FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte is not interested to serve as special envoy to China, his former spokesman, Salvador Panelo, said on Wednesday.
While no formal offer has been
made by the Marcos administration, at least three senators have expressed their support for the possibility of designating Duterte as a special envoy to China.
"First of all, there is no need for that.
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By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Charles Dantes
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday insisted the Philippines had no agreement with China to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, contrary to Beijing’s claim, and said if such a deal existed, he would rescind it immediately.
“I’m not aware of any such arrangement or agreement that the Philippines will remove from its own territory its ship, in this case, the BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal,” President Marcos said, using the Filipino name for the Second Thomas Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
LONE GUARDIAN. This file photo taken on April 23, 2023 shows the grounded Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre, where marines are stationed to assert Manila's territorial claims at Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly Islands. A crumbling World War II-vintage ship stranded on a submerged reef, the Sierra Madre has long been a flashpoint between Manila and Beijing in their territorial dispute over the waters. AFP
THE Philippines and the United States will lead participating air forces from 14 countries during the Pacific Airlift Rally 2023, a biennial exercise that will run from Aug. 14 to 18 in military bases across Luzon and Visayas.
The activities will be held at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat, Pampanga; Colonel
Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City; and Brigadier General Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
The event was previously held in Lombok Island, Indonesia last September 2021.
In a statement, the Philippine Air Force said the activity would cover airborne
training exercises, airlift operations, and logistical planning table-top exercises that will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
“The Indo-Asia-Pacific region is home to 60 percent of the world’s population in 45 nations spread across 53
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government is concerned about the country’s debt even though the country is doing bet-
ter than its neighbors. The Philippines' debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio is “not ideal,” Marcos told members of the US-ASEAN Business Council who visited the Palace.
By Rey E. Requejo
“We worry about our debt-toGDP ratio in the Philippines, as it stands at about 63 percent and that’s a little high for us and it is not ideal,” he said.
By Maricel V. Cruz
HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to simplify the estate tax amnesty application procedure and allow online filing, especially for heirs who are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The proposed two-year new extension of the amnesty on estate taxes is expected to benefit at least one million Filipino families, the Speaker added. Republic Act (RA) 11956 grants Filipinos an extension until June 14, 2025, to fulfill their estate tax obligations after
the law expired last June 14.
Last Tuesday, the measure lapsed into law.
Romualdez said the pandemic and the financial and economic difficulties it had caused made it hard for thousands of heirs, especially those in the provinces, to take advantage of the benefits of the current RA 11213, or the Tax Amnesty Act, enacted on Feb. 14, 2019.
“They have already suffered enough because of the pandemic. Let us not make the situation more difficult for them by giving them more time to avail themselves of those benefits,” he said.
The President issued this statement after China renewed its call for the Philippines to remove the grounded warship from Ayungin Shoal, which is well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Mr. Marcos added that he would repeal any
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pines" that threatened China, so “a water cannon attack was necessary this time.”
CHINA maintained its belligerent stance Wednesday, saying US efforts to boost Philippine military capabilities and rally support from other countries for Manila’s claim over the West Philippine Sea “will lead nowhere.”
The embassy's warning came as China continued to assert its rights—invalidated by a UN tribunal—over the West Philippine Sea, where its coast guard ships fired water cannons at Filipino boats on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.
Despite growing international isolation on the issue, China justified its actions by saying the US had in the past “even sent over military aircraft and vessels to assist and support the Philip-
By Macon Ramos-AranetaPRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said all reclamation projects in Manila Bay, except for one, have been suspended.
“All reclamation activities are suspended. These are under review except for one that has already been reviewed. We saw problems in the implementation,” the President said during a situation briefing in Bulacan on Monday.
“If these projects push through, a lot of rivers will be affected. The sea in
It said Beijing was taking note of US attempts "to persistently sensationalize the South China Sea issue, extensively hype up [sic] the recent maritime incident and attack China’s legitimate and lawful actions at sea.”
"Justice lies not in the loudness of one's voice, but in the truth and rightness. The US attempts will lead nowhere," it added.
China then urged the US to respect its territorial sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea and the whole South China Sea—a claim that has no legal basis except for its unilateral historical nine-dash line.
Roxas Boulevard will be gone," he said. Mr. Marcos, however, did not identify which project was given the green light to proceed.
Lawmakers have welcomed the President's pronouncement.
“I am happy that Mr. Marcos is suspending the reclamation in Manila Bay. This is good news to us who are afraid of ill effects of reclamation which will cause massive flooding in our cities,” said Senator Cynthia Villar, head of the Senate environment and natural resources committee.
ENGAGEMENTS between the Philippines and the United States are anchored on the promotion of peace and the protection of national interest, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said.
Mr. Marcos made the statement during a courtesy call of members of the USASEAN Business Council at the Malacanang Palace on Wednesday.
The President likewise confirmed his attendance to the Asia Pacific Economic
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“If there does exist such an agreement, I rescind that agreement now,” President Marcos said.
Earlier, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said they are still puzzled by China’s claim.
In a Laging Handa briefing, Malaya said everyone they have talked with regarding the matter—from the present to past administrations—has no idea of an agreement with China to remove the BRP Sierra Madre.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, meanwhile, said the BRP Sierra Madre should be refurbished not just to ward off bullies from the north, but also to protect the Marines stationed there from natural calamities.
He guaranteed the Senate would support funding for such an undertaking.
"They deserve our unconditional support as they sacrifice themselves for us," he said of the troops stationed on the grounded warship.
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It said it is rejecting any attempts to create disagreement among nations in the Indo-Pacific.
"China unequivocally rejects words and actions that aim to stoke tension and confrontation in the South China Sea," the embassy said.
"We urge the US to respect China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and respect regional countries' efforts to uphold peace and stability in this region," it added.
Since Sunday, Washington and its of-
From A1 percent of the Earth’s surface, and the majority of the world’s natural disasters occur in this area,” the PAF said.
“Experience has demonstrated that to effectively provide support to civilian disaster response agencies, it is extremely important that nations cooperate and improve joint capabilities,” it added.
The country's C-130 Hercules will also join other C130s from the US Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Ma-
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He is a former president. He is enjoying his retirement. Let us leave him alone,” Panelo said.
“Even if he (Duterte) is not being told to do so, he is doing his part. His (recent) visit to China expands and deepens (our) relationship with China,” he added.
Duterte last month flew to China to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping "as old friends."
Xi asked Duterte to continue promoting "friendly cooperation" between the two countries.
Despite the high-level meeting, China ramped up its incursions in the West Philippine Sea.
Chinese vessels used water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Phil-
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The debt-to-GDP ratio is the metric comparing a country's public debt to its GDP. By comparing what a country owes with what it produces, the debt-toGDP ratio reliably indicates that particular country's ability to pay back its debts.
The country’s sovereign debt grew to a new record of P14.15 trillion at the end of June, data from the Bureau of Treasury shows.
Since becoming President last year, Marcos has added P1.36 trillion to the national debt.
“We’re doing better than our neighbors perhaps but nonetheless, it's still something that we need to be looking at,” he said.
Marcos said he also “worries about the constriction of the economy by very high interest rates.”
Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting in the United States in November.
“With the US, our engagements are now grounded on a two-pronged, very simple foreign policy approach and that is the promotion of peace and of course the protec-
Senator Risa Hontiveros said she would support funding for such an effort too and said she would ensure that it is included in the 2024 national budget. She also denounced China’s demand that the Philippines remove the ship.
"We will never allow anyone to forcibly take that vessel out of our own waters," Hontiveros said, saying that Chinese arrogance was the cause of “deep instability” in the region.
In the latest incident, Chinese Coast Guard ships fired water cannons at Filipino boats that were resupplying the troops on Ayungin Shoal.
In the face of widespread Philippine and international condemnation for its recent actions, China has not apologized, but doubled down onits illegal claims to sovereignty over the shoal, referring once again to its nine-dash line claim that the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated in 2016.
But Hontiveros said countries must analyze everything that comes out of China’s mouth, saying it is full of lies and manipulation.
"How can we negotiate with Beijing when she acts in bad faith? " she said.
The Philippine military deliberately grounded the BRP Sierra Madre on
ficials had been expressing support for the Philippines following the water cannon attack by the Chinese Coast Guard near Ayungin Shoal. The US said China's action threatened regional peace and stability.
The US also reaffirmed its commitment to the country that an armed attack against Philippine vessels in the water would invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III assured his Philippine counterpart, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, of Washington’s commitment to support the country’s troops and to redouble the country’s training and interoperability following China’s latest aggressive ac-
laysian Air Force, and Indonesian Air Force for flight training.
Aside from the Philippines and the US, participants will come from Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste.
The exercises will also cover HADR airlift operations and logistical planning for aircraft deployment staging; cargo and movement mission planning; and multinational airlift capability analysis for airlift mission schedule prioritization.
The Philippines and the United States will lead participating air forces from
ippine vessels on a resupply mission near Ayungin Shoal.
Panelo suggested a “new tack” in handling the WPS issue as he questioned a Senate resolution that suggests, among others, raising China's illegal acts before the UN General Assembly.
He said friendly cooperation can instead be done, such as joint coast guard patrols, joint fishery efforts, and even joint development of the disputed territory.
Meanwhile, National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said on Wednesday the exchange program that sends military officers to study in China will be discussed in a meeting of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea.
"The position of the Senate on this is that it would be better if we stop sending them to China as a result of the incident in Ayungin Shoal," he said.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has so far raised its benchmark rate to 6.25 percent from a record low of 2 percent last year, as it tries to curb inflation, which hit a 14-year high in January.
“This is something that we have to balance,” Marcos said.
Despite these, the President said the Philippines continues to register positive economic numbers.
“I am happy to report that the Philippines is on track not only for economic recovery but to achieving an upper-middle economic status within a couple of years,” he said.
“Despite global economic headwinds, our GDP post-pandemic defied predictions through sound economic and fiscal policies, responsive reforms, and an enabling economic environment that drove commerce and domestic consumption,” he said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)
tion of the national interest," he said.
"By shoring up our individual and collective capabilities, we are able to advance our countries’ as well as the IndoPacific Region’s security, stability, and economic prosperity.”
"The evolution of geopolitics and the global economy have lumped all of these elements [defense, security, and economic spheres] together, we cannot approach any of these elements separately without seeing the effects that one has on the other," he added.
The US-ASEAN Business Council, for its part, pledged to pursue more investments in the Philippines.
Second Thomas Shoal in the late 1990s in an effort to check the advance of China in the hotly contested waters.
The unorthodox tactic to establish the Philippine presence on the shoal was in response to China's illegal occupation of the nearby and then-uninhabited Mischief Reef, also claimed by Manila, a few years earlier.
Beijing has turned Mischief Reef and other reefs and outcrops into artificial, militarized islands to assert its claims in the waters.
Ayungin Shoal, located in the Spratly Islands, is about 200 kilometers west of the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass of Hainan Island.
The Palawan provincial board on Wednesday denounced the firing of water cannons by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine vessels going to Ayungin Shoal for a resupply mission.
A board member, Juan Antonio Alvarez, said the CCG move was unacceptable and was a clear form of harassment.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, which includes Ayungin Shoal, and deploys hundreds of vessels there to patrol the waters and swarm reefs.
tion in the South China Sea.
In a readout provided by the Pentagon, Austin assured Teodoro of the US government’s support for the Philippine military and redoubling of both countries training and interoperability after the two defense officials discussed the recent water cannon attack.
"The secretaries discussed recent events in the South China Sea, including PRC efforts to obstruct the Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal on Aug. 5, 2023," the Pentagon said.
"Secretary Austin condemned the China Coast Guard's use of water cannons and other dangerous maneuvers, which put the safety of Philippine vessels and crew at risk," it added.
14 countries during the Pacific Airlift Rally 2023, a biennial exercise that will run from Aug. 14 to 18 in military bases across Luzon and Visayas.
The activities will be held at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat, Pampanga; Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City; and Brigadier General Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
The event was previously held in Lombok Island, Indonesia last September 2021.
In a statement, the Philippine Air Force said the activity would cover airborne training exercises, airlift operations, and
Council president and chief executive officer Ted Osius said: “We’re very much focused and you highlight these themes on sustainable development, transformative digitalization, innovative healthcare solutions, supply chain resilience, and ease of doing business.”
“We are determined that we come here not just to talk but also to bring a lot of action to create real partnerships and to show our commitment in the form of investments,” he added.
Osius was joined by representatives of 30 companies – the largest delegation to visit the Philippines in the 40-year history of US-ASEAN Business Council.
Beijing has ignored a 2016 international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
Manila says China's coast guard and navy vessels routinely block or shadow Philippine ships patrolling the waters.
They also regularly attempt to disrupt re-supply operations to the tiny Philippine garrison on Ayungin Shoal, according to Manila.
The handful of Philippine Marines deployed on the BRP Sierra Madre depend upon those resupply missions to survive their remote assignment.
The Philippine Coast Guard fears China will seek to occupy Ayungin Shoal if the military detachment leaves.
The South China Sea is seen as a powder keg and many fear a miscalculation or accident could ignite a military conflict.
The Philippines is poorly armed, but the United States has said it would defend its longtime ally in the South China Sea under a decades-old mutual defense pact.
The US has no territorial claim over the waters, but has persisted in conducting its own patrols there, angering Beijing.
Washington says this is to ensure what it terms "freedom of navigation" in the sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually. With AFP
Austin also joined a number of countries that are already concerned about China's activities in the waters, which undermine the status quo.
China's neighbors, Japan and South Korea, as well as other nations, such as New Zealand, Australia, France, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, deplored the recent incident.
Teodoro and Austin also brought up the Mutual Defense Treaty during their discussion as they vowed to uphold rules-based order. The US said it would continue supporting the Philippines' right to conduct lawful maritime activities, consistent with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling.
logistical planning table-top exercises that will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
“The Indo-Asia-Pacific region is home to 60 percent of the world’s population in 45 nations spread across 53 percent of the Earth’s surface, and the majority of the world’s natural disasters occur in this area,” the PAF said.
