Manila Standard - 2023 July 12 - Wednesday

DEPED TO UNVEIL REVISED K TO 10 CURRICULUM ‘IN A FEW WEEKS’

Frasco going on 9-day leave, will be back to attend SONA, assures Palace

By Charles Dantes

TOURISM Secretary Christina Frasco

is going on a nine-day scheduled leave “to spend time with her young family,” the Department of Tourism and the Palace said, rejecting speculations that it is related to the rebranding fiasco due to a promotional video that used stock footage of other countries.

“The purpose of the short leave beginning July 13-21 consisting of only 7 working days, is to spend time with her young family. She is confirmed to attend the SONA. Any insinuation to the contrary is false,” the DOT said.

munications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Frasco’s application for leave was received by the Office of the President on May 9, 2023, way before the launch of the new tourism slogan, “Love the Philippines” and the release of the controversial promotional video.

The leave application was approved last May 23, 2023, Garafil said.

Frasco has repeatedly declined to answer questions on the tourism campaign fiasco in her recent public events.

But in an event in Cebu over the weekend, while Frasco did not address the mess squarely, she vowed not to betray the trust given to her as

Presidential ComTourism chief.

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Double whammy: No power, water

By Alena Mae S. Flores, Maricel V. Cruz

and Macon

Ramos-Araneta

IF THE country’s dwindling water supplies weren’t enough amid the El Niño phenomenon, half a million customers of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Quezon on Tuesday lost power for about eight minutes after a power plant tripped and led to an automatic load drop (ALD).

Survey: Taming inflation still Pinoys’ top concern

By Vito Barcelo

CONTROLLING inflation remains the topmost concern of 63 percent of Filipinos, according to the second quarter Pulse Asia survey.

Taken from June 19 to 23, 2023, the survey showed that the top concern remained unchanged from the first quarter of the year.

Controlling inflation--the rate of increase in the prices of consumer goods and services--is the top concern across all income classes, registering 67 percent among the more affluent (class ABC) and 63 percent and 62 percent in Class E and Class D, respectively.

Filipinos also said the govern-

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Meralco said the load drop—triggered by the tripping of the San Lorenzo Natural Gas Power Plant in Batangas -- occurred at 10:58 a.m. and power was fully restored by 11:06 a.m. on July 11 or after eight minutes. The ALD was implemented following National Grid Corp. of the Philippines’

SOME WATER, NO LIGHT. Residents collect water from a community deep well at Tambunting, Sta. Cruz, Manila, while a family uses a candle while waiting for the light to come back on after lunchtime (inset) in Tondo district Norman Cruz

PAF: ‘Cope Thunder’ only reason for more US military planes in PH

military air assets in the Philippines is due to the 2023 Cope Thunder bilateral

DENR-STANDARD PACT. Jacqueline

A. Caancan, CESO III (center) Regional Executive Director for DENR-NCR, is flanked by Manila Standard executives (from left)

circulation manager Edgar Valmorida, Publisher Rolando Estabillo, Treasury Manager Anita Grefal, and Printing Press Manager Chito Constantino after signing an agreement with the agency at the Ecology Center in Quezon City on Tuesday. Manny Palmero

exercises between the 2 countries, an Air Force official said on Tuesday, adding that all the aircrafts were covered by diplomatic clearances. “As long as they are covered by dip -

lomatic clearances and communicated to us by the Department of Foreign Affairs, there is no threat because it went through the proper process. All those involved in the training went

DepEd poised to unveil revised K to 10 curriculum

By Gabriellea B.

through the proper process of getting the proper diplomatic clearance,” Philippine Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said.

16 countries back PH claims in West PH Sea

Rey Requejo

Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it would shift its efforts from internal security operations (ISO) to external ones (ESO) with more aerial and maritime patrols.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco

PNP to release POGO detainees

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it is set to release the five Chinese suspects allegedly behind the operations of a suspected illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) raided in Las Piñas City late last month.

But Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, PNP public information office chief, insisted in a Laging Handa briefing that the raid at the POGO hub was a legitimate operation and that they acted under the authority of valid search warrants issued by the court.

In compliance with the July 3 order from the Department of Justice, the PNP would free Li Jiacheng, Xiao Liu, Yan Jiayong, Duan Haozhuan, and LP Hongkun for further preliminary investigation.

MTRCB rejects call to shelve ‘Barbie’ movie

By Nickie Wang

WARNER Bros.’s controversial film Barbie starring Margot Robbie in the titular role has received the green light from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for its commercial release in the Philippines.

In a three-page letter addressed to the office of Senator Francis Tolentino, who had lobbied for the film’s prohibition, the board stated there is “no basis” for a ban.

Concerns arose about the fate of Barbie due to allegations that a scene in the film depicts a map illustrating China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea using the contentious nine-dash line.

The MTRCB emphasized its mandate to ban content that harms the country’s reputation, but since Barbie does not depict the “nine-dash line” explicitly, the board found no reason to ban it, citing previous cases involving films like Abominable and Uncharted.

Last month, Vietnam’s own film regulation board recently decided to prohibit the movie from being released, prompting the MTRCB to confirm that a committee was deliberating Warner Bros.’ request to exhibit the film in the country.

Last Friday, the Califoprnia-based film defended the map and suggested in a statement that it carried no significant meaning.

“The map in Barbie Land is a whimsical, child-like crayon drawing,” Warner Bros. said. “The doodles depict Barbie’s make-believe journey from Barbie Land to the real world. It was not intended to make any type of statement.”

PAF:...

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Cope Thunder, a joint exercise of the US Air Force and the Philippine Air Force, is ongoing until July 21. Castillo’s statement came on the heels of the call of Senator Imee Marcos to investigate the arrival of several US air assets in the country.

She also called on concerned government agencies to monitor the presence of US military aircraft and Chinese naval ships “equally.”

But Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said that there was no discrimination in the military’s monitoring of aircraft and vessels entering Philippine territory.

“When it comes to monitoring, it is inherent in our job to monitor everything. In the entry of aircraft, there is a process involved. It goes through the right process,” Aguilar said.

Marcos on Sunday raised concern over the presence of at least two more C-17 Globemasters of the US Air Force in Manila and Palawan.

While acknowledging the ongoing military exercises between the two countries, she said there is a need to shed light on the activities of US Air Force planes in Philippine air space.

Marcos earlier asked the Senate to investigate the mysterious activity of a US Air Force C-17 that landed at NAIA on June 26 at 8:08 am. and departed NAIA at 6:10 p.m. for Palawan for a 10-hour unexplained gap.

“Too little is known about ongoing US military activity in our territory while we constantly call out the presence of Chinese vessels in the South China Sea,” the senator and presidential sister said.

“The legal officer of the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) said the five Chinese nationals would be freed but they have yet to be fetched or received by a representative or their counsel. We continue to coordinate with their counsel so we can turn them over and we also continue to coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) on this matter,” Maranan said.

The five were the subjects of search warrants that led to the ACG’s June 27 operation at Xinchuang Network Tech-

nology, Inc., located along Alabang-Zapote Road in Barangay Almanza Uno, for alleged human trafficking. Maranan also said the PNP will “take note” of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s advice to be circumspect at all times in the conduct of future raids to ensure airtight cases that can withstand scrutiny in courts.

“First of all, we will have a case buildup when we have such kinds of information. We first gather important information and validate the information we get. The next thing is to apply for a SW (search warrant), that’s why we will go to court, we will present to the court the evidence we gathered during the investigation and surveillance and once we have presented it to

IN BRIEF

Pinoy skygazers in for ‘shower’ treat

the court and it is convinced that there are violations occurring, The court will issue SW,” Maranan explained.

In the case of the raid in Las Piñas City, Remulla said he received reports of insufficient pre-raid preparations and that officials failed to pinpoint those liable and for what charges.

In a separate interview, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said they have requested the BI to take into custody the five Chinese suspects who do not have passports or proper identification documents.

“We officially endorsed them in the form of a formal letter because they are undocumented aliens. We cannot just release them because the PNP might be blamed if something happens to them.

Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Vampire’ tops Billboard Hot 100

By Nickie Wang

FILIPINO-American singer Olivia Rodrigo has made a triumphant return as her latest single, “Vampire,” stormed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This marks Rodrigo’s third consecutive No. 1 hit, following the massive success of “Drivers License” and “Good 4 U” earlier this year.

“Vampire,” which caused Spotify to crash on June 30 as eager fans flooded the platform to listen to the song, serves

Double...

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declaration of a yellow alert in the Luzon grid from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

NGCP lifted the yellow alert at 4 p.m. due to lower demand and sufficient power reserves.

A yellow alert is issued when the operating margin (of electricity) is “insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s regulating and contingency requirement” and leads to temporary brownouts -- lasting minutes, like the one that happened yesterday -- as the system corrects the fluctuations, NGCP said.

A red alert status, meanwhile, often means longer blackouts, as it is issued when the power supply is insufficient to meet consumer demand and the transmission grid’s regulating requirement, it added.

Although the San Lorenzo plant is gas-powered, experts have expressed fears of a double whammy, as the country’s hydroelectric plants would also go offline and cause more brownouts with the shrinking water levels in hydropower dams nationwide.

National Water Resources Board executive director Sevillo David Jr. previously said water levels in all major dams have

Survey:...

From A1

ment should work on “increasing the pay of workers” (44 percent) and “creating more jobs” (31 percent).

In the same survey, 76 percent or three in four Filipinos agreed that the government is protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers. Survey participants also approved of the government’s response to calamities (73 percent) and promotion of peace in the country (67 percent).

The survey said respondents said the government needs to fight graft and corruption (25 percent), enforce the law on all, influential or ordinary people (16

16 countries...

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“With our substantial gains on ISO, a shift to external security operations (ESO) is (on) the horizon as we strengthen our security posture with the increased conduct of aerial and surface maritime patrols through our naval and air force air assets and ground forces,” the AFP said in a statement.

The deployment of additional surface patrol ships “increased the AFP’s presence in the KIG to about 90 per-

DepEd...

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the general public, the academe, and experts were put into consideration before they finalized the revisions for the K-10 curriculum.

as the lead single from Rodrigo’s highly anticipated sophomore album, Guts, set to be released on September 8.

According to data from Billboard and Luminate, “Vampire” garnered an impressive 35.5 million streams and received 26.3 million radio airplay audience impressions. Additionally, the single sold 26,000 copies in its first week, concluding on July 6.

“AHHHHH IM SO EXCITED AB

THIS!!! thank you x1000 to everyone

been going down, with Angat Dam’s reserve nearing the 180 critical level.

“If the Angat Dam water level continues to go down, it could breach the minimum operating level of 180 meters. We are now at 181.22 or about a meter away from critical level,” David said in a separate press briefing at the Palace.

“If the water level falls below 180 meters, we will prioritize the water supply of Metro Manila compared to other users that depend on Angat, including irrigation and the power sector. Angat Dam is currently contributing to power generation going to the Luzon grid,” he added. Meanwhile, Meralco said it activated the interruptible load program and secured de-loading commitments from its big-load customers.

“These customers will be on standby in case there’s a need to de-load to help avoid service interruptions. We continue to monitor the situation and are ready to implement contingency measures as needed,” Meralco said.

The NGCP declared a yellow alert due to the tripping of the San Lorenzo Power Plant Modules 50 and 60 at 267MW each, at around 10:58 a.m., causing the decline in grid frequency.

The Department of Energy said the contingency reserve fell below the level

percent) and addressing the problem of involuntary hunger (16 percent).

Providing assistance to farmers, including selling their products, got 15 percent.

Other issues that Filipinos want to be addressed include fighting criminality (13 percent), promoting peace in the country (11 percent), government helping small businesses and entrepreneurs (10 percent), reducing the amount of taxes paid by citizens (7 percent), stopping environmental degradation (7 percent), defending national territorial integrity (6 percent), and dealing with terroristic threats and protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (both at 4 percent).

There was a 7 percentage-point increase in the number of Filipinos who are

cent of the time. This is a dramatic increase from the baseline of 30 percent in 2022,” it added.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden backed the Philippines’ territorial integrity in the busy waterway.

This is as China continues its rejection of the historic arbitral ruling over the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

The embassies of the 16 countries cited the significance of the ruling, which was

“We will allot more time for the fundamentals such as math, science, English, reading, and values formation subjects. That is the gist of the revised K to 10 curriculum,” he added.

Poa also stated that the K-12 program is still under review after the general public had expressed dissatis -

THREE meteor shower events will illuminate the skies from July 3 until August 23, 2023 and will peak by late July, with at least one event generating up to 25 meteors per hour, the state weather bureau said Tuesday.

According to PAGASA, the Southern δ-Aquariids, active from July 12 to 23 August, will reach their peak activity on July 30 and are forecast to produce 25 meteors per hour.

Another meteor shower event called the α-Capricornids is predicted to be active from July 3 to August 15 and will also peak on July 30. It is expected to make 5 meteors per hour.

“Both of these meteor showers can be found in the southeastern sky, and are likely to produce their best displays around 02:00 a.m. when their radiant point is highest in the sky,” PAGASA said.

who bought and streamed vampire I love you!!!! and thank u to my amazing team!!!! Ahhhh!!!!” the 20-year-old pop star wrote in her post on Instagram on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) to celebrate her third leader on the Billboard tally.

