Manila Standard - 2023 August 30 - Wednesday

GILAS FIVE’S FIBA WORLD CUP DREAM WITH 90-83 THRASHING

‘Use all legal tools to curb rice prices’

President orders all agencies to ensure supply, keep it affordable for the poor

By Peter Atencio

GILAS Pilipinas kissed its hopes of advancing to the second round goodbye following a 90-83 loss to Italy in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday night.

Needing to win by 12 points or more, the Filipinos found themselves yielding the game by 7 points instead, losing command of a game they controlled in the first quarter in the face of the Italians’ methodical half-court sets and three-

Classes start, but same woes greet schools

THE perennial problem of classroom shortage exacerbated by floodings brought about by recent typhoons and intense monsoon rains greeted some of the 22.7 million learners who returned to public schools yesterday.

At the Doña Damiana de Leon Elementary School in Calumpit, Bulacan, atleast 700 students were packed into only eight classrooms as 25 rooms remained flooded, ABS-CBN News reported. With four shifts, students were sent home with modules to compensate for shorter class hours.

Calizon Elementary School officer in charge Raul Musni said they lacked chairs, learning modules, and books as some were destroyed by floods.

In the Bicol region, some 17 schools are still being used as evacuation centers since June this year due to the eruption of the Mayon volcano, Education Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas said.

Bringas, however, clarified that the evacuees do not occupy the entire

point shooting.

NBA star and Gilas’ primary weapon Jordan Clarkson had 23 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, and won his personal matchup with his Utaz Jazz teammate Simone Fontecchio (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist), who however, had the last laugh as the no. 10 Italians made safe passage to the second round, with the Dominican Republic.

“(Clarkson) did an unbelievable job today. He played his heart out.

He’s my teammate. What can I say,” said Fontecchio as the Azzuri made it to the round of 16.

By Charles Dantes, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed concern over the continued surge in the price of rice and ordered all relevant agencies to use all legal tools available to stop it.

prices remain affordable, particularly for poor households.

Marcos also said that based on the Department of Agriculture’s projections, there should be enough supply of the grain for now.

But a series of typhoons that severely affected rice-producing regions could drive prices up, he said.

He also ordered the Bureau of Customs to intensify raids on

PH-UK TIES. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomes United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly at Malacanan Palace on Tuesday as the Philippines and UK discussed maritime security, trade and the environment. PPA Photo

Broadcasting giant Mike Enriquez, 71

By Nickie Wang

CLOSE to 25,000 people were forced to flee their homes in northern Luzon as Typhoon “Goring” maintained its strength and was forecast to pass very close or make landfall near Batanes Wednesday morning or afternoon, the state weather bureau said Tuesday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)

By Julito Rada

THE Bureau of the Treasury has released the implementing rules and regulations for the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act of 2023 which sets the stage for the establishment of the country's first sovereign wealth fund by September 12.

“The MIF will serve as a crucial financing mechanism to widen fiscal space, ease the burden on local funds, and reduce reliance on official development assistance (ODA) in funding big-ticket

reported that most of the displaced persons were temporarily seeking shelter in 154 evacuation centers. Some 665 people were also preemptively evacuated.

The council also reported that 63,565 people—or 19,370 families—were affected by the typhoon across 21 provinces in seven regions.

While there were no fatalities so far,

Goring damaged 28 houses, 13 of which were destroyed. Damage to infrastructure was also initially placed at P41.1 million, the NDRRMC said.

At least 40 cities and towns in Luzon lost power due to the typhoon, but electricity has since been restored in 33 of them.

Pinoy, pet gain World Dog Show top prize

Maharlika Fund rules released, official by Sept. 12

SCHOOL OPENING BLUES. Teachers and their students at the Corazon C. Aquino Elementary school in Quezon City attend the traditional national anthem ceremony on their first day of classes on Tuesday, while a boy couldn’t help but cry as a teacher tries to comfort him (inset). Manny Palmero and Norman Cruz

TIGHT DEFENSE. The Philippines’ AJ Edu tries to force his way past Italy’s defense in their 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup match on Tuesday at the Araneta Coliseum. FIBA.basketball

UK keen to enhance ties with PH

By Rey E. Requejo

BRITISH Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday to discuss maritime security, trade and the environment, the two governments said.

Cleverly also visited the Philippine Coast Guard, which, along with the military, has accused China of breaking international law in an escalating series of incidents in the disputed South China Sea.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which trillions of

‘Use...

From A1 warehouses linked to hoarding and smuggling.

The BOC and the Agriculture Department are also studying whether rice seized by the BOC could be donated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

In a Palace briefing, Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the President wants to intensify government measures to stop rising rice prices.

"As per the directive of the President, what we are going to do is we will validate all warehouses that are storing imported rice, and then upon validation, we will issue letters of authority to conduct inspections of these warehouses," Rubio said.

Rubio said three rice warehouses in Bulacan are under investigation after the BOC received reports of hoarding and smuggling in the area.

At least P505 million pesos worth of sacks of rice were found in the warehouses, which were identified as Great Harvest Rice Mill Warehouse, San Pedro Warehouse, and FS Rice Mill Warehouse, all located inside the Intercity Industrial Complex in San Juan, Balagtas Bulacan.

Rubio said the imported sacks of rice were from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.

Rubio said that BOC has sent a letter of authority to the three warehouses, barring their owners and operators from retrieving their goods unless they can present the required documents to show

Italy...

From A1

With the loss, its third straight in the tournament in as many games, the Philippines failed to advance to the second round for the second straight World Cup.

The Filipinos are now relegated to the classification phase, where the lone berth for Asia in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games remained at stake, although Japan already has an inside track for it with a victory to show against Finland, 98-88.

The Philippines finished last in its group with a 0-3 mark and became the first host team since Colombia in 1982 to lose its first three games in the tournament, according to FIBA.

After taking control of the first quarter,

Maharlika...

From A1 projects such as those specified in the recently approved Infrastructure Flagship Project list,” Diokno said.

The Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), which serves as the sole entity responsible for mobilizing and utilizing the MIF, will initially be capitalized with P125 billion.

The national government will contribute P50 billion, while the Land Bank and DBP will provide P50 billion and P25 billion, respectively, within five days of the IRR's implementation.

“We will pursue public road networks, tollways, railways, green energy, water resources, agro-industrial ventures, and telecommunications. These critical areas offer high rates of return and significant socioeconomic impact. The MIF can also be used for green and blue projects, countryside development, and emerging megatrends such as ESG or environment, social, and governance and cutting-edge technologies,” Diokno said.

The national government shall source its P50 billion contribution from 100 percent of the dividends of the Bangko

Classes...

From A1 school premises and that there are still available classrooms for learners.

During a hearing of the Senate committee on basic education last week, the DepEd said the Philippines faces an alarming shortfall of 159,000 classrooms.

The DepEd presented data showing that about half of all 7,520 existing senior high school classrooms are congested, as are 41

dollars in trade passes annually, and has ignored an international ruling that its claims have no legal basis.

Chinese coast guard vessels chased and briefly blocked Philippine boats on a resupply mission to a remote garrison on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the

that duties and taxes were paid on the imported sacks of rice.

Rubio said the BOC is cooperating with the Department of Justice in its efforts to bring down illegal rice importation and in filing charges against smugglers.

The bureau, he added, is offering a 20 percent commission as a reward for any person who tips the agency off on smuggled or hoarded goods.

The reward system is covered by the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, he said.

“If I’m not mistaken, it’s about 20 percent of the value of the goods. If the goods we confiscate are goods of value that we can auction, then they are entitled to the reward,” Rubio said. The informant will not be entitled to a cash reward if the smuggled goods are donated, however, or declared for official use.

The reward system will prevent the hoarding of basic goods, like rice, which is being kept in warehouses, causing artificial shortages and triggering price increases.

In the wake of the successful raids on three warehouses in Bulacan, Rubio said the bureau will conduct inspections of warehouses in Metro Manila and Central Luzon that reportedly contain thousands of sacks of smuggled rice.

Also on Tuesday, Bicol Saro Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said he wants the 31-year-old Price Act updated to punish hoarders and profiteers of rice and corn with harsher penalties, including imprisonment of up to 40 years in certain instances when their illegal acts are

the Filipinos began losing command in the second quarter, allowing Fontecchio to run amuck with 6 straight points as the Italians stormed to a 9-point lead at the half, 48-39, which they grew to 7360 courtesy of a buzzer-beating trey by Alessandro Pajola off a broken play in the fourth heading into the fourth. The Italians, who had been shooting horribly in the past two games, finally found their touch in the game, sinking 17 treys in 41 tries for a scorching 41.5%, to the 34.5% of the hosts (10 of 29).

Italy led by as much as 17, 88-71, on a triple Giampaolo Ricci with 3:10 left in the fourth, but Gilas had a late run with Clarkson and Kiefer Ravena leading the attack, trimming the deficit to just 81-88.

Alessandro Pajola, however, sank both his free throws for a 90-81 lead, with only 32 seconds left, with Ravena

Sentral ng Pilipinas for the first and second fiscal years; its 10 percent share from the income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) for a period of five years; 10 percent of revenues from gaming operations of other governmentowned gaming operators/regulators; government assets and proceeds from privatization of government assets; and other sources such as royalties and/or special assessments for a period of five years.

Other GFIs and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) may invest in the MIF as well, subject to their respective investment and risk management strategies.

However, those providing social security and public health insurance services are absolutely prohibited from investing in the MIF.

As enumerated under section 14, the MIC is authorized to invest in a wide range of products, activities, and projects: Cash and other tradable commodities; Fixed income instruments issued by sovereigns; Domestic and foreign corporate bonds; Listed or unlisted equities; and Islamic investments, such as Sukuk bonds, among others. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

percent of the 10,188 junior high school classrooms and 32 percent of primary school (K-6) classrooms. The department, however, will only get P10 billion for classroom construction in 2024, which will cover only about 7,100 classrooms.

While grappling with classroom shortage, the DepEd said it will strictly implement the directive of Education Secretary Sara Duterte to keep the classroom walls bare, adding that teachers who insist on not

Spratly Islands last week, the second incident of its kind this month.

Cleverly said Britain wanted to build "enduring partnerships with the Philippines and like-minded countries across this region.”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Cleverly's visit "signals a strengthening of our bilateral ties in trade, investment, security, maritime cooperation, and other fields".

Total two-way annual trade between Britain and the Philippines stood at an all-time high of 2.4 billion pounds ($3.03 billion), Cleverly said.

"Trade between the UK and the Philippines is now the highest it's ever been—

tantamount to acts of economic sabotage.

Under House Bill (HB) 7970, Yamsuan also sought the creation of an anti-rice or corn hoarding and profiteering task force in every province, city, and municipality to regularly check the inventory levels of all mills, warehouses and stock houses of rice and corn, and find out if these commodities are being hoarded.

“One of the reasons greedy and shameless traders are bold enough to hoard rice or corn even during difficult times is that the punishment imposed on them under the law is not harsh enough. We need to amend the outdated Price Act to ensure that the penalties remain commensurate with the crimes committed, and include other acts and practices that should be deemed illegal but not covered under this law,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan issued the call after a fact-finding team from the House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin Romualdez and officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) found evidence of rice hoarding in several warehouses in Bulacan last week.

Rice hoarding has been suspected as among the reasons behind the steady increase in rice prices, which has reached more than P50 per kilo in several areas.

Hoarding creates an artificial shortage of a commodity, which, in turn, jacks up its prices.

Under the measure, the hoarding of rice and corn “during or on the occasion of any calamity, disaster, or any emergency declared as such by the President” will be deemed equivalent to economic sabotage and punishable by imprisonment of 20

hitting a driving shot for the final tally in the last 27 seconds.

The Italians have secured a top-16 spot for the 10th time in 10 World Cup appearances after taking second place in Group A with a 2-1 record.

Italy's win in front of 11,821 fans at the Big Dome improved their all-time record against the Asians to 5-1, having won the last five games following a 3214 loss in the 1936 Olympics.

Italy also beat the Philippines 108-62 in the first round of the 2019 World Cup.

In the first game of the night, Gilas Pilipinas got a helping hand from firstgame tormentor Dominican Republic, which momentarily left a window open for the hosts’ second-round bid after surviving Angola, 75-67.

Led by Andres Feliz, who scored 17 points, the Dominicans survived a foul-

25k...

From A1

More than P979,000 worth of assistance has also been extended to the affected population, half of which came from local governments and the other half from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Most of the assistance was given to residents through cash aid, the NDRRMC also said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said it may raise Signal No. 4 over extreme northern Luzon.

Goring's eye was last located 180 km east of Aparri, Cagayan. It was packing sustained winds of 155 kph near the center and 190 kph gusts.

From Tuesday until Wednesday noon, Goring is expected to dump 100 to 200 mm (around four to eight inches of rain) in the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands, PAGASA said.

Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Abra, the northern portion of Apayao, and the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan will receive 50 to 100 mm (two to four inches) of rain.

"Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are still expected

complying may face administrative sanctions.

“If they don't comply, we can always say that it's a violation of our rules,” DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said in a television interview.

“Having said that, we're not really looking to penalize our teachers.

If there are those who don't comply, we will analyze it on a case-by-case basis and maybe speak with the school head to understand what happened before we initiate administrative sanc-

around 2.4 billion pounds in goods and services. We have strong people-topeople links, and we are grateful to have over 47,000 Filipino healthcare workers," Cleverly said in his opening remark.

The UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership was launched in 2021 to forge closer ties in trade and investment, technology, and security and defense.

"Our UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership benefits our people, including on climate, trade, science and tech, and shared security," Cleverly said as he noted that the ties between the two countries are "founded on our shared values, and shared belief in openness, freedom and the rule of law." (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

to 40 years, with eligibility for a pardon pm;u after 30 years.

Criminal liability under the bill “shall attach to the persons with direct supervision and control of such establishments” where hoarding of rice or corn has been determined during times of emergency, disaster, or calamity.

These include the respective presidents, chief operating officers, or managers of the establishments, according to the bill that Yamsuan filed with Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte.

The hoarding and profiteering of rice and corn in other circumstances is punishable under the bill by imprisonment of 10 to 20 years and a fine of P100,000 to P5 million.

“We have to make rice and corn hoarders answerable under the law,” the lawmakers said in the explanatory note to their bill.

Hoarded rice or corn stocks will be confiscated and forfeited in favor of the government, the bill also states.

Under HB 7970, the definition of hoarding has been expanded from merely being “undue accumulation” to “storage or possession” of any basic commodity or prime commodity beyond normal inventory levels “as determined by the implementing agency concerned,” which is the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the case of rice and corn.

Prima facie evidence of hoarding is present under the bill when a trader or any person has stocks that are 50 percent higher than his or her usual inventory and refuses or fails to sell these to the public or make such stocks “available in the regular channels of production, trade, commerce, and industry.”

plagued night for Karl-Anthony Towns and the valiant stand from the Angolans to sweep the first round with a perfect 3-0 record, subsequently giving the Filipinos a chance to advance to the second round.

Feliz and Victor Liz, who had 13 points, took over in the last period, after Towns ran into foul trouble early in the third quarter.

“It’s amazing, it’s amazing. Nobody thought of us going 3-0. It is amazing that we were able to do this,” said Feliz of the Dominicans, who formally advanced to the second round.

