barangays continue to be affected by drugrelated issues.
These barangays include 326 that were classified as seriously affected, 5,780 as moderately affected, and 2,182 as slightly affected. Hence, law enforcers continue to launch drug-clearing operations on a nation-
wide scale.
It is plain to see the police force continues to make headway in the campaign against illegal drugs. If over 27,000 drug-affected barangays out of more than 35,000 have been cleared of illegal drugs, then that represents a significant accomplishment for the PNP.
But it cannot afford to lose its focus.
The police cannot lick the drug problem through an iron hand alone: it should be a whole-of-society effort, with law enforcers, local government units, non-government organizations and ordinary citizens working together to substantially reduce, if not totally eradicate, this social menace.
As a key pillar of the US-Philippines alliance, EDCA supports combined training, exercises and interoperability between the armed forces of the two countries
PNP: Bantag never a police officer
While we’re on the subject of law enforcement, the PNP has clarified, contrary to a statement by a Department of Justice official, that fugitive former jails chief Gerald Bantag was never a police officer.
The Camp Crame Public Information Office issued the statement to correct the claim of the DOJ spokesman that Bantag was a police officer who had a network within the PNP that made his arrest difficult.
“The [PNP] would like to clarify that Mr. Gerald Bantag [was never] a member of the Philippine National Police… He used to be a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) officer before his appointment to the Bureau of Corrections,” according to the PNP Public Information Office.
Based on public records, Bantag was a
member of the 1996 Kaagapay Class of the Philippine National Police Academy, but did not enlist with the PNP and instead entered the BJMP, eventually becoming the first four-star general among his batchmates.
“We want to emphasize that, irrespective of one’s rank, stature, or source of commission of any officer, the PNP will arrest any individual who has violated the law. The achievements of our police tracker teams exemplify our record in arresting wanted persons,” the PIO said.
Bantag and his deputy Ricardo Zulueta are wanted for the October 2022 killings of radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa (also known as Percy Lapid) and Cristito Palaña (alias Jun Villamor), an inmate of New Bilibid Prison who is believed to have recruited the hit men who killed Mabasa.
The Las Piñas and Muntinlupa courts hearing the cases issued the warrants of arrest for the two in April, six months after the two personalities were killed. Since the issuance of the arrest warrants against Bantag and Zulueta, tracker teams of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have been “working round the clock and at all times in support of the National Bureau of Investigation and other officers of the law to apprehend the fugitives promptly,” the PIO said.
The DOJ and the NBI raised a P2-million reward for any information that could lead to Bantag’s arrest and another P1 million for Zulueta’s.
Will the offer of a bounty for the arrest of the two fugitives lead to the solution of the case and render justice for the brazen killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid?
We’ll have to wait and see.
(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
the new leadership would attain during their two-year term ending in 2025.
rapid urbanization, large-scale migration, industrialization and environmental change.
efforts to improve their craft of writing literary, historical, research and other works;
GUMIL Filipinas President Ariel Sotelo Tabag has laid out a vision as part of an aggressive policy he hopes would be given flesh by members of the association following his inauguration this month as the 15th chief executive of the close-knit group.
The 44-yar-old Tabag, who studied AB Philosophy at the Our Lady Of Angels Seminary in Novaliches, Quezon City, also asked his fellow writers to help him re-energize inactive chapters of the association, which marks 55 years in October this year.
In a speech on June 24 at the Manila Prince Hotel in Ermita, Manila soon after he and other officials were administered the oath of office by the Pinili, Ilocos Norte-born former Press Secretary Herminio Coloma, the book author and multi-awarded fictionist suggested continuing Pasnaan, a workshop for young/amateur Ilokano writers and Innadal, a lecture lecture series for the Ilokano orthography and Ilokano literature in cooperation with different Local Government Units.
Tabag challenged 300 active members of GUMIL Filipinas and other Ilokano writers that their writings focus as well on the protection of the earth and the environment while uniting with others in doing research and writing about climate change.
He presented a 12-point plan he hoped, with 15 other officers with him at the helm,
Speaking in Ilokano throughout, Tabag challenged fellow members of GF to come up with GF-inspired workshops within the chapters, online or in-face for aspiring members of the different chapters.
He asked for their support to continue the tagnawa program, a cooperative effort to produce a desired result, as a brand to produce GUMIL materials from which GF funds may be sourced, and to set up one online and physical shop to manage this.
At the same time, Tabag was clear he wanted to set up mini groups within chapters or individual performers from each chapter to revive the oral traditions of the Ilokanos and reactivate literary fairs and/or festivals to serve as book shops for books produced from northern Luzon.
Old hands in GUMIL Filipinas say literature can be an important tool for creating empathy, allowing people to see and understand the perspectives of those whose experiences may be very different from their own and ultimately creating a society based on empathy and understanding.
Tabag was spot on in his desire to revive oral traditions which include expressions whose domain encompasses an enormous variety of spoken forms including proverbs, riddles, tales, nursery rhymes, legends, myths, epic songs and poems, charms, prayers, chants, songs, dramatic perfor-
Tabag challenged fellow members of GF to come up with GF-inspired workshops within the chapters, online or in-face for aspiring members of the different chapters
mances and more. Customs and folklore authorities say oral traditions and expressions are used to pass on knowledge, cultural and social values and collective memory, and they play a crucial part in keeping cultures alive.
They add oral tradition is important in all societies, despite the reliance of some cultures on written records and accounts.
These traditions account for the ways things are and often the way they should be, and assist people in educating the young and teaching important lessons about the past and about life.
Like other forms of intangible cultural heritage, oral traditions are threatened by
Books, newspapers and magazines, radio, television and the Internet can have an especially damaging effect on oral traditions and expressions. Modern mass media may significantly alter or over replace traditional forms of oral expression.
Epic poems that once took several days to recite in full may be reduced to just a few hours and traditional courtship songs that were sung before marriage may be replaced by CDs or digital music files.
With him during the two-year term are six other executive officials and eight members of the Board of Directors, and the immediate past president as ex-officio member, assisted where necessary by three consultants and seven advisers, the latter all former presidents of the association first headed by Sison Mayor Art M. Padua of Pangasinan from 1968 to 1971.
He hopes his term would also see the publication of a refurbished version of the Directory of Ilokano Writers which GF published in 1993 to mark the silver jubilee of the association, compiled by Jose Bragado and Reynaldo Duque (editor: Honor Blanco Cabie).
As the officers belly up to the bar, they have with them GUMIL Filipinas’ main objectives:
To provide a forum in which Ilokano writer can undertake common and cooperative
To enrich Ilokano literature and cultural heritage as phases of the national identity by encouraging the members to concentrate on writing extensively and intensively about the social, economic, cultural and other aspects of growth and development among the Ilokanos through literature, history, research, or the like;
To publish books of poetry, short stories, essays, novels, historical accounts, research and critical studies, and other writings; and
To assist each member in pursuing his/her writing career and in fulfilling his life as a member of Philippines society.
Experts are one in saying literature confirms people’s identity and encourages them to find their own way to verbalize or write about what matters to them. Literature amplifies people’s sense of self, and in doing so, makes it possible for people to live authentically – both in writing and in their spoken words.
Literature, which mirrors the ills and the good things about society, projects the virtues and values in the society for people to emulate.
In its corrective function, literature, according to experts, mirrors the ills of the society with a view to making the society realize its mistakes and make amends. It also projects the virtues or good values in the society for people to emulate.
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. until July 17 to submit his counter-affidavit on murder charges filed against him for the deaths of 10 persons including Gov. Roel Degamo, and injuries inflicted on 18 others on March 4, 2023 in Pamplona town.
Meanwhile, The DOJ defended a ruling of its panel of prosecutors denying the motion to inhibit themselves from conducting the preliminary investigation of the murder charges against Teves.
During the preliminary investigation on Tuesday, the DOJ’s panel of prosecutors also denied a motion to inhibit its members from further conducting the initial probe on the charges filed against Teves.
Teves’ lawyers earlier sought the panel’s inhibition and to turn over the preliminary investigation of the charges to the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) over alleged bias and pre-judgments.
The suspended legislator had been charged with 10 counts of murder, 14 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder in the March 4 murder of Degamo and nine others.
Teves has also been tagged as “one of the masterminds” in the Degamo slaying. He has denied the allegations.
One of Teves’ lawyers, Andres Manuel, said their request for time to file counter-affidavit was granted during the hearing. “Actually, we were given more time,” he said, after the hearing.
“They denied the motion for inhibition because, for them, they act independently,” he said.
THE United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED opposes suggestions to allow industrial users or manufacturers to directly import sugar as a compromise to the government’s plan to raise duties and broaden the tax base for sweetened beverages.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel Iii said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not made any headway in our problems in the agricultural sector.
In a statement, UNIFED president Manuel Lamata appealed to the President to disregard Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s remark describing sugar trade liberalization as a “reasonable compromise” in lieu of the planned higher taxes on sugary drinks.
Lamata said they were “totally against the move of Diokno to liberalize importation in favor of a few industrial users.”
The Department of Finance was eyeing an increase excise taxes for sweetened beverages under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law by P12 per liter, regardless of the type of sweetener used, remove,exemptions, and index the rate by four percent annually.
The TRAIN law mandates a P6-per liter excise tax on beverages using caloric and non-caloric sweeteners, and P12 per litertax on beverages using highfructose corn syrup.
Diokno said higher tax rate and broader base was a reasonable compromise, but added that he was still in favor of sugar importation.