“Experience has demonstrated that to effectively provide support to civilian disaster response agencies, it is extremely important that nations cooperate and improve joint capabilities,” it added. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)
THE Marcos administration is seeking a higher allocation of P197.84 billion for the agriculture sector in 2024, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is set to begin hearings today on the P5.678-trillion national budget President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. has proposed to Congress for next year.
Under the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its various sub-programs will receive the proposed funding next year.
The DBM said the proposed budget represents a 6-percent increase from the current budget allocation of P186.54 billion.
“The Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AFF) sector, having witnessed a growth of 2.2 percent in 2023, accounted for 9.1 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in the first quarter of this year,” it said.
“Recognizing its significant contribution, the government is resolved to increase the AFF's budget allocation for 2024 and thereby sustain its growth trajectory.” Maricel Cruz (See full story online at manilastandard.net)
LAWYER Salvador Panelo on Wednesday blasted Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for red-tagging suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. and indicting him as the mastermind behind the assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo last March 4.
At the Pandesal Forum at the Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City, Panelo said Remulla "has classified Teves as a terrorist. He said he would work it out at the Anti-Terrorism Council, of which is a member.”
“He charged (Teves). He is the accuser. He is the judge. That’s wrong,” Panelo, the former chief presidential legal counsel and ex-spokesman of President Rodrigo Duterte, stressed.
Just like Teves, dismissed Bureau of Corrections direction general Gerald Bantag was also indicted without the conduct of a preliminary investigation, Panelo lamented. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)
SM Supermalls President Steven Tan and Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia recently led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) mall voting scheduled on October 30, 2023.
The MOA signing was held in SM City Manila last August 7.
Five SM malls will be participating in the pilot implementation of mall voting: SM City Manila, SM City North Edsa, SM City Sucat, SMCity Legazpi in Albay, and SM City Consolacion in Cebu for a total of more than 8,000 registered voters.
“Thank you Comelec for choosing us as your constant partner in giving the public better access to government services. We once again extend our hand to everyone, especially the youth, to come to our malls and take part in selecting the leaders of our local barangays and the Sangguniang Kabataan,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.
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Villar earlier warned that if the reclamation project reaches Las Piñas, it may cause six to eight-meter flooding in her hometown.
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said she supports the suspension order of the President as she reiterated her call to reject all China-funded reclamation projects in the country.
“There are questionable entities involved in those projects, particularly the China state-owned China Communications Construction Co. (CCCC), which has historically destroyed our marine ecosystems in the West Philippine Sea.
We should not be taking risks with companies like CCCC," Hontiveros said in a statement on Wednesday.
“These China-funded reclamation projects may cause irreversible damage to our cherished natural resources,” she added.
The fishers' group Pamalakaya earlier called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to suspend the reclamation projects in Manila Bay following the recent severe flooding in Bulacan and Pampanga.
Pamalakaya said the DENR must temporarily halt the reclamation projects "until the proponents scientifically prove that their projects have not aggravated the flood hazards in these coastal areas."
If the President does not act on a proposed law submitted by Congress, it will lapse into law after 30 days from receipt.
Romualdez said the number of potential beneficiaries was supplied by concerned agencies during the House deliberations on the extension proposal, contained in House Bill 7909, of which the Speaker is the principal author. He said the proposed new extension would give beneficiaries enough time to avail themselves of the amnesty and lower tax rates so they could settle their estate tax obligations and use the properties and other assets they have inherited from their dead loved ones. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)
THE country’s unemployment rate in June 2023 declined to 4.5 percent from 6 percent a year ago as the number of unemployed individuals went down from 2.99 million to 2.33 million, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Wednesday.
But the June unemployment rate was slightly higher than the 4.3 percent a month ago due to lost jobs in agriculture, manufacturing and other sectors.
“Not all of those in the labor force were able to find a job. So that contributed to the unemployed in June,” national statistician and civil registrar general Dennis Mapa said
THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) has urged Congress to continue the pilot study for motorcycle taxis as it needs to address some issues.
Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza who is also vice chair of the DOTR technical working group (TWG) opposed the termination of the MC taxi pilot study by the DOTr.
Mendoza said gaps that must be addressed included issues like multi-homing and liabilities. He also emphasized the importance of a transition period to ensure the proper implementation of the study.
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) earlier asked the TWG to consider the pro-competitive effects of multihoming in its study.
Darwin G. AmojelarTHE Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has announced it has received its second International Organization for Standardization (ISO) - quality management systemsurveillance audit approval.
This, according to Port of NAIA district collector Yasmin Mapa, was part of the BOC’s commitment to promote efficiency and transformation within government service.
With 21 ISO certified processes last 2021, the Port of NAIA now has 22 enrolled ISO certified processes and 11 ISO support processes - the most number of certified processes among all ports.
Joel E. ZurbanoSECRETARY Benjamin Abalos
Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among government agencies and multisectoral participation to advance the national anti-illegal drugs advocacy program, known as “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan,” or BIDA.
Commending the Southern Leyte’s exceptional strides in curbing insurgency and maintaining a strong stance against illegal drugs, Abalos cited the province’s performance against anti-illegal drugs advocacy during an Interfacing session last Tuesday.
The session primarily aimed to discuss governance concerns raised by local chief executives within the province of Southern Leyte. Vince Lopez
AN ADVOCACY group calls on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent the passage of antionline piracy legislation now pending at the Senate to address online piracy, saying that these are critical to the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.
Lawyer Tim Abejo, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, said the 26-year-old Intellectual Property Code needs to be amended to respond to new challenges in digital online platforms.
“We need to boost the creative economy, prevent opportunity loss, protect the interest of the Philippines’ rich and diverse talent pool, and even shield our citizens, especially the vulnerable, from online predators,” Abejo stressed.
“Online piracy harms the viability of the creative sector and undermines the values and creative spirit
of our people,” he added.
“It also unduly incentivizes those whose only contribution is to find ways to profit from what is not theirs to begin with,” he noted.
Electronic and online content are currently not included in the IP Code’s definition of pirated goods. House Bill 7600, which amends the IP Code, most notably in allowing authorities to block sites that provide pirated content, was approved last May by the House of Representatives. The measure gives authority to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) to block websites that violate the IP Code and expands its enforcement functions to investigate, gather intelligence, and develop countermeasures to piracy. It also establishes guidelines for internet service providers in blocking websites hosting pirated material.
in an online briefing. Mapa said the country’s employment rate in June 2023 was estimated at 95.5 percent. This was higher than the reported 94.0 percent employment rate in the same month last year, but slightly lower than the 95.7 percent estimate in May 2023.
“In terms of magnitude, the number of employed persons was posted at
48.84 million in June 2023, while 46.59 million in June 2022. In May 2023, the number of employed persons was 48.26 million,” Mapa said.
The number of unemployed workers in June 2023 decreased to 2.33 million from 2.99 million in June 2022, posting a yearon-year decline of 663,000 unemployed persons. Ho ever, the number of unemployed persons in June 2023 was higher by 159,000 compared with the number of unemployed persons in May 2023.
The sub-sectors that had the highest drop in the number of employed persons from June 2022 to June 2023 are fishing and aquaculture (233,000); manufacturing (99,000); professional, scientific andtechnical activities (65,000); mining and quarrying (62,000); and information and communication (45,000).
PATIS TESORO CREATIONS ON DISPLAY. In celebration of the Month of Filipino Heritage, an exhibit of Philippine ternos and regional costumes designed by Patis Tesoro comes o the wraps at the Museo ng Makati, with ambassadors and guests from the diplomatic community in attendance. The exhibits, consisting of over two dozens of ternos, embroideries, and weaves will be open until September 30, 2023. In photo are (from left) Museo ng Makati administrator Itchi Yabut; Filipino Heritage Foundation president Armita Ru no, , Patis Tesoro, Makati Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, and exhibit curator fashion designer Albert Figueras. Diana B. Noche
SAN Miguel Corp. on Wednes-
day dismissed allegations that its Bulacan Airport Project is the cause of flooding in the province.
SMC president and chief executive officer Ramon S. Ang asserted that flooding in Bulacan had already been a major problem, long before government approved the airport’s construction in the province, just north of Metro Manila.
“There are many contributing factors to flooding. Bulacan has many low-lying areas. Another is land subsidence caused by over-extraction and the depletion of ground wa-
ter. In fact, that is one of the reasons why we invested in putting up the Bulacan Bulk Water System Project some years back—to provide potable water to residents without having to resort to unsustainable use of ground water,” Ang explained.
“Degradation, siltation, and pollution of our rivers are of course major causes of flooding. Because of these, rivers become shallow and their flood carrying capacity is severely diminished, resulting in river overflow and floods. The pr liferation of fish ponds in coastal areas has also contributed to s vere flooding in the province,” he added.
The SMC has started cleaning up
rivers around the airport project site as part of the overall design and long-term maintenance of the country’s largest international gateway.
These flood mitigation efforts are seen to also benefit towns near the airport.
“We are deeply invested in the future as well as the well-being of Bulacan and its residents. We would not pour in billions in resources if we didn’t consider all possible risks, including flooding in the province. As with any major undertaking of this magnitude, extensive studies were done even before construction started. And even now, we
continue to work with experts and to consistently ensure we adhere to the highest environmental and social standards and regulations,” Ang said.
He also pointed out that heavilyflooded areas during the last typhoon, particularly Calumpit and Hagonoy towns, located far from the airport project, were affected by overflow from the heavily-silted Pampanga River aggravated by the release of water from some dams.
The SMC is already looking to extend its river desilting and cleanup initiative beyond Bulacan’s rivers, to other critical tributaries throughout Central Luzon.
“With our experience in clean-
A FORMER three-term mayor of Candaba, Pampanga, on Wednesday expressed support for the administration’s plan to divert flood waters from the province and Bulacan to an impounding area in a portion of the town’s 2,000-hectare swamp.
Ex-Candaba Mayor Jerry Limjoco Pelayo in a statement said the water impounding area will be a long-term solution to the perennial flooding that besets his town as well as several other localities in Pampanga and neighboring Bulacan province.
“When I was a mayor, I already suggested in a regional development council meeting that a ring dike is needed to collect the rainwater. I’m with the President on this matter. This could also be beneficial for aquaculture, irrigation for farmers, and
By Rio N. Araja
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is eyeing a multipurpose water infrastructure to optimize the utilization of the country’s water resources that could enable multitasked usage of the national resource.
Meanwhile, the water level at Angat Dam, Metro Manila’s main water source, is “enough” for now although it would need to go up in preparation for the El Niño phenomenon, according to the
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
DENR Secretary Antonia Loyzaga said the agency will refocus government’s water security strategy, look to tap other water sources and recycle wastewater as the need for stable and steady water supply increases on the back of growing demand and the threat from the El Niño episode. The DENR will work closely with other concerned government agencies, such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the
National Economic and Development Authority, the Local Water Utilities Administration, and the MWSS on the possibility of building public water supply facilities for multiple usage, including irrigation, power generation, industrial and commercial and domestic purposes, she said.
“We are looking at our respective budgets and our programs to see how we can design multipurpose infrastructure to actually serve the different needs of agriculture, power, water for domestic use, and for industry,” she added.
tourism as well,” he said.
Pelayo, known for his hands-on leadership during his tenure as Candaba mayor, firmly believes that the proposed water impounding project will not only alleviate the perennial flooding issue, but also provide a boost to local industries and tourism.
He expressed disappointment over Pampanga Rep. Ana York Bondoc’s reaction to the proposed solution.
In a meeting of Pampanga officials with the President recently, York expressed strong opposition to the construction of the water impounding area, saying that it will result in loss of livelihood for residents who plant cash crops in the swamp, when it dries up during the dry season.
A Cabinet member present at the meeting however said only 200 hectares of the 2,000-hectare swamp will be affected.
UP FOR AIPA.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (center) ashes the thumbs-up sign with (from left) South Cotabato Rep. Peter Miguel; Batangas Rep.Mario Vittorio Mariño; Pangasinan Rep. Rachel Arenas; Negros Occidental Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez; former Rep. Rosemarie Arenas; Bukidnon Rep. Jose Manuel Alba; Secretary General Reginald Velasco; TUCP Party
List Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza; Sultan Kudarat Rep. Princess Rihan Sakaluran; Zamboanga Del Norte Rep. Glona Labadlabad; and Nuva Ecija Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago during the plenary session of the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Jakarta, Indonesia. Ver Noveno
THE combined amount of damage to agriculture and infrastructure caused by Typhoons Egay and Falcon and the southwest monsoon (habagat) has reached more than P10 billion.
In its bulletin on Wednesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) estimated the damage to agriculture and infrastructure at P4.45 billion and P5.81 billion, respectively. It said the recent weather disturbances also affected a total of 1,224,219 families or 4,555,227 persons residing in 5,334 barangays in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon,
Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Cordillera region, and National Capital Region.
The NDRRMC also said 7,237 families or 25,702 individuals are still in 352 evacuation centers while 21,043 families or 80,908 persons are receiving
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos
Jr. assured that the country’s rice stockpile could last even after the El Niño phenomenon next year. His assurance came after he met with industry players led by the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) and the Philippine Rice Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday.
“The rice situation is manageable and stable. There is enough rice for the Philippines up to and after the El Niño next year,” Mr. Marcos, who also serves as head of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said.
The El Niño phenomenon might persist until the first quarter of 2024, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration earlier said.
The President convened the meeting to discuss with stakeholders the status of the rice industry and measures to ensure sufficient rice supply in the country, Presidential Communications
A BETTOR from Bulacan won the jackpot prize of P5.9 million in the Lotto 6/42 draw on July 4.
The individual’s winning ticket, with the combination 10-19-31-2718-25, ensured the lucky bettor of his dream house, he said.
The bettor said he has been a loyal patron since the start of the Lotto in 1995. He revealed that he had won five digits twice in his life as well as four and three digits several times, out of the winning six digits.
He added that it was “thrilling to witness that all of the numbers in his winning combination were drawn and in the PCSO’s live stream on Facebook.”
The bettor also said he trusts the PCSO Lotto draws and that in 20 years he was never disheartened.
He claimed his winnings, totaling P5,940,000.00, at the PCSO Main Office in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City, on July 7.
Under the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, prizes above P10,000.00 are subject to a 20% final tax.