The Angolans, with Silvio de Sousa making 19 points, kept his team ahead for the last time, after penetrating four times for a 65-63 edge in the final 2:52.

After that, Jean Montero and Liz forced two turnovers. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards," the weather bureau warned.

It added that the monsoon enhanced by Goring would also bring occasional rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas over the next three days.

Signal No. 3 was raised over the southern portion of Batanes (Sabtang, Uyugan, Ivana, Mahatao, Basco) and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Camiguin Is., Calayan Is.).

The rest of Batanes and Babuyan Islands, and the extreme northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Santa Teresita) were put under Signal No. 2.

Signal no. 1 was raised over northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Baggao, Lasam, Peñablanca, Iguig, Amulung, Gattaran, Alcala, Santo Niño, Allacapan, Lal-Lo), the eastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, Ilagan City, Tumauini, San Pablo, Cabagan, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan), the northern portion of Apayao (Flora, Calanasan, Luna, Pudtol, Santa Marcela), and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Vintar, Pasuquin, Burgos, Dumalneg, Adams, Pagudpud, Bangui).

Joel E. Zurbano and Rio N. Araja (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

tions,” Poa added.

Meanwhile, the DepEd said it will pilot implementation of the recalibrated and “decongested” Kindergarten to Grade 10 (K-10) curriculum of basic education in at least 20 schools nationwide next month.

Jocelyn Andaya, director of the DepEd's Bureau of Curriculum Development, said kindergarten and Grades 1, 4, and 7 would be initially covered this school year. See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Taiwan to China: Stop military harassment

By Rey E. Requejo

TAIWAN urged China on Tuesday to stop "military harassment" that risked damaging regional security after it said 24 Chinese warplanes were detected near the island.

"The People's Liberation Army's continuous military harassment in the region could lead to a sharp escalation of tensions and worsening of regional security," Taiwan's Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"We urge Beijing to take responsibility and immediately cease all unilateral actions that undermine regional stability," it said.

According to the ministry, Beijing had sent 24 aircraft, including fighter jets, bombers, and drones, as well as five warships close to Taiwan in what it described as a "joint combat patrol" since 9 a.m. local time (0100 GMT). Half the warplanes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entered the self-ruled island's southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ), it said, and Taipei was using its own aircraft, vessels, and land-based missile systems to monitor them.

In Manila, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo appealed to the Filipino-Chinese community to help in maintaining the Philippines' diplomatic relations with China. With AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

UN: SE Asians coerced into online scams

HUNDREDS of thousands of people are being coerced in Southeast Asia by criminal gangs into carrying out online scams, often under the threat of torture, the United Nations said Tuesday. Laos, the Philippines, and Thailand are among other nations in the region identified as the main countries of destination or transit.

Many have been trafficked into working in online criminality and face serious violations such as torture or sexual violence, the UN said in a report.

"People who are coerced into working in these scamming operations endure inhumane treatment while being forced to carry out crimes," UN human rights chief Volker Turk said. "They are victims. They are not criminals."

The scale of the scourge in Southeast Asia is difficult to gauge because of the practice's clandestine nature and gaps in the response by authorities, the report noted.

However, it said that credible sources indicated that at least 120,000 people across Myanmar may be held in situations where they are forced to carry out online scams. Estimates in Cambodia are at around 100,000, it added.

The scam centers generate revenue amounting to billions of dollars a year, the UN said. AFP

Pinoy,...

From A1 expressed his joy for his dog Dalbong's achievement.

"I am delighted to announce that Dalbong has obtained his World Winner title along with becoming the SWISS CHAMPION. I am immensely proud of you, my son, Dalbong!" wrote Villanueva, who is also a digital content creator.

Dalbong, whose real name is Eastern Promise of Hamarang, bested 131 beautiful corgis, 1,592 herding dogs, and 55 herding dogs and made it to the final cut of the group competition.

Villanueva also shared his and Dalbong's win with all his fellow dog owners and left a piece of advice.

Broadcasting...

From A1

the loss of a true legend, as Enriquez, the seasoned radio host and revered television broadcaster, passed away on Tuesday, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be etched in media history. He was 71.

His death was confirmed during Tuesday's episode of GMA News' "24 Oras" TV program.

"It is with profound sadness that GMA Network announces the passing of our beloved Kapuso, Mr. Miguel 'Mike' C. Enriquez, who peacefully joined our creator on August 29, 2023," the GMA statement said as reported by Mel Tiangco.

"His dedication to the industry will serve as an inspiration to all. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Huge number of COCs filed for BSKE elections

By Vince Lopez and Rio N. Araja

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) viewed as a “blockbuster” Tuesday’s filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the said the beginning of the election period for the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) which the police described as “generally peaceful and orderly despite four violent incidents in Albay, Rizal, and Magjuindanao provinces.

The Comelec said however, it is awaiting the results of the security assessment by the Philippine National Police (PNP) before coming up with a list of “areas of concern” or election hotspots.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City government braces for a huge volume of BSKE candidates from 142 villages on today and tomorrow.

“We were so overwhelmed,” Comelec chairman George Garcia commented on Tuesday’s unfolding of events.

Comelec data showed that a total of 273,454 aspirants filed their COCs for the 672,000 village posts in 42,000 barangays nationwide up for grabs in the BSKE. .

Of this number, 21,657 filed for the position of barangay chairman, while 143,638 were seeking sangguniang barangay memberships.

Bato eyes revival of whistle and baton use by cops

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

TO avoid the indiscriminate use of guns while confronting or chasing a suspected criminal, Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa on Tuesday proposed the return of “whistle and baton” use by policemen.

“Instead of prioritizing the non-lethal approach, some policemen opted to use the harsher and most dangerous lethal approach,” Dela Rosa noted.

During the continuation of the hearing by the Senate Committee on Public Order on the death of teenager Jemboy Baltazar who was allegedly gunned down by six Navotas policemen, Dela Rosa suggested the revival of the oldfashioned while and baton as part of a police uniform.

Dela Rosa, himself a former chief

IN BRIEF

LWUA addresses water wastage outside Metro

THE Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) on Tuesday said it was addressing water wastage outside of Metro Manila, which was hitting 488 million metric tons or about half of Angat Dam yearly, as the El Niño phenomenon starts.

“Sobrang taas,” LWUA chairman Ronnie Ong told ANC’s “Headstart” when asked about the rate of water wastage outside of the capital region.

“When I assumed office 2 months ago, ako mismo nagulat. We are averaging around 488 million metric tons na tinatapon natin yearly. That’s half of Angat Dam.”

The LWUA handles water districts outside of Metro Manila.

According to Ong, the worldwide average for water wastage is around 20 percent. But the Philippines, he said, is averaging 30 percent.

“We have around 532 water districts under LWUA. And out of the 532, we have around 244 who have numbers higher than 30 percent. And out of the 244, 20 (percent) of them have 21 percent up to 71 percent ang percentage na tinatapon na tubig,” Ong said.

Nograles urges employers to pay workers’ SSS dues

THE House Committee on Labor and Employment has appealed to employers who have failed to remit their employees’ social security contributions to fulfill their obligations.

“We urged employers to face their responsibilities—to pay their employees’ premium contributions,” committee chairman Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles said.

The Commission on Audit last month revealed that 466,881 employers nationwide failed to remit over P92.49 billion worth of premium collections to the Social Security System (SSS) last year.

According to COA’s audit report, the SSS was only able to collect P2.48 billion, or less than three percent, of the P94.97-billion target as of the end of 2022.

The COA added that the National Capital Region posted the lowest collection percentage at P383.78 million out of the target of P64.67 billion (0.59 percent), followed by the rest of Luzon at P747.59 million out of P22.33 billion (3.35 percent). Maricel V. Cruz

House committee vows to augment DTI ’24 budget

THE chairman of the House appropriations committee has said they look for ways to augment the budget for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the country’s main investment promotion agency, whose expenditure proposal was slashed in the 2024 national budget now pending in Congress.

“If we are really serious in generating more investments and creating better-paying jobs for our people, Congress must ensure that DTI and its attached agencies have the resources to its do work properly,” said AKO Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.

“We also have to spend more to develop the products we export as well as train Filipinos to be entrepreneurs; to be job creators, not seekers. If we could do this, we could prevent our people from voting with their feet,” Co stated.

At the budget hearing last week, DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual lamented the decision of the Department of Budget and Management to set the agency’s expenditure program next year to P7.91 billion, an increase from the spending plan this year but just a third of the DTI’s original budget proposal of P21.03 billion for 2024. Maricel V. Cruz

er incidents were recorded in Rizal and Maguindanao, Garcia said.

In Metro Manila, police confiscated six firearms and 17 deadly weapons mostly in checkpoints as the election gun ban took effect.

Ten persons were arrested for various offenses in connection with the election period, the police reported.

The PNP also said four incidents of election-related violence took place; two in Libon town in Albay, one in Rizal province, and one in Maguindanao.

Garcia said declaration of election hotspots defends on the PNP recommendation, categorized as green, yellow, orange and red.

Without anything less than lethal, Dela Rosa said the tendency of the police is to directly use a gun because they have no other options.

Some 17,085 others filed candidacies for SK chairmanship, while 91,074 others were gunning for a post in the SK council.

Four incidents of election-related violence have been recorded so far, including the slaying of Alex Repanto, chairman of Barangay San Jose in Libon, Albay. Oth-

Green refers to areas that do not have security concerns and are generally peaceful and orderly, while yellow refers to communities with a history of electionrelated incidents in the last elections, possible employment of partisan armed groups, the occurrence of politically motivated election-related incidents and had been previously declared under Comelec control. of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said there seemed to be confusion on the use of force in dealing with suspects.

He noted that use of firearms is justified if the offender poses an imminent danger of causing death or injury to the police officer or other persons.

“The police should not use warning shots during police operations except if the police officer is outnumbered and overpowered and his or her life… is in imminent danger,” Dela Rosa stressed.

Dela Rosa narrated that as they were going down the elevator in the Senate, he told PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. not to wait for the Senate or Congress to make a law on the return of whistle and baton, “Go first, you make your own policy, return that as part of the uniform- the baton and then, the whistle,” he said.

“Do you have less lethal equipment there? None. You have no whistle. You have no baton,” Dela Rosa told Acorda.

He admitted that policemen do not want to use a “batuta” so they can have a baton or nightstick.

“Or if you want to look more handsome, they can use telescopic baton.”

He also pointed out that once a policeman blows his whistle while running after a suspected criminal, “that’s a sign of authority. “

“Para hindi tatakbo yun, hindi yung paputok agad,” Dela Rosa said.

Furthermore, Dela Rosa said the question begging for answer was; “Did the presence of the teenager Jemboy Baltazar pose danger to the seven fully grown adult PNP personnel?”

He also asked if Capt. Mark Joseph Carpio, who was in charge of the operation, ensured the observance of the rules of engagement and exercised control over all police personnel during their operation.

SCHOOL OPENING DAY DEMO. Members of the militant Alliance of Concerned Teachers and League of Filipino Students stage a demonstration rally at the historic Mendiola Bridge near Malacanang Palace in Manila to air their grievances over low salary and other concerns. Norman Cruz

Metrobank, GT foundations turn over P40-m dev’t grants to 32 partners

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

THE Metrobank Foundation Inc.

(MBFI) and the Ty family-owned GT Foundation Inc. (GTFI) turned over

P40 million worth of development grants to 32 partners yesterday.

“Our contributions will benefit

12,000 individuals nationwide, but the work doesn’t stop there. Our story doesn’t end there. We must recognize that our role extends beyond implementing projects. It’s not enough that we follow the trends; we must also be committed to shaping them. In a rapidly changing world, we need to think ‘business unusual,’” MBFI president

Aniceto Sobrepeña said.

“What we are turning over today joins a long list of investments in the development sector since 1979, and collectively, we hope these investments will contribute to nation-building and ultimately create impact in the quality of life of Filipino families,” he added. With the theme “Engaging Partnerships, Empowering Communities,” the George S.K. Ty Grants turnover marked the strong collaboration among development organizations with the collective goal of empowering communities to address challenges, especially in the areas of health, education, arts, culture, and livelihood.

MBFI has partnered with Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. to expand the latter’s Roots to Shoots Program, a threeyear comprehensive initiative against malnutrition that will tackle the nutrition, water access, sanitation, and livelihood needs of 345 parents/caregivers and their children in Pasacao, Camarines Sur.

MBFI has also linked arms with Food for the Hungry Inc. in continuing to address the issue of malnutrition in eight barangays in Eastern Visayas, targeting 110 beneficiaries composed of parents and school children.

The foundation has partnered with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction to set in motion their

sustainable and healthy food system through the provision of seeds and equipment and establishment of diversified home gardens for food self-sufficiency that would benefit 250 families with pregnant and lactating women in Guinayangan, Quezon.

Meanwhile, GTFI has partnered with Save the Children Philippines to address the growing incidences of malnutrition in Matuguinao, Samar as well as with Communities for Alternative Food Ecosystems Initiative (CAFEi) in imparting knowledge and skills on food trade, food preparation practices, and food consumption to 100 families in Cebu City and Northern Cebu.

Abalos also wants raps filed vs. ex-cop assaulting cyclist in road rage video

By Vince Lopez

DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Tuesday said criminal cases should be filed against the motorist who was caught on video brandishing a gun and assaulting a cyclist near Welcome Rotonda, Quezon City last August 8.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) announced the filing of an alarm and scandal complaint against Wilfredo Gonzales, a dismissed police officer who figured in a confrontation with a bicycle rider caught on viral video.

“For the sake of a peaceful and orderly society, we cannot allow a culture of impunity. We cannot allow bullies to just go around intimidating people with deadly weapons. There must be consequences here.” Abalos said.

Expert expresses misgivings on IACAT’S new travel rules

By Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano

THE new travel rules to be imposed by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) may not reduce the incidence of human trafficking, but will affect the tourism department’s efforts to improve international and domestic tourism, according to migration expert Emmanuel Geslani. “Aside from presenting the usual travel requirements, Filipino travelers may need to present more documents

before they could go past the immigration desk, including financial capabilities, birth certificates, and several others,” Geslani said.

The new guidelines will be implemented on Sept. 3, 2023, allowing Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers to “exercise subjective judgment, whims, and discretion” on outbound passengers. “IACAT should realize that with four million OFWS all over the world their families can now afford to travel abroad and visit tourist destinations in the region like Hong Kong, Bangkok or even Japan,” Geslani said.

He also noted reports that the perpetrator, Wilfredo Gonzales, had reached a settlement with the victim.

However, Abalos explained that in certain instances, criminal cases may still be filed even if the victim refuses to make a complaint.

“For the sake of a peaceful and orderly society, we cannot allow a culture of impunity. We cannot allow bullies to just go around intimidating people with deadly weapons. There must be consequences here,” Abalos said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA), for its consent to the nominations of the following General and Senior

Meanwhile, the Migrante International, an organization of Filipino migrant workers, said the new travel policies will only burden ordinary travelers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) instead of effectively combating human trafficking.

“This new policy is misguided and violates Filipinos’ right to travel,” Migrante chair Joanna Concepcion said. She said the revised travel guidelines will result in “increasing the element of arbitrariness in immigration officials’ decisions and even corruption,” she added.