Under the current system, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) controls the importation of sugar and determines the volume to be imported after assessing the local industry’s capability to satisfy the country’s consumption demands.
PHILIPPINE authorities have detained more than 2,700 people during a raid on several buildings in Manila where alleged human trafficking victims were paid to recruit players for online games, police said Tuesday.
A state-run wire service said those apprehended were found working for an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) in Las Piñas City. Chinese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Pakistani, Cameroonian, Sudanese, Myanmar and Philippine nationals were among the people found inside a compound in the capital on Monday night.
Authorities were interviewing 2,724 detainees to identify who was a victim or suspect, said police Capt. Michelle Sabino, spokeswoman for the anti-cybercrime unit.
More than 1,500 were Filipinos. International concern has been growing over internet scams in the Asia-Pacific region, often staffed by trafficking victims tricked or coerced into promoting bogus crypto investments.
Sabino said the alleged trafficking victims had accepted jobs posted on Facebook to work in the Philippines “to find players” for online games.
Many of them were forced to work 12hour shifts every day for as little as P24,000 pesos a month, and were prevented from leaving the compound, she said.
Sabino described it as the “biggest ever” anti-trafficking raid in the Philippines.
AFP journalists at the scene on Tuesday saw two police buses and two police trucks parked outside the compound. They were not allowed to enter the buildings.
Sabino said “everything will be investigated”, including whether the workers were involved in online rackets.
In May, authorities rescued more than a thousand people from several Asian nations who had been trafficked into the Philippines, held captive and forced to run online scams.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said victims were often ensnared by traffickers with the prospect of “better jobs with high salaries and enticing perks”. AFP
WINDFALL.
Potenciana Restua who turns 100 on Tuesday (June 27) receives a P100,000-check from Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan (right) as a gift for having a “productive and meaningful life” as a resident of the big city.
K. R. De Asis/MPIO
INTERIOR and Local Government
Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has expressed gratitude for Germany’s continuing support to his agency’s development initiatives, saying he looks forward to more meaningful engagements in digitalization, tourism, and other projects.
SENATOR Cynthia Villar has underscored the value of education towards people empowerment and in making a difference in the lives of others.
Addressing the graduation rites of Bulacan State University, Villar said “true education goes beyond textbooks and exams and extends far beyond the walls of this institution,”
The senator also told the graduates she was one with them in reaching their dream for an abundant agriculture, a developed economy, and food-sufficient Philippines.
Villar served as a member of the school’s Board of Regents when she was still a congresswoman.
As educated individuals, she told the graduates it is their duty to use their knowledge and skills “to make a
positive impact on the world around us.”
“Let us remember that education is not just a privilege; it is a call to action. You have the privilege of education, and with it, the responsibility to uplift those who are less fortunate,” said Villar.
She further reminded the graduates it is incumbent upon them to use their knowledge, skills, and resources to create opportunities.
They are also bound to empower individuals to break free from the cycle of poverty and adversity.
“While we are on the issue of poverty and adversity, our agriculture sector is faced with tremendous challenges, despite the fact that we are an agricultural country,” she lamented. Macon Ramos-Araneta
In a recent meeting with German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel in Camp Crame, Abalos said over the years, the German government has been extending a helping hand to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through technical support and capacity-building interventions to enhance the capability of local government units in service delivery.
“The German government has always
been generous and supportive of our developmental efforts in the DILG. We are hopeful that our partnership will further blossom to give way to more productive undertakings,” Abalos said. Abalos also said he hopes to explore potential cooperation with the German government in areas such as sustainable development, digitalization, innovation, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
RAID Operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office and other law enforcement units swoop down on a compound in barangay Almanza Uno, Las Piñas City being used by an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator where they round up over 2,700 Filipino and foreign nationals believed recruited by a human trafficking. Norman Cruz
A BILL filed at the House of Representatives mandates the Philippine National Police (PNP) to recruit professionals such as aeronautical engineers, molecular biologists psychologists, information technology (IT) experts and other professionals with highly technical skills to strengthen the unit’s capability in meeting new challenges to law enforcement and public safety.
House Bill (HB) 7686 filed by Reps. Paolo Duterte of Davao City, Eric Yap of Benguet and Edvic Yap of and ACTCIS party-list proposes to institutionalize the expansion of the PNP’s lateral entry program by amending Section 33 of Republic Act 6975.
“The hiring of professionals with highly technical qualifications, which will be done through the PNP’s lateral entry program, will significantly help the police organization keep people safe from crime and other threats to public safety at a time when criminals have turned to technology and other sophisticated means to commit their illegal acts,” Duterte said. Maricel V. Cruz
THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has served warning against buying National Certificates (NCs) being sold online and through other channels, saying such documents are fake. The warning came after reports that a man was recently arrested in Cotabato City while selling fake NCs and driver’s licenses.
TESDA director general Suharto Mangudadatu, explained that NCs are only issued by TESDA offices to qualified individuals who have passed the assessment for their respective qualifications. When issued, these NCs are valid for five years.
The TESDA said that among the items in Mangudadatu’s 10-point agenda is compliance and enhanced monitoring saying, the agency will regularly inspect TESDA-accredited training and assessment centers to check their compliance with regulations on program registration as well as the conduct of assessment and certification. Vito Barcelo
A PARTY-list lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to institutionalize mechanisms, under the Parens Patriae doctrine, for the protection of minor children whose parents are working as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Rep. Marissa Magsino of OFW party list group filed House Bill 8560 noting that in March 2023, a Filipina OFW in Saudi Arabia tragically lost her four children, aged 5, 9, 12, and 14, when her live-in partner fatally stabbed them before taking his own life.
Similarly, in November of the previous year, two children, aged 11 and 15, were raped and killed by the boyfriend of their OFW mother in the Middle East. These incidents have spurred the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to take immediate action in protecting children left under the care of non-parents and preventing any future occurrences of such violence. Maricel V. Cruz
POPE Francis’ peace envoy to Ukraine will visit Moscow on Wednesday and Thursday, just weeks after visiting Kyiv, the Vatican said.
It will be the first visit to Moscow by a senior Vatican official since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
“On June 28 and 29, 2023, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi... accompanied by an official of the (Vatican) Secretary of State, will pay a visit to Moscow as envoy of Pope Francis,” a Vatican statement said.
“The main purpose of the initiative is to encourage gestures of humanity, which can help promote a solution to the current tragic situation and find ways to achieve a just peace.”
Pope Francis asked Zuppi, the head of the Italian bishops conference, in May “to help ease tensions” in Ukraine in the hope of facilitating peace between Kyiv and Moscow.
The 67-year-old Italian cardinal hails from the Sant’Egidio Catholic Community, which specializes in diplomacy and peace efforts.
His trip to Moscow follows a visit to Kyiv on June 5 and 6 for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who told the envoy a ceasefire would not lead to peace.
Francis, head of the worldwide Catholic Church since 2013, has repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine.
In the first few months after Russia’s invasion in February 2022, he faced criticism for not blaming Moscow explicitly for the conflict.
Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said recently that Zuppi’s mission was not aimed at mediation, at least not yet, but sought to “favor a climate that can lead to paths of peace.”
The pope hosted Zelensky at the Vatican in May, and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal a few weeks earlier.
Shmyhal invited the pope to visit Ukraine and also asked for help to return children forcibly taken to Russia. AFP
THE front runner to become Thailand’s next prime minister, Pita Limjaroenra, said on Tuesday he had secured enough support from the Senate to take the top job.
Pita’s progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) won the most seats at last month’s election as voters delivered a crushing rejection of military-linked parties that have run the kingdom for nearly a decade.
To become PM, Pita has to muster a majority across both houses, including the Senate, whose 250 members were handpicked by the last junta.
His eight-party coalition has a total of 312 seats in the lower house, but needs another 64 – from either house – for a majority.
Asked on Tuesday how many senators would endorse him, Pita told reporters at the parliament building: “Enough to make me become PM.”
Thailand’s parliament is set to sit next Monday for the first time since the election and a vote on the prime minister is due in mid-July.
MFP’s determination to amend Thailand’s tough laws against insulting the royal family has spooked the royalist-military conservative establishment. AFP
HUNGARIAN Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said he does not believe the Wagner mercenary group’s mutiny has weakened Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it an “event of no major significance.”
The weekend uprising – which ended when Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin called off his troops’ advance on Moscow – has prompted questions about Putin’s grip on power as Moscow’s war in Ukraine grinds on.
But nationalist leader Orban, whose country has the closest ties among European Union members to Russia, played down suggestions the mutiny
had impacted Putin.
“If someone speculates that he (Putin) could fail or be replaced, then he does not understand the Russian people and Russian power structures,” he said in an interview with media outlets Bild, Die Welt and Politico on Monday.
It was a sign of strength that the uprising ended within 24 hours, he said,
and predicted that Putin would still be president in 2024.
Orban said he based his assessment on the fact that Putin was popular and the structures underpinning his rule were strong, pointing to the army, the secret service and the police.
The Kremlin on Tuesday also rejected suggestions that Putin’s authority had been weakened by the mutiny.
Despite an arrest warrant issued for the Russian leader by the International Criminal Court, Orban said he was not in favor of prosecuting him at the moment.
“We can talk about war crimes af-
MORE than 6,500 people have been arrested following the 2020 dismantling of EncroChat, an encrypted communications tool used by organized crime, Europol said on Tuesday.
Close to 200 of the arrests were “highvalue targets,” said the organization that assists EU members in international investigations, adding that nearly 900 million euros ($983 million) of criminal funds had been seized or frozen.