All winnings should be claimed within one year from the date of the draw or otherwise be forfeited to form part of the charity fund in accordance with the PCSO Charter (Republic Act No. 1169).
Declare Uy as Zamboanga solon, SC orders Comelec
THE Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to proclaim Roberto “Pinpin” T. Uy Jr. as the winner in the 2022 congressional election for the 1st District of Zamboanga del Norte.
In a full court decision rendered on August 8, 2023, the SC through Justice Mario Lopez granted the petition filed by Uy as it nullified the Comelec’s proclamation of Romeo M. Jalosjos Jr. as winner.
Aside from Uy and Jalosjos Jr., the other candidates in the 2022 election were Frederico “Kuya Jan” Jalosjos and Richard Amazon. Uy garnered 69,591 votes compared to Jalosjos Jr.’s 69,109 votes. Uy’s proclamation was stopped by the Comelec pending resolution of Jalosjos Jr.’s petition to declare F. Jalosjos a nuisance candidate.
After the Comelec declared F. Jalosjos a nuisance candidate on June 7, 2022, his votes were credited in favor of R. Jalosjos Jr. that led to the latter’s proclamation as the duty-elected representative for Zamboanga de Norte’s 1st district.
This prompted Uy to challenge the Comelec’s ruling before the SC.
On July 12, 2022, the SC granted temporarily the plea of Uy to stop R. Jalosjos Jr. from assuming his post. The SC also stopped temporarily the Comelec from crediting in favor of R. Jalosjos Jr. the 5,424 votes of F. Jalosjos. Rey E. Requejo
aid outside evacuation centers.
The Office of Civil Defense said the affected families are a combination of those displaced and those not needing removal from their residence but whose livelihoods have been affected.
The death toll stood at 30, four of whom have been confirmed. About 171 persons were reported injured, 152 of whom have been validated. Reports of 10 missing persons are still undergoing validation.
The Department of Health (DOH) meanwhile conducted the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H) Learning and Development Summit which aims aims to strengthen disaster risk reduction and health
management nationwide.
OIC-Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Dr. Gloria J. Balboa led the efforts in the DRRM-H institutionalization, operationalization, and localization.
“It is important to spread knowledge and awareness on disaster risk reduction and management in health in order to prepare communities on the coming of probable crisis,” the department said. The program was attended by Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H) Managers of the DOH Centers for Health Development (CHDs), Hospitals and Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers and other health sector partners around the country. Gabriellea Parino
BOC agents seize smuggled diesel in Tondo operation CUSTOMS agents seized smuggled diesel fuel in Tondo, Manila, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Wednesday. Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy said a lorry truck was discovered with its load of 21,000 liters of unmarked and smuggled blended diesel fuel in Tondo last month.
The bureau issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the truck owned by V-Fuel Gasoline Station after it failed the fuel marking test.
Operatives of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service - Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) headed by its chief Alvin Enciso conducted the operation on July 8 in Tondo following a tip from an informant.
“Our order was to conduct validation on information received about the presence of fuel smuggling activities, conduct intelligence and enforcement operations against fuel smuggling in the areas of Manila, Navotas, and Malabon,” said Uy.
“It came to our attention a lorry truck was in Vitas, Tondo, Manila, so we had it checked. Our agents inspected it and found the unmarked fuel. They brought it to the Port of Manila for safekeeping,” he added.
Tests conducted on the first three compartments with 16,000 liters of unmarked fuel on July 10 and 12, as well as the fourth compartment with 5,000 liters on July 19, all showed failed results. Joel E. Zurbano
Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said. Garafil said the DA and PRISM presented to Mr. Marcos the rice supply outlook for the country until the end of 2023.
Based on a statement posted on staterun Radio Television Malacañang’s official Facebook page, the DA also briefed the President about the country’s current supply situation, factors that threaten the country’s rice production and export, and the import trends and needs.
DA Undersecretary Merceditas Sombillo said the projected ending stock for 2023 is 1.96 million metric tons (MMT), enough to last for 52 days.
Sombillo added that the Philippine Statistics Authority’s ending stock projection presents an even better scenario as it is expected to be 2.12 MMT, which would last for 57 days.
Palay harvest season is from September to November.
Othel V. CamposGarcia vows clean, honest midterm polls COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia vowed to conduct clean and honest elections as the poll regulator begins preparations for the midterm polls in May 2025. Garcia issued the assurance as he marks his first year as the top head of the poll body, saying the Comelec has its hands full in the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections set in October this year.
“As I mark my first year as Chairman of the Commission on Elections, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my fellow Commissioners and to the men and women of COMELEC for your relentless dedication and support in realizing our vision. Together, we have implemented data-driven improvements to enhance the efficiency of the Commission and to increase voter registration turnout,” he said.
“We have taken significant steps to reinforce the public’s trust in our electoral process. We continue to engage all our stakeholders, including participation in key legislative initiatives, to foster an inclusive and accountable approach to electoral management and reform,” the Comelec chief said.
He also said the agency will be transparent in the 2025 automated elections as the poll body gives details of the planned lease for new vote counting machines (VCMs). Vito Barcelo
A NEW, updated vaccine certificate guidelines for inbound and outbound travelers has been released by the Department of Health (DOH)
According to the new guidelines, vaccination status and vaccination certificates for COVID-19 are no longer required for international arrivals.
“All arriving international travelers are accepted regardless of their vaccination
status,” the DOH said in a news release.
The DOH is urging departing international travelers to check on the vaccine certificate requirements of the country of their destination.
The DOH further said for overseas Filipino workers and seafarers, the issuance of the International Certificate of Vaccination for Prophylaxis for Yellow Fever Vaccine and other vaccinations
depends on the requirement of their agency or company.
The DOH meanwhile said bivalent COVID vaccines can now be used as initial boosters.
DOH Undersecretary Enrique Tayag in an ABS-CBN News report said bivalent vaccines could now be administered as a first or second booster, apart from being used as a third booster for priority sectors.
Tayag, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said, “what we did to speed up the vaccination, at first, it was only for frontline health workers. Now all health workers can avail of it. Number 2, all seniors. Third, the immunocompromised. Then at first, it was just for the third booster. Now, if you don’t have the first and second booster, you can use the bivalent COVID vaccine.”
Gabriellea PariñoTHE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday imposed a level 3 crisis alert, which means voluntary repatriation for Filipinos in Libya, updating the previous alert levels implemented in some parts of the African nation. In 2019, the Libyan capital of Tripoli had been placed under alert level 4 or mandatory repatriation; while areas within its 100-kilometer radius were under alert level 2 or restricted phase.
The new alert level status was prompted by the “significant improvements” in Libya since four years ago, although the political and security conditions in Libya remain fragile.
“It is noted that Libya, despite the political divide between the east and the west, is currently not under a full-blown
external attack from both sides,” the DFA said.
“Conflicts in Libya, since 2019, are localized, sporadic, and targeted at combatants, which are not features of a large-scale civil conflict, but rather of low-intensity conflicts,” it added.
Currently, there are 2,300 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya, who “perceive the country as safe and secure,” the DFA said.
“This perception of safety is grounded on the fact that most of the OFWs remaining in Libya are veterans of conflict, having survived the civil wars of 2011 and 2014-2020, and the fight with the Daesh that accompanied the civil wars, and have thus adapted to the instability in the country,” it added.
The DFA noted that the most pressing concerns for OFWs in Libya involved pending the labor issues.
IT IS as if our senators and other high government officials never pass Roxas Boulevard.
The GSIS Building where the Senate currently rents its office spaces and session hall is right smack in front of the once beautiful bay.
The senators, I would suppose, go to Sofitel nearby every now and then. And so do their highly paid staff.
But not until the embassy of the mighty US of A complained about the many reclamation projects in the bay did our leaders find their voice, and asked the DENR and other government agencies to look into the environmental impact of such side-byside projects which haul sand from Cavite, Zambales and elsewhere and dump these into the bay.
An exception is Senator Cynthia Villar, who has been vocal about reclamation projects in her native Las Pinas for years.
But till the US Embassy spoke out, it’s been a case of “not in my backyard” (NIMBY).
Even the president has rued while in Malolos that “The sea has disappeared from Roxas Boulevard.”
Very few except Pamalakaya and environmentalists like Antonio Oposa and scientist Kevin Rodolfo kept criticizing the reclamation that would forever steal the Manila Bay sunset from ordinary folks and likely cause severe floods in the mainland.
Earlier, in April, a CCG vessel cut off a Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists, causing a near-collision.
could have grown if government did not earn more revenues to push through with its infrastructure and social projects.
Two weeks ago, Recto warned about the impending rice crisis due to a “quadruple whammy” of the India export ban, Vietnam’s export limits, the Russian decision to interdict grain shipments from Ukrainian ports, and the last typhoons, with more forthcoming.
Time and again, this writer has been warning about the mismanagement of our rice inventory. Recto himself warned of the “sound of empty pots clanging.”
Rice after all is not just an economic problem; it is a political commodity.
While I agree the NFA should not engage itself in commercial rice trading as the RTL proscribed, government should be allowed to import as exigencies arise.
Leaving the entire market to the private sector now poses food security problems because they will not import when the price is high.
Which is exactly what we are witnessing today.
BPI gave out 1.9 million tons worth of import permits, but many cannot import because the market has constricted.
Speaker Martin Romualdez took it upon himself to engage with his counterparts in Vietnam for assurance of continued supply of the staple.
We hope the assurances given will be able to stem the tide of a looming shortage and price spiral, just as the president must find ways and means to engage Vietnam in a government-to-government transaction.
In the latest incident in the South China Sea, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel fired water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard ships escorting boats carrying food, water, fuel and other supplies for military personnel stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal that is part of our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
We are therefore well within our right to protest this incident. There’s the Philippine Coast Guard, which strongly condemned the CCG’s “dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons against the PCG vessels escorting the indigenous boats chartered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
It also called on the Chinese Coast Guard to restrain its forces, respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, refrain from hampering freedom of navigation, and take appropriate actions against those involved in the incident.”
The Armed Forces of the Philippines also called CCG’s actions “excessive and offensive.”
It said a second boat was unable to unload supplies and could not complete the rotation and resupply mission following the incident. It
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea on the basis of a mythical ‘nine-dash line’ bereft of any historical nor legal basis
likewise urged the China Coast Guard and the Central Military Commission “to act with prudence and be responsible in their actions to prevent miscalculations and accidents that will endanger peoples’ lives.”
Both the PCG and the AFP pointed out that China’s latest aggressive maneuvers violated the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award that favored the country’s sovereignty over its 200-mile EEZ.
This is by no means an isolated incident. In July, the PCG reported that Chinese ships shadowed and obstructed its vessels in a support mission.
Ample proof that we stand on solid ground in condemning China’s recent actions in the South China Sea is that the United States and other countries such as Australia, Japan, Canada, United Kingdom as well as the European Union also released statements calling out China’s “unacceptable” and “destabilizing” maneuvers in waters within our EEZ. They agreed that the CCG’s unsafe blocking movements had “interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardized the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew.” Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea on the basis of a mythical “nine-dash line” bereft of any historical nor legal basis.
It also continues to ignore the international ruling that invalidated its expansive maritime claims.
The Senate has taken the right step in adopting a resolution strongly condemning the continued harassment of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea by the Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels, as well as the persistent incursions of China into Philippine territory.
We reiterate our clear and unequivocal stand that China should recognize our sovereignty over our EEZ as defined by UNCLOS and stop harassment of our Coast Guard vessels protecting what is rightfully ours according to international law.
In stealth, the Philippine Reclamation Authority rushed the approval of the project proponents which also got the local governments of Manila, Pasay, Paranaque, Navotas and Cavite getting into the new “gold rush.”
The Americans squawked only when they found out that one of the projects would be constructed by a Chinese company. If it were an American or Australian company, they would likely have kept quiet.
Which is why Sen. Chiz Escudero called their complaint interventionist, without necessarily supporting the reclamation projects.
One of the projects approved by a previous LGU chief was so hastily passed even if it overlapped with another reclamation project already given by the PRA.
Another overlapped territorial boundaries, between two local governments.
All done in haste, and in the last days of the Duterte administration, the “developers” rushed to pile sand into the bay.
Now belatedly, the DENR wants to review, after so much work has been done, and hardly any full view of the bay and its fabulous sunset can be seen.
Of course, we have a new DENR leadership, one with a more scientific rather than militaristic mind.
We trust she will do what is right, not only for the present but more so for future generations of our people.
The senators had best go to the Supreme Court to stop the projects via a Writ of Kalikasan.
The tribunal after all issued a writ of mandamus to save the bay more than a decade ago, so the chances of an injunction is quite high.
Still, one wonders, “nakasayad ba sa lupa and paa ng ating mga lider?” ***
Trust Deputy Speaker and Batangas representative Ralph Recto to point out the major problems of our economy as lucidly as possible.
One should credit Recto and PGMA for straightening out government finances through pushing for the expanded VAT law, even if it was quite unpopular at the time.
It even cost him his re-election to the Senate, yet imagine how our economy
Lately too, Recto warns about the unsustainability of our huge national debt, its service, and the fiscal deficit.
He has rightly calculated that with an optimistic revenue target of P11.7 trillion, there will be a deficit of P4 trillion in 2024, which must perforce be financed by debt.
We wrote last week the expected national debt by the end of next year will be some P15.7 trillion, which Recto has now calculated at “15.84 trillion after Congress received the national expenditure program.
Unless new taxes are legislated together with a great leap in our GDP, those trillions of pesos in debt will keep growing to nightmarish proportions.
Translating those mind-boggling figures to daily numbers, Recto said the P5.767 trillion means an average daily expenditure of P15.8 billion of which only P11.7 billion can be supported by revenues, leaving a P4 billion hole which represents the daily incremental debt government will incur.
But that is only the fiscal deficit that needs to be financed.
There are also interest and principal payments on present indebtedness that are automatically appropriated in the budget.
These are king-sized headaches the present administration will have to grapple with amidst a global economic slowdown that would limit our export growth while making our imports more expensive.
Things are not looking good, despite the assurances of our economic managers.
We have to thank Ralph Recto for the reality checks, with the hope he and other well-meaning legislators can find solutions, even if Congress itself needs to indulge in self-abnegation.
