ing to stop repeated “nefarious activities” by security personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“I am advising the OTS chief: submit your courtesy resignation before the
By Charles Dantes, Vince Lopez, and Rey E. Requejo
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday removed the floating barriers installed by China at a shoal in the West Philippine Sea that blocked Filipino fishermen from the fish-rich area, following the orders of the President and the direction on National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano.
In a statement, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTFWPS) headed by Ano said the PCG was directed “to execute a special operation to remove the floating barrier that obstructed the southeast entrance of the Bajo De Masinloc (BDM).”
According to the PCG, the barrier “posed a hazard to navigation and a clear violation of international law.”
“It also hinders the conduct of fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk in BDM, which is an integral part of the Philippine national territory,” the Coast Guard added.
Año earlier said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “is well-informed” in all the developments in the West Philippine Sea, including the areas surrounding the BDM or Scarborough Shoal and Ayungin Shoal, and that the government would protect the rights of fishermen in the area.
“The decisive action of the PCG to remove the barrier aligns with international law and the Philippines’ sovereignty over the shoal,” the task force said.
The government had vowed to take “appropriate action” as the National Security Council (NSC) and the Department
WHILE it imposes a fishing blockade in the West Philippine Sea, China has become the country’s biggest source of imported fish, some of which was poached from Philippine waters, Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto said Monday.
In a statement, Recto said China has cordoned off Bajo de Masinloc (Scar-
By Maricel V. Cruz
A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Monday said the P125 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) by the Office of
borough Shoal), claiming it as a backyard fishpond and declaring it off-limits to its true owners -- Filipinos.
“Some of the fish it feeds its 1.412 billion citizens are poached from Philippine waters, vacuum-cleaned from our rich reefs,” Recto said. “The value of this stolen fish is in the billions of pesos, not annually, but monthly.”
“China must be called out for what it
the President (OP) was spent in 11 days, and not in 19, citing information from the Commission on Audit (COA).
Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo, senior vice chair of the House committee on appropriations, made this
disclosure in the course of Monday’s plenary debates for the 2024 budget request of COA.
During the plenary deliberation, the Marikina lawmaker revealed that the
THE Department of Energy (DOE) on Monday said it will actively monitor the world oil supply situation after the Russian government announced it will temporarily limit oil exports to avoid domestic shortages.
“It appears this will have an effect of a restriction in supply, so by implication, there will be pressure for prices to increase, so we have to monitor the next few days if there will be an actual increase,” DOE director for the Oil Industry Management Bureau Rino Abad said.
Meanwhile, Abad said DOE expects the international price of crude oil to stay at the current level of around US$90 per barrel since there is no change in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies’ production cut policy until the end of the year.
“On a weekly basis there are possi-
By Riera U. MallariHANGZHOU, China—Taolu wushu specialist Jones Inso stopped the bleeding for a Team Philippines desperately in need of victories to celebrate as he secured the delegation’s second bronze medal in the 19th Asian Games here on Monday.
The 26-year-old native of La Trinidad, Benguet ended the Filipinos’ string of losses in many fronts with his taiji-
quan-taijijian all-around performance that proved worthy of a bronze.
He scored 9.746 points in the barehand taijiquan form and 9.470 in the swordplay discipline of taijijian for a total of 19.216.
“I was diligent with my training. I went back on my past performances ko and today, we got the bronze,’’ said Inso, whose effort netted the Philippines’ second
bilities of both increases or decreases up to the end of the year as the volatility of price affects our domestic price,” he said of the group called OPEC+.
“However, it is not expected that any decrease will result in the US$77 per barrel level for crude oil seen way back in March, which is before the implementation of this year’s new sets of production cuts,” Abad said.
Dubai crude has reached $93 per
‘OVP spent P125m in confidential funds in 11 days’
Wushu specialist Inso delivers 2nd bronze for PH contingent in AsiadBARRIERS CUT. These photos from the Philippine Coast Guard show how it conducted the operation to remove the 300-meter-long floating barrier installed by China’s naval forces at the Bajo de Masinloc. PCG Photos SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday demanded the resignation of Office for Transportation Security chief Ma’O Aplasca for fail-
THE Department of Justice has junked the plea by the leaders and members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI), an alleged religious cult in Surigao del Norte, to conduct in their province the preliminary investigation of the criminal charges filed against them.
“Whatever they say is not my problem. It’s their problem,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in an interview with reporters.
He said he expects the arrival of the complainants and witnesses in Manila this Wednesday, September 27, to attend the scheduled Senate hearing on Thursday con-
from Surigao del Norte.
of Foreign Affairs (DFA) condemned China’s installation of a 300-meter barrier across the mouth of the shoal and chasing away fishermen who tried to enter the fish-rich area.
Año emphasized that the placement of barriers violates the “traditional fishing rights” of the country’s fishers, whose rights were affirmed by the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
The arbitral court, Ano said, ruled
cerning the allegations against the group.
“We will have them also, after the Senate hearing, Friday if we are able to give them notices,” he said.
According to Remulla, he already has given a directive to transfer the conduct of the preliminary investigation into the group to the DOJ main office in Manila
categorically that such actions by China violated the traditional fishing rights of Filipino fishermen in the shoal who have been fishing there for centuries.
“Any state that prevents them from doing artisanal fishing there violates UNCLOS and international law, in general,” he added, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
China, on the other hand, said it set up the barrier to prevent a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship from “trespassing” into Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing insists is Chinese territory—despite the finding of the PCA.
The National Bureau of Investigation initially filed the complaints in that province in June against 13 leaders and members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services led by Jey Rence Quilario or “Señor Agila,” the purported “messiah” of the cult. SBSI has been accused of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor, and child marriage charges, Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed last week in a privileged speech.
Members of SBSI were deprived of proper health care aside from the cash aid coming from the government, Hontiveros said Monday.
The senator said there are more testimonies from survivors corroborating
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the Philippine vessel entered the disputed shoal, referred to as Huangyan Island by the Chinese, without permission.
On Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that Chinese vessels had installed a 300-meter floating barrier in Scarborough Shoal, barring Filipino fishermen from fishing in the area.
The DFA said the Chinese barrier was illegal as it infringed on Philippine sovereignty. “Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) is an integral part of the Philip
claims that the leaders of the cult, particularly Quilario, have taken advantage of the vulnerabilities of their community members.
However, TV reports last night showed hundreds of SBSI members chanting in defense of Quilario, who was shown on video apparently despondent and in tears, as they asked authorities to come to their mountain enclave instead to hold their investigation.
But Remulla said: “There is a need for the DOJ proper to interfere so that the preliminary investigation would be conducted properly.”
He reiterated that there have been threats against prosecutors in Surigao del Norte where the alleged cult is based.
pines over which we have sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction,” the DFA said, citing UNCLOS.
“The 2016 Arbitral Award affirms it as a traditional fishing ground of Filipino fisherfolk,” the department said.
“China’s reported installation of barriers and its negative impact on the livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk or any other activity that infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction in Bajo de Masinloc are violations of international law, particularly UNCLOS and the Arbitral
Award,” it added.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has certified the Magna Carta for Seafarers bill in Congress as urgent.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva shared a copy of the letter from Malacanang, addressed to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and dated September 25, to reporters on Monday.
Senate Bill 2221 or the Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is pending on second reading, while its counterpart measure in the House of Representatives was passed on third and final reading last March.
The certification was made “to address recurring deficiencies in our domestic laws pertaining to the training and accreditation of thousands of Filipino seafarers which endanger their employment in the European market in particular, and the global maritime arena in general.”
The bill “guarantees to the international community that the Philippines will comply with its obligations of ensuring that our training, facilities, and equipment are at par with international standards and those set by relevant conventions,” Mr. Marcos added.
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have forged a partnership to fight vote buying and vote selling not only in the coming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on October 30, but also in future electoral exercises.
bronze medal to go with that of taekwondo jin Patrick King Perez’s medal on Sunday in the men’s individual poomsae.
After placing 14th in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, Inso missed out on a medal in the recent 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, not knowing that he was destined to deliver on a bigger stage.
He was the first performer in the taijiquan and second on the mat in the sword act with only China’s Gao Haonan (19.666) and Hong Kong’s Hui Tak Yan (19.494) surpassing his performance.
“It was a challenge to perform at first. I was watching my opponents and I was
is really doing in the WPS: a food blockade that is a crime against humanity,” the Batangas solon and former senator said.
“By cutting our access to a major protein source, China is playing a different kind of hunger games, making fish scarce for us, while satiating its people’s large appetite for seafood,” he said.
Rector accused Chinese fishing militias of pulling off the “great ocean robbery” by harassing Filipino boats and ships and by harvesting the bounty of the seas—both done in an illegal and dangerous manner.
Because of this Chinese blockade, the share of the Philippines’ fish catch in the WPS has dwindled to 7 percent of total national fisheries production, Recto said, citing statistics from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
“Chinese constriction of the WPS cripples a pillar of our food security, as that area contributes almost 30 percent of commercial fisheries output,” he said. “And as we grapple with a fish shortage, partly due to the fact that our access to WPS has been denied, we resort to imports. And the painful irony is that we buy fish from China – the very source of our discontent.”
By value, China is the number one source of imported fish, accounting for a third, valued at $247 million or about P12.145 billion in 2021.
nervous, but I also enjoyed myself,’’ said Inso, who will next see action in the World Combat Games and the World Wushu Championships.
Another cause for a mini-cel ebration was tennis star Alex Eala’s dominant 6-0, 6-0 thrashing of Pakitan’s Sarah Ibrahim Khan in her Asiad debut on Monday at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports tre.
Eala took only 39 minutes to bring down the 32-year-old Khan and advance to the next round either against Kazakhstan’s Aruzhan Sagandykova or India’s Rutuja Bhosale.
“It was a great game and it was good for my confidence,’’ said Eala, the highest-ranked Southeast Asian netter at No. 191 in the world.
Seed ed fourth in the tournament, Eala limited Khan to only six points against her for the duration of their duel. The 18-year-old Filipino tennis prodigy also asserted her might with five aces.
“I think I came in with a great attitude and a great mindset,’’ said Eala. Not as fortunate on Monday were rower Joanie Delgaco, who settled for fifth in the women’s single sculls; judokas Kiyomi Watanabe, Keisei Nakano, Rena Furukawa, John Ferrer, and Ryoko Salinas;
from P62.35 to P90.15 per liter, diesel from P62.95 to P87.10, and kerosene from P80.75 to P93.09.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) against “Kontra Bigay”, n institutional campaign against vote-buying and vote-selling.
“We are making history,” Remulla declared, after the signing of the MOA at the DOJ Main Office in Manila.
barrel, and analysts believe it could reach up to $100 per barrel.
Sources told Manila Standard that a $7 per barrel increase would translate to an additional P3 per liter increase in domestic pump prices.
Average prices for gasoline in the National Capital Region currently range
finished eighth, and cross-country.
Shooter Amparo “Ampao” Acuna came close to the Philippine record when she fired a total of 618.8 points in the qualification round but placed 42nd overall, and skateboarders Jericho Francisco Jr. and youngest PH team member Mazel Paris Alegado also went medal-less.
“We are strengthening the foundation of our democracy. We are sending a clear message to every Filipino on the importance and sanctity that our votes should be protected,” he said.
Meanwhile, at least 66 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) candidates are facing disqualification cases for premature campaigning while the Comelec has already issued nearly 2,000 showcause orders to BSKE candidates.
Poll chairman Garcia said the Comelec has issued show cause orders to some 1,955 candidates of the BSKE because of early and premature campaigning, but only 300 candidates have answered.
multimillion-peso confidential fund granted to the office of Vice President Sara Duterte for the year 2022 by the OP had been obligated in just 11 days.
When asked if reports were accurate that the OVP’s confidential fund was spent in 19 days, Quimbo said in Filipino: “Madam Speaker, the truth is that I
This developed as consumers experienced a reprieve from 11 consecutive weeks of oil price increase on Tuesday, as the country’s oil firms cut pump prices by P0.50 per liter for kerosene and by P0.20 per liter for gasoline and diesel effective 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The decline in world oil prices last week was driven largely by the US Fed-
was also surprised when I read the news that it was spent within 19 days and I asked about the COA and I looked at the various reports, but it was not spent within 19 days but 11 days, Madam Speaker.”
According to COA, Quimbo said, the OVP submitted its liquidation report in January 2023 and was issued an audit observation memorandum or AOM on Sept. 18, 2023 by state auditors.
The appropriations committee vice
ng OTS (You better resign, otherwise i will personally block the approval of the budget of the OTS),” he added.
eral Reserve’s warning of more price hikes, although this was tempered by expectations of tight supply until the end of the year.
“Phoenix Petroleum Philippines will decrease the prices of gasoline and diesel by P0.20 per liter effective 6 AM of 26 September 2023,” the company said in a statement.
Seaoil Philippines, Cleanfuel, Jetti Petroleum, and Chevron Philippines also announced their respective price cuts.
chairperson said COA assured Congress that a full report will be submitted on Nov. 15, 2023 as the audit is still ongoing.
At this point, Quimbo reiterated her call for the creation of a special oversight committee for confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) in the House of Representatives to boost transparency and ensure that people’s money is spent properly.
Quimbo, who in her opening speech to endorse the 2024 spending plan of COA, sought the creation of a special
principle of command responsibility, to make way for full revamp at the airport security office.
In a radio interview, Garcia warned BSKE candidates who received show cause orders to immediately answer the complaints or face disqualification.
He also said at least 104 complaints were dismissed, as they had no factual basis.
The Justice Secretary stressed that the purpose of the campaign is to “fight the widespread problem of vote buying and vote selling that destroy the integrity of the electoral process.” Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo
panel to be composed of the House Speaker, three members of the majority, and one member of the minority. Under the present setup, only the President, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House have access to information pertaining to CIFs. “I believe that the people’s money should be spent properly. This can only be achieved with a stronger push towards transparent governance,” Quimbo told the plenary.
needed,” he said.
House of Representatives tackles the budget of your office,” Romualdez said in a statement.
“Mag-resign ka na. Kung hindi ka magsa-submit ng resignation, ako mismo ang magba-block ng approval ng budget
The House leader aired his frustration over Aplasca in the wake of reports of the latest report of theft of money by a female OTS security scanner from a departing Chinese tourist.
He said the OTS chief should submit his courtesy resignation under the
“The OTS chief is on strike three. We are already fed up with these reports of stealing and other acts of wrongdoing at the airport, for which OTS officials and their DOTr (Department of Transportation) supervisors are ultimately responsible. A top-to-bottom overhaul is
“We cannot let these atrocious activities and other acts of misconduct at the airport to continue to take place. It’s bad for the country and the economy,” he said. Meanwhile, another OTS security screening officer at NAIA has been dismissed for opening a passenger’s bag and taking two packs of chocolates, which he claimed the tourist gave him.
THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Monday announced the arrest of the two most wanted men in the northern part of Metro Manila.
The first was Escarlan Dela Cruz, also known as Boboy, who was arrested over the weekend in Caloocan City for four counts of sexual assault and a violation of the AntiChild Abuse Act.
A composite team from the NCRPODistrict Intelligence Division, Northern Police District, Caloocan City Police Station, Regional Special Operations Group-Regional Intelligence Division, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Northern District Field Unit conducted the ‘Oplan Pagtugis at Salikop.”
This resulted in the arrest of Dela Cruz, who ranked number 10 in the list of most wanted persons in the district.
Dela Cruz is a member of the “Benjo Oriel Regalado” criminal group involved in gunrunning, illegal drugs, and robbery operating in Caloocan, Malabon, and Manila.
Authorities also arrested Wilfredo Pagary Villanueva along Diamante Street, Barangay 170, also in Caloocan City.
Villanueva ranked 6th in the district’s most wanted men list.
His arrest was made based on the warrant issued by Judge Ma. Teresa D. Alvarez of Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 131 for two counts of rape.
NCRPO director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. commended his men for the latest accomplishment and acknowledged their dedication and effort in maintaining peace and order in the community.
Aside from going after most wanted men, the NCRPO is also enforcing the PNP’s anti-crime campaign dubbed as SACLEO (Simultaneous Anti-Criminality and Law Enforcement Operations), aimed at ensuring peace and order in Metro Manila.
THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) targets to finish the cumulative registration of 101 million Filipinos by September next year.
During the Senate budget hearing of the proposed budget of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and its attached agencies for next year, PSA officials said it will take a year to complete the delivery of physical ID cards to Filipinos who have registered with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).
As of September 8, 2023, 80.6 million were registered with Philsys, but only 39.7 million have received their physical IDs, while 40.8 million have been issued digital IDs. PSA chief and National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the backlog is due to the card printing capacity of the contracted printer, which can only accom-
modate up to 80,000 per day.
Mapa also noted the increase in registrations from back to 2021, when up to 250,000 Filipinos enrolled in the system. He said the delivery adjustment is really to increase the capacity of the printer, adding the PSA will prioritize the delivery of physical IDs to residents of island barangays “because people need physical cards.”
In the proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program of NEDA, P8.94 billion or 73 percent of NEDA’s budget is allocated to PSA as its attached agency. About P1.61 billion is devoted to the PhilSys as the PSA aims to register into
the system a total of 101 million Filipinos by next year.
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, however, suggested the remaining physical ID should no longer be printed. He reasoned that since the world is going digital, the national ID should also be made all-digital.
He said the government can save on printing costs “if we no longer have physical IDs” and also wants the national ID to be used in all transactions, especially SIM card registration.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian supports the non-printing of physical IDs to remove the concerns over the quality of physical cards previously issued by the PSA.
RESIDENTS of Lower Bicutan in Taguig City left their homes following a chemical leak at an ice plant in the barangay on Monday.
Ten residents were rushed to the hospital after the ammonia leak at the ice plant along Manuel Quezon Street, which also resulted in the cancelation of classes at R.P. Cruz Sr. Elementary School.
BUNTIS CONGRESS.
The City of Bacoor presents the contestants of the Fashion Day Buntis Congress held at the Strike Gymnasium in Bacoor City on Monday as part of their Bacood Festival marking the city’s 352nd Founding Anniversary.
Joseph Muego
“One of the workers said while he was draining the oil pack, the pipe where the ammonia came from suddenly came loose. That’s where the leakage started,” said Taguig City-Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) senior field officer Edson Regalado in an interview with CNN Philippines.
The Taguig Traffic Management Of-
fice closed Manuel L. Quezon Street to vehicular traffic and enforced a traffic rerouting scheme to prevent people from approaching the site.
Taguig Mayor Laarni Cayetano tapped the City Social Welfare and Development Office to assist in the relocation of residents to the designated evacuation site at Hagonoy Gymnasium. Joel E. Zurbano
AMMONIA LEAK.
Members of the New Lower Taguig Barangay Strike Force place caution tape to prevent some residents from entering their houses (inset) after an ammonia leak occurred at an ice plant in M.L. Quezon Street in Taguig City on Monday.
Danny Pata
THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on Monday vowed to provide teachers and other personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) with easier and direct access to its services by hastening their response to their financial concerns.
During the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the DepEd and GSIS on Monday, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio said the teachers’ issues with GSIS services always top their list of concerns, along with their problem with the delayed performance-based bonuses (PBB).
“Some of the concerns of DepEd employees with GSIS are older than our employees’ children. They’ve been asking questions and raising complaints for a long time. We have noticed that many of their questions and concerns were addressed immediately. But maybe we’ve fallen short in bringing these solutions to teachers,” DuterteCarpio said.
She stressed that financial security was among the sources of anxiety for
LAWMAKERS continued to distribute face masks and other supplies to residents of Batangas affected by the volcanic smog or vog due to the emissions of Taal Volcano.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ray T. Reyes of Anakalusugan party-list appealed to the
Department of Health to distribute N95 face masks and other protective equipment to local governments and affected communities as a precaution to future vog incidences.
Reyes, vice chair of the House committee on health, said his group made rounds in several towns in the province over the weekend to donate face masks
By Orlan Mauricio
MALOLOS CITY –The safety and wellbeing of some 30,000 students of the Bulacan State University is a top priority concern of the city government, Mayor Christian D. Natividad assured newlyelected BSU president Dr. Teody C. San Andres on Monday.
Natividad received a courtesy call from San Andres at the Malolos City Hall over the weekend as part the BSU president’s tribute tour to local government units in the province hosting the university’s campuses.
Malolos is home to the main campus of BSU, adjacent to the Bulacan Provincial Capitol, where a daytime population of 25,000 to 30,000 students roam the city
from early morning to 9 in the evening.
The other campuses of BSU are located in the City of San Jose Del Monte (Sarmiento Campus); Hagonoy Campus; Bustos Campus; Bulakan (Meneses Campus); and the newly-inaugurated San Rafael Campus along the Plaridel Bypass Road.
To date, BSU has some 50,000 students overall, one of the largest enrolments among state colleges and universities (SUCs) outside Metro Manila.
It started as the Bulacan Trade School from 1904 to 1953 and was transformed into the Bulacan National Trade School from 1953 to 1957.
Later, when the student population reached some 2,000 in the early ‘60s, it became known as the Bulacan College of Arts and Trade from 1965 to 1993.
as a response to the lingering vog from Taal.
Earlier, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano donated thousands of face masks to Batangueños through his Emergency Response Department (ERD) team, with the assistance of former 2nd district of Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu. They distributed protective masks to
the affected residents of Agoncillo, Balayan, and Batangas City.
The donation comes as the Taal Volcano continues to emit volcanic gas, causing air quality to deteriorate in the surrounding areas. Residents have been advised to wear face masks when outdoors to protect themselves from harmful particles.
teachers.
Under the agreement, the GSIS committed to establishing more express lanes in its central office and all its branches nationwide that would exclusively serve teachers and DepEd personnel. Account officers would also be designated as official and exclusive liaisons dedicated to DepEd concerns. The GSIS hotline would also have an option that would particularly address DepEd personnel inquiries.
An annual dialogue between GSIS branches and DepEd representatives to discuss and address their concerns on GSIS matters was also slated.
GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso said the details of the MOA would be implemented “immediately.”
A total of 1,025,823 authorized personnel were working under DepEd, 888,888 of whom are teachers.
Duterte-Carpio said the initiative was “very timely” as National Teachers’ Month leading to World Teachers’ Day was being celebrated.
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is fast-tracking the improvement of the P71-million Davao City-Junction Digos City Section of the Davao-Cotabato Road.
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the asphalt overlaying is being carried out by the DPWH Davao City Second District Engineering Office (DEO) over 9.41 lane kilometers of the road in Toril District, Davao City.
The accomplishment was 28.33 percent higher than the 62.25-percent target, with the project slated for completion by next month, according to DPWH Regional Office 11 OIC-Director Juby B. Cordon.
Meanwhile, the DPWH has completed the P48.2-million road maintenance along 6.76 lane kilometers of DavaoCotabato Old Road also in Toril District in Davao City, he said.
“With these road improvements, we aim to prolong the service life of existing pavement to facilitate more convenient and more efficient commute and transport of goods and services in the Davao Region,” Cordon added. Vito Barcelo
AN overseas Filipino worker who was a victim of a trafficking syndicate and was forced to work as a scammer for a Chinese company in Myanmar has finally returned to the Philippines after paying his employer P200,000 in exchange for his freedom.
The Bureau of Immigration said the victim left the country to work in Thailand.
But after arriving in Thailand, the OFW, identified only as Gio, was transferred to Myawaddy in Myanmar.
Gio was forced to work as an online love scammer, attracting foreign victims to invest in pseudo cryptocurrency accounts.
He was only able to return home after pooling P200,000 from family and friends to pay his company for his release, the BI said.
REVENUES from rice tariff should be used to fund a cash assistance program for Filipino households, Senator Risa Hontiveros said yesterday.
“We have an opportunity here to collect and employ these rice import tariffs to provide much-needed cash assistance to millions of Filipino households,” she said.
With P12 billion, for example, the senator said the government could extend assistance to an additional six million families on top of the 4 million families enrolled under the 4Ps program and who are already receiving rice allowances.
“Utilizing rice import tariffs offers a win-win solution for consumers and the agricultural sector,” she said.
“This will not only benefit Filipino families but also promote a sustainable, balanced rice market in the long term,” Hontiveros added.
The senator added that some of the revenues from rice import tariffs and other windfall revenues such as petroleum excise taxes could serve as a valuable resource to reinforce financial assistance programs.
She said each family could receive P2,000, which is equivalent to a P15 reduction for every two kilograms of rice they purchase daily.
“This assistance could be sustained for the next four months, offering considerable relief to struggling families,” she said.
Because of this, Hontiveros said she is objecting to the proposed reduction in rice import tariffs.
A PARTY-LIST legislator has backed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s plan to issue an executive order that would hasten the processing of licenses, permits and other requirements for infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) to ensure the success of the administration’s “Build Better More” program.
Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan of Bicol Saro party-list group said the President’s imminent issuance of the directive would help expedite the implementation of the project to revive the Bicol Express, the once-famed Philippine National Railways (PNR) line that ran from Manila to Bicol. The revival of the Bicol Express, or the South Long Haul Project, is among the infrastructure projects that the President
By Joel E. ZurbanoTHE molotov bomb explosion at the parking lot of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 over the weekend was not a terrorist attack and should not be a cause for alarm, an aviation police official said on Monday.
Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup)
Director Brig. Gen. Jack Limpayos Wanky said the incident was an “isolated case.”
The improvised explosive device was thrown from the street into the parking area,
By Maricel V. Cruz
SPEAKER Martin Romualdez on Monday hailed the 2023 Metrobank Foundation’s Ten Outstanding Filipinos as modern-day heroes and thanked them for their courage, integrity, patriotism, and dedication to duty in serving the nation.
In his message during the presentation of the awardees held at the House of Representatives, Romualdez said the awardees “exemplify the best of our nation.”
“The Metrobank Foundation has always been at the forefront of recognizing brilliance in public service. Today’s event is a reflection of their belief that heroes reside amongst us. They might not wear capes, but they shine brightly with
courage, integrity, patriotism, and dedication,” he said.
Addressing the four educators among the awardees, Romualdez said their influence shapes generations, ensuring they understand the essence of being Filipino, love for our country, and the responsibility to be stewards of our nation’s destiny. He likewise lauded the brave soldiers and dedicated police officers who were chosen for this year’s awards.
“The risks you take and the sacrifices you make are reflections of your unwavering commitment to the Filipino people. In the quiet moments of your service lie the loud echoes of heroism,” Romualdez said.
Beyond the cash prize, trophy, and gold medallion given to the awardees, Romualdez said their true worth lies in the lives they have touched, the futures they have shaped, and the peace they have secured for us.
“Your journeys serve as compelling examples, urging us all to strive for greatness in service,” he said.
The House earlier adopted a resolution to congratulate and commend the 2023 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Awards recipients for their unwavering commitment and exceptional contributions to public service.
A HOUSE leader yesterday urged the public “not to panic” over the Nipah virus even as she urged the government to issue official reports and safety precautions to prevent its spread in the country.
Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin, a former health secretary, said the public must be informed about the virus and its symptoms.
“There should be actual and reliable information to the general public without being an alarmist so people won’t be scared. Instead they should know the truth and why this is happening,” she said in a statement.
has committed to implement as part of the BBM program.
“Among the foreseen issues in the revival of the Bicol Express is the long process of securing permits, clearances, licenses and other documentary requirements to get the project going. The soon-tobe issued EO by the President will certainly streamline all these once-tedious processes and shorten the timeline for the completion of the Bicol Express,” Yamsuan said.
He said that during the previous administration, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had cited the long permit application process that contractors had to undergo as among the causes of delays in the implementation of infrastructure projects. Maricel V. Cruz
causing a minor blast and hitting at least three vehicles. No one was hurt.
Wanky issued the statement following the signing of a covenant on Aviation Security Awareness Program (ASAP) at the airport yesterday that was participated by Avsegroup, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), and the Office for Transportation Security (OTS).
Airport officials, however, clarified the covenant signing was not done because of the explosion or the recent alleged theft by
The lawmaker also called for the immediate collaboration between the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for aggressive surveillance.
“From Ebola to Zika to MERSCOV to COVID-19 to Nipah. These overemphasize the need to prioritize Surveillance Centers in each DOH Regional Hospital immediately. Little investment in the office and experts can go a long way,” she said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Nipah virus is usually transmitted from animals to humans.
Garin said the NiV is not new to the Philippines as the country had cases in
2014 with documented transmission from fruit bats to horses to humans, in which the feeds of horses were contaminated with bat urine and secretions.
“Resilient as we are, we were able to contain it. It was one of my ‘baptism of fire’ when I joined DOH. I have strong faith in our experts, but information from them should be laymanized to the public,” the lawmaker said.
“Washing fruits and vegetables should not be taken for granted. Frequent handwashing with soap and water. Proper hygiene. These are lifesaving measures that should always be remembered and never to be forgotten,” Garin said.
Meanwhile, an illegally recruited OFW who was attempting to depart for Hong Kong on board an Eva Air flight was intercepted by immigration officers at the Clark International Airport (CIA) Terminal 2 in Pampanga.
During primary inspection, the immigration officer noted several inconsistencies in the OFW’s answers, prompting him to refer the victim for secondary inspection.