French and Dutch police announced in July 2020 that they had shut down
the encrypted phone network used by organized crime groups across Europe for assassination attempts and major drug deals.
The move allowed police to read many millions of messages by suspected criminals, Europol said in Tuesday’s first review of the operation against customers of EncroChat, which sold customized encrypted phones.
Since 2020, investigators had managed to intercept, share and analyze over 115 million criminal conversa-
tions, by an estimated number of over 60,000 users, the report said.
The intercepted calls included conversations about planned violent attacks, attempted murders, corruption and large-scale drug shipments, it said.
“EncroChat phones were presented as guaranteeing perfect anonymity, discretion and no traceability to users,” Europol said.
The devices had functions intended to ensure the automatic deletion of messages, and all data on the device. AFP
ter the war,” he told the media outlets, which are all owned by Germany’s biggest publisher, Axel Springer. The focus now should be on a ceasefire and negotiations, and participants needed to come to the table, he said.
Inviting someone for talks and then telling them “I am going to arrest you, is not the best idea,” he added. Despite some initial successes for Kyiv’s counteroffensive, Orban said he considered a military victory for Ukraine to be “impossible.”
“The problem is that the Ukrainians will run out of soldiers earlier than the Russians,” he said. AFP
FORMER US president Donald Trump can be heard discussing secret documents he had apparently held on to and acknowledging he had not declassified them in an audio recording aired by CNN.
The two-minute recording comes from an interview Trump gave at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club in July 2021 for people working on a memoir by his former chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Parts of a transcript of the recording were cited as evidence in special counsel Jack Smith’s 49-page indictment of Trump on charges he had mishandled classified documents after leaving office.
The audio file played by CNN late Monday, and also obtained by ABC and CBS, includes a moment when Trump seems to indicate he is holding a secret Pentagon document with plans to attack Iran.
“These are the papers,” Trump says in the recording, a quote that was not included in the indictment.
He also refers to something as “highly confidential” and “this is secret information” as he seems to be showing something to the others in the room.
“This was done by the military and given to me,” Trump continues, before noting that the document remained classified.
“You see, as president I could have declassified it. Now I can’t, you know,” he says.
“Now we have a problem,” one of his staff responds. AFP
OFFICIALS were left red-faced at a beer factory in Japan’s Okinawa region on Tuesday, after a mishap turned a large body of water a sinister shade of scarlet.
A leak filled a port area in the city of Nago with the lurid-colored water, which one Twitter user described as looking “venomous.”
Orion Breweries said water used for cooling, which contains a liquid called propylene glycol – dyed red with food coloring – had leaked from a factory in the area.
In a statement, it apologized for “causing enormous trouble and worry.”
“We believe the leaked cooling water seeped through rainwater gutters into a river, and consequently turned the ocean red,” the company said.
The red water poses no danger to humans or the marine ecosystem, the Yomiuri newspaper also quoted the company as saying.
Okinawa is a subtropical island chain famed for its crystal blue waters, and is popular with scuba divers.
“The red does look venomous, but it’s a relief to learn it’s just food coloring and not likely to cause major damage,” wrote a Twitter user under the name Aresu. AFP
THE Philippine Stock Exchange index lost 20.24 points to close at 6,502.85 on Tuesday as the market succumbed to profit-taking.
The broader all-shares index also fell 6.65 points to settle at 3,463.81 on a value turnover of P4.15 billion.
Decliners edged out advancers, 84 to 82, with 55 issues unchanged.
Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said the Wall Street’s tech sell-off dragged investors sentiments.
Financial markets will be closed Wednesday in observance of Eid’l Adha
TIANJIN—China is on course to achieve its five percent target for economic growth in 2023 set by Beijing earlier this year, premier Li Qiang said Tuesday.
“For the whole year, we are expected to achieve the target of about five percent economic growth set at the beginning of this year,” Li said as he opened a meeting of global political and business leaders in northern China.
“Recently, some international organizations and institutions have also raised their forecasts for China’s economic growth this year, showing their confidence in China’s development prospects,” Li added at the World Economic Forum.
China is grappling with a slowing post-Covid recovery, with a number of lacklustre indicators in recent weeks signaling the rebound is running out of steam.
Beijing’s central bank last week cut two key interest rates in a bid to counter the slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy.
Reports this month have suggested Beijing is lining up a tranche of measures targeting multiple areas of the economy, particularly the real estate sector, which makes up a huge portion of gross domestic product.
Beijing set an economic growth target of “around five percent” in March, one of its lowest in decades as it emerged from strict zero-Covid rules that hammered business activity.
Premier Li at the time admitted the target would be “no easy task.” AFP
TOKYO—Japan will restore South Korea to a list of trusted trade partners in July, the government said Tuesday, reversing its 2019 removal during a dispute over historical forced labor.
The move, which reciprocates Seoul’s reinstatement of Japan to its own trade “white list” earlier this year, marks the latest step in efforts by the neighbour to thaw ties.
Trade with South Korea will again enjoy a fast-track approval process from July 21, Tokyo’s trade ministry said.
Relations between the two US allies have long been testy due to bitter memories of Japan’s brutal occupation of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945.
South Korea’s Supreme Court in 2018 ordered Japanese firms to compensate the wartime victims of forced labour, triggering an escalating series of tit-for-tat economic measures.
However, since South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol came to power last year, he has worked to quickly strengthen ties with Japan in the face of North Korean threats.
In March, Yoon unveiled a plan to compensate victims without direct involvement from Tokyo, in a move that was unpopular domestically but helped improve ties with Japan.
Since then, Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have resumed regular high level talks, with Yoon in Tokyo in April and Kishida travelling to Seoul last month.
Japan also this year ended export controls on materials for semiconductors destined for South Korea, while Seoul dropped a WTO complaint against Japan and has moved to normalize a military intelligence-sharing pact. AFP
(Feast of Sacrifice).
Meanwhile, Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday after more than a week of losses but traders remained anxious about central banks’ plans to continue hiking interest rates to fight stubborn inflation.
The more positive environment came as concerns over Russia subsided following an aborted uprising, though developments in the nuclear-armed
country are being closely followed as President Vladimir Putin faces the biggest test of his rule. With the events in eastern Europe a little less worrying for now, focus has returned to the battle against surging inflation, which has dogged global markets this year.
Last week’s warning from US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell that rates would likely need to go higher dealt a blow to hopes that officials were at the end of close to completing their tightening cycle. While the Fed stood pat this month, his comments came as central banks elsewhere continued to push borrowing costs higher and indicated more were in
the pipeline. The Fed said the decision at the next policy meeting at the end of July will be determined by incoming data, putting the focus on upcoming releases, including Friday’s personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index—the central bank’s preferred measure of inflation.
But analysts warned that investors face more pain this year, while there is a growing concern that the tightening could tip economies into recession, as has happened in the eurozone.
“I’m not sure we have felt the full efect of the whole inflation cycle,” Nancy Daoud, at Ameriprise Financial Services, told Bloomberg Television.
HONG KONG—With its white marble foyer and lavish chandeliers, the 12-storey tower could be mistaken for one of Hong Kong’s newest hotels, but it offers a longer stay: a final resting place for thousands in one of the world’s most crowded cities.
Hong Kong’s 7.3 million residents share some of the most densely populated neighborhoods on earth, and in the past, mourning families had to wait years to secure a spot for their loved ones’ ashes.
The Shan Sum columbarium opened last month with plans to eventually offer 23,000 niches for funeral urns, part of the government’s decade-long efort to bring in private companies to ease pressure on the deathcare sector.
That policy is now paying of afer the city’s ageing population pushed death rates above government urn space capacity in the mid-2010s, creating a dire shortage.
The sleek, modern building is the work of German architect Ulrich Kirchhof, 52, who told AFP he tried to blend elements of nature into a high-density space to create a “neighbourhood village feel”.
“It’s an apartment building for the dead ... It feels more like a close-knit neighbourhood,” he said.
Kirchhof said his design was inspired by traditional Chinese graveyards, which are ofen perched on mountainsides. His columbarium carried over those undulating lines, greenery and textures of hewn rock.
Ashes are stored in ornate compartments, some as small as 26 by 34 centimetres (10 by 13 inches), that line the walls of air-conditioned chambers.
Kirchhof said he designed rooms on each floor to provide intimacy, in contrast to the cramped confines of public columbariums, which he said feel like being in a “warehouse”.
“How do we maintain quality of life
and dignity for the people in this high density?” he asked.
“Is it just a shoebox or is there something else?”
Urn space shortage
Much like apartments in Hong Kong, rent for the units is not cheap, putting them beyond the reach of most people.
A basic two-person option at Shan Sum is sold for $58,000 while the toptier package, meant for a whole family, costs nearly $3 million.
The median monthly household income in Hong Kong is currently around $3,800, according to government data.
Places like Shan Sum were created in response to Hong Kong’s shortage of urn spaces a decade ago.
At the time, cremated remains were often stored in drawers at funeral parlours for years while waiting for spots to open up, or were housed in unlicensed columbariums in temples or refurbished factory buildings.
Historian Chau Chi-fung, who wrote a book on Hong Kong’s funeral practices, said the seeds of the crisis were sown decades prior by the British colonial administration, before the city was handed over to China in 1997.
“Laws at the time were strict about how to treat dead bodies, but once they were turned to ash, the government did not have a comprehensive policy for them,” he told AFP.
The ethnic Chinese population in Hong Kong historically preferred burials, but the government popularized cremation in the 1960s—a shift seen in dense urban centers across Asia.