PRICEY RICE. A worker at a rice dealer at Nepa Q-Mart in Cubao, Quezon City arranges their supply of different rice varieties, including ‘dinorado’ rice that is currently priced at P60 per kilo on Tuesday. Manny Palmero

UNSOLICITED SERVICE. An apparently out-of-school kid renders unsolicited service to a motorist stuck in heavy traffic in Parañaque City. Lino Santos

PBBM signs law for specialty health centers

HONORING FUTURE LEADERS.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivers an inspirational message during a ceremony honoring recipients of the Marikina Youth Leadership Awards. Also in the photo are Majority Leader Manuel Jose ‘Mannix’ Dalipe, former Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, and Committee on

Appropriations

Vice Chairperson and Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo. Ver Noveno

IN BRIEF

Imee urges DTI to monitor school vendors

SENATOR Imee Marcos on Tuesday urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ramp up surprise inspections on school supply vendors that do not follow the DTI’s price guide.

She said vendors will be taking advantage of the first week of classes when students and teachers are rushing to complete their school supplies. “They have no more time to haggle,” she said.

She noted that vendors ignored the DTI price list under its “Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies sa 2023.”

Random price monitoring conducted by the senator’s office in some Metro Manila markets over the weekend and Monday showed that basic notebooks cost P23 to P60 each, or up to P8 more than the DTI price guide’s range of P23 to P52.

Pad paper was also cheaper in DTI’s price guide at P20 to P28, but cost as much as 35 pesos particularly in Caloocan and Rizal markets. Macon Ramos-Araneta

NBI nabs suspect in Patikul attack

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced on Tuesday the arrest of an extremist, who allegedly took part in the 2011 attack on members of the Philippine Marines in Patikul, Sulu.

In a statement, the NBI-International Airport Investigation Division (IAID) said Abu Sayyaf Group member Mohammad Maca-Antal Said (a.k.a ‘Amah Maas’), who has an outstanding warrant of arrest for kidnapping with homicide, was apprehended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Aug. 10. Bureau of Immigration personnel intercepted Said, who was bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after seeing the Interpol Red Notice. He was then turned over to NBI-IAID who unearthed the existing warrant.

Cops in custody over minor’s beating

SIX members of the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group (PNP-MG) in Metro Manila were placed under restrictive custody for allegedly beating up a minor involved in a petty crime in Navotas City.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said Tuesday an investigation is likewise underway against another four police officers involved in the incident. He added that they are now coordinating with the local officials and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the conduct of the investigation.

“Allegedly, the minor was hurt and this is being investigated already. The minor was turned over by the citizens who apprehended the kid over a street crime,” Nartatez told reporters on the sidelines of the celebration of the 122nd Police Service Anniversary at the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

IN SUPPORT OF ‘BALIK

ESKWELA.’ Mario Mamon, chairman and president of Enchanted Kingdom (left) with Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene B. Arcillas (second from left) and Vice-Mayor Arnold B. Arcillas and other o cials during a ceremony to a rm the theme park’s continuous support to the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela program. Roy Tomandao

Speaker hails Marikina youth leadership awardees

By Maricel V. Cruz

SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez on

Tuesday lauded the 20 awardees of the first-ever Marikina Youth Leadership Award (MYLA) for their academic excellence and extraordinary leadership, as he extolled young leaders who strive and work for the betterment of their respective communities.

The MYLA is a “visionary initiative” by the Office of Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo that underscores the significance of recognizing our youth’s dedication to leadership and academic prowess. They were chosen from Marikina’s public elementary and secondary schools, in collaboration with school administrations and parent-teacher associations.

“I commend Teacher Stella’s foresight in spotlighting these dual achievers, for they are truly the city’s pride. These individuals … embody the principles of MYLA: valuing others, extending help to those in need, and playing a pivotal role in community building,” said Romualdez during the launch of the event at the North Lounge of the House of Representatives.

“They are not just leaders of tomorrow, but leaders of today,” Romualdez, the leader of the 313-member House of Representatives added Romualdez was the inspirational speaker during the ceremony that was also attended by Rep. Quimbo, her husband former congressman Miro Quimbo, teachers from Marikina school and families of the awardees.

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the establishment of specialty healthcare centers across the Philippines.

Mr. Marcos signed into law Republic Act No. 11959 or “An Act Establishing Specialty Centers in Department of Health Hospitals in Every Region and in Governmentowned or -Controlled Corporation Specialty Hospitals and Appropriating Funds Therefor” on Thursday.

RA 11959 aims to create specialty centers prioritizing cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma and burn care.

Under the new law, the Department of Health (DOH) will be tasked to establish specialty centers in its hospitals in every region and in GOCC specialty hospitals.

Also included are orthopedic care, physical rehabilitation medicine, infectious disease and tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, neonatal care, dermatology, eye care, and ear, nose, and throat care.

“To the awardees: Your recognition today is a testament to your hard work, commitment and the values you hold dear. Beyond the certificate and the gift you will receive, may you carry the essence of this award with you - that in every action, in every decision, you have the power to create a ripple of positive change in your community,” Romualdez said.

“Marikina has always been a beacon of innovation, resilience and community spirit. Today, our MYLA awardees show us that our city’s future remains in capable, compassionate hands. Continue to shine, lead and inspire,” he continued. After the ceremony, the awardees were given a short tour of the House of Representatives.

The newly-signed law also mandates the DOH to categorize the level of service capability of the specialty centers.

Specialty Centers should be identified as National Specialty Centers (NSCs), Advanced Comprehensive Specialty Centers (ACSCs), and Basic Comprehensive Specialty Centers (BCSCs) pursuant to the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan.

All establishments under the act should also follow DOH’s guidelines on planning and prioritizing health facilities.

The new law is said to consolidate separate measures bills passed by the two chambers of Congress and was approved by both the House and the Senate on May 31, 2023, or before it went on a months-long break.

MMDA scrapping bike, motorcycle lane-sharing proposal on EDSA

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday said it would shelve its proposal to have a shared lane for bicycles and motorcycles along EDSA.

This was after a meeting between motorcycle riders and cyclists’ groups failed to reach a consensus, prompting the MMDA to study other possible options.

“Nobody agreed. We have to study other available options,” MMDA chair Romando Artes said. “As we speak, a lot of motorcycles enter exclusive bike lanes. If we go strict on them, we get criticized.”

Among the possible alternatives MMDA plans to pursue is the prospect of an elevated walkway or

bike lane, which also aims to ease traffic congestion on EDSA.

Artes earlier said some 160,000 motorcycles ply EDSA daily, with a significant number of them using bike lanes.

The MMDA recently apprehended about 1,500 erring motorists on bike lanes.

The MMDA earlier led a consultation with groups of motorcyclists and bicyclists on the possible lanesharing plan.

The meeting, initiated by the MMDA chief, included representatives from various organizations, including lawyer Raymond Fortun, and members and officials of Move as One Coalition, Motorcycle Rights Organization, and Alternative Mobility. Joel E. Zurbano

SC orders Comelec to comment on An Waray petition

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Supreme Court (SC) has required the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to comment on the petition and plea for a temporary restraining order filed by party-list group An Waray.

An Waray’s petition is seeking to set aside a Comelec resolution ordering the cancellation of An Waray’s registration for violation of an election code in 2013.

The ruling is likely to affect Representative Florencio Noel, an incumbent lawmaker who is the first nominee of An Waray in the 19th Congress, unless

the SC issues a TRO to enjoin the implementation of Comelec’s resolution.

In a resolution, the SC also ordered the Comelec to reply to Danilo Pornias and Jude Acidre who acted as the petitioners in the Comelec case.

Acidre is currently a congressman, and the second nominee of the Tingog Party-list.

In a statement released by the SCPublic Information Office (PIO), the Court said respondents Comelec, Pornias and Acidre should particularly comment on the issue of jurisdiction raised by An Waray in its petition.

The SC gave the respondents a nonextendible period of 10 days to file their comment upon receipt of notice.

The Court issued the order during the magistrates’ regular en banc session yesterday.

An Waray’s petition primarily questions the jurisdiction of the Comelec in ordering the cancellation of the registration of the partylist group since it is allegedly the House of Representatives that has jurisdiction over cases involving the qualification of its members.

In a resolution dated June 2, 2023 of

the Comelec Second Division and resolution dated August 14, 2023 of the Comelec en banc, the poll body cancelled the registration of An Waray Party-list pursuant to Section 6 (5) of Republic Act No. 7941 for letting its second nominee, Victoria Noel, take her oath and assume a congressional seat in 2013 despite the absence of a certificate of proclamation from the Comelec.

The poll body pointed out that An Waray Party-List was only entitled to one seat for the 2013 National and Local Elections.

Admin eyes P118.5B for DSWD’s protection programs

THE administration is seeking the use of P118.5 billion for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) social protection programs that will be implemented in 2024, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the DBM said the proposed allocation for the DSWD’s promotive programs accounts for more than half of the department’s total budget of P209.9 billion.

“From the DSWD’s total budget,

PHP118.5 or 56.46 percent, is set aside for the agency’s Promotive Programs. Promotive Programs are the strategic grouping of DSWD flagship social protection projects to help reduce poverty through conditional cash transfer, communitydriven development and sustainable livelihood,” it said. The DBM said P112.84 billion of the P118.5 billion would be allotted to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), while the remaining P5.6 billion would go to

the Sustainable Livelihood Program.

The current administration’s goal is to bring down the poverty rate to a single digit or 9 percent by 2028.

Under the 2024 National Expenditure Program, the DSWD will receive a budget of P209.9 billion, higher by 5.22 percent or P10.4 billion from the P199.5 billion allocation in the 2023 General Appropriations Act.

The DBM said about P76.2 billion would be used for the DSWD’s protective programs in 2024. Julito Rada

‘GOODBYE, TOOTS.’ Families, relatives, and friends of the late secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers Maria Susana ‘Toots’ Ople pay their last respects at the Heritage Park in Taguig City. Danny Pata

“I HAD to go to the backyard to release [the emotion] I felt about the book.”

This was his reaction, National Artist for Literature Resil Mojares said, upon reading the book Catcher in the Rye, the book he says first moved him when he was a young reader.

Mojares said this in conversation with historian Ambeth Ocampo at the National Book Development Board’s (NBDB) Philippine Book Festival-Davao on the second day of the event, Aug. 19.

The two best-selling authors first talked about their home libraries and how they are organized, trivia that many fans like learning about.

But after that warmup, it was the National Artist’s take on his personal reading favorites and writing habits that interested the rapt audience.

Resil Buagas Mojares turns 80 on Sept. 4. He taught for many years at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, where he founded the Cebuano Studies Center, a pioneering hub for regional studies.

A historian and critic, Mojares writes about Philippine history, literature, and culture.

Among his notable books are Isabelo’s Archive, Waiting for Mariang Makiling: Essays on Philippine Cultural History, and The War Against the Americans: Resistance and Collaboration in Cebu, 1899-1906, to name some.

Embracing Mojares’s ‘slow it down’ mantra enriches our lives with deeper insights and more profound connections with the written word

But it is his House of Memory: Essays that he says is his favorite of everything that he’s written, because “it’s the only one” his daughters have read.

Perhaps he said that tongue-in-cheek, as he does have a lively sense of humor. His bookshelves at home, he says, cannot contain all his books, there are so many of them.

But for him it’s not the collecting but the thrill of the hunt, the chase for a particular book or edition, the serendipitous discovery of an interesting volume in an unexpected place.

He enjoys buying books at that reader standby, Booksale, which sells used and remaindered books and makes reading affordable and accessible to a wider audience.

Sometimes, he says, buying books just makes you feel better. “It’s a case of shopping therapy. If you want to lift your spirits, you may find a book that makes your day.”

As Catcher in the Rye was a cathartic book that inspired him to read more and put him on the path of his life’s work, Mojares says his favorite foreign author is W. G. Sebald (Max Sebald), an Anglo-German author and academic.

“I have all his books,” Mojares said.

Sebald’s father had served in the Wehrmacht under the Nazis; while in school, the young Sebald was shown images of the Holocaust.

These early experiences and challenges to perception and understanding led him to write books with themes of warfare and persecution, loss and decay, memory and loss of memory. Complex narratives layered with meaning and emotion such as Sebald’s hold great interest for Mojares.

He also favors other authors, he says, with “unpronounceable names” like the Eastern Europeans, foregoing the slicker, canny output of American authors.

He also admits to a slight disconnection from the work of women writers.

“What draws me to a particular writer is that [they wrote] something I could have written. But I can’t write like a woman, so…”

Reduced farm production

THE Philippines is still swerving from havoc caused by three successive typhoons – Egay, Falcon and Goring – with officials aware of reduced farm fertility, not to exclude the emotional trauma families are going through.

he shrugged. About his own books, Mojares says they are impelled by his “great appetite of learning.”

His interests are many and varied, and his knowledge the same, so that his writing covers a wide range of topics.

“[Writer] Doreen Fernandez said what she likes about me is that my books are different from each other,” Mojares said. “I don’t dwell too long on one topic.”

“The joy of learning, of discovering something new” keeps the National Artist’s mind sharp and his scholarship fresh and novel. “I read to learn,” he said. But being busy with work throughout the years have left him with less time for reading.

“My big regret is not having time to read what I want to read.”

His writing process follows a gentle, stately flow.

Ocampo teased Mojares, is it true that you still write in longhand?

Yes, Mojares said, on long yellow pad paper. He then transfers his draft to a computer and edits on hard copy. “I’m wasteful when I write – I do around 20 revisions on paper.”

While typhoons increase the supply of water for agriculture as they usher in rain, the three recent ones did more harm than good, underlying the axiom that this country of 114 million people is among the hardest hit by natural disasters, particularly typhoons, floods and droughts.

We have seen how these typhoons and flash floods – in the Central Plains north of Manila, the known rice bowl of the country, and in Cagayan Valley and the Ilocos farther north – have destroyed infrastructure and agricultural crops.

Beyond doubt, while officials are still going through preliminary estimates of damage to agriculture crops as well as roads and bridges, the unwelcome floods diminished farm production by damaging farm inputs and destroying establishment and infrastructure.

Studies have shown these natural disasters have negative economic and environmental impacts on the affected areas and the people who live there, pointing the blame yet once more on the slow ability of authorities to address the challenge of climate change. Studies also suggested the agriculture and

The Office of Civil Defense has activated emergency preparedness and response protocols in the different regions

natural resources sectors are highly ill-protected because they are continuously exposed to natural disasters and their unwelcome consequences. For an economy largely dependent on agriculture and its natural resources and environment, the data and information as well as overall knowledge gained from such study may

prove useful in developing strategies to address the ill-effects of natural disasters.

While Super Typhoons Egay and Falcon may have subsided from their paths of destruction in the Philippines, initial data suggest they affected more than three million people, including scores dead and injured, displaced more than 285,000 and placed nearly 52,000 in evacuation centers and almost 234,000 outside evacuation centers. Egay and Falcon had caused destructive flooding, landslides, and tornadoes in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon, with damage to the agriculture sector initially placed at P1.53 billion, affecting nearly 100,000 farmers and fisher folk in eight regions.

Then the latest, typhoon Goring, brought heavy rainfall and what weathermen described as “severe winds” as it pounded the country’s northeast, affecting more than 115,200 people. In its bulletin, the DA said at least 66.075 metric tons of produce were lost, covering 110,086 hectares of agricultural areas in the Cordilleras, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas and Caraga.

The Office of Civil Defense earlier said the affected families are those displaced and those not needing transfer or removal from their residence.