The victim claimed she was merely traveling to Hong Kong for a four-day vacation, but was unable to provide basic details of the said trip.
She eventually admitted that she was promised work as a promotion specialist, but has yet to receive her contract.
As this developed, the Bureau of Immigration deported 75 foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, for their alleged involvement in scamming activities in the guise of an online gaming customer relations service provider.
ONLY highly-skilled workers should be deployed to war-torn Iraq in the event that the three-year ban on the deployment of Filipino workers was lifted, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said.
Villafuerte made the statement after Ambassador Charlie Pacana Manangan, during a recent hearing by the bicameral Commission on Appointments on his posting to Iraq, said he would support the deployment of new Filipino workers there as requested by Baghdad only after the government has made a complete assessment of the situation in that country.
Top Filipino and Iraqi officials held a Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) in Manila last month—the first in 10 years— where Baghdad made a request for the Philippine government to lift its ban on the deployment of new migrant workers to the Middle East country.
The Department of Foreign Affairs reclassified Iraq three years ago from being a country with “Alert Level 4” status, or where Filipino workers are not allowed to go and those working there already are immediately evacuated or sent home, to “Level 3,” where only new hires are banned and those Filipinos working there already can leave or go home to the Philippines for vacation and return to their employers afterwards.
Asked by Villafuerte if he favors the lifting of the deployment ban, Manangan said: “My instinct will be ‘yes.’ (But) there would be a need for an intensive assessment (of the situation there at present).” Maricel V. Cruz
GERMAN
certain security screeners of OTS.
An information campaign on airport security will also be launched for passengers, Wanky said.
MIAA officer-in-charge Bryan Co calls for continued cooperation of the airport community, including reporting suspicious-looking individuals as well as unusual movement of people in the airport complex.
Senators have expressed concerns about travelers’ safety after an OTS employee was caught swallowing stolen money.
‘Airport molotov bomb explosion not a terrorist attack’MODERN-DAY HEROES. The ten awardees of the Metrobank Foundation pose for a snapshot with Speaker Martin Romualdez (center, seated), Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Lagdameo (right, seated) and President of Metrobank Foundation Aniceto Sobrepeña (left, seated) during a meeting at the House of Representatives Monday, September 25, 2023. Ver Noveno MARIAN EXHIBIT. A priest blesses di erent images of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the opening of a Marian exhibit at SM City East Ortigas in Pasig City on Monday, September 25, 2023. Norman Cruz SUPPORT. National Bureau of Investigation head Medardo De Lemos and German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Michael Pfa ernoschke sign a Deed of Donation for the turnover of various equipment for the bureau’s antihuman tra cking operations. Manny Palmero
I HAD to take a 2-week leave not only because Sept 15 was my 96th birthday, but because I knew that some close friends would take the occasion to invite me for a series of lunches. And Santa Banana, they did!
I also had so many Facebook greetings, not to mention online greetings from famous friends like Senator Robin Padilla, which made my birthday last Sept. 15 a September to remember.
I can only thank God for everything.
The rice crisis
The rice crisis is certainly a challenge to the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as it was when other presidents before him were also threatened by the rice crisis.
But, the rice crisis now is something different.
It’s more of escalating prices of the main staple that we Filipinos are used to. Not only that.
As a result, the prices of other food commodities also soared, which forced BBM to issue an executive order putting price caps at P41/kilo for ordinary milled and P45 for well-milled rice.
No doubt, the rice crisis came about because of smuggling, hoarding and profiteering by a cartelized group of rice traders.
Santa Banana, I have seen it all.
In the past, rice was controlled only by a few rice traders.
problems the President must attend to. Who can replace BBM? Your guess is as good as mine.
It would do well to ask the nation’s leadersjhip if a rice crisis will again recur in the future. Destruction of corals
It does seem our problem with China is not only at Ayungin Shoal with the Chinese Coast Guard and China militia vessels constantly swarming around Ayungin Shoal which China claims as part of its sovereignty and territory.
Now, Santa Banana, China is harvesting and destroying precious corals at Rozul (Iroquois) Reef and Escoda (Sabina) Shoal that are within the 125 nautical miles off the Western side of Palawan and within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines.
The main suspects are the many Chinese vessels, mostly militia, that usually swarm the areas.
The impact of the harvesting and destruction of corals insofar as the environment is concerned, and on marine life cannot be underestimated.
Corals are the lifeblood of marine life and the source of marine life.
If there are no corals, marine life cannot exist.
And without marine life there are no fish, which is the lifeblood of Filipino fisherfolk.
The Chinese love corals; because of corals, the Chinese can design a lot of things.
A series of underwater surveys by the Philippine Navy had definitely established that corals at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal and Rozul Reef had been harvested and destroyed, which validate whatever concerns and even protests that can be filed against China.
And climate change is endangering humans and natural environments in every continent, and the United Nations says the world is running out of time to keep at bay the most devastating consequences of global warming.
Experts have raised the bulletin board that global warming impacts everyone’s food and water security.
They add climate change has been a direct cause of soil degradation, which limits the amount of carbon the earth is able to contain, pointing out that some 500 million people today live in areas affected by erosion, while up to 30 per cent of food is lost or wasted as a result.
The report, released by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, outlines the increasing risk that climate change poses to human health, infrastructure, the stability of food and water resources and the biodiversity of the planet’s ecosystems.
The assessment, produced by 270 scientists from 67 countries who make up the IPCC’s
so-called Working Group II, represents broad consensus within the research community about how global warming is affecting people and the environment – and the potential consequences of inaction.
The impacts of climate change in the Philippines, which loses P26 billion per year from this weather phenomenon, are immense
Beyond doubt, we have seen in recent months increased heatwaves, droughts and floods which are exceeding plants’ and animals’ tolerance thresholds, driving mass mortalities in species such as trees and corals.
Climate scientists who have been warning about the long-term and inequitable effects of global warming say the need for immediate and comprehensive action cannot be overstated.
Rising temperatures are fueling environmental degradation, natural disasters, weather extremes, food and water insecurity, economic disruption, conflict, and terrorism.
Sea levels are rising, the Arctic is melting, coral reefs are dying, oceans are acidifying, and forests are burning.
The impacts of climate change in the Philippines, which loses P26 billion per year from this weather phenomenon, are immense, including annual losses in GDP, changes in rainfall patterns and distribution, droughts, threats to biodiversity and food security, sea level rise, public health risks, and endangerment of vulnerable groups such as women and indigenous people.
This is due to the country’s high exposure to natural hazards (cyclones, landslides, floods, droughts), dependence on climatesensitive natural resources, and vast coastlines where all of its major cities and the majority of the population reside.
We note the Philippines submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in April 2021.
It pledged a projected reduction and avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions of 75 percent for the period 2020–2030, of which 2.71 percent is unconditional and 72.29 percent is conditional.
Now, smuggling, hoarding, profiteering and manipulation of prices are cartelized by the same group responsible for smuggling of agricultural products and manipulating prices.
The rice caps cannot last long however.
They may soon be lifted because the leadership has to consider that price caps are not doing the small rice retailers any good, so much so that Malacanang had to subsidize small rice retailers that had suffered because these retailers bought rice at a high price from traders.
With the rice harvest season coming up, coupled with the milling season, the rice crisis may soon end especially with the price of palay increases in an effort to help rice farmers and producers.
The problem, however, is: will the price of rice ever go down?
I doubt it simply because fertilizer prices have gone up and almost everything else has also gone up.
But, that’s another problem since high prices appear to be a worldwide problem.
But, thank God, if there’s anything we can be thankful about this rice crisis, we don’t have to line up to buy our main staple, which we did in the past.
Now, with the biggest problem of all.
Will the problem of rice, insofar as we Filipinos are concerned, ever stop.
My answer is a big NO.
Will the Philippines ever have rice sufficiency?
I don’t see it in my lifetime.
Now, we have become the biggest rice importer in the world, even surpassing China with its population of almost 1.4 billion.
Will we ever go back to having rice at P20/kilo?
Well, that’s a dream we all wish for.
As I said earlier, high prices have become, Santa Banana, a worldwide problem, so much so that manufacturers are now petitioning for increased prices because raw materials are also escalating.
I know that high prices are hurting more of us than some of us. And that, Santa Banana, is another challenge that the leadership must face.
No takers
Another challenge that BBM has to face is that there appears to be no takers to replace him as concurrent agriculture secretary.
While there had been talks earlier that National Economic Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan was the choice of the economic team to be DA Secretary, he said there was no offer to him.
If there are prospects of a replacement for BBM as DA secretary, the problem is there are actually no takers, at least for the moment.
With the problems facing the country insofar as food security is concerned, we need a DA chief.
But the problem is, as President, BBM cannot be DA secretary for another year.
There are multi-challenges and a myriad of other
By Melandrew T. VelascoIN THE game of chance where PAGCOR thrives on its dual role as regulator and operator, reforms are necessary. Changes and innovations—the essence of reforms—are needed to improve operations, upgrade manpower skills and modernize facilities with an eye on priming up the business in the long run. Since government is involved and the stakes are high, any PAGCOR reform plan, therefore, must be geared for the greater good.
About two months ago, I had the rare privilege to meet up and interview PAGCOR’s chairman/ CEO Alejandro H. Tengco who is fast gaining reputation as a reformist.
Tengco, a true-blue Atenista (from primary school to a law degree), has struck at the sweet spot in his bid for reforms. Time and circumstances are on his side.
If it is prudent to suggest, Al Tengco should hasten these reforms in his noble attempt to be the “game changer” in the gaming industry. He must seize the opportunity to institute changes at PAGCOR while the odds are heavily stacked in his favor.
He has adequate resources at his disposal to carry out these reforms which range from modernization of onsite and online casinos, slot machines, video arcades to upgrading of infotech facilities—the entire gamut of PAGCOR’s operations and the Philippine gaming industry as well. Actually, the die is cast, as they say in the
Thus, it’s not only timely, but a valid source of protest that the United States had given the Philippines a surveillance and monitoring aircraft to monitor the movements by China in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
The handover of the US surveillance and monitoring aircraft comes at a time when the incursions of China at the WPS have given rise to a lot of protests within the region.
It all comes at a time when there’s a need for satellite images that can monitor suspected Chinese ships massing every now and then at Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal.
Aside from maritime surveillance the US aircraft will also provide humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
It will definitely be very useful, particularly in the aftermath of a natural disaster or calamity, to assess the damage.
Back to The Hague
There have been suggestions that perhaps it’s about time the Philippines should go back to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague to file another case against the new China 10-Dash line map that covers the entire South China Sea it is now claiming to be part of its territory and sovereignty.
In line with the illegal 10-Dash line claim of China, perhaps President Marcos Jr. and the Foreign Affairs Department should solicit the assistance of India because a part of its territory is included in the new Chinese map claiming it as part of China’s sovereignty and territory.
If The Hague Arbitral Court had ruled as illegal the 9-Dash line of China and that insofar as the South China Sea is concerned, while China may not be part of the jurisdiction of the Arbitral Court, it must observe the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the International Law.
In fact, the Philippines is set to file a case at the Arbitral Court against China for its destructive activities in the West Philippine Sea, particularly at the Escoda (Sabina) Shoal and the Rozul Reef, for mass destruction of environmental marine life, especially corals that are vital to marine life.
The case reportedly involved “crimes against humanity.”
Considering the attitude of China, even if the Arbitral Court will honor the Philippine case, will China honor it?
China simply ignored the Arbitral Court ruling against the 9-Dash line. Under its ruling involving destruction of the marine environment, the Philippine case could well be an exercise in futility, Santa Banana, that’s how it goes following China’s incessant incursion on the West Philippine Sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone.
industry.
Tengco and his management executives headed by Juanito L. Sanosa Jr., president and chief operating officer, all came well prepared.
Their game plan started rolling in August 2022. This was the date they assumed their posts at PAGCOR, a regular contributor of billions of pesos in revenue to the national coffers.
“We have started preparing for this transition in earnest, and we are starting where it matters most – within PAGCOR itself,” Tengco said as quoted by published reports.
The transition and internal reforms called for, among others, a redesign of PAGCOR’s logo.
In Tengco’s words: “The new PAGCOR logo incorporates the element of fire associated with energy, inspiration, passion, and transformation.
It symbolizes the flame that ignites change and drives progress.
“(It) also reflects a beacon, which stands for guidance, leadership, and direction. It represents a guiding light that helps people find their way.”
This was a well-crafted, brilliant remark but much maligned by detractors.
The designer’s price tag also drew harsh criticisms. Despite the brickbats and a threat of legislative inquiry into PAGCOR’s logo redesign, Tengco stood by his decision.
Rather than engage in buck-passing or sulk in a corner, Tengco wisely and decisively went on to suit deeds to his words. Action man, indeed.
Now, PAGCOR is trying to cash in on the postpandemic boom fueled in part by the “revenge spending” of Asian high rollers.
With Tengco calling the shots, PAGCOR
EVERY year, the Ramon Magsaysay Award (RMA) is given to individuals in Asia who have selflessly dedicated their lives to serving their communities.
This year, four people have been added to the roster of Ramon Magsaysay Laureates.
The RMA is also known to be the “Nobel Prize of Asia.”
One way to gauge selfless service is to see whether one provides access to a service that is difficult to acquire. These first two awardees we’ll discuss do exactly this by developing and running pro-poor programs that bring quality education and healthcare to the disenfranchised. Just like in the Philippines, quality education is close to inaccessible to poor communities in Bangladesh.
According to The Daily Star, while primary education is free, around 42 million people are still illiterate. This is approximately 26 percent of their population.
Additionally, in 2020, they had a dropout rate of 17.2 percent at the primary level and 35.76 percent at the secondary level.
A large portion of these rates are brought by the poor quality of education in rural areas. In the Global Knowledge Index of 2022, Bangladesh also ranked 105 out of 132 countries. This has caused parents to perceive that it’s not worth sending their children to school.
The state of education in Bangladesh pushed Korvi Rakshand, one of the recipients of the RMA this year, to establish the JAAGO Foundation with six other friends. In Bangla, jaago translates to wake up. According to Rakshand, in 2007, when they made the foundation, they wanted to wake up, not from their dreams, but to wake their hearts up. Waking their hearts up would lead to actualizing their dreams. In their case, this dream is to provide inclusive quality education for the disenfranchised.
According to the JAAGO Foundation website, they envision the elimination of poverty in their country through the help of literacy.
expects to hit 92 percent of its pre-pandemic revenue in 2023 after a record high earnings of P81 billion in 2019.
In 2022, total revenue reached P58.96 billion and estimated to increase 28 percent to P75.5 billion this year. For the 2024 estimate, a modest increase of 6.34 percent to P80.28 billion in revenue was in the cards.