Now around 95 percent of Hong Kong’s dead are cremated each year, which Chau attributed to changing social mores.
The government estimates
that deaths will increase by 14 percent to 61,100 per year by 2031.
Officials say that the city is prepared for the uptick, with about 25 percent vacancy among the current 425,000 public columbarium spots and more public and private supply in the pipeline.
“The situation has improved compared to a few years ago... The problem has been eased, but not solved,” Chau said.
‘Ocean view’
Wing Wong, 43, last year laid her father to rest at Tsang Tsui Columbarium, a sprawling 4,800-square-metre complex in Hong Kong’s northwestern corner that began service in 2021.
She said her experience was a far cry from the horror stories seen in headlines years ago.
“Losing a loved one was painful enough. It would be a torment for family members if they couldn’t find a place for the ashes, with no idea how long they needed to wait,” she said.
Wong said her family chose the government-run location for its good feng shui, adding that its affordable pricing meant they had no incentive to consider private options. AFP
“Those rate hikes are very, very likely in July and in early fall.”Most Asian markets rose, brushing of losses on Wall Street.
Hong Kong climbed more than two percent after five days of losses, while Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, Mumbai and Bangkok also rose.
Tokyo, Seoul Jakarta and Taipei retreated.
London, Paris and Frankfurt opened in positive territory.
Sentiment was boosted by comments from Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday, who said the government would roll out fresh measures to kick start the struggling economy and boost domestic demand. With AFP
SAN Miguel Corp. said Tuesday it signed a P100billion syndicated loan agreement with a consortium of major Philippine banks for the ongoing construction of Metro Rail Transit Line 7 project.
The fund, which reached financial close on June 1, will help further speed up the construction of MRT-7 which reached 61.92-percent completion as of June 14, 2023, the conglomerate said.
“We are happy to have achieved this milestone. It reflects the confidence that our partner banks have in the government’s vision for progress, and our ability to execute on vital projects that are critical to the country’s social and eco-
THE Department of Transportation has issued a notice of proceed to Banner Plastic Card, Inc. for the procurement of 5.2 million driver’s license plastic cards. Transportation Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Kim Robert De Leon said up to one million plastic cards will be delivered within the next 60 days as part of the first delivery from Banner Plastic Card, the contractor behind Land Bank of the Philippines’ Visa debit cards. Banner Plastic Card manufactures prepaid top-up cards, lottery tickets, scratch-and-win cards, contactless smart cards/RFID tags and magnetic ticket cards among others. The contract price for the 5.2 million cards amounted to P219.24 million.
“We expect the backlogs of the license cards to be addressed quickly. Our aim is to normalize the supply of the cards, so we will ensure that Banner deliver these cards efficiently,” De Leon said.
“Banner Plastic Card, Inc. should be able to make its first delivery within 60 days from June 26, 2023 as part of the terms of reference,” he added.
De Leon assured that while it may take time for the company to deliver its first set of plastic cards, the DOTr is working double time to catch up with the depleting supply of plastic cards.
Darwin G. Amojelar
LEADING mobility company Toyota Motor Philippines has partnered with leading logistics provider Lalamove through its auto brand, Lalamove Automotive, with the introduction of Toyota Lite Ace as a transport partner.
With micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs’ mobility needs continuously increasing, TMP and one of its dealerships Toyota Taytay, Rizal, together with Toyota Financial Services Philippines, created an affordable pricing scheme for the Lite Ace.
“We are very happy and excited that Toyota Taytay, Rizal is part of this partnership with Lalamove Automotive, Toyota Financial Services and Toyota Motor Philippines. To have a hand in assisting our customers in improving their quality of life by expanding access through financing so that they can acquire reliable Toyota mobility vehicles to use in their business is a privilege on our part. We hope that in the long run, more and more customers will benefit from this partnership, leading to better livelihoods for more Filipinos and a stronger Philippine economy,” said Toyota Taytay, Rizal president Zellyn Lim.
Aspiring and existing Lalamove operators may purchase the Lite Ace Panel Van variant through the partnership, under Lalamove Automotive’s Vehicle Ownership Program. Toyota Taytay and TFS then collaborated with Lalamove to provide an option for partner operators, giving them the convenience to grow their transport and delivery services.
Othel V. Campos
THE Department of Energy has granted the request of ENEX Energy Corp. subsidiary, Palawan55 Exploration and Production Corp. for force majeure relief due to the operational and financial risks associated with conducting drilling operations in the Service Contract 55 contract area in the West Philippine Sea.
“Pursuant to Section 26.01 of SC 55, the DOE found basis to place SC 55 under force majeure from 6 December 2022 until such time that a clearance to proceed with exploration activities in the West Philippine Sea has been issued by the national government,” ENEX said.
Palawan55 owns majority stake in SC 55, which holds the Cinco prospect, estimated to contain 1.3 trillion to 2.4 trillion cubic feet of gas and 45 million barrels of oil.
SC 55 is a deep-water block in the southwest Palawan Basin covering an area of 9,880 square kilometers. ENEX has been scouting for partners willing to take a minority stake to derisk the development of SC 55.
DOE has already approved the updated proposal of the SC 55 consortium to develop the Cinco-1 well and Palawan55 was supposed to drilling of an appraisal well last April which was initially estimated to cost $40 million to $50 million. Alena Mae S. Flores
nomic development and growth,” SMC president and chief executive Ramon Ang said.
The funding is also a testament to the resilience and strong business prospects of SMC and its subsidiaries amid a very challenging macro-economic environment, it said.
“The support we are getting from major Philippine banks shows that they recognize how important this project is
to many Filipinos, and appreciate our overall vision of a Philippines made more progressive, resilient, and competitive, through investments in major projects such as efficient mass transport systems,” Ang said.
Members of the consortium are BDO Unibank Inc., Philippine National Bank, Bank of Commerce, Security Bank and the Government Service Insurance System. Lead arrangers and bookrunners for the transaction are BDO Capital & Investment Corp., PNB Capital and Investment Corp., SB Capital Investment Corp. and BankCom-Investment Banking Group.
Law firms Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos and SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan advised on the transaction.
“SMC’s investments in various infrastructure projects boost the economy
as these initiatives facilitate improved connectivity between regions and communities, positively impacting trade, tourism, and overall social integration.
We commend SMC for taking these steps towards the country’s growth and we are proud to be their partner in this esteemed endeavor,” said BDO Capital & Investment Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said.
PNB Institutional Banking head and executive vice president Jun Audencial said investing in infrastructure paves the way to improve productivity and growth, expand distribution networks, facilitate trade and connectivity and promote economic inclusion.
“SMC helps provide job opportunities for Filipinos and make the country more industrially competitive. Infra-
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (center) delivers his keynote address ‘Enabling Legislations for Just and Sustainable Transitions’ at the opening of the two- day 44th National Conference of Employers organized by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines from June 27 to 28 at the Fiesta Pavilion of Manila Hotel. With Romualdez are (from left) Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and ECOP vice president George Barcelon, ECOP chairman Edgardo Lacson, ECOP president and PCCI honorary chair and treasurer Sergio Ortiz Luis Jr. and ECOP governor and NCE44 organizing committee chair Arturo Guerrero III.
THE government’s budget deficit fell 16.7 percent in May to P122.2 billion from P146.8 billion a year ago as the 9.35-percent growth in revenues outpaced the 0.88-percent increase in expenditures, the Bureau of the Treasury said Tuesday.
This brings the cumulative budget gap for the first five months of the year to P326.3 billion, lower by 28.86 percent or P132.4 billion than a year ago.
Revenue collection for May 2023 reached P333.4 billion, surpassing the P304.9 billion recorded in the same month last year by 9.35 percent or P28.5 billion.
Moreover, total revenue as of the endMay stood at P1.6 trillion, 10.83 percent higher than a year ago.
“This growth was attributed to im-
provements in both tax and non-tax collections, which grew by 9.71 percent and 20.56 percent year on year, respectively,” the agency said.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s net collections reached P213.3 billion, down slightly by 1.54 percent or P3.3 billion for the month. Meanwhile, its overall collection for the five-month period increased by 9.95 percent or P95.5 billion to P1.1 trillion from last year’s P959.0 billion.
The Bureau of Customs raised P77.9 billion for the month, topping the previous year’s outturn for the same period by 17.56 percent or P11.6 billion. This improved the agency’s cumulative performance by 12.10 percent or P38.8 billion over last year to reach P359.3 billion.
TheTreasury’s income for the month swelled to P24.9 billion, more than
SM Investments Corp., through its wholly owned Philippine Geothermal Production Company Inc. on Tuesday said it is investing P3 billion annually to increase its geothermal steam production capacity by 300 megawatts. This will come from the exploration of new steam production projects in Northern Luzon, namely Kalinga, Daklan, and Cagayan; and in Southern Luzon, specifically Mount Labo and Malinao, which will increase its geothermal capacity to an estimated total of 600 MW. PGPC is boosting its investments in renewable energy in support of the country’s growing advocacy for green energy and sustainable development.
“SM is committed towards harnessing clean energy by increasing its capacity to provide steam. The Philippines’ location within the ‘Ring of Fire’ provides a huge opportunity for a low-carbon source of power. This is proven by PGPC’s half a century of reliable and consistent production of steam converted into renewable baseload electricity for its communities,” said SM Investments president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio. SM Investments also has investments in retail, banking, and property.
Meanwhile, PGPC has already been integrating a safe, clean, and renewable process for harnessing power long before the commitments for sustainable
twice the level posted in 2022.