The OCD said it is continuing to coordinate response operations with its regional counterparts and other government agencies to ensure assistance in typhoon-affected areas.

The OCD has activated emergency preparedness and response protocols in the different regions.

“My preferred way of writing,” Mojares explained, “is to go coffee-shop hopping. I stay one to two hours, leave, and go to another one.”

This leisurely meander from place to place affords him time for introspection and reflection.

“Writing by hand,” Mojares said, “is the ideal way of writing. You need to slow the process down. Get away from the tyranny of the computer and do more leisurely writing.”

When Ocampo asked him to elaborate on this, particularly with young people more used to typing on computers than writing with pen on paper, Mojares said, “How can you write, speeding? You have to slow things down. That goes for reading as well.

“Digital media has put a premium on what’s short and quick. That’s what’s reflected in publishing today, with books of 50 pages.”

The years force us all to go gentler on ourselves, the National Artist reminded us.

“At my age, I’ve slowed down in ways I don’t like… you can’t do things as fast.

“The lesson here,” he concluded, “is to slow it down.”

I must say I agree with our National Artist.

In a world increasingly obsessed with speed and instant gratification, embracing “slow reading” and “slow writing” becomes the path less taken.

They also have cognitive benefits.

For reading, taking the time to savor each word and sentence enhances comprehension and retention.

It allows for deeper analysis, critical thinking, and better absorption of complex ideas.

This deliberate pace engages the brain more fully, preserving cognitive function and preventing mental decline.

Similarly, “slow writing” encourages thoughtful reflection, resulting in more articulate and purposeful communication.

It can also be therapeutic, reducing stress and promoting mental well-being.

In essence, embracing Mojares’s “slow it down” mantra enriches our lives with deeper insights and more profound connections with the written word.

It also helps us develop more meaningful relationships with each other when we slow down to listen to each other’s unique life story.

And if you don’t have one yet, may you discover your own Catcher in the Rye, the book that introduces you to the love of reading and an appreciation of good literature.

* * * FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO / Email: writerjennyo@gmail.com

specific areas.

By Melandrew T. Velasco

TWENTY-NINE years ago, on August 25, 1994, Republic Act 7796 was signed by President Fidel V. Ramos establishing the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

As stipulated in the TESDA Act “the State shall encourage active participation of various concerned sectors, particularly private enterprises, being direct participants in and immediate beneficiaries of a trained and skilled workforce in providing technical education and skills development opportunities.”

On its 29th founding anniversary, TESDA launched the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP).

For those who cannot afford to pursue four- or five-year college degrees, the government has a manpower development program where they are prepared through technical education and vocational training. The technical education and skills development program aims to development high quality Filipino middle-level manpower responsive to and in accordance with Philippine development goals and priorities.

There are programs offered by government for the work force to improve their employability and competencies to meet actual industry demands.

The area-based and demand-driven technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is implemented by TESDA to be responsive to the needs of industries and employers in

IN MY last column on why graft and corruption in government cannot be stopped, I pointed out that most of the time the system of policies gives an opportunity to grafters and corrupt officials in government to commit graft. True enough, the new rules and guidelines imposed, Santa Banana, by the Inter-Agency Against Trafficking, which will take effect on Sept 3, gives the opportunity to the agents of one of the most corrupt government agencies, the Bureau of Immigration, the opportunity to commit graft and corruption on travelers going abroad!

Whoever made those new guidelines may be wellintentioned, but they can only promote bribery and extortion by corrupt immigration agents.

My gulay, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) has added new guidelines for travelers aside from the usual passport, valid visa requirement, boarding pass and confirmed return or round trip ticket, such as reason of travel, financial capacity, proof of employment and income for first time travelers, hotel accommodation and proof of sponsor abroad and proof of relation.

And even worse, for first-time OFWs, not only proof of employment and visa and the usual requirements from the Department of Migrant Workers are required, which is an opportunity for corrupt BI agents to shake down travelers. My gulay, it’s like burning a whole house to kill a rat!

Sure, there’s a need to stop human trafficking which is one of the problems of the government.

But, in the process, the new travel guidelines can only promote extortion, an opportunity for graft and corruption. Aside from this, the IACAT guidelines are definitely a violation of the right to travel and the right to privacy.

Considering all this, my gulay, it would do well for President Marcos Jr. to have the new IACAT guidelines junked. If not, the new guidelines , being unconstitutional, will surely be contested in court.

As I said, it would do well for BBM to have those new IACAT guidelines stopped. My gulay, it’s bad enough for the country now suffering from high prices of almost all commodities, especially the high prices of rice. Now this stupidity, Santa Banana! Federalism

The issue of charter change has come up again after President Marcos Jr. swore in members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas under which political party he became President, which will need an amendment to the 1987 Constitution.

But, the problem is that following so many threats and challenges the country is facing, principally food security and inflation bringing about high prices, the least the nation should worry about is charter change or cha-cha. As far as I am concerned, I believe in charter change since there’s definitely a need to update the charter.

During the first year of BBM, Senator Robin Padilla, a staunch advocate of charter change and

To kill or catch a rat EvEryman

federalism, who is also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment and Revision of Codes, tried his best to have a cha-cha mainly on the oppressive and antiquated economic provisions of the charter, but failed. He did not have support in the Senate which considered charter change not among its priorities, Charter change was the advocacy of Padilla when he ran for the Senate and topped it. While I believe in charter change, not only on the economic provisions of the charter, but mainly on the need to structure our form of government, a unitary form where the seat of power is in Imperial Manila.

P11 billion that went to people involved in those contracts to furnish medical supplies to government by a measly capitalized Chinese firm, the Pharmally Pharmaceuticals?

There were even cases of people dying in hospital parking lots because they could not be accommodated at hospitals. And here came Pharmally committing plunder at the expense of the government.

Yes, some executives of Pharmally were indicted with graft and corruption.

But, why not “plunder” at a time when Filipinos were dying at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It took Gordon long months to undertake that investigation of Pharmally which definitely was a scandal, but then President Duterte called that probe a “witchhunt,” and called on government people not to attend the probe of the Senate.

Why, was it because of Duterte’s pal, Davaobased Michael Yang, who became the special economic adviser of Duterte and others who have been involved in fraudulent contracts in Taiwan.

I am also a strong advocate of the Parliamentary System of government with one Parliament, doing away with two chambers in Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives, with a President dulyelected and a Prime Minister chosen among members of Parliament.

Just look at countries in Asia under the regime of a Parliamentary system. We are about the only Unitary government, a copy of the United States system, with the difference that in the US they have a Federal form of government with each state having its own seat of power.

Under the strongman President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., BBM’s late father, the parliamentary form of government was adopted until Cory Aquino, who came to power when the 1987 charter was adopted, scrapped it I believe it’s time to amend the charter with all the threats, challenges and problems facing us, but like Padilla I believe in Federalism.

Federalism gives the seat of power to regions where they know the problems that must be attended to right away, instead of relying on Imperial Manila.

I do hope and pray that in the 2025 national elections, more and more believers and advocates of charter change like Padilla will be elected.

Am I dreaming, Santa Banana?

Like Senator Padilla, I believe the time will come when we Filipinos will realize that Federalism will be the best form of government.

Why not plunder Like former Senator Dick Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, I would like to ask the Ombudsman, why not “plunder” for those found guilty in the big scandal of at least

Like Gordon, the indictment by the Ombudsman for only graft with that kind of money lost because of the influence of some people close to the former President brings questions why corruption continues to be a big problem in government.

Yes, we can agree on the indictment of the head of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management and of the Deputy Ombudsman, but many questions remain.

The Pharmally case was so big that it came close to being the biggest scandal in government since the P10 billion pork barrel scandal.

Why not go after the top? Gordon asked? Indeed, why not?

The problem with such scandals is that almost always, some people in the top are involved, but they remain untouchable.

As the former senator observed, the heinousness of the crime was it happened during the height of COVID-19 pandemic, involving a special friend of the then sitting President, Davao-based Michael Yang, who the former President made his special economic adviser.

Mister Ombudsman, there are many questions airing from this heinous scandal.

In my more than seven decades as a journalist, I have seen scandals before, but this scandal takes the cake.

Congratulations

I’d like to extend my congratulations to Tony Lambino who is now the President and member of the Board of Trustees of Ayala Foundation, after leaving his post as Managing Director for Strategic Communication of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. He was previously Assistant Secretary of the Department of Finance. A well-deserved position. Lambino is the son of the first cousin of my wife, Cecilia Gabor Lambino.

Collaboration for work force employability

In its 2021 TVET Statistics Annual Report there were 1,240,099 enrolees and 1,157,189 graduates with a 93 percent completion rate. The government acknowledges the need to invest in people to make them more productive and self reliant.

After all, people with the required education and skills are the first to seize employment opportunities generated by a growing economy.

Providing the necessary skills training has its cost.

It is important to collaborate and partner with the private sector to ensure the delivery of high-quality and relevant tech-voc training to Filipinos.

Recently, San Miguel Corporation announced it is partnering with TESDA to launch a skills training program so that more Filipinos can benefit from employment opportunities at the New Manila International Airport project and in other projects of the conglomerate.

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed by SMC represented by its President and CEO Ramon S. Ang and TESDA Director General Suharto T. Mangudadatu.

The MOA strengthens the collaboration of the two organizations and expands their partnership to create more livelihood and employment opportunities in provinces where SMC projects are situated.

“We are rolling out a comprehensive skills training program that will prepare many Filipinos

The new travel guidelines can only promote extortion, an opportunity for graft and corruption More

The training is a commitment of SMC to Taliptip residents to help make their lives better.

Graduates especially those who underwent training in heavy equipment, electrical installation and maintenance, and shielded metal arc welding courses are referred to SMC Aerocity which handles the airport development.

Others become self-employed as they are also given entrepreneurship training.

Following the launch in Bulacan, SMC again collaborated with TESDA and expanded its livelihood skills and job training program in Sariaya, Quezon.

Sariaya is an important growth area for SMC.

It is site of the corporation’s agro-industrial center which will have a grains terminal and feedmill, and food manufacturing plant, among others.

The participants trained in organic/urban farming/edible landscaping and fish/meat processing.

passengers on its 12th year.

It will have 14 stations—Quezon North Avenue Joint Station; Quezon Memorial Circle; University Avenue; Tandang Sora; Don Antonio; Batasan; Manggahan; Dona Carmen; Regalado; Mindanao Avenue; Quirino; Sacred Heart; Tala; and San Jose del Monte. The 115 engineering graduates were chosen from over 500 applicants who underwent rigid screening. The top 40 were sent to South Korea for training while the remaining cadets are undergoing extensive training in the country under the Philippine Railway Institute.

SMC is investing in the growth, development and well-being of young local talents and provide them with the needed tools to enhance their competencies.

Aware that human resources contribute to economic growth, we must address problems in skills-job mismatch and encourage upskilling and reskilling of the Filipino workforce.

for the vast job and livelihood opportunities in our upcoming new Manila International Airport project in Bulacan as well as other strategic initiatives nationwide,” Ang said.

In 2020, SMC, in cooperation with TESDA, launched a skills and livelihood training program for residents of Bulacan, where the new airport will rise. Students from Barangay Taliptip were trained in metal arc welding, electrical installation and maintenance, heavy equipment operations, cookery, and dressmaking.

The first batch of trainees in Sariaya consisted of residents from the San Miguel-Christian Gayeta Homes.

Meanwhile, SMC has collaborated with Korea Railroad Corp. and the Philippine National Railways to train 115 engineering cadets in preparation for the commercial operations of MRT Line 7. MRT 7, another big-ticket infrastructure project of SMC, is scheduled to open its doors to the commuting public in 2025.

It can accommodate 300,000 passengers in its first year of operation and up to 850,000

More partnerships with the private sector must be forged to realize more programs for the workforce to meet the challenges of an ever evolving workplace.

(The author, president and executive director of the Million Trees Foundation Inc., a non-profit group advocating tree planting and watershed protection, is a book author and publisher of biographical and historical coffee-table books through his outfit, Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc.)

WORLD

Storm Idalia strengthens off Cuba, barrels toward Florida

MIAMI, United States—Tropical Storm Idalia strengthened as it passed by the western tip of Cuba on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), taking aim at the Gulf coast of Florida as forecasters predicted it could become a hurricane “at any time.”

HEEDLESS PET. A dog walks in a flooded area of Batabano, Mayabeque Province, Cuba, on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Idalia approaches the western tip of the island nation. It strengthened as it neared Cuba and the abnormally hot waters of the Gulf of Mexico, with forecasters predicting it could become a major hurricane before roaring ashore in Florida this week. AFP

7.1-magnitude quake, shocks rattle Bali

DENPASAR, Indonesia—A strong, deep

7.1-magnitude earthquake and several aftershocks rattled Bali and other Indonesian islands on Tuesday, the USGS reported, sending panicked tourists into the streets but causing no major damage.

The quake struck at a depth of around 515 kilometers off the northeastern coast of Bali at around 3:55 am local time, according to the US Geological Survey.

The tremors were felt across Bali, and also in the nearby islands of Lombok and Sumbawa.

Bali residents said a second aftershock sent “longer and stronger” tremors than the first.

“When the first earthquake struck, I woke up my husband. Not long after that, the second earthquake struck, so

Kim wants North Korean Navy boosted

SEOUL, South Korea—Kim Jong Un has called for boosting North Korea’s navy, state media reported Tuesday, saying the country’s waters brimmed with “the danger of a nuclear war.”

The North Korean leader slammed growing trilateral cooperation between the “gang bosses” of the United States, South Korea and Japan, who are holding joint naval drills.

Kim, who visited naval command on Sunday, said the three allies had recently “closeted with each other”, the official Korean Central News Agency reported, in an apparent reference to this month’s Camp David summit.

He accused Washington of being “more frantic than ever before” by conducting joint naval exercises and deploying nuclear strategic assets in the waters around the Korean peninsula on a permanent basis, the report said.

“Owing to the reckless confrontational moves of the US and other hostile forces, the waters off the Korean Peninsula have been reduced into the world’s biggest war hardware concentration spot, the most unstable waters with the danger of a nuclear war,” Kim said, according to KCNA.

“To achieve the successes in rapidly developing the naval force has become a very urgent issue in view of the enemies’ recent aggressive attempts.” AFP

we immediately took our children outside,” said Ardylla Yuliacitra, 31.

“The first earthquake made me sway like on a boat, and the second made my house tremble.”

The USGS reported a 5.4-magnitude and a 5.6-magnitude aftershock within minutes of the initial quake.

Hotels evacuated their guests as staffers checked beaches for fear of a possible tsunami.

“We calmed (guests) and provided mineral water and towels for those who were evacuating. Then after 15 to 20 minutes, when things felt safe, the staff invited guests to return to their rooms,” said Nimas Ayu, spokesperson of the Artotel hotel in Bali’s eastern Sanur area.

The epicenter was 181 km northeast

of the Gili islands off Lombok, a short boat ride from Bali. Indonesian authorities ruled out a tsunami and said no immediate damage was reported.

“Our teams are carrying assessments as they are still collecting reports from the people,” the Bali disaster mitigation agency said in a statement.

Indonesia experiences frequent earthquakes due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

In November, a 5.6-magnitude quake hit the populous West Java province on the main island of Java, killing 602 people. AFP

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned the storm—likely to make landfall there as a major hurricane by Wednesday—could have major impacts along the Gulf of Mexico, telling a news conference that evacuations would take place and residents should prepare.