Legislating new taxes will produce only small increments to the revenue versus expenditure gap, and our inefficient collection machinery will not be up to speed.
Cutting the pork barrel already made part of the President’s budget as proposed by DBM, on top of more that our legislators will push for as they deliberate on the GAA all the way to the bicameral conference committee, is the immediate stop-gap measure to bridge that deficit to more manageable proportions.
As a whistleblower in a past Congress clearly exhorted—“moderate the greed.”
CRISPULO Baylon was in his mid-90s when his grandson Hercules saw him raising his eyes with each rising sun with a coconut shell of ”basi,” a fermented alcoholic beverage from sugar cane popular in the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley.
Northeast of their hometown of Pinili, men in their 20s gather during a weekend wedding in Lagawe and bountiful harvest in Bontoc and enjoy the rice wine, popularly known as “tapuy,” a traditional beverage which originated from Banaue and Mountain Province.
In Atimonan, Quezon, cousins Antonio and Pablo and their friends gather at twilight for a taste of their “lambanog” wine made from coconut they claim and the generations before them as potent with its 80 to 90 proof alcohol variations.
In Minglanilla, Cebu, south of the provincial capital, some homeowners at Vel Pal Estate take pride in their tuba they claim, following oral tradition, was tasted in the 16th century when Ferdinand Magellan and his men were guests during a local feast with tuba-filled earthen jars before them.
The drinkers of the different Philippine alcoholic wines—“basi, tapuy, lambanog” and “tuba,” to name some of the indigenous wines —raise their glasses,. cups or coconut shells for different reasons and at different occasions.
For the wines form part of the food they partake during simple or sumptuous dinners during special occasions like town fiestas, weddings, baptismal rituals and harvest seasons. According to Baylon, who has a straight spinal column despite his age and a great story teller to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, drinking “basi” helps him celebrate the blessings of the food he harvests from his own farm, planted to rice and vegetables as well as garlic, onions and the Virginia tobacco variety in summer.
A coconut shell of “basi” at breakfast and another at dinner, usually of “pinakbet” and some fisherman’s platter, which includes octopus and lobster, normally makes his day before he makes the sign of the Cross in bed.
Baylon likes to narrate to his audience the story of the 1807 Basi Revolt in Piddig, northeast of his hometown, also in Ilocos Norte, when the country’s Spanish rulers effectively banned private manufacture of the beverage.
In San Ildefonso town in Ilocos Sur, south of Pinili, as in other “basi”-producing towns of the Ilocos, sugar cane juice extracted through a wooden mill is boiled in vats and then stored in earthen jars. In Naguilian, La Union farther south, an annual Basi festival is held which has become a tourist come-on for the town.
Once the juice has cooled, flavorings made of ground glutinous rice and java plum bark or other fruits or barks are added. The jars are then sealed with banana leaves and allowed to ferment for several days. The resulting
drink is pale red in color. If fermented longer, it turns into “suka (accent second syllable)” or vinegar. The rice wine “tapuy,” used for important occasions like weddings, rice harvesting ceremonies, fiestas and cultural fairs, is produced from either pure glutinous rice or a combination of glutinous and non-glutinous rice together with onuad roots, ginger extract, and a powdered starter culture locally known as “bubod.”
Guests to these important events, including writers from GUMIL Filipinas, the Ilocano writers national association, have been treated to this “tapuy” hospitality on various occasions—
There are wine connoisseurs who say wine drank in moderation can help the drinker lose weight, reduce forgetfulness, boost his immunity and help prevent bone loss
with the writers going away in gratitude.
Considered as the ceremonial wine served during special occasions, residents can produce “tapuy” rice wine inside their homes – which means the local wine is also absorbed heavily by them daily. This local wine from fermented rice is also produced in the other Cordilleras, particularly in Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. Other names for “tapuy” in these parts are “tapey” or “bayah.”
In Quezon province and other areas producing “lambanog,” hosts and guests have a taste of the production process, which involves collecting the sap from the coconut flower, similar to rubber tree tapping.
Hosts say the sap is then cooked and fermented to become “tuba,” a popular coconut toddy. The “tuba” is then distilled to make “lambanog.” ”Lambanog” was made an export product in 2001 and has attracted foreign markets. It is now marketed and sold in different flavors like cherry, jack fruit, apple, orange, four seasons, strawberry, bubble gum, and mint.
Some homeowners in Vel Pal Estate, echoing the tradition from other “tuna”-producing towns,
say “tuba” is made through a process of extracting the sap of an unopened coconut bud, which has a stinging sweet and bittersweet taste.
The tip of the bud is lopped and the pale juice allowed to trickle into bamboo containers. A sturdy tree yields about a gallon of liquid daily.
Some wine sources say from the coconut water comes a syrup concentrate for tuba, a sweet, fresh or mildly fermented sap taken from tapping the young expanded flowers of the coconut.
Other sources say that in some barangays of Malolos, Bulacan, tuberculosis patients are advised to drink or even bathe in tuba as a cure while nursing babies in Bantayan, Cebu are fed with this beverage.
There are wine connoisseurs who say wine drank in moderation can help the drinker lose weight, reduce forgetfulness, boost his immunity and help prevent bone loss.
In the meantime, a familiar toast by “basi” drinkers in Pinili almost always echo during special occasions: “Paraiso koma ti pagtungpalan nagaramid basi a makaited rugso,/ Ngem impierno koma ti pakairusodan nagaramid bassit nga ungotko.” (May paradise be his who made this basi reason to celebrate, But may hell be his destiny who made this coconut shell inadequate).
ALMERIA, Spain—Ongoing droughts and an over-exploitation of land for both agriculture and industry have stoked fears in Spain over the creeping spread of “sterile soil” which could devastate Europe’s kitchen garden.
“There used to be a holm oak forest here.. but now the land is barren,” says Gabriel del Barrio, pointing to a hill where only stunted shrubs remain.
Wearing dusty trainers and with a canvas hat on his head, this specialist in desertification has been worriedly monitoring the daily degradation of the landscape in Almeria, in the southern Andalusia region.
“Spain is not going to be a desert with dunes like in the Sahara, that’s morphologically impossible,” explains del Barrio, a researcher at EEZA, the experimental centre for research into arid zones.
But desertification, which is characterized by a severe “degradation of the soil” causing it to lose its productive capacity, “is worrying”, he says.
In the dock are the usual suspects: global warming, which is driving rising temperatures leading to water evaporation that causes more wildfires, but also human activity, which is
the biggest culprit, notably due to intensive farming.
Despite its very dry climate, Almeria has transformed itself into Europe’s vegetable garden through its 40,000 hectares of greenhouses -- its “Sea of Plastic”—which produce thousands of tonnes of tomatoes, peppers, courgettes and cucumbers all year round.
But these vast crop-producing areas are exacerbating the problem by using groundwater and “depleting the aquifers,” says del Barrio.
‘Complicated position’
Although the situation is extreme, it’s not only happening in Almeria.
According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, 75 percent of Spain’s land is battling climatic conditions that could lead to desertification, making it the European nation most threatened by the problem.
“This puts us in a complicated position in which the combination of extreme temperatures, droughts and other factors aggravate the risk of erosion and the loss of soil quality,” Spain’s Ecology Minister Teresa Ribera warned in June.
According to the Spanish National Research Council, to which EEZA reports, soil degradation has tripled over the last 10 years, creating a problem which is “irreversible on a human scale”.
And that means soils which are unable to retain water or organic matter, that cannot support crops or nourish livestock—a matter of huge concern in a country where agriculture accounts for annual exports of some 60 billion
euros ($66 billion).
“Soil erosion is now the main problem for most farmers in Spain,” said UPA, which represents small farmers and stockbreeders, warning the situation was “serious” and could have a significant “economic cost”.
Soil regeneration
In Andalusia, the situation has prompted some to roll up their sleeves and get down to work.
“We have to act on our own wherever possible... and not give in to fate,” says Juan Antonio Merlos, 40, who owns a 100-hectare almond farm in the hills above Velez-Blanco.
Together with a handful of farmers from an association called AlVelAl, Merlos has introduced new “regenerative” practices since taking over his parents’ farm three years ago, which has now been certified as organic, in a bid to “halt the soil erosion” in the region.
These farmers now use manure instead of chemical fertilisers, don’t use pesticides “which kill insects,” limit use of plowing “which damages the soil” and use plant matter to cover the soil in order to conserve moisture on the rare occasions when it rains.
“This is long-term work” using techniques that have been around for years, says Merlos as he examines a few barley stalks planted under his almond trees.
But that doesn’t stop him from being optimistic.
“In theory, you need seven years to see results from regenerative agriculture. But I have already started to notice the difference in the soil and the insects,” he told AFP.
As well as urging farmers to adopt new practices, environmental associations are pushing for new ways of farming, by reducing irrigated areas and using crops that consume less water.
“We need to adjust our needs in light of the available water resources to reduce the risk exposure of both people and our productive sectors in a period of scarcity,” said the World Wildlife Fund.
By and large, del Barrio agrees.
“We have to find a balance” to ensure food needs without endangering the soil, he said.
“We need to manage the soil in a way that makes it as sustainable as possible” to avoid the specter of “lifeless” land. AFP
CHINA has done it again. And we’re afraid it won’t be the last.
‘Paradise to him who made this wine reason to celebrate…’– drinkers’ toast
BEIJING—Thirty-three people have been confirmed dead and 18 are still missing after Beijing’s heaviest rains on record, officials said Wednesday.
China’s capital has been hit by record downpours in recent weeks, damaging infrastructure and deluging swaths of the city’s suburbs and surrounding areas.
Floods in China’s southwestern Sichuan province also killed seven people on Wednesday, state media reported.
Authorities in the capital said on Wednesday that 33 had died in the recent bad weather in Beijing, mainly by flooding and buildings collapsing, almost three times the figure given by officials on Tuesday last week.
“I would like to express my deep condolences to those who died in the line of duty and the unfortunate victims,” Xia Linmao, Beijing’s vice-mayor, told a news conference, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Scores have died in the floods across northern China, with Beijing officials saying on Friday 147 deaths or disappearances last month were caused by natural disasters.
Of those, 142 were caused by flooding or geological disasters, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management said.
In Hebei province, which neighbours Beijing, 15 were reported to have died and 22 were missing.
And in northeastern Jilin, 14 died and one person was reported missing on Sunday.
Further north in Heilongjiang, state media reported dozens of rivers had water levels rise above “warning markers” in recent days.
“I still feel scared when I recall the recent flooding,” Zheng Xiaokang, a police officer from the province’s Jiangxi village, told the state-
run Xinhua News Agency.
“In the face of the persistent downpour and rising river water, the consequences would have been devastating had we not managed to timely evacuate the villagers,” Zheng said.
Millions of people have been hit by extreme weather events and prolonged heatwaves around the globe in recent weeks, events that scientists say are being exacerbated by climate change.
CCTV said seven people died in Sichuan on Wednesday and four others were rescued from the water, adding that “local public security, fire and other departments are continuing to carry out search and rescue efforts”.
The incident occurred at about 10 am near an embankment southwest of the provincial capital of Chengdu, where “more than 10” people were swept away by an unexpected tide of water, state media said.
The victims, who were reportedly taking pictures when the torrent struck, were tourists visiting a popular site.
Video shared by CCTV showed several people struggling to keep their heads above water as a powerful torrent pushed them downstream and bystanders shouted from the water’s edge.
The cause of the deluge of water was not immediately clear.
Meteorological authorities in the nearby city of Qionglai continued to issue a yellow warning for rain at 10:40 am on Wednesday, anticipating possible precipitation of “more than 50 mm” over the next six hours in certain parts of the administrative district. AFP
TOKYO—Airlines canceled several hundred flights and authorities issued warnings Wednesday as tropical storm Khanun barreled off Japan’s southern coast towards South Korea.
The storm, which has been downgraded from typhoon status, has already prompted South Korea to begin the evacuation of tens of thousands camping at the World Scout Jamboree, which was earlier hit by a heatwave.
On Wednesday, about 16,000 households were without power as heavy rain pounded Japan’s southern island of Kyushu.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of torrential rain and the “surging” risk of “life-threatening mudslides and flooding” in the island’s Kagoshima region.
The US military’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center has designated the system a tropical storm with gusts of up to 130 kph.
Japan Airlines on Wednesday canceled 252 flights, affecting some 25,000 passengers, a spokeswoman told AFP. All Nippon Airways scrapped 96 flights, hitting over 10,000 people, a spokeswoman said. The weather system, which killed at
least two people in the Okinawa region last week, has already forced organisers to scale down and move inside Wednesday ceremonies marking the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
Japan’s “shinkansen” bullet train service was also halted in part of its southern route, while many other local commuter and express trains were canceled, Kyushu Railway said in a statement.
In South Korea, where Khanun was expected to make landfall Thursday, nearly 80 flights at 10 airports and dozens of ferry services were suspended.
Seoul has raised its crisis alert level to its highest level, with the typhoon expected to have “a direct impact on the whole country” from Wednesday to Friday, said the interior ministry.
The presidential office was working around the clock on emergency typhoon watch, Yonhap news agency reported.
“We will do our best to respond to the typhoon, so that no human casualties occur, with thorough control and pre-emptive evacuation for the highrisk areas such as underground tunnels and riverbanks,” Interior Minister Lee Sang-min said Tuesday. AFP
WASHINGTON, DC – US President Joe Biden said Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) he would travel to Vietnam “shortly” as part of an effort to improve ties with Hanoi, as Washington seeks to counter China’s influence in the region.
“I’m going to be going to Vietnam shortly because Vietnam wants to change our relationship and become a partner,” Biden said during remarks in New Mexico.
“We find ourselves in a situation where all these changes around the world are taking place at a time we have an opportunity ... to change the dynamic,” he added.
The United States and Vietnam have increasingly close trade links, while both share concern over China’s growing strength in the region.
Friction has been increasing for years between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations, particularly Vietnam and the Philippines, over China’s sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea.
Washington and Hanoi pledged in April to upgrade diplomatic ties when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stopped over on his way to a
Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers’ meeting in Japan.