“The sharp increase was attributable to higher dividend and PAGCOR remittances, investment income, and interest on national government deposits,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Treasury’s cumulative collection from January to May declined to P82.2 billion from the previous year’s P83.4 billion mainly due to lower dividend remittances which decreased by 44.79 percent year on year.
On the other hand, government spending of P455.7 billion for May 2023 marginally increased by 0.88 percent or P4.0 billion from last year’s P451.7 billion, as the lower National Tax Allotment shares of local government units and net lending assistance to government corporations weighed down the growth of disbursements.
structure investments are a step towards economic recovery and growth, and nation-building,” he said.
BankCom said it welcomed the opportunity to participate in the SMC project, which it said would “hugely uplift our society and contribute to the group’s vision of a resilient and globally competitive Philippines.”
“Massive infrastructure projects such as the San Miguel Group’s investment in the MRT-7 play a crucial role in building the nation. As SMC Infrastructure continues to strengthen its portfolio and operate the largest infrastructure network in the country, the lives of thousands of Filipinos are made better through safe, sustainable, and accessible transport systems,” said BankCom president and chief executive Michelangelo Aguilar.
By Alena Mae S. FLoresPOWER retailer Manila Electric Co.
on Tuesday announced management changes effective July 1 to streamline operations and improve services to consumers.
Meralco said in a statement its board approved on June 26 the appointment of businessman Manuel Pangilinan as chairman and chief executive, from chairman, president and chief executive.
The board also appointed Ronnie Aperocho as executive vice president and chief operating officer from senior vice president and networks head.
“This is part of the changes in designation aligned with Meralco’s goal to streamline its operations. Mr. Pangilinan continues to lead Meralco as its chairman and CEO while Mr. Aperocho will oversee the day-to-day operations of the distribution utility following his promotion to executive vice president and chief operating officer,” Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said.
Ferdinand Geluz was promoted to SVP and chief revenue officer and officer-in-charge of the subsidiary businesses from being first vice president and chief commercial officer of customer retail services
Froilan Savet was named FVP and head of networks from vice president and network planning and design head.
Other new appointees include Charina Padua as FVP and customer retail services head from VP and head and commercial operations head and Maria Luisa Alvendia as FVP and chief supply chain officer from FVP, chief of staff of the president and chief executive and supply chain advisor.
Jose Ronald Valles was also named FVP and regulatory affairs and DU regulatory management head from FVP and regulatory management office head.
Edgardo Carasig is now FVP and human resources head from FVP and chief human resource officer and corporate services head.
Meanwhile, Redel Domingo was appointed as FVP and MPower Inc. head and Arnel Paciano Casanova as SVP and chief external and government affairs officer.
Andrew Jason Tan was appointed VP and DU business development office head, while Anthony Matthew Co will become VP and business development officer effective July 16, 2023. Meralco is the country’s biggest power retailer with over 7.6 million customers in its franchise area.
Pag-IBIG home loan payments climbed 15% to record P31.97b in first 5 months
power were made as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The steam fields in Mak-Ban and Tiwi capitalize on the earth’s natural heat to produce steam that is captured by production wells.
The steam is delivered to third party power plants to generate electricity which then goes to power transmission lines for distribution to homes and offices.
As of March 2023, the Mak-Ban and Tiwi steam fields have contributed to at least 57.5 billion kilograms in reducing carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 188,802 hectares of trees, since the start of its commercial operation.
Alena Mae S. Flores
Pag-IBIG Fund’s performing loans ratio surged to 92.53 percent as top executives reported double-digit growth in housing loan payment collections in the first five months of the year. The agency said that from January to May, it collected P31.97 billion in home loan payments, up by 15 percent or P4.22 billion from the amount collected in the same period last year. It was also a record-high in terms of home loan payments collected by the agency for any January to May period.
“We are happy to report that our total collections for the first five months of the year already stand as the highest
in our history. Strong collections not only reinforce Pag-IBIG Fund’s financial sustainability, but also benefits our members because the amount we collect are then ploughed back to our housing portfolio so that more members can avail of our home loans,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, who heads both the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees.
“This is one of our ways of heeding President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s call in solving the country’s housing backlog under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino or 4PH Program,” said Acuzar.
RIANNE Malixi went on an early birdie-spree and churned out a five-under 67 as she shared top honors with Kelly Xu of the US in the 18-hole US Women’s Amateur Qualifying Tournament at the Soule Park Golf Course in Ojai, California Monday.
Four others – Jeneath Wong of Malaysia and American Kellie Vongsaga, who matched 69s, and Hong Kong’s Arianne Lau and Caroline Canales of the US, who carded identical 70s – took the four other slots to the tournament proper, but the other Filpina bidder, Alethea Gaccion, failed to advance with a 72.
They will join the other top finishers from various Qualifying sites in the US
Women’s Amateur slated Aug. 7-13 at the Bel Air Country Club in Los Angeles, California. A full-packed field of 156 will be slugging it out for the Top 64 spots in the 36-hole stroke play elims before competitions shift to match play.
The ICTSI-backed Malixi’s binge actually came after she missed chances inside 10 feet on the first two holes as she holed in a five-footer on the par-3 third hole then dominated the back-to-back par-5s from No. 4 and knocked down a pair of fourfooters. Her self-confidence building, she rolled in a 16-foot putt on the par-3 sixth, banged in an eight-footer on the next and drained another five-footer on No. 8.
However, a three-putt miscue on the ninth stalled her birdie-run as her first putt from way out suddenly stopped on a sloping part of the surface and her second stroke from around 14 feet veered to the right at the finish.
FILIPINO-IVORIAN
fencerMaxine Esteban is back on her feet, after an injury halted her bid to seek qualifi cation for the 2024 Paris Olympics last year.
Last week, the 22-year-old Esteban finished third and bagged a bronze medal in the individual women’s foil category of the 2023 African championships in Cairo, Egypt.
Esteban absorbed a 14-15 setback to two-time Olympian Nora Mohammed of Egypt, but her effort to reach the semifinals allowed her to achieve two milestones in her career.
After reaching her highest world ranking last year at no. 62, Esteban has gone even higher to end up with a new career high of no. 46 this week.
She reached the semis after beating Youssra Sakarani of Egypt, 15-8.
Her ranking has made Esteban the no. 1-ranked bet of Côte d’Ivoire, encouraging her to finally open up and express her feelings about her decision to change her nationality and pursue her Olympic goals under a new flag.
Esteban used to be the Philippines’ highest ranking foil fencer.
With her change in nationality, Esteban is now ahead
THE 20,000 ticket holders of the opening-day matches of the FIBA World Cup will get free rides to the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas said shuttle services will be available at several pick-up points going to the venue.
“At least 20,000 ticket holders can use the shuttle service to the Philippine Arena for the opening games of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 on August 25. Pick-up points to be announced soon” said the SBP official page.
The tournament opener will have the Gilas Pilipinas taking on the Dominican Republic in the main event set at 8 p.m., while Angola and Italy battle it out in the first game starting at 4 p.m. in the Philippines’ biggest basketball venue that can accommodate 55,000 fans.
SBP president Al Panlilio has urged Filipino basketball fans to troop to the Philippine Arena to set a new FIBA gate record.
The magic number to pass is 32,616, when the United States Dream Team II of NBA stars Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller, Dominique Wilkins, Shawn Kemp, and Alonzo Mourning, among others, played in the Final of the 1994 FIBA World Championship in Toronto, Canada.
The Americans routed Russia, 13791, in the most lopsided championship in World Cup history.
of Ivorian fencer Enni Danielle Kofi, who is at no. 119 in the FIE world rankings.
“I take so much pride in both milestones because these results have helped me regain most of my confidence after nearly a year of anxiety and stress that began when I injured my ACL, also here in Cairo while representing the Philippines in the World Championships last year. Now, I can say that I am in the right physical and mental space to compete for an Olympic appearance in Paris 2024,” said Esteban in an interview with the Manila Standard.
Esteban, who thanked Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino for helping her get a waiver on a three-year holding period before the world body, FIE, said her achievements in Cairo has put her back on track of her goals.
“As you may know by now, my journey as a national athlete has taken me to a new home, Côte d’Ivoire. The past few weeks, I have been deep in preparation and competition as the Olympic qualifiers have started, and now I forge my path toward my dream of competing in the Olympics,” added Esteban.
Early this year, Esteban was cut from the Philippine national team bound for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, while she was recovering from the injury she sustained competing in Egypt last year.
This set back her efforts to compete for the Philippines again and continue pursuing her Olympic dreams under the red, white and blue banner.
“The road ahead is still long and filled with uncertainties and challenges, but at least now, there is a road. A lot of peo-
ple have been asking about my decision. Yes, I am focused on achieving my Olympic dream. However, more than that dream, it was self-respect. Sometimes, we must give ourselves enough respect to walk away from something that doesn’t value our worth,” expressed Esteban.
Esteban, who submitted her letter of appeal to the POC through Philippine Fencing Association president Richard Gomez, added that the three-year waiting period which was waived by the FIE after the POC made the appeal, has gone a long way in helping her find redemption.
“For now, I would like to express my utmost and sincere gratitude to Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino for holding the door open for this big dreamer to carve her own path toward a long-cherished goal. The honorable POC president’s request to the International Olympic Committee to waive the three-year residency so I can compete under the flag of my second home, Côte d’Ivoire, will go a long way in ensuring I get a decent and fair shot at competing in Paris in the 2024 Olympics,” said Esteban.