“The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline,” the National Hurricane Center said in an 11 pm update.

“There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation along portions of the Florida Gulf Coast,” it said in a statement on social media.

US President Joe Biden spoke with DeSantis earlier Monday and approved an emergency declaration for the state, promising it would have his full support, a White House spokesman said.

Various NHC warnings have been put in place in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina as heated Gulf of Mexico waters turbocharge the storm.

The NHC also expected hurricane and tropical storm conditions in parts of western Cuba through Tuesday morning.

It predicted the highest storm surges north of Tampa Bay, a metropolitan region with about 3.2 million residents, saying that “inundation of between eight to 12 feet above ground level is expected.”

Flash and urban flooding may hit other parts of Florida, including the state’s panhandle region, and southern Georgia into Wednesday, the NHC said. Flooding could reach parts of South Carolina Wednesday into Thursday.

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency is already preparing for the storm’s impact, including by deploying some of its staff, according to the White House. Cuban authorities declared a hurricane alert for the provinces of Pinar del Rio and Artemisa as well as Isla de la Juventud, an island.

Thousands of Cubans evacuated or fled ahead of the storm, authorities and state media said.

After passing Cuba the storm will move out over the Gulf, which scientists say is experiencing a “marine heat wave”—energizing Idalia’s winds as it races towards Florida.AFP

Japan decries China harassment over Fukushima release

TOKYO—Tokyo demanded Tuesday that China ensure the safety of Japanese citizens as it reported a brick being thrown at its embassy in Beijing in an escalating row over the release of Fukushima water.

Last week, China banned all seafood imports from its neighbor as Japan began releasing treated wastewater from the crippled plant in an operation the UN nuclear watchdog has declared safe.

Since then, Japan has urged its citizens in China to keep a low profile and has increased security around schools and diplomatic missions.

Japan’s foreign minister on Tuesday confirmed media reports that a brick was thrown at its embassy in Beijing and echoed calls from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for China to calm the situation.

“It is extremely regrettable and worrying,” Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo.

“We would like to urge the Chinese government again to take appropriate measures immediately, such as calling on its citizens to act calmly to prevent the situation from escalating,

and to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese residents and our diplomatic missions in China.”

He added that China should “provide accurate information” about the Fukushima water release “rather than unnecessarily raising people’s concerns by providing information without any scientific basis”.

In Beijing, a spokesperson at the Japanese embassy told AFP that staff were “extremely worried.”

“Some individuals have come to our (embassy) entrance,” the spokesperson said.

“They took these kinds of actions, then were led away by armed police.”

In response, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Tuesday that Beijing “protects the safety” of foreigners in China.

“China always protects the safety and legitimate rights and interests of foreigners in China, in accordance with law,” he said, dismissing the “so-called concerns of the Japanese side.” AFP

SUSPICIOUS OVER SUSHI. A woman looks at the menu of a Japanese restaurant near the Japanese embassy in Beijing on Tuesday. Chinese sushi and sashimi lovers have expressed reservations after Japan kicked off plans for the disposal of waste from the stricken power plant into the Pacific Ocean, 12 years after one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters. AFP

Thai activists acquitted of libel, decry ‘harassment’

BANGKOK—Three Thai human rights activists were acquitted of criminal defamation on Tuesday, but lamented what they called a hollow victory over the country’s restrictive libel laws.

The cases were filed against Angkhana Neelapaijit, Puttanee Kangkun and Thanaporn Saleephol in 2019 and 2020 after they shared posts about punishing working hours and conditions at a chicken farm owned by the Thammakaset company.

Rights groups have criticised the kingdom’s harsh defamation laws, un-

Chilean court sends ex-soldiers to jail over singer’s 1973 murder

SANTIAGO, Chile—A Chilean court on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) confirmed jail terms for seven elderly ex-soldiers for the 1973 murder of beloved folk singer Victor Jara in the aftermath of the coup d’etat that installed dictator Augusto Pinochet.

The soldiers, aged between 73 and 85 and free men until the ruling, will now have to report to prison to serve sentences of between eight and 25 years.

Jara, then 40, was arrested the day after the September 11, 1973 CIA-backed coup that overthrew Salvador Allende.

His body was found days later, riddled with 44 bullets.

Monday’s ruling -- the outcome of an appeal by the convicted men -- confirmed sentences of 15 years for the murders of Jara and Littre and another 10 years for the kidnapping of each, for ex-army officials Raul Jofre, Edwin Dimter, Nelson Haase, Ernesto Bethke, Juan Jara and Hernan Chacon.

Rolando Melo received eight years for his role in covering up the crimes. AFP

der which anyone convicted can face up to two years imprisonment or a fine of up to 200,000 THB ($5,719).

“The court has decided that the defendants did not intend to defame the plaintiff,” Angkhana, Puttanee and Thanaporn’s lawyer Tittasat Soodsan told AFP outside Bangkok’s South Criminal Court. He said the links attached in messages posted by the defendants “were not directly related to the plaintiff”.

Thailand exports billions of dollars of farm products, in poorly regulated in-

dustries reliant on migrant labour from nearby Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

A chicken farm owned by the Thammakaset company in Lopburi province has been at the centre of disputes by Myanmar workers about grueling days, lack of overtime pay, and confiscated documents.

While Thailand’s Supreme Court has ordered Thammakaset owner Chanchai Pheamphon to pay compensation to the workers, since 2016 he has brought at least 37 complaints against 22 activists around the case. AFP

UK’s Cleverly to visit Beijing for bilateral talks

BEIJING, China—Brtain’s

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will visit China Wednesday, Beijing’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

During the visit “the two sides will have in-depth communication on China-UK relations and on international and regional issues of shared concern”, ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing.

“It is hoped that the UK side will work alongside China in upholding a spirit of mutual respect, conduct in-depth exchanges, enhance understanding, and promote the stable development of China-UK relations,” he added.

“As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies in the world, China and the UK shoulder the common responsibility of promoting world peace, stability and development.”

The visit was initially expected to take place in July, but was postponed due to the mysterious disappearance of Beijing’s now ex-foreign minister Qin Gang.

Cleverly will become the first British foreign secretary to visit China in more than five years, following Jeremy Hunt’s trip in 2018.

DIPLOMAT FIRED. Demonstrators rally in front of the prime minister’s offices in Tripoli Tuesday to protest news of a meeting between Libya’s foreign minister and her Israeli counterpart a week earlier in Rome. Libya’s internationally recognized prime minister has sacked his top diplomat after she met her Israeli counterpart, with news of the encounter triggering protests in a country that does not recognize Israel. AFP

Since then relations between the UK and China have soured over a number of issues, including human rights, tech and Beijing’s crackdown in the former British colony of Hong Kong. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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Local stocks track US, global markets’ rally

By Jenniffer B. Austria

MANILA—Local stocks rose Tuesday, tracking the gains on Wall Street and other Asian markets.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index climbed 64.39 points, or 1.04 percent, to close at 6,225, while the broader all-shares index went up 22.22 points to settle at 3,354.62.

Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said share prices closed higher as traders geared up for window-dressing while awaiting the release of key economic data.

Analysts said the market was hoping

PSEi

August 29, 2023

TOP GAINERS

that China would provide additional fiscal stimulus to boost the world’s second largest economy.

Meanwhile, traders extended a global rally Tuesday ahead of US data this week that could be key to the Federal Reserve’s decision-making on interest rates.

Hong Kong and Shanghai enjoyed big gains following fresh promises of help for China’s economy, but worries

about the outlook continue to dampen sentiment, with authorities facing growing calls for bigger stimulus to revive growth.

After a painful August on trading floors, investors have enjoyed a positive start to this week, with Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell’s insistence that monetary policy would be based on a range of indicators fueling hope the tightening cycle has drawn to a close.

This week sees the release of the US central bank’s preferred gauge of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, as well as jobs creation and factory activity.

“The trio should tell investors where critical factors in the Fed’s decision tree

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

on rates lie following the central bank’s gathering in Jackson Hole last week and ahead of a scheduled meeting in September,” said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.

While inflation is easing, Fed officials have warned it remains too high at 3.2 percent -- well above their two percent target -- and that borrowing costs might have to rise or at least remain elevated until they are satisfied prices have been tamed.

That, however, has led to concerns that they could deal a blow to the economy.

Anthony Saglimbene, at Ameriprise, said: “Investors want to see economic releases this week that suggest activity is slowing enough to keep further rate

Glitch suspends all Toyota production factories in Japan

TOKYO, Japan—Toyota said Tuesday it has been hit by a technical glitch forcing it to suspend production at all of its 14 factories in Japan.

The world’s biggest automaker gave no further details on the stoppage, which began Tuesday morning, but said it did not appear to be caused by a cyberattack.

The company said the glitch prevented its system from processing orders for parts, resulting in a suspension of a dozen factories or 25 production lines on Tuesday morning.

The company later decided to halt the afternoon shift of the two other operational factories, suspending all of Toyota’s domestic plants, or 28 production lines.

“We do not believe the problem was caused by a cyberattack,” the company said in a statement to AFP.

“We will continue to investigate the cause and to restore the system as soon as possible.”

The incident affected only Japanese factories, Toyota said.

It was not immediately clear exactly when normal production might resume. The news briefly sent Toyota’s stocks into the red in the morning session before recovering.

Last year, Toyota had to suspend all of its domestic factories after a subsidiary was hit by a cyberattack.

The company is one of the biggest in Japan, and its production activities have an outsized impact on the country’s economy.

Toyota is famous for its “just-in-time” production system of providing only small deliveries of necessary parts and other items at various steps of the assembly process.

This practice minimizes costs while improving efficiency and is studied by other manufacturers and at business schools around the world, but also comes with risks.

The auto titan retained its global top-selling auto crown for the third year in a row in 2022, and aims to earn an annual net profit of 2.58 trillion yen ($17.6 billion) this fiscal year.

Major automakers are enjoying a robust surge of global demand after the Covid-19 pandemic slowed manufacturing activities.

Severe shortages of semiconductors had limited production capacity for a host of goods ranging from cars to smartphones.

Toyota has said chip supplies were improving and that it had raised product prices, while it worked with suppliers to bring production back to normal.

However, the company was still experiencing delays in the deliveries of new vehicles to customers, it added. AFP

OpenAI’s ChatGPT turns to business as popularity wanes

FRANCISCO, United States—

SAN

OpenAI on Monday said it was launching a business version of ChatGPT as its artificial intelligence sensation grapples with declining usership nine months after its historic debut.

ChatGPT Enterprise will offer business customers a premium version of the bot, with “enterprise grade” security and privacy enhancements from previous versions, OpenAI said in a blog post.

The question of data security has become an important one for OpenAI, with major companies, including Apple, Amazon and Samsung, blocking employees from using ChatGPT out of fear that sensitive information will be divulged.

“Today marks another step towards an AI assistant for work that helps with any task, is customized for your organization, and that protects your company data,” OpenAI said.

The ChatGPT business version resembles Bing Chat Enterprise, an offering by Microsoft, which uses the same OpenAI technology through a major partnership.

ChatGPT Enterprise will be powered by GPT-4, OpenAI’s highest performing model, much like ChatGPT Plus, the company’s subscription version for individuals, but business customers will have special perks, including better speed.

“We believe AI can assist and elevate every aspect of our working lives and make teams more creative and productive,” the company said.

It added that companies including Carlyle, The Estée Lauder Companies

2023. AFP

and PwC were already early adopters of ChatGPT Enterprise. The release came as ChatGPT is struggling to maintain the excitement that made it the world’s fastest downloaded app in the weeks after its release.

That distinction was taken over last month by Threads, the Twitter rival from Facebookowner Meta.

According to analytics company Similarweb, ChatGPT traffic dropped by nearly 10 percent in June and again in July, falls that could be attributed to school summer break, it said.

Similarweb estimates that roughly one quarter of ChatGPT’s users worldwide fall in the 18-24 demographic.

OpenAI is also facing pushback from news publishers and other platforms -- including X,

as Twitter is now known, and Reddit -- that are now blocking OpenAI web crawlers from mining their data for AI model training.

A pair of studies by pollster Pew Research Center released on Monday also pointed to doubts about AI and ChatGPT in particular.

Two-thirds of the US-based respondents who had heard of ChatGPT say their main concern is that the government will not go far enough in regulating its use.

The research also found that the use of ChatGPT for learning and work tasks has ticked up from 12 percent of those who had heard of ChatGPT in March to 16 percent in July.

Pew also reported that 52 percent of Americans say they feel more concerned than excited about the increased use of artificial intelligence. AFP

hikes at bay, but not too slow to indicate the economy is headed for a recession.

Asian markets were up across the board.

Hong Kong climbed more than one percent thanks to a surge in tech giants, while Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Mumbai, Bangkok, Manila, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta were also up.

London returned from a long weekend to see healthy gains, while Paris and Frankfurt extended their Monday advance.

Shanghai rose again, helped by China’s weekend decision to slash the stamp duty paid on stock trades for the first time in 15 years as leaders try to revitalize the beleaguered market. With AFP

China, US start fresh trade talks

BEIJING, China—US and Chinese officials held a fresh round of talks on contentious trade issues Tuesday, the third day of a visit to Beijing by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

Raimondo’s trip to China is the latest by a senior US official in recent months as Washington seeks to defuse tensions with the world’s second-largest economy.

On Tuesday, she met China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing, reiterating her view that “the US-China commercial relationship is one of the most consequential” in the world.

“Managing that relationship responsibly is critical to both of our nations and indeed to the whole world,” she said during a part of the meeting where journalists were allowed in the room. She stressed the US would “never compromise in protecting our national security”, but added that Washington “did not seek to decouple, or to hold China’s economy back”.

He, in response, said Beijing was willing to work on “new, positive efforts to keep economic consensus and step up cooperation”.

Raimondo also met China’s Culture and Tourism Minister Hu Heping on Tuesday, underscoring “the importance of peopleto-people exchange to the broader USChina bilateral relationship”, the US Commerce Department said.

She will also pay a courtesy visit to Premier Li Qiang, before heading to China’s economic powerhouse Shanghai and leaving the country on Wednesday.

Earlier in her trip, she met with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, with the two sides agreeing to set up a working group to iron out the laundry list of trade disputes between them. They also agreed to set up what Washington called an “export control enforcement information exchange” —described as a platform to “reduce misunderstanding of US national security policies.” AFP

and other remote or electronic means of communication. If you wish to attend through videoconferencing, kindly inform the Corporate Secretary at least five (5) business days prior to 21 September 2023 so that the proper link may be sent to you.

Visitors walk past a sign (left) promoting ChatGPT, a hugely popular language app that has sparked a rush in artificial intelligence technology, during the three-day 7th AI Expo, part of NexTech Week Tokyo 2023, Japan’s largest trade show for artificial intelligence technology companies, at Tokyo Big Sight on May 10,

GAS PRICES. Gasoline prices are displayed at a Mobil station ahead of the Labor Day weekend on August 28, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. According to AAA, the average price of regular gasoline with self-service in Los Angeles County rose to $5.36 per gallon, 33 cents more than one month ago. AFP

PAL restores two leadership roles

By Jenniffer B. Austria

FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. said Tuesday it reinstated two key positions as part of its move to strengthen the airline’s leadership team amid a highly competitive environment.