While there are initiatives from the government to improve education, there is a large disparity in educational opportunities and facilities. This is why JAAGO has been providing access to free and quality education to underprivileged Bangladeshi kids.
Both Dr. Kannan and Rakshand show us how far compassion and perseverance can take our own advocacies
Their program follows an English version of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board’s curriculum–an organization under the Ministry of Education in Bangladesh. From its humble beginnings in 2007, it is now one of the largest non-profit organizations in Bangladesh in their field. They have a total of 11 traditional and online schools in Bangladesh. JAAGO’s other focus areas include the mobilization of the youth, women, climate change, and governance.
According to the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation Board, Korvi Rakshand shows “how the young can be not just the bearers of the promise of the nation, but its realization.”
Rakshand has now dedicated 15 years to a noble and demanding cause; this shows that the youth can never be ‘too idealistic’. We can always do something.
The second awardee has also provided easier access to a service that’s known for being terrifying to the underprivileged due to its cost–healthcare, specifically health services involving cancer patients.
Ravi Kannan R. is a surgical oncologist. He is also the Director of the Cachar Cancer
proceeds at P200 billion, according to records of the House committee on appropriations.
But that estimate, I believe, is an unrealistic “pie in the sky” considering that PAGCOR doesn’t have real estate assets that could appreciate in value over time.
Tengco pointed this out to lawmakers during the House hearing in August.
It looks like the P80-billion ballpark is more acceptable, if I were to make an estimate.
Under Tengco’s plan, first to be privatized are 45 casinos, all PAGCOR-owned and operated.
Also up for the auction block are Casino Filipino’s Information and Communication Technology and Cybersecurity infrastructure. But before these can be privatized, an upgrade to enhance the casino complex is a must.
Any displacement of personnel that may arise during the privatization, Tengco and his team are ready to address the potential issues.
During town hall meetings with PAGCOR employees across the country, Tengco says:
“We tell them there is no reason to worry because we have plans in place to mitigate, if not totally avoid, any personnel displacement.”
This year, the Tengco-led PAGCOR expects to remit to the National Treasury some P50.09 billion, 44 percent more than last year’s P34.67 billion, living up to its role as one of the contributors to nation-building.
Much more revenue can be generated from the privatization of PAGCOR, whose goal is intended to enhance the value of its assets for a better price while making the casinos more attractive to potential buyers.
The Finance department has pegged the sales
This just goes to show Tengco’s human side.
Driven to succeed, Tengco once told a Manila forum he wanted to make PAGCOR the gold standard in Asian gaming. “We certainly know our potentials and capability to become the gold standard in the Asian gaming scene.”
This isn’t a pipe dream or an empty boast at all given that PAGCOR under Tengco’s watch is determined to transform itself into a purely regulator role once its privatization takes full
Hospital and Research Center.
According to their website, around 80 percent of their patients are daily wage workers, agricultural and tea garden laborers, and around 75% are treated for free or at subsidized rates.
This is practically revolutionary. As we all know, getting cancer care or treatment at all is a feat within itself.
To make available these services for free or for cheaper from a hospital that evidently cares about its patients is a dream.
According to the RMA website, Dr. Kannan became the hospital’s Director in 2007.
He was the first formally-trained oncologist to take the position. Then, they only had a staff of 23. They have now grown to 451 employees.
The RMAF board has also stated that they admire Dr. Kannan’s combination of skill, commitment, and compassion in pushing boundaries of people-centered, pro-poor health care and cancer care.
Being an oncologist alone is a taxing and difficult job, to give your time to develop a program that allows the underprivileged to have access to cancer care is beyond inspiring.
Both Dr. Kannan and Rakshand show us how far compassion and perseverance can take our own advocacies. Their stories and organizations are also a reminder that while an individual can receive an award, it truly takes a village to move our causes forward.
Here’s to Rakshand and Dr. Kannan; here’s to pro-poor programs and accessible social services.
I will profile the rest of the awardees in the following columns.
effect by 2025.
I’ll take a leaf from US investment banker and ex-president of NYSE John Thain in support of Tengco’s regulatory bid: Thain says, “Regulators are in the best position to regulate when they are intimately knowledgeable about the activities they are regulating.”
On that encouraging note, I will put a check mark in the box for “intimate knowledge” because PAGCOR has over four decades of experience been running this kind of business in the Philippines. The crystal-clear conclusion is that PAGCOR is highly competent and qualified to be a gaming regulator. I wholeheartedly support the Tengco management in its decision.
Soon to assume its new role as regulator, Pagcor vows better safeguards and controls to address the social ills which go with the conduct of gaming operations.
PAGCOR can also bank on license fee collections as revenue booster. Its beneficiaries like charity organizations and even local government units can continue to count on PAGCOR for much-needed donations.
With all of PAGCOR plans in place, gaming in the Philippines will never be the same again. Tengco, the game-changing chairman, richly deserves a congratulatory pat on the back.
(The author is a book writer and publisher of coffee-table books with a least 40 titles to his name. He is also the president and executive director of the Million Trees Foundation Inc, a non-government outfit advocating tree planting and watershed protection.)
aim to provide guidance on the implementation of the NCI-SRD MPMRD Scholarship Program. Specifically, it shall provide the following:
1. overview of the program and its program management;
2. rules and procedures for the scholarship;
3. obligations and benefits of the scholars; and
4. sanctions and grounds for termination of the scholarship.
SECTION 2. Scope and Coverage
These guidelines shall apply to all permanent personnel of the DA, DAR, and DENR who shall avail of the scholarship program. It shall specifically apply to the MPM-RD scholarship program implemented by the NCl-SRD in partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP). The guidelines shall also be read in conjunction with the MPM-RD Program Design document, which provides detailed information on the MPM-RD Scholarship Program.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms
3.1 Blended learning - educational approach that combines the effectiveness and socialization opportunities of the traditional classroom with the active learning possibilities of the technology-based online environment rather than a ratio of delivery modalities.
3.2 Double-badge degree - degree conferred to the scholar which is recognized by two (2) academic institutions. Upon confirmation, the MPM-RD graduate shall be recognized as a product and alumni of two schools.
3.3 Face-to-face learning - instructional method in which students, faculty in charge, teaching associates and resource persons meet together in the same place and at the same time.
3.4 Online learning - instructional method through the utilization of computers or mobile devices and the facilitation of learning through the internet for teacher/student interaction and distribution of class materials. This is sometimes interchangeably called e-Iearning, distance education or internet-based learning.
3.5 Rural Development Action Plan and Project (RDAPP) - final paper submitted by the scholar as a requirement for graduation. The RDAPP serves as the thesis equivalent of the program which shall be completed individually.
3.6 Agency Scholarship Committee (ASC) - Scholarship Committee of DADARDENR.
3.7 Executive Scholarship Committee (ESC) - oversight Scholarship Committee of the DA-DAR-DENR Agency Scholarship Committees, which gives the final approval on all applications endorsed to the NCI-SRD National Steering Committee.
3.8 Delinquent scholar - scholar who is granted with the scholarship but unable to complete the program and its requirements within the prescribed period with no justifiable reason.
3.9 Scholarship Service Contract - agreement between the grantee, the guarantor and the grantor, especially one that is written and enforceable by law.
3.10 Grantee - person to whom a scholarship grant is made.
3.11 Grantor - agency that grants the scholarship.
3.12 Total cost - total amount of the program including tuition fees, allowances and other benefits related to the course.
SECTION 4. MPM-RD Scholarship Program
4.1 Design
4.1.1 The program shall utilize a blended approach to instruction, which is a combination of online learning and traditional face-to-face teaching methods. Twenty-two hours (22) shall be allotted for online sessions (synchronous and asynchronous learning) and thirty-two (32) hours for face-to-face sessions per course. The blended approach shall allow students the flexibility to engage in a work-study scheme, regardless of where they are based.
4.1.2 The curriculum shall be comprised of 39 units divided into the following: core courses (15 units), major courses (21 units), comprehensive examination, and RDAPP (3 units).
4.1.3 The duration or period of completion of the MPM-RD Scholarship Program shall be 14 to 18 months. Extension for completion of the program may be allowed under circumstances indicated under Section 10.
4.2 Policies
4.2.1 The program shall subscribe to the principle of equitable scholarship opportunities for DA-DAR-DENR personnel at the national and regional levels.
4.2.2 The program shall contribute to the goals of the NCl-SRD and in the implementation of joint planning, joint budgeting, and joint monitoring and evaluation of the programs, activities, and projects (P/A/Ps) identified by the NCl-SRD.
4.2.3 Preference shall be given to those who are active members of the NClSRD’s Component Working Groups (CWGs), Regional Convergence Initiative Technical Working Groups (RCI TWGs), and their Secretariat who have met the basic qualification requirements of the scholarship program.
4.3 Implementing Units
4.3.1 The MPM-RD Scholarship Program shall be jointly implemented by the four (4) NCI-SRD agencies, namely, DA, DAR, and DENR in partnership with the DAP as the lead of the Educational Consortium on Rural Development (ECRD).
4.3.2 The DAP shall implement the partnership with the following academic institutions:
4.3.2.1 Ateneo School of Government (ASoG-ADMU)
4.3.2.2 UP-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UPNCPAG)
4.3.2.3 Xavier University (XU)
4.3.2 Partnerships with other educational institutions may be included in the implementation of the MPM-RD Scholarship Program upon approval of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DAP and other prospective schools.
SECTION 5. MPM-RD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
The MPM-RD Scholarship Program shall be managed by the following, as shown in Annex A of this guidelines:
5.1 The NCI-SRD, represented by the National Steering Committee (NSC) composed of the DA, DAR, and DENR Secretaries or their permanent alternate Undersecretaries, shall have oversight functions on the implementation and monitoring of the MPM-RD scholarship program;
5.2 The DAP shall be the primary academic institution in managing the MPM-RD scholarship program;
5.3 The Partner Universities (ASoG-ADMU, UP-NCPAG, and XU) shall serve as the academic institutions which shall provide the lecturers and learning resources;
5.4. The ESC, composed of the Chairperson of the Capacity Development Component Working Group and the representatives from the ASC, shall conduct the final review and endorsement of applicants for the scholarship to the NCl-SRD; and
5.5 The ASC of the respective Departments shall conduct the initial review and endorsement of applications to the ESC.
SECTION 6. MPM-RD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS
6.1 Qualification Requirements
The following are the qualification requirements for the scholars:
6.1.1 Not be more than fifty (SO)
(10) working days after receipt of the final result of the admission test by signing the Scholarship Contract Agreement. Failure of an applicant to confirm within the given period shall render their slot void.
SECTION 7. OBLIGATIONS OF THE SCHOLAR
The following shall be the obligations of the MPM-RD scholars:
7.1 Sign a Scholarship Service Contract with their respective NCI-SRD agencies binding themselves to terms and conditions pursuant to this Joint Memorandum Circular. The contract shall be signed by the grantee and their assigned co-maker or guarantor and shall be witnessed by the immediate supervisor or Head of Agency;
7.2 Comply with the standards set by the partner universities for the MPM-RD scholarship program and abide by the conditions specified by the scholarship grant;
7.3 Conduct themselves in a manner as not to bring disgrace or dishonor to their respective NCI-SRD agencies during the scholarship period;
7.4 Not engage in any work for payor accept other forms of scholarship or fellowship during the scholarship period without the consent of their respective NCI-SRD agencies concerned;
7.5 Complete all the requirements for the MPM-RD scholarship program within the period of 14-18 months, or if under extension, as indicated under Section 10, complete the RDAPP during the provided period;
7.6 Maintain a minimum passing grade in all subjects set by the degree-granting institutions and pass, specifically, the comprehensive examination;
7.7 Submit the following requirements:
7.7.1 RDAPP as the final paper or thesis equivalent of the scholar which is a requirement for candidacy for graduation;
7.7.2 Seven (7) hard copies of the RDAPP (five copies to be given to the partner institutions and two copies for the Department); and
7.7.3 Original copy of the TOR and photocopy of the Diploma to their respective NCI-SRD agencies after the completion of the course.
7.8 Be active members of their respective NCI-SRD national, regional, and local Technical Working Groups (TWGs) for a minimum of3 years as stipulated in NCISRD Joint Resolution No. 02 (Designation of the Master in Public Management Major in Rural Development (MPM-RD) Scholarship Program Graduates as Members of the National and Regional Technical Working Groups/Component Working Groups of the NCI-SRD) and No. 18 (Inclusion of the NCI-SRD Activities in the Individual Performance Commitment and Review (lPCR), and Division IPCR (DPCR) and Office PCR (OPCR) of NCI-SRD National and Regional Members) Series of 2018;
7.9 Submit annual reports on the implementation status/progress of the RDAPPs for three (3) years to ensure its sustainability to the agency and the NCI-SRD National Secretariat.
7.10 Be responsible for the logistical arrangements and expenses of their panel members, institutional members, and partners during the RDAPP presentation and defense by inviting only a maximum of five (5) persons to be covered under such arrangements.
SECTION 8. SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
The following are the benefits for the MPM-RD scholars:
8.1 Conferment of a double-badge master’s degree in MPM-RD or a master’s degree recognized by two institutions after fulfillment of all scholarship requirements;
8.2 Full basic salary and other benefits from the mother agency for the duration of the program;
8.3 Full tuition and miscellaneous fees including:
8.3.1 Book/ School Supplies/Reproduction Allowance: ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) per academic year;
8.3.2 Internet Allowance: two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) per month;
8.3.3 RDAPP Support: for fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00). RDAPP support shall be utilized for the following purposes: supplies & materials, Research Assistant (RA)/statistician/enumerator/language editor, bookbinding, research activities such as Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), survey, interviews, fieldwork, consultation with RDAPP Advisor and other related activities or expenditures;
8.3.4 Travel Allowance: Provision of round-trip fare to and from the place of residence/place of assignment, charged against the scholar’s respective office, including the scholar’s graduation. Travel expenses shall be charged against the scholar’s respective office. The number of the face-to-face sessions shall depend on the final design of the course. Team building activities are integrated to the face-to-face sessions.
8.3.5 Graduation Fees: The amount to be assessed by the DAP shall be directly paid by the Department/Agency to the DAP.
8.4 At least one (1) day per week of official time for course work from the 1st month up to the 14th month of the course. By the 15th to 18th month of the course, the scholar shall be given at least 2-days per week for the RDAPP.