Solidifying Rodrigo’s position as one of the most successful and influential artists of her generation, the singer has now become the first artist in history to debut the lead singles from two careeropening albums at No. 1 on the Hot 100.

of the highest unit online.

“Load dropping (interruptions) were reported to have occurred at NGCP and Meralco feeders following the tripping of San Lorenzo, but were immediately restored at 1106H for Meralco customers and at 1104H for NGCP customers,”

DOE said.

DOE said it is still coordinating with San Lorenzo and other stakeholders for the cause of the tripping.

Earlier, the Palace said the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) will issue this week its recommendations to address the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, but provided no specifics

“We will have a plan for the mitigation of the effects of El Niño this week.

I just spoke to the Secretary of DENR this morning and she has told me that she will be prepared to make public what needs to be done,” President Marcos said during a meeting in Malacanang on government measures

Also on Tuesday, Deputy Speaker and Las Pinas Rep. Camille Villar urged the government to set up a fund that farmers affected by El Niño may tap into as a form of assistance.

“It is important to discuss this now and prepare for contingency measures, especially for our small-scale farmers,” Villar said.

concerned about enforcing the rule of law to all, at 16 percent in June, up from only 9 percent in the previous quarter.

The non-sponsored survey is based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above and has a ± 2.8% error margin at a 95 percent confidence level.

Also on Tuesday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the P40 increase in the daily minimum wage will take effect Sunday.

The department’s National Wages Productivity Commission (NWPC) said employers in National Capital Region (NCR) are expected to implement the new daily minimum wage on July 16 despite an appeal filed by a coalition of labor organizations.

based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), by saying it is “a significant milestone” in contributing to the maintenance of rulesbased order and the settling of dispute.

According to them, it is “legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings, and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between parties.”

“The EU (European Union) reiterates the fundamental importance of upholding the freedoms, rights, and duties established in UNCLOS, in particular the freedoms of navigation and overflight,” the European nations, which are also

faction with the additional two years of senior high school in the country’s education system.

“The aim of senior high school is to align the curriculum with industry demand and to make students employable. But we have to admit, that is not happening,” Poa said.

Suspects in shooting of mediamen nabbed

ONE of the suspects behind the shooting incident that wounded photojournalist Joshua Abiad, six of his relatives, and a bystander in Quezon City last June 29 has been arrested, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III announced Tuesday In a press conference held at QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal, Torre said the suspect, identified as Eduardo Almario Legazpi, is a member of a gun-for-hire group. He was arrested in Muntinlupa City last Friday.

Authorities have also arrested the alleged gunman in the fatal shooting of Oriental Mindoro radio broadcaster Cresenciano Bunduquin, the Department of Justice said Tuesday. Rey Requejo

Frasco...

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“A little over a year ago, we all gathered where you expressed your elation and happiness at a Cebuana having been appointed as the secretary of the Department of Tourism. Back then I knew as I continue to understand that it has been and is incumbent upon me not to betray your trust,” she said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday he still trusted Frasco and expressed confidence that the Department of Tourism’s new campaign “Love the Philippines” will be “as successful as they hoped for” despite the fiasco over its campaign video created by the ad agency DDB Philippines.

“Yes absolutely, no question. I spoke to her (Frasco). I have been actually (in touch with her) since all of these came to the fore,” said the President.

“She moved fast in that she terminated the contracts that were in question. She has also since put under review all of the other contracts that were in the pipeline. So in my opinion she has it under control. She knows what to do,” the President added. ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro earlier said she is pushing for a thorough investigation into the recent controversies surrounding the DOT’s new branding campaign.

She cited the need for transparency and accountability as millions of pesos in taxpayers’ money are involved in this issue.

“It is imperative that we shed light on this ‘Frasco fiasco’ to ensure that public funds are being utilized appropriately and that there is no undue influence from individuals associated with the Marcos regime,” she said.

members of the EU, said.

Despite the ruling, China defies the PCA’s arbitral ruling over the South China Sea which invalidated Beijing’s unilateral nine-dash line claim.

When the Philippines filed an arbitration case against China over the West Philippine Sea, a part of the bigger South China Sea, China refused to participate.

The 26 countries further said they are committed to secure, free, and open maritime supply routes in the Indo-Pacific, in full compliance with international and “in the interest of all.” Vince Lopez

A national task force has been formed to review it, he said.

Poa announced that the Department of Education is planning to use online or hybrid learning to decongest schools more effectively and efficiently in a quicker span of time without having to sacrifice education quality.

Ex-PRC man gets 17 years for P17-m graft

By Maricel V. Cruz

AFORMER cashier of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will have to spend the next 17 years of his in prison for failure to account for over P17 million of government money from 2002 to 2008.

The Sandiganbayan, in a 57-page decision, affirmed the ruling of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Tuguegarao City that found Ferdinan Llapitan guilty of malversation of public funds.

Llapitan appealed the RTC decision to the anti-graft court which affirmed the ruling.

However, instead of sending Llapitan to prison for life, the anti-graft court reduced his sentence to only 17 years.

The Sandigan also affirmed Llapitan’s lifetime disqualification from holding public office.

The court likewise ordered Llapitan to return to the PRC Region 2 Office more than P17 million with legal interest of six percent a year from the finality of the judgment until full payment.

“Let the necessary Commitment Order be issued. The Division Clerk of Court is directed to make the necessary arrangements for the transfer of accused-appellant Llapitan to the New Bilibid Prison,” the Sandigan said.

The case stemmed from the appeal of Llapitan, arguing that the RTC gravely erred in not finding that there was no full description of how the P17 million shortage was calculated.

Llapitan further argued that the court gravely erred in not finding that the element of doubt was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The anti-graft court said the RTC’s findings and conclusions were based on evidence. It added Llapitan had admitted that he was the only cashier of PRC Region 2 from 1998 to February 2008, meaning that he was solely in charge of the custody and collection of fees.

“Hence, this court agrees with the RTC’s conclusion that the prosecution evidence established, at the very least, a prima facie case for malversation against accused-appellant Llapitan,” it said.

Risa: Meralco rate cut ‘minimal and temporary’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday

considered as “minimal and temporary” the power rate reduction by the distribution company Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

She believes that if the government were to seriously implement vital policy changes in the energy sector, power costs could potentially be reduced further.

The cost of electricity will really go down due to the reduction of the price of imported coal in the world market.

“The question is when will the consumers experience a low cost of electricity,” she asked.

“This is not permanent, “ added the opposition senator.

This is the senator’s response to the P0.72/kWh decrease in rates announced by Meralco for the month of July, purportedly as a result of the lower generation rate it receives from the Wholesale

Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and its contracts with coal plants. She emphasized the government should proactively implement policy changes that would permanently and sustainably reduce our consumers’ electricity bills.

“Apart from the generation charge, there are separate items in the electricity bill that can be further reduced and have a long-term effect, such as the distribution charge of Meralco and the transmission charge of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP),” she said, According to Homtiveros, she has been insisting to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to lower the high 15% weighted average cost of capital (WACC).

Since 2015, she said Meralco and NGCP have been benefitting from this. If this will be corrected, she guaranteed that the distribution and transmission charges will be reduced and the burden of consumers will be eased, “ he further stated.

IN BRIEF

Customs probing Pasig car dealer

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is currently investigating 87 vehicles, several of which are luxury units, due to questionable documents following a raid on a car dealer in Barangay Ugong, Pasig City.

Authorized to demand evidence of payment of correct duties and taxes, the raiding team proceeded to the car hub last July 4, 2023, at about 6 p.m. to implement the Letter of Authority (LOA) signed by Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio.

This after verifying intelligence information thru the conduct of surveillance activities confirmed that the subject hub is storing and/ or openly dealing with exotic and hypercars without proper documentation.

Upon arrival at the dealership, the team found 197 imported and locally sourced vehicles. However, 87 of said units were identified to have questionable documents. The 100 percent inventory of the subject vehicles was completed on July 6, 2023. Julito Rada

511 more rockfall events at Mayon

Meralco’s distribution charge last June was around 18% of the total bill, the transmission charge was 4%, while government taxes were 10%. More than half of the bill (59%) is therefore payable to generation.

Hontiveros added that the ERC and the Department of Energy (DoE) should also correct and monitor power supply agreements (PSAs) between generation companies and distribution utilities, as well as optimize and adjust system operations because fraudulent contracts, power shortages, and delayed transmission projects directly affect consumers.

In addition, the discussion about the imposition of Value Added Tax on already expensive power rates could further strain the finances of Filipino families.

Hontiveros then urged the Marcos Administration to prioritize resetting the ‘improper’ practices in the power sector and said that she expects to hear his commitment during the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has recorded a total of 511 rockfall incidents in Mayon Volcano in Albay over the past 24 hours.

The volcano had three volcanic earthquakes and 38 pyroclastic density current (PDC) events from 5 a.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday.

It continued to have a very slow effusion of lava flow from its crater which reached as far as 2.8 kilometers along the Mi-isi Gully.

The lava flow stretched to 1.4 km along the Bonga Gully.

There were also lava collapses along the Basud Gully that reached four kilometers from the crater. Mayon Volcano emitted a moderate 800-meter-tall plume that drifted south-southwest and southwest, generating 721 tons of sulfur dioxide flux on Monday. The volcano’s edifice is still inflated. Rio N. Araja

Villar hails role of cooperatives vs. poverty

SENATOR Cynthia Villar has acknowledged the significant role of cooperatives as partners of the government and private sector in curbing poverty.

“Nothing can equal the help of cooperatives in the growth of a community and small business and alleviating the lives of farmers and fishermen,” Villar said in a speech at the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperatives 11th Annual General Assembly and 2023 Educational Forum at Clark Marriott Hotel in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, said the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) “is our partner in creating cooperatives in the different industries in our country.”

“One of the distinct advantages of social enterprises and cooperatives is that they are more attuned and in touch with the needs of the poorer segments of the society,” she said.

“The wide geographical reach of micro small and medium enterprises including, social enterprises and cooperatives, in various regions and

provinces make their impact more all-encompassing,” she added.

The senator also noted that cooperatives embody the “Bayanihan” spirit. To recognize the importance of cooperatives, she said the Villar SIPAG since 2013 has been awarding 20 cooperatives yearly wherein the winners are given a plaque and P250,000 each.

“Through this recognition, we hope to inspire and encourage cooperatives to continue with their work to uplift the lives of their communities,” she said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

QC gov’t crafting interactive storybooks for youth

By Rio N. Araja

THE Quezon City government will produce interactive storybooks for the youth and children with disabilities through the Inclusive Climate Action Cities Fund (ICA Fund) administered by the C40 Cities. Mayor Joy Belmonte said through the ICA Fund, the city will develop a series of “QC Local Climate Action Plan For Kids” books to discuss the solutions and initiatives to address the effects of climate change. Such would be the inclusive and child-friendly versions of the City’s Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan for 2021 to 2050, she said.

About 45 percent of Quezon City’s household population is composed of young QCitizens, including those who experience limitations and disabilities. The books will be designed for preschool to high

school students, spanning ages 4 to 18, and will be crafted in various versions to accommodate individuals with varying needs and limitations.

“I am proud to join other leading mayors in the world in advancing inclusive and equitable climate action with the support of C40’s new Inclusive Climate Action Fund. In Quezon City, we recognize the need for inclusive and accessible information dissemination that caters to all residents, of all backgrounds, educational attainment,

The city’s

CORNERED BY CUSTOMS. Operatives of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Intelligence Group (CIIS-IG) label luxury cars being sold by a car dealer in Barangay Ugong, Pasig City on Monday. The Bureau of Customs demanded evidence of payment of correct duties and taxes for the supercars (see story at right). BOC Photo

and age groups, to better engage them in our climate action initiatives,” Belmonte said.

climate actions would be presented in an interactive picture storybook or pop-up book format to cater to the most vulnerable sector including children with disabilities, informal settler families, and out-ofschool youth.

LAB FOR ALL. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian (second from right) joins First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta Marcos (fourth from left) in opening the LAB for ALL in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan on Tuesday. With them are (from left) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.; San Jose Del Monte City Lone District Rep. Florida Robes; San Jose del Monte City Mayor Arthur Robes; Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro; and Sagip Party-list Rep. Caroline Tanchay. Joseph Muego

Preparing for El Niño

AFTER COVID, we face another crisis— this time a climactic induced crisis we call El Niño.

Many parts of the country may experience the impact of El Niño aggravated as it worsens in the coming months, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has projected.

“If it will happen, the worsening will affect at least 11 provinces by August and then by October it will become 46,” NDRRMC Executive Director Ariel Nepomuceno told CNN Philippines.

Filipinos have developed resilience in coping with scorching temperatures, yet we may be downplaying the potential harm of the upcoming El Niño phenomenon forecasted to impact the nation starting this July.

But what is El Nino?

El Niño is a climatic phenomenon characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the Central and Eastern Pacific Oceans, resulting in significant disruptions to global weather patterns.

In the Philippines, El Niño events occur periodically and have profound implications for the environment, economy, and society.

Flying high with Cope Thunder exercises

Water sources such as rivers and lakes may also experience degradation, impacting aquatic ecosystems and the livelihoods of fishing communities.

Additionally, El Niño can contribute to elevated sea surface temperatures, leading to coral bleaching and the degradation of marine ecosystems.

The Philippine economy heavily relies on the agricultural sector, with over 20% of the labor force engaged in farming.