PAL Holdings Inc. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board of directors approved the reinstatement of the position of chief commercial officer and the appointment of Eric David Anderson to the position with the rank of senior vice president.

The airline said a CCO “would help bring synergy and strategic focus to

IN BRIEF

PLDT looks at AI to make operations more efficient

PLDT Group said Tuesday it is looking into artificial intelligence to make its network operations more efficient, elevate customer experience and future-proof its business.

“We cannot navigate the new world with an old map. Things are changing, technology is developing, and we need to leapfrog in terms of our plans and strategies,” said PLDT and Smart president and chief executive Alfredo Panlilio.

“We have been looking into AI and studying how it can help us grow our business, be more efficient and be more customercentric,” he said, adding that the challenge for the telco industry is finding the next big thing.

“We have to think beyond what we are doing today and innovate. The challenge for us is finding the next big idea, and possible growth area,” he said.

PLDT and Smart are employing AI and machine learning on their self-optimizing network, joining global operators in the rapid adoption of the technology. “AI and machine learning enable us to have a more predictive-and later on, prescriptive--way of operating our network,” said PLDT and Smart network head Eric Santiago. Darwin

G. Amojelar

LGUs asked to enforce ban on tobacco sale near schools

TWO non-government organizations asked local government units nationwide to enforce the often disregarded ban on the sale of tobacco products near schools and related places.

The Action on Smoking & Health (ASHPhilippines) and the EcoWaste Coalition, in a joint statement, appealed to the local authorities to strictly enforce the ban under Republic Act No. 9211, or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.

“We call upon our local government officials, especially our city and municipal mayors and our barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan chairs, to ensure the vigorous implementation of our country’s tobacco control measures to protect the health of the Filipinos from the harms of cigarette smoking and vaping,” said ASH-Philippines president Maricar Limpin.

RA 9211 explicitly prohibits the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters from any point of the perimeter of a school, public playground or other facility frequented by minors or persons below 18 years of age. Violators face a fine of not less than P5,000 or an imprisonment of not more than 30 days upon the discretion of the court.

Othel V. Campos

SEC approves Pacerm’s P16-m public offering

THE Securities and Exchange Commission said Tuesday it approved the P16-million direct public offering of Pacerm-1 Energy Corp. Based on the documents filed with the SEC, Pacerm-1 Energy will offer to the public 26,891 common shares priced at P2,100 per share. The company plans to use the proceeds for the payment of long-term loans.

The offering is being made in compliance with an order by the Energy Regulatory Commission requiring power generation firms to offer not less than 15 percent of their outstanding capital stock to the public.

The public offering will run from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 based on the latest timetable submitted to the SEC. The shares may be sold to any person, partnership, cooperative, corporation or trust account. Pacerm-1 Energy, based in Misamis Oriental, generates power through the use of diesel power or other non-renewable and renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, ocean and biomass energy.

Jenniffer B. Austria

PAL’s commercial departments”.

Anderson previously served as PAL’s vice president for revenue management and strategy and brings years of leadership experience as director for revenue management and planning at Amerijet International Airlines in the US, finance manager for customer service operations for

Amazon Japan and director for global cargo strategy, alliances and product for Delta Air Lines.

The board in the same meeting also approved the reinstatement of the position of executive vice president who will report to the president and chief operating officer to ensure that PAL’s operations are carried out in accordance with the business plan of the company.

The appointments came three months since Lucio Tan III assumed the position of president of PAL Holdings, the parent company of PAL, in May 2023.

Tan took over the post from his grandfather Lucio Tan who retained his role as PAL Holdings chairman and chief

executive.

Tan has taken other significant management actions since his appointment. In July, PAL appointed Anna Isabel Villanueva-Bengzon as chief financial officer.

Before joining PAL, Bengzon was the highly experienced deputy CFO of Global Business Power Corp. of Meralco PowerGen until July 2023. She has also worked as CFO for MediaQuest Holdings Inc., TV5 Network Inc. and Metropac Movers Inc. and as VP/head of investor relations at PLDT.

Tan also initiated the investment in a new fleet of long-haul aircraft to anchor PAL’s global network as shown in the purchase of nine Airbus A350-1000

GCash to begin charging P5 on cash-in transactions

By Darwin G. Amojelar

GCASH, the mobile wallet of Globe Telecom Inc., said Tuesday it will start charging P5 in cash-in transactions via its two major banking partners in the fourth quarter of 2023.

GCash president and chief executive

Martha Sazon said, however, the fee would be “much lower” than the P25 that banks and other financial institutions usually charge for cash transfers.

“This also ensures that our operations will remain seamless for all customers,” Sazon said.

“Even with this fee, we will continue to subsidize part of the operating cost for cash-ins as we remain committed to keeping our services accessible to many

Filipinos,” she said. Sazon advised GCash users to take their expected spending into account when cashing in. “For example, you can cash in P10,000, rather than cashing in P500 every time. So plan your cash-in so you don’t feel the P5 charge as much,” she said.

GCash is set to charge a cash-in or convenience fee of P5 for every cashin via linked BPI and UnionBank accounts. Cash-ins via linked bank accounts is one way to add funds to a GCash account.

It said over-the-counter cash-in is also available through cash-in machines, partner convenience stores, pawnshops, supermarkets, department stores, drug stores, gas stations, sari-sari stores and

TransCo pays P164-b feed-in tariff to clean energy developers

By Alena Mae S. Flores

STATE-RUN National Transmission

Corp. said Tuesday it paid eligible renewable energy developers feed-in tariff claims amounting to P164 billion since 2015.

TransCo officer-in-charge and vice president Dinna Dizon said the company, which manages the FIT-Allowance fund, paid RE developers an average of P23 billion annually.

TransCo administers the FIT fund, which is used to pay the FIT of renewable energy developers, as mandated under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. The law established an FIT system for electricity produced from wind, solar, ocean, run-of-river, hydropower

and biomass.

It guarantees all eligible renewable energy plants an entitlement for the applicable FITs for 20 years.

Dizon said TransCo’s role was expanded to also administer or settle the payments under the Green Energy Auction Program initiated by the Department of Energy.

She said TransCo has a pending petition with the Energy Regulatory Commission for the 2024 FIT-All rate, which is a standardized fee applied to all ongrid electricity consumers.

It forms a critical component of the electricity bill, facilitating the development and promotion of renewable energy sources in the Philippines.

“We also have filed already the 2024

FIT All rate at a level of P0.0867 per kwh which is higher than the current P0.0364 per kWh,” Dizon said.

TransCo sought approval to collect P12.079 billion, including P12.05 billion to be paid out to FIT eligible power plants and P27.166 million for GEAP eligible plants. TransCo also included administration and disbursement allowances under the application.

She said the implementation of the FIT-All collection was suspended by the ERC “since we have enough buffer at the moment.” ERC recently extended the FIT-All suspension until September 2023 “to ease the financial burden on consumers at the midst of escalating costs of electricity.”

new-generation aircraft in June.

“PAL is on a recovery track and is now in a position to carry out major product and digital transformation initiatives in order to grow amid a more competitive and challenging aviation industry,” Tan said.

PAL said it is on a “recovery track” after posting a 194-percent increase in second-quarter net income on the back of higher passenger volume. The airline booked a net income of $141 million from April to June, almost tripling the $47.9-million profit it earned in the same period last year.

This brought the flag carrier’s total income in the first half to $250 million, up 257 percent from $70 million a year ago.

sign loan

By Julito G. Rada

THE Philippines and Japan signed an agreement for the Post Disaster Standby Loan Phase 3 amounting to 30 billion yen to support the former’s swift recovery from natural disasters.

The Department of Finance said in a statement Tuesday the agreement signing took place Monday following the 14th Philippines-Japan High-Level Joint Committee Meeting on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation held in Tokyo.

retail stores, among others.

Meanwhile, GCash waived fees for QRPH transactions for merchants until the end of 2023, giving microentrepreneurs extra earnings while using convenient cashless transactions. Other payment platforms charge up to 2 percent for QR-based or card payments.

GCash said it also continues to offer micro-merchants access to a wallet with a limit of up to P500,000 per month. GCash also waives the 1.5-percent transaction fee for up to P100,000 in gross sales.

GCash said it has been empowering 845,000 small-scale community merchants with various digital financial solutions.

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Tuesday,

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno led the Philippine delegation which also consisted of agency heads and officials from the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, Department of Information and Communications Technology and Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

The DOF said earlier the Philippines might incur as much as P1.5 trillion in losses from natural disasters in the next five decades over the worsening impact of climate change. It said the Philippines has a 40-percent chance of incurring losses beyond P989 billion and a 20-percent chance of experiencing a loss of as much as P1.5 trillion in the next 50 years.

The Japanese loan seeks to support swift recovery after natural disasters by promoting policy actions on disaster risk reduction and management and strengthening disaster preparedness by providing quickdisbursing budget support.

The Japanese government also expressed support for the Philippines’ goal of attaining an upper middle-income country status by 2025.

“We are grateful for Prime Minister [Fumio] Kishida’s commitment to support the Philippines’ pursuit of the upper middle-income country status through impactful ODA and privatesector investments,” Diokno said.

Both countries discussed available financing options once the Philippines enters the upper middle-income country status by 2025. These include new frameworks such as the “private capital mobilization-type” grant that attracts investment and the “offer-type” that proposes a menu of cooperation that takes advantage of Japan’s strengths.

Japan also renewed its commitment to the development cooperation with the Philippines, building on the strong economic, political and cultural ties throughout the years.

“We hope that Japan will continue to be a strong partner through various forms of bilateral and technical cooperation for many years to come,” Diokno said.

BIR expects to surpass 2023 collection target after strong showing in 7 months

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue is optimistic of surpassing its 2023 tax collection target of P2.639 trillion, following its impressive performance in the first seven months, a top official said Tuesday. BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said in a statement this could be done through an intensified tax enforcement campaign.

Latest data showed that BIR collected P273.134 billion (net of tax refund) in July, surpassing its target by 5.09 percent or P13.224 billion for the month. It was also higher by 38.37 percent or P75.744 billion than its collections in the same period last year. This brought the agency’s total collec-

tion from January to July to P1.492 trillion (net of tax refund), up by 12.21 percent or P162.404 billion from a year ago.

The BIR’s 2023 collection target was set at P2.639 trillion, higher by P303.500 billion or 12.99 percent than the 2022 actual collection.

“With the intensification of the bureau’s tax enforcement activities, specifically on the campaign against sellers and buyers of fake receipts, and with our newly-forged partnership with multisectoral groups for the enhancement of taxpayers’ service, we are confident that the BIR can attain, if not surpass, its annual collection target this year,” Lumagui said. Julito G. Rada

LITERACY PROGRAM. Ronald McDonald House Charities, the charity of choice of McDonald’s, in partnership with the local government of Quezon City, strengthens its commitment to children’s literacy with its reading program that is expected to benefit

4,750 number of Grade 1 learners in 95 public elementary schools in the city. Signing the memorandum of agreement on Aug. 14, 2023 are (from left) RMHC executive director Marie Angeles, McDonald’s Philippines managing director and RMHC vice president Margot Torres, Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina ‘Joy’ Belmonte and Schools Division Office’s chief on curriculum implementation division Dr. Heidee Ferrer.

SMART HOSPITAL. Officials and representatives of Paranaque City, Ospital ng Paranaque I and PLDT Enterprise come together after the ceremonial signing of their partnership for cutting-edge digital solutions to enhance the delivery of healthcare services to patients and help streamline the digitalization of the hospital operations.

Attending the ceremony are First District Rep. Edwin Olivarez (left), PLDT Business head Vincent Rodriquez (fourth from left), Mayor Eric Olivarez (second from right) and OsPar 1 director Dr. Jefferson Pagsisihan (right). Also in the event is Vice Mayor Joan Villafuerte (standing, fourth from left).

Lady Warriors, FEU belles try to sustain strong starts

NEIGHBORS University of the East and Far Eastern University seek to sustain their strong start in the 2023 VLeague Women’s Collegiate Challenge as they face another set of NCAA rivals Wednesday in pursuit of a fourth straight win at the Paco Arena in Manila.

Coming off a 3-0 romp over the San Sebastian Lady Stags last Friday, the Lady Warriors collide with a resurgent Perpetual Help side, which is coming off a five-set win over the Lyceum Lady Pirates for a 2-1 (win-loss) slate.

Gametime is at 2 p.m.

Team USA basketball formula: Trusting everyone, collaboration

By Randy Caluag

IN only their second game in the FIBA World Cup, coach Steve Kerr and Team USA have adjusted well enough to dominate their opponents -- showing better teamwork on defense and the even distribution of roles on offense, to go with the more effective use of manpower rotation, to name a few.

In short, everyone is trusted.

The result was an overwhelming 109-81 beating of Greece as the Americans cruised to their second straight win and put itself in a position to top Group C and advance to the Round of 16, with only winless Jordan standing next on its path.

“We find ways to get better every day,” said Kerr after the win on Monday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Just like Gilas Pilipinas, Kerr and his young bunch of NBA players only had three weeks of preparation for this

Adiwang happy to see former teammates carve own paths

LITO “Thunder Kid” Adiwang might not be working with Eduard “Landslide” Folayang and the other former members of Team Lakay anymore, but his heart will always be with his previous teammates.

After spending years together training at the fabled stable, the core of the group have moved on.

Adiwang went to Bali, Indonesia. Jenelyn Olsim established her own gym alongside her brother, Jerry, in their hometown of Bokod. And Folayang kept Joshua “The Passion” Pacio and Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon close by to form Lions Nation MMA.

“To all my previous teammates who are treading their own path, from Eduard, Joshua, Kevin, Honorio, and even Jenelyn – who’s already established her own gym – I’m very happy for them. I’m happy that they’re getting their own gyms and starting their own brand,” Adiwang said.

“Looking at the big picture, it’s a good move because you’re branching out on your own. For sure, they’ll be producing champions. That’s the positive thing that’s happening here. By expanding out, they’ll encourage and build more champions.

“Let’s keep the fire burning; let’s show the world what we got.”

Adiwang singled out “Landslide” and lauded him for making the pivotal move for his future.

After Folayang gave so much to Philippine MMA, “Thunder Kid” is excited to see what the future holds for his kuya.

global basketball show co-hosted by the Philippines with Japan and Indonesia.

And this is where brilliant coaching comes into the fore.

Foremost, Kerr said he has the full trust and belief in his players and coaches.

He distributes the playing time evenly, because “what we have here are not just NBA players, but 12 great NBA players and we’re playing as a versatile group.”

The most exposure to any player on the USA side was given to Tyrese Haliburton, who played 21.01 minutes and contributed 9 points on top of 2 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and 3 shotblocks.

Austin Reaves, who saw action for 15 minutes, topscored for 15 points, while three other Americans contributed in double figures.

Back-up center Walker Kessler had the least playing time with 5 minutes and 46 seconds and contributed four points.

On the coaching side, Kerr emphasized the “we” instead of the “I” as he showered his top-notch assistant coaches Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat, Tyronn Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers and multi-awarded US collegiate coach Mark Few of Gonzaga University praises.

Kerr said each coach was assigned a team to scout. Few was assigned against New Zealand, which the US beat on Friday’s opener, 99-72. Lue did the scouting on Greece, while it will be Spoels-

tra’s turn against Jordan next.