SECTION 9. GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION
The following shall be considered grounds for termination, subject to due process for verification of the act, from the MPM-RD Scholarship Program:
9.1 Formal charge of an administrative case, unlawful behavior, gross negligence of the law, or conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude during the duration of the program;
9.2 Dishonesty including plagiarism, submission of fake documents, cheating, and deception;
9.3 Enrollment in another scholarship program during the duration of studies under MPM-RD;
9.4 Frequent or extended period of unexcused absences; and
9.5 Other cases analogous to the foregoing in the context of the academic exercise.
SECTION 10. SANCTIONS FOR NON-FULFILLMENT OF OBLIGATIONS
10.1 If a scholar fails his first attempt at presenting the RDAPP, the scholar shall shoulder all expenses for the re-defense, including logistical arrangements and expenses of invited participants to the RDAPP presentation;
10.2 Failure to complete the program, pass a course or comply with any requirement within the duration of 18 months shall hold the scholar liable and subject to each corresponding agency’s rules or penalties for failing to complete the scholarship program within the given period. For the procedure on refund, the scholar may refer to Section 11.
10.3 A scholar may be allowed an extension for six (6) months to complete the RDAPP in cases of force majeure or any justifiable reason deemed acceptable by the DAP, involving natural calamities or serious health problems.
SECTION 11.
southern port of Odesa was hit by Russian missiles overnight, destroying grain stores, the Ukrainian military said Monday.
Russia “attacked the south of the country again,” the Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine said on the messaging platform Telegram.
Since July when Moscow pulled out of a UN-brokered deal allowing safe grain shipments via the Black Sea, Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine’s grain-exporting infrastructure in the southern Odesa and Mykolaiv regions.
Nataliya Gumenyuk, spokeswoman for the Ukrainian southern military command, said Russia was apparently “trying to test out the density of the air defense.”
“They understand that port infrastructure is a priority for our region, and that it is reliably protected. However, that is why the attack that occurred tonight was both massive and by combined means,” she said on Telegram.
The Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine said Russia directed 19 drones and 2 Onyx supersonic missiles at Odesa, and fired 12 Kalibr missiles. They claimed all 19 Shaheds and 11 Kalibrs “were shot down”.
However, Russia did “hit the port infrastructure” in Odesa, which “suffered significant damage,” they said.
“Onyx missiles destroyed granaries. But people were not hurt,” they said.
Warehouses and a private house in the Odesa suburbs were damaged and caught fire, they added, “as a result of falling debris.”
Gumenyuk said one of the grain stores hit was empty.
“Nevertheless, hitting grain deal-related infrastructure,” she said, was a Russian “priority.”
Odesa regional governor Oleg Kiper said on Telegram that one woman in Odesa, a civilian, was injured by shrapnel “in a blast wave” and was being treated in hospital.
Ukraine is testing a new Black Sea route that avoids international waters and uses those controlled by NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. AFP
BANGKOK, Thailand—Chinese tourists received a personal welcome from the Thai prime minister Monday as they arrived in Bangkok under a new visa-free scheme the government hopes will give the kingdom’s vital tourism sector a boost.
Traditional dancers accompanied a smiling PM Srettha Thavisin as he greeted visitors arriving from Shanghai at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport, handing out welcome gifts.
“I was shocked by the welcoming ceremony, and I’m very happy. It’s a great start of my trip,” visitor Zhuang Pan, 31, told AFP.
Jin Li, arriving for her honeymoon, told AFP the scheme was great, before she and her new husband grabbed a photograph with Srettha.
“I don’t need to worry, can go on a trip at any time, just need to book a ticket,” she said.
Visitors from China accounted for the largest percentage of Thailand’s tourists pre-pandemic, with tourism overall making up around 20 percent of the kingdom’s GDP.
Covid-19 travel restrictions hammered the sector and recovery has been slow, stymied by a struggling global economy—and safety fears stoked by a Chinese blockbuster thriller about a man being kidnapped and forced to work in a Southeast Asian online scam centre.
Zheng Zhengzhou, 36, said he was aware of the dangers of visiting Thailand, referencing “No More Bets”—the film that has spooked many tourists. AFP
KORNIDZOR, Armenia—Armenia prepared Monday to welcome a new flood of Nagorno-Karabakh refugees while the leaders of Azerbaijan and ally Turkey were set to hold a celebratory summit marking Baku’s victory over the rebel enclave. And as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan blamed Russia for last week’s events, more protests were planned in Yerevan over his handling of the crisis.
According to the Armenian government, by Sunday evening 377 “forcefully displaced persons” had crossed from Azerbaijan.
Most of the refugees seen by AFP were women and children, including some from Eghtsahogh, where people took shelter around a Russian peacekeeping base after their village allegedly came under Azerbaijani shelling.
“Yesterday, we had to put down our rifles. So we left,” a man in his thirties from the village of Mets Shen told AFP as a first group of a few dozen people crossed the border and registered with Armenian officials in Kornidzor.
“We had 15 minutes to pack everything up,” he said, regretting having left behind his livestock and the grave of his three-year-old daughter.
“I didn’t tell her goodbye. I hope to go back.”
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev intended to cement his victory by flying to his country’s western exclave of Nakhichevan for talks Monday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his most important regional ally. AFP
ROME, Italy—Sicilian Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, captured in January after three decades on the run, has died in hospital in central Italy, the local mayor confirmed Monday.
The 61-year-old had been treated for colon cancer while detained in a highsecurity jail in L’Aquila, but was moved last month to hospital after his condition deteriorated.
L’Aquila Mayor Pierluigi Biondi confirmed the mobster’s death in hospital “following a worsening of his illness” in a statement to the ANSA news agency, which had earlier broken the news.
His death “puts the end to a story of violence and blood”, Biondi said, thanking prison and hospital staff for their “professionalism and humanity”.
It was “the epilogue of an existence lived without remorse or repentance, a painful chapter of the recent history of our nation.”
Messina Denaro was one of the most ruthless bosses in Cosa Nostra, the reallife Sicilian crime syndicate depicted in the Godfather movies. AFP
PARIS, France—Amazon said on Monday it would invest up to $4 billion in AI firm Anthropic, as the online retail giant steps into an AI race dominated by Microsoft, Google and OpenAI.
The success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a chatbot released last year that is able to generate poems, essays and other works with just a short prompt, has led to billions being invested in the field.
Amazon had already announced it aimed to soup up its Alexa voice assistant with generative AI, which the firm said would allow users to have smoother conversations.
San Francisco-based Anthropic is seen as a leader in the field and has its own chatbot, Claude, a competitor to ChatGPT.
“We have tremendous respect for Anthropic’s team and foundation models, and believe we can help improve many customer experiences, short and long-term, through our deeper collaboration,” said Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.
As part of the deal, Anthropic will use Amazon’s chips and its cloud services—the data centers that store and process data on a vast scale—for “mission critical workloads”.
Amazon said it would take a “minority ownership position” in the AI firm, which has already raised hundreds of millions since it was set up in 2021.
The deal intensifies competition between Amazon and Google, which had earlier opened its cloud services to Anthropic and invested $300 million to acquire 10 percent of the company.
The models used by AI firms require huge computing power and Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud are among the biggest providers. AFP
PHILIPPINE stocks rose Monday on bargain-hunting and window-dressing activities.
The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange index rose 30.05 points, or 0.49 percent, to close at 6,172.86, while the broader all-shares index picked up 8.20 points, or 0.25 percent, to settle at 3,325.15.
China Bank Capital managing director Juan Paolo Colet said the daily value turnover improved to more than P8 billion as institutional funds positioned for changes on the index.
Bloomberry Resorts Corp. is set to replace Aboitiz Power Corp. in the PSEi Tuesday, while Century Pacific Food Inc. will be included in the index on
Wednesday in place of Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
Colet said the upward momentum was prone to selling pressures. Meanwhile, Asian stock markets were mixed Monday as investors contemplated the possibility the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates again and keep them at three-decade highs with officials struggling to contain inflation. Equities have come under pressure in recent weeks on bets that the US central bank will need to stick with its tightening bias well into next year as prices remain well above target, while the economy and labor market remain in rude health.
Comments from monetary policymakers will be pored over in the coming days, with traders hoping for some insight into their thinking as speculation grows that borrowing costs will be lifted again before the end of the year.
Last week, Boston Fed chief Susan Collins warned another increase “is certainly not off the table”, while Governor Michelle Bowman suggested more would likely be needed.
The prospect of higher rates -- and fewer cuts than hoped next year -dented sentiment on trading floors, and dragged all three main US indexes into the red Friday.
A recent spike in oil prices to 10-month highs above $90 a barrel is adding to the headache for central bankers, with observers warning the commodity could push above $100 owing to an output cut by Saudi Arabia and Russia.
And Asia struggled Monday, with Hong Kong off 1.8 percent while Shanghai, Seoul and Bangkok were also lower.
Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei, Mumbai and Manila ticked higher. Wellington was flat. With AFP
FRANKFURT, Germany—A sleepy Bavarian village on Sunday gave the green light to BMW’s plan to build a huge battery factory there, removing a key obstacle for the German automobile giant on its drive towards electromobility.
An overwhelming majority of residents in Strasskirchen -- around 90 minutes’ drive from Munich with a population of around 2,700 -- voted in favor of the construction project in a local referendum.
With German industry in a slump amid slowing global demand and high energy costs, the project has been billed as a vote of confidence in the future of products “made in Germany”.
The positive result is an “important signal” for Germany’s future economic prospects, BMW’s head of human resources Ilka Horstmeier said in a statement after the result.
It came at a crucial time for BMW as the car industry transitions from combustion-engine vehicles to electricpowered ones.
The auto giant wants to invest “several hundred million euros” in the plant, which would be “at the heart of the development of electric vehicles in Germany”, according to Alexander Kiy, who is in charge of the project.
The factory could employ more than
LORENZO MIGUEL FLORES
MR. KINGSON Sian has an exciting career and life in general. As we conducted the class at a lovely place, I wondered why it was free of charge. And upon knowing who Mr. Sian was, I immediately understood why. I must admit that Mr. Sian has a different presence even though he has yet to start speaking.
His charisma is different, yet I cannot expect less. Obviously, I wondered who he was. I was surprised by how much scope he had as he headed both Travelers International Hotel Group and Alliance Global Group. It also helped that his topic was fun and what others would consider controversial, which dealt with casinos and how most of the revenues are generated from gambling.
I noticed earlier that Mr. Sian showed concern towards my classmates, ensur-
3,200 people and churn out 600,000 high-voltage batteries a year to supply electric cars made at BMW’s plants in Regensburg, Munich and Dingolfing, the company’s largest European site. Because batteries are large and heavy, it makes sense for them to be produced as close as possible to vehicle assembly lines.
ing they were comfortable and fine. It emphasized how a significant amount of hospitality is directly linked to his work—and conclusively, which is why a lot regards him as a great people manager.
He was very well-prepared for this talk as he told challenging events in chronological order, which impressed me even more since he was able to address these difficult situations. I would say that presence alone is already challenging enough whenever adversities are encountered. However, Mr. Sian seems to be the type of person who is relentless and embraces these challenges as if they were merely a test to be overcome.
I am surprised to know that Resorts World was the only casino that did not lay off employees. It shows how the organization is committed to taking care of its employees. He also mentioned initiatives aiming to produce profit during the pandemic, even if 90 percent of it comes from the casino
For this reason, BMW has already built battery factories to supply its plants in Hungary, the United States, Mexico and China.
Local fears
In Strasskirchen, some residents had feared the factory would transform their leafy village on the edge of the Bavar-
part of the business. Using the hotel premises to house the workers/employees during the pandemic was a great approach to how work can be done. I would say that this would be the standard decision among other competitors. But it is impressive that they were able to come up with online competitions to provide a different source of entertainment while housing these employees or workers. The cash they provide as a price is very generous as well.
The biggest surprise I have discovered is that my father also knew Mr. Sian. He has had several meetings with Mr. Sian as my father conducts business with Richmonde Hotel, which I believe Mr. Sian has been associated with.
My father has agreed with me regarding Mr. Sian being a good leader with bright ideas. He expresses statements with a perfect balance of energy and humor, increasing his effectiveness. I am also amazed to hear from
ian forest into an industrial zone with roaring trucks.
“More than 100 hectares of prime arable land would be destroyed forever,” said Thomas Spoetzl, 44, a spokesman for local residents who were opposed to the plans.
Martin Goetz, a 45-year-old native of Strasskirchen and spokesman for the other side, disagreed.
The factory would be “a huge opportunity for the region to invest in sustainable technologies and jobs for the future”, he said.
“For Bavaria, and for Germany in general, it must still be possible to create a major industrial site of this type,” said Armin Soller, mayor of the nearby village of Irlbach.
‘Germany pact’
Germany “needs a commitment to economic growth, especially at a time of transformation” in terms of energy and digital technology, Milan Nedeljkovic, a board member at BMW in charge of production, said before the vote.
Europe’s biggest economy has drawn several major investments in recent months as it seeks to bring home production of vital supplies, such as semiconductors, in a bid to cut reliance on China. AFP
my father that while Mr. Sian has always been good, he has come a long way from how he was.
He claims that Mr. Sian has shown a great leap of improvement, which continuously inspires me that there is a never-ending window of opportunity for growth. I can confirm this by watching Mr. Sian’s previous or old interviews, where he was as prepared as he was when he gave us the talk. I am impressed and will remember most of the lessons he mentioned during the event. Also, I am now a fan of Sheraton Manila’s ColLab, the co-working and events place where he hosted our class and conducted his presentation.
The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. He can be reached at lorenzo_flores@dlsu.edu.ph.
The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.
KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysia will increase palm oil exports to China by 500,000 tons a year as it faces pressure from new European Union restrictions targeting deforestation, a senior minister told AFP on Monday.
The trading bloc introduced new rules this year that ban goods from land that has been deforested, throwing its muscle into the fight against climate change and environmental destruction.
Palm oil is blamed by environmentalists for fueling the destruction of rainforests in Malaysia and Indonesia, which together produce 85 percent of global output.
But the EU rules have been highly controversial in producer countries, with both Malaysia and Indonesia protesting the move.
Malaysia’s Plantation and Commodities Minister Fadillah Yusof told AFP that his country was now upping exports to China, a major importer of the commodity.
“China’s import of palm oil and palm-based products from Malaysia was 3.14 million tons in 2022,” he said.
That will grow by the end of the year or early next year with “additional uptakes of 500,000 tons of palm oil” by Beijing, he said.
The increase is the result of a deal between Malaysian-headquartered palm oil product firm Sime Darby Oils International and Chinese state-owned Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group.
It will “definitely” help Malaysia counter European curbs, he added.
“Chinese importers are buying high value-added downstream palm products produced from Malaysia,” he said.
The edible oil is used in foods such as cakes, chocolate and margarine, as well as cosmetics, soap and shampoo. Malaysian palm oil exports to China are now expected to hit 3.2 million metric tons for 2023, Yusof said.