El Niño’s impact on agriculture can result in substantial economic losses. Crop failures and reduced yields not only affect the livelihoods of farmers but also disrupt the supply chain, leading to price hikes and inflation.

These ripple effects extend to other sectors, as higher food prices strain household budgets and limit consumer spending on non-essential goods and services.

Furthermore, reduced hydropower generation due to low dam water levels can result in power shortages and higher electricity prices. Industries dependent on a stable and affordable energy supply may face production challenges, potentially hindering economic growth.

To mitigate the impacts of El Niño, proactive measures need to be implemented. Government agencies like PAGASA play a crucial role in monitoring and forecasting El Niño events, enabling timely response and preparation.

The recent announcement by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) regarding an impending El Niño episode and its potential intensification highlights the importance of understanding and addressing its effects.

This article explores the challenges associated with El Niño in the Philippines, both in terms of the environment and the economy.

El Niño often leads to below-normal rainfall, dry spells, and droughts in the Philippines, which have a profound impact on the environment.

Insufficient precipitation results in water scarcity, reduced water levels in dams, and decreased agricultural productivity.

Droughts damage crops, leading to lower yields and reduced food production. In previous El Niño events, rice production has declined by up to 20 percent, exerting pressure on food security and causing price increases.

Moreover, diminished water flow affects hydropower generation as some power plants rely on dams for electricity production.

After the official announcement of the start of El Niño, the United Nations and meteorologists from various countries issued a cautionary notice about a wellknown consequence that millions of Filipinos are already familiar with: water scarcity.

On July 4, the World Meteorological Organization of the United Nations officially declared the emergence of El Niño conditions in the Tropical Pacific, marking its return after a seven-year hiatus. Experts estimate a 90 percent likelihood of these conditions persisting until the latter half of 2024.

The adverse environmental effects of El Niño extend beyond agriculture.

The dry conditions contribute to an increase in forest fires, endangering wildlife habitats and exacerbating air pollution.

By Gustavo Gonzalez

THE challenge of preventing unlawful killings is global. We just need to look at the most recent news on media to understand the dimensions and social impact.

I have in mind the killing in 2017 of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, at the hands of police.

In this case, investigations resulted in the conviction of the responsible police officers. But in most cases, there is no CCTV footage, basic elements of investigations are lacking, and families of victims are left without the truth of what happened to their loved ones, while perpetrators walk free and are not held accountable.

Last week, from July 3 to 7, the Government of the Philippines, with the United Nations under the UN Joint Program for Human Rights, took a significant step to help address this.

In partnership with global and Philippine experts, 26 participants, including representatives of government agencies, senior level prosecutors, security forces, the Commission on Human Rights and civil society met in a week-long intensive training to discuss how to implement the so-called “Minnesota Protocol” on the investigation of potentially unlawful death (2016) in the country.

Internationally, the Minnesota Protocol is considered to be the gold standard in such investigations.

It sets out the relevant legal framework, and elaborates on the conduct of an investigation, including the investigation process, witness interviews and protection, recovery of human remains, identification

NOT many know there is an ongoing “defensive counterair” or DCA exercise over the military training area east of the country’s main island of Luzon.

Philippine Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, in a statement said the DCA took place last July 8 – it started on July 2 and ends July 21 – and is part of the second iteration of the Cope Thunder exercises between the PAF and the US Pacific Air Forces. This underscores President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s earlier statement on July 7 his administration’s commitment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines extends beyond the acquisition of modern equipment.

“Be assured that the government’s dedication to your advancement and welfare goes beyond providing modern equipment alone. We continue to prioritize retooling and retraining to arm you with intellectual fortitude, tactical prowess, and strategic acumen to thrive on the modern battlefield,” President Marcos told 106 graduates of the Officer Candidate Course Class 58-2023. The exercise coincides with the vow by Japan

Diversifying the agricultural sector by promoting resilient crop varieties and sustainable farming practices can help farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions. Investments in irrigation infrastructure and water management systems can enhance water availability during dry periods. Additionally, promoting renewable energy sources and energy conservation can reduce dependence on hydropower and mitigate electricity supply disruptions.

The one consolation I have is that three of the Cabinet officials in charge of agencies that must address the impacts of El Niño— Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, Energy Secretary Popo Lotilla, and Science and Technology Secretary Rene Solidum –are also the most qualified persons to lead such agencies.

President Marcos, who is his own Secretary of Agriculture, has good officials in the Department of Agriculture, among others Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, Undersecretary for Policy Mercedita Sombilla, and Assistant Secretary for Regulations Paz Benavidez.

These officials know climate change well and can advise the president properly on how to protect our agriculture and food security from El Niño.

El Niño presents significant environmental and economic challenges for the Philippines, including below-normal rainfall, droughts, and reduced agricultural productivity.

However, through effective monitoring, forecasting, and the implementation of adaptive measures, the country can better manage the impacts of El Niño and build resilience against future climate-related events.

El Niño’s impacts are not easy to overcome but good governance and a united society will make it easier for us to ride out this storm.

Website: tonylavina.com. Facebook: tonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

THE Land Transportation Office is the frontline agency of the government under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) whose primary mission is to rationalize land transportation services and facilities, promote safety in land travel, and provide fast and efficient services to the land transport sector. Hence, it performs a vital role in our over-all socio-economic development program.

The agency is now led by an officer-in-charge pending the appointment of a permanent head. To fill up the vacancy, two Cabinet officials have endorsed the appointment of a new LTO chief.

In late June, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista sent a letter to the Office of the President through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin endorsing the appointment of Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II as DOTr assistant secretary and LTO chief.

But Secretary Bautista made it very clear that the endorsement was based on the recommendation by Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. Why the Interior Secretary is endorsing Mendoza as LTO chief is unclear.

What we gathered is that the lawyer-nominee is a former board member and officer-in-charge of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) who was sacked from government service for alleged graft practices more than two decades ago.

It appears that in 1999, then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, through his Executive Secretary Ronaldo B. Zamora, issued Administrative Order 97 for the dismissal of Mendoza as LTFRB board member, as recommended by the Presidential Commission Against Graft and Corruption (PCAGC).

Mendoza was dismissed for violation of Section 3(a), Republic Act 3019, as amended, and Section 4(c), of RA 6713, based on a complaint that he, as officer-in-charge of LTFRB at that time, lifted the moratorium on processing of public utility buses applications on his own, contrary to the existing policy of the board, a collegial body.

The PCAGC said a closer look at Mendoza’s memorandum had a net effect of a policy change, effectively lifting the moratorium policy. Before this, the LTFRB, under then chairman

to strengthen security partnerships with the Philippines and other parallel nations like the United States and Australia to maintain peace and stability in the volatile Indo-Pacific region.

The aim of the DCA is for the ‘participating forces to enhance their interoperability, refine tactical approaches, and bolster their overall effectiveness in countering airborne threats’

France also expressed concern over the recent swarming of Chinese vessels in the Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. In a press statement, the French Embassy in Manila called for respect for international law and

the resolution of disputes through dialogue.

“We are resolutely opposed to any use of force or threat to do so. We recall, in this regard, the Arbitration award rendered under UNCLOS on the 12th of July 2016,” the embassy said. According to the PAF spokesman, “the objective of the DCA is to enable coordinated air operations among aircraft of different types, encompassing airspace control, threat identification and engagement, and mutual support.”

Castillo said the aim of the DCA is for the “participating forces to enhance their interoperability, refine tactical approaches, and bolster their overall effectiveness in countering airborne threats.”

The first iteration of Cope Thunder for this year took place May 1 to 12 and focused on mission planning capabilities and execution of defensive and offensive counter-air operations utilizing fighter and cargo aircraft.

The ongoing drills consist of subject matter expert exchanges and field training exercises held at several PAF air bases, including Basa Air Base and Clark Air Base in Pampanga, Col. Ernesto Ravina Air Base in Tarlac, Brig. Gen. Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, and General Santos City. The original Cope Thunder exercises, which provided regular flight training for US pilots and those of allied nations, were first held in 1976 and continued annually in the Philippines until 1990.

Dante M. Lantin issued Memorandum Circular 97-009 dated August 6, 1998 re-imposing the moratorium on the acceptance, processing and resolution of all applications, including those pending, for certificates of public convenience for the operation of buses in Metro Manila and on provincial routes given the fact that those issued certificates of public convenience (CPCs) terminating outside Metro Manila have been entering Metro Manila as far as Cubao and other points inside Metro Manila and also the difficulty of monitoring their operations to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of their franchises.

President Marcos should be made aware of the impending appointment to the LTO which could work at cross-purposes to his administration’s goal of good governance

Mendoza’s appointment as LTO chief could open the floodgates for potential conflict of interest since the lawyer is said to own and operate a fleet of modernized public utility vehicles.

President Marcos, whose appointments to key economic posts were received favorably by those in the know, should be made aware of the impending appointment to the LTO which could work at cross-purposes to his administration’s goal of good governance.

Why the rush?

While at this, reports indicate that the Transportation Department has awarded the driver’s license cards supply contract to the winning bidder, Banner Plasticard, Inc.

But what’s this we’re hearing that the process seemed to have, in transport parlance, exceeded the speed limit?

The other bidder, AllCard Inc., is said to have submitted a request for reconsideration upon receipt of the disqualification notice. But the RR was denied on June 20.

Based on RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Law, the losing bidder after the denial of RR may file a protest and submit a verified position paper within seven calendar days.

Given this scenario, the government agency is supposed to wait for the lapse of the sevenday window to file a protest, before they award contract to the winning bidder, with or without an advance letter signifying its intent to file a protest.

Despite efforts of the agency to assure the public that the bidding and procurement process for the license cards to be used by the LTO was “aboveboard”, it seems the DOTr chose to take the faster lane. It released the decision to award the contract to Banner on June 22, five days short of the seven-day window to file a protest. We were also told that Banner’s total bid was P42M higher than AllCard’s.

Surprising? Not really. Illegal? We can only assume.

Unfair? We can only ask.

Insiders say that some industry players were surprised the DOTr did not wait for the other bidder to file a protest. They could have taken that route to prove that their post-disqualification process was, indeed, “aboveboard.”

This could have cleared assumptions and settled doubts that they were favoring the winning bidder. But since the DOTr already awarded the contract to Banner, we can only ask, why the rush?

(Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)

of dead bodies, types of evidence and sampling, autopsies and the analysis of human remains, as well as several guidelines, annexes and pictorial charts including anatomical sketches.

The firm grounding in the Minnesota Protocol and other international human rights standards was a unique feature of the training.

Facilitators and participants applied these to practical exercises, real-life scenarios, and best practices from other countries where the Minnesota Protocol is adapted to the national forensic guidelines.

Last week’s training brought together global experts in this field.

Dr. Morris Tidball-Binz, a forensic doctor who currently serves as UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary killings, has conducted fact-finding, technical assessments and capacity-building missions in over 70 counties.

In 1987 he was invited by the Presidential Committee on Human Rights of the Philippines, in his capacity as director of the Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology, to train Philippine investigators on the recovery, identification and documentation of the remains of the disappeared.

Stephen Cordner, professor of Forensic Medicine at Monash University with experience globally, has undertaken autopsies in, and/or death investigations from, most jurisdictions of Australia, New Zealand, Timor Leste, Fiji and other Pacific Island nations, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, India, Jamaica, Canada, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Atty. Kingsley Abbot has worked at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia and as a Trial Counsel in the Office of the Prosecutor at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the Hague and has contributed to the

development of the Minnesota Protocol as part of the International Commission of Jurists. Dr. Luis Fondebrider, co-founder and long-term head of the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team, has worked in 60 countries advising the ICRC and the UN, and has provided advice to truth commissions and international criminal tribunals.

Ms. Leone Scott is a former police officer who has led and contributed to the development of methodologies for victim and survivor interviewing and investigative interviewing, with a particular focus on handling and effective interviewing of vulnerable and at-risk victims and witnesses, including victims of sexual assault and abuse. National experts, including Dr. Raquel Fortun and Dr. Cecilia Lim of the University of the Philippines Medical College also facilitated sessions. Global experience shows that the application of the

Minnesota Protocol either through enacting legislation or adapting the Protocol into the existing manuals or guidelines at the domestic level has proven to be a useful tool for investigating cases of unlawful killings and enforced disappearances. Its practical approach complements other protocols such as the so-called “Istanbul Protocol” on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

For example, training participants explored what the Minnesota Protocol says about interviewing victims and witnesses and were able to compare this to their everyday work.

They also worked in teams to solve resources constraints that may exist when arriving at crime scenes.

The training program is just one element contributing towards strengthening investigations and addressing impunity.

The week-long session also served to go more indepth on issues related to legal and policy reform, and to explore how to strengthen forensic capacity in the Philippines, which is one of the key priorities of the Department of Justice.

In this sense, the establishment of a National Forensic Institute, legislation related to mandatory autopsies, adoption of specialized training for Philippine doctors, and further cascading of knowledge about the Minnesota Protocol to be used alongside domestic procedures in all regions of the Philippines are all elements that will definitely strengthen accountability. Cooperation with other countries, including in the Southeast Asia region, will also contribute to exchanges on best practices.

The participation of the academe and civil society organizations in the training together with

prosecutors, investigators and medical personnel has been critical.

This enhanced a common understanding of the investigation procedures and steps to be taken when investigating potentially unlawful killings, and may also help strengthen coordination among different stakeholders.

A trust building investment.