“All three guys are amazing basketball coaches, and they see every detail and they really put game-plans together and we collaborate as a staff using all of the knowledge these guys are bringing through their scouting reports,” Kerr said.

UE head coach Jerry Yee expects his starters – Jelai Gajero, Casiey Dongallo, Keshia Famulagan, Kizzie Madriaga and Christine Ecalla – to take charge again the way they did in their first three matchers but stresses the need for the rest to step up and help fuel their drive in the tournament organized by Sports Vision.

“Yung starting unit okay naman and nagkaka-consistency but we still have to develop ang depth namin -- yung second at third six,” said Yee.

The Lady Tams, on the other hand, are upbeat of their chances against the Lyceum Philippine U Lady Pirates in their 4 p.m. encounter although the former remains wary of their rivals, who are due for a big showing after dropping their first three games.

Interim FEU head coach Manolo Refugia also said that they are not just gunning for another win but also hoping to learn new things and build new skills.

“Hindi kami hihinto sa ginagawa namin. Magtratrabaho pa rin kami dahil ang magiging kalaban namin yung sarili namin. Malayo pa kami sa gusto naming mapuntahan,” said Refugia.

In men’s play of the tournament backed by Bola.TV, Beyond Active Wear, Asics and Mikasa, Perpetual Help takes on FEU at 10 a.m. with the former seeking their third win in four starts and the latter going all-out to even its mark at 2-2.

University of Santo Tomas also targets its third win in four games against winless Emilio Aguinaldo College at 12 noon. All games will be aired on Solar Sports, the V-League’s official website, and Bola.TV’s app.

Sarines, Bautista tow 8 others to JPGT finals

MONA Sarines and Javier Bautista

hacked out a pair of narrow victories to share the 11-12 age division honors in the 18-hole stroke play format at Mount Malarayat last Monday and lead eight others to the national finals of the ICTSI JPGT Series.

Sarines carded a 78 she highlighted with three straight birdies from No. 7 of Mt. Lobo for a 48-point output under the Molave points system as she pulled off a two-point win over Precious Zaragosa, who scored 46 points from a gross 80 with Lisa Sarines placing third with an 83 worth 43 points.

Bautista, on the other hand, came through with an 85 worth 41 points to nip Jacobo Gomez, who made 38 points from a gross 88, while Matteo Gallardo carded a 90 for third with 36 points.

Also making it to the October national finals of the inaugural series

put up by ICTSI are Zaragosa, Lisa Sarines, Tiffany Bernardino and Althea Bañez, while Aenzo Sulaik, Jacobo Gomez, Gallardo and Lujo Gomez will crowd Bautista in the culmination of the year-long circuit that also features the drive, chip and putt skills competition.

Chloe Rada, meanwhile, posted an 84 worth 42 points as she topped the girls’ 13-14 category with two-leg winner Levonne Talion settling for second with 39 points from a gross 87 after edging Rafa Anciano, who also turned in an 87 for 39 points, in the countback.

The victory likewise netted Rada a spot in the national finals as she wound up fourth in the overall standings topped by Talion. Anciano placed second while Monserrat Lapuz and Chloe Lim ended up Nos. 3 and 5 to claim the last two berths.

PH women’s volleyball team gets boost from SM boss Hans Sy

THE women’s national team flew to Thailand on Tuesday for the 22nd Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship, but not without a morale boost from SM’s top man Hans Sy.

“I believe in you, I believe you can deliver really good result,” Sy, chairman of SM Prime Holdings, told the national team during a send-off brunch at the Conrad Hotel.

“This is a competition, but it’s not ‘win or lose,’ it’s really the experience you’ll gain and momentum you’ll build,” Sy also told the team composed of the core of the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs and top collegiate players.

With Sy during the send-off were Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara

and secretary-general Donaldo Caringal and Lady Bulldogs team manager Engineer Mariano “Bing” See Diet.

The team—coached by Brazilian Jorge Edson Souza de Brito with NU’s Norman Miguel as deputy—is led by University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 84 Rookie Most Valuable Player Alyssa Solomon and fellow NU star Michaela Belen.

Also on the team are NU’s Natashza Bombita, Camille Lamina, Shaira Jardio, Minierva Maaya, Evangeline Alinsug, Erin Pangilinan, Pearl Denura and Myrtle Escanlar along with incoming rookies Arah Panique and Abegail Pono.

They are joined by Lorene Toring of Adamson University and Nina Ytang of University of the Philippines

Gilas Pilipinas players are shown during their practice session following the loss to Angola.

Junior PGT Series overall winners hold their trophies after topping their respective agegroup divisions at Mount Malarayat. They are (from left) Race Manhit (boys’ 9-10), Quincy Pilac (girls’ 9-10), Mona Sarines (girls’ 11-12), Javier Bautista (boys’ 11-12) and Levonne Talion (girls’ 13-14).

US players Austin Reaves, Tyrese Haliburton and Bobby Portis having fun. FIBA

Dapitan 5150 bidders

shoot for fame, history

DAPITAN City is all prepped up for its first crack at hosting big-time endurance racing on Sept. 10 with the race courses—set up to international standards—providing the participants a memorable triathlon experience in a race in a city so steeped in history.

“As the excitement builds for 5150 Dapitan and Go for Gold Sunrise Sprint, we cannot overlook the perfect blend of sports and heritage that this event showcases,” said Dapitan City Mayor Seth Jalosjos. “Dapitan has always been a city that prides itself on its rich history and now it is emerging as destination for sports tourism.”

The Shrine City of the Philippines, where national hero Dr. Jose Rizal found refuge during his exile, has pooled all its resources to ensure a smooth conduct of its initial foray in hosting a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40km bike and 10km run race, its success expected to play a key role for the city’s plans to stage the IRONMAN 70.3 in the future.

For details and listup, log on to www.ironman.com/5150-dapitanphilippines-register. From the transition area after the swim, participants head to the two-loop bike course from Sunset Blvd. to Dapitan turnabout and left at the Dipolog-Oroquieta National Road reaching the next turnaround at Oyan at KM 10. They head back for the second turnaround at KM 20 then ride back for the final second loop at Oyan at KM 30 towards the Sunset Blvd.

The deciding run course also kicks off at Sunset Blvd. to Guading Adasa St. before turning right to M. Retiro St. then left at El Filibusterismo St. then exit to Noli Me Tangere for the first turnaround at KM 15 and back to M. Retiro St.

After making a right at Justice Florentino Saguin St., participants will turn left at Jose Rizal Ave. for the second turnaround at KM 3.5 then head back to Guading Adasa for the third turnaround to complete the first loop of the course.

Participants will then make another loop before heading to the finish line at Sunset Blvd.

“As you race through the streets of Dapitan, remember the city’s connection to Jose Rizal and the historical importance it holds. Embrace the opportunity to not only challenge yourself physically but also to immerse yourself in the fascinating heritage of this vibrant city,” said Jalosjos.

Gold medalist, USA’s Noah Lyles celebrates with his National flag and medal after winning the men’s 200m final during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest. Lyles was ripped by American NBA stars on social media for comments saying he is offended when teams declare themselves “world champions” for winning an NBA crown.

NBA stars rip sprint king Lyles over ‘world champion’ claims

WASHINGTON—American NBA stars ripped world sprint king Noah Lyles on social media for comments saying he is offended when teams declare themselves “world champions” for winning an NBA crown.

US sprint star Lyles won the 100- and 200-meter titles and helped the US 4x100 relay capture gold at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

But Lyles said he is offended when US sports league champions like those in the NBA declare themselves “world champions” after capturing a crown without facing global rivals.

“You know, the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have ‘world champion’ on their head,” Lyles said.

“World champion of what? The United States?”

The NBA fills rosters with top talent from around the world, and its one franchise outside US borders, the Toronto Raptors, took the NBA crown to Canada in 2019.

The past five NBA Most Valuable Player awards went to players born in other lands -- Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2019 and 2020, Serbian center

Nikola Jokic of reigning NBA champion Denver in 2021 and 2022 and Joel Embiid of Cameroon this year.

NBA players would argue that they compete in the world’s best league and deserve the label of global best.

“Somebody help this brother,” wrote Phoenix’s Kevin Durant, a twotime NBA champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP.

“When being smart goes wrong,” wrote four-time NBA champion forward Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.

Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns simply posted a facepalm emoji.

And Aaron Gordon of the reigning champion Denver Nuggets offered a bit of a challenge, writing, “Whatever... I’m smoking buddy in the 200m.”

‘No flags in the NBA’ Lyles made the point that they only beat other US-based teams or the Raptors, not great squads from around the world.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Lyles said. “I love the US -- at times -- but that ain’t the world. We are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting, thriving, putting on their flag to show that they are represented.

“There ain’t no flags in the NBA.”

The “world” champion is decided by national teams at the Basketball World Cup, now being contested in Asia with a US squad of NBA players competing for the crown.

“Why bro care so much?” Sacramento Kings All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox asked on social media with a laughing until crying emoji.

The debate went to NBA fans in other sports such as US tennis star Frances Tiafoe, who was asked about the controversy after his victory in a first-round match at the US Open.

“To Noah Lyles, Jesus Christ. Like, I get what he was saying but I don’t get what he was saying. You know what I’m saying?” Tiafoe said. “What he said made sense but what he said also did not make sense.

“Because it’s the best league in the world, NBA. You can argue the three, four best players in the NBA are not American at the moment. I mean, so what do you say to that? AFP

Basin, Gomobos carry load for the Army in ROTC Games

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Jerome Marc

Dave Basin and Christine Tolin Gomobos posted the best time for the Philippine Army in the men and women’s 200-m run respectively yesterday at the start of the athletics competition in the 2023 ROTC Games Mindanao Leg at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex here.

The 21-year-old Basin, a second year BS Industrial Management student at Tangub City State College, registered 23.9 seconds while the 20-year-old Gomobos of Jose Rizal Memorial State University in Dipolog City finished in 28.2 seconds. Both are cadet-athletes of the Philippine Army.

John Barey Asdane of the Northern Mindanao State University-Zamboanga City ruled the Philippine Air Force division in 26.1 seconds and Nerisha Nicole Aringoy settled in 29.1 seconds in the distaff side.

Philippine Navy had 21-year-old Raphael de la Cruz as the 200-m run winner in 24.4 seconds with Shalora Tuahan as the best female 200-m runner in 30.2 seconds.

Personnel of the JFEM sports complex have to use 5 blowers to make the track passable after heavy downpour struck

starting at 11a.m. until 2p.m. The technique at least enabled technical officials to stage the four finals events in the afternoon.

In women’s volleyball at the nearby Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic University Gym, Davao De Oro State College (DDOSC) opened their cam-

Gau battles into US Open

2nd round

NEW YORK—American teenager Coco Gauff battled into the second round of the US Open on Monday with a stormy three-set victory over German veteran Laura Siegemund.

Sixth seed Gauff, seen as one of the favourites for the title after recent tournament wins in Washington and Cincinnati, came from behind to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in an attritional 2hr 50min tussle on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

An ill-tempered match saw Gauff lose her cool with chair umpire Marijana Veljovic in the deciding set, with the 19-year-old accusing the official of failing to enforce time violation rules against Siegemund.

“I don’t care what she’s doing on her serve but on my serve she has to be ready,” Gauff yelled at the umpire. “She’s never ready.”

Tempers then flared again when Siegemund was called for a time violation for the second time at 40-0 down, handing Gauff a 5-1 lead.

Siegemund remonstrated angrily with umpire Veljovic but to no avail.

The 35-year-old Siege-

paign in the Army division with a 25, 17, 25-14, 25-22 win over fellow Army Belles from University of MindanaoDavao City.

Head coach Donita Rose Buldoz said that her team was apprehensive at the start because this was the first time they played in a big tournament like this.

However, they were able to overcome the anxiety by just playing their normal game that resulted in the overwhelming victory, which they were not expecting because their opponent came from the big city.

“I’m very thankful to my players. This is our first time playing in a tournament like this. After I talked to them, they maintain composure and their confidence is high already. This is a big win for us,” Buldoz expressed satisfaction.

Buldoz said that with the victory, she is expecting a decent finish in the regional qualifying tourney, which she said will boost the pride of their school from Compostela, Davao.

“I knew my players. The way they played I’m sure we will have a good campaign in this tournament. I hope we can make it to the national finals,” Buldoz added.

USA’s Coco Gauff celebrates her victory over Germany’s Laura Siegemund during the US Open tennis tournament women’s singles first round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. AFP

PH junior swimmers scoop medals in SEA Age-Group tilt

THE 18-member Philippine Team scooped a total of 16 medals, including two golds and lots of personal bests in the recent 45th Southeast Age Group Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia.

For the first time in years, a 16-year-old diver in Joseph Reynado stood up on the podium with a bronze medal during the awarding ceremony for the Boys’ Platform event (16-18).

It was a productive campaign by a squad formed through intensive national tryouts by Philippine Aquatics, Inc Secretary General Batangas 1st District Rep. Eric Buhain, who proudly congratulated the young

swimmers for their achievements.

“President Miko (Vargas), myself, and the entire Board of Trustees of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. are very happy about the achievements of our team. Our medal success rate is 77% because of 17 medals from 18 swimmers and 4 divers. That is a big leap from last year’s 24% medal success rate with 24 medals coming from 99 swimmers,” said Buhain, a two-time Olympian and Philippine Sports Hall-of-Famer.

“We hope to inspire more Filipino agegroup athletes to go for medal standards for the 46th edition which Thailand will host at the end of October 2024. It can

be done, we have proven it! These medal winners came from all over the country,” added Buhain.

Jennuel Booh De Leon and Arabella Nadeen Taguinota led the charge for the Filipinos, dominating their respective events on the second day of the three-day competition, which attracted top junior swimmers from eight countries. De Leon, 16, the pride of Aklan, claimed the gold in the boys’ 16-18 class 50m butterfly, clocking 25.40 seconds over Malaysian swimmer Bernie Elle Yang Lee (25.49) and Thanaseat Thanonthisitsakul of Thailand (25.72).

Christine Tolin Gomobos

ABS-CBN sweeps honors for PH at ContentAsia Awards 2023

THE country’s leading content provider, ABS-CBN, won the most awards among all the nominees from the Philippines at the ContentAsia Awards 2023 held in Bangkok, Thailand.

ABS-CBN’s community singing game show Everybody, Sing!, hosted by Vice Ganda, and Star Cinema’s An Inconvenient Love, starring Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, won Best Asian Original Game Show and Best Asian Feature Film/ Telemovie, respectively.

Meanwhile, the hit series Dirty Linen bagged the Silver Award for Best Asian Drama for a Single Market in Asia, while the Philippine adaptation of Flower of Evil clinched the Bronze Award for Best TV Format Adaptation (Scripted) in Asia.

Dreamscape Entertainment head Deo Endrinal, Ruel Bayani, head of ABS-CBN International Production, Kylie Manalo-Balagtas, Marcus Joseph Vinuya, and Carlina dela Merced ABS-CBN Entertainment Business Unit heads, represented the company at the awards night.

The ContentAsia Awards are owned and operated by ContentAsia, a 17-year-old information platform curated to offer insights into Asia’s content environment, which aims to recognize media and products that authentic Asian stories and entertainment to screens around the world.