Surviving only to be rebornHubert Aiwanger (third from right), leader of the Free Voters (Freie Waehler) party and also Bavaria’s Economy Minister and deputy State Premier, and BMW board member Ilka Horstmeier (second from right) look at a Vision Neue Klasse (New Class) concept car of German car maker BMW during his visit at the International Motor Show IAA in Munich, September 6, 2023. AFP NEW TERMINAL. Members of the media photograph elephant statues inside the new SAT-1 terminal at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on September 25, 2023. AFP
GEOTHERMAL power producer Energy Development Corp. plans to drill 40 new wells over the next three years with capital investments of P60 billion to sustain and expand the operations of its geothermal projects, a top executive said Monday.
“The main focus of EDC over the next three years is to make sure that we can continue to deliver the amount of renewable source of geothermal for our customers,” EDC vice chairman and chief executive Francis Giles Puno said at the sidelines of the Net Zero Carbon Alliance (NZCA) conference.
“Part of that is a need to drill close to 40 wells over the next three years...
to make sure that we can continue to extract sustainable steam from the ground,” Puno said.
Most of EDC’s drilling operations will be in Leyte and Mt. Apo in Mindanao.
The company owns and operates the 232.5-megawatt Malitbog, 180-MW Mahanagdong, 125-MW Upper Mahiao, 123 MW Tongonan and 50.9-MW
Globe Telecom secures P15-b Metrobank loan
GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Monday it signed a P15-billion term loan facility with Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company.
Optimization geothermal projects in Leyte.
“ Roughly, when you think about it, P30 billion [is needed[ for the drilling operations, roughly another P30 billion to finish. Over the next three years, that’s a lot of capital for the operations,” Puno said.
He said EDC’s P60-billion capital expenditures for geothermal project would come from internally-generated funds.
Puno said a reliable supply from baseload geothermal energy gives EDC the ability to deliver more renewable energy sources to customers.
EDC president Jerome Cainglet said in the same event that numerous organizations and companies expressed interest to be part of NZCA—a pioneering
FERNANDO Zobel de Ayala continues to increase his phased return to senior positions of governance in the Ayala Group—this time as chairman of Ayala’s healthcare arm.
Zobel was elected by AC Health’s board of directors as Chairman on Monday. Having previously served the position from November 2016 to September 2022, he played a major role in setting the foundation of the company.
As chairman, Zobel supported AC Health’s acquisition of Healthway Philippines and a majority stake into QualiMed Health Network, which are now integrated as one group under the Healthway Medi-
cal Network brand. Zobel also supported AC Health’s partnership with Siemens, Varian and CTSI for the construction and design of the country’s first dedicated cancer specialty hospital, the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital in Arca South, Taguig City.
He pushed for the consolidation of the group’s healthtech companies into the KonsultaMD super app as a joint venture with Globe’s 917Ventures. AC Health also invested in IE Medica and MedEthix, complementing the group’s existing retail network of Generika Drugstores and strengthening the company’s pharma supply chain, making quality medicines ac-
consortium of Philippine enterprises committed toward collective net-zero carbon in local business.
“This is a strong indication that many businesses are now aware of the need to step up their decarbonization programs,” Cainglet said.
Initiated by First Gen-owned EDC, NZCA aims to engage with corporations in the Philippines to achieve carbon neutrality as a transition to net zero by 2050.
The forum on Monday was organized in partnership with Eco-Business, Asia Pacific’s largest media and business intelligence organization dedicated to sustainable development and ESG performance, with the theme: “Zeroing in on Net-Zero: From Corporate Pledges to Action.”
“The loans shall be used to finance the company’s capital expenditures, debt refinancing and/or general corporate requirements,” the telecom unit of the Ayala Group said.
Globe programmed $1.3 billion or P73.82 billion for 2023 capex and $1 billion for 2024. It spent P37.7 billion in capex in the first six months of 2023.
Majority or about 90 percent of the capex spending was allocated to data network builds to meet the consumer’s escalating demand for data.
Globe built 542 new cell sites and upgraded 5,087 mobile sites to LTE in order to meet the rising data demands of its customers this year. The company also deployed around 148 thousand fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) lines. Darwin G. Amojelar
San Miguel:
viable SAN Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMGP) and subsidiaries remain viable and able to meet its financial obligations, its parent ccompany said Monday.
“To date, the company and its subsidiaries, including SMGP, are fully compliant with and continue to comply with their financial obligations,” San Miguel Corp. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.
SMC made the clarification after the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) expressed caution over SMGP’s debts.
“SMGP continues to have access for its funding requirements with financial institutions. Certain loan maturities this year have been refinanced and currently SMGP is in the midst of closing a project financing arrangement for its battery energy storage systems [BESS] which allows the safe integration of renewal energy to the national grid,” it said.
SMGP is building 31 BESS nationwide with 1,000 megawatts of capacity.
Alena Mae S. Flores
COMMUNICATION EXCELLENCE. Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) vice president and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga (left) shares his expertise on the importance of authentic and purposeful communications to faculty and researchers of the De La Salle University-The Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance on Sept. 24, 2023. The activity is part of ‘Communicating with Clarity and Confidence: A Media Relations Workshop for Academics’ – a two-day training that aims to equip the academe with knowledge and skills to communicate with the public effectively. with Zaldarriaga is Prof. Ador Torneo, director of La Salle Institute of Governance.
cessible to more Filipinos.
Zobel on Monday visited the now nearly complete Healthway Cancer Care Hospital together with Ayala Corporation chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo and other executives of the AC Health group. Zobel led the groundbreaking of the facility in 2021.
“I am very happy to see that the first dedicated cancer specialty hospital in the country is very near completion,” Zobel said. “We look forward to finally opening the facility so we can fulfill our promise of providing quality ‘care beyond cure’ to Filipino patients.”
NATIONAL Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Monday the growing population of workers will drive economic growth in the coming years.
Balisacan said in a public hearing at the Senate on the Fiscal Year 2024 National Expenditure Program the country’s working age group was now growing faster than the overall population.
“This is what we call a demographic dividend that adds around 3 percentage points to GDP [gross domestic product],” Balisacan said.
Government data showed that as of August 2022, the working-age population, covering those 15 to 64 years old, made up 63.9 percent of Filipinos, up from 63.3 percent in 2015 and 59.1 percent in 2000.
“Apart from the usual other sources of GDP growth…The working age group can fuel the country’s growth
for several decades,” he said, adding the median age of the country’s population was in the low 20s.
“We can worry about the ageing population in about four decades from now,” Balisacan said, referring to those 60 years old and above.
Available data from the Philippine Statistics Authority website showed that the country has 109.03 million total population as of May 2020.
NEDA defined “demographic dividend” as the economic growth experienced by a country as a result of the change in the country’s population structure. It is the product of the demographic transition, which is characterized by markedly declining mortality and fertility rates, resulting in the shrinking of the dependent age (0-14) group and expanding of the workforce (ages 15-64).
This transition leads to steadily rising savings and investment rates and faster economic growth and improved living standards.
THE UK offers £4 billion (about $4.9 billion) in export finance for renewable energy and digital agriculture infrastructure projects in the Philippines, the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (BCCP) said Monday.
BCCP chairman Chris Nelson said UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils earlier disclosed plans to extend export finance to the Philippines.
“There is actually £4 billion in potential export finance for the Philippines, one of the areas of focus is renewable energy and on infrastructure,” he said.
The BCCP said the UK is very keen on digital infrastructure.
Nelson said the UK is sustaining long-term trade relations with the Philippines, particularly with the new preferential trade agreement under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme
(DCTS).
DCTS preference countries such as the Philippines will receive access to duty-free, quota free trade on 92 percent of eligible goods which are over 99 percent of Philippine exports to the UK in terms of value.
“We’re looking forward to seeing DCTS further boost that along with trying to get investments from the UK and the key sectors in the Philippines,”
Nelson said.
He said the UK made preferential trading with partners easier, particularly with developing countries, in terms of country of origin and the reduction of tariffs on 150 more tariff lines.
“So all of these should see a significant boost, particularly in agriculture. And I think it just reinforces potential growth areas between the two countries,” Nelson said. Othel V. Campos
Filinvest Land gets top rating
PROPERTY developer Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) said Monday it received the highest rating for its P12-billion fixed bond offering.
FLI said in a disclosure to the stock the bonds were assigned a PRS Aaa, which indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is “extremely strong.”
The same PRS Aaa rating was also assigned to FLI’s outstanding bonds, totaling P35.4 billion.
“We are delighted to receive a PRS Aaa rating from PhilRatings for our proposed bond issuance. This rating reflects our healthy fundamentals and underscores our constant focus on growth and financial sustainability. We are grateful for PhilRatings’ trust and confidence in Filinvest Land and aim to continue building the Filipino dream through our various property developments,” said FLI president and chief executive Tristan Las Marias.
The company said it would use the proceeds from the bond offering for capital expenditures and debt refinancing.
Jenniffer B. Austria
GLOVAX Biotech Corp. is set to break ground for the first vaccine manufacturing facility in the Philippines on Sept. 27, 2023 after securing commitments from local and foreign funders.
Glovax chief operating officer (COO) Giovanni Alingog said the National Development Company teamed up with Glovax with a minority share of 7.5 percent worth P150 million to start the project.
“There are foreign funders to fill up the required capitalization,” he said, adding the groundbreaking event represents a major leap towards achieving self-sufficiency in vaccine production and advancing public health initiatives in the Philippines.
A potential investor is BPI France, a French public sector investment bank that met with the NDC and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in June 2023. Glovax also tapped other sources of financing such as the Development Finance Corp. (DFC), International Finance Corp. (IFC) and IIX of Singapore. Total investments may reach P7.5 million.
Alingog said the facility would rise on a 4-hectare property in Batangas, but the initial phase will only cover 500,000 square meters.
Operations will start a year and a half after construction. The company will initially produce three kinds of vaccines—pentavalent, hepatitis and polio vaccines.
Alingog said the company would focus on strengthening its foothold of the local market in a span of seven years before exporting vaccines.
NDC said Glovax’s pioneering initiative aims to enhance national health security, reduce dependence on imports and ensure the accessibility of crucial vaccines within the country.
AMPARO “Ampao” Acuna came close to Philippine record when she fired a total of 618.8 points in the qualification round of the women’s 10-meter rifle event in the shooting competitions of the 2023 Asian Games at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center in Hangzhou, China.
Acuna shot rounds of 102.1, 102.9, 105.1, 103.4, 103, 101.5 to almost match the national mark of 622.2 she achieved in the Asian Championships last March. Her effort, however, wasn’t enough to clinch a seat in the final round as she finished 42nd place in the 59-shooter field, where only the top eight advanced.
Coach Julius Valdez said her performance was average at this time, adding he has yet to confirm if Acuna was able to earn ranking points she needs to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Nasa average ang score. Sana maisama sa Olympic rankings iyung result niya,” said Valdez.
Acuna was set to join Jayson Valdez in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team category.
The 26-year-old Acuna is seen as one of two female shooters with the best chance of earning qualifying points in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The other one is Franchette Quiroz, who is entered in the women’s 10-meter air pistol event. She has an Olympic ranking of 151.
Acuna is now no. 153 in the Olympic qualification rankings of the 50-meter rifle, 3-prone position, and no. 175 in the 10-meter air rifle event.
According the qualification rules for shooting, the highest-ranked shooter who has not qualified yet or whose National Olympic Committee does not have a berth in any of the 12 individual events, will obtain a direct Olympic quota place through the World Rankings.
The remaining 16 quota places are available to eligible NOCs under the Tripartite Commission Invitation to attain a maximum number of 340.
Peter Atencio
CLARK Freeport Zone—Two-leg winner Daniella Uy and Mikha Fortuna expect to put Velinda Castil through a severe test right in Tuesday start of the ICTSI Mimosa Plus Championship at the Mimosa Plus’ Acacia course in Pampanga here .
The three are paired in the 9 a.m. group on No. 1 with Uy, who scored back-toback victories at Forest Hills and Del Monte, itching to launch another drive for a championship after her three-peat bid fell short at South Pacific Classic last week.
But her runner-up finish in Davao easily makes her the marked player in the 54-hole championship serving as the final leg of this year’s 10-stage Ladies Philippine Golf Tour with the former Junior World champion hinting at banking on her power again in chase of another diadem.
“Most likely, I’ll rely on my drives to get more chances for birdies kasi Mimosa is wider than South Pacific,” said Uy, who used her length to spike her recent twin victories that ended a streak of stretch-run meltdowns.
Fortuna is also out to rebound from a final round struggle at South Pacific that saw her limp with a 76 and drop to third after joining eventual winner Florence Bisera at the helm after 36 holes.
YOUNGEST PH TEAM
MEMBER. Nine-year-old Mazel
Paris ‘Maze’ Alegado, the youngest member of Team Philippines, takes part in the Skateboarding Women’s Park finals of the 19th Asian Games at the QT Roller Sports Centre here on Monday. Alegado placed seventh in a field of eight participants.
HANGZHOU—Saying their first opponent will be a ‘challenge’, Gilas Pilipinas and coach Tim Cone make their highly-anticipated debut when they take on Bahrain in the 19th Asian Games on Tuesday following a bumpy two-week preparation.
“I think they are going to be a challenge out there,” said Cone of the Bahrainis, whom the Filipinos will battle at 1:30 p.m. at the Zijingang University inside the Zhejiang University.
Cone has every reason not to be complacent.
Bahrain, which joins the Philippines, Thailand, and Jordan in Group C, is coming off a spectacular campaign in the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Damascus, Syria, where it emerged unde-
By Randy Caluagfeated in five matches last month.
As champion of the tournament, Bahrain became the first country to secure a berth in the Qualifying Tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Expected to be a handful for Gilas is former PBA import Dwayne Chism, who will lead Bahrain’s campaign, alongside Mustafa Rashed, and Muzamil Ameer Hamooda.
“They are going to pose some problems
because they shoot the ball really well. They put a lot of pressure out there. They are not a big team which is unusual for a Middle East team,” said Cone.
“Usually, Middle East teams are really big, but they (Bahrain) are a little different that they are quick and they can shoot,” he added.
Cone has not heard yet from the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, regarding the fate of late inclusions Kevin Alas, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, Mo Tautuaa, and CJ Perez, but their preparations have continued nonetheless.
On Monday, the team held a film viewing before holding practice at the Dongzan Arena Olympic Sports Shop for the second straight time since arriving Sunday.
After Bahrain, Thailand bannered by Tyler Lamb, and the Rondae Hollis-Jeffersonled Jordan are up next for Gilas. Tim Cone
BALING, KEDAH, Malaysia—Stage 3 honors slipped from the hands of Enrico Zeanoncello of Green Project, but the Italian rider grabbed the overall leadership of the PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi on Monday.