The Minnesota Protocol provides civil society actors with another tool in their advocacy, and a framework for detailed engagement with state actors when helping families of those killed.

Through a framework of State obligations, such as the duty to investigate, the Minnesota Protocol outlines the steps of what is required, so that victim family members and CSOs supporting them can ask detailed questions related to what steps have and have not been taken.

As the UN, we are certainly proud of bringing the best knowledge and expertise to address complex development issues, such as justice and accountability. Without them, development risks not being as sustainable as we want.

We remain committed to continuing the work towards the full implementation of the Minnesota Protocol, and appreciate the constructive engagement that has started in this area, which is supported now by nine strong friends of the Philippines[--contributors to the UN Joint Program for Human Rights.

The nine are Australia, Ireland, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States and the European Union.

(The author is UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines)

IN BRIEF

President says Gadon ‘great addition’ to staff

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said newly-appointed Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon would be a “great addition” to the administration despite his disbarment from the High Court.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang ating mga hakbang upang tuldukan ang kahirapan sa bansa,” the President said on his Facebook page.

“Bahagi nito ang pagtalaga natin kay G. Larry Gadon bilang Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation. Tiwala tayo na ang kanyang karanasan at kakayahan ay makatutulong sa pagtukoy sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

On June 28, the Supreme Court unanimously disbarred Gadon, 15-0, over a viral video where he hurled misogynistic and sexist remarks against a journalist.

Gadon previously downplayed his disbarment and said that “being a secretary is much sweeter”.

The beleaguered lawyer said that his team will file a motion for reconsideration of his disbarment.

The appointment of Gadon drew flak from netizens, questioning his experience and credibility to lead as the antipoverty czar.

Progressive groups called on the President to withdraw his decision to appoint Gadon. Charles Dantes

‘Sokor leader’s visit to boost PH tourism’

A HOUSE leader on Tuesday expressed optimism that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to Manila will boost bilateral relations notably in the Philippines’ tourism sector.

Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo, vice chairman of the House Committee on Tourism, said “South Korea has been the Philippines’ No. 1 supplier of foreign visitors for years, and we are counting on Mr. Yoon’s visit to encourage even more Koreans to spend their vacations here.”

“We could use a larger number of recreational travelers from South Korea to help our highly labor-intensive tourism industry create additional jobs for Filipinos,” Rillo added.

Rillo issued his observations even as the Department of Tourism (DOT) is embroiled in a controversy over the new “Love the Philippines” branding program’s use of a campaign video with footage of locations outside the country.

The South Korean leader’s plan to visit the Philippines was conveyed by Lee Sang-Hwa, Seoul’s new ambassador to Manila, when he presented his credentials to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace on Monday.

“Mr. Yoon’s visit will surely boost not only the government-to-government but also the people-to-people relations between the Philippines and South Korea. This augurs well for our tourism enterprises,” Rillo said. Maricel V. Cruz

Solons to grill PCG on luxury vehicles

SENATORS are poised to question the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) over the alleged procurement of luxury vehicles for its officials.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said since it is budget season, they will grill the PCG officials in the Senate budget hearing on the command’s proposed appropriations for 2024.

On the other hand, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, gave assurance they will scrutinize the national budget.

He said the PCG should know the administrative issuances and government policies regarding the purchase of vehicles.

He pointed out that the matter was the job of PCG lawyers and legal officers.

Earlier, the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the PCG on the purchase of a P7.8-million bulletproof sport utility vehicle (SUV) for its commandant.

The PCG reportedly bought the vehicle- a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado- for P5 million and spent another P2.8 million to make it bulletproof.

The COA noted there was a violation of the government ban on the purchase and use of luxury vehicles.

The PCG insisted, however, that the money used to buy the questioned vehicle “came from rebates from an oil company. Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Maricel V. Cruz

A FORMER congressman from Bukidnon and a private individual face up to 70 years in prison for misuse of the politician’s pork barrel in 2007 and 2008.

The Sandiganbayan affirmed the conviction of former Bukidnon Rep. Candido P. Pancrudo Jr. and private individual Johanne Edward Labay for the misuse of Pancrudo’s P36.9 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

In a resolution issued on July 10, 2023, the anti-graft court denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Pancrudo on April 28 and Labay on April 29. Both asked the antigraft court to reverse its April 14, 2023 decision that

SC: Libelous socmed posts only punishable under Cybercrime Act

ALLEGEDLY libelous social media posts are only punishable under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, the Supreme Court has ruled.

In an 18-page decision promulgated on April 26 but only released Tuesday, the SC Second Division granted a petition for review filed by Jaannece Peñalosa and reinstated the dismissal of the libel case filed against her.

“[A]n allegedly libelous Facebook post made may only be punishable under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, not under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code,” the Court said.

The case stemmed from Peñalosa’s petition assailing the Court of Appeals (CA) decision, which reversed the order of a trial court that dismissed her libel

case.

The CA held that her supposedly libelous Facebook post — made in 2011 before the enactment of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 — is punishable under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

According to the SC, the appellate court interpreted Section(c)(4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act to mean that the libel provision under the Revised Penal Code covers libelous internet or Facebook posts.

However, the Supreme Court said that “similar means” under Article 355

of the RPC did not include “online defamation.”

The SC said that associate words include “writing,” “printing,” “lithography,” “engraving,” “radio,” “phonograph,” “painting,” “theatrical exhibition,” and “cinematographic exhibition,” and excluded “computer systems or other similar means which may be derived in the future” that was added in the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

“If it were true that Article 355 of the RPC already includes libel made through computer systems, then Congress had no need to legislate Article 4(c)(4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act, for the latter legal provision will be superfluous,” the Court said.

“To make cyber libel punishable under Article 355 of the Revised Penal

House: Antigen test lifted for this year’s SONA guests

By Maricel V. Cruz

HOUSE of Representatives Secretary General Reginald Velasco on Tuesday maintained that invited guests and participants to this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) will no longer have to undergo antigen testing for COVID-19.

“We have been informed that (the COVID-19 testing) will be lifted. There will be no more antigen requirement.

Even the health declaration, we will forego that,” Velasco said.

“Even on you, the media, we will no longer require that,” he said. Velasco said SONA attendees would just have to present their vaccination cards.

He added the use of face masks would be made optional.

The House expects the attendees this year could breach the 2,000 mark. The session hall of the Batasan Complex has

a seating capacity of about 1,500 people.

“We expect many attendees because things are almost back to normal. In fact, the Department of Health (DOH) secretary has recommended the lifting of all the said protocols at the end of the pandemic emergency,” Velasco said.

The anti-gen testing was required during Mr. Marcos’ first SONA on July 23, 2022.

Code is to make a penal law effective retroactively but unfavorably to the accused,” it later added.

Meanwhile, the High Court said the trial court also did not gravely abuse its discretion in granting the prosecution’s motion to withdraw the information.

“All told, there was no grave abuse of discretion on the part of Judge (Rizalina) Capco-Umali in dismissing the criminal case for libel against the petitioner,” it said.

“With the withdrawal of the information and the consequent dismissal of the criminal case he had filed, the respondent cannot insist on the criminal prosecution of the petitioner. He, however, still has the remedy of a civil action for damages should he opt to file one,” it added. Rey E. Requejo

NCRPO team to track down Bantag, Zulueta — Gen. Nartatez

By Vince Lopez

THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced Tuesday it will form a team to track down and arrest former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and its former deputy security officer, Ricardo Zulueta.

“He (Bantag) will be subjected to manhunt and arrest. It is a continuing one, continuing effort... such that he will be put behind bars and answer the cases leveled against him,” said NCRPO Chief PBGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez.

“Our operative, we are now organizing... I will organize a team to track him down,” he added.

On Monday, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the manhunt for Bantag and Zulueta, who are believed to be the masterminds of the murder of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa, will continue.

They have not been arrested yet, despite the Department of Justice offering a reward for their capture amounting to P2 million for Bantag and P1 million for Zulueta.

They are also charged with the killing of middleman Cristito Villamor Palana and allegedly torturing the inmates of the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa.

DOJ to charge Dera, six NBI security men for leaving detention sans order

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said it will file charges against detainee Jad Dera and six security officers of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) who escorted him in leaving the NBI detention facility without a court order last month

The DOJ said the criminal information against Dera, NBI Security Officer II Randy Godoy, and NBI job order personnel Arnel Ganzon, Diana Rose Novelozo, Lee Eric Loreto, King Jeroh Martin, and Pepe Peidad Jr. will be filed before the Manila City Regional Trial Court.

The DOJ stressed that Godoy will be charged for violation of Article 223 of

the Revised Penal Code (RPC), while Dera and the others will be charged for violation of Article 156.

“After evaluation of the evidence, the assigned prosecutor found sufficient evidence to hold the respondents for trial,” the DOJ said in a statement.

“There is probable cause in finding that Dera induced Godoy, Ganzon, Novelozo, Loreto, Martin, and Piedad to assist [his] escape from prison and that Godoy, Ganzon, Novelozo, Loreto, Martin, and Piedad facilitated the escape of Dera from his detention facility,” it added. Dera and the security personnel were nabbed in June after leaving the facility using an NBI-marked vehicle “under the pretense of a medical check-up” and without a court order.

found them guilty of eight counts of graft, four counts of malversation of public funds, and four counts of malversation through falsification of public documents.

Pancrudo and Labay were meted out imprisonment ranging from six to 10 years for each count of graft, banned perpetually from holding public office, and ordered to pay P36.9 million as civil liability.

For the four counts of malversation of public funds, they were sentenced to a total prison term of 48 to 70 years with a fine of P32.8 million each.

In the malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents, jail terms ranging from six to 13 years for each count and a fine of P4.1 million each were imposed by

the antigraft court.

Pancrudo and Labay in their motions for reconsideration said that the prosecution failed to prove their guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

But the Sandiganbayan said it found no valid reason to reconsider or modify its decision, saying “The arguments raised by the accused have already been considered and passed upon by the court when it rendered the aforementioned decision.”

The criminal cases against Pancrudo and Labay arose from the release of the former’s PDAF to the nongovernment organization (NGO) FarmerBusiness Development Corporation (FDC) for the implementation of livelihood projects in Pancrudo’s district.

NEW PAGCOR LOGO. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, and PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco unveil the new logo of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. during its 40th Anniversary Celebration Tuesday at the Grand Ballroom of the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. Ver Noveno PAIL BATH. Malabon Zoo owner Manny Tangco cleans the back of his two-year-old Tiger BongBong—the only part that the feline can’t lick clean with its tongue -- with a pail on Tuesday to help conserve water amid 12-hour interruptions in the city and other areas under Maynilad. Manny Palmero

NATO wrestles with Ukraine bid at summit WORLD

VILNIUS, Lithuania —NATO leaders were scheduled to grapple with Ukraine’s membership ambitions at their summit Tuesday, their determination to face down Russia boosted by a breakthrough in Sweden’s bid to join the alliance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to head to Vilnius for the two-day summit to make the case that Kyiv has earned the right to join when the Kremlin’s invasion ends.

“Ukraine deserves to be in the alliance. Not now, because now there’s war, but we need a clear signal,” Zelensky said in Kyiv on the eve of the summit.

The Western military alliance is set to offer its full-throated backing for Kyiv’s quest for victory, but its 31 nations are divided over how far to go on letting Ukraine join their ranks.

US President Joe Biden has said there is no agreement to offer Kyiv membership while its war with Russia rages, as this would drag NATO directly into the conflict.

“I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now,” Biden told CNN.

But the alliance is offering Kyiv a branch by simplifying its eventual accession bid and dropping a requirement that it complete a formal road map of reforms.

Myanmar crisis tops ASEAN agenda at divided foreign ministers’ meeting

JAKARTA—ASEAN foreign minis -

Myanmar has been ravaged by deadly violence since a military coup deposed Aung San Suu Kyi’s government more than two years ago and unleashed a bloody crackdown on dissent. ASEAN has long been decried as a toothless talking shop, and it remains split over diplomatic attempts to resolve the crisis.

Manila Standard TODAY

German Patriot missile systems and French fighter jets were guarding the skies as NATO heads gathered in Lithuania, on NATO’s eastern flank and a land once occupied by Moscow.

While Ukraine’s neighbors have pushed for an explicit timetable, heavyweights the United States and Germany are reluctant to go beyond an earlier vow that it will become a member one day.

Republic of the Philippines

ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL

As Ukraine wages a punishing counter-offensive, dominant powers the United States, Britain, France and Germany have been negotiating long-term commitments on weapons supplies with Kyiv. AFP

ters gathered in Indonesia on Tuesday for talks dominated by the crisis in Myanmar, with the regional bloc divided over how or whether to reengage with the coup-wracked country’s ruling junta. The two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting will be followed by talks later in the week with Beijing, Washington and other powers where top US diplomat Antony Blinken will seek to push back on China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Those fractures were laid bare in a draft joint communique seen by AFP, where a section on Myanmar was left blank as ASEAN members failed to agree on a unified position beforehand. AFP

“y” as well as Schedule 3 of the Application contain commercially valuable and sensitive information and data that reflect (AS Provider),s investments, business operations, calculations, and other trade secrets.