Ben&Ben, Zack Tabudlo, SB19

headline ‘Feel Great Concert’ in September

AFTER years of online concerts, desk sessions, and YouTube jam nights, the on-ground concerts are finally rolling in – and the local scene is making up for all the lost time with Watsons Playlist: The Feel Great Concert Dubbed as the OPM Dream Team, the Watsons Playlist concert will bring together the likes of Ben&Ben, Zack Tabudlo, and SB19. So get ready for a day of feels, dancing, and singing along at the top of your lungs as these hit-makers perform “Binibini” by Zack, “Kathang Isip” by Ben&Ben, and “Gento” by SB19. Apart from these hit singles, Ben&Ben and SB19 are set to take the stage together for the first time ever to perform their collaboration “MAPA!” live for the first time.

Attendees can also gear up to see one of the most anticipated PPOP Girl Groups in action. Get ready to be blown away with a special performance by BINI. Great music isn’t the only activity in the books, The Feel Great Concert is going to be even more fun with the exciting booths from our partners.

Music is a way for people of all generations to express themselves, connect with others, and make sense of the world around them. That is why Watsons is giving them a unique opportunity to connect with their favorite artists and celebrate the power of music.

Tickets are exclusively available on the Watsons App; all you have to do is purchase products with a total basket size that’s equivalent to the ticket you want to purchase. Up for grabs: General Admission at P2,000, Upper Box at P4,500, Lower Box Premium at P7,200, Patron at P8,500. Get a chance to meet and greet your favorite artists up close and personal when you purchase our VIP Seated with Soundcheck

COMEDIAN and TV host

Joey de Leon has given his approval for the revival of the prank show which premiered on Saturday on TV5 and Buko Channel

During a recent press conference, the new hosts, Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola, said that they received the blessing of the original host.

Known as the original prank show in the Philippines, Wow Mali gained immense popularity when it first aired in 1996. With its hilarious candid camera pranks and the witty hosting of Joey De Leon, the show became synonymous with practical jokes, bloopers, and playful tricks.

Wow Mali: Doble Tama, meanwhile returns with upgraded mischief, humorous gags, and clever antics.

“We thought they might be fooling us. They know we’re in a tight spot,” Jose said. “Maybe they’re pranking us,” Wally chimed in alluding to their first reaction when the project was offered to them.

“We went straight to Boss Joey because we were worried about any ‘wow mali’ (mistake). We just wanted to have a good time,” Jose shared. There were no extensive words of wisdom or advice; instead, conversations about life and careers were rich with sagacity.

“Boss Joey isn’t very talkative. The TVJ (Tito and Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon when they tell stories, you need to listen because there’s something you can learn from the stories, and at the same time, those are the things they give to you. Too bad if you don’t understand.

“Boss Joey was the same when he said, ‘As long as you’re okay, I’m okay.’ It’s like he has complete trust in us, so we’re grateful. Hopefully, we can measure up,” Jose said.

Co-produced by APT Entertainment and Cignal TV for TV5, Wow Mali: Doble Tama airs every Saturday at 6:15 p.m. on TV5, and 7:00 p.m. on BuKo Channel.

‘Unbreak My Heart’ unfolds new chapter

AFTER weeks of surprising plot twists and emotional revelations, GMA Network, ABS-CBN Corporation, and Viu’s romantic-drama series Unbreak

My Heart has unfolded its new chapter.

Top-billed by Joshua Garcia, Gabbi Garcia, Richard Yap, and Jodi Sta. Maria, the intriguing series revolves around a forbidden love that may break the hearts of those they hold dear. It also stars industry veterans Laurice Guillen, Eula Valdes, Sunshine Cruz, Nikki Valdez, Romnick Sarmenta, and Victor Neri, with Maey Bautista, Dionne Monsanto, Mark Rivera, PJ Endrinal, and Marvin Yap, and upand-coming young actors Will Ashley, Bianca de Vera, and Jeremiah Lisbo

In the previous episode, the revelation of Rose’s (Jodi) history with

Renz (Joshua) changes the course of Rose’s life forever. Alex’s (Gabbi) vengeance is irreversible. She does not stop at exposing her mother’s affair at her wedding. She vows to give her back the pain and triple it by sabotaging her career, her whole life, and those around her.

Rose gets desperate to earn Alex’s forgiveness, driven by her determination to keep her from being consumed by anger and hatred. However, Renz stands in her way. Her attempts to reach out to Alex are hindered by Renz’s growing obsession and scheming to stay in their lives. This pushes Alex to the edge.

Matt (Richard) helps his daughter get back on her feet and start over.

Rose’s concern and need to fix her daughter’s life intensifies. Unknown to

them, life has played a shocking twist of fate on Alex that will connect her once more with Renz but Rose can see right through him and his motives. How will Rose save her daughter from a manipulative man? Will a mother lead her daughter out of a deceptive love, even if the only way to do it involves causing her yet another pain?

Helmed by Emmanuel Q. Palo and Dolly Dulu, and produced by Dreamscape Entertainment – Unbreak My Heart airs Monday to Thursday at 9:35 p.m. on GMA Telebabad, Pinoy Hits and I Heart Movies; and 11:25 p.m. on GTV. The series also streams on GMANetwork.com, iWantTFC, and Viu. The series is also available on GMA Pinoy TV and TFC.

at P10,000, and VIP Standing with Soundcheck at P10,000. Patron Ticket Holders can also win signed posters from their favorite artists!

To redeem your tickets to Watsons Playlist:

The Feel Great Concert, follow these steps: Begin by downloading the Watsons App and becoming a member of the Watsons Club. Next, make a purchase of a minimum of P5,500 (or the specified amount required for your chosen seat section’s promo code). After completing your purchase, check your email within seven days for your Unique Redemption Code. With this code in hand, navigate to ticketnet. com.ph and input your Unique Redemption Code to acquire your ticket. Remember to settle the convenience fee and patiently await the delivery of your e-ticket via email. On September 24, simply bring along your e-ticket to the Araneta Coliseum to gain entry to the concert.

Download the Watsons App to enjoy easy and flexible purchase options to get the products you want and need, and enjoy the Watsons Playlist: The Feel Great Concert. This is a great opportunity that you wouldn’t want to miss.

Watsons Playlist: The Feel Great Concert is sponsored by Watsons Brand, Collagen by Watsons, Luxe Organix, Silk Secrets, Flormar, BYS, Maybelline, Pretty Secret, Kiss, Dazzle Me, Hairfix, Dermaid, Some By Mi, Bioten, Revox, Deoproce, Pond’s, Nivea, AXE, CloseUp, Med Guard, Trust, Enervon, Conzace, and Ceelin Plus. Download the Watsons App on the PlayStore for Android users or the App Store for iOS users http:// bit.ly/WatsonsMobileApp.

For more information about the concert, visit https://www.watsons.com.ph/watsons-playlist-sb19benandben-zacktabudlo-faqs

Joey de Leon approves of Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola as new ‘Wow Mali’ hosts

P-pop kings SB19

OPM folk-pop band Ben&Ben

Donny Pangilinan (left) and Belle Mariano’s‘An Inconvenient Love’ bags the Best Asian Feature Film/Telemovie award

Joshua Garcia (left) and Gabbi Garcia in a scene from ‘Unbreak My Heart’

Singer-songwriter Zack Tabudlo

Wow Mali, ),

Comedic duo Jose Manalo (left) and Wally Bayola

LIFE

Redefine the mall experience with ‘Art All Around’

By Nickie Wang

“ART All Around” is an extraordinary and multifaceted art celebration that promises to redefine the shopping experience at The Podium Mall. And last week, the mall unveiled another unique collection of permanent artworks, infusing the mall with fresh creative energy.

Mallgoers can immerse themselves in the Kismet: Weaves of Fate, a contemporary pop-up exhibit where they can discover captivating narratives at Art Lounge Manila and Galerie Joaquin, tenant art galleries that breathe life into the space.

Running until September 3 at the Atrium, Level 2 of the mall, Kismet features contemporary artists Humbly, Jesse Camacho, and Naburok, who have collaborated to bring forth an exhibit that depicts the beauty and interconnectivity of human life.

It is a joyous and uplifting art exhibit that celebrates the magical moments of serendipity and the interconnectedness of life. This experience takes visitors on a whimsical adventure, exploring the beauty of chance encounters, unexpected blessings, and fortuitous events that shape our lives in positive and meaningful ways.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Through Tapestry of Fate, Naburok showcases 12 paintings, each with its own story, but when looked at all together, it shows how everything is more significant than all of us.

Tapestry of Fate is brought to life through a series of interconnected paintings that depict the mystical and vibrant threads of destiny, weaving together the lives of diverse individuals. Each painting tells a story, capturing moments of chance encounters, shared destinies, and the powerful impact of an individual on another.

Bringing together art and shopping, The Podium houses two prominent art galleries – Art

Lounge Manila at the Ground Level and Galerie Joaquin at Level 3, featuring a mélange of works from great talented artists, engulfing art enthusiasts and shoppers in a de-

lightful sensory experience.

In partnership with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Atelier Association Inc., Art Lounge Manila hosts Vision: Compendio, its largest exhibit, available on view until today, August 30. It features over 100 artworks from great artists who graduated from UST, such as Benjie Torrado Cabrera, CJ Tanedo, Joe Datuin, and Ramon Orlina Galerie Joaquin, on the other hand, hosted Whimsical Journey, the much-awaited solo exhibit of Darwin Guevarra, also known as “Japat” to many, from August 17 to August 28. Guevarra’s symphony of paintings and sculptures of carts, cars, and Vespas mirrors urban living while retaining the playfulness and charm of his earlier series filled with machinery and tarnished objects.

More than just a shopping destination, The Podium is home to permanent art installations created by some of the most influential artists and art visionaries. Shoppers and art enthusiasts can revel in art masterpieces, such as Ai Weiwei’s Divina Proportione, Arturo Luz’s Cubi, David Medalla’s Cloud Canyons Michelle Lopez’s Chandelier II, and Pamela Rosenkranz’s Amazon and Alien Blue Windows

By seamlessly incorporating art, design, and culture into the shopping experience, The Podium takes the modern retail landscape to a new level. Discover retail therapy at its finest, shop, and celebrate “Art All Around” at The Podium located at ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.

NBDB showcases Filipino authors at the Philippine Book Festival-Davao

PH guest of honor at 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair

By Jennifer Ortuoste

THE Philippines will be the Guest of Honor at the 2025 Frankfurter Buchmesse (FBM), a significant announcement from the NBDB’s Philippine Book Festival at SMX Convention Center, Lanang, Davao City, held from August 18 to 20.

The historic agreement was inked on August 18 at the NBDB’s Philippine Book Festival (PBF)-Davao with the following as signatories: from NBDB, Chairman Dante Francis Ang II and Executive Director Charisse AquinoTugade; and from FBM, President/CEO Juergen Boos, Vice-President for Business Development Claudia Kaiser, and Guest of Honor Program Head Simone Bühler

The FBM or Frankfurt Book Fair is, at 75, the world’s oldest and biggest annual venue for printed and digital content. Producers come from all over the world to see the latest books that can be adapted into films, games, and other types of content.

FBM is where a Filipino author can have the chance

In Reverie

Carmela Geisert’s 2nd Solo Exhibition

IN September, the Redwood Cafe & Art Space will present Carmela Geisert’s In Reverie, a vibrant journey into abstract art exploring daydreams, positivity, and introspection.

Curated by Prof. Ruben DF Defeo, the exhibit will be held for the benefit of the Iraya Tribe of Mindoro. It will open its doors to the public on September 2 and will run until October 4.

Geisert’s artistic journey is an exploration of emotions translated onto canvas. In Reverie captures the essence of positive energy and introspection through a stunning array of colors and forms. Each canvas becomes a portal into a world where colors are felt as much as they are seen, evoking a sense of serenity and connection with the inner self.

Geisert’s artistic process is an intimate dance between intuition and expression. Her paintings are a result of instinctual gestures and emotional impulses, giving rise to pigments that seem to emanate from her

very being. Her canvases come alive with streams of consciousness compositions that playfully incorporate hints of foliage and forest scenes, fluid art experimentations, and line-scribbled glimpses into mythology, creating a balance between the organic and the abstract.

Carmela Geisert is a self-taught artist and hotelier who draws from contemplative moments in Palawan’s landscapes. Her art mirrors travel, photography, and emotion, evolving from charcoal sketches during flights in 2016 to confident portraiture and fluid acrylic patterns. Recognized by PATTS College of Aeronautics (2017) and Colegio de Santa Ana (2020) for entrepreneurship and fine arts. For more information about the exhibit, contact Carmela (09175507374), Micki (09186979226), Jes (09278524116), and Redwood Cafe (09171386881).

The Redwood Café & Artspace is located at 26 Timog Avenue, Unit 104, Cedar Executive Building, Quezon City.

to have their book picked up for translation into other languages and publication in other countries, or adapted for a film, or made into a video game. This type of synergy is advantageous to content creators who may see their works have a second, even a third life, beyond their first birth as locally-published books.

Being the Guest of Honor affords the chosen country even more opportunities for exposure as their books will be given prominent display at the Fair. The Philippines is only the second Southeast Asian country to be invited to be a GOH at the FBM, after Indonesia 10 years ago.

PBF highlights: Day 1

The PBF is the country’s largest traveling bookfair, organized and conducted by the NBDB.

This is the festival’s second leg after the highly successful Manila edition held last June at the World Trade Center, the first such held, which saw over 40,000 guests arrive to experience the event’s various “activation areas:” Booktopia, Kid Lit, and Komiks.

The NBDB, the government agency tasked with promoting the creation and publication of books by Filipinos, knocked it out of the park again in Davao with an event that was both enjoyable and thought-provoking.

Not only was the atmosphere fun and welcoming, but the event was graced with cultural performances by Mindanaoan dancers, chanters, and musicians, and exhibits by master weavers, but its activities were intellectually engaging and broadening. It was a party and literary and arts salon at the same time.

Day 1 began early with the Lalang-Banwa opening ceremony graced by Vice President and Department of Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte, who welcomed book fest guests to the city’s 38th Kadayawan festival saying, “May this festival illuminate our path toward a strong Philippines where the pages of our shared story are etched with the enduring ink of knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration.”

Adarna House publisher Ani Rosa Almario read Senator Loren Legarda’s message on her behalf. The senator, who was instrumental in pushing for the country to obtain GOH status at FBM, said about books:

“As vessels of knowledge, books can inspire, educate, promote critical thinking, and awaken the dormant creativity within people. They hold within their pages a world of information and insights waiting to be discovered, explored, and embraced that we might raise the quality of our people’s lives.”

Various events followed, taking place on the main stage and the activation areas, among them a Lunch Talk with Chef Claude Tayag, author of The Ultimate Filipino Adobo who discussed the various ways adobo is prepared all over the country, and its significance to Filipinos as an iconic dish. Read full story on manilastandard.net

Delve into the world of art through a contemporary pop-up exhibit in The Podium titled ‘Kismet: Weaves of Fate’

Score some of Humbly’s ‘Bootleg Toys’ collection in ‘Kismet’

Using fairy tales and fantastical subjects, young artist Jesse Camacho tells his personal stories and cultural reflections on his masterpieace

Redwood Cafe & Art Space highlights Carmela Geisert's works with the ‘In Reverie’ exhibit

During Frankfurt Book Fair, producers come from all over the world to see the latest books that can be adapted into films, games, and other types of content

Artist Naburok showcases her painting through ‘Tapestry of Fate’

Nickie Wang Editor Angelica Villanueva , Writer