Jackson George of Dalton Equities topped the 183.1-km race from Jeli to Baling in a stage that proved to be the most challenging thus far in this nine-lap tour featuring the best continental teams from Asia and Pro Tour campaigners from Europe.
George was in the lead pack that made a breakaway right in the first of four King of Mountain portions and never wavered under harsh conditions—a weather that blew wet and dry due to scattered rains and slippery, winding descents.
“It was so difficult today, but thankfully I pulled it off,” said George, who won the
The Filipino riders from 7-Eleven-CliqqAir21-RoadbikePH were left behind in a big group that came to the finish more than 30 minutes later.
“Nagkasabay pa ako lead pack sa unang ahon Pero bumitaw din ako,” said Nichol Pareja.
The six-man crew that also included Ryan Tugawin, Ismael Grospe, Junreck Carcueva, Rench Michael Bondoc and Joshua Pascual all crossed the finish line safe and sound.
But three members of Giant Cycling Team from China were unfortunate as they figured in an accident when the support van they were riding flipped over in an effort to catch the starting gun after they missed the start and got lost along the way.
sprint finish and clocked 4 hours and 14.13 minutes, along with 14 others in the lead group.
Zanoncello said he wanted the stage
win, but it’s a consolation in taking the overall leadership jersey with a cumulative time of 12.55. after four stages.
“But I’m still disappointed,”he said.
The riders and the driver sustained minor injuries and were treated to a nearby hospital. Tuesday’s stage 4 is the shortest thus far— a 140.2-km race from Bukit Mertajam to Meru Raya.
HUNDREDS of students from Tondo, Manila who served as mascots or player escorts during the FIBA World Cup were honored during a ceremony that also marked the 4th year of San Miguel Corporation’s Better World Community Center, a food bank and learning institution that caters to over 500 families in the area.
The said students from General Vicente Lim Elementary School received FIBA kits containing headbands, shoes, t-shirts, shorts, socks, basketballs as well as products from San Miguel Purefoods during the FIBA Wanda Little Champions event organized together with the San Miguel Foundation. The event was also attended by FIBA local organizing committee officials Eric Altamirano and Wanda Little Champions Project Lead Josh Paulite, Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots
coach Chito Victolero, and Hotshots forward Rome De la Rosa.
“We are very happy with the participation of Better World Tondo and the Gen. Vicente Lim Elementary School,” said Altamirano, head of the National Basketball Training Center, who once called the shots for the Purefoods team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
“On behalf of the FIBA LOC, we thank San Miguel Foundation for supporting the FIBA Wanda Little Champions program,” he added.
Victolero, whose two young sons were among the children who walked with players from the various World Cup teams during entrance parades, expressed his gratitude for the rare opportunity accorded the grade school boys and girls, some of whom were from the Better World community and the said school.
Already in the midst of a historic year, the Filipinas Under-17 squad produced another milestone by qualifying for the AFC Under-17 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in history after a stunning 1-0 win over host Vietnam in Hanoi last Sunday night.
Isabella Preston struck a wellplaced free kick from a tight angle in the 56th minute for the only goal of the match at the Vietnam Football Federation Training Center as the Young Filipinas, now handled by Australian coach Sinisha Cohadzic, advanced as the second team from their group after Australia.
The Young Filipinas needed to get past Guam and Lebanon in the first round of qualifying last April in Guam, before beating Bangladesh, 3-1, last Friday, setting the stage for a do-or-die game with Vietnam.
Vietnam only needed a draw to qualify for the Asian Cup, but the Filipinas turned the tables on the hosts, constantly opening up their backline with pace and slick passing, while holding firm defensively as they denied them an equalizer late on.
The Filipinas, who were in training camp in Manila for a month, more than matched Vietnam’s technical abilities. With their drive and intensity, they controlled the game all throughout.
Striker Nina Mathelus, who scored twice against Australia and added another goal against Bangladesh last Friday, was a constant
threat, while Sophia Saludares also tested the Vietnamese goalkeeper numerous times.
“We left it all out on the field today,” said team captain Ariana Markey. “We put everything on the line. We’re so excited to go to the Asian Cup.”
“We are proud of what the girls have achieved especially since it comes just a few months after the Filipinas also made history with a first-ever win in the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” said Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta.
“We are extremely grateful of the sacrifices of the players and their
HANGZHOU—Its appeal for inclusion of two replacement players denied, the Philippine women’s 3x3 team decided to withdraw from the 19th Asian Games with a heavy heart.
Coach Pat Aquino said the team was left with no recourse as it only has Camille Nolasco and Louna Ozar in its roster after the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee thumbed down last-minute replacements Cielo Pagdulagan and Marga Villanueva.
Pagdulagan and Villanueva were supposed to take the place of 3x3 veterans Camille Clarin and Angel Surada, who were not available.
The decision was handed out Monday morning at the start of basketball competitions in the quadrennial showpiece.
Aquino apologized in behalf of the team, and at the same time, felt sorry for the players as the stint was the first time the 3x3 women’s squad is seeing action in the Asiad.
“Just so sad dahil first time kami dito (3x3) and then ganito nga ang nangyari,” said the multi-titled coach.
The Philippines was scheduled to play Jordan for its first game.
families as well as the people behind the scenes, particularly team manager Jeff Cheng, whose support has been instrumental to the rise of women’s football in the past few years.”
Also qualified for the eight-team Asian Cup from April 7 to 20 next year are hosts Indonesia, defending champions Japan, 2019 runnersup North Korea, 2019 third-placers China, Group A winner South Korea, Group A second-placer Thailand, and Group B winner Australia. The top three teams in the Asian Cup will qualify for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic later in the year.
CLARK Freeport Zone—The men of the tour set out for a power duel at Mimosa Plus’ Acacia course with majority almost effusive in talking about its fine condition and the chances of a four-day hunt for birdies in the ICTSI Mimosa Plus Championship, which fires off Tuesday here in Pampanga.
As the pros continue to hit the ball to ever-increasing distances, the par-72, 6,508-yard layout could be theirs for the taking although their unfamiliarity with Acacia could provide barriers to success in the P2 million championship serving as the 10th leg of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour season.
“Kailangan maganda ang driving at putting,” said Reymon Jaraula, one of the four aces in the fold who are gunning for a second victory in the season about to end, the three others being Tony Lascuña, Rupert Zaragosa and Jhonnel Ababa.
“Short course ito kaya kailangan magclick din ang short game,” added the runaway winner at Valley last June after yesterday’s traditional pro-am tournament.
“The course is in tip-top condition,” said Zaragosa, who also dominated the Iloilo leg for his breakthrough PGT victory last March. “Siguro ang edge dito, pag gumana ang putting. Kasi
dito, paramihan ng birdie.”
Jaraula and Zaragosa test each other in the 8 a.m. on No. 1 in one of featured flights that includes Taiwanese Ting Yu Chen, an invitee of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. from the PGA Tour of Taiwan.
Ababa, who snapped a long title drought with a thrilling victory at Villamor Philippine Masters last May, drew Elmer Salvador and Art Arbole in the 7:40 a.m. group, also on the first hole, with Lascuña, who dominated the Caliraya Springs leg, teeing off next at 7:50 a.m. in the company of Dino Villanueva and Albin Engino.
“Maganda ang course, pero tingin ko, sa putting magßkakatalo,” said Lascuña, a four-time winner of the PGT Order of Merit title.
But the leader—and the eventual winner—could emerge from any of the rest of the 55-player field, including Marvin Dumandan, who squandered a chance to end a long title spell at South Pacific in Davao last week.
Nilo Salahog, who showed the way in the first 36 holes at South Pacific, is also all fired-up to get going again and sustain his charge to the finish. He starts at 7:20 a.m. in the company of noted big-hitters Keanu Jahns and Dumandan.
JUNGOLF CHAMP. Patrick Tambalque (second from left) holds his medal after securing the overall honors—and a spot in the national finals—in the boys’ 13-14 age category of the ICTSI Junior PGT Series with a victory in Round 5 of the 18-hole tournament at Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga last Sunday. With him are (from left) Pradera Verde operations manager Joey Seran, and Lia Duque and Santino Pineda, Round 4 winners in the girls’ and boys’ 15-18 divisions, respectively.
MIAMI—Pop star Taylor Swift added fuel to rumors around her possible relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce when she was seen watching him in action alongside the Super Bowl winner’s mother on Sunday.
Swift attended the Kansas City Chiefs’ home game against the Chicago Bears, sitting in a luxury box with the tight end’s mother, Donna.
The 12-time Grammy winner, sporting a red and white Chiefs jacket, was treated to a 41-10 Chiefs romp and cheered wildly when Kelce caught a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the third quarter.
“I heard she was in the house,” Mahomes told Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews in an on-field interview after the game. “I felt a little bit of pressure and so I knew I had to get it to Trav.
“I think he wanted to get in the end zone just as much as all the Swifties wanted him to.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid joked that he’d introduced the couple.
“I met her before -- I set them up,” the 65-year-old coach told reporters.
HANGZHOU—ESports tickets costing up to $137 are like gold dust at the Asian Games with desperate fans signing up multiple times through a lottery system in hope of seeing their gaming heroes live.
For the unlucky ones, they have instead waited outside the gates of the futuristic-looking Hangzhou Esports Center, craning their necks to look inside the official Games buses passing through.
ESports is making its debut as a medal event in the Chinese city, seen as a major step towards the Olympics one day, with renowned gamers such as South Korea’s Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok in action.
Medals are up for grabs in seven gaming titles, including Arena of Valor, League of Legends and EA Sports FC Online.
Underlining just how popular it is, eSports is the only competition at the Games where tickets were allocated through an initial online lottery, before being opened up last week for direct purchase.
Tickets run up to 1,000 yuan ($137), making eSports one of the most expensive events to watch at the Asiad.
“Getting tickets for this eSports competition was quite intense,” said Xu Kezhen, a 20-year-old fan at the swish venue.
“I had to try five or six times before finally getting one. Everyone wants to come and support the Chinese team and their favourite players, so there is a rush to grab the tickets and show their support.”
Donna Kelce gained nationwide attention in February when both of her sons featured in the championship spectacle.
Swift confirmed in May that she considered herself an Eagles fan. But her legion of fans have spent recent weeks puzzling over possible indicators that she was in a budding relationship with Kansas City’s Kelce brother.
Travis Kelce said this week on ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show that he had invited Swift to attend a game.
“I threw it out there. I threw the ball in her court. You know, I told her, ‘I’ve seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock the stage in Arrowhead and see which one’s a little more lit,’” he said.
“We’ll see what happens in the near future,” added the 33-year-old Kelce, who is widely considered one of the best tight ends in NFL history.
Swift is taking a break from her wildly popular international tour that began in March— performances will resume in November and run late into next year. AFP
The hassle and expense did not deter Zhao Xiaohan, who signed up for all possible lotteries before eventually winning a prized spot.
“It felt like quite a challenge to secure the ticket and luck played a role as well,” Zhao, 23, said.
Another lucky spectator, Jiang Xinyou, 29, said: “I really wanted to see the Chinese team play but I wasn’t able to get tickets for those matches.”
Those who made it inside the 4,500-capacity arena waved lightsticks and cheered as two-dimensional “heroes” fought onscreen, controlled by athletes furiously swiping on their phone screens. Games organizers, who have not said how many tickets they are releasing in total, require spectators to register their identification documents when buying tickets and show them when entering the venue in an effort to prevent scalping. AFP
THE North American box office hit a 2023 low this weekend, with top film The Nun II estimated to take in a paltry $8.4 million, industry watchers said Sunday.
“The numbers are not good,” said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research, describing an entire month of poor results.
He said the months-long strikes by Hollywood screenwriters and actors –reportedly at a key point Sunday – “cannot end soon enough.” The strikes have prevented stars from promoting upcoming films.
MOYMOY, one-half of the comedic duo and YouTube sensation Moymoy Palaboy, recently launched his newest business venture, 2Kings Productions.
Together with his business partner, Henry Angelo Pantollana, 2Kings Productions is the newest player in the events and concert scene. Despite being newcomers in the industry, both of its founders are seasoned individuals with expertise in entertainment.
Henry is an entrepreneur extraordinaire with several successful businesses under his belt, spanning different categories— medical, digital, and even trading. With his passion for good music combined with his exceptional business acumen, Henry has a lot to offer in this new venture.
As for Moymoy, he has been a part of the entertainment industry since 2007, making a name for himself in mainstream entertainment as an actor, comedian, singer, and songwriter. He also served as a former member of the MTRCB Board of Directors (2017-2022) and currently holds the position of Vice Chairman of the Optical Media Board.
Now that events, concerts, and parties are back in full swing, Moy and Henry have promised to deliver world-class entertainment and create unforgettable experiences that will leave lasting memories.
2Kings Productions offered a sneak peek of what’s to come in the coming months during its launch on September 9 at Xylo, BGC.
By Nickie WangTELEVISION host Joey De Leon of the noontime show E.A.T. has found himself in hot water for what some netizens perceive as an “insensitive” comment during a segment of the show. The incident has prompted an outcry from viewers, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.
The controversy began during a segment of E.A.T. in which a contestant was tasked with thinking of items that could be placed around a person’s neck. When the contestant struggled to come up with an answer, De Leon butted in and twice suggested the word “lubid” (or rope in English).
It was the veteran’s host’s choice of words that quickly drew criticism from netizens. Many argued that by mentioning “rope” in the context of an item that can be placed around a person’s neck, De Leon was making an inappropriate reference to suicide.
This weekend’s top five films had a combined take of roughly $31 million –less than Barbie alone earned in its fourth weekend out.
Warner Bros.’ The Nun II, starring Taissa Farmiga in a tale of Gothic horror and possession, has led the box office for the past few weeks, despite posting tepid numbers.
Nearly tying it this weekend was new action film Expend4bles, at an estimated $8.3 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, Exhibitor Relations reported.
The Lionsgate movie, the fourth in
a series, has a veteran team of Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, and Dolph Lundgren – joined by franchise newcomers including Megan Fox, 50 Cent, and Andy Garcia – heading to Libya to try to prevent a mercenary from stealing nuclear warheads.
In third place, down one spot from last weekend, was 20th Century’s A Haunting in Venice, Kenneth Branagh’s latest Agatha Christie-inspired film, at $6.3 million. Branagh again plays legendary Belgian detective Hercules Poirot.
Fourth spot went to Sony’s The
Equalizer 3, at $4.7 million. Denzel Washington plays a retired US Marine and drugenforcement agent taking on beaucoup bad guys.
And holding on in fifth –in its 10th weekend out – was Warner Bros. blockbuster Barbie, at $3.2 million. The Greta Gerwig paean to pinkness has now taken in $630.5 million domestically and an additional $797 million internationally. AFP
NATHAN Studios, the brainchild of the Atayde family and helmed by President and CEO Ria Atayde, has once again showcased its commitment to delivering cutting-edge content.