Early this month, Esteban finally got to compete for Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in the individual foil event of the Tblisi World Cup of fencing in Tblisi, Georgia.
Esteban managed to reach the round of 128, where she bowed to Valerie Cheng of Hong Kong, 10-15.
“That is, after all, the only thing I had ever wanted: A fair chance. And Mr. Tolentino’s request for that waiver shows his desire to give every Filipino an opportunity to accomplish their sporting dreams, no matter from what shores those dreams are fulfilled,” said Esteban.
IVY Lacsina played her new role to the hilt and F2 Logistics used its deep bench to scuttle newcomer but a game Farm Fresh side, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23, and set its motion its campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Tuesday.
From her previous task in the middle, Lacsina went full blast in the Open wing, firing away 12 attack points, including a set-clinching kill in the opening set, while seasoned middle blocker Aby Maraño and Kim Dy added 10 and nine points, respectively, to anchor their one-hour and 22-minute romp in Group B play.
“It wasn’t easy (switching from the middle to an Open spiker) but I kept on going. With the help of my coaches and teammates, I have learned to embrace my new posi-
4
tion,” said Lacsina in Filipino. But the win didn’t come easy, particularly in trying to close out their rivals in the third frame as the Foxies, behind Jhasmin Pascual and Zamantha Nolasco, fought back and forced the Cargo Movers to four deadlocks, the last at 23 on a Nolasco ace that had looked like a long serve.
But Maraño shattered the count with a hit after the Foxies foiled Jolina dela Cruz’s attempt before the latter, one of F2 Logistics’ three rookies, blasted in an ace to an unguarded spot in the middle of Farm Fresh’s defense.
Dela Cruz finished with seven points, the same output put in by
Majoy Baron while Marionne Alba marked her pro debut with five points while starting out as the team’s playmaker.
“We’re happy to win but we still have to learn more, we have to make better connections with each other, especially with Marionne as our setter,” said F2 coach Regine Diego, who had the luxury of shuffling and mixing her veterans with her prized rookies during the entire encounter ushering in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Alba produced 14 of the team’s 18 excellent sets while sneaking in solid attacking points.
“I’m overwhelmed and so happy to win my first game (in the pros),” said Alba, who took over the role normally reserved for veteran and multi-titled setter Kim Fajardo. “Nakaka-boost talaga ng confidence.”
MILO Sports is walking the extra mile to make sure that its programs involving close to 20 sports will continue to reach, accommodate and benefit as many athletes, particularly the young ones.
“Our approach is that we are moving with the times,” said MILO Sports head Carlo Sampan during yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Samban cited its strong, decades-long partnership with sports like swimming, karatedo, basketball, volleyball, golf, gymnastics, running, and recently jiujitsu, jumprope and ice-skating during the forum.
“We know that raising champions is not an overnight endeavor,” he said during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, MILO, Philippine Olympic Committee
grams are ongoing, and because of the new schedules of the different schools, the programs may run until August or even September.
“There are schools that started their summer breaks either earlier or later so we plan to extend our summer program to three months,” said Lim.
The sports officials thanked MILO for its unwavering support even during the pandemic, while noting that the brand synonymous to sports continues to look for ways to bring kids into sports, and live an active lifestyle.
“We’ve had gymnastics who are lawyers now or basketball players who are now doctors. It’s really about the values and MILO is honored to be part of that,” added Sampan.
He said because of the pandemic, MILO Sports has found ways to to keep its programs going.
WELLINGTON—Co-hosts Australia will play their opening game of next month’s Women’s World Cup in front of a full house, a senior FIFA official told AFP Tuesday.
Dave Beeche, chief executive of the Women’s World Cup, said the Matildas’ opener against Ireland on July 20 has sold out at Sydney’s Stadium Australia, which can hold around 80,000 fans.
“There is currently nothing available,” he said.
NEW YORK—The NBA’s Utah Jazz obtained forward John Collins from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for swingman Rudy Gay and a future NBA Draft pick, according to multiple reports on Monday.
The deal, which cannot be completed until July 6 under league rules as a new free agency period looms, opens a $25.3 million trade exception, the largest in the NBA, for the Hawks, according to reports by ESPN and The Athletic.
Collins, a 25-year-old Utah native entering his seventh NBA campaign, averaged 13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocked shots a game for Atlanta this past season.
With the Jazz, Collins will be on a frontline alongside Finnish forward Lauri Markkanen, last year’s NBA Most Improved Player with a careerbest 25.6 points a game, and AllRookie center Walker Kessler, who averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots—fourth-most in the NBA—per game.
The Hawks have a year to use the trade exception, which could be used to help Atlanta keep free agents or chase available talent to add alongside All-Star guard Trae Young.
Gay, 36, is a 17-year NBA veteran who averaged 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds a game in a reserve role for the Jazz last season.
Utah went 37-45 last season, three games behind Oklahoma City for the final Western Conference play-in berth.
Atlanta went 41-41 and grabbed the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs after a play-in triumph over Miami, but the Hawks were ousted by B oston in the opening round of the playoffs. AFP
By Dennis Abrina
THE Perpetual Altas spikers ruled both the men’s and women’s divisions of the recent Philippine University Volleyball League tournament on Sunday at the Altas Gym in Pamplona III, Las Piñas City.
The men’s team defended its title by dispatching their challengers from De La Salle University-Dasma in straight sets, 25-20, 25-20, 25-22.
Altas playmaker JC Enarciso was named the season’s Most Valuable Player and Best Setter, while NCAA MVP
Louie Ramirez was adjudged as 1st Best Outside Spiker.
Sammy Acaylar was named as Coach of the Year.
In the women’s side, the Perpetual Lady Altas dethroned last year’s champions, the Mapua Lady Cardinals in three sets, 25-20, 25-19, 29-27.
Caviteña rookie Shaila Omipon was named Most Valuable Player and 1st Best Outside Spiker, while NCAA Most Valuable Player Rhose Dapol was named 2nd Best Outside Spiker. Sandy Rieta was also named Coach of the Year.
Other Lady Altas players, who received individual accolades were Jhasmine Sapin as Best setter, Marian Andal as Best Libero and Winnie Bedaña as 1st Middle Blocker
Men’s team individual awards had Michael Medalla of UPH being adjudged as 2nd Best Middle Blocker, and Klint Mateo being named Best Opposite Spiker.
The dominance of the Perpetual Spikers in the PUVL comes after the Perpetual Altas men’s basketball reached the semifinals of the recent FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
The Altas hope to use their winning ways in these two preseason tournaments to better their performances in their coming campaigns, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Beeche also expects a capacity crowd the same day in Auckland where tournament co-hosts New Zealand—the “Football Ferns”—open their campaign against Norway.
“It’s going to be a massive day for women’s football,” he said of the doubleheader either side of the Tasman Sea.
With less than 25 days until kick off, the tournament boss says only a “few thousand” tickets are left for New Zealand’s opening game at Eden Park, where capacity will be just under 40,000.
“Yes, definitely” Beeche replied when asked whether the Auckland stadium would be sold out for the opener, despite fears about the tournament’s low ticket sales in New Zealand.
Football’s governing body FIFA has said around 1.1 million tickets have been sold for the 64 matches in Australia and New Zealand.
FIFA’s head of women’s football Sarai Bareman has voiced concern about low World Cup ticket sales in New Zealand, where the co-hosts are struggling for form.
The Football Ferns approach the tournament on a 10-match winless streak with one chance left to get a morale-boosting win in a final home friendly against Vietnam on July 10.
Beeche said 270,000 tickets had so far been sold in New Zealand and 830,000 in Australia. Those unequal numbers reflect the population sizes of Australia, where 26 million people live, and New Zealand, which is home to five million, he insisted.
“When you look at the Matildas being a high-ranked team and the Football Ferns’ run of form, New Zealand is doing pretty well,” he said. AFP
BENEDICY Lim overpowered No. 2 Pete Bandala, 6-2, 6-1, to capture the boys’ 14-and-under crown and finished second in 16-U play while Quezon City’s Chloe Mercado matched the local bet’s output in the girls’ side as they shared the MVP honors in the Lanao del Norte National Juniors Tennis Championships at the MCC Center in Tubod last Monday.
The top-seeded Lim, from Maranding, Lal a, dropped just four games in three matches, including a shutout win over fourth-ranked Deen Lanticse in the semis, then clipped Bandala, who struggled past third seed Vincent Nadal, 7-6(7), 6-3, to clinch the top honors in one of the nine age-group divisions of the Group 1 tournament presented by Dunlop.
Mercado likewise lived up to her top billing in 16-U category, holding off No.
2 Kate Imalay from Cebu, 6-4, 6-1, although she fell short of her two-title bid when she rammed into a solid top seed and doubles partner Judy Ann Padilla from Ozamiz City, who survived the former’s gutsy stand and eked out a tough 7-6(8), 4-6, 10-7 decision.
FILIPINO grapplers, led by Fierre Afan and Maria Aisa Ratcliff, scooped four gold medals, five si lvers and two bronze medals to finish third overall in the 2023 United World Wrestling United World Grappling Asian Championships at the Beeline Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Afan showed tremendous poise and power to capture the gold medals in both junior grappling U-20 71 kg no gi event and the 71kg gi class over the weekend.
He bested all of his four opponents, including Kazakhstan’s world champion Artem Khvan in the finals of the U-20 no gi junior category, 9-2, for his first gold, before securing another one via a 3-0 win in the gi 71-kg event against Meiirbek Yeskazyyev, also of
Kazakhstan.
Afan, 19, also captured two silver medals in the senior 71-kg class.