“We think this is an auspicious time to elevate our existing partnership,” Blinken told reporters during the visit with Vietnamese leaders.
“We’ve had for the last 10 years this comprehensive partnership that has created an incredibly strong foundation of cooperation across many different areas. As a result, we think this is a good moment to go even further.”
Blinken also attended a ground-breaking for a new US embassy in Hanoi.
And in March, Biden spoke with the head of Vietnam’s ruling Communist party, Nguyen Phu Trong.
Washington has, however, bristled over human rights concerns in Vietnam, with Blinken saying he continued “to underscore how future progress on human rights is essential to unleashing the full potential of the Vietnamese people.”
The South China Sea, the longtime center of tensions between China and Vietnam, is seen as a powder keg, and many fear a miscalculation or accident could ignite a military conflict. AFP
BEIJING—China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia this week, Beijing said Wednesday as it seeks to build ties in the region.
Wang, who returned to the post last month after the unexplained disappearance of predecessor Qin Gang, will travel to the three countries from Thursday to Sunday, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.
“China hopes to strengthen strategic communication with the three Southeast Asian countries through this visit,” the foreign ministry said.
Cambodia has become one of China’s strongest allies in the region under the rule of outgoing ruler Hun Sen, receiving huge sums of Chinese investment.
But the flood of Chinese money has brought problems, including a rash of casinos and online scam operations staffed by foreign workers.
China’s relations with Southeast Asia have been complicated by self-proclaimed control over most of the South China Sea despite competing claims from nations including Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.
Maritime disagreements have pitted some members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) against Beijing and boosted sympathy for US opposition to China’s growing assertiveness. Others have backed Beijing. AFP
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Pakistan’s parliament was due to be dissolved Wednesday, ushering in a technocrat-led interim government to oversee an election that will not include the country’s most popular politician, Imran Khan. The country has been in political turmoil since the former international cricket star was booted from power in April last year, culminating in his being jailed for graft at the weekend following a months-long crackdown on his party.
By law, elections should be held within 90 days of parliament’s dissolution, but the outgoing government has already warned they are likely to be delayed.
The unlikely coalition between the country’s usually feuding dynastic parties -- which came together to kick out Khan -- has won little popular support during its 18 months at the helm of the world’s fifth-most populous country.
The economy is still in the doldrums despite a new International Monetary Fund bailout, with crippling foreign debt, soaring inflation and widespread unemployment from factories made idle because they lack foreign currency to buy raw materials.
“Economic decisions are invariably tough and often unpopular, requiring a government with a longer tenure to effectively implement them,” said Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, president of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency think tank. AFP
SYDNEY—Australia’s Great Barrier Reef could deteriorate if warming ocean temperatures spark another mass coral bleaching event later this year, the country’s top marine science body said Wednesday.
Sections of the reef had been showing promising signs of recovery until a bleaching event in 2022 turned swathes of the vibrant coral a sickly, pale white.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science said that, although the reef’s condition had stabilized during a “relatively mild” summer in 2023, it remained in a precarious position.
Institute research director David Wachenfeld said the reef was at “increased risk with climate change driving more frequent and severe bleaching events”.
Australia’s weather bureau has said it is “likely” an El Nino weather pattern will develop over the country in the coming weeks, bringing warmer ocean temperatures to the Pacific -- and the renewed risk of coral bleaching.
Globally, the average ocean temperature has been topping seasonal heat records on a regular basis since April.
Wachenfeld said the reef was “only one large-scale disturbance away from a rapid reversal of recent recovery.”
Australia was given a brief reprieve earlier this year when a team of United Nations experts left the fading wonder off a list of heritage sites considered “in danger.” AFP
25,000 passengers stranded as Japan cancels 252 flights
OSLO—Norway’s data protection agency said Tuesday it would start fining Facebook and Instagram owner Meta nearly $100,000 per day for defying a ban on using users’ personal information to target ads.
The Norwegian watchdog, Datatilsynet, said Meta would be fined one million kroner ($97,000) per day, starting August 14.
Tobias Judin, head of Datatilsynet’s international department, said the fine related to a decision made on July 14, where the agency had temporarily “imposed a ban on behavioral advertising on Facebook and Instagram.”
“Meta’s behavioral advertising entails intrusive surveillance of its users, negatively impacting their right to data protection and freedom of information,” Judin told AFP in an email, adding that there were many vulnerable groups on the platforms, such as “young people, the elderly and people with cognitive disabilities.”
“We are also concerned that sensitive personal data may be used for advertising purposes. We have therefore found that Meta’s practices are contrary to data protection law,” Judin continued.
Datatilsynet announced the ban on July 17 and originally said that Meta had until August 4 to take corrective measures.
“The coercive fine is issued because Meta has not yet complied with our ban,” Judin said.
The social media giant said last week it intends to ask users in the European Union, EEA (European Economic Area) and Switzerland to give their consent before allowing targeted advertising on its networks.
European regulators in January had dismissed the previous legal basis -“legitimate interest” -- Meta had used to justify gathering users’ personal data for targeted advertising.
Judin said this was a “positive change—but personal data continues to be processed unlawfully in the interim.”
A spokesman for Meta told AFP the company was appealing the decision by the Norwegian watchdog, saying they believed they had already committed to the consent the authority was asking for. AFP
LOCAL stocks rose Wednesday after the government announced a lower unemployment rate in June and as investors await the release of second-quarter gross domestic product.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index advanced by 57.48 points, or 0.89 percent, to close at 6,530.45, while the broader all-shares index rose 19.05 points to 3,480.16.
Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan said investors bought Philippine stocks ahead of the GDP release and as companies reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings.
Philstocks Financial Inc. research analyst Claire Alviar said investors also welcomed the decline in June unemployment rate.
The Philippine Statistics Authority said Wednesday unemployment rate declined to 4.5 percent in June 2023 from
6 percent a year ago, but slightly increased from 4.3 percent in May. Market value turnover remained thin at P3.26 billion.
Meanwhile, Asian markets fluctuated after data showing China slipped into deflation compounded worries about the world number two economy›s faltering post-Covid recovery.
The mood on trading floors was already glum after another sell-off on Wall Street fueled by fresh concerns over the banking sector and talk of another possible Federal Reserve rate hike.
The 0.3 percent drop in China’s July consumer prices was the first since the start of 2021 and comes as slowing do-
mestic spending weighs on the country›s economic recovery.
Investors were already in a dour mood a day after China announced its biggest drop in exports since the beginning of the pandemic more than three years ago, while imports also tanked owing to slimming demand at home.
An extended period of disappointing indicators out of Beijing this year has ramped up pressure on authorities to provide much-needed support to the economy.
However, while leaders have made a number of pledges in recent weeks to introduce stimulus—particularly for the property sector—there have been very few concrete moves save for some small interest rate cuts by the People›s Bank of China.
“China is in deflation, for sure, the question is for how long.” Robin Xing of Morgan Stanley said on Bloomberg Television. “It’s up to the policymakers how they react.” With AFP
A fruit and vegetable vendor updates the price of an item at a market in Beijing on August 9, 2023. AFP
FROM a harrowing journey to the same hellish trip. Motorists driving through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) on the northbound and southbound lanes had an appalling experience in the past two weeks.
A small flooded portion of the NLEX along the San Simon stretch approaching the Tulaoc Bridge had stalled hundreds of vehicles, resulting in a traffic buildup that stretched to as long as 22 kilometers on both sides. Vehicles were running at five to 10 kilometers per hour after an overflow from the Pampanga River flooded the tiny stretch and rendered it impassable for some small cars and vehicles. The floodwater had risen to as high as 40 cm or almost 16 inches, forcing traffic at some point to stop. It’s one nightmare for motorists. It took travelers two to six hours to navigate the San Fernando-San Simon stretch on the southbound road and the Pulilan-San Simon stretch on the other side. This road strip normally takes just 10 to 15 minutes of travel time.
I had the same unfortunate experience as the other NLEX motorists. It took me two hours to finish the tiny flooded portion of the southbound road on July 31. Driving north over the next weekend, I took the advice of a motorist group to exit in Pulilan and head to Mac Arthur Highway until the alternative route nears the San Fernando exit of NLEX. The recommended route was a smooth ride at the start. The road traversing a portion of the Calumpit town in Bulacan on the way to Mac Arthur Highway was surprisingly not (or no longer) flooded. Turning right to Mac Arthur Highway, however, was another story.
One can sense that a great portion of Calumpit town was still flooded. Vehicles
of different sizes were parked along the two sides of the highway that presumably served as a safe and a more elevated parking space. The traffic was more forgiving but some parts of the old highway leading to Calumpit and Apalit, San Simon and San Fernando were flooded and under repair. In all, it took me two hours to complete my diversionary trip to the San Fernando exit and back to NLEX.
So what caused the NLEX flood? NLEX Corp., the operator of the toll road, and the national government blamed Super Typhoon Egay, Typhoon Falcon and the enhanced southwest monsoon rain that flooded parts of the major highway.
The Department of Public Works and Highways, meanwhile, said it would raise the Tulaoc Bridge to accommodate a more elevated road under it—as planned by NLEX.
San Miguel solution Rivers overflow due to heavy rain, siltation, deforestation, illegal structures and pollution. The swelling of Pampanga River partly caused the heavy NLEX flooding. The excess water found its way to the Candaba Swamp and increased the water intake of Calumpit River, a tributary of Pampanga River.
Bulacan’s perennial problem with flooding has a solution, says San Miguel Corp. president and chief executive officer Ramon S. Ang, or RSA.
San Miguel offered an extensive cleanup of polluted river systems and waterways in and around the province, using its own resources at no cost to the government and the people of Bulacan.
RSA made the pledge to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga in a recent meeting, where he presented the status of SMC’s massive river cleanup initiatives including the Pasig River, Tullahan River, and the San Juan River.
The company has already spent some P3 billion to de-silt and remove solid wastes from the polluted waterways. Ang also outlined plans to fully shift its river rehabilitation efforts to Bulacan in the coming months.
San Miguel, which has multiple investments in Bulacan —including the MRT-7 project, the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply facility, and the biggest development in the country to date, the P740-billion New Manila International Airport —has, in recent years, been a prime mover and advocate for cleaning up major river systems in Metro Manila.
“Our Pasig River cleanup is almost complete. After about two years, we are nearing our target of 1.4 million tons of silt and waste removed. We have also started desilting and waste extraction activities at the Meycauayan River and Maycapiz/Taliptip River. This is part of our plan to clean up rivers in the Bulakan-Obando-Meycauayan-MarilaoBocaue-Guiguinto River System, which is critical to addressing flooding throughout the southern part of Bulacan,” says Ang.
E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com
TAIPEI—Taiwanese chip giant TSMC agreed Tuesday to plough $3.8 billion (3.5 billion euros) into a new semiconductor factory in Germany, lending a major boost to Europe’s efforts to bring production onto the continent.
Total investments in the factory, TSMC’s first in Europe, are expected to exceed 10 billion euros, with “strong support from the European Union and German government”, along with TSMC’s partners in the project.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will set up a joint venture with
German groups Bosch and Infineon and Dutch firm NXP to build the plant, the companies said, with construction to begin in the second half of 2024. TSMC is a key player in the sector, controlling more than half the world’s output of microchips.
The facility in Germany is expected to begin production by the end of 2027, with monthly capacity to reach 40,000 300mm (12-inch) wafers. It will also create about 2,000 direct jobs, the companies said. Hailing the news, Chancellor Olaf Scholz
said that Germany “is now likely to become the major location for semiconductor production in Europe.” This was important “for the future viability of our European continent and it is, of course, particularly important for the future viability of Germany,” he said. Stung by the energy crisis unleashed by Russia’s war in Ukraine, Germany and its allies have been racing to slash dependencies on countries such as China and ramp up domestic production of sensitive components such as semiconductor chips. AFP
SM INVESTMENTS Corp., a holding company led by the Sy family, reported a 32-percent growth in firsthalf consolidated net income to P36.5 billion from P27.7 billion in the same period last year as core businesses delivered positive results.
SMIC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Wednesday first-half consolidated revenues rose 18 percent year-on-year to P286.3 billion.
SMIC president and chief executive Frederic DyBuncio said solid consumer sentiment and positive economic environment led to the group’s strong first-half performance.
“Our performance was driven by fundamental demand, without the added benefit of post-pandemic ‘revenge spending’ that contributed to last year’s results,” he said.
“We experienced robust consumer
confidence, consistent with the Philippines’ overall economic growth, record low unemployment and improving inflation environment. This provides us with a solid basis for the balance of the year, in which we typically see our strongest quarters,” he said.
The banking group accounted for 47 percent total net earnings in the six-month period, followed by property with 26 percent. Retail group contributed 17 percent, while portfolio investments added 10 percent.
SM Retail’s net income grew 21 percent in the first semester to P8.4 billion from P7 billion as revenues went up 15 percent to P188.9 billion from P164.3 billion amid vibrant shopping activity supported by improving employment.
Sales from the department store grew 27 percent, while specialty retail revenues increased 18 percent. Food retail revenues also grew 10 percent.
THE Laguna Lake Development
Authority on Tuesday awarded the rights to SunAsia Energy Inc. to develop what could be the world’s largest floating solar project.
LLDA general-manager Senando Santiago handed the certificate of award to SunAsia Energy for 10 blocks of Laguna Lake surface spanning 1,000 hectares. The 10 projects are estimated to generate a combined capacity of 1.3 gigawatts of solar energy.
THE Philippine Statistics Authority on Wednesday maintained its 6.4-percent gross domestic product growth estimate in the first quarter despite some revisions in the performance of several industries.
“The first quarter 2023 gross domestic product growth rate was maintained at 6.4 percent. Major changes were recorded in three industries: education, from 5.8 percent to 6.6 percent; accommodation and food service activities, from 26.9 percent to 27.8 percent; and construction, from 10.8 percent to 11.1 percent,”
it said in a statement on its website.
It revised the gross national income growth in the first quarter from 9.9 percent to 10.0 percent, as the net primary income from the rest of the world was adjusted from 81.2 percent to 82.4 percent.
The PSA revises the GDP estimates based on an approved revision policy (PSA Board Resolution No. 1, Series of 2017-053) consistent with international standard practices on national accounts revisions.