30. SIPC thus respectfully moves that these documents are not disclosed and treated as confidential documents in accordance with Section 1, Rule 4 of the Honorable Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. Accordingly. SPC Island Power Corporation submits one (1) copy of said documents in a sealed envelope, with the envelope and each page of the document stamped with the word “Confidential”. ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

pursuant to Department of Energy (DOE) Department Circular No. DC 2021-10-0031 (the” AS-CSP Circular”) prescribing the conduct of Ancillary Services Competitive Selection Process (AS-CSP); in relation to the Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) promulgated by the Energy Regulatory Commission in its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006- 049RC. THE PARTIES

2. Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a congressional franchise granted under Republic Act No. 9511,2 and is authorized to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high-voltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The NGCP is authorized to conduct activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

3. Applicant SIPC is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal place of business at 7th Floor BDO Towers Paseo, 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City.

3.1. SIPC is the owner and operator of the Panay Diesel Power Power Plant 3 composed of (2 x 12 MW and 2 x 13MW), with a rated capacity of 58.30 MW continuous output at 60Hz, including required ancillaries and spare parts, located in Dingle, iloilo City (the “Generation Facility”), which was certified and accredited by the NGCP as capable of providing Dispatchable Reserve and Black Start Service.

4. NGCP and SIPC

The Notice of Invitation to Bid likewise provided any interested grid-connected merchant plants a copy of the DOE approved TOR and Instruction to Bidders.

13. Subsequently, the Notice of Invitation to Bid was published on 31 January 2023 with the Malaya Business Insight12 and the Philippine Star.13 The same Notice was also published on 07 February 2023 with the Business Mirror14 and the Manila Bulletin.15

14. SPC Island Power Corporation was declared by the TPBAC as eligible to participate in the AS-CSP and submit its bid for the provision of AS to be provided by the Generation Facility.

15. Under Bid Bulletin 2023-02 issued by the TPBAC, eligible bidders may submit their bids on or before March 13, 2023 for Luzon, March 14, 2023 for Visayas, March 15, 2023 for Mindanao.

16. Thereafter, pursuant to Bid Bulletin 2023-02, the TPBAC conducted the opening of bids timely submitted by all the eligible bidders whereby SIPC’s bid/ offer16 for the provision of Dispatcbable Reserve and Black Start Service by its Generation Facility was considered for award after sufficiently complying with the post-qualification requirements.

17. On 12 April 2023. the TPBAC issued and submitted to the NGCP’s Board of Directors its Resolution and Evaluation Report on the conduct of the CSP17 indicating SPC Island Power Corporation as one of the winning bidders. The TPBAC’s Evaluation Report was thereafter confirmed by the NGCP’s Board of Directors through a resolution dated 18 April 2023.18

18. On April 18, 2023, the TPBAC issued a Notice of Award in favor of SPC Island Power Corporation19. informing the latter that it is to be awarded

31. It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power. To this end, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for AS to ensure grid system security and reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required AS. However, the Honorable Commission must first approve the contract before the same can be implemented.

32. As the demand for power in Visayas increases, the requirements of the system likewise increases. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth.

33. Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to maintain the present reliability and security of the Grid. In support of these allegations. NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Ms. Lisaflor B. Kater,22 which is attached to this Application.

PRAYER

WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission:

1. Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA executed on 02 May 2023; and

2. APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASPA.

3. ISSUE an Order treating Annexes “X” and “Y” as well as Schedule 3 of the ASP A as confidential information pursuant to Section 1, Rule 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure and prescribing the guidelines for the protection thereof. Other just and equitable reliefs are likewise prayed for.

The Commission sets the instant Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-Trial Conference and presentation of evidence on the following dates and

1) The petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address;

2) The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3) A statement of the relief desired.

Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file through e-mail at docket@erc.ph. and copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, their Opposition or Comment at least five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtual hearing. Rule 9 of the ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure shall govern. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following:

1) The name, mailing address, and e-mail address of such person;

2) A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3) The grounds relied upon.

All interested parties filing their Petition to Intervene, Opposition or Comment are required to submit the hard copies thereof through personal service, registered mail or ordinary mail/private courier, within five (5) working days from the date

PH stocks rise on China property support

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Philippine Stock Exchange index rose 18.92 points, or 0.30 percent, to close at 6,398.64 amid thin trading Tuesday.

Philstocks Financial Inc. analyst Claire Alviar said the index tracked the performance of the Wall Street overnight driven by bargain hunting. The market traded above the 6,400 level for most part of the day, but still closed a few points lower as market participation remained weak, with net value turnover of P2.81 billion.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief

PSEi July 11, 2023

TOP GAINERS

economist Michael Ricafort said the index gained ahead of the US June inflation report which is expected by the markets to ease towards 3 percent from 4 percent in May. Asian stock markets also rose Tuesday, with Hong Kong and Shanghai lifted by China’s moves to support its struggling property sector and authorities’ pledges to further help for the

economy. The gains extended in New York and Europe as traders look ahead to the release of key US inflation data this week, which could provide a fresh indication of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate plans.

However, concerns remain about the upcoming earnings season owing to the high valuations, ever-tightening monetary policies, and signs of a slowdown in the economy.

Hong Kong was again one of the best performers on Tuesday, a day after a tech-fueled advance that came after Beijing hit fintech firms Ant Group and Tenpay with big fines and signaled a sector crackdown was almost over.

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

On Monday, authorities urged banks and other financial institutions to provide easier terms for ailing developers by renegotiating the terms of their loans, with the aim of ensuring homes under construction are delivered.

And on Tuesday, state-run financial newspapers said more announcements were in the pipeline as well as measures to boost business confidence.

The moves come as the vast property industry in China strains under the weight of enormous debts, with some firms such as Evergrande on the verge of collapse.

The crisis has sent shivers through the world’s number-two economy, which has in turn weighed on global growth.

ChatGPT dragged to US court over AI copyright cases

WASHINGTON, USA—US comedian

Sarah Silverman and two other authors have sued Open AI over copyright infringement in the latest push back by creatives since the company’s release of ChatGPT took the world by storm.

The plaintiffs accuse the San Francisco company of using their works to train their artificial intelligence models without permission, adding to a series of cases that could complicate the development of tech world’s biggest new trend.

The trio also filed a suit against Facebook parent company Meta, whose less known open source models also used pirated downloads of their books for training purposes, the suit alleged.

Much of the training material used by OpenAI and Meta “comes from copyrighted works—including books written by the plaintiffs—that were copied by OpenAI and Meta without consent, without credit, and without compensation,” the trio’s lawyers said in a blog

post.

In both lawsuits, which were filed on Friday in a California court, the authors accuse the tech companies of using their books to train their AI models and are claiming a series of copyright infringements.

If these types of cases succeed, they would upend the way the technology is developed, limiting the way tech giants can build their models and churn out convincing, human-like content.

Plaintiffs in the barrage of recent cases include source-code owners against OpenAI and Microsoft’s GitHub, visual artists, as well as photo agency Getty against Stability AI. San Francisco lawyer Joseph Saveri and Matthew Butterick are behind other such lawsuits and filed the latest on behalf of Silverman and the authors Christopher Golden and Richard Kadrey.

The lawsuit referred to Silverman’s 2010 bestselling memoir “The Bedwet-

ter,” Golden’s horror novel “Ararat” and Kadrey’s Sandman Slim supernatural noir series.

Silverman is best known in the United States for her edgy and often controversial humor as well as being outspoken on social and political issues.

Against OpenAI, the plaintiffs say they “did not consent to the use of their copyrighted books as training material for ChatGPT. Nonetheless, their copyrighted materials were ingested and used to train ChatGPT.”

The authors provided exhibits in the lawsuit that gave ChatGPT’s detailed summaries of their works.

Against Meta, the trio say the company turned to an illegally constructed “shadow library” to build the firm’s LLaMA models that included their works.

These libraries use pirated torrent downloads to illegally publish copyrighted works. AFP

Are we ready to become the center for hospitality excellence in Asia? (Part 1)

ARE WE ready to claim the title of Asia’s center of excellence for hospitality? If there is a course that consistently brings so much excitement and joy to me as an educator, it’s tourism and hospitality marketing.

The goal of this course is simple—attract new tourists to visit the country and retain old tourists by encouraging them to explore the country continuously. There is much to be said about the Philippines that truly makes us an exceptional destination.

I ensure that my students who hold the potential to become tourism service providers understand it by heart. I call them the game chargers. They are the foundation of our sustainable competitive advantage, which can drive the growth of this Industry that is proven to be a catalyst for the economic development.

It’s intriguing to explore the underlying reasons behind the persistent struggle of the Philippines to keep pace with neighboring Asian countries when it comes to attracting tourists. Secretary Christina Frasco of the Department of Tourism said the Philippines’ target is to attract 4.8 million international visitors as part of the National Tourism Development Plan. There is no harm in setting targets, but it is equally important to identify what we do best to capture the interest of foreign tourists to visit the Philippines.

So what sets us apart from other countries as a destination? The formula is straightforward; dig deeper on the push and pull. Understand tourists’ motivation (push) and partner it with the attributes of the destination (pull). The answer to the above-mentioned question is no secret; it lies within the fabric of our nation, what we do every day and who we are as a country – it is the value we place on family.

We treat every tourist as a member of our own family. There is magic in the warm Filipino smile, which serves as a heartfelt expression of “malasakit” (concern and compassion). Filipino hospitality, which is

ingrained in our culture, is one of the distinct features of our country.

In connection, the DOT launched the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE), a flagship program of the agency envisioned to provide all key players in the tourism and hospitality industry with a benchmark on how to provide excellent service to tourists the “Filipino way,” and make it our brand. FBSE is rooted in the 7 Ms of our core values as Filipinos. These are Malikhain, Makatao, Makakalikasan, Makabansa. Masayahin, May Bayanihan and May Pag-asa. The training has four modules, focusing on (1) Filipino Values and Service Excellence, (2) Understanding the Guests, (3) Delivering Great Service Excellence, and (4) Service Recovery.

The program aims to train 100,000 Filipino tourism workers across 16 regions in the country. This strategic action of the DOT is commendable; finally, we are now capitalizing on one of our real strengths as a tourism destination. It is nourishing the “true” backbone of the industry - our people, to make it firm and future-ready. Given that the program’s funds are limited, a certain group of service providers will be prioritized for the training based on the level of their involvement in the delivery of tourism services. Still, DOT can include transport drivers, souvenir vendors, park utilities, and those with limited but critical interactions with tourists

since they can also directly influence their overall tourism experience. With FBSE, we can now expect harmony and synchronicity in the delivery of Filipino hospitality; this plays a crucial role in enhancing the Filipino identity as a globally recognized tourism destination. It is like having all tourism suppliers participate in a grand chorale orchestrated by the DOT chief.

No matter where your journey takes you in the Philippines, whether it’s in the powdery white sand of Boracay, the pristine coral reefs in Palawan or even a city tour in Intramuros, expect a Filipino who will warmly greet you ‘Mabuhay!’, the standard Filipino greeting across the country. To be continued.

The author is a Doctor of Business Administration student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. He can be reached at jhon_-@dlsu. edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

The chairman of Australian mining giant Rio Tinto warned this week of a knock-on effect on the commodities sector.

Beijing has come under immense pressure in recent months to unveil new growth-fueling policies after a series of below-par indicators showed the post-Covid rebound has run of the tracks.

US Fed executive proposes increased capital requirement

WASHINGTON, USA—A senior Federal Reserve official has proposed raising capital requirements for large and mid-sized US banks as part of a “comprehensive” series of measures to tighten banking regulation and supervision.

The proposals announced Monday by the Fed’s vice chair for supervision, Michael Barr, cover a wide range of issues aimed at strengthening oversight of banks with more than $100 billion in total assets.

This would include mid-sized institutions, which came under significant financial stress earlier this year after a bank run spurred by concern about how lenders like Silicon Valley Bank had managed their interest rate risk.

“The comprehensive set of proposals that I have described here today would significantly strengthen our financial system and prepare it for emerging and unanticipated risks,” Barr told a conference in Washington on Monday morning. He added that the $100 billion threshold would subject more banks to the Fed’s “most risk-sensitive capital rules,” which currently only apply to internationally active firms, or those with $700 billion or more in assets.

In a statement, the president of the American Bankers Association said Barr’s proposals to lift capital requirements could have negative consequences for the banking sector.

“We share Vice Chair Barr’s goal of a safe, sound and resilient banking system, but we are disappointed that he remains determined to push forward new bank capital requirements despite strong evidence that the U.S. banking system is already well capitalized,” Rob Nichols said.

“Higher capital requirements come at a cost to the economy, and regulators have other existing regulatory tools to manage risks including those that led to the recent bank failures,” he added.

While the “holistic review” of the banking system began before the recent banking crisis, Barr said it was informed by the recent collapse of midsized regional lenders including SVB.

“Our recent experience shows that even banks of this size can cause stress that spreads to other institutions and threatens financial stability,” he said.

“China’s latest policy support toward the property sector was a bit surprising—given the low expectations on the property market,” said Zhou Hao, of Guotai Junan International Holdings. “The policies are intended to hedge against the strong headwinds in the market.” With AFP Manila

Barr added that his proposals would be equivalent to “requiring the largest banks hold an additional two percentage points of capital,” or $2 in additional money set aside for every $100 the bank has in assets. AFP

CHINA- ADB MEETING. Asian Development Bank President Masatsugu Asakawa (left) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 11, 2023. AFP

By Julito G. Rada

AREGIONAL think tank expects the Philippine economy to be the top performer among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its three major trading partners, saying the easing inflation rate will boost consumer demand.