Ratcliff, 34, dominated the gi and no gi women’s seniors’ 53-kg class for two gold medals after sweeping all her four opponents in both her brackets — highlighted by her final battle with Kazakhstan’s Alina Kaskinova, whom she beat, 6-5, in the gi category.
Wrestling Association of the Philippines president Alvin Aguilar expressed gratitude to his fighters for giving their best and making history, es pecially to Afan for beating a world champion.
“Fierre [Afan] beat a world champion in his first fight. It’s a great performance of
our athletes. We’re very happy with the results, but we will not be taking a break as we will still be training in preparation for the coming World Championships,” Aguilar said.
Aguilar’s two sons Lukie and Lucho also took home two medals each. Lukie got silvers in the no gi and gi boys’ U-17 competitions, while brother Lucho had a silver in the no gi and a bronze in the gi U-15 division.
Other medalists were Vince Ortiz (bronze in senior men’s gi 62 kg) and Michael Tabamo (bronze men’s grappling 62 kg).
Host Kazakhstan took home the overall championship, followed by Iran at second.
Other winners in the week-long event of the country’s longest talentsearch put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro and sponsored by sponsored by Gov. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo were Zamboanga, Sibugay’s Mark Palanas, Mcleen Gomera from Bacolod, Lanao, Sindangan, Zambo del Norte’s Marlyn Mesiona, Gabrielle Bulado from Dipolog City, and local bets Vincent Aguilar and Romuel Buhat.
Palanas, coming off a big showing in the Malita Open, stunned the topseeded Gomera, 6-4, 6-3, in the semis, then upended No. 6 John Sonsona, 6-4, 6-4, to snare the 18-U title; Gomera bounced back to claim the 16-U trophy with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Lim; Mesiona also pulled off a reversal over top seed Imalay, 6-4, 3-6, 108, to snare the girls’ 14-U diadem; the top-ranked Bulado tripped Julia Cabalay, 6-0, 6-1, for the girls’ 12-U tiara; Aguilar routed Francis Flores, 6-0, 6-2, in the boys’ 12-U finals; and Buhat thwarted sibling Jacob Buhat, 5-3, 0-4, 11-9, for the 10-unisex championship.
TIKTOK sensation Bernie Batin, known for his side-splitting comedic skits, clever pranks, and hilarious content, has boldly ventured into uncharted territory as a music artist.
With the release of his debut single, “Utang Mo,” Batin fearlessly delves into the depths of a pervasive societal issue that has plagued the Philippines for far too long—the toxic borrowing culture.
“Utang Mo,” an infectious upbeat track, serves as an anthem that sheds light on the unsettling phenomenon of individuals borrowing money without any intention of fulfilling their obligations. Batin’s audacious lyrics paint a vivid picture of the repercussions that ensue when trust is shattered, relationships crumble,
AWARD-WINNING
Actress Liza Diño and former Chairperson and CEO of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) was honored with one of France’s most distinguished titles, the Chevalier in the French Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres).
The award recognizes Diño’s exceptional contributions to the film industry and her unwavering dedication to fostering cultural exchanges between the Philippines, France, and the world.
The exclusive and intimate awarding ceremony hosted by French Ambassador Michele Boccoz in her honor took place on June 23 at the Ambassador’s Residence in Makati City, Philippines.
Attended by esteemed colleagues in government and film and Diño’s closest friends and family members, the event marked a momentous occasion in her remarkable career. Ambassador Boccoz, during her speech, praised Diño for her hard work in opening doors for Filipino filmmakers and films and bridging the Philippines and France for cultural exchange, mutual policies, and promotions.
“Liza, you are an actress by profession, but being appointed Chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines seemed like you had a calling in public service to play a role in building government support for the Philippine film industry,” she said in her speech.
“Your energy, talent, and intensive work have been recognized by French professionals and by all French institutions, and this is why we are here tonight,” the Ambassador added before she officially conferred the medal to Diño.
Those who witnessed the awarding ceremony included award-winning directors Brillante Mendoza, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Bibeth Orteza, and Mark Meily, actresses Angel Aquino, Bela Padilla, RR Herrera, and Raquel Villavicencio, filmmakers and producers Bianca Balbuena, Bradley Liew, Real Florido, RJ Agustin, and Jim Baltazar of CMB films, Ambassadors Luc Veron of the European Union, and Laure Beaufils of United Kingdom, Instituto Cervantes Director Javier Galvan, and
and promises disintegrate into thin air.
“Many people have a habit of borrowing money without any intention of paying it back. This song is dedicated to them,” Batin said.
During a media conference held at Music Box in Quezon City on June 11, Batin appeared before the press as a drag queen and expressed his excitement about the experience.
“I wanted to try it because I used to watch many shows and admired popular drag queens.
I thought to myself that I wanted to give it a try,” Bernie shared and added in jest, “I was pleasantly surprised by my own beauty when I saw myself in the mirror.”
With an impressive following of over fi ve million dedicated fans and an astounding 40 million likes on TikTok, the online star can-
didly revealed that his inspiration for imitating the behavior of store owners stems from real-life encounters.
Delighting his audience with hilarious skits portraying a grumpy store owner, he has skillfully captured the idiosyncrasies and quirks that resonate with many. Through his comedic genius, he breathes life into the character, creating uproarious content that leaves viewers in stitches.
Behind the facade of the grumpy store owner, his character online, lies a charismatic and jovial individual who passionately crafts content to entertain and engage his audience. In reality, the TikTok star is far from being a sour merchant and emphasizes that his portrayal is purely for the purpose of entertaining his followers.
JOSTLING for the top three spots in North American theaters this weekend were the same films from last week, with The Flash overtaken by the latest Spider-Man iteration.
The debut of the raunchy comedy No Hard Feelings, as well as that of Asteroid City, the latest offering from cult director Wes Anderson, failed to get past last weekend’s top-earning films, although analysts said they performed well for their respective genres.
Sony’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse took in $19.3 million over the
government leaders QC Mayor Joy Belmonte with Manet Dayrit and Ed Lejano of QCinema, QC Congressman Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde, Pangasinan Congressman Toff De Venecia, PAO Chief Persida Acosta, IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba, and Cebu City Vice Mayor Raymond Garcia
The National Order of Arts and Letters is considered the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for individuals who have distinguished themselves by their creations in the artistic or literary field or by the contribution they have made to the influence of the arts and letters in France and the
Bannered by Julie Anne San Jose and Rayver Cruz as Hope Celestial and Miguel Agustin, respectively, The Cheating Game is the first film offering of GMA Public Affairs and GMA Pictures.
After learning that her fiancé has been unfaithful to her, Hope (Julie) walks off from the engagement, her job, and the
weekend, according to Sunday estimates from Exhibitor Relations, bringing its domestic total to more than $317 million, with showings in international theatres pushing the cumulative global earnings to $560 million.
The film, a sequel to 2018’s SpiderMan: Into the Spider-Verse and the latest spin on the Marvel Comics superhero, picks up the story of half-Black, half-Latino Miles Morales, voiced by Shameik Moore Pixar’s animated immigrant fable Elemental, which also held last week’s No.
world. Among those awarded the title in the past are Steven Spielberg, George Clooney, Leonardo Di Caprio, Meryl Streep, and Cate Blanchett.
As the first and only Filipina to receive the distinction in the field of cinema (and joining Oscar-winning Actress Michelle Yeoh in Southeast Asia), Diño’s achievements have elevated and uplifted the Philippine film industry in the last six years in the FDCP, most especially in the empowerment and promotion of Philippine Cinema around the world. Her journey, rooted in her background as a classically trained actress, reflects her profound love for the film industry and her commitment
life she thought was hers. Upon meeting Miguel (Rayver)—a self-made businessman who exudes green flags for a partner —Hope seems to have found the perfect guy. But as they become closer, long-kept secrets begin to surface.
The Cheating Game is a feverish, deep dive into the psyche of two individuals who react differently to betrayal. It also unveils how work plays out in a social media hub that moonlights as a troll factory.
The film packs a powerhouse cast that includes Martin del Rosario, Winwyn Marquez, Yayo Aguila, Candy Pang-
2 spot, earned $18.4 million, bringing its total to $65 million. Warner Bro.’s The Flash took the third spot, earning $15.2 million a week after it opened at number one, bringing its boxoffice war chest to $87.6 million so far. No Hard Feelings, Sony’s R-rated offering starring Jennifer Lawrence, debuted this weekend in fourth place. Amid the spin-offs and sequels dominating the box office this weekend, Para mount’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts brought in $11.6 million, for fifth place. AFP
to advancing its growth and impact.
During her tenure as Chairperson and CEO of the FDCP, Diño played a pivotal role in fostering film cooperation between the Philippines and France. Under her leadership, Diño achieved numerous milestones through her collaboration with the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC), France’s National Agency for Cinema and audiovisual works. This collaboration resulted in a series of impactful initiatives, from strengthening the participation of Filipino films and filmmakers on the global stage to bringing French experts to the Philippines for policy discussions.
ilinan, Phi Palmos, Thea Tolentino, and Paolo Contis. Also included in the cast are Charm Aranton, Jose Sarasola, Charlize Ruth Reyes, Roce Ordoñez, Aaron Maniego, Andrea So, Ida Sabido, Evan Tan, Roi Oriondo, Bernadette Anne Morales, and Felds Cabagting
Directed by best-selling author Rod Marmol, with the original story by Shao Masula, The Cheating Game sheds light on various red flags in relationships and the different stages of grief after betrayal. It also presents a more mature, relatable, and realistic side to modern-day dating.