It will release the second-quarter GDP figures on Thursday. Julito G. Rada
MAYA cornered a 61-percent market share of digital banking accounts as of the first quarter of 2023, which solidified its position as the leading digital bank in the country.
Latest data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed Maya also secured 71 percent of total depositors and 46 percent of the total deposit balance among licensed digital banks during the period. The milestone was achieved in less than a year since Maya’s public launch in April 2022.
More than 1.8 million Filipinos have created their own deposit accounts, collectively accumulating about P21 billion in deposit balance.
The number of Filipinos choosing Maya as their preferred digital bank also continued to grow. Maya has drawn the trust of 2.3 million depositors, amassing a remarkable P25 billion in deposit balance, as of end-June 2023.
Shailesh Baidwan, group president at Maya and co-founder of Maya Bank, said in a statement the bank would continue to create innovative and meaningful financial services for the large segments of unbanked and unhappily banked customers. Julito G. Rada
LOPEZ Group‘s clean and renewable energy provider First Gen Corp. said Wednesday recurring net income climbed 30 percent in the first half to $167 million (P9 billion) from $128 million (P7 billion) in the same period in 2022 on higher earnings of geothermal subsidiary.
The company is bullish of continued better performance in the remaining months of the year, with the expected operations of its liquefied natural natural gas terminal in Batangas.
“We hope to carry over the good performance of the first half in the next six months. We are looking forward to a number of significant milestones that are expected to happen for the remainder of the year, including the commercial operations of our LNG terminal at the First Gen Clean Energy Complex,” First Gen president and chief executive Francis Giles Puno said. He said the closing and turnover of the 165-megawatt Casecnan hydroelectric power plant purchased in May from the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. and the start of construction of the 100 MW pump storage expansion in Lake Aya at the Pantabangan-Masiway hydroelectric plants in Nueva Ecija were expected to further strengthen First Gen’s second-half performance. Alena Mae S. Flores
It would be bigger than the 1,000-MW project of ACEN Corp. which signed a renewable energy contract area utilization agreement with LLDA for 800 hectares also in Laguna Lake.
“Land use is becoming a big issue for renewables particularly for solar energy projects. People and policymakers are worrying about competing uses of land. Currently, project developers are struggling to find land to locate the solar power plants. Most of the time, delays in solar energy projects are normally caused by consolidation of properties and late issuances of land conversion permits. So, there is an incentive to build on water,” said SunAsia.
SunAsia chief executive Tetchi Capellan said that at 1:1 ratio, the government’s target of building 44 GW
of solar projects would require some 44,000 hectares of space.
“This is not an easy task to do because we need to balance energy with food, housing and urban development,” she said.
Laguna Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines covering 90,000 hectares. SunAsia Energy said the allocation of 2,000 hectares for floating solar sites would account for only about 2 percent of the total lake surface.
LLDA said that once operational, the floating solar projects in Laguna Lake could be one of the world’s engineering wonders, attracting visitors all over the world including academics, researchers and developers.
PRIME Asset Ventures Inc., a company led by the Villar Group, on Wednesday finalized the acquisition of the fourkilometer Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway from Ayala Corp. for P3.8 billion.
PAVI said in a statement it signed the implementing agreements for the acquisition of MCX after the Department of Public Works and Highways in July approved the transfer of ownership of from Ayala Corp. to the Villar Group.
Vista Land chairman Manuel Villar Jr. and Ayala Corp. president and chief executive Cezar Consing attended the signing ceremony at Brittany Hotel in
By Alena Mae S. FloresPOWER retailer Manila Electric Co.
announced Wednesday a reduction of P0.2908 per kilowatt-hour in August rates, the second consecutive month of price reduction. Meralco said the overall rate for a typical household went down to P10.8991 per kWh this month from P11.1899 per kWh in July.
Meralco head of utility economics
By Darwin G. AmojelarEXECUTIVES of United Airlines on Wednesday expressed optimism about the daily nonstop service from Manila to San Francisco on “exploding” demand for US travel.
“We are seeing the travel demand for US exploding as far as international demand is concerned, and we’re very confident that the flight will be well,”
Walter Dias, United’s regional director of sales for Greater China, Korea and Southeast Asia, said in a briefing.
“The Philippines is fantastic destination for our customers in the US,” he said. The first westbound flight from SFO to Manila would depart on Oct. 29, 2023. All flights will use the B777300ER aircraft offering 60 seats in the United Polaris business cabin, 24 seats in the United Premium Plus cabin and 266 seats in the United Economy cabin. Dias also expressed confidence that load factor for the Manila to San Francisco service would be higher.
Data from the Department of Tourism showed that US tourists visiting the
Philippines reached 505,089 in 2022. The DOT said travelers from the US accounted for 550,579 or 18.35 percent of the total 3 million tourists in the first seven months of 2023.
United Airlines operates two-times daily flights between Manila and Palau and daily flights from Manila to Guam.
San Francisco is United’s largest hub airport in the US West Coast and a gateway to Asia-Pacific. United operates more than 200 daily departures from San Francisco International Airport, taking customers to more than 100 destinations around the globe, including the most international service with flights to 31 different international cities.
The hub will offer direct flights to 15 Asia-Pacific destinations this winter, including Manila (Philippines), Auckland and Christchurch (New Zealand), Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney (Australia), Haneda/Tokyo, Narita/Tokyo, and Osaka (Japan), Incheon/Seoul (South Korea), Papeete/ Tahiti, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei.
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
“This momentous event shows our resolve to provide our countrymen better services in the area of roads and toll ways. You’ll be surprised of the many wonderful things to come in Villar City,” Villar said. MCXis a four-kilometer controlledaccess toll road linking the southern part of Cavite to Muntinlupa. It is the first public-private partner project under the Aquino administration. Ayala signed the 30-year concession agreement for the operation of MCX Expressway in 2012. It invested P2.2
Lawrence Fernandez said the high oil prices in the past weeks would have no direct effect as suppliers were not using oil for power generation.
The combined reduction over the past two months now reached P1.0121 per kWh.
Meralco attributed the overall rate decrease to lower generation charge, which registered its third consecutive reduction. It went down by P0.2137 to P6.3929 per kWh from P6.6066 per kWh in July.
Charges from the Wholesale
billion for the project including a P902million cash payment to the government.
Ayala announced in March 2022 it would sell its entire stake in MCX Project Company Inc., which holds the concession for the MCX to the Villar Group for P3.8 billion.
“Ayala developed MCX over a decade ago to connect Metro Manila to Imus, Dasmarinas and Bacoor in Cavite which were experiencing rapid growth. MCX succeeded in relieving traffic congestion and reducing the travel time between Metro Manila and Cavite. The sale of MCX represents another example of
United Airlines sees strong demand for new Manila-San Francisco flights Meralco: August power rates dropped P0.29 per kWh on lower generation charges
Electricity Spot Market dropped P1.2873 per kWh as average demand in the Luzon grid fell by more than 200 MW with the onset of the rainy season.
The decrease in spot market prices also reduced the imposition of the secondary price cap.
Meralco sourced around 17 percent of its energy requirement from WESM during the period. Charges from power supply agreements also went down by P0.1688
our recycling capital to benefit from opportunities in our core and emerging businesses,” Consing said.
The acquisition will further expand Villar Group investment portfolio which currently includes housing, retail, food, water, power, and utilities, to integrated resorts and entertainment.
Also present during the signing were Villar Group representatives Sen. Mark Villar, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, PAVI President Maribeth Tolentino; Maryknoll Zamora, CFO, PAVI; and other top executives. Jenniffer B. Austria
per kWh due to lower fuel prices and the peso’s appreciation which affected around 26 percent of PSA charges that are dollar-denominated.
The reductions in WESM and PSA charges offset a slight P0.0853 per kWh increase in charges from independent power producers, due to lower average IPP dispatch as several units of First Gas-Sta Rita and First Gas-San Lorenzo underwent scheduled outage during the July supply month.
ISO CERTIFICATES. The 210-megawatt thermal power plant of the Alsons Power Group’s Sarangani Energy Corp. in Maasim, Sarangani province earns three certifications of compliance with various standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization. The SEC power plant received certifications of compliance for
Management System-ISO
Occupational Health and Safety Management System- SO 45001:2018; and Quality Management System-ISO
Attending the awarding ceremony are (from left) British Standards Institution Philippines country managing director Ava Taniajura, SEC power plant manager Engr. Petronillo Madrid, Alsons Power executive vice president and chief executive Tirso Santillan Jr. and Alsons Power vice president and business manager for plant operations Jose Luis Angco.United Airlines’ executives express optimism on the daily nonstop service from Manila to San Francisco which will start on Oct. 29, 2023. Leading the media briefing at Grand Hyatt Manila in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City are (from left) United Airlines country manager for sales in the Philippines Pam Navarro and regional director for sales in Greater China, Korea and Southeast Asia Walter Dias.
MELBOURNE—Colombia captain
Catalina Usme is “dreaming big” and coach Nelson Abadia wants to “make history” as the last team standing from the Americas plots the downfall of England in the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals.
The 25th-ranked South Americans have never made the last eight before but they are brimming with confidence after grinding down Jamaica 1-0 on Tuesday thanks to a goal from their skipper.
They will now play England in Sydney on Saturday and are fearless, having beaten world number two Germany in the group stage.
“Because of their football and their history we need to be careful, we need to be cautious,” Abadia said of Sarina Wiegman’s strongly fancied England.
“But in football we have already seen that the gaps between teams have been closing down and Colombia have proven to be a solid team.
By Peter Atencio
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes said this before supervising the first practice sessions of Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson and members of the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team behind closed doors on Wednesday night.
“Even if we give our best, it might not be enough, but for sure, if we don’t
THE strength of the Filipino spirit came came out when Filipino athletes competed and won medals during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said this on Wednesday when he presented cash incentives, which he doubled, to the medalists of the SEA Games and and Para Games in a ceremony held at the Malacañang Palace.
“The most important thing that we demonstrated, the you demonstrated as you competed in the Games, was to show the strength of the Filipino spirit, the grace of the Filipino character, and the passion of the Filipino heart,” said Marcos.
The government cash incentives, which were supposed to amount to P74 million, was doubled by Marcos through the Office of the President.
A total of amount of P60 million was originally prepared for the winning athletes, aside from the P14 million for Para Games medalists and in accordance with Republic Act 10699, or the Expanded National Athletes
give our best, we have no chance,” said Reyes in a statement.
“So, let’s give ourselves a chance. Let’s go out there and play our best because if we’re not at our best, we won’t stand a chance against these opponents,” added Reyes.
The Philippine team came home Tuesday, hours after Gilas pulled off a
and Coaches Incentives and Benefits Act.
“Over the past few months, we have celebrated the Philippines’ successful campaign in the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games. The pride that every Filipino felt in every game, and in every medal won, witnessing the flag raised in a every medal ceremony brought us all together as a country,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachman.
Medalists in the SEAG got P300,000 for gold winner, P150,000 for silver and P60,000 for bronze, while for the ASEAN Para Games, the incentives are P150,000 (gold), P75,000 (silver) and P30,000 (bronze).
Philippine Olympic Committee resident Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino thanked President Marcos Jr. for reiterating his full support to Filipino athletes and Philippine sports in general.
“President Marcos Jr. welcoming the athletes in Malacanang and personally handing them their incentives is more than enough of a strong gesture of his strong belief and confidence in our athletes,” Tolentino said.
A 19-MEMBER Philippine Team comprised of swimmers (10 boys and 9 girls) from all over the country will be sent to Jakarta, Indonesia to participate in the 45th Southeast Asian Age-Group Aquatics Championship slated August 24 to 26.
All 18 homegrown swimmers, led by multiple national junior record holder in the 13-under class, Jamesray Michael Ajido from Quezon City, passed the qualifying standard criteria (5th place in last year’s edition) set by the Philippine Swimming Inc., headed by Miko Vargas and Secretary General Eric Buhain during an open tryout at the Teofilo Ildefonso swimming pool in Malate for the Manila leg, Vigan, Ilocos Sur for Luzon and Dumaguete City for Visayas and Mindanao.
US-based Filipino-foreigner Clark Kent Apuada and Ava Samantha Bautista made it after submitting a qualifying time duly signed and authenticated by
the US league organizing head. The former qualified for the boys’ 15-16 100m free (53.72) and the latter for the girls’ 15-16 50m fly (28.44), 100m fly (1:03.20), and 200m fly (2:23.46).
“The best of the best as I see it. And since talagang nagpa-tryouts tayo all over the country, well represented ang mga regions sa composition ng team natin, which is a good sign that swimming is changing for the better. They not only represent the Philippine colors but also give pride and honor for their cities and provinces,” said Buhain, an Olympian and Congressman for the 1st District of Batangas.
“Marami tayong inspirasyon sa mga batang ito, our next generation of swimming champions,” said Buhain, adding that a 5-man diving squad coached by former Asian Games campaigner Nino Carog is joining the team as part of their training and exposure.
63-48 victory over Iran B to finish its campaign in the 2023 Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament on Sunday at Xiaoqing Sport Center with three wins and a loss.
Clarkson arrived in the country earlier in the day.
For now, Gilas is heading into the final stretch of its World Cup preparations by playing tune-up games against Mexico and Montenegro.
Another key player, NBA hopeful Kai Sotto, is also expected be present in training this week.
“It’s challenging because when things are going well and we let up a bit, we lose momentum, and it shifts to the other team. We can’t just switch on and off that seriousness,” said Reyes of their coming games.
“Of course, England are one of the favourites, that goes without saying -they are the European champions.
“But we also faced Germany, who were second favourites. We were wise enough and had the composure.”
Colombia’s intense, attacking mindset has served them well so far, with their teenage striker Linda Caicedo one of the stars of the tournament.
But Usme is the glue that keeps them together and she said they were in no mood to stop now.
“We want more,” she said, having scored the goal to take Colombia into the last eight.
“It’s not our ceiling, now we are thinking about England, which is going to be a dream match.
“We need to be calm, play an intelligent match, but with the certainty that we can achieve more in this World Cup.
“We are dreaming big -- we can do this,” she added.