Owned by the Atayde family, Nathan Studios is a production outfit committed to delivering groundbreaking content. With different projects spanning series, movies, and live events, the studio has consistently showcased narratives that challenge conventions and resonate deeply with audiences.
Under Ria’s leadership, the company has produced notable projects like Cattleya Killer , Misis Piggy , and Topakk
During their recent visit to the Cannes Film Festival, the outfit, in collaboration with veteran actress Lorna Tolentino and 888 Films International, secured the rights to the critically acclaimed Japanese drama film Monster . Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda and penned by Yuji Sakamoto , Monster is not a run-of-the-mill dramatic film. It bagged the Best Screenplay award at Cannes and is a testament to the intricate art of storytelling.
Monster marks a significant milestone for director Kore-eda, as it’s the first time he has directed a film he didn’t write himself since Maborosi in 1995. Moreover, its score holds a very special place in cinematic history, being the last project by the legendary Ryuichi Sakamoto , who died of cancer two months before its release.
The film stands as a tribute to his memory. Having its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May, Monster competed for the Palme d’Or, further highlighting its emotional depth and resonance. The film was subsequently released in Japan on June 2.
At its core, Monster is an emotional exploration of adolescence, deceit, and the conse -
This interpretation of his comment led to widespread outrage on social media.
As the controversy continued to gain traction online, netizens took to various platforms to express their concerns. Many demanded that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) Chair, Lala Sotto, intervene and address the matter promptly.
In response to the mounting pressure, the MTRCB released an official statement regarding the incident.
In a statement sent to Manila Standard Entertainment, the agency said, “Taking cognizance of the complaints from the viewing public in relation to ‘E.A.T.’ Gimme 5 segment aired last 23 September 2023, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) shall determine if the same are valid and presumably violative of Presidential Decree No. 1986 and/or its Implementing Rules and Regulations.”
quences that arise from them. Through the eyes of three different characters, the film demands patience from its viewers, promising a payoff filled with well-earned emotional revelations. The narrative revolves around Minato, his mother Saori, and his classmate Eri, each offering a unique viewpoint on the unfolding
events, revealing buried truths that troubled all the characters.
Kore-eda’s exceptional camera work, combined with Sakamoto’s tender script, creates a cinematic masterpiece that helped its cast deliver emotional performances.
After watching Monster , Sylvia Sanchez , Ria, and Lorna were deeply moved. The film resonated with them on multiple levels, touching them as mothers, children, and human beings. That prompted them to acquire the film with an eye toward sharing it with Filipinos.
“It’s a poignant narrative about love, antibullying, family, and mental health,” shares Ria.
The team at Nathan Studios is confident that Filipino audiences will embrace the film with the same intensity. As the Nathan Studios team gears up to introduce Monster to Filipinos, audiences can anticipate a cinematic experience that is emotionally charged and thoughtprovoking.
Nathan Studios continues to set new benchmarks in entertainment, dedicated to bringing diverse and impactful stories to the forefront.
media interview.
“It was truly a pleasant surprise for us to have made it to the official list. I genuinely hope the public will support this year’s edition of the MMFF. It brings joy to my heart to realize that gradually, people’s interest in local cinema is making a comeback. I hope it continues,” she added.
AFTER a four-year hiatus from acting projects, Marian Rivera is back in the spotlight once again. She has already started taping for her latest primetime offering, Against All Odds, alongside Gabby Concepcion and Max Collins. Additionally, shooting for the movie Rewind, an official entry to the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival under Star Cinema, has commenced, where she’s paired with her husband, Dingdong Dantes
“The fact that I have a film festival entry this year excites me. I heard it’s star-studded with the likes of Sharon Cuneta, Alden Richards, Matteo Guidicelli, Cristine Reyes, Derek Ramsey, and Beauty Gonzalez participating. I also heard that Ms. Nora Aunor and Ms. Vilma Santos have aspiring entries, as well as Maricel Soriano,” Marian said in the vernacular during a recent
Marian is one of the few stars who have maintained their popularity even after getting married and having kids. When asked about this, she humbly responds, “All I can say is I owe it all to the One up there. Even if I excel in what I’m doing, without Him, I wouldn’t have reached my current stature. So, all of this is because of Him. I’m just thankful.”
Considering her workload this season, it’s not possible for her to have another baby.
“I have a lot of projects lined up. I have a movie, a soap opera, and TikTok. Dingdong knows that. Besides, my husband is also deeply involved in projects. In fact, Sunday is his only rest day.”
It’s amazing how she manages to stay beautiful and vibrant despite the demands of being a homemaker. “Well, number one, you need to have time for yourself. That’s when you realize how to manage and adjust things.
Second, even if you have children already, you and your husband should keep the flame of love burning. Like in Dong’s case, he’s very supportive of me in every endeavor I enter. He’s always there to give me moral support, and boost my confidence. It’s a significant factor in why I stay radiant. Then, of course, there’s my strong faith in God.”
Interestingly, how does she spend her “me” time? “I always find something to do that I enjoy. When I’m in my office, I arrange flowers, meditate, and yes, I play games. I might become a gamer eventually. What’s important is that you can find enjoyment even in simple ways,” ended Marian.
* * *
After My Special Tatay Ken Chan is thrilled to be working once again with Jillian Ward in the top-rating afternoon drama AbotKamay na Pangarap “I enjoy her company a lot,” he states. “I’ve worked with her before, and I can attest to how talented she is as an actress and as a person. As you can see in our social media posts, we genuinely enjoy our work on the set. I hope that we’ll still have the opportunity to collaborate on other projects after the soap.”
When asked about Jillian being tagged as “The Star of the New Generation,” Ken agrees, saying, “I agree! She truly is. Whenever I see her, I call her ‘The Star of Her Generation,’ but she prefers not to be labeled as such. She is shy and more comfortable without the moniker. That’s how humble she is, and it’s no wonder she is very successful in her career.”
The 30-year-old actor is hopeful that he and Jillian will have the chance to work on a project where the story is focused on them.
“Yes, I’m looking forward to that. Our working relationship is great! She is easy to deal with and is such a sweet girl. I appreciate her attitude towards life and her career,” says Ken.
HAMILO Coast introduces Pico Terraces, where a leisurely lifestyle comes with breathtaking nature views and endless outdoor fun. Designed to be a ‘resort within a resort’, Pico Terraces elevates condominium living with plush resort-style amenities, such as the biggest water feature in Pico De Loro Cove – a 500-sqm Cascading Pool that integrates a Family Pool, a Kiddie Pool, a Lounge Pool, and a Lap Pool.
Pico Terraces is located in Hamilo Coast, a 40-hectare prime leisure resort and a project of Costa Del Hamilo, Inc., a company under SM Prime Holdings, Inc.. Tucked into a terrain, it derives much of its charm from an array of awe-inspiring nature views and delightful outdoor and indoor facilities that are unmatched by other leisure properties in Nasugbu, Batangas.
Residents of Pico Terraces are granted access to the Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club, which comes with the privilege of exploring a diverse range of land- and sea-based recreational activities. Lounging in the elegant cabanas or socializing at the Clubhouse is envisioned as a way of life.
The expansive Grand Lawn at Pico Terraces invites homeowners and their guests to immerse in nature’s beauty, while the Kids Play Area helps keep the youngsters happily engaged. The community likewise presents an Outdoor Fitness Area and a Nature Trail for those inclined to indulge in an active lifestyle. Resident families may foster friendly
ties with neighbors at the Barbecue Area where grilling and outdoor dining are available for residents to enjoy.
Homeowners may also opt for an active lifestyle indoors – at the wellappointed Fitness Center. For serene evenings, the Resident’s Lounge awaits. Even rainy days can be fun and entertaining at the Kids’ Indoor Play Area and the Game Room.
According to Imee Francisco, Senior Vice President and Business Operations Head of Costa Del Hamilo Inc., “Pico Terraces is the embodiment of the ‘resort within a resort’ concept crafted with a bounty of upscale amenities in mind. We meticulously curated both outdoor and indoor facilities to cater to the diverse lifestyle needs of our prospective residents.”
Pico Terraces spans 2.1 hectares of lush landscapes, with 80% dedicated to expansive amenities and green spaces. Condo buildings harmoniously blend with nature, featuring modern tropical themes with earth tones and wood textures. Units connect with nature through large windows and private balconies.
One-, two-, and three-bedroom units range from 46 to 89 sqm with open layouts. Due to high demand, a second tower is underway, offering passive income opportunities through leasing.
The sustainable tropical design and exceptional amenities enhance demand and value, making Pico Terraces a sought-after luxury resort home since its April 2023 launch.
NOW it can be revealed: the reason Heart Evangelista has been frequently visiting Singapore lately is that she has been chosen as the latest global brand ambassador for ION Orchard, the Lion City’s foremost upscale mall.
In a 30-second video released by this premier mall in Singapore, Heart is seen gracefully touring the lavish
surroundings and exploring the latest collections from luxury giants like Bulgari, Dior, Fendi, Loro Piana, and Tiffany – brands she’s had previous collaborations with.
ION, in a succinct Instagram caption, wrote, ‘Whenever @iamhearte graces ION Orchard with her presence, you can expect unforgettable high-fashion
moments.’ They encouraged followers to ‘join her as she unveils this season’s most exquisite styles from @bulgari, @dior, @fendi, @loropiana, and @ tiffanyandco this Fall Winter season.’ Meanwhile, reinforcing her status as a fashion icon, the wife of Senator Chiz Escudero is currently in Italy for the ongoing Milan Fashion Week.
es how Crate and Barrel’s carefully selected pieces can transform a house into a warm and welcoming home for two. From stylish furniture to cozy accents, it illustrates the idea of creating a shared space filled with love and comfort.
Incorporating different styles? This space, designed with couples in mind, captured the beauty of two lives coming together under one roof. In this vignette, we witnessed how love, respect, understanding, and yes, even compromise are expressed through design choices. These selections from Crate and Barrel serve not just the individual he or she; they celebrate the beauty of us.
CRATE and Barrel, a well-known home furnishings and decor retailer, has made an exciting addition to its SM Makati Flagship Store with the unveiling of “Portraits of Life.”
This innovative concept consists of four interactive vignettes, each designed to provide a glimpse into different stages of life and how Crate and Barrel’s products can enhance the experience of home living.
These curated spaces paint a picture of life at various phases and bring guests into the homes of a couple building a life together, a bachelor hosting a night with friends, a supermom and her growing brood, and a couple refurbishing what is now an empty nest. The bachelor’s pad
The vignette caters to the bachelor lifestyle, offering a sneak peek into a stylish and functional living space designed for hosting gatherings with friends. It exemplifies how Crate and Barrel’s products can help create a trendy and entertaining environment where people can enjoy good company and create lasting memories. Looking for something multifunctional?
Beyond the usual man cave, Crate and Barrel reimagines the bachelor life through pieces that are raw, edgy yet irresistibly sleek. The featured Phoenix Work Table provides a solid wood top on welded steel legs. Its width is sized such that it can be used for work, to display collectibles, or even to host get-togethers.
Moving in with your perfect match
The vignette transports visitors into the world of a young couple embarking on their journey of togetherness. This space showcas-
At the heart of every couple’s first home is their bedroom. Of the many considerations to make, two are most crucial – storage space and choice of bed. The Caldwell Oakwood Upholstered Storage Bed by Jake Arnold ticks these boxes. Part of the exclusive collection by an L.A.-based designer, it is made with gentle curves, soft fabrics, and sinuous shapes bedroom. It also features a full-width storage concealed behind the footboard, ideal for keeping the bedroom clutter-free.
Supermom special In the third vignette, visi tors get an insight into the life of a supermom managing her bustling household. Crate and Barrel demonstrates how its products are not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical for families with children. The vignette showcases how the brand’s furni
ture and accessories can help create an organized and stylish home that caters to the needs of a busy family.
The best choice for your living room? Supermoms do it all, and in a span of 24 hours, they wear various hats. This special tribute to mothers put the spotlight on essential living room pieces from Crate and Barrel that add joy to family life at home. This vignette was curated for dynamic mothers who have mastered the art of balancing their roles–in style.
It highlights the Gather 2-Piece Sectional Sofa, a centerpiece for living or playrooms, which makes family bonding relaxed and comfortable. It features a performance fabric that’s soft yet durable, stain-repellent and family-friendly.
Not-so-empty nesters
The final vignette explores the stage of life when children have left the home, and a couple is revitalizing their living space. It illustrates how Crate and Barrel’s products can be used to refresh and revamp an empty nest, turning it into a haven for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Redecorating a space? As soon as the children have left the nest, the home becomes a place for couples to fully enjoy each other’s company while pursuing more dreams together. Far from being an empty home, these abodes, which hold precious memories, are refreshed to reflect a life fulfilled.
Crate and Barrel reimagined an area in the home for empty nesters. Among the standout pieces featured was the Tate Walnut Storage Bookshelf. With its clean-lined design made of walnut veneer, this piece is best for showcasing books, art, and family photos while bringing the ‘60s vibe right into your space. Find a wide range of furniture and houseware pieces at Crate and Barrel that will complement your style and needs. Discover new arrivals, classic favorites, and what Crate and Barrel can do for you and your home by visiting their stores, ordering by phone or shop-
ON SEPTEMBER 15, Grateful Tuesdays hosts Chemist Pinky Tobiano and Teacher Georcelle Sy, took to the streets of Barangay Katipunan in Quezon City to dance with the local street children-vendors. Their heartwarming initiative aimed to share blessings with these young vendors. The experience was nothing short of amazing. Initially, the street childrenvendors, who sold cold drinks
and sampaguita garlands, were hesitant about joining the dance workshop with Gforce They worried that participating in the workshop might cost them sales. However, Pinky had a solution – she bought all their goods for the day, without exception. These street-kid vendors were enthusiastic about dancing and creating TikTok videos. Their admiration for Gforce was evident, and the joy and happiness on their faces while dancing with Teacher G and the Gforce team were truly heartwarming. It was a reminder of how wonderful it feels to be a blessing to others.
So why did Teacher Georcelle choose to participate alongside Host Pinky in this endeavor? She shared, “I was once a
recipient of good deeds myself. My dance education came through scholarships. Giving back has always brought me immense joy. This invitation from Achi (Pinky) is a true blessing.”
For Teacher Georcelle, teaching these kids was like reliving her own childhood days, playing and dancing with neighbors. She expressed her excitement about the experience. Host Pinky expressed her gratitude to Teacher Georcelle for her generous spirit. She also mentioned the Harvard Business School (OPM) and their contributions, as well as extending thanks to Miss Anna Magkawas, Mike Carandang, and Super Sam for generously providing food for the street kids.