BROADWAY World, Aliw Awards winner, and Awit Awards nominee Tim Pavino celebrates his 10th year in the local entertainment industry. His latest recording releases are the singles “We Were 16,” “No More You and I,” his third album, Dreams, and a special collaboration with Kadasig, “Hanggang sa Huli,” written by Jude Gitamondoc for the victims on the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, on the centennial of the first Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo, Tim played the esteemed title role in Repertory Philippines’ musical, Miong Tim’s other memorable theater credits include Ateneo Blue Repertory’s Next To Normal (2020), Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group’s Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (2019), Side Show (2018), Matilda (2017, and Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (2016).
Coming from The Voice Philippines under Team Lea Salonga and a recording artist at ABS-CBN Star Music under Stages management, Tim started his humble beginnings in theater in his hometown in Seattle, Washington.
His latest musical collaboration is with award-winning Indonesian songwriter and producer, Ifa Fachir, who started his career as one of the original members of Maliq and d’Essentials
After becoming instant friends during this pandemic, Tim and Ifa came out with a song, “Your Eyes,” with Ifa writing the music and Tim creating the lyrics.
That song marks a rare collaboration between Underdog Music (Philippines) and Sony Music Publishing (Indonesia).
“Your Eyes” aims to uplift hearts, and young and old relationships, with distinct lyrics about the emotions you feel when you gaze into the eyes of your signifi cant other.
‘The Cheating Game’ drops official poster, in theaters on July 26‘The Cheating Game’ lead stars Rayver Cruz and Julie Anne San Jose The Voice Philippines alumni Tim Pavino (right) marks his 10th year in the music industry with a collaboration with Indonesian songwriter and producer Ifa Fachir
TIM PAVINO collaborates with award-winning Indonesian songwriter‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ tells the continuation of the story of Miles Morales
‘Spider-Man’ swings back to top of the box officeWEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2023
Exhibit highlights fishermen’s lives at sea
VOICES from the Waves, an exhibition by internationally renowned Filipino American photographer Rosem Morton recently highlighted the lives of fishermen at sea. These were held in Pasay and Puerto Princesa.
Presented by IMPL PROJECT, the exhibition offers a glimpse into the lives of fishermen who brave the danger and uncertainty of the open sea to provide for their families. The exhibition touches on the hardships they face at sea, which has added more danger to the profession and resulted in major declines in their catch each year. Despite the daily risks they face, the fishermen find beauty in their way of life and take pride in their connection to the ocean.
Joining Morton at the exhibition opening at SM MOA were US Embassy to the Philippines’ Public Affairs Counsellor John Groch, IMPL PROJECT Philippines Executive Director Yoyong Suarez and the fishermen of Masinloc, Zambales.
“We hope that this exhibition will give visitors a glimpse into the lives of Filipino fishermen and the challenges they face,” said Morton. “By sharing their stories, we hope to raise awareness of their struggles and inspire support for their livelihoods and communities.”
Morton is a documentary photographer, registered nurse, and safety consultant based in Balti-
Filipino-American documentary photographer Rosem Morton
IMPL PROJECT Global is a United Statesbased non-profit, non-governmental organization created with the objective of using precise local data to create evidence-based programs for underserved communities.
IMPL PROJECT works with partners in the field to collect and analyze data, assess the root causes of community problems, and facilitate communitydriven, targeted programming to create development and stability solutions.
In the Philippines, one of the current focus areas is programming to support fisherfolk through the development of community cooperatives and a multimedia program designed to raise awareness for fishing communities operating in the West Philippine Sea.
Voices from the Waves was presented by IMPL Project and supported by the US Embassy in the Philippines.
Big Bad Wolf Manila is back and here are the things you need to know
Bookworms and literature enthusiasts across the country are in for a treat as they prepare to indulge in a grand adventure that has been sorely missed. This time, the event will be held on-site, providing a unique and immersive experience for attendees.
From June 23 to July 3, the event will take place in a new venue, creating an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation.
“We are thrilled to be returning to the Philippines after three years,” said Jacqeuline Ng, co-founder of Big Bad Wolf Book Sale.
We know you’re already looking forward to the highly anticipated book fair, so we are here to rundown the things you need to know and what you should expect—from the promotions to the schedule to the new location—when you found yourself visiting the Big Bad Wolf. Entrance is free
The first thing you must and should know is that the entrance fee for this biggest book sale is totally free. Yes, you heard that right. Save those cash and allot them to your upcoming ‘budol’.
What you just need to do is to scan and register for a free membership through the provided QR code prior to entering the book sale. And just like that, you will gain access to exclusive offers and deals when you checkout through their userfriendly web app.
New location, bigger space to explore
Unlike three years ago when the Big Bad Wolf held the book sale at World Trade Center, it will be moved into a bigger and better location where book lovers can explore and find their favorite books from a vast collection of books with different genres that they can choose from.
This year, Philippine International
YOU know it’s a good concert when the performers have all the fun while doing their rehearsals.
Of course, there will always be seriousness – and the pressure, if I may add – to perform well without glitches, deliver their lines with all knowledge they have researched beforehand to bring to life the scenes, and sing their parts with all emotions to make them resonate with the audience.
But fun should always be there.
When I dropped by at one of the rehearsals of the CCP Out of the Box Series: Isang Gabi ng Sarsuwela, the stellar cast would have moments to laugh, indulge in some banter, and engage in lighthearted conversations in between learning their songs.
In fact, when I spoke to Reuben Laurente during one of their short rehearsal breaks, he shared that they were supposed to be just doing three songs, and chorus parts, during their first rehearsal. But it turned out that everyone did their assignments and learned their songs so they ended up doing a run-through of the whole show instead.
“It is really a different experience working with professional theater performers and seasoned artists. Ginagawa ‘yung assignments. Nung first rehearsal, hindi lang tatlong ang na-rehearse namin, ‘yung buong show na. After the rehearsal, sabi ni direk Dennis [Marasigan], ‘We have a show.’ It’s really an honor to be part of this production,” said Laurente.
He believes that every singer, performer is an integral part of the production. “Hearing from the director as great as Dennis Marasigan that he personally picked us to perform in Sarsuwela, nakakataba ng puso,” shared Laurente.
And what a great choice of the stellar cast it was. With Nenen Espina who has done several sarsuwela before, real-life couples Franco Laurel and Ayen Munji Laurel and Shiela
Valderrama Martinez and Lorenz Martinez who bring a different
kind of chemistry to the show, with Jonathan Tadioan who is a seasoned actor, and Karylle Tatlonghari who has been successfully making her mark in the musical scene – what more could anyone ask for?
And then there’s Laurente who crosses borders from pop to recording, theater, and now the concert scene. He started out singing when he was five and made his world premiere as a performer singing Read Your Bible, Pray Everyday at the sanctuary of The United Church of the Good Shepherd on Christmas Eve of 1973.
Through his encouraging parents Dominador and Gilda Laurente, he started honing his gift by joining the school and church choirs and competing in amateur singing contests around Mandaluyong and San Juan, and eventually on national radio and television.
If you don’t know, he was part of the vocal group The CompanY. As he embarked on a solo career, Laurente recorded five solo studio albums with various gospel and pop record labels from 1995 to 2012.
In 2018, after a six-year hiatus in the Philippine music industry, he released his first digital single “You’re My Home,” a revival of an Odette Quesada ‘80s hit. A year after, in 2019, he released another digital single “Ang Pinakamagandang Awit.” Read full story on manilastandard. net
The event features different literary pieces from various genres
Convention Center will be hosting the 2023 Big Bad Wolf Booksale. With its spacious 4,800-square-meter Forum Tent, it is expected to hold millions of expansive selections of books.
Over two million new books are up for grabs
Since we’re already talking about bigger space, it only means that there is more space for books will be available. Big Bad Wolf knows how to spoil its fairgoers. Knowing how book lovers miss going to book sales like this, over two million of books will be available with new releases daily and divided into three categories: fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books. Local titles will also be available at the venue.
We’ll just leave it with the founder’s words of wisdom: “We are bringing an unmatched collection of books at unbelievably affordable prices that will leave book lovers astounded.”
‘Universal’ price tag system
The biggest book sale is known for its affordable pricing of every book they sell but what made this year’s Big Bad Wolf even more special is that identifying book prices will be a lot easier for customers. With its “universal” price system, books are labeled with letters that correspond to their price or price range.
Through the new price system, fairgoers will know that they can score great books as low as P20.00 up to P4000.
New time schedule
During its press conference, Ng also emphasized the reason why they have to shorten the operating hours of this year’s book sale. Unlike in previous years when buyers could visit the venue any time of the day, this year, she stressed that the risk of COVID-19 is still there and that operating hours will start from 10:00 a.m. and will last until 1:00 a.m., which is understandable.
A lot of promotions
We all know that promotions and great deals play big roles when it comes to treating ourselves. It somehow helps us not to feel any guilt in spending our money. And to further enhance the readers’ experience, Big Bad Wolf is proud to announce their partnership with Metrobank which visitors can expect special offers and discounts when using their Metrobank credit and debit cards during the event.
With nine themed transitions from “The Portal” to “Off-Course”, this 4D space odyssey invites the public to explore the universe’s mysteries – inside the mall.
of all, passes for four are free with a minimum single or accumulated purchase worth P1,500 from partner tenants. Additionally, every SM Cinema ticket purchase is given one pass. Share your awe-inspiring moments at the Space Museum by posting
content on TikTok