The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office kept the growth forecast for the Philippines at 6.2 percent this year, the highest in the region. This is contained in the organization’s July update of its regional economic outlook.

It also maintained its forecast of 6.5-percent expansion for the Philippines in 2024, next to Vietnam’s 7.6 percent.

“ASEAN+3’s recovery is now riding on resilient demand within the region,” said AMRO chief economist Hoe Ee Khor.

“Recovering labor markets and falling inflation, along with steadily growing intra-regional tourism, are helping to cushion growth against sluggish external demand that is dampening the region’s exports,” Khor said.

He said inflation had decelerated across most ASEAN+3 economies due to easing global commodity prices and normalizing supply chains, allowing many of the region’s central banks to pause or ease the pace of monetary tightening. This, in turn, is bolstering consumption.

The interagency Development Budget Coordinating Committee earlier projected a 6-percent to 7-percent growth this year, saying the economy would continue to be resilient amid the headwinds coming from both the domestic and external fronts.

The country’s gross domestic product expanded by 6.4 percent in the first quarter, despite the elevated inflation and higher interest rates that impacted consumer demand.

AMRO said the ASEAN+3 region was expected to grow by 4.6 percent this year, up from 3.2 percent last year.

PH to post fastest expansion among ASEAN+3 nations IN BRIEF

It said while the ongoing weakness in global trade prompted a slight reduction in the ASEAN growth forecast for 2023 to 4.5 percent from April’s projection of 4.9 percent, this would be offset by improving prospects in the Plus-3 economies.

Growth is expected to ease slightly to 4.5 percent in 2024, while inflation is projected to moderate further to 2.4 percent.

Inflation in the Philippines was on a downward trajectory in the past five months, since the peak of 8.7 percent in January 2023. Inflation in June 2023 declined to 5.4 percent.

The report said absent new shocks, the region’s export performance may soon be turning a corner. The turnaround in the global semiconductor cycle, likely to begin later this year, will be a bright spot for many of the region’s exporters. Pent-up demand from more returning Chinese tourists will also provide an additional lift to growth, it said.

AMRO warned against several risks lingering on the horizon. The threat of recession in the United States and Europe, while lower now than three months ago, could not be fully dismissed, it said.

AMRO is an international organization established to contribute toward securing macroeconomic and financial resilience and stability of the ASEAN+3 region, comprising the 10 members of ASEAN and China; Hong Kong, China; Japan; and Korea.

Vehicle sales accelerated by 30.7% to 202,415 units in first six months

By Othel V. Campos

AUTOMOTIVE sales in the Philippines grew by 27 percent in June to 36, 311 units from 28,601 a year ago, but slowed by 4.9 percent month-onmonth from 38,177 in May 2023.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report sales across majority of the segments increased from a year earlier, except for Category 4 trucks and buses.

“The auto industry has maintained double-digit positive growth anew by 27 percent in June—a reflection of improved consumer spending for big-ticket items amidst the significant market for new motor vehicle sales, the main growth anchor of the industry,” said CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez.

A major automotive stakeholder said that supply issues might have dragged monthly sales in June compared to May’s. Passenger car sales in June rose

Exports rose 1.9% in May, cut trade deficit to $4.4b

20.5 percent to 8,986 units from 7,457 in the same month in 2022, but slowed by 8.23 percent month-onmonth from 9,792 in May.

Commercial vehicle sales in June went up by 29.2 percent to 27,325 units from 21,144 a year earlier, but dropped by 3.7 percent from 28,385 units sold in May.

Total sales went up by 30.7 percent in the first half to 202,415 units from 154,874 in the same period in 2022.

Passenger cars reached 50,848 units from January to June, up by 30.4 percent from 39,003 in 2022.

Commercial vehicle sales increased 30.8 percent to 151,567 units from 115,871.

Toyota Motor Philippines remained the market leader with 46.93-percent share, followed by Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. with 18.29 percent.

Completing the top 5 are Ford Motor Philippines Company Inc. with 6.84-percent market share and Nissan Philippines Inc. and Honda Cars Philippines Inc. with 6.52 percent and 4.28 percent, respectively.

Poultry firm welcomes charges filed by solon

MAYOR Ramon Oñate of Palompon, Leyte whose family owns DBSN Farm Agriventures Corp. said he welcomes the filing of a case in court by Rep. Richard Gomez over alleged environmental violation by the company.

“We welcome the intent of Congressman Gomez to file the case in our esteemed courts, which is the proper venue to hear his complaints and decide upon them. In our highly respected courts, we stand on even ground as the allegations will be properly threshed out and he cannot cowardly hide under the dress of congressional immunity,” Oñate said in a statement.

DBSN, one of the largest agriculture companies in the Visayas, employs more than 600 workers.

Gomez earlier called for the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Oñate and his wife Lourdes for alleged violation of the country’s land and environmental laws. He also initiated a congressional inquiry on the DBSN operations for alleged environmental pollution in Albuera.

Oñate said the ensuing court hearings as envisioned by Gomez would “clear the air once and for all about these malicious and baseless accusations being hurled against me over the familyowned poultry dressing plant.”

“DBSN is reputedly the largest single corporation in the Visayas and Mindanao with over 600 workers under it name and counting. Quite, apparently, Mr. Gomez does not have the welfare or even the very survival of these people and their families who face the likelihood of severe economic dislocation with his purported advocacy disguised in aid of legislation just to throw us out of business,” Oñate said.

THE country’s trade-in-goods deficit declined by 21 percent in May to $4.396 billion from $5.56 billion a year ago, as exports rose 1.9 percent and imports contracted by 8.8 percent, latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed Tuesday.

This resulted in a $23.988-billion trade deficit in the first five months, slightly higher than $23.963 billion a year earlier.

“Exports recorded to among six-month highs after the pickup in electronic exports, which are the country’s largest exports after the easing of prices/inflation, especially lower prices of global oil and other major commodities that reduced the input costs of exporters,” said Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Ricafort said imports also picked up to among the highest since the start of 2023 amid lower prices of imported commodities and stronger peso exchange rate that helped lower importation costs in recent months.

“[The] trade deficit [is] already among the narrowest in more than a year, thereby partly supporting the stronger peso exchange rate recently,” Ricafort said. Julito G. Rada

MORE Power distributes second round of refunds

MORE Power Iloilo, the exclusive electricity provider in Iloilo City, said Tuesday it distributed the second round of refunds, offering financial relief and reinforcing its commitment to valued customers.

The company said the move is a part of its efforts of ensuring customer satisfaction by disbursing bill deposit refunds to eligible consumers. Under the refund program, MORE Power aims to provide refunds to customers who have consistently paid their bills on time for 36 months, or three years, without experiencing any payment disruptions, consistent with the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers.

Three eligible customers received a total refund of P9,000 in May, while 20 eligible customers were refunded a total of P65,500 in bill deposits in June.

About 65 customers will be eligible for the bill deposit refund in July.

MORE Power said returning bill deposits would benefit around 777 customers by the end of this year. Alena Mae S. Flores

PPA to open dedicated cruise terminal in Siargao

STATE-RUN Philippine Ports Authority said Tuesday the country’s first dedicated cruise terminal is set to start operations in Siargao Island by October this year.

“By October, we will be inaugurating the first dedicated cruise terminal in the Philippines located in Siargao,” PPA general manager Jay Santiago said in a briefing. Santiago said the construction of the Siargao Cruise Terminal is part of the government’s strategy to promote local tourism. He said that the government spent P550 million to build the terminal. He said a cruise terminal was also being built in Coron, Palawan.

“We are also planning to build a dedicated cruise terminal in Bohol, Boracay and Legazpi, Albay,” he said.

PPA port statistics showed the ports of Salomague, Palawan and Tagbilaran catered to 48,100 tourists in 2019 before the pandemic, cruise ships cancelled their trips in 2020 and 2021. In the first quarter of 2023, the passenger traffic of cruise ships reached 31,374, from zero passengers in 2022. Darwin G. Amojelar

Angels buck miscues, Foxies to stay in hunt

Games Thursday (Philsports Arena)

9:30 a.m. – Gerflor vs Chery Tiggo

12 noon – F2 Logistics vs Petro Gazz

4 p.m. – Creamline vs PLDT

6:30 p.m. – Farm Fresh vs Cignal PETRO Gazz survived a game Farm Fresh side and an erratic stint in the second set then settled down in the next as it fashioned out a 25-21, 31-29, 25-17 victory to stay on track toward achieving its semis target in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday.

It was the Angels’ second straight victory following a big bounce-back from a loss to the Cignal HD Spikers with a fourset win over the Foton Tornadoes, assuring themselves of a share of second place with Group B leaders Choco Mucho and F2 Logistics, both toting 2-0 slates, clashing for the first semis seat later in the day.

While Petro Gazz dominated all the scoring and non-scoring skills, the Angels were dragged into a close, frenzied battle in the first two sets due to their errant plays, enabling the young Foxies to take command late in the second frame before succumbing to Petro Gazz’s superb blocking and their own attack error in the end.

“They lost their timing because of their

Gilas U-16 team to be tested in SEABA tilt

By Peter Atencio

THE Gilas Pilipinas’ boys team is getting ready for the 2023 SEABA Under-16 Championship from July 17 to 19 in Indonesia.

Eighteen prospects, including four newcomers Elijah Williams, Paul Diao, Edryn Morales and CJ Amos have been assembled at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna for a training game.

They will be in Jakarta in time for the regional meet, which will serve as a qualifier for the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship in Qatar this September.

Coach Josh Reyes said they only had a month to get ready.

“Luckily, we started a bit early in terms of calling in players for tryouts,” said Reyes.

Making up the 18-man roster are promising Ateneo slotman Ziv Espinas, scorer Irus Chua and versatile forward Kieffer Alas.

Talented guard Jheremy Godoy is also listed.

“It’s a unique situation because when the FIBA calendar started, this is not part of it. It’s unprecedented that the memo only came out a month before the tournament,” shared Reyes.

Gilas will face Malaysia on July 17, before meeting Thailand on the July 18, and Indonesia on July 19.

Reyes said their campaign will be difficult.

“It’s hard because it’s just three games. There is no playoff and you have to win every game to qualify, “ added Reyes.

willingness and eagerness to make a point – and win – right away,” said Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro, ruing his wards’ 21 glaring errors in the first two sets. “But

I’m happy how they performed overall.”

Grethcel Soltones and Aiza Pontillas topscored for Petro Gazz with 16 and 15 points, respectively, while Nicole Tiamzon backed them up with eight markers and Kecelyn Galdones stepped up in the absence of middle MJ Phillips, who left for the Korean league, and added six points, matching Remy Palma’s output.

The Angels, runners-up to the Creamline Cool Smashers in the recent All-Filipino Conference, unloaded 53 attack points, nearly doubling the Foxies’ 29-point effort, came through with seven blocks, two more than their rivals, and produced five aces against the latter’s three.

But they yielded 30 points off their miscues against the Foxies’ 16 although they put their act together to dominate the third and complete the straight-set win in one-hour and 34 minutes in the first of four matches set at resumption of the single-round elims phase.

With a third straight 0-3 loss, Farm Fresh bowed out of the semis race in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, Mikasa, SMART, Rebisco, Kumu, Asics and SportRadar.

Kai’s continued benching baffles Filipino supporters

By Randy Caluag

WHAT’S the plan for Kai Sotto?

This was the common question of many Filipino fans as Kai Sotto again did not see action in Orlando Magic’s game against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday (Manila Time) in the NBA Summer League 2023 at the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.

As expected, Filipino basketball fans were disappointed, frustrated, and perplexed about what Orlando is planning for Sotto as they again flooded social media with their views.

Others have questioned Magic’s Summer League coach Dylan Murphy’s rationality. The fans at the venue event called out Kai’s name and chanted “We want Sotto!” repeatedly, but were ignored by the coach.

Is Sotto not showing enough during

LIONS Nation MMA members and former ONE World Champions Eduard “Landslide” Folayang and Honorio “The Rock” Banario shed light on the possibility of competing against their former Team Lakay brethren, and they revealed that they have no issues with the idea.

Their former squad has always presented itself as this ideal, tight-knit stable that values loyalty and respect above all things.

But with several ex-Team Lakay guys on Folayang’s squad now, the two-time ONE Lightweight World Champion said it’s inevitable that one day the two camps will meet in the ring.

“The way I see it, I don’t have anyone on that side who’s in my weight class. [But] that’s just the nature of the sport. Sometimes, you can’t avoid that,” he said.

“It’s a different team now, a different setting, so we always respect the main law of fighting: you really can’t avoid that possibility. We are always happy to accept challenges.”

Unlike Folayang, Banario could meet someone from his former camp should he continue fighting in the featherweight division.

One of Team Lakay’s young rising stars is Carlos Alvarez, who made a victorious ONE debut at Friday Fights 13 over Reza

practice? Does he need to do more to polish his moves and enhance his speed and strength to be able to match up with the big boys in the NBA. Is that the reason why the Orlando coaching staff thinks Sotto does not merit even a few minutes on the court?

Is Orlando planning to sign the Filipino center and the team is not inclined on showing off Sotto’s ability on the court to prevent others from seeing his full potential?

Remember that Sotto has already played against a regular NBA team and proven himself when his Adelaide squad defeated the Phoenix Suns in a pre-season tournament, where he scored 11 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. That was against legit NBA players and not just a bunch of Gleaguers or rookies and sophomore in the Summer League.