Abadia has been in charge since 2017 and after failing to qualify for the last tournament in France, has nurtured the likes of Caicedo into the players they are today.
The 67-year-old has made no secret of their intention to at least reach the final and match the feat of Brazil in 2007, when they were runners-up to Germany.
TEAM Philippines will have to play its best to have a chance of winning when it opens its 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign against the Dominican Republic on August 25 at the Araneta Coliseum.
PARIS—Uncertainty over the future of Kylian Mbappe hangs over French football ahead of the new Ligue 1 season, which starts this weekend.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar has won France’s player of the year award four times in a row and been Ligue 1’s top scorer in five straight seasons, but his contract dispute with the champions has dominated headlines all summer.
Mbappe has refused to sign an extension to his PSG deal, meaning he can leave for free next year, with Real Madrid long seen as his preferred destination.
PSG want to sell him now and bring in a significant transfer fee for a player who cost 180 million euros ($198m) from Monaco in 2017.
A stand-off has ensued, and for now Mbappe remains in Paris but has been reduced to training apart from the first team.
“We can’t let the best player in the world today leave for free. It’s impossible,” said the Qatar-owned club’s president, Nasser al-Khelaifi, last month.
The situation is hardly ideal for PSG’s new coach, with Luis Enrique having been appointed to succeed Christophe Galtier.
Regardless of what happens with Mbappe, PSG have a new look after limping to the title in the last campaign and failing to impress in Europe.
Lionel Messi has gone, so has Sergio Ramos. They needed attacking reinforcements even if Mbappe stays, and Portugal striker Goncalo Ramos has joined from Benfica.
The arrivals of Lucas Hernandez, Milan Skriniar, Manuel Ugarte, Lee Kang-in and Marco Asensio mean they look stronger across the pitch.
“I could have stayed at Bayern Munich, but the interest PSG showed in me, their ambition and the project they are trying to put in place for the future convinced me to come,” Hernandez told sports daily L’Equipe.
PSG begin as overwhelming favourites to win a 10th title in 12 years, but their domestic rivals might sense their
TORONTO—Former Toronto
Masters winners Andy Murray and Alexander Zverev dispatched firstround opponents in windy conditions on Tuesday to power into the second round of the Canadian hardcourt event.
Britain’s Murray worked through a marathon opening set before dominating the second for a 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.
The 36-year-old Scotsman, with three Canadian titles on his resume, earned his first victory in the country since his 2015 trophy as he defeated the Italian in two hours, eight minutes in a challenging wind.
Germany’s Zverev, who defeated Roger Federer for the 2017 Canadian title, reached the second round by defeating Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).
Third seed Casper Ruud began his US Open run-up after a bye, struggling at the start but wrapping up a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 defeat of Jiri Lehecka for a 199th career ATP match win.
The Norwegian trailed 4-0 in the first-set tiebreaker but found form in his first hardcourt match of the summer to reach the third round.
“I told myself not to give up, just keep holding onto the score,” he said. “I saved a couple of set points.
“It was all about luck and margins and they were on my side. By the end of the second set I was hitting and serving better -- I’m happy how I progressed in the match.”
Murray won his only previous encounter with Sonego last February in Doha, saving three match points. Murray, ranked 40th to his opponent’s 39th, also lifted the trophy here in 2009 and 2010.
Changing landscape
The French football landscape is changing.
Ligue 1 has been reduced to 18 clubs.
The move, after over two decades with 20 teams in the top flight, has been made with the aim of helping French clubs become more competitive in Europe by having fewer league games. Despite that, and despite seeing Messi depart and Mbappe maybe fol-
DANNY “The King” Kingad looks to continue his winning ways as he returns to the Circle at ONE Fight Night 15: Tawanchai vs. Superbon on October 7 at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The no. 3-ranked flyweight contender will be taking on the dangerous “Wolf Warrior” Hu Yong as he looks to inch closer at another shot at the gold.
“I’m excited. I know Hu Yong is a very skilled and dangerous fighter, so I’m doing everything to prepare for him and what he plans to do,” he said.
Kingad is coming off an impressive unanimous decision win against Eko Roni Saputra at ONE Fight Night 7: Lineker vs. Andrade II last February, and he knows that a win could certainly put him in the conversation once again challenging for the ONE Flyweight World Championship currently held by Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson.
“The goal is to get back into World Title contention, and I know that another win here
would put me in a good position to chase for the belt,” he said.
But that doesn’t mean that the Team Lakay bet is discounting his Chinese opponent.
He has every reason to be wary, with “Wolf Warrior” on a two-fight win streak including a knockout win against Team Lakay veteran and former ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio at ONE 164: Pacio vs. Brooks in December last year.
Still, “The King” has his full belief on what he can do and said, “I’m confident in my skills, and I’d love to test myself against him.”
This flyweight showdown will be just one of the few matches to watch out for in this loaded card headlined by two of the best Muay Thai fighters in the world. In the main event, ONE Muay Thai Featherweight World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai defends his strap against former kickboxing king Superbon Singha Mawynn in one of the most anticipated fights in all of combat sports this year.
low, the French league is hoping an upcoming auction for the next broadcast deal will allow it to make far more money than it does currently, especially for international rights. League executives want their competition to be able to rival those in England, Spain, Germany and Italy for international popularity, but the growing trend of multi-club ownership threatens to turn several French sides into feeder teams. Strasbourg have been taken over by
BlueCo, the US-led consortium that owns Chelsea.
“Although there was no financial urgence for us to do so, we were conscious that we had gone as far as we could with our existing model,” said Strasbourg’s president, Marc Keller. He refutes any suggestion that Strasbourg, French champions in 1979, will become a mere feeder team, and they have appointed former Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira as coach. AFP
Murray’s opening set lasted 90 minutes, with the two-time Wimbledon winner saving set points in the 10th game. He profitted from Sonego’s 44 unforced errors to sweep into the second round.
“I’m really pleased to have won. Those were blustery conditions,” Murray said. “The wind was changing conditions during the points. AFP
LOS ANGELES—Anthony Edwards and Cameron Johnson each scored 15 points to lead a young United States NBA squad over Puerto Rico 117-74 on Monday and conclude Basketball World Cup training camp.
Mikal Bridges scored 14 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 12 points and Jalen Brunson, Bobby Portis and Brandon Ingram each contributed 11 as the Americans launched a five-game exhibition tour in Las Vegas with a blowout.
“We’ve jelled really fast as a team. It shows the way we play the game,” said Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who had nine points, four rebounds and four assists.
“We know we have a lot of talent and we can do a lot of great things but it’s all about becoming one unit and going and playing for one another.”
NBA All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton of Indiana passed off a game-high 12 assists while New York guard Brunson grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
NBA All-Star guard Edwards of Minnesota made a game-high four steals while Brooklyn forward Johnson had six rebounds.
Reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jackson of Memphis, the league’s top shot blocker each of the past two seasons, had seven
rebounds and two blocks.
NBA 2022 All-Defensive Team swingman Bridges of Brooklyn had three steals and five rebounds in a team-best 23 minutes.
New Orleans forward Ingram, the NBA’s 2020 Most Improved Player, had five rebounds and three assists.
The squad also includes 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, a forward for Orlando, and forward Portis, who helped Milwaukee win the 2021 NBA crown.
The rout came ahead of the global showdown in Asia that starts this month, when the Americans will face New Zealand, Greece and Jordan in Group C games at Manila.
The US squad of NBA players in their 20s, coached by Golden State coach Steve Kerr, will play at Malaga against Slovenia on Saturday and Spain on Sunday, and then face Greece on August 18 and Germany on August 20 at Abu Dhabi.
The Americans, 2010 and 2014 champions, hope to bounce back from a humbling seventhplace showing at the 2019 Basketball World Cup, their worst showing in 15 major tournaments since NBA players began competing for the US national squad with the “Dream Team” at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. AFP
NUEVA Ecija greeted the fourth quarter with a 15-point binge, while Quezon closed it with a similar cluster as both teams rallied to prevail on Tuesday in the OKBetMPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the full-house Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City.
Trailing, 43-54, the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards struck back through Roi Sumang, Michael Juico and Michael Mabulac to seize control and never let go en route to a 69-65 victory over Pasig City MCW Sports in the nightcap.
The Quezon Huskers were also behind, 74-75, before Robin Rono triggered a 15-point avalanche that buried the Valenzuela XUR Homes Realty Inc.
squad, 89-77, earlier. Playing listlessly, Quezon trailed Valenzuela after three quarters, 56-62, caught up midway through the fourth (70-70), Rono poured 10 of his team-high 16 points in the last 3 minutes and 10 sec onds 3 minutes and propelled the Huskers to their 16th win against six losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
With Michael Angelo Macion bunching five points, Valenzuela last led at 75-74 before going silent and suffering its 20th loss in 23 games.
Jason Opiso supported Rono with 14 points and 11 rebounds, JK Casino with 11 points and Raffy Verano and RJ Minerva with 10
points each.
Valenzuela got 18 points from Macion and 17 from Darell Manliguez.
Hounded by poor shooting, the Rice Vanguards played catchup for over 30 minutes before going high gear while slamming the brakes on the Pasiguenos
The Laguna Krah Asia Heroes arrived late and paid the price as they lost the first game against the Bataan Risers via forfeiture.
The Heroes entered the playing court 45 minutes after the supposed tipoff at 4 p.m., forcing Crew Chief Jovet Ocfemia to declare them losers without a shot being fired. Laguna is the first MPBL team to suffer that fate.
Korean movie lovers and action-thriller fanatics have something to look forward to in the cinemas. The blockbuster duo of Ha Jung-woo and Ju Ji-hoon teams up again for a life-or-death situation in Ransomed
A man willingly risks his life for a mission and teams up with a stranger hoping to succeed and be rewarded in the end. The year is 1987, Korean diplomat Min-jun (Ha Jung-woo) feels stuck and in a dead-end job working for the Middle East Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One faithful day, their department receives information about the missing diplomat in Lebanon who was kidnapped more than a year ago, and they now have a chance to save him. Min-jun volunteers to do this unofficial mission and bring the ransom money to Lebanon and save his colleague, and in exchange, he requests to be rewarded by being assigned to work in the U.S.A.
As Min-jun arrives in Lebanon, he realizes how tough his mission for he is welcomed by armed men chasing and shooting at him. Luckily he ends up riding in the taxi cab of a fellow Korean, Pansu (Ju Ji-hoon). Because of the lack of support and assistance, Min-jun is left with no choice but to ask for Pan-su’s help despite the expat’s questionable background. Together, they outsmart gangsters who are
SOME of the greatest duos contain a standout member deserving of or bound to have a solo career. Seeing the Netflix documentary about the shortlived, yet iconic ‘80s duo Wham! made me think about the unenviable position of being the other, less cel ebrated half of a two-person combo.
For one, the special does a good job in presenting the valuable input to the equation of a forgotten man who to some critics was just lucky enough to have tagged along a born superstar named George Michael.
Here are some of these guys whose fortune is often questioned, for good and bad, because unlike in groups with charismatic frontmen, they only have themselves to carry the burden of being the other fellow riding on the glowing stage presence and ingenious skill of someone more talented, famous, and relevant.
It is significant to note that not all duos have the same awkward setup. There are those who have showcased themselves as equally notable, like in the case of Air Supply where, arguably, neither of the “Russells” is, sorry for the term, disposable.
The same goes with Tears For Fears - just can’t underrate the main vocals behind “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” “Mad World,” and more.
Vince Clark of Erasure may not be as flamboyant as singer Adam Bell, but his track record as a former key member of Depeche Mode obviously disqualifies him from the not-so-great list.
Others have members whose names are hard to recall anyway; it’s best to take them off the shortlist below. Roxette and Go West fans may agree.
1. Andrew Ridgeley: He tops this list considering that George Michael’s name is way up there among the music legends. To see the aforementioned documentary is a must especially if you’re wondering how Andrew ended up in the company of a person he refers to as Yog. Safe to say George wouldn’t have gotten off sending a demo to record labels if not for him who while in school “volunteered to take him (Michael) under his wing.”
2. John Oates: The name of a mailbox, Hall & Oates, in an apartment he shared with Daryl Hall forever put him second in billing. Yet, the guitarist co-wrote some of the duo’s biggest songs, including “Out Of Touch” and “Maneater,” and sang lead vocals on another major hit “Possession Obsession.”
3. Meg White: She is the lady drummer who gave the pounding beat to the White Stripes’ signature track “Seven Nation Army,” with its guitar riff now a popular chant in sports arenas. She has polarized music observers, though, with some criticizing her
hunting them down and trying to steal the ransom money. Will this unlikely duo achieve their goal? Is Pan-su really of great help to Min-jun? Or did Minjun make a mistake in trusting him? Will Min-jun succeed in the mission and get the job he wants?
Ransomed is a film by Kim SeongHun, the same director who has brought us action and heart-stopping movies such as A Hard Day, Tunnel, and the notable period horror series Kingdom
The lead stars, Ha Jung-woo and Ju Ji-hoon, reunite again and make this movie a hit. They’ve made massive success starring in Korea’s blockbuster films, Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds and Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days, which had over ten million viewers. This film is also Ha Jung-woo and Ju Ji-hoon’s reunion project with director Kim Seong-Hun who they’ve worked with respectively in Tunnel and Kingdom From Viva International Pictures and MVP Entertainment, Ransomed is now in cinemas nationwide.
New insights are set to inspire the youth as GMA Synergy and GMA Regional TV proudly present another leg of GMA Masterclass: The Icons Series in Cagayan de Oro City today with GMA Senior Vice President (SVP) for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable and GMA Drama concept creator, developer, and writer Suzette S. Doctolero
Rasonable and Doctolero will share their areas of expertise as media practitioners, providing the students and other participants in the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines an opportunity to discover the art of storytelling.
As SVP, Rasonable leads the different departments under the Entertainment Group that have been producing phenomenal hits and awardwinning series on local television, including the groundbreaking series Maria Clara at Ibarra, the top-rating afternoon drama Abot Kamay Na Pangarap, the gripping murder mystery drama Royal Blood, and the iconic live-action series, Voltes V Legacy Doctolero, on the other hand, is one of the key figures in creating and writing some of the country’s well-loved TV series such as Amaya Sahaya Legal Wives My Husband’s Lover Encantadia Maria Clara at Ibarra, and Voltes V: Legacy, to name a few.