Or there’s really no plan for Sotto after all and the Orlando just used him for publicity because of Sotto’s large following, especially from the Filipino-American community.

Abasi, and he’s competing in the featherweight division.

While Banario has no animosity over his former team, he understands that this is part of their chosen sport.

“We can’t avoid it because if I have someone from our former side who’s in my division, we have to fight. That’s my job. I am hoping for any challenge to come my way. We’re just fighting,” he said.

While the move certainly raised a lot of eyebrows, Folayang believes that starting a team of his own is for the best and will only make him and his teammates better moving forward.

“I’ve been thinking about creating my own gym [for quite some time] actually – a place for us to have our own facilities. You have free reign to implement what training program you want to use and see what weaknesses you need to work on,” he said.

“It’s easier than joining another stable where you have to have that adjustment period instead of being able to change things immediately because you’re still just an athlete and a member of that team.”

Some netizens even say Sotto’s character and patience are being tested at Orlando.

“11 players on DNP, including 1st game top scorer K Harris. There’s a plan. Relax and wait,” a netizen commented. Or worse, someone at Orlando is just playing hardball and power-tripping?

Nevertheless, Sotto is thankful for the support of the fans and said he’s ready whenever the coach calls him for the game.

“I’m happy to have a lot of people believe in me,” said Sotto to fans and supporters in an NBA video as he talked about his experience of not having played in the two Summer League 2023 games. Orlando has at least two games left in the Summer League as they face the New York Knicks on Wednesday (Thursday Manila time) and on July 14 versus Portland Trailblazers.

The Summer League is a short tournament, where top draft picks, free agents, and other aspirants get to show what they could offer for an NBA team that needs beefing up.

World Cup-bound Blu Girls vow to make PH proud

THE distinguished Philippine Blu Girls are leaving no stone unturned making sure they will make the country proud in the Softball World Cup set July 22 to 27 in Italy.

“It’s going to be tough. We’re not going to win the World Cup but I think the team will do good and make the country proud,” said catcher Cheska Altamonte without mincing words.

The Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (AsaPhil) secretary general graced Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum and was joined by first-base Elsie dela Torre.

“Prepared naman kami at puspusan ang ensayo,” said Dela Torre ahead of the team’s departure for Italy on July 16. It will be the Blu Girls’ seventh stint in the World Cup since 1970 when the country registered its best finish of third in

Osaka, Japan.

The coming stint won’t be easy as Altamonte said during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, MILO, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

In the 18-team World Cup, where the United States is the defending champion, the Blu Girls are bracketed with three-time champion Japan, Canada, Venezuela, New Zealand and host Italy. Their first game will be against the Canadians on July 22.

“There are six teams in this World Cup that made it to the Tokyo Olympics and three of them are in our bracket (Japan, Canada and Italy),” said Altamonte.

“We’ve won against Japan and we’ve never played Italy. New Zealand we’ve won against them. And Venezuela is the most frustrating for us because palaging

panalo dapat. Canada we’ve won against in 2017,” she said.

“That’s why it has to be a perfect game,” said Altamonte, adding that she won’t be playing all matches to give the other catchers in the Blu Girls lineup the chance to compete against the best.

“Now, the majority of our players are homegrown because that’s part of the program aimed at elevating the level of play here. We have a lot of new players. But you can see them growing and getting better.”

The Blu Girls will try to make the most of their World Cup stint as they prepare for the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September, and hope for a podium finish.

“Kaya talaga. A podium finish is very realistic. I believe we can do it,” she said of the Blu Girls, whose best finish in the Asian Games was fourth in 2014 in Incheon and 2018 in Jakarta.

The Petro Gazz Angels celebrate their PVL triumph.

Cheska Altamonte (left) and Elsie Dela Torre

Eduard Folayang

Kai Sotto showed up against the Phoenix Suns. AFP

Knights rout Heroes to notch 15th MPBL win

SAN Juan, Muntinlupa and Marikina trod separate paths toward victories in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season on Monday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The San Juan Knights clobbered the Laguna Heroes, 110-63, while the Muntinlupa Cagers stunned the Pasig MCW Sports, 87-84, in overtime.

The Marikina Shoemasters, on the other hand, banked on the hot hands of homegrown Eloie Tan in the fourth quarter to nip the Manila Stars, 79-77, in the triple bill opener.

Drawing firepower from Orlan Wamar and AC Soberano, the Knights led from the start and by as far as 108-61 to climb to a 15-3 record in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.

Wamar hit seven of 10 triple ties en route to a game-high 23 points plus 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 assists as the Knights extended their winning run to eight.

Soberano contributed 18 points, followed by Rhinwill Yambing with 12 points plus 6 rebounds, and Adrian Clarence Nocum with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals.

Laguna, which got 14 points from Jerome Garcia, 11 from Paolo Pontejos and 10 from Kenneth Acibar, tumbled to 3-16.

Muntinlupa leaned on Reneford Ruaya and John Louisse Delos Santos in extra time to foil Pasig and rise to 11-7.

Delos Santos posted 11 points, 13 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals to complement the 20-point effort of John Cedrick Abis and earn best player honors. Ruaya, Chad Alonzo and John Amores tallied 12 points each with Amores adding 11 rebounds.

Pasig, which fell to 12-7, got 20 points from Robbie Manalang, 16 points plus 16 rebounds from Jason Ballesteros, 15 points plus 8 rebounds from Michael Maestre, 12 from Kenny Roger Rocacurva and 10 from Ryan Paule Costelo.

Tan poured 13 points, including 8 in a telling 14-point salvo in the last 10 minutes that pushed the Shoemasters ahead, 74-66, on the way to a 9-10 card.

Marwin Dionisio also shone for Marikina with 24 points and so did actor Gerald Anderson with 13 points.

Manila, which dropped to 3-16, got 12 points each from brothers Allan and James Mangahas and Jason Vincent Mancao.

The MPBL visits the Bacoor Strike Gym on Tuesday, July 11, with Nueva Ecija tackling Oriental Mindoro at 4 p.m., Zamboanga battling Iloilo at 6 p.m., and Paranaque testing Bacoor at 8 p.m.

Cu game-winner carries Kings to PBA 3x3 crown

THIS time, it’s Ralph Cu’s turn to be the hero for Barangay Ginebra.

Cu nailed the game-winning deuce against the Meralco Bolts in overtime, 19-17, as the Kings won a second straight leg title in the PBA 3x3 Season 3 First Conference Tuesday at the Ayala Mall Circuit.

The victory worth P100,000 was reminiscent of the team’s dramatic overtime win over San Miguel Beer’s in last week’s opening leg, with Donald Gumaru scoring the dagger basket against the Beermen.

Ironically, Gumaru was responsible for sending the finals against the Bolts in extra period when he made a driving layup that barely beat the buzzer, 17-17.

Kim Aurin led the Kings with eight points, while Cu added six to help Ginebra win back-to-back leg championships for the first time.

Ralph Salcedo and Donald Gumaru finished with three and two points, respectively, to round out the scoring for the Kings.

The loss was a sorry one for the Bolts, who were in control for the most part and led 10-7 halfway through the title game.

Alfred Batino, who finished with a team-high six points, gave Meralco its last taste of the lead, 17-16, with 17 seconds to play before Gumaru answered back for the tying basket.

The Bolts pocketed the P50,000 runner up purse.

On the way to the finals, Meralco downed Cavitex, 21-18, while Ginebra won over Blackwater, 22-17. Cavitex notched a second straight third place finish this conference behind

Gilas girls smother Hong Kong in FIBA tilt

By Peter Atencio

UST Tigers boost frontline for UAAP Season 86

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas is adding more ceiling to its roster ahead of UAAP Season 86 with the acquisition of Vince Ventulan.

The 6’4” winger from Port St. Lucie, Florida will play his one-and-done year for the Growling Tigers this upcoming campaign.

“Magandang addition para sa amin si Vince dahil makakadagdag siya sa athleticism namin dito sa team,” said UST head coach Pido Jarencio.

The 23-year-old Ventulan, whose dad Vic hails from Mactan, Cebu and mom Winnie is from Bohol, is pumped to suit up for one more year in college as he looks to make an impact in his brief time in Espana.

“I’m excited to play another year of bas ketball here. I feel like I have a great size and length and I want to make winning plays for the team,” said the 6-foot-4 slasher.

Ventulan posted 4.8 points on 36-percent shooting from deep, to go with 1.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 21.1 minutes of action in his senior year for the Gyrenes this past 2022-23 season. He’s the latest of the new faces in the Growling Tigers’ lair alongside rookies SJ Moore and Mark Llemit.

a 19-15 win over Blackwater.

Tonino Gonzaga finished with seven points and five rebounds for the Braves, who secured another P30,000 prize money after a similar podium finish in last week’s opening leg.

Results of the quarterfinals earlier had Meralco edging out Wilcon Depot in a low-scoring match (14-13), Ginebra ousting Purefoods (17-13), Cavitex defeating San Miguel, 19-17, and Blackwater whipping Pioneer Elastoseal (22-13).

The scores

Third place

Cavitex (19) – Gonzaga 7, Ighalo 5, Napoles 4, Fajardo 3. Blackwater (15) – Publico 8, Salva 3, Bayla 2, Jamison 2.

Finals

Ginebra (19) – Aurin 8, Cu 6, Salcedo 3, Gumaru 2. Meralco (17) – Batino 6, Sedurifa 5, Manday 4, Santos 2.

AVA Fajardo led with 17 points as the Gilas Pilipinas youth girls’ team came off to a great start with a 79-40 smothering of Hong Kong in the FIBA U16

Women’s Asian Championship 2023 on Monday night at the Prince Hamzah Sport Hall in Amman, Jordan.

The Gilas ladies took off on a 15-2 blitz and built their momentum on a 27-13 lead en route to claiming the early leadership of Group A in Division B action.

Ryan Nair and Alyssia Palma struck with 12 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Patrick Aquino-coached squad.

The Filipinas are seeking to improve on their third-place finish last year.

The Philippines will next face Maldives in a bid to move closer to the top seed in the group.

Tsz Ching Kam top-scored for Hong Kong with 14 points in the loss. Yan Ting Tai was her lone support with 11 markers and 10 rebounds.

Rune into Wimby quarters, ‘not afraid’ to face Alcaraz

LONDON—Holger Rune on Monday became the first Danish man in 65 years to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals and insisted he is “not afraid” to face anybody, even world number one and close friend Carlos Alcaraz.

World number six Rune came back from a set and a break down to defeat Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. He will next tackle Alcaraz in the last eight after the top seed defeated 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini in his fourth-round clash.

“I am not afraid, I am excited,” said Rune, who was supported on Court One by Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik.

Rune is just seven days older than Alcaraz and they have been friends since their junior days.

When they were 12, they even played doubles and reached the semi-finals of a boys event.

“I think he’s the same, just so much better now. I think back then he was Carlos, now he’s still Carlos,” said Rune.

“He’s the same, just improved a lot and very quickly.”

Rune hopes one day they can play

doubles again even if they may get in each other’s way.

“When a singles player plays doubles, they want to cover the court by themselves. We both try and did that a little bit, which is fun.

“Again, it was good, because he’s amazing.”

As professionals on the ATP Tour, they have met just twice.

Alcaraz came out on top at the 2021 NextGen Finals before the Dane gained revenge at the Paris Masters last year when his rival retired from their quarter-final with an injury.

“I remember I first saw Holger when we were 12,” said US Open champion Alcaraz.

“So I’m really excited about this match.”

Rune, already a two-time quarter-finalist at the French Open, had been just two points from defeat in the previous round before seeing off Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in five sets.

On Monday, Dimitrov, the 24th-ranked Bulgarian who made the semi-finals in 2014, pocketed the first set after carving out a key break in the eighth game. AFP

Meralco’s Alfred Batino is rejected by Barangay Ginebra’s Ralph Cu.

Muntinlupa’s John Louisse Delos Santos

Denmark’s Holger Rune returns the ball to Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov during their men’s singles tennis match on the eighth day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Jolo Estrada stands out playing third wheel in romantic film ‘Seasons’

ACTOR Jolo Estrada has been receiving praise for his performance in the romantic film Seasons, which quickly became the most-watched film on Netflix Philippines since its release on July 7.

In the movie, Jolo portrays the third wheel in the relationship between Lovi Poe and Carlo Aquino's characters. He takes on the role of Hans, Lovi Poe's colleague and office-mate, who relentlessly pursues her. However, when Hans realizes Lovi is deeply in love with her best friend Kurt, played by Carlo Aquino, he faces a dilemma: should he continue pursuing her or accept a broken heart?

Jolo expresses his gratitude to producer Roselle Monteverde for giving him the op

portunity to be part of this project.

"It has been almost seven years since I first appeared on the big screen under my father's film production. So, when I arrived on the set of Seasons in Ilocos, I was a bit nervous. But the cast, crew, including my coactors Lovi and Carlo, and our director Easy Ferrer, welcomed me like family," Jolo confesses.

"They made me feel right at home," he adds.

Seasons has also entered the top 10 mostviewed movie charts on Netflix in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait. This new film, conceptualized by Lovi Poe with a screenplay by Dwein Baltazar, is now available for streaming worldwide on Netflix.

-

Longest-running gag show

adds more fun to Sunday night viewing

By Nickie Wang

ON July 9, GMA Network's acclaimed comedy show, Bubble Gang , started delighting viewers with a new time slot. The long-running gag show now airs every Sunday night at 6:00.

Known for its humorous sketches and entertaining spoofs, Bubble Gang has been a favorite among audiences for years. The decision to move the show to a Sunday evening slot aims to provide viewers with fresh and enjoyable content to end their weekends on a high note.

With its rich history and numerous accolades, the gag show has established itself as an iconic part of Filipino television. Now, its transition to the new time slot reflects GMA Network's commitment to delivering quality programming and catering to the preferences of

its audience.

The shift in Bubble Gang's timeslot also signifies a new chapter for the beloved comedy show, promising viewers a fresh and entertaining experience as it celebrates its 27th anniversary.

The gang is top-billed by its original member and the genius behind some of the program's most iconic characters and sketches, Michael V. Joining him are eight multi-talented cast members, each bringing their unique brand of comedy to the show: Paolo Contis, Chariz Solomon, Betong Sumaya, Kokoy De Santos, Edgar Allan Guz-

Madonna ‘on road to recovery’ following infection that required ICU care

AMERICAN pop queen Madonna said Monday she's on "the road to recovery" after a bacterial infection that required hospitalization, in the US pop icon's first statement since landing in the intensive care unit late last month.

"My first thought when I woke up in the hospital was my children," the 64-year-old said in her social media post.

"My second thought was that I did not want to disappoint anyone who bought tickets for my tour."

The illness required Madonna to postpone her nearly sold out, 84-date "Celebration" tour that was due to start July 15.

Her manager, who first said the superstar was in the hospi-

tal, had said "a full recovery is expected."

"My focus now is my health and getting stronger and I assure you, I'll be back with you as soon as I can!" Madonna said Monday.

She said her current plan was to begin the European leg of her tour – due to start October 14 in London – as scheduled, and rebook the earlier stateside shows for later dates.

Shortly after Madonna released her statement, touring giant LiveNation confirmed that North American dates scheduled prior to October 8 would be "unfortunately postponed."

The company said a new calendar was forthcoming "as soon as possible."

Stops in the United States are to include Detroit, Chicago, Miami, and New York, the city where her storied rise to superstardom began.

The Grammy-winning icon behind classics including "Like A Virgin" and "Material Girl" has asserted incalculable influence as one of music's top stars.

In 2020 Madonna underwent hip replacement surgery following an injury sustained on her "Madame X" tour.

Over the weekend Madonna was spotted in good spirits and walking with a friend in New York, according to images first posted by an entertainment podcaster on TikTok. AFP

man, Buboy Villar, Ana Barro, and Chesca Fausto.

"Bubble Gang used to air on Friday nights, now it's Sundays. Our time slot is more wholesome. It caters to a wider audience, so we have to be mindful of the content we create for our viewers," said Michael V during a press conference held recently.

Show director Frasco Mortiz ensures that the upcoming episodes of Bubble Gang will feature livelier skits, authentic performances, and captivating segments aimed at entertaining both the studio audience and viewers

at home, all in real time. He also clarifies that certain pre-recorded materials such as spoofs, sketches, parodies, and redubs will still be included in the show.

"I believe what audiences can look forward to in the relaunch of Bubble Gang is the different energy that the artists will bring because of a live audience involved. When we taped the first two episodes, it was really obvious. Everyone was on their toes because actual people were watching and not just the usual production setup,” the Bubble Gang director stated.

Vice Ganda shows interest in making ‘Bubble Gang’

guest appearance

IN a recent interview, seasoned comedian Michael V revealed that Vice Ganda expressed a keen desire to make a guest appearance in the long-standing comedy gag show, Bubble Gang. The show, which is currently celebrating its 29th year on air, has garnered a massive fan following throughout its run.

During a joint appearance at the concert of Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez, Vice Ganda personally approached Michael V and shared his enthusiasm for being a part of Bubble Gang Michael V, known for his exceptional talent and wit, confirmed Vice Ganda's request, stating that it was made during one of their rehearsals.

"If there are no hindrances, I would gladly welcome Vice Ganda in the show without hesitation," expressed Michael V.

He further added, "It would be a great opportunity for him, and we all know that Vice is one of the banner hosts in It's Showtime which is now aired on GTV, the sister station of GMA. The collaboration between GMA and ABS-CBN is a positive development, and if the situation permits, I would definitely say yes."

Vice expressed his desire to promote on several Kapuso hit shows which include Bubble Gang “Well, I’m really hoping for that to happen. That will be exciting. What’s good about Vice is that he is open to collaboration.

‘It’s Showtime’ host Vice Ganda

I’m looking forward to the realization of this dream,” he ended.

* * *

Atasha Muhlach has officially joined the 'biz as she recently inked a contract with Viva Artists Agency. She just finished her studies in the United Kingdom before following in her parents' footsteps.

The daughter of A-1 actors Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzalez, who is now 22-year-old says: "This is something that I've always wanted to do, ever since I was ten years old when I did 'The Sound of Music.' That's when I realized I really wanted to perform, I love to sing, and I just love to make people

smile."

Atasha has just started recording her first single and, at this early stage, she is very excited.

"I personally would love to try everything. I would like to sing, dance, perform, and act. So I don't want to close my doors to anything. But for now, I am just taking it one step at a time."

Many are curious about her dad's reaction to her decision to join the entertainment field.

"My dad has been nothing but supportive and caring throughout this whole process, and he's actually giving me lots of advice on what to expect and, of course, to always be kind to others," says Atasha.

Rising axtor Jolo Estrada

(left) with ‘Seasons’ co-stars Lovi Poe (center) and Carlo Aquino (right)

Michael V.

Analyn Barro

Buboy Villar

Chariz Solomon

Chesca Fausto

EA Guzman

Kokoy De Santos

Paolo Contis

‘Die Zauberflöte’ kicks off its eight season via the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ The Met: Live in HD

Opera for everyone

Aprince undergoes three trials to win the heart of the most beautiful woman he ever laid eyes on, the daughter of the Queen of the Night

This is the romantic plot of the opera Die Zauberflöte, which kicked off the eighth season of the CCP’s The Met: Live in HD yesterday at the Greenbelt 3’s Cinema 1.

The series of Met Opera in HD screenings is part of the special program of the CCP Film, Broadcast, and New Media Division (CCP FBNMD), under the Production and Exhibition Department, in partnership with The Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., and Ayala Malls Cinemas.

The series showcases operatic productions through the High-Definition (HD) digital video technology and Dolby Sound, recreating the experience of watching an opera production at the Met “live.”

First premiered in 1791, Die Zauberflöte (translated as The Magic Flute) was written for a theater located just outside Vienna, specifically the Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden, with the clear intention of appealing to audiences from all walks of life.

“A sublime fairy tale that moves freely between earthy comedy and noble mysticism,” the opera was actually the last produced work by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who died three months after the premiere of Die Zauberflöte His friend, Emanuel Schikaneder (1751–1812), wrote the opera’s libretto, staged the work, and sang the role of Papageno in the initial run.

With its varied tones, Die Zau-

Art meets philanthropy Initiative brings together the beauty of Michelangelo’s masterpieces and a noble cause

berflöte requires opera singers who can specialize in several different musical genres – earthy baritone voice for Papageno, noble tenor form for Prince Tamino, queenly soprano for Pamina, and solemn bass for Sarastro. For this opera, the chorus is quite sparse.

The Magic Flute is characterized by singspiel, where musical numbers are connected by dialogue and acting. While it may be sung in a different language, its story is quite universal that everyone can relate to.

For this Met opera version, renowned English director Simon McBurney took a more modern approach to the classic adventure of Prince Tamino and Papageno to find Pamina, the daughter of the Queen of the Night. In his Metdebut staging, McBurney lets loose a volley of theatrical flourishes, incorporating projections, sound effects, and acrobatics to match the spectacle and drama of Mozart’s fable.

One of opera’s most beloved works receives its first new Met staging in 19 years, the brilliant cast includes soprano Erin Morley as Pamina, tenor Lawrence Brownlee as Tamino, baritone Thomas Oliemans in his Met debut as Papageno, soprano Kathryn Lewek as the Queen of the Night, and bass Stephen Milling as Sarastro.

Nathalie Stutzmann conducts the Met Orchestra, with the pit raised to make the musicians visible to

the audience and allow interaction with the cast.

If you miss the opening salvo of the CCP’s The Met: Live in HD, there are other iconic operas that you catch in this series. Another Mozart work, Don Giovanni, will be screened on August 1. This opera is a dramatic retelling of the story of Don Juan, a lustful womanizer who finds his desires to be the cause of his destruction at the end of the day.

Tony Award–winning director

Ivo van Hove made his major Met debut with a new take on Mozart’s tragicomedy, re-setting the familiar tale of deceit and damnation in an abstract architectural landscape and shining a light into the dark corners of the story and its characters.

Maestro Nathalie Stutzmann made her Met debut in this opera staging, conducting a star-studded cast led by baritone Peter Mattei as a magnetic Don Giovanni, alongside the Leporello of bassbaritone Adam Plachetka. Sopranos Federica Lombardi, Ana María Martínez, and Ying Fang make a superlative trio as Giovanni’s conquests and tenor Ben Bliss is Don Ottavio.

Giuseppe Verdi’s glorious Shakespearean comedy, Falstaff, will be screened on September 5. In this Robert Carsen’s celebrated staging, baritone Michael Volle sang his first Verdi role at the Met as the caddish knight Falstaff, gleefully tormented by a trio of clever women who delivered his comeuppance.

Reuniting after their acclaimed turns in the production’s 2019 run are soprano Ailyn Pérez as Alice Ford, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano as Meg Page, and contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux as Mistress Quickly. Soprano Hera Hyesang Park and tenor Bogdan Volkov are the young couples Nannetta and Fenton, and Maestro Daniele Rustioni conducts.

MICHELANGELO’S Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition is on view until September 30 at the Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Pasig City. This internationally acclaimed exhibition, which has toured major cities worldwide, provides a unique opportunity to experience some of the greatest artistic creations up close and in a never-before-seen perspective.

Globe has joined ATIN Global and SEE Global Entertainment in introducing Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” to the Philippines and Southeast Asia, using the transformative power of art to battle hunger.

This initiative brings together the beauty of Michelangelo’s masterpieces with a noble cause – feeding the hungry and providing livelihood programs to uplift lives. It comes at a time when an estimated 13.5 million Filipi-

ment through supplemental feeding and livelihood programs.

Together with Hapag Movement mobilization partners Ayala Foundation, Caritas Philippines, Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines, World Vision Philippines, and Scholars of Sustenance, Globe aims to address involuntary hunger among 100,000 families in four years to create social impact at scale.

“At the Globe Group, we believe that great art, especially this one, should be shared with everyone, particularly with our kababayans. We understand that not all of us can afford to visit Rome so this is one of the best ways of doing it,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at the Globe Group.

“We are grateful to have Globe as a part-

ner for this landmark cultural event in the Philippines. Through this partnership, not only are we bringing historic art to Filipinos, we are also able to spread awareness about involuntary hunger and encourage our patrons to help,” said Sabrina Co, Founder and Creative Director of ATIN Global Inc.

The exhibition promises to captivate art enthusiasts, historians, students, and travel enthusiasts alike. Visitors can expect a oneof-a-kind showcase featuring 34 iconic frescoes by Michelangelo, including masterpieces like The Last Judgment and The Creation of Adam

nos continue to grapple with daily sustenance amid persisting challenges such as unemployment and the high cost of basic goods.

To support the cause, a portion of proceeds from every ticket sold will go to the Hapag Movement, a program spearheaded by Globe that leverages technology and brings together an ecosystem of partners to address hunger and unemploy-

The intuitive mindscapes of Roger Rishab Tibon

ART Lounge Manila presents Wondrosity, a thoughtprovoking exhibition by renowned artist Roger Rishab Tibon. Delve into the depths of human cognition and intuition, exploring the intricate inner workings of the mind.

Through a captivating series of paintings, Tibon takes viewers on a visual journey that transcends conventional artistic practices, inviting them to embrace the interplay between conscious and unconscious thoughts.

At the core of Wondrosity lies “Mind Nodes,” a term coined by Tibon to represent focal points of mental activity and intuitive connections. Inspired by the philosophy of “no sketch-

ing,” Tibon has adopted an innovative “intuitive painting” approach, which allows him to bypass preconceived designs and directly channel his creative energy onto the canvas. This unfiltered, spontaneous method of expression results in an incongruous juxtaposition of forms and ideas, reflecting the unpredictable nature of human thought.

Wondrosity is a celebration of the human mind’s boundless capacity for creativity, imagination, and introspection. Through his masterful use of color and form, Tibon invites viewers to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, transcending the boundaries of everyday reality and embracing the enigmatic realm of intuition.

The exhibition runs until July 15 at Art Lounge Manila-Molito in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. For more information visit the Art Lounge Manila website www.artloungemanila.

From left: Globe’s Yoly Crisanto with Sabrina Co, Founder and creative director of ATIN Global Inc.; Martin Biallas, CEO, SEE Global; Marlon Chen, Manila Symphony Orchestra Conductor; and Dr. Christie Monina Nalupta

A first in Southeast Asia, Michelangelo’s ‘Sistine Chapel : The Exhibition’ travels to the Philippines to present iconic art pieces in never-before-seen format

Discover the hidden stories behind Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes by downloading the “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel” app complete with audio guides about each work