“We are honored and privileged to be bringing to Cagayan de Oro City two people who are behind the award-winning and top-rating entertainment programs of GMA Network. With GMA holding the highest standards of storytelling, the participants of GMA Masterclass: The Icons Series in the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines can draw inspiration and bring home pieces of useful learnings that will surely bring out the best in them,’ said GMA Senior Vice President and Head of Integrated News, Regional TV, and Synergy Oliver Victor B. Amoroso
Last June 23, GMA Masterclass: The Icons Series flew to Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City with GMA Chief Marketing Officer Lizelle G. Maralag. The GMA executive inspired hundreds of participants by sharing her wisdom and extraordinary experiences over the years. GMA Masterclass: The Icons Series continues to visit various cities and provinces in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to gather students and to provide a safe space for intellectual discourse with renowned ‘icons’ from different fields. It is an initiative of GMA Regional TV and GMA Synergy, the same teams that produced the award-winning GMA Masterclass Series that was launched in 2018.
a key figure in garage rock revival
simplistic drumming approach, while others elevating her status as a key figure in garage rock revival during the first decade of the new millennium.
of the most successful duo in UK
4. Chris Lowe: This keyboard-synthesizer guy is part of the most successful duo in UK music history, Pet Shop Boys The Guardian once wrote, or joked, that in the annals of pop entertainment, he is “possibly more famous for not doing anything than almost anyone else.”
5. Daniel Jones: The Australian pop duo Savage Garden, whose hits include “To The Moon & Back,” “Truly Madly Deeply,” and “I Knew I Loved You,” disbanded in 2001, with singer Darren Hayes going solo, and this man focusing on record production.
The CIA with BA hosts Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano, and Boy Abunda, contemplated what the public service program has been through in the past two seasons. “We started this CIA with BA because we want to help, we want to give back, we want to teach, we want to share. But you know, the more we teach our audience, our guests, the more we are the ones being taught,” Senator Alan said in the episode on August 6. Since it premiered on February 5 this year, CIA with BA has aired over 20 episodes tackling different issues such as relationships, rights, and money.
6. Dave Stewart: His successful collaboration with Annie Lennox, called Eurythmics and which scored ‘80s classics like “Sweet Dreams” and “Here Comes The Rain Again” will forever overshadow his other achievements, like producing songs for Ringo Starr and Mick Jagger
7. Art Garfunkel: It’s a pity that some quarters try to insist on the narrative that this gifted tenor is an insignificant other because the other guy in the partnership is legendary singer-songwriter, Paul Simon. Well, check his vocal performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” in Central Park back in 1981. You’d agree he’s underrated.
8. Richard Carpenter: He had a sister named Karen who could play the drums and put you to sleep in the opening verse. It must be fine with him having a less-known name than his sibling. In all fairness, he co-wrote with a lyricist some of their hit songs like “Top of the World” and “Yesterday Once More.”
“I just want the audience to know that because everything you’ve seen is about real people, their real stories, and real problems, we want to help even more... with all our hearts, CIA with BA will assist, will learn... and we can also teach each other to share with our fellow countrymen,” Senator Alan added.
Senator Pia noted that it takes courage for people coming into the show to share their complaints and at the same time, for them as hosts to take on them.
“Gathering the courage to share your problems in public is essential. Often, we overlook this, right? Not only midway but even towards the end, people break down. Even I experience it. Alan once mentioned that ‘as lawyers, we must offer advice objectively, without emotions,’ but I want to disagree and say, ‘No, I’m always emotional!’ Many of these problems resonate with me as a woman, a mother, a human being,” she expressed.
Pia also added, “Detaching isn’t always simple. Despite my training, I can provide legal advice, yet over time, we all find ourselves giving highly personal advice. Sometimes, around 75 percent of the advice and solutions aren’t purely legal. This personal touch humanizes our show, I believe. And if that’s the help we provide, the legal aspect
remains, but we’re delighted to be here. We aim to continue serving well. Share your feedback, communicate with us, and don’t hesitate.” Abunda, for his part, expressed how the show and the stories they hear affect them.
“It doesn’t end with ‘goodbye’ because we carry those stories with us, don’t we? They leave an impact, altering our perspectives. This experience humbles us in various ways as we witness and engage with these stories. It makes us appreciate, question, and ultimately grow. Every time we step into the show, we have materials to review, yet our transformation isn’t always conscious. With each episode, we evolve into our genuine selves,” he expressed.
“Our dedication runs deep, and the outcome serves those who trust us—those who share their stories and believe in us to convey them to you. Our task is to present these narratives in a way that holds value for millions of viewers, even if the issues aren’t their own. We strive to provide meaningful takeaways,” Senator Pia concluded as they concluded.
CIA with BA continues the legacy of Senator Rene Cayetano, the late father of sibling senators Alan and Pia. The senior Cayetano was a renowned lawyer who gained fame through his radio and TV program Compañero y Compañera, which aired from 1997 to 2001.
On August 13, CIA with BA officially enters its third season. The program airs every Sunday, 11:30 p.m. on GMA7.
ANNE Curtis is a multifaceted individual who has excelled in various roles throughout her life. But her journey doesn’t stop at her entertainment career; she has expanded her aspirations to encompass other facets of her life.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Anne has embraced the role of a homemaker, indicating her commitment to family life. Simultaneously, she has set her sights on a new financial goal: expanding her career as an entrepreneur.
Speaking to Manila Standard Life during her launch as the newest brand partner of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Anne discussed her past achievements in the entertainment indus-
try. She highlighted that the same approach of determination and enthusiasm which has driven her career so far is what she is applying as an entrepreneur.
“But we also need some financial advice from experts, because at the moment I’m thinking about what more I can do outside my career.
That’s why I have started a few businesses.”
Anne said alluding to her three businesses: Beauty brand BLK Cosmetics, activewear brand Recess, and baby wear brand Tili Dahli (in collaboration with her sister-in-law Solenn Heussaff).
As a long-time BPI client, Anne was excited
FROM expressing ourselves to enjoying every delicious meal, we’ve got our mouth and teeth to thank but often take for granted. With how much wear and tea r our teeth suffer, it isn’t surprising that they’re constantly exposed to factors that can help cause cavities, gum issues, and even tooth loss.
Glister, the popular dental care brand of entrepreneur-led health and wellness company Amway, makes a case for giving our teeth more attention, especially now that the Department of Health has revealed that at least 73 million Filipinos suffer from tooth decay.
General Dentistry & Orthodontics
Dr. Anna May Carina points out that certain foods and drinks that we usually enjoy today like soda, ice cream, cakes, and other sweet cravings take a toll on our oral health.
“When we consume too much of these foods and drinks, we’re not helping our saliva do its job of clearing food debris away and neutralizing acids. They stick to your teeth for a longer time only creates an oral environment where bacteria can thrive, increasing your risk of developing plaque, which can eventually strip your tooth’s protective enamel,” states Dr. Carina.
“While we cannot completely remove all these foods and drinks from our lives, we can counter their impact on our dental health by diligently observing good oral hygiene,” she added.
The dental expert emphasizes that commonly known yet underestimated solutions are vital for oral health. Brushing twice daily is crucial to eliminate harmful mouth bacteria and prevent hardened tartar. Dr.
Carina advises brushing intentionally for at least two minutes, covering all tooth surfaces. A soft-bristled brush replaced every few months, and fluoride-rich toothpaste offer optimal protection. Avoid rinsing immediately to maximize fluoride benefits.
Flossing, a crucial step, removes sub-gumline plaque, reducing cavities and gingivitis risk. Dr. Carina stresses flossing’s importance and recommends persisting even if gingivitis causes bleeding, as consistent flossing can alleviate mild cases over time.
For post-flossing food debris rinsing, the dentist suggests using mouthwash. Dr. Carina highlights its importance in reducing harmful mouth bacteria, combating plaque, gum inflammation, and infections. Mouthwash can also refresh your breath during the day. Glister advocates a holistic dental care approach with plant-based solutions infused with traceable Nutrilite-grown peppermint.
Their Total Oral Care System includes Glister Multi-Action Toothpaste for plaque removal and cavity prevention, Glister Multi-Action Dental Floss for interdental plaque and gum stimulation, and Glister Multi-Action Concentrated Oral Rinse targeting gingivitis and bad breath bacteria. The brand also provides tools like the Glister Multi-Action Toothbrush and Mint Refresher Spray for on-the-go freshness.
Apart from maintaining appearance, good oral health can also be linked to overall health, as it is the gateway to a healthy body. Smile confidently and start boosting your daily oral hygiene with scientifically designed and clinically-supported Glister.
to share her own experiences with the bank and to introduce its new products and services.
“BPI has always been a reliable bank throughout my journey. It has allowed me to do more and be more, which is why I want to share my experience with others,” Anne says.
Anne’s journey with BPI serves as the springboard for the “Do More with BPI” campaign, wherein the Bank enables Filipinos to do more in life and fulfill their dreams. With its 172-year history of banking excellence, BPI offers services that transcend financial solutions and empower people to go further and achieve greater pursuits.
Nickie WangMuch ado about the ‘Margot Robbie diet’
ACCORDING to an analysis of Google search data conducted by the online fitness resource Total Shape, interest in the ‘Margot Robbie diet’ has surged by an astounding 1364 percent within the United States. This surge marks the highest point in five years, coinciding with the release of the Barbie movie on July 21.
In the movie, Margot Robbie captivated audiences by portraying Barbie, while Ryan Gosling took on the role of Ken, both donning an impressive array of stylish ensembles. Notably, the 1950s-style swimsuit garnered significant attention, prompting viewers to inquire about the secrets behind the actress’s enviable physique.
Fortunately, fitness experts at Total Shape have stepped in to provide intricate details about Margot’s dietary regimen and have also shed light on the associated health benefits.
In preparation for her various roles, Margot adheres to a dietary strategy that avoids saturated fats, fast foods, sugary drinks, and chocolate. Instead, she focuses on a high-protein and nutrient-rich approach.
Starting the day with a nourishing breakfast, the actress often indulges in a combination of porridge adorned with blueberries and a kale and apple smoothie. The inclusion of porridge provides complex carbohydrates, ensuring sustained energy release, while its fiber content fosters prolonged satiety, curbing unhealthy snacking tendencies. The antioxidant-rich blueberries confer benefits like blood pressure regulation and cholesterol management. The amalgamation of apples, low in calories and brimming with fiber, and kale, abundant in antioxidants, calcium, iron, and detoxifying properties, forms a potent smoothie choice.
For her midday meal, protein takes center stage as Margot’s preference. Her lunch choices encompass lemon-infused chicken partnered with brown rice or mackerel accompanied by tomatoes and cucumbers. Both chicken and mackerel are complete protein sources with
FAST fashion, the mass production of disposable clothing manufactured within a short period, cements the field as one of the most polluting industries in the world.
Designer and entrepreneur Roxoanne Bagano-Dizon of thriving wedding atelier Roxoanne Bagano Couture confirmed this phenomenon contributes a considerable amount to social and environmental damage.
“It exploits human labor, degrades local economies and pollutes nature,” she explained. “While the traditional model involves raw materials, fast fashion utilizes synthetic and low-quality alternatives created rapidly.”
Bagano-Dizon, an educator under the Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Environment and Design (SED), likewise expounded on the importance of sustainable fashion in this issue.
“It is designing, generating, and distributing clothing with ethics in mind,” she stated. “Adopting this approach to both production and consumption can help reduce our footprint and lessen our impact on society.”
Bagano-Dizon, who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in International
Business, likewise stressed the crucial role of end users in this endeavor.
To guide the general public to contribute to this movement, the expert listed the conscious choices one can consider beginning from their wardrobes:
1. Shop smarter. Before any purchases, ask yourself if you need it. Source from brands that adopt eco-friendly methods. Avoid clothes from synthetic materials. Choose organic, natural, or recycled fibers.
2. Embrace minimalism. Do not buy impulsively. Invest in timeless pieces which you can wear for a long time. Try to avoid short-lived trends. Make do with what you have.
3. Thrift. Go for second-hand or consignment stores. You may find affordable and unique items. Consider swapping clothes with friends. You likewise divert clothes from landfills.
4. Rent. Rent for special events. There are many online options for formal attire, designer accessories, and even everyday wear. It likewise allows you to don outfits you cannot afford to buy.
5. Care. Practice good clothing care habits. Wash in cold water, use ecofriendly detergents, and air-dry. Follow the instruction label and avoid excessive laundering.
all essential amino acids, aiding muscle recovery and growth. Chicken breasts’ lean profile and mackerel’s heart-healthy fats contribute to their fitness appeal. Brown rice, a metabolism-boosting whole grain, complements the meal, while the high water content in tomatoes and cucumbers maintains hydration. Her evening repast revolves around a blend of protein and carbohydrates. Options include tuna steaks paired with sweet potatoes or a vegetarian-friendly vegetable hot pot with rice noodles. Tuna, rich in protein and essential nutrients, serves dual roles in supporting muscle development and bolstering overall health. The potassium-loaded sweet potatoes enhance cardiovascular well-being.
While Margot doesn’t explicitly specify the vegetables in her hotpot, the inclusion of broccoli’s fatburning vitamin K and antioxidants in carrots may align with her dietary choices. Rice noodles, a more health-conscious alternative to egg noodles, offer fewer calories and less fat.
A spokesperson from Total Shape noted the fascination surrounding Margot’s diet, emphasizing its reflection of celebrity influence on fitness trends.
“It’s fascinating to see that from the new Barbie movie, one of the main points of interest is Margot Robbie’s diet – it certainly reflects celebrities’ influence on fitness.
“While the foods within Margot’s diet have plenty of health benefits, it’s important to remember that one diet does not suit everybody. It can be helpful to try different foods to see what works best for your goals, whether that be weight loss or building muscle.”
Nonetheless, the spokesperson highlights that individual dietary needs vary, suggesting the importance of personalized dietary exploration aligned with distinct goals, whether weight loss or muscle gain.
